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Xiplomacy: Merieux's decades-long bond with China

Xinhua) 10:50, May 05, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with President of the Merieux Foundation Alain Merieux at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

With over 40 years of presence in China, the Merieux family has witnessed and contributed to China-France relations, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- In 1978, the year that China opened up, Alain Merieux, president of the Merieux Foundation, landed in China for the first time to introduce the vaccines developed by the Merieux Institute to the Chinese science community.

The visit marked the start of his decades-long bond with China. Since then, he has traveled to the Asian country numerous times, engaging in extensive cooperation with China in vaccine work, medical diagnostics, and infectious disease prevention and control.

In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Merieux and his wife Chantal in Beijing. During the meeting, Xi expressed appreciation for the long-term support from the couple and the foundation for the development of China-France relations and China's health cause.

With over 40 years of presence in China, the Merieux family has witnessed and contributed to China-France relations, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

UNWAVERING SUPPORT

The Merieux Foundation has always adhered to the principle of "in China, with China, for China," said Merieux, cooperating with Chinese partners to promote the development of public health. Together, they have established high-level biosafety laboratories to jointly address public health challenges such as SARS, avian influenza and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 1978, when Merieux first visited China, the scope of cooperation has gradually expanded to include medical diagnostics, immunology, food safety control, and infectious disease prevention and control. In 1997, bioMerieux established an office in Beijing. In 2004, the company's Asia-Pacific headquarters was established in Shanghai.

Merieux Institute has obtained 37 patents and published over 20 papers from its collaborative projects in Shanghai. Today, Shanghai has become the company's third-largest R&D, production and operation base worldwide, said Liang Ji, head of the joint R&D laboratory of bioMerieux Greater China.

On Dec. 18, 2018, at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, he was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal, with the certificate number 001.

On his deep affection for China, Merieux once said he is "the Frenchman with the most Chinese blood flowing through him." He praised China for achieving world-renowned development over the past few decades and playing an increasingly important international role.

"For us, China has become an important industrial and research center where we can develop high-level, long-term partnerships in medical diagnostics and food safety," he said. "My support for China will remain 100 percent as always."

Photo taken on March 10, 2019 shows the Biomerieux research center in Lyon, France. (Xinhua/Tang Ji)

DECADES-LONG BOND

Merieux's earliest connection with China comes from his father-in-law Paul Berliet. Long before China and France established diplomatic relations, Berliet promoted cooperation between France and China in automobile manufacturing.

In 1975, during Deng Xiaoping's visit to France, Merieux and his father-in-law accompanied him to an automobile factory, where Deng and the older generation of revolutionaries worked and studied. "At a moment like that, you can feel it. The foundation of China-France friendship is so deep," he said.

His grandfather, Marcel Merieux, was a student and assistant of Louis Pasteur, the "father of microbiology." At the end of the 19th century, he established the Merieux Institute to fight the spread of tuberculosis in Europe. This laid a solid foundation for the family's cooperation with China's public health undertakings.

In the late autumn of 2012, Xi met with Merieux in Beijing. Xi voiced his appreciation for the French foundation's attention to and support for China's public health drive and hoped the foundation would continue supporting China's efforts to improve medical care in the country.

In March 2014, Xi made a special trip to the bioMerieux research center in Lyon during his visit to France. "It was an unforgettable visit for us," Merieux recalled. "President Xi mentioned our friendship and our family's contribution to France-China friendship."

"I love China from the bottom of my heart, and this deep emotion comes from years of accumulation, "said Merieux.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L, front) and his wife Peng Liyuan (4th L, front) listen to the introduction of the Biomerieux research center in Lyon, France, March 26, 2014. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the China-France diplomatic relations, Merieux said that at present, "the people of China and France should cooperate more closely."

During his stay in Beijing in April, he visited the Institute of Pathogen Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to launch the new Christophe Merieux laboratory.

The original laboratory was established in 2005 and has been committed to researching emerging infectious diseases. Its related technologies have been applied in over 10 developing countries. The laboratory was named after Merieux's late son for his outstanding contributions.

"My wife and I saw Christophe's sculpture and name appearing in China's top medical research institutes. At that moment, I was moved beyond words," Merieux said.

Merieux not only looks forward to deepening medical and health cooperation with China but has also set his sights on the wider world, hoping to share the results of cooperation with more developing countries.

"To address the growing threat of infectious diseases, it is imperative for countries worldwide to transcend political differences and engage in long-term cooperation. To achieve this, all nations should share scientific, medical and technological resources. Both China and France must play a role in this endeavor," Merieux said.

Merieux called for increased investment in startups, hospitals and research institutions. He hoped for collaboration with more like-minded individuals and organizations "to strive for peace and friendship, to strive for common ideals, and to strive for the cause of human health."

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Robert De Niro stepped out in his native Manhattan on Saturday wearing a beanie and scarf with his khakis.

The 80-year-old acting legend just made headlines, yet again, for his visceral hatred of twice-impeached, quadruple-indicted President Donald Trump.

'It's about right and wrong. Period. The guy's a monster. It's beyond wrong. It's almost like he wants to do the most horrible things that he can think of in order to geta rise out of us? I don't know what it is, but it's f***ing scary,' Robert vented last Thursday on MSNBC's The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.

'I don't think they understand how dangerous it will be if he ever, God forbid, becomes president [again]. I don't think they really understand. And, historically, from what I see, in Nazi Germany they had it with Hitler. They don't take him seriously. Looks like a clown. Acts like a clown. Mussolini, same thing. These guys, I don't know why, they look like clowns. Somehow people, that element of society, identifies with them.'

As for his advice for President Joe Biden, De Niro said: 'Go at [Trump]. People take notice when you do that. Figuratively, punch him in the face. Go at him. A bully you punch in the face. Trouble with Trump is he's not just a bully, he's a stupid bully.'

Robert De Niro stepped out in his native Manhattan on Saturday wearing a beanie and scarf with his khakis

The 80-year-old acting legend just made headlines, yet again, for his visceral hatred of twice-impeached, quadruple-indicted President Donald Trump

The two-time Oscar winner was so convincing as his character - former President George Mullen - in Netflix's six-episode political conspiracy thriller Zero Day, that a video of him rehearsing with extras went viral last week.

'This is not a movie, this is real!' Robert yelled at paid extras playing protesters.

'That's dangerous and they say they're going to do it again! Again! You don't want that. None of us want that. C'mon. Let's all get serious.'

De Niro's representative Stan Rosenfield shut down rumors he was yelling at pro-Palestinian protesters, telling Variety: 'De Niro's lines were 100% scripted...Someone copied the post and fabricated an entirely different and bogus meaning.'

The Nada actor is also executive producing George Mullen in Noah Oppenheim and Eric Newman's limited series about a former president coming out of retirement to head a commission investigating a devastating cyberattack.

Zero Day marks Robert's first-ever lead TV role and it also stars Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Dan Stevens, Angela Bassett, and Matthew Modine.

Last Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that De Niro's estranged second wife Grace Hightower just lowered the price of their $20.9M marital home (Central Park West co-op) to $20M.

The 69-year-old Coffee of Grace founder filed for divorce (for the second time) from the four-time Emmy nominee in 2018, and they're parents of 26-year-old son Elliot De Niro and 12-year-old daughter Helen De Niro.

Robert vented last Thursday on MSNBC's The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle: 'It's about right and wrong. Period. The guy's a monster. It's beyond wrong. It's almost like he wants to do the most horrible things that he can think of in order to geta rise out of us? I don't know what it is, but it's f***ing scary'

De Niro added: 'I don't think they understand how dangerous it will be if he ever, God forbid, becomes president [again]. I don't think they really understand. And, historically, from what I see, in Nazi Germany they had it with Hitler. They don't take him seriously. Looks like a clown. Acts like a clown. Mussolini, same thing. These guys, I don't know why, they look like clowns. Somehow people, that element of society, identifies with them' (Trump pictured Sunday)

As for his advice for President Joe Biden, the two-time Oscar winner said: 'Go at [Trump]. People take notice when you do that. Figuratively, punch him in the face. Go at him. A bully you punch in the face. Trouble with Trump is he's not just a bully, he's a stupid bully'

Robert was so convincing as his character - former President George Mullen - in Netflix's six-episode political conspiracy thriller Zero Day, that a video of him rehearsing with extras went viral last week (pictured April 27 on set)

De Niro's representative Stan Rosenfield shut down rumors he was yelling at pro-Palestinian protesters, telling Variety: 'De Niro's lines were 100% scripted...Someone copied the post and fabricated an entirely different and bogus meaning'

The Nada actor is also executive producing George Mullen in Noah Oppenheim and Eric Newman's limited series about a former president coming out of retirement to head a commission investigating a devastating cyberattack

Robert made history last year fathering 13-month-old daughter Gia De Niro with his babymama Tiffany Chen.

De Niro has two children - daughter Drena De Niro, 56; and son Raphael De Niro, 47 - with ex-wife #1 Diahnne Abbott, whom he divorced in 1988 after 12 years of marriage.

The About My Father actor also has twin 28-year-old sons Aaron De Niro and Julian De Niro with his babymama Toukie Smith.

Audiences can next catch Robert executive producing and starring as Stan, the grandfather of an autistic boy (William A. Fitzgerald), in Tony Goldwyn's family dramedy Ezra hitting US theaters May 31.

Back in 2016, De Niro revealed his own son Elliot had been diagnosed with autism, which he and Grace controversially claimed was directly linked to childhood vaccinations.

Bleecker Street's 100-minute road trip movie also stars Goldwyn, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, and Rainn Wilson.

Ezra currently has a 77% critic approval rating (out of 13 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes.

Last Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Robert's estranged second wife Grace Hightower (pictured in 2023) just lowered the price of their $20.9M marital home inside a Central Park West co-op to $20M

The 69-year-old Coffee of Grace founder (L, pictured in 2018) filed for divorce (for the second time) from De Niro in 2018, and they're parents of 26-year-old son Elliot De Niro and 12-year-old daughter Helen De Niro

Audiences can next catch the four-time Emmy nominee executive producing and starring as Stan, the grandfather of an autistic boy (R, William A. Fitzgerald), in Tony Goldwyn's family dramedy Ezra hitting US theaters May 31

The Killers of the Flower Moon star also has dual roles as Vito Genovese and Frank Costello in Barry Levinson's long-delayed mob movie Alto Knights (previously known as The Wise Guys), which Warner Bros. Pictures is scheduled to release into US theaters on November 15, 2024.

Throughout his acting career, Robert has been awarded with Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011, Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2016, and SAG Life Achievement Award in 2020.

De Niro also owns the Greenwich Hotel, the Nobu/Tribeca Grill restaurant chains, Tribeca Film Festival, and Canal Productions.
Charlotte Dawson took to Instagram on Saturday to share several snaps from her lavish family holiday to the Maldives.

The influencer, 31, who has been on a public weight loss journey, looked sensational in a thigh-split zebra-print dress.

She was joined on her 'jollies' by her fiance Matt Sarsfield and their two sons Noah, three, and Jude, 10 months.

Charlotte captioned the post: 'Loved this look on our jollies I felt so good in this outfit with my weight loss  yes Im still posting my Maldives content.

'Take us back plz   best times with my dream team swipe to see the cutest vid of Noah & his holiday gf /bestie.

Charlotte Dawson, 31, took to Instagram on Saturday to share several snaps from her family holiday to the Maldives

The influencer has been on a public weight loss journey (pictured almost two stone heavier in November 2023)

She was joined on her 'jollies' by her fiance Matt Sarsfield and their two sons Noah, three, and Jude, 10 months

'Tan & glow - @dawsylicioustanning  Bodeh - @chazzasbellehblasters. Dress - @alexandramiro. Bag - @dior (CD most expensive initials).

'Shoes - @chloe Boys' matching outfits - @nextofficial @dawsysarsytravels .'

Charlotte has been taking her 1.3 million Instagram followers along with her on her weight loss journey, following the birth of her second child, Jude, in 2023.

In April, she revealed she'd lost a whopping 1st 8lbs in just shy of three months, as the TV personality shared a side-by-side image of herself before and now.

This was in addition to the 1st 5lbs she lost in the first eight weeks of her belleh blaster programme.

On Friday, Charlotte shocked fans with another business venture: she and Matt had started a travel page.

Charlotte wrote: 'My darlings.. We've been keeping a little chuffin secret!!!

'We are so excited to let you all know how we have been earning from the Travel industry and how we are going to be helping you all do the same.

'Travel Is something we absolutely love, even if it's just day trips with the kids, stag do's (yes Matthew that's aimed at you), Weeks in the Maldives crashing honeymoons or a night in a hotel the 2 of uswhich is never but it's a nice thought

'It's pretty limitless what you can do with this opportunity to and we aren't gatekeeping the secret anymore..

'And don't worry, if you don't travel at all, this is still for you! You can be earning from your phone, just by helping others make memories from the comfort of your own home! It's come at a perfect time for me whilst I'm at home with the boyos all the time..

'We also wanted to share more of our travel content with you all on a separate page, whilst we fill you all in on how you can get involved on the fun -

'Follow @dawsysarsytravels and dm the page a  for more info.. '

Charlotte's dress and one shoulder and she wore it with black Chloe sandals and styled her hair in a top knot

She tried to take a nice photo with Jude on the beach but he wasn't having it and squirmed away

At dinner, Jude was much more obedient and smiled sweetly wrapped in Charlotte's arms at the table

The family took a final group photo but Jude was distracted and Noah nibbled on his thumb as he sweetly held Noah's leg

In April, Charlotte revealed she'd lost a whopping 1st 8lbs in just shy of three months, as the TV personality shared a side-by-side image of herself before and now

This was in addition to the 1st 5lbs she lost in the first eight weeks of her Belleh Blaster programme
Georgia Harrison flaunted her toned body in a white bikini and held two huge bottles of champagne at a Shein party in Ibiza with Demi Sims on Saturday.

The Love Island: All Stars stunner, 29, looked fabulous in a the bikini which she wore with gold waist chains.

House Of Sims star Demi, 27, showed off her numerous tattoos in a sexy black bikini and ripped jeans combo.

Partying elsewhere was Chloe Ferry and Love Island fan favourites, twins Jess and Eve Gale.

Georgia Harrison, 29, flaunted her toned body in a white bikini and held two huge bottles of champagne at a Shein party in Ibiza with Demi Sims, 27, on Saturday

The Love Island: All Stars stunner looked fabulous in a the bikini which she wore with gold waist chains

House Of Sims star Demi showed off her numerous tattoos in a sexy black bikini and ripped jeans combo

Demi and Eve shocked fans in March when it was revealed that they were dating.

However, towards the end of April, Eve clarified that though the two had indeed enjoyed a string of dates, they were 'not in a serious relationship'.

This may not have gone down with Demi as she has yet to be pictured with Eve, though she has cosied up to a myriad of other Love Island girls.

Meanwhile, Georgia called it quits with her All Stars love Anton Danyluk who has silenced rumours he has moved on with Hannah Elizabeth.

Anton, 29, and Hannah, 34, grew close before the split, but in April Anton confirmed they were 'best of friends'.

When a fan asked them to date, personal trainer Anton replied: 'So this girl deserves the absolute world and any man would be lucky to have her.

'Unfortunately, that man is not myself. We are the best of friends but I am more like a brother.'

Hannah then re-shared the confession to her own Instagram Stories and captioned it 'Love youuu so much'.

Previously, Anton and Hannah got tongues wagging due to their multiple cosy dates and outings.

Georgia and Demi were joined at the sexy Shein party by (left to right): Megan Hana Mcloughlin, Olivia Hawkins, and Danica Taylor

Cally Jane Beech looked gorgeous in her skimpy white bikini and matching cover up

Arabella showed off her Ibiza tan in her racy brown number

Anton and his 'wifey' made several of these appearances together, including a three-way date with Sherie.

It's a stark contrast from Sherie's relationship with Georgia, whom she readily admitted did her 'nut in'.

Though Georgia and Anton finished in a respectable fifth place during the Love Island All Stars final in February, viewers were left questioning whether they were genuine.
Rue21 - the teen fashion chain that is a fixture in malls across America - is to shut all 543 US stores.

Customers will be able to pick up deals while the company clears its stock over the next four to six weeks - but then the 40-year-old chain will be gone forever. At its peak, it had 1,200 shops.

It is expected clearance items will start at 20 to 50 percent off then rise up to as much as 90 percent to clear stock that doesn't initially sell.

Bosses did try to sell the chain - but none of the bids would raise as much money as closing down and selling off all the stock, court documents say.

Rue21 spans strip malls, shopping malls and outlet centers across 45 states. Texas has the most with 51 stores, followed by Georgia's 39, while Florida and North Carolina each have 30.

This weekend, Rue21's website said it was 'being updated'. It is thought it is being set up for the closing down sale, which will run online and in shops. The 4,900 employees will stay on while stock is cleared.

Rue21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will close all 543 stores within four to six weeks

Rue21 is closing all 543 stores and will clear its stock over the next four to six weeks in clearance sales

Rue21 will start a sale to clear all its stock. Around 5,000 staff work at the retailer

Rue21, headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, has filed for bankruptcy twice before.

After the first one in 2003 it flourished and under the ethos 'fashion should be fun and accessible to all' it grew to have more than 1,200 stores at its peak in 2013.

But it hit financial problems again and in 2017 it used bankruptcy to restructure - shutting 400 underperforming stores and negotiating leases.

The latest Chapter 11 bankruptcy will see see all stores shut. Court documents say it will have 'going out of business sales' for the next four to six weeks across all stores. It has around $200 million in debt.

Rue21 is also selling its brand name and other intellectual property. This means it could be bought by a rival who might re-open it as a smaller chain or bring it back as online.

Interim CEO Michele Pascoe said said in a court filing that the retailer was badly hit hard by a shift to online shopping that was accelerated by Covid.

hit hard by a shift to online shopping that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neil Saunders of GlobalData

Retail expert Neil Saunders blamed the 'growing irrelevance of the brand to teen consumers.'

'Rue21 does not have a very compelling proposition and is losing customers to other retailers and to cheaper and more interesting fashion platforms like Shein,' Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told CNN.

'There is still a big question mark over whether the retail market needs Rue21 to exist.'

Rue21 is the latest to file for bankruptcy and store closures.

In April, Express - another mall staple - filed for bankruptcy and said it would shut 95 Express outlets alongside all of its UpWest stores.

Rue21's website was down over the weekend

The West Coast brand - which has shops in California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada - announced last week that all 371 stores would shutter though it did not give a timeline for the closures. Pictured: the first 99 Cents store ever opened at La Tijera Boulevard

The same month, discount chain 99 Cents Only Stores said it was closing all 371 stores as it went out of business.

Die-hard shoppers of 99 Cents Only have been flocking to stores in California and stripping shelves bare to snap up bargains.

Meanwhile, in the third bankruptcy of April, national coffee and upmarket grocery chain Foxtrot also said it will shut all its stores with immediate effect - leaving staff and customers stunned

Foxtrot, which was established in 2014 in Chicago, had 33 locations across the Chicago, Austin, Dallas and Washington DC areas.
President Faure Gnassingbes party largely won Mondays legislative elections in Togo, the electoral commission announced on Saturday May 4, which will allow the head of state to remain in power under a new Constitution adopted in April .

The Union for the Republic (Unir), the presidential party, obtained 108 deputies out of 113, according to provisional results announced in Lome by the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Dago Yabre, after a count broadcast live on the national television channel. The participation rate was 61%, according to the Ceni.

These results, which have yet to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, constitute a triumph for the party of President Faure Gnassingbe, in power since 2005 following his father, who remained at the head of state for nearly thirty-eight years. This should ensure that he remains the master of Togos destiny for at least the next six years.

An institutional coup

The new Constitution adopted on April 19 by outgoing deputies shifted the country from a presidential system to a parliamentary system. Power now resides in the hands of a president of the council of ministers, who is automatically the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly. Which is the case for Faure Gnassingbe, president of Unir.

This constitutional reform has been strongly criticized by the Togolese opposition and civil society organizations, who denounce an institutional coup and see it as a way for Faure Gnassingbe to remain in power indefinitely. According to the previous Constitution, Mr. Gnassingbe could only have run for one last term in 2025. The opposition claims that the abolition of direct suffrage to elect the head of state will allow the latter to be reappointed without term limits as long as his party wins the legislative elections.

For the ruling party, on the contrary, the constitutional reform makes the authorities more representative. According to the new Constitution, the President of the Republic, appointed by the deputies for four years, becomes a simple honorary title.

Less than 70 observers across the country

The elections took place peacefully on Monday, despite a tense political climate. In the days that followed, several international organizations expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the vote.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) declared on Wednesday that they welcomed the establishment of a framework permanent consultation as well as the smooth running of the electoral campaign, and welcomed the holding of the elections in calm. The day before, an electoral mission from the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) judged that the vote had been free, fair and transparent.

For their part, some opposition voices began to criticize the conduct of the elections. Nathaniel Olympio, president of the Parti des Togolais (PT, opposition) regretted on Wednesday on .

The Dynamics for the Majority of the People (DMP), a grouping of opposition political parties and civil society organizations, claimed to have noted throughout the electoral day an excessive number of votes in several centers, delays in starting voting and not displayed voter lists.

Thirteen political parties and civil society organizations in Togo filed an appeal before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in April to demand the withdrawal of the countrys new Constitution. Attempts by the opposition to demonstrate against the new Constitution fell on deaf ears, with authorities preventing opposition leaders from meeting. In Togo, demonstrations have been banned since 2022, after an attack on the large market in Lome during which a gendarme was killed.
The wounds from the Easter Sunday Massacre linger, but within Sri Lankans resilience lies a beacon of hope, illuminating a path forward amidst profound despair

After the Easter attack tragedy, there arose a chorus, delving into the search for a mastermind behind the barbaric attack. Known as the Easter Sunday Massacre, on 21st April 2019, eight suicide bombers detonated themselves, targeting selected places in Colombo and Batticaloa, resulting in the deaths of over 260 innocent people and injuring hundreds more. A former Attorney General, a key figure in this discourse, ignited speculation by suggesting a possible hidden agenda. However, his evasion of the court and avoidance of investigators seeking clarification on his previous Statements only intensified suspicions. Politicians, social activists, journalists and even ordinary citizens unwittingly propagated a conspiracy theory based on prejudices and unverified media reports.

From my perspective, this conspiracy theory inadvertently served a unique purpose amid the chaos and irregularities. It acted as a temporary balm, diluting the rising tide of animosity against Muslims and briefly restoring social equilibrium. Without it, the nation risked a recurrence of the 1983 ethnic riots, albeit on a larger scale. Yet, as the conspiracy theory gained traction, it altered the societal psyche, fostering normalcy among diverse ethnic groups, albeit with attempts by some to exploit the situation. What remains lamentable is that this theory misled the public and squandered an opportunity to establish a socio-legal framework for preventing future occurrences.

During my conversation with Malith Jayathillake, former National List Member of Parliament and head of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security appointed by then-President Maithripala Sirisena, the overlooked reality became stark. The report he presented in February 2020 outlined proposals for formulating and implementing laws to ensure national security, eradicate new terrorism and extremism by fostering unity among races and religions. Regrettably, this invaluable contribution by lawmakers was largely ignored. Jayathillake dismisses the notion of a conspiracy behind the attacks, recognising instead a meticulously planned suicide mission inspired by the ideology of the Islamic State.

Concurrently, Dr Ameer Ali from Murdoch Universitys School of Business and Governance dispels conspiracy notions, attributing the attack to subsequent political manipulation. Yet, in probing the roots of extremism, he identifies a turning point in 1977 when the country embraced the free market. Within certain segments of the Muslim communities, exclusivism emerged, alienating inclusivism and sowing the seeds for the proliferation of extreme ideas within the societal fabric.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, about a month later, I engaged in an interview with Jonah Blank, a Principal Investigator and Senior Political Scientist for RAND Corporation. Blank astutely highlighted two critical aspects of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. Firstly, he emphasised that the attack was a result of political negligence rather than being solely classified as an intelligence failure by various parties. Secondly, Blank pointed out that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) did not choose Sri Lanka; rather, Sri Lankan extremists opted for allegiance to ISIS.

Addressing the ongoing political crisis in the country, Blank remarked, When the nations two top officials are locked in open conflict, they cant cooperate to ensure the safety of the citizens. Despite my interview with Blank becoming a talking point in various media circles and social groups, rational arguments and factual information struggled to counter the persistence of conspiracy theories.

Complicating matters further, a full four years following the tragic incident, a British television channel not only fuelled baseless speculation but later begrudgingly admitted to a shocking lack of substantial evidence backing the allegations. These unfounded claims stemmed from a lone source purportedly recruited by a United Nations agency, casting a dark shadow over the entire narrative.

Amidst the discourse, I observed a political theatre unfolding, overshadowing the much-needed societal discussion. Those involved seemed more focused on accusing one another rather than earnestly seeking the truth. In the last five years since this barbaric attack, committees appointed by the President and Parliament have conducted investigations, producing lengthy reports. However, there is a noticeable absence of dialogue about future threats and the potential aftermath.

The tragic events unfolded against the backdrop of a nation grappling with its political identity and leadership struggles. Blanks insights into political negligence shed light on a systemic issue that extended beyond intelligence failures. Sri Lankas socio-political terrain, marred by internal conflicts and power struggles, created an environment ripe for extremist ideologies to take root. The intricate web of political discord, coupled with a failure to prioritise national security, laid the groundwork for the devastating Easter Sunday attacks.

As the media frenzy surrounding conspiracy theories intensified, genuine efforts to understand the root causes of the attack were drowned out. Blanks observations about the political crisis resonated deeply, underscoring the importance of unity among leaders during times of national peril. However, the cacophony of blame-shifting and finger-pointing persisted, hindering the nations ability to address the multifaceted challenges posed by this emerging social phenomenon.

Amid this turbulent period, the fifth anniversary of the Easter massacre serves as a distressing reminder of the collective responsibility to learn from the past and fortify the nation against potential threats. The committees findings, though crucial, must be more than backdated analyses; they should serve as a foundation for proactive measures and policies to safeguard Sri Lankas future. The narrative must evolve beyond the immediate aftermath to address the lingering societal scars and instil a renewed sense of resilience and preparedness.

After spending nearly five years immersing myself in a myriad of materials and conducting extensive interviews with numerous sources on this heinous crime, I am compelled to acknowledge the absence of any substantive facts supporting conspiracy theories. Instead, what emerges is the chilling reality of negligence and deliberate ignorance in addressing extremism and the imperative need for robust de-radicalisation efforts. I opt to accentuate the triumph of our adversariesa triumph exacerbated by the gross negligence and underestimation displayed by defenders of national security and political stability.

Our genuine focus must now pivot resolutely towards preventing the recurrence of such crimes and sculpting a secure future for our nation, a nation that has too often lived amidst violence rather than peace, grappling with both internal and external threats. The repercussions of the Easter massacre extend far beyond the economic sphere, infiltrating into an unprecedented degeneration of societal values.

Regrettably, as we mark the fifth anniversary of the attacks, a pressing and profound necessity emerges for a narrative shiftone that moves beyond unsubstantiated accusations aimed at specific individuals. We must transcend the cycle of blame and retrospective scrutiny, opting instead for thorough approaches that delve into the underlying causes of extremism, fanaticism and terrorism regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations. This calls for a holistic approach, encompassing not only the reinforcement of intelligence and security protocols but also the fostering of a society that celebrates inclusivity, empathy and constructive discourse.

The journey toward healing and rebuilding necessitates a sincere effort from all corners of society.

Ultimately, the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings underscores the resilience of the Sri Lankan people in the face of immense adversity. Looking forward, it is paramount to harness this collective strength and channel it into comprehensive strategies. These must not only confront immediate threats but also lay the foundations for a future characterised by security and harmony. The lessons distilled from this tragedy should propel the nation towards a collective commitmenta commitment to unity, understanding and the prevention of recurring horrors. Otherwise, in a society where the majority languishes in a deep slumber, indulging in unproven conspiracies and scapegoating a select few, we will only rouse from our stupor when the next tragedy inevitably befalls us.

This ts the second part of the article on five years of Easter attack in Sri Lanka.

(The writer is a Sri Lankan journalist. Views are personal)
The extremists might be unaware that their malicious actions could jeopardise the safety of their community. It falls upon the responsible segment of the community to rein in the extremists

The bomb hoax received by up to 285 schools in and around Delhi, reflects the burning anger among extremists. Although the threatening message from a Quranic text was dispatched from a Russian electronic source, evidentially, the email identities were sent from Delhi, most probably from Indians. The email was most offensive to quote; Did you real think that there would be no answer for all the evil you have done? Since childhood, the fire of jihad has been lit in our hearts, we have become this fire, Inshallah who preside over just retribution.

The extremists may not realise that their nefarious activity can endanger the safety of their community. It is for the responsible section or the community to control the extremists. If they think that it is for the law-and-order authorities only to deal with such mischief, they are mistaken. The police and others can do so only much and no more. In short, it is not their function to protect the goodwill of the responsible section of the minority. If they do not do so, the Indian people almost would gain the impression the responsible section is also somewhat sympathetic towards the extremists activity.

Remember Partition is not a forgotten chapter of Indias recent history. Pakistan and Bangladesh are standing minarets of Muhammad Ali Jinnahs Two Nation Theory whereby Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist in the same country. Hardly any Hindus have been allowed to remain in Pakistan, wherein Bangladesh non-Muslims are reducing in numbers by the week. Mohandas Gandhi told Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur the day before he was assassinated that India was a secular country because the division was a territorial and not religious one. This may have been a kind human gesture to protect the minority, but it was not the truth. Most Hindus, do not believe that it was not a division based on religion. The Hindu heart believes that it was the final settlement between Hindus and Muslims. Yes, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi and their followers are free to hold their views but that era has passed and a new age has dawned in India.

Following in step with the moving train of time is wise and not getting stuck in the mud of the past. Here, it is also wise to remember that Europe no longer welcomes emigrants and the USA is reportedly slow and shows of much reluctance. The only open space appears to be Africa. One of the loud messages of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is that emigrants are no longer welcome even in a West Asian country, whether Egypt, Jordan or any other. No neighbour has lifted their fingers toward the trigger for saving the Gaza Heights. One reminded of the ghazal by Talat Mahmood Jayein to Jayein Kahan.

Mughal emperor Akbar understood clearly even as a boy it could be easy to rule India if he made Hindus who were 95 per cent of his empire safe, happy and well-treated. As a sign of his impartiality between religions, he went, for Muslims to the extreme extent of not performing sunnat or circumcision on his son Salim who rose to become Jahangir, the future emperor. This Islamic king, if he were not emperor, would have been accused of being a murtad; or apoState, fit for the death penalty. His eventual innovation was called Din-e-Ilahi. By implication, he was replacing Islam with a synthetic religion that would include people of all faiths. In practice, not a great deal happened but it was a gesture especially to the Hindus, how much he was prepared to go forward to placate their sentiments. This was not the end of his vision but in a way only the beginning. He abolished the vexatious; jaziya tax which Hindus had to pay to receive protection from the State. Whenever he conquered a Rajput territory Akbar offered the Hindu prince his territory back under the Mughal suzerainty, provided the prince was prepared to align with and even fight for the empire. That indeed was a generous gesture by not dispossessing the Rajput of the kingdom completely and ensuring him of a place in the empire. He often offered to marry a princess of the principality. If his hand was accepted, he did not ask the lady to convert to Islam. There was no better way of touching the hearts of the Rajputs. In recorded history, no Muslim conqueror was this generous.

In contrast, Aurangzeb was the opposite. He went down to desecrating and demolishing Hindu temples like Vrindavan, Mathura and Banaras. Humiliating Hindus and breaking their hearts was the preferred point in his agenda. To many, it would seem that being emperor and ruling Hindu India was merely his pastime.

Alamgir Aurangzebs vicarious cruelties extended much beyond the demolition of temples. When he brought down the Kashi Vishwanath temple at Banaras, he left the western gate of the Hindu edifice as it was, so that every worshipper would be reminded of what the Mughals had done. When he desecrated the Govind Dev temple at Vrindavan, he demolished the top two floors only, leaving the bottom two for the Hindus to see and feel the humiliation. What benefit could such conduct bring to a ruler? Only Aurangzeb could have known.

(The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha; views are personal)
As consumers of digital content, it is crucial to discern between genuine discourse and agenda-driven narratives

Todays warfare is increasingly characterised by information warfare tactics. Social media serves as an ideal weapon for conducting modern conflicts where the battle for narratives and perceptions plays a crucial role in shaping outcomes. In this digital context, the emergence of Pakistani YouTubers has garnered significant attention in India over the past five years. Their channels span various genres from reaction videos to those featuring interactions with common people in Pakistan and podcasts and discussions on geopolitics. However, a closer look reveals a subtle yet concerning trend in their content.

Initially, these YouTubers sought to attract Indian viewership by praising India unabashedly. They lauded Indias policies and economic growth and even expressed admiration for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP. Their narratives echoed sentiments of unity and regret over the partition, portraying Indias economic liberalisation in the 1990s as a commendable move. This strategic approach garnered them millions of Indian subscribers. Even educated Indians appreciated such rare, seemingly sane views and analyses from Pakistani youth.

At first, it was perplexing to witness the sudden change in tune from Pakistan, a country historically marred by animosity towards India. Suddenly, Pakistani YouTubers were singing praises for Jawaharlal Nehru as the best Prime Minister and socialism as the ideal policy for India. This abrupt shift raised eyebrows, especially considering Pakistans track record of hostility towards India over the past 70 years. So, it begged the question how was it that Pakistanis have only now discovered virtues in Indian leaders and policies that they previously overlooked or actively opposed? But still, these YouTubers were embraced by Indians with open arms, evident from the predominance of views and comments on their videos from India.

However, as time passed, their mask began to unravel. Channels focusing on geopolitics gradually began to push their agenda subtly. Considering Pakistans precarious economic situation, these YouTubers advocated for the resumption of trade with India which was halted by their Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019 as a protest against Indias decision to revoke Article 370 in Kashmir. They openly criticised Imran Khans decision, labelling it as foolish given the adverse impact it had had on Pakistans economy.

However, recently when the Indian Government did not reciprocate to the India-Pak trade agenda, these YouTubers tones shifted dramatically towards anti-India and pro-China propaganda. Suddenly, they started painting India as a regressive Hindu country with an authoritarian Government where minorities as well as the democracy are allegedly in grave danger. Now, they consistently invite guests onto their channel providing them with a platform to perpetuate anti-India and anti-Indian narratives.

It is striking how these Pakistani YouTubers seldom address the pressing issues within their own country. They seem conspicuously silent on the plight of minorities particularly the violence perpetrated against them. While they are quick to produce videos condemning alleged injustices against Muslims in Palestine and India, they conveniently overlook similar atrocities within Pakistan.

Some YouTubers remain silent on the oppression of Muslims in China, despite evidence of human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. This raises questions about the sincerity of their activism and suggests geopolitical influences on their narrative.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that these Pakistani YouTubers also openly criticise their Government and army, a rarity in Pakistan where dissent against the establishment is often met with severe repercussions. This raises suspicions about their affiliations, true intentions and ulterior motives behind their digital presence. One cannot help but wonder if these YouTubers are planted by some foreign agencies to serve as mouthpieces for their agenda.

Here, the concern is that many Indian youths, unaware of this shift, continue to consume their content, inadvertently perpetuating the agenda. Many Indian intellectuals and geopolitical experts have begun to criticise these YouTubers for their manipulative tactics. Interestingly, this manipulation is not only limited to India but has been extended to Bangladesh too as these podcasters churn out videos portraying the 1971 war as a mistake. They label West Pakistans attempt to suppress and colonise East Pakistan as evil and this new narrative aims to attract Bangladeshi viewers first and subtly push their agenda later.

In the era of information, overload critical thinking is our best defence against manipulation.

Hence, it is imperative to recognise and address this subtle propaganda and analyse the content the Indians consume. As consumers of digital content, it is crucial to discern between genuine discourse and agenda-driven narratives.

Everyone needs to realise and understand that India stands for peace and brotherhood but not at the expense of its national security.

(The writer is an academician; views are personal)
Zakia Wardak, the senior-most Afghan diplomat in India, has resigned from her position after reports emerged that she was caught at Mumbai airport last month for allegedly trying to smuggle 25 kg of gold worth Rs 18.6 crore from Dubai.

Wardak had taken charge as the acting ambassador of Afghanistan to New Delhi since late last year after working as the Afghan Consul General in Mumbai for over two years.

In a statement posted on 'X', the Afghan diplomat said she decided to resign in view of numerous personal attacks on her that severely impacted her ability to effectively operate.

She, however, did not mention the reports of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seizing 25 kg of gold from her at the Mumbai airport on April 25.

It is learnt that the DRI did not arrest Wardak as enjoyed diplomatic immunity.

"It is with great regret that I announce my decision to step away from my role at the consulate and embassy of Afghanistan in India, effective May 5," she said.

"Over the past year, I have encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation not only directed towards me but also towards my close family and extended relatives," she said.

Wardak took charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi last November after the mission helmed by then ambassador Farid Mamundzay announced its closure.

Mamundzay had moved to the UK.There was no comment by Indian officials on Wardak's resignation.

"These attacks, which appear to be organised, have severely impacted my ability to effectively operate in my role and have demonstrated the challenges faced by women in Afghan society who strive to modernise and bring positive change amidst ongoing propaganda campaigns," Wardak said in her statement.

She said the "persistent and coordinated" attacks have surpassed a "tolerable threshold".

"While attacks on me and my character were not altogether surprising, as being in public life is something I had prepared myself for, I was unprepared for the toll it took on those close to me. It is not fair to subject them to such unwarranted and horribly unfair experiences," she said.

"The persistent and coordinated nature of these attacks, aimed at defaming my character and undermining my efforts, have surpassed a tolerable threshold," Wardak added.

"It has become increasingly clear that the public narrative is unfairly targeting the only female representative within this system, rather than focusing on constructive assistance and support," she said.

"While it is my passion to serve my country and contribute to positive change, I find it necessary to prioritize my well-being and ability to function in a normal capacity. Therefore, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my current role."

The Afghan diplomat also thanked India for its "unwavering support" during her tenure in the country.

"It has been a great privilege working alongside the people of India for the past three years. I am grateful for the collaborative efforts and shared vision for progress between nations," she said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday brushed aside US President Joe Biden's "xenophobia" remark about India and said, "First of all, our economy is not faltering." He also said India has always been open and welcoming to people from diverse societies.

Biden, in his remarks, two days back alleged that India's economy was faltering and not doing well, while the US economy was growing. He also claimed that several countries, including India, are "xenophobic" because they do not welcome immigrants.

Rejecting these assertions, Jaishankar, in an interview to a national daily, highlighted that India has always been open and welcoming to people from diverse societies.

Jaishankar's statement is based on the fact that India has been the fastest growing major economy in the world for the last few years, while also becoming the fifth-largest global economy last year. India is also poised to become the world's third-largest economy before the end of the decade.

On May 2, President Biden had said, "You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants. We look to the reason (behind this)...think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants."

The US President said this while campaigning for his re-election for the US Presidency at a fundraising event in Washington.

Responding to the claim on "xenophobia," Jaishankar said, "India has always been a very unique country... I would say actually, in the history of the world, that it's been a society which has been very open... different people from different societies come to India."

He gave an example of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Jaishankar highlighted how the CAA, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government, showcases India's welcoming approach.

"That's why we have the CAA, which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble... I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India," Jaishankar said.

He also spoke about the narrative created by a section of the western media and backed it with an example of the ongoing protests at US universities.

Jaishankar spoke about the ongoing anti-Israel protests in American university campuses and criticised a section of the Western media for its biased coverage, suggesting that it is "very ideological" and not at all "objective" reporting. He said this section of media wants to shape the global narrative and has been targeting India as well.

To curb the diplomatic fallout of President Biden's remarks terming India, Japan, and other nations, "xenophobic," the White House issued a clarification on the President's intentions, emphasising his "respect" for allies and partners.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre asserted that the President's comments were part of a broader message emphasising the strength derived from America's immigrant heritage.
A complaint has been filed against the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for filing his nomination from the Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh. The complaint raises a question about Rahul's nationality and his recent conviction in a defamation case, and how his nomination can be deemed valid by the Election Commission.

The complaint was filed by advocate Ashok Pandey on behalf of Anirudh Pratap Singh. The complaint against Gandhi was registered by the advocate with the Returning Officer of Raebareli, demanding the cancellation of the Congress leader's nomination on the basis of two grounds --his nationality and his conviction.

"First, Rahul Gandhi has been convicted for two years... He is ineligible to contest elections. Even though the Supreme Court has put a stay on Rahul Gandhi's conviction, it has not given any verdict like Afzal Ansari saying he can contest again... Since his stay on conviction does not involve permission to contest elections he should back off," Pandey told the media.

"Second, back in 2006, Rahul Gandhi once mentioned his nationality as British. Being a British citizen, he cannot Constitutionally contest elections... After my complaint, Rahul Gandhi's representative was called in and my complaint has been accepted," the advocate further said.

Congress leader Ajay Pal Singh issued a statement regarding the complaint against Rahul, saying that his nomination was held valid before, and still hold valid now.

"There's a candidate who registered a complaint against Rahul Gandhi after the period of complaining was over... The complainant said he has filed a writ challenging Rahul Gandhi's nationality... Rahul Gandhi's nomination was valid previously as well, and it is valid now also," Ajay added.

Rahul filed his nomination from the Raebareli constituency on Friday, putting an end to the speculation of him contesting the elections from Amethi again. Congress loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma will contest the election from Amethi, against Union Minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani.
The Indian Army Sunday launched a massive combing and search operation after inducting elite para commandos along with local military units of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) to avenge the killing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel, who sacrificed his life in the terror attack near Shahsitar in the Surankote area of Poonch district on Saturday.

Senior army officers along with Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain visited the ambush spot in the Surankote area to review the ongoing anti-terrorist operations.

A separate meeting was also attended by the senior officers ahead of launching a "hot pursuit" aimed at flushing out foreign terrorists hiding inside natural caves and "safe hideouts".

The security forces have also detained several residents to ascertain the whereabouts of these foreign terrorists hiding in the area. Meanwhile, the deceased IAF personnel has been identified as Corporal Vikky Pahade. A resident of Nonia-Karbal village, Corporal Pahade hailed from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district. He was supposed to return home to celebrate his son's birthday on Tuesday. According to the family members, Pahade had visited his family last month to attend his sister's wedding and had joined the unit on April 18.

Four other injured IAF personnel were undergoing treatment at a command hospital in Udhampur.

"The CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and all personnel of (the) Indian Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in (the) Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief," read a post on the official X handle of the Indian Air Force

According to ground reports, the Indian Army conducted aerial surveillance using a helicopter to maintain a tight vigil on the movement of any suspected personnel in the forest area. Additional troops were rushed to the ambush site to plug the possible escape routes. In addition, a general alert was sounded in the area and random checking of vehicles and suspected personnel was conducted to instill a sense of security among the frightened residents.

Since late Saturday evening, the security forces have been tracking the footprints of the terrorists behind the attack.

The officials said checking of vehicles has been intensified across the district which is going to polls in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 25. Poonch is part of the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency.

Local reports indicated the terrorists vanished soon after the attack without facing any tough resistance. The nearest habitation was located less than 1 km from the area where the attack took place enroute Sanai Top.

The security forces suspected local over-ground workers, active in the area may have extended logistic support to these foreign terrorists besides providing them safe shelter and other help to execute their terror plot at the behest of their handlers sitting across Pakistan. So far the local police have failed to generate any human intelligence to expose the safe hideouts across the vulnerable rural pockets across these frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

According to official sources, between October 2021 and May 4, 2024, the Indian Army suffered huge collateral damage in these ambushes orchestrated in the areas South of Pir Panjal to spread the "arc of terror" across the Jammu region.

The standoff between the Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh also impacted the security scenario with the shifting of a large number of troops to beef up Indian defenses in the cold desert region.

Statistics revealed a total number of 35 Army personnel were "killed in action" in different targeted strikes across Jammu and Kashmir during the same period. In contrast, only five terrorists were neutralized in these operations.

Preliminary reports suggested that foreign terrorists adopted the same modus operandi in these "audacious" strikes.

They first conducted a recce of the entire area including its topography, pattern of civilian movement, and likely schedule of convoy movement with the help of a local guide or any over-ground worker. Secondly, they stayed near the ambush site to avoid getting on the radar of the security forces while running away after executing the terror plot. In all these terror attacks that have taken place in the middle of the road, foreign terrorists used similar ammunition and automatic rifles to inflict fatal injuries. Initially, the terrorists also recorded videos and circulated the same on various social media platforms to run propaganda targeting the Indian armed forces.
The MLA and MP candidates of Congress organised a Press meet to inform about party's manifesto Nyay Patra'.

All the Congress MLA candidates of five Assembly constituencies and the MP candidate for Kendrapada, Siddharth Swarup Das along with DCC president Lokanath Maharathy, were present.

They said that the Congress would conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census if it comes to power in 2024. Among its guarantees also include a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The Nyaya Patra also promises to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in sanctioned posts at various levels in the Central Government. Rajasthan model of cashless insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be adopted for universal healthcare. Ten per cent quota in jobs, educational institutions for EWS will be implemented for all castes, communities without discrimination, the manifesto promises.

It also guarantees new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide one year apprenticeship to every diploma holder or graduate below age of 25. The Congress will launch urban employment programme guaranteeing work for urban poor in reconstruction, renewal of urban infrastructure, informed Spira Malllick, Congress candidate of Kendrapada Assembly seat.

The party leaders said the Congress will reserve one-half (50 per cent) of Central Government jobs for women starting 2025. Allegations against persons who were allowed to escape law after joining BJP will be probed, promises the party's poll document.

It also promises abolishing the contractual mode of appointment and initiate recruitment on regular mode. Under the Mahalakshmi scheme, the Congress Government will provide Rs 1 lakh per year to every poor Indian family, stated Siddharth Swarup Das, Congress candidate for Kendrapada Parliamentary seat.

The Nyaya Patra guarantees to fix a national minimum wage at Rs 400 per day. The Congress Government will provide a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 for paddy, Rs 2,000 per month to every woman, Rs 3,000 to every unemployed youth, 200 units free electricity, and gas cylinder at Rs 500 to the consumers.

The Congress will replace the GST laws enacted by the BJP/NDA Government with GST 2.0. The new GST regime will be based on the universally acceptable principle that GST shall be a single, moderate rate (with a few exceptions) that will not burden the poor. The Congress will eliminate Angel tax and all other exploitative tax schemes that inhibit investment in new micro, small companies and innovative start-ups, said the the Congress leaders.
Four employees sustained injuries when a major fire broke out in a shopping mall in Keonjhar district on Sunday. The fire incident occurred in the building of Reliance Trends at Anandpur in the district in the afternoon.

Thick smoke was found billowing out of the building, which was open at the time.

Getting information, Fire Service personnel rushed to the spot and launched an operation to extinguish the blaze. At least four fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the fire under control.

The Fire Service personnel managed to rescue eight employees trapped in the smoke-filled mall. Four of the staffs who had sustained injuries were rushed to a local hospital.

Fortunately, no customer was present in the mall at the time the fire broke out. Fire Service officials suspected that the fire might have started due to a short circuit of electrical connections in the building.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized a walkathon in Rajinder Nagar on Sunday morning under the Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se campaign in which a large number of people participated with AAP flags and cutouts of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. At this occasion, Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also showed the demo of Modi washing machine and how after putting the biggest of corrupts in this machine, get washed and become spotless. He symbolically put Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, Praful Patel, and Naveen Jindal in the Modi washing machine and they came out clean in saffron colour.

Senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh, AAP Delhi State Convener Gopal Rai, Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti, Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi, MLA Durgesh Pathak, MLA Vishesh Ravi and MLA Shiv Charan Goyal and other senior leaders participated in the walkathon.

Addressing the gathering at the occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that a walkathon is a very good way to convey our message to the people. We are going among the public and telling how after 2014, the Modi washing machine is washing away the stains of corruption of the corrupt people across the country by collaborating with the BJP, taking their support, and making them ministers.

This is not a small matter. The Prime Minister himself said that Ashok Chavan frauded the money which was meant for the flats of Kargil widows. The Prime Minister accused Ajit Pawar of committing an irrigation scam of ?70,000 crores. The Prime Minister himself said for Praful Patel that he has links with Iqbal Mirchi, who is an aide of Dawood Ibrahim. PM Modi has included such people in his party. The BJP protested for six months against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The BJP released a booklet accusing him of water scam. Even after this, PM Modi included Himanta Biswa Sarma in the BJP and even made him the Chief Minister. PM Modi included big corrupt people like Subhendu Adhikari, Mukul Rai, Janardhan Reddy in the BJP, he said.AAP Delhi state convenor Gopal Rai said that the BJP has thrown Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, elected with a thumping majority, in jail in the midst of elections without any evidence and FIR. There is a lot of anger among the people of Delhi against the arrest of Kejriwal, he said.

The AAP Delhi State Convenor further added that the AAP workers and youth are protesting against the arrest of Kejriwal in different ways. The people of Delhi are waiting for 25th May to answer the jail with the power of vote. In this context, a walkathon campaign has been started every Sunday to make people aware, he added.
Union Minister and Khunti Lok Sabha constituency candidate Arjun Munda on Sunday interacted with the villagers by doing public relations at various villages of Torpa Assembly. During this, he came to aware of the problems of the villagers and also talked about their solutions.

In his address, he said that we all have to vote to take the country forward in a democratic manner. During this, he appealed to the villagers to vote in favor of BJP on May 13.

He said that today I have got the opportunity to work with such a person who thinks day and night only for the people of the country. Our Prime Minister is continuously working to make the country strong and self-reliant because this will improve all lives. If our country develops, its people will also develop.

Munda said in his address that I have got the opportunity to work as Agriculture Minister also. There is immense potential for agriculture in this area and we will all work together in this regard in the future. Also, from the time I got the charge of Agriculture Ministry till the announcement of elections, many agricultural fairs have been organized in Khunti Lok Sabha. The farmers here have benefited from this.

Munda told that agricultural scientists told me that there is immense potential for agriculture here. Many farmers of the region have also been given training in Delhi and Bangalore, which will increase the possibility of advanced farming here.
A 9-year-old child died due to drowning in the water park of Sehore near Bhopal. He had come to celebrate the weekend with his family and drowned while playing in the swimming pool.

When the family spotted, they rushed him to the hospital. Where the doctors declared him dead after examination.

The accident happened on Sunday morning. After the death of the child, the parents have donated their son's eyes.

Gaurav Rajput, resident of Bhopal, has a paper trading business. He had gone to Crescent Water Park on Sunday morning with his wife Archana, 9-year-old son Aarush, 2-year-old son Aarav and his sister-in-law. Aarush was swimming in the shallow part of the water park. Gaurav was on a slider in the upper half.

Aarush drowned in water while playing. When mother Archana noticed, she pulled him out of the water. Called out to father. Aarush's mother alleges that after the accident, she asked for a first aid kit from the water park management but did not get it.

Gaurav Rajput told that Aarush was studying third class from a private school located in Saket Nagar, Bhopal. Came to the water park on Sunday with the intention of spending quality time. The child was enjoying in the swimming pool with less water. There suddenly the child became unconscious. We did not even know that my child would be gone forever from the place where we had come with the intention of spending a good time.

He said, there was no life guard at the spot at the time of the accident. My wife and the people present there somehow pulled the child out of the water. Kept shouting for help, no one responsible from the management of the water park came. There was not even a stretcher, somehow the child was taken to the civil hospital. The doctors there declared the son dead after checking. We want to keep him bright, which is why we have decided to donate his eyes.

Crescent Water Park manager Mahipal said that 5-6 guards are deployed at every swimming pool in the park. We have our own ambulance. From there the child was taken to the hospital. The allegations of negligence are false. At present, the police is investigating the matter.

According to the information, there was three and a half feet of water in the pool in which the child drowned. The pool has been designed keeping children in mind. 80-100 families come here every day during summer season.

Accordingly, 400 to 500 people reach the water park every day. On Sunday this number doubles (about 1000 people). This is the reason why many times the entry here is closed after noon on Sunday. For this reason the child's family had arrived early today.
Five students fatally attacked a student at Rajiv Gandhi Technological University (RGPV) located in Gandhi Nagar, Bhopal. The accused seriously injured victim by hitting him on the head with a rod. The reason for the dispute is said to be old rivalry.

Police have registered a case of attempt to murder and started searching for the accused.

The injured youth is a first year student

SI Kanhaiya Lal told that Aniket Temre (19) is a resident of Balaghat. He is studying chemical branch first year of polytechnic from Rajiv Gandhi Technological University. Lives in a hostel built on the college campus itself. He told that he was strolling in the campus after having dinner on Saturday night. Then accused Nitin Bhadauria, Nihal Sen, Dipanshu Sain, Devendra Saini and Yogesh came. Senior student Nitin said that you are walking fast these days. After this he started abusing.

After the incident, two groups of students came face to face. This created a tense situation in the college campus. Armed policemen were deployed on the spot.

After the incident, two groups of students came face to face. This created a situation of tension in the college campus. Armed policemen were deployed on the spot.

When he protested, he was hit on the head with a rod.

When Aniket protested against the accused, they started beating him. Then Nitin hit him on the head with a rod. Due to which the young man suffered serious head injury. A case of attempt to murder has been registered in the matter and investigation has been started. An FIR has been filed naming five accused. Efforts are being made to arrest the accused.

After the incident, the students reached Gandhi Nagar police station to lodge an FIR. Where the students created a ruckus after delay in taking action.

During this period there was also an argument between the students and the policemen. However, after receiving the medical report, the police registered a case late in the night.
Former Delhi Minister Raaj Kumar Anand, who had resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). "I offer my tributes to BR Ambedkar. Today, I feel like I have joined my own party," Anand said after joining the BSP.

Some reports say BSP may give him ticket from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat. Earlier this week, Anand called on L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena with a memorandum asking for his intervention in addressing critical issues concerning the welfare of the poorest of the poor in the city. He accused the AAP-Delhi government of being anti-Dalit.

The former Minister for Labour, Social Welfare and SC/ST/OBC, Anand underlined that he had resigned in the wake of prevalent excessive corruption in the government which led to the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Patel Nagar MLA had announced his resignation both from the Delhi Cabinet as well as the party on April 10, accusing it of being mired in the quicksand of graft and ignoring the Dalit community.

Serving as minister I came face to face with the fraud being run in the name of the poor of Delhi and the incessant lies that were peddled, Anand alleged, accusing the government of charges ranging from flouting reservation norms for SC/ST/OBC citizens to overlooking them when it came to appointments on various posts.

Despite the AAPs poll promise of regularising contractual employees, especially safai karamcharis who were mostly Dalits, Anand alleged nothing had been done in this direction.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo, while addressing a press conference at the media centre at Maru Tower launched a scathing attack on the state government in the wake of the recent decision of the High Court and the Supreme Court. Pratul Shahdeo said that recently, the Jharkhand High Court has not only rejected the rejected the petition filed by former chief minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest but has also termed the Chief Minister's allegation of political vendetta as the last attempt of a losing client [WP (Cr) 68 /2024]. The High Court also said in its scathing comment that all the evidence collected by ED so far prima facie reveals Hemant Soren's involvement in this scam. In its decision, the High Court also raised a big question on the recovery of Rs 36 lakh in the ED raid at Hemant Soren's residence in Delhi. The High Court said that it was the money deposited by Hemant Soren for the treatment of his parents. The argument for retention was considered untenable.

Pratul said that in the same manner, the state government had challenged the order of CBI investigation in the illegal mining case of Nimbu Pahar in Sahibganj. During the hearing, the Supreme Court wanted to know why the state government is so eager to stop this investigation? Ultimately the state government's petition was rejected and the CBI investigation will continue. It is clear that the corruption that took place during the tenure of Hemant Soren, now the judicial view on that scam is also becoming strict and the court is keeping a close watch.

Pratul said that the section of conspiracy was added to the FIR related to the land scam in the Sadar police station. But the incident of erasing the section of conspiracy (120B) by cutting it with a pen was also taken very seriously by the High Court. He has taken it and said that his time was during the tenure of Hemant Soren's government.

Pratul said that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government is stuck in the quagmire of all-round corruption and loot. Now the public will end the recognition of JMM. Pratul said that the party which did politics only on the basis of appeasement for four and a half years. During his tenure, people were jailed for writing 'Hindu fruit shop', general schools were converted into Urdu schools, an IAS officer kept calling himself a Muslim officer, a namaz place was made in the assembly without any demand, incidents of love jihad increased. Now she is accusing BJP of doing politics of hatred. Pratul said that anyway, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is going to lose its political existence after the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, an attempt is being made to set a new narrative by making such baseless allegations. The people of Jharkhand cannot say that till now they have done the naked dance of minority appeasement for vote bank politics.
Former Rajya Sabha member Mahesh Poddar has requested BJP supporters to put up the party flag at their homes and shops. Poddar has urged people to put up three flags on their own expenses outside their shop or house or on the rooftop.

Poddar said there was earlier there was some confusion among local officials regarding political parties flag rules. But the Election Commission of India has clarified the situation through its letter dated 24.04.2024. Poddar said that now if any local official stops any citizen from hoisting the flag in his premises, then they should cite this letter of the Election Commission. The copy of the letter is available in the state BJP office of Jharkhand.

It is noteworthy that on April 16, Poddar had sent a letter to the Central Election Commissioner to issue clear guidelines in this regard. In this he had written that citizens should get the opportunity to participate in the great festival of democracy by hoisting the flag of their favorite candidate or party. According to Mr. Poddar, in some rural areas people who have put up flags on their homes are receiving complaints of harassment by local officials. Therefore, by issuing clear guidelines in this regard, officials associated with election work should be prevented from harassing common citizens.

In the light of the request of Poddar, the Election Commission of India has clarified the position in the letter dated 24.04.24. According to this, a supporter of any party can put up a maximum of three flags in his premises. Also, if a voting banner is to be put up in favor of any candidate, then written permission of the candidate is required.

Poddar has expressed hope that after issuing such clear guidelines, now BJP supporters will follow these rules and install the flag in their premises at their own expense.
The post offices of Ranchi Postal Division remained open today to provide convenience to the common citizens during the Lok Sabha elections. Preparations have been made with the help of Ranchi GPO to deliver approximately 53000 Voter ID cards sent by the Election Commission to the common citizens through post. Voter ID was dispatched by keeping the Ranchi GPO office open till late night on Saturday. By morning, the Voter ID had reached the post office to be distributed as per the pin code. The postmen also showed great vigor and on Sunday the voter ID was sent to people's homes.

Senior Postal Superintendent Udaybhan Singh said that with the help of postal workers, postmen and GDS brothers, about 10,000 Voter ID cards have been distributed door-to-door. He thanked the postal workers, postmen and GDS brothers for this unique initiative and also thanked the common citizens for their cooperation.

Singh said, to make this great festival successful, we all must cast our valuable votes. Along with this, he also expressed his resolve to provide improved facilities in the upcoming elections. He said, "The Postal Department will be ready to provide facilities to the citizens in the coming elections."
As India gears up for another round of general elections, the political landscape is once again abuzz with promises and rhetoric. Among the cacophony of campaign speeches and pledges, one voice stands out, i.e., Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party with his fervent emphasis on redistributing wealth and vilifying wealthy individuals or wealth creators like Gautam Adani. However, amidst this fervour for redistribution, there lies a crucial oversight -- the imperative need to prioritise wealth creation over the mere distribution of freebies.

Gandhi's campaign rhetoric often revolves around the idea of extracting wealth from the affluent and redistributing it among the less-privileged segments of society, which is absurd on the face of it. While this may seem noble on the surface, it's essential to recognise that the wealth he speaks of is not a personal reserve of the wealthy elite but rather the collective contribution of taxpayers. Such wealth creation has been facilitated by the private sector, which has weathered challenges ranging from the erstwhile licence raj to burdensome taxation policies and a strong bureaucracy.

The disdain shown towards wealth creators, epitomised by Gandhi's rhetoric, is concerning and regressive. Rather than recognising the role of entrepreneurs and businesses in driving economic growth, there's a palpable contempt for their contributions in advancement of the nation. The wealth amassed by individuals like Adani is not a gift bestowed upon them by politicians; it's the result of their endeavours that benefit the nation as a whole.

The Congress party's inclination towards imposing punitive taxes on the wealthy only perpetuates a flawed economic ideology rejected decades back. Memories of exorbitant tax rates from previous eras serve as a stark reminder of the perils of excessive taxation stifling both private enterprise and governmental capacity to address societal needs and aspirations. It's imperative to acknowledge the progress made in fostering economic growth and empowering the middle class, albeit with the recognition that more can be done to dismantle socialist remnants.

Furthermore, proposals such as conducting a caste census to facilitate wealth redistribution are regressive and myopic. In a rapidly-evolving social landscape, where urbanisation blurs caste boundaries, such measures risk exacerbating divisions rather than fostering inclusivity. Instead of fixating on divisive policies, there's a pressing need to address the root causes of poverty, primarily stemming from decades of flawed economic policies.

Rather than succumbing to the allure of populism through promises of freebies, political discourse should shift towards focussing on national development and empowering individuals to uplift themselves out of poverty. Investments in education and skill development are paramount in equipping the populace with the tools to succeed in a rapidly-changing economic landscape. Additionally, fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and innovation is essential in fostering widespread prosperity.

Gandhi's pledge to "create lakhpatis" underscores a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of politicians in economic development. Rather than artificially engineering wealth distribution, the focus should be on creating an ecosystem where individuals have the opportunity to thrive based on their merit and enterprise. The Congress party's fixation on regressive policies risks undoing the progress made towards reducing poverty and boosting inclusive growth.

In fact, the upcoming general elections provide a unique opportunity for introspection and recalibration of economic priorities instead of focussing on regressive ones. Rather than succumbing to the allure of redistributive rhetoric and populist promises, there's a need to champion policies that prioritise wealth creation and empower individuals to chart their own path to prosperity. It's time to move beyond the politics of freebies and embrace a vision that fosters sustainable economic growth and equitable opportunities for all segments of society.

(The writer is an advocate, Orissa High Court, Addl. Central Government Standing Counsel, CAT, Cuttack Bench, Consulting Editor-Legal Affairs and Public Policy, The Pioneer and a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and Media Studies, School of Mass Communication, KIIT University. Views are personal)
): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed shock over this incident and given assurance to the people that the culprits will not be spared under any circumstances.

Chief Minister Yogi said that on the one hand the Samajwadi Party and Congress patronise, encourage and glorify the mafia, rioters and terrorists and on the other, they insult national heroes.

He said that the SP, after coming to power in 2012, made a malicious attempt to withdraw the cases of terrorists who attacked Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Sankatmochan Temple in Kashi, Lucknow courts as well as the CRPF camp in Rampur.

Recently, when a notorious mafia don died, the national president of Samajwadi Party himself visited his house to offer his condolences. How did he behave with Ram devotees during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya? What was the conduct of Samajwadi Party on the death of Kalyan Singh? Their disrespectful and contemptuous behaviour towards the statue of national hero Maharana Pratap on Saturday is highly condemnable. I condemn this act.

He added: This conduct is not exclusive to the Samajwadi Party; similar incidents occurred with Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra. When a supporter offered him a statue of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj, he declined it. It is evident they wont honour national heroes but will instead exalt terrorists, Pakistan, and criminal elements, posing a threat to the safety of women and businessmen. The nation is observing, and they will receive a fitting response in the upcoming elections.

Chief Minister Yogi emphasised that when leaders embrace shamelessness and pursue self-serving politics, their interests often prioritise their families, resulting in such displays. Whether it is the incidents in Mainpuri or Maharashtra, Congress, Samajwadi Party and National Conference exhibit similar tendencies. One cannot expect better things from them, he remarked.
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said Odisha needs a government which can partner with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Jaishankar said Odisha needs good governance, corruption-free government to properly utilise the States vast and rich resources. Despite huge and rich mineral resources, Odisha is lagging in many sectors of development, he said.

The resource utilisation in the State needs good governance, employment-friendly and corruption-free government, Jaishankar said and hoped that the people of Odisha would vote for BJP to carry forward the developmental agenda of Modi.

He claimed that Odisha occupies a special focus in Prime Minister Modis development plan and said during the last ten years the Modi government has provided Rs.18 lakh crore of Central funds to the State.

In Awas Yojana 2.7 lakh beneficiaries in the State have been provided with pucca houses while 53 lakh women have benefited under the Ujjala scheme and Rs 54,000 crore has been provided for the Sagarmala project in Odisha, Jaishankar said.

He said Modi has great respect for Odishas culture, heritage and tradition which has been recognised in the entire world. The replica of the Konark Wheel displayed at the G20 summit has proved how much Modi loved the culture and tradition of Odisha, he noted.

Narendra Modi, he said, has taken immediate steps to evacuate Odia people stranded in the war-torn Ukraine, Israel, and Sudan.

We hope that the people of Odisha will vote for Modi at the Centre and also form the BJP government in the State as Odisha needs a BJP government to carry forward Modis development agenda, the Union Minister said.
Scores of social media influencers participated in the Mahakumbh organised by the BJP in the national Capital, in the presence of BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai, with great enthusiasm with many getting their pictures clicked with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis at a stall on Sunday.

The former IPS officer Annamalai, who was the main speaker at the event, received a thundering applause for his address to the volunteers who have actively taken part in digital recourse by informing people of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP governments work and achievements.

With a hashtag of DelhiwithModiji, the event aimed at making use of these social media warriors to strengthen the BJP's political fight in the national capital where elections are slated to be held on May 25. People, who were wearing the saffron partys scarf, lined up in front of the kiosks set up in the BJP headquarters to get a picture clicked with PM Modi.

Delhiites of varying ages came and readily participated in the event, with many making videos and capturing pictures to post on their various social media handles. We have to understand that in this age and time, our role here is to find the truth and information and bring it out in the public domain. Whatever survey is being brought about in our country, borders on bogus; there is no reality to it. If you look at history, it has been the Congress party which destroyed the Constitution and dismantled it over and over again, in its 50 (odd) years of rule. Congress alone used Article 356 more than 91 times to dismiss any government from power. Now the same Congress party is setting a narrative that PM Modi wants 400 seats to destroy the Constitution. It is the Congress that made sure that anyone becoming a big leader or a threat to the Gandhi family becomes zero, said Annamalai while addressing the Social Media Volunteers.

Annamalai said that the BJP has always believed in truth, not narrative, so we have to take the truth to the people through social media. Those who do not want the development of the country set such a narrative that works to divide the people of India. He said that whatever survey companies talk about the country is absolutely far from ground reality. Therefore, if we come to know about any survey, it is necessary to reach the ground reality information to the common people.

Annamalai said that Congress is spreading a narrative in South India today that Modi ji wants 400 seats because he wants to end the constitution, while the reality is that during the Congress era, the constitution was completely in danger and suspended. Today, if there is any first-time voter, he would have been 8 years old during the Congress government, so it is necessary to give him information about what happened to him in history.

Sushil Chauhan, aged 38 years old, said that he feels happy about being a part of such an event and taking forward the work of PM Modi and the BJP government. It's a really good event that they have organised. Not only do I share the good things, I also talk to people and try to understand their problems and what they need. This will help us develop the country even more, he said.

Two eighteen year old boys Krishna Virmani and Naman shared their wish to actively participate in the vision of the PM and use social media in a right way to strengthen the country. We definitely want to carry forward the work of PM Modi to the public and use social media for it, they shared enthusiastically, while clicking pictures with PM Modi.

BJP state President Virendra Sachdeva, who was also part of the event, took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, Attended the Social Media Volunteers' meet with the State President of Tamil Nadu K. Annamalai, in Delhi. He emphasised the importance of showcasing data regarding the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Social media volunteers from the BJP Delhi unit were enlightened by the insights shared. The enthusiasm and energy of the social media volunteers clearly show the path to 'Siddhi' ahead of the Sankalp 'Abki Baar 400 Par'
State President of Bharatiya Janata Party and Khajuraho MP Vishnudutt Sharma, while addressing the press conference held in Gwalior on Sunday, said that this Lok Sabha election is an election of the resolve to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time.

This is the election of a developed India of 2047, development and poor welfare and the resolve to bring happiness on the faces of crores of poor. This is an election for freedom from corruption and terrorism. This election is an election against the forces that protect those with anti-national mentality. Sharma said that according to the feedback received regarding the first and second phase of Lok Sabha elections, the voting percentage has been somewhat less. But the reason for this is that Congress leaders and workers are in despair. They have started feeling that the government will be formed by BJP and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is going to become the Prime Minister for the third time. That's why he is so disappointed that he doesn't even consider it appropriate to vote and get it cast.

Their leaders and workers are disappointed and the candidates are running away from the field. Sharma said that for the next two phases of elections, Bharatiya Janata Party is making efforts with more strength that people from all sections of the society should vote as much as possible. He said that Bharatiya Janata Party will win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state with a historic majority. We will also win Chhindwara and in Rajgarh Mr. Bantadhar's security will be confiscated.BJP State President Shri Vishnudutt Sharma said that the whole country knows what kind of drama the Congress Party and its leader Rahul Gandhi had done regarding the case of Rohit Vemula.

Now Telangana Police, on the basis of investigation, has accepted that Rohith Vemula was not a Scheduled Caste person at all. It has become clear that the Congress party wants to play with the emotions of Dalits. He said that in the Rohith Vemula case, Congress has hatched a conspiracy to spread enmity in the society, this has been revealed in the investigation of Telangana Police. Have committed the sin of confusing and misleading the country and the entire Dalit society regarding this matter. Congress wants to rule the country by dividing it in the name of castes.

Why are Rahul-Priyanka, who made a comment on Rohit Vemula, silent on the insult of a Dalit woman, Imarti Devi? Rahul Gandhi should apologize to the people of the country for his sin.BJP State President Shri Vishnudutt Sharma said that Congress has promised to provide reservation to Muslims if it comes to power. By doing this, the Congress party wants to repeat the story of Karnataka in the entire country.

She wants to rob the interests of Dalits and OBC community by snatching their reservation. Shri Sharma said that there is no need for our Dalit and OBC community to panic due to this maneuvering of Congress. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has guaranteed that no one can snatch the reservation of SC, ST and OBC.

BJP State President Vishnudutt Sharma said that Congress has talked about inheritance tax in its manifesto. On one hand Modi ji talks about preserving the heritage, on the other hand the Congress party wants to rob the heritage of our ancestors. Only 25 percent of the jewelery and property that our ancestors had collected in their lifetime will remain with us, the rest will be taken by the government. Sharma said that the Congress Party wants to impose Jizya tax in the same way as Aurangzeb had imposed it. The mentality of Congress is still of slavery and the mentality of the British is still in its blood.Whether BJP state president, Congress leader or Mr. Be it Bantadhar Digvijay Singh or Kamal Nath, he has been making indecent comments towards women. Recently, the kind of words that State Congress President Jitu Patwari has used towards our Dalit sister Mrs. Imarti Devi, I feel ashamed even to say them.
Devendra Yadav, who formally took over as the interim president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Sunday, said "today, the country needs the Congress".He thanked the party leadership for entrusting him with this responsibility.

"I thank Congress for nominating me for this position. I am grateful to Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Ajay Maken, who have also accompanied me here," Yadav said. The Congress leader also expressed his gratitude towards all the party workers saying he also started his political career as a worker and has seen a lot of struggles and hardships.

"Today Congress, which is our mother, needs us. It's our duty to stand by the family when times are hard. Today, the country needs Congress," the Delhi Congress' interim chief said. He promised to live up to the faith and trust reposed on him by the Congress leadership, and strengthen the party in Delhi with the support and cooperation of the party workers.

"My shoulders are strong. I am determined to face the challenge. My team is strong. I will show how to strengthen Congress in Delhi," Yadav said. He said that though he comes from a political family strongly imbued in the Congress ideology and values, he never dreamt of rising to such levels after starting as a booth-level worker.

"If an ordinary worker like me could be entrusted with such a big job, it shows that the party leadership reposes big responsibility on those who shows commitment and determination to consolidate and strengthen the party, which I will achieve in Delhi," Yadav said. He appealed to the Congress workers to ensure the victory of the three Congress candidates and the four INDIA Bloc candidates in Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections and in the process reclaim the lost ground for Congress in the city.

Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken said the party's ideology was deeply embedded in the DNA of India, and the country was now looking up to the Congress to save the Constitution and democracy.

A concerted attack was being mounted on the Congress ideology, and the Congress workers should unitedly fight to protect the ideology and beliefs, he said adding that this fight was not that of Rahul Gandhi, Ajay Maken or Devender Yadav, but of the entire country and which they should win, Maken said. Rahul has been fighting for the rights of the people, from the Parliament to the streets. Yadav has been appointed the DPCC president at a most difficult time, but he has the competence to lead the party to victory not only in the coming Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, but also in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Maken, the AICC treasurer, said.

Senior Congress leader Subhash Chopra said that Congress will unitedly fight Rahul's fight for justice "Nyay" unitedly under Yadav's leadership.

Yadav was appointed as the interim president of Delhi Congress on Tuesday, two days after Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from the post while criticising the party's alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital.

Lovely joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday along with a few other leaders, including former city government minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and former MLAs Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh.Yadav, who won from the Badli assembly constituency in Delhi in 2008 and 2013 and lost to Ajesh Yadav of AAP in 2015, is currently the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) Punjab in-charge.

Reacting to Lovely joining the BJP, Yadav on Saturday called him an "opportunist" and said "the party does not care much about such people. The Congress was strong before and will remain strong in the future as well".
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday claimed that Peoples Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone ended his ties with the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) at the BJP's behest to facilitate his wife's return from Pakistan.

The PAGD was formed by several parties, including the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, CPI(M), CPM, Peoples Conference and the Awami National Conference, in 2019 to demand the restoration of the special status of J&K within the Constitution.

However, Lone, a separatist-turned-mainstream politician, left the alliance in January 2021, claiming that there was a breach of trust among the alliance partners during the district development council elections.

"Till yesterday, Sajad Lone was with Pakistan. He took money from the neighbouring country. When his wife went to Pakistan to meet her mother, wasn't Lone called to New Delhi and told to cut ties with the Gupkar Alliance if he wanted his wife back in India. Please ask him. He is also their agent and I pray to God that people understand this now," Abdullah told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview here.

Lone, who is pitted against National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah in north Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, on Saturday asked Omar to prove his allegation that he was collaborating with the BJP.

Lone also demanded an apology from Omar if he failed to prove the allegation.

"BJP has nothing here (in Kashmir) and the A, B and C candidates here belong to them," he said in an apparent reference to the candidates filed by the Peoples Conference, the Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The National Conference leader referred to the speech of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Jammu last month and said, "Shah says don't vote for National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party or Congress. Then who is left?"

"Those who have different names but work at the behest of the BJP, Shah asks people to vote for them," Farooq Abdullah said.

On counter-allegations that the National Conference which shook hands with the former Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee-led government, he said, "Vajpayee's government was an organisation of 23 parties. It was not just an organisation belonging to the BJP. We did not make any coalition with them (BJP)."

He said Azad's decision not to fight from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat despite the announcement by his party proves where he stands.

"BJP is using the regional parties for its own benefits. Do you think it will take them along? It will sink them," Abdullah added.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Sunday asserted the performance of his party and its allies in Maharashtra will provide a new direction to the country.

Addressing a rally on the last day of Lok Sabha poll campaigning in Baramati, the veteran leader sought to strike an emotional chord with the people and said till the time everyone is together no one can touch Baramatikars.

Baramati is witnessing a tight contest between Sharad Pawar's daughter and incumbent MP Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of her cousin and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. It will go to polls on May 7.

"The state is facing issues related to unemployment and agriculture but power is not being used to address them. In the polls we will perform in such a way that NCP (SP) and its allies will win all seats and the country will get a new direction. This poll is important from that perspective," Sharad Pawar said.

In an appeal to the voters of Baramati, he said their decision will be for the betterment of the region and Maharashtra as a whole.
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NSPCC Northern Ireland has announced the first annual NI Talk PANTS Fortnight, which will run from 6  17 May 2024.

The Talk PANTS campaign aims to empower parents, carers and professionals to have simple age-appropriate conversations with children aged 3-11 years old, to help them recognise their rights to their own bodies and to say no to unwanted touch and to encourage them to tell someone if they feel uncomfortable.

The NSPCC campaign began in the UK in 2013, and in 2018 Talk PANTS and its colourful character, Pantosaurus, arrived in Northern Ireland. Local campaigns in Northern Ireland were delivered with support from the Public Health Agency (PHA) and community partners, and since 2018, Talk PANTS has been rolled out across all five Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts  the first time a nation in the UK has had full delivery of the campaign.

To create a legacy from these successful local campaigns, Talk PANTS has now evolved into an annual Northern Ireland-wide awareness fortnight, which is launching this month.

Many primary schools across Northern Ireland discuss the NSPCCs Talk PANTS rules in their PSHE lessons, and new and updated materials and resources have been produced to celebrate Talk PANTS Fortnight.

The key Talk PANTS messages for children are:

P  Privates are privates.

A  Always remember your body belongs to you.

N  No means no.

T  Talk about secrets that upset you.

S  Speak up, someone can help.

Talk PANTS Fortnight, aims to further raise awareness with parents and carers, so that they are able to support these conversations at home as well.

Talking to your child about sexual abuse might feel daunting. But Talk PANTS tools and resources can help adults with simple ways to open conversations aimed at preventing child abuse in a clear, non-scary and fun way.

Pantosaurus at Ballyronan Marina, Magherafelt

The NSPCC website has a range of Talk PANTS resources for parents, carers and children, including guides in a number of different languages and for people with a disability. There are also guides for foster carers, parents with a learning disability, parents of children with autism, and a film for deaf children.

You can find these on the NSPCC website  www.nspcc.org.uk/pants

Throughout the Fortnight, there will be Talk PANTS information and advice posted daily on the NSPCC NI Facebook page: (@nspccnorthernireland).

Margaret Gallagher, NSPCC Strategic Services Manager, Local Campaigns, said: We know that one inthree3 children sexually abused by an adult didnt tell someone at the time and 90% of children who are abused, are abused by someone they know. This is why the Talk PANTS campaign is so important.

Since 2018, thousands of children and families in Northern Ireland have benefited from Talk PANTS and we are holding this annual awareness fortnight to make sure that all parents and communities know about the campaign and continue to have these conversations in school, in their community and at home, in order to help keep children safe.

Talk PANTS helps children to understand that they have a right to safety and helps support them to recognise when something is not okay and how to tell someone if they are upset or worried.

Were encouraging everyone to get involved and follow the NSPCC NI Facebook page during Talk PANTS Fortnight and reshare the daily information and advice with their families, friends and colleagues, so that together we can reach even more of the community across NI.

For advice contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk. If you are an organisation that would like PANTS parents booklets or posters, please contact: northernirelandcampaigns@nspcc.org.uk
Police investigating online threats against a councillor who is set to become Northern Irelands first black mayor have arrested a man.

Lilian Seenoi-Barr, originally from Kenya, has been selected by the SDLP to be the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

A 30-year-old man attended Strand Road police station in Londonderry on Sunday and was detained on suspicion of harassment, threats to kill and improper use of a public electronic communications network.

Police are treating the alleged offences as a racially motivated hate crime.

The man remained in custody on Sunday evening.

A PSNI statement assured the public that police took reports of online threats and harassment extremely seriously.

Earlier on Sunday, Ms Seenoi-Barr said the racist abuse and death threats directed at her since her selection was announced had made her more determined to succeed in the role.

Her party leader Colum Eastwood has condemned the racist abuse and what he described as very serious death threats.

The councillor said on Sunday morning that she wanted to focus on the many people who had reacted positively to her selection.

We have arrested a 30-year-old man today, Sunday 5th May, as we investigate online threats made to an individual in the Derry / Londonderry area. More here: https://t.co/7V7Unlwlfv pic.twitter.com/cF2rqOU3fQ  Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) May 5, 2024

My family is the one that is feeling it more than myself, Im used to it, Ms Seenoi-Barr said of the abuse and threats.

Since I put myself forward to represent my community, since I came to this country, Ive been experiencing racism but obviously its (the recent abuse) beyond what I have been experiencing.

The death threats have been extremely hurtful to my family and to myself too, but Im more focused on the positives. I have had enormous support across the island  community organisations, politicians who have reached out and stood in solidarity. That is the Derry I know, the Ireland I know, and thats what I want to focus on.

She told BBC NIs Sunday Politics programme that she had not had second thoughts about taking up the post.

Absolutely, no, she said.

I think it has actually made me more determined because we need to be represented, we need a more inclusive and progressive society and the majority of people, particularly in my city, stand with me.

I have never enjoyed so much support than I have enjoyed the last few weeks from everyone across the city. When Im walking on the street, people are hugging me and congratulating me. Its something that they want and they want to celebrate it and Im really looking forward to showcasing the best of our city.

Many of the abuse are not from Derry, although some are. Were not a perfect country and there is so much that is going on.

My focus is really to show that we are a united community, we can be a united community and everyone within our city and district can be represented by anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin. And we have the opportunity to do that together.

The process used by the SDLP to select her as mayor has also caused discontent within SDLP ranks in Londonderry, with two councillors resigning amid claims it was undemocratic.

Mr Eastwood has conceded the party had lessons to learn over how it communicated a new policy, introduced last year, on selecting mayoral candidates.

But he has insisted that Ms Seenoi-Barr was the stand-out candidate to become mayor.

On Sunday, Ms Seenoi-Barr said: Its obviously disappointing that two of my colleagues who I have worked with the last three years since I got to council decided to resign.

But Im honestly focused on the way forward, Im focused on serving my community.
The award-winning Carlingford Oyster Company has improved efficiencies and the quality of its harvest following an investment of more than half a million euros in new machinery and production facilities.

The Louth business, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is producing 250 tonnes  the equivalent of 2.5 million oysters - a year, and has its eyes set on increasing exports to Europe.

The business invested 535,000 in upgrading its facilities with the support of a 142,000 grant under the Brexit Sustainable Aquaculture Growth Scheme recommended by the Seafood Taskforce established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. and implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The scheme is funded by the European Union under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.

Carlingford Oyster Company was founded by Dutchman Peter Louet Feisser, who sailed into Carlingford Lough on a wooden yacht with his wife Anne in the late 1960s. The visit was intended to be a short one, part of an epic journey around the world. But mesmerised by the Loughs natural beauty and the rugged Louth coastline, the couple fell in love with the area - and didnt go home.

Peter had an interesting background having been incarcerated in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp when his family lived in the then Dutch colony of Indonesia during World War 11. The Japanese military had taken over the colony in 1942 and put Dutch nationals in internment facilities.

After spending a few years in Louth Peter heard by chance an item on BBC Radio 4 about oyster growing. He was enthralled, and in 1974 the Carlingford Oyster Company was born.

Now aged 86 and officially retired Peter can still be found working in the Lough at low tide with his son Kian who today runs the multiple award-winning family business with his wife Mary. According to Kian the recent investment has seen significant improvements and efficiencies at the company.

Oyster farming is very labour intensive and the investment was designed to make the company more competitive, and to secure the livelihoods of our team and my family. said Kian. The premises were built in 1992 and it was a big open space and we really needed to upgrade.

The work included extending our production facility, adding equipment to help us segregate and grade oysters and improvements in the dispatch areas. Modernising our working environment has supported us meeting the evolving requirements of food safety inspections, and the expectations of our customers when visiting our premises.

In addition, the company added new depuration tanks with cutting edge water skimming technology to mitigate the risk of Norovius; a forklift, a pallet truck, a new water grader and floating oyster growing bags.

Said Kian: All of these machines have helped us not only improve efficiency and working conditions, but they have also helped improve the quality of our oysters and therefore our customer satisfaction.

At its peak last summer the business employed 30 local people, something which Kian is very proud about. Sales to the UK represent about 60% of total sales with approximately 20% of sales in Ireland. He is currently focusing on sales in mainland Europe with support from BIM and Bord Bia.

According to Kian it takes over three years for Carlingford Oysters to reach maturity. They are rich in protein and low in fat with exceptionally high levels of trace elements such as iodine, iron, selenium copper and zinc. Taking advantage of the perfect growing conditions available in the Lough, Carlingford Oysters are as natural and pure as food can be.

Carlingford Oyster Company was one of the first farms to grow gigas oysters, the frilly Pacific variety that is now well-loved across Ireland, but was rather novel at the time.

In recent years a Visitor Experience with farm tours and oyster master classes was added, all part of a plan to improve the customer experience and to give people an incentive to come and visit and taste the product. Last month, Carlingford Oyster Company hosted 15 London-based Michelin Star chefs on a trip organised by Bethna Green Fish Supplies and supported by Boyne Valley Flavours, Sea Louth Seafood Trail and local restaurants.

Without the support of BIM and the Brexit funding we would not have been able to achieve all we have under this investment, and we are very grateful. The future is certainly looking bright. said Kian.
The recent news that Pieta House is to soon launch a new in-person support service at the Redeemer Family Resource Centre in Dundal, is the result of seven years hard work, this is what we've been aiming for the whole time, Darkness Into Light Event Director Sean Kelly, has told the Dundalk Democrat.

Sean was speaking ahead of this year's Darkness into Light walk in aid of Pieta House, which takes place in the early hours of Saturday 11 May in Dundalk.

Darkness Into Light is the annual fundraising event organised by Pieta and supported by Electric Ireland. Each year the walk provides an opportunity for communities to come together to bring hope to people who have been impacted by suicide.

The opening of a Pieta House centre in north Louth, was an ongoing aim the committee of Darkness Into Light in Dundalk had been trying to achieve, but up to a couple of weeks ago, looked like it would not happen, with the committee even deciding to cancel this year's event after growing frustrated with the lack of progress in getting a physical Pieta presence in Louth.

The decision to cancel the walk was reversed two week's ago however, with the news that Pieta House is to launch a new in-person support service at the Redeemer Family Resource Centre in Dundalk.

Sharing the available details of the new centre, Sean said that all we know at the moment is, it will be available from September onwards and it will be operating as an outreach service at the Redeemer Resource Centre. There will be a fully qualified therapist there who can deal with both adults and children.

Sean continued, this is what we've been aiming for the whole time. The tagline we've used for years is, 'Let's bring Hope Home' and hope is now home, because we've got a service now in Dundalk.

Looking ahead to this year's walk, Sean said, now we just need the people of Dundalk to come out and support us on the night because we've got the result we've been trying for, for a long time, we've got services in Dundalk. There's not one single family in the Dundalk area or in north Louth that hasn't been touched by suicide, in some shape or form.

Its great to see we've got a service in there that's going to fight that and hopefully help families. It's not only people who are suffering from suicide ideation, or with mental health issues, it's also the fallout from suicide. Now we will have the full suite of services, from a bereavement officer, support officers in there to help families deal with the consequences of losing a loved one to suicide, which is devastating to everyone involved.

Above: The Darkness Into Light committee

This year's walk, as with previous years, begins and ends at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Starting on the morning of 11 May at 4.15 am, Sean explained, we'll have music beforehand and after the walk concludes, there'll be tea and coffee and refreshments in DkIT in the canteen, we'd love everybody to come back there.

We'll have our banners of hope there and we'll get people to sign the banners of hope, with the names of loved ones that have been lost. The final kilometre, will be a reflective kilometre, we'll ask people to do it in silence as they normally would, just to remember everybody we have lost.

This year's walk will have an added kick in that there will be a touch of celebration to it as well because we have got the service that everyone has been looking for and the people of Dundalk have been fundraising for, so we've got to where we want to be, we've got a service in the town.

The route is the same as last year, down the Dublin Road, down the Avenue Road, back up the Inner Relief Road, through Hoey's Lane and back into DkIT.

People can register to take part in this year's Darkness Into Light walk at: www.darknessintolight.ie/, but Sean adds that, Registration is open, but you can even turn up on the night, all that we would say to people is, just take your yellow t-shirt and just turn up on the night. You can donate whatever you can on the night, just be there. That's the essential message, just be there.

A final message from Sean to anyone who feel's they need some help or someone to talk to is: Pieta now have a service coming into Dundalk, they're available online before that, there's a full suite of services there. For anybody that needs any help, you just need to reach out.

The essential message is, it's ok not to be ok, and the first step into seeking help, is to ask for it, and there will always be people there that are willing to listen.

To get updates on this year's Darkness Into Light walk in Dundalk, follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/DarknessIntoLightDLK/.
A sensational showcase is planned for SEEK Urban Arts Festival 2024, with the festival organisers revealing the exciting line-up of artists, both Irish and international, who will be taking part.

International artists, Monkey Bird Crew, L7 Matrix, and Bublegum will be joining the festival for the first time, and returning for a second time is Mr. Copy. Organisers say that this sensational cast of international artists are expected to arrive in Dundalk between 31 May and 8 June and expectations are high!

With familiar themes, and some unorthodox approaches, SEEK organisers say that these artists styles are informed and influenced by genres spanning 15th Century etching to 20th Century graffiti art, and futuristic graphic art.

Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott explained: As always, the source of inspiration for each piece will be Dundalks rich history and heritage. We are very excited about the new themes chosen this year, as well as revisiting and reimagining some of the older ones.

Street art is characterised by its transient nature, which contrasts with the more permanent forms of traditional art. It is also influenced by factors such as weather and pollution, and with passage of time these environmental factors contribute to degradation.

This year marks the sixth annual SEEK Urban Arts Festival and the festival has become a highly anticipated event in the street art calendar. The festival's humble origins as a creative regeneration project demonstrate, the organisers say, how art can be a powerful tool for revitalising town centres, fostering community pride, celebrating local culture and attracting visitors.

Sarah Daly of Creative Spark, festival partner, is looking forward to another year of excitement, colour and telling the story of Dundalk. We love producing the childrens workshops on the first Saturday of the festival with our Mobile FabLab, letting children express themselves through paint and get involved in imaging their own street art pieces.

Dundalk Tourism Officer, Sinead Roche said: The festival's increasing popularity highlights the cultural significance of street art as an opportunity to connect people to the places they visit. The murals bring our stories to life, making them tangible and accessible in everyday spaces, and bridge the gap between past and present.

Moya Hodgers, Louth County Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Coordinator said: The Creative Ireland Louth team are pleased to support the 2024 SEEK Festival. The public art murals have breathed new life into the Dundalk area and are a fantastic tourist attraction.

The work the committee do throughout the year with the walking tours is testament to their commitment to continuously promoting Dundalk.

It has highlighted the town as a hub that embraces creativity and gives locals and visitors something to engage with and enjoy throughout the year. I look forward to seeing the new works unveiled and wish the team the very best of luck with the festival.

Martin concluded: It has been incredible to work with our project partners Creative Spark and Louth County Council, and alongside our longstanding sponsors Colourtrend Paints and Creative Ireland. This years festival is also kindly sponsored by Failte Ireland, McAteers The Good Food House and Mo Chara.
Six MACE stores in Louth were honoured at the recent MACE Excellence Awards for achieving exceptional standards in retailing, which was held in Lawlors Hotel, in Naas in Co Kildare, and hosted by BWG Foods, owners and operators of the MACE brand in Ireland.

This years MACE Excellence Awards, held in association with Solution Management Associates (SMA) are only awarded to MACE stores that pass an intensive year-long inspection, including three unannounced audits, visits from mystery shoppers and a BWG-led compliance audit for every store as part of the qualifying criteria.

The Louth stores who received a MACE Excellence Award are:

Jewel Akber, Akbers MACE Blackbull, Akbers MACE Omeath, Akbers MACE St Alphonsus and Akbers MACE West Street

John Breen, Breens MACE Hale Street Ardee

Niall Walsh, Walshs MACE Clogherhead

Congratulating the winners, Keith Crawford, MACE Sales Director, said: The MACE Excellence Awards recognise those who, through their commitment to outstanding retail standards and customer service, continue to set the benchmark for the brand and marketplace overall.

"Increasingly high standards are undoubtedly contributing to the continued success of MACE. I want to congratulate Jewel Akber, John Breen, Niall Walsh and their teams. Their efforts have been truly outstanding and their recognition is very well-deserved.

MACE is the longest serving convenience brand in Ireland, serving local communities for more than 60 years. Operated by independent retailers, the network includes local community stores as well as forecourt shopping, with over 160 MACE stores located around the country.
A DELEGATION from the Dail and Seanad attended the Port of Cork recently to learn more about development plans for the facility.

The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) hosted the Oireachtas committee on enterprise, trade and employment to discuss the future development of the port and its key international trading operations.

The committee delegation, which included Cork TD David Stanton, Cathaoirleach Maurice Quinlivan, Deputy Louise OReilly, Deputy Matt Shanahan, Senator Roisin Garvey, and Senator Paul Gavan, were given a presentation on the PoCCs strategic infrastructure and growth plans, including the development of the renewable energy sector.

A Port of Cork spokesperson said that as the only Irish port currently with planning permission in place to support the growth of the Offshore Energy Renewable (ORE) industry, the PoCC is uniquely positioned to support the progression of ORE as an energy source to help power Ireland.

The Oireachtas members viewed the port infrastructure from the water by taking a short trip on a boat.

The Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment during their recent visit to the Port of Cork for a site tour of the Cork Container Terminal (CCT) in Ringaskiddy. The Port of Cork aims to play a key role in facilitating Ireland's future energy needs, as the only Irish port with planning permission in place to help facilitate the development of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) sector. Pictured are Donal Crowley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Cork Company, Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer, Brian Dooley, Business Development Support Manager, David Browne, Business Development Support Manager with members of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment including the Cathaoirleach Maurice Quinlivan T.D., Louise O'Reilly T.D., Matt Shanahan T.D., David Stanton T.D., Senator Risn Garvey, and Senator Paul Gavan.

The trip allowed them to learn more about port operations and the economic value of the PoCC as a key international gateway to trade for the south of Ireland.

Chief Commercial Officer at the PoCC, Conor Mowlds said that engaging with members of the Oireachtas is hugely important for them.

As we move away from the use of fossil fuels to tackle the impact of climate change, we envisage the Port of Cork will continue to play a key role in facilitating the future energy needs of the country with Cork Harbour as a hub of renewable energy.

The impact of these direct engagements with elected public representatives is already evident with the Ports ORE planning and funding being discussed on the Dail floor [recently] by Deputy David Stanton, he said.

The TD raised a topical issue in Dail Eireann to discuss the need to expand port facilities in Cork to facilitate this, outlining the requirement for funding, saying, Its vital that the planning, which in itself was a huge achievement to secure, comes to fruition and isnt left to expire because of funding challenges.
THE non-inclusion of the long-awaited Cork North Ring Road project on an interactive map launched in recent days by Public Expenditure Minister Pascal Donohue has prompted concern from politicians on Corks north side about the future of the project.

This concern will have been added to by the admission in a Department of Transport response to a query from The Echo indicating that while the project would be kept under review, there would be no funding allocation for the project during 2024.

The project has been described as vital to ease traffic congestion and future economic development in the city.

The Department said, in its response, that the project was part of the National Development Plan and at an early stage of the development life cycle.

The Government has earmarked 5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP, with the greater portion of this funding becoming available in the second half of the decade, the Department said in a statement.

It was not possible to provide an allocation to this project in 2024.

However, as with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the Cork Northern Transport Project will be kept under review in future years and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

The Project Ireland 2040 interactive map has been described as a tool to allow people to check on progress on various projects that form part of the overall Ireland 2040 plan.

The omission of the Cork North Ring Road from the map was what prompted The Echo to investigate further the status of the project.

The Cork North Transportation Project  or the Cork North Ring Road project - envisages a 20km road connecting the N40 near Ballincollig with the N20 and onto the N8 north of Glanmire.

Among the projects included in the tracker are the Macroom  Baile Mhuirne N22 bypass, which is complete apart from finishing works.

It would take a significant proportion of heavy goods traffic out of Cork city entirely and ease traffic congestion on the north side of the city considerably.

According to an estimate produced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in 2022, failure to progress the project would result in 18 road deaths.

A query to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform about the status of the project yielded the following response.

The NDP 2021-30 refers to the Cork City Northern Transport Project (formerly called the Cork North Ring Road) which is a complementary project to the N/M20 Cork to Limerick project and is part of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.

To my knowledge, this road has never been listed on either the tracker or map published on gov.ie/2040  this may because its at an early stage of development, a spokesman for the Department said.

The project is still listed as being at an early planning stage on the TII website.

The spokesman for the Department also said that the data on the tracker and map had been supplied by different departments, with the detail regarding the Cork Northern Transport Project being provided by the Department of Transport.

Fine Gael councillor in Cork City North West, Damien Boylan, noted that route selection for this hasnt been done, but said that route selection for the Northern Distributor Road, which was the smaller of two roads, had been done or was to be done at an early stage.

Thats good, that's the road thats going to go up through Nashs Boreen and hopefully thats going to help towns like Kerry Pike, Clogheen and Blarney lose some of the gridlock they have.

The bigger road, if thats not going to be delivered at some stage, the quality of life in this neck of the woods is going to be terrible.

Mr. Boylan said an allocation of 100,000 to the project in 2023 had been a case of an allocation to keep the lights on.

If somethings listed on the tracker, theres an intention to deliver it, whether its delivered or not is another thing, the lack of it is concerning, absolutely.

According to Cork North Central Sinn Fein TD Thomas Gould, the omission of the Northern Transport Project was a delaying tactic.

The Northside and Cork need this road now not in ten or fifteen years and thats the timescale we are looking at with these comments, he said.

Among the projects included in the tracker are the Macroom  Baile Mhuirne N22 bypass, which is complete apart from finishing works, the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy upgrade which is scheduled for completion in 2028 and the M20 Cork to Limerick upgrade with a completion date described as subject to appraisal.

The Mallow Relief Road is also included and has a completion date of 2027, according to the interactive map.
AN AMERICAN tourist was rescued after a fall at Blarney Castle today, in what was described by Third Officer for Cork City Fire Brigade, Gerry Myers as a complicated rescue.

Gardai, two units from the Cork City Fire Brigade, including a unit from Ballyvolane Station and a rescue unit from Anglesea Street Station, as well as a team from the National Ambulance Service, attended the scene of the incident, which occurred at 5.15pm.

The woman, who was her 60s, had fallen while descending the spiral staircase inside the castle, and was taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) to treat a dislocated shoulder.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Myers said that the rescue was complicated due to the narrow interior of the structure, taking up to one hour to safely transfer the casualty to the ground floor.

Cork City Fire Brigade had a very busy day ranging from road traffic collisions to a complicated rescue in Blarney Castle, he said.

The woman fell while coming down the steps, and we sent two crews to assist the ambulance service to extricate her. It took nearly an hour to get her down to the ground safely, he added.

It was tricky.
GARDAI and emergency services attended the scene of a road traffic collision in Cork this morning.

The incident, which involved two cars, occurred shortly after 9.50am on the N20 Mallow Road.

Two units from Cork County Fire Brigade, three units from Cork City Fire Brigade and two teams from the National Ambulance Service attended the incident.

Three people were taken from the scene to Cork University Hospital (CUH) to be treated for minor injuries.

Third Officer for Cork City Fire Brigade, Gerry Myers said: Five units attended the scene, with two ambulances, and all three casualties were taken to hospital by the ambulance service.

The crews worked hard today, he added. It was a busy day.
(Photo:SACBC)Father Paul Tatu Mothobi

South Africa's Catholic bishops have condemned and expressed concern at a "distressing" killing after the bullet-riddled body of a priest was found in his car outside the capital of Pretoria.

Father Paul Tatu Mothobi, former Media and Communications Officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC), was found dead on April 27

According to Crux News, the priest, who comes from Lesotho's Catholic Archdiocese of Maseru, was studying for his Doctorate in Communication at the University of Johannesburg when he died.

According to reports, Fr. Tatu's lifeless body with gunshot wounds was found on April 27 in his car on N1 Road, a national highway in South Africa, running from Cape Town through Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Polokwane to Beit Bridge, a border town with Zimbabwe, ACI Africa reports.

In an April 29 statement, SACBC members condole with the Stigmatines order and Tatu's family.

The Catholic Church leaders said, "It must be noted that the death of Fr. Paul Tatu is not an isolated incident but rather a distressing example of the deteriorating state of security and morality in South Africa."

They recalled the March 13 murder of Fr. William Banda, the Zambian-born member of St. Patrick's Missionary Society (Kiltegan Fathers), who was shot in the sacristy of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of South Africa's Tzaneen Diocese.

The murder of Fr. Tatu and that of Fr. Banda, SACBC members lament, "occurs amid growing concerns about the increasing disregard for the value of life, where people are wantonly killed."

Rev. Paul Tatu Mothobi was born in Lesotho in 1979 according to Vatican News

In 1998, he joined the Congregation of Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Between 1999 and 2000, he did his philosophical studies at St Francis House of Studies in Pretoria. The following year, he moved to Botswana for formation at the Stigmatine Novitiate.

Before theological studies, the late Catholic Priest took a year off from Priestly formation, during which he lived with miners in South Africa's Free State; he accompanied miners in mining theory, setting theory, and English among other lessons.

He later resumed training as a priest, joining Pretoria-based St. John Vianney Seminary, under the Stigmatines order, for theology. He was ordained a priest in 2008.

SENT TO TANZANIA

The Stigmatines later sent Tatu to Tanzania as a missionary.

While in the East African nation, he pursued media and communication studies at Mwanza-based St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC)

"I worked closely with Father Tatu when he served the Church as the communication officer for SACBC," said Father Stan Muyebe, Director at the Justice and Peace Commission for Catholic Bishops Conference of Southern Africa.

"The two agencies, the communication office and SACBC Justice and Peace Commission, worked closely together.

"I remember him as a jovial and humble person, deeply committed to Christ and the mission of the Church, interested in continued learning and studies, and always seeking ways through which multimedia can be brought to the service of evangelization in Southern Africa," he told Crux.

"On behalf of the Bishops, I appeal to all people responsible for these murders to refrain from thinking that they can do what they like with people's lives. Life belongs to God, and no one has a right to take it as one pleases," Bishop Sipuka said.

He decried lawlessness in South Africa and, addressing himself to the President Cyril Ramaphosa-led government, said, "Mr President and Police minister, there is a growing impression among South Africans that criminals are freely murdering the citizens with no fear of consequences."

"A deliberate termination of the life of one person affects not only the person killed but a whole network of relationships of that person," SACBC members said.

South Africa's homicide rate in 2022-2023 was 45 per 100,000 people, compared with a rate of 6.3 in the United States and around 1 in most European countries, The Associated Press reported on Jan 7.
New evidence further proves crimes of Japanese germ warfare unit

Xinhua) 11:28, May 05, 2024

A researcher displays the copy of a document containing detailed information about military personnel from Unit 731, a Japanese germ warfare unit during World War II, at the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on April 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

HARBIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A document containing detailed information about military personnel from Unit 731, a Japanese germ warfare unit during World War II, was unveiled for the first time in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Saturday.

The 69-page document contains personnel files of 52 members of the unit, including names, places of origin, posts at the end of the war, units to which they belonged, resumes and medical treatment received during their detention in Siberia after the end of the war.

It offers new evidence for the study of the formation, personnel flow, war crimes and liabilities of Unit 731, said Jin Shicheng, a researcher with the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.

This photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows the copy of a page from a document containing detailed information about military personnel from Unit 731, a Japanese germ warfare unit during World War II, at the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

The document was discovered in the National Archives of Japan. A copy of it was brought back to the exhibition hall in China in 2022, after successful negotiations with the Japanese side.

"This is a comprehensive record of their involvement in the operations of Unit 731, which provided new clues for the research of their war atrocities and their fate after Japan's surrender in 1945," said Jin.

Jin said the document suggests the 52 members of Unit 731 did not withdraw to Japan with their main forces, which improved the authenticity and accuracy of historical research.

The document revealed that, in addition to the 12 war criminals that stood open trial, two other members were sentenced to 25 years in prison, which was disclosed for the first time.

According to the document, one of the 52 members was transferred from Unit 516 to Unit 731 in 1945, demonstrating the close links between the germ and chemical warfare units of the Japanese Imperial Army, said Jin.

The document also recorded that four members aged 15 to 21 were sent to a Harbin-based medical university in the puppet "Manchukuo" for three years of "medical training" as military family students.

This photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows the copy of a page from a document containing detailed information about military personnel from Unit 731, a Japanese germ warfare unit during World War II, at the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao)

"This is key information showing the joint training of young soldiers by the Japanese military, government and medical institutions, and once again proves that the implementation of human experiments and germ warfare was a top-down, organized, premeditated, and systematic group crime of Japanese militarism," said Jin Chengmin, curator of the exhibition hall.

Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base established in Harbin as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during World War II.

At least 3,000 people were used in human experiments by Unit 731, while more than 300,000 people in China were killed by Japan's biological weapons.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) exports (Chapters 61 and 62) increased by 4.97 per cent to $40.494 billion between July 2023 and April 2024, the first ten months of fiscal 2023-24 (July-June), according to provisional data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This figure represents an increase from $38.577 billion in the same period of fiscal 2022-23.

While knitwear exports exceeded woven garments, the overall RMG exports did not meet the $42.974 billion target set for July-April 2024, falling short by 5.77 per cent.

Bangladesh's RMG exports increased by 4.97 per cent to $40.494 billion in the first ten months of fiscal 2023-24, though they missed the $42.974 billion target. Knitwear exports saw a 9.11 per cent rise, while woven apparel exports remained steady. Home textile exports fell by 25.32 per cent, but cotton product exports surged by 38.35 per cent.

In the first ten months of the current fiscal, exports of knitwear (Chapter 61) rose by 9.11 per cent to $22.878 billion, compared to $29.967 billion during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal 2022-23. Woven apparel exports (Chapter 62) improved by 0.03 per cent, totalling $17.615 billion, against $17.609 billion in July 2023-April 2024, as per EPB data.

Home textile exports (Chapter 63, excluding 630510) experienced a significant decline, dropping by 25.32 per cent to $702.56 million, compared to $940.80 million in the same period last fiscal. Collectively, woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories, and home textile exports constituted 86.78 per cent of Bangladesh's total exports, amounting to $47.471 billion for the period.

The exports of cotton and cotton products including yarn, waste, and fabrics (Chapter 52) jumped 38.35 per cent to $449.03 million in the period under review. The trade was noted at $324.55 million during the same period of the last fiscal.

Despite the global economic slowdown, Bangladesh's RMG exports demonstrated resilience, reaching $46.991 billion in fiscal 2022-23, an increase from $42.613 billion in fiscal 2021-22 and $31.456 billion in fiscal 2020-21.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
In the tapestry of Indian cinema, few threads are as vibrant and enduring as the storytelling prowess of Varun Grover. With each narrative stroke, Grover weaves a rich mosaic of emotions, characters, and societal reflections, captivating audiences with his ability to evoke laughter, provoke thought, and stir the soul. Presenting excerpts from a heart-to-heart talk with the talented writer and director.Grovers foray into the realm of filmmaking began with All India Rank. He wrote the script for it in 2014. It is a poignant exploration of the trials and the tribulations faced by aspirants in the competitive world of entrance exams. It was a project that marked not only the culmination of his writing prowess but also the inception of his directorial ambitions. I owe a debt of gratitude to Jaideep Sahni, whose encouragement propelled me to take the directorial reins, Grover acknowledges, reflecting on the pivotal role played by his mentor in shaping his artistic trajectory. Jaideep Sahni sent the script of All India Rank in jest to Sriram Raghavan. Sriram liked the script so much that he produced the film, reveals Varun. Yet, the transition from writer to director was not without its challenges, as Grover grappled with self-doubt and apprehension. I was just a writer who had penned Gangs of Wasseypur and Masaan. I lacked the confidence to step into the directors chair, he admits. Immersing himself in the intricacies of direction, editing, sound design and visual effects, he sought guidance from industry stalwarts like Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, honing his craft with each passing day.Born in the picturesque town of Sundar Nagar, nestled amidst the verdant hills of Himachal Pradesh, Grovers formative years were imbued with a sense of wonder and imagination. Growing up in a family with deep roots in the world of cinema, he found himself drawn to the magic of storytelling from a young age. My dad held a job; my paternal uncle had a business of signboard painting; and my grandfather was a signboard painter himself in Haryana. Once the cinema hall opened in Haryana, he started the work of making posters. Thats how the entire family got interested in films. They would make posters after watching the film. Thats why I use signboard painting in the font of the film. This is a tribute to my grandfather, he recollects. Despite his innate inclination towards the arts, Grovers path diverged momentarily as he pursued a degree in civil engineering at Banaras Hindu Universitya decision influenced by societal expectations and the need for financial stability. Yet, the call of creativity remained unyielding, beckoning him towards a destiny intertwined with the world of words. It was perhaps his sojourn in Lucknow that moulded his artistic tendencies. Lucknow was life changing for me. I was in Lucknow from the age of 11-18. There was one Bharatendu Natya Academy behind my school, where plays would be performed by students. I was dumbstruck when I saw Aashish Vidhyarthi playing the central character in Dayashankar Ki Diary, which was directed by Nadira Babbar. Thats when I decided that I will pursue this field.For Grover, filmmaking is not merely a profession but a labour of lovea canvas through which he seeks to capture the essence of bygone eras and timeless emotions. I am a 90s kid, and I wanted to depict the innocence and simplicity of that time in All India Rank, he explains, emphasising his commitment to authenticity and relatability. From the heartland of Sundar Nagar to the bustling streets of Mumbai, Grover draws inspiration from every facet of life, infusing his narratives with a sense of place and purpose. Whether its the chaotic frenzy of Mumbais local trains or the serene tranquillity of Madh Island, he finds solace and stimulation in the ebb and flow of the world around him. I am in love with the local trains of Mumbai. Whenever I get tired after work, I sit in a train bound to Churchgate from Borivali and do an up and down two-three times in four hours. I listen to music on the train and read a book. Sometimes, I get down at Vile Parle to have a sandwich, then I hop on to a train again. I also go to the beach at times. Grovers creative vision extends beyond the confines of the screen, as he seeks to challenge societal norms and stereotypes through his work. Gender boundaries should not restrict self-expression, he asserts, advocating for inclusivity and acceptance in an industry often plagued by prejudice and discrimination. I love wearing nail paint. But people point fingers at me for that. Why cant men wear nail polish? When men wear their hair long then there is no gender issue then why is it when men wear nail polish or pink-coloured clothes,its frowned upon. I want to do nail art, and wear colourful nail polish, he asserts.Hes happy that hes got the perfect life partner in Raj Kumari, who supports his beliefs and is also his harshest critic. He met his wife during an online forum discussing poetry. The similarity of their responses led them to exchange emails and soon they were chatting into the long hours of the night. He wrote the song Yeh moh moh ke dhaage for her. Theirs is an inter-caste marriage, shes an OBC from Jharkhand and hes a Khatri Punjabi from Delhi. There was initial opposition to the marriage from her father but he came around eventually. She became the first ever woman in her family to marry outside castepaving the way for her cousins and the next generation. In the last 16-17 years, weve discovered not just each other and the cultures of two states but also the hollowness of the arguments against inter-caste marriages. The couple have decided against having children. For me Kids are like EMI. You are your most productive during your 30s and 40s. And if you have children in this productive age then you have to give a lot of energy to them. Im not the kind of person who will hire a full time maid. I need to be a very hands-on parent. So instead of focussing on kids Ive selfishly chosen to focus my energy on my work, he reveals.At the heart of Grovers storytelling ethos lies a deep-seated belief in the power of satire to provoke thought and evoke laughter. Drawing inspiration from literary luminaries such as Sharad Joshi and Harishankar Parsai, he employs humour as a tool for social commentary, shining a light on the absurdities and injustices of the world around him. Satire is my favourite genre, Grover proclaims, It allows me to challenge conventions and offer a fresh perspective on societal issues. Whether its through his incisive stand-up routines or his thought-provoking screenplays, he endeavours to spark conversations and inspire change.Grovers journey through the labyrinthine corridors of the Indian film industry has been marked by both triumphs and tribulations. In an industry rife with exploitation and nepotism, he has remained steadfast in his pursuit of creative integrity, refusing to compromise on his principles for the sake of commercial success. I had written a pilot for a show which got approved and we shot a few episodes. When work progressed, I asked the director about money. When he said, tell me how much money you can give me? I was taken aback. He said this is your first show, your life will change after this. So can you give me forty-to-fifty thousand per month? Yet, despite the hurdles and setbacks, he remains undeterred in his quest to tell stories that resonate with audiences on a profound level. It was The Great Indian Comedy Show which reasserted his faith in the industry. The show gave me a lot of fame and respect. They called me and said the pilot has been shot with Ranveer Shorey and Kiku Sharda and the show has been approved and that I should come and collect my check. Things became easy for me after its success. The industry showed its better side when stars like Vicky Kaushal and Huma Qureshi openly supported All India Rank. Vicky and I both started our careers with Masaan. But now he is a big star so I was hesitating to approach him but he did not waste even a second after receiving my message and posting about my film. Then I requested Huma Qureshi to share the first song. Even she shared it immediately. I went to Vishal Bharadwaj and said that I have made a very small film and cannot even afford your fees. We asked him to sing a song and he immediately agreed.As Grover looks towards the future, he envisions a cinematic landscape brimming with diverse narratives and boundless creativity. With a slew of projects in the pipeline and a relentless passion for storytelling, he is poised to leave an indelible mark on the canvas of Indian cinema for years to come. Says he, I want to write, direct and create stories that leave a lasting impact.
Press Release

Nokia and Vodafone complete successful Open RAN trial in Italy

Nokia and Vodafone are working together to boost the deployment of Open RAN solutions for a flexible network evolution.

Companies reached milestone with successful Open RAN call on Vodafone Italy's live network.

30 April 2024

Espoo, Finland - Nokia and Vodafone today announced that they have successfully completed an end-to-end Open RAN trial on Vodafone Italy's live 5G standalone network. The trial utilized Nokia's AirScale Massive MIMO radios and Nokia's baseband software running on Dell PowerEdge XR8000 servers and Red Hat OpenShift, an industry leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes, connected to Nokia's standalone dedicated 5G core. It also used Nokia's intelligent MantaRay Networks Management system for a consolidated network view and improved monitoring and management. The trial highlights the maturity of Nokia's anyRAN approach which is designed to give mobile operators and enterprises more flexibility in building networks.

Nokia is supporting Open Fronthaul features on top of its high-performance RAN software which ensures mobile operators have performance consistency with their existing RAN. Nokia has already integrated with five open radio unit (O-RU) suppliers highlighting the openness and industry-leading performance of Nokia's AirScale O-RAN DU/CU. The solution offers operators enhanced flexibility, efficiency, and scalability in their mobile networks. By integrating with Red Hat OpenShift, service providers also have the option to scale their 5G network footprint and quickly introduce new services.

Vodafone aims to have 30 percent of its masts based on Open RAN technology by 2030 in Europe and is already deploying the technology commercially. This includes 2,500 Open RAN sites in the UK, the first large-scale deployment in Europe, as well as in Romania. By partnering with key strategic vendors like Nokia, Vodafone is pioneering the wider adoption of open, disaggregated, and automated networks, providing greater agility to quickly adopt and launch innovative new customer-focused services.

Santiago Tenorio, Director of Network Architecture at Vodafone, said: "Vodafone is dedicated to supporting the development and adoption of Open RAN worldwide by fostering a diverse ecosystem of partners and solutions. This approach offers numerous benefits, including increased choice, enhanced energy efficiency, higher network capacity, and improved performance for customers."

Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia, said: "Nokia's collaborative anyRAN approach means that Communication Service Providers can deploy Open RAN with the server hardware and CaaS layer of their choice. Together with our ecosystem partners, we are committed to providing more choice and higher performance in Open RAN solutions to our customers than they will see from other RAN suppliers."

Resources

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Cloud RAN

Webpage: Nokia anyRAN

Webpage: Nokia AirScale Baseband

Whitepaper: Nokia Open RAN Industry and Solution Update

Executive Summary: Nokia Cloud RAN and Open RAN Solution Roadmap

Blog: The collaborative advantage: Nokia and partners delivering best-in-class Cloud RAN solutions

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today - and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiries

Nokia Communications, Corporate

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
PARIS, May 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France was held here on Saturday, in a bid to boost cooperation and mutual learning.

The participants agreed that strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and France will not only help broaden consensus and deepen mutual trust, but also promote the two great civilizations and other civilizations worldwide to achieve each other and to rejuvenate with fresh vitality in the new era.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

In his opening speech, President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua said the forum, held on the eve of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France, is of great significance in boosting cooperation between media, think tanks and enterprises from the two countries and in facilitating cultural exchange and mutual learning.

Fu said that Xinhua has been dedicated to telling stories about the friendship between the two countries and promoting Chinese and French cultures.

"We are willing to work with Chinese and French media outlets, think tanks and other organizations to uphold the principle of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and promote the common values of all humanity," he said.

Xinhua is ready to jointly showcase the fruits of China-France cooperation, demonstrate the charms of the two countries' traditional cultures and the unique highlights of their modern civilizations, and broaden the bridge of people-to-people exchange and cultural cooperation, Fu noted.

Xinhua also stands ready to seize such opportunities as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism and the Paris Olympic Games to try to hold more cultural exchange activities to push bilateral relations to a new high.

China's Ambassador to France Lu Shaye said people-to-people and cultural exchanges are an important foundation and inexhaustible driving force for China-France relations.

The two countries are set to launch dozens of cultural and tourism events this year that marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, and will see the Paris Olympic Games, bringing important opportunities for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, the ambassador said.

Lu also expressed his belief that under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President Macron, bilateral ties are bound to show vigor and vitality in the future, and the booming cultural exchanges and cooperation will also lay a more solid public opinion foundation for the sound and stable development of bilateral ties.

"Culture constitutes the strongest cement between our civilizations," Eric Alauzet, president of the France-China Friendship Group of the French National Assembly, said at the forum.

The common history of the two countries after the establishment of diplomatic ties has nourished fruitful cultural and people-to-people exchanges, which has in turn driven cooperation and development in other areas, he said.

Bilateral cooperation has achieved many outcomes in economy and trade, and in their joint efforts against climate change, Alauzet added, noting that the two countries have held various cultural exchange activities this year, which will further push forward bilateral relations.

Saturday's forum is co-sponsored by Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Embassy in France, and Publicis Groupe, a French multinational advertising and public relations company.

Themed "Reinforcing People-to-people and Cultural Exchanges, Promoting the China-France Spirit," the forum drew around 250 representatives from the Chinese and French governments, the United Nations and other international organizations, mainstream global media outlets, think tanks as well as cultural and business circles of the two countries.

Prior to the opening of the forum, Xinhua News Agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Publicis Groupe.

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Chinese premier Xi Jinping will be on a five-day trip to Europe from 5 May. His first stop is France, where Emmanuel Macron will host him. A trilateral meeting between the two leaders and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is also in the cards. Xi will also visit Serbia and Hungary read more

Chinese president Xi Jinping will meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris during his five-day Europe visit. Reuters File Photo

Chinese president Xi Jinping is all set to embark on a trip to three European countries starting Sunday (5 May). He will be travelling to France, Serbia and Hungary in his first visit to Europe in five years.

The trip, which will end on 10 May, comes at a crucial moment amid rising tensions between Beijing and the European Union (EU). With his visit, Xi hopes to improve those relations and boost economic cooperation.

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Lets take a closer look.

Xis first stop: France

French president Emmanuel Macron will host Xi on 5 May. He will throw a dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris for the Chinese premier, according to Bloomberg.

Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said last month that Beijings relations with Paris have maintained sound growth momentum.

It is time to push the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France to a new level and give new impetus to the healthy development of China-EU relations, to make new contributions to world peace, stability, development and progress, Lin said at a press conference, reported Reuters.

China looks forward to working with France to further enhance political mutual trust, solidarity and cooperation, he added.

Xis two-day trip will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, Lin noted.

According to Frances announcement, the exchanges between the two leaders will focus on international crises, first and foremost the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East (West Asia), along with trade issues, scientific, cultural and sporting cooperation, and the climate emergency, as per The Diplomat.

People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Macron intends to bolster his personal connection with his Chinese counterpart and urge him to convince Vladimir Putin to end Russias war in Ukraine.

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Chinese president Xi Jinping welcomes French president Emmanuel Macron at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on 6 April 2023. Reuters File Photo

China , which has claimed neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has a no limits friendship with Moscow. Despite its iterations as a neutral player, Beijing has maintained close ties with Russia. After returning from his Europe visit, Xi will welcome Russian president Putin to Beijing.

The French president is likely planning to entice his Chinese counterpart to attend the high-level peace summit on the Russia-Ukraine war being hosted by Switzerland in mid-June, according to The Diplomat.

A trilateral meeting between Xi, Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is also in the cards.

Macron also wants to attract Chinese investment in Frances Electric Vehicle (EV) battery sector, as per the Bloomberg report.

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Frances Emmanuel Macron offers Xi the opportunity to negotiate with a leading EU power thats proved willing to carve a more independent path, Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, told Bloomberg. The visit is an effort to try to pull at parts of Europe that Xi feels might be more sympathetic to his position.

Xis second stop: Serbia

Xis trip to Serbia on 7 May will come in the week of the 25th anniversary of the United States bombing of Chinas embassy in Belgrade, the Serbian capital.

There could be an event to commemorate the tragedy and some vitriol aimed at the United States and its allies, as per The Diplomat.

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According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin, Xi would discuss enchanting ties between the two countries with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.

He said that Beijing seeks to work with Serbia, which is not a member of the European Union, and use Xis visit to cement ironclad friendship, deepen political mutual trust and expand pragmatic cooperation between the nations.

ALSO READ: Chinese debt trap: These nations owe Beijing big time

Xis last stop: Hungary

Xis five-day trip will end with a stop in Hungary, a country Lin described as an important cooperation partner for China in promoting the Belt and Road initiative, and China and Central and Eastern European countries cooperation.

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The Chinese president will be in Hungary from 8-10 May and will hold talks with Hungarian president Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Under Orban, Hungary has been the most China-friendly country in the EU. Beijing has also invested majorly in infrastructure to connect Hungary with its southern neighbor Serbia.

Chinese president Xi Jinping shakes hands with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban before the bilateral meeting of the Second Belt and Road Forum at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on 25 April 2019. Reuters File Photo

As per Radio Free Europe, Xi and Orban will announce that Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Ltd will open a plant in Hungary during the formers visit.

Researchers with the China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe (CHOICE) project say in their recent analysis that Serbia and Hungary are the remaining China loyalists in the region. These European countries are also close to Putin.

Why Xis Europe trip matters

Xis European tour comes amid EUs growing worries about Chinas trade practices, including limited access to the Asian giants market and a wide trade imbalance.

Although the blocs trade deficit with China has been reducing, it is still a cause for alarm in Brussels. After the EU launched an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicle imports, Beijing, in a tit-for-tat move, initiated an anti-dumping investigation into brandy  a move seen as targeting France, noted Reuters.

The EU is also probing Chinas procurement of medical devices, solar panels and wind turbines, noted SCMP. Chinese investment is under scanner in Europe over overcapacity.

Beijings exchanges with Russia even after the Ukraine war have further irked the EU.

Xis trip will be closely watched in the US which is sparring with China over various issues, including contentions global and bilateral topics. America proposes derisking from Beijing, while Russia and China challenge the US-led world order. The EU leaders have also adopted the derisking approach of slashing dependence on the worlds second-biggest economy.

Frances Macron backs strategic autonomy, wherein the EU can have the right to take a different stance from the US on China policy.

According to a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Xis Europe trip will inject new momentum to the peaceful development of the world.

Well, the world will be watching to find out if that happens.

With inputs from agencies
The anti-Israel protests that kicked off at elite campuses in the United States spread to France, the UK, Australia and Italy. Across the border, Pakistan is riding the coattails of its all-weather friend China all the way to the Moon. All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from around the world read more

Students at Paris Institute of Political Studies, an elite unviersity known as Sciences Po, occupied a central campus building and blocked its entrance with trash cans, wooden platforms and a bicycle to protest the Gaza war. AP

It was another huge week for news around the world.

The anti-Israel protests that kicked off at elite campuses in the United States went global.

Meanwhile, a report shone a light on a disturbing trend  incest being on the rise.

Over in the UK, yet another horrific incident of a stabbing was recorded. The victim, a 13-year-old, died after being stabbed with a sword.

Across the border, Pakistan is riding the coattails of its all-weather friend China all the way to the Moon.

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And in the Hermit Kingdom, Kim Jong-Un has selected yet more young women for his pleasure squad.

All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from the world.

1. Free Palestine. That chant by students at Columbia University kicked off the pro-Palestinian protests.

It didnt take long before the fervour to spread to other elite campuses all over the country including at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

But now those demonstrations are catching fire across the globe.

From the University of Warwick and University College London (UCL) in the UK to the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies in France, students are rising up against what they view as a genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel.

The elite university known as Sciences Po counts President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal among its many famous alumni. AP

But what do we know about the protests? What are their demands? And how are authorities responding?

This piece tells you what you need to know.

2. Speaking of protests at Columbia University, one name has been in the news lately  Minouche Shafik.

Shafik, the president of the university, has been in the eye of the storm for the past few weeks.

Shafik was called before a US House committee to answer allegations of anti-semitism on Columbias campus.

She also, in a move that upset many, invited the New York Police Department to remove those who had encamped on the universitys South Lawn in violation of the Universitys rules and policies."

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But who is Shafik? How did she become the president of a prestigious university?

And what role has she played thus far in the student protests?

Heres a low down on her life and times.

3. Whats happening in the United Kingdom?

Thats what many are asking after news of yet another stabbing hit the headlines.

This time, a man armed with a sword went berserk in northeast London  attacking policemen and passers-by.

The data shows knife crime and stabbings have increased seven per cent in the UK year-on-year.

Floral tributes at the end of Laing Close near the scene in Hainault where 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin was killed in a sword attack on Tuesday, in nort east London. AP

But what happened exactly? What do experts think is behind such a spike in knife crime?

And what are authorities doing to keep the public safe?

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This article takes a long, hard look at the subject.

4. Pakistan is finally shooting for the Moon. And its all thanks to China.

Islamabad is attempting to send its iCube-Q, a CubeSat satellite, developed by the Islamabad-based Institute of Space Technology, Chinas Shanghai University and Pakistans national space agency SUPARCO, aboard Chinas Change6.

The lunar mission is slated to land on the far side of the Moon, gather surface samples and bring them back to Earth for further analysis.

But why is this mission special? Who stands to benefit from it?

Click here to learn more.

5. Every so often, news comes about North Korea to remind everyone just what a downright strange place it is.

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As was the case this week when a defector from North Korea shone a spotlight on Kim Jong-Uns Pleasure Squad  a selection of virgin girls chosen for their looks and loyalty.

North Koreas leader Kim Jong-Un selects over two dozen virgin girls for his pleasure squad. Reuters

Yeonmi Park, 30, in an interview detailed how she was twice scouted for this role but ultimately turned down.

But what do we know about the squad? How did this practice begin? And what happens to its members after they retire?

7. Around the world, women go to great lengths to maintain their looks.

Barely a day goes by without reading a headline about a new and exotic beauty trend. One such trend, a vampire facial, was popularised by Kim Kardashian.

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Unfortunately, three women in the United States have now been infected with HIV after receiving a vampire facial at an unlicensed medical spa.

This electron microscope image made available by the US National Institutes of Health shows a human T cell, in blue, under attack by HIV, in yellow, the virus that causes AIDS. Three women who were diagnosed with HIV after getting vampire facial procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are the first believed to have contracted the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles, according to federal health officials. File photo/NIH via AP

So, what happened? What does the procedure entail? Is it really safe?

This piece answers all your burning questions.

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 .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is an ally of N Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has rejected reservation for Muslims on the basis of religion as unconstitutional read more

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu has promised to implement 4% reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh upon winning the assembly elections.

Naidu, a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). party TDP is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Andhra Pradesh assembly elections together.

Naidus promise of reservation for Muslims comes at a time when the BJP has strongly refuted it so far. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that he will not allow Muslim reservation to be implemented.

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They [Congress] want to insult the Constitution for their vote bank, but I want them to know, till the time I am alive, I will not let them give the reservation meant for Dalits, SCs, STs, and OBCs to the Muslims in the name of religion, said Modi at a rally in Telanganas Zaheerabad.

Weve supported Muslim reservation since beginning

Even as the BJP has rejected the idea of reservation for Muslims, partys ally Naidu has said that the TDP has always supported it.

From the beginning, we are supporting a four per cent reservation for Muslims and that will continue, said Naidu while speaking to reporters in Dharmavaram of Andhra Pradesh, as per India Today.

Separately, last week, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Naidu said, Poverty remains high among Muslims today. It is our responsibility to help them at such a time. In this order we will save 4% percentage reservation for Muslims. There is no other thought in it. #TDPWithMuslims

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Previously, Naidu also said that he will ensure Rs 1 lakh to every Muslim for Hajj pilgrimage upon coming to power.

Soon after the NDA comes to power in the state, Rs 1 lakh financial assistance will be extended to every Muslim who visits Mecca on the Haj pilgrimage, said Naidu.

In Andhra Pradesh, the Lok Sabha and assembly elections will take place simultaneously on May 13. The BJP is in an alliance with Naidus TDP and actor Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena in the state under the banner of NDA.

NDA manifesto skips Muslim reservation, BJP has slammed it

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Even as Naidu has promised Muslim reservation, the NDAs manifesto for Andhra Pradesh has made no mention of it, according to India Today.

Instead, the manifesto focused on promises like Rs 1,500 per month in pension for women aged 19-59, 20 lakh jobs for youth or Rs 3,000 per month unemployment allowance, and free bus travel for women.

Senior leaders of the BJP, including PM Modi, have repeatedly criticised the calls of reservation for Muslims. They have stressed that the Constitution does not allow reservation on grounds of religion.

In an interview with CNN-News 18, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier this week criticised the opposition for misleading the Muslim community on the issue of Muslim reservations.

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He said, Religion-based reservation is not there in the Constitution. How will you give it? You are talking about the Constitution and you are also misleading the Muslim community by promising reservation on the basis of religion. How is this possible? How will you give it?

Separately, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly asserted that the reservation for Muslims is unconstitutional and that Congress has illegally imposed such a policy. He further said that the reservation for Muslims eats into the quotas meant for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), and other backward classes (OBCs).

Our Constitution does not agree with reservation based on religion. Our constitution has no provision for reservation based on religion. Congress has illegally imposed a reservation for appeasement politics that has given reservation to Muslims based on religion, cutting into the reservation of ST, SC, and OBC, and they are saying that we are lying, so I want them to clarify to the nations public. We will not do reservations based on religion, what is the fear, said Shah in an interview with Times Now.
The domain of the email ID from which threats were sent is understood to be owned by a Russian company read more

The Delhi Police is expected to approach Russia with a judicial request in the case related to bomb threats to around 200 schools in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this week, according to a report.

The domain of the email ID from which threats were sent is understood to be owned by a Russian company.

Separately, the Delhi Police has already reached out to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for assistance in the matter. The CBI is the designated Indian agency that coordinates with the INTERPOL.

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Earlier this week, around 200 schools in Delhi and NCR received bomb threats via email on Wednesday. In its FIR, the police said there was conspiratorial intention of creating mass panic and to disturb public in the case.

Delhi Police to send judicial request to Russia for quick response

The Delhi Police is expected to approach Russia with a judicial request as it is a faster medium compared to other routes.

Firstly, the Delhi Police is expected to approach the Union Home Ministry and subsequently it will approach a court to issue a Letter Rogatory (LR) to Russia, according to The Times of India.

A LR is a judicial request and friendly countries usually respond promptly to such requests.

The email ID from which the threats were sent, sawariim@mail.ru, is understood to be hosted by a Russian company.

The domain of email ID sawariim@mail.ru has been traced to Russia and is suspected to have been formed with the help of the dark web, which is an encrypted online content that allows individuals to hide their identity and location from others, a police officer was quoted as saying by CNN-News 18.

Previous cases of LRs to Russia

If the Delhi Police sends an LR to Russia, this would not be the first time. In recent years, multiple LRs led to responses from Russia in similar cases.

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Last year, after a school in Sadiq Nagar of Delhi received a bomb threat, an LR was sent to Russia on May. A senior official was quoted as saying by ToI that Russia promptly replied and informed that the IP address used in the incident was from Austria and that a virtual private network (VPN) was used.

In another case involving the same school, the German company hosting the account responded by saying that it did not retain data of free accounts, according to the report.
Jaishankar emphasized Indias dedication to international collaboration, emphasizing the need to promote development while fostering mutual respect and confidence. He called a country that could form alliances with other nations in order to further its own interests a Vishwa Bandhu read more

Jaishankar presented a vision of a developed India supported by strong international ties for the next 25 years, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to build international partnerships during his tenure Image Courtesy PTI

S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated on Sunday that many countries are looking to India for friendship in the context of war and instability in some other countries.

On the second day of his visit to Odisha, Jaishankar spoke at a conference centered on Viswa Bandhu Bharat, emphasizing Indias capacity for international collaboration.

He described Indias capacity to interact with a wide range of countries, such as the US, Europe, Russia, Africa, Israel, the Gulf, and Arab countries.

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Jaishankar emphasized the idea of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, highlighting how India could work with other nations on all fronts to further its national goals notwithstanding disputes abroad.

We can partner with the US and Europe as well as Russia and African nations. Similarly, India can have friendship with Israel on one side and Gulf and Arab nations on another, Jaishankar said, adding that there may be conflict among some countries, but India can partner with all nations on different subjects and various issues to take our national interests further.

Jaishankar emphasized Indias dedication to international collaboration, emphasizing the need to promote development while fostering mutual respect and confidence. He called a country that could form alliances with other nations in order to further its own interests a Vishwa Bandhu.

Jaishankar presented a vision of a developed India supported by strong international ties for the next 25 years, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to build international partnerships during his tenure.

When Jaishankar spoke about government efforts to improve global connectivity, he brought up three pipeline projects: one that would connect India to Europe through the United Arab Emirates; another would establish the International North-South Corridor through Iran and Russia; and a third would connect Vietnam and the Indo-Pacific through the Northeast and the Odisha coastline.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Singapore, Vietnam, and others want to partner with India. This will help increase investment, employment and connectivity, he said.

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In an interactive session in Sambalpur, Jaishnkar said, The ensuing election is not just between leaders and voters, but a mission for the nation. This election will decide the countrys course of action for the next 25 years to become a Vikasit Bharat.
The BJP has a lot on the line in this round of elections because it won a resounding majority of these seats in 2019including every one in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradeshwhich will be decided on May 7 read more

Leading the BJP's attack was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who demanded in writing from the Congress that it not award Muslims the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes

With 92 seats spread across 11 states and Union Territories, the intense campaign for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which saw the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc fiercely attacking each other on issues like reservations and sexual harassment charges against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, came to an end on Sunday evening.

The BJP has a lot on the line in this round of elections because it won a resounding majority of these seats in 2019including every one in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradeshwhich will be decided on May 7.

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Leading the BJPs attack was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who demanded in writing from the Congress that it not award Muslims the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

The BJP was accused by the Congress and its allies of attempting to alter the Constitution and eliminate reservations. The main opposition party asked the BJP to clarify its stand on the matter in addition to promising to lift the 50% reservation quota.

Along with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge concentrated on problems of social justice, unemployment, injustice to farmers, and purportedly favorable treatment to certain businessmen.

Rahul Gandhi restated the Congresss pledge to carry out a caste census and economic survey if elected to power, while the BJP leaders attacked the Congress on matters of wealth redistribution and inheritance tax, accusing it of engaging in appeasement politics.

There are more than 1300 contenders, about 120 of whom are female. Union ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna), Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), and SP Singh Baghel (Agra) are among the prominent figures.

This time, former chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh and Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha, have also entered the Lok Sabha election race. On May 7, decisions will also be made about the futures of former Karnataka chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri).

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In Uttar Pradesh, several relatives of Mulayam Singh Yadav are also running in this phase.

Prime Minister Modi attacked the dynastic politics of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, claiming that while their alliance partners only work for their own families, he is creating a better future for the countrys future generations. Modi made these remarks during two rallies he addressed on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh and afterwards visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Referring to himself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, We dont have children. We are working for your children. With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Prime Minister Modis home state of Gujarat will go to polls on May 7, besides 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, eight in Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa.

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The election in the Anatnag-Rajouri seat has been postponed until the sixth phase for logistical reasons, while the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) will also hold elections in the third phase.

Congressmen Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have taken aim at the BJP over claims that Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, the head of the JD(S) and an ally of the BJP, was sexually harassed.

Retaliating, BJP leader Amit Shah and others questioned the reason behind the Karnataka Congress governments decision to postpone taking action against Revanna. Sept. of last year saw the JD(S) become a part of the BJP-led NDA.

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Prajwal Revanna, the JD(S)-BJP coalition candidate from the Hassan seat that went to polls on April 26, is the grandson of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda. Shortly after a court here denied Prajwals request for anticipatory bail, his father, H D Revanna, was taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team on Saturday in connection with a kidnapping case including claims of sexual abuse against Prajwal.

The Congress has come under fire from the BJP for appeasement politics, Love Jihad occurrences, and claimed inability to contain anti-national activities.

The party officials brought up the March 1 bombing at a cafe here, the April 18 murder of 23-year-old Neha Hiremath by Fayaz Khondunaik on a Hubballi college campus, and the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans in the corridors of Vidhana Soudha on February 27.

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In Maharashtra, where 11 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats will go to polls, a riveting contest is on in Baramati between Sharad Pawars daughter Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leaders estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

In Gujarat, BJPs Mukesh Dalal has already won from Surat unopposed after the nomination of Congress Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew.

On the last day of campaigning on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state unit president CR Paatil and minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in motorcycle rallies. During the campaign, the BJP had to face the ire of the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot.

Aam Aadmi Party, which is contesting from Bhavnagar and Bharuch, held rallies by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, also held a roadshow in Bharuch.

Numerous roadshows and rallies marked the hectic campaign in Uttar Pradeshs 10 constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly.

The current phase is important for the Mulam Singh Yadavs family, with Dimple Yadav aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, is contesting from Firozabad, and Aditya Yadav is making his electoral debut from the Budaun Lok Sabha seat, In his rallies, Shah attacked Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that his party will have to take out a Congress Dhoondho Yatra after June 4.

BJP leaders alleged that the Congress and SP leaders did not attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya fearing it would alienate their vote bank.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav extensively campaigned for his party candidates in the third phase and attacked the BJP over reservation and other issues.

The BJP is hoping for a clean sweep in Madhya Pradesh, which sends 29 members to Lok Sabha. At a rally held in Morena, Modi had claimed that then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax apparently to save the money, which he was supposed to get after Indira Gandhis death, from going to the government.

In an emotional reply, Priyanka hit back at the PM, saying her father inherited martyrdom and not wealth from Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated.

Voting will be held in Bihars Araria, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, Madhepura and Khagaria, all of which are currently held by the ruling NDA. The NDAs heavy artillery was spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi, the biggest crowd-puller of the BJP-led coalition. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an NDA partner who heads the JD(U), held rallies and roadshows in all the five constituencies.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav campaigned intensively in all five seats, including Khagaria and Jhanjharpur, which his party is not contesting. CPI(M) bigwigs remained conspicuous by their absence in Khagaria, the lone seat the party is contesting in Bihar.

Despite heavy rains in Assam on the last day, both ruling and opposition parties engaged in a vigorous campaign in Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar (ST), and Guwahati.

The BJP campaign was focused on highlighting the various development schemes of both the central and state governments. The opposition parties focused on issues like citizenship, connectivity and unemployment.

(With agency inputs)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also said that the situation is improving in Jammu and Kashmir in a way that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will be one day not needed there read more

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India will not require force to take back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) as such demands are coming on its own from the people there.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Singh further asserted that the POK is Indias and will always remain Indias. He said India will never give up its claim on the region.

The POK refers to the part of the Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan has illegally occupied since 1947-48.

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In an interview with PTI in the midst of ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Singh further said that the ground situation has improved in J&K and that a time will come when the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will not be required in the state. He also said that elections will also be held in the union territory. He, however, did not give a timeline for either of these steps.

POK was, is, and will always remain ours

Singh said that POK was, is, and will remain ours. He added that India will not have to use force to merge the region as natives are themselves making demands for such a merger.

I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India, said Singh to PTI.

Regarding POK and Indias relationship with Pakistan, the Narendra Modi government has maintained that talks and terror cannot go along together. Previously, Singh has said that only talks with Pakistan will be only held regarding POK.

Now, if talks are held, they will only be held on the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. There will be no talks on any other issueWhat do they have to talk about? What is the topic? Why should there be talks? There will be a dialogue with Pakistan only after it ends support for terrorism. If Pakistan doesnt do this, there is no reason for holding the talks, said Singh in 2019.

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AFPA will not be needed one day in J&K

Citing the improved security situation in J&K under the Modi government, Singh said that AFSPA will one day be not required in the region.

The AFSPA is a law that allows the security personnel to detain a person without any warrant. The law further allows the forces to conduct operations force, including lethal force, without the risk of any prosecution.

Singh, however, told PTI that the issue of the AFSPA lies with the Union Home Ministry and it will be the one taking actions on it.

The way the situation is improving in Jammu and Kashmir, I think a time will come when AFSPA will no longer be required there. It is my view and it is for the Home Ministry to decide on it, said Singh.

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Referring to the Pakistans use of proxies in J&K, Singh said that it is an attempt to destabilise India and we will not allow it to happen.

Grave concern: Singh on ex-Pakistan ministers praise for Rahul

In the interview, Singh also lashed out at the praise of Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former minister in the government of Imran Khan in Pakistan, for Rahul Gandhi and said that it was a matter of grave concern.

Singh said that Congress must explain how a country Pakistan that attempts to destabilise India expresses deep love for tis leader.

Singh was referring to a post by Hussain on X (formerly Twitter) in which he hailed Rahul as a socialist and praised him and great-grandfather Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

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Rahul Gandhi, like his great-grandfather Jawaharlal, has a socialist in him. Problems of India and Pak are so same even after 75 years of Partition, Rahul Sahib in his last night speech said 30 or 50 families owns 70% of India wealth. So is in Pakistan where only a business club called Pak Business Council and few real estate Seths own 75% of Pak wealth. Fair distribution of wealth is biggest challenge of capitalism, said Hussain, appearing to praise Rahuls proposed financial and institutional survey along with wealth redistribution.

Singh further slammed Congress for playing with fire as the party is attempting to create a Hindu-Muslim divide and disturb the social harmony.

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They are attempting to create Hindu-Muslim divide for electoral gains. The Congress is trying to create tensions on religious lines. The Congress wants to disturb social harmony. They look at the Muslim community only as a vote bank. I have a suggestion for them  politics should not be done only for forming governments. The aim of politics should be for nation building, said Singh to PTI.

Singh further said, Rahul Gandhi has no fire but Congress is playing with fire.
The action was taken the day after the Kolkata Police established a special inquiry squad (SET) to look into the claims of sexual harassment made by a contract worker at the Raj Bhavan against Bose read more

According to sources within the Kolkata Police, investigations into the incident have begun by the special squad under the direction of Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee Image Courtesy PTI

In a letter to Raj Bhavan employees on Sunday, Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose requested that they disregard any correspondence from the police on the molestation allegations made against him. Additionally, he informed the Raj Bhavan employees that no criminal case could be brought against a governor while they were in office.

The action was taken the day after the Kolkata Police established a special inquiry squad (SET) to look into the claims of sexual harassment made by a contract worker at the Raj Bhavan against Bose.

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According to sources within the Kolkata Police, investigations into the incident have begun by the special squad under the direction of Deputy Commissioner (Central) Indira Mukherjee. There are eight senior police officers in the special team.

The female employee claimed that the West Bengal Governor had molested her in the Raj Bhavan in a written complaint that she had filed with the Kolkata Police on Friday. At that point, the governor called the accusations absurd drama and declared that nothing would stop him from continuing his determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence.

The reports from the media indicate that the police propose to conduct an inquiry into the incident and that they would be examining the staff of the Raj Bhavan. It is also reported that the investigating team intends to collect the CCTV footage from Raj Bhavan. The question that arises is as to whether the police can conduct an inquiry and collect evidence in view of the immunity enjoyed by the Governor under Art.361(2) and (3) of the Constitution of India, Governor Bose wrote.

Since the Governor has been granted constitutional immunity from any criminal proceedings being instituted or continued against him, it logically follows that the police cannot investigate/inquire into the matter in any manner whatsoever. To say that the inquiry/investigation of the police could continue even during the tenure of the Governor though no court can take cognisance of the final report, would be in derogation of the objective and essence of Art.361 of the Constitution of India. Thus, in view of the immunity enjoyed by the Governor, the police are constitutionally barred from carrying out any kind of preliminary inquiry, registering a First Information Report, he added.

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In the circumstances, all staff/ employees including part-time, temporary, DRW (Daily Rated Workers) or those engaged in Raj Bhavan in any manner are hereby directed to ignore any communication from the police in this respect and refrain from giving any statement online, offline, in person, over phone or in any other manner.
The regions Hawal, which used to be a stronghold of the banned Al Umar Mujahideen (AuM) terrorist group and where kidnappings were the order of the day in early 1990s, is a completely different place now as it is abuzz with political rallies and party activities read more

Veteran politician Farooq Abdullah held political rallies on Saturday in downtown Srinagar, signalling a resurgence of democratic processes in the region that was synonymous with violence and unrest Image Courtesy PTI

Once a hunting ground for terrorists, the downtown Srinagar is witnessing a vibrant political revival as former chief minister Omar Abdullah orchestrated a bold move Sunday by hosting a rally for his National Conference candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.

The regions Hawal, which used to be a stronghold of the banned Al Umar Mujahideen (AuM) terrorist group and where kidnappings were the order of the day in early 1990s, is a completely different place now as it is abuzz with political rallies and party activities.

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So much so was the enthusiasm that the security forces had a tough time managing the crowd at the NC rally hosted at a park in the Tibetan colony, just meters away from the historic Jama Masjid, a focal point for Mirwaiz Umar Farooqs moderate Hurriyat Conference.

During his tenure as chief minister, Abdullah had made significant efforts to support unemployed youths in the downtown city by providing them with soft loans to operate roadside kiosks, aiming to prevent them from being influenced by anti-national elements and involve in activities like stone-pelting.

However, many youths lost their occupation to the massive 2014 floods, leading to a resurgence in the incidents of stone-pelting. The National Conference was voted out of power, but the floods couldnt wash away the investment in youths Abdullah made during his tenure.

And its impact was on full display during Sunday rally as many of them turned up to show their support.

The atmosphere was electric as people filled the park and even perched on their rooftops, chanting slogans in support of the National Conference and their candidate, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.

Omar Saab aagey badho, hum tumhare saath hain (You march ahead Omar, we are with you) slogans rent the air as women gathered at the venue, singing traditional Kashmiri wanwun (chorus) and cheering for Abdullah.

Addressing the jubilant crowd, a visibly elated Abdullah justified his choice of Mehdi as a candidate, praising his fearlessness and ability to represent the constituencys aspirations.

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During his speech, punctuated by frequent chants from the spirited audience, Abdullah highlighted the challenges faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising their silenced voices and the presence of outsiders in government offices.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir are going through a very difficult time, he said. Our lips are sealed, our voices are not heard and our government offices are filled with outsiders.

With the Srinagar Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 13, the National Conference faces stiff competition from the PDPs Waheed Para. The surge in political activities in a region once plagued by terrorism underlined a significant shift towards a more politically active future.

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Veteran politician Farooq Abdullah held political rallies on Saturday in downtown Srinagar, signalling a resurgence of democratic processes in the region that was synonymous with violence and unrest.

The senior Abdullah held rallies in Khanyar and Ali Kadal while Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari held a small rally in Fateh Kadal of downtown.

PDPs Para has been mainly focussing on holding street meetings in the area.

This upsurge in political engagement underscores the evolving dynamics of the area, moving from a turbulent past to a more engaged and politically active tomorrow.
Can Priyanka Gandhi Vadra weave back the magic of 1999 in Raebareli for brother Rahul Gandhi when she described the Lok Sabha seat as her ilaqa (territory)?

It had all been very different during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections when Arun Nehru, the great-grandson of Motilal Nehrus elder brother Nandlal, contested from the Nehru-Gandhi pocket borough of Rae Bareli on a BJP ticket.

Priyankas public attack on her uncle came as she campaigned for Congress candidate and family loyalist Satish Sharma.

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Mujhe aap se ek shikayat hai. Mere pita ke mantri mandal mein rehte hue jisne gaddari ki, bhai ki peeth mein chhura marajawab dijiyeaise aadmi ko aapne yahan ghusne kaise diya? Unki yahan aane ki himmat kaise hui? (I have a complaint against you. A man who committed treachery while remaining in my fathers ministry, who stabbed a brother in the backanswer mehow did you let such a man in here? How did he dare come here?)" Priyanka asked the voters.

Yahan aane se pehle maine apni maa se baat ki thi. Maa ne kaha kisi ki burai mat karna. Magar main jawan hoon, dil ki baat aap se na kahun to kisse kahun? (I spoke to my mother before coming here. She told me not to speak ill of anyone. But I am young; to whom shall I speak my mind if not to you?)

Priyankas remarks were so fierce that even an ace orator like Atal Bihari Vajpayee failed to dull their impact.

Vajpayee, who was Prime Minister then, visited Rae Bareli a day after Priyankas speech. In his typical style, he took a dig at Priyanka, saying he was scared to visit Rae Bareli as it seemed to be someone elses ilaqa. But it was too late: Aruns fate had already been sealed.

Arun Nehru died as a disillusioned man in 2013. When he joined the fray in 1999, Priyanka viewed him as someone who had tarnished Rajiv Gandhi over Bofors and joined his opponents.

The year 2019 had, in fact, begun on a promising note for the Congress. It had won Assembly elections held in the previous year in three statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarhgiving the party something to cheer about. On January 24, the Congress formally inducted Priyanka as an All India Congress Committee general secretary. She was dubbed a game changer and a brahmastra by her party colleagues and a section of the media. The BJP, however, maintained a studied silence amid reports that the partys top leadership had issued instructions not to attack her or build a narrative of Priyanka versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Just as Priyanka was set to hold her first press conference in Lucknow on February 14, 2019, a convoy of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force came under attack in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving over 40 troopers dead. The entire country was outraged even as Modi bided his time.

The response would come on February 26. The announcement of general elections was on the cards when the Indian Air Force struck deep inside Pakistan, destroying a terrorist camp in Balakot. India had struck back within a fortnight. Modi was seen as a man of action who dared to get even with Pakistan without caring for international opinion or repercussions.

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The Ghar mein ghus kar mara narrative brought a great deal of satisfaction and pride to Indian citizens across the country. For days, Priyanka struggled to come out and pick up the threads to launch her poll campaign. By the time the 2019 general elections concluded, the Modi-led BJP had won another decisive mandate. The Congress finished with a paltry tally of 52 of the 543 parliamentary seats where elections were held.

Priyanka made three crucial mistakes between March and May 2019.

One, it was amateurish to have toyed with the idea of contesting against Modiand then back out of the day.

Modi held a mesmerising show of strength in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. On April 21, 2019, Priyanka told the media that she would be happy to contest the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi if her brother Rahul, who was the then Congress president, told her to. You will find out. If my Congress president tells me to contest, I will be happy to contest, Priyanka had said.

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Priyankas second folly, a mix of inexperience and candour, was to have described the Congress as a vote katua in Uttar Pradesh. She told a journalist in the middle of the elections to the 17th Lok Sabha that Congress nominees in the heartland state had been chosen keeping in mind their potential to cut into the BJPs votes. Even a cursory look at the caste profiles of Congress candidates would have confirmed this, but a public pronouncement, followed by heated TV debates, made Priyanka look like a goofy greenhorn.

Finally, the third and biggest political mistake was to have accepted the thankless job of AICC general secretary in charge of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The grand old party was short of organisational networks, credible leaders, and resourcesvirtually everything in the region.

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The author is a Visiting Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. A well-known political analyst, he has written several books, including 24 Akbar Road and Sonia: A Biography. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
With Chinese forays into the Depsang Plateau and the construction of roads into Shaksgam Valley, barely 50 km from Siachen, the two-front threat is a stark reality in the Ladakh region. In this context, the worlds toughest battlefield still remains utmost relevant strategically read more

It was in April 1984 when the Indian Army undertook an unthinkable mission, Operation Meghdoot. It entailed securing the Siachen Glacier, which lies between the strategically important Saltoro Ridge subrange of Karakoram to the west and the main Karakoram to the east. It literally drove a wedge between Baltistan, Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), and Shaksgam Valley (ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963). In a virtual photo finish, the Pakistani Army was beaten narrowly.

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While in Balti language, Siachen means land of roses, in actuality, it is the coldest place outside the polar region, referred to as the Third Pole. Now it has the distinction of being the highest battlefield in the world, dotted with army posts at heights varying between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, with the median temperature hovering around a negative 40 degrees Celsius. Never in history have humans fought in such an extreme environment.

Some three decades back when I moved in to take over the command of a battalion that was due for deployment in Siachen, I was looking forward to be back on the home turf, being a trained mountain trooper and having done two tenures in the Ladakh region earlier.

During the winter, the only way one can access Ladakh is by air. It was early February 1991 when I landed at Leh from the Air Force IL-76 transport aircraft. The bone-chilling air and thick snow-covered peaks appeared to be a familiar sight. The sudden feeling of breathlessness was a terse reminder: Never try to be Gama in the land of Lama.

Being the first battalion from the JAT Regiment to take field on the Northern Glacier, there were apprehensions about the troops from the plains to adapt to extreme high-altitude conditions. However, rigorous two-month pre-induction training alongside meticulous preparations ensured a flying start, with the crucial induction phase going through smoothly. Ironically, the tenure commenced on a calamitous note, with my prefabricated shelter going up in flames due to a freak accident. The division commander went on to assure us that it was a good omen. From here on, there was no looking back.

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Over a period of time, a kind of pattern emerged. During the days when weather was fair, the enemy resorted to heavy artillery fire to effectively interfere with their own supply chains as all our posts were air-maintained. From the dropping zones or the helipads, stores were ferried by manpack. Consequently, all the movement had to be at night, which meant a change in the body clock. Call it providence, Sundays turned out to be the most challenging, marked by skirmishes, fire accidents, and mishaps. Hence, forewarned is forearmed became the mantra-heuristic approach to handling crisis situations.

As Pakistani posts and gun areas were closer to the roadheads, logistics support, especially ammunition, was never a problem for them. On the other hand, in our case, every round had to be airlifted. The enemy guns at Gyari were the most active, and it was only when our own Bofor Guns deployed in depth areas resorted to counter-bombardment that these went silent. Coincidentally, in April 2012, an avalanche struck Gyari, and 140 people got buried, proving to be the worst disaster for the Pakistan Army.

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During the bad weather, marked by intense snow storms that lasted for days, the enemy frequently made stealth attempts to grab our positions, resulting in violent exchanges of fire at close quarters. At one location, the opposing posts were literally at a handshake distance. This was the most contested real estate, with a history of many bloody engagements. There existed an unwritten codea brief pause was observed when fingers were off the trigger to allow the evacuation of casualties.

VIPs made snap visits, landing on the forward helipads for a few minutes when the weather was conducive. Then Defence Minister Sharad Pawar visited twice, the second time along with a group of Members of Parliament (MPs). Many went hysterical about getting the first-hand feel of extremely hostile conditions. On seeing the tail signs of craters due to heavy artillery shelling, someone remarked, It appears that ice is on fire." As a token of appreciation, Siachens monthly allowance was doubled to Rs 900. Some foreign dignitaries who were briefed at the base camp wondered how the Indian soldiers did such arduous tenures without the rest and recreation holidays that are so prevalent in the Western Armies.

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Interestingly, besides the soldiers, there were three other inhabitants. A couple of posts had local dogs who would accompany the link patrols. Rats had a marked presence, their size vindicating the good quality of rations. Crows too were around, flying at will across the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) to taste the Pakistani delicacies.

There were many extra-ordinary feats. Our infantry mortars often took on enemy artillery, especially when some of our guns were under replacement. The aviation pilots routinely took extraordinary risks to pick up casualties in the face of hostile fire. Due to the delayed relief, the battalion did four extra weeks and suffered just two fatal casualties during its nearly seven-month tenure, thus setting a record and demolishing the myth of high casualties in Siachen.

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A team of psychologists had come to evaluate the impact of the extreme high altitude. The study had to be called off as its members could not sustain beyond three days of suffering from hypoxia and hallucinations. Even a medical study to gauge the effect of prolonged deployment in an extreme high-altitude environment was inconclusive, as the findings were weird and inconsistent.

Over the years, the ground situation has changed significantly. Communication and data connectivity have improved immensely, enabling real-time situational awareness. With the internet and mobile facilities, the troops are connected with their families. During our time, due to adverse weather conditions, the mail could not be delivered to the forward posts. Hence, quite often, the letters were read over the telephone from the base camp. The news of my fathers demise reached me after almost 24 hours.

The logistics have now vastly improved with the introduction of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), versatile helicopter fleets, including Chinooks and C130/C17 heavy lift transport aircraft. With the establishment of telemetry nodes, the medical facilities at the forward posts have been augmented, which is indeed critical given the constraints of evacuation due to unpredictable weather conditions.

In 2003, with the signing of the ceasefire agreement, the guns fell silent on the Siachen; 110 km (AGPL) went quiet. This notwithstanding, Siachen still remains the toughest battlefield where human endurance is tested to the extreme; each breath is accounted for. It takes a heavy toll on an individual, both physically and mentally, due to loss of appetite, insomnia, and a high risk of pulmonary oedema. Soldiering in Siachen stands as testimony of camaraderie, joint manship, and the spirit of do and die; to defend every inch of this piece of barren land.

Siachen often came under scrutiny for its strategic importance and high cost of maintenance. There were even talks of demilitarisation, which were aborted as Pakistan refused to accept the status of AGPL. Today, given Chinese forays into the Depsang Plateau and the construction of roads into Shaksgam Valley, barely 50 km from Siachen, the two-front threat is a stark reality in the Ladakh region. Hence, strategic foresight in undertaking Operation Meghdoot stands well vindicated, as do the supreme sacrifices made by over a thousand of our brave hearts.

The writer is a Bangladesh war veteran and has commanded a battalion in Siachen, a brigade in the Kashmir Valley, and a division in the North East. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
If one argues in favour of the displaced Palestinians, then its hypocritical not to take up the cause of Kashmiri Pandits. Instead, the global eminents talk in favour of the rights of those who actually unleashed the genocide on the minorities in Kashmir read more

Rutgers University in the United States has agreed to the demands of protesters on the campus to club Kashmiris with Palestinians in the list of occupied people. Are we surprised? No, if we have not blinded ourselves to the campus realities of the West. Innate anti-Israel and anti-Jew sentiments are as strong in the Western colleges and universities as anti-India and anti-Hindu feelings.

First, lets look into the anti-Israeli/Jewish sentiments in the West. If one thinks anti-Israelism on Western campuses is a post-Gaza war phenomenon, then rest assured you have already been misled and misinformed. For, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has only opened the lid on the thriving anti-Israeli/Jewish ecosystem on these campuses.

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But here again, theres a difference between America and Europe. Though we are today witnessing the worst of protests on US campuses, the situation in the rest of America is largely unaffectedjust the same way the azaadi and tukde tukde voices in some of the top Indian institutions had no echo outside the campuses a few years ago. The situation in Europe, however, is far worse. The anti-Israeli/Jewish sentiments have entrenched deep in European society, thanks to the rise of the Far Right in the West and, more importantly, the massive, largely uncurbed immigration of Muslims from the Middle East and north Africa.

Manfred Gerstenfeld, in his book Demonizing Israel and the Jews, quotes a 2011 study in seven countries by the University of Bielefeld on behalf of the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The study illustrates that viewing Israel as having genocidal intentions towards the Palestinianswhich is tantamount to Israel being a Nazi statehas profoundly permeated the mainstream of European societies. The study found that 63 per cent of Poles think that Israel is conducting a war of extermination against the Palestinians. The lowest figures in the study, writes Gerstenfeld, concerned Italy and the Netherlands, where 38 per cent and 39 per cent of the population think so, respectively. In Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, and Portugal, between 40 per cent and 50 per cent hold these deeply anti-Semitic views, he adds.

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No wonder Europe has for long been witnessing anti-Israeli/Jewish hate incidents on a regular basis. Though one often hears of the French encounters with such hate crimesmaybe Frances non-compromising stand on secularism makes it stand outits the Scandinavian region that is worst hit by anti-Israeli/Jewish sentiments.

The authorities in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are often ready to crawl when merely asked to bend by Islamists. In 2012, Arthur Avnon, the then Israeli ambassador to Denmark, was quoted as saying to AFP, We advise Israelis who come to Denmark and want to go to the synagogue to wait to don their skullcaps until they enter the building and not to wear them in the street, irrespective of whether the areas they are visiting are seen as being safe. He also advised visitors not to speak Hebrew loudly or wear visible Stars of David jewellery.

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Gerstenfeld is scathing in his assessment of these Nordic countries, which often sit in judgement over the state of democracy and liberalism in other countries and continents. A broad range of cases of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism in Scandinavia show how these countries are falsely considered as model democratic societies, he writes.

In recent years, things have only worsened in Europe, which many observers believe has almost moved to the point of no return in its prospect of becoming Eurabia. One can sense the institutionalisation of anti-Semitism in Europe and on European campuses from the fact that the UK police in 2016 advised Jewish and pro-Israel students to not publicly announce the locations of their events.

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In contrast, American society largely remains pro-Israel. A new survey suggests that four out of five Americans support Israel in the ongoing Hamas war. But American campuses remain pockets of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, thanks to the massive influx of Qatari-Saudi-Chinese money into these institutions. What one is seeing is the creation of a rainbow coalition these anti-Semitic forces have made with progressive, Left-wing, feminist, and ethnic minority groups, as well as Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ activists. This has resulted in providing a social justice halo around the Islamist cause.

The destruction of Israel has, thus, become synonymous with the struggle against injustice and oppression. The river to the sea slogan has now become a rallying point for both Left-liberals and Islamists.

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The merger of the Left-wing cause with the Islamist agenda has resulted in the creation of a cocktail that is dangerously anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. The book, Anti-Zionism on Campus: The University, Free Speech and BDS, edited by Andrew Pessin and Doron S Ben-Atar in 2018, explains how the new campus orthodoxy sees Israel as an apartheid regime founded on racism, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and colonialist imperialism. Zionism, it believes, can be neither defended nor corrected, because the very idea of a Jewish state in that region depends on the dispossession of others and because the concept of Jewish democracy is an offensive oxymoron that can only perpetuate the unjust and discriminatory status quo. Israel and Zionism are thus cast as illegitimate, incorrigible abominations.

India, Enemy No. 2

Lets come to the Kashmir issue now. One may wonder what Kashmir has to do with a crisis on US campuses that apparently owes its origins to Gaza. Kashmir, after all, isnt Gaza by any stretch of the imagination.

Historically and civilisationally, Kashmir has always been a central part of the Indian narrative. It, in fact, for most part of the ancient times heralded Indias cultural, literary, and religious blossoming. Kalidas regarded Kashmir as more beautiful than heaven, while Kalhan called it the best place in the Himalayas.

As the legend goes, the Kashmir valley was originally a lake that was created after a part of Satis dead body fell in Kashmir during Shivas cataclysmic dance (tandav), creating the Satisar lake. The places where other body parts fell came to be known as Shakthi Peethas. One day, a great sage (rishi) called Kashyap arrived and he drained the water, and thus emerged a beautiful valley out of the lake. The Rishi was so enchanted that he invited saints and scholars from other parts to populate this valley, which got named after its founder, Kashyap Rishi, as Kashyapsar, Kashyapmar, or Kashmir, meaning the house of Kashyap.

Given this association with Shiva and Sati, the region has historically been a hub of Kashmir Shaivism, though Buddhism too found its base here. Such had been the spiritio-cultural-intellectual aura of Kashmir that even Adi Shankaracharya, after his visit to the valley, conceded the predominance of Shakti in his Advaita philosophy and composed poems in praise of the Goddess.

Theres a fascinating story about the ancestors of Kashmiri Pandits who, before coming to the valley at the insistence of Kashyap, lived on the banks of the river Saraswati. They were therefore called Saraswat Brahmins. As the story goes, there was a great famine, and Saraswati fed her son Saraswat with fish so that he would survive and keep the knowledge of the Vedas alive. Other Brahmans, not that lucky, could not study, and the knowledge of the Vedas was lost to everyone except Rishi Saraswat. This could also be the reason why the Brahmins of Kashmir, Bengal, and Saraswat Brahmins of Mangalore traditionally are fish eaters. The story is also a reminder to all those who tend to confine Hinduism to a particular food habit.

So, any narrative to project India as an occupation force is both dishonest as well as ahistorical. But, more importantly, the plight of Kashmiri Pandits has exposed the hypocrisy of Left-liberals of the Westand India.

Its ironic that the forces in the West that have been projecting themselves as vanguards of democracy, human rights, and liberalismthose who get overwhelmed by the idea of homeless Palestinianshave for the past three decades not uttered a word in favour of Kashmiri Pandits, who have been living in an exile in their own country since 1990. If one argues in favour of the displaced Palestinians, then its hypocritical not to take up the cause of Kashmiri Pandits. Instead, these global eminents talk in favour of the rights of those who actually unleashed the genocide on the minorities in Kashmir.

The answer again lies in the Qatari-Saudi-Chinese money being flushed into Western institutions largely controlled by Leftist intelligentsia. After all, the one thing that is common between the two Godless and God-fearing ideologies is the hatred for India and Hinduism. Remember the ongoing caste controversy in the West, with sinister designs to give it a racial colour.

Such is the revulsion that even the meritocracy of the Indian Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) institutions is being attacked by calling them the structures of Brahminical patriarchy, with one professor of anthropology at Harvard accusing Brahmins of being the cultural capitalists and IITs their mechanism for the production of more upper caste engineers. Meritocracythe foundation on which modern Western civilisation restshas now become, in the Indian context, a Brahminical conspiracy to keep Dalits down and out!

It is these instinctive anti-India, anti-Hindu sentiments that ensure India is targeted in the West in the name of democracy, liberalism, secularism, et al. Whats ironic is that in no other culture or civilisation do these democratic-libertarian values find themselves so deeply entrenched as in India. But then, how can one expect the followers of Stalin and Mao to forward the cause of democracy? And now these undemocratic, illiberal forces have joined hands with Islamists.

If not checked in time, the result could be devastating for India, which might soon find itself in Israeli shoes, and Indians could become the new-age Jews of America, especially in the workplace and on its campuses. Are the recent killings of Indian students in the US an indication of things to come? Maybe Maybe not. But its always better for the country and its people to prepare for the worst. Especially when an American university like Rutgers has on its roll a known India critic and Hindu baiter who unapologetically invents a secular Aurangzeb and calls for the dismantling of Hindutva.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Continued fighting cannot bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to long-term peace. There needs to be a concept of victory beyond military accomplishments read more

. . . a review of actual cases shows a whole category of wars in which the very idea of defeating the enemy [military] is unreal.

. . .inability to carry on the struggle can, in practice, be replaced by two other grounds for making peace: the first is the improbability of victory; the second is its unacceptable cost.  Clausewitz

The latest iteration of violence in the Middle East was marked by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the war that Israel has waged on the Gaza Strip ever since. There now seems to be no solution to peace other than the two-state solution. An Israeli state and a Palestinian state existing side by side in peace can no longer be treated as a dangerous illusion.

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The reason for this thought is due to the fact that there are, after all, only a few possible alternatives to the two-state solution: Palestinian self-rule in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and an eventual political solution that would result in the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The Two Extreme Positions

The two-state solution lies between the two extreme viewpoints. There is Hamass solution, which is the destruction of Israel. There is the Israeli ultra-rights solution, which is the Israeli annexation of Gaza and the West Bank and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Unfortunately, both sides have not considered each other as having a right to establish a nation, so conflicts and war have continued.

Israels opposition to a non-Hamas Palestinian Authority governing Gaza and its declared international opposition to the reoccupation of Gaza by Israel have also prevented any solution.

Stepping away from the extremes is the conflict management approach pursued for the last decade or so by Israel, which aimed to maintain the status quo indefinitely, but the world is witness to just how that has worked out.

There is also the idea of a binational state, ending Israels status as a Jewish state. Bi-nationalism in this context expresses the idea that the land should be transformed into a secular state, a constitutional-liberal state, with Arabs and Jews co-existing in a secular democratic system. Its famous maxim is One Land for Two Peoples, and its most famous proponent was the Palestinian American writer Edward Said. This is distinguished from the two-state solution, according to which two states, one Israeli and the other Palestinian, coexist next to each other. But can these alternatives resolve the conflict without causing even greater calamities?

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Two-State Solution

US President Joe Biden and his top national security officials have repeatedly and publicly reaffirmed their belief that it represents the only way to create lasting peace among the Israelis, the Palestinians, and the Arab countries of the Middle East. The call for a return to the two-state paradigm has been echoed by leaders across the Arab world, countries of the EU, Australia, Canada, and even China.

Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, articulated Indias position in March by stating, Only a two-state solution, achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues, will deliver an enduring peace. India is committed to supporting a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders, with due regard to the security needs of Israel.

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The two-state solution dates back to 1937, when a British Commission suggested a partition of the British mandate territory, then known as Palestine, into two states. Ten years later, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 181, which proposed two states for two peoples: one Arab and one Jewish. Although the resolutions recommended territorial partition left neither side satisfied, the Jews accepted it, but the Palestinians, encouraged by their Arab state sponsors, rejected it. The ensuing war led to the founding of the state of Israel; millions of Palestinians, meanwhile, became refugees, and their national aspirations languished.

But a lack of leadership, trust, and interest on both sides and the repeated failure to change those realities have made it impossible to conceive of a credible pathway to a two-state solution. After the October 7, 2023, incident, it has become even more difficult. The Israelis and the Palestinians are angrier and seem less likely than ever to achieve the mutual trust that a two-state solution would require.

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The current ruling coalition in Israel remains opposed to any such solution. Politics in Israel have also shifted gradually to the right, with a perception that sections of Palestinians are not reconciled to the existence of Israel and have opposed compromises in the past.

Notwithstanding these issues, if the conflict is to be resolved peacefully, the two-state solution is the only idea left standing for want of a better alternative.

The Oslo Process

The idea of a Palestinian state lay mostly dormant for decades as Israel and its Arab neighbours became preoccupied with their own conflict, one result of which was the Israeli occupation and settlement of Gaza and the West Bank after the 1967 Six-Day War, which placed millions of Palestinians under direct Israeli control but without the rights accorded to Israeli citizens.

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Eventually, however, terrorist attacks launched by the Palestine Liberation Organisation and an uprising of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation in the 1980s forced Israel to come to terms with the fact that the situation had become untenable.

In 1993, Israel and the PLO signed the American-brokered Oslo accords, recognising each other and laying the groundwork for a phased, incremental process intended to eventually lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The two-state solutions moment appeared to have arrived.

There was apparently a detailed outline of what the two-state solution would look like: a Palestinian state in 97 per cent of the West Bank and all of Gaza, with mutually agreed swaps of territory that would compensate the Palestinian state for the three per cent of West Bank land that Israel would annex, which at that time contained some 80 per cent of all the Jewish settlers on Palestinian lands.

The Palestinians would have their capital in East Jerusalem, where predominantly Arab suburbs would come under Palestinian sovereignty and predominantly Jewish suburbs under Israeli sovereignty. The two countries would share control of Jerusalems so-called Holy Basin, the site of the most important shrines of the three Abrahamic faiths.

But a final agreement on those terms never materialized. In the end, the edifice of peace that so many had laboured hard to construct was consumed by violence as the Palestinians launched another, more intense uprising and the Israelis expanded their occupation of the West Bank. The ensuing conflict lasted for five years, claiming thousands of lives on both sides and destroying all hopes for reconciliation.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had dominated his countrys politics for the preceding fifteen years, had persuaded the Israelis that they had no Palestinian partner for peace and therefore did not need to address the challenge of what to do with the three million Palestinians in the West Bank and the two million in Gaza whom they effectively controlled. He sought instead to manage the conflict by downplaying the Palestinian Authority (PA) and taking steps to make it easier for Hamas, which shared his aversion to the two-state solution, to consolidate its rule in Gaza. At the same time, he gave free rein to the settler movement in the West Bank to make it impossible for a contiguous part of a Palestinian state to ever emerge there.

The Palestinians also lost faith in the two-state solution. Some turned back to armed struggle, while others began to gravitate towards the idea of a binational state in which Palestinians would enjoy equal rights with Jews. Hamass version of a one-state solution, which would do away with Israel altogether, also gained greater traction in the West Bank, where the popularity of Hamas began to eclipse the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the PA.

The Arab States

The Arab states had decided to all but abandon the Palestinian cause. They had come to see Israel as a natural ally in countering the Iranian-led axis of resistance that had taken root across the Arab world. This new strategic calculation found expression in the Abraham Accords, negotiated by the Trump administration, in which Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) each fully normalised relations with Israel without insisting on the establishment of a Palestinian state.

There were also talks regarding the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the custodian of Islams holiest sites. Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were also on the brink of a regional realignment.

The war has changed everything. The assault on Gaza has immense humanitarian implications. On the West Bank, anger over the war is compounded by the systematic violence of Israeli settlers who have assaulted Palestinians and driven some from their homes. Few Palestinians believe that the Israelis will allow them to build a viable state free of military occupation.

Conclusion

After decades of diplomacy failed to achieve the desired outcome, it seemed to many analysts that the dream had died. But today, a two- or three-state solution with Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank is a reality that seems to be the only way forward.

To quote former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, If you are angry over what we are doing to face the Palestinian uprising, it is not that we do not understand. We understand their dreams very well, but unfortunately, here we have a conflict between two dreams We agree with the Palestinians having a dream, but they should understand that it is impossible.

The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 are now being replaced by the destruction and deaths caused by Israel, which have now been reported to have crossed 34,000. There is thus a stronger need for a credible process that can eventually lead to an agreement. Both sides need to understand each others dreams.

Continued fighting cannot bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to long-term peace. There needs to be a concept of victory beyond military accomplishments. War must be a means to achieve a better reality. Though there are seemingly unresolvable complexities, a solution cannot remain unresolved forever, for which attitudes need to change.

Wars often dont end until both sides are convinced that they are better off coexisting with their adversaries than confronting them. The fact is, no one can predict how far the two sides are from that point, which can lead to a solution that has eluded them for decades.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
After being attacked during an evening out in her constituency, the 37-year-old politician went to the police and was rushed to hospital on April 28 read more

Australian police launched an investigation after the Queensland Labour Party MP Brittany Lauga alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon last weekend.

The matter became more concerning after she claimed that other women had been similarly attacked in the area, recently. After being attacked during an evening out in her constituency, the 37-year-old politician went to the police and was rushed to hospital on April 28.

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This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us," the assistant minister for health said in a statement she posted on her Instagram.

Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take, she furthered.

Its not okay: Lauga

In her statement, Lauga mentioned that the substance had impacted her significantly" and claimed that other women had contacted her and shared their plight. Its not OK. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted," she said.

While investigating the matter, Queensland police stated that no other reports in the same area have been made as of now. However, the authorities assured that they are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Australia has experienced a host of gender-based violence in recent months. Last month, a man named Joel Cuachi stabbed six people to death in a Sydney shopping centre, five of whom were women.

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The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also branded domestic violence a national crisis and pledged to crack down on misogynistic online content.

We need to change the culture. We need to change attitudes. We need to change the legal system, the Australian premier averred.

It is important to note that Lauga has been a Member of Parliament for nearly a decade. She was first elected to the seat of Keppel in 2015. Meanwhile, Queensland Premier Steven Miles, said the government is supporting Lauga and is helping her navigate through this difficult time.

No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through, he said. In her post, Lauga mentioned that she would take time to physically and emotionally heal and requested privacy.
On Friday, three men identified as Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the murder of Nijjar read more

After the Canadian police arrested three men over the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the countrys Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada is a rule of law country. Trudeaus comments came while he was addressing the Sikh community at a Toronto gala celebrating Sikh heritage and culture.

On Friday, three men identified as Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the murder of Nijjar. The pro-Khalistani terrorist was a Canadian citizen who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.

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The police noted that all three men who were arrested in the case were Indian nationals

What did Trudeau say?

While addressing the gala, the Canadian premier said that his administration is committed to protecting all its citizens. This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens, Trudeau said on Saturday, CBC News reported.

As the RCMP stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday, he added.

During the event, the Prime Minister acknowledged that many in Canadas Sikh community are feeling unsafe. Every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and threats of violence in Canada, the Canadian leader asserted.

After the RCMP made the arrest, they revealed that they had worked with US law enforcement agencies in this endeavour. Without giving any additional details on the matter, they hinted that more arrests might be coming soon. The RCMP said that the force is still investigating connections to the government of India.

Indias take on the matter

Earlier today, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that New Delhi will wait for the Canadian police to share information on the three men who were arrested and charged.

Jaishankar noted that he had seen news of the arrests and the fact that the suspects apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background  well have to wait for the police to tell us.

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But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organized crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada, he said.

While addressing an event in Odisha, the EAM also took time to criticize the Canadian government for allowing people with links to organized crime into the country.

Our biggest problem right now is in Canada, because in Canada, actually today the party in power in Canada  [has] given these kind of extremism, separatism, advocates of violence a certain legitimacy in the name of free speech, Jaishankar said.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Verma, Indias high commissioner to Canada said that New Delhi is hoping for regular updates from the Canadian authorities regarding the arrests of the three men.

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I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard, Verma averred.

With inputs from agencies.
Upon his arrival in France, a signed article by Chinese President Xi Jinping titled Carrying Forward the Spirit that Guided the Establishment of China-France Diplomatic Relations, Working Together for Global Peace and Development was published in the French newspaper Le Figaro on Sunday. Here are 10 key quotes from the article, the English translation of which is available on CGTN:

France holds a special fascination for us Chinese. This country has produced a galaxy of philosophers, writers, and artists with global appeal who have inspired all humanity.

History is our best teacher. We live in a world that is far from being tranquil and is once again facing a multitude of risks.

China will work with France to carry forward the spirit that guided the establishment of their diplomatic ties, build on past achievements and open new vistas for China-France relations.

Through 75 years of perseverant hard work, the Chinese people have turned China from an impoverished country into the second largest economy in the world.

China will remain a source of global growth and create opportunities for all countries.

China has faithfully practiced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Over the past 70-plus years since its founding, New China never provoked a war or occupied an inch of foreign land.

I have proposed in recent years the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

China understands the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis on the people of Europe. China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to or a participant in it.

The fundamental solution [to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict] lies in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.
The Secret Service, along with the police and fire departments of the District of Columbia, have launched an investigation into the fatal crash, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi read more

In January, authorities detained another person who crashed a vehicle into the exterior gate of the same complex Image Courtesy Reuters

The US Secret Service reported that a driver lost his life after slamming his vehicle into the White Houses outside entrance late on Saturday.

Shortly before 10:30pm a vehicle traveling at a high speed collided with an outer perimeter gate on the White House complex, the service said in a statement on social media platform X, adding there was no threat to the White House itself.

Officers arriving at the scene attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered dead, the statement said.

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The Secret Service, along with the police and fire departments of the District of Columbia, have launched an investigation into the fatal crash, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

He added there was no threat or public safety implications.

In January, authorities detained another person who crashed a vehicle into the exterior gate of the same complex.

The White House has seen a string of high-profile trespassing incidents in recent years, prompting the construction of a higher, tougher metal fence around the iconic mansions perimeter in 2020.
The latest round of talks between mediators and the Palestinian militant group concluded in Cairo on Sunday, while Israel and Hamas publicly traded blame over failure to reach a deal read more

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in months of behind-the-scenes negotiations in efforts secure a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip Image Courtesy Reuters

CIA director Bill Burns is expected in Doha to meet with Qatars prime minister for emergency discussions on mediation in the Israel-Hamas war, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP Sunday.

The source, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said Burns was on his way to the Qatari capital for talks with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, whose country has been involved in efforts towards a truce in Gaza and hostage release.

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CIA director Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with Qatars prime minister to explore avenues to see if the talks can be brought back on track after no breakthrough in Cairo, said the source.

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in months of behind-the-scenes negotiations in efforts secure a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

The latest round of talks between mediators and the Palestinian militant group concluded in Cairo on Sunday, while Israel and Hamas publicly traded blame over failure to reach a deal.

Qatar, which has hosted Hamass political leadership since 2012 with the blessing of the Washington, is also home to the largest US military base in the region.
Hamas has multiple times hinted at a positive response to the ceasefire deal which was drafted by Egypt. Hence, the latest report puts the ball in Israels court read more

Negotiation for the potential hostage deal and truce in Gaza reached a crucial stage after Hamas indicated that it may agree to the proposed deal. While Hamas gave positive signs about the deal, Israeli officials maintain that the truce would not end the raging Israel-Hamas war.

With an official response from Hamas still awaiting, the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq reported that Hamas is inclined towards accepting the deal. As per the reports, the Palestinian group was guaranteed by the United States for a cease-fire and full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the third phase of the deal.

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They are also hoping for a promise from the Israeli forces that the war will not continue after the release of the living hostages. However, Israeli officials maintained that they are less likely to agree to the final clause.

Israel will, under no circumstances, agree to end the war as part of a deal to release the hostages and is determined to enter Rafah whether the cease-fire will be temporary or not, an Israeli official told Haaretz.

Another official indicated that Tel Aviv is anxiously waiting for an official response. The information has not yet arrived, but in light of past experience, even if Hamas says its following the suggested framework, the small details and reservations itll eventually present may dissolve the whole deal, the official averred.

What if Hamas agrees?

Hamas has multiple times hinted at a positive response to the ceasefire deal which was drafted by Egypt. Hence, the latest report puts the ball in Israels court. Benny Gantz, one of the Israeli war cabinet ministers said that Hamas has not yet given an official response and the Jewish nation will contemplate the matter only when the official response arrives.

I suggest to political sources and all the decision-makers that they wait for official updates, to act calmly and not fall into hysteria for political reasons, he said.

One of the root causes for the delay is the fact that while Hamas is comfortable with the clauses in the proposal deal, it is still looking for a promise that Israel will not return to Gaza after hostages are released.

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On Friday, Hamas emphasised that they will be taking a positive approach towards the deal. We are determined to secure an agreement in a way that fulfils Palestinians demands, a statement by the group added.

However, the time is ticking for the group as reports emerge that the United States is trying to convince Qatar to expel Hamas leaders from the country if they continue to refuse the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Citing US officials the Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered this message to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani last month.
The Israeli military said that the Jihadist commander Aiman Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike which was conducted in Rafah on Saturday read more

As the Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said that they have eliminated a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander who led the Palestinian militant group into Israel during the October 7 attack which was orchestrated by Hamas.

The Israeli military said that the Jihadist commander Aiman Zaarab was killed in an Israeli airstrike which was conducted on Saturday. Zaarab was a prominent figure in the Iran-backed groups Rafah Brigade. The IDF also mentioned that the Saturday strikes killed two other Islamic Jihad fighters as well.

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The strikes according to IDF, were conducted on a hideout apartment in Rafah and the military collaborated with Shin Bet Security Service to spot the target.

ELIMINATED: Aiman Zaarab



Zaarab was one of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade commanders, responsible for the Islamic Jihad Nukhba force's attack on Kibbutz Sufa and the Sufa military post during the October 7 massacre.



Along with Zaarab, two additional Islamic Jihad terrorists pic.twitter.com/Kh5l2Nk7rI  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 4, 2024

What was Zaarabs role?

The Israeli forces stated that Zaarab had been a leading figure when it came to preparing the Islamic Jihad fighters to confront Israeli forces when the latter launched their ground assault in Rafah.

Meanwhile, Palestinians also confirmed that three bodies were pulled from the rubble of a building following an Israeli strike in Rafah.

Israel has repeatedly stated that their Rafah operation is imminent should the talks for a truce and hostage deal with Hamas break down.

In the grainy footage which was published by the Israeli army, a building can be seen blowing up after being hit by a bomb which was dropped by a fighter jet.

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The IDF noted that on the fateful day of October 7, Zaarab led a group of Islamic Jihad commandos in an assault on Kibbutz Sufa and a nearby military post. At least 10 people were killed during their operation in the Southern Israeli town after Islamic Jihad militants infiltrated the region on motorbikes.

The kibbutzs security squad managed to engage the gunmen until military enforcement arrived at the location to avert a major tragedy in the region.

While it was the Hamas which led the October 7 onslaught, several smaller terrorist groups, including Islamic Jihad, were also among the estimated 3,000 people who took part in the brutal killings.

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The Islamic Jihad which is Irans main terror proxy in Gaza, is touted as the second-most powerful terror group which is operating in Southern Israel. It is pertinent to note that Islamic Jihad is blacklisted as a terror group by the United States, European Union and other allies of Israel.
About 9,800 people live on Ruang island, in the province of North Sulawesi, but in recent weeks all residents have been forced to evacuate after the mountain has continued to spew incandescent lava and columns of ash kilometres into the sky read more

Mount Ruang volcano spews volcanic ash as seen from Tagulandang in Sitaro Islands Regency, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Reuters File

The Indonesian government will permanently relocate almost 10,000 residents after a series of explosive eruptions of the Ruang volcano has raised concerns about the dangers of residing on the island in future, a minister said on Friday.

About 9,800 people live on Ruang island, in the province of North Sulawesi, but in recent weeks all residents have been forced to evacuate after the mountain has continued to spew incandescent lava and columns of ash kilometres into the sky.

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Authorities this week raised the alert status of the volcano to the highest level, closed the provincial airport in Manado, and also warned of the a possible tsunami if parts of the mountain collapse into the surrounding waters.

Hundreds of simple but permanent homes would be built in the Bolaang Mongondow area to facilitate the relocations, said coordinating human development minister Muhadjir Effendy, after a cabinet meeting to discuss the volcano on Friday.

As instructed by President Joko Widodo, we will build houses that meet disaster-standards, he said, adding that the site was located about 200 km (125 miles) from Ruang island.

Mount Ruang began to dramatically erupt last month, with experts saying the eruptions were triggered by increased seismic activity, including deep sea earthquakes.

The mountain erupted again on Tuesday, causing damage to some homes and forcing residents to evacuate from the Tagulandang island, where they had initially sought refuge, to the provincial capital of Manado.

Roads and buildings on Tagulandang were blanketed in a thick layer of volcanic ash, and the roofs of some homes had collapsed, according a Reuters witness.

The volcano had not erupted on Friday but Manados Sam Ratulangi Airport remained closed until the evening due to the spread of volcanic ash.

Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity where multiple tectonic plates meet.
Under pressure from hard-liners in his cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persisted in downplaying the likelihood of a cease-fire agreement and referred to the demands of Hamas as extreme, which included the evacuation of Israeli forces from Gaza and an end to the conflict. After the combat began on October 7 due to an attack by Hamas, Netanyahu stated that this would equate to surrender read more

Israel accuses Hamas of infiltrating residential and public spaces and is to blame for civilian killings. The Israeli military claims to have killed 13,000 militants, although it has not produced any proof to support this claim Image Courtesy Reuters

Following an attack by Hamas militants, Israel closed its main crossing point for the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza on Sunday. The defense minister warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza and insisted that Hamas was not serious about a cease-fire agreement.

Despite apparent progress, both dealt a crushing blow to the ongoing cease-fire discussions in Cairo, which are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement, in contrast to Hamas, which has sent a delegation.

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Under pressure from hard-liners in his cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persisted in downplaying the likelihood of a cease-fire agreement and referred to the demands of Hamas as extreme, which included the evacuation of Israeli forces from Gaza and an end to the conflict. After the combat began on October 7 due to an attack by Hamas, Netanyahu stated that this would equate to surrender.

Gallants remarks elicited no instant response from Hamas. In a previous statement, Ismail Haniyeh, the chairman of Hamas, stated that halting Israeli aggression in Gaza is the groups top priority and that the terrorist group was serious and optimistic about the negotiations.

However, the government of Israel once more pledged to continue its military campaign in Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza on the Egyptian border, where over half of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza currently seek refuge.

Another is the now-closed Kerem Shalom. Ten rockets were fired at the southern Israel border, according to the Israeli military, which also claimed that its fighter jets later hit the source. According to Hamas, it has been aiming its missiles at nearby Israeli troops. According to Israels Channel 12 TV, three of the ten casualties were critical. How long the crossing will be closed was unknown.

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Following one of the most vocal warnings to date about the consequences of limits on food and other help entering the region, the head of the U.N. World Food Program declared that there was a full-blown famine in the severely damaged northern Gaza, the attack occurred. It was not an official announcement of hunger in the comments.

The enormous humanitarian needs of Gaza put further strain on the cease-fire negotiations. The three-step process outlined in the proposal that Egyptian mediators presented to Hamas calls for an immediate, six-week cease-fire, the partial return of Israeli hostages abducted in the attack on October 7, and an Israeli withdrawal of some kind. There would be 40 days in the first phase. First, Hamas would exchange Israeli-held Palestinian detainees for the release of female civilian captives.

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On October 7, a cross-border attack by Hamas claimed the lives of almost 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 more. According to Israel, extremists are still holding some 100 hostages, along with the bodies of over 30 more. The families of some hostages are putting increasing pressure on Netanyahu to strike a compromise to put an end to the conflict and rescue the hostages.

Palestinian health officials report that around 34,500 people have been killed by Israels air and ground attack. They do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, although they do state that women and children make up the majority of those dead.

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Israel accuses Hamas of infiltrating residential and public spaces and is to blame for civilian killings. The Israeli military claims to have killed 13,000 militants, although it has not produced any proof to support this claim.

Additionally on Sunday, Netanyahus Cabinet approved a move to shut down Qatars Al Jazeera news channel on the grounds that it was disseminating incitement against Israel. The choice posed a risk of further upsetting the negotiations for a cease-fire.
Israels minister of communications signed orders to act immediately, according to a government statement, but at least one member who backed the closure warned Al Jazeera might still attempt to stop it in court read more

A bill permitting the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters in Israel that are deemed to pose a threat to national security was adopted by the Israeli parliament last month Image Courtesy Reuters

On the grounds that the Qatari television network endangers national security, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus cabinet voted on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeeras activities in Israel for the duration of the Gaza War.

After the unanimous cabinet vote, Netanyahu declared on social media that the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel.

Israels minister of communications signed orders to act immediately, according to a government statement, but at least one member who backed the closure warned Al Jazeera might still attempt to stop it in court.

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According to the statement, the action will involve shutting down Al Jazeeras headquarters in Israel, seizing broadcasting equipment, disconnecting the channel from satellite and cable providers, and disabling its websites.

The network, which receives funding from the Qatari government, has covered the battle nonstop from Gaza and has been extremely critical of Israels military campaign there. The actions of Al Jazeera in Gaza were not mentioned in the Israeli statement.

A bill permitting the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters in Israel that are deemed to pose a threat to national security was adopted by the Israeli parliament last month.

Al Jazeera did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday, but in the past it has denied claims that it poses a security risk to Israel and said that the blackout is an attempt to silence it.

The legislation permits Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close the networks Israeli headquarters for 45 days. This ban may be extended, meaning that it may remain in effect until the end of July or until the conclusion of significant military activities in Gaza.

A truce and hostage release agreement that could put an end to the Gaza war are being mediated by Qatar, which is home to Hamas leaders.
Macron emphasised that Europe can play a balancing role that will allow China to remain included in the global economic arena read more

Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to France, the countrys President Emmanuel Macron called for a reset of the economic ties with China. In an interview with French news outlet La Tribune Dimanche, Macron said that Europe wants more reciprocity in its economic ties with China.

The French leader emphasised that a reset is needed in order to ensure economic security. Im calling for an aggiornamento because China is now in excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe, Macron said in the interview, using an Italian word that means update.

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The proclamation from the French leader came as Xi is expected to land in France for a state visit. This will be the Chinese leaders first stop in his five-day tour across Europe. After hosting Xi at a dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Macron is expected to take the Chinese leader to a part of the Pyrenees mountains where he spent time at his grandmothers house as a child.

This was in reciprocation of Xis invitation to Marcon last year, to share tea at the residence of the Guangdong governor, a post once held by his father.

During the interview, Macron emphasised that Europe can play a balancing role that will allow China to remain included in the global economic arena. Lets be clear, Im not proposing to distance ourselves from China, he said in the interview. Whether its about climate or about safety, we need the Chinese," the French President furthered.

Chinas fading influence in Europe

The Chinese president is scheduled to visit France 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.

One of the main reasons Xi 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.

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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.

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.
The intelligence agencies have warned their governments that Russia has already begun to more actively prepare covert bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil, directly and via proxies read more

European intelligence agencies issued a major warning and accused Russia of plotting violent acts of sabotage across the continent as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate.

The intelligence agencies have warned their governments that Russia has already begun to more actively prepare covert bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European soil, directly and via proxies. The Intelligence officials warned that the Russian forces have little to no regard for civilian lives while conducting such operations.

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According to The Financial Times, the problematic assessment was conducted by the intelligence officials of three European nations. We assess the risk of state-controlled acts of sabotage to be significantly increased, said Thomas Haldenwang, head of German domestic intelligence.

Russia now seems comfortable carrying out operations on European soil [with] a high potential for damage, he said at a European security conference last month.

Examples of Russian sabotage

The proclamation from Haldenwang came just days after two German-Russian nationals were arrested in Bayreuth, Bavaria. They were arrested by the German police for allegedly plotting to attack military and logistics sites in Germany on behalf of the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, two men were charged with having started a fire at a warehouse containing aid shipments for Ukraine, last month. Following the arrest the prosecutors accused them of working for the Russian government.

In Sweden, security services are investigating a series of railway derailment incidents and in Estonia, the countrys Internal Security Service said that the attack on the interior ministers car in February, this year, was allegedly perpetrated by Russian intelligence operatives

Not only this, Russia was also accused of attempting to destroy the signalling systems on Czech railways by the European nations transportation minister, The Financial Times reported.

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The obvious conclusion is that there has been a real stepping up of Russian activity, said Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, the think-tank.

One cannot tell if thats a reflection of the fact that the Russians are throwing more resources at it; whether they are being more sloppy and getting caught; or whether western counter-intelligence has simply become better at detecting and stopping it, he added.

NATO gets involved

One senior European government official said that the information about Russias malicious activities was being shared through Nato security services.

The time had come to raise awareness and focus about the threat of Russian violence on European soil, he added. In light of this, NATO issued a statement on Thursday expressing its deep concern about growing malign activities on allied territory by Russia, and also citing what it said was an intensifying campaign . . . across the Euro-Atlantic area.

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#NATO is deeply concerned by an intensifying campaign of Russian hybrid activities, including on Alliance territory. These actions will not deter us from supporting #Ukraine. Read the statement:https://t.co/KbBx6tNwim  Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) May 2, 2024

On Friday, Germany vowed consequences for Moscow  in a statement which was backed by EU and NATO over 2023 hacking attacks on the social democratic party of the countys Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

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Russia is yet to respond to these allegations.
Seoul and Washington say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shipping weapons to Russia, possibly in exchange for Moscows technical assistance for Pyongyangs budding spy satellite programme read more

North Koreas ambassador to the United Nations said efforts to set up a new panel to monitor sanctions against his country would end in failure, state media reported on Sunday.

Kim Songs comments come after Russias veto in March which effectively ended official UN monitoring of sanctions imposed on the isolated country for its pursuit of banned nuclear and weapons programmes.

Seoul and Washington say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shipping weapons to Russia, possibly in exchange for Moscows technical assistance for Pyongyangs budding spy satellite programme.

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Last year, North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests  in defiance of UN sanctions in place since 2006 and despite warnings from Washington and Seoul  having declared itself as an irreversible nuclear weapons state in 2022.

The hostile forces may set up the second and third expert panels in the future but they are all bound to meet self-destruction with the passage of time, envoy Kim Song said in an English statement carried by the official KCNA news agency on Sunday.

The dissolution of the UN panel after Moscows veto, he said, was a judgement made by history on an illegal, plot-breeding organisation to stamp out a sovereign states right to existence.

The envoy expressed gratitude towards Moscow last month, stating that Pyongyang highly appreciates the Russian Federations veto that blocked the renewal of the expert sanctions panel, as an independent exercise of the right to international justice and impartiality.

But during a visit to Seoul in April, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of ensuring enforcement of the sanctions on North Korea.

She said Washington was collaborating with Seoul, Tokyo, and others to explore some creative ways and out-of-the-box thinking to ensure the continuation of monitoring activities.

The point here is that we cannot allow the work that the panel of experts were doing to lapse.
TOKYO, May 06 (News On Japan) - School absenteeism among Japanese elementary and middle school students has surged to approximately 300,000, with many students struggling to return after long holidays like Golden Week. In this context, a sixth-grade girl who overcame school absence shared her story.

As Golden Week draws to a close, many parents worry about their children falling into school absenteeism, especially during the transition from long holidays. In the 2022 academic year, the number of elementary and middle school students experiencing absenteeism increased by 50,000 to approximately 300,000, the highest number on record.

A sixth-grade girl living in Tokyo experienced school absence during her third term in the fourth grade. She recounted how she felt attacked and afraid after being criticized by a male classmate. This experience led to her becoming reluctant to attend school.

The girl's class was divided over classroom management, and the boys directed their frustration toward her. Her mother explained that her daughter was shocked when she was singled out during class.

Despite efforts by the school to address the issue through increased access to counselors, the girls mother found that getting her daughter to attend school was difficult when she was adamant about not going.

According to data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the leading cause of school absence is "lack of motivation or anxiety," accounting for over 50% of cases, while "bullying" constitutes only 0.2%.

The girl's journey to recovery began when her mother came across an organization called "Sudachi," which aims to guide students back to school within three weeks through parental involvement.

Sudachi's representative, Ryotaro Ogawa, emphasized the importance of focusing on the family rather than the school. The organization promotes limiting digital usage within the household and encouraging family activities, which led to improved communication and strengthened parent-child relationships.

The girl ultimately returned to school two months after her initial absence, shortly after her mother sought Sudachi's help. Now, the girl views school in a new light and appreciates it more than before.

Source: ANN
In some cases, pro-Russia paramilitary forces have also reportedly offered signing bonus of up to $4,000 to women prisoners to join their ranks in the war against Ukraine read more

Russia is recruiting women prisoners to fight in war against Ukraine. (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence)

Russia has been adopting measures such as increased wages and early releases to recruit women prisoners to fight the war against Ukraine.

It is part of the larger strategy of the country to boost its ranks in the war against Ukraine thats nowhere close to ending. Its not just the regular Russian military thats recruiting women prisoners, but paramilitary forces and militias are also roping in women.

While Russian authorities have turned to women to bolster war efforts, the approach appears to clash with Russian President Vladimir Putins vision for Russian women that priorities family values over working outside of their homes. This also appears to reflect in recruitment where even though women are being recruited, they are often kept away from the warzones and are only posted for medical roles or other roles in the rear.

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How is Russia recruiting women for Ukraine war?

Russian authorities are paying women prisoners up to $2,000 per month and a pardon of their sentence to make them sign up for military service, according to The New York Times.

The monthly salary of $2,000 is 10 times of the minimum wages in Russia.

In some cases, the report said that pro-Russia paramilitary forces have also been seen to offer signing bonus of up to $4,000 to women prisoners.

For the purpose of recruitment, prison officials started compiling list of prisoners with medical prisoners following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the report, which added that such shortlisting was followed by recruiters visits to offer contracts to women inmates to serve as snipers, combat medics, or radio operators.

In one case, at a prison un Ural mountains, prison officials put up a notice and sought petitions from the women inmates to join the Russian army.

Yulia, who was jailed for a murder, told The Times that everyone wanted to join.

Everyone wanted to go, because, despite everything, its still freedom. Either I would die, or I would buy an apartment, Yulia was quoted as saying.

Since the beginning of the Russian war on Ukraine, the country has been recruiting prisoners as soldiers. Most of these prisoners are recruited into irregular units or into militias such as the Wagner Group. Last year, BBC News reported that in addition to regular salary, the prisoners are promised that they will be paid $31,000 in case of injury and their families will be paid $52,000 in case they are killed during the war.

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Russian plans for women inmates class with Putins push for family values

The Russian militarys recruitment of women appears to be in contradiction with Putins push for women to be devoted to families.

In recent years, Putin has presented Russia as a bastion of social conservatism and traditional values. He has pitched women as child-bearers, mothers, and wives who guard the countrys social harmony.

The most important thing for every women, no matter what profession she has chosen and what heights she has reached, is the family, said Putin earlier this year.

Such a clash between the militarys need and Putins vision has resulted in contradictory policies that seek to recruit women to the military to fill a need, but send conflicting signals about the roles women can assume there, according to The Times.

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Tatiana Dvornikova, a Russian sociologist, was quoted as saying that women were only being recruited as a last resort. She believes the Russian military would delay sending women recruits into battle as long as it has other recruitment options.

Ruslan Pukhov, a Moscow-based security analyst, said that the Russian military had been trying to recruit more women for rear-guard roles such as mechanics and administrators for years, because they are viewed as hard workers who drink less, according to The Times.

The idea to recruit women in combat began taking root in Russian military after the countrys intervention in Syria in 2015 where they saw Kurdish women taking part in combat, said Pukhov, who is also a member of the Russian defence ministers advisory council.
The United States is working on a three-way deal that involves a US-Saudi defence pact, normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and a pathway to Palestinian statehood read more

The United States will not sign a bilateral defence agreement with the Saudis if the normalisation of relations does not take place between Israel and Saudi Arabia, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The United States is working on a three-way mega-deal for the Middle East that includes a US-Saudi defence pact, the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and a pathway to Palestinian statehood.

In an interview with Financial Times newspaper, Sullivan said that the US-Saudi defence pact will not be signed in isolation as you cant disentangle one piece from the others.

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Previously, the Joe Biden administration of the United States has stressed that the three components of the deal, which is ensured to make way for lasting peace in the Middle East, are dependent upon each-other and will not go ahead in isolation.

The deal will produce more secure Israel, peaceful region

Sullivan pitched the proposed mega-deal for the Middle East as one that would boost the security for Israel and peace for the region.

Since coming into office in 2021, Biden has been pushing for the Israeli-Saudi normalisation. The two countries were reportedly close to normalising relations before the October 7 terrorist attacks. Now, the Saudis have publicly stated that an irreversible path for Palestinian statehood is a must for any normalisation of relations with Israel.

Sullivan told FT, The integrated vision is a bilateral understanding between the US and Saudi Arabia combined with normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, combined with meaningful steps on behalf of the Palestinian people. All of that has to come togetherYou cant disentangle one piece from the others.

Sullivan further said that Biden will publicly share more details in the coming days.

I do expect in the months ahead that you will hear from the president and others of us more of the path that we believe could produce a more secure Israel and a more peaceful region, said Sullivan.

Sullivan, however, also said that while the Biden administration will try to get different countries on board, the final call was with the Israeli leaders and the public.

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All we can do is work out what we think makes sense, [and] try to get as many countries in the region on board with it and then present it, and it will ultimately be up to the Israeli leadership and frankly ultimately the Israeli people can decide whether thats a path they want to take or not, said Sullivan to the newspaper.

For a long time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that any Palestinian state will be adversarial for Israels security. While he has said in the past that he is open to the proposed two-state solution, he has been increasingly flagging the security concerns in the recent past to dismiss any immediate move towards Palestinian statehood.

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Whats the 3-way US-Israel-Saudi deal?

The Biden administration is working on a mega-deal for the Middle East that would include three components: a defence pact with the Saudis that would provide increased security guarantees for the kingdom, normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and pathway for Palestinian statehood.

The deal comes in the wake of an aggressive Iran and the Hamas attack on that has further destabilised the region. In bringing peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the US will further strengthen the regional coalition against Iran and also strengthen its own presence in the region at a time when China is working feverishly to make inroads there.

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In a report, CNN said that the Israeli-Saudi normalisation is expected to be along the lines of the Abraham Accords, the series of pacts signed during Donald Trumps presidency that normalised Israels relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco.
Xis selection of France as the only significant European nation to visit demonstrates the generally positive condition of Sino-French ties since Macrons official state visit to China in April 2023 and recognizes the French presidents role as an EU power broker read more

Macron's top goal will be to alert Xi about the risks of supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, as Western diplomats are worried that Moscow is already utilizing Chinese machinery to produce weapons Image Courtesy AP

On a state visit arranged by Emmanuel Macron, the French president will try to press his Chinese counterpart on matters ranging from trade to Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in France on Sunday.

The beginning of Xis first trip to Europe since 2019which will also include visits to Serbia and Hungarycame with his arrival for the visit commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China.

However, Xis selection of France as the only significant European nation to visit demonstrates the generally positive condition of Sino-French ties since Macrons official state visit to China in April 2023 and recognizes the French presidents role as an EU power broker.

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Prime Minister Gabriel Attal greeted the head of the one-party Communist state of over 1.4 billion people, together with his spouse Peng Liyuan, under umbrellas at a soggy Orly airport in Paris.

On Monday, Xi will meet the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Paris for a full day of negotiations. Following this, Macron will throw a state banquet at the Elysee.

Macron will bring Xi to the Pyrenees mountains on Tuesday, a place he used to visit as a child, for a day of private talks that will be less public.

Upon his arrival in Paris, Xi stated that the growth of China-France ties had injected stability and positive energy into the turbulent world and that China was prepared to enhance political mutual trust, build strategic consensus and deepen exchanges throughout the visit.

Macrons top goal will be to alert Xi about the risks of supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, as Western diplomats are worried that Moscow is already utilizing Chinese machinery to produce weapons.

After the invasion, Beijings relations with Moscow have, if anything, become closer, and the West is more anxious that China refrain from arming Russia and running the risk of tipping the scales in the war.

It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order, said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.

We must, therefore, work with China to build peace, he added.

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Macron also said in the same Economist interview that Europe must defend its strategic interests in its economic relations with China, accusing Beijing of not respecting the rules on international trade.

But he acknowledged in an interview with the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper that Europeans are not unanimous on the strategy to adopt as certain actors still see China essentially as a market of opportunities while it exports massively to Europe.

The French President had gladdened Chinese state media and troubled some EU allies after his 2023 visit by declaring that Europe should not be drawn into a standoff between China and the United States, particularly over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan.

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China views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction, Macron said at the time, warning against a bloc versus bloc logic.

Rights groups are urging Macron to bring up human rights in the talks, accusing China of failing to respect the rights of the Uyghur Muslim minority and keeping dozens of journalists behind bars.

President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijings crimes against humanity come with consequences for Chinas relations with France, said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch.

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The group said human rights in China had severely deteriorated under Xis rule.

However analysts are sceptical that Mr. Macron will be able to exercise much sway over the Chinese leader, even with the lavish red carpet welcome and a trip to the bracing mountain airs of the Col du Tourmalet over 2,000 metres (6,560 feet) above sea level on Tuesday.

The other two countries chosen by Xi for his tour, Serbia and Hungary, are seen as among the most sympathetic to Moscow in Europe.

The two core messages from Macron will be on Chinese support to Russias military capabilities and Chinese market-distorting practices, said Janka Oertel, director of the Asia programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

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However, both messages are unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour: Xi is not on a mission to repair ties, because from his point of view all is well.

(With agency inputs)
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
As western Colorados only psychiatric hospital edges closer to a possible shut down, its parent company  Mind Springs Health  is in arbitra
Thursday Night

Partly cloudy in the evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Russo-Ukraine War - 04 May 2024 - Day 801

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the average daily number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine throughout April 2024 remained in the pattern of 2024, with 899 losses per day.

It is likely that Russia's casualty rate will again increase over the next two months as they renew dedicated offensive operations in eastern Ukraine. This follows a slight decrease in the pace of operations over the past two months since the fall of Avdiivka.

The total number of Russian losses since the start of the conflict now stands at over 465,000. It is likely that despite the extreme cost in life, Russia has fully adapted its military to attritional warfare which relies on mass over quality. This reliance on mass will almost certainly continue for the duration of the Ukraine war and have long-lasting effects on Russia's future army.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 4, there were 74x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile and 56x air strikes, 53x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary 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 strike in the vicinities of Krasnyi Khutir (Chernihiv oblast), Luhivka (Sumy oblast), Kharkiv, Slobozhanske, Vesele, Cherkas'ki Tyshky (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Myropil's'ke, Velyka Pysarivka, Lisne, Romashkove (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Pishchane, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka, Berestove (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novosadove, Ivanivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Novyi, Klishchiivka, Rozdolivka, south of Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Spirne and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Rozdolivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 18x attacks in the vicinities of Novooleksandrivka, Sokil, Novopokrovs'ke, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Tarasivka and Novoselivka Persha (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Sokil, Novopokrovs'ke, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces near Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, using air attacks, made 10x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostyantynivka, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).

Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, using air attacks, launched 5x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders south of Novodarivka, in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Orikhiv and Preobrazhenka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, Lobkove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of May 4, the Russian invaders, with air support, executed 9x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Beryslav (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Mykolaivka, L'vove, Novotyahynka, Ponyativka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of May 4, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of Russian troops, 3x command posts, 2x anti-aircraft missile systems, 1x ammunition depot. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missile.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x command post, 1x concentration of Russian troops, 1x radar station, 1x important target.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 28 April to 4 May 2024, in response to the Kiev regime's attempts to damage Russia's energy and industrial facilities, the Russian Armed Forces carried out 25 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles, which hit Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure facilities, enterprises of the military-industrial complex, missile and ammunition storage areas, as well as a production facility for uncrewed boats and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Moreover, temporary deployment areas of nationalist groups and foreign mercenaries, clusters of AFU manpower and military hardware have been hit.

Over the past week, the units of the Zapad Group of Forces have taken up more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on units of 12 enemy brigades close to Stelmakhovka, Novogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Petropavlovka, Glushkovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

23 counter-attacks of assault detachments of AFU 77th airmobile, 3rd assault, 63rd mechanised brigades, 10th and 18th National Guard brigades have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Novovovodyanoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Grigorovka, and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 975 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and 27 field artillery guns, including 13 Western-made guns.

During the week, the Yug Group of Forces' units continued to advance to the depths of the enemy defence.

Two AFU airmobile, three assault, and nine mechanised brigades have been hit near Spornoye, Andreyevka, Maksimilyanovka, Paraskoviyevka, Belogorovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Four counter-attacks by AFU 46th airmobile, 79th, 80th air assault brigades, and 93rd mechanised brigades have been repelled close to Bogdanovka, Georgiyevka, Krasnogorovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 2,325 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 44 motor vehicles, and 20 field artillery guns.

Five electronic warfare stations have been eliminated: one Nota, one Anklav, one Bukovel-AD, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery warfare station, and four field ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units have improved the situation along the front line and liberated Novobakhmutovka, Semyonovka, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, 14 brigades of the AFU have been defeated and 66 counter-attacks of the enemy have been repelled close to Leninskoye, Usmanskoye, Novgorodskoye, Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, and Netaylovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 2,405 Ukrainian troops, three U.S.-made Abrams tanks, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, 33 field artillery guns, 14 of them are Western-made.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation by defeating the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 128th Territorial Defence brigades near Chervonoye, Gulyai pole (Zaporozhye region), Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 745 Ukrainian troops, 15 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, two Anklav and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations, as well as one ammunition depot.

Over the week, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged personnel and hardware of four brigades of the AFU, marines brigades, three Territorial Defence brigades, and National Guard brigades close to Malaya Tokmachka, Rabotino, Novoandreyevka, Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Mikhailovka, Ivanovka, Tyaginka, and Berislav (Kherson region).

The AFU losses were up to 215 Ukrainian troops, nine motor vehicles, and six field artillery guns.

Missile Troops and Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces have eliminated two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS combat vehicles, two S+-300PT anti-aircraft missile system launchers with an illumination and guidance radar, one IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system launcher, as well as one fuel depot for AFU military hardware.

In addition, one military echelon with Western-made hardware and weapons delivered to Ukraine by NATO countries has been destroyed.

Aviation and air defence facilities have shot down 15 U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, 17 French-made Hammer aerial bombs, six GLSDB, HIMARS, and Uragan projectiles, as well as 201 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Over the past week, 14 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact.

In total, 593 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 23,742 unmanned aerial vehicles, 512 anti-aircraft missile systems, 15,911 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,279 combat vehicles of multiple rocket launcher systems, 9,289 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,471 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation.

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Atlanta, GA, May 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

(Sriya.AI CEO, Srinivas Kilambi)





The dynamic relationship between financial services and technology products has expanded significantly throughout the years, coining an entirely new industryfintech. Although financial services groups have long since benefitted from the incredible power of technology for everything from standard processing to identifying efficiency gains, the growing market of top-of-the-line artificial intelligence products is redefining operations in one of the worlds oldest and most widespread industries. Sriya.AI, an emerging leader in numerically inclined artificial intelligence solutions, is empowering financial groups to drastically improve their internal operations while mitigating key risks associated with the industry.



Financial companies support global operations while managing the needs of everyday individuals, as well as core business leaders in every industry. Managing the flow of money, supporting the stock market, and keeping highly sensitive information secure involves several moving pieces, which is why financial groups have long since turned to technology to help mitigate human error while gaining key efficiencies. Todays top financial companies have several areas of focus where improvements need to be made, including the loan approval process, reducing payment processing errors, and detecting instances of fraud as quickly as possible. With the support of Sriya.AIs patent filed AI Square algorithm, companies can gain actionable insights into all of these areas and more with 95-98% accuracy and 99% precision.



Improving outcomes for these critical processes offers an enhanced customer experience while increasing revenue and decreasing losses, says Srinivas Kilambi, CEO of Sriya.AI and inventor of AI Square. Each of these areas can be broken down into numbers, and our algorithms can turn data from any financial company into a clear source of innovation. Financial services companies collect data with every customer interaction and employee action. Sriya.AIs system, which includes 5 US provisional patents and has already revolutionized operations at more than 25 companies, leverages its own creationlarge numerical modelsto empower businesses to detect fraud and accurately identify high-risk borrowers with up to 100% accuracy.



Behind these high-value insights is Sriya.AIs agnostic Machine Learning tool, which has nearly perfect accuracy and precision while requiring 30 times less data than todays traditional models. AI Square leverages a companys unique data, allowing it to check, fix, and use data to increase its value over time. Rather than just providing analysis and insights, Sriya.AI products allow AI to learn from AI to provide tailored insights that continue to improve over time. These developments are what separate large numerical models (LNMs) from large language models (LLMs), placing a distinct focus on improvements with accuracy to learn, grow, and optimize business outcomes. The return on investment (ROI) for Sriya.AI begins immediately, whether the system is detecting over 2000 extra fraudulent transactions or reducing the total number of customers with late payments by over 5,000 through enhanced risk assessment.



Artificial intelligence solutions are changing business operations all around the world, but many traditional models, while revolutionary, are facing emerging problems. Extractive AI-ML solutions have low accuracy and precision due to the high volume of interdependent features. Generative AI lacks effectiveness and creativity with numbers, leading to generic or even unreliable outcomes (hallucinations). With 99% of business functions being centered around numbers and data, the limitations of these systems are clear. By contrast, large numerical models place numbers front and center, offering support for data sets of varying sizes while introducing reliable and creative analytical solutions that offer an incredible understanding of core business operations. With these values, financial companies can quantify every move they make, allowing them to constantly identify new areas for innovation that support better security and a more positive customer experience. Remember, what cannot be measured cant be improved. Businesses need AI with improved analytical accuracy, and Sriya.AIs LNMs were made to support this function while offering an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.98-1 across all test cases.



Interpretations based on patterns in data can lead financial services groups to gain or lose money depending on their accuracy. When a lender approves a loan for someone based on an inaccurate risk assessment, large amounts of money can be lost. Processing errors that lead to adjustments come at the expense of the business, not the customer. Fraud can lead to substantial losses and cause a poor experience for a valued customer with lasting implications. At the end of the day, reducing risk in these select areas is the key to remaining competitive in the rapidly changing financial industry. From improving customer retention to increasing informed decision-making, artificial intelligence can support financial groups starting on day one. Sriya.AI shows that these changes are possible and achievable with the right approach to AI solutions.





Company: Sriya.ai

Contact: Srinvas Kilambi

Website: https://sriya.ai

Email: sk@sriyaai.com






WUXI, China, May 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wuxi Boyu Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of flooring extrusion production lines, is thrilled to announce its participation in the upcoming NPE2024: The Plastics Show. The event, held from May 6-10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, will feature Boyu at Booth No. S38031, where the company will display its innovative SPC flooring production line solutions.







Boyu will showcase three of its flagship products at NPE2024:

1. SPC Conical Twin Screw Production Line: This advanced flooring production line features a high-quality conical twin-screw extruder certified by CE/UL. With its intelligent electronic control system, power-saving capabilities, and high productivity, this flooring production line is ideal for manufacturing high-quality SPC flooring.

2. SPC Parallel Twin Screw Production Line: Boasting stable performance and high output, this flooring production line is equipped with an advanced gearbox, an intelligent electronic control system, and low failure rates. Its power-saving features make it an efficient choice for SPC flooring production.

3. SPC Building Block Twin Screw Production Line: This flooring production line ensures uniform material dispersion, excellent mixing and plasticization effects, short material residence times, and high transmission efficiency. It is a top choice for manufacturing high-quality SPC flooring.

These advanced SPC flooring production lines incorporate innovative technologies and eco-friendly features, reflecting Boyu's commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction. With over 100 technical patents and a strong focus on R&D, Boyu continues to revolutionize the flooring industry.

"We are excited to participate in NPE2024 and demonstrate our cutting-edge SPC flooring production lines to a global audience," said Boyu's CEO, Mr. Lu. "Our expert team looks forward to engaging with industry professionals, sharing insights, and fostering collaborations that drive the future of the plastics industry."

Visit Boyu at Booth No. S38031 during NPE2024 to explore their groundbreaking SPC flooring solutions. For more information, please visit: https://www.boyuextruder.com/America/659.html

About Wuxi Boyu Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd.:

Founded in 1998, Wuxi Boyu Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. is a pioneer in flooring extrusion production lines. With a strong emphasis on innovation, energy efficiency, and customer-centricity, Boyu has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses worldwide.

Media contacts:

Company Name: Wuxi Boyu Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd.

Website: https://www.boyuextruder.com/

Tel: (+86) 13861875916

Email: boyu@byjh.cn

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54ec5123-b926-44d3-a844-1c0b832a191c
Bengaluru, India, May 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Vyapar app, a leading provider of innovative software solutions for businesses, announces the launch of its groundbreaking Billing Software. This latest offering revolutionizes financial management practices for businesses globally, simplifying invoicing processes and enhancing operational efficiency.

In today's fast-paced business landscape, effective financial management is crucial for success. With Vyapar app's new Invoicing Software, businesses of all sizes can streamline their invoicing procedures, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in billing practices. This cutting-edge platform automates invoice generation, payment tracking, and reminder notifications, minimizing manual errors and optimizing resource allocation.

The decision to introduce this advanced Invoicing Software stems from Vyapar app's commitment to addressing the challenges businesses face in managing their finances. By providing a user-friendly solution that enhances productivity, Vyapar app aims to empower entrepreneurs and business owners to focus on growth and innovation.

Key features of Vyapar app's Invoicing Software include automated invoicing, payment tracking, customizable templates, Proforma Invoice Format, and secure payment processing options. These features enable businesses to create professional-looking invoices, including proforma invoices, track payment statuses in real time, and ensure the security of financial transactions.

One of the primary benefits of Vyapar app's Invoicing Software is enhanced efficiency. By automating invoicing processes, businesses can reduce manual errors and allocate resources more effectively. Real-time payment tracking and automated reminders also contribute to improved cash flow statements, ensuring timely invoice payments and maintaining financial stability.

Moreover, Vyapar app's customizable templates allow businesses to tailor their invoices to match their brand identity, fostering professionalism and credibility. With comprehensive reporting features, businesses can gain valuable insights into their finances, analyze sales trends, and identify growth opportunities.

Creating an invoice using Vyapar app's Invoicing Software is straightforward and user-friendly. Businesses can choose from a range of reliable invoicing software options, sign up for an account, and complete the setup process by inputting their business details, logo, and preferred payment methods. The software's intuitive interface guides users through creating a new invoice, inputting client information, and itemized lists of products or services, quantities, rates, and applicable taxes. Once the invoice is customized to align with the brand's identity, businesses can review the details for accuracy and send it directly to clients via email or download it as a PDF.





About Vyapar app:

Vyapar app is a leading provider of innovative software solutions for businesses of all sizes. With a commitment to simplicity and excellence, Vyapar app empowers entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and thrive in today's competitive business environment.

Vyapar app is committed to simplicity and excellence in providing innovative software solutions for businesses. With its new Invoicing Software, Vyapar app empowers entrepreneurs and business owners to streamline their financial management practices and achieve their goals in today's dynamic business environment.

For more information about Vyapar app and its Invoicing Software, please visit the website or contact the team via email or telephone.

Media info,

Company Name: Simply Vyapar App Pvt. Ltd

Tel: +919333911911

Website: https://vyaparapp.in/

Email: help@vyaparapp.in

Address: 24th 1,2 & 3rd Floor, 150/2 Enzyme Diamond 7th Cross Road, Sector 1, HSR Layout Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560102,India

Financial Disclosure

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
SAN ANTONIO, May 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abstracts being presented at the American Urological Association's Annual Meeting discuss the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company and treatment of urogynecologic conditions as well as the cost barriers to peri- and post-menopausal women using vaginal estrogen therapy.

Researchers will present their study findings covering important updates on the cost of care in San Antonio, Texas, from May 3 to 6. Ruchika Talwar, MD, urologist and clinical instructor in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicines Department of Urology, moderated a virtual press session with the abstract authors, providing key insights into their research.

The more we highlight and disseminate these findings, the more we can make both urologists and patients aware of the resources that exist to help mitigate the financial burden of prescription drugs, said Dr. Talwar. Its important to note that it can often be cheaper for a patient to go outside of their insurance and use a company like the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, especially for vaginal estrogen therapy.

The following abstracts are covered in the moderated panel:

A recording of the panel discussion is available to all press registrants. Fill out the registration form on the website to be added to the virtual programming: https://www.auanet.org/AUA2024/register/press-registration

NOTE TO REPORTERS: Presenting authors and moderators are available to discuss their findings. To arrange an interview with an expert, please contact the AUA Communications Team at Communications@AUAnet.org.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 25,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.
Holbrook, NY , May 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (JFSO) Inc. is the abbreviation of The Jamaica Family Support Organization, which is a non-profit organization made to give back to the Jamaican community. JFSO is launching a new and compelling program known as 'Make Farming Cool Again.' This program aims to empower established rural farmers as well as deal with unemployment by encouraging them to hire Jamaicans, who are previously employed in declining industries such as bananas, sugar, and bauxite.

The JFSO initiative goes beyond just reviving agriculture. Recognizing the importance of cherishing loved ones, they offer a unique service that is a subscription-based Memorial Wall: a tribute wall for loved ones. With an annual fee of $35 or a one-time life payment of $350, the subscribers can make a lasting tribute to up to 5 members on the JFSO's secure online platform. The tribute can include photos, personal messages, and memorial keepsakes, making sure that the memories are ever-lasting.

JFSO realizes the potential and power of agriculture to eradicate poverty and take Jamaica's economy to new heights of success. Their program directly supports established rural farmers by providing essential resources like black water drums, seeds, fertilizers, and tools.

There are several ways to contribute to the JFSO's mission:

Subscribe to the Memorial Wall and honor your loved ones.

Become a sponsor and directly support the Make Farming Cool Again program. To know more about the program, contact JFSO Inc. directly.

Donate directly to the charity for small farmers.

About JFSO Inc.: The Jamaica Family Support Organization (JFSO) Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was created to honor the memory of the Simms family and help the Jamaican community

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Full Name: Jamaican Farmers Support Organization

Phone: (631) 375-5229

Email: Info@jfsoinc.com

Address: P.O. Box 367, Holbrook, NY 11741

Website: https://jfsoinc.com/

Name: Noel Grant

Title: JFSO
SAN DIEGO, May 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS) common stock between February 9, 2022 and April 1, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), have until June 17, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit. Captioned Kissler v. Doximity, Inc., No. 24-cv-02281 (N.D. Cal.), the Doximity class action lawsuit charges Doximity as well as certain of Doximitys top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-doximity-inc-class-action-lawsuit-docs.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the Doximity class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than June 17, 2024.

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Doximity operates a digital platform that provides connections between, medical information to, and patient scheduling tools for medical professionals.

The Doximity class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that defendants repeatedly touted Doximitys business prospects and the sustainability of Doximitys revenue growth and profitability, while downplaying the impact of competition and tightening macroeconomic conditions on Doximity as well as its reliance on upselling products and services (such as additional advertising) to existing customers to sustain Doximitys performance and future growth.

The Doximity class action lawsuit further alleges that on August 8, 2023, Doximity disclosed that it expected fiscal year 2024 revenue of between $452 million and $468 million (down from prior guidance of between $500 million and $506 million, and representing year-over-year revenue growth of between 7.9% and 11.7%), and adjusted EBITDA of between $193 million and $209 million (down from prior guidance of between $216 million and $222 million, and representing year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth of between 4.9% and 13.6%). On this news, the price of Doximity common stock fell nearly 23%, according to the complaint.

Then, on April 1, 2024, the complaint further alleges that Jehoshaphat Research published a report alleging, among other things, that Doximitys revenue growth has been primarily driven by pulling forward revenues from the future, rather than by [sustainable,] underlying business growth and that Doximity has been recognizing previously-deferred revenues earlier and earlier within any given period as a means to drive reported revenue growth. On this news, the price of Doximity common stock fell, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Doximity common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Doximity class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Doximity class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Doximity class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Doximity class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm was ranked #1 on the ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering more than $1.75 billion for investors in 2022  the third year in a row Robbins Geller topped the list. And in those three years alone, Robbins Geller recovered nearly $5.3 billion for investors, more than double the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

info@rgrdlaw.com
Once upon a time at this magazine, we had an intern who badly wanted to write about cities and graffiti. We talked for a while and it seemed like a good idea, so I asked him to do some initial reporting. But when he came back, it was clear that he and I had dramatically different ideas of what the story should say. I felt that cities were finally learning how to get rid of a criminal eyesore that was stifling their efforts at revitalization. He felt that the same cities were cruelly snuffing out the legitimate desires of an entire youthful generation to express itself.As you might guess, I didnt let him do the story. If the same issue came up now, I probably still wouldnt. But over the years, Ive come to realize that this is a subject with many gray areas. And cities are beginning to look at it the same way. They are trying to accommodate what they used to denounce as an urban scourge, and are looking for means to tempt graffiti writers away from vandalism and toward art.This is happening as graffiti is on the verge of obtaining legal protection, something that it has never possessed. In April, a federal judge in New York City awarded $6.75 million to 21 graffiti artists in Queens whose works had been painted over without warning on a cluster of buildings being prepared for development. The works were part of a site called 5Pointz that had evolved over the years into an open-air graffiti museum. By 2014, the paintings had become something of a tourist attraction. The property owner had never hidden his desire to develop the site, but a jury and later a judge found that the unannounced removal of the work violated a 1990 federal law known as VARA, the Visual Artists Rights Act.VARA imposes penalties to property owners who destroy or obliterate works of recognized stature by art experts, the art community or society in general, although it does not make clear what recognized stature is. It requires that artists be given 90 days notice so they can relocate the works themselves. Over its 28-year history, VARA had never been used to protect graffiti -- until now. The decision is on appeal, but whatever the final result, its part of a new era in the complicated relationships among artists, vandals, property owners and city governments.The legal intricacies may be less important than the changing attitudes toward aspiring street artists that have taken hold in big cities throughout the world. Bogota and Lisbon are promoting street painting. Montreal and Brussels sponsor graffiti walking tours for visitors. Tel Aviv does this as well; it may be the world capital of modern graffiti. In some parts of the central city, seemingly every available wall space is covered with an artistic production meant to impart a lesson, goal or attitude of some sort: peace on the West Bank; kindness to animals; ridicule of tourists; criticism of the current Israeli prime minister.Graffiti is no longer about delinquents marking their territory, says Niro Taub, a well-known graffiti proselytizer and tour guide in Tel Aviv. We look on graffiti not as so 80s, but as street art. Much of it is reminiscent of the political posters that appeared on the walls of 19th-century Paris. Taub simply says it is second-generation graffiti.American cities are moving more deliberately in the same direction. The District of Columbia has more murals on its city walls than ever before. It pairs aerosol artists with neighborhoods and property owners to create 10 officially sanctioned wall projects a year. In St. Louis, an annual festival called Paint Louis covers two miles of floodwall with spray painted productions; the volume of political art there seems to have expanded dramatically as part of the unrest that followed the shooting of a black teenager by police in the suburb of Ferguson in 2014. Smaller cities are starting to do similar things: Billings, Mont., and Rapid City, S.D., both have art alleys where the painting is protected and tourists are encouraged to drop by for a look. The one in Billings is a joint project of the downtown business association, the Sherwin-Williams paint company and a group of graffiti activists called Underground Culture Krew.Some of these projects may exist for aesthetic reasons, but those are not the only reasons. They are being sanctioned in the hope that managed graffiti in specially designated places is a way to cut down on the indiscriminate tagging of private and public property that marks gang territory and amounts to nothing more than vandalism.How well this strategy will work is very much open to question. One business leader in Billings has expressed the belief that its art alley gives graffiti painters a chance to come in and burn off this energy. But after several years in operation, the alley program has not led to a significant decrease in the tagging vandalism that the city is trying to eliminate.Some of the cities that are promoting managed graffiti remain highly ambivalent about the whole idea. Chicago seems to be tolerating graffiti and fighting it at the same time. The city is tattooed with art on its streets, a local writer reported a couple of years ago. Graffiti and street art are mushrooming beyond the days of artists throwing up their work at night on rooftops to catch the eye of commuters on elevated trains. Still, the city has made the tools hard to get. It restricted the sale of spray paint in the 1990s, and that restriction remains in effect. The city is also relentless about removing graffiti produced outside officially designated areas -- it is removed within 72 hours 90 percent of the time.Timothy Kephart, a longtime expert on graffiti who consults with cities about how to deal with it, feels that art alleys and similar efforts wont accomplish much. The graffiti that cities are spending millions to erase isnt going down, he told me recently. Most of the kids doing graffiti are not into artistic murals. The tagging motivation is to seek notoriety. The gang motivation is to instill fear. Kephart believes in covering up graffiti quickly, but not until it has been monitored by police for clues to gang activity and the identity of vandals.There continues to be a strong segment of public opinion holding to the idea that cities are simply caving in to gang members and vandals. There is nothing progressive about allowing public amenities to be defaced by graffiti, the cultural critic Heather Mac Donald wrote several years ago. Anyone who can avoid a graffiti-bombed park or commercial thoroughfare will do so. She sees hypocrisy in the willingness of art museums to celebrate graffiti on public property that they would never allow on their own building walls.The battle over graffiti has been through several distinct phases in the four decades since cities began to recognize it as a serious problem. At first, in the 1970s, it was seen as a New York problem, and one concentrated in the citys subway system. Vandals were breaking into subway yards to tag rail cars, spray-painting names and gang signs that few people would have considered art. There was a feeling in the early years that not much could be done about it, but New York proved that pessimism to be wrong. It began buying stainless steel subway cars, which are difficult to vandalize, and launched the Clean Train Movement in the 1980s, which vowed to get all graffiti-painted cars out of the system entirely. They came close to doing it. That drove graffiti painters into the streets, and especially onto rooftops. But it also demonstrated that with enough determination, the amount of graffiti plaguing public and private property could be brought under control. Over the past couple of decades, cities around the country have curbed it by using techniques similar to those that had worked in New York.But graffiti has not come close to disappearing from urban streets. In one recent year, New York was still spending $7 million on graffiti eradication; Chicago, $6 million; and Las Vegas, $3 million.Thus was born the relatively new idea that the way to deal with the spray painters was to combine rapid elimination of illegal tagging with programs to co-opt the more ambitious perpetrators by treating them as artists and giving them walls to work on legally. But this isnt foolproof. The sites declared legal are often the walls of buildings that have been abandoned or are awaiting redevelopment. These can provide legal graffiti space for years, but in most cases a developer eventually comes in, wants to start building and begins by taking down the walls, painted or not. This is now one of the leading sources of conflict; it was the cause of the litigation in the 5Pointz case in Queens.All these cases complicate what seems at first to be the fundamental principle of graffiti management: If the artist gets permission from the property owner or the city, the painting is legal. If not, it is vandalism and deserves to be painted over, promptly and with no exceptions. Thats a simple rule, and I think a reasonable one. But as many cities are discovering, it may be a bit too simple for the urban reality that currently exists.
Alonso to confront FIA over anti-Spanish bias

Fernando Alonso says he will confront the president of F1's governing body over concerns he is being treated unfairly because of his nationality.

Fernando Alonso, Chinese GP 2024

 Aston Martin Racing

In Miami, FIA stewards rejected an appeal lodged by Aston Martin against harsh penalties imposed on Spaniard Alonso for an on-track incident in China recently.

The two-time world champion was furious, insisting he now sees the sprint races as useless because he is so often penalised for trying to race his opponents.

And then in Saturday's Miami sprint, F1 commentator Martin Brundle said Briton Lewis Hamilton had used the Aston Martins as skittles in an ambitious first lap move.

I guess they won't do anything because he (Hamilton) is not Spanish, Alonso said immediately after the race.

I think he ruined the races of a few people, especially (Lando) Norris, who had a very fast car. Today there was no penalty, but with me there is always a penalty, the two-time champion told DAZN.

"I was behind (Esteban) Ocon and I could perhaps have taken a risk to overtake him, but logically I did not to avoid getting penalised again.

I had no interest in the sprint race - we were just checking the degradation and things for the grand prix, Alonso revealed. For me it was a free practice, it was not really a race.

As for his complaint about being unfairly treated by the FIA stewards, the Spaniard continued: "I have a feeling that nationality influences decisions.

I'll talk to Mohammed (Ben Sulayem), the FIA and so on. I need to make sure there is no problem with my nationality. This is not just about me, but also about the future generation of Spanish drivers who need to be protected.

(GMM)
Wolff denies Antonelli will make F1 debut at Imola

Toto Wolff has moved to shut down rumours that his 17-year-old protege Kimi Antonelli is being immediately fast-tracked into Formula 1.

Alex Albon, Chinese GP 2024

 Williams

The young Italian is clearly a contender to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year - and he will get a third test outing in an older F1 car next week, when he joins regular Mercedes reserve Mick Schumacher at Silverstone.

It also emerged in Miami this weekend that a team - presumably Williams - has applied to the FIA to grant Antonelli a super license prior to his 18th birthday in August.

That fired up rumours that Williams' Logan Sargeant may be instantly sidelined ahead of the very next grand prix in Imola.

Mercedes boss Wolff ruled out that.

We don't want to burn Kimi out, he told Auto Motor und Sport. Formula 1 for him in Imola would be too early.

Wolff also denied that Mercedes is behind the request for special super license dispensation for Antonelli.

We did not initiate this request, he insisted. "I don't know where this belief comes from that we are interested in moving the process forward like that.

Kimi needs to concentrate on Formula 2 and he knows that. Everything else is just rumours.

(GMM)
Max Verstappen, Miami GP 2024

 Red Bull

DRIVERS

1  Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing)

2  Charles LECLERC (Ferrari)

3  Sergio PEREZ (Red Bull Racing)

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Max Verstappen. Congrats on another victory in this format. But talk us through it. It looked like the start may have been a little bit of a slow getaway. You had to really push Charles there into Turn 1. How tight was it between you two?

Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, I think my engagement wasn't good in the start. So then, of course, I had to squeeze him a bit. Luckily, everything worked out in Turn 1. Then, of course, we had the Safety Car just to calm things down a little bit. But after that, you know, steadily we could increase the gap a little bit. But it wasn't entirely perfect. So we still have a bit of work to do. At least now with the new format, we can still fine tune the car a little bit. So hopefully we can improve it a little bit for later on in qualifying, and especially for tomorrow in the race. But the win is good. I'm happy with that. And it gives us a good few points to look at as well to improve.

Q: Yeah, points are always nice to add to the card. Now look, we had a massive victory margin in the Sprint in China. It wasn't quite as big. So what kind of information did you gather today that you can apply for the race tomorrow?

Verstappen: Yeah, China felt really good. I mean, the car was really, really nice to drive. Here, it was a bit more difficult for me. So there are a few more things to improve.

Q: Well, the job's only half done. Good luck in qualifying this afternoon. Charles Leclerc, in the beautiful blue Ferrari this weekend. Great result, P2 in the Sprint. Lots of fans here in Miami cheering on Mr Leclerc. Why don't you talk us through that start first? It looked like you got a great launch and really challenged Max into Turn 1.

Charles LECLERC: Yeah I had a quite a good start and then I was in the inside of Turn 1. Obviously I didn't want to take too many risks because we've got also qualifying later on and if you have a crash in the Sprint then you probably don't participate later on. So I tried to end it there. We both braked very very late with Max but eventually he got to keep the position and then I was pushing very hard but in the first three laps they had a bit more pace. Then we had a similar degradation, so tomorrow, it's a long race, so qualifying will be important to be starting as much in front as possible, and then hopefully we can put them under pressure with the strategy.

Q: Well, let's talk about qualifying then. It's coming up here. Job's not done yet today, right? But you were so close yesterday. What was learned yesterday and maybe even a little bit today in the Sprint that you think you could apply to maybe fight for pole this afternoon?

Leclerc: Yeah, it was obviously very close yesterday. Not many laps in FP1, so hopefully now with the Sprint race, I got a bit more laps around this track, and I hope we can target the pole position. So that's the target. Then let's see if we manage to achieve that.

Q: Alright, well, great race today. Best of luck this afternoon.

Leclerc: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Q: Checo, P3 today. It looked like a bit of a quiet event for you. You got through the mess in Turn 1, and then it was sort of running your own race.

Sergio PEREZ: Yeah, it was really hard to get through Daniel in the beginning, and once I got through, I got through it quite quickly, but I was three seconds from Charles and given the short duration of the race, it was pretty tricky. I was like getting within two seconds, 1.8, but then it was quite hard to get a little bit closer. So anyway, let's look forward for the rest of the weekend.

Q: Checo, when you come out here, one of the biggest cheers from the crowd. What's it like racing here in Miami? You've got a ton of supporters. How about this crowd here today?

Perez: The fans are amazing. It's really nice to be here with all of them, and I really hope I can give them a great race of the weekend.

Q: How about qualifying? What do you think you got this afternoon?

Perez: Yeah, I think we will be able to be strong, so I definitely look forward to it.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Q: Very well done, Max. That looked like a pretty straightforward race for you. How did it play out behind the wheel?

Verstappen: Yeah, I think only the start wasn't particularly great. But besides that, yeah, just looking after the tyres, not really knowing, of course, how they were going to last. Still not entirely happy with the balance of the car, so we need to look into that. Yeah, a bit too much oversteer, I would say. So we'll try to fine tune that no before qualifying, because I had the same problem yesterday in [Sprint] qualifying. So it definitely highlighted that what we have at the moment is probably not the best for quali and race. But nevertheless, we won the race, which I think is the most important. And we'll try to just make it a bit more solid.

Q: How are the track conditions today?

Verstappen: Yes, same as yesterday. I mean, hot, slippery, not much to add to it.

Q: Can we just throw it ahead to qualifying then this afternoon? Are you expecting a similar session to yesterday or do you think the soft tyre will be a little bit more performant?

Verstappen: Yeah, I mean, I think the more laps that we can do on a new set every time, of course, I think it will all settle down a bit. I think this is something that in a Sprint qualifying, when you do two mediums and suddenly one Soft tyre sometimes it feels a bit weird because the two compounds always drive a bit different. and when you only have one shot at it and you make a mistake or the car is not in the right balance window, then you can have a horrible lap, which I find a bit of a shame. That's why I prefer a bit more of a normal qualifying. You know, you have a few sets to really nail the lap and get used to the track conditions as well. So hopefully in the afternoon, it will all be a bit more normal.

Q: Very well done. Good luck this afternoon as well. Charles, very well done to you as well. Wheel-to-wheel with Max on the way down to Turn 1. Just talk us through the first 10 seconds of the race, first of all.

Leclerc: Yeah, I had quite a good launch. Then I was in the inside of Max for Turn 1. We both braked, I think, very late Too late! But we still managed to make the corner and eventually Max kept the track position. After that, it was all about I was trying to stay within one second to get the DRS, especially after the first Safety Car, which we didn't manage to do. And then we were in a position where it was actually very difficult to come back to Max. I think we had a bit of a tyre advantage. We had the new Mediums. So it's going to be very important to try and obviously be in front in the qualifying this afternoon.

Q: After limited running in practice yesterday, the Sprint was your first long run of the weekend. How was the car?

Leclerc: OK. Obviously I don't think anybody on the grid has an optimal set-up, because with the very few laps we do in FP1 and especially for me, as I've only done one, you're always going a little bit into the unknown and anticipating also the track conditions throughout the weekend, as from the Friday to the Sunday it changes a lot. It's always very difficult but I think we did a reasonably good job. We still have to change a few things for this afternoon to make it better. And hopefully it will pay off.

Q: Alright. Good luck with that. Thank you. Checo, coming to you now. You had a bit of work to do in the race to get past Daniel Ricciardo. How was your car?

Perez: Yeah, I lost a place to Daniel at the start, basically trying to get Charles, but I think we all braked really late, and I just went deep into Turn 1. I ended up locking. So I lost the position to Daniel, nearly lost another position to Carlos, but in the end, we kept it together. And then right after the Safety Car, as soon as I could use DRS, I managed to get through Daniel. But then I was, I think, three seconds already from Charles. Given how short the race is, it was really game over. I tried at times. I was getting closer. But once I found, like, I was around 1.8 or so, it was quite hard to get a little bit closer. So, unfortunately the race was just a little bit too short. I think in these Sprint races, if you have the Safety Car, then it's really hard to really do anything else.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q: (Filip Cleeren) Charles, you already mentioned tyre deg is going to be crucial. You spent the entire race behind Max, so how do you evaluate your tyre deg and your pace compared to Max? Do you see any opportunities for tomorrow?

Leclerc: I think we were quite similar on that. Maybe in the last two, three laps, Max had the upper hand and he pulled away a bit more. But apart from that, I was just struggling a little bit with the dirty air. Whenever I was getting within 1.8, 1.7, I would drop to 2.2, 2.3, and then I would come back a little bit. I was mostly struggling with dirty air. I think if I had the DRS on that first lap, we probably could have put him under a bit more pressure, but we didn't. So we need to look into that tomorrow to try and make sure that we keep the DRS if we are behind and we pull away if we are behind from.

Q: (Taylor Powling  Motorsport Monday) Charles, you said that the turbulence by Max, you felt that not even within one second. Is that something that's circuit-specific or kind of common with these cars? now and returning to pre-2022 levels?

Leclerc: No, I think it's always been the case, and I think also it's very car-dependent. I think some teams are saying that it's getting worse. For some reason, on my side, it actually feels a little bit better compared to last year to follow, but we still feel it. And especially when it's all about tyre overheating, as soon as you are behind, you have a little bit less downforce, you slide a bit more, and then the overheating is getting worse and worse. So it's not track-specific. I think it's always been like that.

Q: (Ronald Vording) It's a question to Max. Yesterday, after FP1, you seemed at least relatively happy with the setup, at least that's what Helmut Marko told me. Is there any explanation why your feeling was so different than in Sprint qualifying and also in today's Sprint race? And secondly, how much of a relief is it that you at least have two Parc Fermes now?

Verstappen: Yeah, we changed a few things that we thought would be better, probably going into qualifying, and it didn't work. So we'll look into what we can improve now. And yeah, I mean, of course, that's why I'm very happy with this new format, that at least you can make a few changes. Otherwise, you are stuck with it and basically it can ruin your weekend.

Q: (Sahil Kapoor  NBC) A question for Max. With everything going on at Red Bull off track, clearly it hasn't affected your performance and your racing on track. I'm curious, has it affected you personally? How have you managed to navigate this so well without any impact on performance? Do you have any doubt that'll continue?

Verstappen: I'm here to just race and try to win. Of course, it's important to feel good and have a stable environment. We're working on that and I'm sure that we can get that. So many things have been said. I've been literally answering these questions from March, Feb End of Feb? I don't even know what to say anymore about it. We just tried to focus as a team on the performance of the car. So far, it hasn't impacted that, and I'm very happy for that.

Q: (Dan Lawrence  Motorsport Monday) Question for Max. We heard you on team radio complaining about the tyre deg and you were just saying earlier about complaining about the balance a little bit, but you still won by three seconds in that short Sprint race. Does that give you quite a lot of confidence going into tomorrow that if you can unlock that a little bit more, you can probably control proceedings even more and go for the win?

Verstappen: Yeah, I hope this is worst case scenario, let's say like that, because I didn't really feel happy with the car. So there is definitely a lot of room for improvement. And hopefully we can find that already in qualifying. But I think nonetheless in qualifying, it's always so tricky around here on this track to get the tyres to work over one lap. And even when you think that, you know, you nailed it, then you go out again with another tyre set, it's still very hard to be consistent on it. So that is going to be the trickiest part, I think, of the weekend, to try and get right again in quali. And then, yeah, if we just naturally make the balance a bit better, then our deg will be better in the race. And then normally, yeah, we should be even more competitive.
Amazon UK has dropped 100 off the prices for the entire iPhone lineup (except the SE). A while back there was a similar price drop, but it only covered the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus  this time the two Pro models are discounted as well.

Starting with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the base 256GB model is over a thousand pounds even with the discount. But iPhones were never cheap, the Pro Maxs least of all. Still, it's the best Apple phone ever made at least until this September.

The small iPhone 15 Pro is among the more compact flagships and with a starting storage capacity of 128GB it does come in at under a thousand quid, though you probably want to go up to 256GB just for peace of mind.

If youre not among those lamenting the death of the small phone, you can go big on the cheap (well cheaper) with the iPhone 15 Plus. If the rumors are true, this will be the last time that the Plus has the same screen size as the Ultra. Same resolution too, though the panel is running at only 60Hz. The Pro Max also has a tele camera and a faster chipset, but both offer amazing batter life.

The next Pro will get bigger too, at least thats the unofficial info. For now, though, the iPhone 15 is the same size as the 15 Pro. Like with the Plus, it lacks modern conveniences, but it is cheap. Note that the 128GB model is discounted by more than 100, but wed still recommend going for at least 256GB.

You might want to consider the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, which are 100 cheaper than their 15-series counterparts. Thats the cost of a storage upgrade too, though these older models dont have a USB-C port (they have Lightning instead) and no Dynamic Island (notch instead). Worse, the main cameras have only 12MP sensors.

We beak away from the Apple lineup to check out this Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offer. Its a 256GB model in Lavender and it goes for only 950. Fair warning, though, there are very few units left. This comes under the Galaxy S24+ price (12/256GB is 1,000 on Samsung.com).

Early rumors claimed that Google will hike up the price of the new Pixel a-phone, but the latest leak suggests that in the US the Pixel 8a will be $500, the same price as the 7a when it first launched. Theres still a chance that Europe might see a price increase  well find out on May 14.

The Pixel 7a, meanwhile, is down to 330 and this is with a 30W charger bundled in. The 8a promises a better chipset (Tensor G3) and 7 years of software support (the 7a has only 2 OS updates left). That said, it will be a while before the 8a falls below the 450 starting price if indeed it keeps the same launch price as the 7a.

For context, the Pixel 8 is down to 570 for a base 8/128GB unit. Wed hold off on getting the Pixel 8 as it sounds like the 8a will offer very similar hardware at a lower price.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
The Samsung Galaxy A55 retained its lead in week 18 but this time the Infinix GT 20 Pro emerged as its closest rival, getting the silver medal.

Samsung Galaxy A55

The Redmi Note 13 Pro rounded up the podium as the Galaxy S24 Ultra just missed out and placed fourth.

Huawei's Pura 70 Ultra is down to fifth, ahead of the Redmi Note 13 and the second Infinix phone of the chart - Note 40 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy A15 is up to eight as the iPhone 15 Pro Max returns to the chart in ninth position.

The final spot goes to the Poco X6 Pro, which means we lose the Galaxy C55 and Galaxy A35 from last week's top 10.
Earlier this week Honor started the global rollout of the Honor Magic6 RSR. This is largely similar to the Magic6 Ultimate on the inside, but the outside is the work of Porsche Design.

One thing that puts it above the Ultra is the 24GB of RAM on board (paired with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3). There is only one storage option and it is 1TB. As for colors, there are a couple to choose from  Frozen Berry (the hero color of the 2020 Taycan) and Agate Gray (a classic paint job of Porsche 911 race cars).



Honor Magic6 RSR in: Frozen Berry  Agate Gray

We have a detailed review if you want to learn more about the RSR model. We put the new autofocus and image stabilization system to the test, which are interesting because they use a Shape Memory Alloy actuator. This model has a more advanced LiDAR autofocusing system than the Pro and is the first in the industry that uses 1,200 point array with AF calculations running at 60fps.

The Magic6 RSR is already available in the UK through Honor.com at a price of 1,600. The Ultimate is not available in the UK, but the Magic6 Pro (12/512GB) is 1,100. The Pro itself is quite similar to the Ultimate and RSR Porsche Design models, save for the bespoke designs on those two.



Honor Magic6 RSR highlights

The RSR will be available in mainland Europe soon too, so we have to ask  will you actually buy one? First, lets quickly browse through some alternatives.

While no famous design house was involved with the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, the camera ring design of the camera island successfully conveys what this phone is all about. It has a larger main sensor than the Honor (1 type vs. 1/1.3) and a more traditional 3.2x periscope with a 50MP sensor instead of the 2.5x 180MP solution that Honor chose for its flagship. The LTPO OLED of the Xiaomi hits 3,000 nits at peak brightness, but the dual-layer OLED of the Honor goes even higher  up to 5,000 nits. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is 1,300 for a 16/512GB model.

Where Xiaomi has its partnership with Leica, OnePlus is working with Hasselblad to tune its cameras. The OnePlus 12 is practically cheap at 900 for the 16/512GB model. It doesnt need a dual-layer OLED to hit 4,500 nits of peak brightness. The main sensor is smaller (1/1.43) and the 3x periscope has a 64MP sensor behind it.



Xiaomi 14 Ultra  OnePlus 12  Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra  Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is also an option if youre looking for a camera-focused flagship. It starts at 1,250, but the 12/512GB model is 1,350 and there is a 1TB version for 1,550. Samsung will support the phone for 7 years and given its track record so far, theres no reason to doubt it. Honor is more conservative and only offers 4 OS updates and 5 years of patches for its flagships.

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the other flagship that barges into every discussion about high-end phones in the West. The base model starts at 1,200 (256GB) and prices go up to 1,400 for 512GB and 1,600 for 1TB. Apple is a trend-setter when it comes to design and doesnt need outside help with its phones. It has some of the best long-term support too.

Its time to cast your vote  would you splurge on this special edition flagship or not?
Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen Air Force Base Environmental Flight, and the National Park Service.
Lee Webber is a former publisher of the Pacific Daily News, Honolulu Advertiser, president of Gannett Pacific and Asia area manager for USA Today international.




Haiti - FLASH : Bloody escape of violent and dangerous criminals in Port-de-Paix





Friday May 3rd, 2024 in the evening, around twenty of the most violent and dangerous inmates attempted to escape from Port-de-Paix prison, all from the same cell which contained 37 prisoners. According to the police, an inmate made people believe he was feeling unwell and it was at the moment of the guard's intervention that the detainees took advantage of the opening of the cell to escape.



According to a partial report, 5 inmates were killed in the prison during the police intervention and several others injured. The police deployed across the city to track down the escapees and asked the population to stay at home.



Leonel Joseph, Spokesperson for the North-West departmental police, confirmed at a press conference that 6 escapees had already been recaptured and returned behind bars...



Me Jeir Pierre, Government Commissioner, informed that 2 police officers ensuring prison security, Inspector Smith and a station chief, are currently being questioned as part of an investigation into this escape.



For the Government Commissioner, "professional negligence" would be the cause of this escape. Furthermore, he stressed that the number of guards present in the prison at the time of the escape was insufficient due to a strike by the latter...



On Saturday morning, the figure of 10 to 20 detainees on the run in the city but no official report has been released to confirm or deny this number.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Hamas to agree to complete ceasefire deal "in stages"

Xinhua) 11:32, May 05, 2024

GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- An official source from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) told Xinhua on Saturday that the movement will agree to a complete ceasefire deal with Israel "in stages".

The source said there should be clear international guarantees that Israel would adhere to the ceasefire and completely end the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The source refused to talk about more details about the terms of the agreement, pointing out that certain points need to be clearly defined and discussed by the Hamas delegation, who arrived in Cairo Saturday to meet the Egyptian mediators.

Israel has yet to respond to the Hamas proposal.

Taher Al-Nono, an advisor to Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh, told Xinhua that the movement's delegation had already begun discussions with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Saturday to finalize the ceasefire agreement, noting that Hamas is dealing with the ceasefire proposals "seriously, responsibly and positively."

"Any ceasefire agreement must meet our national demands, which are a complete and sustainable cessation of aggression, a comprehensive and complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced to their homes without restrictions, and a real prisoner exchange deal," he said.

Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip are looking forward to a ceasefire in the territory as negotiations in Cairo continue.

Hisham Rudwan, a Palestinian man who now lives in a tent in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, has been following updates on the ceasefire talks in Cairo.

"We hope that ceasefire negotiations under Egyptian auspices will go well and a solution will be reached soon," he said.

"The ceasefire is long overdue. A ceasefire will allow us to catch our breath and return to our homes from which we were displaced under the bombing and destruction," said Rudwan, who left his home in the Shejaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza soon after the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October last year.

Maha Nimer, 52, who lives with her eight-member family in a tent in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, also hoped that a ceasefire agreement would be reached to extinguish the flames of war.

"The situation in the Strip is unbearable," said Nimer. "We want a real ceasefire that ends the catastrophic and tragic reality in the Gaza Strip and facilitates people's return to their homes, even if they were destroyed. Life in tents is difficult in both summer and winter," she added.

Akram Atallah, a Palestinian political analyst based in Gaza, said the residents of the Strip were "clinging to a straw of hope, even if it's just temporary, to stop the nightmare that has destroyed their lives for the past seven months."

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
The recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), according to which the logging of IP addresses without suspicion for the prosecution of even minor crimes may be legally permissible without a judge's authorization, has caused astonishment among scientists. The ruling "can certainly be seen as a Copernican turnaround by the ECJ in the area of data storage", explains Philipp Hacker, Professor of Law and Ethics of the Digital Society in Frankfurt (Oder), to the Science Media Center (SMC). Unlike previously, the Luxembourg judges no longer classify data retention without cause as a serious interference with fundamental rights in all constellations. The ECJ only set the bar higher for detailed surveillance of individuals.

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Hacker explains the change of course by, among other things, the fact that "in some cases other judges were involved" in the decision made by the full court than in previous, significantly more restrictive rulings. In particular, the rapporteur had changed, from the German judge Thomas von Danwitz to his Czech colleague Alexandra Prechal. In addition, a lot has happened in recent years. "The staying power of politics since 2006 has paid off," says Bremen professor of IT security law Dennis-Kenji Kipker. "People keep trying to politically enforce a procedure that is more than questionable from a constitutional point of view until the highest courts change their rulings at some point."

"Where there's a trough, the pigs gather"

In general, Kipker also speaks of a "clear turnaround in the case law of digital fundamental rights protection" at the ECJ. There are signs that data retention "could become the rule rather than the exception, even for the prosecution of copyright infringements". The information law expert criticizes as "downright absurd" the assertion in the ruling that "data separation would make it impossible to draw conclusions about private life". MEP Patrick Breyer (Pirate Party) takes a similar view: "Where there's a trough, the pigs gather", he warns against "limitless data greed". Storing IP addresses in advance would be the same as if every citizen "had a visible license plate hung around their neck and this was noted at every turn". This would correspond to a "total recording of daily life", although "99.99 percent of this data would be completely useless".

In light of the ruling, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) has already reiterated her call for the retention of IP addresses. "Not everything that is legal is also useful," counters Erik Tuchtfeld, Co-Chairman of the SPD-affiliated network policy association D64. It is a good thing that the German government has said goodbye to instruments of mass surveillance with its compromise. It should continue to focus on measures that protect fundamental rights, such as quick freeze and login trap. The German Bar Association (DAV) is also in favor of this: "It would be fatal for the protection of civil rights in the digital space to allow data retention for the purpose of prosecuting any crime, even minor ones." It is questionable whether the "strict separation" between the desired internet identifiers and other user data, which is assumed in the ruling, can actually be implemented. The ruling should therefore "by no means be understood as a carte blanche for mass surveillance of the Internet in Germany".

(anw)
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Aries: Your perseverance and methodical nature will leave a strong impression on potential employers who can influence the results in your favour. Keep connecting and keep your job search efforts on the go. There is a high possibility that a good lead will come up, so you need to keep your eyes open and be prepared to grab the opportunity. While not everything will work out as planned, stay confident in your abilities, and success will definitely find you. Read daily money and career horoscopes for all zodiac signs and know your fortune for today at Hindustan Times.

Taurus: Make sure to follow up with any professionals you have recently contacted, as they could be conduits to learning and development opportunities that will help you grow in your current role. Be flexible and broad-minded, as additional knowledge and cooperation could be beneficial. Make sure that financial issues don't linger, and develop some innovative solutions that will ensure you supplement your main stream of income.

Gemini: Keep your ear close to the ground and look for signs that your leaders recognise or reward you for your excellent work. Due to your incredible efforts and diligence, you will be appreciated and, hence, climb the career ladder. Keep a proactive mindset and be ready for new possibilities; there might be chances that you will have to say yes to new opportunities. Believe in your strengths, and be sure to use a well-organized schedule.

Cancer: This is the right time to show how well you can do your job and how loyal you are to the company, which may help your career advancement. Allow yourself to be uplifted by the positive vibes and channel them towards your aspirations by uncovering new opportunities or reaching your maximum potential in your present role. This is also an excellent time to close any loopholes that you might have missed or any pending long-term projects.

Leo: As the week continues, you will be inundated with meetings and more work hours. This would seem tedious, but the effect will be immediate, and the results will be tremendous. Your work and time spent pursuing your dream will not go unnoticed when you prove your competence and talent to the right people. This is when you should plant your best foot forward and leave a strong impact on your bosses and workmates.

Virgo: It is an excellent moment to undertake further studies or training that will allow you to climb the ladder. Try to find the spaces within your organisation or your sector so that you can enrol in online courses and take up new profiles. This is a time to learn as much as possible and perfect your skills. Consider attending a workshop to boost your resume and be a strong contender for your desired job.

Libra: Let the flow of your thoughts revitalise your role and make it more meaningful. It doesn't matter if you develop new projects, find innovative solutions to existing problems, or incorporate creativity into your daily activitiesyour unique way of doing it will not be overlooked. Creativity is the strength that can provide you with both personal and professional satisfaction. Cultivate it; you will soon realise how this asset will shape your career.

Scorpio: Your leadership skills will be a source of pride as you deal with intricate tasks and projects. Not being scared to take charge in meetings or come up with imaginative suggestions is not bad after all. The efforts you make, and the discipline you exercise will not be ignored. Use this week to erect walls of trust and friendship with your co-workers and bosses. How you lead and encourage others will play an important role in your future success.

Sagittarius: This week offers thrilling career opportunities as you explore interactions with a global community. Interacting with people from different backgrounds could reveal unforeseen career options. Perhaps you can learn a new language or skill to improve your marketability. Be open to cultural exchanges and find ways of demonstrating your ability to adapt and desire for growth. Use this time as a platform to grow your network.

Capricorn: Its time to change things. Find ways to make your work day interesting and fun. Look for new projects or offer to do something beyond your comfort zone. Do not underestimate the importance of minor changes; they can greatly affect your career satisfaction. Remember, this rut is transient. With a positive attitude and determination, you can break free from this situation and excel in your career.

Aquarius: This week, you are advised to be careful before jumping into fresh opportunities. Those of you who participate in partnerships should abstain from new projects. Instead, work on improving your skills and networking within the industry. Your assistance may prove critical for colleagues who are struggling, so step in when necessary. But do not rush to make any impulsive decisions about job changes. In the long run, patience and perseverance will bring better results.

Pisces: Build on your strengths and play to what makes you different. Although the pressure to be a jack of all trades sounds intimidating, remember that employers appreciate sincerity and expertise. Adapt your job search strategy to highlight the areas of specialisation and interests. Do not let others or yourself impose unrealistic expectations on you. On the contrary, focus on self-awareness and your abilities. The right opportunity will recognise your actual value.

----------------------

Neeraj Dhankher

(Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi)

Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in

Url: www.astrozindagi.in

Contact: Noida: +919910094779
Air India has reduced its free check-in baggage allowance from 20kg to 15kg for the lowest economy fare segment on domestic flights. The changes have been introduced as part of the menu-based pricing model fare families introduced by the Tata Group-owned Air India last August, with the airline asserting that a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer ideal. A view of Air India Airbus A350. (ANI Photo)

Also Read: Air India to resume flight services between Delhi and Tel Aviv from May 16

Prior to the fare families concept, passengers on Air India's domestic flights were allowed to carry 25 kg of check-in baggage free of any additional charge, while other domestic carriers such as IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet offer 15 kg of check-in baggage without additional charge.

The three fare groups  Comfort, Comfort Plus, and Flex  offer distinct levels of benefits and fare restrictions at various price points, as stated by an Air India spokesperson on Saturday.

With effect from May 2, the free check-in baggage allowance for the 'Comfort' and 'Comfort Plus' categories has been reduced to 15 kg from 20 kg and 25 kg, respectively, as per the airline's statement.

Also Read: Pilot on flying Air Indias Boeing 747 Queen of the Skies: Godspeed, my beloved jumbo

"On domestic routes in Economy Class, both 'Comfort' and 'Comfort Plus' fare families now provide 15 kg baggage allowance, while 'Flex' provides 25 kg allowance. The Business Class baggage allowance on domestic routes ranges from 25 kg to 35 kg. The free baggage allowance on international flights varies from market to market," the airline spokesperson said.

Further, the spokesperson emphasised that fare families are designed to allow passengers to select fares and services that best suit their requirements, considering the diverse preferences of travellers.

Elaborating on the price composition, the airline official said that the price difference between 'Comfort Plus' and 'Flex' fares would typically be around 1,000 in a domestic sector like Delhi-Mumbai, with the 'Flex' fare providing the value of nearly 9,000, including 10kg extra baggage and zero change or cancellation fees.

Also Read: Air India's Boeing 747 takes final flight from Mumbai with wing wave manoeuvre

The introduction of fare families is a response to customer feedback and Air Indias comprehensive study, benchmarked against the offerings of relevant competition in each market it has been introduced in, the spokesperson added.

(With inputs from PTI)
India has unexplored opportunities which Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway would like to explore in future, the billionaire investor has said. Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett attends the Berkshire Hathaway Inc annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 3, 2024. REUTERS/Scott Morgan/File Photo

Buffett made the assertion at Berkshire's annual meeting on Friday, according to Moneycontrol. There, he was asked by Rajeev Agarwal of DoorDarshi Advisors, a US-based hedge fund that invests in Indian equities, about the possibility of Berkshire exploring opportunities in the country, the world's fifth-largest economy.

Indian equities have done quite well in the last 20 years. It will be the third-largest economy in the next few years. Are you looking for activities in the equity market and what will allow you to buy anything meaningful there? Agarwal asked Buffett.

The latter, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, responded, It is a very good question. I am sure there are loads of opportunities in countries like India.

The question, however, is whether we have any advantage or insights into those businesses in India, or any contacts that will make possible transactions that Berkshire would like to participate in. That is something a more energetic management at Berkshire could pursue, Buffett noted.

The ace businessman also recalled his experience with another Asian nation, Japan, where the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate bought into five trading houses last year. The Japanese experience, he mentioned, has been fascinating enough.

Continuing on India, Buffett then said, There may be an unexplored or unattended opportunity, but that may be something in the future. But there are opportunities.

As per Bloomberg's real-time Billionaire's Index, Buffett has a net worth of $132 billion, which makes him ninth-richest globally. The Forbes Index, on the other hand, lists him at eighth with a fortune of $131.7 billion.
After the Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna was taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in a kidnapping case, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that he will not interfere in the matter because the law will take its own course. "Law will take its own course": Karnataka CM on JD(S) leader HD Revanna arrest

"We don't interfere in this because the law will take its own course. He had applied for anticipatory bail but it was rejected in the kidnap case. I don't know about the kidnapped lady. I haven't spoken to police yet," he said.

Also Read - HD Revanna taken into custody by SIT: What is likely to happen next?

State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, HK Patil also asserted that the law has taken proper course.

Responding to the question of bringing JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna back to India, Patil said, "The efforts of the government is on."

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Sivakumar said, "I am not aware of it. The law will take its own course..."

Meanwhile, JD(S) leader HD Revanna was brought to a hospital for medical test after he was taken into custody by STI earlier this evening.

The action against Revanna was taken based on a complaint lodged by the son of a woman who was allegedly "abducted and sexually abused" in the obscene video case.

In his complaint filed to KR Nagar police in Mysuru, the man said his mother worked as a housemaid at HD Revanna's home for six years before returning to her village, where she worked as a daily wage labourer.

The man later discovered a video allegedly depicting the sexual abuse of his mother by incumbent MP and Hassan Lok Sabha candidate Prajwal Revanna. He said that soon after the video was revealed, his mother went missing. He then filed a kidnapping complaint against HD Revanna and Babanna.

The FIR has been filed at the KR Nagar police station in Mysuru and a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376(2)(N), 506, 354A(1), 354(B), 354(c) and also under relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act has been registered against the JD(S) leader.

Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

The Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged obscene video case against Prajwal Revanna.
Bhopal: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) was crushed to death by a man driving a tractor-trolley laden with illegally mined sand in Madhya Pradeshs Shahdol district on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, police said. (Representative Photo)

ASI Mahendra Bagri posted at the Bahri police station died on the spot, said police, adding that the tractor driver identified as Raj Rawat, has been arrested.

Police said they have also arrested one Ashutosh Singh, son of Surendra Singh, the truck owner and an illegal sand miner.

All three have been booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

Since the night of the incident, Surendra Singh has been absconding and a reward of Rs.30,000 has been announced for sharing information about his whereabouts, said police.

He was previously arrested in August 2023 in connection with an illegal sand mining case.

Shahdol superintendent of police (SP) Kumar Prateek said, Bagri along with ASI Gaya Prasad Kannauje and constable Sanjay Dubey had gone to Baroli village to arrest an accused absconding in a criminal case. Meanwhile, a tractor-trolley was seen coming from the front near Khadhauli village. Bagri waved his hand to stop it, but the driver crushed him and took the tractor-trolley forward.

After crushing the ASI, the accused jumped off the tractor and absconded. The tractor went out of control and fell from the bridge.

Meanwhile, a controversy erupted on conducting his postmortem on the floor in Bahri Civil Hospital. Requesting anonymity, a policeman said, Bagri sacrificed his life while serving his duty and he was not given respect even after death. His postmortem was conducted by lying his body on a floor.

Bahri sub-divisional magistrate Narendra Singh Dhurve said they were investigating the matter.
Barely two kilometers away from Asias second largest freshwater lake Wular, a remote village in North Kashmirs Bandipora district has been turned into a book village, something unique in the Himalayan valley. Almost 60 to 70 percent population in the village is associated with agriculture and horticulture and the literacy rate in the past two decades has gone up (HT Photo)

The village, which mostly comprises a tribal population, especially Gujjars, doesnt have any single library block but the books have been distributed and placed in over 15 different villagers homes where not only local readers but visiting tourists from different parts of the country read books some on the banks of Arin Nallah, whos gushing waters provide a serene atmosphere for book reading away from the hustle and bustle of the busy life of cities and towns.

A local tribal youth, Siraj Udin Khan, who is associated with Pune-based NGO Sarhad, has started the initiative, and is bearing fruit as the NGO started a culture of book reading in the village.

Aims is to convert village houses into mini-libraries

This time we have around 5,000 books on various subjects. In coming years, the aim is to convert most village houses into mini-libraries, he said, adding, Initially nobody was ready to provide space for books in their homes. It took us months of persuasion and finally, the libraries were established in 2022. We have even established a big library in the local school also and kept books related to competitive examinations there. Slowly the youths have started developing the habit of book reading.

Siraj, who is pursuing a doctorate in history and has spent most of his life outside Kashmir in Maharashtra and other states, said, Ours is the most backward village, these books have brought our place on the map of J&K and also India as dozens of tourists especially those from Maharashtra visited the village. I hope the day will come when the book village will be one of the most visited places for tourists, said Siraj, while showing books related to various subjects.

Different genres have been put on display in different houses with pointers outside each house of the books inside. History, and Kashmir literature, including folk and fiction, are on display while children and youth-related books will be added in the coming months. From biographies of famous world leaders to Rajtarangini which is related to the ancient history of Kashmir these libraries have books and novels related to almost every subject in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Kashmiri.

Almost 60 to 70 percent population in the village is associated with agriculture and horticulture and the literacy rate in the past two decades has gone up.

NGO founder president Sanjay Nihar said the project has been on his mind for years. We had plans to establish it in Matrigam Pulwama, the native village of famous Kashmiri poet Mehjoor. Unfortunately, it didnt work and finally, we decided to set up this in Aragam this resting place of famous Sufi poet Lal sahib Aragami and is located close to Wular with beautiful meadows in its backyard, he said, adding in a couple of years, they aim to create a book bank comprising five lakh books in the village. These books will become assets of people and the village. We want our future generations should get empowered through the knowledge which will spread through the books kept here, Nihar added.

Within months of its establishment, the village is already famous across Kashmir. Earlier we were known for a famous poet and now for the books. The day will come when tourists will flock to this place and these books will become a reason for employment generation, said Shabir Ahmad, a local villager.

Even our village could become a stopover for tourists visiting Gurez and Wular Lake, he added.

Siraj, who is working on the ground along with other locals, said they faced many impediments in the establishment of Book Village but now villagers and officers have realised its importance. We are planning to establish homestays here so that visitors can stay here and locals will earn some money, he added.

The modest village was never as peaceful as it is today. Earlier it was the hub of militant activities as dozens of locals joined militant ranks in the initial days of militancy. They (militants) either got killed in encounters or surrendered, For the last 15 years the village has been peaceful.

This time our village is the most peaceful area with not a single active militant. The neighbouring villages are also militancy-free, said Jalaludin, who has also dedicated one room of his two-storey house for a library.

Even young students are showing an inclination toward these libraries. I have already given dozens of books to young students who return them after reading. Slowly, the habit of book reading is developing not only in the village but in neighbouring areas, said Anees, a Class 11 student who has dedicated himself to the upkeep of books in his two-storey modest house.

I cherish the day when every house of my village will have a library, Adil Shafi, another villager who has also provided room for the library.

Nahar said he has been planning to hold a world book festival in the village and at the Wular Lake in the future. We want to host the world-renowned writers in this place so that it gets a unique identity, he said, adding that local villagers are cooperating and time isnt far away when everybody will boost about the village.
Breaking the stereotype that gold is the most prized possession of women, Congress Ambala candidate Varun Chaudhary Mullana, 44, owns more gold than his spouse. Congress Ambala candidate Varun Chaudhary Mullana is the son of former Haryana Congress president Phool Chand Mullana. (HT Photo)

As per the affidavit filed at the time of his nomination, Mullana has declared to be owner of 900 gm gold worth 58 lakh, which is the highest amount declared by the candidates contesting in Ambala constituency. Interestingly, as per the same declaration, his wife owns 600 gm gold, valued at 39 lakh.

Varun, who is an MLA from Mullana, is the son of former Haryana Congress president Phool Chand Mullana.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Banto Kataria, 59, owns 250 gm gold which is worth 17.8 lakh. Banto is the wife of veteran BJP leader and three-time Ambala Lok Sabha MP Rattan Lal Kataria, who died in 2023 after an illness. Banto, a qualified lawyer, has been a BJP worker since 1980. She was also a mandal pradhan (block president) in 1986 and rose up to the rank of partys state vice president. She also remained non-executive independent director of GAIL (India).

While Gurpreet Singh, 30, of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) owns 234 gm gold worth 14 lakh while his spouse owns 349.8 gm gold valued at 21 lakh. An advocate by profession, Gurpreet who is a mazhabi Sikh, is contesting for the first time from Ambala constituency.

The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) candidate Kiran Punia, 57, declared ownership of 150 gm gold worth 10.3 lakh. Punia, a professor in Hindi at DAV college (Lahore) Ambala city, is also contesting for first time.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Pawan Kumar has declared that he owns 100 gm gold worth 7.3 lakh while his spouse owns 775 gm gold valued at 57 lakh. Pawan, who as per his affidavit is an agriculturist, has in 2005 contested Vidhan Sabha elections unsuccessfully from his partys ticket.
The lecturers of meritorious schools across Punjab are awaiting regularisation and alleged that there is lack of proper increments since their recruitment in 2014. There were four meritorious schools initially, later increased to 10 in 2016. (HT File)

Despite delivering results across the state in board exams as well as competitive examinations, the lecturers of meritorious schools decry no acknowledgement from the government for their efforts.

Punjab Meritorious Teachers Union coordinator Rakesh Kumar said they have been recruited through Meritorious Society. We were recruited through a proper channel by clearing four tests, including a demo and an interview. We were assured be regularised soon, but for the past eight years, the government has been all talk and no action. Meanwhile, a total of 25 lecturers selected for meritorious schools in 2023, did not join due to non-regularisation of meritorious lecturers, Kumar added.

Kumar said there were four meritorious schools initially, later increased to 10 in 2016. Post which the regularisation of meritorious school lecturers was formally announced. Another announcement for the same was made in 2018. Out union met the Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains, twice regarding the same issue, first in April and then in August last year. Bains gave an assurance of regularising us within 100 days, Kumar added.

Another coordinator of the union Ajay Sharma said, We are drawing a salary of 42,576 with no allowances. Since 2014, there have been just two increments. As many as 8,886 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and government model school teachers were regularised, except for 311 meritorious teachers. Most of the students who cleared the JEE Mains this year are from the meritorious schools and 2,077 students of the same scored more than 90% in Class 12 examination.

Director general secondary education Vinay Bublani said, The schools were built under policies of different governments and the teachers were recruited through various frameworks. The government has already regularised the volunteers, recruited through Panchayats. The regularisation for meritorious lecturers is in the pipeline, but nothing has been finalised as of now.
Police arrested two terrorist associates in Shopian and recovered arms, ammunition and grenades from their possession on Sunday. The terrorist associates were identified as Amir Ahmad Mir and Zaffer Azad, both residents of Mandujian in Shopian. The terrorist associates were identified as Amir Ahmad Mir and Zaffer Azad, both residents of Mandujian in Shopian. (Getty Images)

Police said acting on specific information, security forces, along with Indian Army (34RR) and CRPF (178BN), established a checkpoint in Aloora Imamsahib village area of Shopian.

During checking, the joint party intercepted and arrested two terrorist associates identified as Amir Ahmad Mir and Zaffer Azad both residents of Mandujian. During search, arms and ammunition, including one pistol along with one magazine, eight rounds, two Chinese grenades and other incriminating materials, have been recovered from their possession, the police spokesman said, adding that a case FIR No 23/2024 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Imamsahib police station and further investigation has been initiated.
Amid the blowing of conch shells, a shower of flower petals and vociferous Jai Shri Ram chants that intermingled with Modi-Modi and Modi-Yogi slogans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first poll-time road show in Ayodhya on Sunday evening after offering prayers at the Ram temple in his first visit to the pilgrim city since the January 22 Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath during a road show in Ayodhya on Sunday evening. (Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times)

Modi travelled in a flower bedecked motorised chariot as chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Faizabad MP Lallu Singh accompanied him.

The road show covered the around two-kilometre route from Sugriv Kila to Lata Chowk, the recently acquired attraction in Ayodhya, in about 1.5 hours. Welcome points were set up at around 70 places along the route.

Faizabad constituency, in which Ayodhya is situated, goes to polls in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha poll on May 20. The road show was held shortly after campaigning for the third phase of the election, scheduled for May 7 in 10 other constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, ended.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders said Modis Ayodhya road show would have a favourable impact on each of these 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, including Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Bareilly and Aonla, and even beyond for the remaining phases of the seven-phase polls.

The heart of people of Ayodhya is also as large as that of Lord Ram. My gratitude to the people for being part of my road show, Modi posted on X.

Modis mega road show was his second successive one after Saturdays equally impressive similar campaign event in Kanpur.

This was his second road show in Ayodhya after one on December 30 last year but the first ever by any PM in the middle of a general election in the temple town, where the Ram temple inauguration has emerged as a major poll narrative.

A group of turbaned women walked in front of Modis motorised chariot, clapping and singing all the way.

Carrying illuminated BJP symbols, Modi, wearing a saffron cap and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, kept smiling and waving at the people who had lined up on both sides of the road and greeted the PM with a shower of petals.

Flowers were also showered on Modi from most of the homes and shops on the route even as Special Protection Group personnel kept wiping the chariots windscreen every now and then as it got covered with flowers.

This was Modis third Ayodhya visit in four months since December-end and party leaders appeared elated by the response to his road show that would also refresh the January inauguration of Ram temple in the public mind and put the focus on the BJPs oft-repeated charge of mainstream Opposition leaders skipping the inauguration invite due to vote bank considerations.

Earlier, soon after landing at Ayodhyas Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Modi, along with Adityanath who greeted him on arrival, visited the Ram temple, where after a darshan, he also supervised the developments.

Thereafter, the road show started as commoners and BJP workers, wearing caps that read Modi ki guarantee, Modi ka parivar, kept raising chants.

Women held cut-outs of Modi and some of them said they had come to visit the Ram temple but stayed back on hearing of the road show.

There are so many of them who stayed back to watch Modi ji. His craze is absolutely unbelievable, said Ayodhya mayor Girish Pati Tripathi. Many Muslims from Ayodhya were also seen welcoming Modi.

There has never been any Hindu-Muslim issue in Ayodhya and we all are proud that Ayodhya has emerged as a global tourist hotspot, said Shoaib Khan, a shopkeeper close to the Ayodhya temple.

Several Ayodhya saints like Mahant Raju Das and Mahant Dharam Das were seen seated among the crowd for the road show even as many others kept blowing conch shells with chants of Jai Shri Ram.

Political experts admitted to the power of Modis Ayodhya show.

PM Modi is a charismatic leader and each gesture of his has a high recall value. Him coming to Ayodhya for a roadshow for the first time since the consecration ceremony has its own meaning and definitely it would refresh the January 22 temple inauguration memories, said professor Manuka Khanna of Lucknow Universitys political science department.

Beyond Ayodhya, the BJP is also looking at this road show to power the partys appeal in at least nine other Lok Sabha seats in the Ayodhya-Devipatan region, including key ones like Amethi, Sultanpur, Barabanki, Ambedkar Nagar, Kaiserganj, Shravasti and Bahraich.

Why only a few seats, the message from this road show will be heard across the country. Then again, its impact will be felt globally as Ayodhya under PM Modis rule is now attracting global attention, said BJPs Ayodhya lawmaker Ved Prakash Gupta.

In the last 35 days, Modi has held eight rallies and three road shows to fuel the BJPs preparations in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and hence is crucial to the partys overall plans.

This Modi show from Ayodhya will unify Hindus and foil the plans of the Opposition that is flagging the caste census pitch to divide Hindus on caste lines. Hindutva and Modi are huge unifying factors and that is why this Modi show is very significant as people are hardly bothered about candidates for everywhere the vote is for Modi, said a BJP functionary.

The route of the road show has been divided into 40 blocks and people from different walks of life wearing traditional costumes are attending, local BJP leaders said

For security reasons, the police divided the area into different zones, sectors and sub sectors, Ayodhya senior superintendent of police Raj Karan Nayar said.

The Ayodhya temple gate number 11 from where PM Modi entered for darshan was decorated with flowers as was the entire roadshow route that was also lined up with party flags and Modi cut-outs even as anti-terror squad (ATS) commandos along with police and intelligence agencies kept a close watch on the security preparedness. At the temple, Modi was seen prostrating before the Ram Lalla idol.
AGRA: Three accused were arrested after a case was registered at the Kotwali police station in Mainpuri against around 100 Samajwadi Party supporters for the ruckus created during the roadshow led by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav in support of party candidate Dimple Yadav on Saturday night. Samajwadi Partys national spokesperson Ameeque Jamei denied the allegations. (HT photo)

The police identified the arrested accused based on viral video footage allegedly showing them climbing on and disrespecting the statue of Maharana Pratap on Saturday night. They were presented before the court and sent to jail.

Three were arrested today for allegedly climbing on and disrespecting the statue of Maharana Pratap at Karhal crossing in Mainpuri on Saturday night. They were identified as Shailesh Yadav, Shivank, and Bhuvan Yadav, and were seen climbing onto the statue, said Fateh Bahadur Singh Bhadoria, Kotwali police station in-charge in Mainpuri.

All three were presented before the court in Mainpuri and were sent for judicial custody, Bhadoria added.

The public relations officer at the Mainpuri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Kumars office confirmed that a case had been registered at the Kotwali police station in Mainpuri against 90 to 100 unidentified Samajwadi Party workers for the disturbance created at the end of the roadshow at Karhal crossing in Mainpuri. Police are now gathering CCTV footage to identify the accused involved.

Case has been registered under sections 147 (riot), 188 (Disobedience to order promulgated by public servant), 295A (insulting religious beliefs), 504 (provocation to breach public peace), and Section 171H of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified accused, the PRO said.

BJP workers staged a protest at Maharana Pratap Chowk in Mainpuri on Sunday. They demanded action against the Samajwadi Party workers who insulted Maharana Pratap Singh, placed the party flag in the hands of the statue, and raised objectionable slogans insulting the prime minister, his family members, and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

All this happened at the end of the roadshow on Saturday in Mainpuri. The roadshow, held in support of Dimple Yadav and led by Akhilesh Yadav, turned into what can only be described as a gunda show. These goons of the Samajwadi Party insulted the personality like Maharana Pratap by climbing on his statue at the crossing in Mainpuri, alleged BJP candidate Jaiveer Singh, who is also the MLA from Mainpuri Sadar and the Minister of Tourism in the state cabinet.

Samajwadi Party workers used objectionable language for the prime minister and chief minister. They seemed inclined to create caste conflict in the poll-bound Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. President of SP Akhilesh Yadav should apologise for the insult made to Maharana Pratap, the prime minister, and the CM of UP, said Singh.

He further said that Akhilesh Yadav was highly frustrated because voters had decided to vote against his party. Even Yadavs, their committed voters, were angry with them because SP leadership had denied tickets to dedicated party workers and had distributed tickets within family members.

Chief Minister Yogi Aditya on Thursday last led a road show in Mainpuri and had offered flowers as mark of respect to statue of Maharana Pratap.

This reflects the mindset of the Samajwadi Party and its alliance partners, which insults patriotic national heroes and praises anti-national terrorists, alleged chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday.

The Samajwadi Party withdraws cases filed against terrorists who were involved in anti-national activities. The national president himself goes to pay tributes to ill-famed mafia at his home but could not pay tributes to Late Kalyan Singh, who played a great role in the development of UP state. I condemn this act in Mainpuri, and those guilty will not be spared, stated the chief minister.

This attitude is not limited to the Samajwadi Party but also to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who denied accepting the idol of Chatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj when offered in Maharashtra. The masses in the nation are watching all this and will give a befitting reply by voting against them in the election, the chief minister added.

BJP workers have alleged that an attempt was made to bend the bhala (javelin) of Maharana Pratap and a flag of the Samajwadi Party was placed in the hands of the statue.

Speaking to the media, the state president of BJP, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, condemned this act of insult and attempt to damage the statue of Maharana Pratap. He said it was highly condemnable that objectionable language was used for the PM and CM.

It happened in the presence of Samajwadi Partys Akhilesh Yadav; thus he should apologise for the act, said the state president of BJP.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Partys national spokesperson Ameeque Jamei denied the allegations.

It is the Samajwadi Party which holds the flag in pride of Maharana Pratap, a great Kshatriya leader. The nationwide agitation of the Kshatriya community is not against the Samajwadi Party but against the BJP and the prime minister, he said.

The Kshatriya samaj is fighting for proper representation in parliament, but candidates from this community were deliberately left out in the BJP, Jamei added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sharply attacked the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, saying they work for the benefit of their children and their vote bank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath during a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Etawah on Sunday. (PTI PHOTO)

His attack comes in the wake of five members of the Samajwadi Partys Yadav family contesting the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh and Rahul Gandhis recent nomination from the Rae Bareli seat.

Modi and Yogi are working for the future of your children. We do not have children of ours, he said at a Lok Sabha poll rally in Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.

They are working for their children, families. Their legacy is throne, plush houses and political inheritance, he said about the two Opposition parties, which are partners under the INDIA bloc umbrella.

In the Yadav belt, he questioned why the SP and its leadership could not find a single Yadav outside the family to contest seats.

The legacies of the two parties contesting together is that one considers Mainpuri, Etawah and Kannauj as its fiefdom, the other takes Amethi and Rae Bareli as its inheritance, he said.

But the legacy of Modi, he said, was pucca houses, toilets, electricity, free medical treatment, ration, gas, tapped water to millions of Indians.

Asking the people to bless him again, he said this chaiwala (tea seller) has broken the custom that only the heir of a royal family would become the prime minister or the chief minister.

In the BJP, a Yadav (Mohan Yadav) is at the helm in Madhya Pradesh. Who knows your son or daughter becomes PM in 2047? he said.

In his 20-minute speech in the home district of SP president Akhilesh Yadav, he invoked Samajwadi Party founder, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav and his speech in the last session of Parliament in 2019 in which he had said Modi would become PM again.

It was his blessing, Modi said. He may not be with us, but see the coincidence his younger brother (Shivpal Yadav) in Mainpuri has asked people to vote for the BJP too.

He alleged that the slogans of Samajwadi Party and the Congress were lies and their intentions were not good. He also said these people did not spare the masses and defamed the Covid vaccine developed by scientists. The SP and Congress leaders were instigating people against the vaccine on TV and social media to defame him, while taking the vaccine shots in secret, he said.

Taking on Rahul Gandhi, Modi said the Shehzada in 2019 was hopping from one temple to another wearing janeu (sacred thread) over the coat. This time, he has stopped going for darshans and the janeu has disappeared, Modi said.

He also targeted the Opposition for refusing the invite to the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

The prince of Congress hated it when he (Modi) went under the sea to pray in Dwarka, the prime minister further said.

Even my worship seems like a drama to them, they have no respect for your faith, he said.

Taking potshots at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, he said they call themselves Yaduvanshis, the descendants of Lord Krishna.

What kind of Yaduvanshis are you that (you are) siding with those ridiculing the puja of Shri Krishna, he said, adding  You may be chanting the praises for the Shehzada and Modi will keep chanting the praises of Shri Krishna.

The prime minister said the two parties contesting together in Uttar Pradesh were spreading lies about democracy and the Constitution.

The Congress wanted to distribute the benefits of reservation on the basis of religion, he alleged.

In Karnataka, the Congress government declared Muslims OBCs overnight and reservation given to the OBCs was stolen, he said.

This is dangerous, what will happen to Yadav, Maurya, Lodh Pal, Jatav, Kushwaha, Shakya brothers and sisters, if this happens? he asked.

During the rally, the PM once again praised chief minister Yogi Adityanath.

Under his leadership, you have seen first-hand the change happening. Earlier women were scared of venturing out in the SP rule. Extortion and land grab was common. The slogan that reverberated was: empty plot is ours, he said.

Now, the defence corridor is being built in the region where kattas (country made pistols) were made, he said, adding the textile industry and perfume of Kannauj have got a new identity.

When the world leaders came for the G20 summit, I gifted the perfume of Kannauj. This is how the pride of the country grows.

Asking the people to vote for party candidates in Etawah, Mainpuri and Kannauj, he said he was working for India not for five years, but laying the foundation for a strong India for the next 25 years.

Asking the people to make sure the voting percentage goes up significantly, he requested them to convey his Jai Shri Ram greetings to everyone in their area.
Promising 21 guarantees in its manifesto for the Odisha Assembly polls, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday listed its assurances to the tribals, farmers, women and unemployed youth. It includes 50,000 cash voucher to women, 5,000 to each tribal student every year, filling up 1.5 lakh vacant government posts, free breakfast scheme for students, creating 25 lakh lakhpati didis, pension of 3,000 a month to elderly, physically challenged, widows and destitute and 3,100 minimum support price for paddy procurement. BJP president JP Nadda along with party leaders releases the partys manifesto for the Odisha Assembly elections 2024 in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. (Image posted on X by JP Nadda)

BJP national president J P Nadda, who released the partys election manifesto for Odisha on Sunday, said while the chief minister Naveen Patnaik-led government has failed to keep its promises, the BJP manifesto will seek to fulfil the partys commitments. The manifesto is an implementation of our programmes for the next five years, he said.

As we embark on a journey towards the 100th year of Odishas formation, the BJP envisions making the state a trillion-dollar economy by 2036. Through decisive leadership and strategic initiatives, we will propel Odisha towards Utkrisht Utkal....Odisha re Odia loko paen, purna Odia shasan (Odisha is for Odia people and complete Odia governance). With this vision, we will realise the full potential of this land of abundance, said Nadda, while mounting a stinging attack on the Naveen Patnaik government for its failure in providing irrigation to the farmlands and creating a situation that led to collapse of the education system.

For the farmers, the BJP manifesto promised to start the Sammruddha Krushak Niti, under which the rate of paddy procurement would be hiked to 3,100 per quintal. Procurement will be done through electronic weighing machines in all mandis, eliminating the present practice of katni-chhatni. Payment will be transferred to farmers within 48 hours through DBT (direct benefit transfer). Annual lean period allowance of 10,000 will be given to every fisherman and fishing industry would be revolutionised by upgrading fishing harbours, setting up cold warehouses and processing houses for fisheries, it promised.

For the women, the party in its manifesto promised to launch the Subhadra Yojana under which every woman will receive a cash voucher of 50,000 that can be redeemed over two years. The party promised 2 lakh assurance certificate to each below poverty line (BPL) girl student under Mo Medhabi Jhia Yojana that can be redeemed at the age of 21 years. It also promised one day menstrual leave for women government employees.

The manifesto said the party will try to create 25 lakh Lakhpati Didis in Odisha by 2027 and create industrial clusters for every 500 self-help groups (SHGs).

For the tribal students, the manifesto promised to provide 5,000 annually to them under Madho Singh Haath-Kharcha scheme to encourage them to attend schools and reduce dropout rates.

To arrest the rising malnutrition among kids, the BJP in its manifesto said it will start a breakfast scheme called Apoorti in addition to the existing mid-day meal scheme.

The party also promised to launch the Mukhyamantri Sahayata Jojana to provide pension of 3,000 per month for all elderly, divyang, widows, and destitute and pension of 3,500 for elderly above 80 years and divyang with 80% disability.

In the health sector, the party promised to implement the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which the Naveen Patnaik government has been resisting and added that it would launch the Mission Swasthya Odisha, under which 36,000 new beds in the community health centres (CHCs) and public health centres (PHCs) would be added. Besides, every CHC would be modernised by 2027 with ICUs, dialysis units and operation theatres while 100 CHCs would be upgraded into Sub-Divisional Hospitals.

Slamming the state government over Odishas unemployment rate being as high as 22.8% in 2019, making it higher than the national average, the manifesto promised to fill up all the 1.5 lakh vacant government posts of which 65,000 would be done in next two years.

Promising complete implementation of PM Awas Yojana, the manifesto said 10 lakh houses will be built in rural Odisha and another 5 lakh in urban areas.
Patna: Bihars gangster-turned-politician and five-time MLA from Mokama, Anant Singh, popularly known as Chhote Sarkar, was released from Beur central jail in Patna on a 15-day parole on Sunday, officials said. Former MLA Anant Singh is convicted and faces 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in two separate Arms Act cases (Twitter/@MLA_AnantSingh)

The police stepped up security measures after a huge crowd of Singhs supporters gathered outside the Beur jail upon getting information about his release, to avoid any untoward incidents. More than 100 SUVs were seen in Anants cavalcade between Patna and Mokama.

Mokama assembly constituency falls under Munger lok sabha and its election is scheduled on May 13.

Singh is convicted and faces 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in two separate Arms Act cases.

Singh had on August 23, 2019, appeared before the Saket court metropolitan magistrate Harun Pratap in Delhi in a dramatic turn of events to surrender after Patna police lodged a case against him under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019.

Police on specific inputs had raided Singhs native village Ladma under the Barh police station of rural Patna on August 16, 2019, and seized one AK-47 assault rifle, two hand grenades, and live cartridges from there.

Police said that the AK 47 rifle was covered in carbon to avoid detection by the metal detectors.

According to Beur jail superintendent Jitendra Kumar, Singh was released on parole granted by the state home department for the resolution of his ancestral land. However, political circles are agog with rumours linking his release ahead of the Munger parliament election to help the Janata Dal (United) candidate Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh.

The timing will certainly raise eyebrows as the land resolution could have been done after a month. But this is the way Nitish Kumar (Bihar chief minister) functions and nothing will change the course of the election this time due to the peoples growing support for Tejashwi Prasad Yadav [Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly], who has been single-handedly taking on the might of the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party], said RJD leader Shakti Singh Yadav.

It may be noted that RJD has fielded Anita Devi, wife of dreaded gangster Ashok Mahto from Munger Lok Sabha. Anants wife Nilam Devi had won the Mokama Assembly seat on an RJD ticket, however, she extended support to Nitish Kumar, along with another don-turned-politician Anand Mohans son Chetan Anand of the Congress during the floor test. Mohans wife is also a candidate from Shehohar on the JD-U ticket.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha, Devi fought against Lalan Singh from Munger on a Congress ticket but lost.

Former MLA Anant has developed a Robin Hood image in his constituency and is known for helping patients from his vicinity get admitted to hospitals in Patna and Delhi.

Anant has a long-standing criminal record and is facing 38 criminal charges including seven murders, eleven attempt-to-murder, and four cases of kidnapping.

Anant is said to be one of the most controversial politicians in the state for the last four decades. He won five times from the Mokama constituency three times on a JD(U) ticket, while fourth time as an independent candidate, and the fifth time on an RJD ticket in 2020.

Past records-

The MP-MLA court of Patna on July 21, 2022, awarded 10 years imprisonment to former Anant in the recovery of a bullet-proof jacket and six magazines from his official flat in 2015.

An AK 47, 26 live bullets, magazines and explosives  these are a few things that are generally recovered by security forces or from terrorists or Maoists. The arms and ammunition were recovered from a public servants house, which is very surprising, said an official of the state home department.

The police had raided his residence in connection with a kidnapping and murder case under Barh police station limits. In the incident, four youths were allegedly kidnapped on June 17, 2015, and the next day, the body of one of them, was recovered from the ancestral village of Anant.

On July 18, 2023, Beur jail administration registered a first information report (FIR) against 31 people, including Anant, in connection with an attempt to carry out a jailbreak, attack prison staff, snatch keys of gates and ensure the escape of prisoners.

In the FIR, the administration alleged that the former MLA tried to put pressure on jail staff and for the escape of prisoners, leading to attacks on prison staff by his supporters. They also damaged CCTV cameras installed inside the jail to avoid detection. Altogether 11 prison staff were injured in the incident.
CBSE Board Exam Result 2024: On Saturday, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) informed that it has shared DigiLocker access codes with schools, and the Class 10, 12 results will be announced shortly. CBSE Result 2024 live updates CBSE Board Exam Result 2024: Board issues DigiLocker access codes, Class 10, 12 results shortly

DigiLocker is a platform that the central board uses to provide students with digital copies of board marks sheets and certificates.

The results of Board Exam-2024 will be declared shortly. The student wise Access Code file is being made available to Schools in their DigiLocker accounts from where schools can download and disseminate Access Code to individual students, a notification published on cbse.gov.in reads.

Over the past years, the CBSE has been opening DigiLocker accounts of board exam candidates to share digital academic documents through CBSE's digital academic repository, Parinam Manjusha, immediately after the declaration of result.

The six-digit access codes are required to activate the accounts. Students should contact their schools to get their codes.

On the result day, students can check their Class 10 and 12 final exam marks on results.cbse.nic.in, cbseresults.nic.in and digilocker.gov.in. The board exam roll number, school number and admit card ID will be required to check marks online.

This year around 39 lakh candidates were eligible to appear in the CBSE Class 10 and 12 board examinations.

The Class 10 final exam took place between February 15 and March 13 while the Class 12 board exam was held from February 15 to April 2.

Check the CBSE notice about DigiLocker access code here.

The marks sheets and certificates downloaded from DigiLocker have the same validity as the hard copies and can be used for all future purposes, including admission to higher classes. For further details, students are advised to keep visiting the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) website at cbse.gov.in or cbse.nic.in.
HPBOSE HP Board 10th Result 2024 Date: Class 10 final examination results in Himachal Prasesh will be declared on Tuesday, May 7, an official of the state's school education board has confirmed. A section of media recently reported that the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) Class 10th results will be out at 10 am on May 5, but the board official has told it will be declared on May 7. HP 10th Result 2024 Live Updates HPBOSE HP Board 10th Result 2024 Date: Himachal Pradesh Class 10 result official update here(HT file)

When announced, students can check the HP board 10th results on hpbose.org, under the results page.

How to check HPBOSE HP Board 10th Result 2024

Go to the board's official website, hpbose.org. Open the results page. Go to Class 10 final examination results. Enter the login details. Submit and check your result.

The HPBOSE Class 10 and 12 final exams were held from March 2 to 21, 2024. The papers were held from 8:45 am to 12 pm, except for Class 12 Painting, Graphic, Sculpture and Applied Arts subjects, which were held from 8:45 am to 10 am.

The result of the Class 12 final examination was announced last month. This year, 85,777 candidates appeared in the Class 12 exam, of whom 63,092 or 73.76 per cent cleared it.

Kamakshi Sharma of Bharti Vidyapeeth Public Sr Secondary School Baijnath and Chhaya Chauhan of Snower Valley Public School Balichowki were the joint overall toppers in the examination. The two Science stream students scored 494 out of 500 or 98.80 per cent marks.

In Commerce, Shavya of Government Senior Secondary School Jassur topped the exam with 490/500 or 98 per cent marks. Arshita, a student of DAV Senior Secondary School, Una topped the Arts stream with 490/500 or 98 per cent marks.

For further information on the HP board Class 10 result 2024, students are advised to visit the board's website regularly.
ICSE, ISC Results 2024: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has declared the results of its Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE or Class 10) and Indian School Certificate (ISC or Class 12) final examinations on Monday, May 6, at 11 am. ICSE, ISC results 2024 live updates. ICSE, ISC Results 2024: CISCE Class 10th, 12th results today, websites to check (Santosh Kumar )

Students can check the ICSE and ISC year 2024 exam results on the council's websites, cisce.org and results.cisce.org by providing the following information:

Unique ID

Index Number

CAPTCHA (as shown on the screen).

In addition to the board websites, the results of ICSE and ISC will be available on the DigiLocker app and website, the council said.

How to check ICSE, ISC results 2024

Go to the council's website, cisce.org or results.cisce.org. Open the ICSE or ISC result link, as required. Enter your unique ID, index number and the security code displayed on the screen. Log in and check your board exam result.

This years CISCE final exams were surrounded by controversies, with the council postponing two papers. The ISC Chemistry paper, originally scheduled for February 26, was postponed to March 21 due to unavoidable circumstances. Later, the council postponed the Class 12 Psychology examination after one exam centre reported the question paper packet was lost. The exam was scheduled for March 27 but was larter held on April 4.

The CISCE will allow students to apply for re-checking and re-evaluation of ICSE and ISC results. For re-checking, students must pay a fee of 1,000 per paper and for re-evaluation, they need to pay 1,500 per paper. The option will be activated on the council's website after the declaration of result.

The ICSE and ISC compartment examinations have been discontinued. Now, students have the option to appear in the improvement examination in a maximum of two subjects.

For further details, visit the concil's website.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) said that the incorrect distribution of question papers at an examination center in Rajasthan led to some candidates leaving the center with the papers during the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam conducted on Sunday while emphasizing that the agency later conducted the exam of 120 affected students at the center. NEET UG 2024: The NTA informed that incorrect question papers were distributed at an exam center in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur area. The agency later conducted the exam of 120 affected students at the center. (HT file image)

The agency conducted the countrys biggest medical entrance exam NEET 2024 across the country on Sunday. This year, a record 23 lakh candidates registered for NEET UG, of which over 10 lakh were male students, over 13 lakh were girls, and 24 students registered under the third gender category.

Also read: CISCE Results 2024: ICSE, ISC scores releasing tomorrow at 11AM, check details and steps to download results

In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said that incorrect question papers were distributed at an examination center in Rajasthans Sawai Madhopur area.

During the NEEt-UG examination, it came to attention that at one exam center, Girls Higher Secondary Model School, Mantown, Sawai Madhopur, there was an incident of incorrect distribution of question papers by the Centre Superintendent. Despite efforts by invigilators to prevent it, some candidates left the exam center with question papers, Sadhna Parashar, Senior Director, NTA said in a statement.

To uphold the principles of fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates, the NTA has taken proactive measures. The examination of approximately 120 affected candidates at the center is being conducted today, ensuring that their academic aspirations are not hindered by this incident, she said.

The agency called it an isolated incident and emphasized that it had not compromised the integrity of the examination process at other centers.

To uphold the principles of fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates, the NTA has taken proactive measures. The NTA reaffirms its commitment to conducting examinations with transparency, integrity, and fairness, it said.

Also read: ICSE, ISC Results 2024 Date, Time: CISCE Class 10th, 12th results tomorrow at 11 am

We extend our best wishes to all NEET (UG) 2024 candidates and assure them of our continued support throughout the examination process, the NTA said.

In 2023, a total of 20,87,449 candidates registered for NEET UG 2023, and the exam was held on May 7, out of which NTA recorded 97.7 percent attendance.

Here is the NTA statement:
The Agriculture University of Jodhpur has reopened the registration for the Rajasthan Joint Entrance Test (JET) 2024. Aspiring candidates who are interested in submitting their applications can do so on the official website at jetauj2024.com. The registration window will close on May 6, 2024. Rajasthan JET 2024: Registrations re-opened on jetauj2024.com. Window closes on May 6.

An application fee is to be paid by candidates when submitting their online application forms. Candidates must note they will not be able to make any modifications once the fee is paid.

Also read: JEE Advanced 2024 registration ends soon, link to apply on jeeadv.ac.in

Candidates need to pay an application fee of 1,600. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Physically Challenged candidates, the fee is 1,300.

Steps to submit applications for Rajasthan JET 2024

Go to the official website at jetauj2024.com.

Click on the Registration link on the homepage.

Enter the credentials to register and log in.

Fill out the online application form and submit it.

Pay the application fee.

Download and print a hard copy for further need.

Direct link to apply for Rajasthan JET 2024

The Rajasthan JET 2024 examination will be conducted on June 2, 2024, in both English and Hindi. The examination will be conducted from 11 AM to 1:10 PM in selected cities of Rajasthan.

The reporting time for candidates at the examinations center is 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

Candidates will not be allowed to appear at the examination centre on any other date other than the one mentioned in the admit card.
Students protesting the war in Gaza abandoned their camp at the University of Southern California early Sunday after being surrounded by police and threatened with arrest, while Northeastern University's commencement began peacefully at Boston's Fenway Park. Anti-war protesters leave USC after police arrive, while Northeastern ceremony proceeds calmly

Developments in both places were being watched closely following scores of arrests last month  94 people at USC in Los Angeles and about 100 at Northeastern in Boston.

Dozens of Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived about 4 a.m. at USC to assist campus safety officers. The university had warned of arrests on social media and in person. Video showed some protesters packing up and leaving, while officers formed lines to push others away from the camp as it emptied out. The university said there were no reports of any arrests.

USC President Carol Folt said it was time to draw a line because the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction with areas of campus blocked and people being harassed.

The operation was peaceful," Folt wrote in an update. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing.

USC earlier canceled its main graduation ceremony while allowing other commencement activities to continue.

At the Northeastern commencement Sunday, some students waved Palestinian flags but were outnumbered by those waving the flags of India and the U.S., among others. Graduate students went first, with the larger undergraduate commencement to follow.

The Associated Press has tallied about 2,500 people arrested at about 50 campuses since April 18, based on its reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement.

Arrests continued apace over the weekend. At the University of Virginia, there were 25 arrests Saturday for trespassing after police clashed with protesters who refused to remove tents. At the Art Institute of Chicago campus, police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment hours after it was set up Saturday and arrested 68 people, saying they would be charged with criminal trespass. ARRESTS IN VIRGINIA

In Charlottesville, Virginia, student demonstrators began their protest on a lawn outside the school chapel Tuesday. Video on Saturday showed police in riot gear and holding shields lined up on campus, while protesters chanted Free Palestine.

As police moved in, students were pushed to the ground, pulled by their arms and sprayed with a chemical irritant, Laura Goldblatt, an assistant professor who has been helping the demonstrators, told The Washington Post. The university said protesters were told that tents were banned under school policy and were asked to remove them.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares told Fox News on Sunday the police response was justified because students had been warned repeatedly to leave, were violating the school's conduct code, and that outsiders who were not students provided protesters with supplies like wooden barriers.

"Weve seen folks that are not students show up in riot gear with bull horns to direct the protesters on how to flank our officers," Miyares said.

He said some had put bear spray into water bottles and thrown them at officers.

It was the latest clash in weeks of protests and tension at U.S. colleges and universities.

Tent encampments of protesters urging universities to stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support the war in Gaza have spread in a student movement unlike any other this century. Some schools reached agreements with protesters to end the demonstrations and reduce the possibility of disrupting final exams and commencements. DEMONSTRATIONS AMID COMMENCEMENT

The University of Michigan was among the schools bracing for protests during commencement this weekend, as were Indiana University, Ohio State University and Northeastern. More ceremonies are planned in the coming weeks.

In Ann Arbor, there was a protest at the beginning of the event at Michigan Stadium. About 75 people, many wearing traditional Arabic kaffiyehs along with their graduation caps, marched up the main aisle toward the stage.

They chanted Regents, regents, you cant hide! You are funding genocide! while holding signs, including one that read: No universities left in Gaza.

Overhead, planes pulled banners with competing messages. Divest from Israel now! Free Palestine! and We stand with Israel. Jewish lives matter.

Officials said no one was arrested, and the protest didnt seriously interrupt the nearly two-hour event, attended by tens of thousands of people, some of them waving Israeli flags. OTHER PROTESTS CONTINUE

At Indiana University, protesters urged supporters to wear their kaffiyehs and walk out during remarks by school President Pamela Whitten on Saturday evening. The Bloomington campus designated a protest zone outside Memorial Stadium, where the ceremony was held.

At Princeton University in New Jersey, 18 students began a hunger strike to try to push the university to divest from companies tied to Israel. Students at other colleges, including Brown and Yale, launched similar hunger strikes this year before the more recent wave of demonstrations.

The protests stem from the conflict that started Oct. 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking roughly 250 hostages. Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. Israeli strikes have devastated the enclave and displaced most of its inhabitants.

Perry reported form Meredith, New Hampshire, and Marcelo from New York. Associated Press reporters Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia, Ed White in Detroit, and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Raipur, The high-decibel campaign for seven Chhattisgarh Lok Sabha seats that will go to polls on May 7 ended on Sunday, with the ruling BJP and the Congress crossing swords over corruption, change in Constitution, snatching of quotas and Naxalism. The campaign for the seven constituencies ended at 6 pm, and now parties can undertake door-to-door drives before polling on Tuesday, an official said. The BJP's campaign was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the party's president JP Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also addressed rallies. For the Congress, party president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the campaign. PM Modi addressed two rallies as part of the campaign for the third phase of polling, and lambasted the Congress for planning to snatch quotas of Dalits, tribals and OBCs for allotment to Muslims. He attacked the Congress' manifesto over inheritance tax, asked voters to keep in mind that the party declined the invite to the idol consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and also accused it of being soft on Naxalism in the state. Other BJP leaders exhorted voters to give Modi a third term on the basis of development works carried out and welfare schemes introduced since 2014. Congress leaders Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who addressed one rally each, accused the BJP of being "pro rich" and claimed the ruling party would change the Constitution and end quotas after retaining power. They also targeted the ruling party over electoral bonds. In their speeches, Congress leaders spoke of caste census, the need for greater participation of Dalits, tribals and backward classes in various sectors of the country, farm loan waiver and financial aid of 1 lakh annually to poor women under the Mahalakshmi yojana. Elections to 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state were scheduled in three phases. Naxal affected Bastar voted on April 19, Rajanandgaon, Kanker and Mahasamund on April 26 and the remaining seven, namely Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa , Korba, Surguja and Raigarh , will vote on May 7. There are 168 candidates in the seven seats on which voting will be held on May 7. There are 1,39,01,285 voters, comprising 69,33,121 men, 69,67,544 women and 620 members of the third gender, as per EC data. The number of voters in the 18-19 age group stands at 3,98,416, the poll official said. "As many as 15,701 polling booths have been set up in the seven constituencies. The time of polling in all seven seats is from 7 am to 6 pm. Raipur leads with 38 contestants, followed by 37 in Bilaspur, 27 in Korba, 25 in Durg, 18 in Janjgir-Champa, 13 in Raigarh, and 10 in Surguja," he said. A total of 202 companies of security personnel have been deployed for the third phase, the official added. The high-profile Raipur seat will see a contest between BJP's influential state minister Brijmohan Agrawal and former Congress MLA Vikas Upadhyay. In Korba, the BJP has fielded its influential woman leader and former MP Saroj Pandey against Congress' sitting MP Jyotsana Mahant, wife of leader of opposition in the Assembly Charandas Mahant. In Durg, the Congress chose a fresh face, Rajendra Sahu, against sitting BJP MP Vijay Baghel. In Bilaspur, Congress has fielded incumbent MLA Devendra Yadav against BJP's Tokhan Sahu, a former MLA. In the lone SC reserved seat Janjgir-Champa, former state minister Shivkumar Dahariya is Congress' nominee. He is up against BJP's woman leader Kamlesh Jangde. Surguja seat will see a contest between BJP's Chintamani Maharaj, who defected from the Congress before the 2023 assembly polls, and Congress' Shashi Singh. The tribal-dominated Raigarh seat will see a contest between BJP's Radheshyam Rathiya and Congress' Dr Menka Devi Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Sarangarh. In the three Lok Sabha polls in 2004, 2009 and 2014, the BJP won 10 out of 11 seats. In 2019, the BJP emerged victorious on nine seats and the Congress on two.

HT Image
Ayan with Raha

A Bollywood portal shared a video on Instagram in which Ayan, wearing a blue t-shirt and white shorts, is seen carrying Raha in his arms. She's dressed in a white shirt and pants, with green prints on it. As soon as Ayan realises they're being captured on camera, he schools the paparazzo and requests them not to shoot them. When the paparazzo doesn't oblige, Ayan walks away, with Raha looking hassled.

Internet reacts

The internet had several things to say about Raha's latest appearance. An Instagram user commented, Raha hamesha chidchida kyun rehti hain (why is Raha always hassled) (teary-eyed laughter emoji). Another wrote, She went from Copy of Alia to Copy of Ranbir real quick. Her Eyes is just like Raj sahab, read another comment, comparing her eyes to that of her great-grandfather and legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor.

Some also supported Ayan and said that the paparazzi should leave celebrity kids alone. Lol he was clearly disappointed and camerman continued shooting his disappointment too (teary-eyed laughter emoji), read a comment. Guys give them their space, what great to see Alias daughter? wrote another. "When they come into public spaces, be prepared for this," commented a third user.

Raha was born to Alia and Ranbir in November 2022. The two got married in April earlier that year. While the couple kept Raha's face away from the paparazzi for over a year, they eventually revealed it to the cameras on last Christmas. Since then, the internet has been obsessed with Raha, and has been comparing her looks to those of her mother, father, late grandfather Rishi Kapoor, and his father Raj Kapoor.

On the work front, Ayan is currently filming War 2. He'll also direct Ranbir and Alia in Brahmastra: Part 2 - Dev.
Priyanka Chopra has reacted a day after UNICEF India announced Kareena Kapoor as its new national ambassador. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, Priyanka welcomed Kareena Kapoor to the UNICEF family. Priyanka served as a national ambassador to UNICEF India for 10 years before joining the global Goodwill Ambassador team in December 2016. (Also Read | Kareena Kapoor appointed UNICEF India National Ambassador, speaks on rights of children) Priyanka Chopra praised Kareena Kapoor on Instagram.

Kareena's post after becoming national ambassador

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Kareena posted a bunch of pictures from the UNICEF India event. She penned a long note. The actor wrote, "04-05-24. An emotional day for me I am honored to be appointed as UNICEF India National Ambassador. Working with @unicefindia over the past 10 years has been truly enriching and insightful. I am proud of the work that we have done and am reiterating my commitment to being a voice for promoting and protecting child rights and an equal future for all children."

"A special thank you to the entire team who have been tirelessly working for the rights of women and children across the country. I am inspired every day and am looking forward to our continued partnership. I am very happy to welcome Gauranshi, Kartik, Vinisha and Nahid to the UNICEF India family as our newest Youth Advocates. I would also like to congratulate UNICEF India and celebrate 75 years of the incredible impact they have had on the lives of children in India. I pledge to continue to be a voice #ForEveryChild," she added.

Priyanka reacts to Kareena's milestone

On Sunday, Priyanka shared Kareena's post on her Instagram Stories. She wrote, "Welcome to the family @kareenakapoorkhan very well deserved (raised hands emoji) @unicef @unicefindia." Re-posting it on her Instagram, Kareena wrote, "Thank you PCJ (red heart emoji). See you soon."

Priyanka shared Kareena's post on her Instagram Stories.

About Kareena's UNICEF India journey

Kareena, who has been associated with UNICEF India since 2014, will support the not-for-profit organisation in furthering every childs right to early childhood development, health, education and gender equality, a press release said. She had earlier served as a Celebrity Advocate for UNICEF India.

Kareena's films

Kareena was last seen in Crew along with Kriti Sanon and Tabu. Helmed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Crew also stars Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee, Rajesh Sharma and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. She will next be seen in Hansal Mehta's The Buckingham Murders and Rohit Shetty's Singham Again.

Priyanka's projects

Fans will see Priyanka in Heads of State, an upcoming action comedy. It also features Idris Elba, John Cena, and Jack Quaid in key roles under the direction of Ilya Naishuller. She will also be seen in The Bluff, directed by Frank E Flowers.
Shah Rukh Khan is often seen at the Indian Premiere League matches. Rumours started doing the rounds that the actor will make it to his team Kolkata Knight Riders' match in Lucknow today. Consequently, Lucknow police issued a warning on social media against spreading fake news about the Dunki actor's arrival in the Uttar Pradesh capital. (Also read: Shah Rukh Khan reveals he will shoot for his next film soon: I needed some rest after 3 films) Lucknow police has issued warning against Shah Rukh Khan's arrival in Lucknow.(AFP)

Lucknow police cautions against fake news

For the unversed, today Shah Rukh's team Kolkata Knight Riders is all set to clash with Lucknow Super Giants. The cricket match will take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.

Lucknow police took to their official handle and tweeted, It is being reported in some social media/media that Shahrukh Khan is coming to support KKR team in today's IPL match. No such information has been received in this regard yet. Unnecessary rumours should not be spread otherwise strict action will be taken against those who spread rumours.

Shah Rukh was seen with his younger son Abram at the KKR IPL matches recently. However, Lucknow police officials put an end to any rumours regarding the actor attending Sunday's IPL match. KKR Vs Lucknow Super Giants match will air at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 5.

About Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders is a professional franchise cricket team representing Kolkata. It is co-owned by Shah Rukh, Juhi Chawla and her spouse Jay Mehta. KKR's home ground is Kolkata's Eden Gardens stadium. Shreyas Santosh Iyer is currently the captain of KKR. Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re (we will perform, fight, and win!) is the official theme of the team, and purple and gold are the official colours.

Shah Rukh was last seen in Rajkummar Hirani's Dunki, co-starring Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Boman Irani in crucial roles. The movie garnered 227 crore net in India, reported by Sacnilk.

Shah Rukh will next be seen in King.
Johnny Depp is choosing to move forward with his life. The actor's film Jeanne du Barry recently released in US theatres, where he plays King Louis XV. As per a source quoted in People, the actor is focused in moving forward and prioritising his well being in London, which he considers to be home. (Also read: Johnny Depp says audiences are sick of big budget movies: Theyre disposable and they realise it') Johnny Depp at the Cannes Film Festival. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)(AFP)

What the source added

As per the new report, the source was quoted as saying, "He [Johnny Depp] is prioritizing his health and wellbeing much more these days. People were loving his look for the Jeanne du Barry UK premiere. He got a new haircut, he looked polished and clean-cut. Hes lost weight. Hes feeling and looking healthier. Hes taking advantage of being in this better headspace. Theres a lot of good energy, and he surrounds himself with a good group of people."

'Hes focused on moving forward'

The source also added how the actor has no desire to dwell on the recent chapter of his life, which involved the legal battle between ex-wife Amber Heard and him. Depp won the case and his ex-wife Heard was ordered to pay him $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.

"Hes focused on moving forward. Hes keeping busy. Theres a lot of good distractions, so theres not that much time to be reminiscing on that darker period. Theres been a release of the old and embarking on this new chapter. Hes feeling better about where he is in life. Theres no animosity toward anybody," the source added.

Jeanne du Barry first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year, where it served as the opening night film. After the premiere, the actor received a 7-minute standing ovation from the audience. The film is directed by French director Maiwenn.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seem to have been unsuccessful in their recent ventures, leaving the A-listers of Hollywood unimpressed. As per an insider quoted in the publication In Touch, Meghan has become a total joke and is overplaying her hand. (Also read: Meghan Markle is done with the UK and the royal drama, claims royal expert) Meghan Markle recently launched a new lifestyle brand seemingly named after the couple's oceanside California home. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP)(AFP)

What the source from palace added

As per the insider, who is a high-level palace courtier, quoted in the publication, they said: Meghan gets greedy. She wants everything all at once, and it's backfiring on her again. She's become a total joke and is overplaying her hand. Almost everything they've tried has ended in disaster We hear Harry's laid down the law. He's mortified by the blowback over their sketchy projects and is insisting he won't tolerate another show business disaster. If the new projects go belly-up again, they are going to have to find new ways to pay their bills, including crawling back to the royal family."

'Hard work isn't really Meghan's thing'

Meanwhile, a second source from Showbiz added, Hollywood is glam and glitz on the outside, but the real stars have worked hard for their success - and you get the impression hard work isn't really Meghan's thing Now, after all her failures, those A-listers - and the royals - are laughing at her!

Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard last month. A few months ago, Meghan had announced a new podcast deal with Lemonada. Last year, the couple's partnership with Spotify ended after they reportedly failed to meet the expectations. Harry and Meghan had reportedly signed a $100 million deal with Netflix in 2020, with three of their projects released so far.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry will visit the UK for Invictus Games, but Meghan Markle will join him later in Nigeria for some official talks. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties in 2020 which began a rift between the couple and the royal family. The publication of his tell-all memoir Spare strained their relationship with the Royal Family further.
How much Bhansali is too much Bhansali? One has to sit through the 8 episodes of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar to arrive at that answer. In Bhansali's eyes, the world of courtesans is filled with beauty and overwhelming grace. When the transition arrives, in the pursuit of independence, it does feel poorly realized. In that regard, there's 2015's Rajkahini, the Bengali film directed by Srijit Mukerji, which charts a similar trajectory- albeit with a widely contrasting aesthetic. The film was remade in Hindi with Vidya Balan in the lead, Begum Jaan, but it is the original film which continues to hold a greater impact. (Also read: Heeramandi review: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's sprawling, sparkling debut show is blissfully free of his cinematic trappings) Rituparna Sengupta in a still from Rajkahini.

Fight for freedom

Rajkahini tells the story of a group of women who live in a brothel run by Begum Jaan (Rituparna Sengupta), whose lives turn upside down when they are informed about the Radcliffe Line, which will pass right through the middle of their house. This line would demarcate the border between India and East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). Begum Jaan resists, insisting that the same brothel is her nation where she doesn't discriminate between religions. Who sits in Delhi and makes these orders, that will not affect how she and her brothel runs their daily bread.

Truth v/s fantasy

This daring proves to be fatal, but as Rajkahini suggests, this is a film not about consequences but the aspect of daring itself. Rajkahini is allegorical of a feminist fantasy, where the scathing reminders of the position of women in a deeply patriarchal, male-dominated society become suffocating and prominent. Rajkahini is gritty and honest about the horrors of this profession, where these women have little to no agency. In one difficult scene, Begum Jaan requests the Nawab (Rajatava Dutta) not to call in the new girl Fatima (Ridhima Ghosh) because she is not ready yet. Yet the Nawab brushes her off and tells her that any new girl in the brothel must share the bed with him first. He takes care of the brothel and makes sure that these women here stay unperturbed. It gives way to a chilling scene where Begum Jaan sings in the room, while Nawab and Fatima have sex.

Mallikajaan and Begum Jaan

While watching Heeramandi, I was constantly reminded of the contrast that Rajkahini presents, even when it seems that both share a certain kindred spirit. In the male gaze, yes. In the collision of under-written characters? Also yes. Chief among them is Mallikajaan in Heeramandi, who can be manipulative, ruthless, and conniving- but she knows her world well. These qualities recur in Begum Jaan, whose sharp and observant gaze pierces through the imminent crisis ahead. Yet, Begum Jaan leads the action with a sure-footedness that arrives in the sharp performance given by Sengupta and the rest of the cast. Things get shaky in that regard in the later half of Heeramandi.

Rajkahini is also far more frank about the profession of these women, where there is a lot of unpleasant sex involved with the customers day after day. Yet, these boisterous gang of women in the brothel also share a profound sense of love and sisterhood for one another. They play games during their brief moments of leisure and sit together for dinner. When things turn worse, they learn to hold a gun and take aim. Collectively, they share the language of revolt. Rajkahini is often crowded with characters in a single scene, jostling for space and time. There is friction and unease with which the story progresses towards a rousing end. It hurts the rhythm, but is is also this dizzying blend of chaos and confrontations, unresolved ties, and frantic images that gives Rajkahini a much-needed momentum.

Rajkahini is not obsessed with resolutions and harmony; it presents beauty alongside violence, frustrating cliches alongside a ragged sense of empathy. Where will these women go? Who remembers their stories? If Bhansali is obsessed with beauty, Mukerji is fascinated with the idea of mortality. Rajkahini attends a bit longer to the wounds that form a black layer on the ground, one that will be washed away and buried deep under the pillars of nationhood. Yet, these stories exist. For that alone, Rajkahini makes for an important, stirring watch.

This is Weekend Ticket, where Santanu Das talks about similar films and shows based on the most recent releases.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has praised a Pakistani doctor who criticised Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vivek said Bollywood has the "tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels". He also questioned the freedom of creativity. (Also Read | Heeramandi: Netizens point out these historical inaccuracies in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series) Vivek Agnihotri spoke about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi.

Vivek lauds person who criticised Heeramandi

Sharing Hamd Nawaz's tweets, Vivek wrote, "A brilliant critique by @_SophieSchol. I havent seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. Its a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour or beauty. These are monuments of human injustice, pain and suffering. Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegals Mandi."

Vivek questions freedom of creativity

"Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamorize human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance? Is it okay to portray slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they are attending an Ambani wedding? Pl discuss," he added.

Internet reacts to Vivek's tweet

Reacting to the post, a person said, "Anything in the extreme becomes unpalatable. He is unable to strike a balance between creative freedom and reality." "Bollywood doesn't just have a habit. They are obsessed with romanticising brothels, courtesans, etc., particularly some of the later movies. But i do think this is a SLB problem, his movies thrive on showing opulence. Umrao Jaan, Bazaar were more balanced," read a tweet.

"I saw parts with fast forwards, hoping to see some redeeming parts from a brilliant filmmaker, beyond huge sets, grand photography & music, but couldn't find anything. The turning of tawaifs en masse to patriotic revolutionaries verged on comical," tweeted a person.

What Pakistani doctor said about Heeramandi

Recently, Hamd had shared a string of tweets talking about the inaccuracies she came across after watching Heeramandi. One of her tweets read, "Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but heermandi in it. I mean either you dont set your story in 1940s Lahore, or if you do- you dont set it in Agras landscape, Delhis Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self cant really let it go."

She also wrote, "To begin with, where exactly is it set? Lake Como? Amalfi Coast? The most evident landmark still visible from every building in todays remnants of Heera Mandi is the Shahi Qilla-Grand Mosques doom and minarets skyline. If you call it Lahore, show Lahore."

Hamd also talked about the portrayal of the social and financial strata, language, songs and outfits shown in the web series.

About Heeramandi

Heeramandi marked the OTT debut of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi. It stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman. Heeramandi released on May 1 on Netflix India.
Actor-choreographer Raghav Juyal recently shared a video on social media standing at a waterfall in Dehradun, requesting people to not pollute the area. Soon the video was posted by a paparazzi account, where actor Abhinav Shukla, a nature enthusiast himself, left a comment and urged people to not popularise such rare places for the sake of their fancy reel. Abhinav Shukla reacts to Raghav Juyal's reel

It was a viral video post I commented on. I dont know Raghav personally at all. I just know that he does a lot of guided treks, Shukla tells us, when asked about what promoted his reaction.

Clarifying that he isnt targeting any one person or Raghav in particular, Shukla expresses displeasure with the influencer community at large, who end up over promoting rare places they visit, on social media.

Here is the video where it all started:

My objection is to all the influencers who have been to natural places, which were earlier rarely visited, and made them famous enough that the commercial adventure operators have started bringing hundreds of people. Thereby, ruining the sanctity of the forest and natural habitat of animals, especially the animals which avoid human confrontation, he explains.

In the last two decades, Shukla himself has done some 200 treks and 60-80 camp-outs in the wilderness, across India. But out of all those outdoors I have done, I have scrupulously posted videos, especially if they were of locations that are pristine, and home to rare, sometimes endangered, animal species living in their original habitat, he says, adding, I have maintained secrecy. I know if I post about those or get the commercial adventure organisers there, then people will come there in large numbers, and it will inevitably get polluted endangering the ecosystem and habitat of animals. There is no rocket science in understanding this simple fact.

Also Read: Abhinav Shukla conquers UT Kangri: It was a difficult and relentless climb

The 41-year-old, however, mentions that he does not have any problem with common people going to such beautiful hidden gems. Everyone has an equal right to enjoy natures bounty. But, if I am responsible for making the place famous by my reels, then I dont get to make another reel to cry about pollution. That, I feel, is hypocrisy! he notes, and goes on to the pretentious image people portray on social media.

It is easy to spot a person who actually loves nature and a person who is pretending to be for the sake of image building. A few of my Bollywood fellows are into it for only image building. Even if one is doing it to portray his image as a nature lover, I have no issue, but one cant be hypocritical. You cant say I am living with nature and be unaware that you lit fire next to a live tree when it was not a survival situation but a photo op which required it, or making an emphatic reel on finding a plastic bottle in a waterfall made famous by social media, Shukla elucidates, highlighting how far certain people go for just a photo op for social media.

And therefore, as a self-professed nature lover, Shukla is absolutely against promoting mass tourism to sensitive places. Treat the forests like your home. As famous personalities, it is our job not to promote mass tourism to ecologically sensitive places which, eventually encourages profit oriented tour operators to bring people in numbers, eventually leading to habitat destruction. People who are actually working on ground, planting trees, taking steps to preserve the sanctity of forests and nature, dont make many videos. They are the unsung heroes we should look up to, he concludes on a thoughtful note.


The Supreme Court The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a batch of petitions, including the West Bengal governments plea, filed 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 will continue to hear the matter on May 6.



In the previous hearing, the Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, refused to pass any interim direction staying the Calcutta High Court's order passed on April 22.



The top court directed that no precipitative action will be taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the state government officials who were involved in approving the creation of super-numeric posts till the next date of listing.



It asked the appellants to demonstrate if there was any secondary material available to segregate valid appointments of all the 25,753 persons empanelled in 2016 for various categories of jobs at secondary and higher secondary schools in the state.



In an order passed in the third week of April, the Calcutta High Court had nullified the appointment of the candidates selected from the expired panels and asked them to return the entire salary drawn, 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, a division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry on with its investigation into the matter.



Taking cognisance of the state cabinets 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.




Agartala: The Tripura police on Sunday said they arrested eight Bangladeshi nationals while also detaining three minors from two separate places in the northeastern states Dhalai district for allegedly entering the Indian side of the border without legal documents. (Representative Photo)

The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Mamun Sardhar (29), Ruma Begam (25), Mohammad Rabin Sardhar, Mohammad Chan Miah Akhon (35), Mohammad Maharaj Sheikh (25), Rajib Houladar (22), Afsana Akhter (22), and one Mohammad Ferdouz Sheikh (30)

The three minors who have been detained were identified as Mohammad Faisal Akon (13), Lamiya Akhter (05) and Mohammad Raman Islam (3).

They were detained on Saturday from Gandacherra and Ambassa, two separate places in the Dhalai district and were forwarded to the court on Sunday. Our investigation is on to trace their motive of intrusion, said a senior police officer from Police Headquarters in Agartala.

During their preliminary investigation, police found the detainees only recently entered Tripura through Raishyabari in the Dhalai district, along the Indo-Bangladesh international border.

Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh, parts of some patches are yet to be fenced.

A total of 1,018 people, including 498 Bangladeshi nationals were detained in Tripura while trying to cross the Indo-Bangla international border from January last year till April 15 this year, according to a Border Security Force (BSF) report.

Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya infiltrators use the northeastern state as a corridor to move to different places throughout the country.

Touts having access and networks in different parts of Tripura are involved in facilitating the infiltration, illegal border crossing and providing shelters and fake identity documents to the infiltrators for travelling to different destinations.

In order to strengthen the border infrastructures, the BSF has adopted several techniques, including the installation of 503 smart surveillance cameras, plugging gaps in culverts to prevent illegal activities and single-row fences.
Silchar: An 86-year-old ex-serviceman from Assam was not allowed to vote in this years Lok Sabha polls as the election department deleted his name because he died as per their records, officials said. 86-year-old ex-serviceman Niresh Ranjan Bhattacharjee (HT Photo/Sourced)

Niresh Ranjan Bhattacharjee, a former Indian Army officer, who was part of two wars against Pakistan, said that he received a slip from the election department officials where his name was in the deleted list with an E mark.

The ex-serviceman is a voter from the Silchar district that went to the polls on April 26 in the second phase.

The election officials came to my house with voters slips on April 24 and there was an E-mark by my name which means, my name was deleted because I expired (died), but I am alive. I preferred to receive it myself and on April 26 I went to cast my vote too, where I was denied, Bhattacharjee said.

He said that when the officials did not allow him to vote, he asked them to give him a written statement, which he received.

They felt uneasy because of my presence, they told me that the E-mark by my name means I am dead but I was alive standing in front of them, that made the situation a little awkward for them, Bhattacharjee said.

Bhattacharjee joined the army in 1955 and took a voluntary retirement after the 1965 war Indo-Pakistan war. He worked as a teacher for a few months that year and later joined the Principal Accountant General (Audit) office in Shillong, Meghalaya.

We were allowed to take retirement from the army on the condition that well return to the force if any emergency arises. In 1971, we were called back and I was posted in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Bhattacharjees family stayed in Shillong until he retired from the army and moved to Silchar in 1995. His elder son Nirmal Kumar Bhattacharjee, an engineer turned entrepreneur, said that their names were shifted to Silchar in the same year and in the 1996 general elections, all the eligible family members voted here.

We voted in the same centre since 1996. For the first time since that, my father was denied exercising his voting rights and that gave him pain, Nirmal said.

The Cachar election officials accepted that it was a mistake from their side and they assured to rectify it as soon as the election process ends.

Cachar district commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha, who is also the returning officer of the constituency, said they had prepared the initial list of electorates on February 8, which was later updated.

After preparing the first draft, we deleted the names of those citizens who died. We will have to see what happened in this case. I will enquire, Jha assured.

The former serviceman, showing disappointment over the incident said, We saw this nation grow but at this age, I am disappointed to see such inefficient acts.

He, however, said that he understands the pressure that the election department officials are facing because of the large amount of voters.
Inclement weather affected the last day of campaigning by political parties for the third phase of polling in Assam on Sunday. Voting will take place in four Lok Saha seats in the stateGuwahati, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Barpeta--on Tuesday. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a roadshow ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Kamrup on Sunday. (ANI)

Several parts of Assam witnessed rain and heavy winds on Sunday. According to the Guwahati meteorological office, most parts of the state are expected to witness light to moderate rain, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds for five days beginning Sunday.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had to cancel a public meeting at Mancachar in Dhubri seat as his helicopter failed to take off from Guwahati. The CM took part in a motorcycle rally in Guwahati in the morning and ended his campaign with a road show in Sualkuchi, which is part of Barpeta seat.

Of the four seats, the BJP is contesting from Guwahati, while its ruling partner, Asom Gana Parishad, is contesting the Barpeta and Dhubri seats. Another ruling partner, United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) is contesting the Kokrajhar seat.

Also Read | Chhattisgarh: Campaigning for remaining 7 Lok Sabha seats ends

Todays showers are a sign of blessing from heaven. On the polling day, I urge you all to come out in large numbers even if theres rain, storm or sunshine and vote for the AGP candidate from Barpeta, Sarma said at a road show at Sualkuchi.

In 2019, the BJPs Queen Oja had won Guwahati, the Congresss Abdul Khaleque had bagged Barpeta, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal had won from Dhubri for a third term and Independent Naba Sarania won from Kokrajhar for the second time.

This time the Congress will form government at Centre. I have been hearing rumours that Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is looking at rejoining our party, once that happens. But I want to make it clear that the Congress will not allow him into our party, said Congress working committee member Ajoy Kumar in Guwahati on Sunday during an interaction with journalists.

Forty-seven candidates are in the fray in the four seats to go to polls on Tuesday. In Guwahati, of the 8 candidates, the main contest is between BJPs Bijuli Kalita Medhi and the Congresss Mira Borthakur Goswami.

In Barpeta, among the 14 candidates in fray, a triangular contest is taking place among the Congresss Deep Bayan, the AGPs Phani Bhushan Choudhury and the CPI(M)s Manoranjan Talukdar.

Dhubri, which has 13 candidates, is also witnessing a triangular contest among the AIUDFs Badruddin Ajmal, the Congress Rakibul Hussain and AGP candidate Jabed Islam. In Kokrajhar, of the 12 candidates in fray, the main contest is expected between the UPPLs Joyanta Basumatary and the Bodoland Peoples Fronts Khampa Borgoyari.

Voting for 10 of the states 14 seats took place in the first two phases on April 19 and 26.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to issue a Blue Notice against Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is ostensibly in Germany on a diplomatic passport after allegations of sexual abuse came to light, Karnataka chief ministers office informed on Saturday, after Siddaramaiah held an emergency meeting with top cops and the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case. JD(S) MLA HD Revanna being taken into custody by officials of a Special Investigation Team in a kidnapping case, on Saturday. (PTI)

The development came on the day the Holenarasipur JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse allegations along with his son; was taken into custody by the SIT, minutes after a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a kidnapping case.

Siddaramaiah on Saturday held an important meeting with the SIT officials, during which he instructed that immediate action must be taken to arrest Prajwal.

We will proceed for the arrest with appropriate measures. There is a possibility of CBI issuing a Blue Corner Notice, which will speed up the investigation, news agency PTI quoted a statement released from the CMs office as saying.

Once CBI issues this notice, SIT hopes to get information about the whereabouts of Prajwal Revanna...They (SIT officials) have assured that they will arrest and get the accused back, as soon as they get the information from the airports, it added.

A Blue Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a persons identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.

The SIT is said to have sent a request to CBI, the nodal body for Interpol matters in India, seeking a Blue Notice against Prajwal, the officials said, adding that once CBI issues this notice, SIT hopes to get information about the whereabouts of the Hassan MP.

An SIT is probing into the allegations of mass sexual abuse against the sitting Hassan MP, who was suspended from the JD(S) but remains the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. He is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

The allegations of sexual harassment emerged in the hours following polling for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, with close to 3,000 videos purportedly showing some of these incidents, leading the state government to put together an SIT.

The first case was registered against Prajwal and his father for alleged sexual harassment at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district last Sunday, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in Revannas house. On Thursday, a second FIR was registered against Revanna and his confidant Sathish Babanna in Mysuru for allegedly abducting another woman seen in videos of purported sexual assaults.

According to PTI, Revanna is said to have flown abroad on April 27, a day after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka was held. The SIT has issued a lookout notice against him. His advocate had sought for seven days time for him to appear before the SIT, but the team turned down the request.

Meanwhile, a political slugfest continued with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi writing a letter to CM Siddaramaiah, requesting him to extend all possible support to the victims in the case, even as he hit out at both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the JD(S), who are fighting the Lok Sabha polls in an alliance.

In his letter to Siddaramaiah dated May 3, Gandhi alleged that Prajwal sexually assaulted and filmed hundreds of women over several years. Many who looked up to him as a brother and son were brutalised in the most violent manner and robbed of their dignity. The rape of our mothers and sisters warrants the strictest possible punishment, he said.

The Congress leader expressed that he is deeply shocked to learn that as far back as December 2023, our home minister Amit Shah was informed by G Devaraje Gowda about Prajwal Revannas antecedents, especially his history of sexual violence and the presence of videos filmed by the perpetrator.

What is even more shocking is that despite these gruesome allegations being brought to the notice of the senior most BJP leadership, the Prime Minister campaigned and canvassed for a mass rapist. Furthermore, the Union government wilfully allowed him to flee India to derail any meaningful investigation, Gandhi said in the letter and requested the CM to kindly extend all possible support to the victims.

Responding to the letter, the chief minister assured Gandhi of an impartial investigation.

An impartial investigation will be conducted and no matter how many influential people are involved in the case, they will be handed over to the hands of the law. Along with wiping tears of the aggrieved, I am giving a promise @Rahul Gandhi and to everyone in the country that our government will stand with them in their struggle for justice, he posted in Kannada on X
New Delhi: The storied Doon School in Dehradun is watching the ongoing elections with a considerable interest, with four of its alumni from the class of 1992 contesting this year. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s Jitin Prasada and Raghav Lakhanpal are contesting from Uttar Pradesh, Nakul Nath is the Congresss candidate from Madhya Pradeshs Chhindwara and their batchmate Kalikesh Singh Deo is contesting the Odisha assembly elections on a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ticket. Four of Doon schools alumni from the class of 1992 are contesting in polls this year.

Follow LIVE updates on Lok Sabha election 2024

Singh Deo used to be a member of Parliament till 2019, sitting in the Lok Sabha with his classmate Prasada. But the exigencies of electoral calculations took them both back to state politics. Prasada is trying to stage a comeback by winning from Varun Gandhis Pilibhit seat and Singh Deo is contesting the Bolangir assembly seat.

Yes, it did come up in the schools WhatsApp group, said Lakhanpal. But we are not allowed to talk about politics there. So someone simply said, good luck to all those contesting and that was it. Lakhanpals Saharanpur constituency voted in the first phase of the 2024 polls.

The political leaders from the class of 1992 do not meet often. The last time they got together was their 25th anniversary of graduating from the school in 2017.

Politics aside, we remain good friends, said Singh Deo. The BJD and the BJP are fighting each other this time, but just a couple of months ago, it looked like they could be political allies. Or, when there was talk of Nakul Nath quitting the Congress party and joining the BJP.

As far as their alma mater is concerned, political rivalries do not matter. Theres a bonhomie that comes from belonging to the same school, and in Doons case, its literally an old boys network. For example, Lakhanpal spoke about the time he went back to school for a reunion and they participated in a debate.

One of the parents, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress, was the judge of the debate, so Lakhanpal in good humour objected. I told her that she shouldnt be the judge when I was a participant because she was Congress. She said that we BJP walas know how to talk. Guess what, I won best speaker, he said.

Its interesting how the batch of 1992 from Doon has until the last Parliament always had an average of two MPs. The last election, Kalikesh lost from Bolangir by a narrow margin, and we had Nakul Nath from Chhindwara win, said batch mate and communication consultant Shivraj Parshad. Given that we have such a varied political spectrum running from our class, we are mindful not to make it a big deal in common groups, but wish them one on one.

Parshad also pointed out that having four batch mates may look like a novelty to outsiders but wasnt really unusual for Doon. After all, it has a whole host of old boys who are now star politicians -- former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kamal Nath, RPN Singh, Amarinder Singh, Naveen Patnaik and Karan Singh.

HT tried to reach Nakul Nath and Jitin Prasada, but they were unavailable due to campaigning.
Reacting to the BJP's 'peon' dig, Congress party's Amethi candidate, Kishori Lal Sharma said on Sunday that he was a seasoned politician, not the servant of the Gandhi family. KL Sharma said he would defeat BJP MP Smriti Irani from his party's former stronghold. Kishori Lal Sharma with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Amethi. (PTI file photo)

In a surprise move, the Congress fielded KL Sharma from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi, the former MP from the seat, filed his nomination from Sonia Gandhi's old Lok Sabha constituency, Rae Bareli.

KL Sharma said the decision to field him from Amethi was taken by the party's high command. He said he didn't serve the Gandhi family professionally. He said he had not been on the Congress party's payroll.

Kishori Lal Sharma pointed out that he came to Amethi in 1983 from Punjab because of his association with the Youth Congress.

He said he was a seasoned politician.

"It was a decision taken by the party high command. Nobody had been finalised as a candidate for this seat earlier. However, I can say with full confidence and conviction that I will defeat Smriti Irani. This is a big statement I am making today. 'Mai koi Naukri nahi kar raha Gandhi Parivar ki' (I am not a servant of Gandhi family here). I am a seasoned politician and have been so for many years now. I came here in 1983 through my association with the Youth Congress. I am not on the payroll of the Congress. I am a pure politician," he told ANI.

Amethi had been the Congress party's bastion till 2019, when Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi with a margin of over 55,000 votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took potshots at Rahul Gandhi for not contesting the election from Amethi, saying the latter had run away fearing defeat.

KL Sharma accused the BJP of weaponising the media against the Opposition.

"How many times has Rahul-ji been given space? People are questioning them (BJP) on what they have done in the last 10 years but they divert from the real issues and talk about mangalsutras," he claimed.

The Amethi candidate claimed PM Modi had not fulfilled promises the latter made in 2014.

KL Sharma is considered to be the loyalist of the Gandhi family. He used to politically manage Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies in the absence of the Gandhis.

BJP's peon remark against KL Sharma

BJP leader Dinesh Pratap Singh, Rahul Gandhi's opponent in Rae Bareli, had recently said the Congress stalwart sent his peon to contest the elections against Smriti Irani.

"Does Rahul Gandhi really want to win Amethi and Raebareli? If he did, why would he give a Lok Sabha ticket to his peon from Amethi? The Congress will lose both Raebareli and Amethi seats," Singh said.

Dinesh Pratap Singh also accused Rahul Gandhi of running away from Amethi.

Voting in Amethi and Rae Bareli will take place on May 20.
The Congress on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "failed" the country's daughters by "rewarding" sexual harassment accused BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with a Lok Sabha poll ticket for his son, and asked whether women will ever be safe in "Modi's India". Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (PTI)

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his visit to Ayodhya.

"Will women ever be safe in Modi's India? Why did the PM lie to Ayodhya about 'free' electricity under the Surya Ghar Yojana? Why has UP's youth given up on the job market?" Ramesh said on X.

Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh said PM Modi has once again "failed" India's daughters.

"Rather than punishing MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for his heinous crimes, the BJP has rewarded him with a ticket for his son Karan Bhushan Singh, from the neighbouring Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat," the Congress general secretary said.

"This has come as a slap in the face to (of) all the women who put their careers at stake and slept on the streets for days, through sun and rain, in their fight for justice," he said.

Ramesh said it has become clear that in "Modi ka Parivar", 'Nari Shakti' is just a slogan that is projected while the 'parivar (family)' shelters perpetrators of sexual violence, be it Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna or Singh, the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president.

"Will women ever be safe in Modi's India? Will the PM's hunger for power always be more important than the safety of India's daughters?" the Congress leader said.

Ramesh also alleged that the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is PM Modi's "latest jumla".

"In their Ayodhya rallies, the BJP had boasted (about) '24-hour electricity, zero electricity bill, and earning from electricity from their free solar power scheme. In reality, however, citizens need to shell out at least 70,000 to install solar panels before they can benefit from the 'free electricity' that the PM had promised," he claimed.

Which is why in Kaushalpuri Colony in Ayodhya, meant to be Uttar Pradesh's first "solar city", only a few families have actually been able to afford solar panels, Ramesh said.

Why has the BJP "deceived" the people of Ayodhya, he asked.

He further claimed that the conditions in Uttar Pradesh's job market have gotten so bad that young people have started to give up on looking for work.

He further said, "Last year, Chief Minister Yogi promised that he would create 2 crore new jobs in the state over the next 3-4 years. This is the same promise that the Prime Minister had made in 2014 before he came to office. We know what followed - years of record unemployment and slow growth."

Ramesh cited Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data to point out that in 2023, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) -- the share of the population which is looking for work -- was just 39.5 per cent in Uttar Pradesh.

This is the lowest LFPR since 2017, including pandemic years, he said.

Declining labour participation indicates that the youth have entirely given up on the job market, and are increasingly choosing to stay out of the labour force instead, Ramesh said.

"Why do the PM and his acolytes keep making empty promises to UP's youth? Do they have the vision and capability to actually deliver on these promises?" Ramesh said and asked the PM to break his "silence" on these issues.
The Congress on Sunday filed a first information report (FIR) against three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including its chief JP Nadda, and also approached the Election Commission over an animated clip posted by the partys Karnataka unit on X that showed a caricatured description of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi distributing funds to Muslims, while ignoring Dalits, tribals and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda

The 17-second video appeared to be in line with the BJPs charge that the Congress aimed to prioritise the Muslim community over other sections and came against the backdrop of several BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the principal Opposition party of intending to redistribute wealth, a charge Congress leaders have repeatedly rejected.

Also read: Congress attacks PM Modi over granting of LS ticket to Brij Bhushan's son

Congress leader Ramesh Babu filed the FIR against Nadda, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and the chief of the partys Karnataka unit, BY Vijayendra, under the Indian Penal Codes (IPC) section 505(2) (statement conducing public mischief), and the Representation of People Acts Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes) at the High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru, people aware of the matter said. We have registered a case against Nadda, Vijayendra, and Malaviya on the complaint filed by KPCC member Ramesh Babu. The investigation is ongoing, central deputy commissioner of police (DCP) T Shekar said.

In a complaint to the Karnataka chief electoral officer, the Congress said that the BJP intended to promote enmity between communities through the clip.

It is clear that the video social media post by them is to intimidate members of SC/ST community not to vote for Congress party by projecting that funds reserved for them will be usurped by Muslims, it said in the letter.

The act of the accused person is to wantonly provocate rioting and promote enmity between different religions and is prejudicial to maintenance of harmony apart from intimidating members of SC/ST community not to vote for particular candidate and causing enmity against members of SC/ST community, it added.

HT reached out to the EC and chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar for a comment on the matter but did not get one immediately.
In a bid to uncover the source of the recent bomb threat emails sent to over 200 schools in Delhi-NCR, the Delhi Police is likely to approach the Union home ministry and subsequently the court to send a Letter Rogatory (LR) to Russia, The Times of India reported. This LR  a judicial request  aims to gather details regarding the email ID used to dispatch the threats, a crucial step in their investigation. Air Force Bal Bharati School, Lodhi Road evacuated in view of Bomb Hoax mail in the morning in New Delhi, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)

The police have already approached the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Moscow and Russian mailing service company Mail.ru via Interpol to trace the exact source of the e-mails.

During the investigations, police found that a school in south Delhi had also received a hoax threat e-mail in 2023 where the sender had used the same mail service, mail.ru. At that time, an LR was sent on May 12, reported TOI. The Russian authorities had promptly replied to the request indicating that the IP address was traced back to Austria, with the sender using a virtual private network (VPN) to mask their location.

"Russia promptly replied and informed us that the IP used by the sender was 188.172.220.76, based in Austria. A virtual private network was used," the report quoted an unnamed senior officer as saying.

Read: Delhi hoax bomb threat: Mail sent using Russia domain, masked by VPN

However, according to a cyber security expert, tracking the IP address and details of the sender could become difficult if he has used the VPN or proxy server for sending the e-mail, reported PTI.

There are many mailing services including 'mail.ru', which provide the facility to make your account without authentication and verification. It also gives the facility to make a temporary e-mail, the expert said, as quoted by PTI.

Earlier this week, more than 200 schools in Delhi-NCR received identical bomb threat e-mails, triggering massive evacuations and searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children.

Read: Schools reopen in Delhi-NCR amid tight security day after bomb threat mails

PCR vehicles were rushed to schools, and district police, BDS, MAC, Special Cell and Crime Control Room, DDMA, NDRF, Fire CATS and several other agencies were alerted. However, nothing was found during searches by authorities which later declared it a mass hoax.

The FIR has been registered at Special Cell Police Station under IPC sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), and 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy).

With inputs from agencies
Former chief minister of Punjab and Congress' Jalandhar candidate Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that the terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir was pre-planned, calling it a stunt by the BJP government to win the ongoing Lok Sabha election. Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. (ANI)

The Congress leader said, This is stuntbaazi. And not the (terror) attacks. When elections come, such stunts are done to make the BJP win. These are pre-planned attacks, there is no truth in them...

Attacking the central government, Channi alleged, To kill people and to play with their bodies....BJP knows it

Notably, the Opposition had alleged in 2019 that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used the Pulwama attack, where 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, to win the general elections that year. The Congress party had also raised a question on the legitimacy of the airstrikes conducted in Pakistan's Balakot.

Union minister Anurag Thakur who was in Punjab on Sunday condemned Channi's statement and demanded an apology from top Congress leadership. "I have a question for Congress: Were the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars done for winning elections? On such a ridiculous statement, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should apologise...They question the ability of our forces...How low will Congress stoop? Will Congress insult our Bravehearts for the sake of winning elections?" Anurag Thakur said.

An IAF convoy was ambushed by a group of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch region on Saturday, with five officials left injured. One IAF soldier succumbed to his injuries later in the day.

The Indian Air Force on Sunday mourned the death of Corporal Vikki Pahade, who died after sustaining major injuries in the Poonch terrorist attack.

IAF wrote on its official X account, The CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and all personnel of (the) Indian Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in (the) Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief.

The IAF and other security forces in the region are conducted a manhunt for the terrorists who carried out the attack. Security remains heightened in Poonch and intense checking of all vehicles is being carried out.

The attack on the IAF convoy comes days before the Lok Sabha elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat. The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in five phases from April 19 to May 20.

(With inputs from ANI)


Prime Minister Narendra Modi On the last day of campaigning before the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday will address public meetings in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah and Dhaurahra (Sitapur). He will also visit Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple followed by a roadshow. The Prime Minister will hold his first public meeting of the day in Etawah at around 2:45 p.m. and then in Dhaurahra at 4:45 p.m. From there, he will go to Ayodhya, where he will first offer prayers at the Ram temple at 7:00 p.m. and then hold a roadshow in the holy town.



Major political developments that will unfold across the country today:



* Union Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Sunday. He is scheduled to address four public meetings -- one in Andhra Pradesh and three in Telangana.



In Andhra Pradesh, the Home Minister will hold a public meeting in Dharmavaram at 11:15 a.m. From there, he will proceed to Telangana to address public meetings in Hyderabad at 3:00 p.m., Nizamabad at 4:45 p.m., and Secunderabad at 6:15 p.m.



* BJP President J.P. Nadda will address a public meeting on Sunday in Chhattisgarh's Surajpur and then, he will go to Bhubaneswar to launch the party's manifesto for Odisha Assembly elections.



* Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will hold a public meeting in Hardoi on Sunday at around 11:35 a.m. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister will also participate in Prime Minister Modi's public meeting in Etawah and the roadshow in Ayodhya later in the day.



* Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will address a public meeting in West Bengal's Sujapur on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.



* Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address public meetings in Telangana's Adilabad at 12:50 p.m. and Nagarkurnoo at 4:10 p.m.



* BSP supremo Mayawati will address an election rally in Bengaluru on Sunday.




Four police officers were arrested on Saturday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for murder of Thamir Jifri (30) while in custody in Tanur in Malappuram district in August last year, people familiar with the matter said. At the Tanur police station, during questioning, Jifri collapsed and was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him dead at 4:30 am on August 1, 2023. (File Photo)

The arrested officers have been identified as senior civil police officer (CPO) Ginesh (37), CPO Albin Augustine (36), CPO Abhimanyu (35) and CPO Vipin (38), all of whom were members of the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) of the Kerala police.

They were produced before the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court in Ernakulam, which remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody.

Jifri, resident of Tirurangadi, was picked up by the DANSAF squad on July 31 last year along with four others on charge of possessing 18.14 grams of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, and booked under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

At the Tanur police station, during questioning, Jifri collapsed and was rushed to a nearby private hospital where doctors declared him dead at 4:30 am on August 1.

According to the initial FIR registered by the Tanur police, Jifri showed signs of drug overdose. However, a later investigation by the Crime Branch pointed towards custodial torture.

On August 2, eight policemen including the sub-inspector of Tanur police station were suspended pending inquiry.

The officials said that the accused cops face charges of wrongful confinement, wrongful confinement to extort confession, custodial torture, voluntarily causing hurt, causing hurt using dangerous weapons and murder among others as per the FIR registered by the CBI.

While the case was initially probed by the state police crime branch, it was handed to the CBI following a High Court directive on September 8, 2023.

The autopsy report of the 30-year-old stated that there were 21 injury marks on his body, indicating severe physical assault. There were bruises on the bottom end of his spine, under the legs, swelling in his lungs and injuries on his thighs.

Haris Jifri, the elder brother of Thamir Jifri, hailed the CBI action in the case.

Even though its quite late, the arrests of the four officers have finally been made. We are happy. Let the law take its course, he said.

He alleged that his brother and the others picked up by the DANSAF squad were beaten for almost 10 hours in custody.

At every stage, the police tried to change the course of the case and frightened us into withdrawing the charges. But we resisted all their attempts, he added.
A man, identified as Maulvi Sohel Abubakr Timol (27) who offered private tuition on Islam to Muslim children, was arrested by the Surat Police in Gujarat on Saturday for allegedly threatening to kill Bharatiya Janata Party's former spokesperson Nupur Sharma and planning to murder the leader of a Hindu organisation, news agency PTI reported. Bharatiya Janata Party's former spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Maulvi Sohel Abubakr Timol.

Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said Maulvi Sohel Abubakr Timol, who has also worked at a thread factory, also threatened the chief editor of Sudarshan television channel and BJP's Telangana MLA Raja Singh in connivance with his handlers from Pakistan and Nepal.

Anupam Singh Gehlot Sohel Abubakr Timol was found to be conspiring with people from Pakistan and Nepal to offer 1 crore 'supari' (contract for killing) and procure weapons from Pakistan to kill the national president of Hindu Sanatan Sangh Upadesh Rana. PTI reported.

Also Read | Brave Nupur Sharma: Dutch politician Geert Wilders's message for suspended BJP leader

"After his detention, we found several objectionable contents in his mobile phones, including the one regarding offering 1 crore for the murder of Updesh Rana. For this, he was in continuous touch with persons/numbers from Pakistan and Nepal," PTI quoted Gehlot as saying.

"Timol was also found to be involved in issuing threats to Rana in March this year. The accused used a virtual number from Laos to issue threats to the target by connecting numbers from Pakistan and Nepal in his group call," the police officer said.

Photos and other details found on Sohel Abubakr Timol's phone number show the accused and associates were discussing on a secure app about targeting and threatening editor-in-chief of Sudarshan TV Suresh Chavhanke, Nupur Sharma, and Hyderabad MLA Raja Singh, Gehlot said, adding that for this purpose, they were planning to collect funds and procure weapons.

Also Read | Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh booked for Mira Road hate speech

Maulvi arrested in Surat: Details about planning
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said what is happening in election-bound Canada over the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is mostly due to their internal politics and has nothing to do with India. S Jaishankar contended that Canada accuses India of wrongdoing without substantiating its claims. External affairs minister S Jaishankar addresses the media during a press conference in Bhubaneswar on May 4. (PTI)

S Jaishankar was replying to a question on why Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is criticising India. The external affairs minister's response, during an interaction with senior journalists during a visit to Bhubaneswar, comes after Canadian police charged the three on Friday over the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and said they were probing whether the suspects had links to the Indian government.

Jaishankar said India will wait for Canadian police to share information on the three Indian men it has arrested. The minister said he had seen news of the arrests and said the suspects apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background... we will have to wait for the police to tell us.

Also Read | Men arrested in Hardeep Nijjar's killing may be members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claims Canadian media

"But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organised crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada," Reuters quoted Jaishankar as saying.

S Jaishankar also said India needs a strong and active prime minister like Narendra Modi to bring further reforms in various sectors, including external affairs, to make a Viksit Bharat (developed India).

Indias image globally is now actually much much higher than it had been ever Canada is an exception. You see the different country heads are praising Bharat and its Prime Minister, news agency PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

Also Read | Nijjar killing accused Karanpreet Brars family in shock in Punjabs Kotkapura

Pro-Khalistan people became a vote bank in Canada: Jaishankar

The EAM said a section of pro-Khalistan people is using Canadas democracy, creating a lobby and has become a vote bank. The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders, Jaishankar claimed.

We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship, Jaishankar was quoted as saying by PTI.

But the Canadian government, Jaishankar said, was yet to do anything. According to Jaishankar, India has sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but Canada did not pay any heed.

Who are the 3 Indians arrested by Canada?

The three Indians were arrested in the city of Edmonton in Alberta on Friday, police said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed that three Indian citizens living in Edmonton had been arrested. Karan Brar and Kamalpreet Singh, both 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, have each been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Also Read | Canadian authorities charge three persons in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in June last year outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. A few months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited credible allegations of Indian government involvement, prompting a diplomatic row with New Delhi. India has dismissed Justin Trudeau's charges as absurd and motivated.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of Khalistan. The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated New Delhi, which had labelled Nijjar a "terrorist".

Canadian police said they had worked with US law enforcement agencies without giving additional details and suggested more detentions might be coming.

Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As election is coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics, Jaishankar said on Saturday.

Sanjay Verma, India's high commissioner to Canada, said that it hopes to get regular updates from Canadian authorities regarding the three arrested Indians, Reuters reported.

"I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada and therefore, we have no comments to offer in this regard," Sanjay Verma said.

(With inputs from agencies)
HD Revanna, Karnataka Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, was arrested by Special Investigation Team or SIT officials on Saturday in a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against his son and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. He was arrested soon after a court in Bengaluru rejected his anticipatory bail petition. JD(S) leader HD Revanna being taken into custody by SIT officials in connection with a kidnapping case registered against him at KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru on Saturday. (ANI)

HD Revanna, a former minister, was picked up from the Padmanabhanagar residence of his father, JD(S) supremo and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, and brought to the SIT office.

The case was registered against HD Revanna and his confidant Sathish Babanna in Mysuru on Thursday night for allegedly abducting a woman.

What's the case against HD Revanna?

The case was registered on a complaint filed by the woman's son, who also alleged that his mother, reportedly in her 60s, was sexually abused by HD Revanna's son and the BJP-JD(S) Hassan Lok Sabha seat candidate Prajwal Revanna. The FIR was filed after she went missing on April 28. The complainant alleged that Babanna, acting under directives from HD Revanna, abducted his mother. Babanna has already been arrested in connection with the case. According to the complaint, one of the thousands of videos shows the woman pleading with Prajwal Revanna to spare her. Prajwal Revanna is ostensibly in Germany on a diplomatic passport after allegations of sexual abuse came to light. HD Revanna was charged under sections 364(a) (kidnapping for ransom, etc), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and 34 (the acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. More than five days after her alleged kidnapping, the woman was found at a farmhouse in Kalenahalli village in Mysuru, an SIT official said. The house belongs to Rajashekar, HD Revanna's personal assistant. The woman will be brought to Bengaluru, where her statement will be recorded, the officer said.

Prajwal Revanna's explicit videos

Explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna had started doing the rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the Karnataka government constituted an SIT to probe the alleged sexual abuse allegations against the MP.

Also Read | RJD's Tejashwi Yadav attacks PM Modi on obscene video case: Has PM brought any fugitive back

The sexual abuse allegations have become a major campaign narrative in the Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress and BJP-JD(S) combine engaged in a political blame game.

CBI likely to issue 'Blue Corner Notice' against Prajwal Revanna: SIT

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah's office on Saturday said a special team probing the alleged sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna has informed the CM that there is a possibility of the CBI issuing a "Blue Corner Notice" against the JD(S) Hassan MP, who is said to have left the country.

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information about a person's identity, location, or activities related to a crime from its member countries.

(With inputs from agencies)
Corporal Vikky Pahade, the Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier who was killed in a terrorist attack in the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, was supposed to visit his hometown in three days to celebrate the birthday of his son. Pahade, who hails from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, had plans to return to his village Nonia-Karbal on Tuesday. Photo of the Indian Air Force's Corporal Vikky Pahade, who suffered injuries in a terrorist attack in J&K's Poonch and later succumbed to injuries at a military hospital. (PTI Photo)(PTI05_05_2024_000034B)(PTI)

Vikky Pahade visited his family last month to attend his sister's wedding and joined the unit on April 18, local residents told news agency IANS.

33-year-old Corporal Pahade joined the Indian Air Force in 2011. He is survived by his wife, 5-year-old son, mother and three sisters.

After the attack in Poonch, the IAF posted on its official X handle, "The CAS Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari and all personnel of the Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief."

On May 4, a group of terrorists ambushed a convoy of the Indian Air Force in Poonch, which left five officials injured. Corporal Pahade later succumbed to his injuries.

Earlier, on Sunday, security personnel launched a massive manhunt following a terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force convoy a day before, in which one personnel was killed. Security forces have laid down nakas and checking is going on in the area.

The second phase of the manhunt by security forces to track down the terrorists is currently underway. A well-coordinated joint operation by the army and police is underway in many areas, including Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai and Sheendara Top, to neutralise the terrorists.

The terrorists are believed to have fled into a forest after the attack, the officials said. There has been no "contact" with the terrorists yet, they said and added that security personnel are conducting combing operations.

(With inputs from IANS, PTI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lashed out at opposition INDIA bloc, accusing them of insulting national heroes and glorifying terrorists. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath (PTI)

CM Yogi alleged that the Congress, National Conference or Samajwadi party have no national agenda and think only about their families.

"What do you expect from these family parties? They are limited only to their own families. Be it Congress, National Conference or Samajwadi Party, they have no national agenda but their family is their agenda... On one hand, this alliance insults national heroes and on the other hand, it encourages mafia and terrorist elements...," CM Yogi told ANI here.

"Just a few days ago, when a notorious mafia died, the national president of the Samajwadi Party (Akhilesh Yadav) went to express condolences on his death, but how was their behaviour with Ram bhakts when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was going on?...," CM Yogi added.

He also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"The insulting and contemptuous behaviour of Samajwadi Party leaders with the statue of national leader Maharana Pratap yesterday is condemnable... Rahul Gandhi did the same in Maharashtra, where one of his supporters was giving him the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji but he refused to take it. They will not honour the national leader but will glorify terrorists and Pakistan ...," he said.

Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases till June 1 and the counting of votes in all seats is scheduled for June 4.

The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most members to the Lower House, at 80, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP took a lion's share of the electoral spoils, winning 62 out of 80 seats in the state, with 2 more won by ally Apna Dal (S). Mayawati's BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav's SP had to settle for just five.

The Congress was reduced to just a lone seat.
The Indian Coast Guard on Sunday intercepted an Iranian fishing boat off the coast of Koyilandy in this district. Six fishermen, hailing from Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, were taken into custody from onboard the vessel.

Six fishermen, hailing from Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, were taken into custody from on board the vessel, coastal police here said.

"The boat went out of fuel when it reached Koyilandy. All those who were taken into custody were fishermen who had gone to Iran from Kanyakumari for fishing around one and half years ago," a police officer told PTI.

He said as per the preliminary assumption, they were on their way to their native place after escaping from Iran.

"As per their statement, they were not getting any salary and were suffering ill-treatment in Iran. They said they even had to suffer physical assault from the employer. So they escaped in the same boat they had been engaged in fishing," he said.

The boat is now under the custody of the Coast Guard and all the six fishermen were taken to Kochi, he added.
Janta Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna on Sunday was sent to the custody of Special Investigation Team (SIT) police till May 8 a day after he was arrested in a kidnapping case where he is the prime accused. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arvind B. Kattimani granted the custody of Revanna to the SIT. JD(S) leader HD Revanna being taken into custody by SIT officials in connection with a kidnapping case registered against him at KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru on Saturday. (ANI)

The custody hearing of HD Revanna took place at the judge's house amid heavy security measures on May 5. After his arrest yesterday, Revanna was brought to the Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital by SIT officials for his mandatory medical examination.

While speaking to the reporters outside the hospital, Revanna alleged that the SIT officials did not have any concrete proof against him, and his arrest was part of a political conspiracy.

"It's a political conspiracy going on against me. In my 40 years of political life, I have never seen anything like this," he said.

"There is no blame on me in politics. A complaint was made against me on April 28. However, no evidence was found in this case. With the malicious intent of arresting me, they filed a kidnapping case against me and arrested me," Revanna added.

HD Revanna's son Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, is facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. He has also been named in the kidnapping case filed against his father HD Revanna.

The JD(S) leader was arrested on Saturday after a special court for the People's Representative in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of both HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna.

In the kidnapping case, HD Revanna and his associates were booked under Sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 365 (kidnapping with intent to cause harm), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

In the abduction complaint filed against HD Revanna and his associates, the son of the victim alleged that his mother was taken away on the motorcycle by Revanna's close aide Satish on April 29. Later, the 20-year-old complainant got to know from a friend and relative that his mother was among the women in the cache of videos that has gone public, and that it showed her being tied up and raped allegedly by Prajwal.

(With inputs from PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP candidate from Varanasi, will file his nomination from the Lok Sabha constituency on May 14, BJP's city president Vidyasagar Rai said on Sunday. PM Modi will hold a roadshow in Varanasi on May 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

"The route for the roadshow has been finalised. On May 14, Prime Minister Modi will file his nomination from the Varanasi seat," said Vidyasagar Rai as quoted by news agency PTI.

PM Modi's major competitors in the constituency are -- Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai and BSP's candidate Athar Jamal Lari.

Voting will be held in Varanasi on June 1 in the seventh and last round of the Lok Sabha election 2024. The results will be declared on June 4. Notably, the ongoing general election 2024 is being held in seven phases. Voting in the first phase took place on April 19 and the second phase happened on April 26.

ALSO READ| Mulayam Singh blessed me: PM Modi's sharp attack at SP, Congress in UP rally

PM Modi is a two-time MP from Varanasi. He contested from the Lok Sabha constituency for the first time in the 2014 general elections and won by a huge margin of more than three lakh votes against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal who came second. PM Modi was then re-elected as an MP from Varanasi in the Lok Sabha election 2019.

Meanwhile, PM Modi addressed a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah on Sunday. During the rally, he took a dig at the Congress and Samajwadi party over dynasty and family centred politics. He said that unlike Congress and SP who work for their own family only, Modi and Yogi (Uttar Pradesh CM) were working for the future of the people's children.

"...'Modi rahe na rahe desh hamesha rahega'. What is the Congress and the SP doing? They are contesting elections for their future and for the future of their children. 'Modi kis ke liye khap raha hai? Maine toh aage piche kuch rakha hi nahin hai. Yogi bhi aise hain aur Modi bhi aise hain'...'Hum khap rahe hain aapke baccho ke liye'...," said PM Modi.

At the rally, PM Modi sought the blessings of the people and said that it had been his Dharma to serve them with all honesty. He said, "Modi is paving the way for the country not just for the coming five years but for the next 25 years..."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other top BJP leaders, conducted multiple roadshows and rallies in Uttar Pradesh today. During his public rally at UP's Etawah, PM Modi attacked the Samajwadi Party and the Congress party, calling them liars and thieves. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Etawah district, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI)

While addressing a Lok Sabha election rally at Etawah, which is the home turf of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, PM Modi recalled that in 2019, the SP supremo predicted that Modi would become the prime minister once again.

PM Modi said in the rally, It was Mulayam Singh's blessing for me. The prime minister further added that the slogans of both the SP and the Congress are "lies" and their "intentions are also not good".

He alleged during his address, The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are contesting the elections for their future and that of their children. They work only to benefit their families and their vote banks. The Samajwadi Party and Congress are contesting the Lok Sabha polls together from Uttar Pradesh, as part of the INDIA bloc.

PM Modi also attacked the Samajwadi Party on the issue of COVID-19 vaccines, alleging that its leaders had instigated people against the vaccines but got themselves inoculated in secret. "Modi and Yogi are working for the future of your children.. we don't have children," he said.

Later on Sunday, PM Modi addressed a political rally in Uttar Pradesh's Dhaurahra constituency, attacking SP and Congress for indulging in appeasement politics in the country.

Politics of appeasement has become a compulsion for the existence of 'shehzade' of SP and Congress, the prime minister said.

"Muslims are getting benefits of all government schemes without any discrimination. Now, Muslims are understanding that the Congress and the INDI alliance is using them as pawns".

He further said, "I will devote every moment of my life for your(people's) service. I don't have my own family. You people are my family and my inheritors. My Bharat is my family."
This 14-year-old Vietnamese American student at San Franciscos Lowell High School was on a Muni bus going home from school when a man started yelling anti-Asian slurs and pulled out a Taser. Ko Lyn Cheang/The Chronicle

A 14-year-old Vietnamese American student from Lowell High School was on a crowded bus going home from school with his friend Wednesday when a man 5 feet from him launched into an anti-Asian tirade, he said.

I dont know what instigated it, he told the Chronicle Saturday. He all of a sudden became very aggressive and started cussing out Asians, saying the c-slur.

Another teenager confronted the man, the teen recalled. A woman also stepped in. Then, the man pulled a Taser out of his pocket.

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A loud electrifying sound reverberated through the bus, the teen recalled. He did not see the Taser hit anyone, but panic broke out.

The incident, which San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency confirmed happened Wednesday on the 29-Sunset inbound bus route, has deepened fears in the teens mom, Liz Le, of anti-Asian hate in San Francisco. For Le, a Richmond District community organizer focused on public safety, it also raises urgent questions about what has been done to protect public transit riders from harassment and violence, particularly of a racial nature.

It was terrifying and sad for him, she said. There were a lot of other Asian American hate incidents, and it has not abated because of the criminal justice sentencing that has come out, that has not deterred or sent a message.

Liz Le, a Vietnamese American who lives in San Franciscos Richmond District, says her fears about safety in the city have deepened after her 14-year-old son was riding a Muni bus home from school when a man started yelling anti-Asian slurs and pulled out a Taser. Ko Lyn Cheang/The Chronicle

Le said she is frustrated by what she sees as a lack of adequate legal response to hold perpetrators accountable, citing the recent controversial probation sentencing of a man who stabbed a 94-year-old Vietnamese Chinese woman. The sentencing has since been ruled illegal.

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I got pretty scared, said the teen, whose mom asked not be named to protect his safety. My initial thought was just trying to get out of there.

After the man pulled out a Taser, the driver stopped the bus and opened the doors, the teen recalled. People shoved their way out. The teen hid behind a tree. His friend sprinted away. The man fled down the street, he said.

SFMTA confirmed that the incident occurred May 1 at 3:14 p.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Taraval Street.

Michael Roccaforte, a spokesperson for SFMTA, wrote in an emailed statement that Muni staff called 911, the bus operator was interviewed at the scene by police, and bus surveillance footage will be reviewed by the San Francisco Police Department. Police told the Chronicle that officers responded to this incident at approximately 3:15 p.m. that day at Sunset Boulevard and Santiago Street.

A police spokesperson said the man ran off the bus and has not been located by officers during their investigation. No arrests have been made.

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We are taking this incident very seriously and are working with SFPD on finding this suspect, Roccaforte wrote. We do not tolerate crime, harassment and attacks of hate on Muni, and we thank the riders who reported this to us, as quickly reporting incidents of crime and harassment helps us begin our investigation immediately and help SFPD identify a suspect.

Roccaforte added that the transit agency has stepped up security through the MuniSafe program, intended to increase reporting of harassment and assaults on Muni, among other goals, by educating riders on how to report incidents through the agencys feedback form or by calling 311.

Muni has undertaken efforts to keep marginalized communities safe through its Safety Equity Initiative, which is in an initial listening, research and discovery phase started in 2022, Roccaforte said. The agency deploys ambassadors to educate riders through multilingual materials about how to stay safe when riding public transit, he added.

Crime on Muni is down 75% since 2015, Roccaforte said.

The Lowell students friend, whose father asked not be identified to protect his safety, corroborated the details that Les son recalled.

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He was yelling about  he used the c-slur a lot  talking about how theyre in this country and need to get out, said the teen, a Lowell freshman.

After her son arrived home that day, Le tweeted about the incident. Her tweet caught the eye of Lisa, a Chinese American resident of San Francisco who asked to be identified by her first name only because of safety and privacy concerns. Lisas daughter had been on the same bus.

Lisa had received a text from her daughter, also a Lowell student, at 3:16 p.m. Wednesday reporting that a crazy ass man had pulled out a Taser.

Yikes, are you ok, Lisa responded.

Yea, her daughter texted back. But it was very scary.

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It was the first time her daughter had experienced such direct anti-Asian slurs, even though Lisa said it is a regular occurrence for her.

This has happened to me on the bus where there were anti-Asian slurs, making fun of how Chinese people cant say rice, they say lice, laughing at Chinese peoples accents, Lisa said. I know its a bigger problem.

The parents decided to band together to file a police report. On Saturday, in a house on a quiet Richmond street, Les son, his friend and Lisas daughter gave a San Francisco police officer their accounts of what happened. Le said she hopes the police will investigate and treat the incident seriously as an anti-Asian hate crime.

Le added that she thinks SFMTA should add marshals to patrol key bus routes during peak hours to intervene if violence occurs.

How many times does someone have to assault somebody in order for us to have to take these things seriously? she said.

Like Lisa, Le is no stranger to anti-Asian hate. Shes carried Mace with her everywhere since she was verbally harassed and threatened by a man in Golden Gate Park in 2021, she said. But it was her sons first brush with such a personal, racist attack.

It makes me feel a little more vigilant now and more wary of my surroundings, he said.

Le said she feels extremely worried about him, even though she let him take the bus to and from school again the day after the incident, at his request.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the temple town of Ayodhya, first after the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla in the newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in January this year, where he will hold a nearly 2-kilometre-long roadshow amid the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers before the Ram Lalla idol during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (PTI)

Also Read: President Murmu pays obeisance to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya

PM Narendra Modi, who reached Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening, will address a public meeting in the Samajwadi Party (SP) stronghold Etawah around 2.45pm, and hold another rally in the day at Dhaurahra around 4.45pm.

Later, Modi will reach Ayodhya, offer prayers and perform puja at Ram Mandir around 7pm. After the darshan of Ram Lalla, who was ceremonially enthroned at his newly constructed abode in his presence, PM Modi will hold a nearly 2-kilometer-long roadshow in Ayodhya.

The roadshow on Ram Path will start from Sugriva Fort and continue till Lata Chowk for about 2km. The entire route has been divided into 40 blocks, in which Sindhis, Punjabis, farmers and women in traditional costumes will attend. Cultural programs will be held at various places on the route and flowers will be showered during the roadshow.

Meanwhile, Ayodhya Ram Mandir's gate number 11 and the approach roads have all been decked up with flowers and flags. Along with the police, Anti Terror Squad (ATS) commandos are monitoring all preparations. Security at the airport has also been beefed up.

Also Read: Sindhis from Pakistan to visit Ayodhya today, pay obeisance to Ram Lalla

Ahead of Modi's visit, Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, said, "Grand preparations are underway ahead of Modi's visit to Ayodhya for a darshan of Ram Lalla and a roadshow. Ram Lalla Darshan Marg Gate no 11 has been decorated with flowers. Giant hoardings of the PM have gone up along the road. Platforms have been set up at various points on this stretch as part of the grand reception to the PM. Ram Lalla Darshan Marg has also been decked up."

"This is his (PM Modi's) first visit to Ayodhya after the 'Pran Pratishtha'. He will visit the sanctum sanctorum and hold a roadshow thereafter till the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. The seers and mahants of Ayodhya will accompany him during the roadshow," he added.

Speaking on the security arrangements in the holy city, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Karan Nayyar said the area has been divided into zones, sectors and sub-sectors ahead of PM Modi's arrival.

Also Read: Prime Minister Modis Ayodhya road show likely on May 5

Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for third phase of voting. Scheduled for May 7, this phase will see 10 Lok Sabha constituencies heading to the polls. These include Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Bareilly, and Aonla. Meanwhile, Ayodhya will be voting in the fifth phase on May 20.

(With inputs from agencies)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the Congress and the INDIA bloc have been using Muslims as pawns. Addressing a rally in support of the BJP candidate in Dhaurahra, PM Modi said poor people and those belonging to the SC, ST and OBC communities have now distanced themselves from the Congress and its allies. Dhaurahra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)

In an attack on Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, PM Modi said the politics of appeasement has become compulsory for the existence of 'shehzade' of the Samajwadi Party and Congress.

The Samajwadi Party and Congress are contesting the Lok Sabha elections as allies.

Muslim community also understands that the Congress and INDI alliance have made them pawns, he said.

PM Modi said the Muslim community are getting separated from these "vote bank contractors".

He said the Opposition is currently practising the politics of appeasement in order to save their Muslim vote bank.

He claimed before he came in power in 2014, investigation agencies were not allowed to take action against terrorism. He also accused the Samajwadi Party of withdrawing cases against the terrorists.

PM Modi claimed the Opposition has promised to provide reservation to Muslims but he will not allow it.

"I will not allow quotas on the basis of religion and theft of reservation for SC, ST and OBC till I am alive," PM Modi said.

In an emotive appeal, PM Modi said he doesn't have a family of his own and the people of the country are his family.

"I don't have a family of my own, you (people of India) are my family members and my heirs. You all are my heirs, and that's why I want to give you something. I want to develop your region, the nation, and make the country 'viksit' (developed)," he added.

PM Modi also said the Muslim community has now realised that they are getting the benefits of the government's scheme without any discrimination.

Voting in Dhaurahra will take place in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, on May 13. The results are likely to be declared on June 4.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Delhi minister Yoganand Shastri joined Congress on Saturday ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Deepak Babaria. He joined the NCP in 2021 quitting Congress. All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Deepak Babaria welcomed Yoganand Shastri into Congress (Twitter/@INCDelhi)

There is no special reason. I did not go far, I was sitting nearby and the ideology of the party I went to (NCP) is similar to that of Congress, Shastri said.

He added that the country needs people who can save democracy and the Constitution and maybe tomorrow other parties will also come together.

Everyone should work together and this is the spirit of the Congress and this is the spirit of the NCP, the former NCP leader said.

Also Read: Arvinder Singh Lovely, who quit as Delhi Congress chief, joins BJP

A former Delhi assembly speaker, Shastri is one of the senior leaders in the Delhi Congress. He had held various important posts during the one-and-a-half decade rule of then Delhi chief minister late Sheila Dikshit and twice represented the Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency and once Mehrauli Assembly constituency.

I am grateful to Deepak Babaria who insisted I join the Congress. I believe we should all get together because politics is going through a transition period. If we dont come under one umbrella at this time, then it will be unfortunate for the country.

Babaria, while welcoming him to the partys fold, said that Congress believes Shastris induction will be a big boost for the party. He is adept at encouraging youngsters and has a value system and goodwill (in the field). He has been working in Delhi for several years and everyone recognises him.

The NCP is in alliance with Congress under the INDIA bloc. The party has also formulated a seat-sharing agreement in Maharashtra along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

Voting for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will take place on May 25.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said Nepals move to include Indian territories in its currency note will not change the situation or the reality on the ground. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses the media during a press conference, in Bhubaneswar, Saturday, May 4, 2024.(PTI)

On Friday, Kathmandu announced the printing of a new 100 rupees currency note with a map that depicts Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani as part of Nepalese territory. The announcement was made after a decision by the council of ministers chaired by Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

The cabinet approved to re-design the banknote of 100 rupees and replace the old map printed in the background of the bank note during the cabinet meetings held on April 25 and May 2, government spokesperson Rekha Sharma told media persons while briefing about the cabinet decision.

Read: Nepal releases new political map showing Lipulekh and Kalapani as part of its territory

Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar said, Our position is very clear. With Nepal, we are having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. In the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side, as reported by The Indian Express.

On June 18, 2020, Nepal updated the countrys political map by incorporating three strategically important areas Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas by amending its Constitution. India termed the "unilateral act" as artificial enlargement and untenable by India.

The move came little more than six months after India published new maps of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh that showed Kalapani as part of Uttarakhand state.

India maintains Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belong to it.

The border between Nepal and India spans over 1,850 km, connecting five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Nepal claims all territories east of the Kali river, including Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh, under the Treaty of Sugauli that it signed with the erstwhile British administration in 1816.

With PTI inputs
The previous Congress-led governments were weak when dealing with Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, alleging that surgical air strikes by his government had shaken the neighbouring country and they now want the shehzada or prince of the Congress, a reference to Rahul Gandhi, to become the next Prime Minister, sharpening his pitch ahead of the third phase of the general elections. He also rejected the Oppositions allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would change the Constitution and end reservations if the party returned to power, while alleging that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar has a history of appeasement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Palamu on Saturday. (ANI)

The new India knows how to enter enemy territory and strike... Now shaken by the surgical and air strikes, leaders in Pakistan are praying that the Congress shehzada becomes PM of India, Modi said at an election rally in Palamu, Jharkhand, repeating a criticism that he had first made earlier this week.

Earlier, terrorists used to freely kill innocents and governments used to write love letters to Pakistan. But Pakistan sent more terrorists in response to letters. But with the power of your one vote, I said enough is enough... There was a time when people from Jharkhand and Bihar, used to go to protect our nation [and] were dying for the country on borders. It was a monthly occasion. Coward governments of Congress used to cry about it in the whole world, PM Modi, adding, But the strong India only wants a strong government now.

Modi on Saturday addressed back-to-back rallies in Jharkhand, first in Palamu and then Lohardaga, just days ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday (May 7). He also addressed a rally in Darbhanga, Bihar, and carried out a roadshow in Kanpur, where he was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The next round of voting in each of these locations will be in the fourth phase of the elections on May 13.

At Palamu, Modi denied the BJP was planning to scrap reservations, saying he has been heading a full majority government for past decade but had taken no such step. The fact remains we have been running a full majority government for past 10 years, but the BJP didnt take any such step because we worship the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar, said Modi.

Modi also justified the action taken against former chief minister Hemant Soren, vowing that his government would continue to act against those involved in corruption.

A former chief minister is in jail because of his own doing. Now even the courts have stamped their authority on the legal action taken against him. The opposition did joint rallies to save the corrupt in Delhi and Ranchi. But its Modis guarantee that action as per law will continue against the corrupt in the next five years, said Modi.

The remark comes a day after the Jharkhand high court rejected Sorens petition challenging his arrest by the directorate of enforcement (ED) on money laundering charges on January 31.

In Bihar, Modi criticised the alliance between the RJD and the Congress, claiming they were resorting to appeasement politics. Addressing a massive election rally at the historic Raj Ground in Darbhanga, Modi hit out at the misrule during the RJD-led regime.

Today, under the leadership of Nitish ji (Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar), the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is working day and night for the development of Bihar, PM Modi said. He highlighted Indias progress over the past decade, citing its rise from the 11th to the 5th largest economy in the world.

Modi alleged Congress aims to snatch reservation from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes and give it to Muslims, adding that he wont allow even a shred of reservation based on religion.

They now want to snatch away the reservation of SC-ST-OBC. When our Constitution was being drafted, it was unanimously decided by the Constituent Assembly that reservations would never be granted in India based on religion. But now Congress and RJD collectively want to rob the reservation of backward classes, and Dalits and give it to Muslims based on religion.

Both Congress and RJD are constituents of the Oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

Targeting the Lalu Prasad-led party, Modi said, The RJDs history has always been one of appeasement. Raking up the 2002 Godhra train arson, Modi, without naming RJD president Lalu Prasad, accused the leader of saving those responsible for burning alive more than 60 kar sevaks.

When the Kar Sevaks were burnt alive in Godhra, the father of shehzada (prince) of Bihar, who was the then railway minister, as of now serving his sentence and is out on bail, had formed a committee of Supreme Court judges to save the culprits and made such a report that those culprits should be acquitted, but the court threw his report in the garbage and sentenced them to death, said PM Modi.

PM Modi congratulated the nation on the historic construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, calling it a significant moment in Indian history. Reflecting on its significance, he emphasised, After 500 years, our wait has ended. We are witnessing this auspicious time in our lifetime.

PM Modi urged the people of Bihar to vote for development and progress, rallying support for NDA candidates in the upcoming elections. We cannot let Bihar go back to the lantern era, he said. The lantern is the RJDs poll symbol.

Modi has already addressed seven rallies in Bihar which sends 40 of the 543 members to the Lok Sabha. In 2019, the BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats. Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state, failed to open its account.

In Jharkhand, the BJP-led NDA won 12 seats in the 2019 elections, with the BJP winning 11. Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each.

Opposition leaders hit back with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor saying, Our manifesto is a strong document with a vision for the future. Modi is making up imaginary ideas that are not in our manifesto and attacking us for that. We too can come up with imaginary things about Modi but we are not doing that.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called Modi a shahenshah (emperor) who lives in a palace but is cut off from the public. While, addressing a public rally at Lakhani in Gujarats Banaskantha Lok Sabha constituency, she said several BJP leaders have said on record that their government will change the Constitution if it returns to power.

When they say they want to change the Constitution, it means they want to reduce and weaken all the rights given to you in the Constitution. If you understand politics today, the biggest thing that Modi has done in the last 10 years is to weaken the rights of the public, she said.

(With inputs from agencies)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is against reservation and wants to take away quotas from the people. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy in Adilabad on Sunday. (ANI)

Addressing an election rally at Nirmal under Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency, the former Congress president also said that the ongoing parliamentary elections is a contest between two ideologies in which the Congress is trying to protect the Constitution while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are trying to end it and peoples rights.

Adilabad, a seat reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST), is scheduled to go to the polls during the fourth phase on May 13.

Narendra Modi ji is against reservation. He wants to take away reservations from you. The biggest issue before the country is increasing reservation from 50%, Gandhi said.

ALSO READ | 'Rahul Gandhi struck a deal in Wayanad to give Muslims...': PM Modi on appeasement politics

BJP leaders also want reservations to end, he claimed. The Congress has, in its manifesto, promised that if the party forms the government at the Centre, it will breach the 50% limit on quotas for STs, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, and increase the quotas beyond 50%, he added.

The Congress has often alleged that the BJP and the RSS are against reservations.

While Modi on May 1 asserted that as long as he and the BJP are around, reservation in jobs and education granted to SCs/STs/OBCs, and economically weaker sections as per the Constitution by Bhimrao Ambedkar will be safeguarded, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, on April 28, said the organisation has always been in support of quotas and advocated for its implementation.

ALSO READ | Narendra Modi says Muslims now separated from vote bank contractors, attacks Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav

Alleging that Modi privatised the public sector, Gandhi said the contract system implemented by the BJP-led government amounts to removing reservations. We will remove contract systems in government offices and the public sector. Permanent jobs would be available, not temporary jobs, he said.

Narendra Modi has never said in his speeches till today that he will remove the 50% barrier of reservations, he added.

The Supreme Court, in the 1992 Indra Sawhney (famously known as Mandal Commission) case, had fixed a ceiling of 50% on quota.

The Congress leader claimed that BJP leaders have told the people that if their party wins the general elections, they will change and finish the Constitution.

If the Constitution is finished, reservation will end, he said. The BJP wants backward classes, dalits, adivasis to remain backward, he alleged.

Gandhi said that more than 90% of the population comprises backward classes, adivasis, minorities and the poor in the general category, and that they dont have a place in any organisation in the country.

A nationwide caste census promised by the Congress in its poll manifesto would change the politics of the country because such poor and 90% of the people would come to know about their population and share, the Congress leader said.

We will hold a survey of every organisation in the country. We will find out how much money the backward classes, dalits, adivasis and the poor have. After the caste census, there will be new politics in Telangana and in the country, he said.

Gandhi also said the Constitution should be safeguarded and reservations should be increased.

The incumbent government of the rich should be dislodged from power at the Centre and the government of the poor, farmers, dalits and others should be installed, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Sunday night to lead the BJP's campaign for its candidates on Monday, officials said. PM Narendra Modi (HT File)

Modi was received by senior BJP leaders including partys Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.

Modi was seen flashing a lotus symbol to people who were standing on both sides of the road connecting the airport with Raj Bhavan. He is likely to visit Shree Lingaraj temple in the city on Monday morning, sources said.

ALSO READ | Internal surveys show BJP gaining ground in Odisha

The PM is scheduled to address two election rallies in Berhampur and Nabarangpur on Monday.

Sarangi said Modi will again visit Odisha on May 10 and hold a road show here. He will address an election rally in Bolangir on May 11, she added.

Modi arrived at the state capital hours after BJP president J P Nadda left the city after releasing the partys manifesto ahead of the Lok Sabha and assembly elections to be held between May 13 and June 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached the Ram Temple for a darshan of Ram Lalla -- the first time after the Ram Temple was inaugurated on January 22. After offering prayers to Ram Lalla, Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Ayodhya. PM Modi's offering to Lord Ram came days before he is scheduled to file nomination papers from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on May 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praying at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Sunday.

Amid a jam-packed campaigning schedule, Narendra Modi reached Uttar Pradesh on Sunday and Ayodhya was all decked up to welcome the prime minister. Clad in golden kurta-white pants and golden jacket, Narendra Modi offered sashtang dandavat (lying prostrate) pranam to the idol of Lord Ram Lalla. After offering prayers, the prime minister embarked on a two-kilometre-long roadshow with people milling all around to get a glimpse of Narendra Modi's much-awaited roadshow.

The roadshow started from Sugriva Fort and will culminate at Lata Chowk.

Lok Sabha election 2024: Full coverage

The campaigning for the third phase of the Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh ended at 6pm on Sunday. Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly will go to polls on May 7.

Ayodhya will be voting in the 5th phase on May 20. Modi's Ayodhya roadshow was in support of BJP's sitting MP Lallu Singh. In the 2019 elections, Lallu Singh maintained his victory by defeating Samajwadi Party leader Anand Sen Yadav. BJP candidate Lallu Singh received 529,021 votes, while SP candidate Anand Sen Yadav garnered 463,544 votes.

"The hearts of the people of Ayodhya are as big as Lord Shri Ram. Greetings to the people who came to give blessings in the road show!," Narendra Modi posted on X.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's historic temple was held on January 22, with PM Modi performing the Vedic rituals, led by a group of priests. Sunday's roadshow was PM Modi's second roadshow in Ayodhya in the last five months. PM Modi held a grand roadshow during the inauguration of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport on December 30, 2023.
The Congress on Sunday posed ten questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Prajwal Revanna case, a day after his father HD Revanna was arrested by Karnataka Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating sexual assault allegations against Prajwal. Prajwal Revanna has been suspended from the JD(S) amid allegations over sexual abuse. (PTI file photo)

Our message in this case is simple and clear. Narendra Modi ji and JD(S) are protecting a mass rapist when the Prime Minister was aware that the candidate of his party's ally is a serial abuser of thousands of women. A BJP leader in December 2023 approached PM Modi and Amit Shah with all the evidence, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, whose party is in office in Karnataka, said at a press conference.

Surjewala, who was accompanied by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, then raised 10 questions to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah.

(1.) Why did the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) join hands with the Janata Dal (Secular)?

(2.) Why was Prajwal, the sitting representative of the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, fielded again?

(3.) Why did the PM himself campaign for the JD(S) leader?

(4.) Why did BJP-JD(S) hide the truth about him despite knowing everything?

(5.) Why was he allowed to leave India (Prajwal is believed to be in Germany, having left on April 26, hours after voting concluded in Hassan)?

(6.) Why have the PM and HM not responded to the SIT's letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Union government, seeking that Prajwal be brought back to India?

(7.) Why is his diplomatic passport still to be revoked?

(8.) Why has the CBI not written to Interpol to issue a blue-corner notice so that his location is ascertained?

(9.) If a mass rapist flees the country, who is responsible to bring him back: the state government or Centre?

(10.) Why is the PM afraid of questioning Prajwal Revanna?

On the contrary, Surjewala said, ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had sent a letter to CM Siddaramaiah, seeking justice for the victims.

(With ANI inputs)
Several leaders across the party line strongly denounced the terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir that left one IAF personnel dead and four injured. Security personnel stand guard after a militant attack on army vehicles, in Poonch district, Saturday, May 4, 2024.(PTI)

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote, "Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism."

"Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave air warrior who made the supreme sacrifice. We hope that the injured air warriors recover at the earliest and earnestly pray for their well-being. India is united for our soldiers," he added.

Read: Pak intruder shot dead along IB in J&K

The IAF personnel came under attack at around 6.15pm at Lassana Top in Surankote tehsil when the armed terrorists ambushed their convoy returning to their station Shahsitar from Jarawali. The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire before fleeing the spot, officials aware of the matter said.

In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces, the Indian Air Force posted on X.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said those responsible for the atrocious act will face the full force of justice.

"I vehemently denounce the cowardly assault on the @IAF_MCC convoy in Poonch by terrorists, resulting in injuries to four courageous Air Force personnel. Wishing them a swift and complete recovery. Those responsible for this atrocious act will face the full force of justice," the Assam CM said.

Read: Destructive, pernicious nature: India attacks Pakistan at UNGA over CAA, Ram Temple remarks

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack as "extremely shameful and sad," while paying tribute to the martyred soldier and extending condolences to the bereaved family.

The dastardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible, Gandhi said on X.

Aam Adami Party leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj condemned the attack, calling it a "despicable, shameful and cowardly act of the terrorists".

"Very sad news is coming from Poonch that terrorists have attacked an Air Force convoy, in which some brave Indian soldiers have been injured and one soldier has been martyred. This is a very despicable, shameful and cowardly act of the terrorists," he said, in a Hindi post on X.
A poster at Alamo Square advertises City Campus on April 25. Manuel Orbegozo/Special to the Chronicle

Frustrated by San Franciscos current social infrastructure and a post-pandemic sense of isolation, a group of techies wants to build its own community and fill it with like-minded tech workers and their families on 1 square mile of the Lower Haight, Hayes Valley and Alamo Square neighborhoods.

Early promotional artwork for what theyre calling the City Campus shows a cafe-lined street filled with residents eating and socializing. The image, located on the manifesto section of the City Campus website, shows only white residents.

City Campus co-founder Jason Benn described living in the techie neighborhood as like living in a Friends episode. Like the City Campus art, Friends didnt really have much diversity in it either.

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Last fall, California Forever, a Solano County project backed by tech billionaires who want to build their own city, released its first promotional images. They were also largely without people clearly of African descent. (The project has since seemingly focus-group tested its marketing materials to be more inclusive.)

California Forever founder and CEO Jan Sramek unveils a plan for a new city in Solano County at a news conference at the Rio Vista Veterans Building on Jan. 17. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Tech money is making post-pandemic San Francisco politics more conservative and more open to housing and public safety policies that exacerbate inequality. Whether deliberate or not, the early marketing of these techno-utopias conveys a subtle but potent message about whom these visions of paradise are designed by and intended for. These projects also speak to big techs unsettling reach and how gentrification and displacement remain unresolved issues, particularly for the citys Black population, which has dwindled from a high of 13.4% in 1970 to 5.7% today.

The manifesto on City Campus website talks glowingly about tech enclaves during life before the pandemic and the value of recreating that environment in urban areas.

The moment is ripe for us to actively build a neighborhood that mirrors the communal and self-actualizing spirit of our campuses, the post reads.

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Those campuses, historically, have been largely white or Asian, and male.

A rendering of the proposed new city in Solano County by California Forever. California Forever

The groups behind these community projects might argue that their mix of Asian and white members means theyre prioritizing diversity. But the concept of diversity is nuanced when it comes to the tech industry. Asian Americans, who account for just 6% of the U.S. population, hold around 20% of the nations tech jobs, second only to white people, who fill about 63% of the industrys total jobs while constituting about 59% of the population.

The diversity concern in tech is clearly about the underrepresentation of Black and Hispanics, given that Latinos make up 19% of the U.S. population but only 8% of the tech workforce, and Black people account for 14% of the U.S. population but only 7% of tech workers.

Tech is also an industry where Black people are most affected by recent layoffs, and where diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives born from the 2020 George Floyd protests already have been gutted or outright eliminated at major companies like Zoom, Meta, Tesla, Google and X, according to the Washington Post.

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The literature for City Campus (just as the early information about California Forever) doesnt address how the project risks perpetuating cycles of exclusion.

California Forever Head of Planning Gabriel Metcalf unveils the plan for a new city in Solano County at a news conference at the Rio Vista Veterans Building on Jan. 17. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

After racist policies of the 1950s like urban renewal, redlining and blockbusting drove Black residents out of San Francisco, the dot-com era of the 1990s and 2000s, which brought waves of white affluence into the city, inflated housing prices and forced more Black folks out. City Campus is starting as 1 square mile but has ambitions of growing.

A post on the City Campus website describes a possible day for someone in the community as starting off with co-working together at a community cafe, grabbing a meal together at the local cafeteria, starting an impromptu frisbee game at the park, followed by meditation at the local secular church, and ending in philosophical discussion at the community tea house.

As anthropologist Setha Low, director of the Public Space Research Group at the City University of New York, said in the Chronicle: What seems to be happening is people really want to stay in San Francisco, but they want to exit society.  They dont want to have to deal with the complexity, the differences, the poverty, the needs, the caring for others that was always part of urban culture. They want to escape. They want their own currency, their own culture, their own people. And they wanted it to look like Disneyland.

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Efforts to master plan futuristic cities isnt new. Last August, the New York Times said conversations about these projects have been bouncing around the meetings and salon parties of Silicon Valleys tech elite for years. Billionaires were buying up land way back in 2017 for the California Forever Project. Its hard to talk about these kinds of projects without mentioning the concept of the Network State, which has come to prominence in tech in recent years and seems to have plenty of supporters, including in California.

The Network State idea is a virtual community with the possibility of acquiring real land and establishing political institutions. For some techies, one of the common objectives in these communities is to remove progressive Democratic leadership from liberal places like San Francisco and replace it with leaders far more willing to embrace more conservative policies.

Balaji Srinivasan, a tech investor, entrepreneur and former chief technology officer of Coinbase, wrote a 2022 book called, The Network State: How to Start a New Country. According to the New Republic, The book outlines a plan for tech plutocrats to exit democracy and establish new sovereign territories.

Benn told the Chronicle the difference between City Campus and the Network State is the latter is exit and the former is about loyalty and investing in the community where its located.

(W)hen you try and make a place that everyone already wants to live in even better, then you dont have that cold-start problem  and you have all your favorite people already bought in, Benn said this week.

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I just wonder, in the tech world, how many of those favorite people are Black?

The utopian projects of Silicon Valley have the ability to unite and divide, which is itself a paradox. In their quest to engineer perfect communities, these tech leaders are potentially erecting barriers that segregate and exclude the very people who for decades have suffered most from inequity in places like San Francisco.
Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been frequently changing constituencies because of the fear of losing elections. Union home minister and BJP leader Amit Shah (Twitter Photo)

The problem is not with the constituencies, but with Rahul Gandhi himself, he will face defeat wherever he goes, Sha said while addressing an election rally campaign rally in Gujarats Bodeli.

His comments came a day after Gandhi filed his nomination from Congress stronghold Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi has decided to shift to Rae Bareli to continue the familys connection in the partys only bastion in Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi had contested from the Amethi and Wayanad seats. While he won from Wayanad, he lost the Amethi seat to Union minister Smriti Irani.

Also Read: Amit Shah takes Chandrayaan dig at Rahul Gandhi, Sonia over Raebareli candidature

He used to contest elections from Amethi but, after losing to Smriti Irani, he ran to Wayanad. Now, facing challenges in Wayanad, he has moved on to Raebareli, Shah said.

He (Rahul) lost in Amethi to Smriti Irani and ran to Wayanad. Now, fearing defeat in Wayanad, he is also contesting from Rae Bareli. Rahul Baba, the problem is not with the seat but with you. You are going to lose Rae Bareli by a huge margin, said Shah.

Shah further slammed the INDIA alliances rotation formula for the prime ministerial post, urging voters not to hand over power to a divisive party.

If the INDIA alliance were to win, they would not even have a capable PM candidate, Shah said.

The BJP has a clear face. If we win, Narendra Modi will be our PM. But if the INDIA alliance wins, who will be the PM? Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, or Rahul Gandhi?

Dismissing the idea of running a partnership firm, Shah expressed doubts over the alliances ability to handle crises like COVID-19 or terrorism in Kashmir with a rotating premiership.

Can this arrogant alliance keep the country safe after rotating the PMs term between them for one year each? Will they be able to save Kashmir from terrorists? he asked.

Shah further accused the Congress of attempting to divide the country into North and South India and said, They cannot be given power. He also refuted opposition claims about the BJPs stance on reservations, labelling them as lies.

Modi had a full majority in 2014 and 2019. But he never touched the reservation meant for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. This is Modis guarantee that till the BJP is in power, no one can touch reservation, Shah said.

Shah argued that this is a question concerning Indias future, not a business that the mother, son, or daughter can run in turns each year and emphasised that the entire country has decided to support and re-elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India will never give up its claim on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He, however, said India wouldn't have to capture it using force because its people want to leave Pakistan after seeing Jammu and Kashmir's development. Reacting to the remarks, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said Pakistan wasn't wearing bangles and they had atomic bombs. Defence minister Rajnath Singh during an interview with PTI.(PTI)

In an interview with PTI, Rajnath Singh said the way peace and development had returned in Jammu and Kashmir, there would soon be demands for PoK to merge with India.

"We will not have to use force to take PoK as people would say that we must be merged with India. Such demands are now coming," he said.

Rajnath Singh said PoK was, is and will remain India's territory.

Rajnath Singh also claimed there will be elections in Jammu and Kashmir soon. However, he didn't give a timeline.

The union minister also said that soon, AFSPA won't be needed in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also asked Pakistan to stop promoting cross-border terrorism.

Reacting to the remarks, Farooq Abdullah dared Rajnath Singh to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"If the defence minister is saying it then go ahead. Who are we to stop. But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has atom bombs, and unfortunately, that atom bomb will fall on us," the National Conference leader said.

Farooq Abdullah predicted that the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls will be announced after the Amarnath Yatra.

Reacting to yesterday's attack on security forces in Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah took potshots at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, saying terrorism continued despite the withdrawal of Article 370.

"The main problem is the tension between India and Pakistan. Both countries should talk to each other and sort out the issues," he said.

With inputs from ANI, PTI
Senior BJP leader and Defence minister Rajnath Singh dismissed the allegations of misuse of power to force out the competition in the Lok Sabha elections and pointed out that unopposed elections are not uncommon in India, with Congress candidates winning unopposed numerous times in the past. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses a public meeting ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Rohtak district, Friday, May 3, 2024.(PTI)

In an interview with The Indian Express, Rajnath Singh said, Why did you (Congress) give tickets to such candidates? We never approached them. If someone comes to us and says I want to support you, should we say No?

Read: Rajnath takes a dig at Rahul over seat shift

In a major setback to the Congress in Indore, its candidate Akshay Kanti Bam pulled back from the contest on April 29, the last date for withdrawal of nominations, and joined the BJP. Just a week before the Indore development, the BJP candidate in Gujarats Surat, Mukesh Dalal, was declared the winner after Congress nominee Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination was rejected and other candidates dropped out of the contest.

They may have realised that the Modi government is doing well and they cannot win. You should question that party Why are you blaming us? Keeping the candidate on your side was your responsibility, the BJP leader said.

Read: No one will be poor in next 10 yrs of BJP rule: Rajnath

Rajnath Singh also addressed the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks, where he used terms like "those who have more children," "illegal immigrants" for Muslims, and said the mangal sutra being taken away and given to Muslims.

Try to understand the context. Sam Pitroda talked about inheritance tax. You tell me, will it not lead to economic recession? Such statements would discourage people from creating wealth. The incentives for creating wealth will be discouraged. There are countries like Venezuela which suffered due to tax policies like inheritance tax, Singh said.

He cautioned against misinterpreting Modi's words, saying that references to the mangal sutra were merely attempts to make complex issues understandable to the public.

Dont read too much into the mangal sutra term. He was trying to make people understand. Its a term everyone will understand when you want to refer to gold. You (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) are talking about a wealth surveyWhy do you want to do a survey?

Regarding the alleged misuse of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax department in political cases, Rajnath Singh asserted that these agencies operate independently and have been given autonomy by the government.

They were not allowed to function earlier. They never enjoyed the autonomy they were supposed to get. We have given them autonomy. Just look at the value of assets attached during the UPA and the NDA tenures. During UPA time, the value of assets attached by the ED was only 5,086 crore; during the NDA time it is 1.2 lakh crore. Are we causing loss to the nation or doing good? he said.

Read the full interview here
Janata Dal (Secular) legislator HD Revanna was remanded in police custody for three days by a city court, and a Blue Notice was issued against his son, parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna, on Sunday over abduction and sexual assault charges, people aware of the matter said. Karnataka home minister Parameshwara on Sunday that a Blue Notice has been issued against Prajwal (PTI)

The Holenarasipur MLA, who was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday, was produced before a Bengaluru court, which remanded him to police custody till May 8, officials aware of the matter said.

Revanna, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowdas son, was taken into custody from the JD(S) chiefs Padmanabhanagar residence in Bengaluru. The SIT, constituted to probe the allegations of sexual abuse against the two JD(S) leaders, also rescued the abducted woman from the farmhouse of Revannas personal assistant in Mysuru a day earlier, officials familiar with the development said.

The MLAs arrest capped nearly a week of controversy that erupted after pen drives with purported videos of Prajwal sexually assaulting multiple women came to the fore days before the constituency of Hassan, a family borough of the JD(S), went to the polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Prajwal is the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the seat.

ALSO READ | HD Revanna arrested: What's the abduction case against Deve Gowda's son involving Prajwal Revanna? 5 points

Revanna was arrested in a case registered against him and his associate Sathish Babanna in Mysuru on Thursday night for allegedly abducting a woman, reportedly in her 60s. The FIR was filed on a complaint filed by the womans son after she went missing on April 28. The complainant alleged that Babanna, acting under directives from Revanna, abducted his mother.

Before being produced before the magistrate, Revanna claimed that there was no evidence of his involvement in the case.

There is no evidence. Its a big political conspiracy... A conspiracy was hatched against me, he said to the media at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, where he was taken for a medical checkup.

Babanna has already been arrested in connection with the case. According to the complaint, one of the thousands of videos shows the woman pleading with Prajwal to spare her.

Blue Notice against Prajwal

Karnataka home minister Parameshwara on Sunday that a Blue Notice has been issued against Prajwal and they were taking Interpols help to bring him back to India.

ALSO READ | Sex videos scandal: Second lookout circular issued against Prajwal Revanna

A Blue Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a persons identity, location, or activities in relation to a crime.

Already Blue Corner notice has been issued. They will locate him wherever he is. Interpol will inform all the countries and locate him, he said.

Prajwal possibly flew abroad on April 27, a day after the second phase of Lok Sabha polls. The SIT has issued a lookout notice against him.

SIT launches helpline

The SIT in the case has launched helpline  6360938947  for victims and informants who want to contact officials, an official statement said.

Any victim and informant can call on the helpline seeking legal help, protection for their safety or any other help. The identity of those who call will be protected, the statement said.
The family of University of Hyderabad doctoral student Rohith Vemula, whose suicide in 2016 sparked a nationwide movement on caste discrimination, met Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday seeking justice, a day after the state police filed a closure report in the case clearing a host of accused. The CM assured them of a reinvestigation in the case, an official statement said, as the controversy over the police report continued. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy with University of Hyderabad student Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula and brother Raja Vemula and others during a meeting, in Hyderabad, on Saturday. (PTI)

In its 60-page closure report submitted to the high court, the police said that Vemula died because he was feeling frustrated and over constant fears that his real caste identity would be discovered. The police also cleared the accusedranging from then vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile, then Secunderabad MP Bandaru Dattatreya, university administration, and leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishadof all charges, citing a lack of evidence.

My son belongs to SC [Scheduled Caste community]. I am a Dalit. How can the police say that my son is not SC? Police dont inquire about caste, it is not their job. That is a false campaign, the deceased students mother, Radhika Vemula, said.

She also rejected the police version that Vemula died by suicide because he could not study properly. The fight will continue until Rohith Vemula gets justice. It is not correct for the police to claim that Rohith committed suicide because he could not study properly. He was good at his studies. He passed all competitive exams held at the national level, she said.

Radhika said Reddy assured them of a fair probe into the case. What we want is a fair inquiry, the inquiry so far has been defective, she said.

Vemulas brother, Raja Vemula, who met the CM along with his mother, said the family did not accept the police report.

We have opposed the closure report submitted by the police. We also raised concerns regarding the issues they have mentioned in the report, he said.

An official statement said that Reddy assured Vemulas family that a reinvestigation would be conducted in the case and they would get justice.

Reddy assured her that an investigation would be conducted again into the University of Hyderabad students suicide in 2016 and that justice would be done, the release said.

PhD student Vemulas suicide in January 2016 at the University of Hyderbad campus sparked a nationwide movement on caste discrimination in educational institutions, especially after his fellow students alleged that he battled months of caste bias by university administration. His last letter, which spoke of the accident of his birth and his dreams, helped kindle a pan-Indian conversation against pernicious casteism and the ecosystem that incubates discrimination. On Friday night, the state director general of police issued a statement, saying that the final report in the case was prepared in 2018 and since Vemulas family has expressed doubts over the probe, they have decided to conduct further investigation.

The political row over the closure report continued on Saturday, with the Opposition accusing the Congress government of opportunism. Telangana Govt closing the Rohit Vemula case exemplifies ultimate opportunism and peak hypocrisy. Once @INCIndia promised a special law in the name of Rohit, but now in power, @TelanganaCMO brazenly betrays that pledge. @revanth_anumulas double standards are exposed again, BRS spokesperson Dasoju Sravan said in a post on X
Russia has tackled the issue of billions of rupees accumulated in Indian banks through investments in Indian stocks and infrastructure schemes and taken steps to ensure the flow of crude despite Western sanctions on State-owned shipping company Sovcomflot, people familiar with the matter said. The accumulation of rupees in Indian banks was flagged last year by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who had described the issue in May 2023 as a problem.

The billions of rupees had been amassed in special rupee vostro accounts (SRVAs) in India after New Delhi stepped up the purchase of discounted Russian crude since 2022 even as Moscow was shut out of Swift, the global payment system used by thousands of financial institutions, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has used the rupees in SRVAs to make investments in stocks, government securities, infrastructure schemes and other areas, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. They declined to go into details in view of the sensitivities involved.

Most of the rupees accumulated in India have been used and this is no longer a problem, one of the people said.

The two sides are still conducting most of their trade in their national currencies, with some payments for energy supplies being made in UAE dirhams, the people said. The Indian side has been loath to make payments in the Chinese yuan, especially in view of the dragging military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that has taken India-China ties to an all-time low.

The breaking of the logjam over the accumulated rupees has also eased the problem of payments for defence deals that were in the pipeline. The Russian side is now expected to deliver the two remaining S-400 air defence systems, under a $5.4-billion deal for five systems, by 2025, the people said.

The accumulation of rupees in Indian banks was flagged last year by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who had described the issue in May 2023 as a problem

Russia has also addressed issues arising from the US treasury departments sanctioning of Sovcomflot, the State-owned shipping company and fleet operator, in February and the designation of 14 of its oil tankers as blocked property, the people said. The Russian side is taking care of the insurance of its oil tankers and is not dependent on Western firms, they said.

The people, however, acknowledged that Indian crude purchases had fluctuated in recent months and were linked to demand. In April, Russias share of Indian crude imports rose to nearly 40%, up from 30% in March, and marking a nine-month high. The figure moves up and down, the person cited above said.

Two officials aware of developments said that in order to ensure Indias energy security, domestic refiners buy crude from across the world and the main consideration is purely commercial  assured supply and economical rate. Key suppliers are more than two dozen oil producing countries, including Russia, which often gives good discounts.

There has not been any issue related to payments, which are made in local currencies, the officials said. Many countries, including Russia, have SRVAs in India for trade settlement in national currencies.

Russia is the second major import source for India, after China. According to official data, India imported goods worth $55.6 billion from Russia in 2023-24 (April-February), a 37% year-on-year increase, mainly because of petroleum imports (about $46 billion).

Other items imported from Russia in this period were coal ($3.5 billion), fertilisers ($1.95 billion), and vegetable oil ($1.12 billion). Indias merchandise exports to Russia during April 2023-February 2024 were worth $3.82 billion, posting about 36% year-on-year growth. The trade deficit in this period was $51.78 billion in favour of Russia and most of this was maintained in about three dozen SRVAs.

A SRVA is held by an Indian bank on behalf of a foreign bank in the local currency and often used for trade settlements. We have such arrangements with about two dozen countries, including Russia, the UK, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, one official said.

The officials said it is not possible to tell the amounts lying in vostro accounts from individual countries, but trade deals are done on commercial principles and funds in vostro accounts can be used for purposes other than trade settlements, such as investments in government securities, projects and other permissible activities.

Money in SRVAs is like foreign exchange inflow converted into rupees. According to RBI guidelines, funds in SRVAs can be used for any permissible current and capital account transactions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), the second official said.

Funds in SRVAs can also be invested in avenues of investments mutually agreed between the countries, subject to compliance with regulatory and statutory guidelines, he said.

The RBI set up a mechanism in July 2022 to enable international trade settlement in Indian rupees, which aimed to cut transaction costs, reduce exchange rate risks for Indian traders and avoid a payment crisis due to unilateral sanctions imposed by countries such as the US.
New Delhi, The Supreme Court has set aside the Allahabad High Court order granting bail to a police officer accused of raping a 13-year-old girl who was brought to a police station in Uttar Pradesh for registering a complaint of alleged sexual assault on her by four persons. SC sets aside HC order granting bail to police officer accused of raping minor

The apex court said that there is no reason to justify the grant of bail to the accused who was the Station House Officer and allegedly grossly abused his office to commit "same heinous crime" of raping the minor victim.

A bench of justices A S Bopanna and Sanjay Kumar delivered the order on a plea filed by the victim's mother challenging the March 2 last year order of the high court.

"In the present case, the situation is far worse as respondent no.1, being the station house officer of the police station, where the minor victim girl was brought for securing her justice, is alleged to have resorted to committing the same heinous crime of raping her," the bench said in its order passed on Friday.

"In this situation, his prayer for grant of bail required more than the cursory appraisal that was bestowed by the high court. We do not find any reasons worth the name justifying the grant of bail to respondent no.1 at this stage," it said.

It allowed the appeal filed by the victim's mother and set aside the high court order.

The bench directed that the accused shall surrender forthwith, failing which the state shall take necessary steps to apprehend him and send him to judicial custody.

Senior advocate H S Phoolka appeared for the victim's mother in the case.

She had approached the apex court against the high court order granting bail to the accused in an FIR lodged for alleged offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including that of rape, and under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, 1989.

In its order, the top court noted that according to the prosecution, the minor girl was placed in the custody of the SHO on April 27, 2022 in connection with registering a complaint against four men, who were alleged to have sexually assaulted her.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday slammed Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for raising loans amounting 25,000 crore in sixteen months of being in power, and not fulfilling the promises made ahead of assembly polls. Meenakshi Lekhi (File photo)

Ye sukh ki nahin, dukh ki sarkar hai (it is not a government of happiness but of grief), Lekhi said addressing media persons, in a reference to the states chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

It has failed to fulfil the promise of giving 1 lakh jobs every year and giving 1,500 per month to women and has stopped the Union governments welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat by not giving its share, " she said.

"The BJP has gone to people with its report card for seeking a third term for Prime Minister Modi for its vision of developed India by 2047, while the performance of 16-month-old Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal has been dismal and it has nothing to show," said Lekhi who is the Union minister of state of external affairs and culture.

ALSO READ| BJP tarnished HPs culture by starting horse-trading politics: Himachal CM Sukhu

Central funds amounting to 1,200 crore allotted to Himachal Pradesh have lapsed as the state government failed to give its share, she said.

The minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the country to new heights.

Claiming that the Modi government has fulfilled the promise to give employment, Lekhi said that the Indian economy which was among the five fragile economies in 2014 was now among five top economies.

Massive investment has been made in infrastructure development, Har Ghar ko Nal scheme (tap to every household), rural housing, HIMCARE and Ayushman Bharat schemes, she said. HIMCARE is a scheme of the Himachal Pradesh government to provide free treatment to patients, along the lines of Ayushman Bharat.

The minister added that an increase in the number of EPF (Employees Provident Fund) members is evidence of employment generation.

Lekhi said the state government has not contributed its share of 300 crore under HIMCARE and Ayushman schemes and health services are crumbling in the state.

More than 4.85 lakh people in the state got free treatment from these schemes during the past three years and 78,365 new cards were made till November 2023, she claimed, accusing the Sukhu government of vendetta politics.

The previous BJP government raised loans worth 17,829 crore in five years but the present government has broken all the records by raising 25,000 crore loans in just 16 months, and announced the implementation of Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Dukh Samman Nidhi Yojana to give 1,500 per month to women, without making any budgetary provision in the budget passed a few days back, she claimed.

The minister said that the people have to make a choice between "Jhooth (lie) ki guarantee of Congress and Modi ki Guarantee.

Speaking on the increase in import duty on apples, Lekhi said that it has been increased to 50 per cent due to certain limitations of international trade agreements. She claimed the trade agreements were signed when Congress leader Anand Sharma was the Commerce minister in the UPA government.
A large number of cadres are deserting the Communist Party of India (Maoist)-led insurgency fearing they will be killed or arrested in ground operations being carried out by security forces in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

In total 490 Maoists surrendered before the authorities in 2022, while 370 laid down arms in 2023. (PTI)
The Uttarakhand Police on Saturday arrested three people from Bihar for allegedly promoting forest fires in the state, officials said. As per reports, forest fires have become an annual feature in Uttarakhand and the change in weather conditions has resulted in soaring temperatures.(HT File)

According to the police, a video came to light after it went viral on social media platforms wherein the three youths were promoting forest fires.

In the purported video, a youth can be heard saying, "Nobody challenges those who play with fire...and Biharis are never challenged."

The accused have been identified as Brijesh Kumar, Salman and Shukhlal, all three residents of Bihar.

"They were booked under section 26 of the Indian Forest Act of 1927 and several other sections of the Indian Penal Code," the officials added.

ALSO READ | 3 killed as forest fires continue in Uttarakhand

The incident took place in the Chamoli district's Gairsain area, the district SP Sarvesh Panwar said.

He further appealed people to not to indulge in setting fire in the forests or promote it as it is a punishable crime.

"Those who will not adhere to law, will be punished," the district SP added.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP), Uttarakhand, Abhinav Kumar that several cases have been registered in nine districts in connection with forest fires in the state.

In accordance with a coordinated plan, the Police and Forest Departments will identify the areas impacted by forest fires and look into whether the flames started accidentally or on purpose, said the official.

ALSO READ | Uttarakhand forest fires mostly man-made; ex-CM says can't be controlled without | 10 points

The Uttarakhand DGP in conversation with ANI on forest fires in the state said, "It is to be noted that 70 per cent of Uttarakhand is covered with forests. This makes forest and wildlife protection a matter of top priority not only for the forest department but also for the police department."

"We have taken the issue of forest fires in various forests throughout the state extremely seriously, based on the information we have received about them this year," he said.

Earlier this week, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stressed the need for advance preparations to deal with forest fire incidents in the state, noting that the responsibilities of all the senior officers from the headquarters should be fixed, as should the district officers and there should be complete control over it.

Amid incidents of forest fire reported in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a review meeting at Uttarakhand Sadan, New Delhi, on May 4.

The meeting focused on strategies to tackle forest fires, address the drinking water crisis, and ensure smooth preparations for the Chardham Yatra.

The state has recently witnessed an alarming increase in forest fires, prompting concerns about environmental safety and the impact on local communities.

As per reports, forest fires have become an annual feature and the change in weather conditions has resulted in soaring temperatures.

Uttarakhand starts experiencing forest fires in mid-February when the trees shed dry leaves and the soil loses moisture due to a temperature rise, and this continues till mid-June.
Emeryvilles population rose 5% at the start of 2024 from a year earlier, the second-largest growth rate of any California city with at least 10,000 people last year. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle 2021

One of Alameda Countys smallest cities is also among Californias fastest-growing municipalities.

Emeryvilles population reached 13,300 at the beginning of 2024, according to estimates from the California Department of Insurance, after a 5% year-over-year increase from its population of about 12,700 people at the start of 2023. That was the second-largest growth rate of any California city with at least 10,000 people last year.

Read more: This California city is the fifth fastest growing in the U.S.

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Emeryville was the only place in the Bay Area that made the list of Californias fastest-growing cities. But multiple cities in the nearby Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley saw significant increases, with Lathrop, whose population rose 5.4%, seeing the fastest rise in the state.

Unlike many other Bay Area cities such as Oakland, San Jose and San Mateo, Emeryvilles estimated population has grown fairly steadily. Even during the pandemic, when many people left the region, Emeryville saw just one slight population dip from 2021 to 2022, which was reversed the next year.

Emeryvilles estimated population grew by about 2,300 people from 2014 to 2024, an increase of 21.3%. Over the past decade, Californias overall population grew by 1.4%.

Emeryvilles housing production rate has outpaced its rising population. The city had about 8,400 housing units at the start of 2024, about 500 homes more than it had in 2023  a 6.4% increase. Over the past decade, the number of homes in Emeryville rose by 23.7%.

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Emeryville has encouraged housing development for years. Officials have purchased land for affordable homes, raised height limits in parts of the city, and shot past their state-mandated housing goals. In 2022, the California Department of Housing and Community Development designated Emeryville a prohousing city. The award grants Emeryville, along with other recipients such as Oakland and Los Angeles, funds for affordable housing and other infrastructure projects.

Lathrop, a San Joaquin County city of an estimated 37,000 people just south of Stockton, has also overseen a surge in housing. Incorporated less than 35 years ago, the city has nearly doubled its number of homes over the past decade  due largely to a construction boom in 2021 and 2022  surpassing its 80% increase in population during the same period.

Lathrops economic development department describes the city as an affordable place to live for families priced out of the Bay Area. Inland regions such as San Joaquin, Fresno and Kings counties have seen their populations grow steadily in recent years due to a mix of strong birth rates and Bay Area workers looking for cheaper homes from which they can work remotely.

Unlike Emeryville, Lathrops housing production has focused mostly on single-family homes, state Department of Finance data shows, and households are generally composed of three or four people. The bulk of Emeryvilles housing growth has been apartments and other larger buildings, with households usually having one or two people each.

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Reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) will not end as long as there is a single Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member in Parliament, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. Union home minister Amit Shah in Secunderabad on Sunday. (PTI)

Shah, who was addressing an election rally in Nizamabad in Telangana, also alleged the Congress fights elections on the basis of lies, and slammed the grand old party over its claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would end reservations if the BJP wins the ongoing general elections.

They (Congress) want to say that we will end reservations. I give you a Modi guarantee today. As long as there is even a single BJP member in the countrys parliament, we will not let Dalit, Adivasi, OBC reservations end, Shah said.

ALSO READ | PM against quota, wants to take it away: Rahul sharpens attack

The Congress has alleged that Modi will scrap reservations if he gets a majority but the Prime Minister has been having a full majority for the last 10 years, he said. Modi did not use the advantage (majority seats) to scrap reservations but only to remove Article 370, end triple talaq, ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) and construct a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he added.

The Congress has often alleged that the BJP and its ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are against reservations. On Sunday too, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that Modi is against reservation and wants to take away quotas from the people.

ALSO READ | No reservation based on religion to Muslims as long as I am alive: PM Narendra Modi

While Modi on May 1 asserted that as long as he and the BJP are around, reservation in jobs and education granted to SCs/STs/OBCs, and economically weaker sections as per the Constitution by Bhimrao Ambedkar will be safeguarded, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, on April 28, said the organisation has always been in support of quotas and advocated for its implementation.

Shah said that the 4% Muslim reservation in Telangana is not constitutional and that the BJP would scrap it and increase the quota for Adivasis and Dalits when it forms the government in the state.

The Congress curtailed the reservations of OBC, ST, SC and gave to Muslims, he said.

ALSO READ | PM Modi challenges Congress to pledge they wont tamper with Constitution

The Muslims in Telangana enjoy a 4% quota; the matter, however, is pending in the Supreme Court.

Shah also said that Modi banned triple talaq (Muslim divorce law) but Gandhi says his party will bring it back if it is voted to power.

The Congress wants to run the country as per Muslim personal law, Shah alleged.

(With PTI inputs)
The United States is gearing up for Cinco de Mayo. Music, all-day happy hours and deals on tacos are planned at venues across the country on Sunday  May 5  in a celebration with widely misunderstood origins that is barely recognized south of the border. In the U.S., the date is largely seen as a celebration of Mexican American culture stretching back to the 1800s in California. Typical festivities include parades, street food, block parties, mariachi competitions and baile folklorico, or folkloric dance, with whirling dancers wearing shiny ribbons with braids and bright, ruffled dresses. Folklorico dancers from the group Viva Mexico perform their routine during a Cinco de Mayo celebration. The United States is gearing up for Cinco de Mayo. Music, all-day happy hours, and deals on tacos are planned at venues across the country on in a celebration with widely misunderstood origins that is barely recognized south of the border. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP, File)

For Americans with or without Mexican ancestry, the day has become an excuse to toss back tequila shots with salt and lime, and gorge on tortilla chips smothered with melted orange cheddar that's unfamiliar to most people in Mexico. The focus on drinking and eating has brought some criticism of the holiday, especially as beer manufacturers and other marketers have capitalized on its festive nature and some revelers embrace offensive stereotypes, such as fake, droopy mustaches and gigantic straw sombreros.

WHAT IT IS

Cinco de Mayo marks the anniversary of the 1862 victory by Mexican troops over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The triumph over the better equipped and more numerous French troops was an enormous emotional boost for the Mexican soldiers led by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. Historical reenactments and parades are held annually in the central Mexico city of Puebla to commemorate the inspirational victory, with participants dressed in historical French and Mexican army uniforms.

WHAT IT ISN'T

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, Mexico's most important holiday. Mexicans celebrate their country's independence from Spain on the anniversary of the call to arms against the European country issued Sept. 16, 1810, by the Rev. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in Dolores, Mexico.

Mexico's president reenacts el Grito de Independencia, or the Cry of Independence, most years on Sept. 15 at about 11 p.m. from the balcony of the country's National Palace, ringing the bell Hidalgo rang. The commemoration typically ends with three cries of Viva Mexico! above a colorful swirl of tens of thousands of people crowded into the Zocalo, or main plaza, in central Mexico City.

THIS YEARS CELEBRATIONS

May 5 this year falls on a Sunday, an ideal day for many people to relax and enjoy the day. There are celebrations planned across the country, especially in places with large Mexican American populations. Among the festivities In California, San Jose will host a parade and festival featuring live music, dancers and lowrider cars, while in San Francisco there will be a festival at District Six.

An outdoor market in El Paso, Texas, will feature a car show, vendors and live music from Krystall Poppin, Ka$h Go Crazy and 2 Sexy Ashley. In New Orleans, there will be celebrations on Saturday and Sunday at Fat City Park, with two stages and eight bands, as well as a taco-eating contest.

Across the country, bars and restaurants are promoting their Mexican fare and specials including all-day happy hours. For something different, New York even has a floating Mexican restaurant on a yacht that cruises the Hudson River.
In a cave in Mexico's Riviera Maya, where nature has sculpted a subterranean landscape of stunning beauty, thick steel columns supporting a controversial new tourist railway intrude into a delicate ecosystem. The Yucatan Peninsula boasts an estimated 2,400 of these caverns and sinkholes, which are known as cenotes and are a major attraction for tourists who swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters that fill some of them. It is the "nightmare" of environmentalists in Mexico: the construction of the Mayan Train, the tourist megaproject of outgoing president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, threatens the cenotes, the pre-Hispanic underground wells that abound in the Yucatan Peninsula. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Campaigners warn that the unique geological system is under threat from the Maya Train, one of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's flagship infrastructure projects. "It's our worst nightmare. We've seen a large drill entering and breaking the ceiling of the cave" as well as its ancient stalactites, biologist and speleologist Roberto Rojo told AFP, surveying the damage.

In March, Rojo's group Selvame del Tren (Save Me From the Train) filmed a huge drill piercing a hole into a cavern for one of the pillars supporting a railway viaduct. Rojo calculates that the Maya Train, which partially opened in December, will need up to 17,000 columns along its 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) loop around southeastern Mexico. Work on the project has continued despite a court-ordered suspension pending environmental studies.

The original plan was to build part of the railway -- which the government says will bring prosperity to one of the country's poorest regions -- next to a major highway. But according to environmentalists, the government moved the section into the jungle to avoid a conflict with hoteliers who feared traffic delays during construction. They accuse Lopez Obrador of rushing to finish the railway before he leaves office in October.

Ecocide

Activists have branded the construction work ecocide. They say the project lacks the proper environmental impact studies, has razed 8.7 million trees and has irreversibly damaged the underground ecosystem. Lopez Obrador calls the members of Salvame del Tren "pseudo-environmentalists" and accuses them of profiting from the "alleged defense of nature."

The construction work, deemed of "national security" importance, is protected by the National Guard. Reaching one of the affected cenotes is no easy task. It involves driving several kilometers from the resort city of Playa del Carmen, then continuing the journey -- almost impossible without a guide -- on foot, using a machete to cut through the undergrowth.

Once inside the cave, a helmet with a flashlight is essential. The cavern is adorned by thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, some ancient and several meters high, others newly formed and measuring just a few centimeters.

Clean-up promised

Despite Lopez Obrador's assurances, concrete has leaked out of the steel columns and contaminated the cenote water, according to environmentalists. Worryingly, the well is a source of water for human consumption and eventually reaches the offshore Mesoamerican Reef -- the second largest in the world, Rojo said. "Plants, animals and ourselves depend on this, which is one of the last healthy aquifers we have in Mexico," he said.

Lopez Obrador said three weeks ago that there has only been one accidental concrete spillage and that it was being remedied. But inside the affected cenote, a clean-up has not yet happened. Other columns show signs of leaks and rust. Drills continue to bore holes into the fragile ground. The newspaper El Universal reported Friday that the environmental protection agency PROFEPA had documented five spillages linked to the railway construction.

A balance

The government says that for the five completed sections of the train, nine protected natural areas have been created, totaling 1.34 million hectares (3.3 million acres). Most of it corresponds to the Bajos del Norte National Park, an underwater reserve in the Gulf of Mexico.

The government also created a protected area in the southeastern state of Campeche that it says will be the second-largest rainforest reserve in the world, after the Brazilian Amazon. In Playa del Carmen, tourists blissfully unaware of the environmental fears arrived recently at a modern Maya Train station that had been inaugurated two months ago.

About a hundred people were waiting for the train, which has a capacity of 2,210 passengers, according to the defense ministry, which manages the project. Environmental damage is part of the project's "yin and yang," said Jaime Vazquez, a tour operator arriving at the station. "On the one hand there is an effect, of course, but on the other hand you benefit humans. So it's a balance," the 40-year-old said.
I had said earlier that shehzada (prince) will lose Wayanad and start looking for a second seat. His supporters were saying he would come to Amethi. But shehzada was so scared of Amethi that he fled to Rae Bareli. These people tell everyone Daro mat. I tell them Arrey daro mat, bhago mat (dont be scared, dont flee), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally, tongue in cheek, and added, I had also said that their top leader will run away; she ran away, she left Uttar Pradesh and contested the elections from Rajasthan.

The Congress party itself gave Modi the opportunity to make fun of Sonia and Rahul. Since late Thursday, there have been hints that Rahul could be contesting in Rae Bareli and Kishori Lal Sharma, also known as KL Sharma, in Amethi. Sharma is the secretary of the All India Congress Committee and has spent the last 30 years working in the Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies on behalf of the family.

For those who are unaware of his background, he is originally from Punjab, but as a permanent representative of the family, he maintains strong links with the workers of both parliamentary constituencies. According to the Congress, Sharma is the most suitable candidate for Amethi and will defeat Smriti Irani.

Is this possible?

Nothing is impossible in a democracy. If Raj Narain could defeat Indira Gandhi in 1977 and Irani could clean bowl Rahul in 2019, it is best not to say anything till the results are announced. However, there is a significant contrast in the face value of Irani and Sharma  Sharma works in the background, whereas the latter is aggressive in her politics. This fight does not appear to be even at the moment.

But why did the Gandhis abandon Amethi?

Perhaps Congress leaders thought that if Priyanka and Rahul fought elections from neighbouring constituencies, allegations of nepotism would only grow against them. If they win, the siblings will feel at ease in the House, but the Opposition and critics would have the opportunity to draw comparisons. The Gandhi family is alert to this. Their roles are clearly delineated. This is why symptoms of family disharmony appeared only oncewhen Maneka Gandhi left 1, Safdarjung Road following the death of Sanjay Gandhi. Since then, Maneka and son Varun have taken distinctly different political routes from Rahul and the family.

Congress leaders are aware that leaving Amethi may send the wrong message, which is why they claim that the Gandhi familys relationship with Rae Bareli is decades older than what it was with Amethi. Feroze Gandhi won from Rae Bareli in 1952, then Indira, followed by Sonia, and after she assumed a less active role in day-to-day politics, Rahul stepped in to carry on the legacy. Prominent Congress leaders and his entire family gathered to support Rahuls nomination. Workers from the Samajwadi Party joined him in a show of solidarity.

Theres also the question of how much the Congress will benefit if Rahul wins. The party is contesting on 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh (UP), but do you remember the names of even five of its candidates? The Congress is already in a dire situation in the state. Priyanka was the partys general secretary in charge of the state during the last assembly elections. The Congress fought a total of 398 seats, but how many did it win? Only two.

Rahul may encounter another problem in the coming days. He promised in Wayanad that the people there were his family and that he would not ditch them. But today in Rae Bareli, he is battling for legacy. If he wins both the seats, which one will he abandon? If he leaves Kerala, he will be disregarding those who helped him win in adversity. The same will be the case if he leaves Rae Bareli.

Another fact worth noting here is that in Kannauj, Akhilesh Yadav fielded his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav. Im not sure why, but his thinking changed within two days, and he entered the electoral fray. Did he realise that the Gandhis were about to bid goodbye to Amethi this time? Even if both Rahul and Akhilesh are declared winners, Akhilesh Yadav will continue to be UPs most visible representative in the Lok Sabha. This will boost his political profile. We must remember that Mayawati had once made excellent use of her Lok Sabha membership.

A cautionary note: In the realm of politics, the voters choice reigns supreme. If the Congress secures power through its alliance, all these conjectures will cease. History often overlooks the flaws of the victors. Do you anticipate a similar outcome this time?

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal
The general elections are on in the country: Uttarakhand voted on April 19. However, the summer fires threatening the mountain state did not make it to the campaign. Neither has the political class cared to notice that there has been a drought in the state for the last many months. The bureaucracy in Dehradun and the district headquarters are equally blind to the ground situation. Preparations to fight forest fires need to begin in November- December and the forces need to stay alert until the monsoon arrives in the hills in late June.

The forests have been dry since late September last year, and fires reported as early as December. They became a challenge in mid-April. Thats when the forest department and the civil administration became alert and active. The National and State Disaster Response Forces, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Army were told to take charge. Helicopters were dispatched and more firemen were deployed. At least two people have died in the fires.

Even though the forest department has released regular statements on the fires, the full picture hasnt yet emerged. The media is talking about fires in Nainital, without keeping in mind that Nainital is a hill station and a district, too. Since November 2023, Uttarakhand has recorded 606 forest fires, in which 735 hectares of forests have been gutted. Even as it was being said that the blaze would be brought under control in two days, the flames had already consumed acres of forests. At some places, including parts of Nainital cantonment, Air Force Area, High Court Colony, the fire had entered the oak (broadleaf) forests too.

What is the extent of loss of flora and fauna so far? This question has faded into the background. The ecological costs can never be calculated: Only the loss of timber is considered. Now the concern is how the remaining forests can be saved till the rains arrive.

Forests cover as much as 64.7% (or 3.47 million hectares) of Uttarakhand's 53,483 square km area. Of this, 42% is under dense forests. Protected areas form nearly 15% of the states land and 23% of the total forest cover. According to forest scholar, the late JS Mehta, 31% of Uttarakhands total forest area (10,621 sq km) is covered by pine, and 9.5% by oak or broadleaf tree species (3,178 sq km). Mixed forests cover 7,354 sq km and commercial plantations or lesser productive forests cover 5,000 sq km.

The ban on green felling above the elevation of 1,000 metres has benefitted pine trees the most, as it is hardy, fast-growing and avoided by animals. On the other hand, pine needles decompose very slowly and feed forest fires. The absence of timely pruning or rotational cutting has meant that pine has started entering the sal forests at the foothills and the broadleaf forests at even higher altitudes.

There is only one way forward: Taking preventive measures on time. Our forests are catching fire at the ground level, not at the level of the canopy as in California or at the bush level like in Australia. Hence, fire prevention work needs to begin early. In November itself, disaster management teams should start working in every district. Various departments should contribute to the efforts: Peoples representatives, womens groups, students, teachers, National Service Scheme volunteers, and the National Cadet Corps, all should take part.

Fire control lines (at least 10 metres wide) inside the forests and along the roads need to be made and kept clean to eliminate the possibility of fires. Satellite information and mapping should be used. Only an aware society and a responsible administration can put such information and science to use.

Pine needles need to be removed. These can be used to generate electricity and fuel (Avani, a voluntary organisation, and some others have successfully started doing this). The broadleaf forests should be expanded and water conservation pits (or chaal-khaal) must be created. Pine is not without its uses: Pinewood is good for making homes, cooking fuel, and for funeral pyres. It is also a key raw material for many industries. The mantra should be: Use pine, but dont allow it to encroach on oak territory. Let it stay in its native area. It will grow again after the fire. But the renewal of broadleaf forests is tougher.

The climate crisis is a reality that needs to be dealt with. The Himalayas also experience diverse weather conditions, as evident from the landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, the fires in Nepal, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, and snow in some parts of Kashmir and the higher reaches, all at the same time. What is needed is to be prepared with disaster plans well before the onset of floods, fires, and drought. We have failed on this count.

Over the last century, there have been innumerable forest fires. In the pre-Independence era, at the time of the Jungle Satyagraha, villagers set fire to the pine forests but put out fires in the oak forests. There have been fires in 1995, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2023. Floods in 2013 and rains last year helped to control fires. Some people see a cycle of two to six years in the onset of forest fires. But, over the last two decades, it has become an annual tragedy. Between 2005 and 2015, more than 5,000 hectares of forests have been lost to fire in Kumaon alone.

Villagers are being blamed for the fires, but a villager setting fire to the forest would be an exception. On the other hand, villagers have been putting out forest fires for centuries. Their existence is intimately connected to the forests. Displacement, out-migration, and the inability to obtain their forest rights might have depressed them. But, people continue to sacrifice their lives to save forests. In May 2009, in Gangwada village of Pauri district, the fire spread from the government forest to the panchayat forest. Children, women, and men, all got involved in putting out the fires. Eight lives were lost while politicians and administrators got busy with by-elections.

Experts say that forest and land mafia, departments, and organisations involved in false plantations have a greater interest in setting fire to forests. The fire covers their crimes, just like landslides cover the crimes of the public works department and floods those of the dam-builders. The major triggers for forest fires are drought, the spread of pine forests, the official policy of distancing villagers from the forests and the lack of timely fire control mechanisms. The shrinking of the forest bureaucracy to the confines of Dehradun is unfortunate, too.

Symbolically, the wells of the politicians, administrators, and forest department do not have the waters of wisdom, commitment, strategy and love for the forests. The day the wells of society run dry, the forests will be destroyed. MI-17 choppers are not the solution. Timely preparation and forming a joint front of the government and civil society is the only way forward.

Shekhar Pathak, author of Chipko Movement: A Peoples History, taught at Kumaon University and is now associated with Pahar Foundation. The views expressed are personal
As major corporates are once again laying off employees, the uncertainty and anxiety among people have increased. Numerous people are again back on a job hunt, while others try to survive at their workplaces. Keeping the current situation in mind, an IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus shared his thoughts on the "quaint notion of dream companies". Last week, Google delisted the apps of 10 Indian businesses from its proprietary app store(REUTERS)

"Well, isn't it just grand to see these big corporations making such thoughtful decisions for their employees? Google, the beacon of innovation, decided that it was a fantastic idea to let go of their entire Python team. Because, obviously, Python is so last season for them. And Tesla, bless their hearts, they've got the whole layoff thing down to an art form. It's like a team-building exercise, but instead of trust falls, you get handed a pink slip," wrote Sanket Shah in his post on LinkedIn.

He further added, "And Atlassian, oh, they're just keeping us on our toes with their hiring and firing at the same time. It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions for those poor students. You know, the ones who thought they had a shot at a future there. But hey, who needs stability when you can have a front-row seat to the circus of corporate decisions?" (Also Read: Google Layoffs: Ex-employee's LinkedIn post describes traumatic ordeal, My hands were shaking')

At the end, he said, "The term 'dream company,' what a quaint notion. Who needs dreams when you can have profit margins !! Let's all raise a glass for the corporate overlords because clearly, they've got our best interests at heart. Cheers to uncertainty and disappointment!"

Take a look at the post here:

Earlier, a Pakistani woman claimed she lost her job during Elon Musk's continuous layoffs at Tesla. She shared an emotional statement on LinkedIn, describing her sentiments about working at the organisation. After her post went viral, it struck a chord with numerous people.
Harsh Goenka often shares his thoughts and opinions on various things on social media. Recently, the RPG Enterprises chairman took to X and posted his view on the booming stock market. He shared how he feels that Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh era is back in Kolkata. After he made the tweet, numerous people took to the comments section of the post and reacted to it. Harsh Goenka shared his opinion on Kolkata's stock market. (Instagram/@officialhumansofbombay)

"With a booming stock market, all the malpractices of Harshad Mehta/Ketan Parekh era are back primarily in Kolkata. Promoters are inflating profits (through profit entry) and in nexus with Gujarati-Marwari brokers driving their stock prices to unrealistic levels. It's time for @SEBI_India @FinMinIndia to step in and investigate before small investors suffer severe losses," wrote Harsh Goenka in his post. (Also Read: Godrej Group splitting after 127 years is 'all clean like their soaps', says Harsh Goenka)

Take a look at the tweet here:

This post was shared on May 4. Since being posted it has gained more than six lakh views. The share also has close to 4,000 likes and the numbers are only increasing. Numerous people took to the comments section of the post and shared their reactions.

Here's how people reacted:

An individual wrote, "Mostly the major Steel houses. One of them saw their shares zoom close to 30x in the last year to 1000+ levels."

A second added, "Yes please. We have to be able to be more realistic and responsible. It's not a fair game, but who needs another debacle, and honestly, why? There is plenty of money to be made always by those who know how to play!" (Also Read: Harsh Goenka shares doctor's 3 secrets to lead a long and healthy life. Here's what he said)

"Seems like a pretty serious allegation, @hvgoenka - though community profiling could have been avoided! In a market of 9000 plus listed stocks, if a few smaller firms indulged themselves, there was scarcely a need for alarm bells," commented a third.

A fourth shared, "The market survives because of two kinds of people. People who think the Market is at the right price and people who think there is a crash coming. This balance keeps the equilibrium."
Wisconsin elementary school teacher Madison Bergmann, 24, was arrested for "making out" with a fifth-grade student. Soon after she was taken into custody, her fiance, Sam Hickman, called off the wedding, according to one of his friends. Bergmann and Hickman were set to marry in July, but the revelation of her affair with one of her 11-year-old student has put an end to their relationship, as per reports. Bergmann is charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault.(Facebook/@Stuart Kent Smith)

"It's been indefinitely postponed. And it probably won't happen. Sam is really upset and heartbroken. He's embarrassed and pissed. He didn't deserve this. Everyone is pissed," said one of Hickman's friends to the New York Post.

He also added, "It was more like, 'Well, obviously, it's not going to happen this summer.' Pretty much all that there is to say. He's really, really hurt. Not talking too much about it. He's still in shock. Not only did she cheat on him, but she cheated with a little kid." (Also Read: Couple caught 'making love' at NYC park, viral video causes widespread outrage among people)

According to charging documents, Bergmann was arrested when the victim's parents discovered interactions between the two. The boy's father then informed the River Crest Elementary School, sparking an investigation. The texts contained intimate messages from Bergmann outlining their acts inside the classroom at lunch or after school.

Additionally, according to police, they discovered a folder in the victim's purse bearing her name and scribbled notes about how frequently they kissed, reported the New York Post.

The duration of the assault remains unknown, but the alleged perpetrator informed investigators that she received the boy's phone number from his mother in December when the family invited her to spend winter break in the Afton Alps.

Bergmann is charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault. She was released on a $25,000 signature bond. She has also been barred from contacting district students, parents or staff.
Brittany Lauga, an Australian MP, has alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon last weekend. In a statement posted on social media, the Queensland Labor MP said she had contacted police in the early hours of April 28 morning. Queensland MP Brittany Lauga in Australia.

"Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly," Brittany Lauga in an Instagram post.

Brittany Lauga added that throughout the week, she had been contacted by several other women from the town who had similar experiences. "This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us," the Australian MP said.

Also Read | HD Revanna arrested: What's the abduction case against Deve Gowda's son involving Prajwal Revanna? 5 points

I have had multiple women contact me who have experienced the same thing in our town. Its not ok. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted," Brittany Lauga added.

A video, purported to be of the alleged assault of Brittany Lauga filmed from across the street, is circulating online, The Guardian reported. Brittany Lauga was alerted to its existence in the hours after she reported the assault to police.

The Queensland Police Service has confirmed it is investigating a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident in Yeppoon. Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the government is supporting Brittany Lauga in any way they can, ABC reported.

"No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through," Steven Miles was quoted as saying.

Also Read | Sexual harassment case: Haryana minister Sandeep files discharge application

"My sole focus is on Brittany and her wellbeing. I have told Brittany Lauga that we are here to support her, whatever she needs," he added.

Queensland housing minister Meaghan Scanlon said the statement made for difficult reading. "Those are shocking allegations  I understand that Brittany is going to take a short time to look after herself and we absolutely support her to do that," she said.

Also Read | Ludhiana: Two teen boys held on charges of sexual harassment, murder bid

Who is Brittany Lauga?

A town planner by profession, 37-year-old Brittany Lauga has been in parliament for nearly a decade, first elected to the seat of Keppel in 2015. Brittany Lauga holds the portfolio of assistant minister for health and regional health infrastructure, The Guardian reported.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the country's government has decided to shut down Qatar's global news channel Al Jazeera's local branch. The remark comes amid a long-running tension between the country and the international news channel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(AP file photo)

Netanyahu called the AL Jazeera incitement channel.

"The government unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu wrote on social media website X.

Earlier today, Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas' demand for ending the war in Gaza in exchange for Israeli hostages, saying that would keep the Islamist group in power in Palestine, posing a threat to the former's country.

He added that Israel will not accept terms that amount to capitulation. He vowed that Israel will continue the war in Gaza till its aims are achieved.

Israel has been fighting a protracted war against Hamas since October 7, when the group's fighters stormed the former's cities and killed 1200 people, including women and children.

The health ministry of Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that 34,683 people have died during the seven-month-old Israel-Gaza war. Over 78018 people have been wounded in the Gaza strip.

The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire as there is a famine in northern Gaza.

The death toll in Palestine has also resulted in strained ties between Israel and its ally the United States.

The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has blamed Hamas for stalling a ceasefire. He said the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas.

Qatar, Egypt and the US are trying to broker a peace between Israel and Hamas.

A Hamas official told AFP that there won't be a truce until Israel stops the war and withdraws from Gaza.

An Israeli official on Saturday, however, told AFP in Jerusalem that Israel has not agreed to any guarantees that the war will end.

Israel has warned that it would attack Rafah if hostages are not released.

The country hasn't sent its delegation to Cairo for peace talks.

Blinken on Friday said Israel has not presented a plan to protect civilians. Without it, "we can't support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what's acceptable," Blinken added, per AFP.
DaShawn Rhoades, 22, was killed in a mass shooting during a 2021 Juneteenth celebration in Oakland. Courtesy of Jasma Turner

Oakland police are asking the public to help solve two fatal shootings they believe are connected, including a 2021 shooting at Lake Merritt that injured seven people.

The first homicide occurred on 68th Avenue near Foothill Boulevard around 1:45 p.m. on April 28, 2020, when several people got out of a sport utility vehicle  a Nissan Armada  and shot 23-year-old Henry Texada, police said.

Investigators followed leads and recovered the SUV, which had been rented in Reno, police said in a video narrative posted to social media.

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The post included a statement from Texadas mother, who described him as a wonderful son, brother, uncle and a Boys and Girls Club mentor. Henry had a smile that would light up the room, she said.

Investigators believe multiple people responsible for Texadas death were also involved in the fatal shooting of 22-year-old DaShawn Rhoades during a Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2021, on Lakeshore Avenue on the east end of Lake Merritt. Seven other victims  five men and two women  were injured.

The police departments social media post included grainy footage of a person of interest and a second person police said investigators want to talk to about Rhoades killing. No further information was released.

Rhoades was a happy, fun-loving and musical person and had a 1-year-old son, his aunt Jasma Turner previously told the Chronicle. He jumped into that fathers role like it was second nature for him, Turner said.

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Qatar-based network Al Jazeera on Sunday reacted to Israel's decision of banning the broadcaster and its operations in the country. Al Jazeera said that it was a criminal decision, saying that it violates basic human rights of the people in the country trying to access information. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(REUTERS)

Al Jazeera said in its statement on social media platform X, We condemn and denounce this criminal act by Israel that violates the human right to access information.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government decided to unanimously close the channel over its coverage of the Gaza war. This decision comes after months of criticism of Al Jazeera by the Netanyahu government, which began even before Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.

The official statement from the Israeli government said that the measure to ban Al Jazeera in the country will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites. It did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operations.

Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said he had issued the order to shutter the channel, confiscate equipment and restrict broadcasting to Al Jazeera's websites in a separate joint statement with the Israeli premier.

Since the war between Israel and Hamas began after the October 7 attacks, Al Jazeera has been continuously airing its ground reports from Gaza, showing the aftermath in the areas hit by Israel's offence.

The network's office in Gaza has been bombed in the conflict and two of its correspondents have been killed. Al Jazeera alleged earlier that Israel has been deliberately targeting and killing its journalists reporting on-ground from Gaza. However, Israel responded that it does not target journalists.

Al Jazeera previously called Israeli efforts to curtail its operations an "escalation" and said in a statement in early April that it "comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera".

Two journalists from Al Jazeera - Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh - were killed in the middle of the Gaza conflict during airstrikes by the Israeli military.

(With inputs from agencies)
The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said on Sunday, with more than 115,000 people displaced. A man, carrying a baby, wades through a street flooded by heavy rains, in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.(AP)

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Rio Grande do Sul on Sunday morning with most members of his cabinet to discuss rescue and reconstruction works with local authorities.

"Bureaucracy will not stand in our way, stopping us from recovering the state's greatness," Lula said at a press conference.

"It is a war scenario, and will need post-war measures," state governor Eduardo Leite added.

The death toll could still substantially increase as 105 people were reported missing on Sunday, up from about 70 the prior day, according to the state civil defense authority. It also said it was investigating whether another four deaths were related to the storms.

Brazil floods wreak havoc; at least 57 killed, 70,000 displaced amid mudslides due to heavy rain | Pics

Flooding from storms in the past few days has affected more than two thirds of the nearly 500 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina, leaving more than 115,000 people displaced, according to authorities.

Floods have destroyed roads and bridges in several cities. The rains also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant.

More than 400,000 people were without power on Sunday evening, while nearly a third of the state's population was without water, authorities said.

In Porto Alegre, the state capital, the Guaiba lake breached its banks, hitting the highest water level on records, according to the national geological service. Porto Alegre's international airport has suspended all flights since Friday.

In the city of Canoas, near Porto Alegre, Julio Manichesque, 76, was rescued by volunteers after he had stayed since Friday on the roof of the house where he has lived for 52 years.

"I have never seen that much water," Manichesque said.

Many volunteers also have been risking their own safety during the rescue efforts, using small boats, jet skis and kayaks.

ALSO READ | Brazil floods: Over 57 killed, 70k displaced amid heavy rain and landslides | Top points

Fabiano Saldanha, 30, said he and three friends have used jet skis to rescue about 50 people since Friday in islands that are part of Porto Alegre.

"The only thing we hear when we enter a street is 'help,' 'help,'" Saldanha said.

During his weekly address to crowds in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope Francis said on Sunday he was praying for the people of the state.

"May the Lord receive the dead, comfort their families and all those who had to leave their homes," the pope said.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi Hamas armed wing claims responsibility for deadly attack on Israel-Gaza crossing

CAIRO, - The armed wing of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas claimed responsibility on Sunday for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza that Israel said killed three of its soldiers.

Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the area of the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. Other crossings remained open.

Hamas' armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli army base by the crossing, but did not confirm where it fired them from. Hamas media quoted a source close to the group as saying the commercial crossing was not the target.

More than a million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Shortly after the Hamas attack, an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah killing three people and wounding several, Palestinian medics said.

The Israeli military confirmed the counter-strike, saying it struck the launcher from which the Hamas projectiles were fired, as well as a nearby "military structure".

"The launches carried out by Hamas adjacent to the Rafah Crossing ... are a clear example of the terrorist organisation's systematic exploitation of humanitarian facilities and spaces, and their continued use of the Gazan civilian population as human shields," it said.

Hamas denies it uses civilians as human shields.

Israel has vowed to enter the southern Gaza city and flush out Hamas forces there, but has faced mounting pressure to hold fire as the operation could derail fragile humanitarian efforts in Gaza and endanger many more lives.

Sunday's attack on the crossing came as hopes dimmed for ceasefire talks under way in Cairo.

The war began after Hamas stunned Israel with a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed, 29 of them in the past 24 hours, and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel's assault, according to Gaza's health ministry.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
A Hamas official said Sunday the group's delegation for Gaza truce talks in Cairo was leaving for "consultations" in Qatar, after public disagreement with Israel intensified over demands to end their seven-month war. Hamas, Israel entrench Gaza truce positions as latest Cairo talks end

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "surrendering" to a demand to end the war would amount to defeat.

The Qatar-based political chief of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, countered by accusing Netanyahu of sabotaging the talks.

The Hamas official, who requested anonymity to discuss the negotiations, told AFP that "the meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has ended and the Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations".

The Hamas negotiators are due back in Cairo on Tuesday, said Al-Qahera News, a site linked to Egyptian intelligence services.

CIA director Bill Burns meanwhile was headed to Doha for "emergency" talks on mediation efforts with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, a source with knowledge of the discussions told AFP.

Netanyahu on Sunday also announced a government decision to close operations in Israel of Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, which has broadcast round-the-clock coverage of the conflict.

It went off-air a short time later.

The network condemned Israel's decision as a "criminal act", and said it would take legal action.

Gaza's bloodiest-ever war began following Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Militants also seized some 250 hostages.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,683 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

An AFP correspondent and witnesses reported shelling and gunfire in Gaza City Sunday, helicopter fire in central and southern Gaza, and a missile strike on a house in the Rafah area.

The Israeli military later said it struck a Hamas "command and control position" in central Gaza.

In Rafah, where about 1.2 million Gazans have sought shelter, residents told AFP they feared an upsurge in violence if truce talks collapse.

Naja Shaat, 59, said she was "extremely joyful" when she thought a ceasefire was imminent, "but today... we are on pins and needles".

Arwa Saqr, displaced from Khan Yunis, said she has "lost hope that the negotiations will succeed".

The Palestinian civilian toll has strained ties between Israel and its main military supplier and ally the United States.

Nonetheless, Washington's Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that "the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas".

Negotiators met in Cairo Sunday without an Israeli delegation present.

Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators had proposed a 40-day pause in the fighting and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by Britain.

Any truce reached would be the first since a week-long November ceasefire saw a hostage-prisoner swap.

Netanyahu, whose coalition includes ultra-nationalist parties, faces regular protests demanding a deal to bring the hostages home.

Demonstrators, some carrying posters with images of the captives, gathered in Tel Aviv on Sunday, as Israel marked national Holocaust Remembrance Day.

According to a statement from Netanyahu's office, he told his cabinet Israel would not let Hamas "take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure and return to threaten the citizens of Israel".

"Israel will not agree to Hamas's demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved," he added.

Haniyeh said Netanyahu wanted to "invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties".

Previous negotiation efforts had stalled in part because of Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire and Netanyahu's vows to crush its remaining fighters in Rafah.

Hamas in a statement insisted it maintained a "positive and responsible approach" and said it was determined to reach an agreement.

The statement mentioned that Hamas's key demands include "a complete end" to the fighting, Israeli withdrawal "from the entire Gaza Strip, the facilitation of the return of displaced people, the intensification of relief efforts", reconstruction efforts and a prisoner-hostage exchange deal.

Netanyahu has vowed to invade Rafah regardless of any truce, and despite concerns from the United States, other countries and aid groups.

At the start of the war, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said his country would impose a "complete siege" blocking food, water and other supplies.

Continuous appeals for greater access have, according to the UN, led to some improvements recently.

Israel in December reopened the southern Kerem Shalom border crossing for aid, but on Sunday the army said it was targeted with projectiles and "closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks".

Hamas's armed wing claimed the rocket fire, saying militants had targeted troops.

The army later announced three soldiers were killed in the attack and 12 were wounded, three seriously.

In Rafah, where the army said the rockets were launched from, 35-year-old Mohammed Al-Najjar said: "I expect an escalation."

Air strikes hit Rafah again on Sunday evening, an AFP correspondent said.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which has been central to humanitarian operations in Gaza during the war, said Sunday that Israeli authorities had barred him from entering Gaza for a second time since the war began.

In a post on X, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini also called for an "independent investigation" into the rockets fired at Kerem Shalom.

Israel estimates 128 hostages abducted on October 7 remain in Gaza, including 35 who the military says are dead.

On Sunday the Hostages and Missing Families Forum appealed to Netanyahu, telling him in a statement to "disregard all political pressure", with some far-right members of the government opposing a truce and calling for fighting to continue.

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On a clear night in March, Ahmed sat on a rooftop in Rafah, in southern Gaza. It was the only place he could get a phone signal in the crumbling and crowded city. Two weeks earlier, Ahmed had paid $5,000 to Hala Consulting and Tourism Services, a travel agency in Cairo, to get him onto a register of those allowed to cross into Egypt. New lists are published each day on Telegram and Facebook. Ahmeds contact had assured him that his name would appear soon. At last, at 10pm, it popped up. Early the next day, he went to the border. Getting across was a confusing process. The Egyptian officials, he said, treated Palestinians like animals. But he made it into Egypt and then on to Cairo.

Until October 7th, Palestinians who wanted to leave Gaza had in theory two choices: a few could use the Erez crossing, in the north of the strip, monitored by Israel, or they could try the southern one at Rafah, overseen by Egypt. Erez is now closed to those leaving Gaza. The cost of getting through Rafah, the city to which around 1.4m Gazans have fled, is extortionate.

Read all our coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas

Even before the war, leaving Gaza via Rafah was not easy. Gazans could put in a formal request through the enclaves interior ministry, but that did not guarantee they would get out on the day. Or they could pay a middleman for a place on lists co-ordinated by Egyptian authorities.

Prices for such crossings for Palestinians have soared since the war. In January 2022, Human Rights Watch (hrw), an international monitor, put them at around $700 per person. Today they cost at least $5,000 for an adult and $2,500 for a child. Some report paying up to $15,000. With fears about an impending Israeli invasion of Rafah growing, prices show no sign of going down.

For most Gazans, finding money for even the most basic food is difficult at the moment. Sourcing thousands of dollars for a border crossing is unimaginable. So family and friends in the West are helping, raising money on platforms such as GoFundMe. Mahmoud Algharabli, a doctor in Ohio, moved from Gaza to America eight years ago. I feel disgusted that I have to beg people for money so I can save my family, he says. But he has managed to raise enough money to get 16 members of his family into Egypt.

He paid more than $50,000 in fees to Hala to register them on the entry lists. The company has a monopoly on getting people out of Gaza and into Egypt, says Amr Magdi, a researcher at hrw. Halas boss is a guy who is very close to the Egyptian military and the intelligence agencies, he continues. (Hala did not respond to a request for comment.)

The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs has documented allegations of bribery at the Rafah crossing for years. Mr Magdi says Hala could not operate without the say-so of the Egyptian authorities, though the government denies any accusation of profiteering. The money, says Mr Magdi, goes to corrupt officials and officers in Egypts army who decide whether those who make it on the lists can actually leave Gaza. The exploitation does not put people off, however. Demand for services is so great that even those who can find the money have to wait in a long queue.

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 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday denounced a "genocide" in Gaza, urging its 57 member countries to impose sanctions on Israel in a resolution adopted at the end of its Gambia summit. Islamic Cooperation denounces Gaza 'genocide', urges sanctions against Israel

The organisation called on its members to impose "sanctions on Israel, the occupying power, and halting the export of weapons and ammunition used by its army to perpetrate the crime of genocide in Gaza".

Sunday's resolution, seen by AFP, urged members "to exercise diplomatic, political and legal pressure and to take any deterrent measures to stop the crimes of the Israeli colonial occupation, and the genocidal war it is waging against the Palestinian people, including by imposing sanctions".

It also called for "an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire".

Founded in 1969 after the burning of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the OIC aims to increase Muslim solidarity, support the Palestinian struggle and defend Muslim holy sites.

In November 2023, it met with the Arab League in Riyadh for a joint summit, condemning the actions of Israeli forces in Gaza, but refraining from setting out punitive economic and political measures against Israel.

But in December 2023, the OIC welcomed the action brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Criminal Court in which it accused it of genocide against the Palestinians.

The 15th OIC summit, which started Saturday, focussed on Egypt's capital Cairo, where a meeting on a proposed truce, linked to the release of hostages in Gaza, was held this weekend without any concrete progress.

Only a handful of African leaders attended the OIC summit in person, most leaders of the 57 member countries sending representatives.

Gaza's bloodiest-ever war began following Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,683 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

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Three Israeli soldiers were killed in a rocket attack claimed by Hamas armed wing, near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, where Palestinian health officials said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday. Israel has vowed to enter the southern Gaza city and flush out Hamas forces there, but has faced mounting pressure to hold fire as the operation could derail fragile humanitarian efforts in Gaza and endanger many more lives.(Reuters)

Hamas's armed wing claimed responsibility on Sunday for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza that Israel said killed three of its soldiers.

Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the area of the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. Other crossings remained open.

Hamas' armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli army base by the crossing, but did not confirm where it fired them from. Hamas media quoted a source close to the group as saying the commercial crossing was not the target.

ALSO READ | Israel's Rafah operation 'could lead to a bloodbath': WHO chief

More than a million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

Shortly after the Hamas attack, an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah killing three people and wounding several others, Palestinian medics said.

The Israeli military confirmed the counter-strike, saying it struck the launcher from which the Hamas projectiles were fired, as well as a nearby "military structure".

"The launches carried out by Hamas adjacent to the Rafah Crossing ... are a clear example of the terrorist organisation's systematic exploitation of humanitarian facilities and spaces, and their continued use of the Gazan civilian population as human shields," it said.

Hamas denies it uses civilians as human shields.

From Rafah, Rockets Fired At Israel; Many Injured; IDF Shuts Gaza Aid Crossing; Minister Threatens | VIDEO

Just before midnight, an Israeli air strike killed nine Palestinians, including a baby, in another house in Rafah, Gaza health officials said. They said the new strike increased the death toll on Sunday to at least 19 people.

Israel has vowed to enter the southern Gaza city and flush out Hamas forces there, but has faced mounting pressure to hold fire as the operation could derail fragile humanitarian efforts in Gaza and endanger many more lives.

Sunday's attack on the crossing came as hopes dimmed for ceasefire talks under way in Cairo.

The war began after Hamas stunned Israel with a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed, 29 of them in the past 24 hours, and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel's assault, according to Gaza's health ministry.
TOKYO  Juro Kara, who helped shape Japans postwar avant-garde theater, defiantly yet playfully transforming the essence of Kabuki aesthetics into modern storytelling, has died. He was 84. Juro Kara, rebel playwright behind Japan's modern underground theater, dies at 84

The playwright, director and troupe leader died late Saturday from a blood clot in the brain after he collapsed at home and was rushed to a Tokyo hospital on May 1, his theater group Karagumi said in a statement on Sunday.

Kara, whose real name was Yoshihide Otsuru, rose to stardom in the so-called Japanese underground movement of the 1960s known as un-gura, characterized by a kitsch rebellious style also found in his contemporaries Shuji Terayama and Tadashi Suzuki.

Karas colorful shows, often in makeshift tents evocative of a traveling circus, rejected the established theatrical modes then dominating modernizing Japan that were mostly Western, middle class and well-behaved.

His plays, such as "Koshimaki Osen, were characterized by a raw energetic physicality, blatantly devoid of any pretense at naturalism.

Kara once compared his approach to a womb covered in blood. His theater came to be known as the red tent." A wandering group would put on his shows wherever the tents went up, most famously in a spot near a shrine in Shinjuku in downtown Tokyo.

Audiences found themselves immersed in otherworldly, dreamlike settings. The flashy posters that artist Tadanori Yokoo often created for Karas works exemplified that signature pop surrealist style.

Karas group is still active today, performing shows that carry on his legacy. His theater also served as a breeding ground for some of Japans top actors, including Kaoru Kobayashi and the late Jinpachi Nezu.

Born in Tokyo, Kara majored in theater at Meiji University in Tokyo, which boasts an extensive archive of Karas works.

In 1983, Kara won the prestigious Akutagawa Award for new writers for his novel Letters from Sagawa. He also acted in various films, often in bit character roles, including Demon Pond, directed by Masahiro Shinoda.

Funeral arrangements weren't set but will be for family and friends, Karagumi said. Kara is survived by his wife Michiko, sons Gitan Otsuru and Sasuke Otsuru, and daughter Minion Otsuru, all actors.

Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

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An Indian film, which follows the agitation against three controversial farm laws, has captured top honours at a prestigious international festival. A still from Farming The Revolution, which won the Best International Feature Documentary Award at Hot Docs, on Saturday. (Nishtha Jain)

The feature, Farming The Revolution, from Mumbai-based filmmaker Nishtha Jain, was the winner of the Best International Feature Documentary Award on Saturday at Hot Docs, the largest documentary film festival in North America.

The jury statement read, For its slow study on the poetics of labour organizing, its regal treatment of atmosphere, and intimate embeddedness in a legendary encampment (that has recently begun again this past February due to unfulfilled promises by the reigning government), the International Feature Competition Jury awards Best International Feature Documentary to Nishtha Jains Farming the Revolution, co-directed by Akash Basumatari. With endurance, clarity, and purpose, Jain and Basumatari take audiences inside the full dynamic range of Indias over one-year-long farmers protest between 2020 and 202.

The film had its world premiere at the festival in Toronto late last month and Jain was thrilled with the engaged, enthusiastic reception from the audience which packed both the screenings (a special screening for the award-winning film will be held on Sunday afternoon).

Hot Docs is Academy Award qualifying festival and Farming The Revolution is be in the running for consideration in the Best Documentary Feature category of the annual Oscars without the standard theatrical run, provided they comply with Academy rules, a release from the festival noted.

Jain, who has tracked social movements from those in Bastar, to those for students and Dalit rights, and women combatting gender-based violence in Gulabi Gang (which she directed), was fascinated by the movement as it assumed shape in its nascent stage in the late autumn of 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-director Akash Basumatari, was based in Delhi and rushed to the Singhu border as the first encampments took shape there.

We had seen protests before, but never on this scale. We never totally self-sufficient protest cities. The miles of tractors crowding the borders of Indias capital made for visual catnip.

I think we really got sucked into it, she said, of embarking on her most ambitious project yet. Shooting made for nearly 500 hours of footage collected over 135 days, culminating with the protestors celebrating the withdrawal of the pieces of legislation by the Government.

Basumatari said they moved from Singhi to Tikri as the original site was difficult to negotiate due to macho aggression and prosperous farmers who were not accepting of those who didnt appear to be from Punjab. At Tikri and later, Bahadurgarh, the crew found the nature of the protestors different, more accepting.

They also discovered Gurbaz Sangha, who gradually became the figure around whom the narrative arc developed. I also found him evolving with the movement, and he was like the seed, you know, the movement planted and it grew, Jain said. Sangha, in fact, attended the premiere with his wife who is an international student in the Greater Toronto Area.

The film is observational as the filmmakers do not insert themselves into the narrative or editorialise and allow the subjects to speak for themselves, which was Jains objective.

Jain underwent some stress before arriving in Toronto as visa issues almost made her miss the premiere. But it was worth it, she said, after the award was announced.

For now, the film will travel to the festival circuit before any theatrical release in India, which may be tricky due to its sensitive content and the need for a censor certificate. However, what Jain wants is for it to screen in the Punjab hinterland, which provided to many of the real-life characters that populate it.
Toronto, Canada is a "rule-of-law country" with a strong and independent justice system and a fundamental commitment to protect its citizens, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said, a day after three Indian nationals were charged with the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. PM Trudeau touts Canada as a 'rule-of-law country' after arrest of three Indians in Nijjar murder case

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.

Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton have been charged on Friday with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

"This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens," Trudeau said about the arrests on Saturday at a Toronto gala celebrating Sikh heritage and culture.

"As the RCMP stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday," Canadian Broadcasting Corporation quoted Trudeau as saying.

He said that many in Canada's Sikh community are feeling unsafe following Nijjar's killing, adding: "Every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and threats of violence in Canada."

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of 45-year-old Nijjar, a Khalistan separatist.

India has dismissed Trudeau's charges as "absurd" and "motivated."

The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated India, which had designated Nijjar a "terrorist."

After three Indian nationals were arrested in connection with the murder, Police in Canada said they had worked with US law enforcement agencies, without giving additional details.

The police suggested more arrests might be coming. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, the force's commander for the Pacific region, said Friday that he wouldn't comment on the alleged links between the three men arrested and Indian officials but noted the force is "investigating connections to the government of India."

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is mostly due to their internal politics and has nothing to do with India.

He said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canadas democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.

The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders, he said.

We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them , for us and also for our relationship, Jaishankar said.

But the Canadian government has not done anything, Jaishankar said, adding that India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed.

Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics, the minister said.

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First batch of export vehicles under China-Ecuador FTA to set sail

Xinhua) 13:45, May 05, 2024

HEFEI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A batch of vehicles, the first to receive a certificate of origin under the free trade agreement (FTA) between China and Ecuador, is set to depart for Ecuador, the Customs of Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, said on Friday.

"The value of the 69 cars to be exported to Ecuador is approximately 6.4 million yuan (about 901,408 U.S. dollars). With the certificate of origin, around 150,000 yuan will be saved through exemption of import duties," said Cai Wenwen from Chinese automaker Chery, the exporter.

The company plans to export over 6,000 vehicles to Ecuador, with a total value of nearly 600 million yuan, Cai said, adding that Ecuador is an important emerging market for Chery.

The FTA between China and Ecuador officially came into effect on May 1.

The implementation of the FTA will unleash the potential of trade and investment between the two countries, promote comprehensive upgrading of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and bring benefits to enterprises and people in both countries, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
San Francisco police say they seized these machines in a raid on an illegal gambling operation in the Tenderloin. San Francisco Police Department San Francisco police say they seized this gun when they broke up an illegal gambling operation in the Tenderloin. San Francisco Police Department

A 45-year-old Oakland woman was arrested last week on suspicion of running an illegal gambling establishment in the Tenderloin neighborhood, San Francisco police said.

Trang Thuy Thanh Tran was arrested after officers served a search warrant at the establishment on Ellis Street near Larkin Street around 5 p.m. Thursday, police said.

During the search, officers seized more than a dozen illegal gambling machines, a loaded gun, more than $3,000, substances they believe are drugs and other evidence, police said.

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Tran was booked into county jail, accused of maintaining a place to sell illegal drugs, conspiring to commit a crime, possessing illegal gambling machines and permitting their use. She was no longer in custody as of Sunday, according to online jail records.
Western Australian police shot and killed a "radicalised" 16-year-old boy with a knife who had wounded a member of the public in Perth, police and the state premier said Sunday. Police had received a call late on Saturday from a male warning that he was going to commit "acts of violence"(Rep image)

The teenager "rushed" at police after wounding someone and was fatally shot by an officer, Premier Roger Cook told a news conference.

"There are indications he had been radicalised online. But I want to reassure the community at this stage it appears he acted solely and alone."

Police had received a call late on Saturday from a male warning that he was going to commit "acts of violence" but without giving his name or location, the state's police commissioner, Col Blanch, told reporters.

Within minutes another emergency call alerted police that a "male with a knife was running around the car park" in Willetton, a southern suburb of Perth, he said.

Police body camera images showed the teenager refused officers' demands that he put down the knife, the police chief said.

Officers fired two Tasers at him but "both of them did not have the full desired effect," he said.

"The male continued to advance on the third officer with a firearm who fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male."

The teenager died in hospital later in the night, he said.
A Hamas delegation has reportedly arrived in Cairo for new talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire in Gaza, where the war between the Iran-backed militant group and Israel is nearing the seven-month mark. Talks on Potential Gaza Truce Set to Restart Saturday in Egypt

Reports in Saudi Arabian media that couldnt be independently confirmed suggest Hamas negotiators are prepared to accept an Egypt-brokered deal deal within hours. CIA Director Bill Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday to help Egyptian mediators work toward a truce, Axios reported.

Hamas has yet to make a formal response to the latest proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release put forward by US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert an Israeli military operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Hamas officials en route to Cairo told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that they question whether Israeli forces would resume fighting after hostages are released.

Read More: Netanyahu Faces Cease-Fire, Split Cabinet as Blinken Visits

Israel will consider joining cease-fire talks with Hamas only when the militant group responds to the latest internationally mediated proposal for a temporary truce and hostage release, state-run Kan News reported earlier this week.

However, Israel will under no circumstances agree to end the war as part of an agreement to release its hostages, an Israeli official said on Saturday. The official declined to be identified as discussions continue.

Israels government briefed the White House this week on its plan to move Palestinian civilians out of Rafah before a potential military operation, the Associated Press reported, citing officials it didnt identify.

Thats consistent with comments from John Kirby, a spokesman for the White Houses National Security Council, who said on April 28 that Israel had agreed to hear out US 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, Kirby told ABC News.

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 Hamas fighters and key leaders from the Palestinian militant group.

About 1.5 million Palestinians have sheltered in Rafah, after evacuating from further north in the coastal enclave as fighting raged.

Separately, the US has told Qatar that it should expel Hamas if the group continues to reject a cease-fire with Israel, the Washington Post reported. The message was delivered to Qatars prime minister by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April, the newspaper reported.

Israel has been waging a military campaign in Gaza to wipe out Hamas since the militant group swept across the border and attacked Israeli communities and military bases on Oct. 7. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people in that assault and took about 250 others hostage. 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.

With assistance from Galit Altstein.

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Reacting to the arrest of three Indians over the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police named the three men as Karanpreet Singh, 28, Kamalpreet Singh, 22 and Karan Brar, 22, in the case, CBS reported. Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh, the three Indians charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the murder in Canada of Khaistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, are seen in a combination of undated photographs released by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). (REUTERS)

The trio were arrested in the city of Edmonton in Alberta on Friday, police said.

"This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens," CBS quoted Justin Trudeau as saying on Saturday at a Toronto gala celebrating Sikh heritage and culture.

Also Read | S Jaishankar nails Justin Trudeau lies over Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing

"As the RCMP stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday," the Canadian prime minister said.

Killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in June outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population. A few months later, Justin Trudeau cited credible allegations of Indian government involvement, prompting a diplomatic crisis with New Delhi. India has dismissed Justin Trudeau's charges as absurd and motivated.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of Khalistan. The presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada has long frustrated New Delhi, which had labelled Nijjar a "terrorist".

Also Read | Men arrested in Hardeep Nijjar's killing may be members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claims Canadian media

On Saturday, Justin Trudeau reportedly alleged that many in Canada's Sikh community were feeling unsafe following Nijjar's killing. "Every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and threats of violence in Canada," he added.

S Jaishankar reacts

Meanwhile, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Nijjar is mostly due to their internal politics and has nothing to do with India.

S Jaishankar said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canadas democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank.

The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders, he said.

We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship, Jaishankar said.

But the Canadian government, Jaishankar said, has not done anything. He added that India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed.

Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics, Jaishankar said.
Reacting to three arrests in connection with the murder of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that every Canadian the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and threats of violence in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks during an event at Mohawk College, where they discussed measures to support renters in the 2024 Budget, in Hamilton, Ont., Friday, May 3, 2024. (Tara Walton/The Canadian Press via AP) (AP)

Trudeau made these remarks while speaking at the Sikh Foundation of Canada gala at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto on Saturday, according to the outlet CBC News.

He described the arrests as important as Canada was a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens.

Meanwhile, India called the arrest of three of its nationals as an internal issue for Canada.

In a statement released on Saturday, Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma said, This issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard.

Canadian investigators said that working with their law enforcement counterparts in India has become rather challenging and difficult for the last several years. However, Verma said, We are always ready to work with partner countries in solving crimes, provided specific and relevant evidence is shared with us.

While the initial report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, released on Friday, accused India of meddling in Canadas affairs, Verma said, As stated time and again, it is not the policy of the Government of India to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

The High Commissioner said that they were informed by the Canadian officials about the arrest of three Indian nationals, residing in Canada, in connection with shooting of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

We hope to get regular updates from the concerned Canadian authorities regarding the arrested Indian nationals, he added.

Canadian investigators have not, as yet, announced any link to the Indian Government in relation to the murder. However, on Friday, Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, Commander of the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, said there were separate and distinct investigations ongoing including investigating connections to the Government of India.

The killing of Nijjar on June 18, in Surrey, British Columbia, caused India-Canada relations to rupture after Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons three months later that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder. India reacted by saying those charges were absurd and motivated. However, more recently, India has said it could cooperate if specific and relevant information was provided with regard to any Indian angle.

The arrests of three Indian citizens, Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22 and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all residents of Edmonton, capital of the province of Alberta, were announced by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team or IHIT on Friday. They have been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They had all arrived in Canada within the last five years as international students and investigators alleged a link between them and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
A now seldomly heard constitutional provision could change the choice of Donald Trump's running mate for the upcoming elections in the United States of America. Former President Donald Trump speaks to media as he returns to his trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court, Friday, May 3, 2024, in New York. (Charly Triballeau/Pool Photo via AP)(AP)

The 12th Amendment, endeavoured to be approved in 1803, introduces a restriction on college voters that they are centred only with either a president or vice president from their home state and not two.

Shortly after this lesser-known provision came to light, it became evident that the candidates of Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Byron Donalds, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, all hailing from Florida, could not be considered.

Originally from New York, Trump moved to Florida in 2019. While discussing the possibility of choosing Rubio as a running mate, Trump acknowledged Rubio's residency problem, as reported by The Bulwark.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump slams Hush Money trial as witch hunt, calls out crooked Joe Biden in new post

Although Trump previously included Donalds on his shortlist of potential running mates in February, Donalds himself expressed a lack of consideration regarding the 12th Amendment, stating, we can cross that bridge when we come back to it, in an interview with the New York Post.

I want to do everything to help win back the White House, Donalds affirmed during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.

Its about putting in the policies that work for the country and work for everybody.

Mixed signals on Trump's VP pick

Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Trump had narrowed down his options for a running mate to four candidates, including Rubio, after hinting at a decision timeline.

Other contenders reportedly considered were Gov. Doug Burgum, as well as Sens. JD Vance of Ohio and Tim Scott of South Carolina.

However, senior adviser Brian Hughes contested this assertion: Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump, per New York Post.

ALSO READ| Former Donald Trump aide Hope Hicks deals 'devastating blow' to the former president in hush money trial

Trump himself indicated that he would disclose his choice for running mate not too much before the Republican National Convention, slated to be held in Milwaukee from July 15-18, during a campaign visit to Wisconsin.

Trump told FOX 6 Milwaukee, Ill be picking, but probably not too much before the convention, which I happen to be having in the great state of Wisconsin.
After Donald Trump's ex-aide Hope Hicks testified in court that he told her to deny an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, the former US president addressed a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago and blasted prosecutors for threatening to send him to jail. Following the first week of his hush money trial in New York, Trump returned on Friday night to his Florida home, where some 400 legislators and contributors attended a luncheon.(X)

Following the first week of his hush money trial in New York, Trump returned on Friday night to his Florida home, where some 400 legislators and contributors attended a luncheon.

During his ninety-minute speech, he expressed surprise at becoming the first former president to face criminal charges.

Accusing Joe Biden and other Democrats of running a "Gestapo administration", Trump slammed Fulton County DA Fani Willis and special counsel Jack Smith.

On Friday, team led by special counsel Smith acknowledged that certain evidence in the case against Trump for allegedly keeping classified documents at his Florida residence may not be in the same order FBI agents discovered it when they searched the Mar-a-Lago compound in August 2022.

The presumed Republican nominee is facing 88 criminal accusations in four different state and federal cases, including one under Willis for allegedly interfering with the outcomes of the 2020 election in Georgia.

In March, Willis was compelled to fire her special prosecutor Nathan Wade after it was discovered that she had a relationship with him during her pursuit of the case.

Also Read: Donald Trump slams Hush Money trial as witch hunt, calls out crooked Joe Biden in new post

Trump says Lara 'wouldn't have joined the family' if

While he hurled abuses at Smith, he jokingly called Willis a real beauty'.

The GOP leader further made light of the fact that Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, would never have married his son Eric if she had known that he could go to prison.

"Once I got indicted, I said holy s***, I just got indicted. Me, I got indicted," he stated, according to Daily Mail. "In fact, Lara, if she knew I got indicted, she probably wouldn't have joined the family."

Addressing the gathering, he likened himself to notorious Chicago gangster AI Capone and even provided a few hints about his potential vice presidential running mate. As he praised beleaguered House Speaker Mike Johnson, he directed Republican detractors to "leave him alone".

Trump talked about Rep Elise Stefanik who came into limelight for grilling Ivy League college heads over handling of anti-Semitism on campus. Everybody said she's going to be the vice-presidential candidate."

He then called Senator Tim Scott one of the greatest surrogates and hailed Senator JD Vance of Ohio as incredible.

Trump didn't stop there, he went on to address North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as really impressive and his 2016 Republican rival Little Marco Rubio as a talented guy.

Stressing that there is no dearth of volunteers to be his VP, he asserted: I've got 50 people calling me, begging me 'I'll cut off my right arm, sir. Please, I want to be the vice president.

Trump asks attendees to make $1 million donation right now

In the past two years, Trump has faced legal costs of $500 million in fines, judgments, and legal expenditures. According to a Reuters report, Trump has raised less money than Joe Biden by over $30 million.

In an effort to make up for lost momentum, Trump promised his audience on Saturday that he will allow anyone who donates $1 million to the Republican Party to come up and speak.

Two donors, who quickly made the payment, approached the platform, with one declaring to the assembly, "Donald J. Trump is the person that God has chosen."
Former Donald Trump aide Hope Hicks delivered a devastating blow to the former president amidst his ongoing hush money trial, per legal analyst Norman Eisen. US President Donald Trump's former campaign press secretary Hope Hicks became the first former member of Donald Trump's inner circle to take the witness stand in his historic criminal trial on Friday. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)(AFP)

Trump made history as the first former US president to face trial in a criminal case last month. Following an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Trump was indicted in March 2023 on charges related to falsifying business records concerning hush money payments to pornstar Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels alleges an affair with Trump in 2006, which he denies.

Trump has pleaded not guilty, claiming the case is just a political propaganda.

ALSO READ| Elon Musk comes to Trump's defence after Robert De Niro compares ex-President to Hitler, calls him monster

On Friday, the former White House adviser testified on allegations that Trump sought to conceal alleged affairs with Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal prior to the 2016 election.

CNN opinion piece titled Hope Hicks' testimony was a nightmare for Trump, Norman Eisen, who served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump's first impeachment, discussed Hicks' testimony, claiming one devastating blow to Trump.

Hicks provided a gripping account: Eisen

Hicks detailed the Trump team's concerns over the damaging impact of the infamous Access Hollywood tape on Trump's 2016 campaign.

Hicks provided a gripping account of the impact of the infamous Access Hollywood tape on Trump's campaign, which in turn sets up the so-called hush money payments to Stormy Daniels  who has alleged she had an affair with the former president  that is at the center of the charges in this case...Hicks explained that the impact of the tape's release was devastating in and outside the campaign, Eisen noted.

Eisen says the devastating blow came at the conclusion of Hicks' testimony when she revealed the 45th US president's knowledge of his then-lawyer Michael Cohen's payment to Daniels.

ALSO READ| Trump Media's stock price plummets as SEC charges auditor of 'massive fraud', imposes lifetime ban

Trump knew about the hush-money

Hicks testified that Trump was aware Cohen paid Daniels to protect him from a false allegation and out of the kindness of his own heart.

Hicks disclosed Trump was concerned about the story and its impact on his wife, Melania, and how it'd be viewed by his wife and his attempt to shift blame onto Cohen.

Eisen concluded, Another devastating blow came at the very end of Hicks' direct testimony when she revealed a stunning trifecta: that, while president, Trump had admitted to her that he knew his then-fixer Michael Cohen had paid Daniels, that Trump attempted to blame Cohen and that Hicks did not believe him.

ALSO READ| Donald Trump reveals when he will announce VP pick as his list shortens' to these 4 candidates

Earlier, Joey Jackson, a former New York state prosecutor, told Newsweek, Hicks' testimony also portrayed Trump as a very hands-on boss. Taken together, these takeaways would bolster the prosecution's argument that Trump's team would know how imperative it was to cover up another potential scandal, and Trump would be involved in making that happen.
Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan recently defended the wave of anti-Israel demonstrations that have taken over US campuses, claiming that the students' true goals are justice and peace. Queen Rania advocates for justice and peace amid anti-Israel protests on US campuses(AFP Photo)

To vilify them as being, you know, pro-Hamas, pro-terrorism, or antisemiticII think thats inaccurate, And I think its somewhat patronizing, Rania told CBS Face the Nation in an interview that aired on Sunday.

Calling the protestors well-read and thoughtful young individuals, she said that they know why are they protesting. They are protesting for justice.

However, Rania has advocated that it is unfair to paint all these students and these protests with a broad paintbrush.

She argued that a sizable portion of the student body participating in these protests is Jewish. Furthermore, the great majority of these protestors desire peace over destruction.

The wife of King Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania al Abdullah, is Palestinian and has been an outspoken opponent of the Israel's war on Hamas that was launched in October 2023 after the terrorist organisation killed 1,200 people in an unexpected attack.

Also Read: Majority of Anti-Israel protesters detained at Columbia, City College are non-students, arrests top 2000: Report

Queen Rania's views on antisemitism

She did, however, concede that antisemitism is on the rise and called on Muslims everywhere to take leadership roles in the battle against it.

Rania speaks about the presence of antisemitism and how it has been on the rise. And it is the worst kind of bigotry; it is pure hatred, she said.

Muslims have to be at the forefront of fighting antisemitism, because Islamophobia is the other side of the same disease, and its also on the rise.

She stated that criticising the conflict "is not antisemitism," but rather "speaking against Israeli policy," and that many in the Muslim world are witnessing unsettling sights coming out of Gaza.

If Palestinians dislike Israelis, it's not because of their nationality or religion or; it's because they have only met with them as military enforcers, she explained.
Kendrick Lamar launched a scathing attack at Drake with another diss track "Not Like US", which was released in less than 24 hours after the launch of "Meet The Grahams." Kendrick claims that he's heard Drake once told those associated with him to keep their young sisters hidden from him because the Toronto rapper likes his women young.

Lamar posted "Not Like Us" on his official YouTube channel, referencing Baka Not Nice's prior legal issues and accusing Drake of being a "pedophile." "Say Drake, I hear you like 'em young / You better not ever go to cell block one," the 17-time Grammy winner begins the song with the rap.

Kendrick claims that he's heard Drake once told those associated with him to keep their young sisters hidden from him because the Toronto rapper likes his women young.

As his album's title implies, Kendrick delivers the early knockout blow by claiming that Drake is actually a "Certified Pedophile" rather than a "Certified Lover Boy."

Also Read: Scam Artist: Kendrick Lamar's new barbed Drake diss fires up rap beef saga again in Euphoria

In in another passage, Lamar calls Drake a "colonizer", joining the chorus of rappers who are openly doubting Drake's ties with Black community. You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars/ You not a colleague, you a f****** colonizer/ The family matter, and the truth of the matter/ It was Gods Plan to show youre a liar.

As the song ends, Lamar leads a chorus of women in screaming "O-vee-ho," a reference to Drake's business, OVO, and mocking his popular song "Toosie Slide".

In "Meet the Grahams" song, Kendrick called Drake a "pervert" and warned Steph Curry and Lebron James to keep their families away from him. He even claimed that Drake had a secret child.

Drake released "Family Matters" around the same time, in which he accuses Kendrick of getting physical with his fiancee.

Both the rappers were indulged in a very significant rap war before Lamar released Not Like Us. Kendrick released "Like That," "6:16 in LA," and "Euphoria," while Drake responded with "Push-Ups" and Taylor Made Freestyle.

Kendrick Lamar's fans react:

Lamar's "Not Like US" has garnered over 54 million views on X and 10,460,952 views on YouTube.

Fans praised the drama when Lamar posted the song on X. One commenter wrote, "We're witnessing one of the best rap beefs of all time." "This is real hatred, folks," wrote another, adding that "For generations, all haters will be compared to this moment."

He dropped again. No sir he dropped again, again, a third user reacted.

Keep em coming Kendrick, one more fan chimed in.
Reportedly, 25 anti-Israel protestors were arrested, and their encampment was cleared up at Saturday's University of Virginia campus by the authorities. Police lift a pro-Palestinian demonstrator from the ground on the University of Virginia campus, in Charlottesville, Va., where tents are set up, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)(AP)

The University Police Department (UPD) issued a declaration of an unlawful assembly earlier in the day, with UVA Police Chief Tim Longo providing a group of anti-Israel demonstrators near the University Chapel in Charlottesville a 10-minute window to disperse.

Efforts to remove tents at 8:15 a.m. were met with resistance, with the school citing agitation and chanting from protesters.

ALSO READ| UCLA student newspaper editor speaks out after traumatising pro-Palestine encampment raid, attacks on reporters

According to the university's news release: Authorities were again met with agitation, chanting and violent gestures such as swinging of objects.

Beginning at around 2:30 p.m., UPD gave the crowd three verbal warnings that an unlawful assembly would be declared if demonstrators refused to leave the area.

Virginia State Police were summoned to assist local authorities, and by 4 p.m., the scene was deemed stable.

ALSO READ| University of Utah: Riot police clamps down on pro-Palestinian protesters; disturbing footage emerges

UVS President addresses campus safety concerns

UVA President Jim Ryan addressed the situation in a message to students and staff, stating, Unfortunately, a small group today made a choice to willingly break the rules after being given many opportunities to comply, and they then refused to leave the site voluntarily.

I sincerely wish it were otherwise, but this repeated and intentional refusal to comply with reasonable rules intended to secure the safety, operations, and rights of the entire university community left us with no other choice than to uphold the neutral application and enforcement of those rules, Ryan expressed.

At least 25 individuals were taken into custody on suspicion of trespassing and transported to the Albemarle County Regional Jail. University officials awaited confirmation on the affiliation of those arrested with the school.

ALSO READ| Over 1500 protesters arrested across 30 US campuses in just a month. Here are 10 points where things stand now

In response to the events, a group named UVA Encampment for Gaza shared video footage of clashes between protesters and police online, saying, UVA SENT IN MILITARIZED POLICE WITH RIOT GEAR AND VIRGINIA STATE TROOPERS TO DEPLOY PEPPER SPRAY AND TEAR GAS ON STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PROTESTING GENOCIDE.

UVA, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THIS. SHAME ON JIM RYAN. UPD, KKK, IOF, THEYRE ALL THE SAME, the post read further.
Maria Manetti Shrem, left, and Jan Shrem at their home in San Francisco in 2017. Brian Feulner/Special to The Chronicle

San Francisco philanthropist Maria Manetti Shrem has promised UC Davis the largest gift ever to arts at the school  $20 million to create the multifaceted Maria Manetti Shrem Arts Renaissance program at the College of Letters and Science.

The donation, which will come posthumously from Manetti Shrems estate, will fund eight endowments for arts and design and create three new faculty chairs. The gift will also pay for faculty positions as well as the California Studio: Manetti Shrem Artist Residencies, a program that brings teaching artists and visiting lecturers to the university, and launch new fellowships for graduate students in the schools prestigious Art Studio major.

In addition to the pledged gift, $800,000 will be given annually to begin funding the endowments immediately.

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Manetti Shrem said the name Renaissance is a nod both to her Florentine background, as well as her hope that the endowments spark a creative resurgence that extends beyond the campus.

UC Davis has long been a quiet powerhouse of creativity and home to some of the worlds most influential artists, Estella Atekwana, dean of the College of Letters and Science, said in a statement. With this incredible gift, Maria, our greatest champion, helps us build upon our storied history while securing our future as a leader in the creative arts.

Manetti Shrem, the founder of two fashion companies, and her husband Jan Shrem, whose careers included opening a publishing house and a vineyard, are prolific philanthropists who have given generously to UC Davis over the years. In 2011, their $10 million gift helped establish the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. The on-campus museum, which opened in 2016, has presented several exhibitions focusing on artists with connections to the school, including former professors Wayne Thiebaud and Mike Henderson as well as graduates like sculptor Deborah Butterfield.

The Events Plaza at the entrance to the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. Iwan Baan/Courtesy SOIL and Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

With this pledge, Manetti Shrems total giving to the university will exceed $43 million.

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When Maria says renaissance, she really means it, UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said in a statement. Her comprehensive support across arts and design will help UC Davis offer even more excellent programs to our students and our community.

Jan Shrem, 94, was born in Colombia to Lebanese parents and moved to the United States as a teenager. After founding a successful publishing business in Japan, he opened the Clos Pegase Winery in Napa Valley in 1983. The couple married in 2012 and sold the winery in 2013.

Together they have supported organizations including the San Francisco Opera, Festival Napa Valley (founding benefactors), the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and KQED. The Metropolitan Opera in New York, operatic tenor Michael Fabianos ArtSmart national education program, the Royal Drawing School and the Kings Foundation in the United Kingdom have also enjoyed their patronage.

Maria Manetti Shrem and Jan Shrem in 2016 with the Picasso painting Femme nue couchee avec un chat which they sold in 2023 to benefit the arts and other philanthropy. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

In 2019, the couple gave the lead gift of $18 million to establish the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Neurology Clinic at UCSF.

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Manetti Shrem has been vocal about her plan to give away as much of their fortune as possible during her lifetime. This has included liquidating much of their noted art collection, including the May 2023 sale of the Picasso painting Femme nue couchee avec un chat at Sothebys for $21.2 million.

My mission at this stage of my life is to give with warm hands, Manetti Shrem, 83, told the Chronicle during an interview at her San Francisco home, sitting near a replica of the Picasso. In this third stage of my life, I made the decision to detach from material things. Why wait for things to be sold after my death by my trustee? I want to see the money go out while I am alive to enjoy it, and the money in these eight endowments will enrich the lives of 30,000 students.

In 2023, Manetti Shrem received the UC Davis Medal, the universitys highest honor, in recognition of her philanthropy. Shes also been honored by the city of San Francisco in 2022, which proclaimed June 22 Manetti Shrem Day for Philanthropy. In Italy, she has been awarded the keys to the city of Florence, and is a Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy.

Born in Florence, Manetti Shrem spent her career in fashion, first running the company Gaya Knits, which she founded in her early 20s. She lost the company when she divorced her first husband, Edward de George, and moved to a commune in Berkeley to marry her second husband, Stephen Farrow. Together, the two created Manetti Farrow Inc., a fashion distributor that helped bring Italian luxury brands Gucci and Fendi to the United States in the 1980s.

Maria Manetti Shrem and Margot Robbie, Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting winner, on the red carpet before SFFilm Awards Night at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in 2022. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Since selling the company in 1992, she has mostly devoted her time to arts patronage. Its fitting then that her latest gift will help establish the Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion and Textile at the schools department of design. The institute will be especially focused on how technology can create more eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry.

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Manetti Shrem said that she sees the College of Letters and Science, the new institute and the museum working together holistically.

When I was in fashion, sustainability wasnt something we talked about, she said. My wish is that the department's research center for sustainable studies and practice will help create a global impact.
A veteran U.S. air force pilot, who served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, was recently invited to his alma mater to celebrate his 100th birthday along with honouring his contributions to the University of Maryland Global Campus. Jack Milton: Celebrating His Long-Awaited Graduation at 100[X(formerly Twitter)/@nieceyreesey]

However, upon reaching him, Jack Milton got his long-overdue graduation ceremony.

Ive had many ceremonies throughout my life, fortunately, to celebrate many occasions, but this has to be the top, Milton told Fox 5 DC.I feel like this is the finale of a long journey in educationand again, I keep using the word appreciative, but I cant think of any other word, he added.

When Milton, now 100, was employed at the Pentagon in the 1960s, he enrolled at the University of Maryland Global Campus. The institution was known as the University of Maryland, at that time.

Both then and now, the school offers both in-person and online learning options and serves non-traditional college students, including veterans.

Jack Milton's journey in the military

For 31 years, Jack Milton was a pilot for the military.

According to a 2021 feature in Achiever, the University of Maryland Global Campus magazine, he accumulated over 12,000 flight hours. He performed combat missions in Vietnam and received the Distinguished Flying Cross during his tenure in the Air Force.

Milton intended to take the stage at his graduation in 1966 after earning enough credits for his bachelor of arts degree.

However, he was called up to Vietnam before that could take place.

He always felt irked by the fact that he never formally received his diploma, he expressed.

On my way to Southeast Asia, I had many thoughts about not being there to see my fellow graduates, Milton told Fox 5 DC.

Decades later than it was meant to happen, University of Maryland Global Campus President Gregory Fowler, PhD, expressed his pride in presenting Milton with his diploma and graduation cap.

Jack Miltons contribution to his alma mater

Jack Milton and his wife, Symantha Milton, continued to be active members of the University of Maryland Global Campus community after his return from Vietnam.

They provided particular assistance for the school's active military and veteran programmes.

The John L. and Symantha Milton Scholarship Fund was founded by the Miltons in 2010, according to Achiever. It supports a different University of Maryland Global Campus scholarship fund that is especially intended for volunteers of disabled military service members.
Israel has decided to end Al Jazeera's operations in the country amidst its ongoing war against Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(AP file photo)

Following the cabinet meeting, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi signed the directives formally prohibiting the Qatar-owned news outlet in Israel.

In a video that was uploaded on social media site X, Karhi declared, "Anyone who incites against the State of Israel... will no longer broadcast from Israel here, and his equipment will be confiscated."

The announcement comes as a significant move taken by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led government amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

In a post on X, Netanyahu revealed the decision taken by his cabinet, without providing details about its impact on Al Jazeera, the timeline for implementation, or whether the ban would be permanent or temporary.

The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel. Thanks to the minister @shlomo_karhi, the Israeli PM wrote on X.

What is the reason behind Israel's decision?

The action was taken in response to a law passed by the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, in April that gave the cabinet the power to stop foreign broadcasts in Israel if Israeli security services and Netanyahu deem that they pose a threat to national security.

Al Jazeera has long been accused by Israel of having a close relationship with Hamas and of taking a pro-Palestinian attitude while reporting on Israel's activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the outlet has denied the allegations. The move comes at a time when Qatar is assisting other nations to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Also Read: Sen. Ron Johnson says US must let Israel destroy Hamas, keep Palestinian children 'bottled up' in Gaza

A look at the order signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi

According to a decree signed by Shlomo Karhi, Israel will seize equipment "used to deliver the channel's content," including servers, computers, editing, cameras, microphones and routing equipment. The authorities are also allowed to seize wireless transmission devices and some cell phones.

Our orders will go into effect immediately. Too much time has passed and there have been too many unnecessary legal hurdles in order to finally stop the well-oiled incitement machine of Al Jazeera, which harms the security of the state, Karhi stated after signing the orders.

For months I have done everything so that they will not be able to work from Israel any more.

Al Jazeera, which is among one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza during the war, accused Israel of committing crimes while releasing graphic footage of airstrikes and crowded hospitals.

On Sunday, Al Jazeera's Arabic news channel confirmed the Israeli move during its broadcast. The English section of Al Jazeera continued to broadcast live footage from East Jerusalem just minutes after Netanyahu's announcement.
Israel is prepared to temporarily halt the war in Gaza to gain the release of the hostages held there, but wont agree to the Hamas demand to end the war completely, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu(Reuters)

Its unclear where the comments - and an exchange of barbs with the Hamas political leader - will leave the potential for a halt in the war, which is approaching the seven-month mark. Israels military continues to prepare for a potential assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have been negotiating for weeks through mediators toward a potential truce that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding settlements, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country, Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday. Hamas, not Israel, is preventing a deal, he added.

ALSO READ| Benjamin Netanyahu announces ban on Al Jazeera in Israel

Giving in to Hamas demands would be a terrible defeat for Israel, a huge victory for Hamas and Iran, and would project a terrible weakness to Israels friends and enemies alike, Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by his office.

This weakness would distance any further peace agreement, Netanyahu said, in an apparent reference to potential normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia.

This weakness will only bring the next war closer, and it will push the next peace agreement further away, Netanyahu said. Alliances are not made with the weak and defeated, alliances are made with the strong and victorious.

Hamas poitical chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, is bringing seriousness and positivity to the current talks.

Netanyahu, he said, wanted to invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.

Hamas conducted a series of contacts with mediators and with resistance factions, and held intensive meetings and consultations before sending its delegation to Cairo, he said.

Hamas is still keen to reach a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the withdrawal of Israel forces and achieves a serious prisoners/hostage exchange deal, Haniyeh added.

Lebanese Strike

Earlier on Sunday, an air strike blamed by Lebanon on Israel killed four civilians and wounded two others in a village in south Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah to fire rockets back across the border.

Israeli warplanes targeted Mays al-Jabal, causing massive destruction, Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday. Israel hasnt so far commented.

Hezbollah said it fired tens of rockets at Kiryat Shmona in response to Israels attack, the militant groups Al-Manar TV reported.

Israeli forces have been exchanging cross-border fire with the Lebanon-based Hezbollah almost daily since the start of the campaign against Hamas in October. Tensions appear to have intensified with Iran-backed Hezbollah since Israel and Tehran began attacking each other directly last month.

Tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese have fled their homes near the borders due to ongoing cross-border fighting. That erupted around the time Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and triggering the war in Gaza thats destroyed much of the enclave and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.

Hezbollah is thought to have more than 100,000 fighters, many of whom are situated close to the border with Israel. The group has a far larger and more sophisticated arsenal of missiles and other weapons than Hamas. Both militant groups are considered terrorist organizations by the US.
San Francisco International Airport, in unincorporated San Mateo County, is in a branding battle with its Oakland counterpart. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle 2022

Ive never much cared for San Francisco International Airport  until SFO courageously stood up for truth and accuracy in airport names.

Last month, SFOs leaders filed suit to stop the Port of Oakland from changing Oakland International Airports name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.

Oakland justified the name change by saying it wanted to educate travelers unfamiliar with California that the city sits on the bay. I like to think that Oakland was combating a misperception among Star Wars fans that its on planet Tatooine; after all, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) was a native Oaklander.

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Fortunately, SFO saw through the Oaklands airport Jedi mind trick. The lawsuit accuses its East Bay competitor of trademark infringement as part of a grab for more air traffic. SFO also alleges that the name change creates the impression that Oakland is in San Francisco, which it is not.

I admire SFOs bold commitment to defending geographic integrity, which is why Im so excited to see the airport take the next logical step in advancing the same principle, by changing its own inaccurate name.

I can hear it now: My Southwest Airlines pilot asks me to return my seat back to its full upright position  and then welcomes me to San Mateo County International Airport.

Because SFO, just like Oakland, isnt in the City or County of San Francisco. Its in an unincorporated corner of northeast San Mateo County, south of San Francisco.

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As a lifelong SFO passenger, I can testify that taking the San Francisco out of SFOs name would be a service to the flying public.

Because its actually quite difficult to get into or out of San Francisco via the airport with San Francisco in its name.

SFOs problems start with flight delays. For years, its had among the highest rates of delayed flights in the United States. Other badly delayed airports typically have snow or severe winter weather. Of course, SFO has fog, but fog alone doesnt make so many flights late. Its the poor organization of the airport itself. Its two main, parallel runways are too close together to permit landings at the same time. So, when visibility is low, there are delays. This year, a construction project has been creating still more backups.

And if fog and poor organization dont trap you at SFO, the airports design will. Todays SFO was largely created 20 years ago, via an expansion that was hundreds of millions of dollars over budget. The project left the airport feeling overbuilt and bloated, with too much distance between ground transportation and gates.

Today, getting to your flight at SFO requires taking slow rides on an internal Air Train (whose construction was dogged by corruption allegations) and making long walks through large, glassy and often empty halls. Even when security lines are short, walking alone can add 20 minutes to your trip. Travel websites routinely advise SFO passengers to arrive at the airport two or more hours early.

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And the transportation options outside the airport are no picnic, either. SFO sits at a traffic chokehold point, with crammed freeways and dead-end streets. Public buses stop at the terminals, but the main line, SamTrans 292, shows up only every 30 minutes or so. And Caltrain, the peninsula commuter line, doesnt stop at the airport.

BART trains have a station inside the airport, which is nice. But many trains on that line dont go into the airport, ending their routes four stops earlier at Daly City instead. And there are so many BART stops along the 13 miles between SFO and downtown San Francisco that the trip can take nearly an hour.

When I need to go to downtown San Francisco, I fly into Oakland. Its faster, less likely to experience delays and more reliable. And the airports two terminals are small and efficient so its just two minutes from gate to ground transportation. The airport also has a connector train to BART that can take you into San Francisco in just five stops, or down to Fremont and San Jose with ease.

You might even say that Oakland is a better San Francisco airport than San Franciscos airport.

Of course, I would never say that. No way. Because your truth-telling columnist is 100% behind SFOs righteous defense of geographic accuracy in airport names.

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But I will say this: Until this cross-bay airport dispute is over, and until SFO follows its own principle and changes its name to San Mateo County International, I am changing my own name to honor the Bay Area airport that I am actually enjoying flight into.
May 4, 2024: Worldwide military spending reached a record $2.443 trillion in 2023. This was an increase of 6.8 per cent since 2022. This was the largest year-to-year increase since 2009. Global defense spending passed two trillion dollars a year in 2021. The nations with the largest defense budgets remain the same. In 2023 the top ten spenders were the United States, China, India, Britain, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea. As usual the United States accounted for the largest amount of global spending, 38 percent of it. China came in at 14 percent while India has 3.6 percent. The number ten nation, South Korea, had 2.4 percent. Russia, long the number two spender has not fallen to number five with 3.2 percent of world spending. The rest of the world, which has about 170 nations, account for 25.3 percent of global defense spending. The current global superpowers are the United States and China, with China a distant second to the Americans.

As of 2023 global defense spending has now increased for nine consecutive years. Another first, since 2009, is that spending increased in four of the major regions, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. A major distortion in national spending occurred because of the war in Ukraine. Here Ukraine survived the Russian 2022 invasion because of enormous military aid from NATO nations and the inability of Russia alone to match those increases. Russian defense spending increased by 24 per cent to $109 billion in 2023. This was a 57 per cent increase since 2014, the year that the war in Ukraine began when Russia annexed Crimea. In 2023 Russias military spending made up 16 per cent of total government spending and its military spending as a share of GDP was 5.9 per cent.

Ukraine was the eighth largest spender in 2023, after a spending surge of 51 per cent to reach $64.8 billion. This gave Ukraine a military burden of 37 per cent and represented 58 per cent of total government spending. Ukraines military spending in 2023 was 59 per cent the size of Russias. That was made possible by the $35 billion in military aid received that year, including $25.4 billion from the United States. Combine this with Ukraines own military spending and Ukraine was spending about 91 percent of what the Russians were spending.

While the United States still has the largest defense budget among NATO nations, it combined with the spending of the other 30 NATO members meant NATO nations spent 1.34 trillion dollars on defense, which is about 55 per cent of the global total. Military spending by the United States increased by 2.3 per cent to reach $916 billion in 2023, representing 68 per cent of total NATO military spending. In 2023 most European NATO members increased their military expenditure. Their combined share of the NATO total was 28 per cent, the highest in a decade. The remaining 4 per cent came from Canada and Turkey.

Another change has been the two years of fighting in Ukraine, which has changed the attitudes of NATO nations about their security situation. Russian leaders have openly stated that Ukraine is only the first of several areas they want to conquer in an effort to revive the Soviet empire, or at least as much of the Soviet Union as they can. The Soviet Union fell apart in 1991 because of mismanagement and efforts by regions of the Soviet Union that wanted to become independent states once more. In 1991 that happened with the Soviet Union dissolving into fifteen nations including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The two largest of these successor states were Russia, now known as the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. Russia intended to rebuild its federation into something resembling the Soviet Union and Ukraine was the first acquisition Russia went after. That effort has not proceeded as expected.

None of the new post-Soviet nations want to become part of a new Soviet Union. Russian leader Vladimir Putin sees this as an obstacle that he can and must overcome. Putin seems to ignore the fact that these acquisition goals are opposed by all the other successor states to the Soviet Union. No one wants to return to being part of any new Soviet Union. The only supporter of this revival is the Russian Federation, which wants to restore the Soviet Union as a much larger Russian Federation. The Russians have nuclear weapons and none of the other successor states do. Some, especially Ukraine, did have nuclear weapons in 1991 but gave them up due to a treaty proposed by the United States and other NATO nations. This deal left Russia as the only former Soviet state with nuclear weapons while nations that gave them up, like Ukraine, were guaranteed their continued independence and that Russia would not try, in the future, to conquer Ukraine. That deal lasted 30 years until Putin breached it in 2014 when Russia seized the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula and portions of eastern Ukraine.

That dispute festered until 2022 when Russia decided to invade, conquer, and absorb Ukraine back into the Russian Federation. That did not happen because the NATO nations opposed it and wanted to allow Ukraine to join NATO and the European Union. Russia opposed both of these goals and saw the conquest of Ukraine as the solution. In terms of defense spending and total armed forces, NATO is far larger and more powerful than Russia. At the same time Russia and some NATO nations (the United States, Britain, and France) have nuclear weapons. Together the NATO forces far outnumber what Russia can muster. The losses Russia has suffered in Ukraine so far have diminished Russian military power even more. At this point Russia should be willing to negotiate a peace deal. Mainly because Vladimir Putin does not want to admit defeat, that has not happened yet.

Outside of the war in Ukraine, there is not a lot of violence in the rest of the world. There are disputes between India and China over where their mutual border should be. This occasionally gets violent but so far both nations have tried to keep the violence at a low level.

In the Middle East, Iran became more aggressive against Israel, which Iran has long sought to destroy, along with American forces in the region. Iran acted in early 2024, making an unprecedented direct attack on Israel. That attack failed completely, doing minor damage to an Israeli air base where some of Israels new F-35 jet fighters were based. Israel currently has 35 F-35s and will eventually have at least 75. Iran sees these aircraft as a major obstacle to Iranian power in the region. After the failure of their early 2024 attack on Israel, Iran has to rethink its military objectives because there is no longer any doubt that Israel is too powerful for Iran to attack successfully.
May 4, 2024: Ukraine recently revealed the Sea Baby-2024 USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle), a major upgrade of the 2023 model Sea Baby. This new USV carries 859 kg of explosives and has a range of 1,000 kilometers. These new USVs are cheap, costing $216,000 each.

Ukraine used USVs for the first time in 2022 when one was used to attack ships in Crimeas Sevastopol Bay. An optional weapon for the new Sea Baby USV is six launching tubes for RPV-16 thermobaric rockets. These rockets have a range of 600 meters. The warhead detonates when it hits a target creating a cloud 2,500 degree heat that can kill or injure personnel within 80 meters of the detonation. First used by Ukrainian ground troops, in one case an RPV-16 warhead hit the room of a single story building, detonated, and destroyed the entire building. At sea, if one of these warheads landed on the deck of a warship the damage to any nearby personnel or weapons would be catastrophic. A hit against the hull could sink the ship, or at least put it out of action because of a hole at the waterline. Thermobaric explosives dont work underwater, only in the atmosphere.

Because of Ukrainian attacks since 2022 with USVs, UAVs, and missiles, the Russian Black Sea Fleet lost 14 ships with several others badly damaged and towed to more distant portions of the Black Sea, including the Sea of Azov extension in the northeast and the more distant naval base at Novorossiysk. The remaining ships of the Black Sea Fleet include six guided missile cruisers, one corvette, seven diesel attack submarines, seven landing ships and dozens of High-speed landing craft, sea-going minesweepers, anti-saboteur boats, missile boats and anti-submarine ships. These ships rarely leave their well-guarded ports, even for a few days, because of the Ukrainian USVs that might be waiting for them. Ukrainian USVs are low in the water and are difficult to detect during the day and impossible to see at night.

Ukraine has several USV models, including the original Sea Baby, Mother, Malyuk and MAGURA. Sea Baby and Mother were developed by the Ukrainian Navy with assistance from the SBU secret service organization. At the end of 2023 Ukraine revealed an updated Mother USV with a top speed of 100 kilometers an hour. Manufacture of these USVs is done in underground production facilities to avoid Russian missile and guided bomb attacks.

Malyuk was used in a mid-2023 Kerch Bridge attack, carrying 850 kg of explosives to inflict significant damage on the bridge. MAGURA carries 320 kg of explosives while Mamai carries 450 kg. These USVs are no longer used just for delivering explosives against a target, as they can also be used for reconnaissance when equipped with video cameras that broadcast what they see back to the USV operator. Some USVs have been armed with small rocket launchers. Malyuk has a range of over 700 kilometers, which means they are suitable for operations on the high seas. Endurance is about 60 hours, and top speed is over 70 kilometers an hour. MAGURA has similar characteristics. Mamai was used in the long range attack at the distant naval base at Novorossiysk on Russias Black Sea eastern coast, which is a thousand kilometers from Crimea.

Ukraine has been developing subsurface UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vessels) and in early 2023 the first one, the Toloka2 TK-150 entered service. This UUV was 2.5 meters long and equipped with a sensor mast that remained above the surface for navigation and to identify targets. Toloka2 can also carry a small explosive warhead. More recently, Ukraine developed the larger Marichka UUV that is 6 meters long and one meter in diameter. Ukraine seeks a Western manufacturer to build many more of these USVs and UUVs than Ukraine can.

Ukrainian USVs have been quite successful in attacking and sinking or disabling Russian navy ships. So far there have been twelve attacks which resulted in damage to 12 ships and the sinking of a cruiser, two small landing ships and one missile corvette. The longest range raids have been against targets in the Kerch Strait including the eighteen kilometer long Kerch Strait bridge, which has been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian USVs. As of early 2024 the bridge is unusable and being restored. When repairs are finished, the Ukrainians will attack the bridge again. The Kerch Strait bridge is a vital supply line for Russian forces in the Crimean Peninsula. Sending supplies by sea is no longer practical because of the risk of attack by Ukrainian USVs. This leaves the Kerch Strait bridge and when that is out of commission, the only supply route is a road from Russia that is under observation by the Ukrainians, who can attack supply movements most of the time. This means Russian supply vehicles arrive in Crimea intermittently, leaving the Russian garrison weaker. Worse for the Russians, their Crimea garrison cannot hold out without fuel resupply.

Apparently the only effective protection from USV attacks is the installation of multiple 25mm or 30mm automatic cannon gun mounts that are automated and use advanced AI and sensors. The guns must be able to point downward towards waters close to the hull. This makes it possible for the autocannon to fire on UAVs that get very close to the ship. No one has installed such a system yet, but the Russian Navy is working on something like this.
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Im not allowed to say anything, insists Ben Schwartz. To emphasise his point, or perhaps swept along by sheer verbal inertia, the comedian and Parks and Recreation star says it three more times. I was told not to say anything. I dont know anything. Im not allowed to say anything. It seems he really isnt allowed to say anything. Ive just asked Schwartz about Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the forthcoming capper to a trilogy of popular video game movies, in which he voices the lead character. Specifically, Ive asked about last months widespread reports that Keanu Reeves had been cast as Shadow, a sort of moody, goth-black invert of Schwartzs famous blue hedgehog. Schwartz shutters his face with poker-tournament blankness. I saw those reports too! he says. Thats as much as Im going to get.

I am receiving this good-natured stonewalling over video chat, while the 42-year-old stares at me from his office seat. For many actors, the chance of maybe-possibly-potentially working with Reeves would be a dizzying proposition  a brush with the upper echelons of superstardom. For Schwartz, its almost routine at this point. Over the past decade, he could be seen fanging out with a Draculaic Nic Cage in Renfield, cracking wise with Billy Crystal in the two-hander Standing Up, Falling Down, and John McClaneing with Kevin Hart in the Netflix thriller Die Hart. The list goes on: John Malkovich; Jeremy Irons; Don Cheadle; Eminem. Schwartz never seems like a name-dropper, but chat to him for even a few minutes and the names start to silently pile around our feet.

I remember I did a scene with Robert De Niro, he recalls, referring to the 2009 film Everybodys Fine. For weeks before, I was like, I cant watch a Robert De Niro movie. I cant. I cant. It would be too intimidating. But these people, theyre just human beings. Like with Jim Carrey! he adds. (Carrey plays Schwartzs nemesis, the buffoonish Dr Eggman, in the Sonic films.) When I see Jim Carreys face the first time, Im like, Oh my God, its him. Oh God He exists in the real world! And then all of a sudden youre having real conversations, and youre talking to a friend and an ally, as opposed to a mythical comedic being.

Its easy to see why Schwartz has made such a success of voicing Segas relentlessly upbeat, turbo-charged mascot  he seems to talk at the clip of an auctioneer. Its also, I reckon, what makes him such a good fit for improv comedy, an artform that seems often to live or die on vim and quickness. Improv is, in fact, the reason Schwartz is speaking today: this month, hes heading to Londons Royal Albert Hall on tour with Ben Schwartz & Friends, a wholly improvised long-form show starring himself and a few fellow comics.

It works like this: Schwartz asks the audience for a prompt, usually soliciting a story about the most exciting time of your life. They perform a routine based on the response. After the interval, they do it again. Its not Whose Line is it Anyway? Schwartz says. Were creating a play for you, a comedic play of sorts. Its two long scenes  totally improvised  that connect at the end. And if we do it right, it feels like magic, and people are going to be like, Oh, they wrote that.

Schwartz previously toured as a double act with Silicon Valleys Thomas Middleditch, releasing a filmed improv special on Netflix in 2020. A year later, Middleditch faced allegations of sexual misconduct; the pair have not performed together since. Today, he sidesteps the subject.

Improv comedy, says Schwartz, gets a bad name and a bad rap sometimes  mostly because the public just lacks the right frame of reference. Do you know what I think it is? In stand-up, theres so many specials you can look to. A thousand Kevin Hart specials, or Chris Rock, or John Mulaney, and you can see the people whove been doing it for 20 years and are at the top of the field, really killing it. For improv, theres very few of those.

open image in gallery Jean-Ralphio (Schwartz), in between Nick Offerman and Rob Lowe in Parks and Recreation' ( Tyler Golden/NBC )

Born to Jewish parents  a music teacher mother and real estate agent father  in New Yorks Bronx, Schwartz has a distinctly 21st-century Hollywood origin story. As a young adult, he was freelancing as a writer for David Letterman and Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update.

Nobody was seeing my jokes, he recalls. I was performing in a small theatre at the time, to 90 people. In LA, nobody knew who I was. So he took matters into his own hands  on the internet. Schwartz became a prolific star of online comedy sketches, such as the cult College Humour show Jake and Amir. He started filming material that had been rejected by the more traditional platforms. Hence the sobriquet RejectedJokes on X/Twitter, where he now posts to more than a million followers, and nearly as many on Instagram.

Now, if I was coming up, I would be using TikTok, and Instagram, he says. But back then, it was YouTube, and College Humour, and Funny or Die. Viral videos begot more content, until eventually he was scouted for the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. In the series, Schwartz played the recurring character of Jean-Ralphio Sapperstein, a preposterous playboy who could reasonably be described as the most annoying person alive. [Parks] changed my whole life and the trajectory of my career, he says. Its pretty remarkable what that show pulled off.

The lifespans of sitcoms just arent what they were. Things dont go for 10 seasons or seven seasons anymore Ben Schwartz

Schwartz has felt the more brutal side of the industry, too. In 2020, he was cast in the astronautical Netflix sitcom Space Force, opposite Steve Carrell, John Malkovich, and Lisa Kudrow. In 2022, Space Force was cancelled  having lasted just 17 episodes. I do think we got cut off too short, he says. If you think about how TV used to be at the beginning youd have a pilot, and then you would do 12 to 24 episodes of the first season. And in that first season, you kind of figure stuff out. He cites Seinfeld, Parks and Rec and the US Office as examples of shows that needed a season to find their footing.

But with streaming, he continues, you create all of it beforehand. Before you hear how people are reacting, you put it all out. I think in the second season of Space Force, we really started to figure it out. Its like, Oh, were starting to get it  and then the time was up. You gotta figure it out quick.

The lifespans of these things just arent what they were. Things dont go for 10 seasons or seven seasons anymore.

The experience did bring Schwartz into the orbit of Malkovich, now a firm friend and devotee of his comedy shows. We forced him to watch Con Air with us once, which was like one of the best nights of my life, Schwartz laughs.

open image in gallery Ben Schwartz as F Tony Scarapiducci in Space Force' ( Diyah Pera/Netflix )

I have to know more. Malkovich, at the time, hadnt seen the beloved Nicolas Cage action thriller since its initial premiere. So he sat next to me. Wed pause and be like, What about this scene? And hed respond  Schwartz drops into a pretty passable Malkovich impression  You know, a lot of testosterone in this scene.

Leaning forward into his camera, Schwartz gives the impression of a man who is genuinely buzzing to his marrow  about Con Air; about improv; about Sonic 3. Its really a step up from 2, he says. If youre a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, like I am, its heaven. Youre getting so many things you want in a Sonic movie that you havent got yet.

In February, it was announced that Carrey would be returning for Sonic 3, despite his recent claims that he was considering retiring from acting. I ask about Carrey, a performer whose manic onscreen dynamism has always contained just a hint of darkness: the 2017 documentary Jim & Andy, about the making of the Carrey-starring biopic Man on the Moon, paints the actor as an intense, sometimes challenging person on set. Schwartz, though, is having none of it.

I havent seen a shred of darkness in Jim Carrey, he says. If you talk to him, he really works on understanding the universe. Tries to really connect with the big picture of everything. I think his purpose in life is to bring joy and enlightenment to people.

As Schwartz prepares to step onto the London stage, to ask his fans about their lives and spin their stories into performance, I wonder if that isnt his purpose too.

Ben Schwartz & Friends is live at Londons Royal Albert Hall on 19 May. Tickets are available here
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Bernard Hill, the actor best known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Titanic, has died at the age of 79.

Hill played Theoden, King of Rohan, in the Oscar-winning fantasy films based on the novels by JRR Tolkien, and the part of Captain Edward Smith in James Camerons hit disaster movie.

The news was confirmed to the BBC by the actors agent Lou Coulson, who said that he had died in the early hours of Sunday morning (5 May). A statement from Hills family is expected shortly.

The actor was also known for his iconic role as Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdales seminal British drama Boys from the Blackstuff.

Between Titanic (1997) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Hill was the only actor in history to have appeared in more than one film that won 11 or more Oscars.

He had been set to appear at Liverpool Comic Con this week. The event issued a statement on Twitter/X, saying: Were heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hills passing. A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength, read the post.

Folk musician Barbara Dickson also shared the news on Twitter/X, writing: Its with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.

open image in gallery Actor Bernard Hill photographed in 2012 ( Getty )

A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.

Born in Blackley, Manchester on 17 December 1944, Hill was raised in a Catholic family of miners, and studied at what is now the Manchester School of Theatre.

After small parts in the BBCs I, Claudius and Hard Labour, Hills breakthrough role came in 1979, when he played a working-class Scouse man pushed to the brink by the brutality of the British welfare state in The Black Stuff. He then reprised the role three years later in the serialised sequel, Boys from the Black Stuff.

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open image in gallery Hill as King Theoden in Lord of the Rings ( New Line )

His characters catchphrase, Gizza job, became widely recognised among the British viewing public.

Film parts followed, including roles in Gandhi (1982), Mountains of the Moon (1990), Skallagrigg (1994) and Madagascar Skin (1995).

In the 1990s, Hills profile in Hollywood continued to grow, with major parts in films such as The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) opposite Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas.

In Titanic, Hill played the captain of the doomed vessel that sinks in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

open image in gallery Hill as Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff ( PA )

In 1999, Hill starred in the Clint Eastwood film True Crime. He later described the experience as great fun, commenting: [Eastwood is] a considerate director; he knows how actors think, and hes massively quiet on the set, and hes got a gentle way in which he approaches the directing.

Hills character was introduced in the second Lord of the Rings film, The Two Towers. In the film, Theoden is a king who leads the people of Rohan. Hill reprised the role in the trilogy-capper Return of the King.

Asked about his fondest memory, Hill later reflected: I loved every minute of every day that I was on Lord of the Rings.

The actors other noteworthy roles include Philos in the Dwayne Johnson-starring supernatural thriller The Scorpion King, and Thomas Howard in the BBCs six-part adaptation of Hilary Mantels Wolf Hall.

Hills most recent role comes in the Martin Freeman police drama The Responder, which begins on BBC One this Sunday.
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An Italian model and greeter who worked at last years Met Gala has claimed he has been fired three days before this years event because he upstaged Kylie Jenner at last years celebration.

Eugenio Casnighi said he is being punished by his agency, who he doesnt identify, for going viral in the background of photos of the reality star as she posed on the red carpet.

The 26-year-old said he had been working at the Gala, which marks the fashion industrys most anticipated red-carpet event, for the last two years. His job was to be with Kylie Jenner the whole night and help her with whatever she needed.

Despite his attendance being confirmed over a month ago, he claims to have been given less than three days notice before being informed he was no longer welcome.

I just got fired from the Met Gala, Casnighi began in a video to his TikTok followers.

The Italian model had previously been unable to address the attention as he was under an NDA but said, Its funny enough, they fired me so I can say whatever I want now.

Opening up about the reasons behind his last-minute removal from the event, he said that he was being made to pay for taking attention away from celebrities on account of his looks.

They blamed me, he said. They said You made it about yourself, so we dont want to work with you anymore.

open image in gallery Casnighi says he was told he was no longer welcome at the event ( Getty Images/ TikTok @eugeni0_ )

He added: They let me know today that they cut me off. They fired me because I went viral last year.

Casnighi was upset by the issue as he said that the company he had signed with had reassured him that the purpose of his recruitment was to increase his profile as a model in his own right.

Its funny because the Met Gala and the company that Im not going to mention...want models to work the red carpet, he said.

They want people to get noticed. They literally told me, We picked you because we like you more than other people.

But when people took pictures of the actual celebrity, like Kylie Jenner, and I was next to her, of course I ended up in the picture.

The Independent has contacted the Metropolitan Museum for comment.

Sponsored by Conde Nast, Loewe, and TikTok, this years gala is expected to be a parade of organic opulence, featuring archival couture and custom-made designs that epitomise eternal beauty through natural elements.

The co-chairs for the evening include Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, and Bad Bunny, while Vogues red-carpet hosts will be La La Anthony, Gwendoline Christie, and Ashley Graham, alongside special correspondent Emma Chamberlain.

This years theme honours the sleeping beauties in fashion  not the Disney fairytale. Inside the exhibit, 250 pieces from the Costume Institutes permanent collection will be showcased, some dating back to the Elizabethan period.
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As rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake are engaged in one of hip-hops biggest-ever beefs, an eight-year-old clip has resurfaced of former president Barack Obama weighing in on a potential feud between the two stars.

Mr Obama was interviewed by Adande Thorne, a YouTuber better known online as Swoozie, in 2016, when he was asked about a potential battle between Drake and Kendrick.

If Drake and Kendrick Lamar got in a rap battle, who do you think would win? the YouTube personality asked.

Mr Obama predicted Lamar.

He said, Im just saying, I think Drake is an outstanding entertainer but Kendrick, his lyrics, his last album was outstanding. Best album I think of last year.

The clip was resurrected after both rappers dropped duelling diss tracks.

On 3 May, Lamar released Meet the Grahams, in which he suggested that Drake has a secret daughter.

open image in gallery Kendrick Lamar (left) and Drake ( Getty )

Drake responded via an Instagram story, writing: Nahhh hold on can someone find my hidden daughter pls and send her to me...these guys are in shambles.

In another track, he labelled Drake a paedophile, with lyrics saying, I hear you like em young.

Meanwhile, the Gods Plan artist released his own diss track,Family Matters, alleging Lamar physically abused his fiancee.

The song also accuses Lamar of hypocrisy in his pro-Black activism: You just actin like an activist, its make-believe, dont even go back to your hood and plant no money trees.
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Kendrick Lamar has released yet another diss track in his ongoing feud with Drake, marking his third song in 36 hours.

The beef began when Lamar hit out at the Canadian rapper and J Cole in his song First Person Shooter.

While Cole bowed out of the battle early, Drake has continued to escalate hostilities and the pair have been back and forth with insults all week. In the tracks, Drake has accused the rapper of domestic violence and Lamar has alleged that Drake is harbouring a secret daughter.

In his new song, Not Like Us, the Humble rapper called Drake a certified paedophile as he made multiple references to his alleged interactions with younger women.

Say, Drake, I hear you like em young, the 36-year-old rapper began, adding that he would struggle in jail on account of his interest. You better not ever go to cell block one.

Lamar went on to warn any women interested in Drake to just make sure you hide your lil sister from him.

He went on to mock the Gods Plan artists studio album Certified Lover Boy as he taunted, Certified Lover Boy? Certified paedophiles.

The song was released on YouTube in the early hours of Sunday morning (5 May). The artwork features an aerial shot of Drakes mansion with sex offender targets overlaid.

open image in gallery Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been embroiled in an ongoing feud ( Getty )

His alleged interactions with much younger women were evidently the focus of the relentless attack as he added, Aint you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and its probably A-Minor.

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It comes after Drake released Family Matters on Saturday (4 May), made up of three parts, in which he accused Lamar of hypocrisy in his pro-Black activism. In the track he also accuses him of domestic violence, and of begging the Tupac estate to sue Drake for his use of AI versions of the late rapper in a diss track.

open image in gallery ( Kendrick Lamar/YouTube )

He didnt stop there as he went on to diss A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, Future, and Metro Boomin.

But Lamar hit back within minutes, releasing Meet The Grahams his third diss track this week, in which he accused the rapper of harbouring a secret daughter, and of having a series of addictions to gambling, alcohol, drugs, sex, and spending.
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The Sopranos originally featured a scene that would have cleared up one of the shows biggest mysteries.

On 10th January 1999, James Gandolfini made his debut as depressed gangster Tony Soprano, a character considered one of the greatest TV roles of all time.

Gandolfini was backed up by an indelible cast of supporting actors, including Edie Falco, who played Tonys wife Carmela, and Tony Sirico, whose Paulie Walnuts became a fan favourite across the shows six seasons.

The late Siricos Paulie found himself at the centre of many of the shows funniest moments, with his finest hour arriving 23 years ago  on 6 May 2001  when the series broadcast the 11th episode of its third season.

That episode was titled Pine Barrens, which was the first of four episodes Steve Buscemi would direct.

Pine Barrens swiftly became a viewer favourite and, to this day, stands out as the shows highest-rated episode with an IMDb score of 9.7  thats even higher than the dramatic season four finale, Whitecaps, the gruelling fifth season episode Long Term Parking and the divisive series finale Made In America.

open image in gallery Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Christopher (Michael Imperioli) in classic Sopranos episode Pine Barrens ( HBO )

The episode starts out just like any other, but slowly turns into a two-hander involving Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) and Paulie Gualtieri (Tony Sirico) after a job gone wrong involving a Russian man named Valery (Vitali Baganov).

They become stranded in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, an expansive rural woodland stretching across more than seven counties after Valery escapes their clutches.

Despite spending the remainder of the episode looking for him, the pair never find him. The mystery surrounding Valerys whereabouts has led to numerous theories from fans over the past two decades.

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Its the focus of so much debate that writer Terence Winter once said the question he gets asked more than any other is: Wheres the Russian?

However, there would have been a scene in the show that cleared this up. It was planned to feature in season six as the show neared its conclusion.

Sirico revealed to The New York Times in 2007 that the sequence would have seen Christopher and Paulie happen upon Valery outside a bar, and proceed to shoot him to death. Creator David Chase removed the scene.

I think David didnt like it, Sirico said, adding: He wanted the audience just to suffer.

Speaking about Valery in a 2008 interview, Chase said: OK, this is what happened. Some Boy Scouts found the Russian, who had the telephone number to his boss, Slava, in his pocket. They called Slava, who took him to the hospital where he had brain surgery. Then Slava sent him back to Russia.

In 2021, Falco revealed that she once reprised her role of Carmela Soprano alongside James Gandolfini, who played Tony, for a short film set after the shows conclusion that would have cleared up what happened in the divisive final scene.
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It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century's worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. Effie McAvoy took a longer view.

Oh, it didnt take days, honey," she said.

It took decades of activism for a change that was "so very healing," said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week's UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement  not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally big-tent and culturally mainstream congregations  some predating America's independence.

The nations largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and influence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and colleges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last weeks General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America's religious calendar  impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience  clergy doing ordinations and marriages that defied church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

A part of me still doesnt believe it, said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

Weve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way," said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. "Our tears have turned into tears of joy.

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church  but said bigger issues loom..

Were an aging denomination, he said. "We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I dont see how this vote addresses any of that.

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s  some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and dont have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

There is no silver bullet for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022  less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

The mainline battles over LGBTQ issues began heating up in the early 1970s, before those initials were used.

A United Methodist General Conference in 1972 declared homosexual practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Other denominations issued similar teachings. Some imposed explicit bans on gay clergy.

An Episcopal bishop was tried and acquitted of heresy in 1996 for ordaining a gay pastor. The 2003 ordination of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, ignited long-simmering controversies.

Conservative and liberal groups formed their own church caucuses for denominational legislative sessions, where Scriptures and slogans flew back and forth between proclamations of Robert's Rules of Order.

Progressive Presbyterians blocked an entrance to a General Assembly in 2000 and were arrested. As the United Methodists steadily tightened LGBTQ bans, progressives disrupted General Conferences with protests, drums and songs. A conservative United Methodist leader, the Rev. Bill Hinson, roiled the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh with a call for denominational divorce  even though his side had won all its legislative battles.

Why do we go on hurting each other? asked Hinson. Others quickly tamped down the idea, but it was a foreshadowing.

By the second decade of the 21st century, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Episcopalians had largely dismantled their bans. They navigated major strains with partner churches elsewhere in the world.

Substantial minorities of their U.S. congregations joined more conservative denominations, saying the sexuality debates were symptoms of a deeper theological chasm.

The United Methodist Church is unique because it is international, with many delegates from countries with conservative sexual values and laws. A special legislative session in 2019 reinforced LGBTQ bans.

That result proved short-lived.

U.S. churches increasingly defied the bans and elected more progressive delegates for this year's gathering. Many churches began disaffiliating under a temporary measure approved in 2019 that let churches keep their properties under favorable conditions.

To Willimon, that process was devastating. Whether the congregation stayed or left, peoples' relationships were ruptured, he said.

Many churches went independent, but thousands joined the new Global Methodist Church, which pledges to enforce restrictions on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disaffiliate.

The General Conference did not listen to us, said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. We do not believe we know better than Jesus."

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of Nigeria said he would likely leave the denomination after his term ends, though he is staying for now to help heal a rift in the local church. From the tradition of the church in Africa, he added, marriage is between a man and a woman, period.

But other African delegates are heartened by a plan that expands regional autonomy on such matters. They said African churches will keep the marriage and ordination bans in their region while remaining in the denomination.

Our decision to stay in the United Methodist Church is not conditioned by what happens in America, said the Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Southern Nigeria. God has called us to a church, and the church is not a property of the United States.

Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of Zimbabwe the majority of the African bishops at General Conference agree the regionalization plan respects local cultures.

The United Methodist Church was the last of the major U.S. mainline groups to liberalize its policies on sexuality in part because of its large presence in rural, small-town and Southern areas, where a more conservative sexual ethos prevails, said James Hudnut-Beumler, a professor of American Christian History at Vanderbilt University. He is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister and co-author of The Future of Mainline Protestantism.

Thats why theyre the last to go, he said.

And it wont automatically bring back the more-accepting younger generations who left over the bans, said Hudnut-Beumler, adding that conservative evangelical congregations are not exempt.

Some conservative megachurch pastor may be thinking to himself, We won this. Look what happened to the Methodists and Presbyterians and Episcopalians, said Hudnut-Beumler, Dont be so smug.

___

AP reporter Holly Meyer contributed from Nashville, Tennessee.

___

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.
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A man was discovered with his hands nailed to a fence in northern Ireland in what police described as a sinister attack.

Emergency services were called to Dundarave Park in Bushmills during the early hours of Sunday, 5 May, and discovered the man, aged in his 20s, with a nail through each hand.

He also had injuries to his nose and is currently being treated in hospital, where his condition is described as not life-threatening.

Crews from NI Fire and Rescue Service also attended as two vans had been set alight in the public car park, with one of those belonging to the injured man.

Graffiti found on the gable wall of public toilets is also being linked to the assault and arson.

Detective Inspector Lyttle said: This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries.

Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers.
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Jason Holton, believed to be one of Britains heaviest men, died from organ failure just a week before his 34 birthday, his family has said.

Holton died last Saturday in Surrey after doctors were unable to prevent his organs from failing. He weighed an estimated 317kg.

Six firefighters had to transport Holton to the Royal Surrey County Hospital following an ambulance ride, his mother Leisa, 55, told The Sun.

Jason Holton, known to be the UKs heaviest man, has died aged 33 ( Screengrab/ TalkTV )

Holtons kidneys were the first organs to stop working, she said, adding that the doctors said her son would pass away within a week.

Jason soon started to go downhill, she told the newspaper. Hes probably had about eight lives and I thought the doctors would be able to save him again, but sadly it wasnt possible.

Holton died from organ failure and obesity, the coroners report stated.

He lived in a specially adapted council bungalow, custom-built with reinforced furniture for his comfort. In the later part of his life, Holton was immobile, bed-bound and suffered from breathing difficulties.

Holton reportedly began overeating as a teen while grieving his fathers death and went on to consume 10,000 calories a day, which included eating doner kebabs for breakfast.

In an interview with TalkTV last year, he said: I believe times over for me in general. Im coming up 34 now. I know Ive got to try something.

In 2020 he had collapsed and had to be airlifted by crane from a third-floor flat by a team of more than 30 firefighters.

That was the most devastating time of my life, he said.

The terrifying part of it all was the amount of people outside. I did watch The Whale and it did feel like a horror movie to me. I said to my mum, dont watch it. I turned it off and I started crying.

I cried myself to sleep at that film. It was very upsetting for me because now I thought Im Britains fattest man, thats what people are going to think of me, he added.

Darren Aronofskys The Whale is a psychological thriller that stars actor Brendan Fraser, as well as Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton. The movie is an adaptation of Samuel D Hunters play of the same name that follows Charlie, an extremely overweight man with very limited mobility.

Two years later, Holton suffered a series of mini-strokes and a suspected blood clot.

Carl Thompson in 2015 held the record for being Britains heaviest man, weighing 412kg.
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The SNP leader-in-waiting John Swinney has said he believes Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would do a deal with his party after the next general election.

The remarks come as polling expert Professor Michael Thrasher told Sky News that the country is heading for a hung parliament after the next general election, based on the results at the polls this week.

Sir Trevor Phillips challenged both Mr Swinney and Labours campaign chief Pat McFadden over the potential for a Labour/SNP pact on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Mr McFadden, who started his career in Scottish politics, made it clear that he was opposed to the idea, telling Sir Trevor: No!

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer after the regional mayoral elections ( PA )

But appearing shortly afterwards, Mr Swinney suggested that he believes that if the results indicate a hung parliament, then conversations will be had and an agreement could be reached.

With just 24 hours to go to see if he will be challenged in a leadership contest to replace Humza Yousaf, Mr Swinney said he would much prefer a Labour government to the awful, disastrous, terrible Tories in Westminster.

When Mr McFaddens answer was put to him, Mr Swinney said: I know Pat well. Pat and I are old university buddies from the University of Edinburgh a lifetime ago. So I dont think Pats public line to you is something he would sustain in a decent conversation with me or with others.

Mr Swinneys remarks come as Labour and the SNP fight over seats that, before the 2014 independence referendum, were safe Labour heartlands in Scotland.

John Swinney at the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh after he became the first candidate to declare his bid to become SNP leader ( PA )

The allegations against Nicola Sturgeon and the collapse of Mr Yousafs government have buoyed Labours hopes that it can make serious gains north of the border. However, there is an ongoing debate over whether Labour should be less unionist and more sympathetic to asking for another independence referendum.

But the prospect of a Labour/SNP deal appears to be strengthened by expert claims that the UK is heading for a hung parliament after the general election.

Professor Thrasher warned that Labour will fall short of an overall majority even though the local elections confirm that the Conservatives are in a very bad place.

He said: The Conservatives are on track to lose the election, [but] it is not wholly clear to me that Labour is on course to win a majority.

He noted that the vote share for Labour was 34 per cent while the Tories were at 27 per cent  a difference of seven points, which is much lower than the national polls suggest. The projection has suggested that Labour would be 32 seats short of a majority, which means they would need to make a deal with another party.

The only thing that [the Conservatives] can hang on to is that Labours performance wasnt stellar. They went backwards compared to last year, said Prof Thrasher, adding: The gap is only seven points; it needs to be double that for Labour to win.
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Rishi Sunak faces a Tory political power struggle as he tries to recover from disastrous results in the local elections.

As tensions mounted, Labour warned that Mr Sunak risks becoming a prisoner of those on the right wing of his party with dangerous views as he tries to cling to power after calamitous local election results.

It came as former home secretary Suella Braverman led right-wing calls for the prime minister to take a tougher stance on issues like immigration. But Andy Street, the Tory defeated in the West Midlands mayoral contest, urged him not to drift to the right.

The prime minister spent Sunday hunkered down in No 10 after his party lost almost 500 council seats in the local elections, suffered a stunning defeat in the West Midlands mayoral race, and was humiliated by Labour in London, where Sadiq Khan was easily re-elected.

However, he vowed to shrug off the disappointing local election results and to redouble his efforts to stick to his political targets.

Rishi Sunak is facing a challenge to stave off a rebellion on the right ( Molly Darlington )

He came under fire from Ms Braverman, who said Tory voters were on strike because Mr Sunak was not conservative enough.

But Mr Street drew the opposite lesson from the local election results, and said the Tories must not abandon moderate, tolerant, inclusive conservatism.

The events of the last few days have triggered another ferocious battle for the soul of the Conservative Party, as leading figures exchanged blows on which way it should turn.

It emerged that the right wing of the Tory party has already attempted to capitalise on Mr Sunaks weakness and lack of support among Tory MPs, who have spent the weekend debating his future behind the scenes.

A meeting in the last fortnight between the prime minister and two grandees from the partys right wing  Sir John Hayes and Sir Edward Leigh  saw Mr Sunak being pushed to become more right wing if he wanted to stay as prime minister.

A source told The Independent that the two represented a much larger group of MPs, and that the facts were laid out for the prime minister that he needs to become more conservative.

Andy Streets defeat is a huge blow to the Tories ( PA Archive )

It was one of a number of discussions the prime minister has had with different factions.

But it was noted that he moved to appease the right ahead of the local elections by pushing through his controversial Rwanda bill to allow deportations of asylum seekers to east Africa. He then authorised the filming of asylum seekers being rounded up into vans, just ahead of polling day.

On Saturday, Sir John publicly backed the prime minister to keep his job following that particular stunt, and claimed that the images of asylum seekers being rounded up for deportation ensured that we held on to seats we would have otherwise lost.

He said: We need half a dozen more headlines like that and then we can win again.

It has fed Labours allegations that Mr Sunak is now a prisoner of the right.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, said: Every week there is some new story about Rishi Sunak being pushed around by his own Trussite MPs pressuring him to lurch even further to the right.

Its clear hes nothing but a prisoner to those with the most dangerous views within his party, and hes simply too weak to say no.

The British public deserve better than this constant psychodrama under the Tories. Only the changed Labour Party can deliver that.

But now plans are in place to push the government even further to the right, fuelled by fears over burgeoning support for Nigel Farages Reform UK.

A tweet by Tory chair Richard Holden seemed to confirm that the party believes Andy Street lost in the West Midlands because 34,471 voters peeled off to Mr Farages right-wing party.

Mr Holden quoted Reform leader Richard Tice saying: We stopped Andy Street from winning in the West Midlands. Were delighted by that.

Conservative MP Sir John Hayes met with the prime minister ( PA Archive )

The Tory chair added: A vote for Reform is a vote to help Labour win. Mr Tices own words.

A senior Tory MP told The Independent that the election results prove Reform cannot win but show that they can be wreckers in tight seats for the Conservatives.

The influential Common Sense Group of right-wing MPs, which is focused on immigration and the so-called culture wars, is now expected to write to Mr Sunak next week calling for an urgent meeting, with a list of demands.

Ms Braverman, who is close to Sir John and the Common Sense Group, has already demanded that Mr Sunak bring right-wingers like her back into his cabinet, adopt a policy of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, and cap legal immigration.

She told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg that she now regrets supporting Mr Sunak when he ran against Boris Johnson for the leadership, but said that there is no superman or superwoman to replace him now.

Ms Braverman added: The plan is not working and I despair at these terrible results.

I love my country, I care about my party, and I want us to win, and I am urging the prime minister to change course, to  with humility  reflect on what voters are telling us, and change the plan and the way that he is communicating and leading us.

Another right-winger, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, said Mr Sunak needs to allow Boris Johnson to run for parliament at the next election.

She has put in a letter of no confidence in the prime minister, but describes Mr Johnsons return as a plan B alternative to changing leader.

Meanwhile, it is understood that allies of former prime minister Liz Truss, including the Taxpayers Alliance, plan to launch a new push for massive tax cuts on Monday, pointing out that the tax burden is at an 80-year high.

All this comes as several respected Tory voices have publicly warned Mr Sunak not to drift to the right, including defeated West Midlands mayor Mr Street.

Mr Street, who lost to Labours Richard Parker by a mere 1,508 votes, was asked by Sky News if picking a new leader from the right would be the wrong idea.

He replied: Categorically yes! The reason is that in [the West Midlands], this most urban, youngest, most diverse place in Britain, we have come within 1,500 votes of winning.

Former London minister Paul Scully said he feared that the party is going full circle back to 1997 when he first joined, and that it was ideologically right wing at the time but was out of power for 13 years before moving to the centre again.

He said: If we want to govern, we have to govern from the centre. If you look at voters, people are getting older and older before they even think of voting Conservative, and that is not sustainable.

Former Tory MP Phillip Lee, who left the party and ultimately joined the Liberal Democrats over Brexit, warned that Mr Sunak is now irrelevant and that the Conservative Party is in danger of being a prisoner of the right.
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One of the youngest councillors ever to be elected in the UK has won her seat just a week before she is due to take her A-level exams.

Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, 18, was elected to Peterborough City Council after beating the sitting Tory councillor Andy Coles in the Fletton & Woodston ward.

The Labour candidate said she was overwhelmed by the local support when she gained 940 votes to beat her opponent by 282 ballots.

Just one day after her victory, she told The Independent that she had thrown herself into her new role and had already begun to carry out her new duties  despite having to sit exams next week.

I wasnt expecting to win as it was quite a short campaign, so I was feeling very overwhelmed when it happened, she said. My priorities as a councillor are supporting the community  especially those who are the most disadvantaged.

Blakemore-Creedons campaign team with Labour candidate Andrew Pakes ( Supplied )

At only 18-and-a-half years old, the teenager said she is the youngest sitting Labour councillor and perhaps the youngest across all parties. She hopes to inspire more young people to go into politics and urges them to strive for achievement.

Her political journey began when she was just 10 years old when she would attend protests with her family.

She then went on to join the Labour Party in 2020, aged just 14.

She told The Independent: It wasnt until last year that I decided that this is the right time. Austerity was on the rise, we were close to having a recession, and I thought I wanted to be part of this change.

Speaking of when she decided to run as a candidate for councillor, she added: People were very supportive  a lot of my friends said this is so good that youre going into politics and following your dreams.

Ms Blakemore-Creedons win was one of many for the Labour Party in this weeks local elections as the Conservatives faced shocking blows.

Rishi Sunak suffered terrible losses in council elections as the Conservatives lost more than 400 councillors and control of 10 councils.

Labours Sadiq Khan has secured a third term as mayor of London, beating Conservative Susan Hall on Saturday.

Mr Khan secured just over 1,088,000 votes to be re-elected as London mayor, a majority of some 275,000 over his Conservative rival Hall, who secured just under 813,000 votes.

Labour also claimed victory in the West Midlands mayoral election, with their candidate beating Conservative Andy Street in a tight race.

The newly elected mayor, Richard Parker, secured a majority against his opponent, who has served two terms and held office since 2017.
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The American and Australian tourists who vanished while on a trip in Mexico were believed to have been killed in a robbery-turned-shooting, authorities say.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Carter Rhoad, from the United States, were reported missing after failing to show up to their accommodation in Baja California on Saturday 27 April. Their car was later found burnt out, and three tents abandoned.

The deaths have put a spotlight on the widespread violence fuelled by turf wars between local drug gangs in Baja California, one of Mexicos most violent states.

On Sunday, the Baja California prosecutor said that the men were shot in the head.

Police said the tourists were believed to have been targeted by thieves who wanted to steal their white pick-up truck for its tyres and were shot when they resisted. The bodies were then disposed of in the well some 6km away from the site where they were killed.

( Supplied )

When they tried to get the vehicles, the victims opposed the robbery. The robbers were armed with a firearm and then apparently shot the victims, said Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez.

She described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip of the three men whose bodies were found at a site that is extremely hard to get to a rugged area in the southern part of the municipality of Ensenada.

Their bodies were found covered in the well with boards. It was literally almost impossible to find it, Ms Andrade Ramirez said, adding that it took two hours to winch the bodies out of the well.

The relatives of the three tourists have now viewed the corpses, recovered in an advanced state of decomposition from a remote well about 50ft (15 metres) deep, and confirmed their identities, Baja California state prosecutors said.

All three bodies meet the characteristics to assume with a high degree of probability that they belong to the tourists, the attorney general said on Saturday.

Jack Carter Rhoad, missing tourist from San Diego ( Supplied )

Laboratory tests are underway to determine the identity of the recovered bodies, 7News reported.

Investigators also found a fourth body in the well, believed to be the property owner, and is not believed to be linked to the case, police said.

Investigators announced on Friday that three Mexican citizens had been charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping in connection to the tourists disappearance. They dont appear to have been charged with murder.

The prosecutor also named Jesus Gerardo N, aka El Kekas, as one of the people arrested in connection to the trios deaths at a Sunday press conference.

The swift investigation of the case has led to questions over the lack of similar action in cases involving the disappearance of locals.

On Sunday, dozens of mourners, surfers and demonstrators gathered in a main plaza in Ensenada, the nearest city, to voice their anger and sadness at the deaths and similar killings over the years.

Ensenada is a mass grave, read one placard carried by protesters.

Gabriela Acosta, a surfer who attended the protest, said she came to show love, solidarity and respect for the three lives that were lost. Ms Acosta said that surfers in Baja are aware of the dangers.

We are women and we would sometimes like to surf alone, Ms Acosta said. But we never do that, because of the situation. We always have to go accompanied.

A woman held up a sign that read: They only wanted to surf  we demand safe beaches.

Surfers later led a paddle-out ceremony where they formed a circle on their boards in the ocean to pay their respects to the dead.
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A grim message was sent from the nations capital this week after two children were either injured or killed by stray bullets: no one is safe from gun violence.

Nowhere is safe, either.

A toddler was in a car when she was hit by a bullet, and just hours earlier a teenager was in a high school classroom when she was struck.

Before Friday, 10 children had been shot in the city, police data revealed. Now, at least 12 have been struck  six fatally.

Three-year-old Tyah Settles became Washington DCs youngest homicide victim of the year on Friday.

The toddler was riding in an SUV around 9pm when she was struck, caught in an exchange of gunfire on Hartford Street SE in the Garfield Heights neighborhood, police said.

She was airlifted to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

She didnt deserve this, Bernard Brown, Settles godfather, told WUSA9. I would rather it be me than her.

She brightened a room, Darnisha Pelzer, Settles mother, told the Washington Post. Everyone loved her.

The little girl may not have been the intended target, as police said, but Settles death underscores the gravity of the gun violence epidemic. And the senselessness of it.

Anytime a baby gets shot, man, somebody needs to be brought to justice, DC council member Trayon White Sr told the Washington Post.

A police official echoed this sentiment. This is an absolute tragedy. Its unacceptable. A three-year-old little girl lost her life today, Metropolitan Police Department Commander LaShay Makal said at a press conference on Friday.

So far in 2024, 58 people have died by homicide in DC.

The homicide rate in the city is down by 25 per cent year, compared to the same time period in 2023, which was the deadliest year in two decades, data shows. Over 90 per cent of the killings in 2023 were by gunfire, the Post reported.

Last year, 106 young people under 18 were shot  16 were shot fatally  the Washington Post reported, by bullets.

The Independent has reached out to the mayors office for comment.

Still, Settles killing serves as a reminder that even if the homicide rate is down, the gun violence epidemic is far from over.

Settles was not the only child struck by a bullet on Friday in DC.

Separately, about 12 hours before Settles was fatally shot, just before 10am on May 3, loud noises that sounded like machine gun fire were heard near Dunbar High School, according to an affidavit filed in DC Superior Court.

One 17-year-old girl was standing in the middle of her classroom when all of a sudden, she felt pain in her head, the affidavit says.

Blood poured from her head. She was struck on the right side of her forehead, the filing states.

Police said the student was grazed with a stray bullet from a gunfire exchange happening outside of the high school  but the graze was deep enough that the skull was visible, according to the affidavit.

The girl was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

The bullet that grazed the student was just one of six that hit the N Street side of the high school.

Two teens  a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old  have since been charged in connection to the incident, facing counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license and endangerment with a firearm.

Its unconscionable to think about todays incident at Dunbar, DC Council member Kenyan McDuffie said in the wake of the incident. While Im glad the outcome wasnt worse, this isnt the reality that our young people/students deserve.

Residents near Dunbar High School in northeast DC seemed fed up with gun violence.

One neighbor, who served in Afghanistan, told Fox News that rapid succession of gunfire sounded similar to automatic fire.

Weve heard this many times in this area... this is not OK.

Another neighbor told WTOP, When its right in front of your house, it really cuts to the core of what it feels to be safe in your house. And with that amount of lead flying through the air. I dont think anyone on this block will feel safe inside their houses ever again.

The investigation into the two shootings are still ongoing.
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Investigators have charged three people in connection with the disappearance of two Australian and one American tourists in Mexico  who officials now believe were likely killed in a robbery-turned-shooting.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Carter Rhoad, from the United States, were reported missing after failing to show up to their accommodation in Baja California on Saturday 27 April.

Local authorities now believe that the three men were approached by a group who tried to carjack the tourists white pick-up truck. When they refused, the encounter turned deadly, officials said.

When they tried to get the vehicles, the victims opposed the robbery. The robbers were armed with a firearm and then apparently shot the victims, said Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez.

The news comes after investigators said they had recovered three bodies who they believe to be the missing tourists, according to reports Friday afternoon. The bodies were found in an advanced state of decomposition at the bottom of a 50-foot-deep well, 7News reported.

The three Mexican citizens were charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping on Friday after being questioned and arrested by local authorities, the Associated Press reported. It not immediately clear whether the three could face additional charges.

All three bodies meet the characteristics to assume with a high degree of probability that they are the American Carter Rhoad as well as the Robinson brothers from Australia, Baja Californias Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade said on Saturday.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson disappeared in Baja California, Mexico and their American friend Carter Rhoad have been missing since 27 April, 2024 ( Supplied )

The grim discovery was made at La Bocana, a popular fishing and camping destination near Ensenada, CBS8reported.

A fourth body was found in the well, who has since been identified as the property owner. Officials said this death is unrelated to the three tourists deaths.

Carter Rhoad had travelled with Jake and Callum Robinson to Baja California, Mexico ( Supplied )

On Thursday, authorities said that three Mexican citizens, reported to be a woman and two men, had been arrested. The woman was carrying a mobile phone with a photo on it matching the description of one of the men, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The brothers family said that Jake had gone to visit his brother, who has been living in the US, and the trio had headed south of the border to Ensenada  an area popular with tourists but also known for cartel violence.

They had not been heard from since last Saturday. Their car was later found burnt out, and three tents abandoned.

The charges come after Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez, Baja California attorney general, said on Thursday that evidence found with the tents was linked to the three people being questioned about the missing foreigners. She added, There is a lot of important information that we cant make public.

The top prosecutor told reporters that authorities had not been notified straight away, so very important time was lost in the search for the three men.

Callum and Jake Robinson were reported missing after travelling from California to Mexico on 27 April ( 9News/Instagram )

The parents of the Australian brothers, Martin and Debra Robinson, told 9News in a statement that Callum has been living in the US to follow his dream of being a professional lacrosse player.

He is widely known in the US as the Big Koala, they told the outlet. We think of him as our big soft friendly giant.

The parents were reportedly heading to the area to be close to the search efforts.

Callum and Jake are beautiful human beings. We love them so much and this breaks our heart, the couple said.

Both US and Australian authorities told The Independent that they were ready to assist in the investigation in whatever way necessary.
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A search for a baby, believed to be in imminent danger, is underway in New Mexico after two women were found dead in a park alongside an injured child  but the infant, who appeared to have been with the group, was nowhere to be found.

Police issued an Amber Alert on Friday for Eleia Maria Torres.

Samantha Cisneros, 23, and Taryn Allen, 23, were found with apparent gunshot wounds near a silver Dodge minivan in Ned Houk Park at around 4.30pm on Friday, Clovis Police said in a press release.

10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres was kidnapped on May 3 in New Mexico ( Clovis Police Department )

Cisneros is the mother of the missing 10-month-old. The baby is believed to have been abducted by the perpetrator of this crime, authorities said.

A five-year-old girl with a gunshot wound was found beside the women, state police said. She suffered an injury to her head and was transported to a local hospital.

Officers became concerned when they found a baby bottle, stroller, and infant car seat inside the car and began searching the surroundings immediately, police said.

Many details about this incident are unknown and under investigation, but of urgent concern is the whereabouts of Eleia Maria Torres, New Mexico State Police said.

As of Friday, no suspect had been identified, but the individual is believed to have been driving a maroon Honda car.

The Independent has reached out to the Clovis Police Department for more information.
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Social media sites like TikTok are partly to blame for widespread criticism of Israels war effort against Hamas in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The comments came as part of a conversation at the McCain Institutes 2024 Sedona Forum in Sedona, Arizona, between Secretary Blinken and US senator Mitt Romney.

The Utah Republican asked the top diplomat why the PR has been so awful against Israel since the beginning of the 7 October conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits a storage unit with humanitarian aid bound for Gaza at the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Why has Hamas disappeared in terms of public perception? he continued. An offer is on the table for a ceasefire and yet the world is screaming about Israel.

Mr Blinken said that part of the reason for that dynamic was a changing media environment, where people no longer all read from the same authoritative news sources and instead learn about current events on chaotic social media feeds.

Now of course were on an intravenous feed of information with new impulses, inputs every millisecond, Mr Blinken said. And of course the way this has played out on social media has dominated the narrative. You have a social media ecosystem, environment in which context, history, facts get lost and the emotion, the impact of images dominate. We cant discount that, but I think it also has a very very challenging effect on the narrative.

Mr Romney appeared to agree, saying the effect Mr Blinken was describing was why there was such overwhelming support for us to potentially shut down TikTok.

The US secretary, at another point in the conversation, also emphasised the inescapable reality that Palestinian civilians continue to suffer grievously.

We have to be focused on that and attentive to that.

The comments echoed a wider narrative thats been put forth about critics of Israel in the US, particularly on college campuses: that their criticisms dont stem from the facts of the conflict, and instead are the product of alarming outside influence.

New York mayor Eric Adams recently accused students at universities of falling under the sway of outside agitators, though the NYPD has offered little compelling evidence to support that charge.

Protesting students interviewed by The Independent said they had been moved to act by seeing images of destruction and suffering caused by Israel in Gaza, with the full backing of the US.

You know, when I wake up in the morning and see a video of a parent carrying bits of their child in a plastic bag, that should not be normal, that should not be acceptable, said Ava Lyon-Sereno, a Columbia student protester.

Its not just social media where Israels war effort has been criticised though.

In March, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories argued in a report that there are reasonable grounds to conclude Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza.

This week, a group of 88 congressional Democrats urged the Biden administration to consider restricting aid to Israel, arguing theres compelling evidence that the country has stopped humanitarian aid from the US and other countries from reaching Gaza, where civilians are experiencing famine levels of hunger.

The extent of Israels continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement in March.

In late April, health authorities in Gaza said so many civilians have been killed, and the country has been so devastated by widespread Israeli bombing, that officials are no longer able to count the dead. At least 34,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
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Donald Trump compared the Biden administration to the Nazi secret police in a rambling, hour-and-a-half speech to Republican donors in Florida on Saturday.

Speaking to a crowd gathered for the Republican National Committees donor retreat in Florida, Mr Trump complained about the various indictments against him and baselessly alleged theyre part of a coordinated Biden administration plot.

These people are running a Gestapo administration, Mr Trump said, according to audio of the event obtained by The New York Times.

And its the only thing they have, he added. And its the only way theyre going to win, in their opinion, and its actually killing them. But it doesnt bother me.

North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who attended the event and is thought to be a potential vice-presidential pick for Mr Trump, later defended the inflammatory comparison.

In an interview on Sunday with CNN, Mr Burgum downplayed the Gestapo remark as a short comment that wasnt really central to what he [Trump] was talking about, before continuing to say that many Americans agree with the underlying sentiment.

The majority of Americans feel like the trial that hes in was politically motivated and if it was anbody else it wouldnt even be happening. I understand that he feels like hes being unfairly treated, the North Dakota Republican said. Its reasonable that someone whos being kept off the campaign trail as the presumptive nominee has got some frustration.

The rest of Mr Trumps remarks were similarly aggressive, a series of insults to various perceived enemies and brags about his own standing.

The former president reserved particular ire for special counsel Jack Smith, whom he branded a f***ing a**hole and unattractive both inside and out.

He had more positive things to say about the various Republicans he claimed were begging to be his vice-president, praising potential picks like Representative Elise Stefanik, who fiercely questioned college presidents about antisemitism in a widely watched hearing, and Governor Burgum, who was deemed really impressive.

In another strange moment, Mr Trump said anyone who gave $1m to the GOP could come up and speak onstage themselves.

Two donors did eventually walk onstage, one of whom claimed, Donald J Trump is the person that God has chosen.

While Mr Trump appeared unguarded at the RNC event in Palm Beach, he continues to face heavy scrutiny in the courts.

This week, former top aide Hope Hicks testified in Mr Trumps criminal hush trial in Manhattan, the most high-profile member of the former presidents circle to take the stand.

The former White House communications director broke down in tears during her remarks, in testimony that described Trump allies reacting with alarm to the release of the 2016 Access Hollywood tape and later affair allegations involving adult film star Stormy Daniels.
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Prosecutors for the Manhattan District Attorneys office closed out the week at Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial with testimony from a major witness  former Trump aide Hope Hicks.

As one of the closest advisers to the former president, Ms Hicks was present at key moments during the 2016 campaign and for the first year of Mr Trumps administration.

As press secretary to the king of self-promotion, she worked closely with him as election day neared in 2016 just as the Access Hollywood tape and Karen McDougal affair allegations rocked the campaign.

In approximately three hours of testimony, she gave jurors firsthand insight into Trumpworld during a tumultuous few weeks on the campaign trail  giving a strong suggestion that her former boss was involved in payment to Stormy Daniels.

Here are the key takeaways from the day in court:

Trump walks back Thursdays claim gag order stops him from testifying

On Thursday as he left the courtroom and delivered his usual diatribe to the assembled media, Mr Trump claimed that because of the gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, he was prohibited from testifying in his own defence.

That was totally untrue.

On Friday morning, on the way into court, he walked back that statement when asked whether the gag order would stop him from testifying.

No. It wont stop me from testifying. The gag order is not for testifying. It stops me from talking about people and responding when they say things about me, the former president said, presumably having been corrected by his legal team overnight.

Once in the courtroom, Judge Merchan began by clarifying the extent of the gag order for Mr Trump in person.

Merchan, diplomatically, said there may be a misunderstanding regarding the order restriction extrajudicial statements.

I want to stress Mr Trump that you have an absolute right to testify in trial, he said. That is a constitutional right that cannot be denied  in any way.  It is a fundamental right that cannot be infringed upon.

The gag order restricting extrajudicial statements does not prevent you from testifying in any way  or limit or minimise what you say from the witness stand, the judge added that it does not apply to statements made from the witness stand.

Donald Trump in court for his criminal trial on 3 May 2024 ( Getty Images )

Hope Hicks takes the stand

In a trial full of highly anticipated witnesses and with no published list of in what order they will appear  to protect them from being attacked online by the defendant  the appearance of Ms Hicks made narrative sense given the way the prosecution was laying out its case.

Ms Hicks was allegedly part of at least 10 telephone conversations with Mr Trump and Cohen regarding the hush money payments and alleged reimbursements.

Admitting with a laugh that she was really nervous, Ms Hicks began by explaining how she started working with the Trump family straight out of college and then the Trump Organization full-time in October 2014, transitioning over to the 2016 presidential campaign team.

Everybody who works there in some sense reports to Mr Trump  Its a big successful company but its really run like a small family business in some ways, she testified, explaining that by June 2015 she was speaking with the then-candidate every day and eventually became his press secretary  reporting directly to him and travelling alongside him.

Hope Hicks, a former top aide to ex-President Donald Trump, testifies during his criminal trial before Justice Juan Merchan on 3 May 2024 ( REUTERS )

Hicks recalls impact of Access Hollywood tape on campaign

Ms Hicks testified that she found out about the infamous Access Hollywood tape of Mr Trump making remarks about allegedly sexually assaulting women on the afternoon of 7 October 2016  just a month before the election.

She received an email from The Washington Post asking for comment while in her office on the 14th floor of Trump Tower and quickly forwarded the email to other campaign leadership, marking it urgent.

I was concerned. Very concerned, she told the court. I was concerned about the contents of the email, concerned about the lack of time to respond, concerned that we had a transcript and not a tape. There was a lot at play.

Ms Hicks recalled huddling with other campaign staff and Mr Trump while they worked out a response and that the then-candidate was upset.

She recalled being a little stunned and realised that it was a damaging development that would dominate the news cycle for days. An apology video statement from Mr Trump did little to quell the storm.

It was intense. Dominated coverage for I would say 36 hours leading up to the debate. At the time, I got the email  we were anticipating a Category 4 hurricane making landfall somewhere on the east coast and I dont think anyone remembers where that hurricane made landfall.

Hope Hicks walks from Marine One prior to boarding Air Force One as she departs Washington with then-President Donald Trump on 23 October 2020 ( REUTERS )

Hicks says Trump tried to hide news of Karen McDougal affair from Melania

Even closer to the election, Ms Hicks was contacted by The Wall Street Journal regarding a report that a woman named Karen McDougal has a story about Mr Trump purchased by The National Enquirer, which then never published it. The reporter wanted to know if the campaign knew anything about it.

Ms Hicks told the court she looped in Mr Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner to try and buy them some more time through his relationship with the WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch. David Pecker at the Enquirer claimed the payment to Ms McDougal was for fitness columns and magazine covers.

Another denial was prepared and she and Cohen were in constant contact as the story was published.

Relative to some of the other stories we dealt with  it just didnt get a lot of traction, she recalled.

Mr Trump was concerned about the story and Melania Trump finding out, Ms Hicks testified.He was concerned how it would be viewed by his wife, and he wanted me to make sure that the newspapers werent delivered to their residence that morning.

After possibly denting Trumps defence, Hicks cries on stand

Under questioning by prosecution attorney Matthew Colangelo, Ms Hicks testified that Mr Trump told her that Cohen made the Stormy Daniels hush money payment on his own.

The former president told her: Michael felt like it was his job to protect him and that he did it in the kindness of his own heart and he didnt tell anyone about it.

Mr Trump also said it was better to do it when he did rather than have it come out before the election.

Ms Hicks was asked whether the idea that Cohen wouldve made a $130,00 payment out of the kindness of his own heart was consistent with what she knew about him.

Id say that would be out of character for Michael, she replied.

Judge Juan Merchan overruled objections from the defence team to the line of questioning.

Asked to elaborate, Ms Hicks said: I didnt know Michael to be an especially charitable person or a selfless person. [He was] the kind of person who seeks credit.

By implication, the former Trump aide appeared to make the prosecutions case against her former boss easier  that Cohen would not have acted alone and instead worked on behalf of Mr Trump, and that action was purposefully taken before the election.

As cross-examination by defence lawyer Emil Bove began Ms Hicks started to cry on the witness stand with a break being called so that she might compose herself.

Hope Hicks cried during her testimony at Donald Trumps first criminal trial ( REUTERS )

Cohen was a fixer but only because he first broke it, says Hicks

On her return to the stand, Ms Hicks was very critical of Cohen and characterised him as an outsider in Trumpworld often going rogue.

She testified that he was not part of the campaign, but would try to insert himself in certain moments.

He wasnt supposed to be in the campaign in any official capacity, she told the court.

Further, she added: He liked to call himself a fixer or Mr Fix It. But it was only because he first broke it.

Hicks paints favourable view of Trump and his family

In addition to her damning assessment of Cohen  a key witness for the prosecution  Bove also pushed softball questions to build up a better image of the defendant Trump while treating her more like a witness for the defence.

Ms Hicks spoke about her work and relationship with her then-boss and gave the impression that damage control over destructive stories was part of the job.

Moreover, ultimately Mr Trump cared about his family  an echo of lead defence attorney Todd Blanches portrait of him as a consummate family man in the opening statements.

Ms Hicks also changed up how she spoke of him, referring to him as the president, as the defence team said they would at the start of the trial.

President Trump really values Ms Trumps opinion, she said of her former boss and his wife. She doesnt weigh in all the time but when she does its really meaningful to him and he really respects what she has to say.

She was concerned about what the perception of this would be, and Mr Trump didnt want anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed, she testified. He wanted them to be proud of him.

Ms Hickss cross-examination concluded the week.

The trial resumes on Monday 6 May at 9.30am.
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Police in Australia shot dead a knife-wielding teenager after he stabbed a man in the west coast city of Perth.

The 16-year-old attacked the victim in the parking lot of a hardware store in suburban Willetton and then rushed at police officers before being shot on Saturday night, Western Australian premier Roger Cook said.

The boy had been radicalised online, the authorities said, adding they received calls from concerned members of the local Muslim community before the attack.

Police said the attack had "hallmarks" of terrorism but was yet to be declared a terrorist act. "But I want to reassure the community at this stage it appears that he acted solely and alone," Mr Cook added.

The victim, a man in his 30s, was found at the scene with a stab wound to his back. He was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition, a police statement said.

Police received an emergency phone call after 10pm (local time) from a teenager saying he was going to commit acts of violence, Western Australian police commissioner Col Blanch said.

The boy had been participating in a programme for young people at risk of radicalisation, he added.

"I don't want to say he has been radicalised or is radicalised because I think that forms part of the investigation," he said.

Police said they were later alerted by a phone call from a member of the public that a knife attack was underway in the parking lot. Three police officers responded, one armed with a gun and two with conducted energy devices.

Mr Blanch said members of the local Muslim community had raised concerns with police about the teens behaviour.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the latest stabbing in Perth. "I'm advised there is no ongoing threat to the community on the information available," Mr Albanese said.

"We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia," he added.

The Imam of Perth's largest mosque, the Nasir Mosque, condemned the stabbing. "There is no place for violence in Islam," Imam Syed Wadood Janud said.

"We appreciate the effort of the police to keep our communities safe. I also want to commend the local Muslim community who had flagged the individual prior with the police," he added.

The incident comes after New South Wales police last month charged several boys with terrorism-related offences in investigations following the stabbing of an Assyrian Christian bishop while he was giving a live-streamed sermon in Sydney on April 15.

The attack on the bishop came only days after a stabbing spree killed six in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi.

Additional reporting by agencies.
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A 16-year-old boy armed with a knife was shot dead by police after he stabbed a man in the Australian city of Perth.

Police were called on Saturday night by the teenager, who threatened violence before stabbing a man in the car park of a hardware store in Willerton.

Police commissioner Col Blanch told reporters that the incident had hallmarks of terrorism.

Local authorities said that concerns had been raised about the boys behaviour within the local Muslim community.

He was shot dead after Tasers failed to subdue him and he lunged towards officers while armed with a knife.

Western Australia premier Roger Cook said: There are indications he had been radicalised online. But I want to reassure the community, at this stage it appears that he acted solely and alone.

Western Australia premier Roger Cook said there were indications the boy had been radicalised online ( Australian Broadcasting Corporation )

A man in his thirties was found at the scene with a stab wound to his back and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

At the time of the incident, the teenager had been participating in a programme for young people at risk of radicalisation.

I dont want to say he has been radicalised or is radicalised, because I think that forms part of the investigation, Western Australias police commissioner Col Blanch said.

While police officers received a call from the boy at 10pm in which he threatened to carry out a violent act, they were unaware of his location. They were later alerted by a phone call from a member of the public that a knife attack was underway in the parking lot.

Three officers were deployed to the scene, one armed with a gun and two armed with Tasers. He was later killed by a single gunshot wound after failing to comply with the officers instructions.

Western Australias police commissioner Col Blanch speaks at a press conference in Perth, Australia on Sunday ( AP )

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the stabbing in Perth, and added: Im advised there is no ongoing threat to the community on the information available. We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia.

The Imam of Perths largest mosque, the Nasir Mosque, condemned the stabbing.

There is no place for violence in Islam, Imam Syed Wadood Janud said in a statement.

We appreciate the effort of the police to keep our communities safe. I also want to commend the local Muslim community who had flagged the individual prior with the police, he added.

Some Muslim leaders have criticised Australian police for declaring last months church stabbing a terrorist act but not a rampage two days earlier in a Sydney shopping mall in which six people were killed and a dozen wounded. The 40-year-old attacker in the mall attack was shot dead by police, who have yet to reveal the mans motive.

The church attack is only the third to be classified by Australian authorities as a terrorist act since 2018.

In December 2022, three Christian fundamentalists shot dead two police officers and a bystander in an ambush near the community of Wieambilla in Queensland state. The shooters were later killed by police.

In November 2018, a Somalia-born Muslim stabbed three pedestrians in downtown Melbourne, killing one, before police shot him dead.
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A young woman in her twenties has died after falling from the popular tourist attraction the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

The woman was reportedly visiting with three friends when she fell on Saturday afternoon, Irish broadcaster RTE said.

The Irish coast guard was contacted at around 1.20pm and a coordinated search operation was launched, with a rescue helicopter locating her body.

An Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat was able to recover her body shortly after 3pm.

A Garda spokesperson said: Gardai and emergency services conducted an operation following reports of an incident at the Cliffs of Moher this afternoon.

The body of a woman, aged in her early twenties, was removed from the water by emergency services.

The cliffs, in Co Clare, are one of Irelands most scenic tourist destinations, with an estimated 1.5 million people visiting each year.
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Russian forces are pushing at all costs to try to capture as much land as they can in Ukraine before vital US military aid gets into the hands of Kyivs troops, officials and analysts have warned.

While the first tranches of the $61bn (48bn) US package, which includes everything from long-range missiles to armoured vehicles and vital artillery, started to arrive this week, it could take weeks or potentially months for significant portions of the aid to arrive.

Russian forces, meanwhile, are taking full advantage of an artillery and manpower edge on the front line, and they are hurrying to encircle swathes of Ukrainian-held territory in the eastern region of Donetsk.

In the last month, Russian forces have captured more than 25 sq km of territory around the town of Ocheretyne in Donetsk ( DeepState )

The Kremlin is rushing, says Pavel Luzin, who focuses on Russias armed forces for the US-based think tank the Jamestown Foundation. They are trying to improve their combat positions at any cost in order to force Ukraine to negotiate a ceasefire.

Having captured the city of Avdiivka in February, in the past few weeks Russian forces have taken 25 sq km (9.65 square miles) of territory in and around a town called Ocheretyne in Donetsk.

Located roughly 12 miles north of Avdiivka, it is the latest victim of Russias concerted push in that direction, with Moscows troops having taken 11 settlements overall. Footage of the area shows a countryside wrecked by artillery shelling, while reports from Western intelligence communities estimate that Russia has lost tens of thousands of soldiers during the push.

The capture of Avdiivka came before a sham Russian election in March that further solidified Vladimir Putins iron grip on power. For Taras Zhovtenko, a Ukrainian war analyst and adviser to his countrys foreign ministry, this latest advance is an extension of that operation.

Before the Russian presidential elections, it was clear that taking further territory was a political assignment handed down from the top to Russian soldiers, he says. Right now, we are seeing the follow-up of this political assignment.

They are trying to capture as much land as they can before the US military aid arrives, he adds.

A local resident walks past apartment buildings destroyed by airstrikes in the village of Ocheretyne, days before it was taken by Russian forces ( AFP via Getty )

About an hours drive north of Avdiivka, Russian forces are also pushing hard on the southern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a small Ukrainian city with a pre-war population of about 12,000. Only a few hundred civilians now remain.

It is close to Bakhmut, the town that Russia took last May after months of bloody fighting. Bakhmut had gained a significance far beyond its size due to the ferocity of the battle.

Bakhmut did not have genuine strategic importance, says Michael Clarke, a visiting professor in war studies at Kings College London. But Chasiv Yar does.

Located on high ground, the city offers a natural route north, one that could allow Russian forces to attack the city of Kramatorsk or further west towards Dnipro.

Its also the natural defence line before Kostiantynivka to the southwest, one of the big cities in the Donbas, says Clarke. If the Russians can begin a movement of real momentum, they will look to roll up a series of victories from Chasiv Yar to Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, then Kramatorsk and Slovyansk. That would give them the Donbas region.

Servicemen of the Achilles Battalion from the 92nd Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian army control a Vampire hexacopter drone during a mission flight over a front line near Chasiv Yar ( AFP via Getty )

Suffering roughly a seven-to-one artillery disadvantage, Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold on to Chasiv Yar. They have used a canal that runs along the western and southern sides of the city as a natural defence, but Russian forces keep amassing in that direction. A local military spokesperson says upwards of 25,000 have been relocated to the fight.

The concentration of superior Russian forces in the area raises significant concerns, writes Frontline Insight, a Ukrainian war tracker with close ties to the military. Without effective stabilisation measures, Russian forces will leverage their numerical advantage to breach the canal and establish a bridgehead in the forest on the western side.

A Ukrainian serviceman walks near destroyed building in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar ( Reuters )

In an interview with The Economist, the deputy head of Ukraines military agency, Major General Vadym Skibitsky, suggested it was probably a matter of time before Chasiv Yar fell to Russia.

The prevailing sentiment among Ukrainian military officials and analysts has been that Russias recent gains have been confined to small cities and towns, and that a more significant advance is unlikely. But if such an advance happens, it is most likely to come from Chasiv Yar.

Ukrainian officials believe that Putin, vicariously through his generals, has ordered his forces to take the city before Victory Day on 9 May, which is a celebration of Soviet victories in the Second World War. Or at least before Putins visit to China to see its president Xi Jinping, Russias most powerful ally, the following week.

Whether that can act as a springboard for Kremlin forces to conquer the entire Donbas, which includes the two most eastern regions of Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, is unclear. It is, however, a clear aim of the Kremlins special military operation, a propagandistic phrase it uses to describe its invasion of Ukraine.

The Frontline Insight report suggests that Russian forces may look to execute a joint effort from Chasiv Yar and Ocheretyne to encircle the Ukrainian troops in between, though it says there are no current signs of a collapse in that area of the front line.

Vadym Ivchenko, a Ukrainian MP and a member of Ukraines committee on national security, defence and intelligence, is also sceptical.

Russians have no power to capture big cities, he says. They can only take small villages and land.

What they are doing with Bakhmut ... Avdiivka, with Chasiv Yar, we are talking about cities with tens of thousands of people. The Russians just totally destroyed the city. No one stayed.

It will not have a huge impact on the whole front line. If we continue striking Russian logistics chains with our long-range capabilities, and we level up the artillery gap, we can be competitive on different parts of the front line and liberate territory.

There is no doubt that US military aid, when it arrives, will at least partially erode the advantages Russian forces are currently enjoying on the front line.

But analysts are still wary that if Russia does keep picking up towns and territory  particularly Chasiv Yar  it will greatly rachet up the pressure on Kyivs forces.
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As Israeli began observering its annual Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the key planks of a potential ceasfire with Hamas, further indicating Israel is preparing to go forward with an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza that will likely kill untold numbers of civilians.

Despite a brief flash of hope over the weekend that Israel and Hamas were getting closer to a ceasefire agreement, the prime minister painted a far less optimistic picture in remarks on Sunday.

Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, he said. Israel cannot accept that  Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping.

I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself, he added. Never again is now.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, in his own statement on Sunday, accused Hamas of not being interested in a hostage deal.

The official suggesting Israel would go ahead with its planned invasion in Rafah, where over a million Gazans displaced by the Israeli war effort are sheltering, in the near future.

We have clear goals for this war. We are committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages. We have given [Hamas] time and we wanted to reach a situation where we would realize the release of the hostages as quickly as possible, with a certain delay in the operational action, because the hostages are in a difficult situation and we need to make every effort to release them, Mr Gallant told troops in central Gazas Netzarim Corridor.

His comments echo a statement from Mr Netanyahu earlier this week, who said Israel will invade Rafah with or without a deal  in order to achieve the total victory.

Despite the hard line from the top, hundreds of Israeli citizens took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest, calling on the Netanyahu government to hammer out a ceasfire deal and release the scores of Israeli hostages still in Hamas custody.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, meanwhile, said on Sunday the group still sought a ceasefire with a serious deal to exchange prisoners, as well as an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

He accused the Israeli prime minister of the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

The Netanyahu government has encountered criticism from the right and left, with hard-liners threatening to pull support from the Netanyahu coalition if he accepts a ceasefire, and liberal critics accusing the PM of avoiding real prospects for peace.

A recent piece from liberal-leaning Israeli newspaper Haartez accused Netanyahu of "torpedo[ing] Israels last and best chance at bringing the hostages home."

In the face of the stalemate at the negotiating table, the various parties are now seeking to plot their next moves.

A Hamas delegation, which arrived for negotiations in Cairo on Saturday, announced Sunday it was leaving to consult the groups political office in Qatar, then would return to Egypt on Tuesday for continued talks.

Israel, meanwhile, has yet to send a delegation to the Egyptian capital.

US CIA director William Burns is also reportedly traveling to Doha.

"Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister aimed at exerting maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiating," a diplomatic source told Reuters.

Hamas was reportedly presented with a proposal that would begin with a six-week ceasefire and the partial release of hostages, in exchange for some level of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas is seeking a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of its negotiating strategy, a demand Israel says it will not accept while Hamas remains in power.

Ending the war, and leaving Hamas intact  the State of Israel cannot accept that, Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday. We are not prepared to accept a situation in which the Hamas brigades come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel.

Until the parties can agree, the violence on the ground looks set to continue.

On Sunday, Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack from Rafah on the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza, which killed three Israeli soldiers.

In response, Israel said it would prevent aid trucks from entering Gaza through the border point.
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Pirate of the month: that unusual award is handed out to the online travel agent (OTA) that Ryanair believes is the worst offender at overcharging passengers when selling the airlines tickets.

You might imagine that any low-cost carrier would be delighted to have its seats retailed by another company. But Ryanair is campaigning against scams, overcharges and invented charges imposed by these agents. The carrier is appalled at the profiteering by OTAs that inflate charges for seat selection, baggage, etc.

Some of these agents create arbitrary email addresses for passengers as part of the booking process, which makes it much harder for Ryanair to provide the necessary options when things go wrong.

open image in gallery Sweetness and light: Shaun Morton, left, and Eddie Wilson, chief executives of On The Beach and Ryanair DAC respectively ( Simon Calder )

Book through a pirate online travel agent and you may face a series of hurdles known as Ryanairs customer verification process before you are allowed to fly. This involves creating an online profile, photographing your passport and providing a facial biometric.

As recently as February, On the Beach, one of the UKs leading OTAs, was selected as No 1 pirate by Ryanair.

Yet at the On the Beach headquarters in Manchester this week, it became clear that all is now sweetness and light between the two companies. They have agreed a deal by which the online travel agent will sell Ryanair flights  and pass on passengers contact details to the airline for use at check-in or when managing disruption.

Having them as part of our proposition is brilliant for us, says Shaun Morton, chief executive of On the Beach.

I always welcome competition. The more players you have the better. And I think its great for the whole industry. It makes sure that the market is not dominated by a small number of tour operators.

On the Beachs boss may possibly be thinking of Tui, which is Europes biggest holiday company, as well as the two thriving package holiday operations set up by Jet2 and easyJet.

Since the collapse of Thomas Cook five years ago, Jet2 Holidays has grown to become the biggest tour operator in the UK. Arch-rival easyJet Holidays has now leapfrogged On The Beach in terms of the number of holidays covered by its Atol licence.

Why does Ryanair not simply follow easyJet and Jet2 in setting up its own holiday company? After all, Jet2 has thrived since it launched its holiday offering 17 summers ago. Ryanair flies far more people to the Mediterranean, but rarely extracts any value from their spending beyond the flight.

It is worth remembering that easyJet Holidays made good only at its third attempt. Likewise, Ryanair has tried to launch a Holidays brand a couple of times, but the projects fizzled out.

Now, airline supremo Eddie Wilson has confirmed it will leave the packaging to companies like On The Beach.

Were the airline business, not the package holiday business, he says.

Mr Wilson has arguably the toughest role in aviation: chief executive of Ryanair DAC, the airlines main operating business.

The generally well-oiled machine that is Europes biggest budget carrier is vulnerable to disruption from all angles: air-traffic control strikes in France, periodic thunderstorms in northern Italy and Belarus Air Force MiG fighters helping a Ryanair passenger to divert to Minsk.

When things go Tango Uniform, Mr Wilson has to sort out the passengers, planes and crews that are not where they expected to be and manage the operation back to full speed. That leaves little scope for negotiating the best rates with hoteliers, marketing packages in a ferociously competitive market and providing the intricate response to holiday problems that the Package Travel Regulations require.

Its not a business that we have any intention of being in, he says.

Ryanair flies safely and often undercuts other airlines. The ready availability of its flights from approved OTAs is excellent news for travellers.

Buying a package provides gold-plated consumer protection; it is up to the online travel agents to show they are fully respecting the rules. I will be watching.

Meanwhile, beware of pirates.

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.
Britains Got Talent judges were left begging an act to stop during their performance last night (4 May), when their gravity-defying stunt very nearly caused an accident.

Serbat Troupe from Kazakhstan saw members balance on the heads of others using only one arm, and on the first attempt, saw one fall and barely make it down safely.

End it there, end it there, Amanda Holden begged, while fellow judge Bruno chimed in: They dont have to do it!

However, the group were determined to keep going, and managed to pull it off at their second attempt.
Eurovisions deputy director general, Jean Philip de Tender, has responded to calls for Israel not to be allowed to participate in this years show - but insists the situation is not the same as Russia.

We do understand the concerns, he told Sky.

The Eurovision Song Concert is a music event...its not a competition between nations or governments.

He continued by adding that when the board reviewed the situation, Israel had met all obligations that would allow them to continue taking part.
Susan Hall delivered a scathing attack on London mayor Sadiq Khan at City Hall, just moments after it was announced hed be remaining in the role for a third term.

Taking to the stage to thank those who supported her, she remarked as Khan looked on: I hope that he stops patronising people like me, who care.

This isnt an episode of The Wire, this is real life on his watch...I will continue to hold Sadiq to account.
Ornua, owner of the butter brand, now faces a class action over its use of a forever chemical in its products packaging

Irish dairy giant Ornua has failed to convince a New York district court judge to dismiss allegations a cancer-linked chemical previously found in its Kerrygold packaging could have migrated to its butter.

Ornua, owner of the Kerrygold butter brand, is facing a class action court case in the US over its use of per-and polyfluoralkyl substances, known as PFAS, in its packaging. The case, which began last year, was taken by Carolyn Winans, who claims that PFAS migrates into food, including butter, when the chemicals are present in the packaging.

Winans cited several studies she claimed establish the possibility of PFAS migrating onto food.

In the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Judge Frederic Block said Winans theory strikes the court as plausible, in a recently published court opinion following the motion to dismiss.

The plaintiff's motion 'struck the court as plausible'. Photo: Getty

Kerrygolds butter packaging includes the phrase pure Irish butter. Winans alleges misrepresentations regarding the packaging.

Winans, who bought and consumed Kerrygold products, makes various complaints under New York law, including deceptive business practices, false advertising, selling of adulterated or misbranded food and unjust enrichment. She is seeking damages and injunctive relief.

Judge Block decided to deny the Ornua motion that would have led to the cases dismissal. He did however, support its motion to dismiss Winans efforts to receive medical monitoring.

At the motion to dismiss stage, US law says the court must accept as true all of the claims from the plaintiff as factual allegations. Ornua did not have an opportunity to contest the facts in the complaint.

Ornua argues Winans claims should be dismissed as she had failed to allege an injury or that any of the Kerrygold products contained PFAS.

Block rejected Ornuas argument that Winans should provide lab tests showing its butter contained PFAS. While he said it might be sensible in other cases, Ornua removed its products from stores because the packaging contained PFAS.

Ornua recalled its Kerrygold products in response to a New York law banning PFAS from packaging

Ornua also claimed Winans had failed to plead an actionable misrepresentation over its use of the term pure Irish butter on the packaging. The dairy giant claimed the phrase actually meant that the butter was purely from Ireland, rather than the quality of the butter.

Block said it was plausible a reasonable consumer would conclude that the adjective pure modifies the noun butter.

Block also rejected Ornuas argument that Winans had failed to allege the dairy group knew about PFAS.

Ornua recalled its Kerrygold products in response to a New York law banning PFAS from packaging, which suggests Ornua was at the very least aware that its packaging did contain the chemical, he said.

Ultimately, Block decided to deny Ornuas motion to dismiss the case.

The class action, still at an early stage, continues. The judge has not made any ruling determining whether Ornua has broken any US laws or if PFAS was present in the butter.

In early 2023, Ornua removed Kerrygold butter products in preparation for new laws in New York and California that banned PFAS from food packaging.

PFAS is found in thousands of goods. Exposure to PFAS  a category of synthetic chemicals often called forever chemicals  has been linked to health issues, including cancer.

Ornua said: We wont comment specifically on pending litigation other than to say we believe these claims lack merit and we look forward to rigorously defending the integrity of our products.

A lawyer for Winans said they were pleased with the courts decision, and would continue to vigorously prosecute the matter on behalf of the class of consumers in order to keep their food chain safe from harmful chemicals.
Nicola Hanney on surviving ex-garda Paul Moodys four-year campaign of abuse: The way he saw it, I was pregnant with his child, so I was his property now
At other end, the 9.59 cost of a single bus ticket was reclaimed by one politician

Barry Cowen was one of the three TDs who flew to China. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Leinster House spent almost 340,000 on travel for TDs and senators last year, with politicians going on all-expenses-paid trips to Vancouver, China and Vietnam.

The costliest trip was a visit by three politicians to China as part of the Ireland-China parliamentary friendship group last September.

Flights for Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, party colleague James OConnor and Sinn Feins Aengus O Snodaigh came to a combined 17,000, according to a database of travel costs released by the Oireachtas.

There was also an accommodation bill of 3,171 and smaller sums paid out in subsistence plus 40 in miscellaneous costs for the trip.

The next highest bill was the 19,863 paid out for five TDs and senators to travel to Vancouver in western Canada for the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) last summer.

Five politicians travelled to Vancouver

Flights cost around 2,100 for each participant, while just over 2,000 was paid for hotel accommodation for three of the Irish delegation.

Other costs on the trip included 700 refunded in telephone costs as well as subsistence payments of 6,741, which appears from the records to have included the cost of one of the transatlantic flights.

The taxpayer footed a bill of 18,286 for a trip by three members of the Seanad to Angola last October to attend an assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. That figure is made up of 13,339 in flight costs, but one member of the intended delegation did not travel, and Leinster House is seeking a refund of some, or all, of the 3,278 paid for that plane ticket.

Accommodation costs for the trip came to 4,777  or 1,592 per person  while there were miscellaneous costs of 170.

Many involved short hops to cities such as Brussels and Paris

Other trips that set the taxpayer back a five-figure sum included a visit by four Irish politicians to Armenia for a meeting of the OSCE last November, which cost just over 14,000.

More than 40 trips were organised by the Oireachtas in the second half of last year, with an average cost of around 3,500, although many involved short hops to cities such as Brussels and Paris.

Between July and September, Leinster House paid out a total of 152,000 for travel by members of the Oireachtas, with insurance claims pending for around 6,700 in costs where the TD or senator involved was not able to travel.

Of the 152,000 total, 78,000 went on air fares, 49,000 on accommodation and 19,000 for subsistence claims.

There was also expenditure of 2,145 on train tickets, 1,075 in refunds for phone bills, 811 for taxi fares and 843 in conference costs.

A single bus ticket costing 9.59 was reclaimed by one value-conscious politician, according to the data.

Altogether, the Oireachtas spent 338,079 on travel for TDs and senators last year, but a detailed trip-by-trip breakdown was only provided for the second half of 2023 under Freedom of Information legislation.
Model obliges sellers to provide surveys, valuations and questionnaires on a propertys condition prior to any sales. Stock image

An international expert has said Ireland should adopt Scotlands model for completing house sales as it would challenge affordability and speed up transactions.

The proposal would legislate sellers to provide surveys, valuations and questionnaires on a propertys condition before any sale. In Scotland, these can be made available online to minimise time spent looking at properties a buyer may find unsuitable.

Experts claim this frontloading of relevant property details will speed up house sales, reduce legal costs and help buyers make more informed decisions if replicated here.

Professor Stewart Brymer, one of the main architects of the Scottish system, said a similar model here could only enhance the Irish system.

The Irish system is too cumbersome and makes homes more expensive

Auctioneers and solicitors have complained that the Irish system is too cumbersome, delays sales, makes homes more expensive and negatively affects the housing crisis.

Changes made in Scotland about 15 years ago make it mandatory for a home report to be made available before a sale. This makes key documents available to buyers much earlier than is the case in Ireland.

A potential purchaser should always be in an informed position to better understand whether or not to put in an offer for a property, Prof Brymer said. In Scotland, we have had the home report since 2008 and it works well. The home report contains a property questionnaire completed and signed by the seller. This, coupled with the single survey containing a valuation of the property, is of considerable benefit to prospective purchasers. The next step will be to move to a fully digital system.

Better up-front information helps everyone be more confident

Prof Brymer designed the questionnaire used in this survey and said it aims to capture key information about a property that could otherwise be missed by potential buyers.

Better up-front information helps everyone be more confident and, ultimately, helps reduce transaction times, but it needs to be underpinned by legislation, he added.

Last year, the then taoiseach Leo Varadkar acknowledged there were benefits to the Scottish system that should be given consideration.

The Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) has proposed new legislation that aims to oblige sellers to have planning documents and certificates of regulation compliance available before a sale is completed.

The Sellers Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill has been introduced in the Dail by Independent TD Marc MacSharry, but progress has been slow despite the Government not opposing the bill and welcoming its objectives.

The Government established an expert group to examine the house-sale process here with a view to improving it.

Pat Davitt of IPAV

IPAV chief executive Pat Davitt said the Sellers Pack Bill would help to ensure only homes that are sellable come to the market. He said a survey of IPAV members found almost a third (32pc) of all properties on the market are hampered by issues that lead to delayed sales. On average it takes 15.4 weeks to legally transfer a property, he added.

The survey found 78pc of agents had seen purchaser loan offers expire or withdrawn because of conveyancing delays.

It [the proposed legislation] would prevent prospective buyers making offers and incurring the expense of engaging the services of engineers and surveyors for properties that end up being withdrawn from sale because of issues around title, rights of way and other such issues that often emerge late in the process, Mr Davitt said.

The issue will be discussed as part of an international conference on Wednesday, examining systems across Ireland and the UK.

It is the first meeting of a new Conveyancing Review Coalition consisting of IPAV and similar UK-based organisations.

In a submission to the Government last year, the Law Society said it was aware of cases where sales were delayed by up to five years because of conveyancing problems.
Gardai investigate as reports claim 40 cars broken into in Dublin

A clip shared on TikTok appears to show a number of cars with smashed windscreens on Donore Avenue in Dublin 8

One of the cars in the video with a smashed window

Neil Fetherstonhaugh Sun 5 May 2024 at 13:01







Gardai have said they are investigating a number of incidents of criminal damage to vehicles after a TikTok video claimed 40 cars were broken into in one Dublin area on Friday night.
I dont think its fair to bully artists  Bambie Thug on calls for acts to boycott Eurovision

The 68th Eurovision song contest began in Malmo tonight, against a backdrop of political tension and with large demonstrations planned to coincide with the event.

There have been ongoing calls for the organisers of Eurovision, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to expel Israel over the war in Gaza. In 2022, the EBU expelled Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement on the Eurovision website, the EBU said: "The Russian public service broadcasters had their EBU membership suspended in 2022 due to consistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values."

There have also been calls for artists due to perform to boycott the contest and withdraw in solidarity with Palestinian people.

Last month, 400 Irish artists wrote a letter addressed to Bambie Thug, calling on them to boycott the contest. Tonight, Irelands non-binary entrant said people looking for them to boycott should be contacting the EBU and RTE more than me.

We are easy targets as artists. I dont think its entirely fair to bully us so much, especially because I am doing everything in my power which I can do, outside of this.

Behind the scenes with Bambie Thug

There is obviously pressure, but at the same time I am one person, I cannot make the change that [people] think I can, they said.

I am trying just to remain in my bubble now because there is one thing I need to doand we are moving up in the odds and it has been a long road for me and also I am standing for a lot of things as a queer person as well and I am doing this for a lot of voices.

Bambie Thug is confident about their performance of their song Doomsday Blue at the first semi-final on Tuesday night.

Nothing affects my performance. I am a performer, I am here to show my art on the stage regardless of what is happening. In those three minutes; thats whats happening in those three minutes... Obviously there is a massive cloud over it, but I am here to do one thing I have been working my whole life for, so I am going to be working very hard and giving the performance of a lifetime."

They added that they are proud of what we have created.

In response to calls to expel Israel, the EBU Director General, and former Director General of RTE, Noel Curran, said the Eurovision is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments.

The Israeli delegation did not attend the turquoise carpet tonight because of Holocaust Memorial Day in their country.

An estimated 100,000 visitors are due to arrive in Malmo for the world's largest live music contest.

There is heightened security around the event and according to local reports, forces have been drafted in from across Sweden, along with reinforcements from Denmark and Norway.

Earlier this week Bambie Thug was hospitalised after eating bad shellfish just days before their performance in the semi-final stage.

The Cork artist was forced to cancel a planned meet-and-greet performance in Malmo on Friday night and was taken to hospital and placed on a drip after becoming unwell.

They said they were feeling considerably better after resting.

Hows my health? I am better today... I am over the food poisoning it was horrible.. and gross. An ordeal but I am alright, they said.

They added that they are feeling confident in their performance and were joined on the red carpet with their choreographer Matt Williams.

Many of the acts spoke about the unifying impact of music when they walked the carpet.

The favourite to win the competition is the Croatian act Baby Lasagna with their song Rim Tim Tagi Dim. There is also a lot of support for non-binary Swiss artist Nemos The Code.

The Finnish act Windows95man will sing No Rules! And broke out into song on the carpet, while the Dutch act Joost spoke of the personal meaning behind their single Europapa which he has dedicated to his deceased parents.

The last time the Eurovision was staged in Malmo was in 2013. In 1992 Ireland won in Malmo with Linda Martin's Why Me?

Ireland has not qualified for the Grand Final since 2018 with Ryan O'Shaughnessy and his track, Together.
A man in his 80s is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash involving a car and tractor in Cork yesterday evening.

Gardai rushed to the scene of the collision, which took place shortly after 8pm on the N71 at Durrus Cross in Gortnacloona near Bantry, Co Cork.

The driver of the car, a man in his 80s, was taken to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries. Nobody else was injured.

The N71 at Durrus Cross and the R591 approaching this junction are currently closed as a technical examination is conducted by Forensic Collision Investigators this morning. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

A garda spokesperson said: Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Durrus Cross area between 7.45pm and 8.15pm on Saturday, May 4 are asked to make this footage available to gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bantry garda station on 027 20860, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Over a quarter of Ukraine host-support groups funds go on related parties

Helping Irish Hosts social enterprise is backed by the Irish Red Cross and claims hosting has saved State 386m

Organisation supports families hosting Ukrainian refugees

Mark Tighe Sun 5 May 2024 at 03:30

A non-profit company set up to help Ukrainians in Ireland find accommodation has reported that over a quarter of its expenditure in its first year went to related parties, which included paying the salary of its chief executive.
Philip Ryan: Hostility on the doorsteps as tensions around immigration rise

With elections looming, canvassers are being met with increasing negativity as they visit the nation's voters

Asylum-seekers leaving Mount Street in Dublin accompanied by members of An Garda Siochana last Wednesday. Photo: Collins

Philip Ryan Sun 5 May 2024 at 03:30

Right across the Government, everyone knew Mount Street was becoming a bigger problem every day. Local businesses and residents were threatening legal action against the State if the expanding asylum-seeker tent city in the middle of Dublin was not dealt with.
Jody Corcoran: Sinn Fein support a borderline question on immigration

As republican followers demand a divided Ireland, where does that leave Mary Lou McDonald?

Sinn Fein leaders Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: PA

Jody Corcoran Sun 5 May 2024 at 03:30

This is where we are, at the end of a highly charged week caused by provocations around immigration: a majority of Sinn Fein supporters want the return of checkpoints at the Border. If you take nothing else away from todays Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll, then take that to better understand the toxic potential of immigration.
Poll reveals 82pc of people in favour of deporting back-door migrants to UK

Half of the public, including a majority of Sinn Fein supporters, want checkpoints on the Border to limit the number of asylum seekers coming from the UK, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.

There is also strong support here for a Rwanda-style policy to deter migrants coming to Ireland, the poll finds.

An overwhelming 82pc of people want immigrants who have come here from Britain through Northern Ireland to be deported back to the UK.

After an intense week, which involved a political and diplomatic row between Ireland and the Conservative government in the UK, concern over immigration has dramatically soared by 15 points here, according to the poll.

The vast majority (72pc) believe Justice Minister Helen McEntees assertion that 80pc of recent immigrants have arrived in the Republic, from Britain, via Northern Ireland.

The poll finds 50pc want checkpoints on the Border to deter migrants. This rises to 52pc among Sinn Fein voters.

There is also 40pc support for a policy similar to that planned by the Tories in the UK to deport migrants to Rwanda, with 42pc against such a proposal and 17pc unsure.

Both the Government and Sinn Fein have firmly ruled out checkpoints on the Border and a Rwanda-style policy.

However, the public is divided on the proposed EU Migration and Asylum Pact  36pc say Ireland should join, 31pc are against, and 33pc are unsure.

Sinn Fein intends to vote No to the Governments proposal to opt Ireland fully into the EU pact  because, it says, the country must retain sovereignty over our immigration system.

As Sinn Fein diverges from the Government on the issue, that party has doubled its lead over Fine Gael in the past month  with Fianna Fail, which won 27pc of the vote in the last local elections, now facing the prospect of losing up to 100 seats in the local elections next month.

The state of the parties is: Sinn Fein (29pc) up three points; Fine Gael (19pc) down two points; Independents (19pc) up two; Fianna Fail (16pc) unchanged; Social Democrats (6pc) unchanged; Green Party (4pc) unchanged; Aontu (3pc) down one point; Labour (3pc) unchanged; and Solidarity-PBP (2pc) unchanged.

As an issue of concern, immigration (41pc) is up 15 points in a month, second only to housing (54pc), down five points, and well ahead of healthcare (29pc), down two points, with the cost of living (25pc), also down two points.

In relation to the migration pact, there is strong support for increased screening at borders (71pc) ahead of returning immigrants to safe countries (61pc), with payment to other EU and non-EU countries to process refugees (27pc) further behind.

After the Dublin riots last year, Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks polled on concerns over increased immigration versus the rise of the far right.

This month, the findings are completely reversed: increased immigration (55pc) is up 13 points; growth of the far right (43pc) is down 12 points.
Pollution from sewage plants can be a threat to human health. Stock photo

Storm water overflows into Dublin Bay from the countrys largest sewage treatment plant have surged by 80pc this year due to months of unrelenting rainfall.

The capital had the third wettest March on record, behind 2023 and 1947.

The downpours have culminated in 14 storm water overflow events in the first four months of this year when more than 1.2 billion litres of storm water released from Dublins Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Liffey estuary.

This is an 80pc increase on the nine storm water overflows from the plant over the same period last year when 692 million litres were released.

Uisce Eireann said the amount of surface water entering the sewer network can be more than the capacity of the plant and the holding tanks when there is very heavy and sustained rainfall.

In that case, to prevent the sewer network from backing up and causing flooding of roads and properties, the stormwater is released from the holding tanks to the environment, it said.

The stormwater tank overflow contains wastewater that is highly diluted with rainwater and has been screened and settled to remove debris  a form of primary treatment.

However, Coastwatch director and marine ecologist Karin Dubsky said the sharp increase in the stormwater overflows was a massive worry.

Microbes from sewage water were a health hazard for recreational users

She added: Its the high rainfall but there are contributory factors such as wet wipes which are sold as flushable and can form big ropes in pumping stations and at stormwater overflows and sometimes block them.

Ms Dubsky said microbes from sewage water were a health hazard for recreational users.

These types of overflows could also cause sludge-like carpets of opportunistic algae in the ocean which are harmful to marine life. The opportunistic algae bothers a lot of marine life, most marine life wants clean water, she said.

As climate change was expected to bring more rainfall, Ms Dubsky said the country would have to radically adapt to prevent the sewers from getting deluged with rainwater.

At this stage, we have to restore wetlands and create them. Every house should have water storage from their drainpipes so there isnt this deluge of water coming down into sewers, she said.

She said the creation of hard surfaces outside houses for extra parking in cities was adding to the problem.

We have to have an entire rethink of Dublin city and its surroundings and how to hold water and increase biodiversity, Ms Dubsky said.

Met Eireann has said 2023 was provisionally the third wettest year in 83 years; 2009 remained the wettest.

Climatologist Sandra Spillane said annual average rainfall had increased by about 7pc between the two periods covering 1961-1990 and 1991-2020.

Met Eireann is currently working on completing the process of examining rainfall returns for 2023.

Once this process completes, it is likely that the decade 2014-2023 will be ranked the wettest decade, Dr Spillane said. Currently, the wettest decade was 2011-2020 and the driest decade was 1967-1976 inclusive.

Climate models examining levels of global warming thresholds predict a drop in summer rainfall and a rise in winter rainfall or precipitation.

Uisce Eireann also said it alerted local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency of any incidents or overflow occurring at any treatment plants, which could impact the receiving waters.

The company said it was progressing with the installation of monitors on such overflows nationally, prioritising protected areas such as bathing and shellfish waters.

It said it was investing more than 500m to upgrade the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, which treats 40pc of Irelands wastewater.
Commercial venues operating teenage discos should be obliged to provide staffing levels to a certain adult/child ratio to improve the safeguarding of young people, a campaign group has said.

Alcohol Forum Ireland (AFI) also argued for male-to-female gender ratios among staff overseeing teenage discos in licensed premises as a further child protection measure.

The Donegal-based charity has urged the Government to incorporate its recommendations in the proposed Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024.

It said the growth of large-scale teenage discos on licensed premises has been permitted and normalised without adequate safeguarding or regulation.

AFIs chief executive Paula Leonard claimed the delayed passage of the proposed legislation, together with the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, has provided the Government with the opportunity to take its concerns on board.

Events have become a key income generation stream for a dwindling nightclub scene

Ms Leonard said very little attention had been paid to the regulation and governance of teenage discos despite the existence of the social events here for more than 40 years.

The past 20 years has seen these events grow in both number and scale and they have become a key income generation stream for a dwindling nightclub scene, Ms Leonard said.

She said just one national policy document, published in 2007, had made a reference to the need to mitigate the risk posed to children by teenage discos.

The AFIs own report, Dancing At The Disco, has highlighted the risks to children attending large-scale discos on licensed premises including management of large crowds of young people in environments designed for adults.

It also raised concerns about the lack of adequate adult supervision as well as risky sexual activity and intoxication from alcohol and other drugs before and after teenage discos.

The report said many professionals and young people identified bus transport to such events as risky.

It also recommends the legislation should contain a requirement for security staff at teenage discos to be garda vetted and trained in child protection.

The AFI has previously published reports critical of government plans to extend the opening hours of licensed premises and to remove the limits on the number of pub and nightclub licences.

Ms Leonard said she regularly heard concerns from parents and teachers about the health, safety and well-being of young people attending large-scale discos on licensed premises.

The Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee, said last week the proposed legislation was intended to modernise licensing laws.

The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while providing support to those involved in our night-time economy, she said.
University chose to buy 20 houses for 11.4m instead of developing housing in a semi-vacant building it owns

The University of Limerick (UL) ignored a cheaper accommodation solution that would have delivered more student housing so it could instead pursue a controversial scheme that led to 5.2m being wasted.

A report prepared for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) shows UL considered developing 96 student bed spaces at a semi-vacant building it owns near its campus, but chose instead to buy 20 houses for 11.44m.

The homes accommodate 80 students, do not have planning permission and cost millions of euro more than the alternative proposal at Park Point, a UL building closer to the campus.

A governance crisis engulfing the university since details of the deal went public has jeopardised other key projects.

Officials were working on an attempt to acquire Troy Studios, the site of a former Dell factory near UL, but that project is no longer expected to be pursued.

The university was ordered by the HEA to halt all capital acquisition projects

Plans to develop student housing near the Dublin Road in Limerick city are unlikely to secure state support for some time, after the university was ordered by the HEA to halt all capital acquisition projects due to governance concerns.

The Government approved more than 100m last month for similar student housing works. UL was not considered in that funding round.

The Troy Studio plan was being considered alongside proposals to develop a new veterinary school and staff administration hub, but scored poorly in a preliminary comparative study against other on-campus locations.

However, officials were still keen to progress the Troy Studio acquisition because of its strategic location between UL, the M7 motorway and a proposed new economic strategic development zone adjoining ULs campus.

John Moroney, a consultant employed by UL to work on property acquisitions, was working on the Troy Studio proposals that are likely to be abandoned.

He previously worked on ULs purchase of a former Dunnes Stores building the university admitted it overspent 1.5m on.

President of the University of Limerick Kerstin Mey. Photo: Sean Curtin

UL president Professor Kerstin Mey wrote to the HEA in January to confirm details of this overpayment following a review.

Correspondence released by the HEA under Freedom of Information shows the authority was already concerned about the 11.44m housing deal at Rhebogue, 3km from UL, when Prof Mey contacted it.

The university bought 20 homes from Silvergrove Developments last year for 560,000 more than was approved by ULs governing body. A stamp duty bill brings the total cost to 12.56m  twice the price of comparable homes nearby.

A value-for-money exercise showed UL overpaid for the homes by 5.2m.

Students moved in last October, despite UL having no planning permission to accommodate them there. Limerick City and County Council referred the planning issue to An Bord Pleanala two weeks ago.

Consultants Avison Young, who reviewed the housing deal for the HEA, said cheaper options were ignored.

The houses at Rhebogue, Limerick, purchased by UL for student accommodation

At an initial stage, UL was considering converting accommodation within the Park Point development close by, which we understand is already in the ownership of UL and partly in use as a hotel and that this property could accommodate 96 bed spaces at a much lower cost, Avison Youngs report said.

The review also shows no evidence of UL having a negotiation strategy to complete the sale.

It was unclear who represented UL in negotiations with the developer, and the review also found that:

 Public procurement processes were failed.

 Valuations were flawed because they did not appropriately examine potential minimum and maximum values.

 UL relied on planning advice from the developer that contradicted ULs own planning advice.

 UL did not carry out appropriate checks around taxation and stamp duty.

 Changes were made so the transaction went from a series of incremental payments over five years to a lump sum payment last year.

Based on our initial review of the price paid and our knowledge of the local market, in our opinion the overall price paid by UL for the 20 residential units was well in excess of their market value at the date of negotiation, the report said.

University of Limerick president Kerstin Mey and chief commercial officer Andrew Flaherty

ULs chief commercial officer (CCO) Andrew Flaherty, who brought the deal through university approval processes, has since told the HEA that the public spending code should not apply to the houses because they were going to be managed by a university-owned subsidiary company.

The spending code applies to all projects involving state funds. As this project was always going to be paid for and managed by Plassey Campus Centre (PCC) via Plassey Centre Trust, the spending code does not apply to PCC funds, Mr Flaherty wrote in an email sent to the HEA two months ago.

This was the understanding of both the chief financial and performance officer and the CCO from the outset based on views they had received from prior discussions on projects and PCC funds.

Six sources across the higher education sector and the Government have questioned this analysis. It also jars with a presentation Mr Flaherty gave officials who approved the deal.

ULs publicly available policy for acquiring new property states that all employees must give regard to the public spending code for such deals.

This policy document is dated June 2022 and is attributed to ULs chief corporate officer, a role Mr Flaherty held at the time.

University of Limerick

A presentation Mr Flaherty gave to members of ULs governing authority and executive committee in August 2022 said the new acquisition policy had been followed.

A spokesman for UL said a HEA review of specific issues around the Rhebogue deal has been sought, and it would be inappropriate for the university to comment until this is completed.

UL officials will meet with the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on Thursday.

Fire raised fears flats would have to close

University of Limerick (UL) officials feared having to shut a student village if emergency fire safety works were delayed because of major spending being suspended over governance problems.

A fire at the on-campus s last year highlighted fire safety deficiencies, UL told the Higher Education Authority (HEA) last month.

Plans are in place to urgently address the problems this summer but UL was worried a HEA directive to pause capital spending could delay the works. The HEA has since said it is happy for the works to take place. Spending had been stopped after UL admitted paying 5.2m more than it should have on a separate student accommodation scheme.

Last years fire is understood to have spread from a disposable barbecue being used on a balcony.

The university said the complex was declared safe to continue housing students.

Local fire officers advised the college to conduct additional remedial works on cladding outside the building. College officials were wary the fire officers could ask UL to close the complex if the remedial works were delayed, UL Provost Professor Shane Kilcommins said in correspondence released under Freedom of Information.

We are working with the local authority fire officers who require us, as an urgent health and safety matter, to undertake emergency remedial work. We are also examining other villages, Dromroe and Thomond, which have similar external timber cladding, Prof Kilcommins wrote.

These complexes were assessed recently and, while final reports have not been completed, it is not expected additional works will be needed at Dromroe or Thomond.

ULs spokesman said works required to improve the building are progressing immediately with no impact on accommodation availability.

There is a robust fire safety management programme in all residences and UL has the highest level of networked fire detection technology in all buildings on campus, the spokesman added.
Lucinda OSullivans Hot 24: The very best Irish places for fine dining and more in summer 2024

Ardent foodies fly in and out of cities worldwide to tick the boxes of top restaurants on their bucket list, but how many of these hot Irish places have you tried? Summers almost here and its time to hit the road

Egg toast, caviar, herbs, Jean-Georges. Photo: Lucinda O'Sullivan

Lucinda O'Sullivan Sun 5 May 2024 at 03:30

What qualifies a restaurant to appear on someones bucket list? Should the lobster be served in a submarine at 20,000 leagues, before an audience of hungry sharks, or maybe a Michelin-starred noodle house just below the death zone on Mount Everest. Personally, Id love to see a destination restaurant atop Croagh Patrick, requiring Insta-eager influencers and foodies to scramble up and down in their bare feet, rosary beads in hand, for the soft-launch freebie night. All that being said, the restaurants on my bucket list for summer 2024, while varying in prices, are all inspirational, individualistic and offer cuisine to die for.
Billy Keane: The Leinster and Munster rivalry never gets old  some of them are us and some of us are them
Michael McNamara: How did sex offender seeking asylum fly under the radar?

The latest calamity to arrive at the door of the Department of Justice is of its own making and its serious for us all

Helen McEntee faces trouble on multiple fronts at her department. Photo: Colin Keegan

Michael McNamara Sun 5 May 2024 at 03:30

The High Court judgment last March striking down the States ability to return asylum-seekers to the UK sent shockwaves through the political system and was extensively reported. A second shocking aspect of the case was overlooked until last week.
Immigration is now one of the top concerns of voters as they turn their backs on parties seen as ineffective on the key issue

The issue of immigration has once again reached a new height, rising by 15 percentage points to 41pc of respondents reporting it in their top two priorities for the country to deal with.

To put this into context, this is 17 points higher than the immediate aftermath of the Dublin riots. Reflective of that shift in focus, there is also a 13-point increase and a 55pc majority who cite the issue of immigration to be more important than that of the rise of the far right.

It has evidently become mainstream, all the while posing a bigger risk to mainstream parties. In our poll, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are now down to a collective 35pc. This is the lowest combined total we have ever had for the two parties. Independents have been by far the greatest benificiaries of this.

It is in this context also that we can understand how Sinn Fein has jumped three points to 29pc  the partys highest total since January, checking what had become a sharp decline. While all the usual caveats apply, these gains can be viewed in the context of its response to the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

That Sinn Fein has been drifting to the right on the issue for some time is no secret and is certainly known among closer observers of politics. However, it was the partys response to the EU asylum pact that drew the most ire and therefore attention on this repositioning, with many drawing similarities with the rhetoric that fuelled Brexit.

Sinn Feins vote is principally a working-class one, and while anti-immigration attitudes are not the sole preserve of the working classes, these voters tend to be more likely to shift voting preferences in the early stages of anti-immigration politics. It stands to reason the party has won some of these voters back.

The later stage of this crisis has typically led to de-politicisation strategies. The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a classic of the genre. While, albeit, marginally more people support than oppose it, one in three selected the dont know option, indicating a significant degree of persuadability. It reminds one of the referendums last March when large numbers were undecided before they swung against the proposals rapidly in the final week.

We can break this question down according to whether one is more concerned with immigration or with the far-right as a proxy for attitudes towards the issue in general.

Those concerned about immigration are far more likely to oppose the pact. By a margin of 45pc to 22pc, they are against it. In contrast, those concerned with the rise of the far right support the pact by 54pc to 11pc.

It should be clear that this is not a liberal, pro-refugee piece of legislation at EU level. It has been denounced by more than 100 human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Rescue Committee and the Irish Refugee Council.

Collectively, they argue that it would lead to greater suffering, less protection and human rights violations. It should be understood as a consequence of immigration dominating political discourse in Europe for almost a decade and politicians ranging from centre-left to the centre-right attempting to depoliticise the issue by appealing to anti-immigration sentiment. Unlike other major EU bills, there was no applause or jubilation on its passing.

As our poll shows, the public are broadly in favour of its individual components from fast-tracking to repatriation of refugees to safe countries. It will undoubtedly lead to a fall in asylum numbers, particularly for Ireland.

However, voters tend to take their cues from prominent politicians, and this uncertainty presents an opportunity. This quote from Michael McDowell, in an interview after losing his seat at the 2007 general election, is informative: There are some issues, if I was minded to in the morning, on which I could get 10pc or 12pc of in the next Dail... like if I made immigration an issue... And I am not tempted to do it because I think it would be a fairly nasty political enterprise. But you could do it.

How it feeds into the general election remains to be seen. Our current poll shows that in spite of a lowest-ever result for FF/FG, the most popular coalition option is Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Independents.

Of course, a lot can change. The European elections next month will almost certainly have an impact. If we think back to the 2019 European elections, climate change had surged in prominence in the run-up, with the Green Party accruing significant benefits that they carried through to the general election.

While climate change remains a top issue for voters at the European level, this time their number one issue is likely to be immigration. While we may not know exactly how things will change, it seems quite likely that there will be significant volatility in party politics.

Kevin Cunningham is managing director of Ireland Thinks and lectures in politics at TU Dublin
Mourners pray for two adults and five boys and girls from the same family killed in an Israeli strike in Rafah on May 3. Photo: AP

Words matter. The normally sure-footed US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, slipped up last Tuesday when he publicly described the latest Israeli ceasefire proposals as extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous. With negotiations on a knife-edge, the word generous was not what any of the stakeholders wanted to hear.
At the end of an extraordinary week that saw Ireland and Britain embroiled in an unseemly political and diplomatic argument over rising levels of immigration, both governments would be well advised to tone down the rhetoric and reset relations to something approximating normality. Todays Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll lays bare the impact of last weeks row on the attitude of voters here  and it shows those attitudes to have hardened considerably in relation to immigration.

After a week when the Irish Government effected the removal of migrants from a makeshift campsite on the pavements and alleys in and around Mount Street, Dublin, and following Justice Minister Helen McEntees claim that around 80pc of migrants are arriving here from Britain via Northern Ireland, the poll finds a significant 15-point increase in public concern about this issue.

The consequences look set to become apparent when the public votes in local and European elections that are predicted to result in a rightward swing to candidates presenting a firm line on immigration here and throughout the continent of Europe. Politics will probably look very different after the elections on June 11 and 12. Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin has referred to work the Government has to do to explain the complexities of immigration to the public. That is one of the failures of this administration, which is struggling with the hugely difficult task of managing an ever-growing crisis.

Todays poll indicates the extent of the communications shortcomings, which can be set alongside a shortage of accommodation for asylum-seekers and a lack of early preparedness at the International Protection Office in Dublin to meet the challenge.

Among other poll findings is overwhelming support to send immigrants back to the UK, the setting up of checkpoints at the Border and the introduction here of a Rwanda-style policy, similar to that in the UK, to deter immigrants from coming here.

The Government has ruled out checkpoints, and Ireland and the EU are opposed to a Rwanda-style policy, favouring instead Europes new migration and asylum pact, but that is somewhat lost on the public, a growing number of whom are demanding immediate and increasingly strident action. If anything, there is a high level of confusion about the migration pact  another failure of government communication.

The Common Travel Area, which ensures the free movement of people between the UK and Ireland, is the arrangement by which both governments must resolve the issues that have arisen; wider still, agreement will have to be reached between the UK and the EU on immigration in which Ireland will have an important role to play.

Whether such agreements can be reached before a general election in the UK this autumn is unlikely; it may well fall to a future Labour government there to negotiate an agreed solution with Ireland, either before or after a general election here.

A resolution must be found, however, because as todays poll shows, immigration as an issue is increasing in intensity and is sure to have a significant impact on the outcome of elections local, national and European over the next 12 months, almost certainly for the worse.
Originally a member of a street gang in Braniel estate before being associated with the UDA and Red Hand Commando, Michael Stone was well known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire.

He first hit the headlines in March 1988 after launching a gun and bomb attack in the Milltown cemetery in west Belfast, killing three people.

His targets were mourners at the funerals of three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar.

He was sent to the Maze prison for three counts of murder before being released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Once inside the prison, he became one of the five leaders of the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

In November 2006 he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont, which he claimed was performance art.

After the attack he was charged with the attempted murder of Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

More recently, he has made headlines for his artistic endeavours which started while he was in prison, with one of his paintings recently fetching 4,500 in an Ebay bid before the sale was cut off.

Today the Indo Daily comes courtesy of our sister podcast The BelTel. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and former Belfast Telegraph editor Ed Curran to look at the life and crimes of Michael Stone  one the most notorious gunmen of the Troubles.
A HSE nursing director has asked people to go back to the basics when it comes to hygiene

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare has urged the public to go back to basics and clean their hands in the right way today, which is World Hygiene Day.

Eleanor McCarthy, director of nursing and infection control for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, said that by going back to basics and applying regular hand hygiene, the risk of transmission of infections can be reduced.

At the height of the pandemic, alcohol hand sanitiser was freely available in the community. Now, who carries it? Mrs McCarthy asked.

Hand hygiene has a vital place in healthcare, but it also has a place for us at home so we can protect ourselves and our families. The average person will touch their face about 23 times per hour, that's plenty of opportunities for germs and bacteria to spread.

Were living with multi-drug resistant bacteria; these are bugs that would have had an antibiotic to kill them 20 years ago, but now we dont. Theres two ways in which we can get these multi-drug resistant bacteria. One of them is overuse of antibiotics and not taking a course of antibiotics correctly and the other one is through transmission.

What transmission means is that you might touch a surface thats contaminated with these bacteria or someone could bring it to you on their hands if they touch you - and then those bugs get into your gut. So, if we touch that surface where these bugs are and we bring our hands to our face 23 times an hour, the likelihood that its going to get into our mouth is quite high.

The number one factor that has been proven time and time again to reduce the risk of transmission of infection from one person to another is hand hygiene. On World Hand Hygiene Day, please assess your own habits and see if you are washing your hands properly and often enough!

The HSE had issued a guide on hand washing with soap and water at hse.ie/handhygiene.
Mary Coughlan, Mary Black and Honor Heffernan performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Mary Coughlan performing with Dominic Mullan, Cormac OBrien and Johnny Taylor at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Members of the Carole Nelson Trio performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey. From left: Dominic Mullan, Cormac OBrien and Carole Nelson.

Mary Coughlan performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Mary Black and Honor Heffernan performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Honor Heffernan performing with the Devil's Spine Band at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Leo OKelly and Mary Coughlan performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Poet Stephen James Smith performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Honor Heffernan performing with the Carole Nelson Trio at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Pete Cummins performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Richard Boyd Barrett TD addressing the audience at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Mary Black addressing the audience at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Leo OKelly performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Mary Coughlan, Mary Black and Honor Heffernan performing at the Oiche don Gaza: Palestine Fundraiser Concert organised by Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and Irish Artists For Palestine in the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey.

Irish Artists for Palestine and their fundraising concert Oiche Don Gaza raised over 7,000 for Medecins Sans Frontieres on Thursday, April 4.

200 people attended the concert at the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey and enjoyed performances by artists Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Pete Cummins, Ed Deane, Garvin Gallagher, Honor Heffernan, Trevor Knight, Dominic Mullan, Carole Nelson, Cormac OBrien, Leo OKelly, Bill Shanley, Stephen James Smith, Johnnie Taylor and guest speakers TD Richard Boyd Barrett and Aislinn Wallace.

"It was an incredible night. What was amazing about it was the sense of community between the artist on stage and the audience. Everybody was there for one reason and while they enjoyed the music, there was a real show of solidarity.

"It was incredible, you could feel the love in the room and every artist said that they could feel it coming off the audience. Audience members said we looked so united up there and we were, said Honor Heffernan.

Artists sang their hits on the night, Leo Kelly sang Tir na nOg and Mary Black sang No Frontiers.

More than 2,000 of the 7,000 raised was from the raffle. Tickets were 20 but loads of people were paying 50 and not asking for change or throwing the money in a bucket, said Honor.

Furthermore, many local businesses donated raffle prizes and the Ashdown Park Hotel allowed them to use the room for free.

Every Wednesday, a group of local residents from Gorey gather for half an hour for a silent vigil at 6p.m. at the Ulster Bank.
Tom Doyle, Michelle Murphy and Olivia Whelan pictured at the Bake Sale in Ballyduff National School on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Antoinette and David Kinbaid attended the Bake Sale in Ballyduff National School on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Cora Keane and Aimee Kane pictured wth Chloe Mulvanney Cushe, Sophia Carton, Robyn Moore, Caoimhe Bowe and Josephe Mulvanney Cushe at the Bake Sale in Ballyduff National School on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell

Ballyduff National School held their annual Bake Sale recently to raise much needed funds for a new sensory room at the school.

Grandparents, parents and all of the schools students attended the bake sale from 10a.m. until 12 midday on Friday, March 22.

The Parent Association organised the bake sale and sold the cakes on the day.

The school is hosting a table quiz on Friday, May 24 at the Parkside in Camolin and everyone is welcome to attend.
At the More Women for Election Candidate Support programme in Wexford County Council on Wednesday evening were Wexford County Councillors, women interested in politics and with Brian Sheehan and Aimee Kane from Women For Election Programme cordinators with Brian Sheehan and Aimee Kane from Women For Election

Green Party election candidate, Ann Walsh has called for more diverse representation at council level, citing only six women councillors out of 34 in Wexford County Council.

"Only 17 per cent of our councillors are female, even in Dail Eireann the number is 22.5 per cent, which is still far from representative. There is also a lack of diversity in age, party representation, and minority groups, and it would be wonderful to have a council more representative of the demographic, said Ann.

Wexford County Council currently consists of twelve sitting Fianna Fail members, nine Fine Gael, seven Independent, three Sinn Fein, two Labour and one Aontu candidate, with no Green Party representatives. Ms Walsh believes that all constituents should be represented in the council and that no particular group of candidates or party dominate.

"From my conversations with people over the past while, they have expressed a desire for a more inclusive and representative council and I hope to be one of those that adds to that diversity by being the first Green candidate elected in the Gorey area."

I would encourage all those eligible to vote to exercise their democratic right and do so, anyone resident in Ireland with a PPS number is eligible. Now, more than ever before, we need to bring environmental decision making to the heart of all public life and Wexford needs more inclusive, representative, and visionary politics, she said.
People attend an anti-government protest led by former government insider and leader of the Respect and Freedom (TISZA) Party Peter Magyar, in Debrecen, Hungary, May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Thousands of Hungarians protested against nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a rally on Sunday weeks ahead of European Parliament and local elections due in early June.

Peter Magyar, a former government insider seen by some observers as the first serious threat in years to Orban, staged the rally attended by around 10,000 people in the eastern town of Debrecen, a stronghold of the ruling Fidesz party.
Former Eurovision winner Jamala has said Ukraine cannot afford to "give up" the opportunity to raise awareness of Russia's invasion by performing at the song contest, amid boycott calls over Israel's participation.
The site in Baja California where the bodies were found. Photo: Reuters

Investigators have charged three people in connection with the disappearance of three tourists  two Australians and one American  in Mexico.

The three Mexican citizens were charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping after being questioned and arrested by local authorities. It not immediately clear whether the three could face additional charges.
Israel to shut down Arab TV news station Al Jazeera; Gaza ceasefire talks continue as airstrikes hit Rafah

Gaza ceasefire talks ongoing as sources say Israel briefed US on plans for Rafah evacuation ahead of potential invasionWell-known British Palestinian surgeon who volunteered in Gaza hospitals said he was denied entry to France on Saturday to speak at a French Senate meeting about the Israel-Hamas war

An Israeli soldier's rifle is silhouetted next to posters of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas from Gaza, at Dizengoff Square, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Reuters

Nidal al-Mughrabi Sun 5 May 2024 at 01:30







Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

New Delhi: Instagram has recently rolled out an innovative 'Reveal' sticker, empowering users to share concealed Stories. Meta clarified that this content can only be accessed by sending a direct message (DM) to the account that posted it.

Furthermore, Instagram unveiled a range of other stickers in a blog announcement, enabling users to share their favorite daily tunes and craft custom stickers from their own photos or videos.

Discover the mystery with the 'Reveal' sticker

To use the 'Reveal' sticker, simply access the Stickers icon while creating a new Story and select the 'Reveal' option. You'll then be prompted to input a hint that will tantalize your followers, offering a peek into what's hidden behind your blurred story. After posting, your followers can unlock the content by sending you a DM, eliminating the need for individual approval for each message.

Add your groove with 'Add Yours Music' sticker

Introducing the 'Add Yours Music' sticker, Instagram provides a new avenue for users to share music reflecting their moods. Much like existing stickers, users can interact with the 'Add Yours Music' sticker by sharing their favorite tunes. To access this feature, tap on the Stickers icon and choose the 'Add Yours Music' option. From there, simply tap 'Add Music' and select your preferred track from the Instagram music library.

Frame your memories with the 'Frames' feature

In addition, Instagram presents the new Frames feature, a sticker that transforms images into virtual Polaroids. Users can reveal these frames by either shaking their phones or pressing the "Shake to reveal" button, adding a nostalgic touch reminiscent of traditional posts. When an image is added, the Frames sticker automatically showcases the date and time of the photo, with an option to include a caption for further personalization.

To utilize the Frames feature, tap on the stickers icon while creating a Story, and select the 'Frames' sticker. This will open your photo gallery, allowing you to choose the image you wish to frame. After selecting the image, you can also add a caption to enhance your Story.

Get creative with the 'Cutout' sticker

Lastly, Instagram, under Meta's ownership, introduces the Cutouts sticker, enabling users to transform sections of photos or videos into customized stickers for their Stories or Reels. Similar to cutout tools in Apple and Samsung devices, users can isolate objects using touch gestures.

When using the Cutouts sticker, you'll be directed to your photo and video library, where you can choose a suitable image or video featuring a distinct subject. This action will automatically generate a new sticker, or users can manually select the object they wish to use. Simply tap the "Use sticker" button to incorporate it into your Story or Reel.

In conclusion, Instagram's latest updates bring an array of exciting features to enhance storytelling and creativity on the platform. So, whether it's unveiling hidden stories, sharing favorite tunes, framing cherished memories, or adding personalized touches, the possibilities are endless, inviting users to unleash their creativity and make their mark on the platform.
Tourists enjoy themselves during May Day holiday across China

Xinhua) 13:50, May 05, 2024

People buy snacks at a cultural compound in Yinchuan City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 3, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu)

An aerial drone photo taken on May 3, 2024 shows people visiting a scenic spot in Zunhua City, north China's Hebei Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)

Tourists take boats in a river in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Zhang Hui/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows a view of Mount Fanjing in Tongren City, southwest China's Guizhou Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Li He/Xinhua)

People visit a geological park in Xuanen County of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hubei Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Song Wen/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the ancient city of Tianshui in Qinzhou District of Tianshui City, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 1, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Wang Zixuan)

Young tourists learn to plant paddy rice at a field in Jinci Township in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

Drum dancers perform for visitors at the Leitai Han Culture Museum in Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 3, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Jiang Aiping/Xinhua)

A child tries to plant paddy rice as her guardian helps at a field in Jinci Township in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

People visit a shopping mall in southwest China's Chongqing, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Tourists and locals attend a Guozhuang dance at a square in Shangri-la of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, May 3, 2024. Guozhuang is a traditional Tibetan dance meaning singing and dancing in a circle. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Ma Hongbo/Xinhua)

This areial drone photo taken on May 3, 2024 shows people visiting the Fenghuang ancient town in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Peng Biao/Xinhua)

Tourists have fun planting paddy rice at a field in Jinci Township in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows people visiting an ancient village in Yixian County in Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Shi Yalei/Xinhua)

This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 show people visiting a historical and cultural block in Rugao, east China's Jiangsu Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Wu Shujian/Xinhua)

People watch a flash mob performance at the Liaoning Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Visitors view exhibits at Guizhou Provincial Museum in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)

People watch a flash mob performance at the Liaoning Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Children try to make copies of ancient seal patterns by rubbing at a museum featuring murals dating back some 1,500 years to the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, May 4, 2024. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows people visiting the Huaxi Park in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province. Traffics have surged at tourist attractions throughout the country during the 5-day May Day holiday beginning on May 1. (Photo by Lu Zhongnan/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
As he prepared his keynote speech, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini may have had a premonition of what was to happen at the Prince of Wales Sportsground on Workers Day.

It is now a matter of historical record that he never got round to delivering this speech.

However, the written one given to the media after the chaos that resulted in him hurriedly leaving the arena had a poignant message that seemed to predict what was to happen.

Had they given him a chance to speak, workers would have heard him say, I am here today, together with Cabinet to challenge you as workers to work with this government to build our country. This is the right time for us to work together and not fight. We are not enemies but we have the same interest to build our country. We may have different responsibilities but we have to work together. It is very unfortunate that some of the workers present at this well-attended event regard government as the enemy. They have their reasons but the question is whether that was the right platform for the pockets of disgruntled workers to demonstrate their disapproval of government, and in such a harsh manner.

Explain

It will be interesting to hear how workers representatives will explain this situation when they attend the International Labour Organisation (ILO) annual convention in Geneva, Switzerland next month. For years, the Eswatini Government, which is also required to attend and faithfully does so, has been confronted with various questions regarding the treatment of workers. Several ministers of labour have found themselves in the unenviable position of defending government when unions reported to the ILO that they were being deprived of basic rights like marching in protest against certain laws or policies. The May Day drama has been ventilated by many commentators, including fellow journalists, unionists and other observers, so I will not delve into it much.

I have decided to focus on what the prime minister would have said, had he been accorded the right and dignity to speak. Among other issues, he had hoped to address the longstanding issue of the minimum wage. The Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) has already suggested E3 500 as the basic minimum wage for all workers in Eswatini. The PM was to say even though government would not promise heaven and earth; it committed itself to ensuring that the minimum wage and the entire welfare of workers were being looked into.

His speech did not have much on the Ministry of Health, which has been marred by a litany of issues in recent years but he had hoped to inform workers that the ministry had already been mandated to work on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).In laymans terms, the NHIS could be described as medical aid for the less privileged. This is an issue that has become controversial in nearby South Africa, as the government has promised to introduce it as well. The NHI in South Africa will be a mandatory State-run medical aid.

Contribute

Citizens who have the ability to pay will be expected to contribute to the Fund, whether they are medical aid members or not.It is said that the National Health Insurance Fund in SA will cover the costs of healthcare for every South African, employed or unemployed, poor or rich, without them having to pay. This is said to be the South African governments strategy to achieve universal health coverage. The National Insurance Fund journey began in 2011 but it was only in June 2023 that the NHI Bill was passed by the National Assembly. The less privileged are eager to see it start operating but medical practitioners, especially those in the private sector, believe it will render them redundant.

They believe that if everybody has access to free quality medical care, nobody will require their services. There has also been talk around the quality of healthcare that would come with this scheme. Some South Africans believe that when the costs are reduced, the quality will also be compromised. I am mentioning all the details about the NHI proposal in SA because economic and medical experts say the government there simply does not have the financial resources to support the scheme. They also complain that there is a shortage of healthcare infrastructure. The NHI Fund will get a large amount of its funding from general taxes. At least 12 years after this idea was touted in South Africa, the Fund has not yet started operating, simply because it is a complicated issue.

While it is also a welcome idea in Eswatini, it is important to look at the pros and cons before getting too excited. We should not forget that as a nation, we are still a long way from having properly stocked dispensaries at government hospitals and clinics. With each passing day, there are complaints about the shortage of medical drugs, a lack of essential supplies like mere gloves and faulty equipment. In the last couple of weeks, the spotlight has been on the unavailability of dialysis services at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM) in Manzini.

Outcry

This was also the case with blood pressure (BP) and diabetes medication, which was only delivered last week, after an outcry from those affected. Under normal circumstances, the delivery of medical drugs and supplies to hospitals should not make newspaper headlines. We never see it happening in other countries because it is almost similar to celebrating the ability of a fish to swim. However, in our country, this is front page news because the norm has been that most drugs are unavailable in public health facilities. So, when they are eventually delivered, there is cause to celebrate. We are also facing a serious shortage of medical personnel, made worse by the sudden interest of overseas countries in recruiting from our country.

The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) has been at pains, trying to bring governments attention to this challenge. It is therefore, obvious that our proposed National Health Insurance Scheme cannot take off without these challenges having been addressed to every stakeholders satisfaction and for the long term.
Photo courtesy: Video grab

Surat (Gujarat): A 27-year-old Muslim cleric was arrested on Friday in Surat for an alleged conspiracy to assassinate BJP leaders and another leader from a right-wing group, media reports said.

The cleric, a native of Nandurbar in Maharashtra, was arrested on Friday from Bharimata Road near Phoolwadi Creek in Surat, reported Indian Express.

According to an India Today report, Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said accused Maulvi Sohel Abubakr Timol allegedly threatened the chief editor of Sudarshan TV channel, Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh, and the party's former spokesperson Nupur Sharma, with the aid of his handlers in Pakistan and Nepal.

Police were alerted to a man who was connecting people on a WhatsApp group and disseminating content to provoke religious sentiments and inciting communal unrest during elections. Acting on this information, the police launched a probe, according to the report.

"Timol's mobile chats revealed he was conspiring with people from Pakistan and Nepal to offer Rs 1 crore 'supari' (contract for killing) and procure weapons from Pakistan to kill his first target, national president of Hindu Sanatan Sangh Upadesh Rana," Gehlot was quoted as saying by India Today.

"After his detention, we found several objectionable contents in his mobile phones, including the one regarding offering Rs 1 crore for the murder of Updesh Rana. For this, he was continuously in touch with persons/numbers from Pakistan and Nepal," Gehlot said, according to the report.

"Photos and other details found on his phone number show they (accused and associates) were discussing on a secure app about targeting and threatening editor-in-chief of Sudarshan TV Suresh Chavhanke, political leader Nupur Sharma, and Hyderabad MLA Raja Singh. For this purpose, they were planning to collect funds and procure weapons," Gehlot said, it added.

According to a senior police official, chat records indicate that Timol aimed to disrupt communal harmony during the ongoing general elections.

The Surat police are coordinating with other agencies to determine if there were additional targets.

Initial probe suggest that Timol was exchanging information with two people named Dogar and Shehnaz through phone numbers linked with Pakistan and Nepal, respectively, said the report.

Nearly a year and a half ago, these individuals contacted Timol through social media platforms using phone numbers from Pakistan and Nepal and radicalised him by alleging that Hindu organizations in India were mocking the Prophet and needed to be addressed.

According to the report, police said Timol wrote speeches against Hinduism and threatened Rana on the chat app, warning him of a fate same as that of Kamlesh Tiwari, who was murdered.

A member of Timol's chat group allegedly also offered one crore rupees to murder Rana, along with his photo, it added.

The arrested accused was in contact with individuals using WhatsApp numbers with country codes from various countries such as Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Laos, police said.
Photo courtesy: Video grab/ Avishek Mitra/IBNS

New Delhi/ Srinagar: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has said Pakistan is not wearing bangles and has nuclear bombs, reacting to Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs remark that India would never give up its claim on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and its people would join India of their own accord, media reports said.

Singh asserted that India would not have to use force to capture PoK because its people would want to leave Pakistan after seeing Jammu & Kashmirs development.

"I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India," he said in an interview with PTI.

"We will not have to use force to take PoK as people would say that we must be merged with India. Such demands are now coming," he said.

The defence minister maintained that "PoK was, is, and will remain ours".

Referring to the improvement in the ground situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh indicated that assembly elections would take place there in the near future, though he refrained from specifying a timeline.

"The way the situation is improving in Jammu and Kashmir, I think a time will come when AFSPA will no longer be required there. It is my view and it is for the Home Ministry to decide on it," he said.

On Pakistans proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said, "They are trying to destabilise India and we will not allow it to happen."

Farooq Abdullah reacts

Reacting to the remarks, Farooq Abdullah dared Rajnath Singh to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, news agency ANI reported.

"If the defence minister is saying it then go ahead. Who are we to stop. But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has atom bombs, and unfortunately, that atom bomb will fall on us," the National Conference leader said.

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that 'PoK will be merged with India', JKNC Chief Farooq Abdullah says, "If the defence minister is saying it then go ahead. Who are we to stop. But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has pic.twitter.com/hYcGnwVxP2  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2024

India and Pakistan's relations strained further after India conducted airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Pakistans Balakot in February 2019, following the Pulwama terror attack.

Tensions escalated further when India abrogated Article 370, revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special powers and the division of the state into two union territories on August 5, 2019.

India has reiterated that it desires normal friendly relations with Pakistan but insists that Islamabad must create a terrorism-free and peaceful environment for such engagement to occur.
Photo Courtesy: UNICEF India website

In its 75th year of partnership with India, UNICEF India on Sunday announced the appointment of one of the most iconic stars of Indian Cinema, Kareena Kapoor Khan, as the organisations National Ambassador.

In her role, Kareena Kapoor Khan will support UNICEF India in furthering every childs right to early childhood development, health, education and gender equality.

As UNICEF Indias Celebrity Advocate since 2014, Kareena Kapoor Khan has been a strong advocate for girls education, gender equality, foundational learning, immunisation and breastfeeding.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan advocated for childrens learning and return to school once they reopened.

"She has been an instrumental support in several UNICEFs global campaigns on #EveryChildRights," UNICEF India said in a statement.

On her conferment as UNICEF India National Ambassador, Kareena Kapoor Khan said, There are few things as important as the rights of children, the future generation of this world. I am honoured to continue my association with UNICEF now as Indias National Ambassador. I will strive to use my voice and influence for vulnerable children and their rights, especially around early childhood, education and gender equality. For every child deserves a childhood, a fair chance, a future.

In the same event, UNICEF India also announced the appointment of its first ever Youth Advocates, who are peer leaders and champions on issues like climate action, mental health, innovations and Girls in STEM.

Between 16 to 24 years the four advocates have specific areas of interest. Gauranshi Sharma from Madhya Pradesh on right to play and disability inclusion, Kartik Verma From Uttar Pradesh on climate action and child rights advocacy, Nahid Afrin from Assam on mental health and early childhood development and Vinisha Umashankar, from Tamil Nadu is a budding innovator and STEM pioneer.

These youth advocates are part of UNICEFs global programme and join a cohort of more than 93 youth advocates have been appointed across the globe and are driving change on issues concerning children and young people.

Speaking on his appointment as youth advocate, Kartik Verma, said, Youth can lead the change in India. As the UNICEF India Youth Advocate, I will use my voice to amplify concerns and perspectives of children and young people especially those from marginalized and vulnerable communities to different stakeholders.

I am very happy at being appointed as UNICEF Indias Youth Advocate. Its a great opportunity for me to use my voice to amplify issues that many young people are dealing with including mental health, said Nahid Afrin youth advocate from Assam.

Speaking at the conferment event UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey said, UNICEF is delighted to welcome Kareena Kapoor Khan as our National Ambassador building on her years of commitment to advance childrens rights. She has brought energy and impact through her support to several national and global campaigns.

"She joins as UNICEF India National Ambassador together with our four Youth Advocates to the UNICEF family. We look forward to working with her and the four youth advocates to continue advocating for child rights

Over the seven and a half decades, as a proud and passionate partner, UNICEF supported Government of India led programmes and milestones that benefited millions of children and young people. Marking the valued partnership of UNICEF with India@75 ushers an opportunity for renewal and recommitment to a vision for children in the coming years and decades. In this spirt of partnership, UNICEFs engagement with popular National Ambassadors, celebrity and youth advocates will continue to build a promising future for all children, added McCaffrey.
Representative image/ credit: Wallpaper cave

Sydney/IBNS: Western Australian police shot and killed a "radicalised" 16-year-old boy with a knife who had wounded a person in Perth, media reports said Sunday.

The teenager "rushed" at police after wounding someone from the public. He was then fatally shot by an officer, Premier Roger Cook told a news conference.

"There are indications he had been radicalised online. But I want to reassure the community that at this stage it appears he acted solely and alone," he said.

Police received a call late on Saturday from a male warning that he was going to commit "acts of violence".

However, he did not reveal his name or location, the state's police commissioner, Col Blanch, told reporters.

Within minutes another emergency call alerted police that a "male with a knife was running around the car park" in Willetton, a southern suburb of Perth, he said.

Police body camera images showed the teenager refused officers' demands to put down his knife, said reports.

It was then officers fired two Tasers at him but "both of them did not have the full desired effect," he said.

"The male continued to advance on the third officer with a firearm who fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male."
Photo Courtesy: Landy Parraga Goyburo Instagram page

An Instagram post by a social media influencer was enough to get her killed in one of the shocking incidents unveiled in Ecuador.

An Instagram post by a social media influencer was enough to get her killed in one of the shocking incidents unveiled in Ecuador.

The deceased woman was identified as Landy Parraga Goyburo.

She had participated in the 2022 Miss Ecuador contest.

A popular social media influencer, Landy Parraga Goyburo had posted picture of her "octopus ceviche" which she was eating when attackers reportedly followed it to kill her.

The murder reportedly occurred at a restaurant in Quevedo city on April 28.

She was reportedly visiting the city for a wedding.

The video of the assailants gunning her down has gone viral.

Parraga, who has more than a million followers on her social media accounts as well as her own sportswear line, made headlines last December when her name was mentioned in a chat between slain drug trafficker Leandro Norero and his accountant, Helive Angulo, reported New York Post.

During Angulos trial, prosecutors revealed that Norero had begged Angulo in a 2022 message to help keep his connection with the beauty queen hidden after the accountant said police asked him about the relationship, according to Ecuavisa, the newspaper reported.

Leandro Norero died in a prison riot over a year ago.

While Parragas finances were under investigation by the Attorney Generals Office, she was never prosecuted for a crime and had never made any public comments on the case or her connection with Norero and his organization, reported The New York Post.

The incident is currently under investigation.
IDF claims Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade commander killed during airstrike. Photo Courtesy: IDF X page

The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday (April 5, 2024) claimed senior commander of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade Aiman Zaarab during an airstrike in Rafah.

IDF said responsible for the Islamic Jihad Nukhba force's attack on Kibbutz Sufa and the Sufa military post during the October 7 'massacre'.

In an X post, IDF said: "Zaarab was one of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade commanders, responsible for the Islamic Jihad Nukhba force's attack on Kibbutz Sufa and the Sufa military post during the October 7 massacre."

IDF said two others terrorists were also killed in the operation.

"Along with Zaarab, two additional Islamic Jihad terrorists who were staying in his operational apartment were eliminated during the strike," the post said.

UN reacts to Rafah operation

An Israeli military operation in Rafah could lead to a slaughter and cripple lifesaving humanitarian work throughout Gaza, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Friday.

Any ground operation would mean more suffering and death for the 1.2 million displaced Palestinians sheltering in and around the Strips southernmost city, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told journalists in Geneva.

Echoing those concerns, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that Band-Aid contingency plans have been made in case a full-scale military incursion does indeed happen, but they will not be enough to prevent Gazas humanitarian catastrophe from getting worse.
Photo Courtesy: Brittany Lauga Facebook page

An Australian MP has claimed she was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted in Yeppoon town recently.

Yeppoon is a coastal town and locality in Queensland.

Queensland Labor MP Brittany Lauga claimed other women may have been attacked on that day.

She wrote on Facebook: "In the early hours of Sunday morning I went to the Yeppoon Police Station and Yeppoon Hospital, after being drugged and sexually assaulted. Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly."

She said an investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.

"I have been contacted by other women who may also have been drugged in Yeppoon on Saturday night," she wrote on Facebook.

"This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us," she said.

She said: "I have had multiple women contact me who have experienced the same thing in our town. Its not ok. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted."

The politician said she needs time to heal both physically and mentally.

Who is Brittany Lauga?

Lauga is an Australian politician and town planner.

She has been the Labor member for Keppel in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2015.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The Israeli Cabinet has unanimously voted to shut down the operations of Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of 'incitement'.

He said the decision was 'unanimously' taken by the Cabinet.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X: "The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel."

Ofir Gendelman, the prime ministers spokesperson to the Arab world, said the decision will be immediately effective.

"This decision will be effective immediately, according to which broadcast equipment will be confiscated, the channels correspondents will be prevented from working, the channel will be removed from cable and satellite television companies, and Al Jazeeras websites will be blocked on the Internet," he posted on X.

Quoting Netanyahu, he said: "The time has come to eject Hamas's mouthpiece from our country."

Israel has accused the network of being biased and collaborating with the Hamas group.

The Qatar-based network has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The decision escalates Israels long-running feud against Al Jazeera. It also threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar, which funds the media network, at a time when Doha is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, the network reported.

The network is one of the few international media houses reporting from Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing at least 1200 people.

More than 250 people were taken hostage.

128 hostages are still unaccounted for while 34 are presumed dead.

At least 34,683 Palestinians have been killed and 78,018 injured in Gaza since 7 October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry as quoted by BBC.
Monkey Man: Dev Patel, who made his directorial debut with Monkey Man, has received great feedback since its release internationally. Makarand Deshpande plays an important role in the film as well. In a new interview with Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, Makarand recounted how Dev apologized to him at the Monkey Man's LA premiere for deleting portions of a sequence featuring him.

Monkey Man: Dev Patel Cut Crucial Scene Due To Political Reasons

Actor Makarand said, For the premiere of Monkey Man, I went to California. Before that, Dev said he wants to have a word with me. He said, Thats the scene I love the most, but we had to edit it for some reason for some political (reason) you understand, and he just mumbled. I kept on looking at him and said, Dev, wasnt that scene the philosophy of your film? He was like, Oh yes, man, but you will still like your role, I am sorry, but you will like it.



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He went on to add, When I saw the film, I said no problem. But I know that scene  woh ahar rehta toh kya maza aata (if that scene was kept it would have been amazing). It had that punch, an edited scene wont matter to the audience, but it matters to the actor. In my understanding, it was the rooh (soul) of the film, it may not be for Dev. It is getting a lot of critical acclaim, might be in the Oscar race later and is like their Satya.



Also read: Dev Patel Was Ashamed Of His Indian Roots, Says Monkey Man Is Inspired By Stories Of Lord Hanuman

What Is Dev Patels Monkey Man About?

The movie is about a man called Kid (played by Dev Patel) who works as a bouncer in an underground fight club and then goes undercover to infiltrate the upper class of a city that resembles Bombay in order to exact revenge for his mother's horrible murder.

Also read: 'Sorry Torrent Se Download Karli', Viewers Watch Pirated Version Of Monkey Man As India Release Gets Delayed

When Will Dev Patels Monkey Man Release In India?

There is no official release date for Dev Patels Monkey Man In India yet.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Mothers are special and Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to show your mom just how much you appreciate her. Instead of traditional gifts, why not treat her to a day filled with fun and memorable experiences? Here are seven exciting activities you can do with your mother to celebrate this special day.

southernliving.com/ Pinterest

1) Pottery Session

Unleash your creativity together by attending a pottery session. Spend quality time with your mom while learning to create beautiful pottery pieces. It's a relaxing and enjoyable activity that allows you to bond and make lasting memories.

2) Shopping Spree

Take your mom on a shopping spree to her favorite stores or boutiques. Let her pick out items she loves while you enjoy spending time together. Whether it's clothes, accessories, or home decor, shopping together can be a fun and rewarding experience.

3) Movie Date

Treat your mom to a movie date and enjoy watching her favorite film together. Whether it's a classic movie she loves or a new release, grab some popcorn and enjoy a cozy movie day out.

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4) Sip and Paint

Get creative with a sip and paint session. Enjoy a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage while following step-by-step instructions to create your own masterpiece. It's a fun and relaxing activity that allows you to unleash your artistic side.

5) Book a Staycation

Surprise your mom with a mini getaway by booking a staycation at a local hotel or resort. Enjoy a day of relaxation by the pool, indulge in spa treatments, and savor delicious meals together. It's a perfect way to pamper your mom and create unforgettable memories.

6) Spa/Salon Day

Treat your mom to a day of pampering at a spa or salon. Book massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures for a luxurious and rejuvenating experience. Your mom will appreciate the chance to relax and unwind while spending quality time with you.

Credit: iStock

7) Luncheon with her Friends

Organize a special luncheon with your mom's closest friends. Whether it's at a restaurant or a cozy picnic in the park, gather her friends for a delightful afternoon of food, laughter, and celebration. It's a thoughtful way to show your mom how much she means to you and her friends.

This Mother's Day, show your appreciation for your mom with these fun-filled activities that she'll cherish forever. Whether it's getting creative, pampering yourselves, or simply spending quality time together, the most important gift you can give your mom is your love and attention.
MANZINI  Clerk-to-Parliament Benedict Xaba yesterday urged the church to reach out to sex workers.

Xaba, the former Minister of Health, called for Jesus-attitude in church. He was speaking yesterday during the Youth Summit on gender-based violence (GBV) and social issues hosted by the Bishop Bet Ntuli-led Springs of Life Ministries International and Senator Fezeka Dlamini. It was held in the churchs auditorium at New Village in Manzini. Princess Temaswati, Princess Ncengencenge, Nomzamo Dlamini, representative of the Deputy Prime Ministers Office, Owen Nxumalo, the Minister of Education and Training, Bongani Nzima, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli, Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba, Senator Siphelele Mkhonta, Gcina Msibi from the Ministry of Education and Training, among others. The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) had a representative identified as Msweli.Ndawonye Christ Worshippers rendered songs that triggered a majority to stand up and worship with the popular gospel choir.

Little devils

A child group called Triplets entertained the audience alongside Bulelwa, who rendered Jazz music. Meanwhile, Xaba, the Parliaments controlling officer, said the church should not treat sex workers as little devils possessed by evil spirit to ruin their lives. He said Christians should go to them to find out why they were involved in sex work. He pointed out that an inquiry into what forced them into sex work might reveal the things that pushed them to the streets. Xaba said Jesus Christ visited people and talked to them. He said he met even sinners who had been condemned by people for evil doing. The clerk said the Springs of Life Ministries International, in particular, is strategically positioned to work with the sex workers.

Do not neglect them. This church is strategically positioned to offer relevant and quality assistance to the sex workers, Xaba said. The church is located between Manzini and Matsapha, the two places considered as hotspots for sex work in the country. Do not treat them as devils, they are not, and they need your help as a church, Xaba said. He told the guests and members of the church, alongside young people from neighbouring communities, that he founded a well known Nhlangano-based organisation, Nhlangano AIDS Training Information and Counselling Centre (NATCC) which primarily dealt with HIV. He said the NATICC was so successful that it expanded its scope to include social issues such as GBV. He said he also worked for the United States Presidents Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Alliance of Mayors Initiative for Community Action on HIV/AIDS (AMICAALL).

On the issue of sex workers, HIV and GBV, he said he was talking through experience as he initiated programmes tailored to addressing such social issues. He also urged the church to partner with organisations dealing with social issues. He asked those who were present to turn problems into programmes to better their lives. Xaba mentioned that the people who declared their HIV status were still alive because they are in charge of the virus. He implored emaSwati to take charge of their lives and never allow situations and circumstances to push them down.
As workers strive hard to secure positions at prestigious companies like Google, recent waves of layoffs raise a crucial question: Are these coveted jobs truly worth the effort? An alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad weighs in on the concept of "dream companies" and shares his perspective.

Layoffs like a rollercoaster of emotions for students

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Sanket Shah, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, begins by highlighting recent layoffs at major companies and expresses sarcasm about the decisions made by these corporations.



Also read: Amid Tech Layoffs, These Industries Are Likely To Remain Recession-Proof In 2024

He writes, "Google, the beacon of innovation, decides it's a fantastic idea to let go of their entire Python team. Because, obviously, Python is so last season for them. And Tesla, bless their hearts, they've got the whole layoff thing down to an art form. It's like a team-building exercise, but instead of trust falls, you get handed a pink slip. And Atlassian, oh, they're just keeping us on our toes with their hiring and firing at same time."

Tesla | Photo: AFP

Overall, he questions the stability offered by these "dream companies" amidst their unpredictable decisions.



Also read: Best Money Practices To Survive Layoffs In These Uncertain Times

He says, "It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions for those poor students. You know, the ones who thought they had a shot at a future there. But hey, who needs stability when you can have a front-row seat to the circus of corporate decisions?"

Quaint notion of a dream company

Sanket proceeds to challenge the idea of "dream companies."

He sarcastically remarks, "The term 'dream company.' What a quaint notion. Who needs dreams when you can have profit margins!! Let's all raise a glass to the corporate overlords, because clearly, they've got our best interests at heart. Cheers to uncertainty and disappointment!"

Unsplash

Earlier this month, Google made big changes in its "Core" teams, resulting in over 200 employees losing their jobs and some roles being moved to India and Mexico.



Last month, reports revealed that Tesla was considering laying off more than 10%, approximately 14,000 employees, in major markets like the United States and China.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
We all aim for success, but setbacks and failures can weigh us down. And, it's often from these failures that we learn the most. A Google engineer, who faced rejection from the company five times before being accepted in 2022, highlighted a crucial lesson: stop blaming or doubting yourself.

Failure after failure

Qingyue Wang, a software engineer at Google, recently shared her journey on LinkedIn, detailing her persistent efforts to join the company. She began applying in 2018 and finally secured the job in 2022.

Also read: 2 Rejections & 8 Interview Rounds Later, Techie Gets Job At Google Because He 'Stopped Caring'

Her first attempt was in 2018, where she received an online assessment from Google. Despite her excitement, she didn't pass the assessment.

However, an interviewer reached out to her, offering a second chance after reviewing her answers. Unfortunately, she didn't pass on this attempt either.

Qingyue(Annie) Wang/ LinkedIn

Undeterred, Qingyue made her third attempt in early 2020 with a phone screening interview, but she didn't pass this round either. Despite these setbacks, she continued to persevere.



In 2020, she applied for a Site Reliability Engineer role, undergoing four rounds of interviews and receiving positive feedback.

Also read: 40-YO Bengaluru Woman Quits Google Job Paying Rs 82 Lakh/Year, Regrets Decision 2 Days Later

However, the role was cancelled due to the pandemic, adding another obstacle to her journey.

Finally, success came to her the fifth time around.

LinkedIn

She writes, "In 2022, on my 5th attempt, I finally secured a Software Engineer role. After passing the interview, I received a gift from Google along with a paper that said, 'Congratulations, searching for a job is hard."



Persistence is the only way out

Having faced repeated failure herself, she offers advice to others: "Stop blaming or doubting yourself if you once failed in your job search."

She emphasises that the job search journey can be challenging, filled with rejection, doubt, and frustration.

However, she encourages persistence, noting that it's a key factor within one's control. Her message is clear: "Keep going  we're on this self-improvement journey together!"

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Religion can give people courage and help them overcome fear. This fearlessness was evident in a recent viral video on social media, where people were seen performing a puja of a live black cobra. What's astonishing is how calmly everyone is acting in the video.

Snake tries to bite as puja is performed

The video depicts family members, along with a priest, performing a ritual with remarkable composure despite the intimidating presence of the snake.

Also read: Meet Vasuki Indicus, A Fossilised Snake Longer Than T-Rex, Discovered In Gujarat

This relaxed attitude towards the snake is surprising, to say the least, as snakes usually evoke fear in people.

Instagram

Shockingly, the snake even lashes out and tries to bite the person conducting the ritual as he is pouring milk over it, as part of the ceremony. What's even more surprising is that people's response to this incident is laughter.



After viewing the video, viewers are amazed by the family's fearless demeanor in the midst of potential danger.

Watch the video here:

Relevance of snake worship in Hinduism

The video, which has since received over 4 lakh likes, was captioned, "Aisi pooja karne wale ko 21 topon ki salaami."

The caption also enlightens about the relevance of nag (snake) worship.

It highlights the significance of snake deities in Hinduism. According to Hindu mythology, snakes are believed to be created by Lord Vishnu, and their worship is highly valued.

In Hinduism, snakes have a special meaning. They represent fertility, renewal, and the idea of living forever because they can shed their skin and emerge fresh.

Nag Panchami/ Metro

Worshipping snakes is thought to bring protection from dangers like snake bites, illnesses, and bad spirits. People pray to serpent deities for blessings such as prosperity, fertility, and overall well-being.



Throughout India, various festivals and ceremonies honor snake deities. For instance, Nag Panchami is a festival devoted to snake worship. During Nag Panchami, worshippers visit snake temples to offer prayers, milk, flowers, fruits, and other gifts as a sign of respect.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Suppose you own a car that's over 15 years old. In that case, you should be aware that 21 states and union territories (UTs) are offering up to a 25 per cent discount on the price of a new personal vehicle or on-road tax for customers who scrap their old vehicles and purchase a new one, according to a report by TOI. For commercial vehicles, the discount is 15 per cent.

What is Indias Vehicle Scrappage Policy?

The policy mandates that commercial vehicles over 15 years old and passenger vehicles over 20 years old must undergo fitness and emission tests. These tests evaluate various factors including brake performance, engine efficiency, and others, to determine whether the vehicle is fit for use or considered scrap. According to the policy, automated testing stations and vehicle scrapping provisions will be established gradually in phases.

In 2022, automated testing was implemented to inspect commercial vehicles. Starting from June 1, 2024, all passenger vehicles over 15 years old will also undergo the same rigorous testing.

States Offer Discounts on Vehicle Scrappage

Many states, like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Kerala, have offered discounts to encourage people to scrap their old and unfit vehicles. The central government has required all states to support this effort.

According to Dipak K Dash from the TOI, discounts on vehicle scrappage vary from 10 per cent to 25 per cent and depend on different factors like the scrap value or the price of the new vehicle. For example, Haryana offers a discount of 10 per cent or up to 50 per cent of the scrap value, while Uttarakhand provides a 25 per cent discount or a maximum of Rs 50,000, whichever is lower. Karnataka offers a fixed discount on road tax based on the price of the new private vehicle. For instance, vehicles priced above Rs 20 lakh are eligible for a discount of Rs 50,000. Lastly, Puducherry offers a generous discount of 25 per cent or a maximum of Rs 11,000, whichever is lower.

Is Your Car More Than 15 Years Old? These Are The New Car Scrapping Rules You Must Know | Freepik

What is the objective of the Vehicle Scrappage Policy?



The primary objectives of this policy are:

To reduce pollution by scrapping 1 crore vehicles without valid fitness and registration.

To enhance vehicular safety.

To improve fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance costs for vehicle owners.

To stimulate auto sector sales and create employment opportunities.

To increase the availability of low-cost materials for the steel, electronics, and automotive industries.

Vehicle Scrappage Policy: FAQs

What incentives are offered for scrapping old vehicles?

The government provides incentives for scrapping old vehicles and purchasing new ones, including:

Auto manufacturers can offer up to a 5% discount on the purchase of new vehicles.

Buyers receive a waiver on registration fees for new vehicle purchases.

Vehicle owners may receive scrap value equivalent to 4-6% of the new vehicle's ex-showroom price.

States can refund up to 25 per cent and 15 per cent of road tax for personal and commercial vehicles, respectively.

Which other countries have introduced Vehicle Scrappage Policy?

The United States, Germany, Canada, and China are some of the countries which have introduced Vehicle Scrapping Policy to boost their automotive industry.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here


At least 24 persons have been killed by gunmen, suspected to be bandits, during the attack on Unguwar Sarkin Noma community in Sabuwa Loca Government Area of Katsina State.

Residents told newsmen yesterday that the bandits stormed the area at about 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and operated for about one hour before they left.

Also, the Chairman of Sabuwa LGA, Faruq Dalhatu, confirmed the incident to journalists on Saturday.

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He said 23 victims were buried on Friday morning.

He added that the last victim was also conveyed for burial from the hospital after he was certified dead.

READ MORE: Banditry Now Business Venture For Some Security, Govt Officials  Katsina Gov

The cleric said: Upon hearing of the bandits mission to attack the Local Government Council, we swung into action by informing virtually all the security agencies.

They (security agencies) all responded to our distress call and availed themselves to the community. Before you know it, the Bandits raided the community and killed these people.

Twenty-three people were buried from the beginning, in accordance with Islamic rites, and the last victim was conveyed from the hospital after he was certified dead.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of misfiring in the ongoing case against former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello.

Speaking during an Instagram Live, on Saturday, the veteran journalist faulted EFCCs claims of Bello using government funds to pay his children school fees upfront before the expiration of his tenure.

Mr. Dele condemned the agencys conduct in its attempt to prosecute Bello, adding that the commissions Chairman, Ola Olukoyede should have learnt from the cases of his predecessors, who he said were booted out ignominiously.

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He said: When they brought in the new chairman, I thought oh, you will have the benefit of learning from your predecessors.

All of them were booted out ignominiously and if I were in the shoes of the current chairman, what I will simply do is make sure I do my job as meticulously, as professionally, as efficiently as possible. And, you will never go wrong if you obey the rule of law.

READ MORE: Actor Segun Arinze Urges EFCC To Follow Due Process In Prosecuting Yahaya Bello

I watched the EFCC chairman, I think either last week or the week before the last, I was almost crying because the way he went on and on, if I dont do this, spitting fire and all, you dont have to do media trial.

Asked if the EFCC was lying about Bello, Momodu said: I have no idea, I dont work for EFCC but from all the things that I have read, a lot of them, they misfired. That is the honest truth. They misfired. They didnt do their due diligence.

When you said a man took out money and paid for his childrens school fees, just as he was about to leave power, and you go and check the documents and you see that these things started happening from 2021, 2022 (laughs); I am not an illiterate.
Chinonso Egemba, also known as Aproko Doctor, a popular Nigerian doctor and influencer, has shared his story of surviving a near-death experience due to digestive difficulties.

On the microblogging platform X, Aproko Doctor participated in a viral trend, Tweeting because life didnt end when.

He gave the account of how a section of his bowel died inside him while he was a medical student.

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He also recalled thinking it was his last ordeal, only to have surgery to remove a growth inside his brain that threatened his vision.

He showed gratitude to his Creator for saving his life.

READ MORE: Before I Became Skit Maker, I Could Beat My Chest Sydney Talker Was Yahoo boy  Nasboi

He wrote: Tweeting this because life did not end when my part of my intestine died inside me in medical school, thought that was the last issue Id have only to have a growth removed from inside my brain that almost took my sight along with it. Life didnt end. God did. I won.

SEE POST:
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, says his quest for a better Nigeria has put him on a collision course with the Nigerian government.

Obi said government agencies now plot to malign his character and reputation by organizing town hall meetings.

According to him, the unpleasant development will not deter him from his quest for a better Nigeria.

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Speaking at the weekend in Canada while responding to questions about the last general election in Nigeria, Obi said many people would be shocked if they knew what he goes through every day.

READ ALSO: Trial By Ambush  Emefiele Laments As EFCC Files Fresh Proof Of Evidence Against Him

He said: If I tell people, and I say it every day what I go through, you will ask me why am I in this thing. You will ask me why am I still doing this; who do you still have to bother? But Im in it. Every now and then you see various agencies of government, tools of government, even when I am not running any election, calling me names every day.

They now organize town hall meetings just for me. No problem. It doesnt bother me. Lets keep doing what we were doing. We did well. And we should be proud of it and continue in that trajectory.

Obi was in Canada for a thank you tour to appreciate Nigerians living in the country for the support offered him during the 2023 polls.
A lawmaker, representing Kano Senatorial District, Rufai Hanga, has donated 500,000 clay pots and 500,000 plain white cloths to help his constituents in burying their dead.

According to the Senator, the donation was in response to frequent demands for assistance for burial materials from his constituents.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday, Hangas media aide, Dawuud Auwal, announced the donations.

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REAF MORE: I Was Only Motivating Them  Says Kano Lawmaker Who Threatened To Deal With Constituents If They Dont Vote APC

He said: The district head of Tarauni and head of the committee overseeing the graveyard in Kano, Ado Kurawa, has supervised the 500,000 clay pots and N500,000 white plain cloths (likkafani) donated by Senator Rufai Hanga for distribution to the graveyard in Kano Central District. After the supervision he directed for the distribution.

We are used to this frequent requests from people soliciting money to buy white cloths and clay pots. Some have requested vehicles for transporting the dea.

The Senator has also paid scholarships for 200 students of Bayero University and registered over 1000 students for JAMB. He assisted 200 Kanp Polytechnic among others.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has disclosed that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will cease funding for any non-performing centre of excellence it established eight years ago.

Mamman made this disclosure at the weekend during a reception of two ad hoc committee reports on the assessment of TETFund Centres of Excellence and the operationalization of Skills Development Special Interventions.

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He however emphasized the governments commitment to fostering high standards in academic research and development, stating, We cant be giving free money to institutions that are not doing what they are supposed to do.

READ ALSO: You Can Pay N615k Minimum Wage If You Get Priorities Right  NLC To State Govs.

In terms of the skill, we want to raise the equipment level of those institutions, polytechnic and others so that they can provide all the skill set that we need in Nigeria in the highest quality that can service the country and internationally, he said.

The Minister further highlighted the objective of raising equipment levels in educational institutions, particularly polytechnics, to enhance skill development that meets both national and international standards.

TETFunds Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, criticized the inefficient use of funds by some centres, noting that unused allocations have yet to be accessed due to the centres failure to meet required milestones.

The idea was to incubate, to have one centre, the right equipment, the right tools, the right faculty and experts, that would lead our efforts in research, in promoting scholarship at the highest level so that they can also inspire other centres, Echono explained.
MANZINI  The over 1 000 investors who lost over E300 million which they invested in Ecsponent have resolved to seek audience with His Majesty King Mswati III to intervene on their behalf.

The resolution was taken during the Eswatini Investment Group (ESWIG)s well-attended special general meeting on Friday at Mfanyana Hall, in Manzini. The investors unanimously agreed that only an order from the King would provide a lasting solution to their painful ordeal. The investors, a majority of whom are elderly and retired citizens, said audience with the King will allow them to relay the frustrations they have allegedly gone through ever since their millions disappeared.

Suggested

One investor, Sondelani Mtfupha, suggested that the matter be taken to Parliament and subsequently to His Majesty the King. He mentioned that the matter be submitted to Parliament by the ESWIG Investor Relations Committee (IRC) while a specially elected team approached His Majesty. Former Member of Parliament (MP) Derrick Masuku recommended that a team be sent to the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, before seeking audience with the King to bid him farewell. If for any reason we are blocked from seeing the King, we can use other means to get to our King, he said.

Dying from stress

Calvin Msibi lamented that the investors were dying from stress caused by the frustration of not getting their outstanding investments. We are starving and need out father, who is the King, to help us. I am not even sure if I will be alive tomorrow because of this issue, he said. Another investor, Eunice Khumalo, expressed appreciation on the efforts that have been made by ESWIG to recover the money. I support the suggestion that we approach the King and appreciate the legal action taken against all the people involved, she said.

Nothing has materialised

Mankayane Shongwe lamented that the PM mentioned in Parliament that the issue was being managed, but nothing has materialised. The issue was also raised at the Sibaya Peoples Parliament, but nothing is happening. I am very disappointed and I wonder if I will ever get my money back, he said. ESWIGs former Chief Executive Officer Max Mkhonza urged the investors to come together and not be divided for the matter to be successfully concluded. The meeting recommended that the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and one of the Ecsponent directors, Dave Van Niekerk, should be made to account. Mkhonza, however, advised the investors that while he cannot stop their desire to seek His Majestys intervention, it was still appropriate to continue with the legal steps already taken to recover the lost investments. While you prepare to seek the Kings intervention, as per the suggestion from the meeting, all the incriminated individuals and entities should still be held to account in court, said Mkhonza. As you prepare to implement your resolution to seek His Majestys intervention, everything you do must be done with an utmost respect.

Forensic report

ESWIG Chairperson Ndumiso Mamba said they were still expecting the release of a forensic report after the investigation conducted by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE).

He mentioned that the ESWIG Board conducted its own forensic investigation to establish what transpired and it had initiated its legal claim against the FSRA and other parties, on the basis of its own forensic investigation. Since 2022, ESWIG has been doing all in its power to help the frustrated investors recover their money. This it did through the introduction of a turnaround strategy which was dubbed Project White Knight and it encompassed the formation of a company registered in the name of the investors.

The company was announced as one that was purely an investment vehicle aimed at assisting them generate alternative revenue streams in order to recover their lost funds. Before that, the Ecsponent Eswatini Limited name was changed and the company was re-branded to ESWIG, while the Board was restructured and a new executive and management team was appointed. It was argued that the new executive and management team had the capability to implement a turnaround strategy in order to achieve the desired result, which was to ultimately establish ESWIG as a viable business entity based on sound governance practices.
Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, says the servers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) malfunctioned during the last presidential election because some individuals wanted it that way.

Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the time, said the establishment of criminality was behind the glitch suffered by the electoral commissions server.

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According to him, Amazon, an American multinational technology company, testified there were no glitches recorded globally on the day of the presidential election.

He revealed this at the weekend in Canada while addressing the issues about the last general election, including INEC Result Viewing portal servers.

His words: Where did we go wrong in the last election? We didnt go wrong anywhere. We did the right things. But as I can always tell people: when you bring a change, you fight all those who live off the old order. They dont go away; they gang up. And dont think its a straight race to remove an establishment.

READ ALSO: OPay To Close Accounts Trading Crypto

Its a long-distance journey anywhere in the world. Go and check anywhere, whether you are looking at what happened in India, with Mandela in South Africa, or America. No change has happened overnight, it takes time. I urge all of you, if you really want change, we have just begun. We just have to continue from where we are.

Yes, there might be one or two things we will correct, those things we will correct. I assure you we are correcting them without naming them.

The INEC server was the same as the establishment. The server would not work because it was the establishment that made it so it wouldnt work. Its ours to continue to say that it would work. But there was no glitch. Amazon came and said there was no glitch. Amazon glitch is noticed globally  its recorded globally. And at that period, we brought down an Amazon person who said this is the number of glitches we have had since inception. And there was none that it reported that day. We know it didnt occur. It was the glitch of the establishment criminality that was in the system. And we must one day make it work.

Obi was in Canada for a thank you tour to appreciate Nigerians living in the country for their support offered him during the polls.


Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State, has weighed in on the reason the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is experiencing a mass exodus of its members in recent times.

Speaking in a chat with This Day on the exit of notable members from the Party, Lamido blamed the situation on the procedures of the court.

He said the actions of the court and the leadership of the PDP have left the party in a precarious state.

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According to him, PDPs mass resignation was as a result of frustration engendered by the leadership of the party and the judiciary.

The former Governor said if the court did not insist that Senator Samuel Anyanwu was the National Secretary, when he (Anyanwu) went and contested for the Imo State governorship election, the position of National Secretary would have gone to another person from Imo State.

He also asserted that some persons outside the PDP are influencing what happens in the Party.

Emeka Ihedioha and other chieftains of the PDP that resigned from the party were humiliated and frustrated out. They were humiliated by the leadership of the party, with the help of the judiciary.

READ ALSO: Well Stop Funding Poorly-Performing Tertiary Institutions  FG

Ministers resigned to contest election. Other government officials and even party officials resigned to contest elective offices. Senator Anyanwu ought to have resigned to contest the governorship election in Imo state.

What did he (Anyanwu) do. He held to the office of national secretary and contested for the governorship election. You cannot eat your cake and still have it back. You cannot appropriate the two positions. You are the national secretary and the governorship candidate at the same time. This is not done.

So, when the stakeholders from Imo state complained, the judiciary aided him and affirmed his position as National Secretary when he lost his governorship election.

So, Ihedioha and his group felt frustrated and humiliated by the action of the leadership of the party by failing to stand up for justice. So, as a person, I dont blame Ihedioha and his associates. I can understand why he and his associates left. Some external influences are tele-guiding the party.

The leadership of the party was extremely unfair to Ihedioha who first asked if Anyanwu will contest for governor and when Anyanwu said yes, Ihedioha left it for him and yet, Anyanwu still did not leave the post of National secretary. It is not fair, he posited.
Quaker community members hung a peace sign on the campus of Germantown Friends School in the fall. It was a message everyone seemed to agree on.

But outrage ensued in late February after they added a series of cloth watermelons next to the simple five-letter message.

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The watermelon imagery  an unofficial symbol of Palestinian solidarity  upset a number of the Jewish families whose children attend school on the campus. School leaders intervened, and within days, Germantown Friends head of school Dana Weeks told parents in a March email that the inappropriate and offensive signage has been removed.

It was one of several flashpoints over the war in Gaza that the elite private school has sought to defuse since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. But unlike the turmoil facing other schools and institutions, the Germantown Friends community has faced a reckoning of faith as its members debate the Quaker commitment to nonviolence.

Over the last six months, several incidents have unnerved some students and led parents to organize a WhatsApp group chat amid fears of antisemitism, while others have grown increasingly critical of school leaders who they say havent shown equal support to pro-Palestinian community members.

In April, about 400 parents, alumni, and faculty signed an open letter to school leaders decrying a series of perceived pro-Israel biases  from canceling a Muslim authors visit to opposing a cease-fire banner  and calling on school leaders to adopt an antiwar stance in line with its Quaker mission.

The schools actions read as anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and racist, and they have created a climate of fear, the letter reads. It accused leaders of abandoning a simple framework for decision-making. Is an action in line with Quaker values, or not?

Most parents have avoided talking openly about the disagreement even as it has spilled into public view. After The Inquirer contacted a parent supportive of the open letter, all signatures disappeared from the online document. Meanwhile, two parents active in the Jewish families WhatsApp group said they were satisfied with the schools direction and referred questions to administrators.

About 150 Jewish parents sent the school a letter in November, asking Germantown Friends to remain a safe space for Jewish students, reinvigorate its curriculum about World War II and the Holocaust, and provide antisemitism training for students and staff, Richard Stern, a parent at the school, said in a statement.

He said that many Jewish families fell into despair about the open letter, which was laden with antisemitic tropes and falsehoods  adding that he wasnt aware of any Jewish families who had asked the school to take a pro-Israel position.

The situation at Germantown Friends reflects the broader conflicts and fears that have riven schools over the last seven months  from arguments around dueling student newspaper op-eds in Lower Merion and social media postings of a Muslim student club in Central Bucks, to the Philadelphia School Districts removal of a student video about Palestinian art. Facing immense pressure to stand against both the rise of antisemitism and the staggering death toll in Gaza, school administrators have struggled to maintain a neutral position.

In an interview last month, Weeks said that the debate around Israel and Gaza marked the first time in her tenure that the schools very liberal-leaning community was not in full unity of mind, but that her focus remained on the students first.

I trust that it was done out of care for the school  and not out of hate, she said of the open letter. But that body of work doesnt really focus on the kids.

Some parents and faculty members behind the open letter said the concern for students came across as disingenuous after school leaders publicly accused pro-Palestinian students of antisemitism.

Division on campus

After the Hamas attack, Weeks sent out a letter that acknowledged students with ties to Israel and Palestine, assuring them their school supported both camps. Pushback against that neutrality was swift. Some people wanted stronger statements in one direction or another, Weeks said.

Germantown Friends did not provide an exact demographic breakdown at the school, where tuition for grades 9-12 tops $46,000 a year. Weeks, whose family hails from Lebanon, described herself as one of the few Arab people in the school and said the Jewish student population far outnumbered Muslim students.

The following months brought a series of increasingly fraught situations that involved parents, students, administrators, local Quakers, and even guest speakers.

On Oct. 20, GFS canceled a scheduled event with Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, a Muslim childrens book author who had posted on social media about the killing of Palestinian children in the war. It was not the right time to bring in Thompkins-Bigelow, Weeks said; in February, the school was still not ready.

We hope it will happen someday, Weeks said, describing Thompkins-Bigelows work as stunning. (On Twitter, Thompkins-Bigelow wrote of the cancellation: Im just supposed to write about Muslim kids, not care about them.)

In November, members of the Germantown Monthly Meeting voted to publish a cease-fire statement against the war. In the minute statement approved by the meeting, the group said it condemned the Hamas attack and also deplored the retaliatory attacks by Israel that are making Gaza a wasteland.

That weekend, children at the Quaker Sunday school constructed a banner that said Kids for Peace and Justice  with a smaller message on the right edge that read: Ceasefire Now. Within two days, Karen Lightner, clerk of the Germantown meeting, said she got a call from the school. Parents had complained that the message made their children feel afraid.

I thought Lets see what happens, because peace is one of our primary testimonies, Lightner said, of putting up the banner. Its not political. We dont believe its antisemitic. It just means put down your weapons and stop fighting.

The Quaker community agreed to take down both the cease-fire language and, later, the watermelon imagery, after Lightner received emails directly from upset parents.

There were a lot of tears

Tensions inside the K-12 classrooms began bubbling with a message written on a middle school chalkboard in late October: from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free with the word Israel crossed out. It is a sentiment that some have used as a rallying cry for the destruction of Israel.

In November, school leaders publicly admonished a student who had privately voiced frustration about a speech from a Holocaust survivor visiting to commemorate Kristallnacht, the organized ransacking of Jewish homes, schools, and hospitals by Nazi paramilitaries and civilians in Germany in 1938.

According to the open letter, the student described the speaker as a Zionist in a private group chat with friends. The message later found its way to parents, and within days, Weeks sent out an email describing the students message as disrespectful, antisemitic and hate speech.

The school declined to comment on the contents of the message. But Weeks sent out schoolwide emails announcing a disciplinary investigation after both the chalkboard and the text message incidents. Although students were not publicly identified, two parents who supported the open letter described Weeks emails as wildly inappropriate and said they amounted to silencing pro-Palestinian students. The parents, like other backers of the letter, were afraid to publicly identify themselves due to the tenor of the debate.

Other disputes followed. The open letter alleged the school had removed copies of a Palestinian poetry collection from circulation. Weeks denied removing any library books.

In February, a faculty member organized an informal information session to discuss the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with other teachers. Word spread of the event through the Jewish parents WhatsApp group. About 10 of them attended the meeting and confronted the instructor over what they described as pro-Palestinian bias and historically inaccurate information, according to a faculty member who was present.

A lot of faculty were really upset afterward, said the faculty member, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation at the school. There were a lot of tears. People thought the parents were recording, taking pictures, and writing down names.

Weeks defended parents concerns for their children. None had threatened to unenroll in recent months, she said. As for the disciplinary measures, she said she had consistently steered members of our community on all sides of this issue away from expressing themselves through tropes, and that she hoped the school could be a place for students to grow through these incidents without shame.

They make all kinds of mistakes, she said. Hopefully, theyre going to learn and grow and become better citizens.

A rift among Quakers

Debate over the Quaker tenets of nonviolence and communal decision-making has persisted throughout the drama on campus.

National Quaker organizations  including the Friends Committee on National Legislation and American Friends Service Committee  have called for a cease-fire, as well as the Ramallah Friends School, a 150-year-old Quaker institution in the West Bank.

But Germantown Friends is not alone in striking a more neutral position, said Drew Smith, executive director of the Friends Council on Education, whose organization represents 76 Quaker schools.

Joining Germantown Friends leaders and Quakers during a community meeting Tuesday to address the schools response to the war, Smith said the Quaker peace testimony  which begins with a vow to utterly deny all outward wars and strife  didnt compel a school to call for a cease-fire.

Is the purpose of a Quaker school to make a political demand? Most of the [students] in our community cant even vote, Smith said during the Zoom meeting, which was joined by more than 400 people. Of calls for a cease-fire, he noted, Different people read what that means differently.

Dissent was apparent in pre-submitted questions read aloud by an administrator. To a request for transparency about parental pressure on the administration, Weeks said that no single group or single individual had forced the school to do anything.

Another question referred to students upset that their teachers had signed the open letter.

Three parents who spoke with The Inquirer on condition of anonymity said they lost trust in the school over its handling of the debate and voiced frustration that leaders had failed to respond directly to the letters allegations, even as they and other supporters feared identifying themselves.

Parents are afraid that their children will not be able to continue at GFS, one said, and faculty are afraid that they will lose their jobs or be reprimanded.

Weeks said she remains open to further dialogue. The open letter authors said she has yet to reach out.

Editors note: This article has been updated to clarify that parents directly called and emailed the Germantown Monthly Meeting clerk in regards to the watermelon imagery, not the ceasefire banner.
Deanda Wilson, president of the Girls' High Parent Teacher Daughter Association, and her daughter, Sarah Wilson, a junior, helped advocate to halt cuts to the school. Read more

After a public outcry from students, parents, and alumnae, the Philadelphia School District has reversed planned teacher cuts at the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

Due to declining enrollment, Girls High, a 176-year-old city magnet school, had stood to lose several teachers  including those who run popular school programs, teach Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, science and art classes  and a climate manager.

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We were able to get things turned around, said Deanda Wilson, parent of a Girls High junior and president of the schools Parent Teacher Daughter Association. When the extensive teacher cuts were planned, Wilson and others feared the long-term viability of the school.

Girls High is viable! No positions are being eliminated, Monique Braxton, a district spokesperson, said in a statement.

But Wilson warned theres more work to do: Its so easy to say, Oh, theyve got their teachers back, end of story.

But its a lot more than that.

The backstory

The school at Broad and Olney has endured a challenging stretch: the pandemic, then unwanted attention after a students diploma was temporarily withheld because she danced across the stage at graduation. The schools principal was removed soon after.

Then, Girls was one of a number of smaller Philadelphia magnet high schools that had significant enrollment drops  this years ninth-grade class was just 88 students, down from 200 the prior year  due to changes in the districts special admissions policy. (The 2021 policy, created as a way to ensure the citys demographics were reflected in its 39 criteria-based and citywide admissions schools, takes agency from school principals to make admissions decisions and leaves it to a lottery.)

This year, there was fear over asbestos repairs that were not well communicated with students and families. Then, a Girls High teacher was charged with attempting to sexually abuse a 16-year-old student. The school still lacks a permanent principal, and the Girls community had concerns about a lack of transparency around that process.

Saniyah Brown, the Girls High junior class president, took her concerns to the school board in April. Beyond the specter of losing teachers, Brown said, the school needs much more, like physical upgrades and a functioning school library.

We deserve the effort and funding from the school district to make sure that Girls High stays an academically excellent school, Brown said. Im fighting for this effort now because I dont want my little sisters to struggle with the same troubles Ive had.

A City Council ally

City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, a 2001 graduate of the school, credits the district with responding to community concerns and improving communications since the concerted push for Girls began  pressure that resulted in 300 alumnae, parents and students attending a recent town hall meeting to discuss how the school can move forward.

And Gilmore Richardson, who spends one day a month at the school, is pleased that the district has pledged to include community voices in the principal selection process.

But the work is ongoing, said Gilmore Richardson.

We need to overall invest in Girls High, and we need three to five years to work through the challenges we know we face, the council member said.

Gilmore Richardson has also publicly raised her continued concerns about the districts special admissions process to Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. and other district officials.

The special admissions policy has not been helpful for Girls High at all, said Gilmore Richardson. We want the new, permanent principal to have some autonomy over the process in some kind of way.

More necessary now

Wilson, the PTDA president, was cautiously optimistic at that packed town hall, where district officials pledged help with developing a sustainability plan for Girls, including help with outreach to market its unique strengths.

The next step is to start to rebuild our reputation, to try to figure out how to let everyone know what Girls High has to offer, that were rebuilding, said Wilson. Amazing young women are graduating from this school every year, and its not being talked about. Weve been neglected, frankly, and were fighting to get back on our feet and get the support we need and we deserve.

But, Wilson said, its crucial that the work is long-term. Girls will need experts to help it craft the path forward, and Wilson is looking for professionals to help with the strategic work of rebuilding and shoring up the schools foundation.

Its never mattered more, said Wilson.

This is a time where our citizenship, our very autonomy is being called into question  are women even full citizens in this country? Girls High is probably more necessary now than any time its history, she said. We need to have a school where women are trained to be leaders and shown where their opinions, their voices matter.

Rowan Arthur, another Girls High junior who advocated for her school at the April school board meeting, agrees.

I would love, Arthur said, to have more students be able to experience the joy and excitement that come with the longstanding traditions of our school.
7th grader Ixel Jaqueline Chico-Pina receives an eye exam from a volunteer at the 5th annual Give Kids Sight Day at the Wills Eye Institute on April 12th. (RACHEL WISNIEWSKI / Staff Photographer) Read more

Myopia, or the need for corrected vision to focus or see objects at a distance, has become a lot more common in recent decades. Some even consider myopia, also known as nearsightedness, an epidemic.

Optometry researchers estimate that about half of the global population will need corrective lenses to offset myopia by 2050 if current rates continue  up from 23% in 2000 and less than 10% in some countries.

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The associated health care costs are huge. In the United States alone, spending on corrective lenses, eye tests and related expenses may be as high as $7.2 billion a year.

What explains the rapid growth in myopia?

Im a vision scientist who has studied visual perception and perceptual defects. To answer that question, first lets examine what causes myopia  and what reduces it.

How myopia develops

While having two myopic parents does mean youre more likely to be nearsighted, theres no single myopia gene. That means the causes of myopia are more behavioral than genetic.

Optometrists have learned a great deal about the progression of myopia by studying visual development in infant chickens. They do so by putting little helmets on baby chickens. Lenses on the face of the helmet cover the chicks eyes and are adjusted to affect how much they see.

Just like in humans, if visual input is distorted, a chicks eyes grow too large, resulting in myopia. And its progressive. Blur leads to eye growth, which causes more blur, which makes the eye grow even larger, and so on.

Two recent studies featuring extensive surveys of children and their parents provide strong support for the idea that an important driver of the uptick in myopia is that people are spending more time focusing on objects immediately in front of our eyes, whether a screen, a book, or a drawing pad. The more time we spend focusing on something within arms length of our faces, dubbed near work, the greater the odds of having myopia.

So as much as people might blame new technologies like smartphones and too much screen time for hurting our eyes, the truth is even activities as valuable as reading a good book can affect your eyesight.

Outside light keeps myopia at bay

Other research has shown that this unnatural eye growth can be interrupted by sunlight.

A 2022 study, for example, found that myopia rates were more than four times greater for children who didnt spend much time outdoors  say, once or twice a week  compared with those who were outside daily. At the same time, kids who spent more than three hours a day while not at school reading or looking at a screen close-up were four times more likely to have myopia than those who spent an hour or less doing so.

In another paper, from 2012, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of seven studies that compared duration of time spent outdoors with myopia incidence. They also found that more time spent outdoors was associated with lower myopia incidence and progression. The odds of developing myopia dropped by 2% for each hour spent outside per week.

Other researchers have reported similar effects and argued for much more time outdoors and changes in early-age schooling to reduce myopia prevalence.

Whats driving the epidemic

That still doesnt explain why its on the rise so rapidly.

Globally, a big part of this is due to the rapid development and industrialization of countries in East Asia over the last 50 years. Around that time, young people began spending more time in classrooms reading and focusing on other objects very close to their eyes and less time outdoors.

This is also what researchers observed in the North American Arctic after World War II, when schooling was mandated for Indigenous people. Myopia rates for Inuit went from the single digits before the 1950s to upwards of 70% by the 1970s as all children began attending schools for the first time.

Countries in Western Europe, North America, and Australia have shown increased rates of myopia in recent years but nothing approaching what has been observed recently in China, Japan, Singapore, and a few other East Asian countries. The two main factors identified as leading to increased myopia are increased reading and other activities that require focusing on an object close to ones eyes and a reduction in time spent outdoors.

The surge in myopia cases will likely have its worst effects 40 or 50 years from now because it takes time for the young people being diagnosed with nearsightedness now to experience the most severe vision problems.

Treating myopia

Fortunately, just a few minutes a day with glasses or contact lenses that correct for blur stops the progression of myopia, which is why early vision testing and vision correction are important to limit the development of myopia. Eye checks for children are mandatory in some countries, such as the U.K. and now China, as well as most U.S. states.

People with with high myopia, however, have increased risk of blindness and other severe eye problems, such as retinal detachment, in which the retina pulls away from the the back of the eye. The chances of myopia-related macular degeneration increase by 40% for each diopter of myopia. A diopter is a unit of measurement used in eye prescriptions.

But there appear to be two sure-fire ways to offset or delay these effects: Spend less time focusing on objects close to your face, like books and smartphones, and spend more time outside in the bright, natural light. Given the first one is difficult advice to take in our modern age, the next best thing is taking frequent breaks  or perhaps spend more time reading and scrolling outside in the sun.

Andrew Herbert is a professor of psychology and visual perception at Rochester Institute of Technology. This article originally appeared in The Conversation.
In an emotionally jarring and disorienting week where you might wake up to a televised, tear-gas haze of cops firing rubber bullets into a crowd of college students in the blackness of a Southern California night, the scariest thing came wrapped in the cover of a magazine.

Donald Trump, locked in as GOP presidential nominee even as he spends his days in a Manhattan courtroom in the first of his four felony trials, spoke at length to a reporter for Time magazine for a piece headlined, How Far Trump Would Go  aimed at addressing the growing talk that a second presidential term would look more like a dictatorship.

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Trumps way of addressing the dictatorship controversy was essentially to confirm it.

A 47th presidency under Trump, he told Times Eric Cortellessa, would start with dead-of-night raids to round up as many as 12 million undocumented immigrants currently scattered across the United States, some of whom might be placed for a time in mass detention camps. He only encouraged red states empowered by the Trump-flavored U.S. Supreme Court to step up their abortion bans and punishment for women who seek them. Trumps Washington would be solely populated by loyalist zealots in the remaining government jobs that havent been eliminated. Justice in the wannabe presidents vision for 2025 and beyond would mean prosecution for his political enemies and freedom for the thugs who attacked police officers and tried to stop the certification of election results on Jan. 6, 2021.

Of course, Trump tried to have it both ways by claiming his remark to Sean Hannity that he would be a dictator on Day One of his presidency was only a joke  just like in 2016 when he asked Russia ... if youre listening to find Hillary Clintons emails (which wasnt really a joke). But the ex-president also explained that he could get away with such comments about an American dictatorship because I think a lot of people like it.

Indeed. The never-ending barrage of polls continues to show Trump in a virtual dead heat with President Joe Biden, perhaps leading slightly in the key swing states, despite the almost daily embarrassment of his Manhattan trial pegged to paying hush money to an adult film star, as well as growing awareness of his open desire for autocracy. Trumps shocking oratory of retribution, coupled with his recent promise in Wisconsin not to accept the 2024 election result there if he loses, prompted Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein to declare: This is how fascists campaign.

And yet, two of the most tumultuous weeks in American society in over a half-century have only brought the nightmare of a second, more authoritarian Trump presidency closer to becoming a reality. The violent crackdown on campus protests against Israels U.S.-backed campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 34,000, many of them women or children, has dominated TV screens with scenes of domestic strife not seen since the 1960s and early 1970s. In the most shocking clash, at the University of California, Los Angeles, a generation raised on active-shooter drills looked up to see its own government firing rubber bullets at its pro-Palestinian encampment.

 READ MORE: Storming colleges with riot cops to keep them safe should scare America about whats next | Will Bunch

The police state repression of college protests, with more than 2,000 arrests, sharply divided Americans, yet also brought us together in one sense: No one is happy. Many Americans  myself included  are shocked and dismayed by images such as New Hampshire state troopers in riot gear storming a small, peaceful protest at Dartmouth College, tossing a 65-year-old Jewish studies professor to the ground and arresting her.

But that sense of alarm over the threats to free speech has little support from either Republican or Democratic leaders appealing to a not-particularly-silent majority  some who say the police response was needed because of antisemitism, real or perceived, in the encampments, and some who simply prefer law and order and disdain protests. This was the group that Biden appealed to Thursday when he told the nation that dissent must never lead to disorder.

Seen through the lens of politics, Bidens statement felt like an effort to avoid another 1968, when that years Republican, Richard Nixon, ran ads showing campus chaos and promising law and order, and narrowly won. The 1968 analogies seem apt, especially as Bidens Democrats prepare again to gather for a Chicago convention, and large-scale protests loom. But Im thinking an even better comparison is the year 451, when another morally decadent empire stood on the brink of collapse.

Much like the end of ancient Romes long run as the worlds lone superpower, the fight to save American democracy is foundering not because of outside agitators, but from the decay of corrupt institutions, not just on Capitol Hill. Universities, the news media, and police departments that are supposed to protect a civil society are failing miserably. An utterly broken nation thats currently firing tear gas and pepper spray to shut up its own children is easy prey for the various Vandals and Visigoths poised on the outskirts to sack the American empire, much like Attila in 451, and perhaps to eventually topple it. Trump is merely the barbarian at the gate.

In 2024, the chickens that were hatched in response to the late 1960s upheaval  privatized universities that would be run more like corporations than academies of free thought, militarized police forces to rapidly crush protests, and a media cowed by the right-wing assaults that began with Spiro Agnew  have finally come home to roost before our disbelieving eyes.

The crackdown has revealed that the cherished collegiate notion of faculty governance is as quaint as freshman beanie hats and stuffing telephone booths. Dozens of college presidents, led by Columbias Minouche Shafik, completely shut out their distinguished professors in rapidly calling riot cops to shut down encampments  to get the new McCarthyism of Republican pols off their backs, to satisfy billionaire donors who see protests as a threat to their wealth and unearned prestige, and to hang onto their fabulously lucrative jobs. This has exposed the modern university as the fundamentally right-wing institutions  glorified hedge funds and real estate companies with an academic wing for branding purposes  that many have become.

The helmeted storm troopers these cowardly college presidents are calling onto campus are like a living embodiment of this weekends May 4 conflation of Star Wars (May the fourth be with you) and the 54th anniversary of the Kent State massacre. The New York Police Department  which sent a D-Day-sized expeditionary force onto campuses at Columbia and the City University of New York, nearly caused another Kent State by firing a gun in a Columbia building, and then celebrated itself on right-wing media and in a propaganda movie that channeled the ghost of Leni Riefenstahl  revealed a public agency that has spiraled into unchecked authoritarianism.

In a healthy society, the news media might have voiced alarm at such a rapid, heavily armed clampdown on campus free speech, especially when some of the worst treatment from police  or, at UCLA, from club-wielding pro-Israel counterprotesters  has been to journalists, and especially student reporters.

But most mainstream coverage has been nearly as authoritarian as the cops, buying without question copaganda about outside agitators and whipping up alarm at violent protests when, just like in 1968, most of the violence is coming from police. Particularly shocking was Wednesdays anti-student rant by CNNs Dana Bash, who said demonstrators were hearkening back to the 1930s in Europe  totally ignoring the fact that the violence her network had been covering all morning was executed by that pro-Israel mob, not the campers.

That kind of twisted coverage made it easy for Biden  who was personally revulsed by student protest when he was a 1960s law student  to issue his Nixon-lite White House appeal for law and order. In doing so, the president was often disingenuous and loose with the facts; for example, he blamed students for canceling commencements even though the only canceled commencement, at the University of Southern California, was to bar a pro-Palestinian valedictorian from speaking, and had nothing to do with student protests.

Bidens performance on this issue was profoundly disappointing, especially to those of us who fantasize about an American president who might actually condemn slamming an economics professor to the pavement for questioning police brutality or firing rubber bullets at unarmed college students. There is one thing even more disturbing, however. That is the knowledge that a second term for Trump would be much, much worse.

A Trump 47 presidency would be even more supportive of Israels extreme right-wing government and its militarism, and would not hesitate to abuse the Insurrection Act to call up tanks and soldiers to crush anyone who dares to protest. Some of the newsrooms doing a lousy job of covering the protests could be shut down this time next year by a POTUS who has openly declared the media as the enemy of the people. Trumps McCarthyite minions on Capitol Hill are already determined to carry out funding cuts to finish the job of killing the American dream of a true higher education for all.

Nobody is going to like the way out of this mess, because it requires the nearly impossible  mixing pragmatism with an almost hopeless idealism. The pragmatism means a painful moral choice of ignoring Bidens near-fatal blind spot on sending bombs to Israel by clinging to the good  such as his support for reproductive rights  and voting for him in November as the only real option for stopping Trump. In the alternate world of a Trump victory, the necessity for continued protest, for accountability journalism, and for future fair elections will be crushed.

The hopeless idealism is using the four years of constricted breathing space that a Trump defeat would offer to start rebuilding our shattered America from the ground up and begin electing some candidates who believe that the First Amendment is paramount, who see that higher education  when it can be done right  is a public good, and who can build a society that isnt reined in by repressive warrior cops. I dont know if thats possible, but I know the horror that awaits if we do nothing.

The last two weeks have been awful, but also a moment of clarity. People of good conscience should stop deluding themselves that saving American democracy is only a matter of defeating Trump at the ballot box. It turns out that those who pay the greatest lip service to freedom  overpaid college presidents and news anchors, or self-serving members of Congress  are also the first to call in the riot police on those trying to exercise it. Trump is wrong about almost everything, but he was 100% right about this: When it comes to dictatorship, there are a lot of people who like it.

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Joyce Wilkerson became the center of a struggle between Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council over Wilkerson's appointment to the Philadelphia Board of Education. Read more

The fight over Joyce Wilkersons nomination to the Philadelphia school board exposed a deeper divide about the direction of the long-troubled city schools. It also sparked a rift between Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and City Council that could hamper the new mayors efforts to implement her broader agenda just months into her administration.

For now, at least, Parker outmaneuvered Council after it voted to withdraw Wilkersons nomination for a new term to the Philadelphia Board of Education. Rather than accept defeat, Parker asked Wilkerson to continue serving on the school board until a replacement is found.

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Good for Parker to flex her muscles. She is the citys top elected leader and should be afforded the opportunity to assemble a school board she believes will best serve Philadelphia students.

After all, Parker will be the one held accountable for the success or failure of the schools  not the unnamed Council members who did not even have the courage to hold a roll-call vote or public hearing on Wilkersons nomination.

Wilkerson deserved better.

She is a longtime public servant who has been devoted to the city for decades. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and earning a law degree at the University of California, Berkeley, Wilkerson worked at Community Legal Services.

 READ MORE: Potential conflicts of interest shouldnt mar mayors school board picks | Editorial

In 1992, she went to work for then-Council President John F. Street. When Street was elected mayor in 1999, Wilkerson became his chief of staff. In 2016, then-Mayor Jim Kenney appointed Wilkerson to the School Reform Commission, the state-controlled board that was the precursor to the school board.

Over the last eight years, Wilkerson helped guide the Philadelphia School District through funding challenges and the pandemic. Her tenure has not been perfect. Enrollment has declined while the school districts current $4.5 billion budget has increased by $1 billion since 2020-21. Test scores have increased some but continue to trail much of the state.

To be sure, thats not all Wilkersons fault. After all, serving on the school board is an unpaid, part-time position. The city is fortunate to have someone of Wilkersons caliber willing to do what is often a thankless job.

Council never made clear why it opposed Wilkerson. A variety of reasons were floated but none were convincing.

The main claim appears to involve Wilkersons role in not approving or renewing Black-led charter schools. An outside letter-writing campaign urged Council to reject Wilkerson and fellow board member Reginald Streater, claiming a disregard for the educational welfare of Black children. Council eventually approved Streater to another term.

Suggesting that anti-Black bias was at work seemed to be a bizarre rationale. Wilkerson and Streater are both African American. More to the point, the facts do not support claims the school board targeted Black-led charters. Of the 17 charter schools closed between 2013 and 2023, nine were Black-led and eight were not. Thats essentially an even split.

The charters closed because of dire financial trouble, poor academic results, or both. Some imploded on their own. Not to mention, there is a lengthy process involved in revoking or issuing charters that is set by the state.

If anything, the school board should be more aggressive about holding all charter schools accountable both financially and academically. The future of thousands of students lives is at stake, while the adults get bogged down in petty power plays.

Lurking behind the Black-charter school debate is Council President Kenyatta Johnsons wife, Dawn Chavous, a spokesperson for the African American Charter School Coalition.

In 2020, the coalition claimed Black-led charters were subject to inequities and racism. But a report commissioned by the school board found no intentional acts of racial discrimination or bias.

One of the Black-led charters that closed was operated by Universal Companies, which is run by music producer Kenny Gamble. Johnson and Chavous were charged in 2020 with taking bribes from two Universal executives. The couple was acquitted in 2022 and Gamble was not accused of wrongdoing.

Chavous was involved in the effort to defeat Wilkerson, sources told The Inquirer. But Chavous said the coalition did not take a position on the school board nominations and she did not use her position as Johnsons wife to block Wilkerson. Either way, Chavouss role raises concerns about perceived or real conflicts of interest when it comes to Johnsons handling of school district matters.

 READ MORE: Mayoral candidates need real plans to fix the citys troubled schools | Editorial

Other red herrings were raised as well. Naomi Johnson Booker, head of the Global Leadership Charter School, sent a letter to Council claiming Wilkersons leadership was marred by a series of failures and disregard for accountability and transparency in decision-making processes. Booker also pointed to a lack of a facilities master plan and Wilkersons rude behavior.

But how much of Bookers beef is personal? In March, the school board denied Global Leaderships request to open a separate high school for a third time. The majority of the board raised academic and operational concerns about Global Leadership.

Those concerns seem well placed. The K-8 charter has an enrollment of 672. Just 18% of Global Leaderships students were proficient in reading and 1% in math in 2021-22, records show. Meanwhile, Bookers total compensation topped $475,000, according to the most recent filing in June 2022. Thats roughly 40% more than Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr.s salary of $340,000.

Whatever the root causes, the fight over Wilkersons appointment highlighted larger divisions between traditional public schools and charters. As is often the case, what is best for the students was lost in the adult squabbling.

Parker struck the right tone by calling on Council and her administration to work together. Providing a high-quality education for all Philadelphia public school students should be a top priority. A generation of children are counting on it.
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph takes part in the reading of the Declaration of Independence during Celebration of Freedom Ceremony outside Independence Hall on July 4 last year. Read more

Mrs. Howard is coming to Montgomery County. Well, not really. But Sheryl Lee Ralph, the actress behind the Abbott Elementary character, will join Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday to discuss womens reproductive rights.

The Emmy award-winning actress role in the event is yet to be announced. But this is not Ralphs first time as a political activist or speaking out on reproductive rights.

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In 2022, she spoke at the Bans Off Our Bodies rally in Harrisburg.

No matter what you believe, I believe this is my body. It is my choice. No one else should have the right to tell me what to do with my own body, Ralph said at the time.

Ralph is married to State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Philadelphia).

As Harris and President Joe Biden campaign for reelection, they have made reproductive rights a focus of their campaign.

Most recently, the vice president visited Florida, one of three states with a six-week abortion ban, where she cautioned the crowd that if former President Donald Trump were to win in November, it would be fair game for women to be monitored and punished by the government, and insisted her administration has a different view.

Trump said in a recent interview with Time magazine that individual states should be able to determine their own abortion laws, including whether to prosecute women who get abortions or to monitor womens pregnancies.

We believe the government should never come between a woman and her doctor, Harris told the Jacksonville crowd.

This is not the first time the pair have partnered for an event. Last year, Harris and Ralph appeared together in Ghana during the vice presidents weeklong tour of the city.
Ballincollig is very fancy now, says comedian Kyla Cobbler of her native town. There was no McDonalds when I was there.

Hearing about Kylas background and her pared-back lifestyle, you can see why shed gauge the fast food restaurant as a barometer of fanciness. This is a woman with no notions.

Im quite regular. Im not living a crazy life. Im a very normal person. Im a barista, I dont do this full-time. When people tell me Im getting a bit too big for my boots, Im like; Im barefoot, get out of my way.

Still, Kyla would be forgiven for having a notion or two.

With over 98k followers on Instagram alone, her content resonates far beyond the west side of Cork.

Shes also been part of the Fabulous Pharmacists sell-out live tour, Viva La Vulva. Nothing was off limits  from periods to sex. And it made for refreshing, honest stand-up.

I share my life all the time on Instagram. My stories are very organic, and Ive always been very open. I was just telling my truth, she says.

It wasnt a conscious decision on Kylas part to gain followers or rack up the likes.

Ive always told the parishes  thats what I call my Instagram page  everything. I am a representation of so many women who are just trying to be in the world  to be successful, healthy, and to show up for themselves.

She doesnt shy away from difficult topics. Shes spoken about dating mishaps, her struggles with alcohol and the war in Gaza.

She has a platform and shes not afraid to use it.

Comedian Kyla Cobbler. Picture Dan Linehan

If Kyla honed her craft on social media, she learned the art of storytelling in the pubs she grew up in.

I used to work in the Anglers in Carrigrohane. All my family are fishermen, they all have their photos on the walls.

Storytelling is an art that requires skill, timing, and practice and Kyla learned the craft from observing a local raconteur in that same pub.

Paddy Brennan  God rest his soul  he was such a good storyteller. He wasnt the loudest in the room. Paddy would sit there with his pint of Beamish and a drop of whiskey, the rain pelting down.

Suddenly, thered be a lull in conversation where there wouldnt be much craic. Itd be a winters night, dark, and Paddy would just be like; Youll never guess what. Forget captivating your audience on TikTok, this man would silence an entire room of grumpy Irish men, Kyla says.

The performing bug was nipping at her heels but she suppressed the urge to satiate it for years.

For years, she grappled with feeling disenfranchised, in a restrictive school system that seemed to suppress any element of creativity she had.

I was always considered dumb but I was never afraid to ask questions, she explains.

That curiosity kept Kyla learning  on her own terms  although she was segregated from her classmates and put in a separate room with a scribe.

She has been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Even though I was a disaster, my mam always read to me. I suppose you lean more on imagination when the academic is lacking, dont you?

I just hated school, it was such a mess. I dont know what its like for students now but it was horrible.

You can hear it in her voice when she talks about school; it still weighs heavy on her mind. Yet, she looks back and laughs at the absurdity of it all.

Something Ive always thought about  youre dressing children up in office wear. I remember being like; Why am I in a shirt and tie? This is the most annoying thing ever. I cant breathe.

Comedian Kyla Cobbler. Picture Dan Linehan

Intelligence isnt one-size-fits-all and with some time and distance, Kyla began to realise that she was capable and clever, irrespective of the results on her Leaving Certificate.

You have to give room for people to be who they are and how they navigate the world. You dont have that in the classroom.

But onstage, Kyla finally feels that power, even more so since she gave up drinking alcohol.

Its a presence thing. When youre laughing, youre not thinking about the future or the past. I feel that onstage when I make people laugh. Theyre there with you. In the world we live in today, to get that reaction people not picking up the phone. Thats power.

The irony isnt lost on Kyla  shes thriving in an occupation that requires verbal mastery  irrespective of how you define intelligence.

Her Instagram reels run the gamut from Irish women expressing tiredness without ever using the word tired to the unspoken power of the Irish wink.

Shes sharp and clever with language, yet the one thing her mam always heard at parent-teacher meetings was; Kylas great craic but shes not going to pass her exams.

She started performing stand-up during the pandemic and shes been going from strength to strength ever since. It wasnt necessarily a linear journey but she embraces the diversions, all fodder for her comedic arsenal.

Some people want a job, a mortgage, university, and to meet the guy. I totally get that but to me, that is my idea of a nightmare. I would feel so trapped. Im so lucky my mam always told me intelligence comes in different ways. Her mother was always her greatest cheerleader.

I was so down and felt so stupid, and I just hated it. And she just kept saying, just get your exams.

Her career highlight, so far, was selling out the Cork Opera House in February.

As I get older, I look at my skill set and what Ive done in my life and I would love to go back to school and talk to students. I would never say; Dont do your best but its not the end of the world.

Theres so much emphasis put on this one exam  youre 17, chill out.

I dont look back on it in a sad way. I just feel proud of myself more than anything else.

Comedian Kyla Cobbler with Penny and Pip. Picture Dan Linehan

A yoga enthusiast, Kyla appears in tune with her body, so whats its telling her now?

I really want to be a mother. Thats something Ive always wanted.

Shes dating someone in Barcelona and his name is Simon. So far, there are no red flags.

The dating world has become such a cesspit. Its just so hard  he was so nice and I was like; What the hell?

She had never had a long-term relationship before this one. I was single for seven years. I literally never got the ride. I dont have an ex-boyfriend. Then I met Simon and hes amazing. Its scary to let go. He takes care of me and it was so hard to let him do that.

As for gigging in her hometown? Shes still processing the high that followed.

I cant even explain to you. I worked so hard for that show. I dont have words yet of the feeling of what it was like to perform in front of 1,000 people and get a standing ovation. It felt like this moment of; Ok, it took a little bit longer but were here. And we crushed it.
MBABANE  In a sudden twist, the Political Parties Assembly (PPA) has disassociated itself from a message delivered by PUDEMO Deputy President Wandile Dludlu during the Workers Day celebration held on Wednesday.

When making his address at the event, Dludlu used language that was viewed as degrading to the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Mmiso Dlamini and the authorities of the country.

He was speaking on behalf of the PPA, which is an umbrella organisation for all political parties in the country. It is made up of different political parties, including the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Ngwane National Liberation Congress (NNLC), Economic Freedom Fighters Eswatini (EFFSWA), Sive Siyinqaba and Inhlava Political Party.

Following the remarks by Dludlu, the PPA executive issued a press statement yesterday, whereby it distanced itself from them. The statement read: The PPA wishes to place it on record that the speech that was delivered on its behalf was not approved by the executive committee, and accordingly, it does not reflect nor represent the views of the assembly. We disassociate ourselves from it as it represents the individual views of the speaker.

Clarification

Also, the PPA executive said it had resolved to share a written speech for the public. This has been a lesson learnt and we shall do everything to avoid such. This clarification has nothing to do with Workers Day event, that is for TUCOSWA as we were their guest, it was mentioned in the statement. This publication engaged the PPA executive on the statement and its Chief Whip, Vusi Nxumalo first confirmed that it was authentic and that it came about after they had conducted a post-mortem of the remarks made by Dludlu. We discovered that yes, he was assigned to represent the PPA but the statement that he read was not the one that we had planned was meant to be presented at the event. His remarks are not what we wanted to raise before workers of the country, Nxumalo said. Elaborating, Nxumalo said: What we want the public to know, is that he was assigned but the statement that had been prepared was not shared with him. As PPA we then felt like we needed to correct what was said. When asked if the executive had already engaged Dludlu on the issue, he responded to the affirmative.

Worker-controlled

In the statement which the PPA executive claimed was the one that had to be presented at the event, the organisation said that the day was the biggest and highest representative of Parliament and of the workers of the country had convened under the worker-controlled union-TUCOSWA.Workers have gathered here to take stock of the difficult journey they have travelled, reflect on the struggles they have waged, the challenges they are confronted with daily, and to agree on the programme of action on how they are going to free themselves from the chains of exploitation and the evils of capitalism, reads part of the supposed official statement.

The statement mentioned that the PPA had always argued that employed workers did not constitute a class in their own right, hence an effort has been made to organise labour in the form of trade unions and bargaining arrangements. Todays May Day takes place when the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide has reached pandemic levels. Women and children are not safe in the workplace, in the streets or/and at home. TUCOSWA together with the progressive forces must be at the forefront of reversing this scourge.

Unrelentingly

We equally urge your federation to unrelentingly continue to fight for the across the board implementation of the minimum wage for all employed workers, including equal pay for equal work, the statement mentioned. Also, the PPA mentioned in the statement that never in the history has the world witnessed a genocide taking place and broadcast live on television screens like what was being witnessed in Gaza. The statement said the PPA was calling upon TUCOSWA to join it and the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) in partnering with all peace-loving people of the world, in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo said government could not comment on the PPA disassociating itself from Dludlus statement. Nxumalo said government or the PM was invited by TUCOSWA to the May Day celebration and not PUDEMO, its deputy president or the PPA. Therefore, let TUCOSWA make the relevant comments regarding the seditious and treasonous assertions by their guests during the May Day celebrations at the Prince of Wales, he said.

Unmitigated

Also, the government spokesperson said TUCOSWA should be kindly warned that if they continued to sugar-coat their respective reprimand for the unmitigated insults hurled at the leadership of the country, they would have to fall on their own sword and take full responsibility on behalf of their guests and members.TUCOSWA leadership is composed of bona fide emaSwati, they know pretty well what to do when lotelusile setidle emabele ebantfu, said Nxumalo. Worth noting, is that following the incident where the PM was not granted a platform to address the workers, Nxumalo remarked on Eswatini TVs Kusile Breakfast Show saying the event was hijacked by certain political parties.

The government spokesperson said the atmosphere between the executive members of TUCOSWA and the government officials were cordial, until the event was hijacked by certain formations, that started speaking about certain political matters, which were not relevant to the bread-and-butter issues that affected workers. Nxumlao said political formations tampered with the public address system when Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi was still speaking with some singing struggle songs, which led to the PM being advised to leave to avoid the situation getting out of control.

Affecting

Nxumalo said workers had shown excitement to have the PM to go to them on their special day and address them on issues affecting them. The spokesperson said the PM declared upon assuming his position that he was going to adopt an open-door policy and that this was the reason why he took the decision to honour the invitation by TUCOSWA because he wanted to demonstrate consistency in his promise. Meanwhile, TUCOSWA Secretary General Mduduzi Gina said as TUCOSWA they have resolved that they will meet the PPA to ascertain how they ended up making a presentation in the manner that they did.

We will ask them if this is their character and also ask why they did what they did, especially since we had engaged them and explained to them the character of the event and the dignitaries who we had invited. Meeting them prior was part of the consultations that we have engaged in with workers to ascertain the direction they want to take. consultations

We resolved that we want to carry out extensive consultations from factory to factory to check with workers how they feel about the whole scheme of relationships we have with civil society and all other organisations, said Gina. Regarding the fact that the PPA has now distanced itself from Dludlus remarks, he said they will seek answers during the meeting they are planning to hold. He said TUCOSWA was one organisation which did not approve of any language that seemed to undermine any person.

Dialogue

As a principle, we are an organisation that is involved in social dialogue and collective bargaining, both which are founded on the respect of the other party. If it is true that what their representative presented was not the right statement, someone should have gone to grab the microphone. The leadership of the PPA was in attendance, they should have done something. What worries us is that we had met and engaged, they undertook that they will carry themselves properly, Gina said.
The Government must be stronger in dealing with makeshift encampments of homeless asylum seekers, a Fianna Fail TD has said.

James OConnor also called for gardai to be deployed to check points on the border to deal with a reported increase in migrants entering from Northern Ireland.

His comments came as the latest tented encampment in Dublin, on the banks of the Grand Canal, grew significantly in size over the weekend.

More than 70 tents were pitched in lines on both banks of the canal in the area around the Mount Street Bridge on Sunday.

The encampment grew over the weekend (Brian Lawless/PA)

Volunteers delivered bottles of water and food to the migrants during the day.

The area is close to the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street, from where more than 200 asylum seekers who had been living in tents on footpaths were moved on Wednesday.

Those men were taken from the Mount Street camp to facilities at the Citywest hotel in Dublin and Crooksling in Dublin.

Mr OConnor raised concerns that another camp had sprung up so quickly. He said Ireland was increasingly being seen as a soft touch in relation to migration.

Whats happening on Grand Canal dock, and in Mount Street indeed, its completely unacceptable to me as a government TD and I think the Government needs to be stronger in dealing with this, the Cork East TD told RTE Radio Ones This Week programme.

Dozens of tents have been pitched by asylum seekers (Brian Lawless/PA)

Theres no shame in saying that, in providing appropriate accommodation, I think buying up hotels and B&Bs across the country for the purpose of providing asylum accommodation, in my view, is no longer appropriate and were seeing the increase in tensions  attacks on politicians homes, protests that are getting out of control in certain parts of the country, and this to me is a huge, huge concern.

Mr OConnor said there was a need for larger accommodation centres in places like Dublin Airport and in the border area.

Tensions between London and Dublin have increased in recent days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed there had been an upsurge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the UK into the Republic of Ireland after the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act at Westminster.

The Government has made clear it does not intend to deploy gardai to the border to monitor the issue. Mr OConnor urged a re-think.

I would be quite forthright that we do need to see a further rapid expansion of border policing around migration, he said.

This is something that I feel is not being done sufficiently and I do feel that we need to take the bull by the horns here and address it because we have to look after people that come here, but we do need to acknowledge that there is a tipping point where we cant do that any more.

Two people sit outside one of the dozens of tents (Brian Lawless/PA)

He added: What is the alternative? That is the question.

Are we going to leave it (the border) unpoliced and allow further encampments around cities in Ireland and towns in Ireland increase.

I think its about sending a signal from Ireland that weve taken over 100,000 people from both Ukraine and from many other parts of the country of the world in terms of economic migration, and refugees for other reasons.

And I feel that we have now done our bit as a country.

We are 5.4 million people here, weve taken an enormous share internationally and thats something that needs to be acknowledged and address the issues in constituencies such as my own and others that havent been properly resourced to deal with these challenges, particularly in schools.

When the tented camp was dismantled on Mount Street, the area around the IPO was cordoned off.

More asylum seekers gathered at the office on Thursday but were told the authorities were at that point not able to provide them with accommodation.

A man sits outside one of the dozens of tents (Brian Lawless/PA)

A number of homeless migrants subsequently pitched tents in a private park in south Dublin on Thursday. However, those men left the area on Friday.

Later on Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the Governments handling of the asylum seeker accommodation issue.

He said makeshift encampments on public roads and footpaths were illegal, and never the solution.

Its also not in the interest of the people who are sleeping in those tents, people who dont have access to proper sanitation, he said.

Mr Harris added: We work at this every single day but I need to be clear and honest with people coming to our country, we are doing our very best in very difficult and challenging circumstances to provide accommodation.

But accommodation isnt always readily available but we are keeping working at it day by day.

The conversation about migration cant just be one about accommodation, because no matter how much accommodation you have, if its just a conversation about accommodation, accommodation will fill.

It also has to be a conversation about faster processing times, about efficient and effective systems.
Students taking part in a pro-Palestinian encampment protest on the grounds of Trinity College in Dublin have voiced confidence the action will force the university to cut ties with Israel.

Visitors were unable to access the historic Book of Kells over the weekend due to the action that began on Friday evening when student activists set up tents inside the campus of the prestigious university.

The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest.

Outgoing students union president Laszlo Molnarfi said the size of the camp continued to grow, with around 100 people and 70 tents as of Sunday.

He said they were committed to maintaining the blockade of the Book of Kells until the university severed all ties with Israel.

The Book of Kells is blockaded, theres absolutely no tourism and were staying there, he said.

So, I think this is putting a lot of student and staff pressure on them (the university authorities).

The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Molnarfi said, as of Sunday afternoon, university officials had yet to reach out to those taking part in the protest since it began.

He said there was a lot of energy in the encampment.

People are very confident, he said.

There is board games and guitar and political discussions and music and food.

Its a nice community thats been built. So people are feeling very confident.

The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US.

The encampment was initiated days after it emerged that the university authorities had fined the students union more than 200,000 euro (172,000) over previous protests on campus.

It invoiced the union for 214,285 euro (184,000) after a series of demonstrations about fees and rent, as well as pro-Palestinian solidarity protests.

The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest (Brian Lawless/PA)

The university cited a loss of revenue due to blockades of the Book of Kells and famous Long Room library among the reasons for the fine.

In response to the latest demonstration, the university said that while it supported the right of students to protest, they must be done within the rules of the institution.

Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest, it said in a statement on Saturday.

There are also, however, many good reasons why the universitys policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect must be followed when doing so.

Protesters gathered outside Trinity College in Dublin on Saturday (Niall Carson/PA)

Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. We have not made this decision lightly.

The university added: Trinity shares concerns about the ferocious onslaught in Gaza and the ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. We have taken a number of practical steps in response to the war in Gaza. These range from updating our investment portfolio with a view to excluding UN blacklist companies, to providing supports for students from Gaza coming to study in Trinity.

Trinity is always open to engaging with staff and students on these issues: in the past week alone, the provost has met with Academics for Palestine and also with the Students Union president and Students Union officers to discuss these issues. We also continue to engage with our Jewish staff and students who are impacted.

Trinity said it was responding to the war in Gaza in several ways, including the work to update its investment portfolio in line with a UN blacklist of companies.

In regard to ties with Israeli institutions, Trinity said it was for its academics to make their own decisions about what universities they collaborate with, insisting it would not impinge on that cornerstone of academic freedom.

The Irish Labour party has expressed solidarity with those taking part in the protest.

The students of Trinity College Dublin are rightly protesting against Trinitys financial investments in Israeli companies and links to Israeli institutions, Labour senator Annie Hoey said.

Ms Hoey added: The students have protested these issues consistently, and by Trinitys rules, for the past number of months but there has been little response or action taken.

Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the university have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest.
Gardai have arrested three people after a major drug seizure in Dublin this morning.

Searches were carried out in Coolock by local gardai attached to the district drugs unit with assistance from the garda dog unit.

During the searches, approximately 692,000 worth of controlled drugs were seized, including:

Approximately 400,000 of suspected cannabis,

230,000 cocaine,

60,000 valium and

2,000 MDMA.

Approximately 57,000 in cash was also recovered.

All drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for further analysis.

Two men, aged 30s and 60s and a woman, aged 60s, have been arrested in connection with this seizure.

A garda spokesperson confirmed: "All three are detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at Garda Stations in the DMR North.

"Investigations are ongoing."
We have poets, painters and asylum seekers now on the Grand Canal, just as the sun is shining down. Im sure Kavanagh could write a great poem about that.

So spoke one local man, while he was painting a canvas just yards from the statue of poet Patrick Kavanagh, on the sun-dappled leafy banks of the canal, with Dublin's latest tented encampment pitched nearby

Among the more than 70 homeless asylum seekers now temporarily calling the canal bank home, is a 15-year-old Palestinian boy who arrived here a couple of days ago after fleeing the war in his native country.

He told the Irish Examiner that he moved to the site on Saturday, along with three of his friends and said he has not eaten in three days.

His friends said they have been homeless in Dublin for the past 20 days and moved to the banks of Grand Canal on Friday where they feel a bit safer.

Up to 70 tents are now pitched along the canal.

Their appearance follows the removal of 'tent city' from outside the International Protection Office on Wednesday. Most of the men who had been sleeping on Mount St were moved to facilities at the Citywest hotel in Dublin and Crooksling in Co Dublin.

The four Palestinian friends said they are aged, 15, 18, 19 and 20.

The 20-year-old, who said his name is Samir, spoke to the Irish Examiner using google translate.

I am from Hebron in Palestine he said. My parents died in the war, I have two brothers and they are still there. I escaped.

We are friends, we came here together, we have not eaten in three days.

The sculpture of poet Patrick Kavanagh on Dublin's Grand Canal photographed on Sunday as homeless asylum seekers pitched tents nearby. Picture: Alison O'Reilly

He said they are registered with the International Protection Office in Mount St but that they are hungry and have no money.

We are very tired, said Samir. We have no food.

The latest figures from the Department of integration show there are 1,676 asylum seekers here currently without accommodation.

On Sunday, when the Irish Examiner visited Grand Canal, dozens of members of the public were standing on footpaths or walking along the canal filming the asylum seekers.

One man shouted, No need to fear, you are welcome here in Ballsbridge. Stay as long as you like.

By evening time, more asylum seekers were arriving with their tents to pitch them the canal.

Another asylum seeker from Nigeria, who moved to the area on Saturday, told the Irish Examiner, I dont want to be living like this.

I am 30 years old, and I am educated, well educated. I had to leave Nigeria because of my sexual orientation. But I would hope to stay and get to work.

Nobody would like this. I did not want to go to the tent in Citywest area, this is better here, but hopefully not long.

"I have a degree in computer studies, and we are washing in the canal."
Around 200 members of the public gathered at the front of Trinity College in Dublin, where students are protesting over the war in Gaza.

The college is now closed to the public since members of the Students Union (TCDSU)and Trinity Boycott Divestment and Sanctions set up an encampment in the campus on Friday.

Around 100 students are involved in the protest and are calling for the college to cut ties with Israel.

The students have pitched tents inside and have blocked the entrance to the Book of Kells.

On Sunday afternoon, students sang out the front windows of the college to passers-by, and draped banners in support of Gaza out the windows.

They shouted, Palestine will be free and Free free Palestine while others chanted, the students united will never be defeated.

From another window, a group of students sang their version of the Irish ballad Grace.

TCDSU president Laszlo Molnarfi said they are not moving until the college commits to cutting ties with Israel.

We have over 100 students and staff involved in this protest and over 70 tents pitched on campus now, and we also have blocked the book of Kells indefinitely and have set up barricades he said.

There is a strong community in there and we are having board game nights, food, and political discussions.

Currently Trinity College has multiple ties to Israeli companies and Israeli academic institutions that are complicit in the war industry, they produce military technology, weapons, bombs, and propaganda, and the social legitimacy in general that Israel uses to sustain and continue its genocide in Gaza as well as the suppression of the Palestinian people which has been ongoing since 75 years.

We are also demanding that Trinity College makes a strong statement announcing their denouncement of the genocide and denouncing the apartheid. We are demanding that Trinity college show their support to Palestinian scholars.

The college has been largely silent on this. Before we set up our encampment on Friday the college invited some of us to a meeting when they anticipated that this would happen.

They gave a stronger statement, but it did not match what we are calling for and language is important. They also committed to looking into the three UN blacklisted firms.

Trinity College on Saturday locked access to bathrooms and other facilities. Today following pressure, they reopened the libraries; this is a huge health and safety issue.

But they reopened them. However, we are lacking access to prayer rooms, and we have Muslim students, and this is a huge issue. We have no plans to leave this encampment until our demands are met, and you can see the support we are getting.

The students have pitched tents inside and have blocked the entrance to the Book of Kells. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

In a statement on Saturday, a spokesperson for Trinity College said while it supported the right of students to protest, they must be done within the rules of the institution.

The spokesperson also confirmed that "prayer rooms in Goldsmith Hall and the Arts Building are closed currently, but the GMB can be used".

Toilet facilities are available at GMB and House 6.

"Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest," it said

"There are also, however, many good reasons why the university's policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect must be followed when doing so.

Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. We have not made this decision lightly.

The university added: "Trinity shares concerns about the ferocious onslaught in Gaza and the ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. We have taken a number of practical steps in response to the war in Gaza. These range from updating our investment portfolio with a view to excluding UN blacklist companies, to providing supports for students from Gaza coming to study in Trinity.

"Trinity is always open to engaging with staff and students on these issues: in the past week alone, the provost has met with Academics for Palestine and also with the Students' Union president and Students' Union officers to discuss these issues. We also continue to engage with our Jewish staff and students who are impacted."

Trinity said it was responding to the war in Gaza in several ways, including the work to update its investment portfolio in line with a UN blacklist of companies.

In regard to ties with Israeli institutions, Trinity said it was for its academics to make their own decisions about what universities they collaborate with, insisting it would not impinge on that "cornerstone" of academic freedom.

Mr Molnarfi also claimed that the college has threatened some of the protestors with expulsion.

We are a peaceful encampment, and they (the college) brought the entire campus into a lockdown. We are staying indefinitely. It is inspiring to see so many students all over the world supporting Palestine and holding out in similar institutions.

We have been threatened with disciplinary over this, it was a group effort, they are threatening us with expulsion.
Picture the scenario: Gardai receive a tip-off that theres a shallow grave somewhere but in an area the size of a football pitch. It could be dense woodland, brush or bog. Where to start digging?

They can bring in a JCB and dig the whole site up, lose all the evidence, ruin the environment and waste valuable Garda time and money, according to Atlantic Technological University Sligo forensics scientist Professor John Cassella. They can even bring in drones, cadaver dogs, fingertip searches. Or, they could simply take and analyse a spoonful of soil to help them pinpoint where the body is most likely to be secretly buried.

Its hard to imagine how just one spoonful could help find a missing person and end the anguish for their loved ones, but thats exactly what Cassella has spent years of his career dedicated to.

According to Garda statistics, there are 167 people listed as missing in this country since 2020, with 58 people reported missing so far this year alone. In the UK, the figure is in the tens of thousands.

Even if its 1% of that figure, thats a lot of people potentially murdered and buried in a clandestine grave, Cassella tells the Irish Examiner.

Prof. John Cassella.

I was fascinated by whether or not you could use science to help find missing persons, to try and identify another tool in the kit that would help.

To do that, Cassella is among a handful of scientists in Europe and around the world recording and researching the macabre world of human decomposition and what happens to our bodies after we die. He cant use human beings  yet  so he and his fellow researchers bury pigs instead.

As we break down  you and I, pigs and all mammals will break down in the same way  our proteins in our muscles will break down into amino acids, our fats will break down into smaller fatty acids, and our carbohydrates break down. And we can test for those. And what I spent years doing is looking for those chemicals.

The chemical signature of death

Back to the spoon. As mammals decompose, some very specific decomposition chemicals percolate out into the surrounding soils  surprisingly as far as 200m away from the remains. This chemical leachate changes the soil chemistry and is detectable even in tiny amounts of soil.

Cassella and his team are working on developing a simple test kit that any police search unit would be able to take into a field and use to take either a spoonful of water or soil samples.

Known biomarkers from the leachate could indicate the presence of decaying mammals within a hundred yards or so, getting stronger in concentration to a point where you are at that finite point where you put a spade in the ground and you can find bones, or you can find a body wrapped in plastic or carpet or however.

But science is a slow process and for Cassella everything has got to be absolutely right before they could gather biomarkers robust enough to be successful in a criminal trial.

I couldnt tell you in a court of law if the body over there was human or cow or sheep or rabbit. What I can tell you is that there was a body, he says.

In order to be more specific, they need to be burying and testing, well, humans rather than pigs. There is an old joke about how we know less about the bottom of the sea than we do about the universe and space.

While the public appetite for true crime has never been higher, Cassella believes we actually know less about human decomposition than we do about the bottom of the sea and the universe. And yet its the one thing that we all go through, death and taxes.

Deaths Acre

There is an acre of land in Tennessee called Deaths Acre, where thanks to generous donors human cadavers are left to decompose out in the open and scientists study them. Cadaver dogs are trained there. Often called body farms  Cassella winces at this title  there are eight such anthropological or taphonomy research sites in the US, one in Australia and one in Canada.

A new centre outside Amsterdam has become Europes first body farm. The rationale is that better understanding of the human decomposition process can lead to more precise techniques for identifying the time and cause of death  and help bring killers to justice.

Cassella has spent years campaigning for a body farm in the UK and believes we need one in Ireland too because our geography, geology and climate are quite different to those of the UK. Any data from the UK could be easily dismissed as irrelevant in an Irish court room.

To get your science strong enough to prosecute successfully in court, you would need these taphonomy research facilities (here). All you need is one acre, he says.

Resistance has come not from the public who understand their altruistic value but from other organisations which cannot see the value.

We do need one, yes. Have we got one? No. We need many, many more. Can you identify when someone died, how they died, what's left of them? How much of them is left, what techniques you can best use on a certain date? Is it best in the summertime? Is it best in the winter time?

"We found these things out. We found in sandy soil in the Netherlands, bodies decomposed very differently to how they would in Ireland, he adds.

He hopes the squeamishness surrounding body farms will pass with time.

If you go back 50 years, donating blood was a difficult thing. Now we donate bone tissue, we do skin donations. There's been face transplants. So, what was not comfortable 50 years ago is more palatable now. And one has to hope, as time goes on, the taphonomy facility will inevitably have to happen.

His work expands out not just to murder inquiries, but to disaster victim identification. In 2017, Cassella spent 25 days at the scene of the Grenfell Tower fire in London recovering remains to help identify the victims.

You realize it's not about you. It's about the 72 victims that passed, he says, suddenly sombre. Firstly, as a parent, then as a scientist, his driving motive is to help return missing loved ones to their family.

The disappearance of Annie McCarrick

Its why Cassella agreed to be one of five signatories to an open letter sent to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last month on the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of 26-year-old American Annie McCarrick. She vanished in Dublin on March 26, 1993.

Along with forensic expert David Kenny, cadaver dog experts Dr Neil Powell and Raph OConnor, and former FBI Special Agent and personal friend of the McCarrick family, Kenneth Strange, Cassella urged Commissioner Harris to facilitate a search of a newly discovered but concealed Bronze Age man-made underground chamber or souterrain within an area of dense woodland in Wicklow.

The experts are offering to provide the Garda search with cadaver dogs, thermal imaging drones and ground-penetrating radar.

Theyre associated with being hard to find, David Kenny says of souterrains.

Its a ready-made hiding place. Finding that feature and having a look inside, bringing the dogs back and being able to run some ground-penetrating radar over the ground. There is no other way to progress it, he says.

Annie McCarrick with her mother Nancy.

We are scientists, many of us with a forensic background or geophysics background. If we do it, it will be at no cost to the taxpayer because we can have the necessary persons and equipment from Queens, from Sligo, myself, and one or two other places at no cost, he adds.

Kennys forensic expertise led to his discovery of the souterrain, just 1.6km from the scene where chief suspect Larry Murphy was interrupted by hunters after the rape and apparent attempted murder of his only proven victim.

The souterrain is 3.6km from Murphys former home and within an area where he reportedly had hunting rights and was familiar with since childhood. He transported his Carlow victim 40km back to his home terrain and the group believe this points to him using a victim disposal location in the vicinity of his home.

Five cadaver dogs, all trained exclusively on human tissue, indicated positively within metres of each other at the site of interest.

It might be an opportunity for a person to take a body and leave it there, with the opportunity to know it's there to be able to go back and visit it, says Cassella. And to put it in a place where it's not found by the guards or by dog walkers or anybody else.

We're not giving the guards what we would call evidence at the moment, but intelligence. All these girls could be in different locations, or they could all be in the same. The only way you'll know where any of them is, is if you actually go looking when you get intelligence, he says.

Kenny was a former student of his and told him the story of Annie McCarrick and other women who disappeared in the 1990s, such as Deirdre Jacob, over a cup of tea one day. It was a meeting of minds, recalls Cassella, who was instantly on board.

Deirdre Jacob

Annies disappearance was upgraded to a murder investigation by Gardai in March 2023. Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll made a public appeal for information and said he and the investigation team were determined to gather all available information/evidence to find those answers and bring this matter to a positive conclusion.

According to the signatories, Commissioner Harris office has not even acknowledged their open letter. Some response might have been expected as a matter of professional courtesy, admits Cassella, but stresses hes not interested in the politics of it or any blame game.

As a parent, I want to see if we can help find any return of her remains to Nancy before Nancy passes. Because her husband passed away and never knew what happened to his daughter. I know that that's my driving force. I have a daughter. I would like to think somebody cared, he adds.

Kenny too, has heard not a word from any Garda source since the open letter was published a month ago.

The group previously submitted detailed, in-depth documentation to investigating gardai in October 2021 which they dismissed as "speculative".

Professor John Cassella was one of five signatories to an open letter sent to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris last month on the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of 26-year-old American Annie McCarrick (pictured).

In January 2022, they were told by gardai that a search could only take place with the permission of the landowner and told them to "engage collaboratively with the landowner", which they duly did in the intervening two years but any communication with the landowner concerning permission to search has been ignored.

It's understood that in response to a personal letter from Annies mother, Nancy McCarrick, the landowner said he would only give permission to search to An Garda Siochana. Its not known if Gardai have sought the landowners agreement directly, or considered applying for a search warrant.

A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that they do not discuss potential site searches or investigative strategies.

Although they've labelled the work we've done as speculative, I would remind them that in the last 31 years they have asked the public for their support. And on many, many occasions, says Kenny.

On this occasion, they've received quite a lot of information from some very capable people. I would reiterate the fact that this is cost-free. And the worst-case scenario is that a bunch of bodies are found in a hole in the ground. There's no downside to this. I think the worst thing that can happen is I look silly and I can live with that.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu announced the decision on X, formerly Twitter, but details on the implications of the ban on the channel, when it would go into effect or whether the measure was permanent or temporary were not immediately clear.

There was no immediate comment from the channel headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

An Al Jazeera correspondent on its Arabic service said the order would affect the broadcasters operations in Israel and in east Jerusalem, where it has been doing live shots for months since the October 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza.

My government decided unanimously: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will close in Israel

It would not affect Al Jazeeras operations in the Palestinian territories, the correspondent said.

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision.

My government decided unanimously: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will close in Israel, Netanyahu posted on X.

Al Jazeera as vehemently denied that it incites against Israel.

The decision escalated Israels long-running feud against Al Jazeera.

It also threatened to heighten tensions with Qatar, which owns the channel, at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza.

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias against it.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres.

Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas.

Al Jazeera, the Doha-based broadcaster funded by Qatars government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While Al Jazeeras English operation often resembles the programming found on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region.

It similarly came under harsh US criticism during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled director Saddam Hussein.

It remains unclear how such an order would be enforced by Israel.
Police surrounded a pro-Palestinian encampment early on Sunday at the University of Southern California, days before graduation events are set to begin on the Los Angeles campus.

The university said campus safety officers assisted by the Los Angeles Police Department were clearing the area.

If you are in the centre of campus, please leave. People who dont leave could be arrested, USC said on the social media platform X.

Demonstrators were loudly chanting Free Palestine inside the encampment.

Police have clashed with protesters at universities across the US (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)

Protesters in the encampment were given 15 minutes to leave the area before facing arrest, according to Annenberg Media, a student-led campus publication.

The encampment had restarted after the Los Angeles Police Department first arrested 93 people on April 24.

The atmosphere on the private university campus had largely remained calm since, while attention turned to arrests at the University of California, Los Angeles.

At the University of Virginia, 25 people were arrested on Saturday for trespassing after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from campus, and demonstrators at the University of Michigan chanted anti-war messages and waved flags during graduation ceremonies.

USC, a private university, has been the subject of student protests over the war in Gaza as well as the administrations decision to cancel a graduation speech by the valedictorian, a Muslim student who had expressed support for Palestinians.

The university made that decision in mid-April, saying they had safety concerns after receiving threats. Some Jewish groups had criticised the students selection as speaker.

Administrators later cancelled the entire main-stage event planned for May 10, when 65,000 people were expected to gather to celebrate graduates.

Video posted online on Saturday evening showed some demonstrators engaging in calm songs and chants in preparation for expected police activity.
The latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks ended in Cairo after in-depth and serious discussions, the Hamas militant group said on Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.

After signs of progress, the outlook appeared to dim.

Defence minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas was not serious about a deal and warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza after Hamas attacked Israels main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid, killing three soldiers.

Israels military said it believed Hamas was targeting soldiers massed on the Gaza border in preparation for a possible Rafah invasion. Hamas said it targeted soldiers in the area.

Israel did not send a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and Mr Gallant said that we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement.

       ,       :      -     .      -  . pic.twitter.com/AQ18dNVjZX  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) May 5, 2024

Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went for discussions in Qatar, where the group has a political office, and will return to Cairo for further negotiations on Tuesday.

Another threat to talks came as Israel ordered the local offices of Qatars Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from hardliners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a ceasefire deal, calling the key Hamas demands extreme, including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war.

That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the fighting, Mr Netanyahu said.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a statement earlier said the militant group was serious and positive about the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority.

But Israels government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid.

Palestinians stand in the ruins of a family home, after an overnight Israeli strike (Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP)

Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another. The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launched at the crossing in southern Israel and said its fighter jets later struck the source.

Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three seriously. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian workers.

He also said Israel this week denied him entry to Gaza for a second time.

The closing of Kerem Shalom came shortly after the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) asserted full-blown famine in devastated northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on food and other aid entering the territory.

The comments were not a formal famine declaration.

The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah (Mohammad Jahjouh/AP)

In expanded remarks as the full NBC interview was released on Sunday, WFP chief Cindy McCain said famine was moving its way south in Gaza and that Israels efforts to allow in more aid were not enough.

We need more ability to be able to get more trucks in, she said. We have right now a mass on the outside border, about enough trucks and enough food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to get that in.

Gazas vast humanitarian needs put further pressure on the pursuit of a ceasefire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken in the October 7 attack, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout.

The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Mr Netanyahu claimed that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but said it will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.

That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas. Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the US and others about the danger to civilians.

Palestinians flee from northern Gaza (Mohammed Dahman/AP)

An Israeli strike on Sunday on the al-Attar family house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.

In later remarks for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: We will defend ourselves in every way. We will overcome our enemies and we will ensure our security, in the Gaza Strip, on the Lebanese border, everywhere.

The Hamas cross-border attack on October 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Mr Netanyahu is under growing pressure from some hostages families to make a deal to end the war and get hostages freed.

Israelis air and ground offensive has killed over 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up a majority of those killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas.

The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the worlds largest aluminium smelters, has inked an agreement with SAP, a market leader in enterprise application software, to upgrade its enterprise resource planning solution (ERP) to SAPs latest software  S/4HANA Cloud.

With this move, Alba will accelerate its digital transformation journey and Industry 4.0 adoption to adapt to ever-changing business needs.

The new SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a complete, modular, and award-winning ERP software designed for the cloud offering scalable architecture, real-time data processing, integrated advanced analytics, better optimisation for speed and performance as well as enhanced user experience for Alba users, customers and suppliers.

Alba's extensive partnership with SAP, spanning over 25 years, is clearly evident in applying SAP solutions across the Companys core functions like production, maintenance, sales, procurement, and HR, it stated.

On the key SAP partnership, CEO Ali Al Baqali said: "At Alba, we are not just transforming digitally, we are revolutionising aluminium production. This advanced solution isn't just about our digital transformation, it's rather the catalyst that propels Alba to the forefront of Industry 4.0."

"Embracing advanced computing and unlocking real-time data will not only optimise our operations but empower every facet of our business to innovate the future of aluminium production in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030," stated Al Baqali at a key signing ceremony held recently in the Albas premises.

It was attended by Senior Vice President of SAP Middle East Africa  North, Ahmed Jaber Al Faifi, along with senior officials from Alba and SAP.

Additionally, Saquib Ahmad, Managing Director, Bahrain, SAP, said this new deployment represents a significant milestone in Albas digital transformation journey and aims to further align its operations with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 while enhancing services to customers and partners.

"By streamlining, integrating, and automating core business functions and processes, Alba will be free to focus on innovating its core business and setting new industry standards," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Overview

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) is facing politically induced financial pressure that looms over its future and very existence, putting the lives and rights of more than 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in jeopardy.

Owing to historical and political reasons, the international community devised a distinct regime for Palestinians forcefully displaced in 1948, different from other refugee issues. As UNRWA is the only institution left of that unique regime, its demise would eliminate the only standing international agency concerned with Palestinian refugees, and with it their just plight.

For decades, Israel has spearheaded a campaign against UNRWA meant to erase the question of Palestinian refugees and their collective right of return. While not new, the latest defunding of the agency by Israels allies is unprecedented in terms of its scope and perilous timing.

This policy brief situates the founding of the distinct regime for Palestinian refugees and examines its significance. It analyzes the current defunding of UNRWA within Israels decades-long campaign to dismantle the agency. Lastly, it elaborates on the far-reaching implications of eliminating UNRWA, and puts forth a set of recommendations to thwart the effort to do so.

Why a Distinct Regime for Palestinian Refugees?

Israel has systematically accused UNRWA of many things, including perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem, arguing that its operations should be ceased and its responsibilities passed to other international relief agencies. Besides being unfounded, these claims also obfuscate the Palestinian right of return.

Al Jazeera English Video: Israel gave no evidence UNRWA staff linked to terrorism: Colonna report

For various historical and political reasons, displaced Palestinians are treated in a unique way under the international refugee regime, outside the scope of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its related instruments. Instead, the UN conceived a separate institutional framework to address their displacement.

Informed by the understanding that their displacement is a combined effect of the UN Partition Plan of 1947 and the creation of the State of Israel, to which the UN bore responsibility, the international community recognized that the question of Palestine and the plight of displaced Palestinians warranted special measures and attention. This was manifested in the adoption by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) of Resolution 186, which called for the appointment of a UN Mediator for Palestine.

One day before his assassination by Zionist paramilitary group Lehi, UN Mediator Count Folke Bernadotte recommended that the UN affirm the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. Pursuant to his recommendation, on December 11, 1948, the UNGA adopted Resolution 194 (III), reiterating the right of displaced Palestinians to return at the earliest practicable date, and establishing the UN Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP). The latter took over the main mediator functions, including negotiating a solution to the Palestine question. While the intention of the drafters was that the displaced should be allowed to return when stable conditions had been established rather than be conditional upon the establishment of a formal peace, the UNNCP was charged to resolve the predicament of their return through a peaceful adjustment.

As Palestinian return hinged on Israeli recognition of this collective right, the question of Palestinian repatriation was inextricably linked to a broader political resolution. The UNCCP therefore became the political leg of the framework devised for Palestinian refugees. One year after the UNCCP was formed, and in response to the mounting needs of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians, the UN established UNRWA with a temporary mandate as a subsidiary organ of the UNGA to provide relief and works services to the refugees awaiting their repatriation. Together, these institutional bodies comprised the two wings of the distinct regime applicable to displaced Palestinians, rendering them the only group of people to whom a separate and specific system applies.

By focusing on the humanitarian symptoms of Palestinian displacement instead of contesting its political underpinnings, both the international community and Israel sought to substitute humanitarian aid for justice Click To Tweet

The idea of keeping displaced Palestinians within the scope of the UNCCP and UNRWA should be understood as a combined effect of maintaining the full humanitarian and political responsibility of the UN over their plight, as well as of the need to resolve their displacement through return rather than resettlement, which was promoted for other refugee problems in the period after the Second World War.

The UNCCP fell into demise in 1960 due to the lack of prospect in reaching a political settlement that would allow the return of displaced Palestinians, reducing the unique framework by one of its legs. Importantly, the demise of the UNCCP put more emphasis on funding UNRWA than on addressing the underlying political predicaments that Israel put in place to bar Palestinian return. By focusing on the humanitarian symptoms of Palestinian displacement instead of contesting its political underpinnings, both the international community and Israel sought to substitute humanitarian aid for justice. For almost 40 years after its birth, renewals of UNRWAs mandate by the UNGA were a matter of routine. In the absence of a political solution, UNRWA was not only an embodiment of international responsibility for the question of Palestinian refugees, but it was also perceived as a stabilizer that prevents social and political upheavals in the region through the provision of its lifeline services.

UNRWA and Power Politics

While the UNGA has repeatedly renewed UNRWAs mandate, which now stands alone as the only UN agency concerned with the plight of displaced Palestinians, most recently extending it until 30 June 30, 2026, this is not matched with sustainable funding. Moreover, the funds that are provided often come with strings attached. Considering the temporary nature of UNRWA, its funding was made dependent on voluntary contributions. The biggest pledges to UNRWA have historically come from the US and Germany, followed by the EU (based on 2022 figures). As Palestinians remain denied their right of return, UNRWA has outlived its temporality more than seven decades after its inception. Nonetheless, the voluntariness of its funding has not changed, rendering it vulnerable to the political whims of donor states.

Israel has long spearheaded a consistent campaign against UNRWA aimed at its termination. Aligned with and stemming from the inherently racist roots of Zionism and its settler colonial ideology, Israels warfare against UNRWA is associated with the agency being the only standing international commitment left toward the right of return of Palestinians and an embodiment of international responsibility for the question of Palestinian refugees. Israels recurring and escalating attacks on UNRWA are meant to erase the question of Palestinian refugees and dismiss their collective right of return.

Since its establishment through settler colonial violence, Israel was not disposed to accept the repatriation of Palestinians as it saw in their return a threat to its existence. To that end, it put in place multiple measures that prevented the return of approximately 750,000 displaced Palestinians. Consistent with the settler colonial and racist roots of Zionist ideology, the newly established State barred the return of Palestinians to their homes and land in order to take up Palestinian geography without its Palestinian demography, all the while seeking to replace them with Jewish migrants to establish and then preserve a Jewish majority.

However, the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 and the creation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) gave Israel new opportunities to bury the question of Palestinian refugees once and for all. Even though the right of return is not subject to negotiation, the question of Palestinian refugees was relegated to a bilateral Israeli-Palestinian matter and among the permanent status issues. As a result, Israel hoped that UNRWA services would be transferred to the PA and Arab States to achieve a formal integration of a large portion of the Palestinian refugee population. While refusing to repatriate Palestinian refugees on the basis that it needs to preserve a Jewish demographic majority, Israel promoted the idea of settling Palestinian refugees in their host states as a substitute for repatriation. However, as Arab states were reluctant to integrate Palestinian refugees, Israel had a strong interest to weaken UNRWA in order to force Arab states to provide services to the refugee population, leading to their de facto integration in their host states.

Israels antagonism of UNRWA became palpable in the aftermath of the Oslo Accords. Its strategic political efforts to delegitimize the agency evolved and intensified over time, and have included defamation, disinformation, and manufactured claims of antisemitism, to name a few. These accusations further severed UNRWAs financial crisis as they diverted funding further away from regular programs and more into special projects to address these accusations.

UNRWAs funding struggle was further exacerbated in 2018, when the Trump administration ceased its funding for the agency, which until then had amounted to $360 million a year and contributed to one third of its annual budget. As the largest donor to the agency, the decision was politically motivated to force the Palestinians back to the negotiating table with Israel, amid US auspices of normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab states. Despite the Biden administrations decision to partially restore funding to UNRWA in 2021, Trumps move plunged UNRWA into a historic deficit that it has never fully recovered from.

Defunding in the Face of Genocide

Today, UNRWA faces mounting financial pressure that looms over its future following the suspension and reduction of funds by many of the agencys largest donors, including the US, Germany, and the UK. These cuts followed unsubstantiated Israeli allegations that 12 of UNRWAs 13,000 staff in Gaza may have been involved in Hamass 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood Operation. While some of the funds have since been reinstated, as the allegations have failed to be proven, the unprecedented cuts of the bulk of UNRWAs funding cast serious threats over its survival.

Against the backdrop of UNRWAs chronic budget deficit, the agencys ability to service Palestinian refugees and to sufficiently fulfill its assistance mandate were already hampered prior to October, 2023. Nevertheless, the latest defunding of UNRWA by Israels allies is not only a symptom of the structural obstacle in UNRWAs funding framework. It is also the culmination of Israels deliberate strategy to obliterate the agency and put an end to the inalienable right of return. In fact, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for UNRWA to be dissolved in his post-war plans for Gaza, while similar calls were made to close down the UNRWA office in Jerusalem.

The latest defunding of UNRWA by Israels allies isthe culmination of Israels deliberate strategy to obliterate the agency and put an end to the inalienable right of return Click To Tweet

What makes the latest defunding campaign against UNRWA different is its timing, just one day after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its interim ruling recognizing the plausible risk of genocide by the State of Israel. In its provisional measures, the ICJ ordered that Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The defunding campaign against UNRWA was a blatant form of retribution for the ICJ ruling, intended to distract from its conclusions. Instead of suspending financial aid and military assistance to Israel, the decision to rescind funding from the backbone of humanitarian aid provided to Palestinian refugees in Gaza underscores the blatant disregard of state obligations under the Genocide Convention.

According to the Genocide Convention, states have a responsibility to take measures to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide. That obligation, in addition to the prohibition of genocidal acts, is considered a norm of international customary law and is therefore binding for all states, regardless of whether or not they have ratified the convention itself. Indeed, Nicaragua instituted legal proceedings against Germany at the ICJ for failing to respect its obligation to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people by cutting off its assistance to UNRWA, among other actions.

While not new, the latest campaign against UNRWA is particularly alarming. Its unprecedented scope and perilous timing disregards the lifesaving needs of the millions of Palestinians in Gaza at such a critical moment. At such a crucial moment, UNRWAs collapse will have a devastating toll on the Palestinian refugee population both in and beyond Gaza.

Implications of Dismantling UNRWA

Without sufficient funding, UNRWA cannot continue to carry out its vital operations in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Defunding UNRWA would be a violation of international law, with respect to UNRWAs mandate to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees until their return is made possible. As the primary provider of lifeline and humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees, the cessation of its operations and services would leave 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in the region without education, healthcare, jobs, water, sanitation, or infrastructure projects in the refugee camps where UNRWA operates. This effectively means the mass destruction of civic life for Palestinian refugees.

In Gaza, specifically, the besieged population is more dependent on UNRWA for lifesaving services and support than ever before amid Israels genocidal onslaught. As the largest humanitarian organization operating there, UNRWA manages overcrowded shelters, food assistance (nearly 250 thousand people in the north of Gaza depend on UNRWA food aid since the beginning of the genocidal campaign), and primary health care (around 570,000 people, including more than 300,000 children, have benefited from UNRWAs psychological support in Gaza).

Defunding UNRWA amidst the unfolding genocide in Gaza breaches the legal obligation on states to prevent genocide, and thus would expose complicit states to legal consequences for aiding and abetting Israels war crimes Click To Tweet

Cutting off funding to UNRWA thus amounts to a death sentence, especially as Palestinians in Gaza continue to face man-made famine and the outbreak of disease under Israels relentless and indiscriminate bombardment and deliberate deprivation of aid. The obstruction of the humanitarian aid that UNRWA provides will contribute to the carnage in Gaza. As no other UN agency has the capacity to replace UNRWA nor to deliver the same scale and breadth of the assistance it provides, the cessation of UNRWA would further exacerbate the anticipated complex humanitarian catastrophe ahead.

On the specific impact in Gaza amid the genocide, Commissioner General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that, the entire humanitarian response in Gaza will crumble, if UNRWA is dismantled, arguing, The notion that the Agency can be dismantled without violating a host of human rights and jeopardizing international peace and security is naive at best. A UN-led group of aid agencies, known collectively as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) also warned that withdrawing funds from UNRWA would result in the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, with far-reaching humanitarian and human rights consequences in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and across the region. Similarly, a coalition of over fifteen international aid organizations sounded the alarm over UNRWAs central role in the humanitarian response in Gaza, writing, if the funding suspensions are not reversed, the risk of a complete collapse of the already restricted humanitarian response resulting in preventable loss of lives in Gaza becomes even more likely.

As Nicaraguas case against Germany makes clear, defunding UNRWA amid the unfolding genocide in Gaza breaches the legal obligation on states to prevent genocide, and thus exposes complicit states to legal consequences for aiding and abetting Israels war crimes. As Nicaragua argued before the ICJ:

Cutting off the funds to UNRWA jeopardizes any effective assistance being given to the victims of those very atrocities that Israel is committingThe disappearance or the serious curtailment of the work of UNRWA will facilitate the commission and the cover-up of serious breaches of international law. This is not only in itself a breach of the obligation to prevent genocide and ensure respect of the laws of war by others, but it points to a greater involvement in the facilitation of these unlawful activities.

This argument also applies to the US, which not only cut off funds to UNRWA, but whose Congress also passed a one-year ban on UNRWA funds.

The defunding campaign launched against UNRWA risks the erasure of the last standing international commitment toward the just plight of Palestinian refugees and their collective right of return, as enshrined in Resolution 194. The threat to the survival of UNRWA as the only agency concerned with Palestinian refugees should be a concern for every Palestinian and policymaker. Suspending UNRWA funds at such a critical time serves Israels aim to eliminate the agency in its entiretyand with it the Palestinian refugee issue.

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Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The Israeli newspaper Arab 48 reports that tens of thousands of Israelis rallied Saturday night against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and other cities, including Jerusalem, Beersheba and Haifa.

The protesters were responding in part to dueling news releases about the possibility of a breakthrough in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Cairo. Al Jazeera reports that a Qatari team is working on technical details of a proposal, which is usually a sign of movement in the negotiations. President Biden sent CIA Director William Burns to Egypt in case there were positive developments. The Hamas delegation in Cairo said Saturday that some progress has been made. UK sources said that a proposal was put forward that would halt Israels war on Gaza for 40 days and exchange captives for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera, Its clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points. But Hamas wants a pledge that Israel would not invade Rafah, which Netanyahu rejects. The Israeli government has not returned negotiators to Cairo. Netanyahus rejectionionism is infuriating the families of the hostages.

Hamas holds about 100 Israeli hostages, along with the bodies of 30 more who have died while captive. Israel routinely arrests Palestinians arbitrarily and holds them without charge, so there are in effect thousands of Palestinian hostages in Israeli custody. To be fair, some of the prisoners Hamas wants released were convicted of acts of terrorism.

Families of Israeli hostages joined the Tel Aviv protesters, blasting Netanyahu for its refusal to do a deal with Hamas. They said that Hamas had agreed to the deal but that Netanyahu was once again trying to undermine the talks.

Some demonstrators demanded new elections, while others insisted on a hostage exchange deal. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv at the Kaplan-Begin intersection, which has been designated by the municipality Democracy Square. They called for immediate new elections even as the street was cut off by the police. Another demonstration was held for the families of the hostages and of Israelis detained in Tel Aviv. They said that Hamas has indicated its agreement on a deal, but Netanyahu is once again trying to undermine the sole chance to save them, hiding behind a high political source.' They were referring to reports that the anonymous source in the Israeli government throwing cold water on the possibility of a breakthrough in negotiations with reporters is actually just Netanyahu himself.

The hostage families added, the Israeli people want the hostages returned alive and agree with paying the price, but Netanyahu prefers his political alliance with [extremists] Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. They said, If the price for the return of the hostages is stopping the war, the it must be stopped immediately.

Many hostage families are afraid that an invasion of Rafah will kill the hostages.

WION Video: Israel-war: Protest in Tel Aviv for release of hostages, thousands of Israelis take to streets

The leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, attended the demonstration in Tel Aviv and said, There is nothing called victory without a deal and the return of the hostages. Instead of all the stupid messages released by a political source, Netanyahu must send a negotiating team tonight to Cairo and say to them that they must not return without a deal and the return of the hostages.

He added, There is no other mission, or anything else to do. Yesh Atid made promises and will implement them and we will be a complete safety net for the completion of this deal. Yesh Atid or There is a Future is the centrist political party that Lapid leads.

Hundreds of people demonstrated outside the prime ministers residence in Caesarea, demanding elections. Others rallied at the Karkur intersection on route 65 for a hostage exchange deal.

More thousands of protesters came out in Jerusalem, Beersheba, Netanya, Raanana and elsewhere to demand a hostage exchange deal.

At the same time, the Religious Zionism and Jewish Power leaders demanded an immediate Israeli invasion of Rafah, according to Arab 48 . Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich supported Netanyahu and his decision not to send negotiators to Cairo. They emphasized that Israels priority must be to continue the war and to invade the region of Rafah in Gaza rather than a deal that might lead to the release of the Israelis held by Hamas.
Blasts killed at least nine people Friday in a displaced persons camp on the outskirts of Goma in the war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources said.

"Bombs" fell on huts housing displaced people, according to witnesses, in the central African country's eastern region, which has seen ongoing fighting between M23 (March 23 movement) rebels and the government.

After eight years of dormancy, the mostly Tutsi M23 rebellion took up arms again in late 2021, seizing large swathes of North Kivu province, some forty kilometres (25 miles) northwest of its provincial capital Goma.

The origin of Friday's blasts has not been clearly established. According to witnesses, government forces positioned near the camp had been bombarding the rebels on the hills further west since early morning and, according to a civil society activist, "the M23 retaliated by throwing bombs indiscriminately".

Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya accused "the Rwandan army and its M23 terrorist supporters" of being responsible on X.

"Horror in its most serious form! A bomb on civilians, deaths, children! A new war crime," he wrote.

According to Kinshasa, the United Nations and Western countries, neighbouring Rwanda is backing the M23, something Kigali denies.

"I saw nine bodies in front of me" including several children, Dedesi Mitima head of the Lac Vert neighbourhood to the west of Goma, told AFP. Another official gave a provisional death toll of 10.

A hospital source said on condition of anonymity: "We have just received 32 wounded and four bodies."

The huts were either side of the road leading from Goma to the strategic town of Sake, about 20 kilometres from the capital.

Fighting intensified around Sake early February and the rebels have since seized new towns in Masisi district, northwest of Goma, including the mining town Rubaya.

The UN estimated at the end of 2023 that nearly seven million people had been displaced in DR Congo, including 2.5 million in North Kivu alone.
Uyghurs in France on Friday said President Emmanuel Macron welcoming his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week was tantamount to "slapping" them.

Xi is due to make a state visit to France on Monday and Tuesday.

Dilnur Reyhan, the founder of the European Uyghur Institute and a French national, said she and others were "angry" the Chinese leader was visiting.

"For the Uyghur people -- and in particular for French Uyghurs -- it's a slap from our president, Emmanuel Macron," she said, describing the Chinese leader as "the executioner of the Uyghur people".

Beijing stands accused of incarcerating more than one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of detention facilities across the Xinjiang region.

Campaigners and Uyghurs overseas have said an array of abuses take place inside the facilities, including torture, forced labour, forced sterilisation and political indoctrination.

A UN report last year detailed "credible" evidence of torture, forced medical treatment and sexual or gender-based violence -- as well as forced labour -- in the region.

But it stopped short of labelling Beijing's actions a "genocide", as the United States and some other Western lawmakers have done.

Beijing consistently denies abuses and claims the allegations are part of a deliberate smear campaign to contain its development.

It says it is running vocational training centres in Xinjiang which have helped to combat extremism and enhance development.

Standing beside Reyhan at a press conference in Paris, Gulbahar Haitiwaji, who presented herself as having spent three years in a detention camp, said she was "disappointed".

"I am asking the president to bring up the issue of the camps with China and to firmly demand they be shut down," she said.

Human Rights Watch on Friday urged Macron during the visit to "lay out consequences for the Chinese government's crimes against humanity and deepening repression".

"Respect for human rights has severely deteriorated under Xi Jinping's rule," it said.

"His government has committed crimes against humanity... against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang, adopted draconian legislation that has erased Hong Kong's freedoms, and intensified repression of government critics across the country."

"President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing's crimes against humanity come with consequences for China's relations with France," said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor warned on Friday against unspecified threats and intimidation, amid reports that Israel is concerned the tribunal could issue arrest warrants over the war in Gaza.

The Hague-based ICC did not say if the comment related to its investigation into possible war crimes by Israel or Palestinian groups in Gaza and the West Bank.

The office of ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on X, formerly Twitter, that it was aware of "significant public interest" in its activities and said it sought to "engage constructively with all stakeholders."

But it added that the court's "independence and impartiality are undermined, however, when individuals threaten to retaliate against the court or against court personnel.

"Such threats, even not acted upon, may constitute an offence" against the ICC's "administration of justice", it warned, calling for an end to such activity.

Khan's office declined to say where the threats had come from and which investigation was concerned, when questioned by AFP.

US and Israeli media reports have suggested the ICC prosecutor could issue warrants against both Israeli politicians -- including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- and Hamas leaders.

Netanyahu said Wednesday on X that the ICC was "contemplating issuing arrest warrants against senior Israeli government and military officials as war criminals".

"This would be an outrage of historic proportions," he said, alleging that the ICC was "trying to put Israel in the dock".

The Axios news outlet has reported that Israel warned Washington it would take retaliatory steps against the Palestinian Authority that could lead to its collapse if the ICC issues arrest warrants.

US members of Congress had also warned of retaliation by Washington, Axios reported.

The United States says it also opposes the ICC probe into Israel's conduct in Gaza, arguing it has no jurisdiction.

- 'Oppose any threats' -

Neither the United States nor Israel are members of the court.

The White House reiterated that position on Friday, while condemning any threats against the ICC.

"We obviously oppose any threats or intimidation to public officials, including ICC officials," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.

She said she would not comment on "what could be next and if we would weigh in if they were to move forward" with charges.

In 2020 the administration of then-president Donald Trump targeted the ICC with sanctions over its investigation into Afghanistan. The Biden administration lifted them.

One legal expert said the statement by the ICC's office of the prosecutor (OTP) was likely related to the "ongoing investigation in Palestine" given recent Israeli government statements about "threats to the Palestinian Authority in response to the potential issuance of arrest warrants".

Israel's reported retaliatory steps were aimed at the Palestinian authorities, "not at the ICC or the OTP", said Gabriele Chlevickaite, a researcher at the Hague-based Asser Institute for international law.

However, "some statements by Israeli officials could be interpreted as threatening the OTP officials indirectly and, or, interfering with the investigation," she told AFP.

This would not only be an offence under the court's founding Rome Statute "but a blatant disregard of the rule of law," Chlevickaite added.

The ICC opened a probe in 2021 into Israel, as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups, over possible war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Khan has said this investigation now "extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the (Hamas) attacks that took place on October 7, 2023".

The ICC is the world's only independent court set up to probe the gravest offences by individual suspects, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It has previously issued warrants for national leaders -- most recently Russian President Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine.
The United States has accused Rwanda of involvement in a deadly attack on a camp for displaced people in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a claim dismissed as "absurd" by Kigali on Saturday.

At least nine people were killed in blasts on Friday in the camp on the outskirts of the city of Goma, local sources said.

"The United States strongly condemns the attack (Friday) from Rwanda Defense Forces and M23 positions on the Mugunga camp for internally displaced persons in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Miller said the United States was "gravely concerned" by the expansion in DR Congo of Rwandan forces and the M23, a mostly Tutsi group that resumed its armed campaign in the vast, long turbulent DR Congo in 2021.

"It is essential that all states respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and hold accountable all actors for human rights abuses in the conflict in eastern DRC," he said.

DR Congo government spokesman Patrick Muyaya on Friday had also accused "the Rwandan army and its M23 terrorist supporters" of being responsible in a statement on X, the former Twitter.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo described the US comments as "ridiculous", in a post on X.

"How do you come to this absurd conclusion? The RDF, a professional army, would never attack an IDP camp," she said.

"Look to the lawless FDLR and Wazalendo supported by the FARDC (the Congolese armed forces), for this kind of atrocity," she added.

The FDLR, or Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, is an armed ethnic Hutu group operating in Congo's east for 30 years, while Wazalendo is fighting the M23 alongside the Congolese army.

The origin of Friday's blasts has not been clearly established.

According to witnesses, government forces positioned near the camp had been bombarding the rebels on hills further west since early morning and, according to a civil society activist, "the M23 retaliated by throwing bombs indiscriminately".

"Horror in its most serious form! A bomb on civilians, deaths, children! A new war crime," said the government spokesman Muyaya.

The United States has repeatedly backed Kinshasa's claims that Rwanda has backed the M23, but Miller's statement amounts to an unusually direct implication.

France's President Emmanuel Macron also this week called on Rwanda to end its backing for M23 rebels and withdraw its troops from DR Congo territory.

President Paul Kagame in turn has demanded that the DR Congo act against Hutu forces over ties with the perpetrators of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, which mostly targeted Tutsis.

The United States has repeatedly sought to mediate between the two sides, with intelligence chief Avril Haines in November visiting DR Congo and Rwanda and announcing a pathway to reduce tensions.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken this year met Kagame and voiced hope that Rwanda was willing to engage in diplomacy.
2 killed, 15 injured in heavy weapon attack in Myanmar

Yangon, May 4 (UNI) Two people were killed and 15 others injured in a heavy weapons attack in western Myanmar's Rakhine State on Saturday, the State Administration Council's Information Team reported.

According to the council's information team, the explosive assault, carried out by Arakan Army (AA), hit a high school compound in Buthidaung Township of Rakhine State at around 1 a.m. local time on Saturday.

The victims included internally displaced persons that are taking shelter in the school compound, as well as local residents, the report said.
"Lovely Runner" stars Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon are receiving massive praise for their chemistry in the drama.

Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon Praised for Chemistry in 'Lovely Runner'

Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon are receiving praise on various online portals for their undeniable synergy in the tvN romantic-fantasy K-drama "Lovely Runner."

As the Monday-Tuesday series enters its second half, the onscreen couple continues to captivate hearts on social media. In fact, even during its pilot week, viewers were instantly hooked on the drama due to its intriguing storyline.

As the story progresses and the characters grow, fans get more invested in the lead characters' amusing chemistry.

How Viewers Reacted To Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon's Chemistry

On May 4, the new pair, Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon, became the center of discussion online. Fans praised the onscreen couple's visuals and synergy.

In particular, Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon participated in a fashion magazine pictorial with Elle Korea. Ahead of the drama's release, the publishing company already dropped some photos of the two.

As the drama began to receive immense support from the viewers, the couple's visuals dominated the Korean online forums. Fans praised the two for their amazing looks and natural chemistry.

"Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon have good chemistry."

"They are legendary."

"Their images are similar."

"Seriously, they are the best because they are together."

"Their chemistry is insane."

"These two have the best chemistry lately, They are so fun to watch."

"I like them so much when they are together, they shine even more. Elle is in trouble, please have them once more."

"They are my new lifetime chemistry."

Catch "Lovely Runner's" episodes every Monday and Tuesday on tvN and Viu at 8:50 p.m. (KST).

How about you? What are your thoughts on Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon's team-up through "Lovely Runner"? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.
FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 28, 2023. Netanyahu pledged Tuesday, April 30 to launch an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering from the almost 7-month-long war, just as cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining steam. (Abir Sultan/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Conservative MP Dan Albas, who was among most Canadian parliamentarians banned Tuesday from entering Russia, had a light-hearted response to the alphabetized list: "I am glad to see my name near the top of people banned from Russia."






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - About 70 passengers fell ill with a vomiting bug mid-way through their flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt.

According to Mail Online, Condor airline Flight DE2315 was travelling on Thursday, May 2, from Mauritius to Frankfurt when it became clear that many passengers on board were suffering from the bug.

The aircraft landed in the German city at around 5.33pm where it was greeted with a large contingent of emergency services.

Crew had called ahead to alert officials on the ground of the unfolding emergency.

It was found that 70 of the 290 passengers onboard had suddenly reported symptoms including nausea and vomiting.

A spokesperson for the Germany airline confirmed the incident to the country's Bild tabloid, adding that the crew was not affected by the illness.

'She [the pilot/crew] is also educated and trained for special situations like this,' the statement to the newspaper said.

After carefully examining the overall situation, the flight continued. The aircraft landed safely in Frankfurt, where medical professionals were available to care for the affected guests.

The airline, however, did not confirm the cause of the sudden illness, but noted that the food onboard would have been prepared in Mauritius.

'Condor has already initiated an investigation into the case to get to the bottom of the cause and to derive possible measures from it,' the spokeswoman added.

'Condor is working closely with all responsible partners and authorities. There is currently no result available.

'We generally do not participate in speculation about the cause, for example about individual menus on board that were prepared in Mauritius,' the statement added.




Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Three suspects are in police custody in connection with the brutal murder of Sheila Jaruha, a resident of Kivagala village in Sabatia Subcounty.

Sheila, who had been working in Egypt, left home with her male cousin, identified as Idalia, to run errands at a local shopping center and presumably indulge in some drinks.

They were later joined by her boyfriend, a high school teacher.

Preliminary investigations indicate that after indulging in alcohol, Sheilas boyfriend paid a bodaboda rider Ksh 300 to take her to her parents home, which was not far from the shopping center.

However, Sheila didnt reach home, prompting her family to report to the police.

The bodaboda rider confessed to the police that he murdered Sheila and disposed of her body in a river approximately 5 kilometers away.

The incident occurred last Friday and due to heavy rains, the body was only recovered on Friday, eight days later.

The cousin, the bodaboda operator and the boyfriend are all cooperating with the police investigation.

It has been alleged that Kshs 30,000 was transferred from Sheilas M-Pesa account on the day of the incident.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Following investigations into complaints from the public, EACC has arrested one Ezely Omwoyo, a suspected serial fraudster who has reportedly pocketed millions of shillings by coning Government officials, contractors, suppliers and members of the public while pretending to be an EACC Lawyer and Investigator, with ability to terminate graft cases, at any stage.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the conwoman dupes her victims into believing that she is handling sensitive corruption files that incriminate them and that they could be arrested anytime unless they bribe their way out of trouble.

The conwoman was arrested on Thursday after attempting to extort money from a senior Government Official, whom she had summoned to appear before her at EACC Integrity Centre Offices.

Before he arrived at EACC, Omwoyo ordered the complainant to first meet her at the Nairobi Public Service Club. At this point, the complainant notified EACC and an operation was mounted leading to the arrest of the suspect at Nairobi Public Service Club while in the process of negotiating for a bribe.

She was held at EACC Integrity Centre Police Station until yesterday, Friday, when she was processed. She faces charges of impersonating an EACC investigator contrary to Section 34(1) as read with Section 34(2) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes, Act.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday May 5, 2024  Saboti MP Caleb Amisi will not let Kenya Kwanza sycophants go scot-free after attacking former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for criticizing President William Ruto over the handling of the ongoing floods menace.

Raila has found himself at odds with politicians aligned with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over his recent vocal criticism of the government's handling of the ongoing heavy rains plaguing Kenya.

A handful of UDA politicians expressed their dismay at Raila's pointed remarks, leveraging his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position as a means of coercion.

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot was among those who openly aired their frustrations, suggesting that Raila's criticisms could jeopardize his chances of securing the AUC role.

"Tinga's constituency now is African Presidents. They hold the key to his next election.

"He is out here insulting a man they all hold in such high regard.

"On election day, when they evaluate his credentials, how do you imagine it will end? Maandamano in Addis?" Cheruiyot wrote on his X.

However, in response to the mounting pressure from UDA affiliates, Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi offered a counterargument.

Amisi contended that the majority of Kenyans were not in favour of Raila assuming the AUC position.

He noted that Ruto's motivations lay not in supporting Railas AUC aspirations, but rather in removing him from the Kenyan political landscape to stifle dissent against the government.

"Kenya Kwanza, confused lieutenants are highly disappointed that Raila Odinga is criticizing the government.

Ruto is running helter-skelter around Africa not to give Raila a job but to get rid of him from the political scene so that Kenyans can be molested properly.

"Verily verily I say unto you ,9 out of 10 Kenyans do not want baba to go to AU because of this reason.

In the meantime, disagreement on who get what tender, when and how, is soon cutting UDA into 2 camps and the rest will be history," Amisi responded.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - China and Russia are working on a joint invasion of Taiwan, US intelligence officials have claimed.

'We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognising that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn't,' Avril Haines, Director of US National Intelligence, told the US Congress on Thursday.

Her warning on the potential cooperation between the countries on Taiwan, which China has long claimed as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary, was echoed by Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.

He said that the US Defence Department has 'become even more concerned about our joint force requirements in an environment where [Russia and China] would certainly be cooperative, and we need to take that into account,' Bloomberg reports.

A potential joint invasion of Taiwan was raised in the meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee by Republican Senator Mike Rounds, who asked the head of the Defence Intelligence Agency about the Pentagon's plans should an invasion happen.

Haines said that there seems to be an 'increasing cooperation in the "no-limits" partnership' between Russia and China.

This comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to make his first trip to Europe next week as part of China's efforts to rebuild its foreign relations.




Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Shock and grief has engulfed a village in Kirinyaga County after a 29-year-old woman threw herself into River Nyamindi with her 5-year-old child strapped to her back.

The woman identified as Maureen Wangui had visited her grandparents with her child when the tragic incident occurred.

Her grandfather said she was washing clothes before she disappeared with her daughter after realizing that everybody had gone inside the house.

Her grandmother said Wangui had come to visit them before committing the act.

She stays with her parents in Embu.

She stays with her parents in Embu since her mother is a civil servant and her father is a contractor.

"I do not know why she decided to throw herself in the river, the deceased ladys grandmother said.

Gichugu Sub-County Police Commander Johnson Wachira confirmed the incident and said police officers are working together with the residents in a bid to retrieve the bodies from the river.

According to an area resident, the search operation is tough, considering that the river is flooded.

We are having a very hard time because we are cautious about this river, it is tough searching for the two bodies. Said area resident Simon Muchira.

Below is a photo of the deceased lady.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - Former UK prime minister, Boris Johnson was turned away from a polling station while trying to vote in the United Kingdoms local elections after forgetting to bring his photo ID  a requirement Johnson introduced while prime minister.

Polling station staff were forced to turn Johnson away as he tried to cast his ballot in South Oxfordshire on Thursday, May 2, PA media reported.

Johnson returned later with the ID and was able to vote.

New rules requiring photo ID to vote were introduced by Johnsons Conservative government in the Elections Act 2022.

The law was widely criticized when it was introduced. The UKs Electoral Commission warned in 2023 that the law could exclude hundreds of thousands of people from voting and particularly impact the unemployed or members of ethnic minorities.






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - A man has been arrested after allegedly indecently assaulting an air stewardess on a flight to Spain

The 26-year-old British tourist was held after the employee for the Jet2 airline complained she had been groped in mid-air.

Civil Guard officers were waiting for the plane when it touched down at Palma Airport yesterday from Manchester after the pilot radioed ahead to say the unnamed Brit, who was travelling with a friend and was drinking, had caused problems during the flight by bothering other passengers, shouting and vaping while on board.

Officers had originally intended to remove the troublesome passenger from the plane and report him for breaching air security so he could be fined.

But they proceeded to arrest him on suspicion of sexual assault after a British air stewardess on the flight said he had touched her up and made lewd comments to her.

He was kept in a cell overnight before being hauled to court earlier today so he could be questioned by an investigating judge.

Ahead of his court appearance, his phone was confiscated from him after it emerged he had used it to take videos while he was on the plane, in case it contained evidence.

There has been no official comment yet from court officials in Palma.

But it is understood he was freed after the magistrate decided the allegations made against him had to be dealt with in the UK because the incident happened in the air and involved British nationals and a British airline.

The holidaymaker, who told police he couldn't remember what had happened on the flight, declined to answer questions from the judge.






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - A Pennsylvania nurse who administered lethal or potentially lethal doses of insulin to numerous patients has pleaded guilty to three counts of murder.

Heather Pressdee, 41, was given three consecutive life sentences and another consecutive term of 380-760 years behind bars during a hearing in Butler, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

When one of her lawyers asked her why she was pleading guilty, Pressdee replied, 'Because I am guilty.'

She played a role in the deaths of at least 17 patients who lived in five health facilities in four counties between 2020 and 2023, prosecutors said.

The 22 overall victims ranged in age from 43 to 104. Coworkers often questioned Pressdee's conduct and said she frequently showed disdain for her patients and made derogatory comments about them, authorities said.

Family members were quick to blast the sick 'Angel of Death' as she listened to them testify at her Thursday sentencing. One said: 'She is not sick. She is not insane. She is evil personified. ... 'I looked into the face of Satan myself the morning she killed my father.'

Pressdee, who could have faced a death sentence, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and 19 counts of attempted murder.

She initially was charged in May 2023 with killing two nursing home patients and injuring a third.

Further investigation led to dozens of more charges against her. During a February hearing, she argued with her attorneys and indicated that she wanted to plead guilty.

Pressdee said little as she entered her pleas inside a Pennsylvania courthouse, responding to most questions with a single word.

The plea hearing was expected to last through Friday because several people wanted to give victim impact statements, officials said.

Some who spoke in court Thursday told Pressdee that she had wrongly tried to play God, noting that although some of her victims were elderly or very ill, none were ready to die.

Pressdee didn't look at the speakers or react to their comments, even when one shouted an expletive at her that led the courtroom gallery to break out in applause, according to news reports.

Prosecutors alleged Pressdee, of Harrison, gave excessive amounts of insulin to 22 patients, including some who weren't diabetic.

Two patients died at the Quality of Life Services facility located in Chicora, Pennsylvania, where Pressdee worked, prosecutors said.

She typically administered the insulin during overnight shifts, when staffing was low and the emergencies wouldn't prompt immediate hospitalization. Most of the patients died soon after receiving the insulin dose, or some time later.

Her nursing license was suspended early last year, not long after the initial charges were filed.

According to court documents, Pressdee sent her mother texts between April 2022 and May 2023 in which she discussed her unhappiness with various patients and colleagues, and spoke about potentially harming them.

She also voiced similar complaints about people she encountered at restaurants and other places.

Pressdee had a history of being 'disciplined for abusive behaviour towards patients and/or staff at each facility resulting in her resigning or being terminated,' prosecutors said in court documents.

Beginning in 2018, Pressdee held a number of jobs at western Pennsylvania nursing homes and facilities for short periods, according to the documents.

She was charged with the murders of Irene Simons, 78, and Sandra Lincoln, 82, who died following unnecessary doses of insulin last year.




Sunday May 5, 2024  President William Ruto doesnt know what to do with the striking doctors anymore.

This is after his efforts to resolve the protracted doctors' strike hit another snag.

The late-night talks between government officials and the doctors union collapsed again, prolonging a healthcare crisis that has gripped the nation for over seven weeks now.

The negotiations, aimed at ending the strike, which entered its 53rd day on Saturday, faltered despite the emergence of a proposed return-to-work formula.

The breakdown threatens to extend the strike, potentially mirroring the severity of the 2017 healthcare standoff that endured for a daunting 100 days.

The proposed formula, which had seen significant progress with the resolution of 17 out of 19 contentious issues, faced a deadlock as both parties failed to find common ground on the remaining two points.

Led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the government delegation, comprising key officials including Cabinet Secretaries Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Florence Bore of Labour, Council of Governors Whip Stephen Sang (Nandi), and the Council's Health Committee Chairperson Muthomi Njuki, as well as Wailes Ahmed Abdullahi, convened with the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) in a bid to clinch an agreement. However, efforts proved futile as the doctors' union remained unyielding.

While the government delegation did not disclose the specifics of the unresolved issues, it was revealed that the doctors had introduced new demands, stalling the progress of negotiations that appeared to be nearing completion.

Frustrated by the impasse, Koskei issued a stern warning, stating, "If the doctors will not have signed the return-to-work formula by Monday, we want to ask the court to put necessary measures to ensure Kenyans get services."

However, speaking to Kenyans over the phone, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Bhimji Atellah reaffirmed the union's commitment to their cause, stating that the strike would continue until the government met their demands satisfactorily.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday May 5, 2024  Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas inner circle has downplayed the African Union Chairmanship bid as being a matter of life and death for the ODM leader.

In a statement, Railas lead legal counsel Paul Mwangi claimed that a majority of Kenyans are against the former premier's bid at the African Union secretariat.

He revealed Kenyans desperately want his boss to lose his AU Commission chairperson bid.

Raila seeks to succeed Chad's Moussa Faki as the African Union Commission chairperson.

He declared his bid for the continental post in February this year.

Speaking of the bid, Mwangi said it is not a matter of life and death for Raila.

According to the attorney, Kenyans pray that the former prime minister flunks the race so that he could be occupied in the local affairs bedeviling the country.

"Firstly, I can tell that the AU job is not a life-and-death deal for Baba. He would not sell his soul for it. Secondly, I wish you knew how many Kenyans out there are so unhappy about the AU job that they would believe God answered their prayers if Baba didn't get it," said Mwangi.

The lawyer was responding to Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot's argument that Raila was denting his chances of being the next AUC by scathingly attacking President William Ruto.

On Friday, Raila launched scathing attacks on the president, whom he accused of maladministration and mishandling of the country.

Raila pointed out supposed leadership gaps on the side of the government witnessed during the prevalent flooding disaster,

By virtue of Ruto being Raila's chief campaigner, Cheruiyot argued that Raila was out of order to attack him (Ruto).

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, according to a new report by Reuters.

The move comes following a decision by Niger's junta to expel the nearly 1,000 US military personnel from the country.

Before a coup last year, the US had been a key partner for the Nigerien's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

A senior U.S. defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with U.S. troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital.

The move by Russia's military puts U.S. and Russian troops nearby at a time when the nation's military and diplomatic rivalry is increasingly acrimonious over the conflict in Ukraine.

"(The situation) is not great but in the short-term manageable," the official said.

Asked about the report, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin played down any risk to American troops or the chance that Russian troops might get close to U.S. military hardware.

"The Russians are in a separate compound and don't have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment," Austin told a press conference in Honolulu.

"I'm always focused on the safety and protection of our troops ... But right now, I don't see a significant issue here in terms of our force protection."

Russia is seeking to strengthen relations with African nations, pitching Moscow as a friendly country with no colonial history in the continent.




Sunday May 5, 2024 - President William Ruto, First lady Rachael Ruto, and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, are among the high profile Kenyans who are guarded by highly trained General Service Unit (GSU) officers called Recce squad.

The specialised unit based in Ruiru has like 1000 officers who are trained in combat and marksmanship in Israel, United States and South Africa.

During the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the unit was well equipped and their welfare was taken care of because of their noble duty of protecting the Commander In Chief of Armed Forces.

However, since Ruto took over from Uhuru from September 2022, Recce unit officers are complaining how they are being mistreated by the state house mandarins despite guarding the most powerful man in the country.

The officers stated that whenever they travel outside Nairobi , they are forced to use their own money to rent a place to sleep and even to buy their own food.

This is what one Recce Commando told renowned blogger Cyprian Nyakundi.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Saturday, May 4, 2024 - The Republic of Turkey says it will not resume trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza.

With this move announced Friday, May 3, Turkey becomes the first of Israel's key partners to halt trade over the conflict.

"We decided to stop exports and imports to and from Israel until a permanent ceasefire is achieved (in Gaza) and humanitarian aid is allowed without interruption," the minister Bolat said.

Turkey is negotiating "with our Palestinian brothers on alternative arrangements to ensure that they are not affected by this decision", he added while announcing April trade figures.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticised Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's move, saying it breaks international trade agreements and was "how a dictator behaves".

The militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, praised the decision as brave and supportive of Palestinian rights.

Last month, Turkey curbed exports of steel, fertiliser and jet fuel among 54 product categories over what it said was Israel's refusal to allow Ankara to take part in aid air-drop operations for Gaza.

All remaining trade, which amounted to $5.4 billion in Turkish exports and $1.6 billion in Israeli imports last year, is now halted.

Top Turkish exports to Israel are steel, vehicles, plastics, electrical devices and machinery, while imports are dominated by fuels at $634 million last year, Turkish trade data show.




Sunday, May 5, 2024 - A video of a Boda boda rider being swept away while trying to cross a flooded river in South Horr, Samburu North has surfaced as heavy rains continue to ponder different parts of the country, leading to destruction of properties and loss of lives.

In the video, the area residents are seen pushing the rider as he tries to cross the swollen river that had broken its banks.

He is swept away downstream as the residents watch helplessly.

Some of the residents rush to rescue him but they are overwhelmed.

Ignorant Kenyans continue risking their lives by crossing flooded rivers even after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said that Kenyans who force their way through flooded bridges and rivers will be charged with attempted suicide.





Watch the video.

Arrogant Boda boda rider tests the strength of water in South horr, Samburu North. pic.twitter.com/oh40kU4YSO  Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) May 5, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Sunday, May 5, 2024 - National Assembly Majority leader, Kimani Ichungwah, has sent a warning to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his renewed attacks on President William Ruto.

Since the beginning of this year, Raila Odinga has been mute on issues affecting the country due to the fact that Ruto promised to support his African Union Chairperson bid.

But the ongoing floods which have claimed the lives of many Kenyans have forced Jakom to break his silence, accusing President William Rutos administration of being incompetent.

However, speaking in Iten on Saturday, Ichungwah boastfully told off Mr. Odinga against lecturing the President on matters of politics and the economy, saying Ruto had beaten him in both issues by winning the 2022 elections and revamping the economy respectively.

The Kikuyu MP instead advised the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader to show his gratitude to the Head of State by staying humble.

We are asking our friend Raila, William Ruto understands the issues of the economy better than you; he has turned the economy around.

"He also understands the countrys politics because he defeated you during elections when you were backed by the sitting government.

"He also understands world politics, that is why he is helping you to become AUC Chair, said Ichungwah.

If you were to be helped my brother, humble yourself because the position we are campaigning for you led by William Ruto is a position that calls for humility and respect across the entire continent and the world.

"Be humble and respect your chief campaigner Ruto, who is campaigning for you.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday May 5, 2024 - United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has finally bowed to pressure from Mt Kenya leaders to create a senior party position.

According to a statement shared by Secretary General Cleophas Malala, the UDA National Executive Committee has agreed to create the position of a Deputy Party Leader.

The ruling party has also agreed to create two positions of Assistant Deputy Party Leaders.

Malala noted that the positions were approved by the National Executive Committee in a meeting chaired by President William Ruto on Friday, May 3.

"The UDA Kenya National Executive Committee approved an amendment to the UDA Constitution to create ONE Office of the Deputy Party Leader and two offices of Assistant Deputy Party Leaders to align the Partys structural leadership with the national governance structure," Malala stated.

A section of Mt Kenya leaders had demanded the position of the Deputy Party Leader late in 2023 forcing the postponement of the grassroots polls.

Mt. Kenya leaders led by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, asked that the seat be preserved for the Mount Kenya region, with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua suggested for the role.

They must be a party leader and a deputy party leader the rest can be whatever they want to be, they said.

At that time, they also demanded the position of the Secretary-General to be reserved for the Mt Kenya region.

Their demands caused a storm in the party leading to the postponement of the grassroots polls.

However, UDA has now honoured part of their demand by creating the office of the Deputy Party Leader.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Local lenders are working tirelessly to assess the risks of their banking relationships with Speaker of Parliament Anita Among after she was sanctioned by the United Kingdom (UK) this past week.

Our sister publication, Monitor has established that the past workweeks call logs from the banks captured a frantic scramble as they kept the Central Bank and Uganda Bankers Association officials on the line. Our sources have confirmed that the local lenders enquiries had almost a desperate edge to them as they sought clarity on whether they could continue operating the Speakers accounts, especially those denominated in foreign currenciesCONTINUE READING..
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for government officials on charges related to the conduct of Israels war against Hamas it would be a scandal on a historic scale.

Israeli officials have expressed concern in recent days that the ICC is preparing warrants for senior government officials, in what would be the most serious international legal action taken against Israel since the Gaza war erupted in October.

The ICC  which can charge individuals with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide  is investigating Hamas Oct. 7 cross-border attack and Israels devastating military assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza, now in its seventh month.

The possibility that they will issue arrest warrants for war crimes against IDF (Israel Defence Force) commanders and state leaders, this possibility is a scandal on a historic scale, Netanyahu said in a video statement.

Israel says Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people; Gazas health ministry says more than 34,500 Gazans have been killed in Israels air and ground war, with most of the 2.3 million population displaced and the territory widely devastated.

United Nations bodies and human-rights groups have accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law during its military operation in Gaza, something it denies.

Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognise its jurisdiction, but the Palestinian territories were admitted with the status of a member state in 2015.

In October ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan said the court had jurisdiction over any potential war crimes committed by Islamist Hamas fighters in Israel and by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu said that any ICC arrest warrants would not affect Israels actions and, he said, would be the first time that a democratic country was accused by the court of war crimes.

I want to make one thing clear: no decision, neither in The Hague nor anywhere else, will harm our determination to achieve all the goals of the war  the release of all our hostages, a complete victory over Hamas and a promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, he said.

Prosecutors from the International Criminal Court have interviewed

staff from Gazas two biggest hospitals, sources told Reuters, the first confirmation that ICC investigators were speaking to medics about possible crimes in Gaza.

One of the sources said that events surrounding the hospitals could become part of the investigation by the ICC.
Speaking following meetings with two of the main banks, AIB and Bank of Ireland, ICMSAs Farm Business Chairperson, Pat OBrien, has advised farmers who are worried about their farm finances to engage early with their banks and in a way that allows them the space and time for any possible issues.



Obviously, weather-related issues were one of the main topics of discussion at these meetings, but the credit facilities and associated interest rates available to farmers was also raised because we are very conscious that there has to be a pathway for farmers to farm their way out of cashflow difficulties and the banks will have to show consideration and support to those farmers when thats required, said Mr. OBrien.



The ICMSA Committee Chairperson said that the wintering of animals and paying for the increased fodder used and replenishing stocks will be crucial and - while it looks like weather conditions are improving this week - the fallout of the extremely wet and lengthy winter will be long-term and will require extra bank support in some cases.
Interview: China, Hungary to strengthen high-quality cooperation under BRI for next decade, says ambassador

Xinhua) 14:02, May 05, 2024

Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Budapest, Hungary, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, May 4 (Xinhua) -- For the second golden decade of cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China and Hungary will continue to enhance high-quality cooperation and synergy between the BRI and Hungary's Opening to the East policy, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Gong noted bilateral cooperation has shown strong vigor and vitality, adding that China once again became Hungary's largest source of foreign investment and largest trading partner outside the European Union last year.

As the first European country to sign a BRI cooperation agreement with China, Hungary has been a distribution center for China-Europe freight trains and a crucial link in the logistics transport corridor between China and Europe over the past decade.

Moreover, several high-quality cooperation projects have revitalized bilateral relations and brought tangible benefits to both peoples, said Gong, citing the Hungary-Serbia railway project and the manufacturing facilities of Chinese battery producer CATL and electric vehicle maker BYD as examples.

During the next phase of ties, China and Hungary will continue to promote high-quality BRI cooperation in key areas such as the digital economy, the green economy, information technology and cross-border e-commerce, according to the ambassador.

Gong said that the two sides have "unlimited opportunities and broad prospects" for cooperation across the economy and trade, finance, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.

At the invitation of President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Hungary.

This visit will surely become a milestone of great historical significance in China-Hungary relations, leading bilateral ties to new heights, opening up new prospects for practical cooperation and writing a new chapter in traditional friendship, Gong said.

He said that China and Hungary support connectivity, multipolarity, and inclusive globalization and oppose decoupling, supply chain severance and confrontation.

Gong expressed his hopes for expanding the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Hungary through deepening political mutual trust, reciprocal cooperation and international coordination.

Gong said China looks forward to working with Hungary to advance cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe while developing stable ties with the EU.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
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Crown Linen Service says it expects to be up and running its normal schedule on Monday after a fire caused extensive damage to a building in its production facility in Mexico early Saturday morning.

The linen service, which was founded in Mexico, Missouri, more than 130 years ago, said in a Facebook post that no one was injured in the fire.

"We have employees that appeared without being asked, community members call to offer help, the city stepped in as soon as possible..." Crown Linen said in the Facebook post.

2:29 WATCH: Crews battle fire at Crown Linen production facility The Mexico, Missouri, linen service said no one was injured in the overnight fire.

The business said first responders spent most of the night ensuring the fire didn't spread.

KOMU 8 has reached out to the Mexico Public Safety Department for more information about the fire and has not received a response.
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South Korea's Cyber Operations Command will participate in a U.S.-led multinational cyber exercise this week to strengthen its capabilities to counter malicious cyber activities, Seoul's defense ministry said Sunday, amid growing security threats from North Korea.

Nine personnel from the South's military will join the Cyber Flag exercise to be held from Sunday through Saturday (local time) in the U.S. state of Virginia, according to the defense ministry.

The online exercise is designed to hone skills for multinational cooperation in countering cyberthreats and share intelligence against enemies' cyber activities.

Since 2011, the U.S. Cyber Command has conducted the cyber exercise annually to enhance the readiness of Washington, its allies and partner countries against security threats in the online domain.

This year's exercise involves 18 nations, including the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance, which consists of the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and other partner countries.

It will mark South Korea's third participation in the exercise since the nation first joined it in 2022. (Yonhap)
Americas best-known wine regions may be in California, Washington, upstate New York and Oregon, but New Jersey is catching up with more than 50 wineries and counting.

Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees just joined the ever-growing wine community, opening at the beginning of April by owner Bill Green and his wife Amy.

Owner, Bill Green and marketing director, Julie Pierre of Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

Not only does this new South Jersey winery offer a robust selection of wines  including chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet franc and more  but the winery sits on historic land.

In 1773, George Washington gifted an approximate 70-acre piece of land in Voorhees to his loyal personal guard, Lt. John Stafford. For the next 230 years, the Stafford family owned the farmland using it to grow corn and potatoes and then eventually using the land for horse harness racing and hay growing.

READ MORE: New Jerseys 25 best vineyards and wineries, the ultimate guide

I remember as a kid, seeing the harness racing horses and them training on the track, Green told NJ Advance Media. Wed sit at the ice cream place across the street and just watch them.

Growing vineyard at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

Then in 2003, the Stafford family sold the land to the state and county for about $21 million. In 2005 it was purchased by Ken and Amy Kazahaya before being put up for auction in 2020.

When I came along, I saw it as a blank canvas that needed a lot of work, said Green. But I just saw a great opportunity, theres about 150,000 people in a 12-mile radius here in Jersey and were 12 miles away from one of the biggest cities in the country (Philadelphia).

The Greens purchased the property in March 2021. Green mentioned that what he inherited from the land was a broken well, a dilapidated horse barn and a greenhouse that didnt work.

Everything else was (also) unusable, Green said.

Wine barrels at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

For three years, they restored and built what Saddlehill Winery is today. To preserve the cherished lands history, they restored the horse track and currently house three carriages. Today, the land operates as a farm, full-scale winery, tasting room, farm-to-table kitchen and retail shop.

The winery crafts 17 different wines with plans of producing about 12 to 15,000 cases of wine a year. Bottles range from $20 to $70. Although the wine is currently only available at the winery and on their website, they plan to distribute in the future.

Dining and tasting room at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

Guests can enjoy the wine in their chic tasting and dining room with a menu complete with light eats such as arancini and truffle parmesan fries, salads, heartier dishes like salmon, steak frites and a small selection of desserts. Each menu item informs guests which wine pairs great with it.

Pastrami-style wings at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

I loved their pastrami-style wings ($16)  extra crispy with a deep, savory and smoky taste  pairing beautifully with their cabernet sauvignon. To get a feel for Saddlehills wines, I tried their house favorites wine flights ($20) with two-ounce pours of the sauvignon blanc, estate chardonnay, Lisas and cabernet sauvignon.

House favorites wine flight at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

My favorite was the Lisas, a mix of different varieties such as chambourcin, blaufrankish, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and regent. Green explained that this wine was made by mistake when they ended up getting grapes they didnt really want and decided to mix them together with other grapes. The wine is named after Greens sister, Lisa who passed away in 2022.

Marshmallow, a pony at Saddlehill Winery in Voorhees, NJ (Lauren Musni | NJ Advance Media)Lauren Musni

Saddlehill Winery also has a barn for their horses and a small area where they house and care for four alpacas.

Though theyve only been open for a few weeks, the winery already shows to have a promising future aiming to capitalize on the success of other South Jersey vineyards like Tomasello Winery, Amalthea Cellars Farm Winery and Valenzano Family Winery.

The winery is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Turkey vultures soared just above the leaf canopy overhead Saturday as Van Wagner surveyed the tallest trees on the highest point in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

The 47-year-old from Danville, Montour County, teaches high school, runs a forestry business with his sons and plays folk music.

In between, hes visiting all 67 Pennsylvania counties to start a conversation about conservation of Pennsylvanias trees.

Since January 2023, Wagner has been climbing each countys highest peak then scaling the highest tree he can find there.

I am a forester, Wagner told lehighvalleylive.com. For me, its all about the trees.

It is my hope my efforts are getting Pennsylvanians talking about their forests  these forests provide jobs, recreation, spiritual renewal, and so much more. But they are facing many threats such as invasive plants and insects.

Saturday saw Wagners return to the Lehigh Valley region, as he made his way up the highest hilltop and tallest tree thereon in Bucks then Montgomery counties.

They were Nos. 42 and 43 on his journey, which he thinks he may be able to complete this year. A map of his adventures details his Northampton County climb (No. 32) on Jan. 14 and Lehigh County stop (No. 39) on April 1.

For starters Saturday, Wagner brought his folk music to the spring open house at Flint Hill Farm Educational Center, 1922 Flint Hill Road in Upper Saucon Township, outside Coopersburg. He had found two peaks tied for highest in Bucks but was striking out contacting the ones owner. Fellow musician Mike Wuerstle, who plays bluegrass, invited him to jam at Flint Hill, whose back border touches Bucks and its tied-for-highest point. At the top, he found a black oak to scale as onlookers whod joined him from the open house offered encouragement.

After a set of tunes at the farm and the climb, he set out for nearby Mill Hill Preservation Area in Montgomerys Upper Hanover Township. The 237-acre preserve open for public use, including hunting in-season, features not only the countys highest point but also fishing on the pristine Hosensack Creek.

Wagner spends a lot of time around Pennsylvanias trees. His sons Luke, who is studying forestry at Penn State University, and 2024 high school graduate Calvin, enrolled to study forestry at Penn State Mont Alto, work with him at Van Wagner and Sons Tree Service LLC. His day job is teaching agriculture at Danville Area High School.

I stay busy, Wagner said. My forestry work I tackle on weekends and occasionally in the evenings. Live music is mostly nights. Teaching is a lifestyle more than a job so that never ends  Im in communication with parents and students long after the school day ends.

He never knows what species of tree hes going to find atop Pennsylvanias peaks until he reaches the top and gets the lay of the land: That is part of the fun! he said.

Van Wagner uses a slingshot to launch a weighted throw-bag over a branch as part of his setup to climb the tallest tree Saturday, May 4, 2024, on the highest peak in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He's on a mission to repeat the feat statewide in all 67 counties, in an effort to boost awareness about ecology and conservation.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

At Mill Hill, a 1.2-mile trail leads to Montgomery Countys highest point, 715 above sea level. Wagner had lugged up about 40 pounds of his arborist gear for the tree-climb to follow the hill-climb. An ash still standing but pretty well dead, victim of the emerald ash borer invasive pest, was the clear winner for tallest tree, but also clearly unsafe.

Thats why were doing this, he said, to highlight the threats confronting Penns Woods.

Wagner instead chose a basswood next door that would get him a good 50 feet higher than the countys high point.

A reporter had joined him for the trek, a relief to Wagners wife, Tamara, who prefers he not tackle these outings solo. He was alone Dec. 27 in Lebanon County when he gashed his hand, but still made the climb. It took four days of super-gluing the wound to stop the bleeding.

Nothing I havent been able to get out of, he says of injuries or other sticky situations hes found himself in on his climbs.

Identifying trees by their leaves, bark and size, Wagner uses a big slingshot to send a weighted throw-bag sailing over a branch. A string tailing behind is used to pull up his climbing rope that he secures to a harness.

Van Wagner scales a basswood atop the highest point in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 4, 2024, as part of a statewide tour climbing each county's highest point and tallest tree he can find there, in an effort to boost awareness about ecology and conservation.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

From there, deploying what he calls dynamic rope technique, Wagner used a handheld brake called a mechanical prusik on the rope to climb free of the greenbriar and invasive fire bush at the base of the basswood. Once clear, he bounced his steel-toed boots off the trunk as he pulled himself up for a view of the rural countryside near the Lehigh County border. Earlier, in Bucks, hed used a stationary rope technique that relies more on the rope than the tree, compared to the dynamic method.

Van Wagner scales a basswood atop the highest point in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 4, 2024, as part of a statewide tour climbing each county's highest point and tallest tree he can find there, in an effort to boost awareness about ecology and conservation.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Wagners been logging for about 30 years, but only added arbor culture and tree-climbing to his skillset about five years ago.

The arbor culture is definitely what makes the phone ring more, and its something that I do with my sons, he said.

Saturday marked Wagners final southeastern Pennsylvania climbs, with the western portion of the state comprising much of his remaining hills and hilltop trees. Before Saturday, his prior climb was in Erie County on April 8, from which he witnessed the total solar eclipse.

Wagner doesnt have a set schedule for when he hopes to climb the remaining one-third of Pennsylvania counties highest points and tallest hilltop trees. The focus is just trying to bring awareness to the important roles trees play in the states ecosystems.

We all need to be part of the conversation of how best to manage our forests  perhaps moreso now than ever, he said.

Once hes done all 67?

No firm plans honestly, Wagner said. Just enjoying the adventure. Maybe when this is done I will climb the state tree of every state. Its all about the trees for me!

Van Wagner takes a selfie from a basswood he's climbed atop the highest point in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 4, 2024, as part of a statewide tour climbing each county's highest point and tallest tree he can find there, in an effort to boost awareness about ecology and conservation.Couretsy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Editors Note: Lehighvalleylive.com is offering a benefit to subscribers: Click the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and get free, print-quality downloads - as well as the option to purchase keepsakes at half the price.

Parkland High School students celebrated their prom at the SteelStacks complex on Saturday.

Freelance photographer Rick Kintzel was there to capture a few of the students as they arrived for the prom.

Lehighvalleylive.com will be sending photographers to proms throughout the Lehigh Valley and Warren County this season. Our full coverage of proms across the region can be found at lehighvalleylive.com/prom.

Check out the gallery above to see everyone dressed up for a night to celebrate.

SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS

Dont forget to tag @lehighvalleylive in your Instagram photos and @lehighvalley on Twitter - we just might highlight the best pics!

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Saed Hindash may be reached at shindash@lehighvalleylive.com.
A solicitor who attempted to represent her mother and accept penalty points was told she was wearing two hats in court.

Frances ODonovan of Ballingirlough, Holycross, Bruff, Limerick was summoned to court in relation to a speeding fine.

Her daughter Ashling Walsh explained that her mother was in Croatia working for the Department of Foreign Affairs. She told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that she was a solicitor and she wished to represent her mother and that she wished to nominate herself as the speeding driver.

I dont think that is appropriate, said Judge Nicola Andrews.

In those circumstances, she instructs me to enter a guilty plea, Ms Walsh replied.

You are wearing two hats, said Judge Andrews. She advised the solicitor that her mother was entitled to send a solicitor on her behalf. She asked her to discuss the matter with Solicitor Philip Meagher.

When the case was called again, Mr Meagher said Ms ODonovans daughter indicates that it was in fact her that was driving on the date in question.

He said they only became aware of the issue when the summons arrived and there was no option to nominate a driver on the summons.

That is only included in a fixed charge penalty notice, Mr Meagher explained.

Judge Andrews said a fixed charge penalty notice had been issued in relation to the speeding.

Mr Meagher said the defendant moved abroad last year and rented her home and there was an informal arrangement for the tenant to pass on any mail. However, he said they never received the fixed charge penalty notice.

We have been prejudiced, we would say, by not being able to nominate her daughter, he said.

Mr Meagher said the fixed charge penalties are sent by regular post. He said his client was adamant that the notice wasnt received.

The court was told the offence related to a 131D car registered to the defendant which was detected travelling at 130kph in a 120kmh zone on the M7 at Meelick, Laois on October 25 last year.

Ms Walsh took to the stand and said the car belonged to her mother but she was a named driver. She said she had been driving from Limerick to Dublin on the date of the offence.

She said her mother had moved abroad in August and she would collect mail from the man who rents the property on a regular basis as she only lives three kilometres away. No notice was received by me, she said.

She told the court she would have accepted the fine and the penalty points had the notice arrived.

Judge Andrews said the matter had taken up court time. She said she was prepared to strike the matter out if 700 was paid to the court poor box but she warned it must be dealt with urgently. The money was paid over before the court sitting ended and the case was struck out.
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The Government must be stronger in dealing with makeshift encampments of homeless asylum seekers, a Fianna Fail TD has said.

James OConnor also called for gardai to be deployed to check points on the border to deal with a reported increase in migrants entering from Northern Ireland.

His comments came as the latest tented encampment in Dublin, on the banks of the Grand Canal, grew significantly in size over the weekend.

More than 70 tents were pitched in lines on both banks of the canal in the area around the Mount Street Bridge on Sunday.

Volunteers delivered bottles of water and food to the migrants during the day.

The area is close to the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street, from where more than 200 asylum seekers who had been living in tents on footpaths were moved on Wednesday.

Those men were taken from the Mount Street camp to facilities at the Citywest hotel in Dublin and Crooksling in Co Dublin.

Mr OConnor raised concerns that another camp had sprung up so quickly. He said Ireland was increasingly being seen as a soft touch in relation to migration.

Whats happening on Grand Canal dock, and in Mount Street indeed, its completely unacceptable to me as a government TD and I think the Government needs to be stronger in dealing with this, the Cork East TD told RTE Radio Ones This Week programme.

Theres no shame in saying that, in providing appropriate accommodation, I think buying up hotels and B&Bs across the country for the purpose of providing asylum accommodation, in my view, is no longer appropriate and were seeing the increase in tensions  attacks on politicians homes, protests that are getting out of control in certain parts of the country, and this to me is a huge, huge concern.

Mr OConnor said there was a need for larger accommodation centres in places like Dublin Airport and in the border area.

Tensions between London and Dublin have increased in recent days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed there had been an upsurge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the UK into the Republic of Ireland after the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act at Westminster.

The Irish Government has made clear it does not intend to deploy gardai to the border to monitor the issue. Mr OConnor urged a re-think.

I would be quite forthright that we do need to see a further rapid expansion of border policing around migration, he said.

This is something that I feel is not being done sufficiently and I do feel that we need to take the bull by the horns here and address it because we have to look after people that come here, but we do need to acknowledge that there is a tipping point where we cant do that any more.

He added: What is the alternative? That is the question.

Are we going to leave it (the border) unpoliced and allow further encampments around cities in Ireland and towns in Ireland increase.

I think its about sending a signal from Ireland that weve taken over 100,000 people from both Ukraine and from many other parts of the country of the world in terms of economic migration, and refugees for other reasons.

And I feel that we have now done our bit as a country.

We are 5.4 million people here, weve taken an enormous share internationally and thats something that needs to be acknowledged and address the issues in constituencies such as my own and others that havent been properly resourced to deal with these challenges, particularly in schools.

When the tented camp was dismantled on Mount Street, the area around the IPO was cordoned off.

More asylum seekers gathered at the office on Thursday but were told the authorities were at that point not able to provide them with accommodation.

A number of homeless migrants subsequently pitched tents in a private park in south Dublin on Thursday. However, those men left the area on Friday.

Later on Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the Governments handling of the asylum seeker accommodation issue.

He said makeshift encampments on public roads and footpaths were illegal, and never the solution.

Its also not in the interest of the people who are sleeping in those tents, people who dont have access to proper sanitation, he said.

Mr Harris added: We work at this every single day but I need to be clear and honest with people coming to our country, we are doing our very best in very difficult and challenging circumstances to provide accommodation.

But accommodation isnt always readily available but we are keeping working at it day by day.

The conversation about migration cant just be one about accommodation, because no matter how much accommodation you have, if its just a conversation about accommodation, accommodation will fill.

It also has to be a conversation about faster processing times, about efficient and effective systems.
Emotional scenes at Dublin airport as Irish Palestinian man, Zak Hania, is reunited with his family after being blocked from leaving Gaza when his wife and his sons fled last year.

He arrived in Dublin Airport on Saturday and embraced his wife and children, fearing that he might never be able to see them again.

In a video on social media Mr. Hania is seen emotional and drops to his his knees when entering Dublin Airport before speaking.

Mr. Hania goes on to say in the video:

"I have love and respect for this land. Ireland is in my heart, as is Palestine."

"I don't have enough words to thank you and to thank all the people who are going to the streets and being in the streets for a long time and are making every effort to support the people in Gaza and to support Palestine and trying to stop this brutal genocide."

"I think Israel have taken off their mask and are showing their real face, and we are, as human beings showing our true humanity and our determination to stop this crime and to all be united, all of humanity to be united to stop this crime."
Helen O'Keeffe from Leitrim Village was a lucky winner in Gala Retail's Home or Away store promotion, winning a  4,000 holiday voucher.

Gala Retail launched the promotion to celebrate 25 years of serving communities and has been delighting its loyal customers across the country with the chance to win one of 25-holiday vouchers.

The promotion, which ran throughout February and March, allowed shoppers 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.

Helen 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 we're thrilled to see our customers creating unforgettable memories with family or friends

The Home or Away promotion, which ran from February 5th to March 17th, received overwhelming participation and support from customers across the country.
A man searches for his name on a voters list put up on a wall, during the Togo's parliamentary and regional elections in Lome, on April 29, 2024. NOEL KOKOU TADEGNON / REUTERS

Togo's ruling party won a parliamentary majority in April's legislative elections, the country's electoral commission said Saturday, after a divisive constitutional reform critics say allows President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his time in power.

Gnassingbe's Union for the Republic party (UNIR) won 108 of 113 seats in the new assembly, according to provisional results announced by the national electoral commission.

The participation rate in the election was 61 percent, according to the electoral commission president Dago Yabre, who gave the results in a national broadcast.

Read more Togo Parliament approves contested constitutional reform days before elections

Already in power for nearly 20 years

Under the new constitution approved by lawmakers in April, Gnassingbe will now be able to take a new post as president of the council of ministers, a role similar to the prime minister that is automatically assumed by the leader of the majority party in parliament.

Already in power for nearly 20 years, Gnassingbe succeeded his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades in the small coastal West African state between Benin and Ghana.

Opposition parties denounced the constitutional reform as an "institutional coup" for creating a role tailor-made for Gnassingbe to evade presidential term limits and extend his family's political dynasty. UNIR loyalists say the reform made Togo's democracy more representative. Under the previous constitution, Gnassingbe would have been able to run for the presidency just one more time in 2025.

Gnassingbe, 57, has already won four elections, though all were denounced as flawed by the opposition. The main opposition boycotted the last parliamentary election in 2018, citing irregularities. But this time they had rallied supporters to challenge UNIR dominance.

According to the new constitution, Togo's president now becomes a mostly ceremonial role elected by parliament, and not the people, for a four-year term.

Togo's shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system means power now resides with the new president of the council of ministers, who will be the leader of the majority party in the new assembly.

Irregularities according to opposition

For the opposition, this means Gnassingbe will be able to stay in power without term limits as long as the UNIR is the majority party in the national assembly.

Read more Togo adopts a new constitution

Regional election observers had said they were satisfied with the conduct of the April 29 election, which also saw a vote for regional representatives who will help select the membership of the senate, a newly created second chamber.

Opposition parties denounced some irregularities in the legislative election and others challenged the constitutional reform as illegal in the court of the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS.

But opposition attempts to protest against the new reform were also blocked by authorities. Political rallies have been banned in Togo since an attack on the large market in Lome during which a military police officer was killed.
LIMERICK woman Kelly Ryan, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) last November is leading the way for the MS Ireland 50K challenge in May.

Its a global initiative and all money raised will go towards funding MS research, support, advocacy and services on both national and regional levels.

People are asked to complete the 50K in any way they can, whether thats walking, running, or rolling, throughout the month of May.

As its a virtual event around the world, it can be done anywhere, by individuals, families or teams.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Kelly who is from Ballyneety said I wanted to raise awareness for MS. I realised not many people know or understand what MS is and how prevalent it is in Ireland. I myself was one of those people until a friend of mine educated me a little, not long before my own diagnosis. I also wanted to feel a sense of community in a way to help me accept my diagnosis.

Getting a diagnosis of MS can be life-changing and very daunting and Kelly said the lead up to knowing what was happening was fraught.

The 27-year-old told the Limerick Leader: I was officially diagnosed in November 2023, after two and a half years of not knowing what was going on with my body.

Describing how she felt, she said: My symptoms came on after the Covid vaccine, as the vaccine presented it, but it was blurry vision in one eye, fatigue, weakness, and what felt like - and still feels like - electric shocks going through my brain.

When I got the diagnosis, I remember being so relieved that I finally had an answer, and then extremely overwhelmed.

It was a range of emotions in such a short space of time, but it felt like I had been sitting in the neurologists office for hours. Its still a range of emotions on a daily basis but understanding that grief plays a big role after getting a diagnosis like, this helps a lot.

She added that with a diagnosis like this, theres a lot to take in.

READ MORE: WATCH: Heartwarming moment influencer inspires Irish child with Alopecia to take hat off in public for first time

Im still navigating around it all, but its all about listening to my body and knowing when to rest.

I never know how Im going to feel until I wake up in the mornings because its such an unpredictable illness.

I have good days and bad days, it is just about learning to listen to my body, Im definitely still learning.

When Kelly first took on the May 50K challenge, she had a fundraising target of 250 and in just four days, she reached 2,203.

With those insanely generous donations, Ive received so many amazing messages of kindness and support. Ive never felt so loved.

Ive also received messages from old friends, my own age, who have also recently been diagnosed with MS, and some of the people also involved with the charity. I would encourage as many people as possible to take up this challenge in May.

There are more than 10,000 people in Ireland living with MS and 30% of all money raised will go towards life-changing MS research, while 70% will fund local services and supports across Ireland.

If you want to get involved in the challenge, register on the MS Ireland website here https://www.themay50k.ie.

People can support Kelly directly at www.themay50k.ie/ fundraisers/kellyryan.
New Delhi: When Eva was born, she was only able to answer basic queries such as: What is the prevailing interest rate for a one-year fixed deposit (FD)," and What are the various types of credit cards available." A little over seven years on, HDFC Banks artificial intelligence (AI)-driven customer service chatbot is doing much more. Eva, an acronym for Electronic Virtual Assistant, can pull out specific information pertaining to a customer, and even execute tasks such as sharing credit card statements, blocking a lost card, booking an FD and issuing a cheque book. With each customer engagement, Eva learns something new and gets better.

While customers can choose different modes of contacttouch (in a branch), type (on the website), tap (chat banking on WhatsApp) and talk (call the contact centre and interact with the voice assistant)we see an increasing preference for digital self care," said Anjani Rathor, chief digital experience officer, HDFC Bank, pointing at the increase in such interactions. Today, a significant part of the 30 million-plus monthly customer interactions at Indias largest private sector bank are processed by AI/machine learning (ML) solutions, including Eva.

At white goods major Voltas, half of the customer engagements, including demo, installation and service requests, are now handled by bots. This is a massive shift from 2018-19, when 95% of customer calls were handled by human agents. At Japanese home appliances and consumer electronics major Panasonic India, bots handled 20% of the queries when they were introduced in 2020. Today, that has doubled.

The world of the contact centre, once manned by an army of humans, has been transformed by technology. With every new technological advance, from interactive voice responses (IVR) almost three decades back to chatbots a decade or so ago, the human army has become a little smaller, and the promise of better engagement between customers and companies has become bigger.

The outsourced contact centre industry, pegged to be worth $110-115 billion globally at the end of 2023, will contract to $95-105 billion in the next three to four years, according to Everest Group.

At first, it was patchy, good enough only for routine tasks such as resetting a password, ordering a cheque book or updating an accounts balance. That left all the stakeholdersthe company, customers, and the human agentswanting more. Complaining customers fret about talking to chatbots who cant comprehend their intent. Human agents, on the other hand, have to turn the other cheek and endure the ire of customers (and frequently, their abuse) to ensure the company they represent appears to put the customer first.

But today, customer engagement is dramatically changing thanks to AI. Generative AI (GenAI) powered chatbots are far better in comprehending and processing human languages and addressing customer needs than their earlier avatars.

So much so, that in a 24 April interview with The Financial Times, K. Krithivasan, chief executive officer (CEO) of the $30 billion tech services major TCS, said that AI will result in a minimal" need for call centres within a year. Chatbots will soon be able to analyse customers transaction history and do much of the work done by call centre agents," he noted.

View Full Image File photo of business executives working in a call centre.

But there is a dark lining on that silver cloud. The outsourced contact centre industry, pegged to be worth $120-130 billion globally at the end of 2023, will contract to $95-105 billion in the next three to four years, according to Everest Group, a research and advisory group specializing in the global services industry.

Its not as if the volume of work will decline; but bots, which cost far less than people, will take on more of the workload. Simultaneously, human agents will become more efficient, and focus on more complex tasks, such as helping customers understand insurance policies, reschedule flight bookings, and so on. And enterprises, consequently, will be able to reduce their overall spends on contact centres.

Five years back, calls were the primary means to support customershandling 70% of the queries. Now, WhatsApp, chatbots, and voice bots work alongside human agents. At least 30% of the contact centres globally have adopted AI-powered tools," said Ishwar Sridharan, co-founder and chief operating officer (COO) of Exotel, a company that offers AI-driven contact centre solutions.

Bullish on bots

View Full Image In 2023, a Swedish fintech company Klarna partnered with OpenAI to develop a virtual assistant. (Bloomberg)

The conduit between the company and the customer has evolved over the decades from face-to-face interactions to telephone calls. When the call volume ballooned it led to the evolution of call centres manned by a sea of headset-wearing human agents. With the internet, these centres could be set up anywhere. Airtel Ola, Uber, Tata Motors, Bank of America, Swiggy, Dell, JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Capital One, American Express, P&G and hundreds of other companies either run in-house divisions or outsource their contact centre work. Globally, more than 12 million are employed in the industry today, answering customer queries for international as well as local customers. A million or so of them are in India, which has become the worlds call centre thanks to its large population and low costs.

The Philippines, with around 1.2 million workers, is another large global contact centre destination. But those numbers could decline with the emergence of the chatbot, which is evolving rapidly since being initially deployed to handle basic customer queries. Contact centres will grow more on the digital side than on the human labour side. Average call handling times will reduce as bots get better in comprehending caller needs," said Tom Coshow, senior director analyst, Gartner.

The (call centre) industry started with answering basic queries like credit card outstanding, flight schedule, password reset, etc., which is now mostly automated," noted Raman Roy, chairman and MD of Quatrro BPO, a pioneer in Indias back-office industry. In six-eight years, technology will take over much of the high-end work. Better natural language processing is making it possible."

Contact centres will grow more on the digital side than on the human labour side Tom Coshow

It has already begun to do that and is helping companies save huge sums of money. Swedish fintech company Klarna, is a case in point. In 2023, Klarna partnered with OpenAI to develop a virtual assistant. This March, the fintech claimed its virtual agent helped shrink its query resolution time from 11 minutes to just two. The assistant does the work of 700 humans and Klarna expects to save $40 million this year.

How the bots evolved

About a decade back the early chatbots searched for keywords in text (like, reset password or bank balance). While they could do frequently asked questions (FAQ) kind of work, the experience was not too great for anything that required a transaction. But it did free up human agent time to focus on more complex tasks.

Then came intent-based botsif a customer asked for a red coloured Air Jordan shoe, the bot knew the customer was looking for a shoe. The bots got a boost as the world shut down during covid and companies scrambled for digital alternatives to answer customer queries.

View Full Image While chatbots are improving with better natural language processing capabilities, lower costs also work in their favour.

Now, a GenAI version chatbot can understand out-of-context text. So, if a user asks, I have knee pain, which shoe should I wear," the bot will be able to offer options.

Contact centres have problems with hiring, training, attrition and customer satisfaction. With chatbots these problems are getting resolved," said Ganesh Gopalan, co-founder and CEO of Gnani.ai. Set up by a group of former Texas Instruments engineers, Gnani.ai is a conversational AI platform backed by Samsung Ventures.

While chatbots are improving with better natural language processing capabilities, lower costs also work in their favour. According to industry estimates, the average per-employee cost of a contact centre ranges between 30,000 to 45,000 per month. Each agent does around 1,000 calls a month at 15 to 20 per call. Chatbots, on the other hand, are able to deliver at 3 to 5 per call.

Bots today are learning both from historical conversations fed to them and new ones they attend to in real time. The underlying technology is AI now. Theres more intelligence built in chatbots and they can even give a recommendation based on a combination of knowledge and intelligence," said Rashid Khan, chief product officer and co-founder of Yellow.ai. His company focuses on automating accessbe it voice, chat or email. Backed by Salesforce, WestBridge Capital and others, Yellow.ai claims to have over 1,100 customers, of which 400, including the Bajaj Group, Asian Paints and Tata Power, are in India.

Interestingly, there are more ventures like Exotel, Gnani.ai and Yellow.ai being set up today by entrepreneurs than call centres, as technology is tilting the scales in favour of chatbots. The call centre wave ended around the time the chatbots started appearing. It made way for an omnichannel customer experience that didnt rely solely on humans but also included chatbots and social media platforms such as WhatsApp.

Impact on jobs

View Full Image Contact centre companies believe their future lies in a blended model. (Mint)

Bots are getting better but humans wont entirely disappear from contact centres, at least in the foreseeable future, for reasons spanning from regulation to technology limitations. While technology is improving, regulation could delay a blanket use of bots," said Quatrros Roy. Contact centres provide employment at scale and governments could step in to check a complete wipeout, at least, in the short term.

Besides, European and American regulators are coming up with guidelines on how companies portray chatbots to website visitors, users and customers. Californias laws restrain companies from making their chatbots appear as real humans. European regulators bar the approval of consumer loans by chatbots.

Some sectors like banking may not adopt GenAI in a hurry.

We are custodians of customer money and data. A cautious approach on GenAI, ensuring data privacy and security, is the right thing to do. A good part of our innovation technology is in-house," said HDFC Banks Rathor. Also, banks see themselves evolving with deeper customer engagements on, say, wealth management and insurance, while bots take care of routine queries.

Californias laws restrain companies from making chatbots seem like real humans. European rules bar the approval of consumer loans by chatbots.

Even as regulators step in, chatbots cant take over the entirety of contact centre operations. You cant reschedule a flight via a chatbot," explained Gartners Coshow.

Data privacy, security, and hallucinations (GenAI giving out incorrect or nonsensical information) are among the major challenges with GenAI-powered bots. We will still require the human touch in this industry," said Sharang Sharma, vice president, Everest Group.

Roy pointed out that processes such as mortgage origination have 1,800 questions. Its hard to say that it will all get automated," he added.

On their part, contact centre companies believe their future lies in a blended model. We use technology not to replace humans but to expand their capabilities and accelerate resolution through conversational chatbots for simple queries. We use our team of interaction experts for more complex resolution," said Teleperformance Indias COO M.V. Prasanth.

Paris-headquartered Teleperformance has 500,000 employees globally and around 90,000 in India, serving more than 200 clients across industries.

Swedish outsourcing company Transcom acquired Gurgaon-based contact centre VCosmos in February to expand its operations here. Natural language processing augments our capability to offer services to any market. Improvements in the technology will be key to automating processes, but humans will be needed for personalization," said Amandeep Singh Arora, chief experience officer and managing director, Transcom India. Transcom Global has 30,000 employees in 30 markets, of which 700 are in India.

Key to adoption

Even as the call centre business stares at its most disruptive moment with the proliferation of chatbots, customer satisfaction will be the key to quick adoption. Using only humans is suddenly seen as an inefficient way to run a contact centre," said Gaurav Vasu, CEO of Unearthinsight, a Bengaluru-based consultancy. Omnichannel models, with human capability augmented by intelligent bots, will get strengthened."

Those running contact centres, meanwhile, will see margin improvements with bots, compelling them to use more of them. Businesses will tilt towards technology as these (customer care divisions) are seen as cost centres, which wont add to their bottomline.

According to Unearthinsight, pure human voice business gives a company a 9-11% margin; humans combined with bots and email support is 12-13%. Adding maintenance will widen that to a 14-15% gross margin. But while companies get bullish on bots, customers are likely to react in different ways. Some, especially those from the older generation, will always prefer to interact with a humanand feel a deep sense of frustration interacting with a bot. When my mother calls up Microsoft tech support, she expects Bill Gates to answer! For my teenage daughter, an exchange with a chatbot is good enough," said Gartners Coshow.

When that teenager gets to her grandmas age, she may not even remember that an army of humans once populated contact centres. To be sure, theyll still be around, just not so many of them. Indeed, contact centres will increasingly become chatbot centres. But that also means theres likely to be a less-harassed human being waiting to answer that call when it is beyond the chatbots capability. And thats a win-win for all.
For Aditya Mishra, preparations for his Barcelona trip to join his wife in June began months ago. The 37-year-old corporate employee, who just returned from his work trip to Budapest in Hungary, however, found himself embroiled in a frustrating saga of visa acquisition.

Every day, Mishra would diligently log into BLS International's portal, the official website for Spain's Schengen visas. Despite his consistent efforts, securing an appointment for a summer travel visa, remained an uphill battle.

Weeks passed, then months, but there was no appointment in sight. He eventually opted for an unconventional solution after exhausting all his avenues, including trying to use other visa handlers who could secure slots through other means.

He had to reluctantly shell out a hefty fee of 30,000 for a "visa-at-your-doorstep" appointment, which costs three times more than the actual visa processing fee and commissions.

Mishra's story isn't one from the visa landscape of the pandemic but for 2024 upcoming summer travel, where bureaucratic hurdles still exist despite a change in regime and lack of interest in embassies to reduce the wait time for tourists.

Navigating through the complexities of international borders and regulations has never been easy. But visas to Europe have remained as elusive to obtain as last year and the year before. On average, the next available appointment date for a Schengen visa is 30-45 days, a top online travel agency's senior executive confirmed to Mint.

The Schengen area refers to a group of European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border controls at their mutual borders to allow free movement of people.

The area currently comprises 26 European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Spain, Sweden, Scandinavia and Switzerland.

The change in the visa regime for Schengen was earlier termed a game changer for frequent travellers. The criteria are that if you had two Schengen visas issued to you in the last three years, you could be eligible to apply for a multiple-entry visa. But how many really qualify? A good part of the last three years had seen two waves of the pandemic and throttling of flights.

Germanys envoy Georg Enzweiler, who is the deputy head of mission here, told Mint last week that the country is doing its best to make travel to their country as easy as possible.

"Yes, there is the Schengen visa regime and we have to handle it but the number of issued visas have gone up and visa wait times have gone down to just a few days in the last one year," Enzweiler had said at the sidelines of a tourism event held by the German National Tourist Organisation last week.

Enzweiler said, visa numbers from India to Germany had increased for both Schengen and the 'National Visa' it issued, going up to about 1.7 lakh in 2023-24, with a 41% increase compared to the previous year.

But that may be very far from reality. A visa wait time document accessed by Mint from a travel operator paints a completely different picture. Italy has almost completely stopped offering any slots on the VFS platform for its short-term tourist visa category from cities like Delhi.

For Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the wait to get an appointment is very long, anywhere between one and three months.

Iceland, Portugal, Spain, and Hungary practically have no slots available in most places either. Wait times including processing the visa can range anywhere between 15-75 days, as was the case with Mishra.

However, there are some notable exceptions like Scandinavia as well as for the Czech Republic. For these countries, there are appointments available within the next few weeks. Countries like Spain and Hungary only release appointments once a month, said the earlier cited OTA player.

If you're lucky enough to get a slot, then there is the next hurdle: processing time which can go as high as 7-20 working days.

As an alternative, many travel companies are promoting other unconventional destinations, including South Korea, South Africa, Japan, Brazil, Egypt and Turkey. In most cases, their wait time is as low as zero to three days. Unexpected gainers are also countries like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia which have easy visas.

Enzweiler, on the other hand, said he is on a mission to reduce wait times, with more staff being hired by his embassy to deal with the added volumes.

I am not going to blame people for choosing alternate locations when there are countries with visa delays. But there has been a change in recent regulations which means Indians qualify more quickly for long term visas," Enzweiler said.

It is also in the embassy's interest to issue longer term visas because even on the bureaucratic side, it means we don't have to cope with that many people filing applications again and again. We have also now employed more personnel to be able to deal with rising demand and are quite optimistic that we would be able to convince more Indians to travel to us."

While visa wait times are down it is only more recently, with holiday season beginning, that the wait times are experiencing some delays, he said. But even then the embassy is working to process applications in one-two weeks, he added. For Germany now, visa rejection rates are about 10%.

Indian travellers' late-booking attitude could be compounding the issue. Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE and visa at Thomas Cook (India) said, We are traditionally a late-booking market and book very close to our holiday plans. To encourage early consideration, the company had launched its 2024 tours well in advance in October last year with early booking offers."

"However, as we head into peak season, the visa process, though an improvement over last year, is still seeing signs of constraints given the dual challenges of appointment slots and processing time," he said.

Spate of cancellations

Bharatt Kumaar Malik, senior business head for Yatra Online for the consumer travel vertical said the company was seeing a spike in the demand for travel to Schengen destinations for about a month now.

Generally, travel portals pre-book seats with the airlines and hotel rooms to be able to capture deals and demand in advance for the customer.

However, this year is going to be difficult because there will be a lot of pre-purchased inventory and fewer people will be able to travel there.

"We are unable to put any number on it yet but yes we are anticipating a decline in travel to Europe and have already seen some groups cancel their plans to Italy and more such cancellations will happen in June and July," he said. Instead, travellers have to choose locations like Bhutan, Almaty, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

N. Chirag Travels's MD Riaz Munshi, who is also the president of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India, said the UK, Scandinavian countries and Switzerland are still a little easier to get an appointment for.

However, this season could be a little bit of a washout for European travel even though there is persistent demand.

"It looks like a lot of outbound travel operators may lose this season of business too. Communication should be a little better because it's not as if the travel operators there don't want the business, but the diplomatic missions need to spend more time on the visa processes too," he said.

Greece has a high refusal rate because only recently the entire consulate had a change of guard in India.

You may get a visa, but it won't be in a hurry. Even for countries like Croatia, there's a wait time of several weeks for passports that are well stamped for those who already have been issued Schengen visas in the past, but for first-time Schengen country travellers, a visa hope may be a total write off. Despite confirmed tickets and blocked hotels, people are just being rejected."

"The value-driven traveller is probably going to move away quite quickly because they can't be losing money on confirmed flight tickets and hotels in case the visa doesn't come," said a top level executive at a large travel firm.

"Also, because there are very few slots available on the embassies' front, visa service providers are using this time to profiteer and offer these slots in a way to only those that can afford their at-your-door mobile biometrics which were conceived during the pandemic so people could fill their visa applications in isolation. Their job was never to become a type of legitimate black marketing tool," the person added.

Daniel Dsouza, president and country head for holidays for Thomas Cook India's SOTC Travel added that there could be an alternate solution. With shortening of booking windows rather than challenging visa processes, e-visas can become a game changer.

Several destinations like Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Georgia, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, and Morocco have pivoted to a digital model, and with much success.

"Issuance of long-term multi-entry visas will also serve to ease the load on consular teams while simultaneously creating opportunities for repeat visitations. Yes, the Schengen cascade regime is a valuable initiative, however we expect that this (upgrade to longer term visas) will start seeing positive impact only in the medium to long term." he said.
WASHINGTONU.S. District Judge Amit Mehta heard two days of closing arguments last week in the governments landmark antitrust case against Google. Mehta lobbed skeptical questions toward lawyers for both sides, along the way dropping hints about how hell rule when he hands down his long-awaited written decision.

Heres what we learned during the hearings:

When the judge might decide the Google antitrust case

Mehta could announce his decision in the weeks or months to come, judging by timelines in past big antitrust cases.

When oral arguments wound down on Friday afternoon, Mehta didnt say which way he was leaning on the central question before himwhether Google exploited its market dominance to unlawfully stomp out competitors.

The importance and significance of this case is not lost on me, not only for Google but for the public," Mehta said.

Mehta previously heard 10 weeks of testimony from more than 50 witnesses, including Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and its parent company, Alphabet.

If he finds Google violated antitrust laws, Mehta would then schedule a remedies" phase of the trial to determine what, if anything, should be done to bolster competition in the internet search market.

An early skirmish in DOJs favor

Before delving into the merits of the case, Mehta must define the markets hes analyzing. This is a critical part of many antitrust disputes, and an unfavorable ruling on this preliminary issue could doom the governments case.

The Justice Department, joined by a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, has said theres a huge market for general search services"products that pull information from across the internet to answer all kinds of queries. The Justice Department says Google dominates this market, performing about 90 percent of internet searches worldwide, with a handful of rivals such as Microsofts Bing and DuckDuckGo lagging way behind.

Google has rejected this market definition, saying it ignores how people use the modern-day internet. Google argues there are many places to search for information and products online, including the social media app TikTok, the retailer Amazon.com, or travel booking sites such as Expedia. In aggregate, these serve as a reasonable substitute for Googles search engine, Googles lawyers said.

On Thursday, Mehta signaled he prefers the Justice Departments view of the consumer-facing market. He said he didnt see how a combination of varied websites such as Amazon or Expedia can replicate Google.

Certainly I dont think the average person would say, yeah, Google and Amazon are the same thing," the judge said.

Google gets credit for innovation

From the moment the Justice Department launched its case in October 2020, Google has said that it competes fairly and that it earned its market dominance because its the best search engine. Googles lawyers frequently point out that the top search query on Bing is Google."

In a good sign for Google on Thursday, Mehta gave the tech company credit for a record of innovation and investment in search technology. He said he was struggling" to see how he could conclude that Google has become less innovative over time because of a lack of meaningful competition.

I dont think anybody would dispute that search today looks a lot different than it did 10 to 15 years ago and much of thator some of thatis attributable to Google and its continuing efforts to innovate search," the judge said.

Mehta seemed particularly sympathetic to Googles argument that its dominance in search can be attributed to savvy early investments in smartphone technology. The trial testimony made clear that Microsoft was caught off guard by Googles innovations, the judge said.

Thats not anticompetitivethe fact that Google was smart enough to get on the mobile bandwagon before Microsoft," the judge said.

Judge says Apple deal limits competition

Google has long been the default search engine on Apples Safari web browser. In 2022, Alphabet paid Apple a staggering $20 billion to maintain its default status on Apple devices, recently unsealed court documents show.

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella testified during the trial that the Google-Apple partnership blocks out meaningful competition. The notion that there is real choice in the search engine market is bogus, Nadella said.

Mehta said he didnt see how an upstart could entice Apple away from that lucrative partnership.

I cant conceive of a world in which some other competitor, particularly a new competitor, could do that if Microsoft couldnt do it," the judge said Thursday.

Mehta said that in a multibillion-dollar market such as internet search, one would expect lots of companies to enter the space in hopes of taking away Googles profits. Yet there have been only a few market entrants in the last decade, the judge said, adding: Doesnt that tell us all we need to know in terms of barriers of entry?"

Mehta asked Justice Department attorney Kenneth Dintzer what Google should have done to avoid this trial.

Should they have not competed? Should they have sat on the sidelines? Should they have lowered their rev-share offer?" Mehta asked, referencing the revenue-sharing agreement between Apple and Google.

Dintzer responded that Google should have recognized that it had an enormous market share and loosened its terms, he said.

Write to Jan Wolfe at jan.wolfe@wsj.com and Miles Kruppa at miles.kruppa@wsj.com
The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCER) has invited applications for various teacher education programs at its Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs) for Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysore and Shillong. Aspiring candidates can submit their application form on NCERT's official website cee.ncert.gov.in till May 31, 2024.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter) the NCERT said, Admission Alert! NCERT invites applications for various Teacher Education Programs at it's Regional Institutes of Education (RIEs at Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysore and Shillong) across India. Whether it's B.Sc.B.Ed., B.A.B.Ed., M.Sc.Ed., B.Ed., B.Ed.-M.Ed., or M.Ed., unlock your potential with quality education. Apply online from April 30 to May 31, 2024, at cee.ncert.gov.in.

RIE CEE 2024: Eligibility Criteria Four-Year Integrated course: The candidate should have passed Class 12th or equivalent exam in the desired stream with at least 50% marks in aggregate. There will be relaxation for reserved category candidates in the minimum marks required to be admitted to the above-mentioned programs.

Also Read | ICSE ISC Class 10th, 12th Result 2024 Live: CISCE to announce results tomorrow Six-Year Integrated Course: Candidates must have passed +2 / Hr. Sec./ Sr. Sec. or any equivalent examination recognized by the University/ Board with at least 50% marks in aggregate of qualifying examination (relaxation of 5% marks for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates).

Also Read | TN HSC Results 2024: Tamil Nadu board to release Class 12 results tomorrow Three Year Integrated courses: A post-graduate degree in science/ social science/humanities/commerce from a recognized institute/university with a minimum of 55% mark or equivalent grade (relaxation by 5% for SC/ ST/ PwD Candidates).

Also Read | CBSE Board Results: Access code for Class 10, 12 DigiLocker accounts released B.Ed. Two Year: Candidates with at least 50% marks in Bachelors Degree and /or in the Masters degree in Science/ Bachelors in Engineering or Technology (with Science or Mathematics) or in Bachelors Degree and /or in the Masters Degree in Social Science/Humanities are eligible for admission to the programme (relaxation of 5% marks for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates).

Also Read | JEE Advanced 2024: Exam city list released, registration window closes on May 7 RIE CEE 2024: Application fees As per NCERT notification, candidates of the General and OBC categories need to pay Rs.1200 for the entrance examination, while students of SC/ST/PwD (any category)/EWS categories need to pay 600 for the same.

RIE CEE 2024: Admit card As per the notification, the NCERT will release the admit cards for the RIE CEE 2024 exam on June 10, 2024

Also Read | ICSE ISC Class 10th, 12th Result 2024 Live: CISCE to announce results tomorrow RIE CEE 2024: Exam Schedule Admission to these programs will be based on the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) which is scheduled for June 16, 2024.
Nearly 90-100 Samajwadi Party workers have been booked in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri for allegedly vandalising a statue of Maharana Pratap, police said on Sunday. The unnamed employees were reportedly engaging in rowdy and disorderly behaviour.

According to news agency PTI report quoting residents, the incident occurred on Saturday following party chief Akhilesh Yadav's road show for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He was seeking votes for his wife and SP candidate from Mainpur, Dimple Yadav.

Kotwali Police Station SHO Fateh Bahadur Singh Bhadauria told PTI that the case was filed on Saturday after the police took a suo motu cognizance of the incident.

Also read: Samajwadi Party leader Zaheer Salmani's wife Nazreen shot dead in Hapur Mainpuri Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar told news agency ANI that the SP workers were trying to raise the party flag at the statue.

"After the roadshow, some party workers came here and tried to raise their party's flag at the statue of Maharana Pratap. We are looking at the CCTV footage," he said.

The Samajwadi Party workers have been booked under charges of rioting, stoking religious hatred, disobeying orders of a public servant, and breach of peace.

Also read: Ram Naam Satya is certain...': Yogi Adityanath warns criminals in Uttar Pradesh Following the reports of alleged vandalisation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condemned the act and said it was insulting.

"This kind of insulting and contemptuous behaviour of the Samajwadi Party leaders with the statue of national leader Maharana Pratap is highly condemnable. I condemn this act..." he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi.

Also read: PM Modi calls Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav 'flop do ladkon ki jodi': 'They want to introduce religion-based reservation' Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also condemned the vandalisation and claimed that the face of the party pretending to be socialist had been exposed in front of the public.
Next to Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan, actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut claimed that she has received the most love and respect in the industry.

Kangana Ranaut is Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

Addressing a 2024 Lok Sabha election rally, Kangana, in a viral video, was seen saying, Itna pyaar, itna samman... agar Amitabh Bachchan ji ke baad aaj kisi ko industry mai milta hai to wo mujhe milta hai.

Also read: Bhagwa hi lehrayega: Kangana Ranaut confident of BJP's victory in Lok Sabha Elections It can be loosely translated to: If anyone has received this much love and respect in the industry (Bollywood), after Amitabh Bachchan, it is me.

On Saturday, Kangana attacked the Congress, saying former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's father Motilal Nehru was the "Ambani" of his time but no one knew from where his wealth came from.

Also read: Kangana Ranaut takes aim at Tejasvi Surya, mistakes him for Tejashwi Yadav in viral speech "Motilal Nehru, the father of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was Ambani of his time but no one knows from where his wealth and property came from. He was close to the British, and from where he got the wealth is still a secret," she said while addressing a gathering at Himachal Pradesh's Sarkaghat.

The Bollywood actor also said that "nobody knows how Jawaharlal Nehru became the prime minister as voting was in favour of (former deputy prime minister) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel". Since then, this "'deemak' (termite) of dynastic rule has infected the country", she said.

Reacting to her remarks, the Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC), alleging that she has used "derogatory and insulting" remarks against senior leaders of the party and tried to compare "freedom fighter Motilal Nehru with one of the top businessmen of the country".
The TikToker has questioned why some schools have banned the drinking vessels  and the potential reason will surprise you.

Melbourne mum Olivia White was left confused after hearing that metal drink bottles have been banned by some schools. Source: TikTok

An Aussie mum has opened up a bag of worms after questioning why some schools have banned children from taking in metal drink bottles  and the range of answers will surprise you.

When Melbourne TikToker Olivia White posted about the ban online she was inundated with replies from parents from around the country, with some just as baffled as she was, many explaining why their schools had banned them and speculating about the reasons why.

My school has not done so, but Ive heard from a friend who said the school her kids are at locally had banned them, White told Yahoo News Australia. I put that (post) up and Ive had so many people saying they have banned them.

They are not all for the same reason, some reasons sound a bit like maybe they dont want to say what the actual reason is. A few said that they had been used as weapons but really, anything can be a weapon.

Another is the haves and have nots drink bottle culture  just as many people have said thats the reason. Children are bullying each other about what they do and dont have.

Thats the thing about the Frank Green or Stanley, they cost $80 to $100. My daughter has a Frank Green but I send her to school with whatever drink bottle Im prepared for her to lose.

I have had hundreds of DMs from people, theres plenty of schools that have banned metal drink bottles, mostly for the reason children are using them as weapons and throwing them.

White said one odd reason parents had been given for the ban was that metal drink bottles weighed down students bags, while others shared that their schools had said there were concerns about expensive bottles being lost or stolen.

No blanket ban on bottles from authorities

Many of the schools Whites followers mentioned were in NSW and a spokeswoman for the states department of education told Yahoo News Australia there was no blanket ban or order in place around taking metal drink bottles to school.

However, individual schools were able to make their own rules if needed, the spokesman said.

Yahoo understands that individual schools may decide to restrict the use of certain types of drink bottles in consultation with parents, carers and students. Such decisions are made locally and the department doesnt centrally record this information so they were not able to provide a list of schools where there was a ban in place.

Teacher almost 'seriously injured' by metal bottle

In her TikTok, White said a ban on the bottles doesnt make any sense.

I dont understand why, she said. I thought we werent doing plastic.

Her post attracted hundreds of comments with one social media user saying, Im a teacher. The only thing I can think of is that theyre so loud when they drop them.

Parents and teachers have shared some horror stories about how children are playing with metal drink bottles in the playground. Source: Getty

Another added, In high school, in our playground, boys kick them round and use them as weapons in real and play fights with each other.

One more wrote: Its so if the bottle is thrown around the playground, it wont 'hurt, or thats the reason my kids school gave, while a school teacher revealed she was almost seriously injured by a flying metal drink bottle.

My sons high school did it so kids couldnt hide what they were drinking, another wrote. The rule was water only.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The leader of the opposition Maharashtra legislative assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar's claim that late ATS chief Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorists during the 26/11 attack snowballed into a political slugfest with the ruling Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra calling the Congress a terrorist sympathizer.

Karkare was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks and was posthumously given the Ashoka Chakra in 2009.

Ajmal Kasab was the only one of the 10 Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai in 2008 and killed 166 people, to be caught alive. He was placed in a Mumbai jail for nearly four years and hanged in Pune in November 2012.

Here is all we know about the controversy so far: What did Vijay Wadettiwar say about Ajmal Kasab? Vijay Wadettiwar purportedly called BJP's Ujjwal Nikam an "anti-national" and accused him of hiding the information that then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare wasn't killed by Kasab's bullet during the 26/11 terror attack, but fell to a bullet of a policeman who was affiliated to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

However, issuing a clarification on his statement that stirred controversy, Wadettiwar said his allegations were based on the book "Who Killed Karkare" written by retired police officer SM Mushriff.

"Those are not my words. I just said what was written in the book by SM Mushrif. Every (piece of) information was there about the bullet by which Hemant Karkare was shot. It was not the bullet of terrorists," he said.

Also read: 'Marathi people not welcome': Outrage over biased job requirement in Mumbai; Netizens say, not the 1st time 'Opposition is worried about Ajmal Kasab' Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, As per opposition leader Vijay Waddetiwar, Ujjwal Nikam insulted Kasab.

"Kasab terrorised the city and the Congress is worried about him. Mahayuti is supporting Ujjwal Nikam and MVA is supporting Kasab. Now you decide who you should vote for," he added.

Congress promotes terrorism Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Secretary and Spokesperson Kiran Pawaskar said the Congress is not a party that prevents terrorism "but promotes it."

He highlighted the history of alleged terrorist incidents that occurred across India during the Congress regime, underscoring the compromise of national security during that period.

Terrorist attacks took place from Kashmir to Kanyakumari during the Congress period. The internal security of the country was compromised. During the tenure of the UPA government for 10 years, there were major terrorist attacks in every metropolis of India, Pawaskar said.

During this period, there were bomb blasts in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Malegaon. What's more, the Congress government was in power at the time of the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai," he added.

Also read: No one can call India 'banana' nation': BJP's Mumbai North Central candidate Ujjwal Nikam praises PM Modi Demand for a public apology Shiv Sena's Kiran Pawaskar demanded that Vijay Wadettiwar issue a public apology to the martyrs of the 26/11 attack and the entire police force for his derogatory remarks.

He also said that Wadettiwar would be detained by the National Investigation Agency and questioned for defending the 26/11 terrorist.

"Vijay Wadettiwar should be detained by the NIA and a thorough investigation should be conducted as to why he is defending terrorist Ajmal Kasab," he said.

Also read: Gaumutradhari Hindutva: Uddhav Thackeray slams BJP, promises to reclaim 'lost glory of Maharashtra' 'Busy giving clean chit to Pakistan' Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora said the remarks are shameful while claiming that Congress is busy giving "clean chit to Pakistan".

It is a very shameful statement. During the 26/11 attack, I saw the pain, suffering and terror that the people of South Mumbai, Maharashtra and India had to witness. Why are they trying to appease Pakistan and blame one community? Deora told news agency ANI.

"As an Indian, a responsible leader from an Opposition party is making this statement for the second time from the same party and giving a clean chit to Pakistan," he added.

What else do we expect? Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that nothing more can be expected from people who have always worked against the interest of the country.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday termed the Saturday terror attack on the Indian Air Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch a stuntbaazi to help the Bharatiya Janata Party win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

One soldier was killed, and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Following the attack, security personnel launched a massive manhunt this morning.

Also read: Poonch IAF Convoy Attack: Search operations to track terrorist ongoing, checkpoints and nakas established Talking to news agency ANI, Channi said, This is stuntbaazi. When elections come, such stunts are done to make the BJP win.

"These are pre-planned attacks, there is no truth in them..." he added.

Channi is the Congress candidate for Jalandhar reserved parliamentary constituency.

Also read: Security deployed following blast outside Gurudwara in Poonch BJP reacts to Channi's stuntbaazi remarks Channi's remark on the terror attack drew sharp criticism from the ruling BJP.

While strongly condemning Channi's remarks, Union Minister Anurag Thakur asked the Congress whether the party is willing to insult Indian soldiers to win elections.

"They insult our Army" said Thakur. "Will the Congress insult our brave soldiers to win elections," he added.

Thakur also asked Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the party president to seek an apology over Channi's remarks.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar also condemned Channi's remarks as "shameful."

"Ghastly statement by CWC member Channi belittling the valour of our brave soldiers is no less a crime and an insult to the nation. Channi's shameful statement on the attack on our Air Force personnel in Poonch calling their valour as a stunt shows the bankruptcy and frustration of Channi," he said.

"The nation will not forgive him. He should hang his head in shame. The Congress and its allies should come clean on this issue. They should publically disassociate from his statement and ask him to apologise to the nation immediately," Jakhar said in a post on X.

BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa called his statement appalling and disrespectful towards soldiers.

Sirsa condemned Channi's statement and said, Congress is saying that he was martyred because of elections. This mentality is not just appalling but disrespectful to those who serve our nation."
NEW DELHI : Indians are packing travel bags for summer, braving heat waves and steep fares as school vacations and annual holidays beckon. Air travel that hit a daily peak in April is expected to rise further as more travellers work out plans for May and June, cheering airlines and travel industry alike.

While there is heightened demand for cooler destinations, places that are typically warm at this time are also seeing interest. Searing heat has not affected air travel, and high demand has kept fares elevated, industry executives said.

We havent seen any impact on bookings or searches for the summer season on account of the heat wave. On the contrary, flight searches for May have seen an all-time high. Domestic flight travel searches for May and June 2024 are up by 20%, and for international, they are up by 70% as compared to last year," said Aloke Bajpai, CEO of travel booking platform ixigo.

Advance average air fares for a Delhi-Goa flight in May is around 5767, 6% higher than a year ago, ixigo data showed. Fares are 19% higher for Mumbai-Jaipur at 5,033, and up over 20% to 7200 for Delhi-Dharamshala.

Omnichannel travel platform Thomas Cook has also seen an increase of 10-30% in average advance fares to Sri Lanka and Nepal from various hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai for the upcoming summer, and an increased preference for Bhutan as well. For online travel platform Cleartrip, most popular destinations include Goa, Bagdodra, Srinagar, Port Blair, Varanasi, Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

"It is likely that the summer of May 2024 may see extremely high domestic air traffic, which could range between 13 million and 14 million passengers," said Aashish Gupta, consulting CEO, the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality.

In February, Mint reported that airline lease rates have shot up at a time of worldwide aircraft shortage, which is expected to show up in air fares. Aircraft deliveries have been delayed due to shortage of skilled labour and raw materials, and an engine recall by Pratt & Whitney.

Official numbers for April's air passenger traffic are not out yet, but rough calculations show around 13.3 million air passengers domestic passengers during the month. This is around 3% higher than last April, and over 20% higher than the air traffic registered in the same month during pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Air passenger numbers hit a record 470,751 on 21 April, crossing the previous record of 456,082 set in April 2023. For the January-April period, air traffic continues to be around 4% higher than the corresponding period last year. Demand is expected to maintain its momentum for May as well.

While the demand is traditionally strong in the summer season, the sentiment is stronger this year as there has been a shift in the mindset of Indian travellers since the covid-related restrictions eased, a top airline executive said. "People are looking to travel at any opportunity available. It is no longer an annual or bi-annual pilgrimage. This, coupled with summer holidays, more airports, and a wide variety of options that fit every budget, is resulting in record demand,"headded on condition of anonymity.

The heat wave has not curbed charter flights either. However, demand for private charters is muted traditionally between April and August, but the demand from political parties continue for charters during the ongoing election season.

There is always a decline in demand for charter flights during the period between mid-April till August-end as primarily these months include summer and rainy season, and the high net-worth users of private jets prefer to go abroad for family vacations in countries which have a colder climate. They also do not prefer to visit any plants or facilities on the countryside during this period. The demand usually then picks up September onwards," Santosh Sharma, founder of Bookmyjet, an online booking portal for business jets, said.
Nearly 93 percent of general policy holders want each insurance company to publish the data of total claims received, rejected and approved. The surveyed policyholders want this data to be published every month on the websites of insurers, revealed LocalCircles survey findings.

Notably, insurance regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India releases annual claim settlement ratios of individual insurers at the end of the year. The claim settlement ratio for FY 2022-23 was 98.64 percent, revealed the IRDAI data.

Delay in processing the claim When surveyors were asked about the difficulties they faced in getting an insurance claim processed in the past 3 years, 43 percent said they had problems in processing their health insurance claims while 24 percent faced difficulties with motor insurance and 10 percent with home insurance.

A number of respondents spoke about the bad experience they had in getting health insurance claim processed. The challenges included claims getting rejected on ground of passing off health condition as a PED (pre-existing disease) to getting a partial approval.

Some surveyors said that it took anywhere between 10 and 12 hours after the patient was ready for discharge only because health insurance claim was not being processed.

Different categories In the above-mentioned survey, when surveyors were asked about different types of insurance policies they had bought, 82 percent said that they have motor insurance, 76 percent stated they have health insurance and 22 percent said that they have home insurance. It was based on a total of 9,410 responses.

In view of the issues consumers tend to face in getting their health claims approved, LocalCircles platform carried out a national survey to understand how people buy general insurance, the kind of policies they buy and the issues they face.
As expected, Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in 2024, chaired by the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, was full of insights into the company's investment decisions, succession plans and an event celebrating the legacy created by Buffett and his long-time business partner and friend late Charlie Munger.

This was the first Berkshire annual meeting without Munger, who died last year at 99. Buffet fondly remembered Munger as the architect of Berkshire in his tribute to him, underscoring his significant role in the company's success throughout the years.

Let's take a look at the five key highlights from Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting

1. On Succession: Greg Abel to be in charge of investment decisions Giving rest to speculations, Warren Buffett said Greg Abel, 61, who will be taking over the CEO job at Berkshire Hathaway, will control Berkshire Hathaways investing decisions, including its stock portfolio, after him.

I think the responsibility ought to be entirely with Greg. The responsibility has been with me, and I farmed out some of it, and I used to think differently about how that would be handled, but I think the responsibility should be that of the CEO, said Buffett, as quoted by CNBC.com.

Abdel, vice chairman of the non-insurance operation, whose name was revealed as Buffett's successor at the shareholder meeting in 2021, has been managing a significant portion of Berkshires investments, including energy and retail.

2. Berkshire trims investment in Apple Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its stake in Apple for the second consecutive quarter as it reduced its investment in tech-giant Apple by around 13 per cent in the first quarter.

Berkshire sold about 10 million shares of Apple, or 1 per cent of its stake in the tech firm, in the last quarter of 2023. Berkshire again sold about 116 million Apple shares, or 13 per cent stake in the company, in the first quarter of the current year.

Nevertheless, at the end of the January-March quarter, Apple was Berkshires biggest holding. Buffett said the stake sale was for tax purposes, and Apple may remain Berkshires largest holding at the end of the year.

3. AI scamming the next big "growth industry" Warren Buffett believes that artificial intelligence (AI) scamming could be the next big growth industry".

At Berkshires annual meeting, Buffett highlighted the potential of AI for scamming people due to its ability to create convincing fake images and messages. Scammers could use this technology to trick people into sending money by making fake pleas for help, like pretending to be a family member in trouble.

When you think about the potential for scamming people, if you can reproduce images that I cant even tell, that say, I need money, as your daughter, I just had a car crash, I need $50,000 wired. I mean, scamming has always been part of the American scene, but this would make me, if I was interested in investing in scamming, its going to be the growth industry of all time, CNBC quoted Buffett saying so.

4. The entire stake in Paramount sold at a loss Taking a 100 per cent ownership of the decision, Buffett said Berkshire sold the entire stake in Paramount Global at a loss.

Berkshire owned 63.3 million shares of Paramount at the end of 2023 after cutting about a third of its stake in the company in Q4 last year.

5. Positive about India Buffett appeared positive about India. He said there were "loads of opportunities in a place like India". Berkshire, however, does not have immediate plans for large investments in other countries, Buffett said.

Read all market-related news here
Tarun Awasthi of Kanwrite Pens, which has manufactured fountain pens and nibs since 1986, patiently guides me through the process. Awasthi is the third generation in the family business.

First hold these pens," he says gesturing at an array of pens on a table. Feel the body grip. See what suits your hand. Dont worry about the nib."

I choose one thats a little stout, but fits snugly in my hand.

Now choose a nib." There are 14 kinds to choose fromFine, Medium, Medium Flex, Medium Stub, Architect, Broad Ultra Flex and so on.

Sensing my panic, he says, Flex is for calligraphy really. You try the medium or fine."

The Broad actually feels smoother but he says, I know it does. You can doodle nicely but if you write, it will blot on most of the paper we use here."

Finally when I settle on a nib and a body, he says, Now you can choose the colour."

Like most Indians of a certain age, writing with a fountain pen was a rite of passage to adulthood. My mother remembers her father gifting her a red-and-black Sheaffer pen after her matriculation examination. My sister and I both used my grandfathers green and black pen as a lucky" pen during examinations. But also like most Indians, it has been years since I used one.

The Pen Mahotsav in Kolkata (held in April) wants to change that. Kanwrite is one of 25 plus stalls at this years edition.

The fountain pen is almost going extinct. The younger generation only knows ball pens. We are trying to change that," says Subrata Das, one of the conveners of the fountain pen exhibition.

Many of the fountain pens on display are clearly trying to entice younger users. They are in bright candy colourspink, blue, black and grey checks, multi-coloured. There are inks in snazzy jungle shades. Elephant is purple, gorilla is red and turtle is turquoise. There are rare collector pens, pre-owned like Waldmans made in Germany since 1918. And there are luxury pens like a special edition Hero fountain pen with 18k gold nibs, 30 diamonds in three circles on its cap symbolising the past, present and future of the company and 90 zircons, one for each year of its existence.

But it still feels like a quixotic venture, trying to turn back time in an age of use-and-throw ball pen convenience. Forget ball pens and gel pens, the newer generation is forgetting to write at all, they just type," says Chawm Ganguly, a fountain pen enthusiast who is chronicling one of Indias most famous pen-and-ink brands, Sulekha.

Sulekha was started in what is now Bangladesh in 1934 by brothers Nanigopal Maitra and Sankaracharya Maitra answering Mahatma Gandhis call to create swadeshi ink. In time they become one of Indias biggest ink manufacturers along with Chelpark. In the 1980s they even got a tender to produce ink in Africa. It wasnt just pen and ink. Sulekha produced glue, stamp pads, naphthalene, even cleaning supplies. In the late 1980s, Sulekha shut down as much for economic reasons as for political reasons in West Bengal under communist rule. By the 1990s, fountain pens themselves started falling into disuse around the world.

When Kaushik Maitra from the Sulekha family went to do his PhD in Canada in the 2000s, his grandfather asked him to come home and see if he could give the family business one last shot. He returned, and revived the company by diversifying into solar panels.

Ganguly, who had been collecting pens for over 30 years, and more importantly collecting the backstories behind brands like F. M. Gooptus Perfection pen and R.N. Sahas 14 fountain pen patents in the early 1900s, remembers telling Maitra, Sulekha is known for its ink. Gandhi himself inspired it. Its not known for phenyl. You should make ink and fountain pens again."

However Gandhi was not a fountain pen advocate, according to the book Inked in India: Fountain Pens and a Story of Make and Unmake (2022) by Bibek Debroy and Sovan Roy. Gandhi looked upon them as a modern luxury. In 1932, he wrote, Nobody in the Ashram should need a fountain pen" advising everyone to use reed pens or dip pens. Even as late as 1947, in his Advice to Students, he wrote, Learn to do with a pen-holder and ink costing two annas, instead of a fountain pen costing 50." But he also recognised that he had become a lone voice" in his insistence that reed pens were best for Indian scripts.

Oddly, the same digital age that helped make fountain pens obsolete also works in its favour. Fountain pen enthusiasts, a passionate but tiny minority, can now find not just community online, but also rare pens and customers.

Dhruva Jain, 25, has a collection of vintage pens dating back to eye-dropper dayshes never counted but says its probably over 20,000. He recites the names of classic pens with the wide-eyed reverence many reserve for classic carsParker 51, Sheaffer No Nonsense, Mont Blancthough his personal favourite is the underrated S.T. Dupont, far more appealing than a Mont Blanc." When he talks about it, he waxes lyricalits super wet, really smooth, gets you hooked."

The other factor that helped fountain pens have a mini-resurgence was the covid lockdown. No one at the Pen Mahotsav can pinpoint why, but many agree business picked up after covid.

I think people had time to ponder and explore," says Tarun Awasthi of Kanwrite. Theres a different pleasure in writing with a fountain pen. I think it releases stress somehow."

Some people wanted to go back to a more analogue life. They introduced their children to fountain pens," says Ganguly. A schoolteacher called me from Bengaluru asking me to send 70 pens for her students. She said they had forgotten to write properly during the lockdown."

Also, people started talking more about sustainability," says Subrata Das. Those ball pens are use-and-throw unlike fountain pens with their ebonite bodies."

Of course this is still a tiny minority. Even the Hero pen distributor at the Pen Mahotsav sheepishly admits he uses a gel pen because its convenient. And Indian pens had long been neglected and priced out of the market thanks in part to a lopsided trade agreement with China and the licence raj, writes Debroy in the book. Chinese pens flooded the market while iconic Indian pens like Wilson started by two brothers from an orphanage struggled. At one time the joke was Indian pens were more fountain than pen.

Now even as things are looking up, its tough making fountain pens, says Harsh Gagwani of Click pens, another family owned company making 25,000 pieces a month. Pen-making is a very handcrafted process. It requires special skills in turning, hammering, buffing the nibs. Its hard to train people in a market where people dont want to stick to one kind of job."

But the pen manufacturers of India still sound upbeat. The enthusiasm of people like Ganguly persuaded Sulekha to return to the business of pens and ink in 2020. This time they started telling the forgotten stories of Indias inks and pens, stories of ink like Firinghee ink, Swadeshi black and a Jamini Roy ink series. They set up stalls at Kolkatas book fair which were mobbed. The first time around, Ganguly says, it might have been nostalgia. But the next year he noticed a lot of young people.

Its too early to call it a turnaround," says Ganguly. But this is a product that was deemed dead."

The likes of Kinsuk Poddar, a pen collector at the Mahotsav, are helping keep it alive. I see him discussing the pros and cons of a Visconti pen at the fair.

When I ask him about his love for pens, he says, I have a sweaty hand and its not easy with a fountain pen. But I actually like the stain it leaves on my finger. Its like the remnant of something done."

Faced with such passion for an ink-stained finger, I couldnt help but buy my first fountain pen in decades, a burgundy Kanwrite Heritage with black edge and a medium nib.

Now I just have to put pen to paper.

Cult Friction is a fortnightly column on issues we keep rubbing up against. Sandip Roy is a writer, journalist and radio host. He posts @sandipr
66-year-old homemaker Champa Rajpurias journey with homeopathy started thirty years ago. Her 10-year-old son was diagnosed with a cyst in his brain, and he was healed without surgery with the help of homeopathy medicines. Since then, her trust in homeopathy has been ironclad. She has been taking homeopathy to manage her diabetes and knee pain for the past fifteen years. Homeopathy medicines have worked wonders for me and my family. I believe that homeopathy works at the root cause of the ailment and in all my years of taking these medicines, not once have I seen any side effects. It has also helped in balancing my sugar levels," she shares.

Also read: Homeopathy for covid-19: panacea or false hope?

Rajpuria is not alone in her faith in this alternative form of medicine. According to a report by Business Research Insights, the global homeopathic medicine market size was $854.4 million in 2021 and the market is projected to touch $1687.98 Million By 2031. As per the Ministry of Ayush, homeopathy is the second most popular system of medicine after allopathy in India with roughly 10% of the population relying solely on homeopathy for treatment and as per a Statista report, as of January 2021, there were approximately more than three lakh homeopathy doctors across India.

Homeopathy was developed by German physician and chemist Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. It is an alternative medicine based on the theory that a diluted form of a substance that causes the illness can also cure the illness. This diluted substance encourages the body to heal itself. Doctors from Dr. Prasanta Banerji Homoeopathic Research Foundation in Kolkata insist that homeopathy runs on the same principle as Ayurveda, uses the same plants and herbs, but with a different level of potency  it uses a highly diluted form of the herb or mineral. The process of dilution and shaking is called succussion and it is believed that the more a substance is diluted this way, the better it treats the symptoms. Most homeopathic remedies consist of minerals or herbs that have been diluted in water multiple times, and almost none of the original substance remains in the final medicine.

While Dr. Banerjis Foundation believes that there is nothing incurable in homeopathy", it is this diluted form of medicine that sometimes raises questions regarding the medicines efficacy. However, despite many arguments against them, a significant part of the population often turns to homeopathy for treatment. We have had severe complications post-homeopathic use. It could be due to the form or dose of the drug, it cannot be said," says Manisha Kumar*, an MBBS and MD from Chennai. But she is against belittling any form of medicine. Homeopathy is also a science. Essentially, they do use the same core drugs that are needed in any form of medicine. It works for some, but patients mostly tend to swing between allopathy-homeopathy-Ayurveda all the time. Yet one must not forget that allopathic medicine is evidence-based in the good and adverse effects. Other medicines do not show their adverse effects, so that is a drawback," she reveals.

Also read: Can two cups of curd a week help keep sugar at bay?

Where is the science?

The homeopathy vs allopathy debate has been on for a long time. Consultant anaesthetist Dr. Kirti Sharma, from Kolkata, believes that both are alternative treatment strategies that have their share of pros and cons and it is not fair to compare them. People have this notion that while allopathic medicines relieve the symptoms, homeopathy medicines treat the ailment from the root cause without any side effects. This might be true to an extent but homeopathy lacks scientific evidence," she explains.

Homeopathy may be considered by some for chronic or minor illnesses, but for more serious conditions one should not rely solely on homeopathy, she says. Instead, in such conditions, Sharma recommends seeking medical intervention at the earliest based on scientific evidence and research. We had a case where the patient had an inflamed gall bladder. Due to the fear of adverse effects of surgery, he opted for homeopathy medicines. Ultimately, his gall bladder ruptured after two days, resulting in emergency surgery", she shares. At the same time, she mentions that homeopathic treatment might work for chronic ailments like psoriasis and mild asthma, but since the duration of (homeopathic) treatment is very long it might prove risky in cases of acute conditions that require immediate surgical or medical intervention.

Inversely, Padmashri awardee Dr. Mukesh Batra, the founder of Dr Batra's group of companies, a chain of homeopathy clinics in six countries, firmly defends homeopathy. There are enough double-blind clinical trials done in India and all over the world to prove that homeopathy works. Almost 3000 trials have been conducted in India alone by the R&D department of the government of India. However, groundbreaking research conducted by Dr Jayesh Bellare and his team at IIT-Bombay demonstrated the presence of nanoparticles of medicinal molecules in homeopathic remedies. This provided substantial evidence challenging the notion that homeopathy is merely a placebo," he insists.

Homeopathy is used for a wide range of health conditions including asthma, ear infections, food allergies, dermatitis, arthritis, and high blood pressure amongst others. In his latest book, Feel Good Heal Good, Dr. Batra emphasizes the role homeopathy can play in treating mental health issues along with physical ailments. An excerpt from his book reads Homeopathy offers a potential avenue for addressing mental health concerns through a holistic lens, acknowledging the connection between the mind and the body. It values the individuals unique mental, emotional, and physical makeup, tailoring remedies to match these specifics. By stimulating the bodys innate healing ability, homeopathy seeks to restore harmony, aiming for long-term well-being rather than just symptom suppression.

While allopathy offers medication for mental health issues, they are often addictive and come with side effects such as sexual dysfunction, digestive issues, and drowsiness that results in fatigue and low energy levels. Homeopathy, on the other hand, is safe and non-addictive. While allopathy treats the patient by altering the patients chemistry, homeopathy heals the patient holistically by treating both mind and body together," he reiterates.

While homeopathy offers several benefits, it also has its limitations.

Dr. Banerjis foundation accepts that homeopathy involves a slow healing process, and it cannot be used in emergency cases or where surgery is required. But when used safely, recognizing the potential of alternative medicine doesnt undermine conventional medicine. It suggests that it can be complemented as ultimately, the goal of every health professional is to ensure the patients healing.

*Name changed on request.

Aditi Sarawagi is an independent writer who covers wellness, travel and food.

Also read: Running the TCS World 10k Bengaluru during a heatwave
Interpol issued a Blue Corner Notice for Prajwal Revanna on Sunday as his father was remanded in SIT custody till May 8. The JD(S) leaders have been arrested in connection with a sexual abuse case earlier this week after explicit videos involving the 33-year-old MP went viral. The incident has sparked a massive political row amid the Lok Sabha elections with INDIA bloc leaders targeting the BJP-led Central government.

HD Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna are facing a probe following allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation levelled by a woman who worked in their household. The Congress-led Karnataka government had constituted a Special Investigative Team to probe the matter.

There are three FIRs registered in connection with the sexual abuse allegations, involving the father and son, in total. In the first case in Holenarasipura, the cook and relative of the Revannas complained that the two had molested her. In the second complaint at CID Bengaluru, a JD(S) leader accused Prajwal of raping her at gunpoint, videographing the incident and then blackmailing her. The third complaint is against H D Revanna pertaining to the abduction and illegal detention of a woman.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) decision to field MP Brij Bhushan Saran's son Karan from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh. Brij Bhushan, the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, is facing an inquiry over allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers.

Speaking about Karan Singh getting ticket from the BJP from Kaiserganj, Sitharaman said the allegations have not been proved against Brij Bhushan.

"Nothing is proven against Brij Bhushan. Nothing has been proven about it. Even if he is convicted, I would say that you want to pass the blame on to the son. Convicted people's children have been entertained by so many parties," she was quoted news agency ANI as saying in Pune on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Indian Express quoted Sitharaman as saying, "How many people are there whose fathers, mothers or uncles have been accused of serious crimes, but they have still got tickets? All parties do it. Even children of people who have been convicted get tickets."

"And here, nothing is proven against Brij Bhushan yet. If it was, you could have asked us why. How can we decide on our own that he is doshi (guilty)?, the minister told reporters in Pune on Saturday.

When asked why the BJP didnt give the field Brij Bhushan himself from Kaiserganj, Sitharaman said this was twisting the narrative. We did not want to interfere with any due processes, she was quoted as saying.

On Prajwal Revanna's 'sex video' case

The Finance Minister also spoke about the obscene video case against Hassan's sitting MP and BJP's Lok Sabha candidate, Prajwal Revanna. She alleged that the case regarding Revanna is with the Karnataka government, that is governed by the Congress, which did not act on the case for an entire year.

"It is being claimed that the Congress have been sitting on the pen drive over the years, but now the BJP is made to answer because the party (JDS) is in alliance with the us," she said.

"The state ministers knew what was there in the pen drive. They did not think the safety and security of women were a priority. They thought that the Vokkaligas vote might go from their hands and decided to remain silent till the time the first phase of Lok Sabha gets over. Now they are making it a big issue and pushing it, which is typical of Congress and shows their hypocrisy," Sitharaman was quoted by ANI as saying.

She also said that the Karnataka government, by targeting the BJP, is now writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the case, asking to issue look-out notices against Revanna and bringing him back.
As the temperature in Uttarakhand soars in summer, the water shortage in the hilly state has worsened. This water crisis, doubled with lower rainfall and snowfall these winters, has promoted the state government to ban the washing of cars using water.

In a virtual meeting on Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami instructed all District Magistrates (DMs) to ensure that the cars in workshops are "dry washed" instead of using water.

The state often faces a drinking water crisis during the summer. Six Uttarakhand cities, including Dehradun, have reported severe water crisis.

Also read: India faces water crisis as severe heatwaves grip nation; CWC says levels dipped to 16% in southern states In the meeting, Uttarakhand Secretary Arvind Hyanki informed Dhami that 317 villages and 148 urban localities with severe shortages have been identified. Most complaints of the water shortage are being received from Dehradun, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Didihat, Kotdwar, and Champawat.

Other areas in Uttarakhand, such as Nawada, Haripur, Majri Mafi, Mohkampur, and Badripur, have also reported water shortages. Residents are purportedly surviving the crisis depending on water tankers.

Also read: Water level in reservoirs shrinks to 30% of storage capacity BJP leader NK Gusain has demanded a quick resolution to the water problem in these areas.

He also questioned the Jal Nigam of Uttarakhand, saying that the Madhuban Colony of Majri Mafi has, to date, not received water in the connection line that was laid four years ago.

Besides the rivers originating from the glaciers, water flow in other Uttarakhand rivers has declined considerably. As many as 10 such rivers have been identified by the state government, which they believe can be revived.

Also read: Delhi water shortage: Atishi asks L-G VK Saxena to suspend Delhi Jal Board CEO over 'criminal negligence' Hyanki has instructed the DMs to prepare an action plan for the revival of these rivers and to identify more of them if possible.

Water conservation campaign to begin on June 1 Hyanki said the Centre will start a water conservation campaign from June 1 to June 7. Uttarakhand is also preparing for the campaign.

June 1 marks World Water Day. The theme for Water Day 2024 is 'Water for Peace'.

In the meeting, the chief minister said, "Water conservation is a challenge for us. Therefore, arrangements for rainwater harvesting and solar energy will be made in all government buildings."
Australia Post confirmed to Yahoo it 'will investigate this issue'.

An Australia Post customer living in Ningi, north of Brisbane, has called out a delivery driver for claiming his parcel couldnt be delivered because the driveway gate was 'locked'. Source: Facebook

An annoyed Australia Post customer has called out a drivers failed delivery attempt after CCTV proved the workers excuse wrong.

A man living in Ningi, north of Brisbane, vented his frustrations online on Friday after receiving an alert that his parcel couldnt be delivered to his home because the driveway gate was locked.

However, CCTV footage from around the same time shows the black gate wide open. Good job AusPost, he wrote on Facebook alongside an image of the alert and security clip side-by-side.

And it turns out hes not the only one in the area who has encountered the same problem. This just happened to my sister as well, also in Ningi, a woman claimed.

I swear they didnt get out of the truck  [the] camera would have picked it up. Must be all the same lazy bloke, the man responded, as another joked the driver must have been keen to kickstart the long-weekend.

Australia Post confirmed to Yahoo it is investigating the 'locked gate' incident. Source: AAP

Locals share own AusPost frustrations

While encouraging the man to report the incident, numerous other Aussies shared details of their own delivery disasters.

My husband watched the delivery guy stop yesterday, then drive off straight away  next came the message that the parcel would be left at the post office. Didnt even attempt to make the delivery, one person complained.

They used to come in our driveway at high speed, we had two entrances. In, throw delivery, [and] out in 5 seconds flat. Total joke, too bad about the wildlife on our property and god forbid if you had breakables in the package! another said.

Australia Post investigating failed delivery

Speaking to Yahoo, an Australia Post spokesperson confirmed they are investigating the locked gate incident.

Australia Post takes seriously its responsibility to deliver mail and parcels and will investigate this issue, they said. If a delivery does not meet the high standards we expect, we encourage customers to contact us directly.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at an event hailed Canada as a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system. He was reacting to the arrest of three Indian nationals linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens, Trudeau said.

As the RCMP (police) stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) quoted Trudeau as saying.

Jaishankar Says Internal Politics Over here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dismissed concerns regarding the recent developments surrounding the Nijjar's alleged assassination, as Canada's internal politics, PTI reported. India has designated Nijjar a terrorist for his Khalistani separatist support.

Responding to Trudeau's criticism of India, Jaishankar told reporters that such criticisms stem from internal Canadian dynamics.

Indias image globally is now actually much much higher than it had been ever Canada is an exception. You see the different country heads are praising Bharat and its Prime Minister, the external affairs minister said.

Three Indians Arrested for Nijjar Death Three Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, namely Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karanpreet Singh (28), face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, PTI reported

Following the arrest on May 3, Canadian law enforcement said they are collaborating with US counterparts, although specific details were not disclosed, it added. However, authorities hinted at the possibility of further arrests.

Assistant Commissioner David Teboul of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), serving as the force's Pacific region commander, refrained from elaborating on purported ties between the detained trio and Indian authorities. Nonetheless, Teboul affirmed that the RCMP is investigating connections to the government of India.

Concerns Over Pro-Khalistan Influence in Canada Meanwhile, Jaishankar also expressed concerns over a faction within Canada supportive of Khalistan, leveraging the country's democratic processes to advance their agenda and become a vote bank. He said some political political balance in Canada, rely on the backing of pro-Khalistan leaders due to their lack of parliamentary majority.

The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders. We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship. But the Canadian government has not done anything  India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed, Jaishankar said.

Strained India-Canada Relations Relations between India and Canada soured following Trudeau's allegations implicating Indian agents in Nijjar's killing. India dismissed these claims as absurd and motivated, criticising Canada for failing to provide evidence or collaborate on investigations.

A Canadian citizen, Nijjar was shot and killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.

Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As election is coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics, the external affairs minister said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that he feels there is no need to capture Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by force. He said its people would want to be part of India after seeing the development in Jammu and Kashmir.

In an interview with news agency PTI, Singh said, "I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India."

"We will not have to use force to take PoK as people would say that we must be merged with India. Such demands are now coming," the defence minister said, asserting that "PoK was, is, and will remain ours".

'Pakistan not wearing bangles': Farooq Abdullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief Farooq Abdullah reacted to Rajnath Singh's comments, saying, "If the defence minister is saying it then go ahead. Who are we to stop."

"But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has atom bombs, and unfortunately, that atom bomb will fall on us," Farooq Abdullah said in a press conference on Sunday.

India's plans for PoK External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is part of India and added that there is a resolution of the Indian Parliament which states that PoK is part of the country. He noted that people were made to forget about PoK, however, it is now back in the consciousness of the people of India.

Asked about India's plans for PoK during an interactive session in Cuttack, Jaishankar was quoted by PTI as saying, PoK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that PoK is very much a part of India.

"Now, how did PoK, how did other people get control? You know, when you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of a house, someone steals from outside. Now, here you have allowed another country," Jaishankar added.

He said, "...I always tell people one thing today PoK is in the consciousness once again of the people of India. We had forgotten about it. We were made to forget about it. That it is today back definitely, the fact you are asking me a question is, I think, something which is very good."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner (GBC) Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, who passed away on Sunday at 9.20 am IST and said that his teachings emphasized the importance of devotion, kindness and service to others.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Prime Minister Modi posted, "Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja was a revered spiritual icon, globally respected for his unwavering devotion to Bhagwan Shri Krishna and his tireless service through ISKCON. His teachings emphasized the importance of devotion, kindness and service to others. He also played a significant role in expanding the community service efforts of ISKCON, particularly in areas like education, health and serving the needy. My thoughts are with all devotees in this tragic hour. Om Shanti."

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Delhi, informed that Gopala Krsna Goswami passed at 9:20 am on Sunday.

Also Read | ISC, ICSE Results 2024: CISCE to release 10th, 12th results tomorrow, Board set to discontinue compartment exams "Most Auspicious Disappearance of Nitya Lila Pravista Srila Gopala Krsna Goswami Maharaja Bhagavatapada (at 9:20 am on Ekadasi-Dvadasi Sandhi, 5th May 2024)," ISKCON Delhi posted on X.
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has criticized the Justin Trudeau-led government in Canada for issuing visas to people with links to organised crimes for political purposes despite warnings from the Indian government. The minister said the Trudeau government has given legitimacy to extremism, separatism and advocates of violence in the name of free speech, news agency ANI reported on Sunday.

Speaking during an interaction on his book 'Why Bharat Matters' in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar said some people in Canada, with 'pro-Pakistan leanings', have organised themselves politically and taken the shape of an influential political lobby.

Also Read | Justin Trudeau says rule-of-law after 3 arrested for Nijjar killing, Jaishankar says internal politics It is important to note that, earlier on Saturday, Canada claimed to have arrested three Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, namely Karan Brar (22), Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karanpreet Singh (28), for alleged involvement in Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder.

Trudeau claimed, This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens."

Responding to Trudeau's criticism of India, Jaishankar said, Indias image globally is now actually much much higher than it had been ever Canada is an exception. You see the different country heads are praising Bharat and its Prime Minister."

Also Read | Chief Justice DY Chandrachud reveals he was caned in school, Physical wound healed but. Trudeau's country thinks there wouldn't be any reaction to its antics of fostering criminals, Jaishankar said.

"In some countries, these kinds of people have organised themselves politically and become a political lobby and in some of these democratic countries, the politicians of these countries are made to believe that if they defer to these people or pander to these people, these people have some ability to get a community to support them. So, they have tried to create space for themselves in the politics of these countries. I mean, at this time, it's not so much a problem in the US," ANI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

The External Affairs Minister said Indias biggest problem right now is in Canada.

"Our biggest problem right now is in Canada. Because in Canada, actually, today the party in power in Canada, and other parties in Canada have given these kinds of extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence a certain legitimacy in the name of free speech. See, when you tell them something, their answer is no no we are a democratic country but it is free speech," Jaishankar added.

Also Read | 'Brij Bhushan hasn't been convicted...': Sitharaman backs Karan's LS nomination The point that they need to understand, it is no longer a world that runs as a one-way street. If there are that which happen out there, there will be pushback. Newton's law of politics will apply there also. There will be a reaction. Others will take steps or counter it the Indian foreign minister said.

Canadian visas for criminals Slamming the Canadian government for welcoming people from India with links to organised crime, despite warnings by New Delhi, the Minister of External Affairs said, The fact is that a number of gangland people, a number of people with organised crime links from Punjab have been made welcome in Canada. We have been telling Canada saying look these are wanted criminals from India, you have given them visas.

The minister stressed that many of these people with organised crime links go to Canada on false documentation, and they are allowed to live there.

Also Read | Car wash banned in this state due to water crisis amid rising temperature If you decide to import for political purposes people with very dubious, actually, very negative backgrounds, there will be issues, they have in some cases created problems in their own country as a result of their own policies. No, why would we fear, if something happens there, it is for them to worry about the minister added.
The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) is optimistic about the future of Singapore-India relations with Lawrence Wong poised to become Singapores next Prime Minister on May 15. SICCI Chairman Neil Parekh made the announcement during the chamber's centenary celebrations.

"As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong prepares to hand over leadership to his successor, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, we are confident that the ties between Singapore and India will continue to flourish, Parekh stated at the gala dinner marking the chambers 100th anniversary. The event was attended by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the guest of honour, along with approximately 700 business and community leaders.

Parekh highlighted Deputy Prime Minister Wongs significant contributions to strengthening bilateral relations, particularly through his co-chairing of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable. This has set the stage and the tone for long-term ties between our two countries, he remarked.

Since its establishment, SICCI has played a crucial role in bolstering economic and business relations between Singapore and India. This includes fine-tuning the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) signed in June 2005. An important aspect of the work of SICCI is to help Singapore businesses and fellow trade associations and chambers of commerce deepen their ties with India, ever since the India fever caught on during the tenure of then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Parekh elaborated.

Under SICCIs guidance, there have been numerous business missions to various Indian states, building strong relationships with major Indian business associations such as the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address a public rally in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. In another news, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett spoke about the 'unexplored opportunities' in India. During the day, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar criticized the Justin Trudeau-led government in Canada for issuing visas to people with links to organised crimes.

Here are top 5 news of the day:

1. Belstar Microfinance files DRHP Belstar Microfinance Ltd submitted draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to raise 1,300 crore through an initial public offering (IPO).

According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), the initial public offering (IPO) of the Chennai-based company comprises a 1,000 crore fresh issue of equity shares and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 300 crore by existing investor shareholders.

2. Berkshire Hathaway bullish on India? Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett spoke about the 'unexplored opportunities' in India and said the next management will decide on investments in the Asian country. When asked if Berkshire Hathaway is actively seeking opportunities in India, the nonagenarian investor responded with a description of the 'loads of opportunities' India has but left it to future management to decide.

3. Justin Trudeau, Jaishankar on Nijjar killing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the investigation into the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is "not limited" to the arrest of three Indian nationals and is ongoing. He said that it is important because "Canada is a rule-of-law country".

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said what is happening in poll-bound Canada over the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is mostly due to their internal politics and nothing to do with India.

Jaishankar also criticized the Justin Trudeau-led government in Canada for issuing visas to people with links to organised crimes for political purposes" despite warnings from the Indian government.

India has designated Nijjar a terrorist for his Khalistani separatist support.

4. Indian herbs, spices high in pesticide? The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically denied recent media claims suggesting that it has permitted higher pesticide residue levels in herbs and spices. Labeling these reports as "false and malicious," the food safety regulator clarified its position through a press note, on May 5 as per ANI.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has termed Nepal's introduction of a new 100 currency note featuring a map that includes disputed territories with India as "unilateral" and "untenable", PTI reported.

Jaishankar said this move "would not change the situation on the ground", it added.

"I saw that report. I have not looked at it in detail, but I think our position is very clear. With Nepal, we were having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. And then in the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side. But by doing something on their side, they are not going to change the situation between us or the reality on the ground," Jaishankar told reporters.

Nepal's New  100 Note On May 3, the Nepal government said it would print the new currency note displaying areas such as Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, which India has previously criticised as an "artificial enlargement" of Nepal's territory.

Nepal government spokesperson Rekha Sharma said the decision to incorporate the disputed territories into the currency note's design was made during a meeting chaired by Nepal's prime minister.

The meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda took a decision to print the new map of Nepal, which includes the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani in the 100 denomination bank notes. The cabinet approved re-designing the banknote of 100 and replacing the old map printed in the background of the bank note during the cabinet meetings held on April 25 and May 2, Sharma, who also serves as the Minister for Information and Communication, told reporters.

Strained Diplomatic Ties Over Border Nepal's move follows its constitutional amendment on June 18, 2020, to update its political map, incorporating strategically significant areas such as Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura. India strongly opposed this action, which labelled it as a unilateral act and criticised Nepal's territorial claims as untenable.

Nepal shares a more than 1,850 km border with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. India, on its part, states that it maintains ownership over Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura and considers them part of its territory.

Before this, diplomatic ties between India and Nepal had strained when the latter "strongly objected" to constructing a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh in 2020. Nepal had sent India a diplomatic note to this effect, to which the MEA had responded, saying the road in question goes through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, which "lies completely within the territory of India."
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has criticised Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. The director of The Kashmir Files has accused the Netflix web series of romanticising brothels. His remarks on Bhansali and Bollywood, in general, came as he admitted that he hadnt watched the show.

Also Read: Top OTT releases this week: Movies, web series to watch over the weekend; from Shaitaan, Heeramandi to The Broken News I havent seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. Its a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour or beauty. These are monuments of human injustice, pain and suffering. Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegals Mandi, wrote the director.

Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamorize human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance? Is it okay to portray slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they are attending an Ambani wedding? he added.

Also Read: Heeramandi reviews: Netizens laud Sanjay Leela Bhansali, call his Netflix web series 'masterclass' Agnihotris tweet came while appreciating another critique of the Netflix web series. It came from a Pakistani doctor.

Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but heermandi in it, wrote Hamd Nawaz. I mean either you dont set your story in 1940s Lahore, or if you do- you dont set it in Agras landscape, Delhis Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self cant really let it go.

Heera Mandi is a market in Lahore's Walled City in Pakistan. It is known as the red light district of Lahore.

Netizens react Honestly when I saw the trailer. There's no Lahori accent in urdu/hindi spoken by Sonakshi Sinha. When Bansali made Bajirao Mastani. He made sure Marathi accent in dialogues of characters, wrote one user in reply to Agnihotris post.
A candidate was bitten by a snake in the school's restroom while attending the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). This incident caused chaos on May 5 at the Rangamati Kiranmoyee High School in West Bengals Medinipur city, according to Anandabazar Patrika.

The student, who was reported as Lipsa Sahu, came to the school to take a medical entrance exam. Before the start of the exam, she went to the school restroom. There, she was bitten by a snake, as per the publication.

Also Read: UP man dies from snakebite, family seeks miracle by placing body in Ganga; netizens say death of scientific temper Her screams caused panic among the other students. Lipsa then informed her parents that a snake had bitten her. She was quickly taken to the hospital.

The student was taken to Medinipur Medical College at around 1:10 PM for treatment, the publication added. Lipsa's home is in the Gopiballavpur area of Jhargram district. She came for the test with her father, Purnachandra Sahu, and her mother, Manorama Sahu.

Also Read: YouTuber Elvish Yadav supplied snake venom to boost fanbase, make money The doctors first conducted a blood test on the student in the government hospital. After treatment, the student was kept under observation.

Also Read: NEET UG 2024 Exam today! Check these Do's and Don'ts before leaving for exam centre It was later reported that the student had returned from the hospital to the exam centre to take the exam. As per Anandabazar, the school building had been deserted for a while due to the summer vacation.
Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office on Sunday following a government decision to shut down the Qatari-owned TV station's local operations, an Israeli official and an Al Jazeera source told Reuters.

Video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room. The Al Jazeera source said the hotel was in East Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet shut down the network for as long as the war in Gaza continues, on the grounds the Qatari television network threatens national security.

Al Jazeera called the move a "criminal action" and rejected the accusation the network threatened Israeli security as a "dangerous and ridiculous lie" that puts its journalists at risk.

It said that it reserved the right to "pursue every legal step.

The network has been critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war.

"The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote.

A government statement said Israel's communications minister signed orders to "act immediately", but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block it in court.

The measure, the statement said, will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites. It did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operations.

There was no official comment from the Qatari government, which deferred to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera previously called Israeli efforts to curtail its operations an "escalation" and said in a statement in early April that it "comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera".

It said that Israeli authorities have deliberately targeted and killed several of its journalists including Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh, both killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel has said it does not target journalists.

Qatar established Al Jazeera in 1996 and views the network as a way to bolster its global profile.

"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information," the network said in a statement. "Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences."

The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure.

"We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel," it said on X. "A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban."

Israel's parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, is trying to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could halt the Gaza war.
The family of a woman who was left in a coma after drinking a protein shake at her local gym is seeking help for her recovery. Marta Perez suffered a severe allergic reaction after consuming the health drink in September 2022. The 19-year-old asked an employee if it contained nuts, as she is allergic to them, but was told it did not.

However, the drink was revealed to contain pistachios and Marta went into anaphylactic shock. The severe reaction led to cardiorespiratory arrest and Marta slipped into a coma for several weeks.

She was admitted to a hospital in Alcoi, Spain, before being transferred to a facility in Valencia. Today, she remains bedridden and unable to speak aside from a few words.

Teen able to say three words after allergic reaction

Her parents Juan and Maria  who have also have a 12-year-old child  have since been providing updates on Marta's care on Instagram.

"She listens to you. She says 'mum' a lot, and I have managed to get her to say 'hello' and 'water'," Maria said of her daughter's neuro-rehabilitation treatment.

"With a new study and the gathered data, they were able to tell us, like they did before, that Marta understands everything perfectly and that her brain responds immediately, not slowly.

"It responds immediately to any command and stimulus, but she is not yet capable of executing it."

Marta, 19, remains bedridden and is only able to speak a few words. Source: Jam Press

Parents seeking stem cell treatment

Earlier this week, Marta's family announced it is raising funds for stem cell treatment to assist with her recovery.

"We are all Marta. Her nightmare  and that of her family  began with a protein shake that had hidden pistachio. Marta is allergic to nuts," the social media post states.

"The reaction did not take long to arrive and anaphylactic shock erupted into cardiorespiratory arrest that left Marta in a coma. Since then Marta has fought like never before in her neuro-rehabilitation treatment.

"Financing stem cell treatment is the goal that her parents want to pursue to improve her quality of life. I doubt there is a single family who lives with allergies that does not identify with Marta's plight."

Marta's mum said they hope the stem cell treatment, which involves travelling to Mexico for the "implantation of these stem cells in the bone marrow", will improve the neural connections in her brain.

Jam Press

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Imagine an asylum seeker from Afghanistan or a war-torn country goes to the UK through a dunki route and somehow manages to cross the English Channel and reach the United Kingdom while nurturing a hope of a better life. Upon reaching there, however, he is now likely to be deported to Rwanda, a small country in central Africa bordering Uganda and Tanzania.

Something of this sort is now going to happen in the UK as Rwanda Asylum Plan comes into force.

On April 30 this year, the first migrant was sent to Rwanda after his asylum application was rejected by the United Kingdom. This was the first deportation to Rwanda, according to the British media.

On April 22, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that his government had booked commercial charter planes and would start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks.

Background The Rwanda plan was first proposed in April 2022. This entails relocating illegal immigrants for processing, asylum and resettlement.

The plan is known as a way to stop illegal migration and the current PM, under the policy of Stop the Boats, is getting the Rwanda plan in action.

In return for this, the UK government will accept a small number of most vulnerable refugees from Rwanda and pay a sum total of 120 million to the African nation.

The Rwanda policy was signed on April 14, 2022 between Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta and then British home secretary Priti Patel, an Indian origin UKs politician.

What was the hiccup so far? The first flight for this plan got a green signal from the High Court of Justice and was scheduled for June 14, 2022. But thanks to the intervention by the European Court of Human Rights, the first flight to Rwanda was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Finally, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom gave its verdict in favour of the government on Nov 15, 2023. The British Parliament subsequently passed a bill Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 which overruled the courts judgments and declared Rwanda a safe country.

Why is UK government doing this? This was aimed to stop illegal migration and curb the practice of human trafficking. There were several cases wherein a number of immigrants came in boats and refrigerated lorries.

On October 23, 2019, one such lorry was intercepted carrying 39 illegal immigrants from Vietnam who had frozen to their deaths in the refrigerated vehicle. This was one of the many cases which came to light in the recent past that showed an organised network of human smugglers who send undocumented people from Asian and African countries to the UK and provide labourers to a large unorganised market there.
Top college campuses in the West have been in ferment over the past month as students agitate over Israels war in Palestine; however, far from these portals of protests, recruiters are taking note, and students should be worried.

Simply put, global companies may think twice before recruiting students who join the ongoing unrest. Employers are concerned that such students may find it difficult to settle down or align with the broader company culture where individual viewpoints are often superseded by that of the group, and one must learn to keep opinions in check.

If the background check, association, and behavioural traits of a candidate dont align with our values, we prefer not to hire them. At Arthur D. Little, we respect diversity, openness and having a view, but not lawlessness, conflicts with establishment, compromising peace and human values," said Brajesh Singh, president, Arthur D. Little India. The consulting firm hires both from Indias leading B-schools such as IIMs and global universities for roles ranging from consultant, analysts, to IT and other support functions.

We respect an individuals viewpoint and dont have any problems with anyone having an opinion. However, we have serious issues with lawlessness..," Singh added.

Singhs comments come on the back of protests in universities across the US against the Israel-Palestine conflict. In some of the campuses like Columbia University, forces were called in to put a halt to the protests. ...This drastic escalation of many months of protest activity pushed the University to the brink, creating a disruptive environment for everyone and raising safety risks to an intolerable level," said Columbia University president Minouche Shafik in a statement on 1 May. The college had called in the New York City Police Department to intervene and dismantle the protest camps on 30 April.

Premier campuses such as Columbia University, University of California Los Angeles, Yale, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Arizona, Tuscon have been convulsed by protests over Israels retaliatory war in Gaza. Several pro-Palestine student protests have turned violent, prompting police action to break up scuffles, and re-establish order.

Hamas militants launched a deadly raid on Israel on 7 October, killing hundreds and abducting many others, prompting a ferocious retaliation by Tel Aviv.

Student protests in the US have sparked similar upheavals at campuses in France, Canada, Australia, and the UK, too. Canadas University of British Columbia may take action against those involved in the unrest. To the extent that inappropriate conduct violates one or more of the Universitys policies, individuals may be subject to the Universitys disciplinary processes or other appropriate measures under the Universitys discrimination policy or student code of conduct," said Matthew Ramsey, acting senior director of media relations at the university, in an emailed response to Mint.

Mint has reached out to other universities in the US on the impact of this unrest on students and their safety, and also to firms across sectors that have a global presence on whether their hiring decisions will be influenced by the protests.

The India HR head of a global manufacturing firm that hires engineers from US colleges said his counterparts in the US office will definitely keep a watch on social media and cross-check if selected candidates were part of any unrest. As a company, we have to stay away from any political leanings, and it is okay to hold a stance, but we cannot have employees at any level with obvious leanings," the HR head said, refusing to be identified.

Workplaces have started taking action against employees who are taking political stances. Recently, Google fired employees who protested against the companys cloud computing deal with Israel.

A senior executive at one of the worlds largest consulting firms that hires post-graduates from US universities said although it would be difficult to identify who was part of the protests, a blotch on the resume" is a high possibility.

Some universities, like The University of Texas at Austin, said they are taking all steps to ensure students future remains free of blemishes.

The Dean of Students office handles student disciplinary actions. Historically, the DOS does not send out disciplinary notices at or during final exams as not to affect the students academic performance. Thus, none have gone out. Final exams end Monday," said the college in response to Mints queries. The university responded saying it remained fully open with no operational problems."

The placement chairperson at one of Indias leading B-schools highlighted that while colleges cannot reveal the names of students who were part of protests unless they were arrested, companies are very particular about the background checks of students. The issue with these clashes is - from a peaceful one, it quickly became violent and there are cases where many rioting were not part of the college, but were given access to. Companies will distance themselves from these students," the chairperson said.
I spent the mid-2000s arguing why Indian foreign policy must make a decisive shift towards the United States. The shadow of the Cold War had not yet dissolved and memories of US support for Pakistans proxy war were still alive in the minds of the countrys strategic establishment. The Vajpayee government had initiated a shift in thinking after the 1998 nuclear tests and prime minister Manmohan Singh was pushing for a major breakthrough in the form of a nuclear deal.

Many in New Delhifrom cabinet ministers to young officershad misgivings about the relationship and argued that partnering with a superpower would undermine Indias strategic autonomy. With the exception of the formidable K. Subrahmanyam, very few were comfortable making the realist argument that a closer alliance with the United States was in Indias interest.

Towards the end of the George W. Bush presidency, it became fashionable in Washingtonand helpful to Barack Obamas election campaignto talk about the decline of American power. Fareed Zakaria wrote a book about the post-American world in 2008. This played very well in New Delhi, both because the predicted shift in the global balance of power towards Asia was good news, but also because it buttressed the old claim that the US was on its way down. Time and again, I found myself in a minority pointing out that declinism was a favourite American pastime for decades and Americans have been lamenting the decline of their country for over 200 years.

I gave three reasons why fears of Americas terminal decline were exaggerated. First, the American political system is designed to recover from serious mistakes that its leaders (like all others) tend to make. Second, its higher education ecosystem is outstanding. And third, it has long been the magnet for the worlds most talented and enterprising people. As long as the US held on to these advantages, I argued, it will remain the worlds dominant power.

In the past 15 years, it is shocking how the US has inflicted serious damage on all three pillars of its strength. No, I still do not think you should short the US, but the harm it has inflicted on itself is perhaps unprecedented. Unless its self-correcting mechanism kicks in soon enough, a decline is possible. Even after the 2008 global financial crisis, I never thought Id write this sentence.

Consider the first of my three reasons: political resilience. Frequent elections, presidential term limits, policy adversarialism and institutional strength created the conditions for the American system to change policies once it was clear they had failed. All political leaders and governments err, but not all systems can acknowledge errors and change direction. Mao Zedong and his policies are still not officially seen as wrong in China, but the mistakes made by the US from Dwight Eisenhower to Joe Biden are not only discussed threadbare, but correctives are applied.

Yet, in the past decade, extreme partisanship has wrecked its self-correcting mechanisms. The US Supreme Court has reduced itself from being a credible arbiter to just another player. The US Congress seems dysfunctional. The country is set for a highly controversial presidential election this year. There is, of course, a lot of resilience in the system at all levels, but it is under greater strain today than it has been in decades.

The US university system is still the worlds best, but it is caught in deep crises of its own. The ongoing campus protests expose the contradictions and dubious policies that the American university has come to embrace in the past decade. For years, a creeping climate of fear enveloped campuses as professors could be punished for falling foul of political correctness codes.

Big donors and alumni groups became powerful. They abridged academic freedom, the single most important thing in education. As Timur Kuran wrote on X, US universities should never have abandoned institutional neutrality. And they should never had allowed DEI to morph into a system that promotes identity politics. Sooner or later, these missteps would come to haunt them. That day has arrived." Students have noticed the gap between US ideals and policy. The pro-Palestinian protests could jolt the university ecosystem to rethink the path it is on, but I cannot say for sure.

America still attracts good immigrants, despite controversies over how to deal with illegal immigration. The ability to acquire high-quality human capital without spending a cent is an advantage few of its rivals possess.

The best analysis of the rise and fall of great powers is still Paul Kennedys 1988 book, which the assemblage of experts in Washington seems to have forgotten. He showed that powers rise with economic growth and decline due to military overstretch. While the constituents of US dynamism are beginning to flash amber, it finds itself embroiled in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine wars. Taiwan is an iceberg that lies somewhere ahead. With the Biden administration losing moral stature and undermining the rules-based world order, the US will have to rely even more on hard power in pursuit of its goals. This risks the overstretch that Kennedy warned of.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has decided to respond with humour to BJP Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut's gaffe on May 4.

Speaking during an election rally on May 4, Ranaut, who is the BJP candidate from Mandi seat (Himachal Pradesh), seemingly launched an attack on Yadav, but mis-named him as fellow BJP leader Tejasvi Surya instead.

Surya is the BJP LS candidate from Bengaluru South constituency in Karnataka.

Tejashwi Yadav's Response Taking to social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), Yadav quoted an account pointing out Surya's misplaced mention in Ranaut's speech.

Ye mohtarma kaun hain? (Who is this lady?), he wrote.

Why The Attack? Attacking a few opposition leaders, Ranaut accused Surya of hooliganism" and eating fish". However, it was Yadav who drew criticism for eating fish on Navrati-eve" after posting a video of his meal post Lok Sabha campaigning on April 9.

There's a party of spoilt princes whether it's Rahul Gandhi who wants to grow potatoes on the Moon, or it's Tejasvi Surya who does hooliganism and eats fish...or it's Akhilesh Yadav who does weird talks Ranaut had said.

Yadav on Campaign Trail Meanwhile, in an interview with news agency ANI on May 4, Yadav questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's track record on extraditing fugitives.

So many have fled to foreign countries, has PM Modi brought anyone back? So many Indians who are corrupt, rapists have fled from here and are living lavish lives abroad. Has he (PM Modi) brought anyone back? Yadav said.

Yadav was referring to former Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya, who resides in the United Kingdom, with the government pursuing his extradition; and fugitive diamond trader Nirav Modi, who has been in the UK since 2019, facing extradition proceedings; and Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League who has also sought refuge in the UK.

Vijay Mallya fled in 2016 amid legal actions initiated by public sector banks. Nirav Modi was apprehended for his involvement in the Punjab National Bank loan scandal. Lalit Modi was accused of bid-rigging and money laundering,

This is a very shameful incident. What happened in Manipur was heart-rending. What happened with women wrestlers was heart-rending. This incident, where an NDA MP sexually exploited around 3000 women...His voting was over on May 26 and then he fled abroad! People will teach him a lesson, he added.
China launched a first-of-its-kind mission, Chang'e-6 spacecraft, on Friday. The lunar probe is expected to collect samples from the far side of the moon and bring those samples to Earth for research purposes, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The launch of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe comes amid the buzz around the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning its next Moon mission  Chandrayaan-4, also aimed at bringing back lunar samples.

Here's a look at the difference between China's latest Chang'e-6 mission, its 2026 mission, Chang'e 7, which aims to explore lunar south pole and India's Chandrayaan 4 mission.

Chang'e 6 lunar probe As per the CNSA, the Chang'e 6 is the world's first attempt to retrieve substances from the moon's far side  the side which is not visible from the Earth.

The Chang'e-6 lunar probe was launched onboard the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province.

Components: The spacecraft consists of four components  an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a re-entry module.

Execution: It is scheduled to land on the moon in the first half of this year. After the probe reaches lunar orbit, the components will separate into two parts. The orbiter and re-entry module will remain in orbit, while the lander and ascender head for the moon's surface.

Soft landing: The lander-ascender combination will make a soft landing. It will land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin  a gigantic crater on the far side and also the largest, oldest and deepest basin recognised on the moon, the CNSA said.

The aim is to collect up to 2 kilograms of stones and soil, packed in a vacuumed metal container inside the ascender.

In-situ operations: The lander-ascender combination will then start using a drill and a mechanical arm to gather lunar rocks and soil.

Re-entry into the orbit: After carrying out the surface operations, the ascender's rocket will elevate it to lunar orbit to dock with the re-entry module. It will transfer samples to the module, which will carry them to Earth.

What we know about Chandrayaan 4 mission While Chang'e 6 mission aims to bring back samples from the Moon's far side, India's Chandrayaan 4 mission is being built to bring samples from the Moon's  reportedly from the south pole region. It is expected to be launched in 2027.

Next lunar mission in the making ISRO chief S Somanath had said earlier that the mission to bring back lunar samples is yet to be approved, while the scientists are still working on the concept.

He recently said Chandrayaan-4 is the first step towards achieving the goal of India landing an astronaut on the moon in 2040.

"Chandrayaan-4 is the first step in the direction....to step a craft on the moon and collect sample and bring it back to Earth. It demonstrates the full cycle of going to the moon and coming back to Earth," Somanath was quoted by PTI as saying.

He had said that going to the Moon and bringing back a sample is a very complex work. "...another rocket has to take off from the Moon, come back to the Earth and land on Earth which is double the work of what we have done last time," Somanath said.

How Chandrayaan 4 mission may be executed: Launch vehicle: The next lunar mission will likely involve a PSLV and an LVM3 as launch vehicle options.

Spacecraft modules: The mission will include five spacecraft modules - Re-entry module (RM), Transfer Module (TM), Ascender Module (AM), Descender Module (DM) and Propulsion Module (PM).

Step 1: The first step will be about sending a lander and an "ascender" to the moon's surface to collect samples. According to Space.com, this would likely occur near the landing site of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the lunar south pole  the Shiv Shakti point, the Indian Express reported

Step 2: The other two modules of the Chandrayaan-4 mission  a transfer module and a reentry module  may fly later on top of a second rocket but remain parked in lunar orbit, according to media reports.

Step 3, after the landing: According to reports, the lander and ascender may touch down on the rim of an unspecified crater near the south pole. "The ascender module, carrying the collected samples, would launch from the moon's surface and transfer its samples to the reentry module. The transfer and reentry modules would then head back toward Earth," the report added.

China's Chang'e 7 China's Chang'e-7 mission is scheduled for launch around 2026, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said. This is around the time when Chandrayaan 4 mission is expected to be launched.

The Chang'e-7 mission aims to survey the lunar surface environment, water, ice and volatile elements of lunar soil in the lunar south pole. It will also carry out research on the lunar terrain, composition and structure.

The mission will carry six scientific instruments developed by six countries and one international organization.
NASA recently posted new photos of Saturn on social media alongside an image of the planet Peridea, which NASA noted bears a resemblance to the ringed planet.

In a post on Instagram, NASA wrote that Our solar system formed a long, long time ago in a galaxy right here, creating planets and moons that share similarities with those in a galaxy far, far away.

It further informed about Peridea and said it is the extragalactic planet where Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn are banished, later found by Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren.

Peridea looks similar to Saturn, our solar system's most grand ringed planet. Image description: Saturn appears in shades of tan, its rings grey and surrounded by black space, it added.

NASA noted that Mars is covered in dry red, brown, and tan regolith (soil) with dunes, mountains, and plains. Image description: Mars looks brownish-red in this image. The Valles Marineris canyon system takes up a significant portion of the planet's width. The background is the blackness of space, it added.

The latest images left users in awe. One user commented, Our Earth is the most beautiful. Another user remarked, Life is better at Saturn.

Reactions on NASA's latest post.

Someone else noted, Saturn. You beauty. A user said, Saturn is the prettiest thing I have ever seen.

Images photoshopped? Some users questioned the authenticity of NASA's recent post, asking whether the latest images were photoshopped.

One user commented, "Are these photoshopped?" Another said, You can see the pixels.

Reactions on NASA's latest post.

"A different user remarked, I think it is not real photos.

Yet another user compared the images to science fiction, stating, The CGI images are as real as everything we see in Star Wars. NASA is just another science fiction company.

Reactions on NASA's latest post on Instagram.

Earlier, NASA's Webb Telescope has released stunning glimpse into the dense central region of the Milky Way.
Deadly dam bursts in Kenya and Brazil, a highway sliding down a mountainside in southern China, desert airport runways underwater in Dubai, mining pits flooded in Australia: Large parts of the world are awash.

Extreme rainfall and killer floods that have struck around the globe in recent weeks have been unexpected both in their location and power.

Combined with infrastructure unprepared for such deluges, the intense rains have caused death, destruction and mass evacuations on several continents.

The powerful downpours are the result of natural weather patterns being supercharged by a record-breaking year for global temperatures.

As the globe gets hotter, it is getting wetter too. Simply put, the warmer the air, the more water it can hold.

Scientists still dont know whether this yearlong record global heatand the downpours that accompany itamounts to a statistical blip, or requires a recalibration to a warmer, wetter future that will test national infrastructure, raise insurance premiums and complicate global food production.

In each of the deluges this April, a particular set of severe weather conditions came together to produce the storms, according to meteorologists and climate scientists.

The amount of rain that fell during these spring storms has been unusual, they say. East African countries, for example, were soaked with 4 to 20 inches of rain during April, up to six times the normal amount depending on the area, according to data from the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center.

The intensity of the downpours can cause havoc. Nairobi, Kenya, received nearly 12 inches over a seven-day period, bursting dams, burying towns in mud and turning city streets into deadly rivers.

More than 10 inches fell in a single day in Dubai, submerging its international airports runways under at least a typical years worth of rain.

Record rainfall totaling 17 inches across the month inundated Guangdong province, in southern China, where on Monday a section of a highway collapsed in a mountainous area, killing 48 people. The province is home to 127 million people and many of Chinas technology and manufacturing giants, mostly located along its southern shoreline.

Brazil deployed its armed forces to the countrys southern state of Rio Grande do Sul after 6 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, causing mass flooding over the past week that killed at least 30 people, left 60 missing and displaced more than 10,000 others.

With one of the regions main rivers at its highest level on record, roads and bridges were destroyed, disrupting harvests in the countrys second-largest soybean-producing state. Some half a million people were left without access to clean water and 300,000 people without electricity after a small hydroelectric dam burst, sending a 2-meter-high wave of muddy water crashing through local villages.

The rainfall-related disasters are the result of warming global temperatures. There have been 10 straight months of record-breaking global average atmospheric temperatures, and 12 consecutive months of record global average ocean temperatures.

Although questions remain about whether the rise in global temperatures will endure, what is certain is that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture that later falls as rain, while a warmer ocean evaporates more water to the air, according to Sarah Kapnick, chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

These events are happening more frequently now on the extreme precipitation scale," Kapnick said. Theyre happening in places that we dont think of as being rainy, like Dubai, so its all the more surprising when they do happen."

Last months East Africa floods occurred during a rainy season that runs from March to May, although the actual amount of rain varies in a given year. This time, the rainfall has been amplified by a weather pattern called the Indian Ocean Dipole. In its positive phase, the dipole pushes warm water against the eastern coast of Africa; in its negative phase, the warm water sloshes back across toward Australia and Indonesia.

This year, the dipole is stronger than normal, which is fueling heavy rainfall in areas on the western side of the Indian Ocean, such as Kenya, according to Joyce Kimutai, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and member of World Weather Attribution, a group of scientists from universities and research institutes in Europe and the U.S.

The warm ocean temperatures plus the evaporative effects of a warmer atmosphere helped set the stage for Kenyas powerful deluge, according to Kimutai.

At least 50 people were killed early Monday when the Old Kijabe Dam overflowed, unleashing a flash flood through the town of Mai Mahiu, which sits beneath the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, 20 miles north of Nairobi. The incident brought the nationwide death toll from the flooding to 210, as of Friday, with another 90 people missing. Theres just too much water," said Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura. The national electric company reported power outages scattered across the country.

The flooding across the Arabian Peninsula in mid-April that brought Dubai to a standstill was the most severe since record-keeping began 75 years ago. The storm started as a slow-moving low-pressure system over Turkey and then picked up moisture as it moved across the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Normally, low-pressure systems would have stayed over Europe at this time of the year, but this one moved south and also caused storms over northern Pakistan and Afghanistan, dumping strong rains and killing 50 people, according to news reports.

Over April 14 and 15, Dubai recorded the highest daily rainfall since tracking began in 1949. The desert emirates 12-lane superhighways were littered with abandoned cars; schools and businesses shut; and the countrys army of blue-collar and domestic workers were stranded at home. The United Arab Emirates government said it would allocate roughly $540 million to help citizens affected by the deluge. Only around 10% of the population have citizenship.

An analysis of the Dubai storm released by the World Weather Attribution group found that the amount of rain that fell was likely influenced by El Nino, a Pacific Ocean weather pattern that leads to warmer ocean temperatures in the Eastern Pacific and can affect drought and rainfall patterns across the entire globe.

The current El Nino began in 2023 and is slowly waning, although it is still having an effect and is partly responsible for the deadly rains this past week in southern Brazil, according to the countrys National Institute of Meteorology.

Historically, the arid Arabian Peninsula receives more periods of heavy rainfall during El Nino years than non-El Nino years, the report said.

The Horn of Africa has had several years of drought, while flooding in Kenya has displaced more than 165,000 people, including tourists and staff evacuated by helicopter and boat from 19 safari camps flooded when the Talek River overran its banks in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, according to Kenyan and Red Cross authorities.

The back and forth between years of drought followed by periods of extreme and prolonged rainfall makes it difficult for soil and vegetation to absorb rainwater, Imperials Kimutai said.

There are a lot of swings between extremes so the ecosystem really doesnt get time to recover and get back to its natural, adaptive state," said Kimutai. It becomes a weakened system over time."

The immediate impact on agriculture is significant too. In the rain-hardened British Isles, the past winter has been one of the wettest on record. Rains left farmers fields flooded in the middle of the planting season, threatening harvests. Combined with the cold, the wet weather has also delayed turning animals out to pasture, farming unions say, meaning fodder reserves for the coming winter are already being depleted. Up to late April its been constant," said Mike Thomas, a spokesman for the National Farmers Union. With energy and feed costs going up, its been like a perfect storm." The group is asking retailers for flexibility in the specifications demanded for crops and on contractual obligations given the weather conditions.

Rain damage can be worse in urban areas like Dubai, where water cant soak into the ground, or in rural areas where vegetation has been cut down for food or fuel, according to Justin Mankin, associate professor of geography at Dartmouth College.

The land surface has a finite amount of water that it can absorb," Mankin said. The built environment shapes how that precipitation gets channeled and presents a hazard to people in the form of flooding. And thats the case in all these areas whether youre talking about eastern Australia, Dubai or eastern China."

The high rainfall hit Australia in March, which was the countrys third-wettest March on record, with rainfall some 86% above a long-term average, according to the countrys Bureau of Meteorology. A tropical cyclone hit the remote northern part of the country that month, prompting authorities to close roads due to flooding and mining companies to suspend operations.

At a manganese mine on an island off Australias northern coast, mining company South32 said the storm flooded mining pits and damaged a haulage road bridge, as well as wharf and port infrastructure. Record rainfall hit the island, the miner said.

Michael M. Phillips in Nairobi, Kenya, Mike Cherney in Sydney, Sha Hua in Singapore, Samantha Pearson in Sao Paulo, Rory Jones in Dubai and Joanna Sugden in London contributed to this article.

Write to Eric Niiler at eric.niiler@wsj.com
Biz Bits

Clearwater Paper made $17.2 million in the first three months of 2024, but its earnings were hampered by a temporary shutdown in January related to natural gas supply uncertainty and frigid weather at Lewiston.

That update comes from Clearwater Papers news release on its results for the first quarter of 2024 that was issued last week.

The earnings in the first quarter of 2024 were lower than the same time for 2023 when Clearwater Paper earned $23.4 million.

Despite the significant weather event that impacted the quarter, we delivered solid results that came in at the higher end of our expectations through strong operational execution, said Clearwater Paper President and CEO Arsen Kitch in the news release.

Our Lewiston team did a tremendous job repairing damaged equipment under very difficult conditions and resuming operations, he said.

Clearwater Paper announced a temporary suspension of operations at the Lewiston mill Jan. 15. It wasnt made public when full operations resumed.

Company officials estimate additional expenses related to the weather were $15 million to $17 million, said Sherri Baker, Clearwater Papers senior vice president and chief financial officer, in a conference call for stock market analysts.

That is the full amount of the claim, she said. We do have a $4 million deductible and we expect to see some partial recovery in the second quarter. That process is still ongoing with the insurance carrier.

Clearwater Paper employs about 1,300 people at its pulp and paperboard and tissue operations in Lewiston.

The paperboard is made into packaging and paper dishes. The tissue is used for toilet paper, paper towels, paper napkins and facial tissue.

Net sales in pulp and paperboard were down 12% in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same time last year because of lower sale prices and the weather, according to the news release.

Those factors were offset some by lower input costs in wood energy and freight, according to the news release.

Net sales in tissue rose by 2% compared with the same time last year because of higher sales volumes, lower input costs and strong operational performance, according to the news release.

The information about Clearwater Papers earnings comes as the company is preparing for a major upgrade, maintenance and repair project in Lewiston.

Portions of the Lewiston operation will be temporarily offline at various times from June 1 through July 14 while $75 million in work is completed.

All of Clearwater Papers Lewiston staff will be working during the project that will involve contractors from around the world with more than 1,000 crew members.

The largest share of the $75 million  $35 million  will be spent rebuilding one of two recovery boilers in Lewiston used in a process that converts wood chips into pulp for tissue and paperboard.

The 15-story-tall recovery boiler was originally constructed in 1988.

Recovery boilers are where the expensive chemicals used for pulp making are recovered so they can be reused in a process that was introduced in the late 1800s that made paper of all kinds affordable to the masses.

Clearwater Papers recovery boilers and a wood waste boiler create steam, which runs equipment and is channeled through turbines that generate electricity.

Clearwater Papers acquisition of Graphic Packaging Internationals Augusta, Ga., bleached paperboard manufacturing plant for $700 million has closed.

The wood products company announced the expansion of its paperboard operations in February in a news release where it shared its strategy for the future.

Clearwater Paper will be exploring strategic options for its tissue business as it intends to focus on growth in paperboard, according to the news release.

Lewiston is home to Clearwater Papers largest manufacturing site and the only place where it makes pulp, paperboard and tissue.

Bumper Crop Coffee adds parklet seating at its Lewiston location

Clear lights hang from wooden rafters over a deck inspired by Greece and Walla Walla at Bumper Crop Coffee in downtown Lewiston.

The recent addition of more tables and chairs to the businesss outdoor seating area is intended to give customers more room to linger over drinks and food on Lewistons many warm, sunny days, said Dan Mader, an owner of Bumper Crop.

Since opening in 2022, Bumper Crop Coffee has steadily expanded its menu with choices such as ice cream, baked goods, sandwiches for lunch and breakfast, nachos, artisan bread with spinach dip, beer and wine.

Were trying to offer a place where people can gather, Mader said.

The debut of the new seating area in a former parking spot comes after Mader, and his wife, Cindi Mader, successfully lobbied Lewistons elected officials to amend city code.

The Maders pushed for the change after enjoying outdoor restaurants in places they have visited such as Greece and Walla Walla.
Sexaholics Anonymous, 12-step group, call for meeting information in Lewiston and the surrounding area, (208) 503-6446.

Alzheimers Association support group, 1:30-3 p.m. second Wednesday of the month, Community Action Partnership, Area Agency on Aging, 124 New Sixth St., Lewiston, (208) 666-2996.

Alzheimers Association  Washington state chapter serving northern Idaho, 1 p.m. second Monday of the month, Trinity Baptist Church, Fireside Room, 711 Fairview Drive, Moscow. For more information, call (208) 874-3462.

Idaho Support and Care Association, providing care and support for the mentally handicapped and their families, 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, Sonic restaurant back room, 1306 21st St., Lewiston.

Recovery International, a peer-led mental health training program, is picking up its meeting again. It will meet from 5-6:30 p.m. Mondays at the Lewiston City Library, second-floor conference room. For more information, contact David at (509) 780-7323.

Palouse Advocates on Mental Illness, 1 p.m. second Sunday. To join support meetings via Zoom, call (208) 835-3071 or (509) 758-0284 to receive information or meeting notifications.

National Alliance on Mental Illness, 7 p.m. second Wednesday, the Roxy, 714 Main St., Lewiston.

Grieving childrens support groups, 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday, old Lewiston High School, 1114 Ninth Ave., Lewiston. Participants are asked to call the Willow Center at (208) 791-7192.

Caregiver Support Group, 2-4 p.m. second and fourth Monday, Regency Senior Living, 1285 SW Center St., Pullman. More information is available by contacting Melissa at (509) 332-0365.

Caregivers Support Group, 3:30-5 p.m. second Wednesday; 6-7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday, Adult Day Health, 225 E. Palouse River Drive, Moscow, (208) 883-6483.

Caregivers Support Group, 3-3:50 p.m., third Tuesday, second floor of Lewiston City Library, sponsored by St. Joseph Family Hospice. (208) 799-5275.

Caregivers Support Group, 3-3:50 p.m., third Tuesday, second floor of Lewiston City Library, sponsored by St. Joseph Family Hospice. (208) 799-5275.

Grief Support Group, 4-4:50 p.m., third Tuesday, second floor of Lewiston City Library, sponsored by St. Joseph Family Hospice. (208) 799-5275.

Griefshare, 7 p.m. each Monday through May 6, Orchards Community Church downstairs, 822 Bryden Ave. Class is 13 weeks, but participants can join at anytime. Books are $20. (208) 743-1021.

Healing Rooms of Lewiston, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Riverside Room, Echo Hills Church, 3215 Echo Hills Drive, Lewiston. All are welcome to come pray for healing; physical, emotional and spiritual. Monthly meetings also available the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Colfax Caregiver Support Group, sponsored by the Council on Aging and Human Services, 3-4:30 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month, The Courtyard on Main Street in Colfax.

Womens Support Group, for women in or recovering from an abusive relationship, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, YWCA, 300 Main St., Lewiston.

Valley Breast Cancer Support Group, 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Wednesday, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, parish hall, Lewiston.

American Cancer Society Resource Center, more information is available by calling (208) 750-7396.

Parkinsons Support Group, 1:30 p.m. second Monday of the month, St. Stans Parish Center, 633 Fifth Ave. For directions, call (208) 799-5219.

Grangeville Diabetic Support Group, 1:30 p.m. third Monday, Syringa General Hospital.

Ostomy Support Group, 12:30-1:30 p.m. second Monday of each month, Canyons Church, 717 15th St., Clarkston. Resources, personal experience and problem solving will be offered. For more information, call Adrian at (509) 254-3404 or Cheryl at (208) 743-4088.

Palouse Ostomy Support Group, 5 p.m. first Wednesday of the month, by Zoom; call Karen (509) 332-6053 for information and link. For people with ostomies, family members, members of the health care community or people contemplating getting surgery.

Widows and widowers support group, Lenore Community Center, those interested can call Rebecca Ziegler at (425) 760-2654.
BOISE  Behavioral health has come a long way in Idaho since Rick Huber experienced his first mental health crisis in the early 1980s.

Huber said he was home for the summer while studying engineering at the University of Idaho when he started seeing things that werent there.

Its like one minute, youre OK, and then its like somebody takes a spoon and turned your world up, and everything doesnt make sense, Huber said.

His parents were unsure how to get him the help he needed, so they took him to an alcohol addiction treatment facility. There, he only grew more paranoid and scared, and he ran away. He was found by police officers, who put him on the ground and placed him in handcuffs. They were going to arrest him, take him to jail to go to court for commitment when someone at the alcohol treatment facility flagged them down and notified the officers that Huber had health insurance.

Its like you flipped a switch on those officers and theyre like, oh were sorry for basically beating you up, Huber, who now serves on the Idaho Behavioral Health Planning Council, said. So that was my first experience with the disparities with mental health. Once they found out I had the insurance, it was like I was a total different person in their eyes.

On Friday, Huber joined leaders from other government and nonprofit behavioral health organizations at the Capitol for a Mental Health Month event, which included a proclamation by the governor and discussion of the available resources and challenges of administering them.

We celebrate today not in exaltation but with determination, said Dustin Lapray, public involvement officer for the Division of Behavioral Health.

Gov. Brad Little said the state has made progress in the area of mental health and substance use treatment, but acknowledged that theres more to be done.

It seems like the problem almost grows at a faster rate than what were doing, Little said.

He highlighted the progress made by the Behavioral Health Council, which brings together the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government to create recommendations and a plan to improve care for Idahoans in this area. The council was formed in 2020 and Little reestablished the group January through an executive order.

Nearly all the recommendations from the councils first strategic plan have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented, including establishing the statewide 988 suicide hotline, adding resources to expand the number and training for credentialed behavioral health workers, funding four youth crisis centers and providing funding for new psychiatric residential treatment facilities, which were the first in the state and helped bring home children who were being treated out of state. The first treatment facility opened in 2023, with the Idaho Youth Ranch Residential Center for Healing & Resilience in Caldwell.

Little also highlighted that this year the Legislature approved $25 million for a secure mental health facility, which will be a 26-bed facility for those determined to be dangerously mentally ill by the courts and for inmates in need of acute behavioral interventions.

Division of Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmunds said that he used to see the states behavioral health system as completely fractured between his division, Medicaid, law enforcement and politically among the executive and legislative branches.
Filing week begins Monday at auditor offices across Washington for the states primary election, which takes place Aug. 6.

Each open seat requires a filing fee equivalent to 10% of the salaries of the elected position. Candidates have until Friday to make sure their names appear on the ballot.

In Asotin County, two county commissioner seats are open, including District. No. 1, currently held by Brian Shinn, and District No. 2, held by Chris Seubert. The filing fee is $600.35, and the terms are for four years.

The Asotin County prosecutor position, now held by Curt Liedkie, carries a filing fee of $1,772.94. The former prosecutor, Ben Nichols, died a year ago, and Liedkie, a longtime chief deputy prosecutor, was appointed to the unexpired office.

The Superior Court judge position held by Brooke Burns is open in Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties. The four-year term requires a $2,173.91 filing fee with the state of Washington.

The Asotin County Public Utility District has an open six-year commissioner position in District No. 2. The position is currently held by Don Nuxoll, and the filing fee is $280.68.

In Garfield County, two board of commission positions will be on the 2024 ballot. District No. 1, held by Jim Nelson, and District 2, covered by Larry Ledgerwood, are open. The filing fee is $272.32.

Whitman County has two commission positions that will be on the ballot; the filing fee for either of those is $796.39. The District No. 1 spot is held by Art Swannack and No. 2 is held by Tom Handy.
Harry was 99 years old when he passed on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Parkside Family Home in Vancouver, Wash. His family would like to thank the Parkside staff for their excellent care and compassion.

Harry was born to Albert Meade and Buena Vista Van Devender on Nov. 20, 1924, near Weippe. For Harry, every day was an opportunity to begin a new adventure, take a chance and experience life to the fullest.

In his younger years, he daydreamed about flying airplanes through the canyons near his home on the breaks of Lolo Creek near Fraser. After leaving home on traveling adventures, he obtained a job working in the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver. There, he received his draft notice in early 1943.

Later in basic training, he saw an offer on the bulletin board to enter pilot training. Harry was accepted for the program and began to fulfill his boyhood dreams. He started officer candidate school in Albion, Mich., where he met the love of this life, Freda Anna Radtke. It seems that there was a shortage of transportation in Albion and at one of their social functions, Freda was twirling a set of car keys that caught Harrys eye. They continued their relationship throughout his flight training and were married Sept. 2, 1944, in Independence, Kan.

In early 1945, Harry was in B-24 Bomber flight training and was sent to Germany shortly after World War II. There, he was placed in charge of communications for three airbases near Munich, Germany. In 1947, the newly created U.S. Air Force was established, and he took the opportunity as a captain to transfer from the Army Air Corps.
If anybody can understand the importance of emergency care during a pregnancy, its Rep. Ilana Rubel, of Boise, the House minority leader. She has plenty of life experience on that matter.

Fifteen years ago, my fourth child had a rare blood antigen triggering an attack response from my body during pregnancy, she said. Thankfully I was in the care of a fetal maternal specialist who identified the problem and had me go through high-resolution ultrasounds several times a week to make sure blood oxygen to my sons brain wasnt dropping too low. One day that test showed that his blood oxygen was dropping dangerously and I had to have an emergency C-section within the hour.

This story has a happy ending. Rubels son is a straight-A student and taking AP Physics as a ninth grader. Its fortunate that her story was from 15 years ago, when there were more than a few doctors qualified to handle her situation.

Without the intervention of that fetal maternal specialist, he would have been born brain dead, she said. The majority of these specialists have left Idaho because its abortion ban makes it too risky to practice here and have to choose, in many cases, between malpractice and prison.

Rubel isnt talking about whether abortion should be legal, although shes decidedly pro-choice on the issue. The question is over whether abortion can be allowed as an emergency procedure to preserve the health of a mother, an issue that is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney General Raul Labrador says the uproar over emergency-care abortions is much ado about nothing and that Idahos abortion law makes exceptions to save the life of a mother, or in the cases of rape or incest.

Idahos law is fully consistent with federal law, he says.

Rubel is not convinced, with doctors and specialists leaving the state in droves, and pregnant mothers being airlifted to other states to receive the care they need. Shes also seeing a fair amount of tax dollars being spent fighting for a cause that, to her, doesnt make sense.
Both ran in states with a top-two primary.

Newhouse stayed alive in the primary with 25.5% and then went on to defeat Democrat Doug White in November with 66.5%.

A second-place finish in his states top-two primary was good enough to place Valadao on the November ballot, where he won reelection over Democratic challenger Rudy Salas by a narrow 51%.

And of the four Republicans who lost their primary elections, Herrea Beutler came the closest  losing to Kent by a half percentage point and fewer than 1,100 votes. At the very least, its left her politically viable enough to wage a comeback campaign for commissioner of public lands.

Thats not to say the top two primary system in Washington and California is a prescription for the kind of political courage Valadao, Herrera Beutler and Newhouse displayed those many months ago.

But it is to say that the closed Republican primary in Idaho guarantees such a move from a Gem State politician would be political suicide. Not only does that primary block any Democratic voter from crossing over, but voting in the Republican primary requires a public affiliation with the GOP  something thousands of Idaho voters are unwilling to do.

For a dozen years, that overt voter suppression has provided the acolytes of Idaho GOP Chairperson Dorothy Moon with undue influence over who gets their partys nomination. Because Idaho is a one-party state, the general election is little more than a coronation of the GOP nominee.

Moon and her wing of the GOP despise the OPI for the very fact that it decapitates their control of the process. She does not want to muddy the waters with the voices of Democrats, independents or even Socialists.

If Idahoans approve OPI at the polls and it becomes law, any voter, regardless of affiliation, could cast a ballot in the open primary without publicly declaring allegiance to any party.

The candidates who score the top four positions in any race  regardless of party  would advance to the general election.

And in November, ranked-choice voting  a process used in Alaska as well as 47 cities including Seattle and Salt Lake City  would enable voters to select their first, second and third preferences. Candidates with the fewest votes would be eliminated until one with a majority emerges.

Such a system would finally give more independent Republicans  such as Congressman Mike Simpson or Gov. Brad Little  an even chance to survive the primary and then appeal to the broader, more ideologically diverse electorate that votes in November.

Does that mean Simpson  or any of his fellow Idaho GOP members of Congress  would have followed the path of Cheney in voting to impeach or Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, in voting to convict Trump if an OPI had been in place?

Probably not. Its a rare Republican who demonstrates the kind of courage it takes to challenge Trump. Still, if a top two primary gave politicians in Washington and California enough cover to at least try, the message to Idaho is clear:

-- How many times has an elected official in Idaho deterred from following his conscience  and his understanding of what the broad cross section of his constituents want  for fear of getting primaried by the small but devout ultra right that dominates the GOP closed primary?

-- How many times have voters in the Gem State  indeed, voters everywhere  complained about political gridlock and polarization? If Idahoans take a first step toward empowering the broad swath of voters who want solutions, not bombast and distraction, from their government, perhaps they could encourage others across the country to take the same kind of step.  M.T.
The claim is that registered unaffiliated voters are excluded from the closed Republican primary elections and therefore ... they dont have a voice, according to Luke Mayville, a leader in the Idahoans for Open Primaries coalition that is trying to change Idahos current election laws. He goes on to say, Those who havent aligned themselves with a political party understand that they are being blocked from voting in the most important elections, and its very clear to them that is unfair.

Seriously, Mr. Mayville? Because you choose not to run a slate of nonpartisan candidates in the primary elections, you feel disenfranchised when it comes to selecting a candidate for the general election in November? If your unaffiliated status is so important to you, then why dont you recruit some of your like-minded associates and run them for office? Why do you feel left out because you cant vote in the Republican primary without affiliating yourself with that party for a short time? Youre claiming that there are 250,000 to 275,000 unaffiliated registered voters in the Gem State. That amount of voters can easily nominate and elect nonpartisan candidates to the Legislature and other local offices.

Exactly what would be unfair about that?

Instead of doing the difficult work of organizing a viable political party that represents your views in Idaho politics, you and your coalition are trying to force your way into the Republican primary elections to somehow give a voice to all those disenfranchised unaffiliated voters. That smacks of laziness and ineptitude on the coalitions part, rather than an actual concern about selecting the best people to hold public office. Considering the fact that Democrats, both inside and outside of Idaho, are backing your play to force an open primary, political skullduggery on your part seems a more genuine objective of your campaign.

The Idaho Republican, Constitutional and Libertarian parties each have a closed primary election. That means that if you want to vote in the May 21 Republican primary, you have to be registered as a Republican or be willing to affiliate yourself with the Republicans in order to choose their candidate for the general election in November. If you are registered as a member of the Democratic, Constitution or Libertarian parties, then you cannot vote in the Republican primary. Because the Republican party is the dominant one in Idaho, Democrats think this is unfair. They and a group of so-called nonpartisan voters want to vote in the Republican primary, so are trying to change Idahos election laws to do just that. Along the way, they also want to introduce ranked-choice voting, which is an odorous and deceitful candidate election process that Ill discuss in a future column.

For now well discuss unaffiliated voters.

Im a poll worker and this past Monday, I was in the Latah County Courthouse undergoing the training that is required to be certified as a poll worker in the upcoming primary election. The status of unaffiliated voters was part of the training. As it stands right now, anyone  regardless of political affiliation  can vote in the Democratic or nonpartisan primaries. They are both open primaries. If you are an unaffiliated voter and want to vote in the Republican, Constitution or Libertarian primaries, you have to be willing to affiliate with that party for as long as it takes to cast a primary ballot. An unaffiliated voter can simply request a Republican, Constitution or Libertarian primary ballot. This will automatically designate them as a member of that particular political party on the county voter rolls and they can vote for that partys candidates in this primary election.
The annual Lough Ree Environmental Summer School and Boat Gathering is taking place this May bank holiday weekend (May 4 - 6) in Ballyleague / Lanesboro.

Boaters will be arriving at the Waterways Ireland Marina for the 2nd year in a row, heralding the start of the boating season.

Dr Harmon Murtagh will be giving a free lecture on Saturday morning, May 4 at 10:30am in the Access For All Centre on the Quakers and Inchclearun and this will be followed by a boat trip around Inchclearun on the Access For All Passenger Boat.



Bookings for the boat trip can be made through the Access For All website.

Dr Murtagh's visit has been made possible through the sponsorship of Waterways Ireland Heritage & Biodiversity Grant scheme.

Another favourite Eanna Ni Lamhna will be giving two talks and walks up through Commons North Woodland, following her introduction to participants at the Access For All Centre at 12 noon and 3pm.

Both of these Talks and Walks are free and you can book your ticket by emailing NLRWAG@gmail.com.



These two Talks & Walks have been made possible through the sponsorship of Waterways Ireland Heritage & Biodiversity Grant scheme and the National Parks & Wildlife Service under the National Biodiversity Action plan (2023-2030) and Roscommon Tourism.

A Tender Run will take place on Saturday, May 4 at 3pm, with boats heading up to Clondra for a pit stop in Richmond Harbour and up the Camlin River, returning via Termonbarry to the Marina.

A historical picture board exhibition of Canal Barges and Waterways scenes will be on display at the Access For All Centre over the weekend with the local Arts Group Brush Strokes having an exhibition and sale of their artworks on both the Sunday and Monday.

Sunday, May 5 also sees the staging of a Boat Jumble Sale at the Old Harbour in Ballyleague at 12 noon and this will coincide with the Cars & Coffee in Lanesboro car park which kicks off at 12:30 with the Family Fun Day starting off on the banks of the Shannon in Lanesboro at 1 pm.
ICSA president Sean McNamara has said he is urgently seeking clarification regarding the recent targeting of Irish livestock trucks by Irish officials at the port of Cherbourg.



ICSA has been contacted by several of the livestock hauliers affected who claim they were singled out by the Irish officials for additional inspections by the French authorities while non livestock carrying trucks were left alone.

This was despite these inspections having no relevance to animal welfare, he said.

ICSA understands that nine livestock hauliers were issued with on-the-spot fines ranging from 1,500 to 12,500 for minor traffic offences.



The events that transpired in Cherbourg last week can only be described as an ambush on live exports.

It is clear that these Irish officials  who did not identify themselves but are suspected to be from the RSA - were instructed to target Irish livestock hauliers on French soil and we need an explanation as to why.

Not only did the hauliers involved have to pay exorbitant fines they were also delayed to such an extent that the ship departed without them.



This led to further additional costs both on the ground in France and here at home with scheduled pick-ups missed due to the trucks being prevented from sailing.

Continuing Mr McNamara said, Live exports are a vital part of Irish farming and we cannot stand by while livestock hauliers are being singled out over their non livestock carrying counterparts.



This sort of unfair targeting will either drive hauliers out of business or force them to cease transporting livestock altogether and it cannot be allowed to continue.
The current generation of digital citizens is learning hard lessons about the perceived and actual freedom of data. For just one example, theres the cost of cloud storage, which can vary widely in quality and price.

Amaryllo Cloud Storage has been building buzz since its featured spot at CES with a simple premise: safe, easy-to-manage data storage for life, at a one-time price that most anyone can afford. Now, Amaryllo is offering a 500GB plan for less than $120.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jEJBSVrsyx8%3Fsi%3DOK1v99vVTYxeGpgF

Sign up for this plan, and you can start backing up your files immediately with bulk uploads. Once theyre in the cloud, Amaryllo protects your content with an ironclad zero-knowledge policy and GDPR-compliant encryption so users have extra peace of mind.

You can easily sort through your files, photos, and other media stored on Amaryllo with its intelligent AI smart search and smart album features, which help organize your content by location or items so you can find them quickly.

Users can seamlessly share their files with friends and family and invite up to 9 collaborators to join them on Amaryllo, each with their own private storage.

For a limited time, get lifetime access to 500GB of Amaryllo Cloud Storage for just $119.99. Thats the best price online.

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Interview: Hungary looks forward to further cooperation with China, official says

Xinhua) 14:04, May 05, 2024

Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Budapest, Hungary, April 18, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, May 4 (Xinhua) -- As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) gained fresh momentum last year on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Hungary is looking forward to furthering its cooperation with China, a Hungarian official has said.

During a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy said that the Hungarian side is looking forward to further cooperating with China in terms of foreign trade, capital investment, infrastructure, logistics, artificial intelligence, and new energy, among others.

The two countries have enjoyed a stable relationship, which is based on mutual trust and respect, Nagy noted.

He said that in 2023, Hungary was able to attract a total of 13 billion euros (about 13.86 billion U.S. dollars) in foreign direct investment, of which about 8 billion euros (about 8.53 billion dollars) were from Chinese investments.

Cooperation between Hungary and China in the financial field has also made great progress, he added.

He cited the example of the Bank of China, which has been present in Hungary since the mid-1980s and has chosen Budapest as its Central and Eastern European headquarters. In addition, many Chinese financial institutions have established or are about to establish branches or representative offices in Hungary.

Hungary is the first European country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document with China. In recent years, the BRI has synergized more closely with Hungary's Opening to the East policy, enhancing bilateral practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance, and other areas.

Stressing the global significance of the initiative, Nagy said the BRI energizes global trade and economic cooperation among partner countries.

Hungary actively participates in the BRI, he said, noting that the Budapest-Belgrade railway, a flagship BRI project, not only benefits the two countries but facilitates the economic development of the entire region.

Citing China's robust economic performance, he said China's economic success is good news considering the Chinese economy's influence on the global economy.

China is on the right track based on its strategic thinking, he said, noting China's successful development of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem as an example.

By developing solar panels, charging stations, electric cars, and batteries simultaneously, China's strategic thinking is the reason for its success, he said.

Talking about China's EV industry, Nagy expressed concern over the ongoing anti-subsidy probe launched by the European Union.

"Now we fear that some countries might come up with the foolish idea to impose tariffs on Chinese electric cars," he said, noting that protectionism has always been a dead end.

"Protectionism is a bad path, especially in terms of electric cars," he said.

China's battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and EVE Energy, as well as EV maker BYD, have been working on production facility plans in Hungary.

The investment that came along with the rise of China's EV industry has been an opportunity, Nagy noted, adding that by giving space to Chinese companies, Hungary has become a hub for electric car and battery manufacturing.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Apr 19, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; NBA on TNT television analyst Reggie Miller during the New Orleans Pelicans against the Phoenix Suns in game two of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

TNTs Reggie Miller was not remotely bashful about calling out the officials after a missed call in Saturday nights Game 1 of the second-round series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

In the second quarter, Minnesotas Anthony Edwards had the ball and was working on Denvers Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the post. Caldwell-Pope committed what looked to be a blatant foul on Edwards. But it went uncalled. The missed foul created a loose ball, which Denver controlled and eventually turned into an alley-oop from Nikola Jokic to Christian Braun.

Even without the benefit of replay, fellow analyst Jamal Crawford saw the foul and quickly called it out. That was a foul. No doubt about it, Crawford said, as the Nuggets were bringing the ball upcourt. A frustrated Miller agreed.

How could three officials miss that? Miller asked. Did he think they got all ball? Because it looked like he came across his arm. Then came the replay, which confirmed what Crawford and Miller said. It was a foul and Caldwell-Pope essentially chopped Edwards arms to knock the ball free.

How can you not see or call that?! I mean, this is so blatant! See, this is whats frustrating. Were supposed to be at the highest level, in the (NBA) Playoffs, Second Round, you cant miss calls like that! Im sorry! You cant miss calls!  Reggie Miller  pic.twitter.com/5XdXX39sS4  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 5, 2024

And with that, Miller really got going.

How can you not see or call that?! I mean, this is so blatant! See, this is whats frustrating. Were supposed to be at the highest level, in the (NBA) Playoffs, Second Round, you cant miss calls like that! Im sorry! You cant miss calls!
Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday night, when he will take on fellow Mexican boxer Jaime Munguia in a highly anticipated event. Alvarez last fought in September, when he defeated Jermell Charlo by unanimous decision. Munguia's last bout came a few months ago in January, when he knocked out John Ryder.

The two have been very respectful throughout fight week, although Canelo's long-standing bitterness with Munguia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, finally came to a head at an explosive press conference.

Alvarez and Munguia will square off at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. The event will begin at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT and will be shown on DAZN PPV and PBC PPV via Prime Video.

Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia LIVE: Don't miss a single moment of the highly anticipated fight

Update narration

Canelo Alvarez comes into this fight with an incredible 60-2-2 record. Following a loss to Dmitry Bivol in May of 2022, Alvarez returned to his natural weight and rattled off three straight victories in which he defended his undisputed titles. His three opponents were Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo.

Jaime Munguia will enter the ring with a spotless 43-0 record. The 27-year-old has long been on the verge of stardom, but he hasn't quite fought top fighters. His biggest wins of the past few years have come against Ryder, Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Gabriel Rosado.

Canelo Alvarez vs Jaime Munguia Fight Card

Alvarez and Munguia will headline the night's main card, which will only feature four fights. Those fights will count for a lot, though, as all four have titles on the line.

Canelo Alvarez (C) vs. Jaime Munguia : Undisputed super middleweight

: Undisputed super middleweight Mario Barrios (C) vs. Fabian Maidana : WBC interim world welterweight

: WBC interim world welterweight Brandon Figueroa (C) vs. Jessie Magdaleno : WBC interim world featherweight

: WBC interim world featherweight Eimantas Stanionis (C) vs. Gabriel Maestre: WBA regular welterweight

It's not very often that a fight card is full of only title fights. It should make for exciting fights given that so much is on the line for all eight boxers.
Dozens of cannabis entrepreneurs were buoyed last month by the announcement of more than $2 million in grant funding from a unique state program for business owners from communities most affected by strict drug prohibition.

Millions more may soon follow.

The grants represented the first money released from the states Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, which channels money from marijuana sales taxes back to businesses to offset the lingering effects of the so-called War on Drugs.

The fund now holds more than $27 million, according to Juan Vega, assistant secretary for communities and programs in the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

The money is available to members of the states cannabis social equity program, which provides training and resources to people from communities historically subject to high drug enforcement and people convicted of certain drug offenses.

Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development's assistant secretary for communities and programs Juan R. Vega speaks at the Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant press conference in downtown Springfield Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2023. (Hoang 'Leon 'Nguyen / The Republican)

The cannabis industry is known for its steep start-up costs, Vega noted in an interview with MassLive. This money, he said, is being made available to a population that, generally speaking, does not have deep pockets, does not have the access to capital.

The first round of grants  $2.3 million divided between 50 companies  provided an emergency burst of funding for applicants in difficult financial circumstances, some struggling to cover rent or payroll.

Vega said a second grant program, expected to launch this summer, will provide larger grants to help social equity program participants launch or expand their businesses.

Its really about helping these companies focus on growth rather than worrying about a bill, he said.

According to the states Cannabis Control Commission, Massachusetts was the first state to mandate full participation in the legal cannabis industry by communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.

Chris Fevry is pictured at Natick headquarters of Dris, a cannabis delivery service he runs with his wife and business partner Dharry Pauyo. They were among the initial recipients of a grant from the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund.Will Katcher/MassLive

The Social Equity Trust Fund was also a first of its kind. Vegas office oversees about 10 grant programs, he said. This was the first to direct money to for-profit businesses, rather than nonprofits or municipal programs.

The rollout took longer than some businesses had hoped.

The fund, created in 2022, is filled using 15% of the money collected through marijuana sales taxes. But it remained empty for more than a year due to a technical glitch in state law.

State lawmakers corrected the issue last year.

Vega said his office then moved swiftly to review grant proposals and allocate the money.

Meaka Brown, a member of the board advising Vegas office on the funds administration, said she was pretty satisfied with how this rollout went.

The goal and objective was to get some quick cash into peoples hands and Im hoping it can tide them over, Brown said.

As officials turned to the next round of funding, Brown said she wanted to see more data on the businesses using the grants  including how many were owned by women or veterans, for example  and wanted to see the money distributed efficiently.

Lets get to business, she said. How are we allocating that money this year? How are we getting that money to the people who need it?

Gov. Maura Healey said last month that the funds will help create a sustainable and inclusive path into the cannabis industry for business owners who might have otherwise struggled to succeed.

Gov. Maura Healey announces details of her proposed blanket pardon for simple cannabis, joined by, from left, Senate President Karen Spilka, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and Cannabis Control Commission acting Chair Ava Callender Concepcion. (SAM DRYSDALE / STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE)State House News Service

Marijuana prohibition and enforcement has historically disadvantaged those living in communities of color, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll also said last month. With the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, we are rewriting this narrative and providing a secure path for aspiring social equity cannabis entrepreneurs to succeed.

The initial grant announcement came two weeks after the Governors Council approved Healeys blanket proposal to pardon anyone convicted of simple cannabis possession in Massachusetts.

Exact estimates varied for how many people the pardons would help. The governors office claimed it would be hundreds of thousands, though other estimates placed the number in the tens of thousands.
MassLive recently asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community throughout the state, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.

Profiles of these leaders will be published through AAPI Heritage Month in May. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Kamini SanghviSebastian Restrepo

Kamini Kamy Sanghvi

Age: 53

Community: Chicopee

Her story: Kamini Kamy Sanghvi is a local business owner and active member of the Chicopee Cultural Council. Through her work at Kamys Food & Fuel Inc., over the last 14 years, Sanghvi has remained dedicated to providing essential services and supplies to the community.

Sanghvi said she believes that building relationships is just as important as filling up a gas tank or restocking a pantry, adding she takes the time to listen to our customers, and offer support in times of need.

Her commitment to the community extends beyond transactions, as she strives to be a beacon of comfort and familiarity in an ever-changing world.

We are proud to be a part of this vibrant community and look forward to continuing to serve our neighbors with a smile, said Sanghvi.

She is passionate about fostering a vibrant and cultural scene in Chicopee through serving the Chicopee Cultural Council. In her role, Sanghvi aims to create a space where diverse voices and perspectives can thrive while enriching Chicopee through arts, culture and education.

I aim to support local artists, promote cultural events, and advocate for initiatives that bring our community together and celebrate our unique heritage, said Sanghvi.

Kamini (left) and Rajesh Sangvhi (right) of ChicopeeSebastian Restrepo

She believes culture has the power to transform and uplift community and is excited to be a part of shaping the cultural landscape of Chicopee.

Whether she is supporting local festivals, public art installations or cultural exchange programs, Sanghvi is dedicated to making a positive impact, and ensuring Chicopee continues to be a vibrant and welcoming place for all.

After completing her commerce degree from Bombay University in India, Sanghvi explored careers in trading, advertising and publishing. In 2009, Sanghvi relocated with her husband and son to the United States in pursuit of a brighter future.

As immigrants, said Sanghvi, we faced initial challenges adjusting to our new community.

Through hard work, perseverance and the support of friends, she was able to work her way up from a gas station cashier, to purchasing her own business within a year.

Our experience at the gas station (working) for long hours allowed us to build strong relationships with our customers, who became like family to us, said Sanghvi. These experiences have shaped us into the entrepreneurs we are today.

In her words: The United States is a land of opportunity, and my advice to those starting a business is to always prioritize honesty and loyalty in your endeavors. Adhere to the rules and regulations, and success will inevitably follow. By fostering a sense of community and looking out for one another, we can build a stronger, more prosperous society for all.

Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
MassLive recently asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community throughout the state, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.

Profiles of these leaders will be published through AAPI Heritage Month in May. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.

Rajesh SanghviSebastian Restrepo

Rajesh Raj Sanghvi

Age: 58

Community: Chicopee

His story: Rajesh Sanghvi serves as the owner of Shell FoodMart, located on Grove Street in Chicopee, and is a member of the city planning poard, who expresses passion about contributing to the growth and development of his community.

As a member of the planning board, Sanghvi said he dedicates his time to help build a better infrastructure and works towards the betterment of the city and its people.

As a convenience store owner, I understand the challenges faced by local businesses and am committed to using my platform to address these issues. At Shell FoodMart, we are more than just a store  we are a hub for essential services and supplies, providing everything. We strive to be a source of comfort and a friendly place where our customers feel at home, he said.

From a young age, Sanghvi took a liking to business. He holds of Bachelor of Science degree from Bombay University in India.

Deciding to pursue business is what led him to start a manufacturing business of eyeglasses and eventually, ventured into trading. In 2009, he and his family relocated to the United States, seeking a brighter future for his son, who earned a medical degree and is now in the medical field.

He and his wife started off working as cashiers. In 2009, they moved into business ownership, which led to the possession of another gas station in 2017.

The strong relationships he and his wife built with people over time is what led them to the field they now serve.

Kamini (left) and Rajesh Sangvhi (right) of ChicopeeSebastian Restrepo

We were inspired by the connections we made and the opportunity to serve our community, which drove us to continue growing and expanding our business, he said.

In his words: Stay true to your vision, but remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Surround yourself with people who share your enthusiasm and are willing to support you through the ups and downs. Embrace failure as a valuable learning experience and dont be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Stay focused, stay humble and always keep your customers at the heart of your business.

Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
About four months ago, the Beverly Police Department received dreaded but expected news.

Two samples of suspected fentanyl the city submitted to Brandeis Universitys Street Check program had tested positive for xylazine, or tranq.

It was only a matter of time. The non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer, an extremely sedating contaminant that isnt responsive to naloxone and can cause necrotic wounds, had already been detected in nearby Gloucester and Lynn. Its presence in Western Massachusetts was well-known.

A few hundred miles to the south, Philadelphia is considered the epicenter in the U.S., where xylazine is found in more than 90% of illicit opioids and was linked to about one-third of overdose deaths in 2022, according to the city.

Its the latest chapter of the Northeasts ever-developing drug scourge.

Data from Brandeis Street Check program shows xylazine was found in 42% of Massachusetts lab-tested drug samples in the first quarter of this year, the highest percentage the state has seen yet.

Read more: Why Western Mass. is being disproportionately harmed by tranq

While its reach is escalating, xylazine is still far from an established problem in the oceanside Essex County city.

But Beverly Police have been preparing  using a harm reduction lens  for what could eventually become a bigger issue on the North Shore. And other police departments in the Commonwealth have joined in the effort.

@masslivenews There's an emerging contaminant in Massachusetts' drug supply that can cause serious wounds. It's called xylazine, or 'tranq.' Because of it, wound care is becoming a critical component of healthcare for people who use drugs. Here's an example of a tranq wound care kit and how it should be used, courtesy of the Beverly Police Department. #fyp #foryou #tranq #xylazine  original sound - MassLive News

For three or so years, the central nervous system depressant has been increasingly mixed in the states fentanyl supply, the combination referred to as tranq dope. People often use it unknowingly, and it deepens addiction.

It has a reputation for longer, sustained highs. People under xylazines influence can be heavily sedated or even unconscious for long periods of time, their heart and breathing rates dropping scarily low. The blackout periods can leave them vulnerable to rape, assault or theft.

Still little understood are wounds that can appear anywhere on the body, not just near the injection site. In the most extreme of cases, untreated wounds can lead to amputation.

A xylazine wound care kit contains antibiotic ointment, Band-Aids, burn gel, gauze, sterile gloves, tape and informational inserts.Hadley Barndollar

And yet, because of the severity and association with drug use, stigma can often prevent people from seeking wound care.

On a rainy Thursday morning, Beverly Police Officer Samuel Ted Lane opened a tightly packed Ziploc bag to show its contents: bandages, antibiotic ointment, burn gel, gauze and disposable gloves.

His department now stocks xylazine wound care kits to hand out in the community, primarily so houseless or transient individuals have basic tools to thwart infection.

When Lane started hearing about the encroaching sedative, he thought, Wow, this is something we need to get ahead of.

The wound kits are a new practice for Beverly Police, borne out of a yearlong intensive public health and safety program focused on the animal tranquilizer, put on by the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) with Brandeis University and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

PAARI, a now-national nonprofit, was founded in 2015 alongside the Gloucester Police Departments groundbreaking Angel Program, a first-of-its-kind proclamation that anyone struggling with substance use disorder could seek help at the police station without fear of criminal charges.

PAARI has since worked with more than 700 police departments in 45 states.

Its xylazine program, which concluded in February, introduced first responders to wound care regimens, overdose response protocols, post-overdose follow-ups, and educational materials that frame the emerging contaminant as a broader community responsibility.

Were definitely preparing to see more of it, Lane said. We know its here and were seeing it in actual patients. The wounds, but also people not waking up from Narcan. Now were giving two doses and people still arent waking up.

Police in Beverly, Brockton, Lynn, Marblehead, New Bedford, Newburyport, Rockland, and Wareham participated in the intensive program, while more than 400 attendees were trained in a broader virtual session hosted this winter by the states Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

At its close, all departments in the intensive program had committed to devising two-month action plans and the ongoing distribution of wound care kits.

Improve health and decrease harm

In June 2022, the Massachusetts Drug Supply Stream, a state-funded community public health and safety collaboration, issued a drug supply alert indicating that, the year before, 31% of 398 opioid samples tested statewide contained xylazine.

Less than a year later, just as the White House began messaging about the deadly mixture of fentanyl and xylazine in April 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a clinical advisory, saying the number of detections in drug samples was growing.

Officials warned that the states drug supply was becoming more unpredictable and adulterated. Specifically, xylazine  in combination with other drugs  was increasingly being connected to overdoses and fatalities.

They cited drug user experiences in their public advisories:

Put me out for six hours.

Made me pass out and I woke with vomit on me.

Skin on fire, teeth felt like they were going to fall out.

Causing holes where injected.

What Massachusetts had begun seeing was already ravaging Philadelphia, where Dr. Megan Reed works as a harm reduction researcher at Thomas Jefferson University.

Read more: Disturbing effects of tranq on people dont surprise veterinarians who use it

In 2022, xylazine was found in 34% of all Philadelphia overdose deaths. Today, its in more than 90% of the citys drug supply, according to recent data.

Reeds work is in partnership with people who use drugs, the goal being to find solutions that center lived experiences. Shes also studied how media framing of xylazine can worsen stigma, and in turn, deter people from seeking healthcare.

Theres a huge appetite for learning more about xylazine, Reed said.

Reed conducted much of the qualitative research that PAARIs educational program for first responders was based on, specifically, focus groups in Philadelphia of service providers and opioid users.

The main thing that people said that really surprised me was as bad as the wounds are, the withdrawal is so much worse, Reed said. The withdrawal is described as being just excruciating. Much, much worse than fentanyl.

The highly uncomfortable detox period when coming off xylazine can last as long as two weeks. And people say the onset of withdrawal can be much quicker than fentanyl, causing them to use more and more often.

While xylazine isnt responsive to naloxone, known by its brand name Narcan, current best practice is to still administer the overdose reversal in order to address the underlying opioid.

In terms of the wounds, there isnt a lot known about why they can appear anywhere on the body, and even if someone smokes or snorts xylazine, instead of injecting it. Healthcare professionals are still mostly perplexed by them.

Reed said its not uncommon for people to avoid going to an emergency room because of stigma around the wounds, even though they can become chronic and lead to amputation in the worst-case scenarios.

11 1 / 11 Xylazine wounds

The wounds can look severe and they can have an accompanying odor, she said. And (people) are facing a lot of stigma when theyre seeking treatment.

Thats why street outreach is so important. In Western Massachusetts, Springfield-based Tapestry Health has deployed wound care specialists in Connecticut River communities in tandem with a mobile healthcare unit.

Drug sample testing data shows the majority of positive xylazine samples in the state are coming out of Holyoke, Pittsfield and North Adams.

We do a lot of wound care on the street, Liz Whynott, director of harm reduction programs at Tapestry, said. The nurses continue to say that providing immediate and basic wound care education and support has an extremely positive effect and definitely helps a lot with preventing people from going to the emergency room.

Over the last two years, Tapestry has integrated wound care into its everyday services. Thats resulted in individuals being more comfortable to ask questions, or show a staff member a wound.

Like Reed, Whynott said the stigma around xylazine  particularly rhetoric that paints drug users in a subhuman light  is harmful to providing an effective public health response.

We have to respond to the realities of whats going on, and at Tapestry, its meeting a person where they are and doing whatever we can to improve health and decrease harm, she said.

Critical to addressing xylazine and other changes in the drug market, Whynott stressed, is a person-centered approach that draws on solutions from the experiences of those who use drugs.

Tapestrys mobile health van, donated by the Kraft Family Foundations Community Care in Reach program, provides harm reduction and medical services in Western Massachusetts.Courtesy Tapestry Health

Educating the community

Liz Leingang, a project manager for PAARI, said one of the indirect benefits of police stocking wound care kits is that theyll ultimately interact with people who use drugs even more  and in a helping way, not punitively.

Since completing PAARIs yearlong program, Beverly Polices Lane has focused largely on xylazine education  in the community and with local institutions.

Northshore Recovery High School in Beverly serves students ages 14-21 with substance use disorders, and was featured on MTVs show 16 and Recovering in 2020. To his surprise, Lane said students at the high school knew more about xylazine than the paramedics, nurses and police officers.

He started working with the nurse educator at Beverly Hospital and held a class with paramedics. He added a section to the departments in-house Narcan training about xylazine, wound care and the associated stigma.

In late April, he taught a class at Endicott College about it.

Related: Feds move to reclassify marijuana: What does it mean for Massachusetts?

The big thing is prevention, Lane said. Its not a huge issue in Beverly, but its spreading and its coming.

The recent development of xylazine test strips could provide drug users and communities with critical information. RIZE, a Massachusetts nonprofit that funds solutions to the opioid crisis, is collaborating in an effort to study and validate the accuracy of the new strips.

Brandeis University senior research scientist Mary Jo Larson warned program participants during one of PAARIs webinars that the presence of xylazine is underestimated, and a lot remains unknown.

Not all jurisdictions test for it in postmortem toxicology. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt currently capture it in national fatal overdose data.

Its not typically screened for in emergency rooms, either.

One of the takeaways we want to emphasize is that people in your community, people who use drugs, people who serve them, may not have much knowledge about xylazine being in their illicit drug supply, even though it may be there, Larson said.

PAARIs xylazine webinars can be viewed here.
SPRINGFIELD  The search for a new school superintendent has become a hotbed of political controversy over the past two months.

A superintendent search is typically a staid process done the same way by nearly every district in the state. But in Springfield, some community members, including an activist group, Pioneer Valley Project, called for it to be conducted by an independent agency. Since then, they have argued the process lacks transparency and community input, is hopelessly flawed and should be restarted.

Others, including teachers, are urging the School Committee to move forward, saying five highly qualified candidates have applied and should have a chance to be interviewed. They argue a restart will not improve the candidate pool and the swirling controversy could scare some away because they dont want to start a job under a political miasma.
Springfield police charged a wanted felon with assault and a slew of other counts Thursday evening after arresting him at a bar, according to the department.

Springfield resident Rafael Rodriguez, 39, is facing 11 charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a household member and witness intimidation, Springfield police said in a press release Friday. He had an outstanding warrant for heroin trafficking when he was arrested.

Officers arrested Rodriguez after responding to Los Angeles Street for a 911 call around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, police said. They received information that Rodriguez was armed with a gun and may be heading to a bar on Carew Street.
Founder and Medical Director of CHILD Accra, Dr. Juliette M. Tuakli, has been awarded a lifetime achievement award at the 4th Africa Healthcare Awards and Summit (AHAS) for her tireless efforts and passion for improving healthcare and the lives of children and families throughout Africa.

The awards gala was the culmination of the summit, hosted by Zenith Global Health, and took place at the prestigious Accra International Conference Centre April 22-24.

Highly acclaimed pediatrician and reproductive health specialist Dr. Tuakli, who is the international charity Mercy Ships Diplomatic Ambassador for Africa, was the first African woman clinical professor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical/Childrens of Boston. In her Mercy Ships role, she supports the charitys strategic partnerships with governments, diplomatic entities, communities, and social organisations that build awareness and engagement.

Mary Akangbe, President and Founder of Zenith Global Health, said: It gives us great pleasure to celebrate Dr. Juliette Tuakli by presenting with a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony. Dr. Tuakli has an exemplary professional life that spans across public, private, and intergovernmental agencies across the world. Presently, she is the diplomatic ambassador at Mercy Ships. Dr. Tuakli was the first African woman clinical professor in Paediatrics at Harvard Medical /Childrens hospital of Boston. She has impacted many lives as a mentor and role model.

Under the theme  Advances in Population Health  Tackling Inequalities and Access: A One Health Approach,  AHAS 2024 brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss pressing issues in healthcare and foster collaboration for sustainable solutions.

 We are honored to celebrate the achievements of healthcare professionals and organizations making a difference in the lives of people across Africa,  said Dr. Imane Kendili, President of Africa Global Health, Morocco.  The Africa Healthcare Awards showcase the dedication and commitment of individuals and institutions working tirelessly to improve healthcare outcomes and promote wellness in our communities. 

As the first female Rotary president of the premier Anglophone club in Ghana, West Africa, Dr. Tuakli promoted legislation to protect those with disabilities, orphans, and vulnerable children. Her work was hailed by the African Union in 2016 and she was elected to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

In 2022, Dr. Tuakli retired from United Way Worldwide, where she was Chair of both the Membership and the Governance Committees before becoming the first female Chair of the International Board of Trustees.

As a highly respected social philanthropist, she has served on the Mercy Ships International Board for over 10 years and also on the the Mercy Ships UK board. Dr. Tuakli co-founded MOREMI Girls Leadership and has served as an Advisor to Nestle, the African Union, and other international organizations. She is a Board member of Zenith Bank and the Global Virus Network.

In May 2022, Dr. Tuakli officially christened the Global Mercy during special inaugural ceremonies for Mercy Ships newest hospital ship, during Africa celebrations hosted by the HE President Macky Sall in Dakar, Senegal.

The AHAS summit featured panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive side sessions focused on addressing the challenges of population health through a holistic approach. Topics will include healthcare financing, manufacturing and supply chain management, community engagement, and the role of technology in improving healthcare access and delivery.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, addressed the WHO Member States today at the resumed ninth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB). The Member States have gathered in Geneva this week to continue their negotiations on a proposed WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The INB Co-Chairs, Dr Precious Matsoso and Mr Ronald Driece, and Dr Jaouad Mahjour and Mr Steve Solomon of WHO will provide a stocktake following this first week of resumed negotiations at a virtual press briefing at 17.45 CEST today, 03 May. A media advisory with additional information and connection details has already been sent.

WHO DG remarks:

Our co-chairs, Precious and Roland,

Our vice-chairs, Ambassadors Tovar, Amr, Kozo and Dr Viroj,

Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

Let me take you back to 1851. That was the year the first International Sanitary Conference was held in Paris.

That conference adopted the first International Sanitary Regulations, to standardize international quarantine regulations against the spread of cholera, plague and yellow fever.

Part of the reason for this was due to many different quarantine requirements among countries, which led to significant confusion.

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.

That first meeting led to the creation of the International Office of Public Hygiene  the forerunner of the World Health Organization.

It demonstrated the need for a common response to common threats.

That need became even more clear in the wake of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

And it became a reality in the wake of the Second World War, when the nations of the world came together to create the United Nations, and this World Health Organization.

They recognized that the only alternative to global conflict was global cooperation.

And they recognized that shared health threats demand a shared response.

The Constitution of the World Health Organization that you, its Member States, adopted in 1948, recognized that the control of diseases, especially communicable disease, is a common danger.

In 1951, 100 years after the first International Sanitary Conference, the 4th World Health Assembly adopted the International Sanitary Regulations, which became the International Health Regulations 18 years later, in 1969.

As you know, the IHR were updated in 2005, following the global SARS epidemic.

Why am I telling you this?

Because what you are doing in this room follows in the footsteps of what your forebears have been doing for more than 170 years.

You are here for the same reason this Organization was created in the first place  because global threats demand a global response.

The work you are doing here has a deep connection with the past, and is part of the reason Member States established WHO 76 years ago.

The work you are doing also has a deep connection with the present, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the domestic and geopolitical realities that all Member States face;

And the work you are doing has a deep connection with the future, in protecting those who come after us from the suffering that we have endured in this pandemic.

I have heard from many Member States that the revised text you have been considering this week is balanced, and that it brings you much closer to a deal.

There remain differences between you, of course, but they are now much smaller than they were.

The text reflects the ownership of all members of the drafting group.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Bureau, who have worked so hard to achieve this careful balance.

And I thank all delegations for the hard work you have done, not just this week, but over the past two years.

We all want the same thing: to make the world safer from pandemics.

The biggest danger is indifference and inaction.

Some say the agreement is too specific; some say its not specific enough.

Some say its too strong; some say its not strong enough.

I appreciate that you have approached this process in the same spirit of solidarity that was there in 1851 and 1948, but without creating a straitjacket.

I appreciate that it has been a difficult and sometimes painful process, and that its not over.

I appreciate that all of you are making compromises you did not want to make.

I appreciate that article-by-article, paragraph-by-paragraph, word-by-word, you are converging on a consensus, although youre not there yet.

I also appreciate that consensus does not mean unanimity.

I recognize that there may be delegations who despite their good faith efforts, may not be in a position to join a consensus, but they have a choice. They can choose not to block consensus.

Adoption at the World Health Assembly is the next step, but by no means the final step.

As you know, all Member States will have to consider and, hopefully, approve the agreement at the domestic or national level.

This agreement is a piece of paper, but the measure of whether its worth the paper its written on will be whether it saves lives and prevents suffering in a future pandemic.

That is the reason youre here, and I ask you not to lose sight of that.

I believe that in years to come, we will all be proud that we were part of this process.

So give yourselves a reason to be proud.

But more importantly, give the world a reason to be grateful for what you did in this room.

Give the people of the world, the people of your countries, the people you represent, a safer future.

So I have one simple request: please, get this done, for them.

Get this done for the people who are not here;

Get this done for the people whose voices go unheard and unheeded;

Get this done for the people who are still grieving the loss of someone they loved to COVID-19;

Get this done for the people who have never even heard of WHO, and who struggle from day to day just to survive and feed their children;

Get this done for your children and your grandchildren and for generations who have not even been born, but who will face the threat of pandemics, just as we faced it.

They do not have to suffer as we suffered.

So please, get this done.

Thank you.
A CLAREMORRIS hotel has been granted a dance licence for its nightclub after 45,000 of improvement works was spent to meet the fire safety standards.

An application by Ketterman Hotel Ltd, which runs the Western Hotel on Dalton Street in Castlebar, for a dance licence was granted by Judge Eoin Garavan at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Civil Court.

The application was brought after the company was refused a renewal of its annual dance licence in the district court after delays in obtaining a fire safety cert.

Mr Patrick Murphy, counsel for Ketterman Hotel Ltd, explained during the application that his clients had difficulty obtaining the cert as the fire safety consultant he normally engages with had health difficulties.

He added that the new fire safety officer also flagged a number of issues in the premises for it to meet the European standards in terms of fire safety. As a result, Mr Murphy said the company had to spend 45,000 in improvement works to meet these standards.

Mr Murphy said there were no objections from An Garda Siochana and this was the first time that issues have arisen regarding his premises. The location for the dance licence is permitted to allow a maximum of 635 people the court heard.

Judge Garavan granted the application and wished the applicant luck.
Fianna Fail Senator Lisa Chambers, European election candidate in the Midlands Northwest constituency, has warmly welcomed the confirmation this weekend from CEO of Cancer Fund For Children, Phil Alexander, and Chair of the board, Peter OBrien, regarding the imminent tendering process for the Daisy Lodge Cong project. The project is expected to commence construction as early as September. Senator Chambers visited the site with Minister Stephen Donnelly and they met with representatives of the Cancer Fund for Children and the local Daisy Lodge project.

Last year, Senator Chambers spearheaded efforts to secure 7.5 million in funding from the Department of Health and The Shared Island Fund. Through her proactive engagement with Minister Donnelly and then Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Senator Chambers successfully advocated for the allocation of these funds, ensuring that the Daisy Lodge Cong project could move forward.

Senator Chambers said: The confirmation that the Daisy Lodge Cong project will soon go to tender and construction will begin in September is a momentous step forward for our community. This project has been eagerly anticipated, and I am immensely proud to have played a role in securing the funding necessary to make it a reality.

Daisy Lodge Cong, an initiative led by the Cancer Fund for Children, will offer respite breaks and therapeutic support to families grappling with childhood cancer. The lodge will provide families with access to recreational facilities and tailored therapeutic services. With comfortable accommodation and amenities, the facility aims to be a sanctuary where families can find solace, support, and respite from the challenges of childhood cancer.

Senator Chambers has reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for initiatives that enhance the well-being of individuals and families across the Midlands Northwest constituency.






by Les Luchter , May 5, 2024

New Chapter, a 42-year-old marketer of organic vitamins and supplements out of Brattleboro, Vermont is a Public Benefit Corporation and a Certified B Corporation, which means we define success in holistic terms that encompass not just profit, but people and Earth, too, the company notes on its website.

Its also been owned by Procter & Gamble since 2012, although we could find no mention of that on either New Chapters website or vice versa.

A year ago, keeping its marketing close to home, New Chapter named Boston-based Colossus as its agency of record, resulting in a just-launched national campaign titled Wisdom of Nature.

The campaigns :15 and :30 spots feature artistic depictions of nature and ingredients. The latter begins by showing a hiker deep in a forest as a female voiceover says, Nature knows best. Thats why New Chapter Vitamins follow her example. Fast-motion visuals then show such natural elements as flowers and a school of fish racing through their life cycles, as the voiceover narrator concludes, Transforming natures 4 billion years of wisdom into supplements with key vitamins, minerals, herbs, and whole-food ingredients crafted to work with your body, bringing the power of nature into your new chapter.

advertisement advertisement

The only product shown in either spot is Every Women's Multivitamin, which Lauren Adams, New Chapters assistant director of marketing, tells Marketing Daily is the companys top-selling formula.

The campaign, however, is for the entire brand holistically, she says, with the target audience being women who are currently investing in their health and wellness with natural vitamin and mineral supplementation.

In addition to driving brand awareness, Adams says the campaigns goal is ultimately to deliver the healing Wisdom of Nature to those seeking natural health solutions.

Wisdom of Nature is running on linear TV and streaming services, including Hulu, NBC, Bravo, Paramount+, Roku and Amazon Prime Video.

The campaign, set to run through years end, also includes in-store, social and digital display ads.
What is Food Poisoning?

  Trusted Source

Food poisoning



Go to source Trusted Source



Hundreds in Vietnam's Dong Nai province hospitalized due to suspected #foodpoisoning from a local eatery's bread, prompting concerns over food safety and hygiene. #foodborneillness

Food poisoning - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20356230)

Over the past few days, a total of 487 individuals in Vietnams southern Dong Nai province were hospitalized after consuming bread from a local eatery.Symptoms of Food poisoning can vary but often include nausea, vomiting , diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever , and sometimes dehydration. The severity and duration of symptoms depend on the type of contaminant and the individuals health status. Prompt medical attention may be necessary for severe cases to prevent complications.Among the cases, 19 have recovered and returned home. Two cases remain in critical condition while others are recovering with less severe symptoms of suspected food poisoning, Xinhua news agency reported.Vietnams food safety department under the health ministry on Friday ordered an investigation into the case.Located on Tran Quang Dieu Street in Long Khanh town, Bang, the Vietnamese bread eatery sold 1,100 loaves of bread on April 30.The next day, many of its customers developed food poisoning symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea , fever, or abdominal pain , VnExpress reported. The eaterys operation has been suspended for investigation.Source-IANS
  Trusted Source

Sleepy and popular? The association between popularity, sleep duration, and insomnia in adolescents



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Did You Know? Women are twice as likely as men to experience insomnia. #insomnia #sleep #teenagers 

Lights, Likes, Lack of Sleep!

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Teenage Popularity Paradox Explored

Sleepy and popular? The association between popularity, sleep duration, and insomnia in adolescents - (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsle.2024.1346806/full)

Popular teens, particularly girls, suffer from insufficient sleep linked to delayed melatonin and evening alertness, impacting their ability to meet recommended sleep hours ().It is also during the teenage years when increasing school demands, activities, more independence from parents, and relationships with peers begin to compete with sleep The role of social context, however, is often overlooked when studying adolescents sleep. Now, researchers in Sweden and Australia wanted to find out how popularity among peers affected the sleeping habits of teenagers aged 14 to 18.Here we show that popular teenagers reported shorter sleep duration. In particular, popular girls  but not boys  reported more insomnia symptoms, said Dr Serena Bauducco, a sleep researcher at Orebro University and first author of the Frontiers in Sleep article.Most interestingly, popularity also seems to negatively impact sleep before and after the advent of smartphones.In a sample of more than 1,300 Swedish teenagers, almost half of them female, the researchers examined if popularity coincided with shorter sleep duration.They asked teenagers to nominate up to three friends, and those receiving the most nominations were defined as more popular.These teenagers slept less than their peers, the most popular ones up to 27 minutes.When the researchers looked at boys and girls separately, they also found aMore popular girls experienced more insomnia symptoms, such as difficulty falling staying asleep, or waking up too early. Popular boys did not experience these symptoms to the same extent.These sex differences are not yet fully understood, but the fact that boys and girls engage in differing friendship behaviors might offer insights.Girls express more care and concern with their friends and engage in helping behaviors more than boys. This might mean they carry these concerns when its time to fall asleep, Bauducco explained.We also see that popularity has been associated with worse sleep both before and after the development of handheld communication technology, said Bauducco.This suggests that it may not be smartphones that cause popular teenagers to sleep less; instead, other mechanisms could be at play.The researchers speculate that more friends may mean more time dedicated to them which could result in less time left for sleeping. More emotional investment, too, could lead to sleeping difficulties.Both explanations would apply to times before and after smartphones became common. This, however, needs to be investigated in detail, the researchers said.Teenagers are arguably the most sleep-deprived population throughout the lifespan, said Bauducco. Previous studies show that 30 minutes of extra sleep can lead to improved mental health and better school performance.With schools starting early, many teenagers try to catch up on sleep on weekends  a strategy that can backfire. Suppose a teen sleeps in on Sunday until 1 pm. Falling asleep that night to be ready for school the next day will be a struggle because they wont feel tired, Bauducco pointed out. Delaying wake-times too much can contribute to maintaining the problem of sleep debt racked up during the week.The researchers believe thatAdditionally, further research is needed to examine the mutual relationship between social connectedness and sleep and to shine a light on the discovered sex differences.Source-Eurekalert
WASHINGTON (AP)  Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the U.S. administrations view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Joe Biden and other western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians.

Absent such a plan, we cant support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond whats acceptable, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said late Friday at the Sedona Forum, an event in Arizona hosted by the McCain Institute.

Some 1.5 million Palestinians have sheltered in the southern Gaza city as the territory has been ravaged by the war that began on Oct. 7 after Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

The United Nations humanitarian aid agency on Friday said that hundreds of thousands of people would be at imminent risk of death if Israel moves forward with the Rafah assault. The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid and is filled with displaced Palestinians, many in densely packed tent camps.

The officials added that the evacuation plan that the Israelis briefed was not finalized and both sides agreed to keep discussing the matter.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that no comprehensive plan for a potential Rafah operation has been revealed by the Israelis to the White House. The operation, however, has been discussed during recent calls between Biden and Netanyahu as well as during recent virtual talks with top Israeli and U.S. national security officials.

We want to make sure that those conversations continue because it is important to protect those Palestinian lives  those innocent lives, Jean-Pierre said.

The revelation of Israel's continued push to carry out a Rafah operation came as CIA director William Burns arrived Friday in Egypt, where negotiators are trying to seal a cease-fire accord between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas is considering the latest proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release put forward by U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who are looking to avert the Rafah operation.

They have publicly pressed Hamas to accept the terms of the deal that would lead to an extended cease-fire and an exchange of Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7 and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Hamas has said it will send a delegation to Cairo in the coming days for further discussions on the offer, though it has not specified when.

Israel, and its allies, have sought to increase pressure on Hamas on the hostage negotiation. Signaling that Israel continues to move forward with its planning for a Rafah operation could be a tactic to nudge the militants to finalize the deal.

Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israeli forces would enter Rafah, which Israel says is Hamas last stronghold, regardless of whether a truce-for-hostages deal is struck. His comments appeared to be meant to appease his nationalist governing partners, and it was not clear whether they would have any bearing on any emerging deal with Hamas.

Blinken visited the region, including Israel, this week and called the latest proposal extraordinarily generous and said the time to act is now.

In Arizona on Friday, Blinken repeated remarks he made earlier this week that "the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a cease-fire is Hamas.
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes for Sunday, May 5, 2024

Todays Birthday (05/05/24). Take charge to realize personal dreams this year. Win by practicing to build teamwork and collaboration. Stay flexible with summer changes, before autumns social whirlwind carries you off. Address winter fitness and health changes before a busy spring of family fun and romance. Celebrate.

To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19)  Today is a 9  Rest, eat well and pamper yourself. Dress for success. Polish your image with a new style. Grab a lucky break. Smile for the cameras.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)  Today is a 7  Consider old dreams and future possibilities. Check any considerations and then choose your action plan to fulfill what you want. Completions are especially satisfying.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)  Today is a 9  Communication channels flow with ease. Connect with your crew. Develop and refine your team strategy. Friends provide the missing links. Have fun together.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)  Today is a 9  A professional opportunity requires a cool head and quick action when the timings right. Pay attention and stay ready. Listen for the gold.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)  Today is an 8  Get ready to move. You can take wide ground once you get going. Prepare and pack lightly. Organize for greater ease. Explore new territory.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  Today is a 9  Collaborate to grow shared financial accounts. Coordinate actions. Send invoices and pay bills. Sign contracts and budgets. Get terms in writing. Provide excellent service.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  Today is a 9  Rely on the support of a reliable partner. Repay the favor with a thoughtful gesture or valuable contribution. Share resources, connections and comfort.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Today is an 8  Physical exercise energizes you. Maintain healthy practices to keep growing strength and endurance. Score extra for reconnecting with nature. Rest and enjoy the view.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Today is a 9  Prioritize love, family and fun. Get organized and coordinate plans for maximum ease and efficiency. Persuade someone sweet with treats and good music.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Today is a 7  Focus on domestic priorities. Make repairs, changes and upgrades. Quick action saves a bundle. Discover new options and choose the best with family.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Today is a 9  Connect, discuss and coordinate. Youre building for the future. Strengthen foundations with creative projects. Research story details. Put together a clear timeline. Share discoveries.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  Today is a 9  Monitor cash flow to maximize gains. Find efficiencies to conserve resources. Use old stuff in a new way. Creativity gets lucrative. Plan for the future.

Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.

2024 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
VIENNA TWP., MI  A 40-year-old man died Saturday, May 4, at a Flint-area hospital after crashing his truck into a tree earlier in the day.

Michigan State Police troopers assigned to the MSP Flint Post were called to a crash scene at about 12:15 a.m. Saturday near Saginaw Road and Dort Highway in Vienna Township.

Troopers found a Chevrolet Silverado with one occupant had crashed into a tree on the west side of Saginaw Road.

Fire crews with the Clio Area Fire Authority responded and used the jaws of life to extricate the man from the vehicle.

The man was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Police said it appears the vehicle was northbound on Saginaw Road, south of Dort Highway, when it crossed the center line and left the roadway, hitting a tree head-on.

The incident remains under investigation.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Police are investigating a shooting in Grand Rapids that left three people injured.

The shooting happened shortly before midnight on Saturday, May 4, Grand Rapids police said. Details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting were limited.

Officers responded to South Division Avenue and Rose Street SW for a report of a shooting. At the scene, police found two women and one man injured.

The three injured people were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Police said their injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- East Grand Rapids High School students celebrated their prom at Watermark Country Club on Saturday, May 4.

The prom theme was Golden Hour and the venue had black, gold, and white decorations. Around 300 students and their guests attended the event.

Related: See photos as 300 attend East Grand Rapids 2024 prom

You must be a subscriber to view all 50 images in 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.

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

Scenes from East Grand Rapids prom at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Becky Particka | MLive.com

More MLive prom coverage:

Grand Haven hosts 2024 prom at Trillium Events

Schoolcraft goes to 2024 prom at the Sugared Lavender Barn

Paw Paw High School holds Gatsby Gala for 2024 prom
State Republicans are urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to send Michigan National Guard members to the southern border.

A group of Republican state representatives introduced a resolution this week saying support is desperately needed to help with a logistical and humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Investigation Discovery premieres new series People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer Sunday, May 5, at 9 p.m. ET. The six-part series focuses on the stories of people who survived serial killer attacks in the last several decades.

Watch their empowering accounts of escape for free with a trial from Philo, or watch on Sling.

About the show:

Using interviews with survivors, family members and law enforcement, Surviving a Serial Killer helps its subjects take back their narrative by sharing how they escaped the clutches of death.

The series first episode shares the untold story of teenage survivor Morgan Rowan, who was attacked by serial killer Rodney Alcala in 1965. She recounts her terrifying tale and the search for another of Alcalas survivors that followed. Rowan will share the guilt she felt for not reporting Alcala immediately and how that impacted the other survivor. Now in touch, the two survivors have a deep, unique bond and discuss their friendship on camera.

Alcala was a typesetter and photographer for the Los Angeles Times. He was nicknamed The Dating Game Killer after he was a winning contestant on ABCs prime-time game show The Dating Game in 1978 amid his killing spree. He has since been consecutively linked to eight murders, although authorities think he could be involved in as many as 130. His violence ended in 1979, when he was charged with the murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. She disappeared on her way to ballet class, riding a yellow bicycle. Alcala was sentenced to death in 1980 for the murder. In 2012, while on death row in California, he pleaded guilty to a small number of the crimes he was suspected for in New York State.

Watch the first episode of People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer tonight, May 5, at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery.

Where to watch Investigation Discovery:
On May 4 , commencing at 4:05 p.m. (local time; 7:35 p.m. JST) for approximately 50 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The overview is as follows.
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The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is being asked at its June 20 meeting to sign off on a revised agreement with Wyoming and Idaho regarding management of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems grizzly bears, once they are delisted.

The states signed a similar Tri-State Memorandum of Agreement in 2017, but a new way of counting bears  the integrated population model, or IPM  is now being utilized by wildlife biologists, requiring the update.

Its a really great, new, efficient way to use all of the data thats collected to estimate grizzly bear populations, and then use that information as we move forward with management, said Rick King, chief of the Wildlife Division for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in his January presentation to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regarding the MOA.

Wyoming and Idaho have already signed off on the agreement. Montanans have until May 27 to comment on the proposal and can do so by logging on to Fish and Wildlife Commission's web page.

King said the document is important to show that all three states are cooperating and coordinating on grizzly bear management once they are delisted.

One of the main differences that Id point out is just simply that its a little bit of a change from the previous Tri-State MOA, in that now we are committed to managing for a range of a population and were also able to sit down annually and estimate mortality for both male and female grizzly bears and then allocate discretionary mortality accordingly on an annual basis, King explained.

One of the goals behind the MOA is to allocate discretionary mortality of grizzly bears, which could include grizzly hunting, while ensuring the conservation of the species. The allocation of grizzly bear mortality is based on how much of each state the bears occupy in whats called the Demographic Monitoring Area. Since Wyoming has the largest percentage of land in the DMA, it would be allocated 58% of the discretionary mortality, Montana would get 34% and Idaho 8%.

However, Hunting will not be considered in Montana for at least five years after delisting, FWP noted.

These allocations are only applied after all other forms of mortality are taken into consideration. The goal is to maintain the GYE grizzly population at between 800 to 950 animals.

Fifteen months ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service undertook a status review of grizzly bears in the GYE and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Twice before the agency has determined the populations have met recovery goals. Both times the decisions were overturned in court. The bears were protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1975.

For the GYE, a 22-million-acre region, the recovery population was targeted at 500 bears. In 2022 the estimated population was 965. The goal for bears in the NCDE was 800. That group is now estimated at 1,138.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population is fully recovered, a robust healthy population, King said. Its probably one of the most studied wildlife populations anywhere in North America or maybe across the entire world.

When the agreement was approved in 2021, advocates included Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and the Rocky Mountain Front Ranchlands Group. The agreement was unanimously approved by the commission. Wolves of the Rockies opposed the measure based on concerns that grizzly bears could be targeted for reduction through less stringent hunting regulations as the Legislature decided to enact regarding wolves. A representative of the Blackfeet Tribe said they do not support hunting of grizzlies and want authority to manage all wildlife on the reservation.

In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on May 2, Montana Sen. Steve Daines impatiently pressed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland over the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services delay in completing its status review.

The science tells us were well over the targets for recovery and delisting, Daines told Haaland.

I am pleading with you to look at the science, de-list the bears, return the management of this incredible species back to the people of Montana where it belongs, he concluded.

As part of the Tri-State MOA, Montana plans this summer to translocate at least two grizzly bears from outside the GYE into the region to promote genetic diversity in the population.
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https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/united-kingdom-speech-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-oxford-university-about-world_en

https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-256530

May 3 2024

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I see [that] the international system, that we were accustomed to after the Cold War, no longer exists. America has lost its status of a hegemon. And the post-1945 multilateral [world] order is losing ground.

I see  as you know - China rising to the super-power status. What China has done in the last 40 years is unique in the history of humankind. In the last 30 years, Chinas share of the worlds GDP, at PPP, has gone from 6% to almost 20%, while we, Europeans, went from 21% to 14% and the United States from 20% to 15%. This is a dramatic change of the economic landscape.

China is becoming a rival for us and for the United States. Not just in manufacturing cheap goods, but also as a military power, at the forefront of the technological development and building the technologies that will shape our future. China has embarked on a friendship without limits - although all friendships have limits - with Russia, which signals a growing alignment of the authoritarian regimes in front of democracies.

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United Kingdom: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at Oxford University about the world confronted by wars

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/united-kingdom-speech-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-oxford-university-about-world_en

03.05.2024 Oxford EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!?

Distinguished faculty, dear students, ladies and gentlemen,

Dear Timothy [Garton Ash, University of Oxford], thank you for inviting me to Oxford. It is a special honour for me to speak at Saint Antonys.

I have been in this College a couple of times before. I know some of your professors. It is a great pleasure to find here some American students  we met six years ago in Yale [University].

Thank you. Thank you for your attention.

This College has produced many brilliant writers  and even quite a number of Foreign Ministers around the world.

So, it is a particular honour to deliver the Dahrendorf lecture. Ralf Dahrendorf was an exceptional human being: a politician both in Germany and in the United Kingdom, a European Commissioner, a political scientist and a staunch defender of open societies.

As you said, I try to be an academic. I have been in universities [for] part of my life, and in the political life - [for] the other part. I have always been very much interested in bringing together the world of ideas and politics. People who think, and people who act.

That is why I am very happy. I enjoy moments like this with people who think deeply about what is happening in this contested and challenging world. You have, maybe, more time to think than I have, so I need that you inspire our decisions. And I hope that, after these words, we will have the opportunity to exchange some ideas with you.

Yes, I am the High Representative for Foreign and Security [Policy] - thank you for stressing and Security Policy. From this privileged position, I have the great opportunity of looking at the world. And what do I see?

Well, I see more confrontation and less cooperation. This has been a growing trend in the last years: much more confrontation and much less cooperation.

I see a world much more fragmented. I see a world where rules are not being adhered to.

I see more polarity, and less multilateralism.

I see how dependencies become weapons.

I see [that] the international system, that we were accustomed to after the Cold War, no longer exists. America has lost its status of a hegemon. And the post-1945 multilateral [world] order is losing ground.

I see  as you know - China rising to the super-power status. What China has done in the last 40 years is unique in the history of humankind. In the last 30 years, Chinas share of the worlds GDP, at PPP, has gone from 6% to almost 20%, while we, Europeans, went from 21% to 14% and the United States from 20% to 15%. This is a dramatic change of the economic landscape.

China is becoming a rival for us and for the United States. Not just in manufacturing cheap goods, but also as a military power, at the forefront of the technological development and building the technologies that will shape our future. China has embarked on a friendship without limits - although all friendships have limits - with Russia, which signals a growing alignment of the authoritarian regimes in front of democracies.

I said the world is much more multipolar - Yes, that is true.

[At the same time] middle powers, [such as] India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, are emerging. They are becoming important actors. Whether they are BRICS or not BRICS, they have very few common features, except the desire for getting more status and a stronger voice in the world, as well as greater benefits for their own development.

In order to achieve this, they are maximising their autonomy, not willing to take sides, hedging one side or the other depending on the moment, depending on the question. They do not want to choose camps and we should not push them to choose camps.

We, Europeans, wanted to create in our neighbourhood a ring of friends. Instead of that, what we have today is a ring of fire. A ring of fire coming from the Sahel to the Middle East, the Caucasus and now in the battlefields of Ukraine.

Thomas Gomart, the Director of the Institut francais des relations internationales, has been analysing what are the chokepoints of the global economy. Several of these points are very close to us: the Red Sea for trade, the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas, and the Black Sea for grain exports. They are in our immediate vicinity, and in some of them we are engaged even with [EU] navy missions, like it is the case in the Red Sea.

And there are two wars. Two wars. When I came to Brussels, there were no wars.

There are two wars where people are fighting for the land. This shows that geography is back. We were told that globalisation had made geography irrelevant, but no. Most of the conflicts in our neighbourhood are related to land, they are territorial. A land that has been promised to two people, in the case of Palestine, and a land at the crossroads of two worlds, in the case of Ukraine. This is my land, No, it is mine. And this fight for land is shedding a lot of blood.

At the same time, we see an acceleration of the global trends. Climate change is no longer a future problem. The climate breakdown is already here  it is not for tomorrow, it is for today. The technological transitions  in particular, everybody talks about Artificial Intelligence  are bringing changes that we cannot fully grasp. Demography is also changing rapidly. And when I am talking about demographic balances, I am talking about migration, in particular in Africa where 25% of the world will be living in 2050. In 2050, one out of four human beings will be living in Africa. And at the same time, we see inequalities growing, democracies declining and freedoms at risk.

This is what I see. It is not very nice, I know. In this landscape, the role of the European Union, and the role of the United Kingdom, is to be defined. I do not know which is going to be our role. But it is sure it will depend on our response to the challenges we are facing  nothing new. Jean Monnet already said: Europe will be forged in crisis. But now the urgency, and the gravity of the moment is such that we hear warnings that Europe could die, nothing less.

LEurope peut mourir, nous venons dentendre.

Well, okay. What do we need to do?

First, we need a clear assessment of the dangers of Russia  Russia [is] considered as the most existential threat to Europe. Maybe not everybody in the European Council agrees with that, but the majority is behind this idea. Russia is an existential threat for us, and we have to have a clear-eyed assessment of this risk.

Second, we have to work on principles, on cooperation and on strength.

But first, about Russia.

Under Putins leadership, Russia has returned to the imperialist understanding of the world. Imperial Russia from the Tzar times and the Soviet empire times have been rehabilitated by Putin dreaming of a former size and influence.

It was Georgia in 2008. It was Crimea in 2014. We did not see, or we did not want to see, the evolution of Russia under Putins watch. Even though Putin himself had warned us at the Munich Security Conference in 2007. It is important to re-read what Putin said in 2007 at the Munich [Security] Conference that I am afraid that nobody wanted to hear or to understand.

We built a model  the European model - based on cooperation and economic interdependence inside us  and it has been a remarkable success. 70 years of peace among us. We believed that interdependence would bring political convergence through what the Germans call Wandel durch Handel. This would bring political change, in Russia and even in China.

Well, this has been proven wrong. It has not happened. Faced with the Russian authoritarianism, interpendence did not bring peace. On the contrary, it turned into dependence, in particular on fossil fuels, and later, this dependence became a weapon.

Today, Putin is an existential threat to all of us. If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, he will not stop there. The prospect of having in Kyiv a puppet government like the one in Belarus, and the Russian troops on the Polish border, and Russia controlling 44% of the world[s] grain market is something that Europeans should be aware of.

Everybody is becoming more and more aware of that. Even President [of France, Emmanuel] Macron who at the beginning said: Il ne faut pas humilier la Russie. Now, he is one of the voices which is warning more about the global consequences of a Russian victory. But [there are] other voices around the world, like some days ago, the Prime Minister of Japan [Fumio Kishida].

But I know that not everybody in the European Union shares this assessment. And some European Councils members say: Well, no, Russia is not an existential threat. At least not for me. I consider Russia a good friend.. There are not many, but there are some.

In a Union governed by unanimity, our policies on Russia are always threatened by a single veto  one is enough - as [Prime Minister of Hungary] Victor Orban proved by delaying our last assistance package to Ukraine. At the same time, in the United States, political polarisation has delayed the military assistance package for half a year. In the middle of a war, half a year is a lot of time. It can make the difference between winning or losing the war.

Putin invaded Ukraine under the pretext of the de-Nazification of Kyiv, believing that we would be unable to react. It was after the fall of Kabul. And he was convinced that our strong dependencies on their gas would make us to react as slowly and softly as we did in 2014 in front of the invasion of Crimea.

I was in [the] Donbas in January 2022, some weeks before the invasion started. And I will always remember my conversation with Prime Minister [of Ukraine, Denys] Shmyhal. He asked me: When they invade us, because they will invade us  there are 150,000 Russian troops on the other side of the border  what are you going to do? Are you going to support us? I am sure that young Europeans will not go to die for Kyiv. But are you going to provide us with the arms that we need in order to resist the invasion? That question, at that time, in January, in the middle of the darkness and the cold of the winter, I could not answer. I was not sure what was going to be the answer.

Because the European Union had never provided arms to a country at war. But then, the invasion came and happily, our answer was remarkable and very much united in order to provide Ukraine with the military capacity they need to resist.

The United Kingdom did that before us. At the beginning, we were talking about providing helmets, and now we are providing F-16 [fighter jets]. It is a long way between one thing and another. We went through this long way because Ukrainians have proved to be able to resist. Remember that in 2014, [Angela] Merkel did not want to support Ukraine in front of Russias invasion of Crimea. At that time the answer was no, because it was going to be useless.

Now the answer has been yes, because Ukrainians have proved to be able to resist.

Now Putin sees the whole West as an adversary. He made that clear in many of his speeches. Everything, every day is being said and repeated on Russian TV stations: The West  the whole West, the global West - is our enemy. And they act accordingly - through disinformation, poisoning our information environment, and the important factory of lies: [with] that Russia is attempting to interfere in our democratic processes, as they have already done and will do  I am sure - in the next European elections.

Yes, Ukraine is resisting in difficult circumstances, overcoming the fact that the United States and the European Union have not been supplying everything they need to continue the fight.

And then, another war came. The horrible [terrorist] attack by Hamas of 7 October and Israels response  for many people, the disproportionate response - plunged the Middle East into the worst cycle of violence in decades. Just before the 7th of October, many believed that the Abraham Accords had diluted the Palestinian issue. Well, they had not. It was a way of making peace between the Arabs and Israelis, but not between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Jack Sullivan considered that the Middle East had never been so calm, he said one week before the 7th of October. Well, it was not calm. It was not calm, just have a look at what happened in the West Bank to realise that it was not calm at all.

Now, we have two wars. And we, Europeans, are not prepared for the harshness of the world.

But as you, Ivan [Krastev], have pointed out, one thing is to be awake  and we have been woken up - and another thing is to get out of the bed. In some cases, we are still in bed. The awakening was clear, but do we understand the gravity of the moment? I have my doubts. And I want to use this opportunity in order to send a message that yes, the moment is a moment of gravity and urgency because we are facing a mix of geopolitical, economic and societal threats. Four of them: geopolitically, economically, technologically, and democratically.

Europe, the European Union, but more than the European Union, the way of living of the Europeans, this best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that the humanity has never been able to invent, is certainly in danger. And in order to face these challenges, I think that we have to work on three dimensions: Principles, Cooperation and Strength.

Lets start with the Principles. Principles are important because we say that the European Union is a Union of values. That is what is being said in our treaties. We are a Union of values, and those values are enumerated in the Treaties. They are everything that is good, it is difficult to disagree with these principles.

Then, there are the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, to put a limit to the actions of the stronger. To put safeguards against our own worst instincts, [given] that we Europeans put [the] world on fire, not once but twice, within half a century.

In the simplest possible terms, those principles outlawed the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Then, there is International Humanitarian Law to try to regulate how wars are fought and safeguard the protection of civilians. These principles should be the best safeguard against the normalisation of the use of force that we see all over the world.

I know, however, that to be able to rally the world around those principles, we need to show that we, Europeans, respect them always and everywhere. Is that what we are doing? Well, not to the extent we should. And for Europe, this is a problem.

Wherever I go, I find myself confronted with the accusation of double standards. I used to say to my Ambassadors that diplomacy is the art of managing double standards. Certainly, something difficult, but it is about [that]: to manage double standards.

But the fact is, people around the world have not forgotten the war in Iraq. Even if some EU Member States did not participate, others participated with a lot of enthusiasm and others withdrew quickly from this war. This is the case of the country I know best.

What is now happening in Gaza has portrayed Europe in a way that many people simply do not understand. They saw our quick engagement and decisiveness in supporting Ukraine and wonder about the way we approach what is happening in Palestine.

Yes, I can try explaining how the European Unions decision-making processes work: unanimity. I can try to explain the different historical experiences of our Member States  very divided among them. At the United Nations General Assembly, 18 voted [on] one side, 2 on the other, and others abstained when the moment came to decide about the ceasefire.

But the perception is that the value of civilian lives in Ukraine is not the same than in Gaza, where more than 34,000 are dead, most others displaced, [where] children are starving, and the humanitarian support [is] obstructed.

And the perception is that we care less if United Nations Security Council resolutions are violated, as it is the case by Israel with respect to the settlements, [as opposed to] when it is violated by Russia.

Yes, the principles that we put in place after the World War II are a pillar of peace. But this requires that we are coherent in our language. If we call something a war crime in one place, we need to call it by the same name when it happens anywhere else.

We all agree that Hamas has sparked this new cycle of violence with their atrocious attack, that we have to condemn once and again. But what has happened in Gaza [in the following] 6 months is another horror. And one horror cannot justify another.

This is more and more what our societies are feeling, as the passionate debate and the many demonstrations around the world, and in particular in the United States, are showing.

Second line: Cooperation.

Cooperation requires an essential ingredient: Trust. If I trust you, I am ready to cooperate with you. I am not afraid to be dependent on you if I trust you.

But in a world where dependencies are increasingly weaponised, trust is in short supply. This brings the risk of decoupling with large parts of the world. Decoupling on technology, decoupling on trade, decoupling on values.

There are more and more transactional relationships, but less rules and less cooperation. But the great challenges of the world - climate change, technologies, demographic change, inequalities - require more cooperation, not less cooperation.

So, what can we do?

First, certainly, to reduce excessive dependencies. During the pandemic, we realised that in Europe, we were not producing a single gram of Paracetamol. Not a gram of Paracetamol. It was a moment of crisis, and in the moment of crisis, the market was not able to provide what we needed. So, we need to reduce excessive dependencies, for sure.

We need to diversify our trade links and deepen cooperation with our close friends. The United Kingdom is a close friend and a close partner. We share the same values. We have converging interests on almost all geopolitical questions. In any area where we can cooperate, it would be good for both of us.

But that is not enough. If I was only talking with people who share the same values, I would stop working at midday. No, there are many people around the world [with] whom I do not share the same values or have contradictory interests. In spite of that, I have to look for ways of cooperating. This is the case of China. We need to work and cooperate with people who [do] not necessarily share the same values or interests.

Then, we have to have a look at why the world is feeling some resentment about us. Yes, there is a feeling of resentment because people believe that there are different responsibilities. Let me cite only two of them.

First, climate change. We, Europeans, have produced about 25% of all cumulated global CO2 emissions since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. [Sub-Saharan] Africa 3%, Latin America 3%. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Americans [have] almost nothing of the responsibility, and they share the most important and damaging consequences.

So, when we talk about fighting climate change, we have to understand their views and the feeling that this is a problem that someone has created, and others pay the consequences. And the only possible answer is to provide more resources in order to face this problem.

More resources  but it has not been the case. Not always the case.

Remember, in 2009 in Copenhagen, developed countries committed to $100 billion per year of support to the countries most directly affected by climate change  and this promise took a long time to [be] realised.

And even now, the United Nations tell us that in order to go through a just transition - how we talk everyday about the just transition -, we need $2.4 trillion annually to fund clean energy and climate resilience. This will require an unprecedented increase in global solidarity.

Where is this money going to come from? If it has been so difficult for us to provide $100 billion per year, [how will] the world provide $2.4 trillion, which is the United Nations estimate?

And this brings another side of the action, which is fiscal justice. And at Gabriel Zucmans initiative, there is no way out without a strong change in some fiscal rules. To start with the minimum tax on corporations and with a minimum wealth tax on the worlds richest people. This could provide the amount of money required to face climate change, which is considered an existential threat for humanity.

The other reason for resentment are vaccines. When the pandemic came, and it was a matter of life or death, in December 2021 rich countries had already used 150 doses of vaccines per 100 inhabitants. 150 per 100 inhabitants. Lower income countries had just 7 [doses of vaccines per 100 inhabitants]. We had 150, they had 7.

And they remember that. I have been talking with some leaders around the world who told me during the pandemic, I wanted to buy vaccines from you, not ask for them. I was ready to pay for them, but you told me: Sorry, we do not have [vaccines]. Then, I went to Russia and China, and they had.

Yes, this has not been forgotten. We can claim that we have been the biggest exporter and the biggest donor. That is true. But at that critical moment, when people were dying, the answer from our side was not a good one. People remind [us about it]. Climate and vaccines are two examples of resentment of [the] developing world towards us.

This has to be taken into consideration because when we talk with them and we talk about values, they say yes, we share the same values, but we do not share the same priorities. You have your priorities according to your level of development. I have mine.

And if you want to put both things together, unavoidably, there has to be a strong level of resources transferred in order to face pandemics when it comes, climate change when it comes.

The last word is about Strength, and this brings [me] to the security side of my job.

There is nothing that authoritarian regimes admire [as] much as strength. They like strength. And there is nothing for which they have less respect than weakness. If they perceive you as a weak actor, they will act accordingly. So, lets try [to demonstrate] strength when talking with authoritarian people.

This is a lesson that we [in] Europe had forgotten. Maybe because we had been relying on the security umbrella of the United States. But this umbrella may not be open forever, and I believe that we cannot make our security dependent on the US elections every four years.

So, we have to develop more our Security and Defence policy. I did not expect this part of my portfolio to take [up] so much time and effort, but this is the way it is.

We have to increase our defence capabilities and to build a strong European pillar inside NATO.

In the past, when we talked about the European pillar inside NATO, this was portrayed as a step towards weakening NATO, or leaving NATO, or forgetting about NATO. But the funny thing is [that] today, it is the United States themselves who are encouraging us to forge ahead, to increase our capacities, and to do that in a coordinated manner.

I think that the European Pillar of NATO has to be understood not from the point of view of the European Union alone, but from the geographical approach of Europe as a space which is bigger than the European Union. Not only from an institutional point of view  the 27 [Member States] - but from the point of view of the people who share what it is to be European.

Because you, you are the United Kingdom, you left the European Union, but you are still part of Europe. And there are other people in Europe who are not part of the European Union, because they never wanted to be, like Norway, or they decided to stop being, as you, or they are still queuing to become members of the European Union. So, look at that security issue from a geographical perspective, and not only [from] an institutional one.

And I think that there, in Security and Defence, we can have with the United Kingdom a stronger relation. We can build more because this is a pure intergovernmental policy inside the European Union. It should not be difficult to expand the bilateral treaties that we already have - like France with the United Kingdom, the Lancaster House Treaties  in order to make security an integral part of a better and stronger cooperation.

Certainly, we have to think [about] who will pay for this security. I wonder how the Europeans can be able to pay for more security, more fight [against] climate change, more cooperation with the rest of the world, and at the same time to fulfil all the rules of fiscal constraint.

I want to recall that when the euro crisis came, we invented out of the box solutions in order to circumvent unanimity and look for something that could save the euro.

Today, we are more or less in the same situation. We have to provide to the Europeans more security, more financial capacity, to work with our partners around the world, [and] to be a trusted partner. This will require more resources.

Today, in Europe, in Brussels, there is a great debate about how to do it. We did it for the pandemic. We invented the Next Generation EU because it was an existential threat. People were dying on the streets.

Well, now they are not dying in the streets but they could die in the streets if we cannot offer a security capacity in order to deter those who could have the tentation to expand the war into our territories.

This is one of the big challenges that Europeans are facing.

The other one - I am coming back to the situation in the Middle East  is to look for a peace plan.

I am coming from Riyadh, and in Riyadh I met the Arabs and many Europeans.

I think that the Arabs have to present their prospects for looking for a political settlement of the situation. I invited the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Arab countries to come to Brussels and explain which are their proposals.

We have to make everybody understand that there is not a military solution, that you cannot kill an idea. The only way of killing an idea is to provide a better one. And what could be the good idea?

Well, everybody says that they want the two-state solution. We have been repeating that for 30 years, since Oslo.

But in Oslo, the two-state solution was not part of the agreement. It was not. They said: Later, maybe, we could, but it is not in the text.

If we believe that the two-state solution is the only solution, then the international community has to engage much more, taking this not as a starting point but as the endgame point.

And we have to ask to the ones who say that they do not want the two-state solutions, what do they want?

Yes, you do not want it, what is your solution then? If we exclude extermination or forced migration of the Palestinians, what is the solution?

When we ask this question to the Netanyahu government, the only answer we get is: We do not want the two-states solution. But then, what do you want?

And this is what the international community has to ask, once and again, in order to look for an answer that could avoid another human tragedy and make these two people work side by side in peace and security.

It happened in Northern Ireland, it happened in Europe. The old enemies are today good neighbours, and more than good neighbours, they are best friends. It should be possible, but in order [for it] to be possible, the land has to be shared. They cannot be living together, they have to live side by side, in peace and security but each one with their home, their land, their government, their territory, their political capacity.

This is one of the most important things that the Europeans have to solve, because it is the most divisive thing among us. We have been united in front of Ukraine, we remained united in front of Russia. We have not been united in giving an answer, a basic answer condemning Hamas, asking for the freedom of the hostages, asking for humanitarian support, asking for a political solution. It has to be converted in actions, not just in declarations.

This will be something that - from now until the end of the year - will be very high on the agenda of the European politics.

And I hope that we can work together with the United Kingdom in order to look for a solution, and to make us partners on security, to be partners on trying to look for the geopolitical battles of our time to finish as soon as possible knowing that it is not easy. It has never been easy, but we have the moral responsibility of contributing to it because we are part of the problem. We created this problem one way or another, and we have a strong responsibility in trying to solve it.

The Ukrainian existence depends on us. I know how to finish the war in Ukraine. I can finish the war in Ukraine in a couple of weeks just by cutting the supply. If I cut the supply of arms to Ukraine, Ukraine cannot resist, they will have to surrender, and the war will finish.

But is this the way we want the war to finish? I do not want [that], and I hope that many people in Europe do not want [that] either.

On the contrary, we will do whatever we can in order to provide the Ukrainians with the military and political support, and we will provide the people in the Middle East all our political engagement to look for a fair peace.

In the meantime, we have to continue fighting to make the values and principles that make Europe what it is - I said it at the beginning: the best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that humanity has never been able to invent.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-256530
Feature: Chinese cars gain popularity in Botswana

Xinhua) 14:12, May 05, 2024

A visitor asks about the Chery brand during the 9th edition of the Shell Gaborone Motor Show in Gaborone, the Botswanan capital, May 3, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- At the 9th edition of the Shell Gaborone Motor Show in Gaborone, the Botswanan capital, Chinese auto brands such as Haval, Cherry, Tank, and JAC generated interest among local car enthusiasts.

Over the last five years, Chinese-made vehicles have entered the competitive landscape of Botswana's automotive industry.

Chinese brands such as Chery, Haval, JAC, and BAIC are gaining popularity among Botswanan consumers, who value the vehicles' build quality, durability, and reliability.

Bellson Othomile, sales executive at Motor Holdings Botswana, said Haval is a popular brand in Gaborone and across Botswana.

"The brand has a lot to offer in terms of cost, technology, automotive design, and comfort. Chinese cars are starting to become a good alternative to brands that previously dominated the southern African automotive markets," he told Xinhua during the May 3-4 motor show.

Many decided to buy Haval cars because "the price is totally different and below what you can usually expect... when you look at the interior of the car, the technology of the car, how it drives, and how it looks in general," he said. "That was the more compelling aspect of the product."

According to Othomile, excluding those that are purchased in bulk, about 23 units are sold in a month. The most popular unit is Haval Jolion, whose Chinese equivalent, Chulian, means "first love."

With an expanding dealer service network across the country, the Jolion is expected to build on the success of previous Haval products, such as the P series, Haval H1, H6, and H9, and now the Tank 300, he said.

Star Motor Group is another company in Botswana that sells Chinese automobile brands such as JAC and Chery.

Peter Kabelo, sales executive of the group, said that one of the important elements of Chery's success is its offer of warranty for its engines for 1 million kilometers' mileage or 10 years, including the transmission.

Compared to traditional foreign brands, Kabelo said, Chinese cars have also brought lots of high technologies and comfort to Botswana customers, like voice command, remote start, wireless charging, big screens and autopilot.

Isaac Pheko, a Botswana motorist journalist, said he is "a huge fan of Chinese-made cars because their build quality and durability have improved astronomically over the past 10 years."

The pricing point by Chinese manufacturers make the cars accessible as they are more affordable than German, Japanese and American-made cars, Pheko said.

Isaac Pheko, a Botswana motorist journalist, sits in a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max during the 9th edition of the Shell Gaborone Motor Show in Gaborone, the Botswanan capital, May 3, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

A Haval Jolion is pictured during the 9th edition of the Shell Gaborone Motor Show in Gaborone, the Botswanan capital, May 3, 2024. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
In 2023, I made my eleventh pair of backdoor Roth IRA contributions.

This ad will end in 10

Its a great way for high-income professionals to contribute to a Roth IRA when earning too much to contribute directly to a Roth IRA.

I like to get our backdoor Roth contributions and conversions done early in the year to start the tax-free earnings as soon as possible, but you have until Tax Day in mid-April, 2023 to complete a 2022 Backdoor Roth contribution (and until April, 2024 to make your 2023 contribution).

This post will give you a brief overview of the backdoor Roth, precise step-by-step instructions on how to do this yourself at Fidelity, and a link to a backdoor Roth FAQ that should answer any lingering questions you have. If youre looking for instructions for Vanguard, check out our Vanguard Backdoor Roth tutorial.

Backdoor Roth IRA: An Overview

Money contributed to Roth accounts does not result in a tax deduction, unlike contributions to tax-deferred accounts. Both Roth and tax-deferred accounts benefit from tax-free growth, unlike a taxable account that is subject to tax drag (which can be minimized). The Roth dollars, unlike tax-deferred dollars, will not be taxed when withdrawn.

One of the first world problems of earning a solid income is the inability to contribute directly to a Roth IRA or a tax-deductible IRA.

A modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $228,000 for a couple filing jointly, or $153,000 for an individual makes you ineligible to contribute to a Roth IRA in 2023. Phaseout ranges where you can make a smaller Roth contribution (less than $6,500) start at $218,000 and $138,000 for couples who are married filing jointly and single filers, respectively.

Many physicians are thus excluded from making either deductible IRA contributions or direct Roth IRA contributions.

If theres even a tiny chance your income might put you into or above those phaseout ranges, youre better off using the backdoor, just in case. Theres nothing wrong with making your Roth contribution the hard way and finding out later that you didnt need to take the extra steps. You wont have to change a thing.

Now, understand that a high income doesnt mean you cant contribute directly to a Roth account of some kind. You may have a Roth option within your 401(k) or similar account, although I would argue youre probably better off with the tax deduction offered by making tax-deferred 401(k) contributions if youre in the 32% or higher tax bracket.

Another important distinction is that a high income does not currently prevent you from making Roth conversions. The income limits were lifted in 2010, and I took advantage by making a Mega Roth conversion when it was believed the income limits would be reinstated. However, there are still no income limits, and hence, the backdoor remains wide open.

The income limits for the ability to make a traditional tax-deferred IRA contribution are even lower than the Roth contribution limits. If you participate in a workplace retirement plan, you wont be eligible to contribute as an individual earning more than $83,000 or as a couple earning more than $136,000 in 2023. The deduction actually begins to phase out at a MAGI of $73,000 for single filers and $116,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Before Attempting a Backdoor Roth

While income limits are a non-issue for the backdoor, there exists one important prerequisite to be able to properly execute the backdoor Roth.

You cannot have tax-deferred money in a traditional IRA, SEP IRA, or SIMPLE IRA in your name .

The list includes traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and SIMPLE IRA, but does not include 401(k), 403(b) or similar accounts. If you do hold tax-deferred IRA dollars on 12/31 of the calendar year in which you made the Roth conversion, youll be subject to taxes when making your conversion per the pro-rata rule.

If you do have these types of accounts, youre not hosed, but you need to have a strategy to move that money elsewhere or you can forget about the backdoor Roth. Note that inherited IRAs are a non-issue.

If the balances in your IRA or IRAs are small and you can afford the taxes on the conversion, you can convert it all to Roth and just pay tax on the conversion. This could be a good idea for those in lower tax brackets  residents and students, for example.

Another option for employees may be to roll the IRA into an employers 401(k) plan. Not all plans accept rollovers, but mine does, and this was the route I chose with my SEP-IRA a few years ago. Fortunately, my 401(k) offers institutional Vanguard index funds. If I had lousy options, a rollover might not have been worthwhile.

It might also a good idea to avoid having a SEP IRA in the first place by putting your independent contractor earnings into a solo 401(k) instead. The White Coat Investor covers some of the advantages in this article.

One way employees without a business of their own create one is by obtaining an EIN for a survey-answering business. Earning just a little 1099 money on the side qualifies you as a business owner, and you can open an individual 401(k) a.k.a. solo 401(k) for the business.

As long as the plan accepts rollovers (many do), youll be able to roll over traditional IRA, SEP and SIMPLE IRA money into it to circumvent the pro-rata rule and associated taxation when attempting the backdoor Roth.

For healthcare professionals, Ive found that the simplest side business is one in which you answer medical surveys for dollars. Ive got a great overview of a handful of survey companies here.

Fidelity Step by Step

Open A Traditional IRA

The first step in the process is opening a traditional IRA with Fidelity if you dont already have one. This works like opening any other Fidelity account. Youll also want to open a Roth IRA, too. You need both for this transaction.

Once your IRA accounts are open, youll see them both listed among your accounts on the left navigation bar.

Youll next need to make an initial contribution of $6,500 for 2023 (or the higher catch-up amount if you are old enough to be eligible) to your traditional IRA.

Use the Transfer link in the black bar at the top of the screen to start your traditional IRA contribution.

Then, transfer the funds. In the Which account do you want to move money from? section, choose the account that has the funds. For some folks contributing new money from an external bank account, a five-day waiting period may be required in order to ensure the funds transfer clears. If you have an existing Fidelity brokerage account from which youll transfer the money, there wont be a wait time for the funds to clear  they just need to post overnight before you can perform the conversion steps outlined in the next section.

Be sure to select the traditional IRA in the Where will the money be transferred to? section, and then select the correct contribution year for this transaction. At the bottom, enter the amount of the contribution; the amounts Fidelity refers to are accurate for your overall IRA contribution eligibility across brokerage houses, but Fidelity does not know how much you have contributed (or not contributed) elsewhere, so if you have multiple IRAs in multiple places, make sure youre contributing only the amount you are eligible to contribute.

Then click Continue to make the transfer.

Once your initial Roth conversion is complete, you will leave the traditional IRA account open, with a zero balance, forever. Dont be alarmed at having the account just sitting there empty. Fidelity is perfectly happy with this, as you should be, too, as there is no fee or minimum youll be charged.

Each subsequent year after the initial opening year, you can re-use the account by adding a non-deductible contribution of whatever the maximum is per regulation for that tax year and then performing the Roth conversion process outlined in the next section.

Fund the Roth IRA

As mentioned, youll need to wait at least a day for the funds contributed to your traditional IRA to post. Youll also have to wait for them to clear if you transferred them in from an external bank and did not use money already living at Fidelity. If you proceed with the next steps and receive errors about funds not being available, this is likely the reason.

When its time to convert, then at the top of your screen, click Transfer in the black bar.

Youll be brought to the transfer page. A Roth conversion at Fidelity is nothing more than a funds transfer with a couple of extra options. In Which account do you want to move money from? select your traditional IRA. In Where will the money be transferred to, select your Roth IRA account.

Check the box next to I understand that Ill likely have to pay taxes later. A Roth conversion is indeed a taxable event, but as you are not deducting your contribution to your traditional IRA (since presumably youve already paid, or will pay, taxes on the money later when you file your return), there are no taxes due as a result of the conversion.

Click continue.

Here, tell Fidelity to transfer all of your account (which should have just $6,500, or your catch-up contribution amount, whichever is higher, in it) to your Roth. Choose the Keep this account open option so you dont have to open a new traditional IRA next year. Then click Continue.

On the next screen, verify everything looks good, and then click Submit.

Thats it! When you exit to the portfolio summary, youll see your Roth IRA has the new converted amount and your traditional IRA is empty.

And if you click into Activity & Orders in your Roth IRA, youll see the conversion is correctly noted as a processing transaction.

And thats how you do it at Fidelity.

Spousal Roth IRA

If youre married, your spouse can also do the backdoor Roth, even if he or she has no earned income.

You must have at least $13,000 of earned income between the two of you (or $14,000 or $15,000 if one or both of you is at least 50 years old), but all of the income can come from one person.

Note that for pro rata rule issues, your IRA accounts dont affect your spouses ability to do the backdoor Roth, and your spouses IRAs dont affect yours.

Fill out Form 8606 in your 1040

At tax time, you will report these moves in IRS From 8606.

The IRS has instructions here and the form here. I see no need to repeat them. If you use tax software, instructions on filling them out with TurboTax and others can be found on the Backdoor Roth FAQ.

Additional Resources

If you have additional questions, your question is almost certainly among the 40+ questions answered in the all-encompassing Backdoor Roth FAQ. I strongly encourage you to check there first before asking a question below.

Looking for additional investment opportunities now that youre maxing out your tax-advantaged space? Look to my Real Estate Investing Resources.
Paramount, you got some splainin to do! 'I Love Lucy: The Complete Series' Blu-ray Box Set Coming November 5th!
The Guam Judicial Center is seen on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Hagatna.
U.S. Congress passes bill laying groundwork to CRIMINALIZE all criticism of Zionism, Israel or Jews in any context whatsoever, even with FACTS

A bipartisan coalition in Congress has successfully passed a new "Antisemitism Awareness Act" (House Resolution 6090) to persecute Americans who vocalize their disagreement with Israel's genocide in Gaza.

The legislation is so sweeping that it also targets anyone who criticizes anything related to Israel or Jewish people, even though many Jewish people living in Israel also oppose the genocidal actions of the Netanyahu regime.

"The bill has a problem beyond violating the [First Amendment]," tweeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in opposition to the Antisemitism Awareness Act. "The definition of antisemitism appears nowhere in the bill!"

Check out the bill for yourself to see what Massie is talking about and you will recognize the very serious threat this legislation poses to free speech.

In a tweet, Massie provided a link to the legally adopted definition of antisemitism, which is broad and sweeping. In essence, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, should it pass both chambers of Congress and get signed into law by President Biden, will deconstruct the First Amendment and turn America into a fascist state.

Do you agree with all of these examples of antisemitism? Should people in America be prosecuted for saying these things in all contexts? I think not. This is a poorly conceived unconstitutional bill and I will vote no. pic.twitter.com/L3AI5MCFGw  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 1, 2024

(Related: Did you know that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is a Zionist tyrant who is right now crushing the First Amendment rights of college students and professors?)

Christians to be persecuted via the Antisemitism Awareness Act

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also tweeted about the bill, stating that while she agrees that antisemitism "is wrong," she will not vote for legislation "that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews."

Truth be told, the Antisemitism Awareness Act threatens to make the Holy Bible itself illegal in that some of its language might be construed as "antisemitic," as Greene explains, because it deals again and again with the divine punishment of ungodly Israel and the Jewish "Synagogue of Satan," which the Zionists find offensive.

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.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is another who tweeted his opposition to the bill, calling it a "ridiculous hate speech bill."

"Antisemitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words," Gaetz said. "The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill!"

"The bill says the definition of antisemitism includes 'contemporary examples of antisemitism' identified by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). One of those examples includes: '... claims of Jews killing Jesus ...' The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy on this. Therefore, I will not support this bill."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) conversely teamed up with the Zionists to pass the hate speech bill, showing his true colors as a Zionist First politician who works for Israel, not for the American people.

"Our AIPAC-owned Congress are doing everything in their power to outlaw criticism of Jews and Israel in defense of the Jewish State's genocide in Gaza," warned Chris Menahan of Information Liberation about what is transpiring.

"This was a vote to repeal the First Amendment and pledge allegiance to Israel and it sailed through Congress 320-91 ... ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt is also calling for the pro-Palestine protests to be crushed by the National Guard. The Palestinians aren't the only ones living under occupation."

In the end, the Zionists will lose when God deals with their wickedness. Learn more at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

GovInfo.gov

HolocaustRemembrance.com

NaturalNews.com
Like THUGS, members of U.S. Congress make threats against ICC if arrest warrants are issued against Netanyahu for Israeli war crimes

If the International Criminal Court (ICC) follows through on issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government figures over their alleged war crimes against the Palestinian people, United States lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, are promising to retaliate

In obedience to their Zionist masters, the U.S. Congress is clutching its pearls while threatening "consequences" following media reports about the Hague-based tribunal plans to take legal action against Netanyahu et al. for violating international law with their slaughter of Palestinians living in Gaza.

"The ICC apparently considers warrants on Israeli leaders for legitimate self-defense," snarled Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), a career politician who's a poster child for why we need term limits  Sherman has been a member of Congress for 14 terms.

Sherman continued to rant that trying to hold Netanyahu et al. accountable for their crimes against humanity will turn the tribunal into a "kangaroo court."

"President Biden must condemn this, and I know Congress will ensure consequences for such an absurd decision," Sherman further threatened.

(Related: Did you know that Israel is tricking Palestinian civilians into "safe" zones in Rafah, only to then bomb them to death?)

Zionists aren't used to being held accountable

The reason these Congress critters and their Zionist masters are having cringeworthy public meltdowns like this is because it is so out of the norm for their war crimes to even be mentioned in the news at all, let alone a top international court seeking justice on behalf of their victims.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

Things are changing, in case you hadn't noticed. What was once unspeakable is being broadcast everywhere. What was once off-limits to talk about is conversation No. 1 right now, with the Zionists on full blast for their crimes.

They can't handle it and are attempting every old trick in the book to deflect, but it's not working anymore. As such, expect to see many more of these types of public meltdowns and threats as the Synagogue of Satan is systematically dethroned, brick by brick.

The ICC conducted an in-depth investigation into the actions of the Israeli military in not just Gaza but also in the West Bank. That investigation looked all the way back to 2014 when Israel fought Hamas in a month-long war, by the way, uncovering a trail of war crimes and other atrocities.

Since he is not used to all the scrutiny, Netanyahu is pressuring Biden to stop the ICC from trying to prosecute him or any other Israeli leaders.

Back in January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the United Nations also issued a ruling calling it "plausible" that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) committed acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In the view of Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), though, holding Netanyahu and the rest to account constitutes a "weaponization of law in the service of terror (that) cannot be allowed to stand."

"The ICC is propping up Hamas by attempting to punish the only democracy in the Middle East just for defending itself against barbaric terrorism," added Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) using the same tired and manipulative rhetoric to try to justify Israel's behavior.

Prosecuting Israeli leaders for war crimes "would be a fatal blow to the judicial and moral standing of the ICC," added Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.), another Zionist who believes that Israel is some kind of moral paragon that is above the law.

Then we have House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) who called the ICC's investigation "baseless and illegitimate," claiming any prosecution of Israel war crimes will jeopardize U.S. national security.

The Israeli government isn't used to having people publicly oppose its villainous behavior on the world stage. Find out more at Antichrist.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
ENERGY SUICIDE: G7 nations forge plan to shut down ALL coal-fired power plants between 2030 and 2035; electricity costs to sharply increase

To limit global temperature increases  the Group of Seven (G7) nations have announced plans to sign a deal that will force all remaining coal-fired power plants in member state territories to close down between 2030 and 2035.

With few exceptions, the nations of the G7  or at least those over which the G7 has influence and control  will be expected to come up with energy production alternatives that the globalists have decided are good for the climate and the planet.

All of this was devised at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai last December where globalist powerbrokers decided that Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States must "fully decarbonize electricity by 2035" in order to stop global temperatures from rising another 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Since Germany and Japan derive more than one-quarter of their total electricity from coal, these two nations will reportedly be granted some leeway with the coal shutdown plan, Reuters reported. Germany, though, is still planning to phase out coal, just by 2038 at the latest, while Japan has not yet set a date.

(Related: Germany recently closed the last three of its nuclear power facilities, creating an energy deficit that is forcing the European powerhouse to buy nuclear-generated electricity from France.)

G7 planning to restrict Russian imports of LNG to Europe

According to the climate lobby, coal is the most heavily polluting earth-based "fossil" fuel in existence. Its burning does admittedly spread lead and other chemical toxins wherever the soot lands.

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.

Ministers from the U.S., Great Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan are reportedly planning to rubber stamp a technical agreement that will outlaw the burning of coal for energy starting now with a roughly seven-year plan for the phase-out to fully mature.

"We do have an agreement to phase out coal in the first half of the 2030s," said UK minister for nuclear and renewables Andrew Bowie in a recent interview with CNBC.

Statements made at the G7 meeting suggest that a final agreement is soon on the way that even with some leeway provisions will remain "consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5C temperature rise [above pre-industrial levels] within reach, in line with countries' net zero pathways."

G7 chair Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy's energy minister, also said that the ministers are discussing plans to restrict the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Europe, likely in retaliation against Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine with his special military operation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also announced plans to finalize a new set of rules establishing stricter emissions standards for power plants in general. If enacted, the rules will force all remaining long-term power plants to cut or capture at least 90 percent of their carbon "pollution."

"These rules, finalized under separate authorities including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, will significantly reduce climate, air, water, and land pollution from the power sector, delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to protect public health, advance environmental justice, and confront the climate crisis," the EPA said in a press release.

According to investigative journalist John Solomon, the EPA's plans will massively drive-up energy costs for consumers while further destabilizing the already shaky U.S. power grid.

"What about China and India?" one commenter asked about the two most-polluting nations on earth, which are not included in the coal phase-out at all. "These countries are the world's worst polluters by any standard  why do they get a free pass?"

More related news about the ongoing globalist shutdown of global industry can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

100percentfedup.com

NaturalNews.com

100percentfedup.com
Israel accuses ICC of antisemitism amid rumors they may issue arrest warrants for genocidal leaders

One tactic Israel has been leaning into a lot lately is accusing those who criticize the country of antisemitism, and this was on full display in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus recent response to the news that the International Criminal Court may be issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is based in The Hague and serves a similar function to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), but it investigates individuals rather than disputes between states. The latter is overseeing a genocide case that South Africa has brought against Israel.

Over the weekend, reports emerged that ICC arrest warrants over Israels genocide in Gaza could be forthcoming. In addition to Netanyahu, some of the names that have been mentioned as being subject to arrest warrants include Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu said: If this does happen, it will be an indelible stain on humanity. It would be an unprecedented antisemitic hate crime that would add fuel to the antisemitic incitement that is already raging in the world.

He appears to be at least somewhat worried about this possibility as he called on other world leaders to step up and take a stand against the ICC for investigating the Jewish state.

He said: Israel expects the leaders of the free world to come out strongly against this scandalous step, a step that will harm the self-defense not only of the State of Israel, but of all democracies.

So far, he seems to have the U.S. on his side, with the White House speaking out against both the ICJ's ruling that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza and the ICC's current investigation of Israel.

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.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: Weve been really clear about the ICC investigation, that we dont support it, we dont believe that they have the jurisdiction.

If an arrest warrant is issued for Netanyahu, it will mark the first time the leader of a Western-style democracy has been subject to one. The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for world leaders such as Libyas Muammar Gaddafi, Ugandas Joseph Kony and Russias Vladimir Putin.

Although the ICC has not officially confirmed impending arrest warrants, Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan KC visited the occupied West Bank and Israel in December, meeting political leaders and victims families to discuss their experiences. He condemned the violence on both sides and vowed to investigate.

In a statement issued around the time of his visit, he cautioned: "All actors must comply with international humanitarian law. If you do not do so, do not complain when my office is required to act."

Israel warns it will retaliate against Palestinian Authority if arrest warrants are issued

Israel told the U.S. that it has information indicating that officials with the Palestinian Authority have been pressuring the ICC prosecutor to issue the warrants. Israeli officials warned their American counterparts that if this happens, they will consider the Palestinian Authority to be responsible and will take retaliatory steps against them that could cause their collapse. It is not known what specific actions they have in mind, but one possibility is freezing the transfer of the tax revenues that Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority, which would leave them bankrupt.

Axios reports that a bipartisan group of senators recently met virtually with senior ICC officials to share their reservations about the potential arrest warrants. The issue also came up in a phone call between Netanyahu and President Biden over the weekend in which Biden reportedly insisted that the U.S. is opposed to ICC investigations against the Jewish State.

One U.S. official said: "We are quietly encouraging the ICC not to do it. It will blow up everything. Israel will retaliate against the Palestinian Authority."

Sources for this article include:

BBC.com

Axios.com
CALL FOR GENOCIDE: Israeli minister demands total annihilation of Rafah  a city where 1.5 million Gazans are sheltering

Although ceasefire talks have been making headlines again in the Middle East, Israel does not appear to be backing down on its desire to wipe out Gaza, with Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich recently calling for the total annihilation of Rafah along with several other cities in the Gaza Strip.

Smotrich implied that this destruction is part of their biblical duty, referring to a line in the Bible about Amalek. In the book of Deuteronomy, ancient Israelites were commanded to destroy Amalek, while the book of Samuel told them to slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.

The finance minister stated: There are no half measures. Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat  total annihilation. You will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven  theres no place under heaven.

He is not the only Israeli politician drawing this comparison; the country's leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has also compared Gaza to Amalek, saying in October: You must remember what Amalek has done to you, says our Holy Bible. And we do remember, and we are fighting.

His comments were presented as evidence of Israels genocidal rhetoric at the International Court of Justice in a genocide case raised by South Africa against the Jewish state.

Should Smotrich get his wish and annihilate Rafah, it would be absolutely devastating. There are currently around 1.5 million civilians sheltering in the city, or half of Gazas population. The finance minister does not think that Israel should accept any type of hostage deal that could help avoid activity in Rafah, saying that striking a deal would be a humiliating defeat.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

He said: Dont wave a white flag. Dont let Sinwar humiliate us again and win the war. A government that submits to international pressure and stops the war in the middle will, at that moment, lose its right to exist.

It may be a moot point as Netanyahu vowed this week that Israel will launch an incursion into Rafah with or without a deal. He made his comments just a few hours before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to conduct a serious round of negotiations aimed at freeing hostages, providing some relief to Gazans and holding off an Israeli offensive in Rafah.

Netanyahu is facing political pressure to enter Rafah

Netanyahu's statement, which some believe may have been released to appeal to far-right leaders in his governing coalition, said: The idea that we will stop the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question. We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas battalions there  with or without a deal, to achieve the total victory.

His governing partners have been pressuring him not to agree to any deal that could prevent them from invading Rafah. Besides Smotrich, another minister who is eager to go after Rafah is National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who claims Netanyahu told him that Israel will enter Rafah, promised that we are not stopping the war and promised that there wont be a reckless deal.

If just one of the parties that is opposed to a deal decides to pull out of the coalition, Netanyahus government could collapse.

The U.S. has stated on multiple occasions that it wants Israel to develop a realistic plan to evacuate and protect the people seeking shelter in Rafah before they carry out operations there.

The deal that is currently under discussion involves releasing dozens of hostages in exchange for a six-week-long stop in fighting and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who are being held by Israel. However, the main sticking point is where things would go from there. Hamas is seeking a complete end to Israels assault on Gaza, while Israel is only willing to agree to an extended pause.

Sources for this article include:

APNews.com

News.AntiWar.com
NUCLEAR UMBRELLA: Macron commits Frances 300 BALLISTIC MISSILES to deter a possible Russian attack

Europe might be preparing a "nuclear umbrella" made up of at least 300 French ballistic missiles to deter a possible Russian attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that submarine-launched warheads be placed all over Europe as a means of fortifying the entire continent against a possible Russian attack. Macron's suggestion comes after a German minister advised both France and the United Kingdom to build a "nuclear shield" to deter potential Russian attacks.

According to Macron, he wanted to open up conversations about "missile defense, long-range weapons and nuclear weapons" across Europe. The French president, who has been outspoken about boosting the continent's collective defensive capabilities against possible attacks from Russia, said the region needs a "credible European defense." (Related: Steve Quayle: Push for WWIII part of a glorified Luciferian globalist plan to exterminate humanity.)

Macron added that France "is ready to contribute more to the defense of European soil" independently from America. He offered the country's more than 300 ballistic and cruise missiles in its stockpiles.

According to French defense doctrine, the country can use "nuclear arms" when France's "vital interests are at stake," adding that there is a "European dimension in these vital interests."

The French navy has developed an impressive over five billion euro ($5.4 billion) submarine-launched ballistic missile program, culminating in the M51 SLBM. Each M51 is nearly 40 feet long, fueled by a three-stage rocket and can launch six to 10 thermonuclear warheads at an estimated range of between 8,000 and 10,000 kilometers (4,970 to 6,214 miles).

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.

Meanwhile, European leaders have expressed concerns about the potential outcome of the upcoming presidential election in the United States in November, especially since former President Donald Trump  who is currently leading in the polls  indicated his desire to scale back military aid spending for Ukraine and even withdrawing the U.S. from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Earlier in 2024, Trump said he would let Russia do "whatever the hell it wants" to NATO members who don't spend at least two percent of their gross domestic product to defense.

German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner said Trump's words are "a call to further rethink this element of European security under the umbrella of NATO."

Both the U.K. and France are Europe's primary nuclear powers and have independent control over their own significant weapons arsenals. However, Russia's nuclear stores still exceed Europe's collective power by a considerable amount. Even the U.S. has fewer nukes compared to Russia.

Russia warns that sending NATO forces to Ukraine will result in an attack

Russia has recently reiterated its warnings of nuclear war against the West.

Russian TV presenter and head of the state-owned media group Rossiya Segodnya Dmitry Kiselyov warned: "If NATO countries deploy their forces to Ukraine to deal strategic defeat to Russia, then that very moment will come of which [President Vladimir] Putin has spoken."

Kiselyov added that if that happens, Russia will send its armed forces "flying everywhere," including "Sarmat, Yars and Avangard missiles." He also warned that American decision-making centers and launch sites across Europe are already in Russia's crosshairs.

He even cautioned that France, as a nuclear power, must "be disarmed in an instant." Kiselyov also claimed that Russia will target the British Isles, which will "go underwater," even bragging that Russia has technologies powerful enough for such a devastating attack.

Moscow has recently advised that NATO's nuclear weapons and facilities would be targeted if they were deployed in Poland.

Visit WWIII.news for more stories about the next event that could trigger World War III.

Watch this clip as Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about how Joe Biden has plunged the U.S. into a nuclear war with Russia.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Military whistleblowers claim UFO successfully disabled American nuclear warhead during routine test.

Russia tests new nuclear-capable ballistic missile that can avoid NATO detection as tensions rise in Middle East.

Russia shoots down Ukrainian Patriot air defense missile launchers.

Report: Iran may be able to create a nuclear weapon WITHIN A WEEK.

Sources include:

The-Sun.com

ICI.Radio-Canada.ca

Brighteon.com
Maricopa County and Arizona state collaborate to surveil social media and censor misinformation

The Arizona Secretary of States Office and the Maricopa County Recorders Office have been exposed as doing their best to team up with social media companies, non-profits, as well as the US government to advance online censorship.

(Article by Didi Rankovic republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

This, yet another case of cooperation (aka, collusion) between government and private entities to stifle speech disapproved of by federal and some state authorities has emerged from several public records, brought to the publics attention by the Gavel Project.

The official purpose of several initiatives was to counter misinformation using monitoring and reporting whatever the two offices decided qualified; another was to censor content on social platforms, while plans also included restricting discourse to the point of banning users from county-run accounts.

Online harassment was another target, and Maricopa County took it upon itself to identify  and then report to law enforcement.

One striking example of the mindset behind all this is a draft of a speech County Recorder Stephen Richer delivered to Maricopa Community Colleges.

As reports note, Richer is hoping to be reelected this year, while back in September 2021, he complained that lies and disinformation are undermining the entire election system.

And it is in this respect, that the Constitution today is in some ways a thorn in the side of my office. Specifically the First Amendment, Richer said  before declaring himself a huge fan of the Constitution.

When his office was earlier in the month asked to, essentially, make it make sense  they didnt, stating only that Richer stands by his speech () especially the part where he says hes a huge fan of the Constitution.

And while there was no denying the fact that the official expressed these sentiments, more revelations from the documents  including the banning of users from official social media accounts  are now described by Maricopa County as drafts that were never implemented.

Even those willing to take the countys word at face value might be surprised to learn what some of those never implemented plans included.

One was, opponents might say, to spread their own propaganda. Like so: (Partnering) with influencers in our community and across the country who share our desire to spread accurate information about elections and combat disinformation.

This document, titled, Building a Partnership of Election Fact Ambassadors, is believed to have been drafted around the 2022 midterm elections.

Earlier, now former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, worked with social media companies and censorship nonprofits to track election information online and combat it when they deemed necessary, say reports citing the public records.

Weve heard feedback from elections authorities that they need better tools to track potential voter interference content on Facebook, Facebook told her office in a September 2019 email, adding:

In response to this feedback, we are building a dashboard that will track this content in each state  and wed like to share those dashboards with the respective elections authorities. These Dashboards will allow for keyword searches of public content on Facebook in each state  and will be able to be customized to each states needs.

Hobbs welcomed this development as great news.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
New study links Pfizers new RSV vaccine for pregnant women to preterm births

A recently published preprint study adds to the long list of evidence linking Abrysvo, Pfizer's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant women, to higher incidences of preterm births

The study, conducted by Canadian researchers at the University of Ottawa School of Epidemiology and Public Health, examined adverse events reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the federal government's vaccine adverse event database, following RSV immunization from Sept. 1, 2023, to Feb. 23, 2024. The researchers narrowed the scope of the extracted reports to pregnant women to analyze maternal age, gestational age at the time of vaccination, interval until the onset of the event and reported outcomes.

According to the study, the first post-authorization safety analysis of Pfizer's RSV vaccine found the average time between vaccination and preterm birth was three days, with two-thirds of reported cases occurring within a week.

The study also found that out of the 77 reports filed in the database, with 55 percent categorized as serious incidents, preterm birth emerged as the foremost pregnancy-related adverse event. Preterm premature rupture of membranes, cesarean section, cervical dilatation and pregnancy-related hemorrhage follow preterm birth. Additionally, non-pregnancy-specific adverse events such as headaches, injection site erythema and injection site pain were also reported.

David Healy, a renowned drug safety expert and author of "Pharmageddon," warned the public that the RSV vaccines have a 60-year history of causing problems.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Explore our decentralized, peer-to-peer, uncensorable Brighteon.io free speech platform here. Learn about our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

"It looks like our latest efforts to overcome these problems have not helped and are leading to preterm births which have lifelong knock-on effects along with more serious RSV infections in children where these should be harmless," said Healy. "Sixty years ago we recognized the problems and stopped. But now we seem determined to press ahead regardless. The intense push to get these vaccines means we will all have affected family members  this is not an abstract concern."

Public and private health agencies still recommend Pfizer's Abrysvo to pregnant women despite preterm risks

But despite all this, several private and public health agencies still recommend Pfizers Abrysvo for pregnant women.

In August 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer's Abrysvo for pregnant women to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by RSV in infants from birth through six months of age. (Related: Guinea pigs: Pfizer gets FDA approval to experiment on pregnant women with new RSV vaccine linked to premature birth.)

"RSV is a common cause of illness in children, and infants are among those at highest risk for severe disease, which can lead to hospitalization," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at that time. "This approval provides an option for healthcare providers and pregnant individuals to protect infants from this potentially life-threatening disease."

Following this, in September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended administering the vaccine to pregnant women between weeks 32 and 36 of their pregnancies to shield newborns from RSV-related lower respiratory tract illness after delivery. Even the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advocates for a single dose of Pfizer's RSV vaccine for expectant mothers in December 2023.

VaccineDamage.news has more information on dangerous and experimental new vaccinations.

Watch this clip from "Faithful Freedom with Teryn Gregson" on Red Voice Media discussing how the RSV vaccines are the new Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

This video is from the Red Voice Media channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Pfizer's experimental RSV vaccine under investigation for causing rare nervous system disorder.

RSV introduced into population by polio vaccines; now Pfizer's RSV vaccines risk harming, killing people.

Pfizer sued by GSK over claims that the US drug giant stole "key elements" of the UK firm's RSV injection.

FDA panel unanimously supports new RSV antibody drug for infants.

Experts tell RFK, Jr. concerning RSV vaccines: "We have to stop these shots!"

Sources include:

ChildrensDefenseHealth.org

FDA.gov
Armoured cars and snipers: The police repression of Gaza solidarity encampments

On Tuesday night local time, New York City Police officers wearing riot gear descended upon Columbia University to break up a student encampment set up in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

(Article republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

Dozens of students were arrested, as police used an armoured vehicle to gain entry into one of the university buildings. Officers also used flash bangs to disperse the crowds.

While in many ways Columbia University has been the epicentre of these student demonstrations and the subsequent police crackdown, the scenes of police repression of American students demonstrating in support of Palestine have been mirrored all across the country over the past few weeks.

At least 90 Gaza solidarity encampments have been set up at US universities.

Middle East Eye takes a look at the examples in which police used brute force to disperse, arrest, and attack student demonstrators on college campuses, as well as the breakout of violence set off by the provocation of counterprotesters trying to break in and disrupt these encampments.

UCLA

On Tuesday night, as police descended upon students at Columbia University, a crowd of counterprotesters began to attack a Gaza solidarity encampment set up at the University of California-Los Angeles.

At around 10:50pm local time, pro-Israel supporters arrived at the encampment and launched fireworks at the pro-Palestine protesters and deployed what appeared to be bear spray, according to local reports.

The pro-Palestine students were shown on local media outlets covering themselves from the spray with umbrellas, and at least one person was taken away by ambulance for treatment.

You stand no chance, old lady! Pro-Israel rioters at UCLA acting like total cartoon villains pic.twitter.com/9x6RP08Q6u  Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) May 1, 2024

Several videos posted on social media showed pro-Israel supporters wielding sticks and poles, and throwing punches at some of the students.

The Daily Bruin, UCLA's student newspaper, reported that around 100 pro-Israel supporters had stormed the encampment, while police reportedly stood by and "watched".

Emory University

At Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, police were called in last week to disperse the students' Gaza solidarity encampment, which also was set up in protest against the construction of a police training facility known as "Cop City".

The police crackdown was swift and aggressive, with a video that went viral showing economics professor Caroline Fohlin being tackled to the ground, and her head pinned to the concrete after she called on police to stop using force on a protester.

Heres @EmoryUniversity economics professor Caroline Fohlin knocked to the ground with her head on the concrete. Her glasses are thrown off. She shouts Im a professor #Gaza#Protesterspic.twitter.com/4HFuDzHEoi  Natasha Barnes (@UICProfWatch) April 25, 2024

Another professor, the school's chair of the philosophy department, Noelle McAfee, was arrested by police during the pro-Palestine protests on campus.

Other footage showed Georgia State Police using a taser on another protester.

University of Texas-Austin

At the request of the administration of the University of Texas-Austin, Texas state troopers were quickly called on 25 April to disperse an encampment set up by students.

Police officers in riot gear rolled in on foot, in vehicles and mounted on horses and confronted the protesters, who went on to form a human chain to protect the crowd.

What transpired was a brutal crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protesters, with footage captured and published on social media showing an officer beating a protester.

Other footage captured showed police grabbing a student by their legs and tossing them, and pinning other protesters to the ground.

Police also used pepper spray on student protesters. More than 50 people were arrested.

Northeastern University

On 27 April, around 100 people were arrested at Northeastern University after there were reports of antisemitic language and incendiary rhetoric being used, namely the phrase "kill the Jews".

However, the phrase was found to have come from a pro-Israel protester, not from the students who were engaged in the Gaza solidarity camp.

Nonetheless, police stormed and cleared the encampment.

Washington University St Louis

At the encampment set up at the Washington University of St Louis, police officers slammed to the ground, beat, and dragged a 64-year-old history professor.

Shocking footage shows several officers at Washington University St. Louis beating a professor, slamming him, and dragging his limp body. SIUE history professor Steve Tamari is reportedly hospitalized with broken ribs and a broken hand. One doctor told him he's lucky to be alive. pic.twitter.com/QSafPxVMD3  Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) April 30, 2024

Steve Tamari, a professor of Middle East and Islamic history at Southern Illinois University, said he was hospitalised as a result of the violence, "with multiple broken ribs and a broken hand".

University of Wisconsin-Madison

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one student told CNN that the campus protest had been peaceful until police arrived on the scene.

Police officers began to line up with shields in front of the student encampment, then started pushing in, forcing the protesters to push back.

Police then proceeded to remove tents from the encampment, which were later set back up by students. Several people were arrested by police, according to local reports.

Ohio State and Indiana University

While similar scenes of police arrests emerged on the campuses of Ohio State and Indiana University, outrage ensued after photos emerged online allegedly showing snipers stationed on the rooftops of schools amid the ongoing Gaza solidarity protests.

The Lantern, Ohio State's student newspaper, reported that the university confirmed that police stationed on the rooftop of one of the campus buildings were in possession of firearms, but said that no weapons were aimed at protesters.

At Indiana University, police confirmed that a sniper was stationed on a rooftop.

"The overwatch location gives us the ability to pay attention to what's occurring overhead, not laterally on the field," Indiana State police superintendent Doug Carter told a local news outlet.

"That got turned into a closed sniper position. Could it have become that? Yes. Was that our intent? No."

University of Arizona

At the University of Arizona, one of the more flagrant examples of excessive force was used on student protesters and the adjacent crowds.

PROTESTERS AND POLICE CLASH, ORDERED BY UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESIDENT ROBERT C ROBBINS pic.twitter.com/5M2NBQcGJP  Ellie Wolfe (@elliew0lfe) May 1, 2024

University president Robert Robbins ordered the police to come in and clear out the protesters on Tuesday night.

Police went on to use "chemical irritant munitions" as well as rubber bullets on protesters and also journalists, a move that Robbins said was "in the best interests of our students, faculty and staff to ensure their safety".

Arizona State University

At another institution in Arizona, Arizona State University, police were also called in to disperse encampments at two of the university's campuses.

At least 72 people were arrested amid the police confrontation. One video posted online allegedly showed police forcibly removing the hijab of a Muslim student protester, while reports said that this happened to several Muslim women.

The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the incident and said it was investigating further.

University of South Florida

At the University of South Florida, police used tear gas canisters on Tuesday in order to disperse the crowds of pro-Palestian students who had set up their encampment.

While tear gas is a substance that is banned in international warfare, it is often used by police to break up large groups of demonstrators.

Police fired tear gas at protesters whod set up a camp at the University of South Florida to condemn Israels war on Gaza. Several students were reportedly arrested as the camp was dismantled. pic.twitter.com/Kdxyjy7cqT  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 1, 2024

While nonlethal, exposure to tear gas can be linked to a number of health issues, such as respiratory failure and blindness.

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
Second Boeing whistleblower found dead  Are they being offed?

When a whistleblower who was giving depositions against aircraft manufacturer Boeing was found dead in an apparent suicide in March, many people suspected foul play, and now a second Boeing whistleblower death is adding fuel to the fire.

In the latest incident, a former quality auditor for the Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems, Joshua Dean, passed away after an unexpected fast-spreading infection. Dean was one of the first whistleblowers to claim that executives at Spirit ignored manufacturing defects in Boeing's 737 Max airplanes.

The 45-year-old had worked for Spirit as a mechanical engineer in 2019. After being laid off as part of pandemic-related job cuts, he eventually returned to Spirit as a quality auditor. More than a year after taking on this role, he identified a serious manufacturing defect that involved mechanics improperly drilling holes into the aft pressure bulkhead of the aircraft. Although he reported the problem to management, they ignored it.

His focus on that particular defect caused him to miss a different flaw in the fittings used to attach the planes tail fin to the fuselage. After this problem was discovered, Dean was fired. A few months later, Spirit announced that they had discovered the improperly drilled holes  the same ones that Dean had brought to their attention  in Max models dating back to at least 2019. At that point, Dean decided to file a safety complaint with the FAA alleging that Spirit lied to the agency about the defects and used him as a scapegoat.

He also filed an aviation whistleblower complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor claiming that he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for presenting his concerns about the safety of the aircraft. That case is still pending. However, one of his former colleagues has confirmed some of the allegations Dean made.

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.

In January, Dean told the Wall Street Journal: "It is known at Spirit that if you make too much noise and cause too much trouble, you will be moved. It doesn't mean you completely disregard stuff, but they don't want you to find everything and write it up."

According to Dean's aunt, he became sick just over two weeks ago and went to the hospital with breathing difficulties. There, he was intubated and ended up developing pneumonia and the bacterial infection MRSA. He was later airlifted from Wichita to Oklahoma City as his condition deteriorated, where he was put on machines that took over his lung and heart functions because his organs no longer functioned on their own.

A CT scan showed that he suffered a stroke, and he was heavily sedated and placed on dialysis. Doctors were considering amputating his feet and hands, but he passed away rather quickly in a death that his aunt said was brutal and heartbreaking.

Another Boeing whistleblower was found dead in March

Dean was represented by the same law firm that had been representing another Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett.

Barnett was in the process of providing depositions describing how Boeing retaliated against him for complaining about quality issues with their aircraft when he was found dead in Charleston, where Boeing manufactures 787s, from a gunshot wound in what was said to be an apparent suicide.

However, the police investigation into Barnetts death is still ongoing.

When asked to comment about the circumstances of the deaths of the two whistleblowers, one of Deans lawyers, Brian Knowles said: Whistleblowers are needed. They bring to light wrongdoing and corruption in the interests of society. It takes a lot of courage to stand up. Its a difficult set of circumstances. Our thoughts now are with Johns family and Joshs family.

Sources for this article include:

SeattleTimes.com

WSJ.com
Turkey halts ALL trade with Israel over Gaza genocide

A $6.8 billion trade agreement between Turkey and Israel has been halted after Turkey decided to cut ties with the Jewish state over its war in Gaza.

On Thursday, May 2, two Turkish officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that tensions between the once-close allies have reached a boiling point over the Netanyahu regime's actions in the Palestinian enclave where more than 34,000 people are now dead from IDF airstrikes.

Last month, Turkey restricted some exports to Israel, but now there will be no more exports period to Israel, this after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been speaking out more boldly against Netanyahu.

While an official suspension of trade between Turkey and Israel has not yet been formally announced, we know that one is coming very soon.

"This is the behavior of a dictator who tramples the interests of the Turkish people and business community while ignoring international trade agreements," complained Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz in an X post.

(Related: Under Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas is fast becoming a Zionist police state where free speech is no longer tolerated.)

Middle East tensions are rising

With $6.8 billion worth of trade in 2023, 76 percent of which was Turkish exports, the trade halt will deliver a major blow to both nation's economies.

Israel is said to be working feverishly to establish immediate trade alternatives, including by increasing local manufacturing and locating other suppliers.

In 2023, Turkey's biggest export to Israel was iron and steel. Its biggest import was refined oil products, according to the Turkish statistical institute.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The decision to halt trade came right after Turkey decided to join South Africa in its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations' (UN) highest court. Like South Africa, Turkey believes that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Last August before the October 7 incident, Israel and Turkey had restored diplomatic ties that were cut for more than a decade prior. The two nations were exploring ways to expand cooperation until the Hamas attack and Israel's response to it.

All across the Arab world, as well as right here in the United States, members of the public are taking sides and making their voices heard on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Tensions have spilled over onto college and university campuses as Congress presses on in trying to outlaw "antisemitic" speech.

Erdogan has repeatedly stated that he believes Hamas militants are "freedom fighters," not terrorists as the United States and the European Union say they are. On April 20, he hosted a Hamas political leader in Istanbul who called for immediate aid to Gaza.

"Export and import transactions related to Israel have been stopped, covering all products," Turkey's trade ministry publicly announced this week.

"Turkey will strictly and decisively implement these new measures until the Israeli government allows an uninterrupted and sufficient flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Katz, meanwhile, is saying that the move by Erdogan is "breaking agreements by blocking ports for Israeli imports and exports."

"Erdogan talks out of both sides of his backside," someone wrote on X about how the ending of trade between Turkey and Israel could just be a smokescreen.

"He could've done so much already and hasn't. It would've been easy for him to uphold the Geneva Convention and break the siege by flagging the Freedom Flotilla which Israel and the U.S. prevented from leaving Turkey."

Another wrote that he believes all countries who oppose genocide "must follow suit and sanction Israel."

"That's the only way to bring the apartheid to an end," this person added.

The latest news about war in the Middle East can be found at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

Bloomberg.com

NaturalNews.com

TheGuardian.com
Ukraine petitions Council of Europe to cancel elections, suspend human rights protections in order to stop Russia

It appears that martial law is the next phase of Volodymyr Zelensky's plans for Ukraine.

Ukraine just submitted a request to the Council of Europe asking for a partial deviation from having to comply with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights & Freedoms.

The text of Ukraine's request specifically delineates that during a state of emergency, it wants human rights to be "temporarily" limited, allowing Zelensky to basically become a dictator.

Among the rights that Zelensky wants to "temporarily" suspend are:

- Free elections

- The right to residential privacy

- Secret correspondences

- The right to non-interference in personal and family life

- Freedom of movement and choice of resistance

- Freedom of thought and speech

Zelensky also wants to be able to impose the following measures without public input or approval:

- Forced expropriation of private or communal property

- Mandatory curfews

- Forced entrance into and exit from the country through special modes

- Restricted movement of citizens and foreigners

- Government intrusion into people's personal belongings, transportation, and housing

- Forced military service for individuals and legal entities

(Related: Did you know that nearly all, around 98 percent, of the world's private central banks, including the Federal Reserve, are busily scheming up a planned, coordinated global transition to a cashless society with no more paper or coins?)

Zelensky must be stopped

For all their talk about supporting "democracy," the Zelenskys of the world sure love to switch into authoritarian mode at the slightest possibility of their deposition. Zelensky is clearly scared about what the future holds for him and is trying to get ahead of it by pushing for drastic changes in the event of an "emergency."

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.

"What a racket," is how Dr. Lynn Fynn-derella (@Fynnderella1) put it on X.

I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with this ? pic.twitter.com/9OLC9GkQWP  Elizabetch Taylor (@ElizabtchTaylor) April 29, 2024

Another person noted how a recent expose found that Ukraine has the worst and most human rights violations and cases of abuse out of every country in the entire world. In other words, Ukraine under Zelensky is about as bad as it gets.

"Ukraine is about five minutes away from being completely defeated so it doesn't matter," wrote another.

Others noted the striking similarity between what Zelensky is demanding and what took place during World War II in Germany and its surrounding neighbors.

"The Fourth Reich is looking to expand, it seems," one wrote.

One wonders what kind of "emergency" Zelensky and his tribe have planned to catalyze such a dramatic shift into full-scale fascism. Will there be another 9/11-style false flag attack somewhere, or did one already happen last October 7?

"There are more abuses coming soon," another X user wrote ominously.

"Translation: during times of war in order to protect democracy, we can take away all your freedoms and privacy. And to protect capitalism, we can seize properties and assets. If we didn't adopt these measures, we could become a communist country overnight," someone else wrote about what he feels Zelensky is really asking to do.

In essence, Zelensky is openly asking for legalized fascism. Do the Americans and others who say they support Ukraine also support these latest ominous developments, we wonder?

"So communism is now the order of the day in Ukraine," said another on X. "This is what the vipers in the EU spearheaded by the rotting, corrupt Von der Leyen and company, along with the demon-crazies in the United States, wanted all along."

"This is a part of the big communist animal taking over our planet and ethnically cleansing all the Europeans."

The latest news about the war in Ukraine can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

COE.int

NaturalNews.com
Zionist mob screaming SECOND NAKBA attacks Gaza solidarity protesters  who are the aggressors, again?

People who support Israel's genocide in Gaza are now threatening protesters by calling for a "second Nakba," meaning another ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

For months, we were told that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza, and that this is all just about rooting out Hamas. Now, the true Zionist colors are shining as those who "support Israel" reveal that what they really wanted all along is for every last Palestinian person to be expelled from the land that Israel is claiming as its own.

At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Zionist thugs were seen violently attacking Gaza solidarity protesters while screaming the words "SECOND NAKBA!" at their targets.

200+ pro-Israel counterprotestors are attacking the @UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment. They started beating on one student and stomped another under a plywood board per @latimes @safinazzal on the scene. Where is UCLA security? pic.twitter.com/zjYNFWSK7r  Teresa Watanabe (@TeresaWatanabe) May 1, 2024

Pro-Israel counterprotestors started tearing down @UCLA encampment barriers and screamed "Second nakba!" referring to the mass displacement & dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Per @latimes @safinazzal on the scene with another video: pic.twitter.com/zSplnd1bYO  Teresa Watanabe (@TeresaWatanabe) May 1, 2024

(Related: Israel is doing the opposite of what Jesus would do in Gaza  and if you "support Israel," you are antichrist as well.)

Gaza protesters are peaceful; Zionist thugs are violent

One really ironic thing about what the above videos depict is the antagonism and violence being displayed by the pro-Israel crowd, which is projecting its own abhorrent behavior on the pro-Gaza crowd.

Check out this video showing fireworks being launched as weapons:

?#BREAKING: Violent clashes are breaking out between pro-Israel and Pro-Palestine protesters at UCLA, with fireworks long with multiple items being thrown with injuries ?#LosAngeles l #California Currently, violent clashes and multiple fights are breaking out between pic.twitter.com/pYnRrUFg9R  R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 1, 2024

Then watch this video, which shows pro-Israel antagonizers firebombing a peaceful UCLA encampment:

BREAKING: Pro-Israel Protesters Shoot More Fireworks Into Peaceful UCLA Encampment. One student reportedly injured & carried away. The cops allow this. So far the Israeli supporters have been assaulting women, screaming the N Word, using pepper spray & fireworks. No punishment. pic.twitter.com/DRd0quedZm  Robert Inlakesh (@falasteen47) May 1, 2024

At one point, a pro-Israel antagonizer smashed a pro-Palestine protester in the head with a metal baton. There is video footage of this particular incident that someone posted on X, but Elon Musk and his people censored it (try this link, though).

There are many, many other such videos that you can explore here if you are interested. Be warned that they are very upsetting, especially as law enforcement just stands idly by and allows pro-Israel mobs to assault Gaza solidarity protesters, all while claiming to be the "victims" in all this.

Also, Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, issued his own statement about all this that you can read below on X:

To any conservatives cheering the police assault on students in NY and the Zionist thugs assaulting peaceful pro-Palestine students at #UCLA, don't worry, you'll be targeted next by the same police state thugs. Because if you don't support freedom of speech for others, you don't  HealthRanger (@HealthRanger) May 1, 2024

"The violent assault on pro-Palestine students at #UCLA by violent, Zionist vigilantes screaming, "Second Nakba!" is an abhorrent act that reflects precisely the same attitude of Jewish privilege and genocidal intent that Israel inflicts upon #Gaza and the Palestinian people," Adams further commented.

"What young Jewish students are learning is that the tyranny and violence of the state will always support their own acts of #violence against others."

The latest news about Israel's plans for the Gaza Strip can be found at Genocide.news.

Sources for this article include:

InformationLiberation.com

NaturalNews.com
A weather report says challenging weather conditions are expected in the central U.S. this weekend. Potential isolated tornadoes and heavy downpours will likely cause power outages and hazardous road conditions.

According to an NWS Storm Prediction Center report, active severe weather will likely impact from Monday to Wednesday. The poor weather outlook can threaten portions of the southern and central Plains, including Arklatex, the lower Missouri Valley, and the Midwest.

Additionally, the weather advisory warns of a multi-day severe weather outlook with potential tornadoes and very large hail. People with outdoor plans should monitor the forecasts, especially tornado advisories.

Severe Weather in the Central U.S. This Weekend

The latest weather forecast shows that severe thunderstorms can unload on the weekend. The stormy conditions can lead to travel delays, flash floods, and downpours.

This weekend, in a weather report, heavy thunderstorms are likely in the following areas:

Wichita

Springfield

Oklahoma City

Amarillo

Lubbock

San Angelo

College Station

Dallas

Shreveport

Little Rock

Springfield

Additionally, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns of scattered severe thunderstorms in the southern High Plains into the Hill Country of Central Texas.

Meanwhile, east and southeast Texas can expect significant river flooding concerns, with possible moderate to major flooding risks. Communities in flood-prone or with poor drainage systems are vulnerable to flooding.

Weather Outlook in Plains

In the Plains, the latest forecast reveals that high wind conditions can impact portions of the interior West and High Plains. The strong winds can likely result in the blowing of dust, fire risks, and hazardous travel.

Additionally, homeowners should keep alert for potential power outages due to the weather outlook. Next week, a windy outlook, reaching from 60 to 80 mph, can occur in the following areas:

Reno

Elko

Salt Lake City

Las Vegas

Flagstaff

Denver

Cheyenne

Casper

Billings

Rapid City

Fargo

Grand Island

Wichita

Albuquerque

Fire risks, exacerbated by low relative humidity and dry areas, can unfold in Pueblo, Amarillo, El Paso, and Albuquerque. NWS Albuquerque warns of a dangerous fire weather outlook in the region due to strong southwest winds. Homeowners should limit outdoor burning or grilling, which can lead to fire spread.

In Little Rock, the advisory reveals that scattered to strong thunderstorms can occur in the area, with hail risk.

Also Read: Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic Forecast: Wetter Weather Pattern to Cause Slower Commutes This Week

Severe Thunderstorm Preparedness to Avoid Potential Dangers

The forecast warns of severe thunderstorms in the central U.S. this weekend. Travel conditions can be challenging in affected parts, so people should limit outdoor plans.

Additionally, people should store emergency or supply kits, which are helpful in emergency situations. The recommended kits are the following:

Battery-powered radio

Canned goods

Bottled water supplies

Flashlights

Small radio

Extra clothes

Medicine kits

Related Article: Central US Weather Forecast: Severe Storms Likely to Bring Isolated Tornadoes This Weekend

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Wildfires are known historically to occur in Africa, but massive and deadly ones rarely transpire in the moist tropical forests of the regions of West Africa and Central Africa. In addition, forest fires in these parts of the continent form in relatively small sizes. It is for this reason that little research was conducted on African tropical forest fires, although scientists have been aware of the fires for decades.

A new study led by the University of Oklahoma indicates there could be a paradigm shift in our understanding of African wildfires. Based on the new research paper, large-scale analysis (the first of its kind) of fire patterns across western-central Africa determined that wildfire activity has increased across the region. The phenomenon has been linked to climate change and deforestation.

African Tropical Forest Fires

Findings about the increasing African tropical forest fires were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on Thursday, May 2. According to a media release on Thursday, the study's lead author Michael Wimberly, an ecologist at the University of Oklahoma, scientists have not considered fires to be a significant part of wet tropical forests, from a historical perspective.

However, recent decades have shown there is increasing work on this subject in the Amazon rainforest, Wimberly adds. While the focus of the May 2024 study is on African wildfires in the west and central regions, the lead author asserts that people should start thinking that wet forests in general are also vulnerable to fires, as cited by the news release.

In Africa, the continent's western and central wet tropical forests have witnessed a doubling of wildfires in almost two decades, according to the paper's large-scale analysis. The university's research team said that the number of active fires doubled for more than 18 years, especially in the Congo Basin. They found the phenomenon coincides with forest degradation and the climate crisis.

Also Read: Algeria Wildfires Kill At Least 34 People, Forces Mass Evacuation Amid Extreme Heat

Wildfire Activity Increases

From 2003 to 2021, the research paper found the increasing wildfire activity trends were mostly positive, particularly in the northeast and south Congo Basin, where wildfires are concentrated in areas with high deforestation. The team arrived at their findings by evaluating historical patterns of the African fires using a moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer.

Previous research on climate change shows its significant impact on weather- and climate-related natural disasters, including wildland fires, droughts, heat waves, and storms. Particularly, climate models show that the current climate crisis is projected to further increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, even if there are times when these blazes are caused by human activities.

Prior to the recent research, scientists have known that wildfires are more common in dry forests and landscapes with high temperatures, compared to their wetland counterparts. Yet, the impact of climate change is expanding wildfire hazard zones in different parts of the world, including in the United States.

According to the US Government's drought data, human-induced climate change has contributed to at least 172% increase in burned areas caused by wildfires in California from 1971 to 2021.

Related Article: African Wildfires: 'Everlasting' Blaze in the Continent Caused by Aerosol Feedback Loop [Study]
According to a weather report, rain is likely in the Northeast this week. Homeowners can encounter slower commutes and flooding risks, particularly in flood-prone areas.

A National Weather Service (NWS) report shows that potential showers and severe thunderstorms can occur in the Midwest to upper Mississippi Valley. The forecast monitors the development of a system and lower pressure wave, which could potentially have a stormy outlook.

Additionally, potential rain showers can occur in the northeastern part of New England next week. In the mid-South, a chance of thunderstorms is likely.

Weather Outlook in the Northeast This Next Week

In a recent weather forecast, Northeast residents can expect a cooler outlook with possible flooding rainfall. The first week of May is likely rainy in some parts, causing slower commutes due to slippery roads.

This weekend, rain and thunderstorms can occur in Washington, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Charleston, New York, Boston, Portland, Burlington, and Detroit. People in low-lying areas are vulnerable to flooding risks.

In a report by NWS Pittsburgh on May 5, light rain outlook with occasional thunderstorms can impact the region. Homeowners should be alerted to possible lightning strikes.

Next week, the threat of rounds of rain can continue, spreading in the following areas:

Washington

Charlotte

Jacksonville

Memphis

Dallas

Kansas City

Minneapolis

Billings

Portland

Seattle

For Kansas City residents, the advisory monitors an active weather pattern that could unleash strong to severe storms at the beginning of the week. From Monday to Wednesday, the hazards are damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.

In New York, cooler weather outlook and showers can unfold this week. Residents can expect cloudy conditions this week, with potential rain in the western parts of NYC.

Additionally, widespread rain conditions can unfold in Boston next week. Fluctuating temperatures are likely, with a warmer outlook likely on Monday and Tuesday.

In Chicago, the stormy outlook can unload in northern IL, with wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph. Heavy downpours and some hail are likely.

For Houston residents, rounds of showers can trigger flooding risks. People are advised to check for concerns about the Flood Watch. Isolated thunderstorms can also threaten this week.

Also Read: Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic Forecast: Wetter Weather Pattern to Cause Slower Commutes This Week

Weather in Other Parts of the US Next Week

According to an NWS report, upper-level lows are affecting the West Coast, causing stormy and active weather in the region. Travelers should watch out for moderate to heavy rain potential.

The high-elevation wet snow can unload in central to northern California. Additionally, residents in the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and Rockies can anticipate rain potential.

On the other hand, the warmer outlook can occur in the mid-Atlantic, northern Plains, and central Plains.

Regarding the severe weather outlook, Central Texas and Oklahoma can expect this week.

Related Article: Central US Weather Forecast: Severe Storms Likely to Bring Isolated Tornadoes This Weekend

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Nepal was enchanting.

To Mary Slusser, it was never-never land: an unexplored world where beauty married the mundane. Slusser, a recently arrived wife of an attache with the U.S State Department, wandered Kathmandus streets in awe, dipping in and out of ancient Buddhist monasteries and marveling at her luck in life to be posted in an open-air museum.

Her love affair with Nepal morphed into a career of scholarship. Slusser became the pre-eminent translator of Nepal to the West, earning the equivalent of a knighthood from the Nepalese monarchy for outstanding contributions to the Himalayan mountain country.

At the same time, Slusser began collecting artifacts, buying what she could from dealers who sought her out  a white foreigner with a disposable income. Sacred Buddhist artworks, some hundreds of years old, seemed to find their way to her.

Kids brought us a tiny bronze Siva-Parvati figure which Im sure they had just stolen, Slusser wrote in her typewritten diaries in 1967. It is really a very sweet piece and I dont think the temple will miss it at all.

Half a century later, her trove of Nepalese art primarily resides in museums in the United States, including at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, which was given first dibs at her estate when she died in 2017. The collection includes masterpieces that were likely removed from the country illegally. Art repatriation activists and Buddhist monks from the Kathmandu valley are calling for their return.

Last December, the museum returned 44 stolen antiquities to different corners of the world. The collection included ancient Roman marbles and ancient Greek vases. The pieces were sold to the museum by shady dealers across Europe.

The museums collection from Slusser  some 241 statues, manuscripts and holy figurines  has not yet been claimed by law enforcement agencies as the returned antiquities were. So far, museum curators denied an independent request for one artifacts return, saying they are waiting for an official, evidence-backed request from Nepalese authorities. Two are currently on display.

Our director is saying this all the time. If it doesnt belong to us, we dont want it here, said Jan Hatchette, a spokesperson for the VMFA. But we have to have a claim.

Nepalese seek artifacts return

At least two groups in Nepal are requesting the return of Slussers collection.

The first is a group of monks from a 1,500-year-old monastery south of Kathmandu. The monastery boasted a 16th century painting known as the Pictorial Pilgrims Guide. A month after Slussers first visit to see it, the painting was being shopped around by a local Nepalese dealer on the back of a bicycle, according to Slussers diary.

Slusser said she wanted to save it.

Already in lamentable condition, the bundled-up painting daily became more degraded as it was trundled around town on the back of a bicycle in search of a prospective customer, Slusser wrote in her diary. This important painting otherwise seems to have been slated for an ignominious end in someones dustbin.

The VMFAs curator of South Asian art, John Henry Rice, describes the painting as a masterpiece that is both art and historical document. Its been on display and loaned out to museums across the United States.

In 2021, a group of monks from the monastery requested that the VMFA return the painting, which is known in Nepalese as a pauba.

Two of our most senior monastic community members recognized the Pauba on your website. They confirmed that it did belongs (sic) to our monastery, wrote Asha Ratna Shakya, the chairman of the monasterys preservation committee. Knowing where the Pauba is, we would like to humbly request you to return it to us.

The museum pursued an alternative option: paying for a $45,000 replica, which the monastery said it would accept.

But talks for that option broke down when lawyers for the VMFA requested that the monastery relinquish its claim to the original as part of the deal.

Both sides went legal at this point, as Rice later described in an email to a graduate student, Andrea Wollein, who facilitated the request. The conversation was abruptly shut down when the monastery was asked to relinquish its ownership claim to the original, which the monks would not accept.

A group of art repatriation activists are also hoping to open talks with the VMFA over Slussers works. The group, the Nepali Heritage Recovery Campaign, has successfully returned more than 40 Nepalese pieces from museums abroad.

The group locates Nepalese pieces abroad, then submits claims through the Nepalese governments Department of Archaeology, who then transmit the claims to museums.

Roshan Mishra, a volunteer with the campaign, said he appreciated that museums kept pieces of Nepals cultural heritage safe. But times have changed, with Nepal emerging from decades of strife-ridden monarchic rule in 2008. Since then, the people of Nepal, with the help of social media, have become more aware of their lost art.

If were talking about being ethical, now is the right time to start this conversation, said Mishra, whose day job is directing the Taragaon Museum in Kathmandu.

The group has yet to formally request the return of Slussers pieces from the VMFA. The campaigns efforts began in 2021, inspired by a Facebook page called Lost Arts of Nepal. The page, run by an anonymous internet sleuth, routinely identifies suspect Nepalese artworks at museums and collections around the world.

Sanjay Adhikari, a lawyer who volunteers his time with the campaign, says the theft of artifacts from Nepal has left a psychological tear in the communities from which theyve gone missing. Unlike repatriated European art, Nepalese artifacts are considered living gods.

In February, worshippers in Nepal celebrated the return of masks and idols from the Brooklyn Museum in New York. The return of artifacts are regularly cause for celebration at the monasteries from which they were removed.

They are not a dead thing, said Adhikari. Its a part of our living culture. Every time a piece is stolen, our community goes into a gap. Thats why we keep on telling museums, its not something that should be in a sterile, room-temperature environment. People need to worship them everyday.

In a 2023 email released via a Freedom of Information Act request, VMFA curator Rice wrote to a colleague at Harvard that the Nepalese arent demanding the return of most of these things. Its the NY Assistant DA, being fed leds by these same researchers, who is hunting things down and foisting them upon the Nepalese authorities.

Rice later said he thought the emails were private.

I dont know what hes talking about. But I am a citizen of Nepal and I want it back. The government wants it back. The future generations of Nepalese have a right to their cultural property, Adhikari said.

Claims test Nepalese law

The campaign says that Slussers exports from Nepal were illegal. In 1970, museums around the world signed onto ground rules prohibiting the export of illicit art. Pieces before 1970 must have strict provenance  histories that traces an artifact from the display case to its point of origin.

Nepal, wary of foreign influence, had even stricter rules on exporting art. The country was closed to the outside world until 1951. In 1956, the Nepalese monarchy issued a decree prohibiting cultural exports without permission.

Slussers diary entries show she was aware of those regulations. She exported an initial batch of artifacts to the Smithsonian by way of the Army Post Office, which she had access to through the U.S. Embassy, and typed out her concern with Nepalese customs agents.

A 1968 profile on Slusser in the Washington Post states she was only collecting materials they use in their daily lives, rather than valuable art objects, whose removal is frowned on by the government.

The strength of that law is currently being tested by the Rubin Museum in New York City, which is fighting to hold onto a Nepalese statue acquired by Slussers sister.

The Rubin Museum has contested the claim and argued that the 1956 law didnt take effect until 1969, when it was publicly announced in a Nepalese newspaper.

The case is being brought in conjunction with the Manhattan District Attorneys office  the same prosecutors responsible for seizing the VMFAs classical antiquities in 2023.

I figure its only a matter of time before they work their way down to Virginia, Rice wrote in another email.

In an interview, Rice and Michael Taylor, chief curator at VMFA, said they are not opposed to returning Slussers collection, but they wont do so without a formal claim backed by evidence of theft and supporting research. Taylor says the museums track record has been ethical, most recently with the antiquities surrendered in 2023.

Emails show that it was Taylor who volunteered one of the most valuable pieces: an Etruscan marble of a young boy, despite investigators from Manhattan not asking to review the piece originally. The statue, worth north of $250,000, was ultimately removed from active display to be repatriated.

Taylor described Slussers diary entries as chilling.

Slussers collection has received no such requests from the Manhattan DA, said Taylor, who explained that the VMFA cant begin bending its standards to informal claims from communities around the world.

It cant just be a letter from a graduate student, said Taylor. "That was not a claim."

Taylor said if a formal claim were made by the Nepalese government  such as for the monasterys Pilgrims Guide  he wouldnt fight its removal. Thats my promise, said Taylor. I wont stonewall it.

The VMFAs position frustrates art expert Erin Thompson, a lawyer and professor of art crime at the City University of New York. Thompson is an adviser to the Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign and published a 2023 article that raised ethical questions about Slussers collecting practices in Nepal.

Museums often reply with a similar argument, that they are waiting for an official request as if there are magic words that have to be spoken in order to prompt their action, said Thompson.

And in this case, it seems particularly ridiculous to say you are waiting for an official request when the community who lost the piece has made its desire to have it back known.

PHOTOS: Nepalese art
Ali Wong suffers makeup mishap, jokes that she looks like an 'X-Men villain'

G

olden Globe-winning actress Ali Wongs recent makeup session didnt go as planned. The actress poked a little fun at her latest makeup look in a new Instagram video.

The actress shared a selfie clip, filmed backstage before the opening night of her Los Angeles residency at The Wiltern. Wong said that her glam wasnt quite what she expected, reports People magazine.

I do my own makeup to save time and money, she explained in the clip. I forgot my eyebrow pencil, so I had to make do with this kinda reddish-brown eyeliner that I applied to my eyebrows.

While talking to the camera, Wong leaned her face closer to show off her brows, which are a different colour from her dark hair.

As per People, the comedian found humour in the situation, adding: I think it looks kinda crazy. I look like an X-Men villain.

Her comment section was filled with playful, yet supportive messages. GURL!! Im on my wayachild!!, Daniel Martin, the global director of artistry for Tatcha, wrote. Another added: This is art, people will celebrate it.

While Wong may have forgotten her eyebrow pencil, the Always Be My Maybe actress slayed awards season this year. It all started in January when she wore $238,000 worth of diamonds at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards and a jade-green Givenchy gown.

Wong's stylist, Tara Swennen, helped turn her style up several notches with jewelry from Jareds collaboration with Shy Dayan. She also added a necklace made of pear-shaped emeralds and diamonds from the Jared Atelier x Shy collection, worth more than $18,000. A platinum marquise-cut diamond ring and princess-cut diamond drop earrings completed her look.

 Ali Wong suffers makeup mishap, jokes that she looks like an 'X-Men villain'

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Heatwave plays spoilsport in Telugu states as campaign enters final leg

W

ith just a week left for campaigning to end, the searing heat wave gripping both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is impacting the canvassing by the political parties.

Leaders of the main parties and the candidates are having a tough time running the campaign with maximum temperature at few places in Andhra Pradesh crossing 47 degree Celsius.

The heat wave has already claimed a few lives in both the Telugu states. The forecast by the Meteorological office shows that there will be no relief from the intense heatwave conditions in the next one week.

Health authorities in both states have already issued an advisory to people to avoid exposure to sun, especially between 12 noon and 3 p.m. However, the impact of the heat is seen from as early as 10 a.m. with the blazing sun forcing many to remain indoors and these conditions are continuing till 5 p.m.

The maximum temperature is breaking a new record every day in Andhra Pradesh. It reached 47.7 degrees Celsius in a couple of places in Nandyal district on Friday. A few places in Prakasam and YSR Kadapa districts also recorded a maximum temperature of more than 47 degrees.

The scorching heat has left the contestants hardly few hours to conduct their campaign. They are seen touring their constituencies in the morning to reach out to voters. They undertake padayatras during the morning hours or in the evening.

The parties are also facing a huge challenge in mobilising people for the public meetings of their top leaders. This is also forcing parties to cut down on the number of meetings, rallies and roadshows.

Simultaneous elections to the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats are scheduled on May 13. The same day polling will be held in all 19 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana.

It's a race against time for national leaders and star campaigners of Congress and BJP. They are seen rushing from one public meeting to the other.

The parties are arranging large tents at the public meetings to protect the audience from the scorching sun.

In Telangana, the maximum temperature at a few places has crossed 46 degrees Celsius. The scorching heat has forced the parties to alter their campaign plans.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is addressing 3-4 public meetings in a day. He is flying by helicopter to crisscross the constituencies.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao confines his campaign to evening hours. Currently, on bus yatra, the former chief minister addresses one or two public meetings daily.

Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, the BJP candidate from Chevella constituency who has been campaigning in the constituency for nearly two months, told IANS that in view of the heatwave conditions, he is starting early for campaigning. Covering villages in the constituency spread over rural segments in Ranga Reddy district abutting Hyderabad is a daunting task for the contestants.

Vishweshar Reddy suffered dehydration during the campaigning in Tandur segment a few days ago. "I had taken plenty of water but still had this problem. Drinking a lot of water also results in dehydration as it flushes out salt from the body," said the BJP leader. He now carries water mixed with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) as a precautionary measure.

Some leaders are carrying out their campaigns with hardly any break. In Hyderabad, AIMIM president and sitting MP Asaduddin Owaisi begins his "paidal daura" at 8 a.m. and this continues till 2 p.m. After a one-hour break, he resumes his visit at 3 p.m. covering lanes and by-lanes in the old city.

His brother and AIMIM leader in Telangana Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi also walks through various areas in the constituency during the day. The Owaisi brothers then address two public meetings each between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

BJP candidate from Hyderabad K. Madhavi Latha is undertaking padyatras in the morning and evening to avoid the heat during day time.

The blazing sun has dampened the enthusiasm among party cadres as they are finding it difficult to mobilise people for public meetings. However, the paucity of time has left key campaigners with no option but to carry on the campaign.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is leading the YSR Congress Party campaign, is covering 2-3 districts every day as part of his bus yatra. His campaign includes both road shows and 2-3 public meetings.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is flying by helicopter to address public meetings and hold road shows in 2-3 districts every day.

However, it is only the public meetings or road shows in the evening and the night that are drawing crowds.

As the campaigning can't exceed beyond 10 p.m., the leaders are taking care not to violate the model code of conduct.

 Heatwave plays spoilsport in Telugu states as campaign enters final leg

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Dia Mirza warns against trimming trees for the monsoon: 'Unscientific, horrific'

D

ia Mirza, who actively participates for social and environmental issues, on Saturday, opened up on the destruction of biodiversity in the urban spaces and trimming of trees for monsoon, urging the officials to ensure implementation of better practices.

Taking to Instagram, Dia, who was last seen in 'Made in Heaven', shared a beautiful picture of herself sitting under a tree. She is seen wearing a blue suit paired with a white shawl. She also shared a series of pictures, featuring exotic birds and wildlife species.

The long post started with a shayari of Kaifi Azmi:

"Each year, the months of April and May are particularly heartbreaking when one witnesses the destruction of biodiversity in our urban spaces. Trees are being 'trimmed' in preparation for the monsoon...The 'trimming' is unscientific, and horrific, because the entire canopy/shade is axed away by unfeeling, unthinking individuals. The country is reeling in an acute heatwave. The trees that offer us some respite with their shade in our cities are being cruelly cut," read the note.

Dia added: "Year on year, we reach out to authorities begging, pleading for a more refined process. But to no avail. In the comments list out the benefits of tree cover in urban centres and tag @my_bmc so we can urge them to ensure that better practices are implemented. The images are not a representation of the reality we are dealing with. But are a representation of what one feels and what one can experience when we allow nature to do her magic."

A fan commented: "Little mindfulness is what we expect from every individual and concerned authority". Another user wrote: "It is together that we will be able to save our biodiversity."

On the activism front, the actress has adopted two cheetah cubs in Lucknow. In 2017, she was appointed the brand ambassador for the Wildlife Trust of India and supported campaigns to raise awareness about the shrinking space for wild elephants in the country.

Meanwhile, on the movie front, Dia is featured in 'Dhak Dhak', 'Bheed', and 'Thappad'.

 Dia Mirza warns against trimming trees for the monsoon: 'Unscientific, horrific'

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Viksit Bharat Ambassador: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains how women emancipation is shaping India

S

ri Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual leader and the Founder of the Art of Living Foundation attended the Viksit Bharat Ambassador event at Kashi Vishwanath Dham's Trimbakeshwar Hall on Saturday and gave an insight into how India was leading the way, not just on growth parameters but also on issues like women emancipation and women empowerment.

Addressing the Nari Shakti Samvad, Sri Sri said that the government has envisioned achieving the Viksit Bharat goal by 2047 and added that women will play a pivotal role in it, because of their dexterity and multi-tasking skills.

"If women are assigned any big task, they have the potential to finish it, ten years early. Despite having multiple responsibilities, they not only complete their household chores but also, manage external work efficiently. Women can take care of different things at a time," he said.

Citing the example of Hindu Goddesses, he said: "This was possibly the reason why women were entrusted with key ministries in the ancient ages. Education Ministry was assigned to Goddess Saraswati, Finance to Goddess Lakshmi and Defence Ministry was given to Goddess Durga."

The spiritual leader further highlighted that today, India is leading the world in women's empowerment, as women here are breaking the glass ceiling and moving ahead.

"The US, which brags and boasts about women empowerment never elected any woman President to date. We have done it. It is for the first time that Women Reservation Bill has been cleared from the Parliament," he said.

Sri Sri further urged everyone to actively participate in Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and said, "Firstly, the country should remain clean, the house should remain clean, the streets should remain clean, we have to contribute to this. The more we use plastic, the more damage it does to the environment. Taking care of the environment is our first task."

"Secondly, women should not be left out in imparting scientific and spiritual training. Women play a very big role in preserving our culture. We must protect the heritage of our country. Kashi Nagari is the city of culture," he added.

He further lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the significant facelift of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and also for making the pilgrimage to the holy city easier and hassle-free.

Concluding his address, Sri Sri urged the citizens to fulfil their civic duties by exercising the right to vote.

"It is everyone's duty to cast their vote. As citizens, we all have to vote. You must not sit home thinking that Narendra Modi will return to power, Modi will definitely come, but we must not neglect our duty, it should not happen at all," he stated while affirming that collective contributions are essential for the nation's progress.

 Viksit Bharat Ambassador: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains how women emancipation is shaping India

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After 'Heeramandi', Jason Shah's next stop to be Alia Bhatt-starrer Vasan Bala movie 'Jigra'

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ctor Jason Shah, who has been getting a lot of positive response to his work in the recently released OTT debut of auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar', will share the screen with Bollywood star Alia Bhatt and actor Vedang Raina in the upcoming film 'Jigra'.

The film is based on the lovable bond of a brother and sister. For the film, Jason has to undergo physical transformation from his bulky avatar in'Heeramandi' to a leaner look.

A source close to the film said: "Yes, Jason has been roped in for the film and the actor has completed his part of the shoot and is in the dubbing stage. The role portrayed by Jason is bang opposite from his looks, and personality in 'Heeramandi'. He will be seen in a very different look from what audiences are used to seeing him."

"The character he is portraying requires him to transform his physique from a massive, bulky body to that of a lean college-going guy. This transformation is going to be a surprise package for everyone," the source added.

On Saturday, Alia was seen at a dubbing studio in the Bandra area of Mumbai, presumably dubbing for 'Jigra'.

'Jigra' is directed by Vasan Bala, whose streaming movie 'Monica, O My Darling' received great response from the audience and critics alike. Vasan, who also created the streaming documentary series 'Cinema Marte Dum Tak', has worked with Anurag Kashyap on films like'Gangs of Wasseypu' and 'Gulaal'.

 After 'Heeramandi', Jason Shah's next stop to be Alia Bhatt-starrer Vasan Bala movie 'Jigra'

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When Abu Saleh Mohammod Yousuf and Babul Meah arrived at a Zenner Street home to prepare the house for a real estate closing April 27, they were not expecting to find anyone inside.

But someone, who Buffalo Police Department officials have described as a squatter, shot and killed the two handymen, both fathers and members of the citys growing Bangladeshi community, before fleeing the house where they were staying illegally.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said the two men were murdered for no other reason than showing up to work.

As I stand here, we believe that this was because they were trying to enter the home that they, the workers, had a legal right to enter the home, to do work on the home, and were confronted by a squatter in the house, Gramaglia said.

The tragedy highlights a challenge city officials have been grappling with for decades  what to do with the thousands of abandoned properties left in the wake of steep population declines in the city that took place from the 1950s until recent years, when Buffalo began to see a stabilization, and even slight growth, in the number of residents.

'Where do I keep this grief?': As Bangladeshi community mourns two deaths, families struggle to survive More than 1,000 Muslim men attended a funeral service, known as Janazah, at the Buffalo Muslim Center on Tuesday for Abu Saleh Mohammod Yousuf, one of two Bangladeshi men killed on Saturday. He has no enemies, yet he left the world in such a devastating manner," said his wife, Nusrat Jahan Tapu.

The Zenner Street murders are an extreme case of the kind of crime and blight abandoned properties can attract.

Mayor Byron Brown stressed that the shootings were a highly unusual situation and that while people illegally occupying vacant buildings is an issue in the city, the squatters generally leave when a city worker, owner or property manager shows up.

This situation with this guy shooting these two men, that was an anomaly, Brown said. Stuff like that doesnt usually happen.

Still, vacant buildings do pose a threat to the community, as people will use them for many different types of illegal and dangerous activity, including selling and using drugs, dogfighting and starting indoor fires for warmth, Brown said.

If you are a person that has lived in the city for a long period of time and a property goes vacant next to you, and youre dealing with issues like that, it is a terrifying circumstance, Brown said.

Kearns has new target to shame for zombie foreclosures: Erie County Kearns, a former county and state lawmaker, says there's a serious and growing problem with more than 10,000 properties across the county that are facing hundreds or thousands of dollars each in late property taxes.

Vacant property strategies

The number of vacant properties is difficult to track. However, data from the 2020 U.S. census shows that there were 14,069 total vacant units in the city, with 8,365 categorized as other vacant, the subsection that includes long-term vacant buildings. Each apartment in a vacant building is counted as a unit.

That is down from the 20,908 vacant units, with 11,195 other vacant units reported in the 2010 census.

To combat the illegal use of vacant properties, the city deploys a variety of strategies, including sending police to chase off and potentially arrest people unauthorized to be on the property and sending Department of Public Works employees to board up entry points with plywood. But this often devolves into a neverending cycle where squatters or others bust back in, police return and the process starts over.

This can be maddening for city residents who live near an abandoned home, said Common Council Member David Rivera, a former Buffalo Police detective who chairs the Councils Police Oversight Committee.

Mickey Kearns: Why a wave of foreclosures could cause neighborhood blight More than 2,930 Erie County homeowners have received pre-foreclosure default notices from lenders in the past six months.

He has long talked about creating a registry similar to the citys rental registry system for vacant properties, where those owners are charged a fee while the buildings are unoccupied. The money raised from the program would be used to fund more city inspectors and Department of Public Works teams to inspect and board up vacant buildings.

He pointed to an infamous Arkansas Street house in his Niagara District, where two people illegally using the house for shelter were found dead in 2022, as a prime example of the problem houses that are a burden on city resources and a danger to public safety officials and residents.

Many of them are privately owned, investors, speculators, that have these buildings, and the city has to patrol these buildings, have to go in buildings they dont own, and these owners dont do it, Rivera said.

Rivera said the system for removing people illegally staying in houses moves too slowly. The city has to go before a judge to get an order to vacate. Once the order is secured, police have to go and execute the order.

And it is particularly frustrating in cases where the landlord is clearly creating the situation through neglect, he said.

Youre spending all these resources, and theyre not paying anything, Rivera said. At least a rental registry, theyre paying the people that owned the property. The ones that arent rented, theyre not paying anything. Theres no registry fee for it.

The most aggressive strategy deployed by the city is demolition.

During his first term as mayor, Brown started his Five in Five campaign, the aim of which was to take down 5,000 buildings in five years. Since he took office in 2006, the city has demolished more than 8,000 buildings.

As new ones go vacant, nobody buys them, nobody is able to use them and they degrade, Brown said. Then you get to the point where theyre wood framed, holes in the roof, you know, waters getting in, animals are getting in, and its very hard to bring back a property thats going through that kind of cycle.

The city has other plans in the works to go after property owners who allow their buildings to sit fallow and deteriorate.

Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the citys Office of Strategic Planning, said that next year, the city is planning to revive its tax foreclosure auction, which has been dormant since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The city has made some policy changes to help homeowners who live in their property to catch up on taxes and user fees, while targeting landlords and speculators who leave their properties decaying and empty for the auction.

Its going to be a tax foreclosure thats focused almost exclusively on landlords, Mehaffy said. So, strategically, that is going to allow us to approach it and focus for those who are not doing enough with their properties.

The long-term vacant buildings are also eating up public safety resources and creating dangerous situations for city workers. Many of the citys fires start in vacant buildings, Department of Public Works employees are tasked with boarding up properties that may have unstable flooring with broken glass strewn about, and city workers risk running into someone staying there illegally, who may be dangerous, as was the case for the Zenner Street victims.

Michael Alcazar, a criminal justice professor at John Jay College and former New York Police Department detective, said that showing up to a call at a vacant building adds an extra level of uncertainty to the situation.

You dont know if there are people in there, theyre the owners, Alcazar said. So, they have to make sure everybodys safe.

And that same uncertainty is even more of a burden on the people who live near a vacant house, who are unlikely to have the training and experience to handle those dangerous situations, he added.

And observers say that with homelessness, evictions and rents all on the rise, the amount of people using vacant buildings for shelter could also go up.

Felicia Montella, the director of client services at the Buffalo City Mission, said the organizations downtown building has seen more demand for shelter and services.

Our building is full, every single night, Montella said.

The number of people experiencing homelessness rose by 73% from 2021 to 2022, according to a 2022 report, the most recent available, from the Homeless Alliance of Western New York.

Steven Haagsma, the education manager at Housing Opportunities Made Equal, said that as evictions and housing discrimination cases rise, it increases the number of people in desperate situations.

Housing is an incredibly basic human need, Haagsma said. Its not like you can decide to go without somewhere to sleep.

And for someone put in a desperate position, a vacant house might be the best option for shelter available to them, he said.

If you dont have a home, youre going to try to find the least uncomfortable place that you can, Haagsma said.
Ishwak Singh: 'Berlin' is an ode to '90s Delhi, the time when I grew up in the city

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ctor Ishwak Singh, who is known for his work 'Rocket Boys', 'Paatal Lok', and 'Aligarh', has shared that his upcoming film 'Berlin' pays homage to the Delhi of the early 1990s.

'Berlin', directed by Atul Sabharwal, follows the story of a deaf-mute man who becomes embroiled in espionage accusations. As the authorities intensify their pursuit, a proficient sign language interpreter emerges, entrusted with untangling the truth on behalf of a government operative.

The film, which delves into the themes of deception, betrayal, and redemption, received huge acclaim at the Habitat International Film Festival in Delhi.

Talking about the film, Ishwak said, Berlin is a deeply rooted and authentic film. Aside from the plot and the character arcs, the film's strength lies in its strong cultural, political, and social references beautifully ingrained in the narrative. It's an ode to Delhi of the '90s, the time when I grew up in the city, making it a very special film for me."

He added, "I can only describe it as a piece of art, and Atul Sabharwal, the writer-director, is a master craftsman who has inspired me to go down the rabbit hole and find my character, Ashok".

"The overwhelmingly positive response at the 16th Habitat Film Festival was a huge plus, as the film was able to take the audience down memory lane and experience the good old city they lived in.

Produced by Zee Studios and Yippie Ki Yay Motion Pictures, 'Berlin' also stars Aparshakti Khurana, Rahul Bose, Kabir Bedi, and Anupriya Goenka in key roles.

 Ishwak Singh: 'Berlin' is an ode to '90s Delhi, the time when I grew up in the city

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Parineeti shares clip of her 'real debut'; 'Where's Raghav', asks Twitterati

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ollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, who is winning accolades for her work in the recently-released streaming movie Amar Singh Chamkila, has shared rare footage of her singing debut.

On Saturday, the actress took to her X handle and shared an old clip from her school days, in which she could be seen singing with a group of kids.

My real debut, she wrote.

However, the Twitterati in the comments section seemed more concerned about the whereabouts of her husband and Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha, who has gone 'underground' for some time now.

One user wrote, Where is Raghav these days?

When is he coming back? We are concerned, wrote another.

A third user wrote, How is @raghav_chadha ? When is he back?

Earlier, the actress was trolled for her stage singing debut. A clip of her singing Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo went viral with people on social media urging her not to sing.

She was again trolled after a clip of her singing a Punjabi song from Amar Singh Chamkila during the film's trailer launch went viral.

 Parineeti shares clip of her 'real debut'; 'Where's Raghav', asks Twitterati

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Viksit Bharat Ambassador event: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar heaps praise on PM Modi for Kashi facelift

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ri Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual guru and the Founder of Art of Living Foundation participated in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador event on Saturday and showered praise on the Sanatan Dharma as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Kashi facelift.

He said that Sanatan Dharma maintains a fine blend of ancient practices and modern values and its legacy lies in its respect and recognition for all sections of society. Addressing the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Samvad event in Varanasi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that India has taken rapid strides in development and today a leader of the country has emerged as World's 'Vishwamitra'.

"He has earned a new name and fame for the country, which in turn has given a new identity to fellow Indians living abroad. One feels proud to see such leader. Today, India's stature in the world is on a consistent rise. We have reached the Moon and Mars and now longing for bigger targets," he said.

"We have also retained the old values while breaching new horizons of growth. And, Kashi presents a shining example of this legacy. Recalling the erstwhile creaking infrastructure of Kashi Nagri, 10 years ago, the spiritual guru said that the city has undergone massive transformation in terms of economy, road infrastructure and facelift of Ganga ghats.

He further said that he participated in the inauguration ceremony of Kashi Vishwanath corridor and therefore he was a witness to the city's 'transition' on a personal level. The spiritual guru showered praise on PM Modi for the massive facelift of Kashi temple and lauded him for personally acknowledging and recognising the work of labourers.

"I was amazed with the gesture of PM Modi. Before addressing the devotees, he went to the shramiks, washed their feet and got a flower shower done on them. The saints and sages present there, were initially taken aback as it was they who were entitled to such treatment. But the Prime Minister re-wrote the rules and gave the workers their due. I was also awestruck over his conduct," said Sri Sri, narrating the incident before the Viksit Bharat audience.

Sri Sri further praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening country's civilisational values, spiritual beliefs and restoring its cultural legacy.

"Nobody other than PM Modi cared to give respect to the Sengol. It was he who stood for country's heritage and gave Sengol the respect it deserved," said Sri Sri.

He also said that the West was getting unnerved over India's swift progress in all spheres and therefore, campaigns to defame the government surfaced, from time to time.

 Viksit Bharat Ambassador event: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar heaps praise on PM Modi for Kashi facelift

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TN: School Education Dept warns against conducting spl classes during summer vacation amid heat wave

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amil Nadu School Education Department has warned schools against conducting special classes during summer vacation due to the prevailing heat wave conditions in the state, an official said on Saturday.

In a statement, the School Education department said: "The peak of summer Agni Nakshatram begins today and, according to weather reports, the scorching heat will continue upto May 28."

The department also said with the rise in mercury, people have been advised to exercise caution and the Department has prohibited schools from conducting special classes during summer holidays due to this.

The Tamil Nadu school education department also warned that if any school was found violating the order and conducting special classes during the summer vacation, action would be taken.

The Department has also issued a circular to all the district education officers to conduct an investigation to find out whether any schools were conducting special classes during the summer vacation.

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi told IANS: "The School Education Department has issued a circular against the conduct of special classes during the summer vacation and if any school is found violating this, stringent action will be taken."

 TN: School Education Dept warns against conducting spl classes during summer vacation amid heat wave

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A new study examined the drinking levels and patterns of young adults before, during and after the pandemic. The researchers found alcohol use and alcohol-related problems substantially decreased in heavy-drinking young adults during the pandemic, and these decreases were still evident as the pandemic began to wane. The results are available in the May 2 issue of the journal Nature Mental Health.

The pandemic gave us a unique opportunity to see how wide-spread mitigation measures like social distancing and bar/restaurant closures may have affected alcohol consumption. We focused on young adults who were engaging in heavy drinking before the onset of the pandemic, and we followed them over time to see if there were any pandemic-related changes to their alcohol consumption and alcohol problems." Kasey Creswell, lead author, associate professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University

Unlike most prior studies of drinking habits during the pandemic, this study prospectively examined the drinking patterns of 234 heavy-drinking young adults ages 21 to 29 years from before to well after the onset of the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, these individuals had to report binge drinking at least four times in the past month, defined as consuming 5 or more drinks per occasion (for males) and 4 or more drinks per occasion (for females). The team gathered data every six months from February 2018 to March 2022.

Results showed that these young adults significantly reduced how much and how often they were drinking from before to after the onset of the pandemic. Notably, they decreased their monthly alcohol consumption by nearly 13 drinks, and they also reported significantly fewer alcohol-related problems. Notably, these reductions in alcohol use and alcohol problems were still evident up to two years after the start of the pandemic.

According to Creswell, the results may in part be explained by the environment. Alcohol was still available to these young adults during the pandemic, but the context in which they were drinking likely changed pretty drastically for most of them. Due to pandemic restrictions, they weren't able to drink with friends at parties or in bars, contexts that are usually associated with heavy alcohol use in young adults. The study authors highlight the impact of social settings in problematic alcohol use.

"Alcohol is a social drug," said Aidan Wright, the Phil F. Jenkins Research Professor of Depression at the Eisenberg Family Depression Center and professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Wright is a contributing author on this study. "These results highlight the social nature of drinking and speak to the importance of the social context in driving drinking behavior."

The study also found significant decreases in negative emotions during the pandemic but did not find any change in the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism during the pandemic. The results for men and women followed similar patterns.

"Although there are overall trends that show declining patterns in drinking, it doesn't mean that people did not have high periods of drinking," said Wright. "The averages hide a lot of information, smearing over a lot of different trajectories that people took."

Of note, solitary drinking did increase during the pandemic, with participants reporting a 4% increase in this habit. Creswell's previous research has associated solitary drinking with an increased risk of developing alcohol problems. Creswell acknowledges the increase in solitary drinking in this study remained fairly muted, considering the constraints in accessing alcohol in social settings due to pandemic-related mitigation measures.

"Drinking to cope is the main reason young people engage in solitary drinking," said Creswell. "But in this study, we actually saw a decrease in drinking to cope motives along with decreases in negative affectivity, so we think this increase in solitary drinking is less of a signal of something problematic happening and more a result of pandemic-related restrictions on social drinking settings."

The study is limited to drinking-age adults (21 years or older) in a primarily white population. The results may not be broadly generalizable to other groups. Creswell notes that future studies are needed to evaluate the effect of the pandemic on alcohol consumption and related problems in different populations.

Alcohol-related problems were assessed in the study using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test and the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire. Negative affect was assessed using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5.

"The pandemic was really hard on a lot of people, but for this group of young adults who were engaging in heavy drinking, the pandemic seems to have had a long-term positive effect."

Creswell and Wright were joined by Greta Lyons and Francisco Carrillo-Alvarez at CMU, Garrett Hisler at the University of Pittsburgh and Catharine Fairbairn at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on the study, titled "Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol Problems from Before to After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study in a Sample of Heavy Drinking Young Adults." The project received support from the National Institutes of Health.
ARIES

Ganesha says today will be a day for you to participate in social events, due to which you may also make some new friends. You may have to make some tough decisions in the family, due to which some family members may also become your enemies. If you want your child to start a new business, you can do so, the day will be good for him. If any argument breaks out in your neighbourhood in the evening, then you should try to avoid it. You will participate in some religious events, where you will meet some influential people.

Lucky Colour: White

Lucky Number: 5

WATCH: Monthly Horoscope For May 2024

TAURUS

Ganesha says today will be a comfortable day for you. You will leave aside the problems going on around you and relax. But this can create problems for you. If there is any internal conflict in the family, it would be better for you to decide after listening to both parties, otherwise, you may have to hear harsh words. You have to be careful of some people who come and waste your time sitting idle. Some of your plans may go out of your hands. If you plan to go out somewhere with your friends today.

Lucky Colour: Orange

Lucky Number: 3

GEMINI

Ganesha says today will be a mixed day for you. You will be worried about the problems going on in your business, for which you will talk to your father and find a solution. The problems being faced by the children in their marriage will end and their marriage proposal can be approved. You will be happy to see the progress of your spouse. You have to avoid trusting what you hear from someone, otherwise it may create controversy for you. If there was some conflict going on in the relationship with siblings, it would end.

Lucky Colour: Maroon

Lucky Number: 7

CANCER

Ganesha says today will be an important day for you because you will try some new work and will earn a profit from it. Small businessmen will continue to get opportunities for small profits. In the job, you will have to use sweet words to get the work done from your junior, only then you will be able to complete your work on time. You will receive your pending money, which you did not even expect. Today, while helping someone, you will have to be careful that people do not consider it as your selfishness, hence do not interfere too much in someones matters.

Lucky Colour: Red

Lucky Number: 13

LEO

Ganesha says today will be a happy day for you. If you are going to purchase a new vehicle, it will be beneficial for you. You will have to take on some of the responsibilities of one of your friends. If you lend money to your in-laws or brother-in-law, it can create a rift in your relationship. A new guest may knock on the lives of people living a love life. You will spend some of your time serving the poor, which will give you mental peace and you will donate some part of your wealth to the poor. Students will get solutions to the problems they are facing in education.

Lucky Colour: Yellow

Lucky Number: 8

VIRGO

Ganesha says today you will be busy completing your household chores, due to which you will postpone some of your important tasks. If you are busy getting your house constructed etc., then you will have to pay attention to other tasks along with it. If you are running a business in partnership, your partner may hatch a conspiracy against you, due to which you will have to be careful. You can go on a dinner date with your spouse. You will be successful in changing the bitterness going on in relationships with your sweet words.

Lucky Colour: Green

Lucky Number: 12

LIBRA

Ganesha says today is going to be a normal day for you. You can go to the homes of your friends and loved ones to reconcile after their complaints. If there is any dispute going on with your spouse, then today you should try your best to convince them. You will be happy to see your childs inclination toward religious activities. If any transaction problem in business has been going on for a long time, it will end. In the evening you can launch a new business plan, which will be beneficial for you.

Lucky Colour: Sky blue

Lucky Number: 9

SCORPIO

Ganesha says today is going to be a day full of worries for you. You will be worried about the health of your family members, for which you will be busy running around. You will feel tired in the evening. You may hear some good news from a family member living abroad. If there is any discord going on in the family, then to maintain peace and happiness in it, you will have to ignore some mistakes, otherwise they can create problems. While talking to your in-laws, you have to maintain the sweetness of your speech.

Lucky Colour: Purple

Lucky Number: 14

SAGITTARIUS

Ganesha says today will be a day of increase in your daily needs and servants. You will increase some of your expenses, but they will create problems for you later. If you had some expectations from your children, they will come true today. Some family members will do something that will bring glory to your family. If you are planning to go out with your friends, it would be better to consult your parents. People who want to invest their money can invest in FD etc.

Lucky Colour: Brown

Lucky Number: 11

CAPRICORN

Ganesha says today will be a day full of progress for you. You will take full advantage of your business plans, for which you can also borrow money from someone. If you have any law-related matter going on, then you may have to borrow money from a family member, only then it will be settled. Those who are planning to purchase a new property, then they should be independent about its movable and immovable aspects. They have to go from there, otherwise they may be cheated. A guest may arrive at your house in the evening, due to which your money expenditure will increase.

Lucky Colour: Pink

Lucky Number: 6

AQUARIUS

Ganesha says today will be a better day for people looking for employment, because they may get a better opportunity through one of their relatives, but students who are employed will remain worried due to not getting the desired benefits in the workplace. You may have to apologize to your family members for some past mistake, only then you will be seen as united. If the father has any health-related problem, then it should not be ignored, otherwise, it may take a distorted form later.

Lucky Colour: Dark green

Lucky Number: 10

PISCES

Ganesha says today will be a busy day for you. You will search and do your work, due to which you will remain busy the whole day. You will fail to make time for your family members and may get angry with them. If you borrow from someone, you will get it easily. The burden of expenses may increase on you, which you will have to reduce, otherwise you may have to face problems later. What you say will be respected in the family and people will fulfill it, seeing that you will be happy.

Lucky Colour: Blue

Lucky Number: 15

(The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla).
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test  Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2024 today, May 5. The exam will be held from 2 pm to 5:20 pm. Students will not be allowed entry to the exam hall after 1:30 pm. A total of 24 lakh candidates will appear for the NEET UG exam in 557 cities in the country and 14 cities abroad.

On May 1, the exam conducting body released the admit cards for the NEET UG exam 2024. To access the hall ticket, candidates will have to go to the official portal at exams.nta.ac.in. NTA has also issued a list of instructions to be followed on exam day in addition to bringing the NEET UG 2024 hall ticket to the exam centre. Below is the list of items that can and cannot be brought into the exam room. Also, candidates for NEET UG must adhere to a dress code.

NEET UG 2024: Dress Code

 The NEET UG 2024 dress code allows female candidates to wear light-coloured half-sleeved shirts with pants.

 Male applicants, on the other hand, are required to wear light-coloured half-sleeved shirts or t-shirts with trousers.

 Heavy clothing with long sleeves is not allowed. Candidates who choose traditional or customary clothes must report at least one hour before the latest reporting time to allow for adequate frisking.

 Shoes are not permitted; slippers or sandals with short heels are.

 Candidates must obtain explicit consent from the NTA before being issued admit cards in cases of unavoidable circumstances, such as medical issues.

NEET UG 2024: Items To Carry Inside Exam Hall

 NEET UG 2024 admit card with a passport-sized photograph on it.

 One passport-sized photograph must be affixed to the attendance sheet

 valid identity (ID) proof and PwBD certificate, if required.

NEET UG 2024: Check The Things That Are Not Allowed

 Geometry or pencil box

 Handbag or purse

 Instruments

 Anything that is written or printed on paper, stationery or text

 Eatables

 Water bottle.

 Any metallic object or electronic gadgets or equipment, mobile phone, earphone, microphone, pager, calculator, docu pen, slide rules, log tables, camera, tape recorder and electronic watches with calculator features.

 Candidates with diabetes are permitted to bring eatables such as sugar tablets and fruits such as bananas, apples or oranges as well as transparent water bottles, into the exam centre with prior notification. They will not, however, be permitted to carry packaged items such as chocolates, sweets, or sandwiches.

Stay Informed With Live Updates On Gujarat HSC Science Result 2024 . Get Latest Updates On Date And Time Of CBSE Results 2024 & ICSE Result 2024 on our website. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Tamil Nadu School Education Department has warned schools against conducting special classes during summer vacation due to the prevailing heat wave conditions in the state, an official said on Saturday.

In a statement, the School Education department said, The peak of summer Agni Nakshatram begins today and, according to weather reports, the scorching heat will continue up to May 28.

The department also said with the rise in mercury, people have been advised to exercise caution and the Department has prohibited schools from conducting special classes during summer holidays due to this.

The Tamil Nadu school education department also warned that if any school was found violating the order and conducting special classes during the summer vacation, action would be taken.

The Department has also issued a circular to all the district education officers to conduct an investigation to find out whether any schools were conducting special classes during the summer vacation.

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi told IANS, The School Education Department has issued a circular against the conduct of special classes during the summer vacation and if any school is found violating this, stringent action will be taken.

Stay Informed With Live Updates On Gujarat HSC Science Result 2024 . Get Latest Updates On Date And Time Of CBSE Results 2024 & ICSE Result 2024 on our website. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column  GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom.

Many recruitment exams, such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and SBI Bank PO, require students to have a broad understanding of global events, government policies, social challenges, and scientific breakthroughs. So, if you want to stay up-to-date for your next recruiting exam, we have got you covered. Heres a rundown of the most important news stories of the week:

Delhi Schools Hoax Bomb Threat:

Delhi Polices anti-terror unit, which is investigating the bomb threat email sent to over 130 schools in the Delhi-NCR region, has approached Interpol for information on the senders IP address obtained from Russian authorities. The Delhi Police, through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), contacted the international organisation that promotes global police cooperation and crime control. The special cells counterintelligence unit suspected that the emails were sent via the dark web. They also stated that the schools emails were most likely obtained via the dark web.

Covishield Vaccine Side Effects:

A petition was filed on May 1 in the Supreme Court requesting that a medical expert panel be formed under the supervision of a retired SC judge to investigate any potential side effects and risk factors associated with the Covishield vaccination. It claimed that AstraZeneca, a UK-based pharmaceutical company, has stated that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, which was manufactured under licence in India, could induce low platelet counts and blood clot formation in very rare situations. Advocate Vishal Tiwari filed the case, which also sought a direction from the Centre to compensate people who are seriously crippled or have died as a result of any negative effects of the vaccination delivered to them during Covid.

Arvind Kejriwal On Non-Appearance Before ED:

On April 29, the Supreme Court questioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals refusal to appear before the ED despite repeated summonses for statement recording. The apex court further asked if he could challenge his arrest in a money laundering case related to the excise policy scam based on the failure to record his version. Kejriwal has been in Tihar jail under judicial custody since his arrest on March 21. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta questioned senior attorney Abhishek Singhvi, who represented Kejriwal, over why the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader did not file a bail application before the trial court.

India Summons Canadian Diplomat Over Khalistan Slogans:

India called the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner on April 29 and expressed its strong displeasure after separatist sentiments were chanted during a Prime Minister Justin Trudeau event in Toronto. Pro-Khalistan shouts filled the air during a Khalsa procession on April 28, where Trudeau addressed the crowd in honour of Khalsa Day. The event also included opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party (NDP). In the MEA statement, India voiced serious worry about such activities, underscoring Canadas political space for separatism and extremism.

HD Revannas Arrest:

JDS leader and Prajwals father, HD Revanna, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday for the alleged sexual assault of several women. A case of kidnapping was registered against him at KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru. Revanna was booked on a charge of kidnapping in connection with an obscene video case  in which his son Prajwal, is also booked. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that he will face action as per the law. SIT has already taken action. As per the law, arrests will take place, and bail too. Justice for victims is important, and those who commit such acts should be taught a lesson. There are strict laws, Kharge said.

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Thirty-five Muslim candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat but the Congress has this time broken its tradition and not fielded a single person from the community in the state.

The Congress has argued that the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, from where it used to traditionally field a Muslim candidate, has this time gone to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of the seat sharing agreement among the opposition INDIA bloc constituents.

Among national parties, only the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded a Muslim candidate from Gandhinagar for the May 7 polls in the state. The BSP had also fielded a Muslim candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Panchmahal.

This time, 35 Muslim candidates are in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls to be held in 25 out of the 26 seats in Gujarat, compared to 43 nominees from the community in 2019, according to Election Commission data. Most of the candidates from the community are either contesting independently or have been fielded by lesser-known parties.

Gujarat Congresss minority department chairman Vajirkhan Pathan told PTI, The party has traditionally fielded at least one candidate from the Muslim community in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, especially from Bharuch. This time it was not possible as the seat went to the AAP. The Congress had offered to field a candidate from one seat in Gujarat, but the community members declined given a slim chance of victory, he claimed. There is no scope for a Muslim candidate to contest from any other seat. Two seats  Ahmedabad West and Kutch  with sizable Muslim population are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, Pathan said.

Apart from Bharuch, the Congress has in the past fielded Muslim candidates from Navsari and Ahmedabad (when it was not divided into Ahmedabad East and West seats).In 1977, the Congress sent two Muslim candidates to Parliament  Ehsan Jafri from Ahmedabad and Ahmed Patel from Bharuch.

Patel went on to win two subsequent elections in 1980 and 1984 from Bharuch.His son Faisal Patel and daughter Mumtaz Patel were among the contenders for the seat this time and had even expressed unhappiness after it went to the AAP which fielded tribal leader Chaitar Vasava.

In the past, the Congress fielded Muhammad Patel, Aziz Tankarvi and Sherkhan Pathan from Bharuch in the 2004, 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, respectively. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, it fielded Maksud Mirza, its only Muslim candidate, from the Navsari seat. The Mayavati-led BSP has this time offered ticket to Mohammad Anis Desai to contest from Gandhinagar, where he is pitted against BJP heavyweight and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat where elections will be held, Gandhinagar has the highest number of eight Muslim candidates. Jamnagar and Navsari have five Muslim candidates each, Patan and Bharuch four each, Porbandar and Kheda two each, and Ahmedabad East, Banaskantha, Junagadh, Panchmahl and Sabarkantha one each, according to Election Commission data.

While a majority of them are contesting as independents, some smaller parties such as the Right to Recall Party, Bharatiya Jan Nayak Party, Social Democratic Party, Garib Kalyan Party and Log Party have also fielded Muslim candidates from different seats. Ismail Patel, the sarpanch of Sarod village in Bharuchs Jambusar taluka who is contesting as an independent candidate from Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, said he tried for a ticket for the 2022 state assembly elections, but it was denied by the Congress.

Big political parties ignore Muslim leaders because of which we have to find a way out and contest the election as independent candidates. People in our area face a lot of issues but the local leaders do not come to their aid, because of which locals want a leader from their community, he claimed. A total of 266 candidates are in the fray for the May 7 elections in Gujarat, according to the final list of candidates published on April 22.

Out of the 26 seats in Gujarat, Surat has gone to the BJP after its candidate Mukesh Dalal was last week declared elected unopposed.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Araria, which is going to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7, has been identified by the NITI Aayog as having the highest poverty in Bihar. At least 52.07 per cent of the population is poor on the scale of multidimensional poverty set by the public sector think tank.

Araria is one of the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar and comprises six assembly segments  Araria (Congress), Narpatganj (BJP), Forbesganj (BJP) Raniganj (JD-U), Jokihat (RJD/AIMIM) and Sikti (BJP). It is presently represented by the BJPs Pradeep Kumar Singh, who is also the partys candidate this time. He will be facing Shahnawaz Alam, who has been fielded by the RJD that is a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc.

BJP maintains healthy lead

The mood on the ground is upbeat in favour of the BJP in Araria, which was a Congress stronghold and has, since 1998, switched between the BJP and RJD. This time, the BJP has reposed its faith in incumbent MP Pradeep Kumar Singh, who defeated RJDs Sarfaraz Alam by 1.37 lakh votes in the 2019 general elections.

In the last five years, the BJP has consolidated its position in Araria. It now has MLAs in three out of the six assembly segments, while the Congress, JD(U) and RJD have MLAs in one segment each.

The defining factor in nearly all the elections here has been the Muslim-Yadav combination. Together, Muslims and Yadavs form about 59 per cent of the electorate. But, if ground inputs are to be believed, the Yadavs are set to vote for the BJP in large numbers primarily because they realise this is a national election and they are voting for a party to form the government at the Centre.

The women appear to be emerging as one of the biggest proponents of the BJP in this constituency. They point to the increased sense of security and safety they feel under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, which allows them to move around without fear of antisocial or criminal elements.

The BJP is pushing ahead with its development plank, coupled with a garnishing of Hindutva to seal its fate in Araria. The construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is an oft-repeated success story of the BJP.

The BJPs vote share in Araria has increased since 2014. For example, in 2014, the saffron party could muster just about 2.61 lakh votes and a vote share of 26.8 per cent. Cut to the 2018 bypoll and the BJPs vote share rose to more than 43 per cent, which roughly translated to 4.47 lakh votes. However, the BJP lost to RJDs Sarfaraz Alam, who secured about 5.09 lakh votes. A year later, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP got its break in Araria, as it trumped Alam by 1.37 lakh votes. Compared to 2014, the saffron party doubled its vote share in the previous election to about 52 per cent. Therefore, its rise has been steady and natural.

There are some within the BJP who are not particularly impressed with the choice of candidate though. Janardan Yadav, a four-time MLA, has directly accused the party of neglect. He has been associated with the BJP since a time when Araria was not even a district. So, he is definitely an old horse. Separately, there are many senior district leaders in BJP, who have started becoming vocal on problems with the partys organisational structure.

RJD changes candidate, but faces uphill task

The RJD has played a gamble with Araria this time, and has refused a ticket to Sarfaraz Alam who was expected to be fielded like he was in 2014, 2018 and 2019. Instead, his younger brother Shahnawaz Alam has got the ticket. Both Sarfaraz and Shahnawaz are sons of former union minister Taslimuddin, a tall leader of the RJD. However, following his death, the familys influence and hold over voters has slipped. For the RJD, this election in many ways will determine whether it remains a relevant political unit in Araria.

Importantly, the RJD has just the Muslim-Yadav caste combination to rely on. Although ground inputs suggest that this caste combination can still hold up in the assembly elections, the pro-BJP mood of the public is hard to ignore.

The RJD is being battered by internal tussles. A large group of Sarfaraz Alams supporters are angry over the party not making him the candidate. After his ticket was cut, he held a meeting with his supporters in which he burst into tears, a video of which has gone viral. Although he is not contesting as an independent, he has become quite vocal against his brother Shahnawaz.

The enmity between Sarfaraz and Shahnawaz is not new. Previously, Sarfaraz was made the RJD candidate in the Jokihat assembly election in 2020 after the party cancelled the ticket of Shahnawaz, who was the sitting MLA. Subsequently, Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM came to Shahnawazs rescue, and allowed him to contest the election on its symbol. Owaisis party capitalised on Shahnawaz by heavily promoting him in the entire Seemanchal region. The effect of this was seen among Muslim voters, especially in the Kulhaiya community. Shahnawaz won the election by getting more than 59,000 votes, while his brother Sarfaraz came second with about 52,000 votes.

The RJD appears to believe that the Muslim voters that Shahnawaz Alam has on his side, especially since he was promoted by the AIMIM, will be a plus point for him across Araria. However, on the ground, winds of counter-polarisation among Hindus are blowing strong as well.

Besides, the RJD now believes that the 2018 bypoll win that Sarfaraz secured against the BJP was mostly on the back of a sympathy vote after his fathers death. Meanwhile, revolting from the RJD, state vice-president of the Extremely Backward Cell, Dr Shatrughan Kumar Suman has jumped into the fray as an independent candidate. He is considered to have a strong hold on the voters of his caste, whose numbers are about 3 lakh in the district.

In terms of campaign rhetoric, the RJD is focusing on issues like unemployment, migration, price rise, the overall state of Bihar, which is not promising, and the annual menace of flooding from the Mahananda river and its tributaries. Overall, the party faces a challenge in trying to wrest Araria from the BJP.

Here are the key factors at play in Araria Lok Sabha constituency:

The Modi factor: The biggest factor to determine who wins Araria will be the Modi factor. The sentiment on the ground is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered on development, even if not up to the mark. Schemes to provide pucca houses, electricity, LPG connections, free ration, health insurance and other basic amenities are galvanising voter sentiment in favour of the BJP.

The biggest factor to determine who wins Araria will be the Modi factor. The sentiment on the ground is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered on development, even if not up to the mark. Schemes to provide pucca houses, electricity, LPG connections, free ration, health insurance and other basic amenities are galvanising voter sentiment in favour of the BJP. Unemployment: There is no escaping the fact that unemployment is perhaps the biggest cause of concern among those either sitting on the fence or are supporters of opposition parties. The youth, which is most affected by unemployment, does appear to be discontent with governments at both state and central levels. Unemployment also causes migration and, in Bihar, the phenomenon of youth migrating to other states and metropolises is particularly pronounced. Not only is this impacting the demography of the state and Araria in particular, but also causing heightened resentment among those who see joblessness as a big issue.

There is no escaping the fact that unemployment is perhaps the biggest cause of concern among those either sitting on the fence or are supporters of opposition parties. The youth, which is most affected by unemployment, does appear to be discontent with governments at both state and central levels. Unemployment also causes migration and, in Bihar, the phenomenon of youth migrating to other states and metropolises is particularly pronounced. Not only is this impacting the demography of the state and Araria in particular, but also causing heightened resentment among those who see joblessness as a big issue. Flooding: Every year, Araria has to brave floods during the rainy season as incessant rains, especially in Nepal, cause the Mahananda river and its associated rivers to swell up. This wreaks havoc for thousands, with farmers being the worst-hit. In July 2010, Nitish Kumar launched the Mahananda River Basin Project for the fortification of embankments along the river at a cost of Rs 149 crore. He said the initiative will address the problem of flooding. But, 14 years down the line, there has been no solution.

Every year, Araria has to brave floods during the rainy season as incessant rains, especially in Nepal, cause the Mahananda river and its associated rivers to swell up. This wreaks havoc for thousands, with farmers being the worst-hit. In July 2010, Nitish Kumar launched the Mahananda River Basin Project for the fortification of embankments along the river at a cost of Rs 149 crore. He said the initiative will address the problem of flooding. But, 14 years down the line, there has been no solution. Shortage of fertilisers: Farmers in Araria have constantly complained about the shortage of fertilisers, and the issue peaked between 2022 and 2023. Farmers in the Seemanchal region, who mostly grow wheat and maize, said fertilisers are being sold on the black market. When the issue was in the limelight, there were allegations that shopkeepers are selling fertilisers at double and triple the market rates.

Farmers in Araria have constantly complained about the shortage of fertilisers, and the issue peaked between 2022 and 2023. Farmers in the Seemanchal region, who mostly grow wheat and maize, said fertilisers are being sold on the black market. When the issue was in the limelight, there were allegations that shopkeepers are selling fertilisers at double and triple the market rates. Religious polarisation: Singh is Shahnawaz and this is bound to polarise the electorate on religious lines. While the BJP is upbeat with the inauguration of Ram Mandir and how it has galvanised Hindus opinion in its favour, the RJD is mostly banking on its tried-and-tested Muslim-Yadav combination. The Yadavs are expected to vote for the BJP, in what will mark another disruption in Bihars complex caste-dominated politics.

Voter demographic

Total Voters: 20,14,402

Males: 10,47,698

Females: 9,66,610

SC: 2,61,078 (13.7%)

ST: 26,680 (1.4%)

Rural: ~17,89,435 (93.9%)

Urban: ~1,16,247 (6.1%)

Voter turnout in 2019 polls: 64.8%

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) on Sunday condemned Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar after a viral video emerged of him allegedly slapping a Congress worker during an election campaign in Haveri district.

The incident, captured in a viral video, depicts Shivakumars campaign for Congress Lok Sabha candidate Vinoda Asooti in Savanur town. In the video, Shivakumar appears to be exiting a vehicle as workers surround him. A Congress worker attempts to touch Shivakumars shoulders, prompting Shivakumar to slap him. Following this incident police intervened, while Shivakumar walked away.

DCM @DKShivakumar slaps Congress Municipal Member during campaign..! Video goes viral.Last night, DK Shivakumar campaigned in Savanur town of Haveri for Congress candidate Vinoda Asooti. Congress workers were chanting DK DK as DK Shivakumar arrived for campaigning. One of pic.twitter.com/KOx6EvPAyX  BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 5, 2024

This is not the first time

Amit Malviya, head of the BJPs IT Cell, condemned the incident, sharing the video on social media and criticising Shivakumars actions. Malviya highlighted previous instances of alleged aggression by Shivakumar towards Congress workers.

Karnatakas DCM, DK Shivakumar, slaps Congress Municipal Member Allauddin Maniar, while campaigning in Savanur town of Haveri. This is not the first time DK has assaulted a Congress worker. His crime? He happened to put his hands on DK Shivakumars shoulder, when the latter stepped out of the car, Malviya wrote on X.

I wonder why do Congress workers even want to work for the Congress? Their leaders slap them, humiliate them, dont give them tickets to contest (all of them are cornered by family members) Is it for the corruption money they make on the side? No self respect? he added.

Nawabi mindset of Congress

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked Congress in a post on X. First Congress Jeevan Reddy slaps an elderly woman! Now DK Shivkumar slaps a congress worker. Nawabi mindset of Congress. Congress ki pehchaan  janta aur worker ka apman. Imagine if they are like this before elections what will they do after! Threaten voters, Abuse them, Beat them. Muhabbat Ki dukaan !!?? ECI pls act, he wrote.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
The incident referenced in the viral posts took place during the 2021 Assam Assembly polls and is unrelated to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

What is the claim?

Claims of alleged voting fraud through electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the Northeastern Indian state of Assam are going viral amid the ongoing general elections. Some online posts, like the one archived here, have claimed that electoral fraud has been reported from Assams Dima Hasao district, which voted in the second phase of the polls on April 26.

One such post on X (formerly) claimed, There were only 90 voters at a booth in Dima Hasao district of Assam, but 171 votes were cast in EVM, 5 officers of Election Commission suspended(sic). The post also included hashtags like #LokSabhaElection2024, while other posts presented the claim as Breaking news. The archived versions of such posts can be viewed here, here, and here.

However, we found that the incident referred to in the claim dates back to 2021, when the Assam state assembly elections were taking place.

What did we find?

A Google search of the numbers and the place mentioned in the viral post led us to news reports published by The Indian Express and The Times of India. Both reports, published on April 5, 2021, were credited to PTI (Press Trust of India), an Indian news agency. The reports stated that in Assams Dima Hasao district, a booth in the Haflong constituency had only 90 registered voters. However, during the second phase of the state assembly election held on April 1, 2021, 171 votes were cast in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). Following the irregularity of the numbers, five officers of the election commission were suspended the next of the polling.

The follow-up Indian Express report, published on April 6, 2021, stated that 181 votes were cast from the booth, and six polling officers were suspended. It quoted Assams then Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade saying, During the scrutiny of the Presiding Officers diary and other documents, it was found that the Presiding Officer and the Polling Officers of 107-A Khothlir LP School allowed 181 persons to cast votes against the total 90 voters in that polling station. Similarly, a report by The Times of India from April 6, 2021, providing similar details, noted that repolling was ordered in auxiliary polling stations in Haflong.

India Today report also reiterated that repolling was issued in Mualdum LP School under the Haflong constituency on April 20, 2021. The report also said that more votes were cast despite the station only having 90 eligible voters as people from Mualdam Lower Primary School polling station mistakenly voted at Khothlir LP School. The Dima Hasao district election officer attributed this mistake to polling officials negligence, the outlet reported.

Furthermore, the official account of Assams Chief Electrol Officer on X (archived here) also put out a clarification on the viral claim, stating, The incident mentioned in the said post refers to one that had taken place in the assembly election of 2021. Re-poll was conducted in that particular polling station and disciplinary proceedings against the concerned officers was taken (sic).

A false narrative has been circulated in the social media regarding 171 additional votes being polled in one of the polling station in Dima Hasao, district of Assam. pic.twitter.com/7dxiKtKST1 Chief Electoral Officer, Assam (@ceo_assam) May 3, 2024

Logically Facts also reached out to Assams Chief Electrol officer, Anurag Goel, who reiterated that the viral incident in question is from 2021 and is unrelated to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The verdict: False

An incident involving extra votes cast in Assams Dima Hasao district during the 2021 assembly polls has been falsely shared as a recent incident amid the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Therefore, we have marked the claim as false.

(This story was originally published by Logically Facts, and republished by News18 as part of the Shakti Collective)
The Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka is made up of eight assembly segments: Afzalpur, Jewargi, Gurmitkal, Chittapur (SC), Sedam, Gulbarga Rural (SC), Gulbarga Dakshin, and Gulbarga Uttar. It is a Scheduled Caste category parliamentary seat.

It was seen as a bastion of the Congress for years, but after the partys veteran leader M Mallikarjun Kharge lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from this seat, the political arithmetic changed. This time Kalaburagi, or Gulbarga, is again under the spotlight because it is not Congress president Kharge but his son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani in the fray. He will be taking on Bharatiya Janata Partys incumbent MP Umesh G Jadhav.

Polling will take place here on May 7, in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Voting factors

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress are the primary parties in this constituency. Other potential contenders include Janata Dal (Secular), Aam Aadmi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party, but their presence is marginal. The Kalaburagi seat has been a stronghold of the Congress for many years, with the party winning 14 out of 17 elections since its establishment. This dominance can be attributed to several factors, including the partys strong organisational presence at the grassroots level and its ability to effectively mobilise its core support base, particularly among rural communities. Moreover, this is also the home constituency of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge though his son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani is the candidate this time. Umesh G Jadhav of the BJP is the current Member of Parliament and has been fielded again. In recent years, the Congress has faced increasing challenges from the BJP for the seat. The BJP made significant inroads winning in 1998 and 2019. This shift suggests the electorate is becoming more open to new political options. The Congress can no longer take its traditional support base for granted. The quality of individual candidates and their ability to connect with voters can impact electoral outcomes. In 2019, Umesh Jadhav defeated Mallikarjun Kharge. However, since then the scenario has changed with Kharge being elected the Congress president and him not being in the fray. Ground reports indicate that there is significantly high anti-incumbency against Jadhav now as he has failed to deliver on some promises. Inputs suggested that if Kharge himself contested again, Jadhav would have had a tough time. However, now he might have a fighting chance, say observers. At present Kalaburagi district is dominated by the Kharge and Jadhav families. No other leaders are likely to shape the political landscape in the near future. Caste and community dynamics play a significant role in Gulbarga. The constituency has a large Scheduled Caste (SC) population, which has traditionally been a key support base for the Congress. However, the BJP has made efforts to woo SC voters in recent elections. Politics between upper castes and Dalits is certainly shaping the political scenario. The Koli Samaj (a Dalit community) has a 15% vote share, which constitutes 3 lakh voters. Their demands of being included in the Schedules Tribe list have not borne fruit yet. The constituency harbours a significant Muslim population, which could sway votes in favour of the Congress. The Ladle Dargah and Kote Shivalinga are central to a longstanding communal issue in Kalaburagi. It has been marked by repeated clashes. Incidents include a 2019 flag removal dispute and a 2022 stone-pelting on a religious procession led by union minister Bhagwanth Khuba. Tensions revolve around religious ritual rights at these sites, with several cases filed. Considering this situation, issues like the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration and the Gyanvapi mosque dispute have some resonance among voters.

Voter demographics

Population: 1,945,291 (as of 2019 Lok Sabha election)

Rural: 1,250,822 voters (64.3%)

Urban: 694,469 voters (35.7%)

Scheduled Castes (SCs): 466,870 voters (24%)

Scheduled Tribes (STs): 58,359 voters (3%)

Hindu: 76.97%

Muslim: 22.3%

Key constituency issues

Kalaburagi district is predominantly agrarian apart from a handful of cement industries. The district is trailing in industrialisation. Despite having a lot of land for cultivation, Kalaburagi has a high poverty level. According to ground reports, low agricultural productivity has been due to incidents of drought, poor soil quality and lack of irrigation. Farmers are heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, which is vulnerable to climate change. Farmers are also suffering from a lack of access to credit and other financial services. Infrastructure such as transportation and storage facilities for produce is another issue, as well as exploitation by middlemen and moneylenders. The migration of people from rural to urban areas in search of better economic opportunities is a common phenomenon in Kalaburagi due to a lack of employment opportunities in rural areas. Migration and the consequent loss of population and skilled workers is a key issue for voters. Kalaburagi is located in a drought-prone region of India. Droughts are a common occurrence in the region, and they can have a devastating impact on the local economy and population. According to reports, As many as 315 villages in drought-affected Kalaburagi district are likely to face drinking water scarcity during the peak of summer. Farmers have been demanding that Kalaburagi be declared a drought-hit area. Kalaburagi is not economically progressive and contributes just 2.3% of the state GDP. The top products in the district are cement, toor dal, and footwear. There is a food park in Jewargi, and eight major cement companies have their factories in the district. But apart from this, job opportunities are limited. National factors and Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity will also likely influence voting outcome in the Lok Sabha elections here. The Congress can also bank on the Kharge factor and Rahul Gandhi also remains a popular leader. Rahul had in fact promised Rs 1 crore for each panchayat and a Rs 5,000-crore package for the Kalyana Karnataka region (which includes Kalaburagi) during the last assembly elections. This has now been moved in the state assembly by chief minister Siddaramaiah. This could have an impact on the electorate. The implementation of five guarantee schemes by the state government is also expected to have a significant impact on Kalaburagi voters, especially among women.

Infrastructure development

Kalaburagi airport: Gulbarga airport was to have started operations in the latter half of 2012 but was delayed due to financial disputes. The erstwhile BS Yediyurappa government is credited with the inauguration of the Gulbarga airport in 2019. The operational airport has been able to improve connectivity and boost tourism in the region. However, the number of flights operating from the airport is very few.

Irrigation projects: Several irrigation projects have been undertaken in Kalaburagi including the Upper Krishna Project and the Bhima Lift Irrigation Project. These projects have increased the availability of water for agriculture, which has led to increased crop yields and improved incomes for farmers.

National Highway 150: The central government has constructed a new National Highway (NH 150) that connects Kalaburagi to other major cities in the region. This has improved transportation and trade.

Railway line: The Centre has also constructed a new railway line that connects Kalaburagi to Bidar and other parts of the country.

Solar power plant: GKC-Gulbarga Solar PV Park is a 10MW solar PV power project that has helped reduce the constituencys reliance on fossil fuels for power generation. An additional 500MW park is also reportedly being planned by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and National Thermal Power Corporation. With Karnataka facing a 1,500MW power deficit, Kalaburagi has the potential to emerge as a large-scale power producer.

Textile park: According to ground reports, a mega textile park is to come up in the district which is expected to create jobs for 1.5-2 lakh people. But work on this has not yet started. This project is seen as a major potential boost to the local economy, and its delay is a source of frustration for many people in Kalaburagi.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Latur, which will go to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7, has benefited from development initiatives and central welfare schemes, making it favourable for the BJP to repeat its big victory in 2019 in the traditional Congress stronghold.

Located in the Marathwada region, this seat is reserved for scheduled castes and is among the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra. It encompasses portions of Latur as well as Nanded districts. It has six assembly segments  Loha and Nilanga in Nanded district, and Latur rural, Latur city, Ahmedpur and Udgir (SC) in Latur district.

It presently represented by BJP MP Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangare, who has been fielded again by the saffron party. The other key candidate is Dr Shivajirao Kalge of the Congress.

The Modi wave remains intact in many regions with issues of Hindutva more prevalent in urban areas and the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir being celebrated with much zeal. The BJP is also bolstered by its Mahayuti alliance with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. In the 2019 assembly election, two out of the six constituencies went to the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, while two went to the Congress and two others are held by Sharad Pawars faction of the NCP and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP).

Moreover, Archana Patil, the daughter-in-law of Laturs former Congress stalwart Shivraj Patil, has joined the BJP. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis is confident that her entry will boost the saffron partys fortunes in Latur and the overall Marathwada region. She is expected to take on Amit Deshmukh in the assembly polls later this year. Former CM from the Marathwada region, Ashok Chavan, also recently joined the BJP in a further boost for the party.

But, one major challenge that the party faces is the re-emergence of caste divides as the Maratha agitation led by Manoj Jarange-Patil, who demanded reservation for Marathas under the Kunbi (OBC) category, turned heads in the region and triggered counter protests by the OBC community. The Shinde government unanimously cleared the 10 per cent separate quota for Maratha to ease tensions, but the activist has rejected this quota and wants reservation under the OBC category. It remains to be seen how the BJPs attempts to navigate this situation without antagonising either side fares on polling day.

Congress bastion turns saffron

Latur has traditionally been a Congress party bastion, with Congress leader Shivraj Patil holding the seat for almost 24 years between 1980 and 2004. This Congress fortress was breached only in 2004 when Rupatai Patil Nilangekar defeated Shivraj Patil with a lead of almost 31,000 votes.

After Latur became an SC reserved seat, the Congress wrested the seat back in 2009 by a narrow margin of 8,000 votes, but in 2014, the Modi wave propelled Dr Sunil Baliram Gaikwad into a landslide victory with a vote margin of 2.53 lakh. This victory was repeated in 2019, when the BJP retained the seat for a second term with an even larger margin of 2.89 lakh votes under Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangare.

The BJP has nominated its sitting MP Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangare to contest for a second term. He was a member of the district council before being bestowed a BJP ticket in 2019. Before entering politics, he was a businessman from an ordinary background before joining politics and grew in the construction industry by undertaking large-scale projects in metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Pune, surpassing his ventures in Latur.

Shrangare established connections with prominent political figures in the state, ultimately leading to his nomination for the 2019 general elections. His landslide victory, securing a remarkable margin of 2.89 lakh votes, came as a surprise to many, considering his status as a newcomer in the political arena. His triumph in a stronghold like Latur, where the Congress traditionally held sway, was particularly astonishing.

Despite the long-standing dominance of the Congress in the constituency, exemplified by Shivraj Patil Chakurkars seven consecutive victories, Shrangares victory as a humble zilla parishad member stunned observers. He is known for raising several matters regarding the constituency in Parliament, and has reportedly maintained a connection with his constituents in the last five years. The BJP was confident that the anti-incumbency factor is not as prevalent here and, therefore, put its confidence on Shrangare one more time.

Another perspective, however, is that Shrangares work for the constituency was inefficient but since he possesses the financial strength required to win an election, the party finally decided to continue with him. In 2019, he was bolstered by the BJPs grassroots machinery and the Modi wave. This time around, the MP wields the same advantages.

Congress in decline

The Congress has seen a steady decline in the entire Marathwada region, with Nanded and Latur being the last districts where it still has a base. However, its prospects in Latur are not great. The party has nominated Dr Shivaji Kalge, an eye surgeon, who is new in the realm of politics. With no prior electoral experience, Kalge is up against the BJP behemoth without much to his favour.

Kalge is from the Mala Jangam caste, which leads to hopes that the Lingayat community, a core vote of the BJP of late, would lean towards him as it sees Mala Jangam community as its guru. The Congress also seeks to play into the influence of the Manoj Jarange factor, relating to the assertive demonstrations advocating for the Maratha quota, along with the emphasis on safeguarding OBC reservation, which is likely to impact the voting trend.

The partys biggest strength in Latur is the Deshmukh family, which enjoys considerable sway in the region. Amit Deshmukh and Dhiraj Deshmukh, sons of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, a former CM, are MLAs from the seats of Latur and Latur rural. Voters from these seats are expected to be drawn towards the Congress candidate as the Deshmukh brothers have launched a grand campaign this time. Bollywood actor and Deshmukh brother Riteish Deshmukh may also join the effort in the last leg of their campaign.

While the Congress campaign is ongoing in the seats of Latur and Latur rural, observers said the campaign lacks energy and enthusiasm among party workers in the other assembly seats. All in all, the Congress grip on the seat has waned in the last decade, and the election outcome in Latur this time will decide its fate in the overall Marathwada region.

Here are the key factors at play in Latur Lok Sabha constituency:

Tourism potential: Latur has tremendous tourism potential. Located alongside the Panchganga river, it is often referred to as the Kashi of South India. Renowned for its religious significance, the city houses the revered Mahalakshmi temple, recognised as one of the 52 shaktipeeths. Additionally, the Buddha Park temple serves as a prominent tourist attraction, boasting a towering statue of Buddha.

Latur has tremendous tourism potential. Located alongside the Panchganga river, it is often referred to as the Kashi of South India. Renowned for its religious significance, the city houses the revered Mahalakshmi temple, recognised as one of the 52 shaktipeeths. Additionally, the Buddha Park temple serves as a prominent tourist attraction, boasting a towering statue of Buddha. Water scarcity: Latur is among the most intensely parched regions of Maharashtra. Recently, its administration imposed a ban on the transport of fodder outside the district in light of a possible shortage amid a drought-like situation in the region. The state government has declared a drought-like situation in 46 revenue circles of Ausa, Nilanga, Shirur Anantpal, Udgir, Jalkot, Devni, Chakur and Ahmedpur talukas. Latur city has been facing water cuts since January. Despite the water crisis becoming a years-old issue, voters have to fend for themselves and learn to live with regular water-related restrictions imposed by authorities. An initiative to comprehensively resolve Marathwadas severe water crisis came only in 2023, when in a special cabinet meeting in September, the state government cleared a package of Rs 46,579 crore for the region out of which nearly 45 per cent is reserved for irrigation projects, including for work needed to divert water from west-flowing rivers.

Latur is among the most intensely parched regions of Maharashtra. Recently, its administration imposed a ban on the transport of fodder outside the district in light of a possible shortage amid a drought-like situation in the region. The state government has declared a drought-like situation in 46 revenue circles of Ausa, Nilanga, Shirur Anantpal, Udgir, Jalkot, Devni, Chakur and Ahmedpur talukas. Latur city has been facing water cuts since January. Despite the water crisis becoming a years-old issue, voters have to fend for themselves and learn to live with regular water-related restrictions imposed by authorities. An initiative to comprehensively resolve Marathwadas severe water crisis came only in 2023, when in a special cabinet meeting in September, the state government cleared a package of Rs 46,579 crore for the region out of which nearly 45 per cent is reserved for irrigation projects, including for work needed to divert water from west-flowing rivers. Lack of industries and unemployment: In Latur and across the wider Marathwada region, the lack of industries is visible. In the absence of industrial development, 65 per cent of the population relies on agriculture and farming. The water crisis, however, makes agriculture an even more taxing mode of earning a livelihood. The lack of industries and overreliance on agriculture has also exacerbated the unemployment scenario. People are forced to travel to other regions of the state and the country in search of jobs. This is becoming a point of angst for the electorate here in Latur.

In Latur and across the wider Marathwada region, the lack of industries is visible. In the absence of industrial development, 65 per cent of the population relies on agriculture and farming. The water crisis, however, makes agriculture an even more taxing mode of earning a livelihood. The lack of industries and overreliance on agriculture has also exacerbated the unemployment scenario. People are forced to travel to other regions of the state and the country in search of jobs. This is becoming a point of angst for the electorate here in Latur. Farmer woes: The intense water shortage has directly impacted farmers, who simply do not have sufficient water to irrigate their fields. The crisis is such that across the Marathwada region, deaths by suicide have become frighteningly common. In 2023 alone, more than 1,000 farmers died by suicide. Interestingly, the intense crisis in Latur has forced them to look at alternative means of farming and selling their crops. They are growing papaya, pomegranate, chili, custard apple and other such crops that require little water. Many farmers have also started engaging more actively with the private sector, since it offers substantially better rates for crops than the government. Others, who are still dependent on government procurement and mandis, complain of receiving acutely low payouts for their crops.

The intense water shortage has directly impacted farmers, who simply do not have sufficient water to irrigate their fields. The crisis is such that across the Marathwada region, deaths by suicide have become frighteningly common. In 2023 alone, more than 1,000 farmers died by suicide. Interestingly, the intense crisis in Latur has forced them to look at alternative means of farming and selling their crops. They are growing papaya, pomegranate, chili, custard apple and other such crops that require little water. Many farmers have also started engaging more actively with the private sector, since it offers substantially better rates for crops than the government. Others, who are still dependent on government procurement and mandis, complain of receiving acutely low payouts for their crops. Maratha agitation: The impact of the Maratha agitation was most pronounced in the Marathwada region in which Latur is located. Although the state government finally relented and provided Marathas 10 per cent separate quota in educational institutions and government jobs, the underlying sentiment of resentment against the government persists as Jarange demands nothing less than reservation from OBC. The feeling is that the BJP government dragged its feet on the issue for far too long. With activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who spearheaded the agitation calling for Marathas to punish the government, the BJPs electoral calculations could be adversely impacted in the wider region, including Latur.

Voter Demographic (as per 2011 Census)

Total Voters (2019): 19,31,278

Urban Voters: 25.9%

Rural Voters: 74.1%

Social Composition

SC: 19.9%

ST: 2.3%

Religious Composition

Hindu: ~83%

Muslim: 12.2%

Buddhist: 4.02%

Jain: 0.25%

Christian: 0.11%

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Madha is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra comprising the Solapur and Satara districts. The constituency has six assembly segments: Karmala (independent), Madha (NCP), Sangola (Shiv Sena), Malshiras (BJP), Phaltan (NCP), and Man (BJP).

Ranjit Naik-Nimbalkar of the Bharatiya Janata Party is the incumbent MP here and has been renominated. The other top contenders are Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil of the Nationalist Congress PartySharadchandra Pawar and Ramesh Baraskar of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

Polling will be held here on May 7 in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Political dynamics

Madha, a seat which the BJP was expected to comfortably win only two months ago has now turned into one of the hottest electoral battlefields in Maharashtra, one which is being keenly observed for the simple fact that Sharad Pawar was able to turn the tables weeks before the election. For many, Madha represents one of those seats where the NCP (Sharad Pawar) is waging an existential battle. After his party broke up into two factions, Pawar Senior is fighting to retain his strongholds this election. If he is unsuccessful, his faction of the NCP would likely be pushed down a very dark road of political irrelevance. Sharad Pawar himself represented the constituency in 2009. The opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi is fighting the election in Madha with renewed vigour ever since Sharad Pawar dealt a severe blow to the BJP. Pawar Senior has fielded Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil from Madha. Mohite-Patil quit the BJP just a month before Madha was scheduled to go to polls. In the saffron camp, Patil was a heavyweight and the district general secretary. His addition to the Maha Vikas Aghadi has provided the NCP-SP with much-needed impetus in the constituency. Mohite-Patils are an influential political family in western Maharashtra, and the NCP-SP hopes to reap the benefits of this induction in neighbouring constituencies as well. Mohite-Patil quit the BJP after being denied a ticket from Madha. He was among some other important leaders who had come out in open rebellion against the partys decision to give the ticket to Ranjit Nimbalkar. Pawar had earlier offered the candidature for Madha to Rashtriya Samaj Paksha chief Mahadev Jankar. However, the BJP overnight managed to prevail over him to change his decision and in return offered the Parbhani seat from ally Ajit Pawar-led NCPs quota to the RSP. Jankar is a leader of the Dhangar community, which has a strong presence in the Madha, Baramati, Solapur, and Satara Lok Sabha constituencies. There is local-level anti-incumbency that appears to be aiding the NCP-SP and Maha Vikas Aghadis campaign in Madha. The NCP-SP candidates focus on local issues appears to be putting the BJP on a back foot as well. The saffron party though is trying to convince voters that a vote for the BJP is important not just for the resolution of local issues, but future of the country at large. The NCP-SP is especially attacking the BJP on the water crisis which Madha faces, and the slow pace of initiatives to resolve the problem. The Maha Vikas Aghadi also appears to be getting successful in rekindling caste-based politics in Madha, which could again spell trouble for the BJP. Sharad Pawars army of workers and leaders has managed to grab voters attention and appears to be making headway in convincing them to vote for Mohite-Patil. The candidate himself is a well-known face on the ground, which is obviously going to benefit the NCP-SP. The BJPs Ranjit Naik-Nimbalkar, on the other hand, lacks ground-connect with voters. There is also chatter which suggests that a sympathy wave is set to benefit the Maha Vikas Aghadi. On the ground, it is not difficult to come by people who think that it was not right for the Shiv Sena and NCP  both strong regional players in Maharashtra  to be split into different factions. Meanwhile, there are also voters who have no qualms admitting that they feel let down by all parties. In 2019, the BJP wrested Madha from the NCP, but by a margin of just about 85,000 votes. Now that the contest here has turned so tight, the BJP is visibly apprehensive of seeing the NCP-SP make up the gap and win the seat. For the BJP, the biggest blows in Madha have come after the announcement of its candidate, Ranjit Naik-Nimbalkar. The biggest protesters of the decision were Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil and Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar. Patil has joined Sharad Pawars NCP and has been made the partys candidate from Madha, in what has emerged as the single-biggest challenge for the BJP here so far. Nimbalkar, who is with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, has been under pressure from supporters to rejoin the Sharad Pawar faction. However, he has reportedly said no to the possibility, at least for the foreseeable future. He has openly opposed Ranjit Naik Nimbalkars candidature, saying he should not be held responsible if the BJP candidate is defeated in the Lok Sabha elections. However, its not all too gloomy for the BJP just yet. It is a strong political force in Madha and could very well retain the seat. This would, however, depend a lot on whether the saffron party is able to get its silent voters out on polling day. Ground inputs suggest there is a significant portion of the electorate that is neither visible on the ground, nor active on social media, but appears to have made up its mind to support the BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP itself is trying to inflict psychological damage on the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Apart from roping in Mahadev Jankar and his RSP into the Mahayuti, the BJP has also been trying to get Uttamrao Jankar on its side. Jankar, a Dhangar leader from Malshiras taluka in Solapur is an influential leader whom both the BJP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) are keen to partner with. It remains to be seen which bloc he picks, but whoever Jankar supports is poised to get a significant chunk of Dhangar votes. In Madha and Solapur together, Dhangars are estimated to have at least 10 lakh votes. Also, now that Mohite-Patil has quit the BJP and the familys supporters are expected to vote en masse for the NCP-SP, the saffron party is banking on the Shindes here. The Shindes and Mohite-Patils are arch-rivals. The BJP is relying on the support of Babanrao and Sanjay Shinde, who jointly control at least four sugar factories and other cooperative institutions in Solapur. While this strategy is primarily for Solapur, the impact is expected to be felt in Madha as well  owing to the proximity and similarity between the two constituencies. The BJP has been forced to rework its strategy after Mohite-Patils exit. Now, the BJPs plan is to capitalise on the dissatisfaction among local politicians about Mohite-Patils candidacy, utilising the backing of these key local figures to improve its chances in the Madha. Besides, the BJP also has the Modi factor to rely on. Prime Minister Modis campaign here, with Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and the BJP candidate on stage is expected to provide the saffron party with a much-needed boost. Whether it will be sufficient to retain the seat in the face of a resurgent NCP remains to be seen. The BJP can also take solace in the fact that like in many other seats of Maharashtra, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi of Prakash Ambedkar could divert Dalit and SC votes away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Ramesh Baraskar is the VBAs candidate in Madha.

Key issues

Water scarcity: Madha has been facing a situation of severe water scarcity for three generations. People have adjusted to the non-availability of water, sometimes up to weeks. Reports suggest that people are miffed at the promises made by the politicians which they so far have failed to deliver on. People are mainly dependent on water tankers whose price and subsidy have become one of the core election issues in the region. During severe droughts, people lament the condition of the smaller livestock like goats and sheep which die of thirst. This also increases the economic pressure on the people, especially those engaged in the agriculture and dairy sectors.

Matchmaking: Voters here, especially single men, want a candidate who can help them find suitable matches and get married. The situation is dire as more than 25,000 young men from the constituency were struggling to find brides as young women and their parents were inclined towards government employees or those with fixed incomes. A large part of the constituency falls under Solapur district, where the child sex ratio is among the lowest in the state; according to the 2011 census, 883 girls were born in the district per 1,000 boys. Consequently, many young men from the district and neighbouring areas have faced multiple rejections from potential brides across the state.

Lack of industries: Apart from a few sugar mills there are no big industries in Madha. People are bereft of economic development and have voiced their concerns regarding this. The constituents have also demanded that the government set up industries in the region to provide employment and help in economic development.

Unemployment and emigration: A majority of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The lack of central government projects and industries has led to the migration of the working class and youth from Madha towards the urban centres of Pune and Mumbai or Gujarat in search of better opportunities. To address the issue of emigration and to ensure the generation of employment, the government is setting up an automobile industrial hub in Phaltan which is in its final stages and a National Industrial Corridor in Man and Malshiras.

Farmers issues: Agriculture has been a good source of revenue for the people of Madha, with most of the population involved in this sector. However, people believe that the government has not been proactive in improving or scaling up production to bring bigger economic gains. People have demanded storage and processing infrastructure and have called for the export of sugarcane that is grown here. Moreover, small and poor farmers still face issues with irrigation as they do not have private systems in place to irrigate the fields. This also causes crop loss and crop failure which leads to unmanageable debts as compensation is often delayed, sometimes for years. Farmers are struggling with low prices for their crops and have demanded an increase in MSP. However, the farmers protest has had no effect here.

Demographics

Total voters: 19,63,601

SC: 288,649 (14.7%)

ST: 17,672 (0.9%)

Urban voters: 188,506 (9.6%)

Rural voters: 1,775,095 (90.4%)

Hindus: 95.5%

Muslims: 3.7%

Buddhists: 2.1%

Voter turnout in 2019: 63.5%

Key infrastructure

Nira Deoghar Project: It is a pipeline project which aims to supply water to areas from Madha Lok Sabha constituency falling in the Satara and Solapur districts. The foundation stone was laid by deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in January 2024. It is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

Dhom Balkawadi Tunnel: The Dhom Balkawadi Tunnel Major Irrigation Project is situated in the Satara district of Maharashtra. The dam across Krishna river is located near Balkawadi village in Taluka Wai, 32 km from Wai town. The project envisages the construction of a 1,211-m-long earthen dam with a maximum height of 65.10 m and three radial gates of size 12mx5m to carry a maximum design flood of 1,758 cumecs. It is set to be concluded soon.

Automobile industrial hub and National Industrial Corridor: The government has envisaged setting up an automobile industrial hub in Phaltan and a National Industrial Corridor in Man and Malshiras, which will generate employment and lead to the overall development of the region.

NH 161: The Sangli-Solapur national highway is an ongoing project by the Centre. It is being built at a cost of Rs 3,127 crore and will have a length of 154.1 km.

Railways: There is a strong focus on modernisation, with upgrades like LED lighting, new train services connecting major cities, and increased frequency on existing routes  all of which is improving connectivity to Madha. Safety is also a priority, evident in the construction of numerous road over and under bridges. Passenger comfort is getting a boost too, with investments in amenities like water coolers and platform covers. Ongoing projects, like improved lighting and platform extensions, are bringing a much-needed fillip to railway infrastructure here.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya before holding a mega roadshow in the holy town. The Prime Ministers first visit to Ayodhya since the consecration at the shrine on January 22 came two days ahead of the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

In a televised ceremony, Modi was seen prostrating before the Ram Lalla idol at the newly constructed temple. After paying obeisance to Lord Ram, PM Modi took to X and wrote, At Ayodhya, prayed to Prabhu Shri Ram for the well being of my fellow 140 crore Indians.

                -  ! https://t.co/jPzllnXTA5

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2024

For PMs visit, the entrance gates to the temple were decorated with flowers. Replicas of a bow and an arrow made using flowers were also seen at various places. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Ram Lalla seated in the temple wore a light pink attire on Sunday.

PM Modi later participated in a roadshow, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Amit Shah, seeking support for the sitting BJP MP from Faizabad, Lallu Singh and those contesting from the neighbouring districts.

People from different walks of life lined the road as Modis motorcade passed through.

Voting in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, under which the Ayodhya district falls, will take place in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister latched on to a slip of the tongue of Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav, saying that now the Mulayam Singh Yadavs brother is appealing to make BJP win.

Modi was addressing a rally in Uttar Pradeshs Etawah, the home district of SP founder late Mulayam Singh Yadav. In a recent election meeting at Jaswant Nagar in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav had made a gaffe by asking people to ensure that on May 7 the BJP should win with a huge margin.

Recalling Mulayam Singh Yadavs statement about him, Modi said, The Parliament session was going on. It was the last session of Parliament before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when Mulayam Singh ji stood up to make a speech and said You are going to win again. It became a kind of blessing. Now Netaji is not among us but see the coincidence, his own brother is appealing to make BJP win. The words in his heart came to his tongue, he said.

(With agency inputs)

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Amid the sweltering heat in Raichur, which will go to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7, the political battle between the BJP and Congress will be a hotly contested one. The tight two-way fight between the two parties will have the incumbent royal MP and a former IAS officer, who has served in Raichur.

The Congress, which is in power in Karnataka since it won the assembly election last year, has deployed its party machinery in the state including chief minister Siddaramaiah to counter the Modi factor. Last year, the Congress bagged five seats  Shorapur, Shahapur, Yadgir, Raichur rural and Manvi, while the BJP won Raichur and Lingsugur and JD(S) secured Devadurga.

The BJPs alliance with the JD(S) may prove to be crucial in the Lok Sabha seat as the regional party was the third largest player in 2023 polls, winning the Devadurga seat with more than 34,000 votes. While the Congress and BJP secured 38.9 per cent and 38.3 per cent of the votes, the JD(S) secured 15.7 per cent.

A bypoll is also scheduled for the Shorapur constituency after the death of MLA Raja Venkatappa Naik.

Raichur is one of Karnatakas 28 Lok Sabha constituencies and is reserved for the scheduled tribes. It encompasses parts of Raichur and Yadgir districts. It has eight assembly segments  Shorapur (ST), Shahapur, and Yadgir in Yadgir district, and Raichur rural (ST), Raichur, Manvi (ST), Devadurga (ST), and Lingsugur (SC) in Raichur district.

It is presently represented by Raja Amareshwara Naik of the BJP since 2019, and the BJP has decided to repeated him this time as well. The Congress has fielded G Kumar Naik, who is a former civil servant.

Where the BJP stands

Traditionally a Congress bastion, the BJP first breached Raichur in 2009 when Sanna Pakirappa emerged victorious. The Congress wrested the seat back in 2014, but, in 2019, it lost by a heavy margin of 1.17 lakh votes to the BJPs royal face Raja Amareshwara Naik.

Naik, who had previously been a Congress member and then a JD(S) leader, joined the BJP in 2014. He comes from the royal family of Guragunta and Shorapur in Raichur, commanding tremendous sway among the people, especially the tribal community that forms almost 18 per cent of the vote.

He is known for being a development-oriented leader. He is respected for his royal blood and the familys historical link with the ST community. While anti-incumbency is a concern, the BJP still perceives him as its best bid in the constituency.

In 2019, Naik had defeated former MP BV Nayak, the son of formidable Congress leader and three-time MP Venkatesh Nayak. At the time, the saffron party had attacked the legacy of the father-son duo and managed to register a victory.

BV Nayak went on to join the BJP later and, in 2023, he was given a ticket from the Mandvi assembly seat, which he lost by a margin of 7,719 votes. He was still hopeful for a Lok Sabha ticket in 2024 and expressed his dissatisfaction when the sitting MP was nominated by the BJP. His discontentment has complicated matters and led to fears of internal damage to Naiks campaign.

With no controversies tied to his name and a focus on development-based issues, the royal MP remains in a favourable position. He is bolstered by the Modi factor as the prime minister has a massive following here, owing to the different central welfare schemes, development agenda and national issues such as Ram Mandir and national security.

Hindutva has sizeable support, with the Ayodhya temple inauguration being celebrated across the constituency. Moreover, the JD(S), in alliance with the BJP in Karnataka, may significantly contribute to the candidates fortunes.

Voters from the ST community comprise a little under three lakh votes. A major chunk of ST voters lean towards the NDA with multiple factors, including support for Prime Minister Modi, loyalty towards the royal family and the JD(S) stronghold in Devadurga and considerable influence in Manvi and Lingsugur.

Lingayat voters, who form a core base for the BJP, account for about 3.8 lakh votes. The BJP also has Raichur MLA Shivraj Patil and Lingsugur MLA Manama D Vajjal to lean on to draw support.

Where the Congress stands

The Congress nominee, G Kumar Naik, is a retired 1990 Karnataka-cadre IAS officer who has served as deputy commissioner in Raichur between 1999 and 2002. Having served the constituency before, he said he worked hard for the people back then and is also perceived to have a hold over the issues in the region. But, he is a new face in politics and has his work cut out to convince voters.

G Kumar Naik has been termed as an outsider by his rivals in the BJP and is trying to combat that narrative. He is backed by Manvi MLC NS Boseraju, who holds the state portfolios for science and technology as well as minor irrigation in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet.

Having bagged five assembly seats out of eight in Raichur in 2023, the Congress is confident of a formidable turnout in its favour. The minority vote from the Muslim community, which is a core vote bank of the Congress, accounts for much over 16.8 per cent of the total voter population.

The Siddaramaiah factor among the Kurubas is also strong here. Kurubas are a loyal vote bank for the chief minister, who comes from the community, and accounts for around 3.15 lakh votes. A significant portion of the SC vote (21.7 per cent) and a considerable percentage of ST voters are also drawn towards the Congress this time.

Moreover, the five guarantees under the Congress, which have been implemented rapidly after the 2023 assembly polls, are a major political success for the party as they countered the Centres welfarism with its own version. The party, however, has been unable to counter the BJPs Hindutva politics, which sours its prospects among Hindu voters. It also does not have a national leadership to offer to counteract the Modi factor, with minimal popularity for Rahul Gandhi.

Here are some key issues at play in Raichur Lok Sabha constituency:

BJP vs Congress on welfare schemes: The BJP alleges that the Congress, with its five guarantees, has disturbed the fiscal stability of Karnataka. Recently, former CM Basavaraj Bommai, who is the BJP candidate for the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency, launched a blistering critique against the governments fiscal management, alleging that it is driving the state towards bankruptcy. The BJP also accuses the Congress of discontinuing the Kisan Samman Nidhi and Vidya Nidhi schemes.

The BJP alleges that the Congress, with its five guarantees, has disturbed the fiscal stability of Karnataka. Recently, former CM Basavaraj Bommai, who is the BJP candidate for the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency, launched a blistering critique against the governments fiscal management, alleging that it is driving the state towards bankruptcy. The BJP also accuses the Congress of discontinuing the Kisan Samman Nidhi and Vidya Nidhi schemes. Communal tension: While a considerable portion of the Hindu community is drawn towards the Hindutva brand of politics by the BJP, Muslim voters are opposed to it. A major bone of contention between the two communities is former Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultans legacy, which Muslim voters are drawn to preserve but followers of Hindutva politics are against. A protest in late January over the purported desecration of a portrait of Tipu Sultan escalated, leading to heightened communal tension in the region. Last year, reacting to a social media post on Islam, angered Muslims gathered in a group and reportedly attempted to barge into a Hindu temple. This post was made by a young woman and heated arguments took place between members of the two communities before the situation was diffused by the police.

While a considerable portion of the Hindu community is drawn towards the Hindutva brand of politics by the BJP, Muslim voters are opposed to it. A major bone of contention between the two communities is former Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultans legacy, which Muslim voters are drawn to preserve but followers of Hindutva politics are against. A protest in late January over the purported desecration of a portrait of Tipu Sultan escalated, leading to heightened communal tension in the region. Last year, reacting to a social media post on Islam, angered Muslims gathered in a group and reportedly attempted to barge into a Hindu temple. This post was made by a young woman and heated arguments took place between members of the two communities before the situation was diffused by the police. Water contamination: Water contamination and the ailments caused by them remain a serious issue in Raichur. A recent study by the district health department in three out of the six affected villages shows an increase in cases of asthma and other health issues due to drinking borewell water. The baseline survey by doctors of Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences shows that there is higher fluoride content in groundwater. According to reports, people feel apprehensive whenever they drink water.

Water contamination and the ailments caused by them remain a serious issue in Raichur. A recent study by the district health department in three out of the six affected villages shows an increase in cases of asthma and other health issues due to drinking borewell water. The baseline survey by doctors of Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences shows that there is higher fluoride content in groundwater. According to reports, people feel apprehensive whenever they drink water. Industrial pollution: The industrial area, which is only 12 km from Raichur city, houses nearly 75 industries and has the second-highest density of chemical industries in the state. It has 19 chemical industries, including 12 pharmaceutical companies. Chemical industries are releasing untreated effluents into water bodies and fields. The area is also home to two thermal power plants and there have been several instances of chemical industries dumping waste in open fields and water bodies. People have reportedly provided video and photographic evidence about industries discharging waste into water bodies and farms, but nothing has been done to address the situation. Chemical factories also discharge chemicals in the air at night as the pungent smell remains throughout the day causing suffering for the population in the vicinity.

The industrial area, which is only 12 km from Raichur city, houses nearly 75 industries and has the second-highest density of chemical industries in the state. It has 19 chemical industries, including 12 pharmaceutical companies. Chemical industries are releasing untreated effluents into water bodies and fields. The area is also home to two thermal power plants and there have been several instances of chemical industries dumping waste in open fields and water bodies. People have reportedly provided video and photographic evidence about industries discharging waste into water bodies and farms, but nothing has been done to address the situation. Chemical factories also discharge chemicals in the air at night as the pungent smell remains throughout the day causing suffering for the population in the vicinity. Droughts: Raichur, known for its crippling heat despite being in the vicinity of two major rivers Mahanadi and Kharun, has suffered major droughts. Moreover, erratic rains over the past few years have added to the burden. The administration set up a task force and provided funds at the taluk and tehsil level to mitigate the water crisis but this has failed to achieve the desired effect.

Raichur, known for its crippling heat despite being in the vicinity of two major rivers Mahanadi and Kharun, has suffered major droughts. Moreover, erratic rains over the past few years have added to the burden. The administration set up a task force and provided funds at the taluk and tehsil level to mitigate the water crisis but this has failed to achieve the desired effect. Electricity: Despite providing a gigantic 40 per cent of Karnatakas electricity and two thermal power plants in vicinity, the region suffers from a shortage of power and load shedding. While the situation in urban areas is relatively better, rural areas only receive six hours of electricity a day. According to reports, people have voiced their displeasure at the inefficient distribution from the Raichur thermal power station.

Despite providing a gigantic 40 per cent of Karnatakas electricity and two thermal power plants in vicinity, the region suffers from a shortage of power and load shedding. While the situation in urban areas is relatively better, rural areas only receive six hours of electricity a day. According to reports, people have voiced their displeasure at the inefficient distribution from the Raichur thermal power station. Farmer issues: Two years of relentless drought have led to devastating crop failures, leaving farmers without a safety net due to the lack of crop insurance. The situation is worsened by limited access to electricity, with only six hours of power available per day, hindering irrigation efforts. Despite having two rivers and existing irrigation facilities, water scarcity remains a major concern, with demands for 100 per cent irrigation cover to address the current 40 per cent coverage. Additionally, the existing mandi system and APMCs are seen as exploitative, with farmers seeking to eliminate middlemen and gain fairer prices for their produce.

Two years of relentless drought have led to devastating crop failures, leaving farmers without a safety net due to the lack of crop insurance. The situation is worsened by limited access to electricity, with only six hours of power available per day, hindering irrigation efforts. Despite having two rivers and existing irrigation facilities, water scarcity remains a major concern, with demands for 100 per cent irrigation cover to address the current 40 per cent coverage. Additionally, the existing mandi system and APMCs are seen as exploitative, with farmers seeking to eliminate middlemen and gain fairer prices for their produce. Unemployment and emigration: While the chemical and non-chemical industries provide around 5,000 to 10,000 local jobs, unemployment has remained a major issue in Raichur. This has caused the majority of the youth to seek employment elsewhere, either in the urban centres of Karnataka or migrating to Maharashtra. Another issue that has borne out the rising unemployment, is underemployment as people who had once migrated out for higher education return home and take up menial jobs.

While the chemical and non-chemical industries provide around 5,000 to 10,000 local jobs, unemployment has remained a major issue in Raichur. This has caused the majority of the youth to seek employment elsewhere, either in the urban centres of Karnataka or migrating to Maharashtra. Another issue that has borne out the rising unemployment, is underemployment as people who had once migrated out for higher education return home and take up menial jobs. Health facilities: While the city of Raichur possesses a healthy amount of healthcare options and hospitals, the rest of the constituency still languishes in the area. The rise of health issues arising out of water contamination has crippled the existing healthcare facilities in the rural areas. People have been complaining of fluorosis, asthma, severe joint pain, yellowing of teeth and stomach ache. Moreover, in the urban centres, people have voiced their disappointment over the Centres failure to open an AIIMS in the region.

While the city of Raichur possesses a healthy amount of healthcare options and hospitals, the rest of the constituency still languishes in the area. The rise of health issues arising out of water contamination has crippled the existing healthcare facilities in the rural areas. People have been complaining of fluorosis, asthma, severe joint pain, yellowing of teeth and stomach ache. Moreover, in the urban centres, people have voiced their disappointment over the Centres failure to open an AIIMS in the region. Connectivity: Lack of railway and highway connectivity has impacted the regions economic growth. According to on-ground reports, rural roads are in a state of disrepair hampering intra-connectivity in the constituency. To provide better connectivity, the central government has envisaged to connect Raichur with the Bharatmala projects, the construction of which has just started. Raichur has a small airport, which can hardly cater to the needs of the people, with a lack of commercial flight connections. The state government has recently pledged Rs 14 crore for development works, but it remains unclear if there are plans to expand the airport. The nearest airport from Raichur is in Hyderabad, 190 km away.

Voter Demographic (as per 2011 Census)

Total Voters (2019): 19,27,758

Urban Voters: 27%

Rural Voters: 73%

Social Composition

SC: 21.7%

ST: 18.1%

Religious Composition

Hindu: ~83%

Muslim: 16.8%

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Vijayapura, also known as Bijapur, is one of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka. It is a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes and comprises eight Assembly segments: Muddebihal (Congress), Devar Hippargi (JDS), Basavana Bagevadi (Congress), Babaleshwar (Congress), Bijapur City (BJP), Nagthan (Congress), Indi (Congress) and Sindagi (Congress). The constituency will vote in phase three on May 7.

Current MP: Ramesh Jigajinagi (BJP)

Top Contenders: Ramesh Jigajinagi (BJP), HR Algur (Raju) (Congress)

POLITICAL DYNAMICS

BJP Seeks Sixth Straight Win: The BJP has represented Vijayapura in the Lok Sabha continuously since 2009. While Basanagouda Patil Yatnal represented the constituency from 1999 to 2009, Ramesh Jigajinagi has held it since 2009. Despite the BJPs strong position here, in the Assembly elections of 2023, the Congress managed to win six Assembly segments that fall under Vijayapura. This has put the BJP machinery on its toes, and it is going out of its way to woo voters. Development and Hindutva remain the saffron partys biggest poll plank.

Ramesh Jigajinagi has been fielded by the BJP once again. He is a well-known leader in Vijayapura and has a strong support base. Jigajinagi is one of those rare politicians who kept winning despite facing criticism over not taking up any significant development works in his constituency. The BJP hopes the Modi-Jigajinagi combine will help it comfortably retain Vijayapura. Although there was talk of the saffron party replacing him this election, the state leadership, especially BS Yediyurappa, BY Vijayendra and Govind Karjol impressed upon the top brass that if Jigajinagi were dropped, the party would be in trouble.

There was some resentment over Jigajinagi being given the ticket from Vijayapura again. BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had remained away from campaigning for some time as it became clear the party was set to repeat Jigajinagi. He was reportedly upset with BJP state president Vijayendra and his father Yediyurappa. However, the BJP appears to have got its house in order since.

Yatnal has resumed campaigning for the party, after telling journalists in Vijayapura recently that he had nothing against Jigajinagi. Even so, Yatnal is mostly talking about Brand Modi and the Prime Ministers development-centric vision, while steering clear of the partys state leadership.

This election, Jigajinagi faces a tougher fight. Congresss candidate Raju Algur is a Dalit who belongs to the Chalavadi sect, which has over 2 lakh voters in Vijayapura. Jigajinagi, on the other hand, belongs to the Madiga sect that has roughly 30,000 votes. In the last three general elections, Jigajinagi mostly faced off Lambani candidates. As a result, both sects of the Dalit community largely voted for him. However, there is a threat of a major chunk of Chalavadi votes shifting to the Congress. Besides, the Congress being in power in the state and six of the eight MLAs in Vijayapura district being Congress leaders could help Algur.

Perhaps the complex caste dynamics here is the reason for the BJP and its candidate trying to polarise voters on more religious lines. Jigajinagi is no stranger to controversies and is largely known as a vocal and unapologetic Hindutva ideologue. More recently, in a viral video, the BJPs candidate was heard saying that the party is for Hindus and not minorities. The remark came in the backdrop of the murder of Neha Hiremath, who was killed inside her college in a suspected case of love jihad.

Earlier in February, a war of words broke out between the Congress government of Karnataka and the BJP, especially in Vijayapura. The sole BJP MLA from Vijayapura, Yatnal, claimed that the Congress government had not released any minority funds to be used for the benefit of over 1.2 lakh Muslims there. To this, Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan responded saying, Should we give you grants? Do you want grants? After becoming an MLA, you said no burqa-clad woman and no one with a beard should approach me. We will not do anything for Muslims. How can we give you grants?

The BJP is aiming to use its rhetoric to consolidate the Hindu voters on its side, cutting across caste lines. It remains to be seen whether it is successful in doing so, although the saffron party does maintain an edge here in Vijayapura.

The Indian Medical Association is putting its weight behind the BJP candidate, who is also a doctor.

Congress Hopes to Stage an Upset for the BJP: The Congress Hail Mary in Vijayapura is to ensure that the electorate gets divided on caste lines. This is why the Congress has chosen to field a Dalit from the Chalavadi sect. Essentially, the party has deviated from its practice of fielding a Banjara/Lambani candidate. It remains to be seen whether this caste gamble works for the Congress, given that religious polarisation is becoming evident on the ground and is poised to benefit the BJP.

Algur is a former two-time MLA and earlier taught political science at a college here. He is known to be close to industries minister MB Patil. Algur is also the district Congress president of Vijayapura. Interestingly, despite being a Congress leader, he considers Jigajinagi his mentor. This is what makes the fight in Vijayapura all the more interesting.

The Congress is in a strong position in terms of the number of MLAs it sends to the Vidhan Sabha from Vijayapura. While the Congress sends six legislators, the BJP lags behind significantly with just one MLA. The Grand Old Party is taking the Assembly elections of last year as its benchmark, and based on its impressive performance in those polls, is hopeful the same can be replicated in the Lok Sabha election too.

However, the Congress faces a steep climb here, primarily because the BJP candidate is strong and has the famed Modi Factor working to his advantage. Additionally, the Congress also runs the risk of not getting the Banjara communitys votes this time, as the party has not fielded a candidate belonging to the community.

The Congress lost the constituency to the BJP in 2019 by a margin of over 2.58 lakh votes. Therefore, the fight to win the seat is tougher for the Congress than it is for the BJP. While the BJP can win the seat even if its votes come down considerably, the Congress has a big margin to cover if it hopes to unseat Jigajinagi.

KEY ISSUES

Communal Tensions: Hindutva is a major factor in the Vijayapura Lok Sabha constituency and has played a key role in the recent elections. Recently, there have been calls for a ban on Muslim vendors at the famous historical Sri Siddeshwara Sankramana religious fair in Karnatakas Vijayapura district. In the Vijayapur Assembly constituency, locals have stated that development hasnt reached Muslim-dominated areas, giving it a communal colour.

Persisting Water Issues: Despite the claims that the water issues in the region have been solved, Vijayapura persistently suffers from water scarcity. Usually, this occurs when the reservoirs are parched, however, this time around, the reservoirs are full, but water supply has been erratic, with some regions getting water once in 7-10 days. The citizens are also miffed about receiving a 30-day water bill, when theyve only received water four-five times a month, that, too, only for a few hours. Moreover, people in certain areas are getting water contaminated with sewage. Water issues are also affecting Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts.

Agriculture Issues: Bijapur is a centre for raisin and grape farming. However, issues of irrigation, electricity and absence of cold storage units have created a lot of issues for farmers. According to reports, the dire situation in Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts has left crops withering due to prolonged drought. Due to lack of rainfall, farmers have failed to irrigate their crops in Vijayapura. Moreover, the erratic supply of electricity means that those with private irrigation systems have not been able to save their crops. Electricity is often supplied at night in agricultural zones, making it inconvenient for farmers to irrigate their fields, and also leads to encountering wild animals, including crocodiles. In addition, the absence of crop insurance has led to financial losses for the farmers. The absence of cold storage units means that the produce is lifted from Vijayapura and sent to Maharashtra from where it is distributed throughout India. This ensures that the farmers in the area fail to get recognition.

Neglecting Tourism: The region has temples, old architecture and over 80 ASI sites. However, not much has been done to promote tourism. Economic growth in the area has been sluggish, which has forced people to migrate. Locals believe that the lack of tourist amenities and failure of the government to advertise the region as a tourism centre are among the main reasons for its backwardness.

Development: Lack of intra-constituency and rural roads, and central government projects and water scarcity have hampered the growth of the region. People believe that the central government has not treated them fairly and will prove to be a hindrance for the BJP seeking another win in the constituency.

Employment and Migration: Lack of industries in the constituency has led to rising unemployment numbers. The major sectors here are textile, agriculture and tourism, of which two are facing immense pressure to sustain themselves given the local conditions. Moreover, absence of major projects and development has led to a majority of people seeking employment out of the constituency to urban centres such as Bangalore or to neighbouring states of Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Total Voters

Social Composition

SC: 3,64,574 (20.3%)

ST: 32,327 (1.8%)

Geographical Composition

Urban Voters: 422,044 (23.5%)

Rural Voters: 1,373,887 (76.5%)

Religious Composition

Hindu: 83.7%

Muslim: 16.5%

KEY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Television actors Isha Malviya and Samarth Jurel broke up earlier last month. While the actors refrained from making any comment, Samarths manager exclusively confirmed to News18 Showsha that the Bigg Boss 17 stars are no longer together. Now, in a new interview, when Samarth opened up about his breakup, he went on to call his ex-girlfriend an opportunist. While Isha hasnt reacted to it, she took to her Instagram handle to drop a dance reel video, seemingly unfazed by his remarks.

In the video, Isha was seen dancing her heart out in the trending song Gulabi Sadi. She donned a pretty deep pink saree teamed with a printed green blouse. The video instantly went viral, with fans gushing over her looks and flooding the comments section. Ishas friend and Bigg Boss fame Ayesha Khan too took to the comments section and wrote, Why is this reel 2 hours long?.

Have a look at the video:

In a recent interview, Samarth called Isha an opportunist and said that she would get photos taken with him for paparazzi spotting. Isha Malviya and Samarth Jurel broke up earlier last month.

Speaking to Instant Bollywood, Samarth Jurel said, Voh, actually, bohot badi opportunist hai. Uska aisa tha ki, koi bhi event ho raha hai ya koi bhi function ho raha hai toh mujhse baat karne lag jayegi. For example, at the at the Holi event, humari baat cheet ekdum band thi. Lekin ek din pehle se mujhse baat karne lag gayi ki tu aa raha hai na? Mereko bahaar tak iss liye le gayi kyuki paps khade the, taaki humari spotting ho jaaye. Pata chal jayega logo ko ki hum saath main hai.

Earlier in an interview with Tell Chakkar, Isha opened up about why she broke up with Samarth. She shared, We could not get along well. I am not somebody who can pretend to be someone for a long time. For me, my mental peace is more important. Yes, I am selfish because I keep myself as my priority. I think it is good for him also, and it is good for me also.

Samarth Jurel and Isha Malviya met for the first time on the sets of their show, Udaariyaa. The show also starred Abhishek Kumar in the lead. Isha was previously dating Abhishek. The two entered the Bigg Boss 17 house together and revealed that they broke up on an ugly note. Later, Samarth entered Salman Khans show as a wild card contestant and revealed that he was Ishas current boyfriend.
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Sunday directed all staffers of Raj Bhavan to ignore any communication from the Kolkata Police in connection with a woman employees complaint of molestation against him.

The direction comes after Kolkata Police constituted an inquiry team to probe into the womans allegation against the governor.

Bose, in a post on X, said, It is clear that in view of Article 361 (2) and (3) of the Constitution of India, the state police cannot act in any manner whatsoever to inquire/investigate/set in motion any kind of proceedings against the honble governor.

He also asserted that no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President, or the governor of a state in any court during his or her term of office.

No process for the arrest or imprisonmentshall issue from any court during his term of office, the governor said in the post, drafted as a communique to Raj Bhavan employees.

It is clear that the state machinery cannot set in motion any sort of criminal proceedings, whatsoever, against the governor, he said on the microblogging site.

The reports from the media indicate that the police propose to conduct an inquiry into the incident and that they would be examining the staff of Raj Bhavan. It is also reported that the investigating team intends to collect the CCTV footage from Raj Bhavan.

The question that arises is whether the police can conduct an inquiry and collect evidence in view of the immunity enjoyed by the governor., Bose said in the post.

The Kolkata Police team, as part of its investigation, will speak to witnesses over the next few days and has requested Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, if available, a senior officer said on Saturday.

When asked how the police could initiate a probe despite the Constitutional immunity to the governor, another police officer said that its a regular practice to start an investigation after getting a complaint, especially from a woman.

Three Raj Bhavan officials and a policeman posted at the governors house were summoned by officers of Hare Street Police Station in connection with its investigation.

None of the Raj Bhavan officials turned up for enquiry, and only the policeman attended. We will request them to come to the Hare Street Police Station again on Monday. No other plan of enquiry till then, the police officer had said.

A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Kolkata Police, alleging molestation by the governor.

The governor had described the allegation as absurd drama, and said that none would be able to deter him from his determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence.

Bose had ordered a ban on the entry of police personnel to the Raj Bhavan in the guise of conducting unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigations to placate political bosses during the election.

Find Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
During a seminar in Kathmandu, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud recounted a childhood ordeal where he endured corporal punishment to conceal his injured palm from his parents out of shame. Speaking at the National Symposium on Juvenile Justice hosted by the Supreme Court of Nepal, CJI Chandrachud reflected on the lasting impact of the incident.

I still remember that I requested my teacher to hit my bum and not my hand. Out of shame, I could not tell my parents, and hid my injured right palm for 10 days, CJI Chandrachud was quoted as saying by media outlets. Recalling the episode from his fifth-grade years, the Chief Justice disclosed his plea to the teacher, preferring a blow to his buttocks over his hand. Addressing the broader context of juvenile justice, CJI Chandrachud stressed the imperative of recognising the vulnerabilities of children entangled in legal conflicts.

#WATCH | Kathmandu, Nepal: During the National Symposium on Juvenile Justice organized by the Supreme Court of Nepal, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud says, In both Nepalese and Indian societies, children are revered as the future, and are considered to be the heart of pic.twitter.com/gzCat8oJAU ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2024

Children towards delinquent behaviours

Children are often driven towards delinquent behaviours by complex societal challenges like economic disparities and social inequalities. Family breakdowns resulting from issues like domestic violence and poverty can leave the children without necessary guidance making them more susceptible to negative influences, he said.

The Chief Justice advocated for a justice system imbued with compassion, rehabilitation, and avenues for societal reintegration, echoing his late fathers commitment to judicial empathy. He referenced a recent legal petition in Indias Supreme Court concerning the termination of pregnancy for a minor rape survivour, underscoring the judiciarys pivotal role in safeguarding childrens rights.

D Y Chandrachud arrived in Kathmandu on May 3 on a three-day official trip a first for any sitting Chief Justice of India to visit Nepal. Chandrachud, who was here at the invitation of Chief Justice of Nepal Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha, was welcomed by the senior most justice at the Supreme Court of Nepal Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

This was the first time in history that any sitting Chief Justice of India paid an official visit to Nepal on record, according to Ved Prasad Upreti, spokesperson at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India met his Nepalese counterpart Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha on Saturday and discussed ways to cooperate between the top courts of the two neighbouring countries.

The two chief justices discussed the possible cooperation and exchange between the apex courts of Nepal and India, spokesperson of the Supreme Court Ved Prasad Upreti said. CJ of Nepal Shrestha also hosted a dinner reception in honour of the visiting Chief Justice Chandrachud.

(With agency inputs)

Find Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
As India awaits details about the arrest of nationals allegedly linked to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, top intelligence sources on Sunday revealed a nexus between Canada-based Khalistan groups and Pakistans ISI that fosters tension in Indian Punjab by granting visas to people with criminal backgrounds.

Canadian Police arrested three Indians on Friday linked to Nijjars killing in June last year. Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Underlining that the probe into Nijjars death is Canadas internal matter and has nothing to do with India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said New Delhi will wait for information from the Canadian police regarding the arrests.

Refuge in Canada

The inputs shared by top intelligence sources shed light on the operations of seven A Category gangsters from Punjab, who have found refuge in Canada and are said to be involved in a myriad of criminal activities. Even with their notorious criminal history in Punjab, these individuals were granted visas to Canada, where they continued their nefarious activities with impunity. Their criminal endeavours range from extortion and drug trafficking to targeted killings and terrorist activities, with connections to various Khalistan groups.

Here are the profiles of 7 gangsters who were granted Canada visas:

Lakhbir Singh , also known as Landa, hails from Harike, Punjab. Before immigrating to Canada in 2017, he was involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted killings. Singhs first encounter with the law occurred in 2011 in Harike when he was charged with murder. Joining the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in 2017, Singh relocated to Canada with help from Rinda. He was involved in an attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters using rocket launchers.

, also known as Landa, hails from Harike, Punjab. Before immigrating to Canada in 2017, he was involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted killings. Singhs first encounter with the law occurred in 2011 in Harike when he was charged with murder. Joining the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in 2017, Singh relocated to Canada with help from Rinda. He was involved in an attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters using rocket launchers. Ramandeep Singh , alias Raman Judge, is associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang. He is the brother of incarcerated gangster Gagandeep Singh. Operating from Canada, Singh faces charges related to terrorist activities in Punjab, including the deaths of a dera devotee and a priest in Phillaur in 2021. He reportedly acts as an agent and recruiter for the Khalistan Tiger Force.

, alias Raman Judge, is associated with the Jaipal Bhullar gang. He is the brother of incarcerated gangster Gagandeep Singh. Operating from Canada, Singh faces charges related to terrorist activities in Punjab, including the deaths of a dera devotee and a priest in Phillaur in 2021. He reportedly acts as an agent and recruiter for the Khalistan Tiger Force. Charanjit Singh , known as Rinku, originates from Bihla Village, Barnala District. Initially granted a student visa, Singh engaged in criminal activities in Canada, becoming wanted for murder, extortion, attempted murder, and targeted killings. A confidant of gangster Arshdeep Singh, he facilitated the escape of criminals from Punjab and arranged financing and weapons for criminal acts.

, known as Rinku, originates from Bihla Village, Barnala District. Initially granted a student visa, Singh engaged in criminal activities in Canada, becoming wanted for murder, extortion, attempted murder, and targeted killings. A confidant of gangster Arshdeep Singh, he facilitated the escape of criminals from Punjab and arranged financing and weapons for criminal acts. Gurpinder Singh , alias Baba Dalla, entered Canada on a visitor visa. Formerly a motor mechanic in Badni Kalan village, Singh became involved in disputes and rose to prominence within the Sukhpreet Budda gang. Notably, he posted online about Buddas intentions to kill sacrilege accused Mahidnerpal Singh, who was later murdered.

, alias Baba Dalla, entered Canada on a visitor visa. Formerly a motor mechanic in Badni Kalan village, Singh became involved in disputes and rose to prominence within the Sukhpreet Budda gang. Notably, he posted online about Buddas intentions to kill sacrilege accused Mahidnerpal Singh, who was later murdered. Arshdeep Singh , also known as Arsh Dalla, hails from Dala Village, Moga District, Punjab. He is wanted for the murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik and is known for radicalizing youth, often in collaboration with wanted terrorist Hardeep Nijjar. Singh also funnels money to gangsters and terrorist operatives in Punjab.

, also known as Arsh Dalla, hails from Dala Village, Moga District, Punjab. He is wanted for the murder of Ripudaman Singh Malik and is known for radicalizing youth, often in collaboration with wanted terrorist Hardeep Nijjar. Singh also funnels money to gangsters and terrorist operatives in Punjab. Satveer Singh , known as Warring, immigrated to Canada on a visitor visa from Abohar village. Involved in extortion and youth radicalisation, Singh plays a crucial role in mobilizing youth for criminal activities in India.

, known as Warring, immigrated to Canada on a visitor visa from Abohar village. Involved in extortion and youth radicalisation, Singh plays a crucial role in mobilizing youth for criminal activities in India. Snoveer Singh, alias Dhillon, is from Punjab and was involved in the murder of an athlete.

Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that these gangsters are all based in Canada and mostly got visas after they got involved in criminal activities in India. They are conducting activities on behalf of ISI. Canada is favoring Pakistan by creating tension in Indian Punjab through the killing of leaders, extortion, and drug trafficking, ultimately channeling money to Pakistan. These activities also serve Canadas domestic constituency, sources added.

Find Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
Hello, readers! In todays noon digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on Jaishankars Comments on Nepals Move to Feature Indian Areas on New Currency Note, Prajwal Revanna Sexual Assault Case, and other stories.

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Wont Change Ground Reality: Jaishankar Slams Nepals Move To Feature Indian Areas On New Currency Note

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticised Nepals decision to print a new Rs-100 currency note featuring a map that includes areas under Indian control as unilateral. READ MORE

Why Does Rahul Gandhi Always Wear White T-shirt? Whats His Ideology, Congress Leader Answers Rapid Fire Questions

As campaigning heats up for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a light-hearted approach by revealing the story behind his signature white t-shirt and sharing his thoughts on campaigning in a video. READ MORE

Sex Scandal: HD Revanna Arrested, CM Says CBI To Issue Blue Corner Notice Against Prajwal | Updates

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that JD(S) Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who has been booked for alleged sexual assault of several women, will face action as per the law. READ MORE

Australian MP Alleges She Was Drugged, Sexually Assaulted During Night-Out

Queensland Labour Party MP Brittany Lauga alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted in Yeppoon, a central Queensland town. She said she contacted the police in the early hours of Sunday morning. READ MORE

Kareena Kapoor Calls Singham Again Male Testosterone Film: Deepika Padukone, Me In Strong Parts

Kareena Kapoor Khan kickstarted 2024 with a successful start with Crew, which hit screens in March and performed well. In a recent interview with Variety from UN House, Kareena revealed a potential sequel to the film and her role in the upcoming movie Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty. She said that both her and Deepika Padukones characters play important roles in this big Bollywood masala entertainer. Singham Again stands out as one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, boasting a star-studded cast including Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Deepika Padukone. READ MORE

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In a shocking incident from Chhattisgarhs Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai (KCG) district, a 14-year-old girl allegedly hacked her elder brother to death after he reprimanded her for talking to boys on mobile phone in.

According to an the police, the accused teenager has been detained for the offence that took place at Amlidihkala village under Chhuikhadan police station limits on Friday.

The girl allegedly told police that she and her 18-year-old brother were at home while other family members had gone out on work at the time of the incident.

He scolded her claiming she talked to boys on mobile phone, and asked her not to use the phone anymore. Smarting under the rebuke, she allegedly hit him on the throat with an axe when he had fallen asleep, killing him on the spot, police said.

The girl then had a bath and cleaned the blood stains on her clothes before telling her neighbours that her brother had been murdered.

During questioning by the police, she admitted to have killed him, the statement said.

A case has been registered and further investigation was underway.

(with PTI inputs)

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A 13-year-old girl and his younger brother were found dead inside their fathers grocery shop in northwest Delhis Keshav Puram area on Saturday, police said. The childrens father Manish, who is suspected to have killed the two siblings, is absconding and efforts are on to nab him, they said.

A call regarding the incident was received at 7.15 pm, police said. Manishs wife told police that both the children had gone to school but they did not return home. Initially, she thought that they were with their father as he would often pick them up from their school, they said.

She tried to contact Manish but his mobile phone was not reachable. In the evening, when other family members opened the shutter of their shop, they found the two siblings lying inside in an unconscious condition, an officer said.

They were taken to hospital where doctors declared them dead, he said, adding that their school bags were also lying inside the shop, located on the ground floor of their house. According to a police officer, it is suspected that Manish killed his children by giving them some poisonous substance or by smothering them.

The matter is being investigated from all possible angles and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem, the officer said, adding the actual cause of death will be ascertained only after the report comes. During investigation, it was found that Manish was upset due to some financial issue, however, further probe is underway. The statements of the family members have been taken, police said.

The CCTVs in the locality are being scanned and teams were formed to locate Manish, police said.

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In a gruesome incident from Gujarats Vadodara, a 52-year-old man allegedly gave sugarcane juice mixed with potassium gold cyanide to his family of three, leading to the death of his father and wife. The accused man, who also fed the cyanide laced juice to his 24-year-old son, also attempted suicide by consuming poison during police questioning at his residence on Friday.

The man, along with his son is currently battling for life at SSG hospital. On Saturday, police booked the man, Chetan Soni, a metal polisher under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence).

As per the FIR, lodged on the basis of a complaint filed by brother of Chetans wife, Manoj Soni, potassium gold cyanide was used in the murders.

The cops have identified the deceased as Chetans father Manoharlal and wife Bindu. The case is currently being investigated by the Makarpura police who have said that Chetan was under heavy debt and had planned and carried out the murders.

According to an Indian Express report, Chetans father , Manoharlal died on Thursday afternoon and his and wife, Bindu died on early Friday, at their home in Tarsali. Chetan, however, rushed his son Aakash to the hospital on Friday, and allegedly blamed his wife Bindu for feeding poison to his family. Later, while being questioned by the police at his home, Chetan consumed poison.

Speaking on the incident, Makarpura police Inspector J N Parmar told Indian Express, He rushed his son to the hospital after completing the final rites of his wife and father At the hospital, he mentioned in the referral notes that his wife had poisoned the family at that time, Chetan had not consumed poison.

The inspector further said that the cops suspected Chetan when they learnt that Bindu died just a day before. We began questioning himmeanwhile, he consumed poison, which he was perhaps carrying. We also had to admit him to SSG hospital. Both Soni and his son are in a critical condition, he added.

As per Bindus family members, the Sonis did not talk about facing any financial crisis. However, preliminary probe revealed that Chetan was under a lot of debt.

Inspector Parmar, while giving a brief about the accused Chetan Soni, said, He had access to the chemical, which is widely used for gold polishing metal. He ran a small polishing business and owed a lot of money to his creditors. We have booked Soni for the murder of his wife and father as well as attempted murder of his son.

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External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticised Nepals decision to print a new Rs-100 currency note featuring a map that includes areas under Indian control as unilateral.

Reacting strongly to this move on Saturday, the union minister noted that Kathmandus decision will not change the situation or the ground reality.

Our position is very clear. With Nepal, we are having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. In the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side, Jaishankar stated.

On Friday, Nepal announced the issuance of a new Rs 100 currency note featuring a map that includes the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapania move previously denounced by India as artificial enlargement and untenable.

The council of ministers, chaired by Nepali Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda decided to introduce the new map of Nepal on the Rs 100 banknotes.

The cabinet approved to re-design the banknote of Rs 100 and replace the old map printed in the background of the bank note during the cabinet meetings held on April 25 and May 2, the Nepal government spokesperson said.

According to a report by The Indian Express, relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu deteriorated following Indias inauguration of a new road in May 2020 from Dharchula to Lipulekh on the Mansarovar Yatra route.

This move sparked anger from the government in Kathmandu at the time, led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. In response, Nepal released a new map, incorporating an area of 370 square kilometers at the tri-junction of Nepal, India, and China, which India asserts as its territory.

A temporary breakdown in communication between the two nations ensued after Nepals parliament passed a Constitution amendment Bill to legitimise the alteration to the countrys map by adding Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.

Move Unwise, Provocative

Meanwhile, the latest decision by the Prachanda government has garnered skepticism and criticism at home. Former diplomats and past Governors of the Nepal central bank have openly criticised it as unwise and provocative.

Chiranjibi Nepal, former Governor of Rastra Bank and economic advisor to President Ram Chandra Poudel, told the publication that the decision made by the Nepal government is untimely and lacks consideration of its broader implications.

Nepal being in dispute with India over certain parts of territory is one thing, but printing in the currency a map that is different from what the international bodies, including two neighbours, have recognised is unwise, Chiranjibi noted.

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Landy Parraga Goyburo, an Ecuadorian Influencer and beauty queen has been shot dead at a restaurant. According to reports, the attackers were able to track her because of an Instagram story that she had shared right before the incident. Landy had taken to the popular social media site to share a picture of her savouring octopus ceviche for lunch at a restaurant. Two armed men attacked the influencer while she was still at the venue. According to rumours floating on different social media sites, it is possible that this murder was planned by the widow of a drug lord who allegedly had an affair with the influencer.

The Telegraph in an article about the murder mentioned that Leandro Norero, the drug lord, had once mentioned to an associate, Helive Angulo, If my wife comes across anything about her, Im screwed. Norero talking about Landy had added, My friend, her name cannot come out anywhere. Otherwise, my world will come crashing down.

Leandro Norero was killed in a prison uprising close to 18 months back. He was a drug trafficker and was also known to shower lavish gifts on his young lover, Landy, every now and then. The two allegedly started dating after Lnady secured the fifth position in Miss Ecuador 2022.

Netizens have taken to social media to try and understand if Lina Romero, Noreros wife is behind the murder. In the past too, his now-widowed wife has been called out for trying to bribe judges, prosecutors and high officials.

The murder of Landy Parraga was captured on surveillance cameras in and around the restaurant she was visiting. Based on the footage that was retrieved, it was seen that two men who have still not been identified barged through the doors of the restaurant where Landy was enjoying lunch with a friend. In the blink of an eye, things turned topsy-turvy at the restaurant as the two men started firing. Other customers present at the eatery took cover under tables while the influencer and one other person could not manage to do so.

In the video, it was seen that one of the two armed men shot at Landy relentlessly until she collapsed and eventually succumbed to her injuries. Soon after, the two men were seen exiting the venue leaving behind the body of the helpless 23-year-old influencer in a massive pool of blood.

Investigators have still not been able to determine the motive behind this heinous murder but they are certain about the fact that the attackers were able to track because of her Instagram post. However, in a very short period, there has been a lot of speculation about what the motive could be, some of which also states that there is a chance that Landy was associated with organized crime groups owing to her relationship with the drug lord, and dangerous gangs and was corrupt. It

Investigators are working on the case and there has been no official statement about the motive of the murder.
Since the past few days, rumours have been rife that Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur have parted ways. Buzz is that the rumours are indeed true. Reportedly, the actors broke up almost a month ago, and their break-up has shocked their close friends.

A close friend of the two actors told the Bombay Times that, That they broke up almost a month ago. They were going quite well, and the breakup came as a shock to all of us. They are cordial with each other. Ananya is trying to move on; of course, theres hurt. She is spending time with her new furry friend. Aditya is also trying to deal with the situation maturely.

Aditya and Ananya were dating for almost two years. Last month, the latter took the internet by storm with her cryptic post. That post hinted that theyd broken up. If it is truly meant for you, it will come back to you. It will leave only for the sake of teaching you the lessons you could only learn on your own. If it is truly meant for you, it will return even if youve pushed it away, even if youre in denial, even if you assume something so beautiful could never be truly yours  because if its truly meant for you, it is never not a piece of you. It is never not intricately tied into the depths of your soul, read the quote shared by Ananya on her handle. She captioned it as Monday Manifesting alongside a thank you, an evil eye, and a blue butterfly emoji.

Ananya Pandays rumoured relationship with Aditya Roy Kapur has often hit headlines. While the duo has never confirmed out loud about their relationship, their public appearances and several confessions during interviews have given enough proof of their dating.

It started after Ananya appeared on Koffee With Karan 7 last year. The actress was talking about relationships when Karan Johar dropped a hint that she and Aditya could be together. After that, Ananya and Aditya enjoyed a romantic getaway in Europe. Previously, Ananya and Aditya attended an Arctic Monkeys concert together in Madrid.
Apart from being a stellar actress, Kareena Kapoor Khan is also a loving mother to kids Taimur and Jeh. Time and again, the actress has spoken about being a working mother, balancing both worlds, and sharing parenting responsibilities with her husband, Saif Ali Khan. This time too, during an event, the actress opened up about the need for a good upbringing for her kids.

Kareena Kapoor was recently appointed Unicef Indias National Ambassador. During her recent appointment ceremony, the actress shared how necessary it is to make her kids understand gender equality and that both husband and wife can be busy with their work.

Today they had a holiday and wanted me to be home, but I told them I had to go to work. Taimur was like, You are always going to Delhi and Dubai for work; I want to be with you, the actress shared, explaining to him the importance of work.

She also shared what she told Taimur. I promise to come back and give you more time so that he doesnt feel neglected in any way, Kareena made her point while adding, I want him to grow up knowing that we are equals in this house..

In the same press conference, the actress also shared why she and said to talk to each other with love and respect in front of their kids. Stating that kids often pick habits from their parents, Saif has always ensured that they talk to each other with love. Therefore, our children will talk to each other and others with love. He is very particular about the fact that they are watching and learning from observation, Kareena said.

In a post on Instagram on May 4, Kareena expressed her gratitude and excitement for becoming the National Ambassador for Unicef India. She emphasised her dedication to advocating for childrens rights and ensuring an equal future for all children. Kareena reflected on her decade-long collaboration with Unicef India, describing it as enriching and insightful.

She penned, An emotional day for me. I am honoured to be appointed as UNICEF India National Ambassador. Working with @unicefindia over the past 10 years has been truly enriching and insightful. I am proud of the work that we have done and am reiterating my commitment to being a voice for promoting and protecting child rights and an equal future for all children.

On the work front, Kareena Kapoor made headlines when it was rumoured that she was roped in to play a pivotal role in Yashs Toxic. However, it was reported recently that Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was supposed to be Yashs on-screen sister in Toxic, has walked out of the film due to date-related issues. Kareena Kapoors dates do not align with the dates of Yash for Toxic. After making efforts to set the calendar right, the makers have amicably parted ways, a source cited by Pinkvilla said and then added, Toxic has a strong sibling emotion, and the part of the sister is very crucial to the narrative, warranting the presence of a top star. The makers are looking to cast actresses with Pan India presence for the part.
Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor has been named as Unicef Indias National Ambassador. She first joined the organisation as a Celebrity Advocate in 2014. At her recent appointment ceremony, a visibly emotional Kareena delivered her speech on stage. Priyanka Chopra, UNICEFs Global Goodwill Ambassador and Kareenas Bollywood colleague has now reacted to it. Sharing a photo of Kareena from the event, Priyanka wrote, Welcome to the family @kareenakapoorkhan. Very well deserved. Kareena, too, re-shared the post and wrote, Thank you PCJ. See you soon.

Priyanka has been associated with Unicef since 2006 and was named the national and global Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016, respectively. She advocates for several causes, including the environment, health, education, and womens rights. Priyanka is especially vocal about gender equality and feminism.

In an Instagram post on May 4, Kareena expressed her gratitude and excitement for her new role as the National Ambassador for Unicef India and promised to keep advocating for childrens rights and ensuring equality for all kids. Kareena also talked about her ten-year journey with Unicef India, saying it has been enriching. She wrote, An emotional day for me. I am honoured to be appointed as UNICEF India National Ambassador. Working with @unicefindia over the past 10 years has been truly enriching and insightful. I am proud of the work that we have done and am reiterating my commitment to being a voice for promoting and protecting child rights and an equal future for all children.

She ended her post by thanking the hardworking team dedicated to womens and childrens rights in India. Kareena also wrote about her commitment to this cause. She added, A special thank you to the entire team who have been tirelessly working for the rights of women and children across the country. I am inspired every day and am looking forward to our continued partnership. There are few things as important as the rights of children, the future generation of this world. I am honoured to continue my association with UNICEF now as Indias National Ambassador. I will strive to use my voice and influence for vulnerable children and their rights, especially around early childhood, education and gender equality. For every child deserves a childhood, a fair chance, a future.

On the work front, she will next seen in Hansal Mehtas The Buckingham Murders.
Cinco de Mayo fans who'd like to celebrate Mexican and Mexican American culture can head to Piedmont Virginia Community College on Sunday for treats and artisan-crafted treasures.

Sin Barreras, a local organization that empowers and educates Hispanic and immigrant families in Central Virginia, will present its Cinco de Mayo celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot of the V. Earl Dickinson Building at PVCC.

In addition to enjoying food truck fare, pinatas, a cake walk and music by guitarist Estela Knott from Lua Project, visitors can pick out pottery bowls crafted by hand by local artisans, high school students and PVCC students.

Ellie Ransom, who handles fundraising and media for Sin Barreras, told The Daily Progress that creative community members have contributed more than 200 bowls for the event.

"We want to celebrate Mexican and Hispanic heritage," Ransom said. "Pottery is a big part of Mexican culture."

Previous years' celebrations have sold bowls filled with culinary reminders of Hispanic culture, including soup one year and bunuelos another time. This time, visitors have the option of keeping their newly purchased bowls clean and fresh to display at home or using them for servings of tacos and desserts from the food truck.

Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help Sin Barreras provide its educational programs, which include adult education courses, English language classes, GED preparation and studies to prepare immigrants for citizenship tests.

The educational programs can help people learn the computer and email skills they'll need to apply for jobs and sign up for college classes, Ransom said. "We ask the community, 'What do you need?'" to succeed, Ransom said.

The Cinco de Mayo event is an entertaining way to learn more about Mexican and Hispanic culture, and a history lesson is a convenient way to start. The celebration honors a Mexican victory over the French, not the Spanish.

Contrary to popular opinion, Cinco de Mayo does not recognize Mexican Independence Day, which doesn't arrive until Sept. 16.

Cinco de Mayo recognizes Mexico's victory in the First Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, defeating troops from the Second French Empire. "The underdog of Mexico was able to become victorious," Ransom said.

Mexican Independence Day honors instead the start of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain in 1810.

If the rain in Sunday's forecast as of press time does arrive, the revelry will not be able to move indoors. The rain date will be June 9.

The Kimpton Forum Hotel on the University of Virginia's North Grounds also is inviting revelers to drop by to celebrate. The Good Sport, the hotel's cocktail and craft beer bar, will be home base for Cinco de Mayo revelry from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Drink specials will include handmade $5 margaritas and $9 street taco trios.

Admission is free, and reservations are not required.
The family of Anuj Thapan, who died while in police custody following his arrest in the case related to firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khans house here, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a CBI probe into his death.

While the police claim Thapan killed himself in the lock-up, his mother Rita Devi in her petition filed in the HC on Friday alleged foul play and claimed he was killed.

In the plea, which will come up for hearing in due course, Devi sought the HC to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the death of her son. The petition alleged Thapan was physically assaulted and tortured by police in custody.

It also sought the high court to direct the police to hand over CCTV footage of the police station and the lock-up where Thapan was held. The petitioner requested for the preservation of call data records (CDR) of police officials, who are probing the firing incident, from April 24 to May 2.

It also sought directions for a fresh post-mortem in Thapans death. Four persons,  Thapan, Sonu Bishnoi, alleged shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta  had been arrested in connection with the firing incident, while gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi have been shown as wanted accused, as per police.

Thapan, accused of supplying firearms and bullets for the firing incident, was arrested on April 26 from Punjab along with Sonu Bishnoi and was remanded to police custody till April 30. Meanwhile, the police invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) in the case.

On April 29, the police produced all the four accused, including Thapan, before a special court which remanded them to police custody till May 8. Thapan was found dead in the toilet of lock-up of the crime branch in the commissionerate complex at Crawford Market here on May 1.

On April 14, two motorbike-borne persons opened fire outside Salman Khans residence in Bandra area of Mumbai. Gupta and Pal were later arrested from Gujarat.
Renowned English actor Bernard Hill, celebrated for his compelling portrayals in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Titanic, has passed away at the age of 79.

Barbara Dickson announced this news on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her sorrow, Its with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russells marvelous show 1974-1975. A truly remarkable actor. It was an honor to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x (sic).

Following Hills demise, fans came together to pay homage to his talent. Many praised his versatility, acknowledging his skill in seamlessly transitioning between portraying dramatic historical figures and intricate characters such as Yosser Hughes, the working-class lead in the influential British miniseries Boys from the Blackstuff.

Hills memorable depiction of King Theoden, the conflicted yet steadfast ruler of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings, resonated with audiences globally. Additionally, his poignant performance as Captain Edward Smith, the ill-fated leader of the RMS Titanic, in James Camerons Academy Award-winning disaster epic left a lasting impact.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Hill took on a diverse array of roles across stage, television, and film. He holds the distinction of being the only actor to have featured in two films that collectively garnered an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards  The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Titanic.

In the notable BBC TV series Wolf Hall from 2015, based on Hilary Mantels work capturing the era of Henry VIII, Bernard Hill delivered a memorable performance as the Duke of Norfolk. This character, an adversary of Cardinal Wolsey and the uncle of Anne Boleyn, showcased Hills versatile acting skills.

Throughout his extensive career spanning decades, Hill took on a variety of roles that left a lasting impact. From his appearance in the esteemed 1976 BBC series I, Claudius, to his role in the acclaimed film Gandhi in 1982, and further projects like Shirley Valentine in 1989, The Scorpion King in 2002, and the 2008 Tom Cruise feature Valkyrie, Bernard Hills talent shone through in each diverse portrayal.
Many years ago, I was in the South Korean city of Incheon, just before it became a destination for international conventions. While one brings back many memories from every trip  and my work and passions have taken me all over the globe, including many unknown places many have never heard of  the most abiding memory from my maiden visit to Incheon was near-starvation!

Being a vegetarian, my gastronomic options are often quite limited in foreign shores, but in Incheon, it seemed as though the very concept of vegetarian food did not exist at that time. I survived on Korean rice and tomato puree for the entire duration of my stay. So, you can imagine the relish with which I fell upon the humble dal-chawal and paneer that I was served by an Indian restaurant in Seoul, which was my destination after Incheon. Though not the best in the business, to my hungry soul, this home food tasted nothing short of the proverbial manna from heaven.

My love for desi food is such that even while travelling abroad, the first thing that I look for is Indian restaurants. My travels in the West have acquainted me with all restaurants that have good Indian food to offer. In the process, I have made friends with several chefs, owners and waiters. In New York, Lexington Avenue has numerous Indian eateries. In Long Island, Murray Hill is commonly termed as Curry Hill because of the presence of a large number of Indian restaurants  including Curry in Hurry, Chote Nawab, Handi, Tawa, Dhaba, Food of India, Bhatti, Bhojan, Madras Mahal, Vatan, Pongal, Mint, Copper Chimney, Tulsi and Junoon.

I enjoy my travels immensely, especially discovering new cultures and interacting with different kinds of people. Oh yes, I even enjoy the misadventures! They, after all, make for the best stories later. As much as I love to fly off to far-flung destinations, I always carry India in my heart wherever I go, and look for a little bit of India in every new place I visit. I make it a point to try out new places serving Indian food or look up old favourites that have served me well in the past. Connecting with NRIs is always on my agenda on overseas trips. I meet up with Indian chefs making a mark in the international culinary scene, enquire into how the Indian community is faring or how the lives of Indian expats are shaping up abroad.

I met a girl from Vietnam in one of the shops at the local mall in Montreal, Canada. She works only on Saturdays and Sundays. The other five days of the week she has school. The daughter of a first-generation immigrant, she has three brothers in her family. While talking to her I was struck by her views on gender, when she said that had she been European, she would have been treated like a princess, being the only girl in the house, but since she is from an Asian family, her status is like that of a maid servant. Her brothers make her do all the household chores, all the while making excuses that they are preparing her for marriage.

Canada abounds in immigrants from all corners of the world, braving extremely difficult weather conditions. Once I visited the residence of a couple who had come from Germany and Finland. I saw an interesting photo on the wall depicting the historic rally of the 1995 Quebec referendum  the second referendum to ask voters whether Quebec should secede from Canada and become an independent state. Parti Quebecois (French for Quebec Party) wanted to secede, but the people from the other provinces of Canada reached Montreal for a historic rally on October 27, 1995, to vote against the referendum, which was defeated by a slender margin.

Any tourists dream is to visit Switzerland. When I first went to Switzerland, I realised the reason people wanted to visit this beautiful country. The picture-postcard scenic beauty simply mesmerises the eye. But there is something more interesting than that. That something is the presence of Indian food in this European country. There are quite a few Indian restaurants in Geneva, even though not too many Indians live there. Among the top restaurants are Rasoi by Vineet, Sajna Restaurant, Little India, Spice of India, India Curry House and Bombay Restaurant, among several others. Then there are a couple of restaurants that immediately drew my attention, like Rajpoute and Jaipur.

Of course, it is not a surprise that one finds a restaurant by the name of Bollywood in Geneva knowing that Bollywood has almost become synonymous with the word India. As if this is not enough, I found another one by the name Restaurant Indian Bollywood. Next time I come here I am sure to find more restaurants with the Bollywood tag!

It is difficult to say which is more popular  Indian food or Bollywood. On the other hand, the tag of Gandhi also helps one to identify an Indian restaurant, so there it was in Geneva  Gandhi cafe. I was intrigued by the name Gandhi cafe, so, naturally, I went there. Although the name was Gandhi, it specialised in Punjabi cuisine, especially tandoor. I was taken aback to find that they served non-vegetarian food as well, even though they profess to be inspired by Gandhi.

I found that this place was quite popular because of its quality. Aloo gobi, palak paneer and naan are the favourite dishes as I gathered from those who have visited the place. A variety of pakoras were also available like gobi, pyaz, aloo, baingan, paneer, and mixed samosas.

I was quite impressed by the number of vegetarian items on the menu. Apart from a few potato dishes, there was dal, chana, bharta, a few paneer-based items, Navratan Korma and vegetable biryani. There were quite a number of rice dishes like lemon rice, jeera rice and saffron rice, to name a few. The page that listed naans was interesting as it featured quite a few innovative ones. There was Gandhi Naan  a naan stuffed with vegetables and garlic, Naan Grapes, Coco Naan, Naan Peppers and some others along with chapati and paratha.

The desserts had gulab jamun, kulfi and something called Gandhi Cup, which was explained as a cup filled with exotic fruits!

(The author is a social activist working for over two-and-a-half decades in the field of welfare, international cultural cooperation and the promotion and preservation of Indian arts. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views)
In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a major transformation of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) into a lean, mean fighting machine with informationised warfare at the core and the US in the Indo-Pacific as the target.

The number of troops was reduced by 3,00,000 to two million, and the PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) was established to manage psychological, information, space, cyber and electronic warfare. In 2016, Xi reduced the number of PLA Theatre Commands from seven to five for precise, multi-dimensional, trans-theatre, multi-functional and sustainable operations.

The PLASSF aimed to prevent stovepipes, which means intelligence sharing without context within a government branch but not with other branches. For example, raw and misleading intel  several from dishonest sources  on Saddam Husseins alleged collaboration with al-Qaeda and the fictional WMD programme, was provided to the George W Bush administration before Operation Desert Storm.

Before the PLASSF was set up, China faced the same problem with no information/intel collaboration between competing government branches.

Now, the PLASSF has been disbanded in the second-most elaborate restructuring. Xi has formed the Information Support Force (PLAISF, the erstwhile Network System Department), the Aerospace Force (PLASF, earlier Space Systems Department) and the Cyberspace Force (PLACF, formerly Network Systems Department). The PLAISF will also be responsible for electronic and psychological warfare.

The PLA now comprises four arms  the three new forces plus the pre-existing Joint Logistics Support Force  and four services, the PLA Ground Force (PLAGF), PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Rocket Force (PLARF).

According to Xi, the PLAISF, responsible for network formation systems, communications support and network defence, is a brand-new strategic arm of the PLA and a key underpinning of coordinated development and application of the network information system that would help China fight and win in modern warfare.

Much has been written about the latest restructuring with experts explaining that the new forces will report directly to the Central Military Commission, headed by Xi, who wanted to consolidate his power and assume direct control over the PLAs strategic capabilities.

Some writers see the latest move as linked to the recent corruption purge in the PLARF while others argue that the PLASSF was unsuitable for the PLAs needs and had reduced Xis visibility of space, cyberspace and network management. For example, Joe Biden claimed last year that Xi was kept in the dark about the Chinese surveillance balloon, which was shot down by the US Air Force.

However, the main reason for the latest revamp is apparently Xis disappointment with the lack of speed in the development of intelligentised warfare, wherein artificial intelligence (AI) plays a critical role in an integrated joint operation by the PLAGF, PLAAF, PLAN, PLARF and space and cyber forces.

China realised the significance of AI in future wars way back in 2019. With a focus on the US in the Asia Pacific and Taiwan independence separatist forces, the 2019 China Defence White Paper mentioned that America is engaging in technological and institutional innovation in pursuit of absolute military superiority in the Asia Pacific.

Mentioning the increasing use of AI, quantum information, big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things by other powers, the paper read that war is evolving in form towards informationised warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon due to the rapid development in high-tech military technologies based on information technology.

From informationised to intelligentised warfare

Before Xi changed the PLAs doctrine, the Chinese militarys concept of fighting underwent three significant changes.

The first change was introduced by Paramount Leader Deng Xiaopings doctrine of fighting Local War Under Modern Conditions, emphasising speed, mobility and lethality instead of attrition and protraction.

The second change was introduced by President Jiang Zemin. The doctrine of fighting Local Wars Under Modern High-Tech Conditions in 1993 proposed joint operations by multiple PLA branches using command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) plus firepower and mobility.

The 1991 Gulf War, which involved joint operations under high-technology conditions, made the PLA realise the importance of synergy between all the branches of the armed forces, precision strikes by long-range munitions, and computer network and information dominance.

China also realised the importance of space operations from the Kosovo air campaign, which was planned and executed with the help of classified US satellite images, enabling the B-52s and B-2s to bomb targets with GPS-guided munitions.

In 1999, Jiang changed the concept to Local Wars Under Modern Informationised Conditions and added the electromagnetic domain.

The third change was introduced by Hu Jintao in 2003. Local Wars Under The Conditions of Informationisation meant joint operations and an information system-based system of systems operational capability. It relied on network information systems, informationised weapons and equipment and was supposed to be conducted in the land, sea, air, space, cyber electromagnetic and cognitive domains.

In 2019, Xi changed the doctrine of Informationised Local Wars to Intelligentised Warfare, which means integrated/multidomain joint operations under the conditions of intelligentisation.

Initial control and eventual victory in a war, which is between systems, depends on information superiority. The IFS intends to enhance the PLAs combat capability by utilising the network information system, including cyberattacks, to cripple the enemys chain of command system.

Even the 2015 China Defence White Paper highlighted the importance of informationised warfare. Long-range, precise, smart, stealthy and unmanned weapons and equipment are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Outerspace and cyberspace have become new commanding heights in strategic competition among all parties. The form of war is accelerating its evolution to informationisation.

Such revolutionary changes in military technologies and the form of war poses new and severe challenges to Chinas military security, the paper read. Therefore, China decided that winning informationised local wars would be highlighted in preparation for military struggle, especially maritime.

Chinas informationised warfare will gather information about the enemys social, political and economic structures, military (command and control) and civilian assets and cyberspace. Subsequently, Beijing will launch a propaganda war, destroy the adversarys assets using missiles, use military deception and electronic and cyber warfare and hack its networks.

Integrated combat forces will be employed to prevail in system-vs-system operations featuring information dominance, precision strikes and joint operations, the document read. Chinas informationised warfare will target the enemys C4ISR and civilian computer networks while safeguarding its own.

Most importantly, China is always alert about cyberattacks and seeks to control and dominate the information domain 247. For example, Chinese government-sponsored hacking group Volt Typhoon used stealthy malware to attack unnamed critical infrastructure, including communications, maritime, manufacturing, utility, transportation and construction, on the Naval Base and Andersen Air Force Base on Guam in May 2023.

The PLANs rapid development into the worlds largest navy shows why China prioritisez maritime superiority combined with information dominance. A China-US war will be fought in the sea, in the Indo-Pacific, if the PLA invades Taiwan. The PLAN, PLARF and the PLAISF will play the most important role with computer network attacks and the launch of long-range precision missiles and information targeting the American bases of Guam and Diego Garcia.

Chinas next revolutionary military doctrine is to increasingly use AI in military conflicts.

The PLA, which isnt a battle-hardened military like the US or India, fought its last war in 1979. Aware of facing a superior military like that of the US, the PLA is concentrating on AI, which will become literally the sixth dimension of warfare after land, sea, air, space and information.

AI-enabled weapons, with humans in the background, will fight the war with such systems taking command and control and making decisions. AIs biggest advantage over humans is the degree and complexity of tasks it can undertake, process and execute with speed. Chinas intelligentised warfare will use these advantages in military planning, operational command and decision-making.

In February 2023, an AI-operated Chinese drone beat a human-operated UAV in a dogfight with its superior cutting-edge close-range fighting in 90 seconds. The era of air combat in which artificial intelligence will be the king is already on the horizon, a team of Chinese scientists wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed Chinese journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica on February 27.

Taking advantage of the distance factor in a war with the US over Taiwan, China will use AI, which substantially speeds up decisions, to disrupt its command and control and launch hypersonic missiles and drones at American aircraft carriers. AI is also expected to boost Chinas cognitive warfare by using deepfakes to generate fake news, images and videos and misinformation and disinformation.

China is also looking into using AI to help in the guidance, detection and identification of targets by missiles. Beijing has already AI-enabled lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs). Drones like Wing Loong 1, 2 and ID, Hongdu GJ-11 and Caihong 4 (CH-4) can conduct both surveillance and attack.

The US realises the Chinese ambition to overtake the West in AI and used it in warfare.

In its annual report to Congress in 2023 titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China, the US Department of Defence said: In 2022, the PLA continued discussing a new core operational concept called Multi-Domain Precision Warfare, which aims to leverage a C4ISR network that incorporates advances in big data and artificial intelligence to rapidly identify key vulnerabilities in the US operational system and then combine joint forces across domains to launch precision strikes against those vulnerabilities.

According to the report, China is a global leader in AI technology and aims to overtake the West in AI R&D by 2025 to become the world leader in AI by 2030. China has designated AI as one of its priorities, national-level S&T development areas and assesses that advances in AI and autonomy are central to intelligentised warfare, the PRCs concept of future warfare.

A report by market consultancy IDC states that Chinas AI investment will reach $38.1 billion in 2027, nine per cent of the worlds total.

Red flag for India

Like the US has realised that China, not Russia, is its strongest and most dangerous adversary, India should consider China as a bigger threat than Pakistan.

The Chinese incursions along the LAC, particularly in eastern Ladakh in 2020-21, and the increasing belligerence in Arunachal Pradesh could trigger a military confrontation anytime.

China will not fight a conventional war with India. Instead, it will wage an asymmetrical war using a combination of information warfare and AI.

India should realise that the PLA is always ready for combat even during peacetime. A few days after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, China launched 40,300 cyberattacks against Indias information technology infrastructure and banking sector. In October of the same year, a Chinese malware paralysed the Padgha (Thane, Maharashtra)-based state load dispatch centre triggering a power outage in Mumbai from 10 am till noon that hit trains, the Bombay Stock Exchange, offices, hospitals and commercial establishments, according to US-based Internet-tracking company Recorded Future.

The National Highways Authority of India was hacked in 2020, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech in 2021 and five servers of Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2022.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team reported 19 ransomware attacks on several government organisations in 2022, 7 in 2021 and 9 in 2020. The number of cyberattacks on Indian companies increased from 111 in 2021 to 198 in 2022.

In a conflict with India, the PLAs cyberwar will grind civilian life to a halt; delay, disrupt, and disorient the IAF and Indian Armys mobilisation, writes Pravin Sawhney, an ex-Army officer and the editor of FORCE magazine in his book The Last War: How AI Will Shape Indias Final Showdown With China.

China will activate malware viruses and worms in military supply chains and weapons kill chains; and snap communications of various headquarters, leading to limited communication between field formations and political and military authorities in New Delhi, he further writes.

Sawhney, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (UK) and visiting scholar at the Cooperative Monitoring Center (US), highlights Chinas control and dominance of information and cyber capability.

Depending on the criticality and importance of the targets, the PLA will have collected enough data for cyber war by cyber reconnaissance and battle damage assessments over time.

The PLAs winning strategy will be to control information in and out of the battlespace by domination of the EMS [electromagnetic spectrum]. The PLA will integrate cyber, EW [electronic warfare], and space capabilities with firepower strikes to blind the enemy and physically damage and destroy its combat effectiveness.

It will be a multidimensional and multi-domain campaign, according to Sawhney, where the PLA will control the speed and tempo of war with round-the-clock situation awareness.

The author believes that the Aerospace Force and the Cyber Force will destroy Indian intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, communications and navigation satellites by ground-based or Direct Ascent Anti Satellite (DA-ASAT) missiles, co-orbital ASAT, satellite jammers and offensive cyber capabilities. With ground communications jammed, Indian satellites disabled, destroyed or thrown out of orbit, Indias combat aircraft will be blinded.

The erstwhile PLASSF had been participating in joint exercises and training throughout China, and with the WTC [Western Theatre Command] against India since 2019.

Explaining how China will use AI in the war, Sawhney, who also co-authored the book Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power, writes: The PLA will use autonomous robots, LAWs and IoMT [Internet of Military Things] mission sets without worrying about adversarial learning.

IoMT, premised on the idea that future wars will be dominated by machine intelligence and cyberwarfare, is a complex network of interconnected entities in the military domain that continually communicate with each other to coordinate, learn, and interact with the physical environment to accomplish a broad range of activities more efficiently and informedly.

Since the PLA will be conversant with all aspects of the enemys war, it will have no need to write algorithms on the move for autonomous systems. The IoMT mission sets for various missions and roles will be prepared, war-gamed, exercised, and kept ready for combat, Sawhney writes.

While the PLA humans will be in the loop in command role, they would be on the loop or out of the loop in integrated air and defence systems which would be part of its A2/AD bubble.

Further, the PLARF will calculate the surge requirement for long-range rockets and smart and precision munitions, including missiles and build them based on AI-enabled mathematical modelling of identified targets and with automated production capability.

Giving an example of AI-enabled long-range missiles, Sawhney writes: The PLA could use swarms of autonomous long-range missiles which on reaching its target, say a S-400 unit or regiment, would on its own decide how best to destroy the air defence system in the least amount of time.

The PLARFF will destroy Rafale and Su-30 MKI bases, fuel storage tanks, ammunition underground bunkers, hardened shelters, forward maintenance areas, command and control centres, and forward logistics centres of the IAFs main and diversionary bases, he writes.

Priority would be accorded to communication towers, power centres, bridges, tunnels, radar sites, air defence systems and command and control hubs. Since most Indian targets will be static, well-mapped, and watched, it will not be difficult for the PLA to hit them with precision. Besides, the PLAISF will use information warfare to keep the enemys cognitive capabilities (decision-making) under pressure.

(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 News18s views)
Apple Watch has come to the rescue of many people over the years and recently it helped a 35-year-old Delhi-based woman to avoid a major issue. Sneha Sinha, 35, is a policy researcher, and in April she went through something that could be easily called a close-call.

Apple Watch Alerts Woman About Her Heart Issue: What Happened

The woman suffered from Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)  a rapid and abnormal heart rhythm which is basically a big health issue for anyone, let alone for a woman in her mid-thirties. Sneha has been quoted in multiple reports, talking about her issue that stuck on late evening on April 9.

She has talked about facing abnormally rapid heart rate and noticed that the condition didnt improve after a few minutes. Then she decided to wear her Apple Watch 7 model on the wrist to determine the issue and see if the wearable can detect anything of concern.

The Apple Watch straight away advised her to visit the doctor, which she ended up ignoring initially. But things got worse later that evening, when the Apple Watch alerted Sneha to visit the doctor right away because of her heart rate crossing 230 bpm which is not ideal in any condition.

She rushed to the nearest Emergency Centre in her area where the doctors examining her could not read her pulse. They had to eventually give her three rounds of direct shock of up to 100 joules to get her heart beating again. Once that was successfully done, Sneha was shifted to ICU to monitor her condition and ensure that she doesnt have a relapse for the rapid heart rate.

Apple Watch Saved Me TodayCant Thank Enough

Apple Watch uses advanced health tech to detect these signs and alert the user. Sneha got a close-up experience of its ability and was thankful that the Apple Watch alerted her about the issue which was examined and taken care of by the doctors. Had the Apple Watch not alerted me of the serious condition around midnight, I would not have gone to the hospital and would have lost my life, she was quoted saying in a report.

She also said that measuring the heart rate would never have crossed her mind but thankfully she decided to wear the Apple Watch which did the rest of the job. Whatever I had to say to the doctors was based on Apple Watch readings, she added.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Receives The Letter

After returning back home from the hospital, Sneha decided to send an email to CEO Tim Cook, thanking him and his team for making the Apple Watch a reliable fitness gear that can record accurate data. She even got a response back from Cook where he thanked her for sharing the story and was relieved that she got medical attention and the right treatment for her sudden health issue.
Queensland Labour Party MP Brittany Lauga alleged she was drugged and sexually assaulted in Yeppoon, a central Queensland town. She said she contacted the police in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly, Lauga was quoted as saying by news agency Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

The Keppel MP said that several other women with similar experiences from the town reached out to her after she shared her ordeal.

This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us. Its not ok. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted, she said.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in support. I truly value your thoughtful messages, gestures and kindness. If you have any information that may assist the investigation, please tell the police, she further added.

A separate report by UK-based newspaper The Guardian said that a video, purported to be of the alleged assault of Lauga and filmed from across the street, has been circulating online. She was informed of the said video after she reported the assault to police.

The Queensland Police Service told the broadcaster that it is probing a sexual assault complaint relating to an incident in Yeppoon.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the provincial government is backing Brittany Lauga in every way possible. No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through. My sole focus is on Brittany and her wellbeing. Ive told Brittany that were here to support her, whatever she needs, Miles was quoted as saying.

Queensland Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the statement issued by the parliamentarian made for difficult reading.

Those are shocking allegations  I understand that Brittany is going to take a short time to look after herself and we absolutely support her to do that, she said.
Western Australian police shot and killed a radicalised 16-year-old boy with a knife who had wounded a member of the public in Perth, police and the state premier said Sunday.

The teenager rushed at police after wounding someone and was fatally shot by an officer, Premier Roger Cook told a news conference.

There are indications he had been radicalised online. But I want to reassure the community that at this stage it appears he acted solely and alone.

Police had received a call late on Saturday from a male warning that he was going to commit acts of violence but without giving his name or location, the states police commissioner, Col Blanch, told reporters.

Within minutes another emergency call alerted police that a male with a knife was running around the car park in Willetton, a southern suburb of Perth, he said.

Police body camera images showed the teenager refused officers demands that he put down the knife, the police chief said.

Officers fired two Tasers at him but both of them did not have the full desired effect, he said.

The male continued to advance on the third officer with a firearm who fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male.

The teenager died in hospital later in the night, he said.
An American and two Australians who were missing for several days in Mexico were found dead on Friday. People familiar with the developments told news agency CNN that even though authorities havent confirmed if the bodies correspond to the three missing tourists but their charred pickup 65 kilometres from where their bodies were found.

The bodies were found in a well where investigators also found another body that authorities said would be investigated.

A fourth body was located. It is not related to the three foreigners. The fourth body had been there for a long time, the official added.

The bodies were found on a cliff to the south of Ensenada municipality, Baja California, a member of an activist group specialised in searching for missing people told the broadcaster.

Reuters first reported that American Jack Carter Rhoad and Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson were missing since April 29, citing the Baja California prosecutors office.

The trio were on a surfing and camping trip near Ensenada town, about 97 kilometres south of Tijuana.

Mexican officials found a vehicle, tents and a cell phone during searches of the area where the men were last seen. Three Mexicans are being questioned in connection with the death but it remains unclear if they are suspects.

Mexican officials previously said a vehicle, tents, and a cell phone had been found during searches of the area where the men were last seen. Three Mexican nationals were being questioned in connection with the case, though it is unclear if they are suspects. Authorities further added that the suspects appeared to have stolen the surfers truck and some of its parts were found in another truck belonging to one of the suspects.

A separate report by the Mexican news outlets said that the area where the bodies were found is difficult to access and rappelling equipment will be used to recover the bodies.

The US State Department said: We are aware of those reports (of bodies) and are closely monitoring the situation. At this time we have no further comment.

The family of Jake and Callum Robinson were on their way to Mexico, hoping to get as close as possible to the area where they were last seen, they said in a statement to Channel Nine News, a CNN affiliate.

Speaking to Channel Nine News, the family of Jake and Callum Robinson said they are on their way to Mexico and are trying to get as close as possible to the area where they were last seen.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said that India will wait for the Canadian police to share more information about the three men arrested and charged with the murder of Khalistani separatist terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

S Jaishankar said on Saturday that the probe into Nijjars death is Canadas internal matter and has nothing to do with India.

Canadian police charged Karan Brar, 22, Kamalpreet Singh, 22, and Karanpreet Singh, 28, all Indian nationals residing in Edmonton, with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

(They are) apparently Indians of some kind of gang background well have to wait for the police to tell us, Jaishankar said, adding he had seen news of the arrests, according to news outlet Reuters.

But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organised crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada, he further added.

Jaishankars responses came during an interaction with journalists in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations in September last year of the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. India has dismissed Trudeaus charges as absurd and motivated.

Jaishankar repeated Indias stance when journalists asked him why Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau thought India was responsible for Nijjars murder.

Canada did not give any proof. They do not share any evidence with us in certain cases, police agencies also do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics, the external affairs minister said.

Sanjay Verma, Indias high commissioner to Canada, said that India hopes to get regular updates from Canadian authorities regarding the three arrested Indians.

I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard, Verma added.
CIA director Bill Burns is expected in Doha to meet with Qatars prime minister for emergency discussions on mediation in the Israel-Hamas war, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP Sunday.

The source, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said Burns was on his way to the Qatari capital for talks with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, whose country has been involved in efforts towards a truce in Gaza and hostage release.

With no breakthrough in the latest talks between Egypt and Israel in Cairo, CIA director Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with Qatars prime minister to explore avenues to see if the talks can be brought back on track, said the source.

Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been involved in months of behind-the-scenes negotiations in efforts secure a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

The latest round of talks between mediators and the Palestinian militant group concluded in Cairo on Sunday, while Israel and Hamas publicly traded blame over failure to reach a deal. Qatar, which has hosted Hamass political leadership since 2012 with the blessing of the Washington, is also home to the largest US military base in the region.
6 Palestinians killed in Israeli military operation in West Bank: sources

Xinhua) 14:15, May 05, 2024

Smoke rises during a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, May 4 (Xinhua) -- At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported transporting the body of an unidentified Palestinian to the hospital, while Palestinian medical sources said the bodies of the other five victims had been taken by the Israeli army.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house.

Following the demolition of the residence by an Israeli military bulldozer, the homeowner was detained. The incident sparked confrontations in Deir Al-Ghusoun between local Palestinians and Israeli forces.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has recorded more than 480 Palestinian fatalities caused by Israeli bombings and gunfire across the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the start of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

Palestinians go through the rubble after a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Smoke rises during a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Palestinians go through the rubble after a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Palestinians go through the rubble after a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A victim is transferred as Palestinians go through the rubble after a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on May 4, 2024.

At least six Palestinians were killed on Saturday in a military operation conducted by Israeli forces in Deir Al-Ghusoun, a town in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian medical and security sources.

Security sources in Palestine said Israeli troops had encircled a residence in the town for more than 15 hours, during which multiple shells were launched at the house. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
A driver died after a vehicle crashed into a gate at the White House Saturday night, but the fatal collision is being investigated only as a traffic crash and there was no threat to the presidents residence, law enforcement authorities said.

The male driver, who was not immediately identified, was found dead in the vehicle following the crash shortly before 10:30 p.m. at an outer perimeter gate of the White House complex, the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department said the vehicle crashed into a security barrier at the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

At this time, the incident is being investigated only as a traffic crash by MPDs Major Crash Investigations Unit, the metro police said in a statement posted on social media.

Security protocols were implemented but there was no threat to the White House, the Secret Service said.

The Secret Service will continue to investigate the matter, while turning over the fatal crash portion of the investigation to the metro police, the agency said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected Hamass demand to end the war in Gaza to reach a ceasefire deal. Netanyahu said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza to secure the release of hostages still being held by the Palestinian group, believed to number more than 130.

But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, Netanyahu said. The State of Israel cannot accept this, he said.

We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threaten the citizens of Israel, Netanyahu told the cabinet, according to a statement by his office.

Israel will not agree to Hamass demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved, Netanyahu, repeating a message he has expressed throughout the war. He said accepting Hamass demands would only bring the next conflict closer, and would allow Hamas to carry out another massacre in the future.

The Israeli prime minister stresses that Israel is still open to a deal, but Hamas remains entrenched in its positions. These remarks come as senior officials from the US, Qatar, and Egypt are in Cairo, along with Hamas officials. The Netanyahu government has decided not to send a delegation at this stage.

In Cairo, Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with no apparent progress reported as the group maintained its demand that any agreement must end the war in Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The war began after an assault by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.

Israels ensuring military offensive has killed more than 34,600 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza. The bombardment has devastated much of the coastal enclave and caused a humanitarian crisis.

(With agency inputs)
Al Jazeera went off-air in Israel on Sunday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government has decided to shut down the Qatar-based news channel. The government unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel, Netanyahu said on X. There was no immediate comment from the channel headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

The head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories described the governments decision to shutter the Qatari-owned stations local operations as dangerous and motivated by politics rather than professional considerations. Al Jazeeras legal team is preparing a response, Walid Omary told news agency Reuters, in possible anticipation of a court appeal against the decision.

    :      .  @shlomo_karhi  Benjamin Netanyahu    (@netanyahu) May 5, 2024

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision. My government decided unanimously: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will close in Israel, Netanyahu posted on X. Al Jazeera as vehemently denied that it incites against Israel.

The decision escalated Israels long-running feud against Al Jazeera. It also threatened to heighten tensions with Qatar, which owns the channel, at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza. Israel has long had rocky ties with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias against it.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres. Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas. Al Jazeera, the Doha-based broadcaster funded by Qatars government.

While Al Jazeeras English operation often resembles the programming found on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region. Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, Al Jazeera aired continuous on-the-ground reporting of Israels campaign and its consequences. Its broadcasts have been among the most watched in the Middle East amid widespread disenchantment with Western media coverage.

Last month, Netanyahu called Al Jazeera a terrorist channel, saying he would act immediately to halt its activities after a new law was passed. At the time, the news station called the proposed ban a part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera, which it said included the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, one of its most prominent journalists in the region, while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in May 2022.

Since the start of the Gaza war, Al Jazeeras office in the Palestinian territory has been bombed and two of its correspondents killed. In January, Israel said an Al Jazeera staff journalist and a freelancer killed in an air strike in Gaza were terror operatives. The following month, it accused another journalist with the channel who was wounded in a separate strike of being a deputy company commander with Hamas. Al Jazeera has fiercely denied Israels allegations and accused it of systematically targeting Al Jazeera employees in the Gaza Strip.

Its bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, was wounded in an Israeli strike in December that killed the networks cameraman. His wife, two of their children and a grandson were killed in the October bombardment of central Gazas Nuseirat refugee camp. His eldest son was the Al Jazeera staff journalist killed in January when a strike targeted a car in Rafah.

(With agency inputs)
A senior Hamas official on Saturday said the group would not accept a truce that did not completely end the Gaza war, accusing Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu of personally hindering a deal.

Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators met a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Saturday in the latest bid to halt the devastating almost seven-month-old war that has triggered worldwide protests.

They were to hear the militant groups response to a proposal that would halt fighting for 40 days and exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by Britain.

But a senior Hamas official insisted late Saturday that the group would not agree under any circumstances to a truce that did not explicitly include a complete end to the war, including Israels withdrawal from Gaza.

The official, who asked not to be named, condemned Israeli efforts to secure a hostage-release deal without linking it to ending the aggression on Gaza. He accused Netanyahu of personally hindering efforts to reach a truce due to personal interests.

A top Israeli official had earlier accused Hamas of thwarting the possibility of reaching an agreement by refusing to give up its demand for an end to the war.

Despite months of shuttle diplomacy, mediators have failed to broker a new truce like the week-long ceasefire that saw 105 hostages released last November, the Israelis among them in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

Previous negotiations stalled in part on Hamass demand for a lasting ceasefire and Netanyahus repeated vows to crush the groups remaining fighters in the southern city of Rafah, which is flooded with displaced civilians.

Israel has yet to send a delegation to Cairo. The Israeli official told AFP that it would do so only if there was positive movement on the proposed framework.

Tough and long negotiations are expected for an actual deal, the official added.

A senior Hamas source close to the negotiations told AFP they would resume on Sunday.

More deaths

The war broke out after Hamass unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,654 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry.

Gazas civil defence agency and hospitals reported more deaths from Israeli strikes in Rafah as well as areas farther north.

The United Nations says more than 70 percent of Gazas residential buildings have been completely or partly destroyed, and rebuilding will require an effort unseen since the aftermath of World War II.

Accepting a ceasefire deal with Israel should be a no-brainer for Hamas, who are the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said late Friday.

The prospect of an assault on Rafah has sparked deepening international concern.

The senior Hamas official on Saturday said Israel would bear full responsibility for insisting on entering Rafah instead of ceasing the aggression.

The World Health Organization says 1.2 million people, half of the Gaza Strips population, are sheltering in Rafah.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday warned that a full-scale military operation in Rafah could lead to a bloodbath.

UN humanitarian office spokesman Jens Laerke said an assault on Rafah could strike a disastrous blow to agencies struggling to provide aid.

The war in Gaza has also triggered a surge in violence in the already restive occupied West Bank, where Israel said on Saturday its troops killed five Palestinian terrorists during a 12-hour siege near Tulkarem.

At least 496 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since October 7, according to an AFP tally.

Open mind

Egypts Al-Qahera News, which is linked to the intelligence services, had quoted an unidentified high-ranking source as saying there is significant progress in the negotiations and that the mediators had reached an agreed-upon formula on most points of contention.

But the senior Hamas official said late Saturday the talks had ended for the day after no developments.

The top Israeli official, who spoke anonymously, said a sign of progress would be if Israel sent a delegation to Cairo led by Mossad intelligence service chief David Barnea.

The continued captivity of Israeli hostages in Gaza has caused rising political tensions, with some protesters accusing Netanyahu of seeking to prolong the war.

Demonstrators have regularly taken to Israeli streets demanding the government reach a deal to bring the hostages home, with thousands again protesting in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

War is not holy, life is, the protesters chanted.

The Israeli government says 128 hostages remain in Gaza, including 35 the military says are presumed dead.

Wartime wedding

US President Joe Biden has come under mounting domestic pressure to leverage more concessions from Netanyahus government over its conduct of the war.

A letter signed by 88 congressmen from Bidens Democratic Party expressed serious concern over Israels deliberate withholding of aid for Palestinian civilians and urged Biden to consider halting arms sales unless Israels conduct changes.

At US urging, Israel has facilitated more aid deliveries into Gaza in recent days but UN agencies say that has not averted advancing famine.

World Food Programme chief Cindy McCain said in an interview published Friday that there was already full-blown famine in the north (of Gaza) and its moving its way south.

In a rare break from the daily struggle to survive, dozens of Palestinians gathered under decorative lights in Khan Yunis for a mass wedding on Friday. The grooms, one of them on crutches, wore matching dark suits over white shirts.

The war remained close, though. The Israeli military said it struck a munitions site in the Khan Yunis area on Friday after a projectile was fired towards Israel.
For tourists using Instagram to guide their travels, a sojourn for one last shot at visiting the famous Ha'iku Stairs in Oahu could come with a hefty price. The days are numbered for Honolulu's famous selfie spot, and CNN reports that tourists are flocking there hoping to grab a glimpse of the island from its heights before the stairs are dismantled. The problem is that the hikenicknamed "Stairway to Heaven"is illegal and passes through private property in sections. At least five people were arrested for first-degree trespassing last month and lots more received warnings or lesser charges.

"The city was disappointed and dismayed to learn that so many individuals appear to have recklessly disregarded clear warnings that the project to dismantle the Ha'iku Stairs has begun, putting themselvesand, potentially, first respondersin harm's way," said a spokeswoman for the city of Honolulu. The Washington Post notes that rescues from the trailthe 3,922 stairs rise to 2,800 feet above sea levelhave been unfortunately frequent. Between 2010 and October 2022, authorities rescued more than 100 people, per KHON, and just this September, a woman and her dog had to be airlifted out by helicopter after falling 50 feet.

The Ha'iku Stairs were built by the US Navy during World War II, but were officially closed in 1987. Honolulu's city council voted in 2021 to remove the steps, which attract an estimated 4,000 visitors each year. The council specifically cited social media for enticing people to make the trip, not only in sharing tips on how to get there but with the virality of "panoramic pictures that have encouraged people from around the world to take the hike." Removal has hit snags but is expected to get going in earnest following an evidentiary hearing on May 10, reports Hawaii News Now. (A town in Japan made a 'regrettable' move in regard to Mount Fuji.)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera, escalating Israel's long-running feud with the channel at a time when cease-fire negotiations with Hamasmediated by Qatarare gaining steam. According to a statement from Netanyahu's office, the decision goes into effect immediately, the AP reports. It could include closing the channel's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel's reports, and blocking its websites, among other measures, the statement said.

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision. "Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel's security and incited against soldiers," Netanyahu said in the statement. "It's time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country." The extraordinary move is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet, per the AP, though its government has taken action against individual reporters in the past. The statement from Netanyahu's office said that under a law passed last month, the government can take action against a foreign channel seen as "harming the country."

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and accusing Israel of massacres. Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas. Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatar's government, did not immediately respond to a request from the AP for comment. While Al Jazeera's English operation often resembles programming on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups. It similarly came under harsh US criticism during America's occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Mideast governments, as well.

(More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected international pressure to halt the war in Gaza in a fiery speech marking Holocaust memorial day, declaring: "If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone." The message, delivered in a setting that typically avoids politics, was aimed at the growing chorus of world leaders who have criticized Israel's offensive against Hamas militants and have urged the sides to agree to a ceasefire, the AP reports. "I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself," Netanyahu said. "Never again is now."

Also on Sunday, Hamas announced that the latest round of ceasefire talks ended in Cairo without an agreement, though the militant group described the negotiations as "in-depth and serious discussions." Hamas reiterated demands that Israel again rejected, per the AP, which reported that prospects for a ceasefire soon are fading. In addition, Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza after Hamas attacked it. The head of the UN World Food Program told NBC that northern Gaza is experiencing a "full-blown famine" and that famine is moving south in Gaza. Israel's efforts to let in more aid are not enough, Cindy McCain said.

Yom Hashoah, the day Israel observes as a memorial for the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its allies in the Holocaust, is one of the most solemn dates on the country's calendar. Netanyahu compared the recent wave of protests on American college campuses to German universities in the 1930s, in the run-up to the Holocaust. Holocaust remembrance has taken on new meaning this year, per the AP. Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people on Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, making it the deadliest violence against Jews since the Holocaust.

(More Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A meteor shower will be dazzling New Zealand's night skies this weekend, with the peak time for Kiwis to capture the show early Monday morning.

Stardome astronomer Rob Davison told Newshub the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be visible for a couple of weeks - but for keen viewers, the best time to watch will be early, before sunrise, on Monday.

He explained how Earth was passing through an area of space with increased meteor activity, meaning people will see what looks like shooting stars lighting up the sky.

"They burn up and you see a flash of light," he said.

The object responsible for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower - which gets its name because it's near the Aquarius constellation - is the famous Halley's Comet.

Halley's Comet passes Earth every 75-76 years, so the next sighting won't be until 2061 but the meteor shower is annual.
"This compromise enables students and staff who wish to express their views to do so in a peaceful and lawful manner, without introducing the significant risks that such encampments have brought to other university campuses."

On Wednesday, more than 100 people gathered at the university's central city campus for the rally, with those taking part expressing a range of views toward violence between Israel and Palestinians and the war in Gaza.

Protest organisers Students for Justice in Palestine, said the demonstration was the initial event in a long-term campaign to advocate for Palestinian rights, in "support for justice and peace", and invited any member of the university to take part, "regardless of background or affiliation".

After the university's statement against the planned encampment, the group changed the event to a campus rally, which they said would make it more accessible to a more diverse range of people.

However, now an open letter signed by 65 university staff and academics says they held deep concerns about the university's stance toward the protest.

The institution's reaction mischaracterised the focus of the protest, minimised the violence in Gaza, and had not acknowledged a call for the institution to "divest from any entities and corporations enabling Israel's ongoing military violence against Palestinians in Gaza", the letter said.

It condemned the university for not seeking advice about the planned protest from its own students and staff, and said the institution's stance had implied the protesters would "introduce significant risks".

One of the signatories, senior law lecturer Dylan Asafo, told RNZ the University of Auckland vice-chancellor had taken poor advice.

"The vice-chancellor is essentially blaming the violence and unrest that we're seeing on the newest campuses [overseas] on staff and students who set up peaceful encampments there, rather than on university administrators and police forces who have broken up those peaceful encampments."

The academics also want confirmation protesters won't be punished by the university.

"We also urge you not to discipline or penalise students and staff who may choose to participate in peaceful protests and encampments in any way, and to engage with them in good faith," the letter said.

The university has been approached for comment.

RNZ
Her GP immediately diagnosed her with Stevens-Johnson syndrome - an extremely rare allergic reaction to medication.

The culprit in this case was lamotrigine, which Charlotte had been taking to treat depression.

Once at Palmerston North Hospital, some Filipino nurses recognised Stevens-Johnson syndrome from cases in their home country, but no-one had much information on how to treat it because it was so rare.

"It was scary, I guess, hearing... 'OK, no-one really knows a lot about this'."

Charlotte's skin developed massive blisters like she had been cooked. She needed a feeding tube because her mouth and oesophagus were burned.

"The scariest part about it is that it burned me from the inside out.

"So all the burns on the outside were because my insides were so burned that it started to manifest on the outside of my skin."
Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest of cancers - from diagnosis to death is normally four to nine months. But early detection can be the key to survival.

Newshub National Correspondent Amanda Gillies spoke to a survivor fighting for an early screening programme, and a teenager trying to make a difference.

With her pet cat at her feet, and red brush in hand, 13-year-old Paige Badger brushes her mop of thick healthy hair. By next month it will all be gone. But she has no regrets. She's doing it for her nan.



"I think she would be really proud of me," she smiles.

Her nan, Chris Hudson, died in February, just three months after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Paige is now shaving off her hair in June to raise money to fight the deadly disease. Already, more than $2500 is in the bank.

"There's a very small survival chance for this cancer so I want to raise money to help research and finding a cure for it or at least make the survival chance better."

Her nan was just 67 years old when she was finally diagnosed, her only symptoms were a sore back and mild nausea.

For her final six weeks, she slept 22 hours a day.

"It was a pretty horrific cancer to die from," said Paige's mum Tracey Badger. "She lost a lot of weight, she stopped eating, it was really hard to see someone you love so much to go through that."
Wayne said he's pleased with the deal.

"This outcome is exactly what we've been looking to achieve. The new Government asked us to come up with a preferred model, and they've agreed to implement it, which is good. I want to thank the Minister and the Prime Minister for the way they have handled this," he said.

"The idea of water rates increasing by more than a quarter in the year ahead was unacceptable. There had to be a better way, and by working in partnership with central government we have found one."

"I have long said that this was a balance sheet issue and needed to be treated like one," Wayne added.

Opposition reacts

Labour's Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said the Government's plan will still be costly.

"This will still cost Auckland ratepayers more than if the Government hadn't repealed the Affordable Water Reforms," he said.

"Water charges will increase by 7 percent in Auckland as a result of this. They would've only increased by 2 percent if they'd followed through with affordable water."

"This is because the Auckland/Northland entity would've had a credit rating of AA, while Watercare will be BBB at best, so the cost of borrowing will be larger."

He said the Government's plan "is a solution for Auckland, but it will not work anywhere else in the country".

"The cost of the Government repealing affordable water is already hitting ratepayers across New Zealand with proposed rates increases significantly higher than they otherwise would've been. Every time a ratepayer opens their rates bill and sees an increase, they can lay that at the feet of this Government. The longer they take to spell out to Kiwis what they're going to do, the more expensive it gets for ratepayers," he added.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High around 45F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 33F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
The Hamas slaughter of innocent civilians in October was horrible and response by Israel was justified. My position on Prime Minister Netanyahu's continued invasion of Gaza has changed since the initial response.

While I do not agree with the extreme actions the protesters are taking, occupying buildings and using anti-Jewish signs and chants, I agree with their purpose. Stop the killing of innocent people in Gaza. The extreme actions of some of the protesters distracts from the message.

The invasion into Gaza has killed 34,000. Hard to understand that: 34,000 dead. The vast majority of them are Palestinian civilians including women and children that had nothing to do with the October slaughter. How can Americans continue to justify support for that? The United States can and should support Israel in many ways but should take a stand that the continued killing of innocent Palestinians is unacceptable and we will not support that.

Hamas holding Jewish hostages is barbaric. They should be held accountable by the world. But Israel killing 34,000 civilians, women and children, destroying their homes, is not something Israel, or the United States supporting, can be proud of.

We should not underestimate the hatred by Hamas for Israel and the lack of concern by Hamas for their Palestinian people that they put in harm's way. At the same time, the killing of civilians in such a huge number is not justified.

Negotiations are the only answer, and other countries in the region should lead the way. The United Nations, led by the United States and our friends, should force the Middle East countries to step up and force negotiations with Hamas. It's the only answer to this.

President Biden should step up and voice the opinion that our country can no longer support Israel with arms. Enough is enough.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa expressed pride in Bahraini journalists for their adherence to professional standards, impartiality, and credibility.

HM the King commended the national press for its dedication to serving the nation with proficiency and integrity.

In a message marking World Press Freedom Day, observed globally on May 3 under the theme A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis, HM King Hamad praised the presss steadfast commitment to journalistic ethics, honesty, and objectivity, emphasising its role in supporting the progress of the nations development endeavours while preserving its achievements.

He underscored the pivotal role of the press in supporting the efforts of countries and governments in promoting global security and stability, which are essential for human advancement and prosperity.

His Majesty highlighted the pressing challenge posed by climate change, noting its implications for international peace and stability, as well as the future of humanity.

He urged concerted efforts to ensure global environmental security, emphasising the role of journalism in raising awareness through disseminating accurate information and motivating communities to protect the environment.

HM the King added that the Kingdom of Bahrain, in its commitment to sustainable development, has prioritised environmental issues through various initiatives, strategies, and national plans.

Bahrain, in its efforts to consolidate sustainable development, has given environmental issues significant importance, as demonstrated by national initiatives, strategies and plans, His Majesty the King said.

Reducing emissions

Bahrain has committed to the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Summits decision on reducing emissions, His Majesty said.

It launched the National Action Plan Blueprint Bahrain aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, the National Energy Strategy and the Climate Technology Fund, among other initiatives, to protect the environment, human health, and support international efforts for enhanced quality of life.

His Majesty the King commended the efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in leading the governments efforts to protect the environment and ensure the sustainability of its resources.

His Majesty urged the national press and media to continue prioritising environmental issues, urging them to disseminate messages that raise awareness among individuals and society.
AFP | Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Strategically placed Sri Lankas economic recovery was essential for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Japans foreign minister said yesterday, urging Colombo to swiftly restructure its foreign debt.

Yoko Kamikawa said Colombo should secure agreements with bilateral lenders and international sovereign bondholders to unlock suspended foreign funding for the cash-strapped nation.

After talks with her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry, Kamikawa called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the islands reforms to overcome its worst economic crisis, the two sides said.

Deliberation also encompassed discussions on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pertaining to debt restructuring in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghes office said in a statement.

The Sri Lankan government which defaulted on its $46 billion external debt in April 2022 had hoped to finalise deals with foreign creditors by April but there have been no final agreements yet. Kamikawa told reporters that she stressed the importance of reaching a debt restructuring agreement with all the creditors, including China -- the largest bilateral lender to the island.

I also conveyed Japans intention to further support Sri Lankas development by swiftly resuming existing yen loan projects (after debt restructuring), she said. She said Tokyo considered Colombos economic recovery as crucial for the entire region.

The island is located halfway along the main east-west international shipping route. The restoration of stability and economic development of Sri Lanka, which is at a strategic location in the Indian Ocean, is essential for the stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region, she added.

Sri Lanka must secure agreement from all official creditors and a majority of private bondholders to continue with a fouryear $2.9 billion bailout loan begun since March last year.

Chinese-funded projects

Japanese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariko Kaneko said they were keen that Colombo press ahead with IMF-backed governance reforms that include tackling corruption.

Sri Lanka government needs to proceed with anti-corruption measures... make policy-making process more transparent, Kaneko said, adding that they fully supported the reforms envisaged in the IMF bailout program.

Japan, the second largest bilateral lender to the island has expressed concern about Chinas big infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the region.

Tokyo maintains that the Chinese-funded projects did not meet international finance standards.

Unable to repay a huge loan taken from China in 2017 to build a deep sea port in southern Hambantota, Sri Lanka handed it over to a Chinese firm for $1.12 billion on a 99-year lease.

Sri Lanka ran out of cash to pay for even the most essential imports in 2022, leading to chronic shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
There has been a lot of speculation about why Tesla cut the 500 person team for Tesla Supercharging infrastructure. Patrick Bet David, successful entrepreneur, podcaster and youtuber has posted the case that Elon Musk cut the Tesla Supercharging infrastructure team and slowed/paused Supercharging network buildout as a power move to get concessions and leverage over other car makers and the government.

Tesla Has to Focus Everything on AI  FSD, Robotaxi and Teslabot

This move could save Tesla $200-300 million per year in expenses if this was for North America only and maybe $600 million if it was globally. Tesla needs to focus capital and research spending on AI (full self driving and robotaxi and teslabot). AI success in the next two years could triple of 10X the value of Tesla. If there was a 2 year pause in supercharging infrastructure then Tesla does not go to 78,000 charging connections but stays at 57,000. However, Tesla has about 25% of its chargers more fully subsidized in North America. Tesla would not pull back construction to zero but to the levels supported by the US, US states and in other countries. Tesla would also continue to build out charging network where it is needed to support their own customers and where there is very good government grant support.

Tesla Will Meet Obligations But Could Ration

All North America carmakers need the Tesla Supercharging network as all other EV charging is vastly inferior. The other chargers are frequently broken.

Tesla has been awarded $28 million-worth of federal contracts for superchargers. This is 14% of the total awards, according to data from EVAdoption, a data consulting firm. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, which runs the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI, said 10 states have selected Tesla as a charging provider for their projects. President Biden had promised build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the United States by 2030. In March 2024, more than two years after Congress allocated $7.5 billion to help build out those stations, only 7 EV charging stations (with 36 ports) are operational across four states. $5 billion was allocated to individual states in so-called formula funding to build a network of fast chargers along major highways in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, program.

In 2023, there were various reports from publicly reported supercharging bids that Tesla build supercharging ports from $19000 to 43000 per port while competitors cost $100,000 to 200,000. We could assume the average cost for a Tesla supercharging port is $30,000 and $150,000 for other competitors.

$28 million of awards would be enough for 900-1000 Tesla supercharging ports. $172 million of federal and state contract for other superchargers at $150,000 a piece would be be 1200 superchargers. $172 million is being wasted on unreliable charging that is five times more expensive.

Tesla added 12000 charging connection ports globally over the last 12 months. If 4000 of those were in North America then this would be $120 million for the US buildout and another $100 million for the 500 staff of the charging infrastructure team.

Teslas existing 20,000 supercharging ports are not at 100% utilization. Tesla can use its app and flexible hourly and load dependent pricing to encourage usage at non-peak hours.

Warren Redlich discussed how Tesla can choose to use night time charging if they launch a robotaxi fleet. Tesla supports 2 million cars in the USA now and could support 500,000 robotaxi with night time charging.

Tesla can also ration its available capacity. Tesla can increase prices for non-Tesla cars. This makes people charge at home more often.

If this reduced experience impacts other EV makers they will have to pay and get better terms in other ways. It would take more than five years for the alternatives to become a real alternative or threat to Teslas charging dominance.

Pay Tesla More of the Grants to 5X the Results

Tesla has built out four times as many superchargers as funded by the federal and state NEVI contracts. Tesla has built more effective superchargers than all competitors combined. Tesla has made about 70% of the superchargers in California. If Tesla kept its full supercharging infrastructure team and built out in the US as they had for the last year. In 2026, Tesla would have 28,000 superchargers and would have spent an extra $500-600 million. If most of the team is gone then Tesla builds 1000 for contracts but has the least team needed to do it. Tesla still has capacity at the 20,000 existing superchargers and could add 2000 or some other number based on contracts. If the governments choose to keep up the pace of build then they could award more of the $7.3 billion that has not been awarded.

If Tesla keeps the cost per supercharging connection port to $20000 each and the $7.3 billion funded $15,000 of the cost then Tesla could complete the 500,000 supercharger connection goal $2.5 billion in spending. The federal government funding other providers will end up with about 100,000 chargers if $75000 was needed to pay half of the competitors costs.

In California, there are 105,000 electric chargers for the public and about 10,000 of those are fast charging stations. Fast charging stations are the main ones that are usable and really only the Tesla superchargers are convenient and reliable. A non-fast charger would need 2-4 hours for a charge versus 15 minutes for supercharging.

As of April 2024, California has 448 Tesla Supercharger stations with 6,913 charging ports. This is the highest number of stations and ports in the United States, which has 2,128 locations and 20,040 ports as of January 2024. This is about 35% of Teslas global superchargers.

In February 2024, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved a $1.9 billion investment plan that advances the states electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling goals. This funding builds on $1.8 billion already invested and will help deploy 40,000 new public EV chargers statewide and other zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure across California, creating the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the country. The investments are part of Governor Gavin Newsoms unprecedented $10 billion budget for ZEVs.

Funding of $600 million for Californias states electric vehicle rebate program, Clean Cars 4 All and EV charging stations would be delayed by three years. The proposal also cuts $283 million from building decarbonization programs.

Sign up for a Supercharging membership to charge at the same price as Tesla vehicles  https://t.co/wOtKl5odtR https://t.co/4aNwct47Fx  Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) February 29, 2024

Down to 4 days from delivery to opening a site with Prefabricated Supercharger Units (PSUs)  pic.twitter.com/aFpXqNhGUi  Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) April 8, 2024
A New Jersey principal might go to jail on charges that he assaulted a student, which he denies, and the dispute is ripping apart the district of South Orange-Maplewood.

The principal is white and Latino, the student is a Black girl, and theres no way for the community to get over its divisions without more evidence. Until then, both sides can only harden.
I went to the Rutgers encampment in New Brunswick Thursday morning, expecting to sympathize with the protesting students who had spent three nights in tents on Voorhees Mall to protest the slaughter and starvation in Gaza.

Because I agree with most of what they say: Israel has gone way overboard in its response to the horror of Oct. 7. America is complicit and should cut offensive arms. The Netanyahu governments inexcusable theft of Palestinian land in the West Bank makes peace impossible. Plus, I felt some kinship because when I was their age, I slept in the presidents office at my university for three days in a protest against investments in apartheid South Africa. Its a truism that young people sometimes see with a moral clarity that fades with age.

By the end of the day, though, I wondered if these students were doing more harm than good to their cause. This was not about winning and hearts and minds.

For one, some of the slogans painted on tents in the encampment were hateful, like opposing a two-state solution, as if students were trying to match Netanyahus extremism with their own. Another banner called the United States a fascist police state. And if there was any sympathy for the Jewish victims of Oct. 7, I couldnt find it.

When I asked one of the student leaders about Oct. 7, she declined comment. When I asked about a social media post showing a fellow protester chanting Israel must fall! in front of a poster of a known terrorist, Hamad Saadat, the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, she again declined comment.

Some of the tactics were arrogant, especially the decision to disrupt finals, forcing 1,000 Rutgers students to miss their exams Thursday morning. The Voorhees Mall is a beautiful lawn about the size of a football field, in the heart of the New Brunswick campus. Its surrounded by old buildings full of classrooms that were disrupted by the drums, the chants, and the megaphones. That ruckus started early Thursday, after the Rutgers chapter of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) posted this message late Wednesday night, even as negotiations were underway: F..k Finals!

The spokeswoman, a member of SJP and a Palestinian who declined to give her name, said she has family in Gaza who have been killed. My people are dying, she said. I want to continue to focus as a student, but I cant.

Heartbreaking, and understandable. But its one thing for protesters to boycott the exams themselves. Its quite another to force everyone to join that boycott, even students who may disagree. They have rights, too.

And the protesters harassment of the press was worthy of a Trump rally. They were on public land, this is America, the press has a right to be there -- but somehow these students missed that memo. They hassled me all day, not just telling me to leave, over and over, but physically getting in my way, over and over. One opened an umbrella in front of me to block my view of a speaker, while several students and one faculty member kept insisting that I leave, making it impossible to hear. (It didnt help that a nearby frat was blasting music to disrupt the protest.)

It was worse for a fellow journalist, Chuck ODonnell, of TAPinto New Brunswick, who says he was surrounded by seven or eight protesters at about midnight on Monday, when the encampment began. They put their hands in front of his camera, and tried to grab it, he said. When they insisted that he leave, he backed off, wanting no part of violence. I felt threatened and outnumbered, he says.

At Rutgers protest, a slogan rejecting a two-state solution. tom moran

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway drew his line Thursday morning when Rutgers was forced to cancel those final exams. From the start, he had this just right: He supported the protests, as long as they didnt interfere with university operations or with the ability of their fellow students to learn.

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The protesters knew where his red line was when they stepped across it Thursday morning. In the end, Holloway denied their two main demands, to disinvest from Israeli apartheid, colonialism and genocide and to terminate the universitys partnership with Tel Aviv University. He made smaller concessions, mostly on educational issues like providing scholarships to students from Gaza, and to beef up scholarship on the Middle East. And he agreed to not punish protesters over the encampment.

That sounds just right to me. He defused the crisis, avoided violence, and the minor concessions seem constructive. And do we really want non-violent students to be expelled? They made mistakes. Theyre young. Well survive.

But some are objecting. Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWestNJ, said he and many of his members were shocked by the shameful, disgraceful, pathetic and reprehensible capitulation to lawbreaking Jew-haters at Rutgers. But he was unable to site incidents of antisemitism at Rutgers, beyond one offensive tweet. For the record, I saw no expression of hatred towards Jews, and neither did a Jewish professor I spoke with at the protest who held a sign saying, Another Jew against Bombing Children.

I keep wondering how Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi might protest this moment. Because their intention, always, was to change hearts and minds, to appeal to the larger audience. A march to Washington under some unifying message?

A group of students at Princeton announced a hunger strike on Friday, a promising tactic that is likely to generate more sympathy, and to focus discussion on Israels excesses in Gaza. What if students chained themselves to a fence at the Israeli embassy? Or the gates at General Dynamics factories where those 2,000-pound bombs are made? What if they made sure to condemn Hamas murders as well?

One thing seems clear: Disrupting finals is unlikely to convince anyone to join their cause. Just the opposite. Heres hoping they try something very different come September.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.

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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.
Barnstaple Arts Festival is set to make a grand return, promising to captivate the town with a diverse showcase of artistic talent.

North Devon Council has said that following a successful event back in 2023, the town will showcase a wide range of events for both locals and visitors to revel in.

Supported by Flourishing Barnstaple, the festival is scheduled to take place from Friday, May 24, to Sunday, May 26.

The festival will breathe life into Barnstaple, transforming it into a bustling hub of creativity throughout the weekend.

Commencing on Friday, May 24, the Arts & Craft Fayre at the Barnstaple Pannier Market will kick off the festivities, running from 9am to 4pm alongside the general traders market.

Artists and crafters interested in securing a pitch are encouraged to contact the Pannier Market directly.

Saturday, May 25, promises a day featuring a range of exhibitions and free workshops led by artists in Green Lanes from 10am to 4pm.

The highlight of the day will be the Big Draw event at the market, where attendees can join North Devon Arts artists to contribute to the 'Carnival' theme frieze.

Continuing the artistic spectacle on Sunday, May 26, Green Lanes will host more exhibitions and workshops alongside a free pop-up gallery in the Barnstaple Pannier Market, all open from 10am to 4pm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase art directly from various local artists. Adding a unique flair, sand artists Beach4art will create topical pieces, inviting attendees to participate.

Howard Porter, one of the festival organisers said: We are really excited to be holding this years festival in the refurbished Pannier Market and in Green Lanes shopping centre, giving us the opportunity to attract interest from shoppers and bank holiday weekend visitors. We have an amazing array of artistic talent here in North Devon, which deserves to be seen. There will be an opportunity to view and buy art and craft work, see demonstrations of techniques and have a go yourself! We hope you will join us.

Stella Levy, also an organiser for North Devon Arts & Festival, said: Theres certainly something for everyone at this years Barnstaple Arts Festival over the May 24th, 25th, and 26th Bank Holiday weekend. Taking place each day from 10am to 4pm in the heart of town, it's accessible to all, young and old and families. Its a great opportunity for those who enjoy looking at art or maybe want to buy unique art direct from the makers, but also for those who like to dabble creatively themselves.

Cultural Producer, Lee Baxendale, said: We're delighted to bring the arts back to the heart of Barnstaple, providing a platform for local artists to shine and for the community to come together.

The council has said that the festival aims to enrich the cultural life of Barnstaple, providing an immersive experience for attendees to engage with local artists and crafters.

They added that the festival promises something for everyone.
Diesel locomotives produced by CRRC, the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment, powers the international freight trade on the China-Laos Railway. Photo handout via Chinadaily.com.cn

The first China - Laos - Thailand - Malaysia express freight train recently departed from Chengdu, the capital of Chinas southwestern Sichuan Province, marking a milestone in regional connectivity.

The train, carrying 30 containers of LCD monitors and new energy vehicles, travels along the China - Laos railway line and then rail networks of Laos and Thailand before reaching Malaysia.

It takes the train five days to arrive in Thailand and eight days in Malaysia, halving transportation time compared to the traditional sea route from Qinzhou city of Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Insiders said this rail route will further expand the reach of the Laos - China rail services, thus promoting economic and trade ties among China, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. It will also help accelerate the development of the regional inland railway network, providing new support for economic interaction and growth between Sichuan and Southeast Asia.

Earlier, China and Thailand had connected their railway networks though the Laos - China railway line, helping reduce the transportation time from Thailand to the southwest of China to one - two days instead of one week of sea transportation.
The United States is being unceremoniously evicted from the African nation of Niger.

Meeting in Washington D.C., Niger Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine informed Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell that all 1,000 U.S. special operations troops and other personnel must vacate the country.

This is a major setback, during a time of general instability in that region. Last year, the leader of Gabon, Ali Bongo, was removed in a sudden military coup on August 30.

In August 2020, Mali experienced a military takeover. Coups have also taken place in recent years in Burkina Faso, Chad and Guinea.

France is most tied to these nations culturally and economically, but the entire international community has stakes in this worrisome trend.

Russias mercenary Wagner Group has been notably active in trying to establish lucrative contracts in Africa. The terrorist Islamic State is also actively seeking influence.

The United States is proactively involved in collaborative efforts to encourage elected governments and control terrorism. Selectively, direct U.S. action has been taken. In January 2023, U.S. and Somali troops carried out successful operations against terrorist groups, including those associated with al-Qaeda, which carried out the 9/11 attacks.

For decades, Somalia has been generally regarded as a failed state, with the government unable to provide even elementary services or security. In 1993, a United States military mission to Somalia ended in frustration after the killing of eighteen U.S. Army Rangers. The book and film Blackhawk Down describe this. Pirates operating off the coast of Somalia are a continuing, vexing challenge.

Regarding U.S. military challenges, initiatives and operations in Africa confirm the importance of special operations. Officers who specialize in unconventional warfare now reach top command positions, in some contrast to the institutional emphasis on conventional forces during the Vietnam War era and before.

Historically, Americans have been absent-minded about Africa. Past presidents generally focused on other parts of the world, with notable exceptions. Senator John F. Kennedy was chairman of the African Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, extremely attentive to that task, and carried concern about Africa into the Oval Office.

President Jimmy Carter in office and afterwards steadfastly worked with Africa. The Carter Center has devoted sustained emphasis to public health and related problems of that continent. One especially important achievement is the virtual eradication of guinea worm, a devastating agonizing disease. Carter effectively leveraged his centers efforts into World Bank efforts targeting the disease.

Former President Bill Clinton achieved rock star status in Africa, a popular stop in his travels on behalf of the Clinton Foundation. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama devoted at least periodic attention to the continent while in office, reflecting the changing times.

President Kennedy deserves credit for establishing the Peace Corps, a concept promoted by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Senator Hubert Humphrey, D-MN. The Peace Corps is remarkably durable, today involving selfless volunteers ranging widely in age.

Related, enormous growth in private investment, including philanthropy, provides unprecedented opportunities to raise living standards across Africa.

Terrorists generate continuing death, destruction and headlines, but have yet to demonstrate appeal to the average person in Africa  or elsewhere on the globe.

However, Niger may signal changes.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Kent State University in Ohio on Saturday to protest the war in Gaza, exactly 54 years after a similar campus demonstration ended in four student deaths.

The activists were silent but impossible to miss. They assembled in a semicircle around a stage on Kent States commons where speakers were commemorating the events of May 4, 1970: James Rhodes, then the governor of Ohio, had called in the National Guard to quell a demonstration against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. The troops opened fire. Four people  Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Sandra Scheuer and Jeffrey Miller  were killed. Several others were wounded.

The campus still bears the scars of the 1970 shooting. Illuminated columns mark the precise spots where the four students were killed, and the tragedy was immortalized in the song Ohio performed by the folk-rock quartet Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

In a speech on Saturday to honor the victims, Sophia Swengel, a sophomore and the president of the May 4 Task Force, a group formed in 1975 to keep the students legacy alive, also acknowledged the protesters. Many of them were hoisting signs calling on the university to divest from weapons manufacturers and military contractors.
The police arrested at least 25 pro-Palestinian protesters on Saturday at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville after aggressively clearing demonstrators off a university lawn and at one point using chemical irritants on dozens of people.

Like hundreds of students, faculty and staff across the country, students in Charlottesville protested this week in the heart of their campus, calling for the university to divest from Israel, weapons manufacturers and companies with ties to Israeli institutions, and to pledge to protect students right to peacefully protest. Tents were set up Friday, but cleared the next day.

In a news release, the university said the protesters had violated school policy on Friday by setting up tents on the lawn and by using megaphones. But the encampment was not forcibly removed then, the statement read, given continued peaceful behavior and the presence of young children at the demonstration site, and due to heavy rain Friday night.

Jim Ryan, the university president, wrote in a letter to the campus, I sincerely wish it were otherwise, but this repeated and intentional refusal to comply with reasonable rules intended to secure the safety, operations and rights of the entire university community left us with no other choice than to uphold the neutral application and enforcement of those rules.
Barbara and Joe met 13 years ago, two divorced people who had relentlessly climbed their way up from working-class backgrounds. Barbara rose to be the vice president of a wholesale apparel business before moving into retail, then winding down her career; to keep herself busy, she sells clothing online a few hours a day. Joe co-founded a delivery business that he sold in 2021 for an amount that meant he would never have to work again; he retired in January last year. He and Barbara had time; they had money; they had leisure. They also had a problem: They were driving each other mad.

Barbara briefed me on her experience before we met in person. Since retirement, she reported, Joe had found himself untethered. He was underfoot, always around and not exactly occupied. It was bad enough that he was spending hours on his phone scrolling through Instagram, bad enough that he was doing so on a couch in the living room, a space that had always been hers and hers alone throughout the day. Now he also wanted her to look at the funny dog videos that made him laugh, and yes, funny pig videos too. She did not find this particularly sexy, but he also wanted more sex than when he was working, one of many ways she felt the burden of keeping him entertained. Love him very much, she texted. But Im going crazy or going back to work, whichever comes first.
A section of Interstate 95 in Connecticut reopened on Sunday morning after a fiery accident last week damaged an overpass and shut down the highway, a major artery along the East Coast.

In the accident, fuel from a fuel tanker carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline ignited the Fairfield Avenue Bridge in Norwalk, Conn., which stretched over the highway. Workers spent 80 hours repairing the road and demolishing the damaged bridge, said Ned Lamont, the governor of Connecticut, in a statement on Sunday.

There were no serious injuries in the crash, but the damage caused by the intense heat from the burning fuel was so significant that Governor Lamont declared a state of emergency.

Repairing the roadway is vital to the security, well-being and health of the residents of Connecticut, as well as the residents of the states along the Eastern Seaboard, he wrote.
In an interview last week, NewsNations Blake Burman asked Speaker Mike Johnson about Marjorie Taylor Greene, and before Burman could finish his question, Johnson responded with classic Southern scorn. Bless her heart, he said, and then he told Burman that Greene wasnt proving to be a serious lawmaker and that he didnt spend a lot of time thinking about her.

Strangely enough, Johnsons dismissal of Greene  on the eve of her potential effort to oust him from the office he won in October  spoke as loudly as his decision to put a vote for Ukraine aid on the floor in the first place. In spite of the Republican Partys narrow majority in the House and the constant threat of a motion to vacate the chair, he will not let MAGAs most extreme lawmaker run the place.

To understand the significance of this moment, its necessary to understand the changing culture of the MAGAfied Republican Party. After eight years of Donald Trumps dominance, we know the fate of any Republican politician who directly challenges him  the confrontation typically ends his or her political career in the most miserable way possible, with dissenters chased out of office amid a hail of threats and insults. Jeff Flake, Bob Corker, Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney are but a few of the many Republicans who dared to defy Trump and paid a high political price.

But theres an open question: Does the MAGA movement have the same control over the Republican Party when Trump isnt directly in the fray? Can it use the same tactics to impose party discipline and end political careers? If the likes of Greene or Steve Bannon or Matt Gaetz or Charlie Kirk can wield the same power, then the transformation of the party will be complete. It wont be simply in thrall to Trump; it will be in thrall to his imitators and heirs and perhaps lost to the reactionary right for a generation or more.
Vietnam is highly interested in Funan Techo canal project and wishes that Cambodia will continue working closely with Mekong River Commission countries to fully assess the project's impacts, a spokeswoman said.

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang expressed the wish that Cambodia would continue working closely with Vietnam and other MRC countries to share information and fully assess the impacts of this project on water resources and ecological environment of the Mekong sub-region, along with appropriate management measures to ensure harmonious interests of the riparian countries, effective and sustainable management and use of the Mekong river's water resources for the sustainable development of the basin, solidarity among the riparian countries and the future of later generations.

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Answering a reporter's question about Vietnams response to Cambodia's recent statements about the implementation of the canal project on Saturday, Hang said Vietnam always treasures and gives top priority to its fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia in its foreign policy, wishing that the bilateral relationship would continue to deepen and become more practical and effective in various sectors for the benefit of the two countries people.

Vietnam respects the legitimate interests of Cambodia in accordance with the 1995 Mekong Agreement, relevant regulations of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the traditional and friendly neighborliness between the two countries, she said.

She added that leaders of the two Parties and States have consistently affirmed that the historical tradition of solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia is an extremely important factor, a great source of strength for the past cause of national liberation and independence protection as well as the current process of construction and development of each country.

Vietnam always supports, rejoices at, and highly evaluates the achievements made by Cambodia in recent years, the spokeswoman said.

Le Anh Tuan, a Senior Lecturer at the College of Environment and Natural Resources and the Research Institute for Climate Change at Can Tho University in Can Tho City  the largest commercial hub and de facto capital of the Mekong Delta  said the formation of the Funan Techo Canal will definitely have a negative impact on the region downstream of the river.

Attending a conference discussing the Funan Techo Canal project last month in Can Tho, Tuan said the canal project will flow through a region home to about 1.6 million people, creating a basis for economic development in Cambodia. In the future, the population in this area is expected to increase thanks to urbanization along the canal and the growth of many commercial and logistic facilities.

"During the peak of the dry season, the Bassac River's flow to the Mekong Delta could be reduced by about 50% if all the rice-growing areas in the Funan Techo project region are irrigated," he said.

On May 19, 2023, the Cambodian Council of Ministers approved the canal project to maximize the potential of Cambodias waterway transportation by connecting the Mekong River system to the sea after a 26-month study has been completed.

The canal is estimated to cost US$1.7 billion, and would be built by Chinese company CRBC through the build-operate-transfer method. It is set to flow 180 km, connecting the Phnom Penh River port with the Gulf of Thailand in southwestern Cambodia.

The project is expected to have a width of 100 m upstream and 80 m downstream, with a depth of 5.4 m, allowing cargo ships with a total load of up to 3,000 tons to pass during the dry season and 5,000 tons during the rainy season. Construction is planned to start at the end of this year for the canal to be operational by 2028.

*Correction: A previous version of this article mistranslated Le Anh Tuan's statement about possible impacts of the Funan Techo Canal project to the Mekong Delta's water supply. He spoke about change in water flow, not water levels.
It was not exactly urgent to get the rug, but the larger question the rug had to answer was urgent enough. Thats why, on a bright afternoon at the end of March, Miranda July and I were driving toward Irvine, Calif., where she planned to meet a man about a listing on Facebook Marketplace.

She had recently moved out of the large home she shared with her husband and child in Silver Lake and into a small two-bedroom house behind her writing studio in Echo Park. It meant she needed new things for a new place. A toilet, for example. A coral one, ideally, to match the tub and sink. Flooring for the kitchen. A refrigerator. And an antique carpet for the walk-in closet she was fixing up in her studio space. In this new life, would it all fit together?

Ms. July, a writer, filmmaker and artist whose work plays with the boundaries of intimacy, was wearing round tortoiseshell sunglasses, and her hair was pulled back in a velvet bow. We were just getting acquainted as she carefully merged on and off a series of highways in her blue Toyota Prius. Irvine was more than an hour away. There was going to be traffic  of course there would be traffic  and it began to dawn on us that this was going to be a long drive.

In such close quarters, Ms. July suggested we might define the terms of our relationship more clearly.
The Federal Election Commission quietly issued an advisory opinion last week allowing candidates to raise unlimited money for issue-advocacy groups working on ballot measures in elections in which those candidates are on the ballot.

The opinion, issued in response to a request from a Nevada-based abortion rights group, could significantly alter the landscape in the fall in terms of the capacity that candidates aligned with these groups have to help them raise money.

The decision applies to all federal candidates, but with a presidential election taking place in six months, the biggest attention will fall to that race. If Mr. Biden can solicit money for abortion-rights ballot measures, he can add to an already-existing fund-raising advantage that his team currently has over Mr. Trump.

The decision, released publicly last week but little noticed, could affect turnout in battleground states like Nevada where razor-thin margins will determine the election. In Arizona, an abortion rights group said it had the number of signatures required to put a referendum on the ballot. Florida  a state that has voted reliably for Republicans in recent presidential races  has a similar measure on the ballot.
A driver died after crashing into a security barrier near the White House on Saturday night around 10:30, prompting an investigation by the Washington police department, the Secret Service said in a statement.

There is no threat or public safety implications, Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, wrote on social media, adding that the crash posed no threat to the White House. The citys police department said it was investigating the crash only as a traffic crash, but the Secret Service said it would conduct a separate investigation into the drivers background.

President Biden was at his home in Wilmington, Del., at the time of the crash, having arrived there on Friday evening.

The crash occurred on the eastern perimeters of the White House, near the intersection of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, a six-lane boulevard that connects the White House and the U.S. Capitol, the Washington police said. The police arrived at the scene about 15 minutes after the crash and pronounced the driver, an adult male, dead.
The Los Angeles Police Department and campus police removed a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California early Sunday morning, pushing several dozen people out of the campus gates in the latest crackdown on student protesters there.

The encampment had sprouted up nearly two weeks ago in Alumni Park, a central quad on U.S.C.s campus in Los Angeles. Shortly after it did, the university called the police to the campus, where they arrested 93 people, but the protest returned soon after. Los Angeles police said on Sunday morning that they had made no arrests while clearing the encampment for the second time.

The university has been in turmoil for several weeks following its decision not to allow its valedictorian, who is Muslim, to speak at graduation. The university cited security concerns, but the valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, said she believed she was being silenced. A group that supports the U.S.-Israel relationship had said Ms. Tabassum openly traffics antisemitic rhetoric. U.S.C. later canceled its main graduation ceremony altogether, though it will hold a modified celebration this week.

On Sunday, police officers in riot gear entered the campus before dawn, pushing about 25 protesters out of the campuss metal gates. After the police sweep, the quad was littered with blankets, sweatshirts, coolers, snacks and overturned canopies.
Panamanians on Sunday elected Jose Raul Mulino, a former public security minister, as their next president, in the culmination of an election cycle that was embroiled in political turmoil.

Mr. Mulino, 64, focused his campaign on job growth and promised to increase tourism and build a rail line connecting Panama City, the capital, with the countrys interior that would create construction jobs. He also pledged to increase agricultural production, lower the cost of medicines and provide free internet access to schools.

Mr. Mulino received 34 percent of the vote with more than 90 percent of the votes counted on Sunday, according to the countrys electoral tribunal, which declared him the winner of the single-round race. He had a 10 percentage point lead over his closest competitor, Ricardo Lombana, a former diplomat. Mr. Mulino will assume office on July 1, taking over from the departing president, Laurentino Cortizo.

Its an honor for me, for my family, for my friends, to receive this call, Mr. Mulino said in a victory speech in Panama City on Sunday night. His election, he said, implies an enormous weight on my shoulders, adding that he promised to do his best for the country.
Xi Jinping traveled to Europe

Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, arrived in France yesterday on his first trip to Europe in five years. He will also visit Serbia and Hungary.

The three countries, to varying degrees, are embracing Chinas push for a new global order. Xi seems intent on seizing opportunities to loosen the continents bonds with the U.S. and forge a world freed of its dominance. The visit is likely to be seen as a none-too-subtle effort by Xi to divide Western allies.

Soon after arriving in Paris, he praised France, whose president, Emmanuel Macron, has often made the Gaullist point that Europe must never be a vassal of the United States.

The chemistry between Xi and Macron  who visited China just over a year ago, and echoed the Chinese lexicon of a multipolar world, freed of blocs  appears to lie in a shared view that the postwar order must be replaced. Xi wants to court leaders who are frustrated by U.S. dominance, see China as a counterweight and are eager to bolster economic ties.
Jordan Bardella, 28, is the new face of the far right in France. Measured, clean-cut and raised in the hardscrabble northern suburbs of Paris, he laces his speeches with references to Victor Hugo and believes that no country succeeds by denying or being ashamed of itself.

That phrase, at a recent rally in the eastern town of Montbeliard, brought a chorus of Jordan! Jordan! from a crowd that had lined up for hours to see him. Cries of Patrie  homeland  filled the hall. Bardellamania is in the air.

Mr. Bardella, the son of Italian immigrants and a college dropout who joined the National Front party (now National Rally) at 16, is the protege of Marine Le Pen, the perennial hard-right French presidential candidate. Moderate in tone if not content, he is also the personification of the normalization  or banalization  of a party once seen as a quasi-fascist threat to the Republic.

Across Europe, the far right is becoming the right, absent any compelling message from traditional conservative parties. If far suggests outlier, it has become a misnomer. Not only have the parties of an anti-immigrant right surged, they have seen the barriers that once kept them out crumble as they are absorbed into the arc of Western democracies.
When Naji Fateel was arrested in the aftermath of Bahrains Arab Spring uprising, his youngest son, Nidal, was a toddler.

Last month, when Mr. Fateel left prison  riding a bus filled with inmates freed by a surprise royal pardon  the Nidal who greeted him was a teenager. Mr. Fateel, 49, a human rights activist, embraced his son and emerged, dazed, into a life forever changed.

It was an indescribable moment, he said, the first hug after freedom.

After more than a decade in jail, Mr. Fateel was released in a mass pardon in April that included more than 1,500 prisoners  the largest pardon since the reign of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain began in 1999.
Hamas said on Sunday that its armed wing had fired rockets at Israeli forces near the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Gaza and Israel, in an attack that the Israeli military said killed three soldiers and left three more soldiers critically wounded.

About 14 rockets and mortars were fired from an area near the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt toward Kerem Shalom, an Israeli military spokesman, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, said at a news briefing on Sunday night. One home in the kibbutz was struck.

There was no indication that the Kerem Shalom crossing itself, one of the few crossings through which humanitarian aid is able to enter the Gaza Strip, was the target of the attack, and there was no indication that other crossings were under immediate threat, Colonel Lerner said. Still, after the attack on Sunday, the army said the Kerem Shalom crossing was closed to the passage of aid trucks.

In response, Colonel Lerner said, Israeli military planes destroyed the launcher that had fired the projectiles and targeted other Hamas military infrastructure.
One Offaly coffee shop has stopped accepting 50 notes amid a warning over counterfeit notes.

Costa Coffee in Edenderry displayed a sign in their cafe last week advising customers that they are not currently taking 50 notes as payment.

The notice read: "Due to the number of forgeries in circulation, we no longer accept 50 notes."

It's understood a number of businesses in the town have been caught out by fake 50 notes recently, prompting the local warning and reaction.

The Central Bank has issued advice on how to spot fake notes if you come into contact with them.

They say: "There are many security features incorporated into euro banknotes that make them difficult to recreate. Many of these features can be checked manually using the Feel-Look-Tilt test."

Feel

The paper is crisp and firm

The paper will have raised ink areas on the front of the note.

Look

Hold the note up to a light and:

Hold the note up to the light and look for watermarks (see-through areas of the note):

Architectural design similar to the main design of the note.

A number watermark underneath.

Barcode watermark in the centre (Euro Series 1 notes only).

Europa portrait (Euro Series 2 notes only).

Security thread down the centre of the note with perforations of denomination.

Perforations in the holographic foil showing the denomination, euro symbol and Europa portrait (Euro Series 2 notes only).

See through number at the top left of the note (Euro Series 1 notes only).

Tilt

The holographic stripe or patch will change images and colours.

The iridescent stripe on the back of the lower denominations will shine and fade (Euro Series 1 notes only).

The opti-variable ink covering the numeral on the back of the higher denominations will change colour (Euro Series 1 notes only).

The emerald number in the bottom left corner on the banknotes front side displays an effect of the light that moves up and down. The number also changes colour from emerald green to deep blue (Euro Series 2 notes only).
Interview: Nuclear energy cooperation between China, France has huge potential, says EDF China head

Xinhua) 14:18, May 05, 2024

PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- There is huge potential for cooperation between China and France in the field of nuclear energy and other low-carbon energies and EDF will continue to make more high-quality investments in China, said Fabrice Fourcade, chairman of French energy company EDF's China branch.

From Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant to Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant and Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, 40 years of cooperation between EDF and its Chinese partners has contributed to building mutual trust between the two countries and laid the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation in the future, Fourcade, also vice president of EDF Group, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

EDF, France's leading electric utility company, was fully involved in the design, construction, and operation of Daya Bay, the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in Chinese mainland from the start of its construction in 1984 to the launch of its commercial operation in 1994.

In recent years, EDF has established partnerships with major Chinese partners including China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC) in various fields such as material aging and digital technology.

Nearly 50 small and medium-sized enterprises in the French nuclear industry have also established extensive cooperative relationships with Chinese nuclear industry enterprises. Some of these enterprises have achieved considerable development in China in recent years, according to Fourcade.

"More and more countries realize that nuclear energy is a useful tool to achieve carbon emission reduction and cope with climate change. In some places, it is even believed to be an indispensable tool," he said.

"Both France and China have ambitions in the field of nuclear energy and should take advantage of the 40-year technical cooperation relationship and industrial proximity to ensure maximum success for these construction plans," he said.

EDF has also diversified its investments in China into other low-carbon energy fields, especially renewable energy. In 2021, EDF and China Energy Investment Corp jointly delivered an offshore wind power project in Dongtai, Jiangsu province. In 2023, the two parties signed an agreement to expand the project to an offshore comprehensive smart energy island demonstration project with wind, solar, hydrogen energy and storage.

EDF has also launched a number of smart integrated energy service projects such as district heating and cooling in China's Shandong, Henan and Hainan provinces. Its innovative platform "EDF Pulse" has launched a series of competitions in China to identify local start-ups in the energy field.

"Renewable energy is continuing to develop at a very rapid pace globally, especially in China," Fourcade said. "EDF is committed to developing low-carbon energy on a global scale, with special attention to cooperation with China."

"We will continue to make more high-quality investments and deliver more outstanding projects in China. We look forward to the first-class business environment with a stable regulatory framework as promoted by the Chinese authorities," he added.

"The presence of EDF in China is marked by two characteristics -- courage to be the first and perseverance. When we dare to be the first, we are not looking for a blockbuster, but for long-term cooperation with mutual trust and win-win results," stressed Fourcade.

As to the "new quality productive forces" promoted by the Chinese authorities, the head of EDF China believes that they are "inseparable from the leading role of innovation that is also strongly promoted in France, including by EDF."

"In the energy field, there is great potential to develop new quality productive forces. Nuclear energy and low-carbon energy together with hydrogen, smart grids and digitalization are key drivers for new business models and for better and higher quality future," he said.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. The latest report from FDI Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, named Baku the third most sought-after investment destination globally.

As per the report, the agreements reached last year regarding foreign direct investments in Azerbaijan mark the largest projects since 2017. As such, in 2023, the economy of Azerbaijan saw a hefty influx of foreign direct investments totaling $6.7 billion. The leading contributors to Azerbaijan's economy were the UK, with $1.9 billion, Turkiye with $1.3 billion, Cyprus with $792 million, Russia with $617 million, and Iran with $396 million.

Azerbaijan's welcoming business climate and promising investment opportunities have been drawing in a multitude of foreign investors. Across various sectors of the economy, pivotal projects are underway, spearheading innovation and growth while simultaneously fostering the creation of new employment opportunities for the countrys workforce.

Last year, an agreement was inked with between Azerbaijan's Investment Company (AIC) and Hungary's Hell Group. As per the deal inked, a new factory with an annual production capacity of 700 million aluminum beverage cans is set to be constructed in the Alat Free Economic Zone. The goods produced will cater to local demand and will also be exported to Central Asian countries. The project with a hefty investment of $211 million aims to generate over 300 job opportunities.

Another major venture set to receive substantial investment in Azerbaijan involves the production of electric motor buses through a partnership with the Chinese BYD Company Limited within the Sumgayit Chemical Industry Park. Initially, BYD has earmarked $34 million for the project, with an additional $60 million planned for investment in projects aimed at creating added value. The project aims to generate 800 new job opportunities. Starting from the third year of production, there are plans to localize spare parts for electric motor buses.

Moreover, with the participation of the Turkish firm "Gen Ilac ve Saglk Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.", a project was launched in the Pirallahi Industrial Park in 2023, with an investment outlay of $35 million. Additionally, construction is underway for a pharmaceutical facility in the Alat Free Economic Zone in collaboration with the Israeli BioPharmax company, with a project cost amounting to 45 million euros.

Azerbaijan has forged highly successful partnerships with energy companies from Arab nations. One notable example is the collaboration with the UAE's Masdar, which has been actively engaged in Azerbaijan since 2020. Masdar achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the 230 MW Garadagh solar plant in October 2023.

Furthermore, Masdar has entered into agreements to develop onshore wind and solar projects, as well as integrated offshore wind and green hydrogen projects, boasting a combined capacity of 4GW in the country. Remarkably, Masdar and Azerbaijan have mutually agreed to an option to expand the total capacity of renewable projects to an impressive 10GW, spanning across various technologies. Moreover, it has been revealed that Masdar will kick off the construction of several renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan this November, with a total value surpassing $1 billion.

In 2019, Saudi Arabias ACWA Power made its debut in Azerbaijan. Currently, the company is developing a 240 MW wind power plant in Azerbaijan, with a total investment of $286 million. The EBRD facilitated a syndicated loan of $197.1 million (186.9 million euros) to ACWA Power Azerbaijan Renewable Energy on October 26, 2023. Additionally, the OPEC Fund approved a $50 million loan to ACWA Power Wind Azerbaijan Renewable Energy on December 15 of this year, aimed at supporting the construction of the Khizi-Absheron wind power plant.

Earlier this year, ACWA Power signed four implementation agreements for major projects, including a 1GW onshore wind farm, a 1.5GW offshore wind farm, and a battery energy storage project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.

So, these are just a few examples of Azerbaijan's successful investment partnerships with a wide array of global counterparts. Ongoing discussions with both existing and potential partners focus on attracting investments into new ventures. Recently, for instance, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan established a joint investment fund aimed at attracting bilateral investments across various sectors. Additionally, at the recent Tashkent Investment Forum, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan explored new avenues for investment collaboration.

With the COP29 conference scheduled for November this year, Azerbaijan aims not only to promote the climate agenda but also to showcase investment opportunities to potential partners. Notably, significant investment prospects are emerging not only in Baku but also in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, offering opportunities in the energy sector, agriculture, transportation infrastructure development, and various other industries. Companies from Turkiye, Russia, Israel, Germany, and other nations are already capitalizing on these opportunities.

Azerbaijan's diverse investment landscape comes with tax incentives. Foreign investors can trust that Azerbaijan has robust laws and regulations to safeguard their rights and interests.

Overall, Azerbaijan has secured a spot in the top seven countries favorable for investment, according to the International Monetary Fund's 2024 report. This indicates that Azerbaijan will continue efforts to enhance its investment appeal, leading to more opportunities for investment attraction in the future.
Johnny Sakakini knows the suffering of the Palestinian people. He's lived it.

On October 23, 16 days after the Israel-Gaza War broke out, he got a call from his mother with some devastating news. Describing what had been told to her by relatives, his mother said 12 members in their wider family in Gaza had been killed by an Israeli rocket attack against a Christian church in Gaza City.

"They came to the church that Sunday, mothers, fathers and their kids," said Sakakini. "The parents told the kids, 'go to the hall (next to the chapel) and play with the other kids.' They went and moments later, there was a sound -- Psst! -- a missile came in and took out the whole hall."

In total, 80 people lost their lives in the attack on the hall, which was part of the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church, which dates to the 1100s and is one the oldest Christian churches in the world. Many of the people killed were refugees who had fled more war-torn areas and were seeking shelter in the church. Sakakini said he used to go to the church when he was a boy.

No explanation or apology was offered by Israeli authorities for the strike.

"They went to the church thinking they were safe," said Sakakini. "But they weren't safe. They weren't safe..." he repeated, his voice trailing off.

Sakakini is a Palestinian-American who came to the United States to escape the Israeli Occupation from the West Bank city of Ramallah in 1988. He now runs a restaurant called "Abi's Falafel" in Trumbull, CT.

He sat down recently to talk about the tragic incident at church, the war in Gaza and the Occupation in Palestine.

Our talk took place as the war in Gaza raged on with over 30,000 people killed. (3000 more people have been killed since the interview took place.) Another 1.5 million people have had to leave their homes and find shelter somewhere away from the violence.

The war began when Israel retaliated for an attack Oct. 7 in southern Israel by Hamas extremists that killed 1200 people attending a concert.

Israel has been accused of using disproportionate force in its military campaign and committing a number of war crimes, including carpet bombing residential neighborhoods and bombing churches, mosques and hospitals. The IDF has also bombed food centers, refugee camps and schools. Israel is also being criticized for blocking the delivery of food supplies into Gaza. There's now growing concern about famine engulfing the region.

On April 1, the Israeli military fired missiles at aid trucks from World Central Kitchen, killing seven workers. Israeli authorities said the attack was a mistake.

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(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
A

Journalist David Corn's review of fellow journalist Ari Berman's book on minority rule by a right-winged, anti-democratic cabal, references the threat posed by the likes of a would-be dictator, Donald Trump. Many Americans and citizens of the world would agree with Berman's assessment of our current dilemma in the US. A dilemma for those of us who want to see the US progressing toward a fully democratic society--and not one that capitulates to conservatives and Republican fascists.





As Corn writes, for years, this is the cabal that has been "striving on multiple fronts to weaken democracy by suppressing voter rights and pushing for other measures--such as gerrymandering and placing election boards under partisan control--that undermine majority rule".





I agree. One can chalk up the gutting of Roe vs. Wade, removing hard-fought rights from women and their right to bodily autonomy. There's the banning of books about or written by people of color or LGTBQ+ citizens. There's the effort to dehumanize immigrants. Any idea that the anti-democratic cabal feels that threatens their right to push for "absolute power." There's anti-black rage and the idea of a return to a time when America was "great".





Now, there's once again the violent crackdown on the idea that all human beings have the right to exist, to live, to thrive, and, if denied justice, they have the right to protest. Others, allies, have the right to protest at their side just as the US, the Western world, calls on its allies to pursue terrorism around the world.





Students and faculty at various colleges and universities have what seems a strange idea to the right-winged cabal: They care. They have compassion for the Palestinian people. They understand what happened to Israel on October 7, 2023, but they are witnesses to the horrors of mangled children. Thousands and thousands of mangled children. So many seriously injured and without parents. These students and faculty with heart are witnessing a genocide, and, in agreement with South Africa, they want to Israel to ceasefire. To stop! To put and end to the nightmare the Palestinians are forced to endure. Have endured since the Nakba in 1948.





They care so deeply, these students and faculty and activists, many of whom are Jewish, risk being pulled and dragged about by law enforcement. They risk being teargassed and injured for a lifetime. They risk, of course, expulsion from their campuses. Or the loss of employment. And yet they go on. They go on fighting against fascism.





For what else is in when some of us can see Bull Connors again? When we see law enforcement give the order to fire and four students are killed? When we see the fascists of Italy marching in the streets or the Brown Shirts marching and swinging clubs down on innocent citizens?





Ordinary citizens without compassion is far more frightening than the dictator-in-waiting. Ordinary citizens with a hatred for justice and fairness, with a desire to dismantle democracy, will dote on the would-be dictator. They will see students and faculty in support of Palestine as haters of Jews, antisemitic (as if they cared one bit about the Jewish people). They will see the treatment of Palestinian defenders as treasonous enemies of the State.





How different is what I see, these protesters on the news from Gaza any different from the violence inflicted by the Brown Shirts in Nazi Germany?





*

Hitler never won an election, no matter how many rallies he spoke at, or no matter how many meetings he attended with the heads of the German State, or no matter how many Brown Shirts attacked and killed citizens they considered enemies. He insisted on "absolute power".

Timothy Ryback in Takeover: Hitler's Final Rise to Power, writes that "it has been said that the Weimar Republic died twice. It was murdered, and it committed suicide." Ryback wonders if any democracy could have "withstood an assault on its structures and processes by a demagogue as fiercely determined as Hitler".





Hitler told Franz von Papen that he could remain a minister in a Hitler cabinet of the future only if Papen is "willing to support his [Hitler's] policies, which included the weeding out to weed out all Social Democrats, Communists, and Jews from leading positions in the country." Otherwise, no go.





Hitler couldn't see himself, writes Ryback, a defeated politician.





A year after the March election in 1933, the Reichstag, writes Ryback, passed an enabling law, empowering Hitler and his fascist henchmen, allowing Hitler to merge the presidency with the chancellorship. He wanted to be a dictator. He had his enablers. His storm troopers. Some were manipulated into believing in the "them" vs the "us". Hitler believes had to save himself and the National Socialist movement.





The German leadership handed over power to Hitler.





The political leaders arrived at the reception hall, writes Ryback. Hitler raises his hand and repeats after Hindenburg:

"'I swear: I will devote all my strength to the good of the German people, will respect the constitution and laws of the German people, will fulfill responsibly my assigned duties, and will conduct my affairs in a nonpartisan manner that is just for every person.'"





And the genocide follows.





Black Germans killed--thousands

Bisexuals killed--hundreds of thousands

Jehovah Witnesses--1700

Disabled people--250,000-300,000, along with 10,000 children

Polish people--1.8 million

Professional criminals--35,000

Political opponents--tens of thousands

Serbs--310,000

Romanian, Gypsies, women and children--250,000-500,000

Soviet prisoners of war--3.3 million

Jews--2.7 in the killing centers

Jews--2 million in mass shootings

Jews--2 million to 1,000,000 in ghettos, labor camps, and concentration camps

Jews--250,000 acts of violence outside of camps and ghettos

(Holocaust Encyclopedia)

*





Enablers and the silent, unlike the student and faculty protesters, who are mainly Palestinian but also include Jewish students and faculty, believe in the fear-mongering of the mediocre political leaders. As journalist Juan Gonzales, a former student leader during the 1968 Columbia University protests, points out that the police current crackdown implicates the presidents of these campuses as being tough on the "others". Enablers and the silent appease. This multi-racial protest led by the Palestinian and Muslim and Arab protesters against the genocide in Gaza stand on the side of justice and democracy.





Despite fascist attempts to erase the history of resistance, casting the anti-tyranny and to anti-democratic protesters as antisemitic is madness. But then, what else is fascism, if not a form of madness?





The late Edward Said described the Palestinian people, writes Moustafa Bayoumi, in the Guardian, "as 'the victims of the victims'", showing how Palestinians have become inexorably part of Europe's Jewish history, even if the Palestinian "life, culture, and politics have their own dynamic and ultimately their own authenticity".





Who is funding the Israeli assault on democracy in Palestine? Which of us? Or is it all of us tax-paying citizens, here in the US? The protesters want the US to divest from Israel. Is that too much to ask if we are to see ourselves as a democracy? A true democracy?





"'I do believe that as a Jewish person, I have a particular responsibility to resist the instrumentation of my heritage, and to say that I do not believe that genocide in Gaza or occupation and apartheid in greater Palestine is supportive of my personal safety.'" Ariela Rosenzweig, a student at Brown University.





We are talking here of the "persistent denial of the Palestinian quest for freedom". It's what the students and faculty are talking about. Freedom. How is it possible for US citizens to speak of the freedom of some, the powerful and well-armed and funded by the West--and not the others who have been disabused of their right to a homeland without fear of encroachment. Occupation. Destruction.





One day a Palestinian exist and the next he or she becomes a part of the history that isn't allowed to be taught!





And Trump says the protests around the US are a "'mess'"! What about that 26 billion just recently approved of to fund the killing? What about those 17,000 children killed? And Netanyahu still has his eyes on sending US-fund missiles and drones over the city of Rafah. The Gazans have fled and where these survivors are staving. The city where children, according to James Elder who visited Rafah as a spokesperson for UNICEF, witnessed severely injured children, dying children.





It's a city of graveyards filled with the remains of children. Children! And these children are in these graves thanks to Israel air strikes. Thanks to the US. Thanks to US corporate war profiteers. Thanks to citizens who remain silent.





What can't become history is that US citizens refused to embrace compassion, love. Refused to speak out against an anti-democratic movement to empower only the few. The willing, willing to destroy others, determining who is or isn't worthy of life.





It's fascism that must be destroyed It always was a "bad idea." Worse now, when presidents of US campuses should know better.




Oregons offseason overhaul of its secondary continues with one of the top safeties in the 2024 recruiting class.

Peyton Woodyard, a four-star prospect who signed with Alabama and entered the transfer portal on Monday, committed to transfer to Oregon on Sunday. He has four years of eligibility.
On Thursday morning, a few hours after members of the Portland Police Bureau cleared Millar Library of the pro-Palestinian protesters who had taken over the building on Portland State Universitys campus, the sense of relief emanating from the schools president of 10 months, Ann Cudd, was palpable.

True, she had not been able to negotiate her way out of the conflict with protesters without having to call in law enforcement, unlike a small handful of other universities around the country that managed to convince student activists to stand down.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. Azerbaijan may invite countries to conclude a truce during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev said in an interview with The Guardian, Trend reports.

The Guardian recalls that most countries in the world conclude a truce during the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

"We are holding discussions with different partners about a truce during COP29, as during the Olympics. But this is at an early stage of discussion. This will require additional consultations and discussions," said Hajiyev.

Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan is making and will continue to make additional efforts to make COP29 another success story in the field of peace and a conference for achieving peace, along with the challenge of combating climate change.

"We are working to advance the peace agenda. The climate crisis is likely to worsen food and water shortages and could increase migration, increasing pressure on states and potentially causing border problems.

Security has many elements and it cannot be denied that climate impacts, environmental change or environmental issues are relevant to national security and peace," said Hajiyev.
Clifton and Christine Bruno adjusted the large filets of skewered Tribal-caught salmon. As the fish slow-cooked around the fire outside the Tryon Creek Visitor Center in Portland, a hard spring rain fell on the pop-up tents erected over their traditional salmon bake.

Around the fire were several coolers filled with 50 pounds of salmon  enough to share with the hundreds of guests who would be visiting Friends of Tryon Creeks sixth annual Indigenous Culture Day event Saturday.
Gov. Tina Kotek took the right step last week in announcing she would not create an Office of the First Spouse. The pullback and her apology for the messy handling of the issue ease some of the anxiety that has built up in the weeks since three top staffers left her office, reportedly due to conflicts with Koteks wife and her role in the administration.

But the move is too little and too late in light of internal emails that paint a concerning picture of what Kotek has allowed to unfold in her office over the past several months.

Koteks announcement suggests she doesnt seem to recognize what is raising alarm for Oregonians. The publics concern isnt so much with the concept of creating a formal office with staff; its the reality of how the actions of Koteks wife have apparently roiled the governors office and threaten to undermine Koteks ability to achieve her ambitious agenda. Unfortunately, none of what the governor announced last week  neither the plan to produce a manual of policies defining the first spouse role, nor the news that her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, will limit her duties for now  dispels the worry that we may be at the beginning of another trip down ethically challenged lane. With so much of Koteks agenda for fixing Oregon hanging in the balance, the time to correct course is now.

While Koteks plan to compile a manual detailing policies and protocols suggests progress, its baffling that its taken so long to get to this point. Emails show that for months, Koteks top advisers repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought to put professional, ethical and workplace parameters on Kotek Wilsons role. A special adviser to the governor, Abby Tibbs, laid out in a March 15 email the need to document not only the job description for a first spouse but an articulated plan to address power dynamics and reporting structure.

She listed some of the many implications of having someone in the office whose reason for being there stems from their relationship with the governor. A formalized structure should consider how the spouse works with other staffers and include meaningful guidelines for handling conflicts of interest, favoritism, bias, nepotism issues, complicated power dynamics, conflict resolution, retaliation, she wrote. Those are things, she added, that can greatly impact staff morale and sense of stability and the confidence in the governors office overall.

These are reasonable, sensible issues to consider that arent unique to the governors office, but are simply grounded in principles of good governance and workplace management. Yet Kotek failed to act.

As the governor has pointed out a few times, Kotek Wilson is a volunteer, not a paid employee. That means there are fewer protocols in place to navigate the inevitable issues that arise in any office. Even if Kotek Wilson does not personally oversee anyone, the fact that she is married to the governor introduces the potential for people to censor themselves in policy discussions or feel pressured to fulfill a request out of deference to Kotek  who certainly is their boss. Other emails reveal such pressures, including one referencing a highly inappropriate call that a staffer was told to make to the supervisor of a Cascadia Behavioral Health employee who is a friend of Kotek Wilsons.

In a call with The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board, Kotek acknowledged that there was confusion among the staff regarding Kotek Wilsons role, ascribing it to the ad hoc-ness of what Kotek Wilson might be doing  sometimes accompanying Kotek to meetings and other times meeting with individuals to research specific issues. But the governors responses reflected either a lack of awareness of how troubling the situation was for employees or a refusal to acknowledge it.

Koteks apparent resistance to defining Kotek Wilsons role before the staff exodus is one reason the initiative to create a manual will lack credibility with the public. Oregonians will understandably question its independence, considering that an employee in Koteks office is compiling the manual. And while we appreciated her decision last month to seek guidance from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission on creating a first spouse role, the emails released last month reveal a complicated situation that demands more specific remedies than the commission would provide.

Kotek should instead ask Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to appoint an outside law firm or a justice department lawyer to take on the responsibility of exploring the role for a first spouse. That inquiry should examine whether any work beyond a ceremonial role is even appropriate, considering the numerous opportunities inside and outside of government where spouses can seek employment. Assuming there is a suitable role for a first spouse, the effort should include best practices in human resources and workplace management; research legal and ethical standards; develop clear pathways for handling conflicts, allegations of bias and retaliation; and explore the specific controls adopted by other states. And as uncomfortable as it may be, any such effort should include interviews with those in Koteks office  and those who have left  to better understand the nuances and real-life pressure points that emerged.

Additionally, Kotek should make clear that her wife will not work out of the governors office until there are clear workplace protocols. Any requests for staff assistance should go through a single point of contact. The duties that Kotek has laid out for her wife  visiting tribes, speaking on Koteks behalf at ceremonial events and meeting with those who seek to have an audience - are already responsibilities based outside of the Capitol.

This may seem punitive or unjust to someone who only wants to contribute to putting Oregon on the right track and who shares Koteks public service values. We recognize the unfairness of one partners public role curtailing or constricting the other partners ambitions. But in any workplace, it would be unusual for a boss to bring in their spouse as a high-placed volunteer vested with great responsibility and the credibility of the office. Its especially fraught when the job involved is the work of the public and when the stakes for failure are so high.

We want Kotek to succeed. Her sharp policymaking skills, clear-eyed priorities and willingness to go the distance on complicated, impenetrable challenges have given the public hope that the state will see meaningful change. Her openness to working across ideological divisions and party lines impressed critics who were expecting none of that. The successes she and her staff have won so far in changing housing policy, encouraging federal semiconductor investment and sheltering thousands more Oregonians have shown her to be the leader that Oregon needed at this moment in time.

But with every new revelation that raises the ghost of governors past, that moment feels as fleeting as ever.

-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board

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After a recent column about a roadside signs with an errant translation, I heard from a few readers who thought the signs did contain a legitimate Spanish word.

To recap, I wrote about official highway department signs that said, No Trespassing/No Traspasan. After The Oregonian highlighted the issue 20 years ago, many signs were amended with decals with the new translation to cover up the old.
This May, we face a crucial decision that will significantly impact the heart of our communityour schools. Measure 34-336, the Banks School District bond will be on your ballot, and its crucial we give it the attention it deserves, (Estacada, Banks, Molalla school districts seek approval of bond measures, April 26).

The proposed bond addresses critical issues in our schools, such as leaky roofs and outdated heating and cooling systems, ensuring our children learn in safe and secure environments. It includes funding for a new two-story building to replace most of the existing high school. Additionally, the bond aims to alleviate the congested traffic during school pickup times, a change that will benefit everyone in the community.
A zebra named Sugar, AKA Shug, that escaped a trailer and explored the foothills of western Washington for six days is heading to her owners home in Montana.

Shug, who became an internet sensation, was finally captured Friday evening in the Riverbend-area near the city of North Bend. King County officials said It took about three hours to corral the African equines.

Shug isnt heading to Montana alone. Shes joining a small dazzle of fellow zebras that also escaped but were quickly caught after all four made a run for it off Interstate 90 at exit 32 by North Bend.

According to the Regional Animal Services of King County, who coordinated the recovery along with local animal services and residents, the zebra looked in reasonably good health but its unknown if its owner has arranged for a full veterinary examination.

Shugs adventure quickly captured public attention, spawning social media memes that placed the animal everywhere from riding a ferry across Puget Sound to rounding the bases at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, the Associated Press reported. People even used artificial intelligence technology to show the zebra being ridden through the woods by Sasquatch.

The Oregonian

Photos courtesy of the Regional Animal Services of King County
The wet weather continues in the Portland area, with rain, showers and daytime high temperatures in the 50s through Tuesday.

But then the sunshine is expected to return, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.
The fiance of a Wisconsin elementary school teacher, Madison Bergmann, is calling their wedding after the alleged accusations.

Bergmann and her devoted friend, Sam Hickman, are cancelling their wedding plans after the teacher has been accused of having an affair with a 5th grader, one of her 11-year-old students.

A friend of the supposedly groom who asked to remain anonymous stated that the wedding plans for the pair have been indefinitely postponed.

The pal of the groom added that after uncovering the revelation of cheating by one of her students, the pair's ceremony will probably not happen.

Wisconsin Elementary School Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assault

A 24-year-old elementary school teacher from Wisconsin was arrested for behaving inappropriately with one of her fifth-grade students just a few months before her wedding.

The situation came to light when the student's mother overheard her son talking to the teacher on the phone. This teacher, Madison Bergmann, allegedly exchanged texts with the boy that were discovered by his parents.

The text messages revealed disturbing details about multiple encounters inside the school during lunch or after classes, where Bergmann is accused of expressing enjoyment at being touched by the child and engaging in inappropriate behavior.

During the investigation, the police found a folder in Bergmann's bag with handwritten notes discussing their physical interactions. In one of these notes, Bergmann acknowledged the inappropriate nature of their relationship but expressed love for the child and stated the need to stop.

The exact duration of the abuse is unclear, but Bergmann admitted to receiving the boy's phone number from his mother in December, the same month she got engaged to her longtime boyfriend. As a result of these allegations, the couple's wedding page on The Knot was taken down.

This news has left many upset, including Sam, who expressed sadness and frustration at the situation, emphasizing that it wasn't deserved by anyone involved.

Teacher's Wedding Called Off

The decision to cancel the wedding, set for July 27, was mutual, according to a close friend. He expressed the depth of hurt and shock felt by the fiance, who described the situation as messed up and heartbreaking.

The friend shared that the fiance is still processing the betrayal, especially since it involved a young child, which has added to the emotional distress.

The 24-year-old teacher's arrest came after the victim's parents discovered text messages between her and their child. This discovery led to the father confronting the school with evidence, prompting an investigation into the matter.

The text messages revealed disturbing details of the teacher's inappropriate behavior, including expressing enjoyment at physical interactions with the child. Additionally, handwritten notes found in her possession further indicated the extent of their inappropriate relationship.

Following her arrest, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave and is prohibited from contacting any students, parents, or staff within the district. The Hudson School District informed parents of these actions on the same day as her arrest.

The duration of the abuse is unclear, but the teacher admitted to receiving the child's phone number in December, coinciding with her engagement to Hickman, as shown on her social media profiles.

The teacher faces charges of first-degree child sexual assault and has been released on a $25,000 signature bond pending further legal proceedings.
New Mexico's amber alert is issued for a missing infant, named Eleia Maria Torres.

Authorities in New Mexico have issued an urgent search following a tragic incident where a 10-month-old baby's mother and another woman were discovered fatally shot, alongside a wounded 5-year-old child, as reported by state and local law enforcement.

The missing baby, identified as Eleia Maria Torres, is feared to have been taken by the suspect involved in the shooting, placing her in imminent danger, as stated by the Clovis Police Department (CPD).

An Amber Alert has been activated for Eleia, providing crucial details such as her height of 28 inches, weight of 23 pounds, along with her distinctive features of brown eyes and hair.

Missing Infant Eleia Maria Torres

On Friday, the Clovis Police Department issued an Amber Alert for Eleia Maria Torres after responding to a distressing 911 call at Ned Houk Park near Clovis.

The call reported the discovery of two deceased women, sparking an immediate investigation.

New Mexico State Police, involved in the investigation, stated that they currently do not have a suspect but suspect that the individual was driving a maroon Honda vehicle.

The tragic events unfolded when officers received the call about two female bodies discovered at Ned Houk Park. Identified as Samantha Cisneros and Taryn Allen, both 23 years old and from Texico, New Mexico, the victims were found near a silver Dodge minivan with gunshot wounds.

During the scene investigation, officers also found a 5-year-old girl with a head injury. Immediate medical attention was provided to the child before she was transported to Plains Regional Medical Center and subsequently transferred to a hospital near Lubbock, Texas. Her current condition remains undisclosed.

Clovis police emphasized that both women appeared to have been shot and were found lying near the silver Dodge minivan. The injured 5-year-old was also found at the scene, further highlighting the gravity of the situation.

New Mexico Amber Alert

Upon discovering an infant car seat, stroller, and baby bottle at the scene, investigators immediately launched search efforts, concerned that an infant might have been present with the female victims during the tragic incident.

Through interviews with family members, it was revealed that Samantha Cisneros was the mother of both the young female child found at the scene and a 10-month-old, Eleia Maria Torres.

The Clovis Police Department stated that there are strong suspicions that Eleia Maria Torres was abducted by the perpetrator and is currently in grave danger.

Authorities have not yet identified a suspect or a motive for the shooting and kidnapping, indicating that the investigation is ongoing, as reported by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP).

NMSP mentioned a potential person of interest who is believed to be driving a maroon Honda vehicle.

"Many details about this incident are unknown and under investigation, but of urgent concern is the whereabouts of Eleia Maria Torres," NMSP emphasized.

They urged anyone with information to contact the Clovis Police Department or call 911 immediately.

Both NMSP and CPD encourage individuals with any information related to the victims or who were present at Ned Houk Park on May 3 to come forward. Anonymous tips can also be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. National Arena of Gymnastics in Baku hosts the final day of the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Trend reports.

First, the finals will feature individual exercises, including those with the hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon, for gymnasts competing in the individual program within the seniors age category. Azerbaijani talent Zohra Aghamirova is set to showcase her skills in the hoop, ball, and ribbon finals.

Following that, the team finals for group exercises will commence, featuring performances with five hoops, three ribbons, and two balls. The Azerbaijan team, comprising Gullu Aghalarzade, Kamilla Aliyeva, Yelyzaveta Luzan, Darya Sorokina, Laman Alimuradova, and Zeynab Hummatova, will participate in two finals.

Next up are the finals for individual exercises, including the hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon, featuring gymnasts competing in the juniors age category. Representing Azerbaijan in this category are Govhar Ibrahimova in the hoop final, Ilaha Bahadirova in the ball final, and Shams Aghahuseynova in the ribbon final.

The National Gymnastics Arena in Baku is hosting the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics from May 3rd through May 5th. Athletes from 37 countries are participating in the event, showcasing their talents across two age categories: seniors, which includes individual and group routines, and juniors, focusing on individual performances.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Those members of the board of the Interpreter Foundation who were able to do so spent most of today together (or, in one case, with us via Zoom) in a board retreat. It was the first such meeting that weve ever had, and it was a good opportunity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, the opportunities that are presenting themselves to it and the potential challenges that it faces. Typically, over the past twelve years, the pace has been rather frenetic, and weve been more concerned with the alligators currently nipping at our ankles than with long-term planning. Were hoping that this sort of gathering will become an intermittent practice of the Foundations leadership, at not too-distant intervals. Last night, those of us who could do so had dinner together and then proceeded to the Orem Utah Temple to perform ordinance work there. It seemed  and it was  a good way to prepare for todays retreat.

I was looking for something else last night, but I came across something that surprised me just a bit. I dont recall what I wrote it for, or whether it was ever published anywhere. But it struck me as something of a time capsule.

Heres the background: Back in 1999  almost exactly twenty-five years ago  I participated as a guest of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a symposium called the World Conference on Mulla Sadra. It was held at the meeting hall of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in Tehran, Iran. I delivered a paper titled Salvation as Ascension there on 24 May 1999.

Heres the little item that I found. (I thought that somebody out there might find it of at least slight interest.) Although it speaks in the third person, I was there and every experience that it mentions was mine:

Forty American scholars and philosophers spent half of May gathered with local counterparts as guests of the Islamic Republic of Iran to honor an important seventeenth-century Iranian thinker. The World Congress on Mulla Sadra, as it was billed, blended a multilingual academic conference with obvious public relations goals, and clearly exhibited the tensions between moderates and hard-liners within the Iranian government today. The scholars were treated with deference that they never enjoy at home. It began with a well-provisioned reception by government officials and television cameras in the VIP lounge of Mehrabad Airport. It continued through several days of meetings in the spectacular hall built for the Eighth Islamic Summit Conference. A chartered jet took them to Shiraz, home of great medieval Persian poets, where they were presented candy and roses at the airport and the provincial governor addressed them, and to the ancient capital city, Persepolis. Everywhere, they traveled in police-escorted convoys, passing unimpeded through busy urban intersections while saluting soldiers held other traffic back. Among the unmistakable intentions of the conference, whose price tag exceeded ten million dollars, were reduction of Irans international isolation, improvement of its public image with Westerners, and proselytism for Islam and the Islamic Revolution. The scholars were taken to Reza Shahs opulently self-indulgent summer palace in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains, then to the Ayatollah Khomeinis austerely simple house. In the adjacent mosque of Hosseinieh Jamaran, a continuous video features Khomeini on his deathbed and the frenzied attempts at resuscitation when his heart stopped. (Repeated close-ups show a flat line on the cardiac monitor). Viewers watch as the family and physicians weep, kiss the corpses head, and sew the body into its shroud. An art gallery features paintings of Khomeini weeping over Hossein, the martyred grandson of the Prophet, of angels paying homage to a seated Khomeini, of Khomeini walking among mountain flowers and rising to join the saints in heaven. Disagreements among Iranian leaders and contradictions within the welcome were, however, unmistakably visible. One elderly clergyman, addressing the opening conference session, warned against the plots of the foreigners. Elegant Persian writing above the marble lobby of the Azadi Hotel, the former Hyatt, where the scholars stayed, proclaimed the declaration of His Holiness Imam Khomeini (peace be upon him), that America is the number one enemy of the poor and oppressed people of the earth. One small group of scholars caught a taxi to the vicinity of the former American embassy, where the surrounding walls remain covered with anti-American slogans and art: We will make America face a severe defeatImam Khomeini. When America will praise us, we will mourn. A painting of the Statue of Liberty bears a skull face and the caption The Great Satan. America is a great country, said the taxi driver, pointing to the embassy. President Khatami, a moderate reformer whose election two years ago stunned hard-line ayatollahs, praised Mulla Sadras intellectual humility in his welcoming remarksobviously aimed at his fellow clergy on the platformand suggested that his audience emulate it. People who think they have a monopoly on Gods truth, he said, and who regard those who disagree with them as enemies of God, abuse religion. One small group negotiated for two days to attend Catholic services on Sunday. Foreign ministry officialsassuming, probably, that all Americans are secularists and, thus, not expecting religious servicesfirst said it was impossible. Finally, though, a bus took the group to a small church, hidden off a busy street, where they worshiped with perhaps fifty others (virtually all foreigners). Interactions between Iranians and Westerners were sometimes awkward, and were aggressively chaperoned by government personnel. (Im a prisoner, one man hastily said, glancing warily about.) Iranian students were very well informed about defects in American society such as immorality and violence (Columbine High School), and several blamed them on too much freedom. An American philosopher from New York City praised Mulla Sadras brilliance but argued that the great thinkers system ultimately didnt hold together. Impassioned respondents flocked to the microphone; one young woman said that, in criticizing him, the professor had torn [her] heart out. Iran is opening again to the outside world, but slowly and ambivalently.

There is much more that could be said about that fascinating trip to Iran. But I think that Ive posted enough about it for now.

Finally, I share a couple of items that Ive retrieved for your indignant pleasure from the inexhaustibly aggravating Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

The Church of Jesus Christ Is Combatting Childhood Anemia in Peru

How the Church of Jesus Christ Is Helping Children and Mothers in Colombia: With a donation of more than US$1.5 million to UNICEF Colombia, 72,905 children and mothers will benefit in La Guajira, Choco, Narino and Guainia
Absa Bank has introduced its Supplier Finance Programme, an innovative solution designed to revolutionize corporate supply chains in Ghana.



This initiative aligns with Absa Banks dedication to providing comprehensive financial services that cater to the ever-changing demands of its corporate customers.



In a business environment where the effective management of cash flow is pivotal to ensuring enduring success, traditional supply chain finance mechanisms have frequently been found lacking. Absa Banks Supplier Finance Programme offers a refined solution that enhances supplier liquidity and optimises buyer working capital management.



Absas Supplier Finance Programme is designed to make business transactions smoother and more beneficial for both buyers and suppliers. Suppliers can receive payment for their invoices promptly, facilitating early payments and enhancing cash flow. Transactions are managed digitally, streamlining operations, and eliminating the need for extensive paperwork.



This programme provides support for smaller suppliers, mainly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), who may struggle with credit requirements by banks when seeking elsewhere, while allowing larger companies to optimize their cashflows and supply chains in a sustainable manner.



According to Ellen Ohene-Afoakwa, Managing Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking at Absa Bank Ghana LTD, the buyer-led program enables strategic suppliers in the buyers supply chain with the option to access cash through their discounted receivables, whilst allowing the buyer (Absas client) to lengthen or standardise their payment terms, thereby optimizing the working capital ambitions of both parties.



With the Supplier Finance Programme, we are setting a new standard for supply chain financing in Ghana, by solutioning players within ecosystems of growth sectors in our economy.



The programme comes amidst the banks recent introduction of a new brand promise, Your Story Matters. The new brand promise underscores Absas commitment to human-centred empathy that fosters partnerships and seamless customer experiences. By introducing the Supplier Finance Programme, Absa Bank is reaffirming its position as a leader in financial innovation, continually committed to the economic growth and business prosperity of Ghana.



Ms. Ohene-Afoakwa encouraged Absa corporate clients to leverage the Supplier Finance Programme to enhance their business potential. Interested parties can visit absa.com.gh, speak to their Relationship Manager, or call 030 242 9150 for more information.

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.

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The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A.Jinapor, has made a compelling case for the Chinese government and businesses to collaborate with Ghana in the strategic and sustainable exploitation of its Green mineral resources.



Delivering the keynote address at the China-Ghana Resources Innovation Roundtable on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, outlined the features of Ghanas green mineral policy that make it the most viable avenue for investment by Chinese investors.



According to him, the ultimate aim of government is to ensure that both the Ghanaian public and businesses benefit equitably from the countrys rich resources and that a robust and supportive climate has been created by the government for investment and businesses to thrive.



He emphasized the potential for a substantial increase in revenue and additional benefits for Chinese companies to extend and diversify their investments in Ghanas budding green mineral industry.



He also appealed to Chinese companies and investors to make the strategic decision to invest in green mineral resources such as lithium, iron and industrial minerals including salt as its benefits and returns are most certainly guaranteed.



Our policy is geared towards effective exploitation, value addition, environmental protection, local content and participation and effective utilization of our mineral resources for the benefit of Ghanaians and investors alike, he noted.



It is for this reason that weve established GIADEC, GIISDEC to promote and develop integrated iron and aluminum industries in Ghana. We have also strengthened the MIIF to manage and maximize the value of mineral income accruing to the state, he added



The government of Ghana is ready to partner with investors, particularly those from China to add value to our mineral resources with the ultimate goal of ensuring, efficient, effective and managed exploitation of our natural resources for the benefit of our people while ensuring optimal returns for the investors. As the only country to build an end-to-end lithium to battery industry, the government of the Peoples Republic of China and Chinese investors must be our natural partners in this endeavor.



Highlighting significantly impressive contributions of Ghanas mining sector to the countrys economy, the Minister noted that the sector contributes 16% of the total revenue generated by the government of Ghana and also forms 7.9% of the Gross Domestic Products.



Adding to these impressive numbers which have the potential of rising astronomically through an effective Ghana-China collaboration, is the historically rich bilateral relations between Ghana and China as well as the success stories of Chinese companies in Ghana, particularly the mining sector, Hon. Jinapor indicated.



Hon. Jinapor reckons the aforementioned reasons should stimulate the interest of the Chinese government and businesses in joining forces with Ghana which is Africas leading producer of gold to become the powerhouse of mining in the world.



Lu Kun, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana reiterated the commitment of his country to working with Ghana to exploit its resources in a sustainable and environment friend way.



Lu Kun noted the progress made by the government in the mining sector and assured the Chinese government will continue to facilitate the effective partnership between Ghana and his country.



He mentioned the Bui Dam project and Western Corridor as examples of impactful and innovative cooperation between Ghana and China.



On his part, Mr. Li Yaohong, the Commercial Counselor at the Ghana Embassy disclosed that China has many world-class mining companies that have a strong interest in participating in Ghanas mining cooperation.



If the operations of these companies in Ghana is successful, it will undoubtedly encourage more powerful Chinese companies especially some large mining giants to make investments in Ghanas mining industry, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Ghana to be further improved , he added.

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.

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The community of Appiatse in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region is witnessing a rebirth following the tragic explosion that rocked the area in 2022.



With the government's unwavering commitment to rebuild the shattered community, Appiatse is now on the path to recovery, symbolized by the construction of new homes and essential infrastructure.



The devastating explosion, which occurred when a vehicle transporting mining explosives collided with a motorcycle, resulted in the loss of lives, displacement of families, and widespread destruction of property. However, the spirit of the Appiatse community remained unbroken, and with the support of government initiatives, hope began to emerge from the rubble.



On Thursday, May 2, 2024, a significant milestone was reached as Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia led the commissioning of 120 newly constructed housing units in Appiatse. These homes, comprising the first phase of the government's relief efforts, stand as symbols of resilience and progress for the community.





Addressing the gathered crowd at the commissioning ceremony, Vice President Bawumia reflected on the strength and unity displayed by the people of Appiatse in the aftermath of the disaster. "Today, we gather at this same venue, not just to commemorate the tragic event, but also to celebrate resilience, compassion, and the indomitable spirit of the people of Appiatse," he remarked.



The commissioning ceremony, attended by prominent government officials including Information Minister-designate Fatimatu Abubakar, Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, and Divisional Chief Nana Atta Kwadwo Brembi II, marked a pivotal moment in Appiatse's journey towards recovery.



The completion of the housing units represents the first step in rebuilding the community's infrastructure and restoring normalcy to residents' lives. In addition to providing shelter, the government has ensured the inclusion of essential facilities such as markets, schools, internal roads, water and electricity connections, drainage systems, and water storage systems. These amenities are integral to improving the quality of life and fostering economic growth within the community.



Mr. Jinapor, the Lands and Natural Resource Minister, reiterated the government's commitment to completing the remaining phases of the reconstruction project. He affirmed that no effort would be spared in ensuring that all aspects of the community's redevelopment are fulfilled.



He said the remaining two phases will continue immediately after the units have been handed over to residents.



Rght after the commissioning of these buildings, the Vice President will cut sod for the commencement of work on Phase three, consisting of the construction of sixty-seven (67) additional buildings together with other facilities at the peripheries of the new community, he said.



Nana Atta Kwadwo Brembi II, Divisional Chief of the Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, expressed gratitude for the concerted effort in rebuilding the community while urging the government to expedite the completion of the remaining phases. His sentiments echoed the collective desire of the Appiatse community to fully restore their home to its former glory.

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.

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Dr. Sam Ankrah, an independent presidential candidate and leader of Alternative Force for Action (AFA), has extended his heartfelt greetings to Ghanaian workers, acknowledging their dedication to the nation's growth.



In a Workers' Day address on May 1, 2024, Dr. Ankrah seized the opportunity to outline his commitment to improving labour conditions in Ghana.



On this momentous occasion of International Workers' Day, I extend my warmest felicitations to all Ghanaian workers across the country. Today, we honour your tireless efforts, unwavering dedication, and significant contributions to our nation's progress and development," he said in a statement sighted by GhanaWeb.



As we celebrate this day, I want to emphasise the urgent need for fair labour practices, improved working conditions, and a commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all workers. As the leader of Alternative Force for Action (AFA) and a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections, I pledge to prioritise the welfare and well-being of workers if elected as the President of Ghana, the statement read in part.



He promised to implement a living minimum wage, ban the carrying of heavy loads on heads, provide tricycles for Kayayo workers, and introduce compulsory pension schemes.



He proposed the abolishment of the compulsory retirement age and launching apprenticeship programmes to boost skills and employability.



The presidential candidate hopeful emphasised the importance of investing in human capital and fostering a sense of patriotism and unity among workers.



Let us work together to build a more equitable, just, and prosperous Ghana for all, the statement concluded.



Read the full statement below



PRESS STATEMENT



May Day Message from Dr. Sam Ankrah, Independent Presidential Candidate and Leader of Alternative Force for Action (AFA)



Accra, Ghana - May 1, 2024



On this momentous occasion of International Workers' Day, I extend my warmest felicitations to all Ghanaian workers across the country. Today, we honor your tireless efforts, unwavering dedication, and significant contributions to our nation's progress and development.



As we celebrate this day, I want to emphasize the urgent need for fair labor practices, improved working conditions, and a commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all workers. As the leader of Alternative Force for Action (AFA) and a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 elections, I pledge to prioritize the welfare and well-being of workers if elected as the President of Ghana.



Our vision for the Ghanaian labor market includes:



1. Implementing a living minimum wage to ensure decent earnings and a dignified life for all workers. 2. Promoting health and safety by banning the carrying of heavy loads on human heads and promoting safer work practices. 3. Providing tricycles for Kayayo workers to alleviate their burden and improve their working conditions. 4. Implementing compulsory pension schemes for all workers to ensure a secure future. 5. Abolishing compulsory retirement age, allowing workers to choose when to retire with dignity. 6. Introducing apprenticeship programs to develop skills, enhance employability, and foster innovation. 7. Investing in human capital development through training, capacity building, and education. 8. Fostering patriotism, ethical standards, and national unity among workers, promoting a more prosperous Ghana for all.



Let us work together to build a more equitable, just, and prosperous Ghana for all. Thank you, and once again, happy May Day to all Ghanaian workers!



Issued by: Dr. Sam Ankrah 2024 Independent Presidential Candidate





Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), has commenced a new initiative called Feast Ghana.



This event aims to promote and showcase the rich culinary diversity of the nation.



Speaking with the Media, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyemang stated that "Feast Ghana" represents a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant culinary richness of our nation and celebrate the unity and diversity that food embodies in our culture.



He said that the event aligns with GTAs See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana campaign, which aims to promote the countrys tourism and cultural offerings.



He again stated that the event will help showcase various local dishes in every regions of Ghana.



Dr. Akwasi Agyemang spoke with the Media during the grand celebration of Feast Ghana held on May Day at the Accra International Conference Center, in collaboration with the Public Service Worker's Union of Trade Union Congress (TUC).



Dr. Akwasi Agyemang therefore pleaded with all restaurants, hotels to help promote Ghana's Local dishes.



The Deputy General Secretary of the Public Service Worker's Union (PSWU) of TUC, John Nii Donu Sampah also advised Ghanaians to eat and promote and patronage our Local foods.











Source: Clinton Akwasi Amoako









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A suspended member of the New Patriotic Party, Hopeson Adorye says he will make sure his party will be defeated in the upcoming December elections.



He claimed he was not treated well by the party he worked so much for, hence, he will pay them back equally.



According to Hopson Adorye in an interview monitored by Peacefmonline.com, the Akufo-Addo-led government in which he was a key member until his suspension is looting from the public purse.



He said former John Dramani who was tagged as a corrupt leader during his tenure was rather an angel compared to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



Mr Adorye promised to apologise to the former president for the name-calling and accusations.



I will kneel on national television to apologise to him [Mahama]. The man is an angel but we destroy his reputation. He said.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kate Gyamfua, the National Womens Organizer for the New Patriotic Party, has taken a jab at the founder and leader of Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.



Kate Gyamfua reprimanded Alan Kyerematen for breaking away from the party.



Alan Kyerematen resigned from the New Patriotic Party following the partys presidential election which saw Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia become its flagbearer.



Alan accused the leadership of the party of manipulating the election against him and opted out to form his own political movement dubbed the Movement for Change with its symbol being a butterfly.



Speaking on Peace FMs morning show Kokrokoo, Kate Gyamfua described Alans action as a sin against the NPP and left him to karma.



You were a Minister for 8 years under Ex-President Kufours regime and also became a Minister for 7 years under Nana Addo Dankwas administration. But you rise against your government because you went for primaries and wasnt voted for not because you were rigged or Bawumia went unopposed. There is indeed karma! God will judge every issue, she said.



She exclaimed; This thing where people who benefit from the party stand against it is a sin. There is karma.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By Susia Blann and Elise Morton, The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine  As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraines east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.

Ukraines air force said that Russia had launched 24 Shahed drones overnight, of which 23 were shot down.

Six people, including a child, were wounded in a drone strike in the eastern Kharkiv region, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Ten more were wounded in an airstrike Sunday afternoon on the Kharkiv regional capital, also called Kharkiv, Syniehubov said, adding the city was attacked by an aerial bomb.

Fires broke out when debris from drones that were shot down fell on buildings in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. No casualties were reported.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced Sunday that its troops had taken control of the village of Ocheretyne, which has been in the crosshairs of Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Drone footage obtained by The Associated press showed the village battered by fighting. Not a single person is seen in the footage obtained late Friday, and no building in Ocheretyne appears to have been left untouched by the fighting.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to follow Orthodox Easter services online due to safety concerns. Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration, warned that even on such bright days of celebration, we can expect evil deeds from the aggressor.

Food are gathered to be blessed during a Christian Orthodox Easter religious service at the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade compound, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, early Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)AP

In his Easter address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to be united in one common prayer.

In a video filmed in front of Kyivs Saint Sophia Cathedral, wearing a traditional Vyshyvanka embroidered shirt, Zelenskyy said that God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. With such an ally, Zelenskyy said, life will definitely win over death.

A majority of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christians, though the church is divided. Many belong to the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church was loyal to the patriarch in Moscow until splitting from Russia after the 2022 invasion and is viewed with suspicion by many Ukrainians.

In Moscow, worshippers including President Vladimir Putin packed Moscows landmark Christ the Savior Cathedral late Saturday for a nighttime Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin.

Eastern Orthodox Christians usually celebrate Easter later than Catholic and Protestant churches, because they use a different method of calculating the date for the holy day that marks Christs resurrection.

Morton reported from London.

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to get on the presidential ballot in Pennsylvania, and both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are nervous. Not because either expects him to win. But because the winner in Pennsylvania will be chosen by who has the most votes, even if its not a majority. RFK Jr. may take enough votes from whomever would have been the winner and make him lose instead.

Biden is worried because the Kennedys are famous Democrats, and he may take away Democrat votes. Trump is worried because RFK Jr.s positions are similar to his own, and he may take conservative votes.

Many people dont want a Trump/Biden rematch and would love other options. So how can we allow third-party candidates to run and give voters more choices without this spoiler effect? The answer is Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).

RCV allows everyone to pick their preferred candidate, but also pick second and even third choices, etc. If their first choice has no chance of winning, then their second choice is counted instead, and their vote is not wasted. Hypothetically in this case, whoever RFK Jr.s voters would pick as their second choices would effectively get those votes back.

If you are interested in seeing RCV used in Pennsylvania, please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB 1178 and SB 729. These bills currently being considered would give each municipality in PA the option to use RCV in their local elections if they choose.

Jeff Keyser, East Pennsboro Township, Pa.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. Azerbaijani team has won a bronze medal in group exercises with a score of 29.950 points in exercises with three ribbons and two balls at the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Baku, Trend reports.

The Azerbaijani team in group exercises included Gullu Aghalarzade, Kamilla Aliyeva, Yelyzaveta Luzan, Darya Sorokina, Laman Alimuradova, and Zeynab Hummatova.

The gold medal went to the Bulgarian team (33.900 points), while the silver medal was won by the Italian team (33.700 points).

To note, the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku is hosting the European Cup in Rhythmic Gymnastics from May 3rd through May 5th. Athletes from 37 countries are participating in the event, showcasing their talents across two age categories: seniors, which includes individual and group routines, and juniors, focusing on individual performances.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
"Baby Run Good" is Real; Derk van Luijk Wins 2024 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event (1,000,000)

David Salituro Live Reporter Copy link

There were times during the final table of the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Main Event that it seemed like it was fate for Derk van Luijk to be the one to hoist the gold-plated trophy at the end.

The 43-year-old Dutchman was all in yesterday with ace-jack against aces but caught running jacks to make trips and earn a miracle double up. He was a card away from elimination today but spiked two pair to stay alive.

Van Luijk doubled up six different times throughout todays play. And he ended up winning the most important all-in of all, the last one, as he defeated Boris Angelov at the end of an epic heads-up match to win the EPT title and the 1,000,000 top prize.

2024 EPT Monte Carlo Main Event Final Table Results

Place Name Country Prize 1 Derk van Luijk Netherlands 1,000,000 2 Boris Angelov Bulgaria 620,500 3 Rania Nasreddine United States 442,900 4 Jovan Kenjic Serbia 340,500 5 Jonathan Pastore France 261,700 6 Niclas Thumm Germany 201,000 7 Jonathan Guedes Brazil 154,900 8 Jozef Cibicek Slovakia 119,000

Thats an amazing feeling. I cannot even realize still that Ive won. It feels like Im spacing right now. You dont realize it yet, but its an amazing feeling, Van Luijk said after conquering the largest field in EPT Monte Carlo history with 1,208 total entries.

Van Luijk, who works as an investor and describes himself only as a semi-pro poker player, has succeeded on the EPT before. He won a 2,100 side event at EPT Barcelona in 2022. Then came a deep run in the EPT Paris Main Event in February of this year before he finally bowed out in 28th place.

Nothing compares to this historic achievement, though. What made it even more special is that it came at an important time for him and his family.

"It feels like Im spacing right now."

Van Luijk is expecting his third child later this year. His partner, mother, and brother were all on the rail following along on the journey and sharing in this memorable moment for the entire family.

Derk van Luijk and his rail

They now get to celebrate with the trophy and life-changing money. Its amazing. My brother flew in this morning when he realized I was in the final seven last night. He bought a ticket and came this morning, Van Luijk said. Thats obviously amazing. Thats an incredible feeling and an incredible amount.

Baby Run Good is a superstition common in poker, and Van Luijk needed every bit of it to win this tournament. Even after all the all-in moments, the lucky rivers, and the times he was desperately nursing a short stack, Van Luijk never let the thought of busting enter his mind. He was just trying to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime moment he was experiencing.

I was very relaxed during my play. I was trying to have a good time, so I was really enjoying my play. I wasnt really worried about busting. I got down to 10 big blinds, and thats enough to spin it back up. I wasnt really worried or anything like that. I was more trying to enjoy the ride that I was in," he said.

Derk van Luijk with the trophy

Final Day Action

Van Luijk entered the day the second shortest stack among seven returning players. Angelov had a big chip lead with 11,500,000, followed by Rania Nasreddine with 7,900,000.

Jonathan Guedes, who won his seat in an online qualifier, was the first out after he flopped top set of jacks but Angelov hit the nut straight to bust the Brazilian online pro in seventh place. Then came a sight that would be all-too familiar at this final table: Van Luijk all in for his tournament life. He didnt have to sweat this one too much, as he picked up two aces to double up for 2,400,000 off Jonathan Pastore.

Angelov tumbled down the leaderboard when he four-bet with king-queen, but Pastore had woken up with two kings and moved all in for 2,425,000 to double up.

Final table EPT Monte Carlo 2024

Nasreddine, the Tulsa lawyer who was only in Monte Carlo on the tail end of a girls trip to Europe, led at the first break with more than 11,000,000 as she sought to become the first woman to win an EPT title in a decade. But she lost a pot shortly after when Angelov made kings full to beat her fives full.

Niclas Thumm then flopped trip aces against Angelovs pocket kings, but Angelov spiked his two-outer on the river to make a full house and send Flushi out in sixth place, the same position he finished at the PSPC final table last year.

Pastore was the next out as the French pro was all in for 1,300,000 with top pair. Angelov had a straight draw on the flop but hit a pair of queens on the river to bust Pastore in fifth.

Van Luijk won a coin flip with two eights against Angelovs king-nine to double again, then found himself involved in yet another all-in race situation. Jovan Kenjic was all in for 2,500,000 with ace-king while Van Luijk had him covered by just 50,000 with jacks. Van Luijks pair held on to virtually double up and knock out Kenjic in fourth.

Van Luijk rivered a set of nines as Angelov tried a big bluff on the river, pulling Van Luijk nearly even with his two opponents.

Van Luijk Survives on the River

Derk van Luijk and Boris Angelov

Then came the hand that will go down in EPT lore and changed the fortunes of two players.

Van Luijk raised on the button with jack-ten and Nasreddine defended the big blind with five-four. Van Luijk flopped top pair and bet 1,500,000. , while Nasreddine flopped a pair of fours and called. The turn was a five and Van Luijk bet another 3,000,000, Nasreddine moved all in, and Van Luijk snap-called for 8,450,000.

The river was a ten and Van Luijk got up from his seat to shake Angelovs hand, believing he had been eliminated. Nasreddine, though, had to point out that he had made a higher two pair.

"Oh my God, shit. Im so sorry," a humbled Van Luijk said as he unexpectedly took a massive chip lead.

A brutal river card ended Rania Nasreddine's deep run.

Nasreddine was left with just 900,000 and was all in the next hand, losing to Van Luijks full house to finish in third place. Van Luijk led Angelov 24,500,000 to 11,750,000 at the start of heads-up play, but Angelov used aggression to take down most pots and overtake him for the chip lead.

Van Luijk won a big pot with a pair of kings as he headed into dinner break back on top with 23,475,000. He had a chance to end the tournament when Angelov moved all in on the river for 5,825,000, but Van Luijk folded a pair of sixes and Angelov showed ten-high for a bluff.

Angelov was then all in with ace-queen against Van Luijks two kings as Van Luijk already had one hand on the trophy. But it was quickly swatted away as Angelov flopped trip queens, then improved to quads on the turn to double up and retake the lead.

Boris Angelov finished second after a six-hour slugfest.

Van Luijk opened up a lead once again when he made two pair with queen-nine, but Angelov then won a massive pot with just queen-high to knock Van Luijk down to less than 10,000,000 as the pendulum continued to swing back and forth in what was quickly becoming one of the longest and most memorable heads-up duels in EPT history.

Angelov then shoved the button and Van Luijk snap-called for 7,200,000 with queens, flopping top set to double up yet again. He then flopped two pair against Angelovs top pair of queens as the lead changed hands once more. A series of small pots put Angelov back in front until Van Luijk hit two pair with five-four and beat Angelovs pair of queens to double up.

Van Luijk was all in again for 11,000,000 with ace-three against Angelovs king-eight and held on to double up into the chip lead. Finally, six hours after the heads-up match had begun, Van Luijk limped the button, then snap-called when Angelov shoved for 15,500,000. Angelov had king-seven, while Van Luijk was ahead with ace-queen.

The flop brought a queen to give Van Luijk top pair, and Angelov couldnt catch up as he ended up finishing in second place for 620,500.

It was a bittersweet ending for the Bulgarian, who had Van Luijk down and seemingly out so many times during the match only for Van Luijk to climb back up. But that was the story of Van Luijks tournament, and it ended with him using every bit of that Baby Run Good to be the last man standing.

Van Luijk isnt stopping here as he plans to become a regular fixture on the EPT. "I already play almost all the EPTs, so Ill just keep doing what I'm doing," he said. But whatever the future has in store for him, this past week in Monte Carlo will be tough to top.

Derk van Luijk

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the 2024 EPT Monte Carlo. Keep following along with PokerNews for more coverage of tournaments worldwide, including the next EPT stop in Barcelona in August!

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Doug Polk Has Plans to Open a New Poker Room in Texas; Will He Get Approval?

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

Doug Polk already owns the largest poker room in Texas  The Lodge Card Club in Round Rock  but he's looking to branch out to other cities within the Lone Star State.

The Upswing Poker founder, who provided some details of his plans to PokerNews, has done some research on where he could legally open a profitable card room beyond the Austin metro area. He considered venturing outside Texas, but for now he's determined the best option is to remain in his current state.

Where Will Polk Open a Poker Room?

With Texas being Polk and his business partner's focus for a second poker room, the team is looking into the biggest cities in the state  Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. Later this week, he just might have a better idea of where the next Lodge will end up.

On May 7 at 6 p.m. CT, the city council in Farmers Branch, a town northwest of Dallas, will vote on whether or not to allow card rooms in the city. Should the vote go his way, he would then need to receive approval from the city for a business license to operate at a location he's already picked out (see pic below).

Will Doug Polk get approval to open a poker room in this location?

Farmers Branch is an industrial area with a population of around 35,000. The location Polk has chosen as a potential poker room spot sits near the Dallas North Tollway, about 15 minutes from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Challenges of Opening a Poker Room in Texas

While there are dozens of poker rooms in Texas  some large and others small  the state has strict anti-gambling laws. Plain and simple  gambling is illegal unless it meets certain criteria. But there is a carveout in Texas Penal Code 47.01 that leaves open for the possibility of legally operating a poker room so long as rake isn't collected. Instead, the card rooms such as The Lodge Card Club charge membership and seat fees as opposed to taking rake out of the pots.

But there's still plenty of pushback for poker in Texas at state and city levels, especially in Dallas where some city council members have fought tirelessly to shut down poker clubs such as Texas Card House. The objection to poker stems from residents complaining to the city about gambling in the area, anti-gambling religious beliefs, and lobbying efforts from traditional casinos in surrounding states.

Polk will face the same sort of opposition at the upcoming city council meeting. But he already explained to the city council members at an April 8 hearing the benefits of opening a poker room in Farmers Branch, most notably the numerous jobs and tax revenue his business will create. On top of that, he believes the card club will help revitalize the area, which consists mostly of warehouses.

If approved, Polk anticipates keeping The Lodge brand as the name of his new poker room, but hasn't ruled out the possibility of opening under a different name. There is a nearby strip club called The Lodge, which could cause some confusion. He's asking local poker players to show up on Tuesday to the city council meeting to show support for poker.

If the vote doesn't go his way, Polk isn't about to pack up and quit. He'll continue looking into other possibilities. The three-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner will be taking a break from the business planning later this month when he competes, for the second straight year, on the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game.

Polk, Neeme, Owen Team Up to Purchase Texas Poker Room

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Swiss Poker Prodigy Becomes Millionaire in 25K EPT Monte Carlo High Roller

Matt Warburton Live Reporter Copy link

Rising Swiss poker prodigy Luca Marki has been making quite the name for himself on the European poker circuit this year. After a second-place finish for 606,750 in the 10K EPT High Roller earlier this year in Paris, Marki one-upped himself with a payday of 1,085,970 in the final 25K High Roller at the 2024 EPT Monte Carlo.

Marki took the lion's share of a nearly 6 million prize pool, courtesy of 247 entrants who made it the largest field high roller tournament in EPT Monte Carlo history.

Marki ended heads-up with Colombia's Mauricio Sanchez and made a heads-up deal, with the latter padding his bankroll with the 950,000 that came with the second place.

25K EPT High Roller Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (EUR) 1 Luca Marki Switzerland 1,085,970* 2 Mauricio Sanchez Columbia 950,000* 3 Kayhan Mokri Norway 559,200 4 Masashi Oya Norway 430,200 5 Sergey Lebedev UK 330,900 6 Pedro Gois Neves Portugal 258,400 7 Lander Lijo Spain 215,400 8 Arsenii Karmatckii Russia 179,500 9 Felipe Boianovsky Brazil 156,100

* Denotes heads-up deal

Luca Marki

PokerStars Ambassadors Make Final Day

Three PokerStars ambassadors made the final day of the tournament, although none of the three made the final table.

Following early bustouts from Roberto Romanello and Rehman Kassam, Rafael Moraes was eliminated in 22nd place when he got his ace-queen in against Lander Lijo holding pocket queens. Lijo held to send the first of the ambassadors to the rail.

Ramon Colillas was also in the mix and was on the receiving end of a bad runout when he got his chips in the middle with top pair against Bogdan Capitan with second pair. Capitan hit trips on the turn to bust Colillas in 19th place.

Elias Gutierrez, who up until this point had held his own with double ups and steals, moved all in preflop with ace-six suited. He even paired his ace on the turn against Arsenii Karmatckii with king-queen, but Karmatckii rivered a straight to win the pot and send Gutierrez to the rail in 12th place.

The final table was drawing closer. The last to bust before the redraw was Christopher Puetz, who called off his stack in the big blind facing a small blind shove from Mauricio Sanchez. Sanchez hit two pair and Puetz was out in tenth place, earning a consolation prize of 135,700 for his efforts.

PokerStars ambassador Ramon Colillas

Final Table Action

As the final table was formed, Sergey Lebedev had the chip lead with a touch over 3,000,000 chips, followed by Masashi Oya in second with 2,300,000 and Pedro Gois Neves in third with 1,800,000.

On the very first hand of the final table, Felipe Boianovsky stacked off preflop with pocket sixes and ran into Oya's pocket kings. Oya held and Boianovsky was out in ninth.

Kayhan Mokri then began his hot run. He doubled up through Lebedev, then won a pot with queen-ten against Karmatckii's pocket queens, turning trips to send Karmatckii to the rail in eighth place.

Lander Lijo was next to go, despite a valiant survival effort that included a double-up through Oya. Lijo moved all in with ace-queen only to find himself up against Neves' pocket kings. Lijo was out in seventh place.

Neves' run wouldn't last much longer, however. He got his chips in the middle with a flush draw, overcards, and straight outs on the turn. It was too many outs. Sanchez held with his top pair, sending Neves out sixth.

Moments before, Oya went on a bit of a journey, losing a huge pot to Sanchez, then doubling up through Neves, then turning a flush against Mokri, to bring his stack back up to chip leader. Oya didn't hold the lead for long, however, as moments after the break Mokri took a big pot from Lebedev to retake the lead.

The confrontation also left Lebedev short-stacked and soon after, he got his chips in the middle preflop with ace-jack. Luca Marki made the call with ace-king and held to eliminate Lebedev in fifth place.

Runner-up Mauricio Sanchez

Deal Rejected, Huge Hand Changes Dynamics

The final four players discussed a deal, but Mokri, who had a slight chip lead over the other three, wanted more than ICM out of it and a conclusion couldn't be reached.

It wasn't long before another player busted. Oya, who came into the day as chip leader, played a pot postflop against Mokri in which Oya had a pair of queens, only for Mokri to river a flush. Oya was eliminated in fourth place.

That gave Mokri a huge chip lead, but then in the next significant hand, Luca Marki made a three-bet jam against Mokri holding ace-five. Mokri had him dominated with ace-king, but Marki hit a pair of fives to take the huge pot.

The next pot was the biggest of the tournament. Sanchez raised from the button and Mokri three-bet to 1,000,000 from the small blind. Marki moved all in from the big blind, cold four-betting to 4,545,000. Sanchez, the covering stack, snap-called. Mokri decided to lay down his hand, leaving himself with only seven big blinds.

Sanchez had ace-king and Marki had ace-eight. Once again Big Slick failed to hold and an eight on the river gave Marki the pot, a pot that left Mokri desperately short and Sanchez devastated from the bad beat.

In the following hand, Mokri raised from the button for most of his stack and Sanchez obliged from the big blind, reshoving to play for Mokri's full stack. Sanchez won the flip with pocket fours and Mokri was eliminated in third place, giving Marki a 5:1 chip lead going into heads-up play.

Luca Marki

Heads-Up Deal Reached

The final two players then took a short break and upon returning, Marki was apologizing to Sanchez for the brutal hand that took place. The two decided to make a deal and it was a very generous deal indeed.

After a wild hour on the final table, Mauricio Sanchez took 950,000 for second place, while Luca Marki took 1,085,970 for first place and gets to take home the coveted PokerStars trophy.

That concludes PokerNews coverage of the 25,000 EPT High Roller, as well as all of our EPT Monte Carlo coverage. PokerNews will be back on the floor in August at the EPT Barcelona. Until then!

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Trump VP hopeful Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) fell apart as he tried to push Trumps hush money trial talking points on CNN.

CNNs Jake Tapper immediately asked Burgum about Trump comparing Biden to the Gestapo on Saturday, You were there with Donald Trump last night at Mar a Lago where he claimed Biden was like the Gestapo referring to the Nazi secret police. Are you comfortable with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee comparing the Biden administration to the Gestapo?

Burgum said, Well, Jake first, great to be with you. And, and I would say yesterday, we had an opportunity to listen to the president talk for 90 minutes without a teleprompter covering a wide range of topics and largely very upbeat because uh if the election was held today, Trump would be winning. And relative to the reference youre discussing, I mean, this is a short comment deep into the thing uh that wasnt really central to what he was talking about. But I understand that when and I think Americans understand a majority of Americans feel like the trial that hes in right now is politically motivated. And if it was anybody else, this trial wouldnt even be happening. So I understand that he feels like that hes being unfairly treated. And I think that its reasonable that someone whos being kept off the campaign trail is the presumptive nominee has got some frustration about that.

Tapper followed up, So a public trial with witnesses, a jury, a defense counsel thats like the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police?

Video:

Doug Burgum tries to explain away Trump comparing Biden to the Gestapo, and Jake Tapper asks, "So a public trial with witnesses, the jury, defense counsel, that's like the Gestapo?" *If this is Burgum's public VP audition, yikes.* pic.twitter.com/VXLyDcrwLX  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 5, 2024

Burgum responded by going from claiming the trial is politically motivated to Trumps crimes are only misdemeanors, Well, he certainly didnt say that, uh, yesterday and he wasnt referring to this trial when he made that when he made that, made that comment. But I do think that people understand that. I mean, Im a business guy, this is a business filing case if it was anybody other than a presidential candidate this would be a misdemeanor, how it got turned into 34 felonies when there isnt even the alleged crime.

Tapper called out Burgums talking point on most Americans not buying that Trump did something wrong, A plurality of the American people think that President Trump did commit a crime when it comes to this case. And if you add in those who think it was unethical but not illegal, its a vast majority. Let me just ask you if Donald Trump becomes a convicted felon because of this case. Will that affect your support for him for president?

Burgum tried to go back to the original talking point, Well, if he becomes a convicted felon in this case, thats a just a travesty of justice because as I just said when youve got a, a business filing error that is for something that was again, its not illegal for, to pay people for non disclosure agreements that happens all the time.

Video:

Jake Tapper shoots down Doug Burgum's main talking point, "According to polling a plurality of the American people think that President Trump did commit a crime when it comes to this case and if you add in those who think it was unethical, but not illegal, it's a vast majority. " pic.twitter.com/4AYsv57KCr  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 5, 2024

Wave and say goodbye to any slim hopes that Doug Burgum may have ever had of being Trumps running mate, because this interview was a disaster.

It is not all Burgums fault though.

The governor is being asked to go on television and tell a story that is so preposterous and counter to what a majority of Americans believe that he is being set up for failure.

Trumps telling of the election interference trial leaves out all of the crimes. The illegal campaign contributions, the falsified business records, and the conspiracy to defraud the voters are all ignored in Trumps spin.

If Trump is looking for someone who can make his problems go away, Doug Burgum is not it. Trumps problems are so big anyone who tries to sell this fantasy is going to fail.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. Azerbaijan organizes gymnastics competitions well, medalist of the European Cup in rhythmic gymnastics in Baku, athlete from Bulgaria Boryana Kalein told Trend. At the competition, Boryana Kalein won two golds in ball and ribbon exercises, as well as a silver award in the hoop program.

"I am happy that I won medals at the European Cup in Baku. It was interesting to participate and follow the progress of cross-battles. I think it was interesting not only for us, the gymnasts, but also for the spectators. I am glad that the competition was held in Baku. I love this city, here I became the European champion last year," she stressed.

The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Cup was held on May 3-5 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku. Representatives from 37 countries took part in the competition. The gymnasts performed in two age categories - seniors (individual program and group exercises) and juniors (individual program).
Aiken Standard Reporter

Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County.

Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022.

To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 
Its elimination time in NASCARs playoffs at the reconfigured Charlotte Motor Speedway, where changes to the hybrid road course/oval called The Roval have created an uneasiness for the drivers racing for a championship. The field of 12 will be cut by four drivers to eight after Sundays race and Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe are all below the cutline. William Byron is the only driver already locked into the round of eight, but Christopher Bell basically only needs to start the race to advance. Read moreNASCAR playoffs roll into reconfigured Roval, tight turns may create 'chaos' in elimination race
The public will get a chance to comment on proposed changes to an air-quality permit for Century Aluminums smelter in Berkeley County when state regulators hold a hearing May 28 in Goose Creek.

The hearing  to be held at 6 p.m. at City Hall  was mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency last year, which ordered the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to give residents near the plant an opportunity to express their concerns about the proposed changes.

The permit regulates the amount of air pollution the company can create as part of its manufacturing process at the Mount Holly site. Century has proposed an increase in the amount of sulfur dioxide generated at the smelter. The permit also would let the smelter increase the amount of particulate matter released into the air by more than 46 percent, to 503 tons a year.

DHEC initially approved Centurys application as a minor revision to an existing permit, which doesnt require a public comment period.

A pair of environmental groups, the Sierra Club and Environmental Integrity Project, filed an objection with the EPA. They said the changes should have instead been treated as a major revision, which calls for a 45-day public comment period.

The EPA agreed, saying in a Nov. 2 order that the public was deprived from the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the permitting decision, as required by the federal Clean Air Act.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. at 519 N. Goose Creek Boulevard. While DHEC officials will be on hand to hear comments they wont be allowed to answer questions. A court reporter will document the comments.

The public can also submit written comments online, via email at AirPNComments@dhec.sc.gov or by mail at Bureau of Air Quality, air permitting division director, 2600 Bull St., SC 29201. Comments must be received no later than June 3.
Whether youre a fan of fiction or the real deal, fall is full of amazing selections. This week, just a few youll love. For more book info, along with upcoming events and all the new fall releases, visit Main Street Reads, Summervilles independent bookstore, your local library or shop sma Read moreSummerville Reads: Fall into fiction with must-read picks for every book lover
The sixth annual Pink Promenade celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month saw 10 survivors showcase the latest in pink fashion on Oct. 12 at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Prior to the catwalk, attendees were clued in by Dr. Philip A. Albaneze on Roper St. Francis Foundation's efforts to he Read morePink of Health: Survivors strut the runway at Pink Promenade
TBILISI, Georgia, May 5. ADB-funded climate projects need more transparent evaluation of efficiency, Assistant Secretary for International Development Policy at the US Department of the Treasury Alexia Latortue said at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) 57th annual meeting in Tbilisi, Trend reports.

Several years back, President Masatsugu Asakawa unveiled ADB's transformation into the region's climate bank, and we're delighted to witness ADB's significant progress. Additionally, ADB has embraced a fresh Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) aimed at embedding climate consciousness into the institution's core. This comprehensive plan influences all facets of the bank's endeavors, spanning planning, operations, financing, partnerships, and knowledge dissemination, instilling responsibility and accountability throughout every phase, she said.

Latortue emphasized that the US also appreciates ADB's leadership in the Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

In 2023, ADB pledged an unprecedented sum of financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. By July 2023, all new sovereign operations and a minimum of 85 percent of non-sovereign operations were aligned with the targets of the Paris Agreement. As part of the midterm review of Strategy 2030, the bank is in the process of revising its climate targets to mirror heightened ambitions and expanded financing capabilities, she said.

She emphasized that to fulfill President Asakawa's commitment, ADB's success should be evaluated not solely by the amount of funds distributed, but also by the tangible impact generated.

This will require a stronger focus on monitoring diagnostics, measurement and evaluation during implementation, as well as transparent measurement and achievement of results, she said.

To note, the theme of the 57th ADB Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, which runs from May 2 through May 5, is "Bridge to the Future".

The annual meeting provides ADB Governors with a platform to address developmental issues and challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific region. The event typically attracts several thousand participants, including finance ministers, central bank governors, senior government officials, private sector representatives, members of international and civil society organizations, youth, academics, and media personnel.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
FAIRFAX  Markayla Aiyonna Roberts lay in her grandparents bed, fending off her 10-month-old-cousin. Shrieking, the baby fashioned Markayla his punching bag and jungle gym, climbing over his cousin, swinging his little mitts and even nibbling her cheek.

He bit me! Markayla, 14, mustered through her laughs on April 26.

The baby, perhaps realizing that he crossed a line, dismounted and sat by his cousins hip before staging his next advance. Still in recline, Markayla parried, deftly, but gently, pushing the baby on his back.

She leaned over him and taunted, Look at you! Your face covered in drool.

The two squealed together, a video shared by the family showed. It was their Friday night in Fairfax, the next-largest town in South Carolinas least-populous county, Allendale.

Markayla fell asleep in that bed, facing a window inside the single-wide mobile home. She and her grandmother sandwiched her pint-sized tormentor. Her little sister slept at the foot of the bed.

Around 1:30 a.m., gunfire erupted outside.

Eschewing public records laws, the Fairfax Police Department refused to provide an incident report, which could provide details such as how many bullets were fired. But at least one struck Markayla. Two uncles rushed her to the local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

There were three shootings in Allendale County in three days: One on April 25 injured two people, an 11-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman, and two separate incidents on April 27. One wounded Allendale Police Sgt. James Hall Jr., who is recovering at home, and the other left Markayla dead.

Hall was investigating a report of gunshots mid-afternoon April 27 when his vehicle was shot multiple times from behind, police reported. A chief deputy arrived at the scene seconds later and the suspects fled. County Sheriff James Freeman took Hall to a local hospital, where he was airlifted to another medical center.
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RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2024 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against agilon health, inc. (NYSE:AGL) ("agilon" or the "Company"). This action, captioned Hope v. agilon health, inc., et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-00305, was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and expanded the class period which was pled in a first-filed case in that same Court. After the Hope action was filed, another case was filed against agilon in another Court, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which even further expanded the class period as pled in the Hope action as that case is brought on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired agilon common stock between April 15, 2021, and February 27, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period").Important Deadline Reminder: The first-filed action in the Western District of Texas issued a notice of its filing pursuant to the federal securities laws which triggered the deadline of May 20, 2024, for any investors who purchased agilon common stock to seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. The filing of the Hope Action does not change the May 20, 2024, lead plaintiff deadline.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR AGILON LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/agilon-health-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=agl&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE . YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://youtu.be/PB_vrMuHE7w LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: MAY 20, 2024CLASS PERIOD: APRIL 15, 2021, THROUGH FEBRUARY 27, 2024CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 or Email at info@ ktmc.com DEFENDANTS' MISCONDUCTagilon is a healthcare and technology company that acts as an intermediary between physician groups that provide medical services to senior citizens and Medicare and Medicare Advantage insurers. One of agilon's key financial metrics is "medical margin," which the Company defines as medical services revenue less medical services expenses.The Class Period begins on April 15, 2021, which is the day after the Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC and the first day agilon shares were publicly traded in connection with the IPO.Throughout the Class Period, Defendants repeatedly touted the strength of agilon's medical margin. Additionally, Defendants downplayed the significant cost pressures on the Company's medical margin and profitability. For example, on June 7, 2023, just days before other health insurers such as UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc. reported significant increases in medical costs, Defendant Bensley, speaking at an analyst-sponsored healthcare conference, reported that Defendants "expect this year to generate somewhere around $550 million of medical margin," noting that the Company has seen "steady progress on medical margin upwards." Investors began to learn the truth about the cost pressures impacting agilon's medical margin and profitability on November 2, 2023, when the Company announced its third quarter 2023 financial results after the market closed. Critically, agilon reported a net loss of $31 million for the third quarter of 2023 and slashed its fiscal year 2023 medical margin to a range between $455 million and $470 million. Defendant Sell also assured investors that agilon's more conservative approach to guidance "should reduce the risk of negative claims development next year." On this news, the price of agilon common stock declined $3.78 per share, or more than 22% over two trading-days, from a close of $16.89 per share on November 2, 2023, to close at $13.11 per share on November 6, 2023.After several additional disclosures in November 2023, investors more fully learned the truth about the cost pressures on agilon's medical margin and profitability before the market opened on January 5, 2024, when agilon updated its fiscal year 2023 financial results and provided its initial outlook for 2024. Critically, agilon further slashed its 2023 medical margin guidance more than $100 million, to a range between $340 million and $360 million, due to "higher-than-expected medical costs." This represented a decline of more than 34% from the $550 million in medical margin it had predicted. On the related investor guidance call, Defendant Sell acknowledged that agilon "failed to recognize these elevated cost trends" and had "a data and analytics gap that led to [the Company] being late in both recognizing the magnitude and source of the utilization shifts." Defendant Sell further indicated that the increased cost trends were expected to persist through 2024. Also on January 5, 2024, Defendant Bensley announced that he would retire in 2024. On this news, the price of agilon common stock plummeted $3.45 per share, or nearly 29%, from a close of $12.08 per share on January 4, 2024, to close at $8.63 per share on January 5, 2024.Finally, on February 27, 2024, agilon disclosed that its 2023 medical margin had in fact come in at just $299 million for the year - far lower than the range of $340 million to $360 million provided just a few weeks prior. Furthermore, agilon slashed its 2024 medical margin guidance by 27%. On this news, the price of agilon common stock dropped from $6.48 per share when the market closed on February 27, 2024, to $6.04 per share on March 1, 2024, a 7% decline on abnormally heavy volume of a three-day period. In subsequent days, the price of agilon stock continued to decline, falling to a low of just $5.66 per share on March 6, 2024, more than 85% below the Class Period high.WHAT CAN I DO?agilon investors may, no later than May 20, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages agilon investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent th
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Globe Life Inc. ("Globe Life" or "the Company") (NYSE:GL) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Globe Life securities between May 8, 2019 and April 10, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/GL Case Details:According to the Complaint, Globe Life is an insurance company headquartered in McKinney, Texas, that offers a wide range of insurance products, including life insurance, mortgage protections, and supplemental health insurance. Globe Life operates five wholly owned insurance subsidiaries. The largest, by both premiums collected and number of sales agents employed, is American Income Life Insurance Company ("AIL").Throughout the Class Period, according to the Complaint, Globe Life touted its consistent revenue growth, particularly from AIL, which accounted for 50% of the Company's profits in 2022 and 2023. During the Class Period, Globe Life reported consistent premium revenue growth at the Company, led by consistent premium revenue growth at AIL. The Company also represented that its employees adhered to a Code of Conduct that expressly prohibited various forms of misconduct, and which required that all Globe Life employees comply with relevant laws and regulations, purportedly ensuring that the Company would maintain a workplace free from violence, threatening behavior, and illegal drugs.The Complaint alleges that as a result of Defendants' misrepresentations, shares of Globe Life common stock traded at artificially inflated prices throughout the Class Period.The truth emerged on April 11, 2024, when, according to the Complaint, investment research firm Fuzzy Panda published a report alleging that Globe Life had engaged in wide-spread insurance fraud, while permitting a culture of unchecked sexual harassment. Specifically, the report alleged that several Globe Life subsidiaries were underwriting policies for dead and fictitious people, as well as adding policies to existing users' accounts without their consent. In addition, the investment research firm uncovered evidence that the subsidiaries maintained a hostile workplace where sexual harassment, drug use, and sexual assault went unchecked - conduct that violated the Company's Code of Conduct.As a result of these disclosures, according to the Complaint, the price of Globe Life common stock declined $55.76, or 53%, from a closing price of $104.93 per share on April 10, 2024, to a closing price of $49.17 per share on April 11, 2024.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/GL or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Globe Life you have until July 1, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller,332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Controversial Nigerian Pastor Ofuche Ukoha, popularly known as Sign Fireman, has returned to the media spotlight after a relative absence.

From 2013 to 2014, Fireman gained notoriety for his unconventional and controversial sermons focused on unconventional money-spinning services accompanied by unusual miracles.

At that time, he attracted significant media attention, with PREMIUM TIMES covering two of his church services  his wedding and a service after his alleged arrest.

In January 2014, news reports were awash with news of his involvement in an alleged rape and killing of a 12-year-old girl in Badagry.

According to Ikechukwu Egbo, 18, who allegedly carried out the dastardly act, Mr Ukoha instructed him to strangle a female virgin, obtain the faeces she would pass out in the throes of death, and bring to him for a reward of N100,000.

However, the messy controversy has been over for ten years, and the clergyman now aims to embark on a new chapter in his ministry.

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Fireman addressed the past controversy that nearly derailed his ministry.

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He also discussed topical issues within Nigerian Christendom, shed light on the source of his claimed miraculous powers, and other pertinent topics.

PT: People view you as a controversial pastor. How do you handle controversies?

Fireman: One of the reasons why some people may view Sign Fireman as a controversial pastor is because I have not replied to the press in about 15 years.

So if somebody puts out a story, and I do not reply to it to give my side, the other side of the story continues to sell. I have decided to respond to peoples and non-doctrinal stories related to my personal life.

PT: What about doctrines? Many believe that your teachings are always unconventional compared to other Christian doctrines.

Fireman: For doctrinal controversies, when people say that I am controversial because I said something conventional with the ordinary preaching, that is, if a person is saying that what I am preaching is not valid, I would ask the person to give me the scripture that is against what I am saying.

Controversy is not measured by the man of God who said something but by truth. And if you tell me what I have said is invalid, I will show you iron-cleaned scriptures. These are scriptures you cant argue with.

PT: What are some controversial ideologies you often challenge in Christendom?

Fireman: Many pastors devise funny doctrines and unscriptural motions, one of which is cancel my name from the Book of Death and put my name in the Book of Life. Throughout the scriptures, there is nothing like the Book of Death in the Bible.

We children were told that the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate was an Apple. It will surprise you to know that even today, pastors preach that the forbidden fruit was an Apple when it is in Genesis Chapter 3 that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit; it didnt specify it as an Apple.

Its funny how they made us believe that the larynx, the male vocal box, is called Adams Apple because a piece of the apple was found in Adams throat. Pastors should stop telling people this deception.

Some would even be praying and say, Any evil spirit holding my destiny should die by fire spirit dont die; they are eternal. That is why, when I see all these things, I am forced to say that the brand of Christianity that is on today is a scam, especially when it comes to the issue of tithing.

PT: Tithing has always been a topical doctrine. Why?

Fireman: Most people, from the pastors to the members, do not understand what tithing means.

Often, people quote the famous Malachi chapter 3, verse 10, but they need to learn that the scripture goes from verse 8 to verse 10. Specifically, in verse 9, the Bible says,  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Look at it this way: Who was God talking to? In English, we are taught about a sentences object and subject. Who was that scripture talking to? Was it talking to a person? No. The Bible says in verse 9, You are cursed with a curse, even this whole nation

God was addressing a country, not a person; if he was addressing a country and not a person, then the blessing he talked about in verse 10 in the same context must be a national blessing, not a personal blessing. In other words, the tithe was a spiritual task for national development.

PT: Are you saying that the age-long tithing Christian principle is wrong?

Fireman: Like taxes, tithes dont enrich individuals; they enrich countries. That is where the body of Christ missed it. I am not saying I dont tithe.

You bring money into the house of God; it is to build the house of God, not for you to be blessed, as most pastors will explain. So, tithing helps us expand the kingdom.

We need to return to the scriptures and begin to read them for ourselves. If a man of God tells you something, ask him to show you where it is in the scriptures.

If your pastor refuses, he has an axe to grind, and there is something he wants to hide. If he gets angry, he wants to deceive you without you having the opportunity to escape the deception.

PT: In 2014, you were involved in a messy controversy, one that indicted you for murder, and it was reported that you were arrested.

Fireman: That story is funny. I drove to the State Criminal Investigative Department, Panti, to ask them where the story originated.

How can the person who is driving be arrested? When that story came out, I was in Louisiana, US, ministering in a church, and they asked me if I had heard that I had been arrested in Nigeria that same day that I was in Louisiana. I said that this was wonderful. Why? Because the same me who they claimed to have been arrested was in Louisiana at the same time.

Also, an associated press interviewed me in the US, asking me to explain the situation because it was reported that I was arrested in Nigeria while I was in the US preaching. How can I be in Louisiana when I am detained in Nigeria?

PT: Were you vindicated?

Fireman: When I returned from the US, I obtained a certificate of innocence from The Directorate for Public Prosecution, DPP. But I have not responded to the press on the allegation over the years.

PT: Why have you yet to respond to the press?

Fireman: All this while, I would have answered the press, but I said I would when I was ready. But right now, I am prepared if you want to attack me. I have read the Bible more than 200 times, and on average, I read 11 books a day on any topic. I have done that for more than 20 years, so until I got to this point, I didnt want to come out.

PT: What makes you think you are ready now?

Fireman: Although I was working on performing miracles then, I was not satisfied. If I go to a crusade and preach to 1,000 people and only two people are healed, 998 go home the same, I would not be happy. So I told God I needed to know how to solve everybodys problems, and if I couldnt, let it be that time was limiting the people I would be attending to.

PT: Because of your strong views about their teachings, do you manage or relate to fellow pastors?

Fireman: I dont try to manage them. God didnt call me to be their manager; he just called me to fulfil my work. Many people know the truth, but the ministry is like a cartel. Some run it as a cartel, while some run it just for profit. So, to hell with how the people feel.

PT: Does this mean most of your colleagues are misleading their flocks?

Fireman: No man of God who has been in ministry for up to six months or one year will say that he doesnt know that much of what is taught in churches is a lie.

For example, there is this popular theology of Believe it, confess it, and claim it. That is a lie, but it is a popular teaching in Christendom.

How many things have you claimed that refused to come to pass? These are lies, and the pastors know, but because it sounds sensational. It can move the audiences emotions, so they tell you something spectacular that can move your emotions. Before you know it, maybe your money is gone, time has gone, and you have not seen anything close to what you believed.

Most ministers already know that what they do is false. When you tell someone who is perhaps looking for a breakthrough to fast, and the person fasts, and nothing happens, as a pastor, you should know that what you told the person was the wrong key, yet you maintained it. That is deception.

How many people did Jesus tell all those things? We need Christianity by precision, and how that can happen is when we take children off the pulpit.

PT: So, are there children on the pulpit?

Fireman: The Bible explicitly states this in Isaiah chapter 3, verses 1 to 5: When children rule, people are oppressed.

You would see someone who can speak in tongues because he can shout in tongues; he believes he is qualified to be a GO (General Over).

The oppression among believers in the body of Christ is directly proportionate to the immaturity of the ministers.

PT: You married in 2013, but unlike many of your colleagues, your wife is inactive in your ministry life. Why?

Fireman: A warrior must know that he alone is the warrior and is trained for warfare, that your wife and kids are not trained for combat.

I know that when I go out and say these things, if I teach doctrines that a significant man of God has used to run a series on television that shakes him up if he is not a spiritual person, he may look for a way to get back at me, either by embracing me or trying to call the media on me or tell some lies or blackmail.

So, as a warrior, I can take it, but can my wife and kids take it? Would they be able to go to school or market without unnecessary harassment? Therefore, I want to remain the warrior and let my wife stay a wife and the kids remain kids.

I dont have to put them out there and expose them to battles they are not trained for. I have prepared for this thing I am doing since I was a kid, but they havent. I protect my family by not putting them on the war front.

PT: If you emerge as a global General Overseer like the others, are you saying your wife will not be Mummy GO, too?

Fireman: Mummy GO is for those who are into pastoring, and since I am not, we will not need a Mummy GO.

This is why when you look at many men of God, they are doing well, but the members of their families are suffering. A lot of bad things happen to the family members.

This is because family members are exposed to things they are not called to handle or graced for. If the person I graced is okay, leave them out of church because you will find disgrace when you bring someone into a place they are not graced to be.

Even though most pastors and their wives are assistant pastors, I dont believe their wives should be pastors because pastoring is a call, not a marital position.

PT: You said you no longer pastor a church; what happened to your church, the Perfect Christianity Mission at Surulere?

Fireman: God told me to forget about pastoring and face crusades and be a blessing to the body of Christ.

The only thing I do is that I want people to enter the kingdom of God by conversion. Then, the pastors can church them. God has told me that is not what he has called me to do. Then, I solve the problems of people inside the churches.

PT: You are famous for performing miracles; what would you say is the source of your power?

Fireman: I was called when I was three years old. I was born again when I was five and started preaching when I was seven. I am the fourth generation of a missionary family. My great-grandmother worked with Mary Slessor.

One of the things Jesus told me was that different gifts will work in your life. One is that no miracles shall be impossible. Another is that when you meet anybody, whether you have met the person before or not, once you look at them on the spot, you will begin to have visions about them, whether you have met them before or not.

Papa Adeboye has church planting, Papa Olukoya has prayer, Papa Oyedepo has teaching and faith, and Papa Kumuyi has holiness. Myself I asked God for my own.

I told God, Let me do Church planting, God said I have given it to Papa Adeboye, I said let me do prayer, God said I have given it to Papa Olukoya, I said okay, let me preach holiness; God said, papa Kumuyi has taken that one already, and I said let me teach people faith, he said he has given that one to Papa Oyedepo, so I told God which one is my own. And God said Miracles only.

PT: does that mean you do not preach and teach?

Fireman: I teach, I do all that, but my primary assignment and call is to take the final move of God to the ends of the earth, but by ministering miracles, and this is evident in the miracles we witness in our miracles all through the world.

Jesus told me that only two things can make my gifts fail. Number one is if I am hungry, but Jesus told me I do not need to fast to be used. Number two is if I am tired, my gift will grow weak. So when I am exhausted, I stop.

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The United Kingdom edition of the American general-interest family magazine Readers Digest UK has announced the closure of its print edition after 86 years of publication.

This was made known in a letter addressed to the magazines readers by the Chief Editor, Eva Mackevic, which was recently published on the magazines site in a post titled The End of an Era.

The post reads, We regret to advise that after 86 wonderful years, Readers Digest UK has ceased to print the monthly magazine with immediate effect. Our editor-in-chief has shared a heartfelt tribute to our cherished readers.

The Readers Digest UK is one of the oldest editions of the magazine; it began in 1938. It has also had a notable association with the British monarchy. It received recognition from Queen Elizabeth II, including a commissioned portrait for her 60th birthday.

The magazine began with a couple in New York, Dewitt Wallace and Lila Bell, in 1920, to curate a collection of beloved articles from different monthly magazines, often condensing and reworking them to create a single, comprehensive magazine experience.

The Canadian edition of Readers Digest similarly shut down at the end of 2023, blaming declining ad sales revenues, increased production and delivery costs and changes in consumer reading habits.

The most recent articles on the Readers Digest UK online homepage appear to have been published on 22 April 2024.

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Farewell

In the farewell letter, the Editor-in-chief expressed deep regret over the closure, highlighting the magazines profound legacy and its significance in the lives of many.

Ms Mackevic, the chief editor, wrote, It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Readers Digest UK coming to a close. This magazine carries a profound legacy, holding special memories for so manyawhether it adorned our parents coffee tables or served as a gateway to the English language for those abroad. Its closure marks the end of an era that is deeply felt.

The letter reminisced about the magazines role as a fixture on family coffee tables and as a language companion for those abroad, underscoring its emotional connection to its audience.

The Editor-in-Chief thanked subscribers for their unwavering support, acknowledging the contributions of readers whose letters, poems, essays, and photographs had enriched the magazines pages over the years.

The closure, while marking the end of a significant chapter, was met with a sense of appreciation for the memories shared and the enduring spirit of Readers Digest.

The announcement also revealed plans to digitise as many editions of the magazines back catalogue as possible, offering subscribers a way to revisit cherished memories online.

This move aims to preserve the magazines legacy and ensure its continued impact in the digital space.

Alongside the magazines closure, it was also announced that Wilson Field Limited had been appointed to oversee the Creditors Voluntary Liquidation procedure for Vivat Direct Limited, the company trading as Readers Digest.

Rationale

The chief editor, Ms Mackevic, while announcing the magazines closure on her Linkedin page, cited reasons.

After 86 wonderful years, I am unfortunate to share that Readers Digest UK has ended. It has been my privilege and joy to contribute to this iconic publication for nearly eight years, leading its talented team for the last six, Mackevic wrote.

Unfortunately, the company just couldnt withstand the financial pressures of todays unforgiving magazine publishing landscape and has ceased to trade.

Interestingly, global editions of Readers Digest reach across 70 countries via 49 editions in 21 languages.

The periodical has an international circulation of 10.5 million, making it the largest paid-circulation magazine in the world.

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Georgina Akunuba, a livestock farmer in Anambra State, is the CEO of Progress Agric Venture. She owns a poultry, a fish farm, and a piggery. She started the business 23 years ago.

In this episode, Mrs Akunuba tells PREMIUM TIMES her journey into livestock farming.

PT: How did you get into the business of animal husbandry?

Mrs Akunuba: I love birds. When I was younger, my parents bought local fowl as gifts for my siblings and me. I loved to have them around. Back then, when people gave me money, I used the money to buy birds and grow them. I used the proceeds from the birds to support my parents financially and saw myself through school. I graduated from the Institute for Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu. Then I proceeded to Nnamdi Azikiwe University where I studied Mathematics Education.

PT: Women rearing animals appears a little more tedious than growing crops, what are the challenges you face?

Mrs Akunuba: First, I will say the issue is capital then followed by access to land. It is even more difficult because if I were into crop farming, I could always compromise, and maybe use other methods of farming but for animals, it is different. The cost of feeding the animals has tripled and this is seriously affecting the business.

PT: How do you ensure you buy quality feeds for your animals?

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Mrs Akunuba: Well, I am a distributor of livestock feeds. I use commercial feeds because it is safer and healthier for the animals. But if I have access to funds, I will begin to manufacture the feeds myself because I have a fair knowledge of the production process. The high cost of feeding is a huge problem.

When you buy expensive feeds and you are not able to recover the cost after selling the birds, you will be running at a loss because you have staff to pay and other things to cover.

A bag of feed is between N12,000 to N15,000, If you have about 200 birds that means they will feed on a bag every day. So lets say for six weeks you will spend over N500,000 just to feed them. So how much will you sell the birds or the eggs? How about drugs, water, maintenance and labour?

PT: The business climate appears unfavourable for egg production, how do you manage issues around egg glut?

Mrs Akunuba: I have lost so many eggs because of the weather and I cant store the eggs for long. (It would be better) if the government assists us with storage facilities for eggs because people are losing so much and selling at unfair prices. But the government is not paying attention to some of these issues.

PT: Would you consider getting labour for your farm a difficult task, due to the nature of the business?

Mrs Akunuba: I dont think it is difficult for me. I engage young people who are free/unemployed. They work for me and I pay them. I create employment opportunities but the government does not acknowledge it. My son is the farm manager, so he works on my farm and I pay him too. He learns the business as well.

PT: What are the different techniques you deploy in managing birds during the dry season and rainy season?

Mrs Ahunuba: I reduce the number of birds during the dry season, thats because the birds will not survive in a hot environment. Birds need ventilation. So the weather plays a very important role in growing birds.

PT: Are there similar challenges between fish farming and poultry?

Mrs Akunuba: Both of them are capital intensive, you need money to keep them running but the difference is that fish rearing doesnt require much space compared to birds. Also, the feeds for fish are expensive and they need water. Currently, the space I use for 2000 birds, I can use it for 10,000 fishes.

PT: As a member of the Small Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON), do you get any support from the government?

Mrs Akuniba: Well, we get support from the state government, although it is small and also the Bank of Agriculture has been helpful.

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One person was confirmed dead on Saturday when combined security operatives invaded Igga, a community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias south-east.

The security operatives, comprising personnel of the Nigerian army and the Nigeria Police Force, invaded the community at about 10 p.m., burning houses and shooting sporadically, multiple sources told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday evening.

This is coming less than a week after suspected herders invaded Nimbo, a community in the same Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, killing at least four persons.

Houses razed, shops looted

A leader in the Igga Community, Festus Okonkwo, told PREMIUM TIMES that the security operatives razed several houses during the invasion of the community.

Last night, army and police invaded Igga Community and burnt many houses and in the process, one of us, Richard Okoye died. He was running for his life when he fell and died.

They (army and police) came into the community at about 10 p.m. and stayed till 12 to 1 a.m. We all ran away and asked our youths not to attack anybody (in self defence), said Mr Okonkwo, a former community councillor.

Another indigene of the community, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES that the villagers believe that the invasion of the community by the security operatives might be connected to the killing of three persons at Ada Rice Production Nigeria Limited, a farm settlement close to the community.

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The indigene said the three persons, including a police officer, were killed on Friday by gunmen, suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The suspected ESN members were said to comb the area to ward off invading herders frequently.

Of the three persons killed, one of them was from Iggah and another from neighbouring Adani Community. The police officers community is not known, he said.

According to the indigene, the killing of the yet-to-be-identified officer was what brought about the aggression demonstrated by the security forces that went burning houses at the farm settlement and later proceeded to the Igga Community.

The entire community is now living in fear, not knowing whether the attack could continue, he added.

Video clip

A video clip, which has gone viral on Facebook, showed several houses and other properties in flames in the Igga Community.

This is Igga Community being burnt down by the military and the police from Adani Division, a male voice was heard in the background of the video.

They are burning houses and shooting sporadically and on people. The community is in danger. Come to our aid. We are not safe. They are shooting at us, the voice added.

The clip also showed some shops allegedly looted and burnt down by the operatives.

Another clip showed some members of the community protesting the invasion of their community by the security operatives.

Army, police silent

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday that the community members were trying to twist what happened.

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, promised to detail what happened in the community.

He was yet to do so as of the time of this report.

Also, the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jonah Unuakhalu, promised to revert to this reporter with details. But he was yet to do so as of the time of this report.

Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, did not afterwards respond to a text message seeking his comments.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Europe on Sunday, on a trip that will take him to France, Hungary and Serbia.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will receive Mr Xi on Sunday afternoon in Paris.

Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled for Monday.

According to reports from the Elysee Palace, the talks will focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.

Mr Macron said ahead of the visit that everything must be done to involve China in the major global issues.

As Europeans, we hope that the country will work towards the stability of the international order, Mr Macron said.

After his stay in France, 70-year-old Mr Xi will continue his visit to Serbia and Hungary.

Serbia maintains close relations with China and is a member of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, in which Beijing is investing billions in transport routes and harbours worldwide, but particularly in the Global South.

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The Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also considered to be China-friendly

Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Belt and Road Initiative.

(dpa/NAN)

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TBILISI, Georgia, May 5. Turkiye encourages the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to prioritize development outcomes while maintaining lending volumes, Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance of Turkiye Osman Celik said during the annual meeting of the ADB in Tbilisi, Trend reports.

"We fully support the steps taken toward removing the ADB Charter lending limitation and encourage further innovative financial instruments in line with the G-20 recommendations. We encourage the bank to prioritize development outcomes while maintaining lending volumes and incorporate a private sector perspective across its portfolio when deploying freed-up capital promptly.

Fourth, we praise the successful replenishment of the Asian Development Fund as a testament to the bank's commitment to sustainable development and poverty reduction in the region's most vulnerable nations. This initiative not only enhances our capacity to address current and future challenges but also underscores the bank's effective stewardship in directing aid where it is most needed.

Lastly, we commend the bank's efforts to engage more effectively with the private sector. We also suggest bold steps towards decentralization and the establishment of regional hubs as outlined in the New Operating Model. These hubs would enhance the in-the-field experience and know-how, enabling the bank to deliver faster and more tailored support to its DMCs. While the New Operating Model has facilitated key organizational changes, implementing the decentralization component will further position the bank to be more responsive and effective.

In concluding, I would like to emphasize Turkiye's appreciation for the tremendous effort put forth by ADB's Management and staff, committed to the prosperity of the Asia and Pacific region.

As always, Turkiye looks forward to continuing our strong cooperation with ADB, supporting its endeavors to foster sustainable development across our region," he said.

The theme for the 57th Annual Meeting to be held from May 2 through May 5 is Bridge to the Future.

The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for ADB governors to consider development issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. Several thousand participants, including finance ministers, central bank governors, senior government officials, members of the private sector, representatives of international organizations and civil society organizations, youth, academia, and the media, regularly join the meeting.
Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni and his Ogun and Plateau States counterparts, Dapo Abiodun and Caleb Mutfwang, were among the awardees honoured at the 13th edition of the annual Independent Newspapers Limited (INL) Awards on Saturday.

The award ceremony, titled Celebrating Excellence, took place at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos.

It saw dignitaries receive the INL Awards for 2023 in recognition of their contributions in various sectors in the country.

While Mr Buni was honoured as the Man of the Year, Mr Abiodun was honoured as the Tech Innovative Governor of the Year.

Mr Mutfwang of Plateau State received the award for Governor of the Year (Community Empowerment), while the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, bagged the award for Governor of the Year (Education & Youth Empowerment).

Other governors who received the INL prestigious award are the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah as Governor of the Year (Urban Development); the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yaya as Governor of the Year (Health); Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji as Governor of the Year (Community Development); and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno as Governor of the Year (Fiscal Discipline).

Some other awards recipients on the night included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, who was honoured as the Legislator of the Year (National), and Olabode George and Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who were both honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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The Security Company of the Year award was received by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited for its competence in pipeline surveillance.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company was recognised as the Indigenous Oil Company of the Year.

The Bridge Builder and Royal Father of the Day award was received by His Majesty Ogiame Atunwase III, the Olu of Warri.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Daily Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme, said that for the year 2023, the company could identify and recognise those who have performed excellently in their various areas of endeavour.

The awardees were selected strictly based on their achievements while in office in 2023 without compromising the newspapers integrity as the most credible newspaper in Nigeria, he said.

Chairman of the occasion, a former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, noted that the night was not a night of speeches but a night to honour awardees across all areas, including politics, religion, and culture.

He commended INL and members of the award committee for their abilities to select the high-class recipients who were honoured.

I am happy that one of our respected kings is also being honoured, he said.

He commended the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwaswe 111, represented by the Awee Warri Kingdom, for honouring the occasion.

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Nigerias Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, assumed office in August 2023. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES Ameh Ejekwonyilo at her office in Abuja, Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye talks about how President Bola Tinubu is responding to the aftermath of the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls from their school in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, a decade ago. The minister also explains why she prefers sustainable empowerment of women to organising conferences and workshops.

PT: The horrific abduction of over 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists from Chibok in Borno State occurred 10 years ago. Is there any hope of rescuing the remaining girls in captivity?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: The issue of the Chibok girls was domiciled in the Ministry of Women Affairs. When I came in as minister on 20 August 2023, the issue of Chibok girls was one of the issues handed over to me. The report that was handed over to me said about 77 Chibok girls were at the American University of Nigeria in Adamawa State. Most of the girls were in their seventh year when they were supposed to graduate. They began their studies with pre-degree programmes for two years before they moved on to the full five-year programme. The government was paying their school fees. Remember that when the Chibok incident happened, it was shocking to everyone. Nigeria was not even used to that kind of issue. Consequently, quick decisions were taken which our current administration may not agree with. One of those quick decisions was taking the rescued Chibok girls to an expensive school when the girls and their families needed other monetary help to better their lives and secure them. But no one thought about the welfare of the Chibok girls family.

Then the girls were enrolled at the American University of Nigeria. So, when I came in, because of the kind of president I am working for, who wants the best for both the Chibok girls and their families, to improve their livelihoods, I did not buy the idea of the American University. So, (concerning) the last payment of N450 million as tuition fees for the girls, I had to call the American University for a meeting and we agreed that the government cannot pay such humongous fees. The university ought to have given the girls a scholarship allowing the government to pay up to 30 per cent of the fees. So, the university agreed and we were able to pay half of the N450 million, while the school will give the girls families cash for businesses and empowerment equipment like industrial machines and tricycles. The university has provided the industrial machines but efforts are on to disburse the funds directly to the genuine families of the abducted Chibok girls.

Now, President Tinubu is handling the Chibok girls issue differently (from the way the previous administrations handled it). I am sure the girls will prefer the government enrolling them in affordable schools, then use part of the money for the empowerment of their families and provide security. You know security and economy are top on Mr Presidents priority list.

PT: Currently, how many of the Chibok girls are at the American University of Nigeria?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: There are 77 Chibok girls at the university. They are graduating in two months. Even the girls with babies are graduating in 2024.

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PT: Is there any hope of rescuing the remaining Chibok girls in captivity?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: Oh, yes, there is a hope of having all the Chibok girls back. You could see the commitment of the president to tackling insecurity by rescuing abducted schoolchildren from criminals without paying a ransom. Even with the security challenges in southeastern Nigeria, the president has done a lot in rescuing victims of the violence and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Now, talking about insecurity in Nigeria, for instance, I dont think we have security challenges in more than five out of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). So, why are we blowing our situation out of proportion as if we are the worst in the world? I know people whose countries are full of security challenges. We are not doing badly. With President Tinubu, Nigeria will surpass some of the countries with over 200 years of democratic journey in development.

PT: What are some of the federal governments interventions in womens empowerment?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: The ministry, prior to my assumption of office as minister, was busy spending money on advocacy, meetings, consultancies and workshops without sustainable women empowerment programmes that are cash-based.

For instance, you spend N250 million to go and advocate for rural women on why breast ironing is harmful to their well-being. These locals are in dire need of economic empowerment, but these non-governmental organisations carry out their advocacy programmes, they simply walk away without any form of financial benefit. So, I went back to Pygba and four other communities in Abuja, where girls were subjected to breast ironing, a harmful traditional practice aimed at making women unattractive to men. I gave them money to do sensitisation. The people carried a band and sang in their dialect and sensitised the people. After the advocacy programme, we bought them sustainable machines and gave them some money for small-scale businesses.

So, when I assumed office as minister, I told my staff members that no one spends N250 million on advocacy, consultancy, meetings, and talks on building policies when you have not even implemented any of the policies you have drafted all these years. Therefore, whatever you call a programme must be sustainable empowerment. I made it my own vision and way of running this ministry which is in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

https://youtu.be/Wc8zq_WGwZc?si=uzcg687TZ3YXaKm0

PT: So, how do you intend to empower women if advocacy programmes are not allowed?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: What I am simply saying is that a larger percentage of funds that are earmarked for advocacy programmes should be channelled into procuring items like machines that ensure sustainable empowerment for women. We have already clustered these women. This initiative is changing lives; giving women reasons to live.

PT: Are there specific tasks assigned to you by the president?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: Yes. Mr president gave ministers deliverables. In those deliverables, the president did not mention programmes. So, you dont expect me as a minister to allow them (civil servants) to lavish the whole funds on workshops that do not yield tangible results. The deliverables are parts of those sustainable empowerment programmes that I am insisting staff members of the ministry must deliver. That is what I have changed at the Ministry of Women Affairs.

PT: But are your workers in support of the new empowerment policy?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: Oh, yes. That is what all the directors at the ministry who readily support are doing. They are excited about it. So, all of them that have collected their monies for the programmes did exactly that. We have evidence of our delivery of impactful programmes to women in 15 States across Nigeria. The 15 states that have received the items are Lagos, Benue, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Niger, Rivers, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Imo and Ebonyi.

The empowerment items to the 15 states mark the first phase of my ministrys crucial intervention programmes in line with the Presidents.

PT: What were these empowerment items?

Kennedy-Ohanenye: The items include 60 garri processing machines, 75 industrial sewing machines, overlock weaving industrial machines, industrial buttonhole machines, fish grilling machines and rice milling machines amongst others.

A total of 387 sets of equipment have been used to empower rural women thus far in phase one of our programme. Subsequent distributions will be made in the second phase to extend to other states.

There is also the garri processing compressor which drains the water from the cassava before it gets to the dryer. Then there is a machine that fries two 50kg bags of garri at once. It uses gas thereby saving the environment in terms of clean energy and making things easy for the women. It takes an hour for the machine to fry the garri. For instance, if there are 50 women in the cooperative society, they all can fry their garri one day, because these are industrial machines.

So we gave 12 cassava and garri processing machines per state. We have delivered the machines to 15 states. For example, Benue State has taken off. Women in Benue quickly installed the machines and sent us videos of how they are processing garri.

For the northern states in the country, we gave them rice processing machines. If you go to the rice processing machines, it has a rice boiler, the chaffer, destoning and peeling. In addition, we provided women with fish grilling machines that can grill 6,000 fish a day and it takes one hour to grill 500 fish.

In less than a year, the president has recorded tremendous successes contrary to some media reports. For instance, the First Lady (Remi Tinubu) is doing so much for women. Everyone can testify that no First Lady in the history of this country within such a short time has achieved what Her Excellency Remi Tinubu has accomplished; combating HIV/AIDS and other healthcare interventions, empowering local female farmers with N500,000 each to ensure sustainable means of livelihood. Before now, many vulnerable women were left out of government empowerment programmes. Today, the First Lady personally gives out these funds to the female farmers. She gave N500 million in Kaduna; all the farmers opened bank accounts and from the First Ladys office, monies were transferred through the banks to the womens individual accounts.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his cabinet has unanimously voted to close broadcaster Al Jazeeras operations in Israel.

The move came after Israeli lawmakers recently approved a new media law widely referred to as the Al Jazeera law that gives the government powers to ban foreign broadcasters if they are deemed a risk to state security.

Mr Netanyahu announced the cabinet decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in which he called Al Jazeera the hate channel.

Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi said on Sunday that he had signed the closure order and that it would be implemented immediately.

According to Israeli reports, this means that offices in Israel could be closed, broadcasting equipment confiscated, the station removed from cable and satellite television channels and its website blocked.

The Israeli government had accused Al Jazeera, which is based in the Gulf emirate of Qatar and has a wide reach in the Arab world, of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera has reported extensively on the catastrophic situation in the Palestinian territory and shown images of death and destruction that are rarely seen on Israeli television stations.

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The channel also regularly shows videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers by Hamas military arm, the Qassam Brigades.

The channel has rejected allegations of bias and, in the past, accused Mr Netanyahu of spreading new lies and inflammatory slanders against the network.

Al Jazeera has also accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists on several occasions.

Netanyahu has accused Al Jazeera of damaging Israels security, actively participating in the massacre on October 7 and inciting against Israeli soldiers.

ALSO READ: Thousands of Israelis call on Netanyahu to resign over Gaza war

Al-Jazeera was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Doha. It was one of the first Arab TV stations to publish critical reports on the region and quickly gained popularity.

The Israeli governments efforts to ban Al Jazeera have drawn criticism from some of the countrys most prominent allies, including the United States and Germany.

The US State Department expressed irritation about the decision and reiterated support for the free press all over the world.

A German Foreign Office spokesman also criticised the so-called Al Jazeera law last month: A free and diverse press landscape is the cornerstone of a liberal democracy.

(dpa/NAN)

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The police in Abia State and their counterpart in Anambra State have contradicted themselves on the kidnap of a Nigerian archbishop and his family members in the South-east.

The kidnap

There were reports that some gunmen, on Wednesday, kidnapped the Archbishop of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Uka Osim, and his family members in the state.

Mr Osim was said to have been kidnapped alongside his wife, identified as Anne and son, Roland.

Three other clerics  Azuka Ochu, Moses Okafor, and Anderson Akwazie  who were also with them were said to have been kidnapped during the attack in the state.

They were travelling to Awka, Anambra State, from Abia State for religious duties when the gunmen reportedly intercepted their vehicle at an unnamed location.

The administrator of the church in Abia State, Denis Onuoha, was quoted in the report confirming the kidnap of the archbishop, his family and other clerics of the church.

No record

However, in a statement which was forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday night, the police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, said inquiries made by police authorities in the state showed that there was no record of such kidnap in the state.

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Given the above, the (Anambra State Police) Command calls on members of the public to assist us with information regarding the above-mentioned incident if such happened. This will enable us to embark on the investigation, Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said.

The contradiction

But in a statement on Sunday, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, said the kidnap indeed happened.

Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, however, said the kidnap did not happen in the state.

She said police authorities in the state contacted one of the clerics from the church who confirmed the kidnap happened in Anambra State.

Abia State Police Command has investigated the story and contacted Bishop Dennis Onuoha, who denied stating that the incident occurred in Abia State.

The bishop confirmed that the kidnapping incident did not occur in Abia but rather in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Ms Chinaka stated.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Abia State has urged reporters and bloggers to verify their reports before publication.

She said the commissioner has reiterated the commitment of the police in Abia to ensure security in the state.

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The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Sunday moved detained journalist Daniel Ojukwu to the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been incommunicado at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, in Lagos since Wednesday.

Reporter makes first phone call

However, Mr Ojukwu, in his first communication with the outside world since he was detained on Wednesday, confirmed he had been moved to Abuja.

Im currently in Abuja; I am at the NPF-NCCC  thats the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, FIJ quoted Mr Ojukwu saying on Sunday morning.

Mr Ojukwu said he arrived in Abuja on Sunday morning and has been taken to a cell for interrogation.

Mr Ojukwus abduction

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday with his phone numbers switched off and whereabouts unknown to colleagues, family and friends. On Thursday, FIJ made a missing person report at police stations in the area where he was headed. On Friday, a private detective hired by FIJ tracked the reporters phones last active location to an address in Isheri Olofin, Lagos.

In March, the same NPF-NCCC invited and grilled the Chairperson of FIJs Board of Trustees, Bukky Shonibare, in Abuja, during which they mentioned a story authored by Mr Ojukwu. The story revealed that the senior special assistant to former president Muhammad Buhari on sustainable development goals (SSAP-SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, paid N147 million to a restaurant for the construction of classrooms in Lagos.

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Except for Ms Shonibare, the police never invited Mr Ojukwu or any other FIJ staff, FIJ Founder Fisayo Soyombo told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ms Shonibare honoured the police invitation when she was invited.

Police speak

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, said on Sunday that the reporter was arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police based on a petition written against him, TheCable reported.

Mr Adejobi noted that the head of the NPF-NCCC centre confirmed to him that Mr Ojukwu was accused of violating the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015. The Cybercrime Act is a known law used to persecute journalists and media houses in Nigeria, as well as some sections of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for broadcast stations.

It has been confirmed that the journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, was arrested by the Nigeria Police National Cybercrime Centre, Abuja, based on a petition filed against him.

Its a case of violation of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 and other extant laws of the land. He has a case to answer. This was confirmed to me on Sunday by the CP and head of the centre, Mr Adejobi said.

Journalists, CSOs call for journalists release

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has asked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately order the release of Mr Ojukwu or risk being blacklisted.

IPI NIGERIA strongly condemns the abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, order the release of Mr Ojukwu, a statement jointly signed by the IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi, said.

IPI Nigeria said the recent abduction of another journalist, Segun Olatunji, and Mr Ojukwu had pointed to a pattern that the current administration of the Nigerian government does not respect the freedom of the press.

With the two incidents cited above, a pattern has emerged that points to the fact that the administration of President Bola Tinubu does not only condone repression of freedom of the press but also encourage it, in contradiction of promises made during the presidents inaugural speech that his administration would uphold fundamental human rights, the statement reads in part.

IPI Nigeria calls on President Tinubu to sanction the Inspector General of the Police, having failed to lead by example. Nobody is above the law.

It also threatened to include the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in IPI Nigerias book of infamy and branded him an enemy of the media and journalists. His inclusion on the list carries serious consequences beyond the shores of Nigeria, the statement added.

Nigerian journalists and civil society organisations, including Amnesty International and Yiaga Africa, among others, have taken to social media to call for Mr Ojukwus release.

The state of press freedom in Nigeria

Nigeria remains one of West Africas most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranked Nigeria 123 of 180 countries in its global press freedom report for 2023.

The report noted that Nigerian journalists are regularly monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested, and crimes committed against journalists continue to go unpunished, even when the perpetrators are known or apprehended.

Earlier on Friday, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (ERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, asked Nigerian authorities to stop using repressive and anti-media law such as the Cybercrime Act and some code of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to target, intimidate and harass journalists and media houses.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, says the federal government is working to resolve the issue of the detained journalist, Ojukwu.

Mr Idris stated this on Saturday night at the NUJ Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards in Abuja.

Mr Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was abducted by the police on 1 May and has been in detention since then.

The abduction of the journalists, whose newspaper recently published some stories on corruption involving the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and some individuals, is generating considerable backlash against the government.

I know that we have had some challenges, especially in the last couple of weeks concerning one journalist who has had some problems with the security agencies. That problem has been solved or is being solved. Im being reminded by someone today that there is another one. We are also working to resolve one, Mr Idris said.

The minister said the government is committed to press freedom and promised to release the detained journalist

He added that President Bola Tinubus administration is determined to ensure that the work of journalists will continue unhindered and interrupted.

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Attacks on journalists

Safety of journalists has been a significant concern in Nigeria with many instances of harassment, abduction and even deaths.

In March, Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews newspaper, was abducted from his home in Lagos, South-west Nigeria, on 15 March. Hours later he safety blindfolded and flown ito Abuja on a military aircraft.

He was detained for 14 days by the government and only released following pressure from the International Press Institute, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

The Centre of Journalism Innovation and development (CJID) recently released a report that shows that 1,034 journalists have been attacked across Nigeria from 1986 to 2023.

Often, the Nigerian government uses the Cybercrime Prohibition Act 2015 to arbitrarily arrest journalists.

Honouring brave journalists

Meanwhile, the NUJ, at the Saturday ceremony, gave awards to journalists who have suffered different forms of attacks in the course of duty.

Mohammed Salisu, the founder of WikkiTimes, was also celebrated for some of his investigative reports in the last couple of years.

Salisus commitment to exposing corruption has led to severe repercussions, including multiple legal challenges and physical threats, NUJ stated.

Another journalist with Daily Nigerian, Umar Audu, who exposed the certificate racketeering syndicate in universities in Cotonou, Benin Republic, was awarded the Anyim Ude Prize for the best investigative reporter of the year.

Some of the other journalists honoured at the ceremony include; Adekola Bamgbala a photojournalist; Gabriel Idibia, the head of Daybreak Newspaper; Edwin Philip of Breeze FM Lafia, Nasarawa State; Paulina Vana of NTA Borno and Tayo Ikujinni of News Agency of Nigeria.

Speaking on the challenges journalists face, the NUJ president, Chris Isiguzo, explained that the union decided to honour the journalists with the message that press freedom is not a political privilege.

Tonight, as we gather to honour the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of truth, justice, and freedom, let us also reaffirm our commitment to press freedom and good governance. Let us recognise that press freedom is not a privilege but a right, not a luxury but a necessity, Mr Isiguzo said.

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I am constrained to ask, who on earth has bewitched you and which invocations and spells of occult sorcery from the ancient Kabbala did the Jews invoke to capture and bind your spirit and soul and to make you behave in this slavish manner?.. You are no longer the mighty giant that we once knew and revered but rather you are now what the Nigerian people would describe as a woman wrappa to your beloved Israel.

I really do wonder whether those great patriots who fought a long and bloody war against British colonial rule and founded the United States of America in 1776, like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and so many others, envisaged what has happened to their beloved country today?

I wonder whether the Pilgrim Fathers and great and wise men of old who, by faith in the Living God, left the Old World, crossed the Atlantic ocean in hazardous conditions and went to the New to establish a new beginning and build a new nation founded on freedom, equality, the fear of God and solid, good, old-fashioned Christian virtues and values would believe what the beloved nation they toiled, prayed for, established and worked so hard to build has turned into today?

Would they not all be turning in their graves?

A nation that was once referred to by both friend and foe as the land of the free and the home of the brave is now neither free nor brave.

A mighty nation that delivered itself from its own internal prejudices, contradictions and demons by fighting a brutal civil war to free the slaves and that presented a great hope for those who dreamt of a world where all men and women could have equal opportunities, regardless of class, history, colour, race or creed, has now lost its sense of decency, equity, honour and morality, and turned into a corrupt, power drunk, morally bankrupt, blood-lusting, war-loving, terror-funding, egocentric and idiosyncratic collection of self-serving, self-seeking, cowardly and deluded individuals, who serve the interests of not their own people but that of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish lobby, and the state of Israel.

A rich and powerful nation of over 300 million people that delivered the world from evil in both the First and Second World Wars, that defeated and dismantled the curse of Soviet communism, that entrenched democracy throughout much of the world, and that literally rules the waves today as the greatest super power in the history of humanity in a unipolar world, is now nothing but the lapdog of little Israel?

It seems so hard to believe. Yet true it is!

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Like Lucifer fell from heaven so you, O mighty America, has fallen from grace!

I weep for you.

Apart from your internal decay, whereby the family system has been destroyed and traditional religious beliefs have been replaced by humanism and a godless philosophy, in which the Lord is no longer revered, where men marry men, where abortions are encouraged, where homosexuality is adored, where Satanism is practised, where money is worshipped, where God has been banned from the schools and indeed every sphere of human endeavour, and where the establishment of a New World Order is your ultimate objective. You have also, with the help of your servile and fawning vassals like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Holland and others, debased and destroyed the fortunes and vision of many countries, through your reckless and self-serving foreign policy and your insatiable thirst for power and world domination.

The number are legion but to mention a few: Libya, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine and a number of others stand out.

You have literally left each of them in rubbles and turned them into shells of their former selves, simply because you insisted on misleading them, controlling them, and imposing your values and will on them.

You are also attempting to undermine and destroy Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Turkey, Pakistan, India, South Africa, the Arab Gulf States, Brazil, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, Guinea, Egypt, Algeria and many others.

You wish to exploit them, enslave them, milk them, destroy them, bend them to your will, and turn them into your pliant little acolytes and colonies, but thankfully so far you have failed.

Yet, what exposes your monstrous, dark, evil and gluttonous degeneration more than anything else, is the way in which you nurture, protect, feed, arm and support your little baby, Israel, and how that baby has now become your slave master!

You quiver and bow at its every command and seek to justify and rationalise its barbaric behaviour, even when it operates what is undoubtedly a racist apartheid state and seeks to exterminate and occupy ALL the land of those it considers to be a lesser people, with a lesser faith, from a lesser nation, like the Palestinians.

For the last seven months, the entire world has witnessed with shock the way and manner in which you have not only allowed but openly encouraged it to commit mass murder, genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, violating every rule and norm of international law and subjecting the Palestinian people to a modern day holocaust.

This is unacceptable and you have as much blood on your hands as a consequence of your shameless complicity, as the Israelis themselves.

The truth is that they could not and would not have dared to indulge in this monstrous and cruel display of depravity, bloodfest and killing spree, without your tacit approval and support.

This is bad enough but the worst aspect of it all is that when the world boils in anger, weeps and wails and attempts to bring your baby to justice for its wanton and wilful display of utter madness, whether at the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court, you bare your ugly fangs and growl like a wounded lion, and you boldly tell us that we should know and MUST accept that your little Israel and the fascist right wing white and non-semitic European colonial settlers and Zionists that own and lead it are Gods chosen people, are above the law and are entitled to do ANYTHING they deem fit, including wiping out the Palestinians!

This disposition and open endorsement of pure and unadulterated evil is nauseating and sickening, and it is a graphic reflection of the unconscionable beast that you have now become.

Your hypocrisy and double standards beggars belief!.. Again you have just passed a law which violates your own constitution, known as the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which bans free speech outright, and seeks to jail anyone who opposes, condemns or criticises the Jews, the Zionists or the state of Israel or who accuses them of belonging to a racist, apartheid state or of committing genocide in Gaza or at any other place or time in their long 5,000 year history, including during the days of the Holy Bible!

You do not fear God, you do not fear world opinion, you do not fear even those from your own nation that are protesting your madness and you do not fear your conscience!

The only thing you fear is your Lord and master, Israel!

I am constrained to ask, who on earth has bewitched you and which invocations and spells of occult sorcery from the ancient Kabbala did the Jews invoke to capture and bind your spirit and soul and to make you behave in this slavish manner?

You are no longer the mighty giant that we once knew and revered but rather you are now what the Nigerian people would describe as a woman wrappa to your beloved Israel.

At the mention of its name, your strength fails you, your knees bend, your heart beats faster, your soul melts, your emotions overwhelm you, and you bow, genuflect, crawl and quiver before it like a young man before his first love.

Truly this is Satans work: you can no longer control your own will, you have been cursed, charmed and reduced to nothing and you are under a powerful spell.

I cry for you!

When the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague issues a warrant of arrest for other world leaders, you rejoice, but when they consider issuing the same for @netanyahu, the Israeli PM, you wet your pants, soil your diapers and threaten brimstone and fire!

Through one of your jittery officials at the State Department, you went as far as proclaiming that, the ICC has no jurisdiction over Israeli officials and therefore has no right to even issue any warrant of arrest for Netanyahu.

You forget that you were amongst those who clapped the loudest when a similar and active arrest warrant was issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For that you believed that the ICC acted within its powers and in fact did a great job, yet you believe it is unacceptable for the Court to issue such a warrant for Bibi Netanyahu.

Your hypocrisy and double standards beggars belief!

Again you have just passed a law which violates your own constitution, known as the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which bans free speech outright, and seeks to jail anyone who opposes, condemns or criticises the Jews, the Zionists or the state of Israel or who accuses them of belonging to a racist, apartheid state or of committing genocide in Gaza or at any other place or time in their long 5,000 year history, including during the days of the Holy Bible!

Your Congress just voted to make it ILLEGAL to compare Israels genocidal actions to those of Nazi Germany

and it has effectively banned the Holy Bible in a supposedly Christian nation.

Is this not evidence of a diseased mind?

To be clear, the new law makes it illegal to criticise, protest against or boycott Israel.

It also makes it ILLEGAL to preach or quote the portions of the GOSPEL and the Holy Bible where the countless and horrendous atrocities that were committed by the Jews against other nations thousands of years ago are listed!

The House of Representatives just voted to make preaching the FULL GOSPEL of the Christian faith ILLEGAL in America!

Let that sink in!

@Megatron_ron captured it well when he wrote the following on X:

The US House has passed an act that totally bans speaking and protesting against Israel. Even if you preach parts of the bible that clearly state the days the Jews killed Christ you will be arrested. In response to campus anti-Israel protests, the House is rushing to vote on a new bill, HR 6090. This new Bill would officially define Antisemitism so the federal government can sue, prosecute, or sanction more people, businesses, and universities for supposed violations of civil rights law. This Bill would make it illegal to compare Israeli policies to Nazi policies. It would make it illegal to describe Israel as racist. It would make it illegal to accuse an American citizen of being more loyal to Israel than to the United States.

The Jews constitute only two per cent of the American population and yet they have been singled out for such preferential treatment and protection, whilst the state of Israel, a distant nation of only nine million people, has been accorded the special status of being Gods chosen people and well above the law and is entitled to commit the most grievous and heinous acts of genocide, ethnic and religious cleansing and mass murder without criticism or consequence.

Is this not sad and amazing?

Is it not a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions?

Does it not make your blood boil and your skin crawl?

Are we not entering the Orwellian world that the British author, George Orwell, wrote about and predicted in his celebrated book, 1984, many decades ago and which the writer and great visionary and intellectual @davidicke often refers to today?

Is America, a once great country that exalted justice, freedom and righteousness, not turned into a big fat turd that is now in the process of flushing itself down the Israeli toilet!

Surely it can no longer be referred to as the United States of America but rather the United States of Zion!

On his part @Jakeshieldsajj, a highly respected American public affairs commentator and social media influencer, wrote the following on X:

In the past two weeks, Congress has made anti-semitism illegal, demanded that anti-Israel protesters must be arrested, banned TikTok at Israels request, given $100 billion to Israel and Ukraine for war, approved warrantless spying on Americans, approved $3.5 billion aid for illegal immigrants and done nothing for the American people! Its become clear they are not here to serve us.

Jake has spoken the bitter truth.

Perhaps the most asinine and chilling contribution of all came from American Senator Ted Cruz, a one time presidential aspirant, a ranking senator and a man who, up until recently, I had immense respect for.

He said, I condemn NOTHING that the Israelis are doing!

Is this not evidence of mental illness!

People are slaughtering thousands of children on a monthly basis with weapons that are being supplied by the American taxpayer, which you as a senator approved in your budget, and you say you cannot condemn it?

Does that not make Cruz and those that think like him accomplices in the crime of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity?

People like him should tell me why I should condemn Hamas for what they did on 7th October if he refuses to condemn the Jews for the 1948 Nakba in which they murdered almost one million Palestinians!

They should tell me why I should condemn Hamas if they refuse to condemn the Israeli Army for the 2024 genocide in Gaza, in which 40,000 civilians have been murdered in seven months and still counting?

Again Senator Cruz and indeed the entire American Congress claim that the phrase, which the pro-Palestinian protesters and forces have come to regard as their signature tune and battle cry, boldly proclaiming that from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, connotes the intention of the Palestinians to eliminate every single Jew in Israel, yet they fail to apply the same standard, connotation and sinister intention when the Zionists themselves use the same slogan in respect of the same land, when they scream, from the river to the sea, Israel shall have sovereignty.

Permit me to ask, why the double standard?

When the Palestinians say it you claim that they want to kill every Jew in the nation, but when the Jews say it, you claim that they have no evil intentions for the Palestinians!

Is this not another example of the self-serving, infantile and puerile reasoning that most Americans and Europeans suffer from and have been afflicted with when it comes to the Gaza issue, and does it not prove the fact that as far as the majority of Americans are concerned, the Palestinians do not have the right to exist or to be treated like human beings, whilst the Jews are treated like gods?

Is this fair? Is it rational? Does it make sense?

The Jews constitute only two per cent of the American population and yet they have been singled out for such preferential treatment and protection, whilst the state of Israel, a distant nation of only nine million people, has been accorded the special status of being Gods chosen people and well above the law and is entitled to commit the most grievous and heinous acts of genocide, ethnic and religious cleansing and mass murder without criticism or consequence.

This is about a genocide being carried on with American money and with American weapons, against a people enduring generations of occupation. The students of Columbia fought against the Viet Nam war when I was a student here many years ago. We protested against that war then and today we honour the memories of those who took part in that great struggle by doing the same for the Palestinians and the people of Gaza!

All this you have done for a people and a nation which comprises of a deluded and sociopathic horde of genocidal psychopaths that not only murdered Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, that not only wiped out the Amalekites 5,000 years ago, that not only ethnically cleansed the Midianites 4,000 years ago, that not only exterminated the Agagites 3,000 years ago, that not only butchered one million Palestinians during the Nakba in 1948, that not only eliminated millions of Arabs all over the Middle East in the last 75 years, but that has also killed 40,000 innocent and defenceless civilians, including 20,000 children, in the last seven months in Gaza and are set to kill even more in Raffa!

Is this not madness? Pray tell us, I ask again, who has bewitched you?

I say woe unto you!

Your awesome power and mind-boggling wealth has driven you insane and far from God!

From being perceived as the leader of the free world, you can now be best described as the fawning and pliant pit bull terrier of the Zionist state and the worlds leading genocide supporter and enabler!

The truth is that there can be no defence or justification for anyone or any nation, no matter how rich and powerful, that supports a country of genocidal maniacs and psychopathic child killers.

The Zionist state of Israel is the greatest evil that we have seen since Nazi Germany.

It is a vicious, savage, bloodthirsty, racist, apartheid entity that is led by a group of desperate and deluded European settlers and land grabbing colonialists and that has lost its right to exist.

The sooner it is wiped off the face of the earth the better!

Yet, for America there is still hope and that hope lies in people like the Christian protesters who barricaded themselves at the cafeteria of the American Congress last week and who said that as long as the people of Gaza could not eat, they would not allow the members of the House to enter the cafeteria to eat!

Again that hope lies in the courageous and gallant students, lecturers and academics, who have demonstrated their commitment to justice, decency and humanity by vigorously protesting in University campuses all over the country.

As a former American presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders rightly said, those young demonstrators are, out there for the right reasons! They are out there not because they are pro-Hamas. They are out there because they are outraged by what the Israeli government is doing in Gaza!

Sanders is right and permit me to add that those protesting students are indeed the saving grace for America.

Despite the fact that they have been subjected to the most brutal repression by the security forces, who have raided the campuses, injuring many in an attempt to disperse them, and in spite of the fact that as at the time of writing this piece, over 2,000 of them have been arrested and detained in various police stations across the nation, they continue to come out in their thousands and stand for the people of Gaza.

They represent Americas pride and joy and the brightest and best of American youth, and they are now all fired up and are marching the streets and university campuses for the Palestinians!

This is a truly remarkable moment in world history and it represents a seismic and monumental shift in the perception, hearts and minds of the younger people, in a nation that has been in the pocket and under the control of the Jews and the Zionists since the end of World War II.

Permit me to end this contribution with the following:

Nothing symbolises the renewed hope that we are witnessing more than the beautiful and moving words of Professor Rashid Khalidi, who has been a professor of Modern Arabic Studies at New Yorks Columbia University for the last 22 years.

In an inspiring address to the students and in a speech that will reverberate throughout history, he said, inter alia:

This is about a genocide being carried on with American money and with American weapons, against a people enduring generations of occupation. The students of Columbia fought against the Viet Nam war when I was a student here many years ago. We protested against that war then and today we honour the memories of those who took part in that great struggle by doing the same for the Palestinians and the people of Gaza!

May God guide and protect them all and may He grant the people of Gaza and Palestine victory!

Femi Fani-Kayode, the Sadaukin Shinkafi and the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, is a lawyer, a former minister of Culture and Tourism, and of Aviation.

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While the EFCC must be allowed to carry out its constitutional duties, the governor must also be allowed to insist on certain fundamental human rights which he is entitled to. The two parties have no right to be lawless in the pursuit of their agenda.

In her celebrated 2018 TED Talk edition titled, The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie warned against one-sided narratives, incomplete stories and biased delivery of events and issues that lead to stereotypes against individuals, nations and races. According to her, a single-story breeds ignorance and makes people misconstrue isolated events as the norm, just as they misconstrue individual shortcomings as negative traits of the whole.

She told her own personal story of how the wrongful notions she received from childhood mis-led her into wrong conclusions and how she overcame them as events unfolded in her evolution.

It is easier to destroy than to build. It takes days and nights, weeks, months and years of hard work, resilience, patience and sacrifices to build a solid reputation for an individual, institution or organisation. But it doesnt cost envious people anything to rip everything apart and this can be done within seconds with just one lie or half-truth that borders on a topic, which majority of people are emotional and irrational about.

The immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been in the eye of the storm for weeks now over his alleged financial malfeasance, for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been trying to undo him. While the anti-graft agency can be said to be after Bello in line with its mandate to rid Nigeria of corruption, the ex-governor has been receiving unprecedented criticisms and attacks from all manners of people, both online and offline, from within and outside Kogi State, as if he has been pronounced guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Since Bellos travails began, everyone on social media has become emergency activists and good governance advocates, and we all know the biased points of view some of the commentators are speaking from. Some of them were ambitious politicians and their supporters, who lost out in the ex-governors succession process. Some are ethnic champions and narrow jingoists who believe their tribe should have, as a matter of compulsion, produced Bellos successor. They all see Bello as an enemy who stood in the way of the fulfilment of their pipe dreams and anyone or institution who goes after him or seeks to destroy him is their friend. We will see how far their bitterness takes them.

To be clear, I am not writing this in defence of Bello. I am not in any way arguing that he is innocent of the allegations levelled against him; it is the court that will tell us that in the fullness of time. But since the media is supposed to be a free marketplace of ideas, in a conversation like this, all narratives and angles should be out there for people to read and for the sake of posterity.

It is common knowledge that a coin has two sides and no matter what the bandwagon believes and how bullies behave on social media, we must all be heard.

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I cant say people who believe Bello was a bad leader are wrong. That must be what they saw and heard and are still seeing and hearing. They are, of course, entitled to their perspectives and points of view, even biases. But this is what I heard and saw, and my encounter with the governor, both within and outside the state, has formed an everlasting opinion about his kind of person. I am willing to hold this opinion till the end of time, except he presents a different perspective in the future.

A Personal Encounter

In the course of doing this job, I have had the privilege of meeting and interacting with the man in question a couple of times. I have had to study him at close range; his personality, principles and conviction, as well as his ideas of modern governance, which were not only expressed in words but also in his projects, policies and programmes.

They say the first impression matters. When I met him for the first time in his residence in Abuja, with my boss and another colleague, the then Governor Bello treated us with tremendous respect, due to the past relationship he had with my boss. He cut the picture of a man in power who remembers his past friends, respects others, and treats women with utmost courtesy. This latter part was later confirmed in the special way he treated women, children, youths and the vulnerable like People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the course of his administration.

The governor didnt cut the picture of a mean, proud and bossy individual, as he has been painted. Rather, he looked calm, relaxed, humble, modest and down-to-earth. He listened to us with rapt attention and granted all our requests. Subsequent meetings with him were even better than the first one.

I therefore started writing about and publishing weekly articles on the activities, challenges and successes of his administration.

For months, I relied on internet materials, sources and my own analytical mind to produce well researched articles, which covered his management of the economy, battle with insecurity, civil service reforms, superintendence of the states fault lines, reforms in education and health, infrastructural development, women and youth empowerment, political aspiration, as well as peculiar interest in the welfare of PWDs.

The management then decided that for my next set of articles, I should, alongside some colleagues, relocate to Kogi State for a few days, to feel the pulse of the people, hear their opinions about the Bello administration, and witness, first-hand, the development strides and infrastructural projects I had written about.

On arrival in the state capital, the first structure that caught our attention was the gigantic flyover, along Ganaja junction, the first of its kind in the history of the state. We saw secondary schools that looked like university campuses in Adankolo and other parts of Lokoja. Driving through Osara to Okene, back to Ajaokuta, then to Itobe, Idah, Ugwolawo and Anyigba, we saw the wonders the governor did in the area of healthcare infrastructure. We saw general hospitals and teaching hospitals. To our greatest, pleasant surprise, we saw the world-class Reference Hospital in Okene, which is Governor Bellos idea of a full and final stop to medical tourism.

At Osara, we saw the Confluence University of Science and Technology, which the Bello administration built from scratch. We also saw the College of Health Science in Idah that got full accreditation under Governor Bello.

In Anyigba, apart from the massive infrastructural upgrade the governor gave the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), we also spoke to students and asked them how happy they were that the entire university system across the country was shut but they were in school. They expressed huge relief and commended the administration for removing the school from the bottleneck of incessant ASUU strikes.

We were also in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of the state, where he established one of the biggest rice mills in the country, known as Kogi Confluence Rice Mill. The mill, constructed at over N4 billion, is located on 800 hectares and has the capacity to produce 50 tonnes of rice per day and create over 6,000 jobs.

We also saw some of the 100 tractors procured by Governor Bello and distributed to farmers across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

In Lokoja, we equally saw the Revenue House, which Governor Yahaya Bello remodelled and turned into an imposing edifice. This was one of the numerous reforms he championed, which moved the monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state from N350 million to N1.3 billion.

We also met some of Bellos officials and they spoke glowingly about some of his closet characteristics that people may not know about  his no-nonsense attitude to work, targets and timelines, clear vision and attention to details.

On return to Abuja, there were too much to write about. So, we took our time and continued to release weekly articles about our experience in the state. In all, we wrote 47 articles, which made up the content of the Book titled, Yahaya Bello: 47 Narratives on a Change Agent, which we presented to him as a gift on his 47th birthday in June 2022.

To confirm that the Bello story was heard beyond the shores of Nigeria, the gender inclusivity campaign we did for him was one of the reasons I and some other female colleagues won the SABRE awards at the Conference of African Public Relations Association (APRA) in faraway, Lusaka, Zambia in 2023.

Contrary to the repeatedly told lies on social media, Bello did not leave Lugard House without adding value to the life of Kogites. He did things, erected massive structures, changed lives and touched the essence of individuals, groups and organisations.

Last Line

While the EFCC must be allowed to carry out its constitutional duties, the governor must also be allowed to insist on certain fundamental human rights which he is entitled to. The two parties have no right to be lawless in the pursuit of their agenda.

Ex-governor Bello has a duty to protect his own legacy in Kogi state and also the dignity of every Kogite. The EFCC has a duty to focus on fighting corruption and diligently prosecuting suspects after a thorough investigation, and not staging some embarrassing drama in front of camera in the name of a press conference.

Nafisat Bello, a media practitioner writes from Abuja.

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But such evidence not necessary in order to show that the methods of the CJN and his coterie is corrupt. He sits at the top of what is clearly a conspiracy by those responsible to subvert the rules governing judicial appointments in order to prefer members of their own families or intimate networks. It is condemnable because it makes judicial appointments hostage to irrelevant considerations and the judiciary liable to capture. It also disincentivises honest, hardworking judges.

Fools at the top would cause damage to any system not to talk of the fragile institutions of a fledgling democracy.  Charles Archibong, A Stranger in Their Midst: A Memoir, 97 (2021)

In the last week of April, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola co-convened and chaired a National Summit on Justice in Abuja, Nigerias federal capital. Addressing the participants with a profound sense of responsibility, the CJN invited them on a journey of comprehensive reform to ensure that justice is not only dispensed but also perceived to be dispensed fairly and impartially. More specifically, he asked them to identify gaps and inconsistencies that hinder the efficient administration of justice.

No issue is as afflicted with such gaps in knowledge and inconsistencies of practice and yet so dispositive of outcomes in justice administration as judicial appointments in Nigeria. Yet, it is the one area about which little is public and debate is discouraged.

On 21 December 2023, the Senate consented to the appointment of 11 new Justices of the Supreme Court, all of whom used to be Justices of the Court of Appeal. In addition to the 11 vacancies, mortalities and retirements combined to create a total of 22 vacancies that the NJC approved to be filled on the Court of Appeal bench. On 24 January, the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Monica Dongban-Mensem, with consent of the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the CJN, wrote to all heads of courts in the country to request nominations to the Court of Appeal.

Three years earlier, when they met on judicial elevations to the Court of Appeal on 19 November 2020, the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) had approved a rule proposed by Monica Dongban-Mensem, that judges that had not spent up to five years on the Bench and those who would not spend up to five years if appointed before retirement should not be considered.

On 2 April, the same FJSC approved 22 nominees by Monica Dongban-Mensem for appointment to the Court of Appeal, including six from the North-Central; five from the South-East; four from the South-West; three each from the North-West and South-South; and one from the North-East. To reprise the formulation of Chief Justice Ariwoola, this list is full of gaps and inconsistencies.

On this list of nominees to the Court of Appeal, Oyo State, which already has two Justices of Appeal, will receive another two, the only state to be so favoured. This will bring to four the number of Justices from the state from which the outgoing CJN hails. By contrast, Ogun State, which is also in the South-West, has only one Justice of Appeal  Adebukola Banjoko. In this round of appointments, they get none.

One of the nominees from the North-Central is Eleojo Enenche from Kogi State. He was only appointed a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in November 2021, from his then position as personal assistant to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court. Enenche spent nine months attached to Olukayode Adeniyi, a senior judge of the same High Court. At less than three years as a judge of the FCT High Court, few of his cases would have come to judgment and it is unlikely that any of his judgments would have been tested on appeal. On any objective reading of the applicable criteria, this is at best a profoundly premature preferment.

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Eleojo Enenche is not the only one in this category. Sister-in-law to a senior politician and former junior to an influential Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Victoria Nwoye, the nominee from Anambra State, became a lawyer in 2005 and worked in the Customary Court system in Abuja before being sworn in as judge on 2 December, 2019. She is currently studying for an LL.M at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the state capital. Of the 30 judges currently in service in Anambra State High Court, she is dead last at number 30 in seniority and clearly below five years as a judge.

Born on 9 March 1959, Henry Aja-Onu Njoku, the nominee from Ebonyi State, does not have five years before mandatory retirement at 70. Nominated from Lagos State, Lateef Lawal-Akapo was born 6 August, 1959. From Nasarawa State and born on 2 November, 1959, Abdullahi Liman is currently the third most senior judge in the Federal High Court. None among these three has judicial shelf-life to spare to the Court of Appeal.

The applicable rules of the NJC require all judicial nominations to be accompanied by a detailed medical certificate of fitness issued by government hospital or medical institution. Although health information is ordinarily confidential, this requirement makes the health status of judicial nominees a matter of public interest and for good reason too

In June 2023, Nyesom Wike, the husband of one of the nominees from the South-South, Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, publicly announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer in 2022. Ordinarily, cancer survivorship is computed at the threshold of five years post-diagnosis. It is proper and human to wish a cancer patient full recovery. It is a brutal and relentless disease. But it is doubtful that advancing a cancer patient to an equally relentless judicial office necessarily enhances the cause of their wellbeing (unless the administration of justice is not the primary consideration).

On this list of nominees to the Court of Appeal, Oyo State, which already has two Justices of Appeal, will receive another two, the only state to be so favoured. This will bring to four the number of Justices from the state from which the outgoing CJN hails. By contrast, Ogun State, which is also in the South-West, has only one Justice of Appeal  Adebukola Banjoko. In this round of appointments, they get none.

This is also a clear violation of Rule 11(iv) of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers in Nigeria, which requires that in the exercise of his administrative duties, a judicial officer should avoid nepotism and favoritism. The irony is that Olukayode Ariwoola would not be able to get away with this tendency if he were to be Adajo Agba (Chief Justice) of Iseyin or of Oke-Ogun.

To understand the perverse incongruities in the Court of Appeal preferments, it is relevant to mention that there is also a contemporaneous process of hire into the bench of the FCT High Court. That list contains a daughter-in-law of the CJN, a daughter of the PCA, and a daughter of the current CJ of the FCT, among many judicial daughters on it.

It does not take a major feat of insight to figure out that the CJ of the FCT High Court, the PCA and the CJN are clearly doing mutual back-scratching in judicial appointments. The CJN gets whom he wants into the Court of Appeal and the FCT High Court in return for looking the other way with what goes on in the court systems run by the PCA and the FCT Chief Judge. Meanwhile, the FCT Chief Judge and the PCA square nomination accounts too. In so doing, these three arbitrarily retrench applicable rules and reduce judicial appointments to cynical transactions. Theres no need to add for profit.

A recent article about this CJN notes his nepotistic appointments, especially his unbridled appetite for Iseyin-centrism and shamelessly keeping too much in the family. Iseyin is the community in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, from which the CJN hails. The author seems oblivious to the contradiction when in another breadth he invites his readers to commend the same man for being prudent and transparent with public money. It is too much to expect anyone to produce evidence of financial breach by a person whose auditor is his own blood brother.

But such evidence not necessary in order to show that the methods of the CJN and his coterie is corrupt. He sits at the top of what is clearly a conspiracy by those responsible to subvert the rules governing judicial appointments in order to prefer members of their own families or intimate networks. It is condemnable because it makes judicial appointments hostage to irrelevant considerations and the judiciary liable to capture. It also disincentivises honest, hardworking judges.

This is also a clear violation of Rule 11(iv) of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers in Nigeria, which requires that in the exercise of his administrative duties, a judicial officer should avoid nepotism and favoritism. The irony is that Olukayode Ariwoola would not be able to get away with this tendency if he were to be Adajo Agba (Chief Justice) of Iseyin or of Oke-Ogun. That is a sad commentary on the current state of the judiciary that he will leave behind when Olukayode Ariwoola departs from office on 22 August.

Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu.

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Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has been bestowed with the prestigious Merit Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He was honored at the institutes 2024 Annual Dinner and Awards Night held on Saturday in Lagos.

The governors spokesperson, Hamisu Muhammed Gumel, in a statement said he was honoured in a ceremony attended by distinguished guests and professionals from the financial sector.

Governor Namadi was recognised for his outstanding leadership and commitment to promoting financial discipline and transparency not only within Jigawa State but across the nation.

While conferring the award on the governor, Innocent Okwuosa, the President and Chairman of the ICAN Governing Council, praised Governor Namadi for his exceptional implementation of sound financial policies and his relentless efforts in fostering accountability in governance.

He lauded Mr Namadis dedication to the ideals of the institute, highlighting his role as a staunch supporter and active member of ICAN.

Speaking after receiving the award, Governor Namadi extended his appreciation to the ICAN Governing Council for the recognition and pledged to continue his efforts in promoting good governance by upholding transparency and accountability in the management of the states finances.

He said that the award would serve as a source of motivation for him and his administration to further advance the principles of sound financial practices.

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ICAN, a professional body aimed at upholding ethical standards among chartered accountants in Nigeria, annually recognises individuals and corporate bodies that have made significant contributions in their respective fields. The award categories included the corporate body, non-members, members and young accountant categories.

Among top government officials and public figures from Jigawa State who accompanied Governor Namadi to the event were the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Secretary to the State Government, commissioners, and some aides of the governor, as well as businessman and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Isa Gerawa.

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TBILISI, Georgia, May 5. Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has endorsed the bank's financial statements for 2023 and the distribution of a record-high net income of $1.42 billion from ordinary capital resources, marking the highest allocation in ADB's history, Trend reports from the ADB's 57th Annual Meeting in Tbilisi.

The net profit for 2023 will be distributed as follows:

 $1.005 billion to ADB's ordinary reserve to bolster the bank's capital growth and establish a revenue base for income generation.

 $292.5 million to the Asian Development Fund, which extends grants to ADB's most impoverished and vulnerable developing member countries.

 $110 million to the Technical Assistance Special Fund, which offers technical assistance grants to borrowing members to aid in project preparation and conduct technical or policy studies.

 $15 million to the Asia-Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which furnishes immediate post-disaster grants to developing member countries to reinstate life-saving services.

ADB remains committed to fostering a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, alongside its ongoing endeavors to eliminate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is collectively owned by 68 members, with 49 from the region.

To note, the theme of the 57th ADB Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, which runs from May 2 through May 5, is "Bridge to the Future".

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The police in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria, say they have arrested seven suspected cultists terrorising residents of Awka, the state capital.

The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday night.

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the suspects were arrested at about 10 p.m. on Friday.

How they were arrested

The police spokesperson said some police operatives from the Special Anti-Cult Squad were on patrol along UNIZIK Junction in the area on the fateful day.

He said that at the junction, the operatives intercepted a tricycle and arrested five male occupants of the tricycle, including its rider.

Operatives in a bid to question them, the occupants took to their heels. While the others escaped, Chukwuemka Ozoekwe was arrested, he said.

Mr Ikenga said Mr Ozoekwe later led the police operatives to their hideout where two other suspects  Chidozie Anagor, 18, and Chukwuemeka Oyeoka, 18  were arrested.

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

Also during the raid operation in their harbour, the operatives arrested Ebuka Okoye, 17, Olisa Obi, 19, Chidubem Nwakwu, 20, and Nwankwo Kosisochukwu, he said.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of Vipers Cult Group. They are one of the gangs terrorising Awka metropolis recently.

The suspects also confessed that they were on a mission to rob the road users of their phones and personal belongings before the arrest, the police spokesperson added.

He said two fleeing suspects  Makuo Nwosu and a yet-to-be-identified male  were declared wanted by the police.

Commissioner speaks

Reacting, the Acting Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Fidelis Ogarabe, charged the operatives to sustain the fight against criminals in the state, Mr Ikenga said.

Mr Ogarabe, the deputy commissioner of police in charge of finance and administration, promised to repay residents of the state for their confidence in the police in the state.

The acting police commissioner directed that all the suspects should be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations.

Background

There have been cult-related attacks and killings in Awka, the Anambra State capital, in recent times.

Several persons were reported killed in cult-related attacks in the last two months in the state capital.

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New Leadership Team Announced at The Aesthetic Meeting 2024 in Vancouver, Canada

VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aesthetic Society proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Kiya Movassaghi, a board-certified plastic surgeon from Eugene, OR, as the President of The Aesthetic Society. Dr. Movassaghi's leadership will focus on strategically fortifying The Society's position as the global leader in education and innovation in the aesthetic marketplace.

"I am honored to assume the presidency of The Aesthetic Society," said Dr. Movassaghi. "Our journey ahead can be characterized by collaboration, innovation, and global partnership. Aesthetic medicine is experiencing rapid global expansion. Global outreach through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) will be instrumental in shaping our engagement and alliances among our international colleagues. These agreements will pave the way for fostering relationships essential to our shared mission of safety and enhancing patient outcomes."

Dr. Movassaghi plans to continue to nurture The Society's robust relationships among the core specialties such as facial plastics, dermatologic surgery, and oculoplastic surgery; fostering connections with non-plastic surgeons, including injectors via the newly introduced AlliedPro an exclusive membership program dedicated to training and enriching nonsurgical medical aesthetic professionals all with the goal of improving patient safety.

Kiya Movassaghi, MD, DMD, FACS, has been a member of The Society since 2006. Based in Eugene, OR, Dr. Movassaghi came to Eugene in 2002 after 14 years in Boston where he completed his medical and surgical training at Harvard Medical School. His practice focuses on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. A 1995 graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dr. Movassaghi completed a three-year plastic surgery residency at the Harvard Combined Plastic Surgery Program. Prior to that training, he completed a residency in general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School. He also received his DMD at Harvard Dental School, where he graduated magna cum laude. Dr. Movassaghi is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University's School of Medicine in Portland and the director of his Aesthetic Society Endorsed Aesthetic Fellowship. He is well versed in the latest techniques in face and body contouring procedures and has pioneered several surgical techniques. He has authored a book, many book chapters and numerous publications in leading scientific and plastic surgery journals.

Other newly named Aesthetic Society officers serving on the Executive Committee are as follows:

President-elect: Tracy Pfeifer, MD Dr. Tracy Pfeifer is a double board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in aesthetic plastic surgery. She opened her Upper East Side Park Avenue practice, now on 5th Avenue, in 1999, fulfilling her dream of a boutique aesthetic surgery practice delivering personalized care and exceptional results, to help women feel their very best. Dr. Pfeifer was thrilled to open her second office location in the Hamptons in 2011.

Vice-President: Jamil Ahmad, MD is a plastic surgeon and the Director of Research and Education at The Plastic Surgery Clinic. Dr. Ahmad is known for his natural results after cosmetic surgery and is sought after for his expertise in rhinoplasty, facial rejuvenation procedures, breast surgery, abdominoplasty, body contouring after weight loss, liposuction, fat transfer, and revisional aesthetic surgery. Dr. Ahmad is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and enjoys privileges at the University Health Network, as well as Women's College Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Ahmad is the only plastic surgeon in Canada to complete his plastic surgery residency training at the world renowned, Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In addition, he completed a fellowship in breast reconstruction at the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Treasurer: Nolan Karp, MD

Dr. Karp is a Professor of Plastic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Vice Chair of the Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery. He is the Chief of Plastic Surgery at NYU-Tisch Hospital and directs the Breast Service. He is committed to education and has been involved in training residents for his entire career. He is also a Director for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has served may roles with The Aesthetic Society over the last 20 years including Program Chair for the Annual Meeting, Chair of F&I, Chair of the Aesthetic One Committee, Chair of the Resident's Business Meeting, and Member at Large on the Board of both The Aesthetic Society and The Aesthetic Foundation. Dr. Karp specializes in breast and body contouring plastic surgery.

Secretary: Trent Douglas, MD

Dr. Douglas is a Bay Area board-certified plastic surgeon performing a wide variety of surgical and non-invasive treatments. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia and went on to obtain his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He performed his General Surgery residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego before returning to Atlanta to complete the rigorous and highly prestigious Plastic Surgery Residency at Emory University. Dr. Douglas was a part of the San Diego community for many years having served as a Plastic Surgeon at the Naval Medical Center San Diego from 2006-2017 with double-board-certifications in Plastic and General Surgery. His deployments included Afghanistan as well as multiple Humanitarian Aid Missions to Southeast Asia. After retiring from the Navy in 2017, Dr. Douglas moved to the Bay Area and began private practice. Aesthetx Marin is the culmination of years of experience, the desire to provide an elevated aesthetic experience, and provide patient-centered care in the safest and most desirable location.

About The Aesthetic Society:

The Aesthetic Society is recognized as the world's leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. The Aesthetic Society is comprised of more than 4,000 national and international members. Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International Active Members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements. The Aesthetic Society is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine globally.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE The Aesthetic Society
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., May 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Honorable Lisa D. Cook, Ph.D., returned to her roots and hometown in Milledgeville May 4 to give two keynote addresses at Georgia College & State University commencement ceremonies.

Governor Cook is the first Black woman and fourth native-born Georgian to serve on the Federal Reserve Board in its 111-year history.

GCSU President Cathy Cox (left) and Provost Dr. Costas Spirou (right) present Governor Lisa D. Cook (center) with an honorary degree in Humane Letters from Georgia College & State University.

"Dr. Cook has throughout her career consistently demonstrated a commitment to mentoring and advocating for underrepresented groups in the field of economics," said Georgia College President Cathy Cox, when introducing Cook at commencements for the university's College of Business & Technology and College of Arts & Sciences.

Cox presented Cook with an honorary degree from Georgia College.

Cook's mother, the late Mary Cook, was the first Black tenured faculty member in Georgia College's School of Nursing, where she taught 17 years. Her father, the late Rev. Payton Cook, was a chaplain of Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, where a building now bears his name. Her father led numerous Baldwin County community organizations and served on the university's Foundation Board.

Cook's two sisters also have ties to Georgia College. One served as director of Minority Affairs and the other as a Foundation Board trustee.

The sisters grew up visiting their mother on campus. They attended the Peabody Laboratory School as pupils for student teachers in the university's College of Education. Their babysitters were Georgia College students, and their Baldwin County teachers were trained at Georgia College. The family also hosted dinners for international students.

"My feelings about GCSU begin with immense gratitude," Cook said. "It was rare in the early 1960s for colleges to hire, let alone tenure, an African-American woman or man, particularly in rural Georgia."

"For me personally, from an early age, GCSU, and the world it opened to me, was evidence that I could do anything in life and be anyone I dreamed of being, regardless of where I was raised or my race and gender," she said.

Cook congratulated the Class of 2024, urging them to find hope and meaning in her personal story. She said Georgia College prepared them well, and they are limited only by their "motivation, preparation and imagination."

" whoever you are, wherever you come from, and whatever anyone has said about you and your capabilities," Cook said, "you can be anything and anyone you want to be."

For more information, please see Front Page. For interviews call 478-508-2599 or email [email protected].

SOURCE Georgia College & State University
BEIJING, May 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying state visits to France, Serbia, and Hungary from May 5 to 10. This marks the first visit to Europe by China's head of state in five years. Despite significant changes in the world over the past five years, the relationship between China and the three countries has remained stable under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, showing a positive development momentum. This situation is hard-won. President Xi's visit to the three countries will open a new chapter in the relationship between China and the three countries, as well as the broader China-Europe relationship.

Many observers have noted that the three countries visited by President Xi this time are representative in their own ways: France was the first major Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China at the ambassadorial level, and China-France relations have long been at the forefront of the relations between China and the West. Serbia is China's first comprehensive strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe, and is China's "iron-clad friend." Hungary is an important country in Central and Eastern Europe and is also an important partner for China in advancing joint Belt and Road cooperation and China-Central and Eastern European cooperation. It is entirely reasonable to expect that starting with the three countries, the main theme of friendly cooperation between China and Europe will run through the entire visit.

An important signal released by the Chinese leader's visit to Europe is that regardless of how the international situation changes, China's desire to expand cooperation with Europe and support Europe's strategic autonomy remains unwavering.

It can be said that the diplomacy of the head of state is the anchor that keeps the China-Europe giant ship stable and on course in the face of storms. Taking France as an example, although there have been ups and downs in China-EU relations in the past few years, the cooperative attitude and position of China and France on many global governance issues have remained stable, which is directly related to the diplomacy of the head of state. Since last year, exchanges at all levels between China and Europe have been fully restarted, and China's patience and goodwill are increasingly recognized by more Europeans. For Europe, China is an opportunity, not a risk, and a partner, not a rival. Overall, Europe's willingness to cooperate with China is increasing.

Before President Xi's visit, French President Macron said in interviews with media that in terms of the EU's openness to the Chinese market, "we have to be very pragmatic and look at this issue in the light of our strategic interests." Macron stated that he welcomes President Xi's visit and "we must do everything we can to engage China on major global issues and discuss economic relations based on reciprocity." "Whether it's about climate or about safety, we need the Chinese," he noted. Macron's words are not only directed at France, but also Europe.

We believe that under the strategic leadership of the head-of-state diplomacy, China and Europe will reach at least three strategic tacit agreements. First, China and Europe are not opponents, let alone enemies, but friends and partners who can trust each other. China and Europe have never become obstacles to each other's core interests. The differences between China and Europe in values, political systems, and development models provide a basis for mutual learning and complementarity, rather than setting up "targets." Second, the success of China and Europe's respective development is "good news" for each other, not "bad news." China will continue to support Europe in achieving strategic autonomy, and the more Europe develops, the more stable the West will be; Europe should also open its minds, embrace and support China to advance Chinese modernization. The more China develops, the more prosperous the Asia-Pacific region will be. Third, on important global issues, China and Europe can jointly build new connections across regions, civilizations, and fields, work together to help the world and each other achieve development and inject positive energy into the turbulent world.

There is a saying in Serbia, "Friends are fruits of time." This is particularly apt in the context of China-Europe relations: Time will prove what true partners are like. We look forward to President Xi's state visits to the three European countries, injecting strong momentum into the further development of China's relations with the three countries and the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and injecting more stability and positive energy into the turbulent world.

SOURCE Global Times
Updated results reinforce the potential of TAR-210 to transform treatment of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer with fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) alterations

SAN ANTONIO, May 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson announced today updated results from an open-label, multicenter, multi-cohort Phase 1 study of the safety and efficacy of TAR-210, an intravesical targeted releasing system designed to provide sustained, local release of erdafitinib into the bladder, in patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with select FGFR alterations. These data were featured today in an Oral Presentation Session (Abstract # PD48-02) at the 2024 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting taking place May 3-6, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.

Results featured updated data from Cohort 1 (C1), patients with recurrent, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)unresponsive high-risk (HR) NMIBC (high-grade Ta/T1; papillary only) who refused or were ineligible for radical cystectomy and Cohort 3 (C3), patients with recurrent, intermediate-risk NMIBC (Ta/T1) low-grade papillary disease left in situ as tumor marker lesions. First results were featured at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2023 Congress, with interim results presented at the European Association of Urology (EAU) 2024 Annual Congress.

"Advancement in the treatment landscape of high- or intermediate-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer has remained stagnant for more than 50 years," said Antoni Vilaseca,* M.D., Ph.D., of the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, presenting author of the Phase 1 TAR-210 study. "Results presented today further underscore that TAR-210 for the localized treatment of bladder cancer may offer a promising alternative for patients with limited treatment options."

At the data cutoff of March 22, 2024, 64 patients had been treated with TAR-210 across the 2 cohorts. Of the 21 patients in C1 with HR-NMIBC, the 12-month recurrence-free (RF) survival rate was 90%. In C3, 31 patients were efficacy evaluable with a complete response (CR) rate of 90%.1

The most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were Grade 1/2 lower urinary tract events. There were no dose-limiting toxicities and no deaths. Two patients (3%) discontinued the study due to TEAEs of low-grade urinary symptoms and two patients had serious TEAEs with pyelonephritis and sepsis or UTI and sepsis, respectively.1

"FGFR genetic alterations are most common in NMIBC," said Sabine Brookman-May, M.D., Vice President, Late Development Oncology, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. "These results further support the potential of TAR-210 with quarterly administration as a bladder-sparing and BCG-free treatment option, underscoring our deep commitment to pioneering novel therapies for patients who face limited treatment avenues."

TAR-210 is an investigational targeted releasing system designed to provide sustained local release of erdafitinib. Oral erdafitinib was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as BALVERSA (erdafitinib) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations that have progressed on or after at least one line of prior systemic therapy. BALVERSA is not recommended for the treatment of patients who are eligible for and have not received prior PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy.2

Bladder cancer ranks as the sixth most prevalent cancer in the U.S., with over 83,000 individuals receiving diagnoses annually.3 NMIBC constitutes approximately 75-85% of these cases.4 Currently, adjuvant intravesical immunotherapy with BCG or intravesical chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC.5 Between 30 and 40% of patients do not respond to BCG, facing disease recurrence or progression.6 In such scenarios of HR-NMIBC, radical cystectomy (removal of the bladder) emerges as the primary treatment option. This major abdominal procedure requires a urinary diversion to be created to collect and store urine.7

About TAR-210

TAR-210 is an investigational erdafitinib intravesical targeted releasing system. The safety and efficacy of TAR-210 is being evaluated in a Phase 1 study (NCT05316155) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and NMIBC. The study categorizes patients into 4 cohorts based on their disease presentation. Cohort 1 includes patients with recurrent, BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC with concomitant high-grade papillary disease who have refused or are ineligible for radical cystectomy (RC). Cohort 2 includes patients with the same presentation, but who are scheduled for RC. Cohort 3 includes patients with recurrent, intermediate-risk NMIBC with a history of low-grade papillary disease. To be eligible for C3, the presence of visible tumor(s) is required. Cohort 4 includes patients with MIBC. The primary endpoint of the study is safety (adverse events, including dose-limiting toxicity). Secondary endpoints include pharmacokinetics, RF survival in patients in C1 and C2, CR rate and duration of CR in patients in C3 and pathologic CR rate in C4.8

About BALVERSA

BALVERSA (erdafitinib) is a once-daily, oral FGFR kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or mUC with susceptible fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) genetic alterations whose disease has progressed on or after at least one line of prior systemic therapy. BALVERSA  is not recommended for the treatment of patients who are eligible for and have not received prior PD-1 or PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy.2 Patients are selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for BALVERSA. Information on FDA-approved tests for the detection of FGFR genetic alterations in urothelial cancer is available at: http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics .

BALVERSA received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. FDA in 2018 and received accelerated approval in 2019 for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or mUC that has susceptible FGFR3 or fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) genetic alterations and who have progressed during or following at least one line of prior platinum-containing chemotherapy, including within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy.2

The Company submitted a marketing authorization application to the European Medicines Agency in September 2023 for BALVERSA  as a treatment for adult patients with FGFR3-altered, locally advanced unresectable or mUC that has progressed following therapy with a PD-(L)1 inhibitor.

In 2008, Janssen Pharmaceuticals entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Astex Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize BALVERSA.

For more information, visit www.BALVERSA.com .

BALVERSA IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING AND PRECAUTIONS

The safety population described in the Warnings and Precautions reflect a pooled safety population of 479 patients with advanced urothelial cancer and FGFR alterations who received BALVERSA.

Ocular Disorders  BALVERSA can cause ocular disorders, including central serous retinopathy/retinal pigment epithelial detachment (CSR/RPED) resulting in visual field defect.

CSR/RPED occurred in 22% of patients treated with BALVERSA, with a median time to first onset of 46 days. In 104 patients with CSR, 40% required dose interruptions and 56% required dose reductions; 2.9% of BALVERSA-treated patients required permanent discontinuation for CSR. Of the 24 patients who restarted BALVERSA after dose interruption with or without dose reduction, 67% had recurrence and/or worsening of CSR after restarting. CSR was ongoing in 41% of the 104 patients at the time of last evaluation.

Dry eye symptoms occurred in 26% of BALVERSA-treated patients. All patients should receive dry eye prophylaxis with ocular demulcents as needed.

Perform monthly ophthalmological examinations during the first 4 months of treatment and every 3 months afterwards, and urgently at any time for visual symptoms. Ophthalmological examination should include assessment of visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, and optical coherence tomography. Withhold or permanently discontinue BALVERSA based on severity and/or ophthalmology exam findings.

Hyperphosphatemia and Soft Tissue Mineralization  BALVERSA can cause hyperphosphatemia leading to soft tissue mineralization, cutaneous calcinosis, non-uremic calciphylaxis and vascular calcification. Increases in phosphate levels are a pharmacodynamic effect of BALVERSA [see Pharmacodynamics (12.2)]. Increased phosphate occurred in 73% of BALVERSA-treated patients. The median onset time of increased phosphate was 16 days (range: 8421) after initiating BALVERSA. Twenty-four percent of patients received phosphate binders during treatment with BALVERSA. Vascular calcification was observed in 0.2% of patients treated with BALVERSA.

Monitor for hyperphosphatemia throughout treatment. In all patients, restrict phosphate intake to 600-800 mg daily and avoid concomitant use of agents that may increase serum phosphate levels. If serum phosphate is above 7.0 mg/dL, consider adding an oral phosphate binder until serum phosphate level returns to <7.0 mg/dL. Withhold, dose reduce, or permanently discontinue BALVERSA based on duration and severity of hyperphosphatemia.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity  Based on the mechanism of action and findings in animal reproduction studies, BALVERSA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. In a rat embryo-fetal toxicity study, erdafitinib caused malformations and embryo-fetal death at maternal exposures that were less than the human exposures at the maximum human recommended dose based on AUC. Advise pregnant patients of the potential risk to the fetus. Advise female patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BALVERSA and for one month after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with BALVERSA and for one month after the last dose.

Adverse Reactions

In this pooled safety population described in Warnings and Precautions, the median duration of treatment was 4.8 months (range: 0.1 to 43 months). The most common (>20%) adverse reactions, including laboratory abnormalities, were increased phosphate, nail disorders, stomatitis, diarrhea, increased creatinine, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased alanine aminotransferase, decreased hemoglobin, decreased sodium, increased aspartate aminotransferase, fatigue, dry mouth, dry skin, decreased phosphate, decreased appetite, dysgeusia, constipation, increased calcium, dry eye, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, increased potassium, alopecia, and central serous retinopathy.

In Cohort 1 of the BLC3001 (NCT03390504, THOR) study:

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients who received BALVERSA  . Serious reactions in >2% of patients included urinary tract infection (4.4%), hematuria (3.7%), hyponatremia (2.2%), and acute kidney injury (2.2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.4% of patients who received BALVERSA  , including sudden death (1.5%), pneumonia (1.5%), renal failure (0.7%), and cardiorespiratory arrest (0.7%).

. Serious reactions in >2% of patients included urinary tract infection (4.4%), hematuria (3.7%), hyponatremia (2.2%), and acute kidney injury (2.2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4.4% of patients who received BALVERSA , including sudden death (1.5%), pneumonia (1.5%), renal failure (0.7%), and cardiorespiratory arrest (0.7%). Permanent discontinuation of BALVERSA  due to an adverse reaction occurred in 14% of patients. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of BALVERSA  in >2% of patients included nail disorders (3%) and eye disorders (2.2%).

due to an adverse reaction occurred in 14% of patients. Adverse reactions which resulted in permanent discontinuation of BALVERSA in >2% of patients included nail disorders (3%) and eye disorders (2.2%). Dosage interruptions of BALVERSA  due to an adverse reaction occurred in 72% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage interruption in >4% of patients included nail disorders (22%), stomatitis (19%), eye disorders (16%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (15%), diarrhea (10%), hyperphosphatemia (7%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (6%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (5%).

due to an adverse reaction occurred in 72% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dosage interruption in >4% of patients included nail disorders (22%), stomatitis (19%), eye disorders (16%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (15%), diarrhea (10%), hyperphosphatemia (7%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (6%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (5%). Dose reductions of BALVERSA  due to an adverse reaction occurred in 69% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dose reductions in >4% of patients included nail disorders (27%), stomatitis (19%), eye disorders (17%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (12%), diarrhea (7%), dry mouth (4.4%), and hyperphosphatemia (4.4%).

due to an adverse reaction occurred in 69% of patients. Adverse reactions which required dose reductions in >4% of patients included nail disorders (27%), stomatitis (19%), eye disorders (17%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (12%), diarrhea (7%), dry mouth (4.4%), and hyperphosphatemia (4.4%). Clinically relevant adverse reactions in <15% of patients who received BALVERSA included nausea (15%), pyrexia (15%), epistaxis (13%), vomiting (10%), and arthralgia (10%).

Drug Interactions

Effects of Other Drugs on BALVERSA

Moderate CYP2C9 or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Consider alternative agents; however, if co-administration is unavoidable, monitor closely for adverse reactions.

Strong CYP3A4 inducers: Avoid co-administration with BALVERSA  .

. Moderate CYP3A4 inducers: If co-administration is required at the start of BALVERSA  treatment, administer BALVERSA  at a dose of 9 mg daily.

treatment, administer BALVERSA at a dose of 9 mg daily. Serum phosphate level-altering agents: Avoid co-administration with agents that can alter serum phosphate levels before the initial dose increase period based on serum phosphate levels.

Effect of BALVERSA on Other Drugs

P-gp substrates: If co-administration is unavoidable, separate BALVERSA administration by at least 6 hours before or after administration of P-gp substrates with narrow therapeutic indices.

Please click here to see full BALVERSA Prescribing Information.

About High-Risk NonMuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

High-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is a type of non-invasive bladder cancer that is more likely to recur or spread beyond the lining of the bladder, called the urothelium, and progress to invasive bladder cancer compared to low-risk NMIBC. HR-NMIBC makes up 15-44% of patients with NMIBC and is characterized by a combination of high-grade, large tumor size, presence of multiple tumors, and carcinoma in situ. Radical cystectomy (RC) is currently recommended for NMIBC patients who fail BCG therapy, with over 90% cancer-specific survival if performed before muscle-invasive progression. Given that NMIBC typically affects older patients, many may be unwilling or unfit to undergo RC. The high rates of recurrence and progression can pose significant morbidity and distress for these patients.9

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at www.janssen.com/johnson-johnson-innovative-medicine. Follow us at @JanssenUS and @JNJInnovMed. Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and Janssen Biotech, Inc., are both Johnson & Johnson companies.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of TAR-210 or BALVERSA (erdafitinib). The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

*Dr. Vilaseca has not been paid for any media work.

1 Vilaseca A, Jayram G, Raventos C, Shore ND, Zainfeld D, Kang TW, et al. PD48-02 first safety and efficacy results of the TAR-210 erdafitinib intravesical delivery system in patients with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer with select FGFR alterations. Journal of Urology. 2024;211.

2 BALVERSA [Prescribing Information]. Horsham, PA: Janssen Biotech, Inc.

3 American Cancer Society. Cancer facts & figures 2024. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2024.

4 Deng S, Meng F, Wang L, et al. Global research trends in nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: Bibliometric and visualized analysis. Front Oncol. 2022;12:1044830. Published 2022 Nov 17. Doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.1044830

5 Laukhtina E, Abufaraj M, Al-Ani A, et al; European Association of Urology-Young Academic Urologists (EAU-YAU): Urothelial carcinoma working group. Intravesical therapy in patients with intermediate-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of disease recurrence. Eur Urol Focus. 2022;8(2):447-456. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2021.03.016. Epub 2021 Mar 21. PMID: 33762203

6 Zlotta AR, Fleshner NE, Jewett MA. The management of BCG failure in nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer: an update. Can Urol Assoc J. 2013;3(6-S4):199.

7 Bladder removal surgery: What is a radical cystectomy? Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://bcan.org/bladder-removal-surgery/.

8 Vilaseca A, Guerrero F, Zainfeld D, Shore ND, Rodriguez Faba O, Meijer RP, et al. Safety and efficacy of the erdafitinib (erda) intravesical delivery system, TAR-210, in patients (pts) with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) or muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) harboring select FGFR mutations or fusions: Phase 1 first-in-human study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023;41.

9 Brooks NA, O'Donnell MA. Treatment options in nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer after BCG failure. Indian J Urol. 2015;31(4):312-319. Accessed March 20, 2024. doi:10.4103/0970-1591.166475

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Jerusalem, May 5 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that Aiman Zaarab, a senior commander of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade, was killed in an airstrike on the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah.

Zaarab directed the Islamic Jihad's elite forces during the October 7 onslaught on Kibbutz Sufa and the Sufa military post bordering the Gaza Strip, the IDF was quoted as saying on Saturday by Xinhua news agency.

Zaarab had "commanded and directed" several attacks, and over the past few days, he led the Islamic Jihads' preparations for combat in the southern Gaza Strip against the Israeli military, according to the IDF statement.

Along with Zaarab, two other Islamic Jihad operatives were killed during the strike, the IDF added.
Cairo, May 5 : Teams from the Palestinian militant group Hamas and mediator Qatar have arrived in the Egyptian capital for further talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel, sources at the Cairo airport said.

Both teams arrived aboard a flight from Qatar on Saturday, they added.

Egypt's state-affiliated broadcaster al-Qahera News also reported the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo and cited "significant progress" in negotiations to reach the deal.

The broadcaster, citing what it termed as a high-level source, said the Egyptian security team engaged in the negotiations had reached a "consensus formula" on several contentious issues. No specific details were given.

Israel, meanwhile, is reportedly not sending a team to Cairo. A delegation will only be sent to Egypt once Hamas has responded to the current proposed ceasefire agreement, Israel's Kan radio reported on Saturday, citing a government representative.

Israel plans to send a delegation to continue indirect negotiations with Hamas if the militant organization agrees to the draft deal presented, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted a high-ranking Israeli official as saying.

Israel has been bombarding the Gaza Strip from the ground and air since Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in October that left about 1,200 people dead.

As part of the latest mediation efforts, Hamas, which abducted some 250 people from Israel on October 7, was presented with a proposal for a ceasefire in return for the release of remaining hostages. A response is still pending.

More than 100 hostages were released during a six-day truce in November. It is unclear how many of those remaining in captivity are still alive.

As of Friday, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said the death toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks launched in response to the October 7 attacks stood at 34,622.

Months of mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United States in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have yet to result in a breakthrough. A diplomatic push to clinch a deal has picked momentum over the past few days.

Late Friday evening, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at an event in Arizona that it was challenging to understand Hamas' thought process.

"The leaders of Hamas that we're indirectly engaged with through the Qataris, through the Egyptians, are of course living outside of Gaza, living in Qatar or living in [Turkey], other places, and the ultimate decision-makers are the folks who are actually in Gaza itself with whom none of us have direct contact," he said.

Blinken said if Hamas was really concerned about the well-being of the Palestinians, then agreeing to the ceasefire deal that is on the table should be a "no-brainer."

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out an airstrike on a rocket launch site in the southern Gaza Strip.

Fighter jets hit the militant site near the city of Khan Younis after a rocket was fired from there toward the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz on Friday, the IDF said.

A mortar launching site in central Gaza was also destroyed, a statement said. The Israeli navy has also conducted strikes along Gaza's coast over the past day.

According to Palestinian security services, the Israeli army attacked a building in the village of Abasan in the east of Khan Younis and shelled refugee camps in the central part of the Palestinian territory.

It said at least one Palestinian was killed in the Israeli navy strikes.

--IANS/DPA

sha/
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. Kazakhstan has established the Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Development Committee under the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Trend reports referring to the relevant decree of the government.

According to the document, the newly established agency will oversee the execution of state policy regarding artificial intelligence, draft legislation concerning AI development, and coordinate efforts across different sectors in this domain.

Furthermore, the government has opted to dissolve the Committee of Geodesy and Cartography under the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Lucknow, May 5 : Campaigning will touch a crescendo in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Etawah -- a Samajwadi Party (SP) bastion.

The BJP campaign has been targeting the main opposition party's bastions, especially those from where members of the SP's first family are contesting.

In almost all their rallies, BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have raked up how five members of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are contesting the Lok Sabha election.

Also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has held two rallies and a roadshow in Mainpuri, an SP citadel that the BJP has never won.

After Etawah, Prime Minister Modi will also address a rally in Sitapur on Sunday afternoon. Thereafter, he will go to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple and then hold a roadshow in the holy city.
New Delhi, May 5 : One of consistent themes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rallies is a comparison between then and now -- pre-2014 era and post May 2014 when the BJP-led NDA came to power with a clear majority.

That's important also because an incumbent has to give a report card to the electorate to showcase his achievements to let people make a decision about their voting preference.

At a recent rally in Dharashiv in Maharastra, the Prime Minister said, "Ye Modi hai, ye samasya ko talta nahi, ye samasya se takrata hai (Modi does not shy away from problems, he confronts them)".

This is his other consistent position.

One of the reasons why PM Modi has been able to deliver on this count and build a favourable public narrative for him and the BJP is perhaps because he doesn't believe in what for ages was considered to be a virtue or prudent politics -- 'political correctness and balancing act'.

That, coupled with encouraging the younger lot to "think big and dream big", makes him different from all his predecessors in making clear decisions, either on issues of governance and national security or building a narrative of his own or countering the narratives of his political rivals.

Delivery, speed and scale, and fairness and transparency have been his government's USP. That, in fact, is the key reason why millions of Indians have placed their complete trust in PM Modi.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from October 2001 to May 2014, he built a Gujarat model of development, which propelled him to become the Prime Minister of India after winning the elections with an absolute majority in 2014 after three decades.

In 2019, after close to five decades, he became the third leader since Independence after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to return to power with a full majority. The BJP crossed the 300-mark on its own, surpassing the 350-seat mark with its allies.

For the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi's call for 'Abki Baar, 4 June Ko 400 Paar' is surely an ambitious target, but not a flight of fancy.

With his pulse on the ground, PM Modi knows that the developmental track record and a roadmap for further development are important components, but to enthuse the electorate to come forward and vote, an emotional connect with them on issues that touch their heart and stir their conscience is equally important.

He talks at length about the 'Viksit Bharat' mission, India catapulting to the third largest economy in his third term, and the social welfare schemes that the government has launched in the last 10 years. Issues relating to culture, civilisation and faith are the other dimensions.

The Ram Mandir, for instance, was an issue of faith for most Hindus, and PM Modi had no qualms in explicitly expressing his faith and devotion in the countdown to the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.

So was the inauguration of the new Parliament House.

There are too many examples of when he went ahead with a well-thought-out plan to revive the honour and glory of India's rich civilisational and cultural legacy. There is always a plan to build an infrastructural network around projects to ease accessibility and improve the economy of the region. Ayodhya is one prime example.

His core strength, where he gets maximum applause during his election rallies, lies in puncturing the attempted narratives of his political rivals and building a counter-narrative.

An example of that is how he put the Congress on the defensive on its manifesto or the 'Nyay Patra', over two chapters -- "Equity" and "Religious and Linguistic Minorities".

PM Modi likened it to the Muslim League manifesto and reasoned how.

Rahul Gandhi's public announcement on the "financial and institutional survey" for redistribution of wealth and Sam Pitroda's call for imposing the defunct idea of 'Inheritance Tax' in India were smashed by PM Modi far and wide.

It seems that the Congress leadership believed that the BJP would not perhaps risk opposing these issues.

The Congress leadership, however, has a problem. With their sense of entitlement and misconceived notions, it has unfailingly underestimated PM Modi's potential and his delivery.

PM Modi swung Congress' narrative on its head, pitching the counterpoints in such a way that the Congress and its allies found it hard to find the right counter, either on financial survey or on reservations -- that Congress was actually snatching OBC, SC and ST rights by gifting them to Muslims through the backdoor, as was seen in Andhra Pradesh in the past, and in Karnataka at the present.

Former Pakistan Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain praised Rahul Gandhi on X, saying, "Rahul on Fire." to a video clip of the Congress leader where he made uncharitable remarks about the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

It provided PM Modi ammunition to mount a heavy-duty attack on the "Congress and Pakistan connect", saying, "Congress is dying, Pakistan is crying".

So was the 'vote jihad' call by Samajwadi Party leader and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's niece Mariam Alam.

What adds to PM Modi's appeal is the unmatched energy level that he brings to his campaigns, the capacity to always come up with something, some issues to connect with the local people in each region before dwelling on the larger issues.
New Delhi: The Middle East is in a situation of flux because of the recent exchange of drone and missile attacks between Iran and Israel, an important visit to Pakistan made by the Iranian President following these events, and the fallout of Israel-Hamas conflict that produced pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the US and elsewhere in the Muslim world.

This is opening up the question as to what impact are the religious divides in the region making on the ideologically delineated Cold War that was already on the horizon involving the US-led West on one hand and the China-Russia axis, on the other.

The old political rivalry between the two strong players in the region, Israel and Iran, took a violent turn when Israel -- opposed to the rule of Bashar Al Assad, the Alawite President of Syria -- made a missile attack on Damascus on April 1 in which Iranas diplomatic mission was hit and seven officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp were killed.

Iran retaliated on April 13 by firing missiles at Israel that were mostly shot down by the Iron Dome Defence system of the latter and a few days later on April 18 Israel responded by making a drone attack on Isfahan that reportedly did not cause any significant casualties.

There was an element of restraint on both sides which stemmed from a combination of factors -- Iran weighing in the US support for Israel and Israel sensing the limitations on American backing put by the international criticism of the loss of civilian lives in Gaza at the hands of Israeli Defence Forces.

In fact, in the Joe Biden administration, the White House was contemplating measures to balance its support to Israel with an effort to counter any Islamophobic trends that the Israel-Hamas conflict could produce following the October 7 'terror' attack of Hamas on Israel. The US is also at the same time, having to deal with pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in the country, particularly on the university campuses there.

Iran and Pakistan, the two neighbouring Islamic countries -- though inherently prone to the repercussions of the historical Shia-Sunni divide, have maintained a cautious line of peaceful relationship that could even overcome the incidents of exchange of missile attacks between them in January this year.

The Sunni Islamic radical outfit Jaish Al Adl based in Baluchistan intruded into the adjoining Sistan area of Iran whereupon Iran fired missiles on the outfitas base in Baluchistan -- inviting in return, a retaliatory military strike from Pakistan that seemed somewhat symbolic.

In the background of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Iran was getting politically drawn to the China-Russia combine -- it had already extended military help to Russia by way of supply of drones to the latter during the Ukraine-Russia awara.

Pakistan on its part, has historically been opposed to the creation of a Zionist state and maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel even today.

Pakistan has a strong strategic alliance with China but has managed to be on the right side of the US after playing the role of a mediator in the talks between the Taliban and the US at Doha that resulted in the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and the reinstallation of the Taliban Emirate at Kabul in 2021.

Pakistan is also a key member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and has been extremely close to Saudi Arabia, the Chairman of this block of 57 Islamic countries.

Sunni radicals consider the US and the Shiites as their enemies and would abhor the idea of Pakistan getting close to the US. Pakistan, however, has struck an equation with radical outfits like the Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which are inimical to the US, Saudi Arabia and the Ayatollah regime of Iran, alike.

For Iran, friendship with Pakistan is strategically gainful for maintaining its hold in the Middle East against its main rival Israel -- it is aware that left to itself Pakistan did not harbour any faith-based antipathy towards Iran.

The three-day visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Islamabad from April 22 in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict -- particularly after the exchange of missile attacks between Iran and Israel -- is of great significance not only for the Middle East but also for the wider geopolitics that is marked by a clear drift towards a new Cold War between the US-led West and the China-Russia axis.

It is interesting how this political polarisation at the global level is getting bolstered by the religion-based alignments within the Muslim world in general and the Middle East in particular.

Iranian President clearly wanted Pakistanas support in its confrontation with Israel even as both Iran and Pakistan were aware of the US opposition to any trade pacts between them.

The prolonged military action of Israel in Gaza has revived the fundamental antagonism between the Zionist state and Islamic Palestine.

The anti-US character of Shia fundamentalism and the pro-Assad stand of Iran in Syria have pushed Iran closer to Russia and China.

It is interesting, however, that radicalisation in the Islamic world is a cause for concern for both the US and Russia.

The US hopefully would have learnt the lesson that for political convenience in the past -- in the context of the American banking on Pakistan for dealing with post-Soviet Afghanistan -- it had made a strange attempt to draw a distinction between agood terroristsa and abad terroristsa which had only added to the threat of faith-based terror from radicalised forces facing the world.

The US had tried to distinguish between Islamic radical outfits that considered it as their prime enemy and the terrorist groups reared and directed by Pak ISI for use in cross-border terrorism against India but it perhaps realised in the course of time that Pakistan was in fact also giving shelter to Taliban, Al Qaeda and ISIS on its soil.

President Biden's White House is now concerned over the fallout of Israeli action in Gaza that had killed more than 30000 civilians in Palestine -- pro-Muslim demonstrations in the US and outside might be weakening the US position in the Middle East and conferring a certain advantage to Russia and China there.

The US has to understand that multi-prong measures were needed to isolate the aradicaliseda forces by convincing the Islamic world that recourse to Jehad was not needed for solving any political issues. This is a challenge requiring the US and India to closely work together.

The injection of religion into international politics and the advent of faith-based violence in many theatres are posing a great danger to the democratic world order.

The identification of Israel with the US has accentuated the hostility of radical Sunni forces and the Shiite fundamentalists both, against the former. The position of pro-US Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt could get weakened if the military action of Israel in Gaza was further escalated leading to the destruction of civilian lives there.

India has taken an independent stand both in the Ukraine-Russia military confrontation and the Israel-Hamas conflict, favouring peaceful negotiations that would show an understanding of the security concerns of both Ukraine and Russia and in the case of Palestine uphold a two-state solution.

In the Middle East, advocates of Jehad pushed arevivalisma to the point of stirring up the historical memory of Kharijites and have carried Shia-Sunni strife to a new level. They should be shunned and those who convincingly worked to establish Islam as a peaceful religion in the region, given discreet support.

While India would stand for all of that, its concern is that Pakistan would independently promote a narrative in the name of peace that there should be a resumption of Indo-Pak talks.

India has to take due notice of the fact that during the visit of Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to meet Saudi ruler Prince Mohammad bin Salman, their joint statement issued at Mecca on April 7 last, stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their outstanding issues especially the J&K dispute ato ensure peace and stability in the regiona.

Also, on the recent visit of Iranas President to Islamabad, a more elaborate joint statement issued on the occasion expressed that there was a need to resolve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue and peaceful means "based on the will of the people of that region and in accordance with international law".

India should have no difficulty in reminding the world that Pakistan continued to harbour terrorists who attacked India, on its soil and reiterating that atalks and terrorism could not go togethera.

It can be seen, however, that Pakistan always tried to get traction in the Islamic world by projecting Kashmir as a Muslim issue.

Indiaas foreign policy of opting for bilateral or even multilateral friendships that were mutually beneficial for both security and economic development and that served the cause of world peace fits in well in the current geopolitics where ideological and religion-based divisions were producing new alignments and uncertainties.

The natural friendship between the US and India -- the two largest democracies, has to be kept on a strong footing particularly because of the complete convergence the two countries had on the threat from China.

The US proclivity to uphold the cause of Pakistan as a potential ally makes it incumbent for India to reach a deep understanding with Russia and the Central Asian Republics on the danger of aradicalisationa that was getting a fillip because of the duplicitous role of Pakistan in sustaining the Islamic radical outfits on its soil.

India has to independently counter the threat of minority separatism encouraged by anti-India lobbies and safeguard its internal security.

India is doing well in pursuing technological advancement for economic development as well as defence and this should continue to be the raison d'Atre of its bilateral friendships. All this goes with an assertive role that India as a world power must play on issues of global peace and human advancement. It should also be upfront about countering any outside interference in the domestic matters of democratic India.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)
Whether a resolution professional can be subject to prosecution under the PC Act, SC seeks CBIs response. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 5 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a batch of petitions, including the West Bengal government's plea, filed against the Calcutta High Court's order cancelling 25,753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the WBSSC in 2016.

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Monday a batch of petitions, including the West Bengal governmentas plea, filed 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 will continue to hear the matter on May 6.

In the previous hearing, the Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, refused to pass any interim direction staying the Calcutta High Court's order passed on April 22.

The top court directed that no precipitative action will be taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the state government officials who were involved in approving the creation of super-numeric posts till the next date of listing.

It asked the appellants to demonstrate if there was any secondary material available to segregate valid appointments of all the 25,753 persons empanelled in 2016 for various categories of jobs at secondary and higher secondary schools in the state.

In an order passed in the third week of April, the Calcutta High Court had nullified the appointment of the candidates selected from the expired panels and asked them to return the entire salary drawn, 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, a division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi 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.
Mumbai, May 5 : The 'Solar2EV for Social Justice' - a major initiative of the state and Centre to empower Dalit women and other deprived sections, is set to spread wings with potentially huge employment opportunities and economic prosperity, as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Launched by the governments at the Centre and Maharashtra in February, the 'Mi Home Chef' programme will see 50 cloud kitchens coming up in Mumbai with 100 electric-powered food trucks, with jobs to over 50,000 women through Mahila Bachat Gats (MBGs), this year, and subsequently spreading out to other parts of the state and rest of the country.

The cost-effective, eco-friendly initiative combines several elements - MBGs, solar power, EVs and e-commerce with the support of the corporate CSR and the F&B sector, said an official overseeing the project.

This will provide a regular source of income to thousands of women, employment opportunities for their families, support for the growing EV industry, environmental conservation targets, besides aligning with PM Modi's vision for women's empowerment and social justice to all.

According to one of the prime movers, T24 Hotels Group Mumbai's C-MD Bharat Malkani, the MBG members shall be encouraged to provide traditional recipes which would be vetted by a team of expert chefs of five-star or deluxe hotels for inclusion on their menus.

Once approved, the recipes shall be prepared by the five-star chefs at their hotels, and restaurants during the lean business hours, and the food prepared by MBG members shall be served to the patrons, in-house and outside through e-commerce partners.

"This will help the women develop a regular source of income, they will be motivated to set up cloud kitchens for the fast-moving popular recipes, and the EV food trucks will help deliver them to customers. Hotels will benefit from food choices with that 'traditional touch' on the menu," Malkani told IANS.

Pravin More, Assistant Secretary to Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, said that the government will help the MBG's with basic capital, involve more women to join such groups, arrange financing for EV two-wheelers, autorickshaws, tempos or trucks to transport the food.

"We are starting with 50 Mi Home Chef, solar-powered cloud kitchens, for the SC/ST women and from other deprived sections of society. We shall give 100 EV food trucks in public-private partnership in Maharashtra," More explained to IANS.

Chef Anushka Malkani, from Les Roches Hospitality, Switzerland and founder of Masa Bakery in Mumbai, is advising the MBGs on preparing recipes by the women members which will be selected based on their uniqueness, quality and commercial potential.

These approved recipes will be promoted through various apps, social media outlets, and business partners with credit to the creator for making them "atmanirbhar".

"For women who wish to run a full-fledged kitchen, we shall collaborate with corporate CSRs to help establish the entire kitchen and align the program with other state government schemes such as Mahatma Phule Corporation, LIDCOM, Annabhau Sathe Mahamandal, Divyang Department, MAVIM, and others. This will help women achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and add to the female workforce in the F&B sectors," said Chef Anushka.

Malkani and More added that Mi Home Chef would help women from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds with a golden opportunity to share their recipes, establish their culinary-catering businesses, celebrate cultural diversity, and march to socio-economic progress.

In the past four months, the Mi Home Chef has been getting offers of support not only from deluxe or corporate hotels, but also individual fine-dining restaurants in Mumbai, boosting the morale of the MBGs.

For instance, Navi Mumbai's Aloha Fusion Kitchen (AFK), set up a weaker section entrepreneur Abhijeet Mankar, has allowed the MBGs to use their kitchen as a abasea for launching multiple cloud kitchens, which will cater to the rising demand for fresh, hygienic, home-cooked cuisine in the region.

More explained that after ascertaining the status of preparedness of civic bodies to provide space for the women-run cloud kitchens, the EV trucks, EV charging points and the entire ecosystem related to the food industry, Minister Athawale will flag off the project post-polls.

Interestingly, several Chefs from SC & ST communities - like Chef Uday Shinde of Fern Hotels, Mumbai - who are big names professionally, are now willing to collaborate in their individual capacities pro-bono for this plan for Mi Home Chef.

Malkani said that this will be the first of its kind partnership of five-star hotels, top Chefs, the state and central government and ordinary MBGs, with long-term social-economic benefits spearheaded by the womenfolk for thousands of backward families.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Bhopal, May 5 : An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was allegedly crushed to death by a tractor of sand mafia in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district.

The deceased has been identified as Mahendra Bagri.

Bagri had gone to nab a culprit when the tractor laden with illegally mined sand crushed him to death.

Two other cops who were accompanying Bagri, ran away from the spot to save their lives and alerted senior officials.

The police have arrested three accused, including the tractor driver, however, the main accused who is said to be involved in illegal sand mining was still absconding, police said on Sunday.

Police have announced a reward of Rs 30,000 against the absconding accused, Surendra Singh, a resident of the Beohari region, around 40 km from district headquarters Shahdol.
Mumbai, May 5 : Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who last directed 'The Vaccine War', has shared his perspective on the recently released streaming show 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'.

The director feels that it's not right to glamourise brothels, referring to them as monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering.

Vivek recently took to X and praised a Pakistani doctor for her critique of the show.

The director quote-tweeted the doctor's critique, which said that the show lacks research and that many things from the era that are intended to be shown don't sit well with the facts.

Vivek wrote: "A brilliant critique. I haven't seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels. It's a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour, or beauty. These are monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering."

He also recommended a film on a similar subject that he feels is more nuanced than the show, which marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT debut.

Vivek added: "Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegal's Mandi. Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamourise human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance?"
Sonam Bajwa turns into 'royal Punjabi bride as she walks the runway in lehenga. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, May 5 : Actress Sonam Bajwa channelled her inner Punjabi bride as she sauntered the ramp, looking regal in a lehenga designed by Navneet Sidhu.

Sonam appeared to be dipped in gold, wearing a peach-shaded, layered Zardozi lehenga with scalloped borders heavily embellished with the metallic shade. She draped a peach-hued chunni over her head and complemented her attire with a choker necklace and nude makeup.

Talking about her collection, designer Navneet said: "The collection is entirely vintage. It took eight months to create. It embodies vintage and heritage elements and has all Zardozi handwork."

She said that only Sonam could do justice to her creation, stating, "I am very happy it is my first show."

Sonam, who is known for her work in Punjabi films such as 'Carry On Jatta', 'Honsla Rakh', and 'Guddiyan Patole', among others, expressed her admiration for the outfit.

"It is a heritage outfit. I think in Punjab, brides mostly dress like this. I don't know how many hours went into making this outfit. It makes me feel beautiful and regal."
Hyderabad, May 5 : AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal said on Sunday that there are many discrepancies in the investigation conducted in the Rohith Vemula case, and assured that the Congress government in Telangana will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice to the family of deceased research scholar of University of Hyderabad.

"Rohith Vemula's death was a grave atrocity that completely exposed the anti-Dalit mindset of the BJP," the Congress leader posted on X.

He mentioned that the Congress, including its leader Rahul Gandhi, has stood with Rohith Vemula's family through this difficult period.

"As has been clarified by Telangana Police, the concerned closure report was prepared in June 2023. There were many discrepancies in the investigation conducted previously. The Congress government in Telangana will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for Rohith's family," he said.

Venugopal reiterated the promise made in the Congress party's national manifesto that it will bring in Rohith Vemula Act. "Not only that, when we form a government at the Centre, we will pass Rohith Vemula Act specifically addressing the issue of caste and communal atrocities on campuses to ensure no student coming from socio-economic backwardness has to face the same plight as Rohith ever again," he said.

The AICC General Secretary's comments came two days after the closure report filed by the police in the eight-year-old case became public, embarrassing the Congress party.

The police stated in its report that Rohit Vemula, who committed suicide in his hostel room on January 17, 2016, was not a Dalit. It also absolved then Vice Chancellor P. Appa Rao, BJP leaders Bandaru Dattatreya, Ramchandra Rao and ABVP leader Susheel Kumar.

The death of the 26-year-old had triggered a nationwide agitation against casteism in institutions of higher learning.

The Congress party had demanded the sacking of then HRD Minister Smriti Irani and then Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, and also the removal of Appa Rao.

The closure report caused huge embarrassment to the Congress party, which is in power in Telangana. While BJP leaders demanded an apology from the party over its allegations, some student groups and family of Rohith Vemula slammed the Congress government over the closure report.

Congress tried to do some damage control by ordering re-investigation into the case.
Bhopal, May 5 : Corporal Vikky Pahade, who was killed in a terror attack in Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, was supposed to return home to celebrate his son's birthday on May 7.

The slain soldier hailed from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district and was a resident of Nonia-Karbal village.

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, in a social media post said: "I salute the martyrdom of Vikky Pahade, a resident of Nonia-Karbal, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, and pay my tribute to the immortal martyr."

Cpl Pahade had visited his family last month to attend his sister's wedding and had joined the unit on April 18, local residents told IANS.

Cpl Pahde (33) had joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2011. He is survived by his five-year-old son, wife, mother and three sisters.

Pahade was killed while four other IAF soldiers were injured when militants ambushed a convoy of IAF in Poonch on May 4. The IAF said that the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire.

The Indian Air Force's official X handle stated: "The CAS Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari and all personnel of the Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief."
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Tel Aviv, May 5 : In the seven months following Hamas' shocking attack on Israel, the world has seen the worst outbreak of anti-Semitism since World War II, an annual report released on Sunday said.

If this trend continues, Jews in many countries will no longer be able to live their identity in safety and freedom, according to the report by the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in the US.

Last year, for example, there was an average of around three bomb threats per day against synagogues and Jewish institutions in the US.

"The year is not 1938, not even 1933," said Professor Uriya Shavit.

"Yet if current trends continue, the curtain will descend on the ability to lead Jewish lives in the West a" to wear a Star of David, attend synagogues and community centres, send kids to Jewish schools, frequent a Jewish club on campus, or speak Hebrew."

Anti-Semitism had been steadily increasing in the months and years leading up to the massacres by Hamas and other Palestinian extremist groups, the report notes, but "October 7 helped spread a fire that was already out of control."

In the US, for example, where some 6 million Jews live, a total of around 3,500 anti-Semitic incidents were counted between January and September 2023, but almost 4,000 in the last three months of the year.

The picture is similar in other countries, such as Germany, where 1,365 anti-Semitic incidents were tallied from January to September last year and 2,249 from October to December.

Other countries with large Jewish minorities - including France, Britain, Australia, Italy, Brazil and Mexico - also saw increases.

The report entitled "Concern for the Future of Jewish Life in the West" warns against explaining the trend as a reaction to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

That is because some of the most vile anti-Jewish statements in connection with the conflict were made in the first days after October 7, it said.

The authors wrote that anti-Semitism rears its head on both the extreme right and extreme left - and spreads to the centre of society, often via social media.

--IANS/DPA

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Jammu, May 5 : The Indian Air Force, on Sunday, paid tribute to its braveheart, Corporal Vikky Pahade, who was killed while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday.

Indian Air Force posted on its official X handle today: "The CAS Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari and all personnel of Indian Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief."

Cpl Vikky Pahade made the supreme sacrifice when terrorists fired at two vehicles of the Air Force in Bakrabal (Sanai) area in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district on Saturday.

Air warriors travelling in the vehicle ambushed by the terrorists returned fire and in the initial firing by the terrorists, five soldiers were injured.

The injured air warriors were shifted to Army's Command Hospital in Udhampur headquarters of the Northern Command.

Cpl Vikky Pahade succumbed to critical injuries while four other injured air warriors are being treated at the Command Hospital.

Security forces including the Army, police and paramilitary have started a massive search operation at many places in Poonch district today to trace the terrorists.

Senior officers of the Army, police and paramilitary forces are supervising the search operation.

Saturday's attack by the terrorists is the second major attack after December 21 last year in which four army soldiers were killed by the terrorists.

Intelligence agencies believe that this is the same group of terrorists who carried out the December 21, 2023 attack that is behind Saturday's attack in Poonch district.

The group, according to intelligence agencies, is headed by a foreign terrorist called Abu Hamza of LeT operating in the densely forested area of Poonch and Rajouri districts.

According to police, Abu Hamza is also responsible for the killing of a government employee Mohammad Razaq, 40, who was killed on April 22 this year in the Kunda Top village of the Thanamandi area of Rajouri district.

Razaq worked in the government Social Welfare Department while his brother, Mohammad Tahir Choudhary is a soldier in the Territorial Army (TA).

The terrorists had come to kill the TA soldier, but when he slipped out of their clutches, they killed his brother Razaq, police had said.

Police have announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh to anyone whose information leads to the tracing of this foreign terrorist believed to be operating in the densely forested area of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 5 : The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its judgement on Monday on a plea filed by unsuccessful candidates from Bihar seeking direction to set aside the final result of the District Judges examination, 2015 on the ground that the interview process was vitiated.

As per the cause list published on the website of the Supreme Court, a bench, headed by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, will deliver its verdict in the matter on May 6.

The bench, also comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, in February this year, had reserved its decision on pleas challenging selection of only nine candidates in the interview against a total of 99 vacancies.

The petitioners said that a total of 69 candidates were called for the interview post-written examination, and in viva voce, 60 candidates, who had performed fairly well in the written test, were given below 10 marks, out of 50, and as a result, they were declared unsuccessful.

Calling for immediate interference by the apex court, the plea alleged that the selection process smacked of complete arbitrariness and violated the petitioners' rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Seoul, May 5 : South Korea's Cyber Operations Command will participate in a US-led multinational cyber exercise this week to boost its capabilities to counter malicious cyber activities, Seoul's defence ministry said on Sunday, amid growing security threats from North Korea.

According to the defence ministry, nine personnel from South Korea's military will join the Cyber Flag exercise to be held from Sunday through Saturday (local time) in the US state of Virginia.

The online exercise is designed to sharpen skills for multinational cooperation in countering cyber threats and share intelligence against enemies' cyber activities, reports Yonhap news agency.

Since 2011, the US Cyber Command has conducted the cyber exercise annually to improve the readiness of Washington, its allies and partner countries against security threats in the online domain.

This year's exercise involves 18 nations, including the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance, which consists of the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and other partner countries.

It will mark South Korea's third participation in the exercise since the nation first joined it in 2022.
Jerusalem, May 5 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced that his government has decided to close Al Jazeera channel's operations in the country.

"The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on X, thanking his Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karhi.

Last month, Netanyahu had accused the Qatar-based channel of "harming" Israel's security and "actively participating" in the October 7 massacre incited against IDF soldiers.

"The terrorist channel Al Jazeera will no longer broadcast from Israel. I intend to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the channel's activity. I welcome the law promoted by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi with the support of coalition members led by coalition chairman Ofir Katz," Netanyahu said on April 1 after the Israeli Parliament passed a law to act against foreign media content that harms national security.

On Sunday, Karhi stated that after the Cabinet's approval, he had immediately signed the orders against Al Jazeera.

"Our orders will go into effect immediately. Too much time has passed and too many unnecessary legal hurdles for us to finally be able to stop Al Jazeera's oiled incitement machine that harms the security of the country. For months, I did everything and will continue to do everything so that they can no longer operate from Israel," he posted on X.
New Delhi, May 5 : As Lok Sabha elections in India progress, it is not surprising to see Pakistan nose around. Like a quarrelsome neighbour, the country is whining about the election speeches being made in India by various political leaders.

Pakistan is going to various forums crying over the political speeches being made in India, particularly by the ruling BJP leaders. A section of its leaders is attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showering praises on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and talking about the CAA, Ram Temple in Ayodhya, etc.

These leaders seem to be more excited about the election in the neighbourhood than worry about their own democratic institutions and processes which were exposed during the electoral exercise in February.

Unable to maintain the sanctity of its own democratic institutions, Pakistan is trying to raise and project political speeches and debates in India as policy statements on various platforms.

Recently, Pakistan raised concerns regarding a particular election speech at the UN. During a UNGA session on 'Culture of Peace', Pak envoy to the UN, Munir Akram, cited a US media report. The report referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election speech, wherein he stated that the 'new India' is capable of entering enemy territory and striking. India slammed Pakistan at the UN meeting, saying that it is Pakistan that harbours the "most dubious track record" in all aspects.

Pakistan not only is manipulating the election speeches of various Indian leaders on international forums, but some of its leaders are openly coming out in support of the Congress and opposing PM Modi.

Chaudhary Fawad Hussain, Pakistan's former Information Minister and a close aide of Imran Khan, wants Rahul Gandhi to be the winner. Recently, he posted on his X handle a video showing Rahul Gandhi attacking PM Modi with the comment "Rahul on fire." Hussian also said: "Pakistanis should support Rahul Gandhi because Modi's policies do not suit Pakistan."

Taking a dig at the Pakistani leader's support for Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi was quick to lash out, and said in an election rally: "Congress was dying here and Pakistan was crying," and the "partnership between the two has been completely exposed."

The former Pakistan Minister is not the only Pakistani leader to openly express a preference for Rahul Gandhi, there are others, including experts and media outlets, who are eagerly pitching for Congress.

The voices emanating from Pakistan have intensified the attacks and counter-attacks in the electoral battle between BJP and Congress. BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya posted: "From a manifesto that has imprints of the Muslim League to a ringing endorsement from across the border, Congress's dalliance with Pakistan can't get more obvious."

The Congress may be finding itself on a sticky wicket on the issue of support from a section of Pakistani leaders. The party, however, has neither distanced itself nor said elections are internal matters and Pakistan need not interfere.

It is not the first time that Congress has been accused of dalliance with Pakistan. In 2015, a former minister in the Congress government, Mani Shankar Aiyar, during a panel discussion with a Pakistani anchor said that PM Modi has to be removed. "The first and the foremost thing is to remove Modi. Only then can the talks move forward. We have to wait for four more years Bring us back to power and remove them..."

Again, very recently Aiyar took potshots at the Modi government during an event in Lahore. He said: "We have the courage to conduct surgical strikes against you, but we don't have the courage to sit across the table and talk."

The neighbour with a long history of anti-India state policy, will never want a strong and stable government in India. So, when Pakistani leaders root for Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi's statements come out as a clarion call for people to see through the designs.

As India moves on to the next phase of elections and the battle becomes intense, the neighbour's curiosity is only going to grow. Pakistan's democracy is a failure and they should focus inward, but then, the owner's pride is always the neighbour's envy.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)
Etawah : , May 5 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mounted a scathing attack on nepotism and said that he had no children of his own and his legacy was for all, particularly the poor.

"I do not have children and neither does Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. We are working for your children. Our resolve for Viksit Bharat will ensure a happy world for your children. This is what I will leave for them," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Etawah.

Criticising the Samajwadi Party, the Prime Minister said: "For them, legacy means cars, bungalows, and their constituency. Mainpuri and Etawah are their properties, Amethi and Raebareli are their constituencies. For me, it is your pucca house, tap water, electricity connection, free ration for you."

Continuing his attack on the Samajwadi Party, PM Modi said: "When it came to announcing candidates, the Samajwadi Party could find only five Yadavs from their family to contest. In BJP, Mohan Yadav is the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and even the juniormost workers can rise to great heights."

PM Modi further said that "this 'chaiwala' has broken the tradition of members of one family becoming the head of the state".

"By 2047, one of your children could be the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister," PM Modi said.

Slamming the Samajwadi Party and the Congress over the reservation on the basis of religion, PM Modi said: "Five years ago, the 'Shehzada' was going from temple to temple, flaunting his 'janeu' but this time, he did not even visit the Ram temple because of his vote bank." Referring to the Samajwadi Party, PM Modi said: "I went to the underwater Dwarka and the friends of Samajwadi Party ridiculed me. Samajwadi Party claims to be Yaduvanshis but they were quiet when their friend was ridiculing me."

PM Modi further said that his guarantee included training women as drone pilots, ensuring a global market for millets, and providing electricity through solar panels.

Lauding Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, PM Modi said that he had changed Uttar Pradesh where 'katta' making was a popular industry to becoming the hub of defence corridor.
Paris, May 5 : French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised blockades at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at French universities, saying that the tactics went beyond legitimate means of debate and protest.

Macron said he understands that the events in the Gaza Strip, in particular, are upsetting people, "but preventing a debate has never helped resolve the conflict," according to an interview published on Sunday in the newspapers La Provence and La Tribune Dimanche.

"It is perfectly legitimate and even reasonable and reassuring that our youth can say that international events affect them and discuss them. But using violence and blockades to force an institution to adopt this or that policy, to prevent other students from entering a lecture hall on the pretext that they are Jewish - that is not the Republic," Macron said.

He said such behaviour does not reflect mutual respect, pluralism and a condemnation of racism and anti-Semitism.

On Friday, police broke up a sit-in by pro-Palestinian students at the renowned Sciences Po University in Paris, at which protesters had blocked entrances to university buildings.

The protesters denounced their university's stance on the Gaza war and are demanding, among other things, that cooperation with Israeli universities be reconsidered.

The university management's attempt to put an end to the conflict with a large-scale internal debate failed.

Pro-Palestinian students at other Sciences Po campuses in France and other French universities also recently blocked parts of the universities. Some protesters reportedly made anti-Semitic statements during the demonstrations.

Israel has been heavily bombarding the Gaza Strip from the air and ground for months now in military operations that were launched in retaliation for unprecedented attacks on October 7 led by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The October 7 attacks, which included massacres of civilians, left more than 1,200 people dead in Israel.

Israel has faced intense international criticism over the very high number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the besieged territory.

--IANS/DPA

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Tel Aviv, May 5 : Amid ongoing talks for a 'pause' and mounting demands for the release of hostages, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asserted that his country will not accept Hamas's demands to end the Gaza war, reports said.

"We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding communities, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country," he said, the BBC reported.

"Israel will not agree to Hamas' demands," he reiterated.

His statement came as negotiations resumed in Egypt to strike a deal for a pause in Israel's Gaza offensive in return for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

The prime dispute is whether the pause - pegged to be around 40 days for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails - will be permanent, as Hamas wants - or not.

Netanyahu contended the proposed deal would keep Hamas in control of Gaza, and remaining a threat to Israel, the BBC said.

A Hamas official, who is an adviser to senior leader Ismail Haniyeh, said the group was looking at the latest proposal with "full seriousness" but repeated their demand that any deal explicitly includes Israel forces withdrawing from Gaza and a complete end to the war.
UN General Assembly declares May 24 as int'l day of markhor

Xinhua) 13:56, May 03, 2024

UNITED NATIONS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution to proclaim May 24 as the International Day of the Markhor.

The resolution invites worldwide observance of the International Day of the Markhor and invites all relevant stakeholders to give due consideration to enhancing international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the markhor, given its role in the overall ecosystem.

It invites the UN Environment Programme to facilitate the observance of the International Day.

The resolution underlines that the markhor is an iconic and ecologically significant species found across the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia. It recognizes that preserving the markhor and its natural habitat is an ecological imperative and a significant opportunity to bolster the regional economy, foster conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism and economic growth.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liu Ning)
State Council to oversee probe into university fire in central China

Xinhua) 15:52, May 05, 2024

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council on Sunday announced that it will oversee the investigation into a university fire in central China's Henan Province.

The fire occurred on Thursday at a grand auditorium in the Minglun campus of Henan University.

The committee will dispatch a team to supervise and guide the local investigation work. It urges efforts to carry out scientific and rigorous investigations to determine the cause of the fire, as well as to seek accountability in accordance with laws and regulations.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 5. Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover with the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) member countries reached $2.105 billion in 2023, announced Sanzhar Bolotov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the country, during the Ministerial Meeting of SPECA in Bangkok, Trend reports.

"Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover with the SPECA countries increased by 1.9 times from 2019 through 2023. However, the trade potential between Kyrgyzstan and the SPECA countries far exceeds this statistic," emphasized Bolotov.

At the meeting, the creation of the SPECA multipartner trust fund garnered special attention from all countries. Kyrgyzstan supported the idea and committed to the necessary work for its successful operation.

"This will be an effective mechanism for implementing projects aimed at improving the economic situation and social well-being in our countries," noted Bolotov.

He also shared Kyrgyzstan's achievements and plans in the green economy, supporting the development of a long-term vision for the SPECA countries in this direction until 2030. Bolotov proposed giving special attention to digital innovations and e-commerce in the economies of the SPECA region in subsequent meetings.

A joint statement was adopted at the end of the meeting, reflecting decisions such as the intention to develop the green economy in the SPECA region, increase trade turnover through the promotion and utilization of e-commerce advantages, and develop the SPECA development concept until 2030.

SPECA was established on March 26, 1998, by the Tashkent Declaration. The goal is to promote economic development, cooperation, and integration into the economies of Europe and Asia for its participating countries. Currently, SPECA-participating states include Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

According to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country's foreign trade turnover reached $15.660 billion in 2023, which is a 29.9 percent increase compared to 2022 ($12.057 billion).
Ahmedabad, May 5 : Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Sunday highlighted key issues, stressing the need for an issue-based politics.

While addressing a press conference in Gujaratas Ahmedabad, Shrinate also urged for a shift away from divisive rhetoric and towards addressing crucial concerns like employment, education, and healthcare.

Highlighting the Congress manifesto, Shrinate emphasised, "Our manifesto reflects the needs of our women, youth, farmers, and soldiers. It's a revolutionary manifesto. Where are the jobs for our youth? Simply suggesting selling pakodas is not enough, especially considering the rising oil and gas prices. Our manifesto promises real jobs and apprenticeship opportunities for the youth."

Regarding agricultural policies, Shrinate promised, "We will ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) payments are made directly to farmers at procurement centres. APMCs (Agricultural Produce Market Committees) will be digitally crediting farmers' bank accounts, streamlining the process and benefiting farmers directly."

Shrinate also blamed the 'BJP's endorsement' of specific candidates like Prajwal Revanna, who is involved in an obscene video scandal in Karnataka. She said, "He has harmed many women, exploited them, and yet our Prime Minister seeks votes for him? The women of this country are losing faith in the government."

During her address, Shrinate attacked the Prime Minister, stating, "For 10 years, you have been the Prime Minister. Please fight an election where you focus on employment, education, or healthcare. You can't rely solely on divisive issues like Hindu-Muslim relations and Pakistan. Our Prime Minister travels to Greece and America but neglects to visit Manipur. This neglect is causing harm, especially to the poor."

Shrinate also addressed issues specific to Gujarat, saying, "Paper leaks are a concern for the people of Gujarat. Over 50 lakh students take these exams, and what about their dreams when papers are leaked? Seats are allocated to politicians' relatives, denying deserving candidates. We will fight for the rights of these youths."
New Delhi, May 5 : Two sharpshooters and an informant associated with the notorious Tillu Tajpuriya gang, involved in the recent killing of a member of the rival Gogi gang in Alipur area, have been arrested by Delhi Police's Outer North district and Special Cell personnel, in two separate operations, an official said on Sunday.

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Two sharpshooters and an informant associated with the notorious Tillu Tajpuriya gang, involved in the recent killing of a member of the rival Gogi gang in Alipur area, have been arrested by Delhi Police's Outer North district and Special Cell personnel, in two separate operations, an official said on Sunday.

Police officials said that the murder was planned and orchestrated from a city prison to assert dominance and to avenge gang leader Tajpuriyaas death in jail by Gogi gang members.

The accused were identified as Vishal, a resident of Haryana's Sonepat, Happy, a resident of Alipur, and Bharat Kumar aka Babu, a resident of Haryana's Charkhi Dadri district.

Additional Commissioner of Police, Northern Range, Rajeev Ranjan Singh said that on April 22, Narender Malik aka Dhilla, a resident of Dhuliya colony, Alipur was shot dead while Tarun Yadav, sustained injuries after unidentified persons opened fire on them near a bus stop.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that Malik's brother, namely Surender aka Monu, is an active member of the Gogi gang and has been in jail for the last four years in a murder case. Malik, along with his associates, joined the Gogi gang and became an active member after the arrest of his brother.

The Additional Commissioner of Police said that inter-gang rivalry was suspected as Malik was connected with the Gogi gang, but all angles were being investigated.

However, during the investigation, it was ascertained that this murder was the result of an old rivalry between the Tajpuriy and the Gogi gangs.

"The team analysed the CCTV footage near the spot and found that a total of five assailants opened fire on the tempo in which the deceased and injured were sitting," said Singh.

All five assailants arrived on two motorcycles, and after committing the crime, they swiftly fled towards Jindpur in Alipur.

"Thereafter, the team, based on technical surveillance and local intelligence, successfully apprehended two persons, namely Happy and Vishal," the Additional CP said, adding that Vishal is an active sharpshooter of the Tajpuriya gang who, along with his four associates, namely Sumit aka Jhumka, Sagar, Neeraj, and Bharat Kumar, opened fire on Malik and Yadav, killing the former and injuring the latter.

Further, it was also revealed that accused Happy was present at the spot and was continuously providing information to the assailants through a mobile phone about the movement of Malik.

"During interrogation, accused Vishal disclosed that on the instructions of jailed gangster Amit aka Dabang, they, along with their associates, namely Sumit aka Jhumka, Sagar, and Neeraj, opened fire on Narender and injured Tarun Yadav," the Additional CP said.

Vishal also disclosed that he came into contact with Amit through one of his friends.

"In March 2024, Amit provided a safe house to him and his associate Sagar for the murder of a member of the Gogi gang, and said that the name of the gang member would be provided to them later on," the police official said.

A day before the crime, the other accused joined them in Nathupura in the Sonipat border area. Sumit provided pistols and cartridges to other assailants, while the two motorcycles used in the crime were also provided by henchmen of Amit near Hanuman Mandir, Alipur.

In a parallel operation by the Special Cell on Sunday, Bharat Kumar was nabbed from Outer Ring Road, Vikaspuri.
Adilabad : , May 5 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged on Sunday that Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy forwarded his fake video about the reservation.

Addressing a public meeting at Sirpur Kagaz Nagar in Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency, HM Shah slammed the Congress for contesting elections with lies.

"My fake video was forwarded by Telangana CM," the Home Minister said, referring to the doctored video of his speech circulated on social media recently.

"They are saying we will take away the reservation. I want to give you 'Modi guarantee' that as long as there is even one BJP MP in the Parliament, the reservation for tribals, Dalit and OBCs will not be scrapped," he said. Terming the Muslim reservation introduced by the Congress party as 'unconstitutional', Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that once the BJP comes to power in Telangana, it will scrap Muslim reservations and increase the reservation of tribals and Dalits.

The Home Minister alleged that the Congress diluted the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs, to give it to Muslims.

He also remarked that Congress wants to run the country on the basis of Muslim personal law.

HM Amit Shah stated that the Congress and the BRS cannot protect Telangana from 'Owaisi theory' and 'Razakars'.

"Congress and BRS are scared of Asaduddin Owaisi. They can't do any good to Telangana," he said and claimed that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can do good to Telangana.

The Home Minister also reiterated that the BJP will celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day every year.

He also said that within a short time after coming to power in Telangana, the Congress turned the state into an ATM for Congress.

He said that every day, crores of rupees are going to Congress.

Asserting that the BJP is increasing its vote share in Telangana with every election, HM Shah exuded confidence that the party will win more than 10 Lok Sabha seats in the coming elections.

The BJP leader said that in the ongoing elections, there are two camps.

"There is NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and there is INDIA bloc under Rahul Gandhi's leadership. On one side there is Congress, which has done scams of Rs 12 lakh crore while on the other, there is PM Modi who served as chief minister and Prime Minister for 23 years but there is no allegation of corruption of a single paisa against.

"On one hand there is Rahul Gandhi who was born with a silver spoon while on the other there is PM Modi who was born in the family of a poor tea-seller," HM Shah said.

He claimed that in the first two phases, PM Modi marched ahead with a century (of votes) and exuded confidence that in the third phase they will reach close to 200.

HM Shah also appealed to the people of Adilabad constituency to elect BJP candidate G. Nagesh with a huge majority.
New Delhi, May 5 : Amid the heat of election campaign, Devkinandan Thakur, a well-known spiritual guru spoke exclusively to IANS and aired his views on string of issues ranging from 'Abki baar 400 paar' slogan, controversy over Congress 'aversion' from Ram Temple, vote jhad and many more.

When questioned on Congress' alleged preference for the minorities, Muslims in particular, he slammed the party for its 'long history' of minority appeasement and accused it of preferring the specific community over others for share in nation's resources.

Notably, former PM Manmohan Singh's statement on 'first right of nation's resources for minorities' became a political hot potato this season and BJP cornered the grand old party left, right and centre.

Devakinandan Thakur slammed the Congress dispensation for prioritising minorities over Sanatan Dharma followers and also questioned the formation of Waqf Board with special rights and powers.

He demanded that a Sanatan Board should also be formed, on similar lines and with the same powers.

"If the Waqf Board was formed, I want to request PM Modi that if their government comes back to power for third term, there should also be a Sanatan Board. The Sanatan Board should have all the rights that the Waqf Board has. The entire authority should be given to the 'Sanatan Nyas', and for this, we will raise public awareness," he told IANS.

He further said that since Hindus form the majority, they should have the first rights.

"After this election, we will have only two goals. First, we will raise our voice for the construction of temple for Lord Shri Krishna and second, there should be a Sanatan Board, in which Sanatanis should have all the rights, akin to Waqf Board."

On questions of vote jihad, the spiritual leader refrained from giving a direct answer but said that casting vote is every citizen's responsibility and also made an appeal to everyone to come out of their homes, on day of polling.

"This is the duty and responsibility of every citizen, including the Sanatanis. We should all fulfill this responsibility and make it a point to cast our vote," he said.

"I strongly support Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 2024 polls," Devkinandan said when queried on his viral video.

He said that he stood by his video of backing PM Modi for third term and added: "Those who know me personally know that I always speak from the heart, not just with my mind and tongue. Whatever is in my heart, I speak it out. I have never said before this election that I support this party."

He went on to add: "From the platform of the Sanatan Sant Samiti, I openly said that I would vote for Narendra Modi and the BJP government in 2024 because the BJP government has built the Ram temple for us."
Jaipur, May 5 : Six people of a family were killed and two children injured when their car collided with a tractor on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur on Sunday, police said.

According to the police, the family was going from Khandela in Sikar to the Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore when the accident occurred.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Dinesh Yadav said that the car was badly damaged and bodies could only be taken out with a hard effort.

The two children injured in the accident were first admitted to the Community Health Centre in Baunli village and later were referred to Jaipur.

As per the police, the family was originally from Mukundgarh in Jhunjhunu but currently living in Sikar.
Gadwal : , May 5 (IANS) The ongoing general election is the first election being fought to protect the Constitution of India and safeguard the reservations guaranteed by it, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Sunday.

Addressing an election rally in the Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha constituency, he reiterated his allegation that the BJP wants to change the Constitution and scrap the reservation, while the Congress and INDIA bloc are trying to protect the Constitution.

"If the poor have got some rights, employment in the public sector, and reservation, it is because of this book. Before this Constitution, you had no rights," the Congress leader said while displaying a pocket-size copy of the Constitution of India.

Asserting that Dr B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi gave the Constitution, he alleged that BJP wants to negate their work.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that BJP wants to do away with the reservation. "They always opposed reservation. Their top leaders have been saying reservations should be scrapped. A top leader of RSS also said reservation should be removed," he said.

He also called for removing the 50 per cent cap on reservations.

"When the backwards are 50 per cent, Dalits 15 per cent, tribals 8 per cent and poor of general category 5 per cent, this 50 per cent (cap) has no meaning," he said.

Terming the BJP a party of 2-3 per cent people, Rahul Gandhi alleged that whatever Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in the last 10 years was for a few billionaires. He also found fault with the media for not highlighting the biggest issues of price rise and unemployment.

Accusing the BJP of spreading hatred, the Congress leader said the country can progress only with love. He appealed to people to elect a government of the poor, farmers, backwards, tribals, and Dalits.

Stating that backwards, tribals and Dalits have no representation in governance, institutions and big companies, he reiterated that after coming to power, Congress will do a caste survey, which would reveal the truth, and that revolutionary politics would start after the caste survey.

He promised that if voted to power, the Congress would waive farm loans and ensure minimum support prices to farmers for their produce. He reiterated the promises of a year's apprenticeship for unemployed graduates and diploma holders with an annual stipend of Rs 1 lakh under the 'Pehli Naukri pakki' scheme. A woman from every poor household will also get financial assistance of Rs 8,500 per month, he added.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Congress candidate from Nagarkurnool Mallu Ravi, and other Congress leaders were present.
Bengaluru, May 6 : A Karnataka court on Sunday sent JD-S lawmaker H.D. Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, to the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) till May 8 in the sex video scandal involving his son JD-S MP and NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna.

The SIT produced Revanna before the 17th Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar B. Kattimani at his residence in Koramangala locality of Bengaluru as per procedure and sought five days custody. It made a submission mentioning 15 points explaining why he needed to be questioned by them.

Revanna was arrested on Saturday evening in connection with the kidnap case of one of the victims of the sex video scandal involving his son.

As counsel for the SIT sought his custody considering the seriousness of the case, Revanna's lawyer Muthy D. Naik accused the SIT of torturing his client who is facing health issues.

The magistrate allowed Revanna to meet his advocate for one hour and also directed the SIT to ensure good food arrangements for him.

Meanwhile, the SIT has established a helpline for the victims of the sex video scandal.

It said that its probe has revealed that there are many more victims and if the victims and informants need legal protection and assistance, they can contact it at the helpline (6360938947).

Karnataka Police registered an FIR against Revanna in connection with the kidnapping of the woman, believed to be one of the victims of the sex video scandal involving his son, on Friday after the woman's son had registered a missing complaint, accusing him.

His relative Satish Babu was named the second accused in the FIR, and arrested from Mysuru district on Friday.

The woman's son alleged that his mother went missing after the surfacing of a purported sex video in which Revanna could be seen sexually assaulting her. He also alleged that his mother was locked up in an undisclosed location, as he pleaded with the police to initiate legal action against Revanna and Satish Babu.

Prajwal Revanna, the sitting JD-S MP from Hassan, has reportedly fled from the country.
Belagavi : , May 6 (IANS) Terming the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the "second freedom struggle", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday claimed that if the BJP gets 400 seats, the Constitution will be changed.

Addressing a joint press conference here with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, he said that Dr B.R. Ambedkar's Constitution gives equal opportunity to all and the BJP is going against it.

"Ambedkar said that mere political freedom is not enough for a country. Everyone should get economic and social freedom. The Congress government has implemented guarantees to empower the weaker section," he said.

"We have fulfilled our promises in the past eight months after coming to power in the state, we have fulfilled five guarantees and the people have gained confidence," he said.

Siddaramaiah recalled that the BJP said that if the guarantees were implemented, the state would become financially bankrupt and the development works would stop.

"We were accused of providing guarantees only until the Lok Sabha elections and then stopping them. We have earmarked Rs 52,009 crore for guarantees in the budget. We have earmarked a total of Rs 1.20 lakh crores in 2024-25, including Rs 68,000 crore for development works. Our government's budget size is Rs 3.71 lakh crore, (former CM Basavaraj) Bommai's budget was Rs 3.09 lakh crore in 2023-24," he said.

The Chief Minister charged the BJP with making false accusations "to make people lose confidence in Congress".

"The BJP is not in favour of guarantee schemes. Their conspiracy is to stop it. The prosperity of the poor, farmers, women, Dalits, and minorities is not important to them," he said.

"The caste census is very important to give justice to the underprivileged and to get them benefits from the government. This time, the people will trust Congress," he said, expressing confidence in winning more seats from the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar described this election as a fight between the Congressa promises and BJPas falsehoods.

"We have fulfilled all our promises. BJP has been betraying people for 10 years with its false promises. This election is a fight between the promises and falsehoods," he said.

"Many BJP leaders, including former CM B.S Yediyurappa, BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka have said that there wonat be any guarantees after the elections, but they are daydreaming. BJP leaders are trying to stop the guarantees but be rest assured, we wonat let that happen," he added.

"The BJP keeps harping on religion but it opposes our government's legislation to improve the income of small temples. This legislation would have helped the priests and their children, but the BJP ensured that the Governor blocked the new legislation. The BJP hasn't done anything and they don't have any moral right to ask for votes. Once we come to power, we will implement our tax system and the Mekedatu, Mahadayi, and Bhadra projects. The Centre announced Rs 5,300 crore for Upper Bhadra but hasn't released anything."

Noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was talking about mangalsutras, he said that the gold used for mangalsutras was Rs 24,000 per 10 grams during the Manmohan Singh government and has reached Rs 74,000 today.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was also present.
Bengaluru, May 6 : Arrested JD-S MLA H.D. Revanna, the son of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, on Sunday said that there is no evidence against him in the sex video scandal kidnapping case and that it was a "conspiracy" against him.

Talking to the media, while being taken for a medical test before being produced in front of a court here, Revanna stated that a kidnapping case had been lodged against him though he does not have 'one black mark' against him in his entire career of 40 years.

"Without evidence, I have been targeted... All allegations against me are false. My arrest has been made out of ill intention," he claimed.

"The case was lodged on April 28, then, they did not have any evidence. Later, the fake evidence was created on May 2 and I was fixed," he alleged.

Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara stated on Sunday that a Blue Corner notice has already been issued against Revanna's son and MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the sex video scandal, as he is believed to be abroad.

"The Interpol will communicate to all nations and he will be located. Once he is located, the SIT will take a call on how he should be secured and brought back to India," he added.

Revanna was arrested on Saturday on charges of kidnapping one of the victims of the sex video scandal.

Parameshwara further maintained that the arrest of Revanna has saddened JD-S leaders and if action was not taken, the SIT would be blamed too.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge refused to comment on the alleged sex video scandal involving Prajwal Revanna.

About Revanna's arrest, he said that the SIT would initiate action as per the law. "Those indulging in such acts must be taught a lesson and justice should be given to the families of victims. No one can escape the law. No one should use this case politically," he stated.
Agartala, May 6 : A total of 11 Bangladeshi nationals including three children and two women have been arrested at a village in Tripura's mountainous Dhalai district which shares a border with the neighbouring nation of Bangladesh, the police said on Sunday.

A police officer said that the Bangladeshi nationals were arrested while on the way back to their homes at Bagerhat District in Bangladesh's Khulna Division.

Acting on a tip-off from the villagers, a police team arrested the Bangladeshi nationals in the border village Machkumir in Tripura's Dhalai district on Saturday evening.

A case under relevant sections was registered against them and a probe was underway.

Police quoting the Bangladeshi nationals said that three years ago, without any passport and valid documents, they illegally entered West Bengal and went to Bengaluru in search of jobs.

Last week, they came to West Bengal and then to Dhalai district headquarters Ambassa by train to return to their country.

Five Indian states -- West Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km), and Assam (263 km) share a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. Indirect negotiations between the Palestinian Hamas movement and the Israeli side in Cairo did not produce concrete results, a spokesman for the movement said, Trend reports.

According to him, negotiations will continue on May 5.

"Negotiations with mediators in Cairo today did not lead to any serious changes," he said.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7, 2023. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
Bhubaneswar, May 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening arrived in Bhubaneswar on a one-day visit to Odisha.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by several BJP leaders, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and party state chief Manmohan Samal, on his arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport here.

From airport, Prime Minister Modi went to the Raj Bhavan in a carcade. He will spend the night at the Governor's house.

As many as 20 platoons of police and more than 100 senior police officials including three DCPs, 10 ACPs and 17 IICs have been deployed across Bhubaneswar for the Prime Minister's security.

"After programmes in Uttar Pradesh, landed to a warm welcome in Bhubaneswar. I can clearly see Odisha is all set to vote BJP in the state and Centre. People want a Government that can develop Odisha and also protect the vibrant local culture," Prime Minister Modi posted on his official X handle.

The Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Kanishi Chowk in Berhampur parliamentary constituency at 10 a.m. on Monday. The meeting at Berhampur will be the Prime Minister's first election rally in Odisha ahead of the general elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly.

He is scheduled to attend another public rally at Chikili in Nabarangpur constituency in Western Odisha at 12.30 p.m.

The two rallies hold much significance as Prime Minister Modi is likely to launch a scathing attack on the ruling BJD after a long lull.

Polling will be held in Berhampur and Nabarangpur lok Sabha assembly constituencies on May 13.

The Prime Minister is also likely to pay another visit to Odisha on May 10. He may attend a huge road show in Bhubaneswar on May 10. He is scheduled to take address a rally in Bolangir the next day on May 11.

Similarly, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to address a public rally in Rayagada on May 8. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the state again on May 12.

The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results of both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will be announced on June 4.
Kolkata: Former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins the BJP in the presence of state party chief Sukanta Majumdar, LoP Suvendu Adhikari and others. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, May 6 : An FIR was filed against BJP candidate from Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay and some party workers in West Bengal's East Midnapore on Sunday for allegedly attacking sacked school employees at their protest site.

The FIR at Tamluk police station has been registered under various non-bailable sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act, on a complaint filed by a section of the 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff, who lost their jobs following a high court order and are reportedly close to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The root of the complaint was a procession by BJP supporters at Tamluk while Gangopadhyay was going to file his nomination as a candidate on May 4. Tension started as the procession passed through the area where some dismissed school staff were holding demonstrations against the Calcutta High Court order.

According to Maidul Islam, President of the West Bengal Primary Teachersa Association - which is considered close to the Trinamool, there was an unprovoked attack on the protestors by members of Gangopadhyay's procession. He also cautioned that if those involved in the attack on the hunger strike are not quickly arrested, there will be a larger agitation across the state.

Reacting to the FIR, Gangopadhyay said that such FIRs based on fake allegations are quite common and he is ready to face its outcome.

"I want to see how long those who are resorting to such fake allegations can escape the clutches of law," he added.
Chennai, May 6 : Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has blamed the M.K. Stalin-led DMK government in the state for the tragic death of Tirunelveli East district Congress president, K.P.K. Jeyakumar Dhanasingh.

Panneerselvam said that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu has deteriorated in the last three years since the DMK government assumed office.

The charred remains of Jeyakumar Dhanasingh were recovered by the police from his farm land near his residence in Karisithu Pudur village in Tirunelveli district.

The former Chief Minister in a statement on Sunday said that Jeyakumar apprised the police on April 30 regarding a threat to his life and had accused a few Congress leaders of the threat.

He had written to Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police N. Silambarasan that some unidentified persons were seen near his residence moving in a suspicious manner.

"If the police had taken appropriate action based on the complaint by Jeyakumar he would have been alive," Panneerselvam said.

He also charged that if such a tragedy happened to a senior functionary of the alliance party to the ruling DMK, "the situation of ordinary people during the DMK regime is unimaginable".
Chennai, May 6 : A police constable with the Tamil Nadu Armed Reserve Force has been arrested for sexually assaulting his 14-year-old daughter, an official said on Sunday.

The alleged incident happened in Cuddalore district of the state.

The 14-year-old girl in her complaint lodged with the Cuddalore Superintendent of Police said that her father had been sexually assaulting her for the last one year.

Cuddalore Superintendent of Police, R. Rajaraman then ordered the Cuddalore All Women Police Station Inspector Rathika to investigate the case.

The girl and her mother narrated the ordeal to the women police officers, who eventually arrested the constable.

The 41-year-old police constable was charged under Section 354 (A), 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), 427 (mischief causing damage) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal code along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act and Section 77 of Juvenile Justice Act, an official said.
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TBILISI, Georgia, May 5. ADB should continue helping countries take ambitious action to combat climate change, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev said during the annual meeting of the ADB in Tbilisi, Trend reports.

"We encourage ADB to step up efforts to support investments in human capital, paying special attention to the needs of the communities. It may also require support in addressing employment, through small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of many developing economies.

Green, ambitious climate change resilience. We believe ADB should continue its efforts to help countries take ambitious action to combat climate change and ensure environmental sustainability, while investing in advanced, and climate-resilient approaches to achieve goals of the Paris Agreement. Continued efforts to develop green and livable cities will contribute to greener and more inclusive development.

We exhort ADB to build resilience, including economic and financial resilience, to enable partner countries to withstand and recover from past, current and future shocks. Continued efforts to help countries manage debt sustainably and develop local currency and capital markets will be essential. Strengthening governance and institutions, as well as expanding effective and targeted social safety nets to better protect the most vulnerable, are important contributions.

Promote sustainable infrastructure and digitalization. We welcome ADBs continued support of quality infrastructure. Supporting more equitable access to basic digital infrastructure will be an important element of these efforts. They will accelerate efforts to harness the power of digital technologies to spur innovation that can drive progress toward the SDGs, including access to health, education, finance, and mobility.

Collaboration among MDBs. MDBs shall continue to develop common approaches and standards in areas of collective focus such as quality infrastructure and impact investment standards. This will promote common approaches to harmonizing SDG management results for tracking and transparent reporting of results.

Uzbekistan is committed to working closely with ADB and its members to build a better future for our people," he said.

The theme for the 57th Annual Meeting to be held from May 2 through May 5 is Bridge to the Future.

The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for ADB governors to consider development issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. Several thousand participants, including finance ministers, central bank governors, senior government officials, members of the private sector, representatives of international organizations and civil society organizations, youth, academia, and the media, regularly join the meeting.
University of Georgia administration issued another statement on Thursday afternoon responding to the arrest of 16 pro-Palestine demonstrators on Monday morning and further discussing the campus freedom of expression policy. UGA administration first responded on Monday following the arrests.

Administration highlighted the variety of expressive activities allowed and held on campus  marches, protests, vigils, speeches, etc. The statement then went on to say how there have been five protests this week, with several more registered for coming days, but only one of which has resulted in arrests.

The statement described Monday mornings demonstrations as when well-organized protesters planned an event in willful violation of University policy, formed a clearly prohibited encampment on our historic North Campus Quad and refused repeated warnings to either comply with policies or disperse.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to complete ongoing negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, the Elysee Palace said in a statement, Trend reports.

According to the information, Macron stressed the importance of freeing the hostages as a priority and expressed full support for mediation efforts. He also called for an end to Israeli operations in the region.

Macron discussed with Netanyahu the need to reach an agreement that would guarantee the release of hostages, the protection of civilians and regional de-escalation.
India will never give up its claim on Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir but it won't have to capture it with force because its people, on their own, would want to be part of India after seeing the development in Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (left) interacts with BJP's Saran Lok Sabha candidate Rajiv Pratap Rudy during a rally for Lok Sabha polls, in Saran, Bihar, May 2, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Singh asserted that the ground situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir and that a time will come when Armed Forces Special Powers Act will no longer be required in the Union Territory.

The defence minister, however, said the matter is under the domain of the Union home ministry and it will take appropriate decisions.

He said elections will also be held there definitely, but wouldn't give a timeline.

"I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India," he said.

"We will not have to use force to take PoK as people would say that we must be merged with India. Such demands are now coming," he said. The defence minister asserted that "PoK was, is, and will remain ours".

Citing improvement in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said assembly elections will be held there soon, but did not give a timeline.

"The way the situation is improving in Jammu and Kashmir, I think a time will come when AFSPA will no longer be required there. It is my view and it is for the home ministry to decide on it," he said.

The AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives immunity to the forces if they shoot someone dead.

The defence minister, referring to Pakistan's proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir, said Islamabad must stop cross border terrorism.

"They are trying to destabilise India and we will not allow it to happen," he said.

The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India's warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack.

The relations further deteriorated after India on August 5, 2019 announced the withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.

India has been maintaining that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such an engagement.
The high-octane campaign for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections that saw the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) fiercely attacking each other on issues like reservations and sexual harassment charges against Janata Dal-Secular leader Prajwal Revanna concluded on Sunday evening in 92 seats spread over 11 states and Union Territories.

IMAGE: BJP supporters take out Vijay Visvas bike rally on the last day of campaign for the third phase of general elections, in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The stakes are significant for the BJP in this round as the party had in 2019 won an overwhelming majority of these seats, including all in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, that will go to polls on May 7.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP charge, asking the Congress to give in writing that it will not hand over the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes to Muslims.

The Congress and its allies accused the BJP of trying to tamper with the Constitution and do away with reservations.

The principal opposition party, which has promised to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations, also asked the BJP to clear its stance on the issue.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra focused on issues of social justice, unemployment, 'injustice' to farmers and alleged favourable treatment to select businessmen.

The BJP leaders targeted the Congress over wealth redistribution and inheritance tax issues and accused it of pursuing appeasement politics, while Rahul Gandhi reiterated Congress' commitment to conduct a caste census and economic survey if voted to power.

Over 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are in the fray. Among the bigwigs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna),Mansukh Mandaviya (Porbandar), Parshottam Rupala (Rajkot), Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and SP Singh Baghel (Agra).

Former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Vidisha) and Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh) have also returned to the Lok Sabha electoral fray this time. The fate of former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri) will also be decided on May 7 .

Several members of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are also contesting in this phase in Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister Modi, who addressed two rallies in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday and later visited Ram temple in Ayodhya, lashed out at the 'dynastic politics' of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress saying while the opposition alliance partners work only to benefit their own families, he is building a better future for the nation's next generations.

Referring to himself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, "We don't have children. We are working for your children."

With the BJP bagging Surat unopposed, 25 seats in Prime Minister Modi's home state of Gujarat will go to polls on May 7, besides 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the remaining 14 of the 28 in Karnataka, seven in Chhattisgarh, eight in Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam and West Bengal, and all two in Goa.

The Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2 seats) will also go to polls in the third phase while the election in the Anatnag-Rajouri seat has been put off to the sixth phase due to logistic reasons.

Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have targeted the BJP over allegations of sexual harassment against Prajwal Revanna, Hassan MP and leader of the JD-S -- an ally of the BJP.

Hitting back, BJP leader Amit Shah and others questioned why the Congress government in Karnataka delayed the action against Revanna.

The JD-S joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year.

Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former prime minister and JD-S patriarch H D Deve Gowda and was the JD(S)-BJP alliance candidate from Hassan seat which went to polls on April 26.

Prajwal's father H D Revanna was arrested by Special Investigation Team on Saturday in a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against Prajwal, soon after a court in Bengaluru rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

The BJP has attacked the Congress over the alleged failure to 'contain anti-national activities', incidents of 'Love Jihad' and 'appeasement politics'.

The party leaders repeatedly referred to the bomb blast at a cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, the murder of 23-year-old Neha Hiremath on a college campus in Hubballi by Fayaz Khondunaik on April 18 and the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans in the corridors of Vidhana Soudha on February 27.

In Maharashtra, where 11 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats will go to polls, a riveting contest is on in Baramati between Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar, wife of the veteran leader's estranged nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

In Gujarat, BJP's Mukesh Dalal has already won from Surat unopposed after the nomination of Congress' Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected over irregularities in the signature of proposers and other candidates withdrew.

On the last day of campaigning on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BJP state unit president CR Paatil and minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in motorcycle rallies. During the campaign, the BJP had to face the ire of the Kshatriya community over a remark made by Rupala in Rajkot.

Aam Aadmi Party, which is contesting from Bhavnagar and Bharuch, held rallies by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, also held a roadshow in Bharuch.

Numerous roadshows and rallies marked the hectic campaign in Uttar Pradesh's 10 constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly.

The current phase is important for the Mulam Singh Yadav's family, with Dimple Yadav aiming to retain the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Akshaya Yadav, son of Ram Gopal Yadav, is contesting from Firozabad, and Aditya Yadav is making his electoral debut from the Budaun Lok Sabha seat.

In his rallies, Shah attacked Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that his party will have to take out a 'Congress Dhoondho Yatra' after June 4.

BJP leaders alleged that the Congress and SP leaders did not attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya fearing it would alienate their vote bank.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav extensively campaigned for his party candidates in the third phase and attacked the BJP over reservation and other issues.

The BJP is hoping for a clean sweep in Madhya Pradesh, which sends 29 members to Lok Sabha. At a rally held in Morena, Modi had claimed that then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax apparently to save the money, which he was supposed to get after Indira Gandhi's death, from going to the government.

In an emotional reply, Priyanka hit back at the PM, saying her father inherited 'martyrdom' and not wealth from Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated.

Voting will be held in Bihar's Araria, Supaul, Jhanjharpur, Madhepura and Khagaria, all of which are currently held by the ruling NDA.

The NDA's heavy artillery was spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi, the biggest crowd-puller of the BJP-led coalition. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an NDA partner who heads the Janata Dal-United, held rallies and roadshows in all the five constituencies.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav campaigned intensively in all five seats, including Khagaria and Jhanjharpur, which his party is not contesting.

Communist Party of India-Marxist bigwigs remained conspicuous by their absence in Khagaria, the lone seat the party is contesting in Bihar.

Despite heavy rains in Assam on the last day, both ruling and opposition parties engaged in a vigorous campaign in Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar (ST), and Guwahati.

The BJP campaign was focused on highlighting the various development schemes of both the central and state governments.

The opposition parties focused on issues like citizenship, connectivity and unemployment.
Congress on Saturday night named Jay Narayan Patnaik as its candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha seat in Odisha after Sucharita Mohanty pulled out of the race, claiming that the party denied her funds for her campaign.

IMAGE: Congress leader Sucharita Mohanty, who pulled out of LS polls over fund shortage. Photograph: ANI on X

In a statement issued by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, the party said its president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the candidature of Patnaik in place of Mohanty.

Sucharita Mohanty, the daughter of former Congress MP Brajamohan Mohanty, in a mail to Venugopal on Friday claimed that her campaign was hit hard because the party denied her funding.

She alleged that Congress in-charge of the state Ajoy Kumar "categorically" asked her to fight from her own resources.

"I was a salaried professional journalist who entered electoral politics 10 years ago. I have given all I have into my campaign in Puri. I tried a public donation drive to support my campaign for progressive politics without much success so far. I also tried to cut down the projected campaign spending to the minimum," she said.

Mohanty said that she approached all senior leaders of the party for funds.

"It is clear that only fund crunch is holding us back from a winning campaign in Puri. I regret that without party funding, it won't be possible to carry out the campaign in Puri. I, therefore, return the party ticket for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency herewith," she said in her mail.

However, Mohanty said she will remain a loyal Congress worker.

Later, she told reporters that in assembly segments under the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, weak candidates were given tickets by the Congress.

"BJP and BJD are sitting on mountains of money. Vulgar displays of wealth are everywhere. It was difficult for me to fight the election," she said.

Reacting to her claims, Kumar said, "Funds will be provided to a candidate when the candidate launches the campaign and seriously fights at the ground."

The BJP has fielded its national spokesperson Sambit Patra in Puri, while the BJD candidate is ex-IPS Arup Patnaik, a former Mumbai Police commissioner.

Puri will vote on May 25.
The Congress government in Karnataka will provide financial assistance to those allegedly sexually assaulted by Janata Dal-Secular leader Prajwal Revanna, the national party said on Sunday.

IMAGE: Women stage a protest against JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna over his alleged involvement in the sex scandal, in Bengaluru on May 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Congress general secretary and the party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala made this announcement at a press conference in Belagavi in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had demanded that appropriate action be taken against the accused.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced financial assistance to the rape victims who are in hundreds, since it is a unique case which has never happened in the last 75 years," Surjewala said.

Prajwal, the JD(S)-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, is the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and nephew of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

He is wanted in a case pertaining to rape and molestation after hundreds of explicit videos allegedly came out in open.

Flanked by Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Surjewala charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with protecting their alliance partner JD-S candidate, who is a 'mass rapist'.

"Why did BJP form an alliance with the JD-S despite having information about Prajwal?" he asked.

He also sought to know why the External Affairs Ministry did not stop Prajwal from fleeing abroad.

"Why did the PM not cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport and why no blue corner notice through Interpol was issued to bring him back?" Surjewala questioned.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said a blue corner notice will be issued to bring Prajwal back.
As the military standoff between India and China drags on along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the talks between the two sides are going on well and indicated hope for a resolution of the lingering row.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses as he carries out a first-hand assessment of the security situation during his visit to meet the Armed Forces personnel deployed in Siachen, Ladakh, on April 22, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In an interview to PTI on Saturday, Singh also said that India has been developing infrastructure along the frontier with China at a rapid speed, asserting that the country's borders will remain safe.

"The talks are going on well," he said declining to elaborate further considering the sensitive nature of the dialogue process.

Asked whether he was hopeful of a positive outcome and an end to the nearly four-year face-off between the two militaries, Singh shot back: "If there was no hope, then why to have talks."

"They (the Chinese side) also have hope and that is why holding the talks," he said.

The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points.

The defence minister also took a potshot at the Congress for continuously targeting the government on the eastern Ladakh standoff.

"They (Congress) are questioning the bravery of Indian soldiers ... who are you demoralising? What is your intention? I can also go back to 1962 as well," he said.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The two sides held the last round of high-level military talks in February with an aim to resolve the row.

Though there was no indication of a breakthrough at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain 'peace and tranquillity' on the ground and continue the communication on the way ahead.

The next round of military talks is expected to be held soon.

In January, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said the situation along the LAC in eastern Ladakh is 'stable' but 'sensitive' and asserted that the Indian troops are maintaining a 'very high state' of operational preparedness to effectively deal with any eventualities.

Gen Pande also said that both India and China continue to hold talks at military and diplomatic levels with an aim to return to the 'status quo ante' that existed in the middle of 2020.

To resolve the face-off, the two countries are also holding diplomatic talks under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs.

Following the Galwan Valley clashes, India has been majorly focusing on boosting its overall military capability along the frontier with China.

The Army has significantly bolstered deployment of troops and weaponry along the nearly 3,500 km-long LAC, including in the Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors, following the clashes.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in several friction points, including on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Saturday claimed that his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray would not have said anything against the Bharatiya Janata Party if the saffron party had accepted his demand of Maharashtra chief minister's post.

IMAGE: MNS chief Raj Thackeray addresses the 'Gudi Padwa' rally being held at Shivaji Park, in Mumbai, April 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking at a campaign rally here for Union minister Narayan Rane, BJP candidate from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, Raj also justified his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the construction of the Ram Temple and abrogation of Article 370 among other reasons.

Notably, while the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief had supported Modi in 2014, he had launched scathing attack on the prime minister in rally after rally before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

"I did not agree with (Modi's) stand (in 2019). It was not that I wanted something in return (for supporting him again now)," Raj said in his first rally in support of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance in Maharashtra.

"If the BJP had accepted your (Uddhav Thackeray's) proposal of sharing the chief minister's post for two-and-half years, would you have said the things you are saying today? You would have kept mum for power," Raj said.

Uddhav Thackeray broke off his party's decades-long alliance with the BJP after the state polls in 2019 as the saffron party was not ready to share the CM's post with him.

Raj, meanwhile, countered Shiv Sena-UBT's charge that investments were being diverted from Maharashtra, asking what Uddhav did when he was an ally of the ruling BJP from 2014 to 2019, and later when he was chief minister from 2019 to 2022.

"You (Uddhav) were in power for seven and a half years. Why did investments go out? Why were you quiet?" the MNS chief asked.

Raj also attacked Uddhav for opposing big-ticket projects like the Jaitapur Nuclear Power plant and an oil refinery in Konkan on the pretext that the coastal region's ecology will be damaged.

There were instances where sitting Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP of Shiv Sena-UBT Vinayak Raut (who has been renominated by his party) would oppose a project, while local MLA of the same party would back it, he claimed.
BENNINGTON  The case of Miles Hall once again highlights the difficulties in dealing with Vermont statutes for prosecutors, criminal defendants and mental health advocates trying to fairly balance an acceptable level of community safety with how we treat fellow citizens with mental health issues caught up in the criminal justice system.

Hall, 41, stood trial earlier this month on several counts stemming from a June 2022 incident in Bennington. The charges included several counts of criminal threatening, stalking, and unlawful trespass into a residence.

According to police affidavits and witness statements at trial, in June 2022, Hall had stalked and threatened a family member with death. Police also accused Hall of threatening several members of the community, including a Bennington judge and Benningtons states attorney, with violence and death.

During the two-day trial, it was revealed that Hall had severe bipolar disorder and was in a manic state at the time of these incidents. After a two-hour deliberation, a jury found Hall not guilty by reason of insanity.

On Wednesday, Hall was again in front of Bennington Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady, this time for a post-verdict, mandatory hospitalization hearing. Both sides agreed that Hall, from all accounts, is currently compliant with his medications and does not require in-patient treatment. Both sides also agreed that a non-hospitalization order was appropriate. The only bone of contention was an attempt by State Prosecutor Jared Bianchi to compel Hall to take his medications in a medical setting, a Hail Mary of sorts, to verify compliance. The defense objected to the proposal as intrusive.

Man threatens to murder four people in one incident

For Bianchi, its an issue he has struggled with for some time. The issue for him is that Vermont statutes do not address public safety concerns in situations like this. They dont even address the long-term issue in Halls case - which is when someone struggling with a mental illness stops taking medication. Where is the line that crosses from an individuals rights to safety concerns for the general public? Bianchi made that clear at Wednesdays hearing.

I would like to be able to ask you to craft an order that's based on public safety, but that there is no basis under the current statute for that, Bianchi told the judge early in the hearing. Instead, I would like to be able to ask for a specifically crafted order to address Miles's specific case. We [have] heard throughout the case that this is a long-term, cyclical issue for him, but the statute doesn't allow [for] that because we are barred from doing that past a period of 90 days. Finally, I'd like to ask for there to be a victim impact and safety consideration. That's not part of the analysis either, according to the statute. All we have left is to ask [that] he take his medication in a medical setting so at least we can verify that part of it.

There are two sides to the problem. If an individual is having behaviors that don't qualify as a defined mental illness, if it's not schizophrenia, for instance, or dementia or Huntington's, an order cannot be implemented. But if that individual has a defined mental illness, it can either be an ONH or an order of hospitalization. According to Vermont statute, those decisions can only address the patient's current needs. No public safety considerations can be considered.

In this case, Bianchi said, because he does not currently need hospital-level care, the court can't order him into a hospital to keep the community safe. They can only order him into the hospital to get help. There is zero consideration for public safety in these cases. We are unlike any other state that I'm aware of in having really no ability to take into account the public safety issues.

Robert Appel, Halls defense attorney during the criminal trial, feels that steps, like Bianchi proposes, needlessly burden those struggling and criminalizes mental health. Appel feels that more robust funding for community-based mental health services coupled with reducing the stigma, labels, and perceptions by the general public and the legal community will go a long way in solving the issue. It is also important to not intrude on the rights of those with mental health issues.

Erica Marthage, Bennington County states attorney, also feels Vermont hasnt spent the money needed on treatment. She is tasked with the community's safety and what happens with individuals who might not have the capacity to conform their behaviors to a safe society.

"The truth is, Marthage said, The person who is victimized or injured is no less traumatized by the offense because the person is mentally ill, insane, or incompetent. Those victims can, in many cases, be more traumatized because theres nothing our office can do after someone is found mentally ill. That responsibility falls entirely to the Vermont Department of Mental Health, which does not consider public safety in its evaluations.

Those orders do not have any teeth and are very time-limited, Bianchi said. There is no public safety consideration beyond that individuals mental health need. This request to verify that Hall is taking his meds is, at least, a chance to know that the community is safe."

According to the National Institute of Health, individuals with a severe mental illness who fall through the cracks or are non-adherent to treatment are at a high risk of committing grave acts of violence, especially on family members. Untreated profound mental illness is particularly significant in cases of homicide.

Many of those individuals with mental illness face an uphill battle when trying to access mental health treatment. Many do not receive the appropriate and timely treatment needed. Budget cuts in funding for public health and mental health in many cities further put people with mental illness in situations where they can become involved in criminal activity.

We are the ones responsible for public safety, Marthage said. We dont get to say that this might not be the best tool. Its the only tool we have right now.

When asked what he might say to those victims and their families who have to deal with the aftermath of these incidents, Appel paused, then reiterated that he believes more robust resources and support would cut down on the violence that we see.

I feel for people who are harmed by untreated mentally ill people, Appel said. There are just a lot of people who are not getting what they need and acting out in bad ways. That needs to change.

Judge McDonald-Cady ultimately issued an order placing Hall in the custody of the Department of Mental Health for 90 days. She also ordered that Hall be allowed to take his medications on his own, allowing that if one of his case managers becomes concerned about non-compliance, Hall must comply with 'reasonable requests' to take medications in the presence of his providers.

A new hearing will be scheduled when Hall is discharged.

At the end of the day, Bianchi said, I have to uphold the law whether I like it or not. That's why we're left with what the Legislature gives us, and that's not really fair or safe for anybody involved, but that's what I have.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 6. If the international community does not learn lessons from the current crisis in the Gaza Strip, this may not be the last conflict, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, Trend reports.

The minister emphasized the need for a two-state solution.

"We must invite Israel to accept the 1967 borders," he said. Hakan Fidan said that both Hamas and other Palestinians are ready to create a Palestinian state within the 1967 territories.
Ryu Hyun-woo, who served as North Koreas acting ambassador to Kuwait in 2019, escaped from North Korea and has now settled in South Korea, in a frame grab from an interview with RFA Korean. (RFA)

Ryu Hyun-woo was North Koreas acting ambassador to Kuwait when he defected to South Korea in 2019. As one of the elites in North Korea, he had rights and privileges that ordinary citizens do not. But at the same time, he and others like him were under even more scrutiny than the average citizen, he says.

Ryu lived in an apartment complex in Pyongyang where all of his neighbors were high-ranking North Korean officials. In an interview with RFA Korean, Ryu explained that life as an elite is like already having one foot in hell because of the constant surveillance their lives are under, and how easily they are discarded if the leader needs someone to take the blame.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

Ryu: I was born in Pyongyang. I graduated from the Pyongyang Foreign Language Institute and Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, majoring in Arabic. I then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked there for over 20 years. After working as a diplomat in Syria and Kuwait, I came to South Korea in September 2019. I have settled in and I am living well in South Korea.

RFA: When you were in North Korea, you lived in and exclusive area of Pyongyang, correct? Do all the elites live in the same area?

Ryu: The administrative district name is Uiam-dong, Taedonggang district, Pyongyang. This place is also called Eundok village, and it is the residence of many officials. There are six major buildings in the residence. The generals of the North Korean Peoples Army live in four of the buildings. One building is for high-ranking officials in the Central Committee. The remaining one is where high-ranking officials of the administrative department live.

RFA: We often hear about North Koreas chronic shortages of electricity. Did the elevators on these buildings cut out from time to time like they do for everyone else living in apartments?

Ryu: Youre right. North Korea has a poor power supply system. Because of it, the elevator sometimes stops working. However, there are times when it operates normally. For example, during commuting hours, it is guaranteed. Nevertheless, the electricity often drops even during commuting hours.

My house was on the 4th floor. Oh Guk Ryol, the head of the operations department, lived on the 5th floor, and Director Kim Yang Gon lived on the 3rd floor. The former head of the United Front Work Department and Oh Guk Ryol came down from the floors above, and my father-in-law (Jon Il Chun, the former head Office 39, the secretive organization that manages the slush funds of the Kim family) and I would get on to the elevator. As we were going down, Kim Yang Gon got on.

Then just as the elevator was going down to the second floor, it suddenly stopped. I was the youngest of everyone there, so I had no choice but to open the escape hatch on the ceiling of the elevator. Its like a vent. I climbed up to the third floor and I saw something that looked like a latch that opens the elevator door. I opened the door with it, contacted the management, and rescued the other officials in the elevator. The electricity situation was so bad.

RFA: Can living in that area of Pyongyang be seen as a matter of pride for its residents?

Ryu: It can be interpreted as having a lot of trust and high loyalty. However, there are pros and cons. Once you enter this place, you are subject to wiretapping, stalking and strong surveillance. You cant say anything inside your house.

For example, wasnt Chief of Staff Ri Yong Ho shot to death? It was because he was at home making slanderous remarks about Kim Jong Un with his wife. He was purged and disappeared. My mother-in-law kept pointing to her mouth whenever I tried to complain about something. She told me to be quiet and not to say anything because they listen to everything.

To that extent, they wiretap 24 hours a day. Thats why there is a different way to share thoughts. My in-laws would wake up around 5:30 in the morning. I would wake up around 6 oclock. Then we go for a jog or walk together. Thats the time my father-in-law would ask me questions and I would also talk to him.

For example, while I was in Syria, I heard a South Korean refer to my father-in-law as Kim Jong Ils safekeeper, so I passed that on to my father-in-law.

RFA: You told your father-in-law about something that came out in the South Korean media?

Ryu: I told my father-in-law that in South Korea, he is referred to as Kim Jong Ils safekeeper. My father-in-law laughed. I told him those things, secret things that should not be caught by wiretapping. We exchanged stories like that while taking a walk or in a place where wiretapping does not work.

Ryu Hyun-woo (right), who served as North Koreas acting ambassador to Kuwait in 2019, escaped from North Korea and has now settled in South Korea, in a frame grab from an interview with RFA Korea. (RFA)

RFA: Was there ever any frightful incident you witnessed while living there?

Ryu: The household we were closest to was Park Nam Ki, director of the Planning and Finance Department of the ruling party of North Korea. Do you remember the currency reform in 2009?

(That was when North Korea introduced new versions of its paper currency, but allowed the people to exchange only a certain amount of their old currency, thereby wiping out most peoples savings.)

As a result of that incident, Park Nam Ki was shot to death in January 2010. In February of the same year, Park Nam Kis entire family members went to a political prison camp. I remembered it was around 1 or 2 oclock in the morning. There was a truck from the Ministry of State Security. The big military trucks came and loaded all the luggage and the family.

I felt like the whole town was going to wake up from the sound of women and children crying. My heart was trembling. We stayed up all night. It occurred to me that we too could face a similar fate. Would Park Nam Ki have been able to carry out currency reform at will? How could he possibly do so without Kim Jong Ils instructions? Even though Kim Jong Il did it, he turned the condemnation and curses of the people towards Park Nam Ki.

RFA: Are retired high-ranking officials managed separately?

Ryu: If you are a person who holds a lot of secrets, for example, if you work in Office 39, you know everything about the flow of funds, Kim Jong Uns relationship with his funds, how large the fund is, and what happened to the fund. For example, (former minister of state security) Kim Won Hong knows 100% how the director of Ministry of State Security purged the opposition, how he wiretaps, and everything else. So, we cannot guarantee that these people wont expose what they know if they are released into society.

RFA: People like that have to keep their secrets. Do North Korean authorities treat them well so that they remain silent?

Ryu: Not at all. They only provide a house, and the house is guarded by armed guards. You cant come and go as you please. In February 2019, my father-in-law underwent surgery for a myocardial infarction. My wife heard the news when we were in Kuwait. My father-in-law retired after that.

My wife said she needed to go home to tend to him, so I told her to go. My wife went home for a month from July to August 2019. When she went and looked at the house my father-in-law received, there was no closet. She went to the distribution center with my mother-in-law and she received 2 kilograms of potatoes as a six-month food ration. So, together they received a total of 4 kilos for the entire six months.

If I were to live my life again, I would want to live as an ordinary person. High-ranking officials already have one foot in hell. You dont know when you will die. Living in peace is better.

We were constantly bugged, monitored, and followed. What kind of freedom is that? What kind of life is that? My father-in-law left work at 11:00 p.m. I once asked why officials regularly left work that late. He said he was waiting because the marshal (the sitting leader) might call. You have to be consistent in waiting all the time. He said, When the great leader is calling you, how can you just answer that call at home?

RFA: But arent there benefits and privileges to being in the elite?

Ryu: People think that North Koreas high-ranking elites and Kim Jong Un share a common of destiny, but thats not true. The first people to be executed are the North Korean elite when they make a tiny mistake against Kim Jong Un.

Hyon Yong Chol, minister of defense, was executed by firing squad for dozing off a little at a convention. Does that make sense? He was about 70 years old. After walking around and inspecting the military base, wouldnt it be normal to doze off a bit? It doesnt make sense to shoot someone in his 70s just because he fell asleep. I think it is a misconception to think the elites have a similar destiny as the leader.

Of course, we must strike down the main culprits (of the North Korean governments crimes), who take the lead in executing and oppressing North Korean residents along with Kim Jong Un. But we cannot strike down all the elites all together.

These people did not do it because they wanted to. There are some among these people who are instigators and others who reluctantly follow instructions from above. People like this are pulling more people to their side.

I think it is very important to advance unification and achieve a peaceful settlement on the Korean Peninsula after unification. In that respect, I would like to emphasize once again that the lives of officials are not very luxurious.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong.
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
Challenges and Strategies in Building and Leading Diverse Teams (Photo : Pixabay)

Diversity is not just a moral or ethical criterion in the workplace. It is essential for achieving success in today's businesses. Diverse teams bring a variety of viewpoints that the organisations can capitalise on. This results in better innovation and decision-making. But there are challenges in developing such teams and leading them.



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This blog will look at these issues and discuss methods for building and leading diverse teams. The insights can be helpful for those enrolled in Leadership Courses as they help with the improvement of the Leadership Qualities needed to manage diversity.



Table of Contents

Understanding the Importance of Diversity



Identifying Common Challenges



Strategies for Overcoming These Challenges



Implementing Best Practices for Team Building



Evaluating and Adjusting Strategies



Conclusion



Understanding the Importance of Diversity

Diversity involves more than gender, ethnicity, or age; diversity is described by attributes like educational background, cultural upbringing, religious beliefs, and professional experiences. A diverse set of views will make for a more creative and better problem-solving team. What the studies do show is that in most cases, the performance of a diverse team is better than homogeneous team's-more so when the tasks call for creativity and invention.



Identifying Common Challenges

Building a diverse workforce is just the first step. Managing diversity properly will be the actual test. Among the most typical difficulties are:



Communication Barriers: Language, dialect, and cultural expression disparities can cause communication problems for diverse teams. This can lead to misunderstandings, resulting in disagreements or non-aligned objectives.

Cultural Misunderstandings: The influence of cultural backgrounds can be a factor that leads to differences in attitudes and behaviours among team members. This is bound to cause inadvertent disrespect or conflict, unless realised with proper consciousness and respect paid to those differences.

Opposition to Change: There will be those in the team who would not want to change or have diversity programs on the grounds that they consider change as a threat or simply because diversity might mean more competition or threats to the group dynamics.

Integration Challenges: It may not be easy to ensure that each team member feels appreciated and involved. This can make the minority members feel out of place because they think they are under-represented or marginalised in their team.



Strategies for Overcoming These Challenges

Leaders can employ various tactics to address these issues:



Inclusive Leadership: Leaders must make diversity a priority, which entails fostering a diverse hiring process and setting up an inclusive workplace where every team member feels free to bring their unique contribution.

Effective Communication: Proper communication will require clear channels of communication. This means surmounting linguistic or cultural barriers by providing language support, communication via clear plain language, or visual help through pictures and demonstrations.

Education and Awareness Training: Continuous training on the need for sensitivity and competency in culture will help to minimise miscommunication and instil respect among team members.

Establishing an Open Culture: Promoting a culture where discussing differences and difficulties is acceptable, and feedback is solicited and appreciated can aid in developing respect and understanding between people.



Implementing Best Practices for Team Building

Apart from overcoming challenges, leaders can use proactive steps to build productive, diverse teams:



Comprehensive Recruitment Strategy: Aim to recruit from a diverse skill pool. This entails searching outside the customary hiring channels and considering applicants with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Organised Onboarding Procedures: A comprehensive onboarding procedure can help with the smoother integration of new team members. This will involve training on the values and how the organisation works, together with meet-up sessions with the rest of the team to introduce an understanding of their values and culture.

Frequent Team-Building Exercises: Team-building activities can be a potent force in breaking down barriers between team members while promoting trust. Members will be able to freely participate and demonstrate their talents during these inclusive activities.

Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs: Such strategies may generate feelings of support to the minorities in the organisation. Pairing them with senior employees gives them the required support to help them navigate their careers within the company and gain the opportunity to get the right exposure required for them to succeed.



Evaluating and Adjusting Strategies

It is of great importance that the leaders assess their programs on diversity at regular intervals for effectiveness and, wherever possible, make changes to them. This could include holding frequent feedback meetings with team members, monitoring diversity measures, and assessing the team's performance with respect to diversity objectives.



Conclusion

Although there are obstacles involved in creating and managing diverse teams, they are greatly outweighed by the advantages. Leaders may help their teams reach their maximum potential and drive their organisations toward increased success and innovation by implementing thoughtful initiatives into practice and cultivating an inclusive culture. Leadership courses evolve along with leadership qualities to meet the needs of a varied workforce. This way, novice and seasoned leaders can learn how to manage and capitalise on diversity.


Shortly after the Taliban seized power, Russia addressed the question of whether it was time to review the militant group's status as a terrorist organization.

"It is very important to see what the Taliban's first steps in governing Afghanistan will be like," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 30, 2021. "Conclusions can be formed after this."

Two and a half years later -- despite the Taliban's failure to deliver on its promises to form an inclusive government, adhere to basic human rights norms, and prevent Afghan territory from becoming a safe haven for transnational extremist groups -- a mutual enemy appears to be forcing a decision.

Since a deadly terrorist attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group near Moscow on March 22, Russia has increasingly talked up its relationship with the Taliban, which is battling the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) offshoot in Afghanistan that is believed to have carried out the attack.

While the Taliban's government is globally unrecognized, Peskov said last month that Moscow has to resolve "pressing issues" that demand increased dialogue with the militant group, whose leaders are "actually the ones in power in Afghanistan."

Considering the importance Russia places on Afghanistan in maintaining regional security in the face of a rising IS-K threat, boosting engagement with the Taliban holds benefits for Moscow, observers say.

Alec Bertina of Militant Wire, a research outlet that tracks militant groups, says that Russia removing the Taliban from its terror blacklist could be the beginning of a "marriage of convenience."

"As much as it's kind of an amusing idea for Russia and the Taliban to get cozy, it's in their security interest to do so right now," Bertina said. "Given the mutual security threat, and that the Taliban can be used basically to take the hits and casualties that come with fighting IS, it's sort of a no-brainer."

When it emerged in Afghanistan a decade ago, IS-K staged attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its targets included Western forces in Afghanistan as well as the Taliban, which opposed the former Afghan government and vied with IS-K for influence among the dozens of extremist groups active in the country.

Since the Taliban took over, IS-K has maintained pressure on the Taliban, whose rule it rejects, and has worked to "make life as difficult as possible" for its de facto government, said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington.

Its attacks against the Taliban, religious minorities, and foreign targets in Afghanistan were designed to "undermine the Taliban's legitimacy in order to convince the Afghan people that the Taliban is unable to provide peace and security in the country," Kugelman told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi.

IS-K has also openly challenged its rival in a sophisticated propaganda campaign, mocking the Taliban government's desire to be recognized by the international community and accusing it of adhering to an "ignorant" brand of Islam.

The group has also increasingly expanded its reach further abroad, including with deadly attacks in Iran, Russia, and Central Asia, a major recruiting ground for IS-K fighters.

"Its main bases are still in Afghanistan, most of its attacks are in Afghanistan, but this is a regional affiliate of Islamic State that has increasingly global goals," Kugelman said of IS-K.

As evidenced by the recent attack on a concert venue that killed more than 140 people and injured hundreds more -- the deadliest terrorist attack on Russian soil in two decades -- Moscow has reason to treat the IS-K with urgency and to forge greater cooperation with one of the group's main adversaries.

"Russian outreach and concessions to the Taliban are likely meant, at least in part, to signal Moscow's confidence in the Taliban's ability to degrade the IS-K threat," Kugelman told RFE/RL in written comments.

The Taliban was designated as a terrorist organization by Russia in 2003, two years after it was pushed from power by U.S.-led forces.

After returning to power, the Taliban initially dismissed the IS-K threat and has insisted that the group is not active on Afghan soil, even as it consistently developed its capabilities to confront the group and destroyed IS-K cells.

Most recently, in April, the Taliban reportedly ordered the creation of a special military unit to fight the IS-K.

But "whatever the Taliban has done against IS-K, it hasn't stopped IS-K from being able to conduct external operations in other countries," Bertina said, noting that it has proved incapable of preventing IS-K's recruitment efforts.

That, Bertina said, has led Russia and other countries to discuss "whether it may be of interest to help [the Taliban] out a little bit in their fight."

Moscow's de-listing of the Taliban from its terror blacklist, Bertina said, could pave the way for Russia to potentially "start giving the Taliban resources to better fight IS-K."

Bertina says he envisions a situation in which the Taliban would bear the brunt of the fighting on the ground in Afghanistan, with Russia providing intelligence. Russia would be unlikely to "be too vocal" about direct raids on IS-K in Afghanistan, "considering the uncomfortable history Russia has regarding counterterrorism operations when it comes to countries like Afghanistan."

Kugelman also sees value in Russia cooperating with the Taliban on the counterterrorism front, citing the Taliban's "willingness and capacity to carry out scorched-earth ground campaigns against IS-K."

Russia, while bogged down in its war against Ukraine, could potentially offer the Taliban "arms, money, and even training and advising to help the Taliban do more damage against the IS-K," Kugelman said.
Ukrainians are celebrating their third Easter since Russia's all-out invasion. Authorities urged churchgoers to avoid vigils due to a nighttime curfew and the danger of Russian air strikes. Liturgies took place at Kyiv's most famous Orthodox centers -- St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves. Greek Catholics -- members of a church aligned with the Vatican -- celebrated at their Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.


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In 2019, when Donal Kilduff was elected as a new councillor, he was naturally full of enthusiasm to deliver key projects in the Athlone Municipal District.

Over his tenure, Cllr Kilduff feels he has played an important role in delivering numerous projects to local communities, including town and village renewal plans in Lecarrow and Knockcroghery, as well as drainage schemes in Toberdan, Knockskehan, Knockanyconnor, Carna, and the Lecarrow scheme, which is set to commence this year.

Local communities in the municipal area have also benefitted from significant climate adaptation funding, and you sense the Independent councillors particular satisfaction with a low cost safety scheme which led to road widening on the approach to a local school in his native Glanduff.

Clearly, hes proud of his contribution to these and other projects, and his work on trying to seek solutions on larger scale issues, such as addressing safety issues on the N61 and the crisis at Lough Funshinagh.

But despite being torn on the decision not to seek re-election, his frustration at what he sees as the lack of decision making and autonomy at local authority level dominates a lot of our conversation.

Everything is centralised in the country. So what it takes to get these things done is, somebody has to fill out an application form to apply to the department for sanction and funding to do these things. We as councillors dont get to decide on this stuff.

We can decide that we want somebody to fill out an application form, but thats where the decision-making ends right. We were fortunate to have people in the Athlone Municipal District Office who were very proactive in seeking to draw down as much funds from the department as possible.

His clear interest in highlighting the need for local government reform brought him to the Seanad last November where, along with other councillors around the country, he presented in public hearings on the future of local democracy.

In that Seanad presentation, he called for more significant enhancements of the powers of local elected representatives. The key, he said, is greater autonomy for local authorities.

In his Seanad presentation, he noted: If were going to go to the trouble of holding elections every five years and elect representatives, then those representatives need to have powers to decide on things of local importance.

My experience is that there is very little power to decide on anything.

During our interview, Mr Kilduff is very keen to point out that he had a great relationship with the executive and the council itself.

I am torn. On the one hand, I accomplished a good deal. I set out to improve amenities and conditions for my community and, to a large extent, I achieved that in many respects.

On the other hand, Im just desperately frustrated with the system.

A large part of his frustration is to do with what he sees as the lack of engagement by national stakeholders to help progress what was his main election priority back in 2019  safety issues along the N61.

That was my main priority, and I canvassed the whole of the municipal area in seven weeks.

I had a great team of canvassers and we went to every door and I personally canvassed all the houses on the N61, telling people at the door this is my No 1 priority.

But then you get elected and you set about to deliver what you promised, and it took three years and three months to get a meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland just to discuss that road.

I would say the reason why the meeting took so long to happen is that they were under no obligation to meet, they were not going to be sanctioned for not meeting us.

My view is that a meeting should have been facilitated within three months, and I dont think thats unreasonable.

We discussed the N61 at every council meeting during those three years and three months, because it was between that and Lough Funshinagh, they were the No 1 issues locally. These are the issues that everyone is concerned about here.

So we had locally elected representatives having an input into trying to solve that, but it becomes very frustrating if we cant even get to talk to the people who are instrumental in delivering a solution  those who have the money and the authority to do the work, because we dont have the money and we certainly dont have the authority.

 I thought having gone before the people, and gotten elected in a democratic country, that my mandate would at least allow me to sit down and talk with people who could make stuff happen within a timely fashion.

That has not been my experience.

The irony about the long wait for a meeting with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is that there was very constructive engagement straight away at that meeting, with a commitment to fund a strategic assessment of the N61 from Athlone to Roscommon.

It took another 16 months for that report to be delivered, but TII gave a further commitment to fund a series of interventions on this national secondary road over the course of a number of years to the tune of several million euro.

Two of them  junction realignments near St Brigids GAA and St Johns Church  will be advanced to design phase this year.

Mr Kilduff is very happy about that significant progress, but estimates that it could take another three years for the design and build of these schemes.

That will be eight years after I got elected. Thats what frustrated me. In my view, were three years behind schedule on that, as the meeting should have been facilitated within three months. Thats what I feel is dysfunctional about this system. There was absolutely no reason why that meeting should not have been facilitated within three months.

He points to this N61 episode, which broke his spirit as a councillor, as symptomatic of the wider problems facing local government. I mean, thats typical of what happens at our council meetings. We debate issues, we pass motions and resolutions of the council, and the result is that a letter is either sent to a state agency or a department or a minister and a typical response results in a vague response sometime later.

Thats what happens. The reason were talking about the same issues over and over again is because we cant get constructive engagement with the key stakeholders.

If there was constructive engagement, even if the issue wasnt solved, but if there was constructive engagement, there wouldnt be this repetitive nature of talking about the same issues.

That lack of proper engagement from state agencies is something that frustrated him throughout his tenure, not least with councillors efforts to address the Lough Funshinagh crisis.

Recalling a time in 2020, when he was chairperson of the Athlone Municipal District, he pointed out that a formal request was sent to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to attend a municipal meeting to engage on the issue of Lough Funshinagh.

We were politely told that the OPW does not have the resources to attend municipal meetings. Following his motion and resultant council resolution in November 2020, formal correspondence was also sent to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) seeking a review of the special areas of conservation (SAC) status of Lough Funshinagh.

They didnt even respond to that and we were in the middle of a crisis.

We were hopping up and down as councillors to try and get national stakeholders such as the OPW and NPWS, to meet us, and my view is that they should have been hopping up and down to get meetings with us to do something.

He is of the view that, if councillors had more autonomy in making decisions and were able to advance a flood relief scheme at Lough Funshinagh to a formal process, there would be a much different outcome now even in the face of a legal challenge.

I honestly believe that if a decision had been taken to advance to a formal process in 2016, after the first time there was a crisis at Lough Funshinagh, there would have been sufficient work done that the judge would have taken a different view if it was challenged.

Regardless of the outcome of that formal process, when the emergency struck in 2020, the actions would have had a fair greater chance of survival and standing up in court.

More broadly, he believes that when it comes to reform of local government, Ireland needs to look at the Swiss model.

In Switzerland, its not top down, its bottom up. Anything that can be decided at a local level is decided and handled at a local level.

A lot of the power in Switzerland is devolved to local government, and the national parliament only deals with matters of national and international significance.

Despite his frustrations, Mr Kilduffs passion for politics that works and his pride in delivering for local communities is very evident throughout our interview.

However, now that his time in politics is soon coming to end for the time being at least, Cllr Kilduff is looking forward to spending more time with his family and running a very busy construction company.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy broke his tradition since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion and greeted Ukrainians on Easter in a light-colored outfit. His embroidered shirt was full of symbols. Thus, there is still some military details in the look.

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The collar of the Varenyky Fashion milk shirt and several details on the sleeves were adorned with pixels, which directly symbolizes the war. The color of the embroidery was in the usual military style for Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The president posted a video greeting on the holiday on his social media.

It is worth noting that Zelenskyy announced his congratulations on the two Easter holidays that Ukrainians have had to endure since the start of the full-scale invasion in dark colors: a military military shirt in 2022 and a navy blue shirt in 2023.

The brand of the embroidered shirt states that "the ornament symbolizes prosperity and a long and happy life." In particular, it was created according to all the sacred rules, namely without a single knot.

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"The amulet protects against the evil gaze of ill-wishers. The shirt represents our time, decorated with military camouflage," the description of the embroidered shirt with the symbolic name "Volodymyr" reads. Its price is 12500 hryvnias.

"Today, our prayer is for all Ukrainians who are waiting for this dawn, and will certainly see it. They will wait for peace, truth, and God, who will return to the scorched earth, scarred with craters and trenches. He will return with peace, tranquility, flowers instead of mines in the fields. It will come back with children's laughter instead of the roar of air raid alarms. The light that will return to all our God-given land, to all the territories that are temporarily occupied by devils. God will return to Mariupol, to the waste heaps and seashores. It has always been so. It will definitely happen," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

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The President is confident that Russia's crime is not a secret, as well as the fact that Ukrainians fight for the right values. Therefore, Ukraine must eventually win.

"The world sees it (Russia's crimes - Ed.). God knows it. And we believe that God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. Therefore, with such an ally, life will definitely defeat death. Happy Easter to all of you, dear Ukrainians! Christ is risen! He is truly risen!" he said.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In 1981, in what now seems a lifetime ago, I clocked in for a night shift in a Dublin power station. It was Valentines night, a Saturday, and we looked forward to a quiet night. The evening shift had shut down all the turbines except one, with the others on barring, slowly turned by electric motors to prevent uneven cooling and sagging of the main turbine shafts.

One of the men working that night was Blackie Mahon, a genial, pleasant man who pulled his weight and got on well with everybody. He was working an overtime shift, covering somebody elses absence. The station was quiet, with the atmosphere relaxed in comparison to the normal rush as we just monitored the equipment and ensured everything was running as it should.

That all changed sometime in the early hours, when the phone rang in the control room. The call was from Central Control, activating the Dublin Disaster Plan. The plan was designed to trigger in the event of a major incident, like a train crash, a multiple vehicle accident or a bomb blast. Part of the plan involved ensuring that there was plenty of reserve power on the grid for hospitals, and we were told to bring on more generating capacity straight away.

We fired up the huge boilers, and soon the quietness was replaced by the deafening roar of the giant turbines. Then we got more information, the emergency was a fire in the Stardust Nightclub. Blackie was worried, his seventeen-year old daughter Donna was at the disco. We didnt know what to say, we reassured him that she was probably safe, but at that stage we had no idea of the severity of the fire. That became clearer as we approached the morning, and the engineer in charge sent Blackie home early.

I still feel a shudder when I think of the Stardust fire, but it was good to see the governments belated apology last week, a big improvement on the attitude of the government in 1981.

Putting the record straight is all too late for Donna Mahon and the other victims. Her grave in Sutton Cemetery is close to that of my mother-in-law, and I always pause there when I pass and remember her and all the victims. I can still see Blackies anxious face as he stood in the control room, the concern of a loving father for a beautiful young daughter. May they both rest in peace.
The Pavel Obreja and Hanna Kozeletskas Exhibition

The Mihai Eminescu Cultural Centre in Bucharest, in April hosted a sculpture and painting exhibition of two artists, husband and wife, suggestively entitled April

Kozeletska-Obreja Exhibition Poster

Ion Puican, 05.05.2024, 14:00

The two protagonists of this joint exhibition are sculptor Pavel Obreja, of the Republic of Moldova and Ukrainian, Hanna Kozeletska. A presentation of the aforementioned exhibition in Bucharest has been made by art critic Marius Tita.

Marius Tita: Pavel Obreja is modeling portraits, he is modeling faces. He has brought Brancusi to Bucharest, one of the best portraits I have ever seen. Next was the statue of Eminescu. A small bronze statue forged with his own hands by a young man who has just celebrated his 33rd anniversary.

Here is sculptor Pavel Obreja with more on this exhibition entitled April

Pavel Obreja: Ive come here from the south of the Republic of Moldova. I came to Bucharest with an exhibition entitled April. Its a joint exhibition of mine and my wifes, Hanna. Why April and why Bucharest? Because I met Hanna in Bucharest in April. And we came here with 22 pieces of sculpture and Hanna brought 42 paintings.

But what attracts Pavel Obreja to this sculpture technique?

Pavel Obreja: Mostly I like to show through sculpture how the shadow plays within the volume. This is what I like the most in a sculpture. When we watch a painting for instance, we are only seeing it from an angle. A sculpture makes us move around and see how the shadows play.

Sculptor Pavel Obreja is making a description of his artistic education:

Pavel Obreja: I started to do modeling as early as the college, I graduated from the Chisinau-based Alexandru Plamadeala college. After that I got a degree from the Academy of Music and Fine Arts also in Chisinau, then the PhD in sculpture. I am very much into modeling portraits, you know, because in this way I can see, how the biggest sculptor, who is Mother-Nature is working on a mans face. The changes that I see on a mans face over the years are made by Mother-Nature and I try to transpose what nature has created.

Pavel Obreja has also talked to us about the technique he employs while creating bronze sculptures:

Pavel Obreja: The technique is very complicated and time-consuming. But I very much like the fact that I am doing everything from scratch by myself, from the beginning to the end of the sculpture. And I put all my knowledge into the process, of course.

The sculptor has also shared his opinion about the Ukrainian painter Hanna Kozeletska, his wife.

Pavel Obreja: First Hanna Kozeletska is my wife and also my favourite painter. I hope her art is also appreciated by others as she works in a very special manner. And in her works one can easily notice the school of Kharkiv and Kyiv, as she does both easel and monumental painting. And by combining these two styles, some special effects are obtained.

In the end of our discussion, Pavel Obreja has also confessed about the latest work in the exhibition in Bucharest, the central piece we could say: a portrait of the Romanian painter of international repute, Constantin Brancusi, a portrait entirely worked in bronze.

Pavel Obreja: This portrait has an interesting history, in my opinion. I kicked off this project in Kyiv, while doing my PhD studies, the second PhD. At that time I was seeing what I could call a creation crisis. I started modeling this portrait as I wanted to have one with Brancusi as he was a great sculptor himself, you know. Then I got a couple of orders, so that activity created more activities to say. Then I had to take a break, as I had to deal with some school issues, then war broke out in Ukraine so we had to go. That Brancusi in its first stage, a clay work, remained for a while at the workshop in Kyiv. Then I came back and took it to the Republic of Moldova, where I completed it with fresh powers, so to say. Everything went smoothly with this project and eventually I completed it easily as I saw in it some sort of a sculpture god. I didnt want to create it like a god or something, but everything with this project went smoothly in that direction, you know 

(bill)
Bajaj Pulsar commanded a top spot on this list with the newly launched Pulsar in the 150cc segment  contributing efficiently to total sales

Showing off a perfect blend of performance, stylish looks and better fuel efficiency, motorcycles in the 150-200cc segment commands sizable attention among buyers in India. Following our earlier report on 300cc to 500cc motorcycle sales in March 2024, we now assess sales in the 150-200cc segment. Bajaj Pulsar took the lead as the top choice in the 150-200cc category, a position it has always been in command of, that too by a significant margin.

150-200cc Motorcycle Sales March 2024

The 150-200cc motorcycle segment has posted a YoY growth of 37.42% to 1,49,800 units in March 2024. This was over 1,09,005 units sold in March 2023 relating to a 40,795 unit volume growth. It was however a 3.96% MoM decline when compared to 1,55,983 units sold in February 2024.

Bajaj Pulsar range was once again the leader in this segment with a 41.47% YoY growth to 43,512 units sold in March 2024 from 30,756 units sold in March 2023. It was however a MoM decline of 5.86%. Currently commanding a 29.05% share in this segment, the Pulsar range will grow as new models are planned. At No. 2 spot was the TVS Apache, though sales dipped both on YoY and MoM basis to 34,237 units in March 2024. There had been 36,226 units and 34,593 units sold in March 2023 and February 2024 respectively.

Honda Unicorn accounted for sales of 19,221 units in the past month relating to a 9.73% MoM decline over 21,293 units sold in February 2024 while 3 models from Yamaha followed in quick succession. Yamaha FZ (16,154 units), MT15 (10,697 units) and R15 (10,095 units) saw the FZ post a YoY decline in sales by 15.39% but the MT15 sales escalated by a massive 72.50% YoY along with a 33.16% increase for the R15.

150-200cc Motorcycles Sub-5,000 Unit Sales

Honda SP160 was launched in August 2023 in place of the X-Blade and accounted for sales of 4,815 units in March 2024. This however was a 6.60% MoM decline over 5,155 units sold in February 2024.

Sales increased both YoY and MoM for the KTM 200 to 3,023 units, up 3.70% from 2,915 units sold in March 2023 while it showed even greater MoM growth of 16.36% from 2,598 units sold in February 2024. KTM 200 also headed the company list in domestic markets in March 2024 while it showed off lower exports.

The list also included the Hero Xtreme 160R/200 with 2,937 unit sales in March 2024 which was a huge 2697.14% YoY growth from just 105 units sold in March 2023. MoM sales also improved by 5.76% over 2,777 units sold in February 2024. Lower down the order was the Suzuki Gixxer (1,364 units), Bajaj Avenger (1,234 units), Honda Hornet 2.0 (1,088 units), Hero XPulse 200 (986 units) and Honda CB200X (349 units) along with Kawasaki W175 (88 units).
Bharat NCAP has shared teaser on social media  Announcing that they will reveal safety rating of next batch of cars soon

Last time Bharat NCAP revealed safety ratings was back in Dec 2023. Its been 5 months since we got any new safety ratings from them. But it seems we will be getting next batch of safety ratings soon.

Bharat NCAP Safety Rating Of Next Batch Of Cars Teased

Bharat NCAP, Indias recently launched safety rating and crash testing agency for automobiles, has set social media abuzz with anticipation. The agency, which has already garnered attention with its stellar 5-star safety ratings for Tata Harrier and Tata Safari SUVs, has hinted at revealing results for more cars in the near future.

While Bharat NCAP has not disclosed the names of the upcoming cars under evaluation, speculation is rife that Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai models could be among them. The teaser coincides with Maruti Suzukis imminent launch of the latest iteration of its immensely popular Swift hatchback.

Of particular interest is the safety performance of the new Swift, given its significant presence in the Indian automotive market. Last month, Swift Japan-spec received a 4-star safety rating from Japan NCAP, but the India-spec model is not yet tested. With Maruti Suzukis decision to equip the new Swift with six airbags as standard across all variants, expectations are high for an improved safety rating.

New Maruti Swift Improved Safety With 6 Airbags Standard

The decision to standardize six airbags marks a notable departure from Maruti Suzukis previous approach, where even the top-spec trim levels offered only two airbags. This shift underscores the industry-wide trend towards prioritizing safety features, a move that has been well received by consumers and safety advocates alike.

The forthcoming safety ratings from Bharat NCAP hold significant implications for both manufacturers and consumers. For Maruti Suzuki, a favourable safety rating could further bolster the Swifts appeal and solidify its position as a market leader. Meanwhile, consumers stand to benefit from increased transparency and access to crucial safety information, empowering them to make informed purchasing decisions.

The timing of Bharat NCAPs announcement aligns closely with Maruti Suzukis Swift launch, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings. Whether the new Swift secures a commendable safety rating or not, its status as a beloved icon in the Indian automotive landscape seems assured.

As Bharat NCAP continues its mission to enhance vehicle safety standards in India, stakeholders across the automotive industry eagerly await the next wave of crash test results. With manufacturers increasingly prioritizing safety and consumers demanding greater accountability, the future of Indian motoring looks poised for positive change.
New products such as XUV 3XO, Pulsar NS400 and Force Gurkha grabbed headlines in the first week of May 2024

While there were many important developments in the first week of May 2024, the main focus remained on Mahindra XUV 3XO and Bajajs new flagship, the biggest Pulsar NS400. Heres a quick look at some of the recent developments in the auto industry.

XUV 3XO makes a grand entry

Mahindra has launched the all-new XUV 3XO at a starting price of Rs 7.49 lakh. With multiple segment-first features including Level 2 ADAS and Skyroof, XUV 3XO has potential to emerge as a bestseller. It will rival the likes of Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue and Maruti Brezza.

Biggest Pulsar NS400 launched

The wait for the biggest Pulsar is now over. To sweeten the deal, Bajaj has launched the Pulsar NS400 at an attractive price of Rs 1.85 lakh. Thats around Rs 45k cheaper than Dominar 400. Pulsar NS400 is now officially the most affordable 400cc, 40 hp bike in the country.

New Force Gurkha 3-door, 5-door launched

With an updated equipment list, new Force Gurkha now has better capabilities to take on rivals such as Mahindra Thar and Maruti Suzuki Jimny. The 3-door variant of new Force Gurkha is available at a starting price of Rs 16.75 lakh. The 5-door variant starts at Rs 18 lakh. Bookings are open now and deliveries will commence later in May.

Skoda updates Kushaq, Slavia

One of the key upgrades for 2024 Kushaq and Slavia is 6 airbags as standard for all variants. Kushaq and Slavia already enjoy a high 5-star rating in Global NCAP crash tests. To maintain the sales momentum, Skoda has not increased prices for 2024 Kushaq and Slavia. Starting price is Rs 11.99 lakh and Rs 11.64 lakh, respectively.

2024 Isuzu V-Cross launched

Newer version of the Isuzu V-Cross gets improved styling and new features. However, the 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine is the same as earlier. 2024 Isuzu V-Cross will take on Toyota Hilux. In the future, there will be new rivals such as Mahindra Scorpio Pik-Up and Force Gurkha Pickup.

Mahindra launches XUV700 Blaze Edition

Focus is on achieving a sportier profile, which comes via a range of cosmetic enhancements. A new Matte Blaze Red colour is one of the key USPs. Interior spaces have also been spruced up for a premium feel. Engine options remain unchanged. Mahindra Blaze Edition starts at Rs 25.54 lakh.

Ampere launches new Nexus electric scooter

Available in two variants, the new Ampere Nexus electric scooter starts at Rs 1.10 lakh. It is equipped with a 3-kWh battery pack, with a certified range of 136 km. Users benefit from a comprehensive range of hi-tech features including several best-in-class features.

2024 Harley Davidson Lineup and prices announced

As part of its partnership with Harley Davidson, Hero MotoCorp has announced prices for the 2024 model lineup in India. Prices have been updated across the range. Some equipment upgrades have also been announced for select models. Harley-Davidson range in India starts with the Nightster, which is now available at Rs 13.39 lakh.

2024 Swift bookings open

New 2024 Maruti Swift is expected to be launched soon. Official bookings have commenced for a token amount of Rs 11,000. New Swift gets a comprehensive range of updates including a new 1.2-liter Z series, 3-cylinder petrol engine. 2024 Swift is expected to be launched at a starting price of Rs 6.50 lakh.

Honda beats Hero in April 2024

In a surprising development, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has beaten Hero MotoCorp in total sales (Domestic + Exports). Honda registered sales of 5,41,946 units, which is 8,361 units more than Hero MotoCorp. While Activa remains the top selling Honda two-wheeler, it is possible that Shine 100cc may have also contributed to the higher sales numbers.

Honda Cars discounts for May 2024

Some attractive discounts and offers have been announced for Honda Cars in May 2024. These are applicable on City sedan, City e:HEV hybrid, Amaze and Elevate. Users can access discounts of up to Rs 1.15 lakh.

Bajaj aiming for major disruption with CNG bikes

In a recent interview, CEO of Bajaj Auto, Rajiv Bajaj, had talked about the ever-increasing cost of two-wheelers. Rajiv said that the high cost of two-wheelers was making them inaccessible to a large segment of users. Stricter emission norms and safety features and high GST were responsible for the price hike. As a solution, Bajaj is working on multiple CNG bikes. These are expected to benefit users via reduced running cost.
Orest Drymalovsky, host of Vkna.Novyny, and recently a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, answered his subscribers' questions about the biggest threat at the front. The hero called on Ukrainians to donate furiously, as the military is in dire need of help.

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The presenter joined the Armed Forces in February this year, completed a basic military training course that lasted more than a month, and is currently serving in an airborne assault brigade in Donetsk region. The soldier sometimes communicates with his followers on Instagram.

So, when asked about the threat on the front line, he listed the risks the military face most often.

"FPV, artillery, GABs (guided aerial bombs - ed.). Drones have completely changed the course of hostilities. Now every vehicle is vulnerable," the fighter said.

He asked his subscribers to donate to the cause of electronic warfare equipment. According to the warrior, they are most needed now.

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Speaking about his emotional state, the Ukrainian called it similar to a "swing." One day he can laugh until he cries, and the next morning he does not want to talk to anyone.

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The famous Ukrainian actress Darya Leheida, who practically never left the TV screens before the full-scale war (The Serf, The Worst Friend, Daughters and Mothers, There Were Two Sons, The Artist), has starred in a feature film for the first time - the tragicomedy The Easter Egg, which is already being shown in Ukrainian cinemas. We met the actress at the premiere of the film in Kyiv.

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In an interview with OBOZ.UA, the actress spoke about her life during the war and her husband, the famous actor Dmytro Sova, who defended the country last fall.

- Is it true that The Easter Egg is your first film on the big screen?

- It's not my first feature film, but it was the first one to be released. Before that, I starred in the movie Our House on Fire directed by Olesya Biletska. It is also about the present, the beginning of the war. Now this movie is being edited, and soon we will see it too. "Krashenka" appeared earlier, and it turns out that this is my first appearance on the big screen.

-How many times have you seen the film, given that you traveled aroundUkrainewith pre-premierescreeningsbefore the movie was released in cinemas?

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- I have already seen the movie four times, and each time it was exciting. I love this movie a priori and probably cannot be completely objective about it. But we receive extremely sincere and powerful feedback after the screening from viewers who watched the film with us in different cities of Ukraine. And in Kyiv, people came up to me after the movie in the same way. I didn't see any flattery or anything else. I think everyone was very sincere and really impressed by the movie in a good, kind, warm way.

- Tell us about your favorite moments in the movie. There are a lot of warm scenes.

- What I like about the movie is that it is very well built on interesting details, as you rightly noted, small but important. Sometimes they are intimate, tender, and touching. There are quite a few of them in this movie. We had a very sociable atmosphere on the set, and this was reflected in the film.

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My favorite line is the stories of the main characters who are children. When my teenage son, like a real man, tries to calm his beloved down during missile attacks. And he does it in the only way available at the time - through dance. Or when she tells him that she has to leave Ukraine because her parents decided to do so for safety's sake, and after a heartbreaking goodbye, he shouts after her that the war will not last forever: "I know it will end soon!". Such scenes just break your heart. I also really like the moment when Stas Boklan's character desperately declares about the Russian occupiers that he will "wipe everyone off the face of this world." At this moment, I feel with all my heart how much I am hurt and bitter that our lives have been broken in such a way.

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- It's not the first time you've played together with Stas Boklan, who plays the main role in this film. We met on the set of both The Serf and The Artist. What is Stanislav like off-screen, in real life?

- In The Easter Egg, he is very touching for me - the national hero Ivan Zabiyaka, who dreams of launching a missile at the Kremlin and ending the war. He is a collective image of fighters for justice who resist against all odds. And they are ready to make sacrificial acts for the sake of the future of their children, grandchildren and the whole country.

I really like Stas as a person. He is bright, kind and big-hearted. He's not a grump like the one in the movie (laughs). He loves his country, his family, and his acting very sincerely. I respect his position that he chose in communicating with journalists: not to give interviews and comments. And to be honest, I understand him to some extent. Sometimes there is indeed a problem with the competence of journalists: sometimes you watch a report or read an article and are surprised to find that the conversation was about something else entirely. This is how the desire to give interviews disappears. Plus, many of us want to protect everything related to family and personal life.

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- How did you get the job at The Easter Egg?

- I saw a post on Facebook by casting director Olena Prylipko that auditions were underway. I immediately wrote to her, but she replied that I was not suitable for the role because I was too young. But a few days later I wrote again. She asked me to record my audition. And I was approved.

- I must say that in addition to your bright career in cinema, you have good roles in the capital's Franko Theater, which is experiencing an incredible heyday right now - tickets for performances cannot be purchased for several months in advance.

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- I've always been very fond of the Franko Theater - it belongs to my heart. And I got there, I think, for a reason. This is my path, although it is quite difficult. I can't say that I have an amicable relationship with the theater. As an actress, I would like to develop, to play more often, to have more leading roles. I'm not saying that I don't have them, but I would like to have more. And I hope that everything will work out with my theater.

And if we talk about how much it is blossoming, this is undoubtedly true. Because we have extremely talented actors and incredibly wonderful directors. I think everyone has heard of The Witch of Konotop and other plays by Ivan Uryvsky. In fact, any other play by this director is no worse than The Witch of Konotop. It's just that this one caused such a boom, attracted attention. David Petrosyan's performances are something extraordinary. Dmitry Bogomazov is staging wonderful productions. The theater is reviving, it's about the present, it's modern. It's like a second wind is opening up. And God grant us a long life.

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- Your path to acting, as you said in your interview, was not easy. You didn't enter the university the first time, and for several years you studied another profession. What advice would you give to people who have to start all over again because of the war? How not to lose hope that everything will be fine?

- I must say that my youthful experience and what many Ukrainians are going through now are very different. I am incompetent to give advice to those women who have lost their jobs, homes, or even their country for a while because they had to take their children to a safer place. The only thing I would like to say is that I am with these people with all my heart and all the pieces of my soul, and I think it is extremely important to support such Ukrainians. We are strong, persistent, and do not give up. We have a lot of inspiration to continue living in spite of this damn war. And supporting each other is the most important thing.

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- At the presentation of The Easter Egg in Khmelnytsky, you met your husband, the popular actor Dmytro Sova, who went to the defense of the country at the end of last year and is now serving in the Khmelnytsky region. What was that meeting like?

- Unfortunately, we don't see each other very often now. And now he has been released from the service - we are very grateful for that. And such meetings are extremely important for each of us. You see how it happened: we got married and the war started. We have not been able to live a family life yet. But, you know, even though we are at a distance, we are actually close to each other. I feel his support, and I hope he does too. And we are doing everything we can to make this terrible time easier for each other.

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- How did you take the news that first your father announced to the family his intention to go to defend the country, and then your husband?

- I won't reveal anything new here: every woman, of course, is afraid, worried, and cries first. And these are different stages of denial and then acceptance of the situation. We are only human beings. But, frankly, I didn't expect any other reaction from my dad. I knew he would do exactly what he did. It was clear on the first day of the war. Dmytro had to stay with us, although he wanted to leave right away. He and my dad had their own conversation about the responsibility he should take for my mom and me.

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What else can I say? I can be afraid and worried as much as I want, but most of all I want to support and respect their choice. Because this choice is extremely important in today's realities. If it were not for these men-warriors, I don't know where we would be now. And what would have happened to our country. So, tears aside. If you fight, you will overcome.

- Have you developed any new rituals in your family during the full-scale war? For example, TV presenter Marichka Padalko, whose husband is also in the Armed Forces, told us in an interview that she, her husband and three children have started a rule: every day at a certain hour, the whole family goes on a videocalland talks about their day .

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- We don't have this, because every day doesn't have a clear plan. Dad has flights at completely different times and days (he is a bomber pilot), and Dmytro serves in the same tactical aviation brigade in Starokonstantiniv. You can't schedule calls in advance. We talk to my dad whenever he has the opportunity to call me, and the same goes for Dmytro. My mom now lives in Yaremche. My grandmother stays in Odesa, my aunt in Moldova. We contact each other as soon as we have the opportunity.

How does my grandmother live in Odesa, which is constantly under fire? Like all Odessans, it's hard and scary. But she says it's where she belongs, she doesn't want to leave. I visited her recently, we haven't seen each other for over a year. On the first day I arrived, that terrible tragedy happened, when the Russians launched a missile strike that killed small children... My grandmother, like every Ukrainian now, lives her difficult life in this damn war that our "brotherly" people have arranged for us.

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- What do your father and husband say about the timing of the end of the war?

- We don't talk about it. It seems to me that it is intolerant to ask people who are fighting so hard to win: when will the war end? By the way, this is what specialists who deal with the socialization of soldiers returning from the front to civilian life also say. There is no need to ask: "When will it be over?" "Can it be sooner?" Life is happening here and now. And if you give all your energy to waiting, will you have enough left to just live? And you have to live - in spite of everything. And victory will come. And perhaps it will not even come in the way we imagine. It may come quietly, like a miracle, which we are waiting for. In the meantime, we just need to bring this victory closer every day with our actions - to do what depends on each of us.

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As for wondering when, what, how... To be honest, I stopped thinking about it probably a week after the start of the full-scale war. I felt that it was not for two or three weeks, as one famous "pilot" predicted. I just fought for every day with every fiber of my being - to be able to live and fight.

- Dasha, did you change your surname after your marriage?

- In my marriage certificate, I have a double surname - Leheida-Sova. But this document is the only one. Due to the outbreak of a full-scale war, I did not have time to submit documents to change the data in my passport and other documents. So for now, it's like this.

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- How did the war change you and Dmytro?

- This is a difficult question for me. I don't even know how to answer it. It is very difficult for me to talk about myself, to analyze. It's probably better to ask people who see me from the outside. As for Dmitry, of course, he has changed. Like every man who defends the country. Oh, it's really so hard to talk about it... You know, at some point it seemed to me that he had somehow even faded away. Things like war change a lot. And not in a happy way. He doesn't laugh as much as he used to. And Dmytro is a very cheerful person by nature. He would like to run marathons, which he loves, travel a lot, as he used to do before - he misses these emotions. Warmth, love, communication, and everything that is associated with the simple word "live". Instead, our guys are forced to defend our land with blood and sweat. But life goes on, the only thing is, as I said, I want to see my husband more often.

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Traveling around the country at your own pace is a great way to see new places, get off the beaten path, and get to know non-touristy locations. We offer three interesting options where you can go by car tomorrow.

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Urych - Rozhirche - Bubnyshche

If you are a connoisseur of antiquities and mountain recreation, then this route is for you. Its length is about 100 kilometers.

The tourist route starts from the small village of Urych in the Lviv region. Nearby are the rocks on which the Fortress of Tustan once stood. Today, only ruins remain of it. But the fortress used to guard the trade routes leading from Western Europe to Kyivan Rus, and later to Galicia.

The first mention of the fort dates back to the 12th century, but it flourished during the reign of Prince Volodymyr. By his order, the fortifications were expanded and rebuilt. Unfortunately, the citadel was built of wood, so only fragments of the walls and some artifacts have survived. You can see the finds in the local museum.

The Church of St. Nicholas stands in the northern part of the settlement. It was built in 1911 in the traditional Galician style. Be sure to visit Hlyboke. There is a collection of antiques: furniture, a stove, family photos, and household items from the village. By the way, tours are conducted by locals. It is a pleasure to listen to their memories.

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The next stop is Rozhirche. The main attraction of the village is a cave monastery. The locals call it a "hillfort". Instead of a gate, the shrine is framed by two rocks, one of which has a cross carved into it. In the fifteenth century, hermit monks began to settle here. According to scholars, no more than 20 people lived within the walls of the prayer hall. The church was divided into 2 floors, with cells on the lower floor and the temple on the upper floor.

Excavations have shown that pagan settlements lived on this territory before Christ. They left behind rock paintings, which, by the way, have not yet been deciphered. Unfortunately, the house of God is not protected at all. Therefore, modern images began to appear next to the ancient ones.

The final point of the route is the village of Bubnyshche, founded in the late fifteenth century. Not far from it are the Dovbush Rocks. The cave complex used to serve as a fortress to protect the population. Once upon a time, the stronghold even had a moat, a tower, a gate, and a drawbridge.

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Chernivtsi - Zalishchyky - Nyrkiv

An interesting route where you can fully experience the peculiarities of Western architecture.

We start from Chernivtsi. It's not enough to list all the local attractions in this article. But there is a must-see location. It is the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans. The same famous university that is called the "Ukrainian Hogwarts". The building has become a business card of the city. We recommend that you see it not only from afar but also book a tour.

The next point is Zalishchyky, a district center in the Ternopil region. The first mention of it dates back to 1340, although people lived here even earlier. When the territory belonged to Poland, a real resort flourished here. Wealthy Poles from all over the country flocked here. We recommend visiting the abandoned Brunicki Palace, Saint Stanislaus church, and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

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The final point is Nyrkiv. In the IX century, the ancient Russian settlement of Chervonohrad flourished here. But after another Tatar attack, the fortress fell into decay. Today, only ruins and two Gothic towers remain. Not far from the location is a grotto where a hermit monk once lived. The man was engaged in wood carving all his life. Therefore, his works have been partially preserved here, including a statue of St. Onufriy.

Kamianets-Podilskyi - Kryvche - Khotyn

The route will appeal to fans of chivalric novels and fairy tales. After all, here tourists will find examples of medieval architecture.

In Kamianets-Podilskyi, visit the famous castle. It is perfectly preserved even without restoration. By the way, couples in love have the opportunity to get married on the territory of the fortress. Find more information on the official website.

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In addition to the fort, there are many other attractions in the city. For example, the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, which combines Muslim and Christian cultures. The church has an interesting history. In the XV century, the Poles built a church in the Romanesque style. But soon the settlement was captured by the Turks and turned into a mosque. Decades later, the settlement returned to Polish rule, and the building became a church again.

The village of Kryvche lies on the steep slopes of the Tsyhanka River. The location is known for its cave, which is called Krystalichna. By the way, it is equipped specifically for tourists, not athletes. So if you are not afraid of confined spaces, be sure to book a tour.

The last stop is the Khotyn Fortress. The fortress has survived many sieges, and in the XVI-XVII centuries large-scale battles took place here. The territory of the building is huge. While walking around, be sure to visit the museum of torture. Also, go to the huge well, which is 65 meters deep. Water is still flowing in it.

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If you have a car, you can arrange a busy weekend. So gather a fun company, refuel your iron horse and go on an adventure!

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Technology

Spotlight

Into thin air: How AIs water use could alter watersheds

You might not realize it, but each time you interact with ChatGPT or some other cloud-based artificial-intelligence technology, water evaporates into thin air.

No, the systems that run those models arent boiling water for tea or steaming vegetables. But potable water is frequently used to help cool them down and often evaporates in the process, making it unavailable for downstream uses.

Water is also typically used  and evaporated  to cool the coal, natural-gas and nuclear power plants that generate much of the electricity used by those servers. Water is also needed to make those computers components, particularly the chips that power them.

AI-related water consumption is only likely to get worse as the technologys developers create ever-larger models that incorporate ever more variables and data.

All else being the same, the bigger model, in general, is going to consume more resources and more water, said Shaolei Ren, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UC Riverside, who has studied the technologys water requirements.

Data centers are frequently located near cities. The water used to cool them can mean less water for people, pets, crops and ecosystems, since they all typically rely on the same freshwater sources.

In areas where there are droughts, that is particularly problematic, said Jesse Dodge, a senior research scientist at the Allen Institute for AI.

As Ren and his colleagues found, AIs water usage can add up quickly.

They looked specifically at GPT-3, the large language model OpenAI later revised to serve as the basis for ChatGPT. Training that model took an estimated 1,287 megawatt-hours of electricity, according to a 2021 research paper.

Given that and the average amount of water consumption per kilowatt-hour in the Microsoft data centers where GPT-3 was trained, that process resulted in the evaporation of about 700,000 liters of water just to cool those facilities, according to a research paper from last year that Ren co-authored.

If you factor in the amount of water per kilowatt-hour needed to cool the power plants that provided the electricity needed to train GPT-3, another 4.7 million liters of water was evaporated off-site, according to Rens research.

All told, the 5.4 million liters of water directly and indirectly consumed in training GPT-3 is equivalent to 1.4 million gallons. Thats about the amount of water 13 average American families would use at home over an entire year, according to an estimate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  the difference being that most water used in homes goes down the drain and back into the watershed.

Representatives of OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.

Microsoft declined to directly respond to Rens research. Instead, Sean James, the companys director of data-center research, said in an emailed statement that Microsoft is working on ways to track the energy and water used in training and deploying AI models.

We are also continuing to invest in purchasing renewable energy and other efforts to meet our sustainability goals of being carbon negative, water positive and zero waste by 2030, he said.

That 5.4 million-liter estimate was just the water used in training GPT-3. When people interact with the model  using it to generate text or computer code in whats often called the inference stage  the servers on which it runs also need to be powered and cooled, resulting in additional evaporation. For every 28 interactions people have with GPT-3, about a pint of water gets evaporated, according to Rens paper.

That might not sound like a lot until you consider that ChatGPT, which is based on a refined version of GPT-3, likely fields millions of queries each day. In March, ChatGPTs homepage saw 1.8 billion site visits, according to research firm Similarweb.

Assuming each of those visits resulted in a single query and ChatGPT has the same energy and water requirements as the base GPT-3, those March prompts would have resulted in the evaporation of 8 million gallons of water. Thats about the equivalent of what 73 American families use at home in a year.

For popular generative AI systems like ChatGPT  those that produce text, code or images that mimic what humans create  running them likely consumes more water than training, Ren said.

Cumulatively, theyre a huge number  I think much bigger than the training stage, he said.

However, the training and running of GPT-3 consumed even more water than those estimates account for. Thats because water is also evaporated in manufacturing the servers and chips on which the model was trained and runs. Mining and producing the materials used to build those chips and servers also consumes water.

Unfortunately, there is little data on the amount of water used in making AI chips and servers, so experts say its hard to say how much water is embodied in AI systems.

Theres no public data available for how much water it is, Ren said. We just know its a lot.

Representatives of Nvidia  the company that supplies the server AI processors that dominate the industry and were used in the data centers that trained GPT-3  declined to comment about the water used in creating its chips or consumed in their operation. Representatives of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which makes Nvidias chips, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

By todays standards, GPT-3, which OpenAI released in 2020, is relatively small. Its successor, GPT-4, is estimated to be 10 times larger and to have required up to 48 times as much energy to train. Since water consumption partially depends on energy usage, the newer model likely resulted in much more evaporation than its predecessor.

GPT-3 and GPT-4 are just two of many AI models that have been developed. Their competitors, such as Googles Gemini and Anthropics Claude, also likely consumed copious amounts of water during their own development processes.

Developers and data-center operators can limit the amount of water that evaporates when training AI models and head off local water conflicts, according to Rens paper, on which Pengfei Li, a Ph.D. candidate from UC Riverside, was the lead author. When ambient temperatures are lower, data centers and power plants require less water for cooling. So developers could be more water-efficient by training models at night or in the winter months.

Additionally, developers could train models in cooler or less water-stressed locations, Ren said. If they still need to develop in warmer or water-stressed regions, data-center operators could prioritize those locations for the most power-efficient servers, he said.

Water is a highly localized, regional resource, so we need to look at places case by case to determine whether to train or run AI models in those locations, Ren said.

At least right now, AI developers and data-center operators dont seem to be paying much attention to such concerns, he said. Microsoft, for example, operates data centers in Arizona and Singapore, two of the more water-stressed regions in the world, he noted.

Training AIs in such data centers definitely doesnt make sense for me, Ren said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A murder with Staten Island ties was featured on a Netflix documentary mini-series created by Dick Wolf, the man behind Law & Order.

Homicide: New York, which premiered on March 20, 2024, according to IMDB, told the horrific story of the murder of 46-year-old Eridania Rodriguez in its third episode.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Legislation that gives extra protection to retail workers in New York State is now law, state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) announced on Sunday.

At a press conference in Forest Superette and Bagels  surrounded by Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, members of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation  Scarcella-Spanton shared the news that her bill, recently included in the state budget, was signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Bomb threats made to at least two New York City synagogues were deemed not credible, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Threats of explosives were emailed to two Manhattan synagogues on Saturday, according to PIX11.

A synagogue on the Upper West Side was evacuated out of an abundance of caution and another in Midtown was unoccupied, according to police the report said.

We are actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York. Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.  Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 4, 2024

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said at least four synagogues in Manhattan received bomb threats Saturday, according to a post on X.

We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear and antisemitism, Hochul said on the platform. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.

Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday was expected to announce $400 million in funding to boost security at synagogues, mosques, and churches.

According to PIX 11, police are actively monitoring a number of non-credible bomb threats at synagogues in New York.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A gloomy week looms over Staten Island and the rest of New York City as fleeting storms move in and out of the area.

Todays sprinkling showers and dark clouds will unfortunately carry over into tomorrow, though AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva notes that it wont be a washout.

Therell be showers and a rumble of thunder around, especially during the afternoon, so if anyone has any kind of outdoor plans, theyll just kind of want to keep an eye on the sky just in case of a thunderstorm or shower that comes through the areanot thinking that theres going to be anything severe, DaSilva explained.

Mondays temperatures will hang around the low-to-mid 70s.

On Tuesday, the sun will peek through moving clouds as we dry out for a mild day in the mid-70-degree range. It may very well be the driest weekday we have this week, DaSilva said.

Spotty afternoon thunderstorms are possible as we roll into Wednesday, with a high of 80-degrees expected before Staten Island drops back down into the 60-degree range for the rest of the week.

DaSilva believes that Thursday will be the wettest day we have to contend with this week, as a storm moves east towards us from the center of the country. Temperatures will be in the mid-60s but prepare for thunderstorms and rain dragging from the afternoon into the night.

[It] looks like any kind of severe thunderstorms should stay south of the city there, but we still have to watch just in case any gustier thunderstorm makes its way towards New York, DaSilva said..

Friday, luckily, wont bring as much rain as Thursday will, though those pesky showers and thunderstorms could pop up throughout the day yet again. Similar temperatures from Thursday will follow us through the last day of the work week.

The weekend will bring some more wet weather and nippier temperatures, with Saturday predicted to reach a high of 63 degrees, and Sunday predicted to have a high of 60 degrees. DaSilva says that these temperatures are about 10 cooler than what is typical this time of year.

Overall, its not an ideal week if you wanted to be outside and get work done, but I think that its not going to be a washout, DaSilva said. Itll just be kind of keeping an eye to the sky

For those keeping score, summer is 46 days away.
4 terrorists killed in clash with police in SW Pakistan

Xinhua) 15:55, May 05, 2024

ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Four terrorists were killed in a clash with police on Saturday in Quetta, capital of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, a spokesperson of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police said.

The spokesperson said the incident took place on Saturday night when four terrorists riding two motorcycles attacked a police patrolling vehicle near Sibbi road in the city.

In an exchange of fire, one of the terrorists was killed on the spot, the spokesperson said, adding that the remaining three terrorists entered a building.

Police cordoned off the area and called for additional backup before entering the building and killing the remaining terrorists, the CTD added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Russian propaganda staged a show with dictator Vladimir Putin during an Easter service in Moscow. It is noteworthy that the Kremlin killer prayed to God while Russian drones attacked Ukrainian civilians.

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This blasphemy caused a wave of outrage online, and Putin was compared to Satan. This was written by users of the social network X.

The propagandists said that Putin had arrived at the Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, where he traditionally celebrates this holiday. It is worth noting that the dictator, who allegedly actively promotes family values, for some reason came to the church not with his family, but accompanied by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. In addition to them, at least 7 security guards were caught on camera by the propagandists.

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Social media users said that Putin is Satan and the Antichrist, who only cynically hides behind Christian values. The network also drew attention to Sobyanin, whom the Kremlin killer chose as his companion at the Easter service. People were surprised that Putin had not even gotten a fictitious wife to promote family values more believably.

At the same time, many Russians once again showed their terrorist nature, and were happy that while their dictator was praying in a church, Russian drones were attacking civilian homes. In particular, Russian citizens urged their army to continue killing Ukrainians and destroying civilian infrastructure.

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Earlier it was reported that the Russian occupation forces launched more than a dozen Shahed-type kamikaze drones towards the Dnipro region on the night of Orthodox Easter, May 5. Air defense forces shot down 12 targets, but there was damage to infrastructure in the regional center.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the night of May 5, the Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine with Shahed kamikaze drones. They sent some of the drones to Kharkiv, and there were hits on the private sector in the city.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
In a matter of weeks, the Australian Electoral Commission will drop its draft boundary distribution, which could obliterate a teal seat ahead of next years federal election.

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If the Liberals get their way, Warringah, held since 2019 by teal pioneer Zali Steggall should be merged with neighbouring North Sydney, which was picked up by fellow independent Kylea Tink at the last election.

That could make things a little awkward between the two crossbench comrades. But whatever the AEC decides, Tinks intentions are pretty clear, with the MP, still best known for crusading on climate action while holding fossil fuel shares, amassing quite the little army. Shes recently been accepting applications for a $115,000-a-year campaign manager job on her team with a view to the 2025 election where, if North Sydney even exists, shell be taking on the Liberals pick, Salesforce executive Gisele Kapterian.

The lucky candidate will report to both the MP and Kylea Tink Independent Ltd, a corporate agent set up to support the independent. That companys board of directors includes experienced company secretary Bridget OBrien and trophy home collector Katrina Barter, whose husband Chris Barter who is a former Goldman Sachs Banker and co-founder of technology venture capital group King River.
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 Cassandra Steppacher has welcomed the newest member of her family: a two-year-old black brumby. The horse lover spent 10 days on a camp in northern NSW learning how to handle the wild filly from Queensland, before bringing her home to south-west Sydney last week. Everyone, when I told them that I was bringing a brumby home, laughed at me and said, Yeah sure, youre not going to be able to get a brumby in a float after 10 days of a camp, but she was the best horse Ive ever loaded, Steppacher said. We made one stop at the halfway point, and she was fine to get back on again. Anna Uhrig is the founder of the Brumby Project, which runs 10-day camps to help people learn how to look after brumbies. Credit: Rachel Vercoe Steppacher owns other horses, but this was her first brumby, and she is astounded at how well it has gone so far. The NSW government has stepped up its control program in Kosciuszko National Park, shooting 4791 feral horses from helicopters since October. About 3000 of those are in the past month since it temporarily closed parts of the park. Brumby advocates remain opposed to the killing and argue that rehoming should be a frontline method of population control for feral horses instead.

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Images of dead horses on social media are confronting, and rehomed brumbies are also prized by horse lovers as hardy and naturally socialised. Some people breed them, describing the resulting foal as a brumby or touting its heritage bloodlines. Yet, the reality of rehoming is hard work. Rescue organisations are stretched, while a feral horse population has a natural growth rate of 18 per cent a year. In a further complication, the NSW government suspended its rehoming program in late April, after radio host Ray Hadley alleged 250 rehomed horses went to a person linked to an alleged illegal knackery near Wagga Wagga. The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water hired an external investigator to report by mid-June. In Victoria, a few dozen horses are rehomed each year, mostly from the Murray River and the high country. In NSW, more than 400 wild horses a year are captured and rehomed from Kosciuszko alone. Queensland also rehomes horses where possible. Rehoming by the numbers NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has rehomed 3000 feral horses from Kosciuszko National Park in the past 20 years, and 995 between November 2021 and May 2024.

Initial planning for some trapping and rehoming in Guy Fawkes River National Park in northern NSW has been undertaken.

Parks Victoria has rehomed 46 horses from Barmah National Park and Alpine National Park between January 2020 and November 2023. Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who is chairing a NSW upper house inquiry into aerial shooting, said an upcoming hearing would consider how national park staff vetted rehoming organisations and if they were aware that horses may have been killed.

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Hurst said stopping all rehoming was not fair on rehomers who are doing the right thing, and are looking to save some of these animals from a brutal bloodbath. Animal welfare charity RSPCA wrote in its submission to the NSW inquiry that rehoming was not always the kinder option, as the trapping and transport was stressful and the less attractive animals were often sent to a knackery. In a submission to a Senate inquiry last year, Save the Brumbies Inc advocated rehoming and fertility control, but said it no longer accepted horses from Kosciuszko after a group arrived severely stressed with serious injuries after the long journey in 2021. There were 21 registered rehoming organisations in NSW before the suspension, though not all were active. Australian Brumby Alliance president Jill Pickering said a good operator could generally take about 50 horses a year, and it took three to six months before the horses could be adopted. She said they deserved government funding. Pickering said her members sell the horses for between $800 and $1500 each and were selective about who bought them.

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The risks are that the person who takes the brumby doesnt fully appreciate that theyve got a newly handled wild horse  if they raise their voice and get angry, the brumby will immediately become defensive, and if boxed into a corner will fight, Pickering said. Loading If the owner cant cope, it might result in a crisis rehoming, a premature trip to the knackery or a release back to the wild, though Pickering said this would be rare. Steppacher attended a camp run by the Brumby Project. For $2550, the adoptive owners undertake the early training of the brumby themselves, guided by founder Anna Uhrig. Its a beautiful thing to take on a brumby, but the realities are sometimes a little more tricky, Uhrig said. Uhrig has run camps in Queensland for several years, and has just finished her first in NSW, near Grafton on the north coast, on the property of Rachael Delaney, who already owned several brumbies. In Delaneys experience, older brumbies could be fiercely independent and prickly; the stallions want to fight other males and the mares bite for self-protection. Still, she adopted a 10-year-old mare on the recent camp. She wanted to bite me at first, but now shes such a sweetheart, Delaney said.

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Rachael Delaney hosted the Brumby Project camp on her land, and adopted a 10-year-old mare. Credit: Rachel Vercoe Uhrig is realistic that rehoming is only a small part of the solution and humans must protect native species as well. There comes a point where the market is going to be saturated with brumbies and suitable homes, so what happens then? Uhrig said. A NSW department spokesperson said demand for rehoming was limited, and some rehomers want only horses of a particular size, build, age, gender, colour or temperament. Feral horse numbers In October 2023, the NSW government counted between 12,797 and 21,760 wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park, using a peer-reviewed scientific method called distance sampling. It is legally obliged to reduce this to 3000 by 2027.

Since then, the government has removed 7746 horses by all methods, including 949 by rehoming and 4791 by aerial shooting.

Other NSW landscapes with feral horse populations include Barrington Tops National Park with about 500 horses, Warragamba catchment with about 100, Oxley Wild Rivers with about 200-250, and Guy Fawkes with about 1000-1250 horses. Pickering said rehomers could collectively take about 500 horses a year, and this could be used to manage the Kosciuszko population once it is reduced to 3000, along with fertility darts. She claimed national parks had allowed the numbers build up to justify shooting. Invasive Species Council advocacy director Jack Gough said fewer animals would need to be killed if the government had made the hard decisions earlier.

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FoodMasterChef Recap Andys mum sets the bar low (and the cringe factor high) for this retro elimination challenge Following the departure of judge Jamie Oliver, an even bigger special guest  its Andys mum! And shes brought some daggy dishes with her. Ben Pobjie May 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This recap appears in the MasterChef 2024 recap collection. See all stories .

For the first time this season judges and contestants must cope without Jamie Oliver there to make life worth living. Can they manage a decent performance without the cheeky Cockney there earning more than any of them? Or will they wilt like flowers deprived of sunshine, unable to see the point in either cooking or eating without an English accent to sustain them? Its a two-round elimination, and Andy announces that the first round will be set by a very special guest. Everyone is very excited, and then Andy reveals that its his mum, and everyone stops being very excited. Out comes Andys mum to tell the deflated amateurs that she is a terrible cook and present three of the horrible meals Andy had to eat as a child. These are: the pine-burger (a muffin with tomato paste, ham, cheese and pineapple); an incredibly depressing-looking lamb chop; and fruit salad slice, which appears to be technically a hate crime. The amateurs must cook a dish inspired by one of the atrocities, and presumably by inspired by, they dont mean they can just say, I was inspired to cook something much better than this. The five worst dishes will go into the second round for elimination, but after learning about Andys childhood, they will have the consolation that life could be worse.

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Everyone is working very hard, despite the atmosphere of utter despair that has come over the kitchen ever since Andy brought his mum in. Given this horrifying challenge, the cooks immediately all lose their minds. Alex is making some kind of raspberry fruit roll-up ravioli Frankenstein dessert. Snezana is making carrot and three veg, a baffling concept that seems to break the bounds of decency. Gillian is making three kinds of gnocchi just to annoy everyone. Jonathan, declaring that he is not good at desserts but refusing to listen to himself, has decided to make basically exactly the same slice Andys mum made because the challenge has just depressed him into masochism. Andy

informs him that his dish needs to be MasterChef-worthy, which isnt strictly true: as long as Jonathan doesnt mind going home today, it doesnt really have to be anything. Meanwhile, Juan is concentrating on pulling amusing faces in the absence of any better ideas. Everyone is working very hard, despite the atmosphere of utter despair that has come over the kitchen ever since Andy brought his mum in. The judges gather and Jean-Christophe declares that it is no time for prisoners, a menacing harbinger of violence to come. As time ticks away, the madness only grows. Darrsh tells Jean-Christopher hes browning the bones. Jean-Christophe backs away, afraid to ask whose bones they are. Jonathan trots sadly around the kitchen holding a white chocolate sphere, believing it to be his baby. We want to see the mother of all dishes! Sofia yells, before angrily berating the writers who feed her lines into her earpiece for letting her down.

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Alex declares herself stoked with her fruit gel, proving once again that her bar for happiness is frighteningly low. Meanwhile, Snezana wonders whether her dish will supply the delicious flavour of lamb, given theres no lamb in it. Time is up and the judges, unspeakably brave as they are, agree to put the contestants food in their mouths. The worst five are: Jonathan, who froze his cake solid and couldnt get it out of the tin; Harry, who forgot that cooking lamb traditionally involves the application of heat; Nat, who made the same mistake with her pastry; Gillian, who discovers that three kinds of gnocchi is over-ambitious when you cant even do one properly; and Darrsh, who made that

classic mistake that so many people make when preparing a sauce: making it taste disgusting. Andys mum gives a little speech advising the amateurs to be yourself, causing them all to resolve to always do the opposite, and then Andy tells her to get the hell out, and the Bad Five must now cook for survival, while the remainder join the winners of last weeks service challenge to stand on the balcony like Michael Sheen in Twilight, judging all below them.

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The second round is simple: the Bad Five must cook a dish inspired by, and/or containing parts of, their families. Drawing upon memories of varying levels of happiness, they get to work, knowing that failing to do justice to their loved ones could result in the ultimate punishment of having to see them again. Four of the amateurs immediately grab a pressure cooker, but find they wont fit inside, and decide to use it for cooking instead. Its a day for surprises. Oh, says Gillian, Ive got chillies in my pocket. But the question is, will the spice make up for the fact that texturally, her pocket can be a little chewy? Jonathan, meanwhile, has decided to pull out the big guns, cross-cutting to a photo of himself as a baby with his nonna. The other cooks shudder, afraid theyll never match that level of nostalgic cuteness. The judges discuss families. Jean-Christophe reveals that he grew up being slapped on the head regularly. Poh worries that there is a danger of falling into memories, but she probably just got memories confused with soup. With 15 minutes to go, Jonathan, Darrsh, Gillian and Nat are stressed, while Harry is fairly chilled, knowing that since hes barely been seen in this challenge, theres no way hes going home. The moment of truth arrives. The amateurs take the lids off their pressure cookers, suffering severe steam burns. Jonathans ragu is disappointing. My heads going all over the place, he admits, after a shocking accident with a cleaver. Harry, on the other hand, has some moist ravioli if you know what I mean. Nat is asked whether shed like to use her immunity pin, but such sickening cowardice is not in her nature.

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But as entertaining as blind panic is, the time comes to once more watch people eating food. They eat Darrshs brinjal curry, which has eggplant in it but is good anyway. They eat Harrys nonnas ravioli, and are disappointed with his broth, which has been spoiled despite only having one cook. If theres holes in your dish, it leaves you vulnerable, says Andy, and hes right: your food can fall onto the floor for a start. They eat Gillians thit kho, a traditional Vietnamese dish with pork belly and quail eggs. It shows a lot of growth, says Poh, which is disturbing, but despite the fact the dish is apparently alive, they love it. They eat Nats moo paloo, a Thai dish also with pork belly. The rice is dense, but then it never had a decent education. Otherwise, it is basically fine. Finally, they eat Jonathans nonnas beef ragu pappardelle, which is served with a tearful anecdote on the side. The ragu is uncooked, and the pasta is clumsy, exposing it to cruel taunts in the playground. I dont think my MasterChef journey will ever be over, said Jonathan. Supplied Harry and Jonathans dishes are the worst, resulting in a tense Nonna Versus Nonna Face-Off. In the end, it is Jonathan who has disgraced the nation of Italy slightly more, and so he must go home. This mightve been your last day in the kitchen, but youve cooked us something from your heart and from your home, says Poh, which, given that what he cooked was a terrible failure, seems like rubbing it in. I dont think my MasterChef journey will ever be over, says Jonathan, extremely incorrectly. And so Jonathan wanders aimlessly off into the distance. Tune in tomorrow, when a mystery box causes terror and devastation.

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Icebergs Bar + Kitchen will open in mid-2025, serving coffee and Italian breakfasts to the jet set crowd.

Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is the first Sydney stop for many of the citys visiting jet set. Now the restaurant will be even closer to the tarmac, with the impending arrival of a spin-off venue at Sydney Airport.

Icebergs Bar + Kitchen will open in mid-2025 at Terminal 3. The iconic Bondi restaurants first licence agreement is a collaboration with food and beverage operator Airport Retail Enterprises.

Carl Pickering, the Rome-based architect who crafted the Bondi restaurants handsome lines, has already drawn up plans for the airport venue. In some ways its even more beautiful [than Bondi], veteran Icebergs restaurateur Maurice Terzini says. The brief was to capture the Icebergs DNA. Its really elegant, and picks up on the same colours.

Its not going to be a restaurant, says Maurice Terzini of his new venture. James Brickwood

Icebergs has received countless awards and was anointed by English TV food presenter Nigella Lawson as her favourite restaurant in the world. Terzini is conscious hes swapping a passing trade of joggers and surfers for suitcase-wheeling commuters.
Interior designer Jane Baker, director of Isla Design, and her two sons, Sam Bristow, 21, and Jack Bristow, 19.

Jane Baker and sons Jack (seated) and Sam enjoy a morning coffee at the vintage French dining table. A large rattan chandelier from Isla Design hangs over the table. Credit: Jennifer Soo

Contemporary interiors delicately reference the whimsical decorative style of the late 19th century in this historic harbourside home.

This story is part of the May 5 edition of Sunday Life.

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The house had been well loved but was a bit of a leaky ship, says Baker. I re-plastered, repainted and updated the kitchen and bathrooms in a style

I thought reflected the original house.

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My favourite room

The living room is so cosy, especially in the winter when the Jetmaster fireplace is on, says Baker. The vintage rug was the starting point for the colours I chose in here, and the cushions feature my designs inspired by Indian Mughal patterns.

The hood

Birchgrove is a hidden treasure, says Baker. Its so close to the city and the village atmosphere of Balmain, but very peaceful, like a village within a village. Its a breathtaking spot.

Future plans
A body has been found in waters near Sydney Heads after a frantic search for a man who went overboard during an Elvis-themed cruise.

Police received reports from the Pacific Adventure cruise ship at 4am on Monday that a person had gone missing in waters some 10 nautical miles from the Heads.

A vessel seen from the Pacific Adventure during the search for a missing passenger.

The P&O vessel was due to dock at White Bay in Sydney on the final day of a three-night Elvis tribute voyage complete with themed parties, karaoke and trivia, but was delayed as rescue teams searched for the missing man.

About 10.30am, officers attached to Police Marine Area Command located the body of a man, and it was retrieved, a police spokesperson said.
Responses to the spate of knife crime in NSW should heed community needs and successful policies overseas, youth justice experts say.

They caution against reactionary policies following attacks at Bondi Junction and Wakeley and, in the past week, the stabbing deaths of a 10-year-old at her Lake Macquarie home and 22-year-old man at Coffs Harbour.

In NSW, knife crime is declining

Assault and robbery offences involving a knife are dominating headlines, but data from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show such incidents are at a 20-year low: about 1500 were recorded in 2023, compared to more than 4200 in 2004.

Among under-18s, the number of recorded offences has been more stable, although there was a spike in minors charged with robbery with a knife during 2020 and 2021. However, the rate of offending has declined relative to the states increased population.
Two off-duty NSW Police officers used their service firearms to die by suicide between 2020 and 2023, and the force has held more than 20 investigations into the possession of firearms by off-duty officers in the past five years.

Police also said almost 1700 potential recruits were sent for an interview with the psychological unit over the same period after an issue was flagged in their psychometric test, but only 66 of those were knocked back.

An alleged double murder by a NSW Police officer with his service pistol in February raised questions about how well the force tracks police firearms, especially when they are in the possession of off-duty police, and how effectively it scrutinises potential recruits for psychological issues.

Former senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of checking his pistol out of Miranda police station for an extra shift, using it to murder Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, and then returning it to a station a few days later, all without suspicion.
Constitutional law expert George Williams AO has been named the new vice chancellor of Western Sydney University.

Williams will depart his role as deputy vice chancellor transformation, planning and assurance at the University of NSW to take up the position in mid-July.

Professor George Williams AO, the new vice chancellor of Western Sydney University.

Prior to that appointment, Williams held a range of roles at UNSW, including serving as dean of the law school.

He is recognised as one of Australias foremost experts in human rights and constitutional law, appearing before the High Court and co-authoring the leading constitutional law textbook.
The owner of a cafe in Melbournes north-eastern suburbs that was sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting early on Sunday morning says he has no idea why his family business was shot at.

Ivanhoe East cafe Picket Fence was closed at the time and no one was inside when the shots were fired from a car.

Cafe owner Fidel Takla surveys a bullet hole at his cafe. Credit: Chris Hopkins

It is understood a vehicle stopped in front of the business before several shots were fired at a cafe on Lower Heidelberg Road just before 6am, police said in a statement.

No one was inside the cafe and no one was injured.
You don't have to go abroad to feel the atmosphere of Europe. It is worth planning a trip to the west of our country. There, on the border with Romania, is a "little Vienna". Today we will talk about it. However, we will not talk about typical locations but about those that are hidden from the eyes of tourists.

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Read below to find out what to see in Chernivtsi.

Jewish cemetery

The city is famous not only for its university but also for its old Jewish cemetery, which, by the way, is the largest in Europe. This unusual place attracts travelers with its mystical appearance. Here, in addition to stone tombstones, the ceremonial hall is well preserved. Graceful bas-reliefs have also survived.

The first burials in the cemetery took place in 1866. Since then, about 50,000 thousand people have been laid to rest here. Interestingly, only a small percentage of the monuments are made in the traditional manner. The rest differ in shape, style, and material. There are mausoleums, obelisks, stelae, and sarcophagi.

Each of the monuments reflects the life of the deceased person. It is easy to trace the person's preferences and level of education, or to which political elite they belonged. Famous sculptors worked on the tombstones. Among them is Bernard Reder and others.

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So if you like gloomy places and mystical stories, come here.

Skansen

The location is rarely visited by tourists for a good reason. It is here that you can go on a time travel. You won't be able to go back to the prehistoric era, but 200 years ago is quite possible. The architecture and life of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are recreated here. On the territory of the museum, there are models of a forge, an inn, several windmills, folk huts and a church.

Each element of the exhibition is realistically placed. Sometimes it may seem that life is still in full swing here. The emphasis is on the heritage of Bukovyna, but there are also other ethnographic samples. Here you can also get to know the customs of Khotyn, Podnistrovia, Hutsul, and Prykarpattia.

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By the way, there are places for recreation on the territory of the skansen. Tables with benches are compactly arranged among the branched trees. There are also stumps that serve as chairs. So, when you go here, feel free to bring some goodies with you. It is not forbidden to organize picnics.

Themed excursions and festivals are often held here, as well as theatrical performances of traditional Bukovyna weddings. You will not be bored.

Malevich's "Black Square"

The painting is known all over the world, and the monument dedicated to it was erected only in Chernivtsi. So every visitor to the city should visit the installation. The exposition is interactive and slightly different from the classic masterpiece. A small red ladder is attached to the canvas, which, according to the author's idea, is needed to climb up and write wishes.

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The sculpture was unveiled on the centenary of the artist's Black Square in 2015. The initiator and ideological mentor was Anatolii Federiko. The man is sure that we must remember that Kazymyr Malevich was a Ukrainian artist of Polish origin. So we should not forget about this fact.

Turkish Square

Nowadays it is St. Mary's Square. It is one of the three squares that has survived in the city since ancient times. It can still recall the horrific events of the Golden Horde period.

The square is a sacred place for Chernivtsi residents. It is here that the oldest spring is located, which was once called the "Panska Krynytsia" (Pan's Well), and then the "Turkish Well". But it is not the name that matters but its role. It has been providing water to the residents for centuries.

They did not go there because of their religious beliefs, as one might think at first. The fact is that the water in Chernivtsi is too deep. The problem was solved only with the development of technology. Repeated attempts by the locals to find at least a small stream have never been successful.

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Over time, people accepted this fact and completely gave up digging wells. Instead, they went to the only spring that never faded and gave Chernivtsi residents hope.

By the way, when you're here, pay attention to the Jewish mikvah and the Church of the Assumption of Mary. The latter is located not far from the square.

Heart of Love

For romance, go to Taras Shevchenko Park. There, among the lush greenery, is an unusual monument with a swing in the middle.

The sculpture was installed on Valentine's Day in 2006. Since then, the place has become a favorite among newlyweds. No wedding is complete without a visit to this location. And no wonder. Taking a picture near such beauty, especially on a memorable day, is a must.

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A bridge leads to the installation, and a wrought-iron bench is located nearby. Traditionally, couples hang locks on them, but it is unknown where the keys go.

Chernivtsi is multifaceted and amazing. So do not ignore the city and plan your next trip here.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
When Melbourne investor James Baillieu first heard about Russias invasion of Ukraine his world ripped, he says.

The 54-year-old member of the well-known Melbourne family the Baillieus has had a deep connection with the region since visiting Russia in a spirit of adventure in 2019.

Businessman James Baillieu will leave for Ukraine this month. Credit: Justin McManus

I felt horror and decided to try and do something. I was stunned that people I had become friendly with were indirectly associated with this, he said.

The activist investor and writer will visit Ukraine this month in a rare example of a direct intervention of an Australian into a war he says many of us have forgotten about.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community of Perth has condemned the actions of a 16-year-old boy who is thought to have converted to Islam and become radicalised before he stabbed a member of the public in Willeton on Saturday night and was later shot dead by police.

Imam of one of Perths largest mosques, the Nasir Mosque, Imam Syed Wadood Janud, told media on Sunday the incident was particularly upsetting as they had lost a member of their mosque in the Bondi stabbing incident three weeks ago.

Imam Syed Wadood Janud.

It is not only concerning, its shocking, and I think members of the community are still coming to terms with it, he said.

We condemn any act of violence which is committed in our name, in the name of our religion. Our religion literally means peace.
Three minutes after the first triple zero call from a person at the scene, three police officers arrived at the Bunnings car park and found the boy running around with a large kitchen knife. Two officers drew their Tasers, a third drew his firearm and ordered him to drop the weapon. The teen lunged at two officers, who both deployed their Tasers, however the boy was wearing baggy clothes and was not brought down. When he lunged at the third police officer, he was shot. The Bunnings car park where the teenager was fatally shot. Credit: Rebecca Peppiatt Blanch said the teen had a complex mental health history and was taking part in a rehabilitation program for people who had been radicalised online.

He had been in the program since he was 14. We believe he was very much acting alone. We do not believe there was a network involved, he said. Blanch declined to declare the event a terror incident. If I need extra capability, particularly from the Commonwealth, sometimes you would see a terrorist act be declared very early, he said.

Because this is a person acting alone, I dont need additional capability at this time. Whilst it meets the criteria, or at least the definition [of a terrorist act], thats something we can work towards as we find out more information from the motivations behind this. It would be too early for me to act now because I dont have the concerns of a broader network that might be involved. A man aged in his 30s, not known to the teenager, was stabbed in the back before police arrived. Its understood the man was exiting a nearby 24-hour gym when he was attacked. He is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The Bunnings store has been closed for the day. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the community violence extremism program the teenager was taking part in was based on a neo-Nazi program in the Netherlands and focused on de-radicalising people. Loading This individual may not have done anything that would have enabled police to do anything other than get him into this program, he said. The incident comes weeks after a teenager is alleged to have stabbed a Sydney church leader during a livestreamed sermon.

Official sources briefed on the investigation said the alleged assailant in the church stabbing was part of a loose network of teenagers who communicated on encrypted apps. The federal sources, who were authorised to publicly disclose details of the briefing, said counter-terrorism police believed some members of the group were engaging with radical Islamic material. Blanch said this type of event in Perth was very rare. I know we have seen incidences of it, but we have a very large population in Australia and we dont see these types of attacks almost ever really, he said. So my message for community is one of assurance. We live in one of the safest places in the world. This is a tragic and sad event  one is too many, but we do live in a safe place. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended his thoughts to the people impacted by the incident in Willetton.

I have spoken with WA Premier Roger Cook this morning, and I thank the WA Police for acting swiftly to contain the incident, he said. I have also received a briefing on the situation by the ASIO director-general and the AFP commissioner, and Im advised there is no ongoing threat to the community on the information available. We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia. Cook will hold a meeting with multi-faith community leaders later on Sunday. The Australian National Imams Council described the incident as tragic and said its Perth members will continue to assist the authorities as required.
Students and staff at Rossmoyne Senior High School will be provided with support following the police shooting of one of their schoolfellows in Perth, principal Alan Brown said on Sunday as he informed the student body.

He wrote to parents and carers to inform them with great sadness that a young person from the school had died.

The scene in Willetton. Credit: Nine News Perth

We acknowledge and respect the familys right to privacy. Our thoughts and sympathies are with them and their friends during this difficult time, he said, adding that support would be provided for as long as necessary.

Police shot dead a teenager armed with a 30-centimetre kitchen knife in a Bunnings car park in Willetton on Saturday night.
WA Police have arrested and charged a third man allegedly involved in the violent home invasion against an elderly Girrawheen couple two weeks ago.

Police had been looking for 36-year-old Joel Painter, who along with Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan, 43, and another man, allegedly attacked and robbed Ninette and Philip Simons in their home.

A man arrested over a violent home robbery of elderly Perth couple Ninette (pictured) and Philip Simons had been released from immigration detention last November as part of a controversial High Court ruling. Credit: Composite image

WA Police allege the men posed as police officers and said they had a warrant to search the home for stolen gold.

Philip, 76, said they tied him up, while 73-year-old Ninette, a recent cancer survivor, was allegedly assaulted, telling media she had thought she was going to die.
Chinas top diplomat pushed for Papua New Guinea to sign a policing agreement with Beijing during a trip to Port Moresby last month, forcing Australian and PNG officials to scramble to prevent an embarrassment for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before his visit to our closest neighbour.

The revelation about the proposed policing deal  which PNG officials say has been shelved but not killed off  highlights Beijings ongoing determination to gain a security footing in the Pacific and the intense struggle for geopolitical influence playing out in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape on the Kokoda Track. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Chinese officials and representatives from the PNG federal police constabulary worked through the details of a policing agreement during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis trip to Port Moresby last month, which alarmed Australian officials when they learnt of the possible pact.

Wangs trip ended just a day before Albanese arrived in Port Moresby for a high-profile visit, during which he spent two days walking the Kokoda Track with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, in the lead-up to Anzac Day.
Students training for critical occupations such as teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work will receive more than $300 a week to supplement their incomes while they finish their degree as the federal government makes easing the burden of higher education a centrepiece of next weeks budget.

As part of a bid to shore up support from young voters ahead of the next federal election, Labor is foreshadowing a suite of further announcements for tertiary students in the budget after pledging to wipe $3 billion nationally from university debts.

The budget focus on higher education comes as pro-Palestine encampments continue to grow at Australian universities, with Education Minister Jason Clare warning protesters and university administrators that any intimidation or hate speech on campus must be regarded as intolerable.

Education Minister Jason Clare said students should not be forced into poverty while they undertake practical training. Credit: Martin Ollman

Clare revealed that he called in university vice-chancellors to meet with Jewish community leaders and students last week to discuss the campus protests, which have not led to US-style significant outbreaks of violence or the occupation of university buildings.
The girlfriend of one of the Australians killed in Mexico has led the online tributes for them after Mexican authorities confirmed the identities of three bodies found in a well last week.

Prosecutors believe Perth brothers Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were killed after resisting the theft of their ute.

Callum Robinson and his girlfriend Emily Horwath. Credit: Instagram

The three went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip that they were documenting by posting idyllic photos on social media of waves and isolated beaches along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada.

Callums girlfriend Emily Horwath, an American who lives in San Diego where he played professional lacrosse, expressed her devastation in posts about the brothers and their American friend.
Promoter Oleksandr Krasiuk categorically responded to all the critics of Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) who accuse the boxer of not being able to take a punch. In particular, the representative of our champion reacted to the words of his colleague Frank Warren, who called the athlete a crybaby after the incident in the fight against Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs).

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In a commentary to Sky Sports, Krasiuk reminded that the British boxer had thrown an illegitimate punch below the belt. In addition, the promoter recalled that Usyk had never fought in Ukraine. He also expressed the hope that Tyson Fury, whose affairs are managed by the same Warren, would not once again avoid a fight against the Ukrainian.

"How can you call Usyk a crybaby? This man won his first title in Poland and never defended it at home in Ukraine. He always came to visit his rivals and destroyed them. Now he's been chasing Tyson Fury for several years, and Fury has refused to take part four times in a row, including two fights in the last six months. Let's pray for Tyson and wait for the guy to get in the ring," said Krasiuk.

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Last week, the broadcaster of the Usyk-Fury fight in Ukraine was announced and the cost of the show was determined. Former world champion Andy Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) made his forecast for the fight. Jordan Thompson (15-1, 12 KOs), the sparring partner of the two rivals, also shared his expectations for the duel.

New details of the two fights between Usyk and Fury, including a rematch in October, have also emerged. Tyson himself has already confirmed that he does not intend to refuse fight #2 against the Ukrainian. Oleksandr's team also named a boxer who will replace the Briton if he refuses to enter the ring on May 18.

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Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) has again given a prediction for the Usyk-Fury fight. In addition, Tony Bellew, a former rival of the Ukrainian, evaluated the fight. And the Russian Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 21 KOs) named Oleksandr's weakness.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, Oleksandr Usyk's manager Egis Klimas categorically answered the question about the disruption of the fight with Tyson Fury on May 18. Also, the Pope's reaction to the fight between the Ukrainian and the Briton became known.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Suspected Kashmir rebels kill Indian air force corporal



Srinagar, India, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



An Indian air force member was killed and four more injured when suspected rebels ambushed a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, an official statement said, as campaigning for national elections continues in the disputed territory.

The convoy was attacked by an unknown number of armed militants who sprayed automatic rifle fire towards at least one air force truck in the mountainous Poonch area, 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar, the air force said in a statement.

Five air force personnel were hit in the firefight late Saturday and "one Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later", it said, identifying the dead man as a corporal.

A neighbouring constituency took part in the first phase of India's general election on April 19, and Poonch voters were originally scheduled to cast their ballots this week but the Election Commission of India has postponed the polling to May 25 because of inclement weather in recent days.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the high-altitude territory in full but administering it in parts.

Since 1989, rebel groups opposed to Indian rule have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir, demanding either independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The conflict has left tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and militants dead.

Rebel activity in the territory has registered an uptick since last month as campaigning for the elections picked up in the restive region.

In April, three suspected rebels were killed and a police officer and three soldiers wounded in three separate clashes across the territory.

Violence has drastically dropped since 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoked the region's limited autonomy and stepped up a security chokehold.

Voting in India's six-week-long national election, which started last month, will end on June 1.
Russia says forces seized village in eastern Ukraine



Moscow, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



Russia said Sunday its armed forces had seized the village of Ocheretyne in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a string of small territorial gains for Moscow.

After capturing the nearby industrial hub of Avdiivka in February, Russia has pressed its manpower and weapons advantage on the battlefield, advancing several kilometres (miles) deeper into Ukraine in places.

The defence ministry said Russian troops had "completely liberated the village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk People's Republic".

Ocheretyne is around 15 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka.

Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said last week that Kyiv had pulled back from three villages in the eastern Donetsk region and was building a new line of fortifications.

Kyiv has struggled amid delays to vital Western weapons supplies in recent months and hopes the arrival of US arms will help it stabilise the front lines.
Niger receives new Russian advisors, equipment



Niamey, Niger, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



New Russian military advisors and military equipment have arrived in Niger, according to state television in the African country that wants US forces to leave.

A first set of about 100 Russian advisors had arrived in Niger on April 10 along with air defence systems.

Two military transporters arrived Saturday, according to Tele Sahel that said Russia has now sent three cargo planes of military material and instructors in the past month.

The Africa Corps, seen as the successors of the Wagner paramilitary group in Africa, confirmed the instructors' arrival in a posting on the group's Telegram account.

On Saturday, it said more trainers, equipment, and food products had arrived.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin indicated Thursday that Russian troops were now installed at a Nigerien air base near the Niamey airport that also houses US troops.

Niger's military regime, which took power in a July 2023 coup, expelled French troops based in the country and then denounced a military cooperation agreement with the United States. It said this had been "unilaterally imposed" by Washington.

Washington agreed in April to withdraw its roughly 1,000 soldiers in the country.

Negotiations are underway between the United States and Niger about the the withdrawal.

US forces have a key drone base near Agadez, built at a cost of about $100 million.

Niger's military leaders have moved closer to Russia, as have neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso which also have military coup leaders and are fighting rebel groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

In April, Idrissa Soumana Maiga, head of the private L'Enqueteur newspaper, was imprisoned after an article mentioned the "presumed" installation of Russian listening devices in official buildings.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Paris to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. It is expected that during the dialogue between the two politicians, the French president will try to put pressure on Xi to try to convince him to use his influence on the terrorist country Russia.

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Macron will also seek to ensure that China reduces its trade imbalances. This was reported by Reuters.

On the eve of Xi's visit to Paris, an advisor to the Elysee Palace said that France should continue to insist that the Chinese authorities provide Europe with more guarantees on trade issues. It is worth noting that France supports the European Union's investigation into Chinese exports of electric vehicles. In response, Beijing has launched an investigation into imports of brandy, which is mainly made in France.

In addition to Macron, Xi Jinping is also expected to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The talks are likely to raise the issue of disagreements within the 27 EU members, particularly between France and Germany, which undermine their ability to influence China. At the same time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Macron and Xi Jinping in Paris.

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During the visit of the Chinese delegation, France will try to push Beijing to put pressure on Moscow to stop its military aggression against Ukraine.

"Since China is one of Russia's main partners, our goal is to use the leverage it has over Moscow to change Russia's calculations and help contribute to the resolution of the conflict," the Elysee Palace advisor said.

As a reminder, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin pointed out that Xi Jinping's visit to Europe will begin on May 6 and last until May 10. This means that none of the superpower leaders who could have attended the inauguration of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin will be attending this event.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the aggressor country Russia should take part in the upcoming peace conference in Switzerland. Representatives of Beijing emphasized that it is necessary to establish peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
KOL is a Marylebone-based, Michelin-starred take on Mexican food (with prices to match)  but dont let that faze you. Though meals here start with a broth and unfold over six, eight or nine courses, they are every inch as Mexican as their creator Santiago Lastra, who spent a year eating and drinking around his homeland and ran the Noma-Mexico pop-up prior to opening. Ingredients include douglas fir and fermented blackcurrant, but Lastra uses these to emulate the limes and avocadoes he avoids flying in, preferring instead to champion British produce. Combined with the carefully sourced dried ingredients he does import  chilli, corn and cocoa, which can be shipped rather than flown  these are a hymn to the hot, loud, multi-layered flavours one associates with Mexico. For size, try their deep, dark mole made with purple carrots and those blackcurrants, and langoustine tacos tingling with smoked chilli. If, after that, you still need convincing of KOLs Mexican-ness, head to the downstairs mezcaleria and dive into a their heady range of mezcal and tequila cocktails. You wont have any questions left by the time youve finished their signature tequila martini.
She told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: I think now weve got to take the fight to Labour, I would like to see real common sense conservatism, honouring our manifesto commitments, I would like to see the return of Boris on the front line of politics, whether thats going for a seat in the next election and being front and centre of our election campaign.
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The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi congratulated Ukrainians on Easter. He called on all civilians who celebrate the Resurrection of Christ to remember our soldiers on the front line, veterans who lost their health in the fight against the aggressor, and fallen Heroes who made it possible for us to live in an independent Ukraine.

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The Colonel General posted his greetings on Telegram and other social media on the morning of May 5. First of all, he addressed all the country's defenders who are on the front line and therefore cannot share the joy of this holiday with their families.

"My special words of gratitude and support go to the Ukrainian defenders who are keeping the peace of the whole of Ukraine on this holiday. On this day, I wish all Ukrainian soldiers good health, resilience, strength and courage. May the Risen Lord, who defeated death, give us the strength to defeat the enemy and strengthen us in the struggle between good and evil!" the head of the Armed Forces wrote.

"No matter how hard it is for us, we know that day comes after the darkest night. We know that after Christ's suffering and death there will be the Resurrection of Christ! We know that after this insidious, bloodthirsty Russian aggression, our Ukrainian Victory will come!" he emphasized.

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Syrskyi called on his compatriots who will come to churches on Easter to pray for every Ukrainian soldier. "On this day, remember everyone who is now on combat duty and thank them for defending Ukraine," the colonel general asked.

"Don't forget and invite every Ukrainian veteran - a defender who lost their health in the fight against the Russian occupiers - to your family's Easter table. Do not leave them alone, do not leave them forgotten. Remember their heroism and courage!" Syrskyi added.

He also urged not to forget those who gave the most valuable thing - their lives - in the struggle for freedom and independence of Ukraine.

"Remember them in your Easter prayers because it is thanks to them that we can celebrate Easter in an independent Ukraine," the military emphasized.

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Postal Code
Its been one thing after another with the new-but-not-necessarily-improved Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form that helps students pay for college.

First, the long-anticipated rollout of the redesigned online application was delayed for three months because it just wasnt ready. Then, when it finally did appear, a variety of bugs and glitches, including some that could reduce the amount of federal tuition aid, kept students and their families from completing it. Now, Chronicle of Higher Education reports that schools are receiving FAFSA applications with incorrect tax information from families.

None of this is good news for Black students, some 80% of whom depend on FAFSA to help pay for ballooning college costs.

LEARN MORE: Three Black Folks Revolutionizing Access to Scholarships

According to the nonprofit National College Attainment Network, roughly 34% of all eligible high school seniors have submitted FAFSA applications through March 22, an overall decline of nearly 29% since last year. But the problem is most acute, according to NCAN data, among low-income schools and schools with high concentrations of minority students. There, the percentage decline in 2024 FAFSA applications is slightly more than 35%.

Besides worsening an already-bad time crunch for colleges and students who needed the financial information weeks ago, the FAFSA fiasco could keep Black students  an outsized number of whom rely on federal aid  out of college classrooms this fall.

Because Black students are disproportionately FAFSA filers, this has a huge impact on their ability to make a decision about both where, and if, they go to college, says Bryan Cook, director of higher education policy at the Urban Institute Center on Education Data and Policy.

Cook worries that some frustrated Black students, worried that they cant pay for college without federal assistance, may downgrade their college choice or give up on college completely. Either option, he says, would have negative, long-term effects on their earning power in the job marketplace.

The FAFSA process, which colleges use to calculate their share of financial aid for a student, is already months behind schedule, Cook says. Unless the problems get resolved quickly, he says, Black students are going to have to make some really tough decisions about whether or not they continue to stay in this process.

RELATED: Gen-Zs Worries Over Student Debt Could Impact the 2024 Election

The unequal impact on Black college-bound seniors is the latest headache for the federal Ed Departments FAFSA reboot, which stumbled out of the gate late last year.

Instead of the FAFSA application being open Oct. 1, enough time for students and colleges to prepare for the fall 2024 semester, the form didnt launch until Dec. 31, setting off a scramble. The subsequent series of errors and submission problems didnt help; at last count, only around 20% of applications have been processed, resulting in a nationwide backlog of some 6 million applications.

Even though the Ed Department delayed the rollout to fix problems it knew about, a technicality it overlooked could end up costing students almost $2 billion in aid. And thats before the cascade of issues that have surfaced in recent months.

Cook says those numbers are exacerbated by the fact that low-income, high-minority schools have fewer guidance counselors who can help guide students through the process. That can be important, experts say, because heads of low-income minority households tend to have lower rates of college degree attainment.

We know that Black and Hispanic students disproportionately attend high-poverty schools, where their ratio of guidance counselors to students is double what that what they are in more wealthy schools, he says. So the combination of Black students disproportionately filing FAFSAs and disproportionately having less access to guidance counselors means that this issue with the rollout of the new FAFSA is having a much harder impact on black students.

Indeed, studies have found that Black students are 1.2 times more likely than white students to attend a school with a law-enforcement officer but without a guidance counselor. The counselors can be critical to completing the FAFSA.

And every bit of financing helps: According to a study by College Board, for the 2022-23 academic year, average tuition and fees for a public four-year school averaged $10,940 for in-state students and $28,240 for out-of-state students, according to the latest data from College Board. Private nonprofit four-year schools amassed a much higher $39,400 average. Add room and board, books, and other expenses to the mix, and that bill goes up several thousand dollars more.

Given those hurdles, Cook worries that Black student enrollment in college  already on the decline in part because of skyrocketing tuition and the Supreme Court dismantling of affirmative action in school admission decisions  is about to take another hit because of the FAFSA snafu.

Students depend on the financial aid form to get a better sense of what schools they can afford, he says. That matters, he says, because a degree from a more selective college tends to bring higher wages after graduation.

Without knowing how much federal aid theyll get for tuition, high school students may decide to now go to maybe a regional, public school thats more affordable, or even a community college that they can afford, Cook says. Or  worst case scenario  opting out of pursuing a college education this year, altogether. And we know any sorts of delay for low income students could ultimately mean they choose not to go on to college.

Fortunately, Cook says, many colleges are doing what they can to help, pushing back deadlines and trying to work with students. But the ripple effects of the FAFSA revamp, Cook says, spotlights the bigger, thornier problem of college affordability.

I think it just underscores how much of a reliance students have on federal financial aid, he says. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet.

My biggest fear, Cook says, is that we may have already lost some students.

The deadline to submit a FAFSA form is June 30, 2024 for school year 2023-24.

Joseph Williams is a veteran journalist, political analyst, and essayist, who has been published in a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and US News & World Report.
On Easter night, May 5, the Holy Fire was brought to Ukraine from Jerusalem. The first to meet it were chaplains and employees of the State Border Guard Service on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.

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This was reported by the State Border Guard Service. They showed a photo and congratulated Ukrainians on Orthodox Easter.

It is noted that late at night, at the Starokozache checkpoint on the border with Moldova, the fire from Jerusalem delivered by the scouts was met by chaplains and border guards of the Southern Regional Directorate. The Holy Fire was then transported across Ukraine.

"We wish everyone peace and health. Happy Easter!" the border guards emphasized.

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We would like to add that the removal of the Holy Fire symbolizes the coming out of the Tomb of the true Light, that is, the Resurrection of the Lord. On the Great Saturday before Easter, May 4, the annual solemn ceremony of the descent of the Holy Fire was held in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

This year, on May 5, Ukrainians celebrate Easter for the 11th consecutive year in the context of the war with Russia, and the third under martial law. The authorities urged citizens to watch online broadcasts of festive services to avoid mass gatherings and crowds.

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As previously reported, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi congratulated Ukrainians on Easter. He urged to remember our soldiers on the front line, veterans who lost their health in the fight against the aggressor, and the fallen Heroes, thanks to whom we continue to live in an independent Ukraine.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Its a scene that plays out far too often across America  people living on the streets, with nowhere to call home, face fines, tickets, and even jail time simply for existing in public spaces. This cruel reality was at the heart of a recent protest at the steps of the Supreme Court, where advocates demanded an end to the criminalization of homelessness.

Rev. William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach, an organization that builds and supports moral movements for social change, Congresswoman Cori Bush of Missouri and several other groups that advocate for unhoused people, rallied outside the court, raising the cry for Housing, Not Handcuffs.

Instead of arresting unhoused people and fining them for sleeping in parks, we should be investing in more affordable housing and less tax cuts for the greedy, Barber said.

Bush quote

Should my children and I have been fined for sleeping in a car? For using public restrooms? It is inhumane to punish people for not having access to a toilet, Bush said.

Instead of trying to push poor people to the next town, we need to demand living wages in every town, city, and county because nobody making the current minimum wage of $7.25 can afford a basic two-bedroom apartment anywhere in this country.

The case driving the protest centers on a series of laws passed in Grants Pass, Oregon, which included banning people from wrapping themselves in a blanket. And now Grants Pass, along with other jurisdictions, want the Court to overturn a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled punishing homeless people for sleeping on the street when they have no option violates the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The protesters shared statistics that speak volumes about the housing crisis in America:

In 2022, over 12 million households spent more than half their income on rent.

On a single night in January 2023, 653,000 people were experiencing homelessness, up 12% from a year earlier.

Chronic homelessness can cost taxpayers over $83,000 per year per person, including the cost of legislating and enforcing criminal ordinances and potential lawsuits.

People of color represent over 60% of the nations unhoused population, despite making up only a third of the general U.S. population.

We slept in our car and so often I couldnt sleep for fear that if I closed my eyes too long and the temperature dipped for too long, Id wake up and my children would not be alive, said Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), who shared her own experience of being unhoused and living on the streets.

She said she had to mix baby formula in the bathroom of McDonalds, and finding available public restrooms in general was a constant source of stress.

Should my children and I have been fined for sleeping in a car? For using public restrooms? It is inhumane to punish people for not having access to a toilet, Bush said.

Bush noted that she and 18 of her colleagues, along with sponsoring organizations, filed an amicus brief for the Courts consideration protesting the application of public camping laws against unhoused people is cruel and unusual punishment.

Barber also called out the lies people tell on the homeless, characterizing them as alcoholics and dope addicts, rather than people who have no place of their own to live.

He said a young man recently asked why he had been entrusted to operate million-dollar equipment in Iraq but couldnt be trusted to flip hamburgers at home, debunking the myth that the homeless dont want to work.

We cant be silent anymore. We have to call out the lies, Barber said.
MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANTS

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, received a $6.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a gene therapy that would modify the immune systems B cells to spur them to produce antibodies against HIV.

MILESTONES

Alexander Realty, led by broker-owners Renee and Mark Ottinger, celebrated its 25th anniversary in St. Charles County, Missouri.

Sound Health Services, the largest private practice otolaryngology group in the greater St. Louis region, celebrated two decades of ear, nose, and throat care.

MOVING

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alliance Real Estate relocated to 16150 Main Circle Drive, Suite 450, in downtown Chesterfield, Missouri.

PROJECTS

Contegra Construction completed the pre-engineered building for independent metal coil coater AZZ Precoat at 901 Waterman Drive, Washington, Missouri. The Edwardsville, Illinois, general contractor is also building a solar-powered manufacturing plant for Manner Polymers in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

RECOGNITION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 presented 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the year awards to three local companies for outstanding leadership in support of clean energy transitioning: global technology solutions company Emerson Electric and Emerson affiliate Copeland, both in St. Louis; and True Manufacturing (True Food Service Equipment), OFallon, Missouri.
The idea of a four-day workweek is so popular with some workers that theyd be willing to take a pay cut to make it happen, according to a new survey.

The survey, which included 1,250 people who work full time, was conducted in April by Resume Builder, a career services company. It found that 8 in 10 workers would be excited to work 32 hours a week instead of 40 because they believe it would help them achieve better work-life balance, improve their health, mitigate burnout, be more productive and reduce commuting costs.

The survey results suggest some workers feel pretty desperate for that better work experience. Even though nearly all the survey participants (94%) said they could do the same amount of work in fewer hours, about 21% said they would take a pay cut if it meant they could work the equivalent of one less day per week.

In addition, 83% of respondents said they would prefer a four-day, 40-hour workweek to the current standard of 40 hours in five days.

I think people value time now more than they ever have  especially younger generations, says Julia Toothacre, resume and career strategist with Resume Builder.

Idea of a four-day workweek is catching on

The four-day workweek is still a long way from becoming the norm in the U.S., Toothacre says. But the idea has picked up steam in recent years because its seen as a way to address the impact of work stress and long hours.

Roughly 3 out of 4 workers said they experienced work-related stress in the last month, according to the 2023 Work in America Survey by the American Psychological Association. More than half said that stress resulted in an array of negative effects, including emotional exhaustion, lack of motivation, a desire to quit, lower productivity and irritability.

Theres some interest in making the four-day workweek a national policy. In March, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced a bill that would standardize a 32-hour workweek without cutting workers pay or benefits. But its not expected to go anywhere.

Pilot programs show promising results

Instead, the four-day workweek has gained the most traction through companies participation in pilot programs. Organizations around the world have tested it out, and the results are pretty positive. In 2022, a pilot program that included 33 U.S. companies found that most of them wanted to continue with the 32-hour schedule after the trial period ended.

The companies involved in this pilot didnt make any changes to workers pay. And it turns out thats for good reason: The companies reported that productivity was positively affected by the new schedule. Workers at the participating companies said their job performance improved during the course of the trial.

In the trial, companies got rid of meetings and other unnecessary activities to free up workers time, according to Boston College researchers who evaluated the results. Wen Fan, a sociology professor, said in a December 2022 news release that the program worked as expected. Hours reduced, well-being improved, and key organizational bottom-lines sustained  all of these happened without the need for workers to intensify their work demands.
Tony Messenger Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

ST. LOUIS  Toni Wades email to the city late last year started with a request and ended with an empty threat.

Wade is the owner of a business that provided services to the homeless population in St. Louis during the COVID-19 pandemic. This past December, she wanted to know if she was banned from contracting with the city.

I have recently learned indirectly from one of my associates that I am currently subject to a ban, a form of treatment that I find unsettling, Wade wrote to Adam Pearson, director of the citys Department of Human Services.

She demanded proof of the alleged ban: If I do not hear from you by Dec. 8, I will have no choice but to explore further avenues to address these concerns.

Wade, who wanted to bid on a new contract to provide winter services to unhoused people, didnt get the answer she wanted. Pearson told her the city was still reviewing her eligibility.

Wades company, The Home Quest Group, was on the citys radar because of an audit of her work. There had been large fluctuations in her billing, and she refused to provide documents to back up the payments she allegedly made to employees.

Two weeks after the email exchange, in mid-December, Wade attended the monthly meeting of Continuum of Care, where she was the vice chairman. Comprised of local agencies that serve the homeless, the organization is designated by the federal government to help oversee services to unhoused people in St. Louis. Wade was making her case to be elected chairman, an unpaid position.

Part of her pitch? She turned her troubles with St. Louis into a selling point, telling Continuum of Care members that she had no contracts with the city, and no plans to get any in the future. It was an important point because the Continuum of Care board had been warned by the federal government to reduce its potential for conflicts, after prior leaders nonprofits had received big chunks of funding.

Wade didnt reveal that the city was investigating her previous contracts. She didnt mention the questions about her past bills. She didnt mention that, just two weeks prior, she was threatening the city with some untold further action. Instead, she simply said she had no conflicts of interest.

She won the election.

That was the last Continuum of Care meeting that Wade would attend in person. She spends a lot of time in Tuttle, Oklahoma, where she owns a marijuana growing business.

Since Wades election in December, three board members have resigned. Meanwhile, the organizations relationship with the federal government, the city and a new nonprofit created to coordinate federal funding has fallen apart.

Not all of that is Wades fault. But her brief tenure highlights the dysfunction of an organization that is key to the citys long-term strategy of moving people from the street into housing.

That lame excuse

Wades trouble with her city-funded contract started in July 2021, amid the pandemic. The city had shut down some homeless tent encampments in 2020, and various nonprofits served that community in hotels and the old Little Sister of the Poor facility in north St. Louis. The funding came from the federal government.

The dispute between Wade and the city is outlined in public records obtained by the Post-Dispatch in a Sunshine Law request.

Wade was a subcontractor working first for the St. Patricks Center, and later for Magdala House. She helped run a pop-up homeless shelter at the old Western Inn off North Broadway and later managed two floors at the Little Sisters site. Wade owns a variety of companies focused on real estate investment, as well as a nonprofit called Project Outreach. On YouTube, she pitches herself as the compassionate investor, and she gives advice on how to break into the transitional housing business.

About a year into her contract, a city employee noticed some billing discrepancies. Wade was billing different amounts of money for the same work on different months. In one case, she billed for a full month of work when she had only been there two weeks. One month, she billed $580 per day for her case managers; another month it was $640. On the month where she only worked for two weeks, she billed $800 a day for the full month, a discrepancy of at least $12,000.

Then an anonymous tip came to the city that Wade wasnt paying her employees what was promised, according to a memo written by the citys program manager for homeless services. The tipster advised the city to look at payroll records and pay stubs to verify money was going where it was supposed to, the memo showed.

So thats what the city did. And on Aug. 30, 2021, the city sent a letter to Wade noting several irregularities in invoices and billing. The city asked to see payroll records and timesheets, a requirement of the contracts she signed with both St. Patricks Center and Magdala.

In a series of emails, Wade largely kept putting off the requests for documents. I know Im newer in this arena, she wrote in one message, but we have ambitions of growing with the city as a new provider.

Magdalas CEO, Thomas Mangogna, also began to ask Wade for records, such as her plan for how she deployed workers on each shift.

This is a simple request and can be responded to rather quickly, Mangogna wrote in an email.

Wade said her chief financial officer would be in touch with the city auditor to provide documents, but he also sent emails seeking delays. By September 2021, the records still hadnt been sent. As the city pushed for documentation, Wade informed Mangogna that she was walking away from her contract.

The city never received the payroll records it sought. It refused to pay invoices. Wade told the city and Magdala that she didnt know she needed to keep time sheets or payroll records to justify her grant payments, which came from federal dollars.

I cant believe she used that lame excuse, Mangogna wrote the city in a September 2021 email. Anyone receiving money via a contract or grant knows you have to keep records.

To this day, Wade says she did nothing wrong.

I cant create documentation out of the air, Wade told me in an interview. They started asking for documents I didnt have.

Entirely absent this year

Wade was traveling in her car the first time we spoke. She travels a lot for business, she says.

In fact, since she was elected chairman of the Continuum of Care in December, she hasnt made any of the monthly meetings in person.

Shes been entirely absent this year, said Lucas Delort, a former board member.

On April 24, after I started asking questions about Wades leadership, she sent an email to Pearson and various homeless service leaders to explain her absences from Continuum of Care meetings.

I understand that my extended absence may have raised questions or concerns, and for that, I extend my sincerest apologies, Wade wrote. Recognizing the imperative to prioritize my mental health and ensure the stability of my ventures, I made the difficult decision to temporarily step back.

In the email, Wade didnt resign, and she didnt mention which business ventures she was attending to. But in June 2023, she gave a hint. She posted on Facebook that she was moving to Oklahoma to manage another business.

In the post, she offered her St. Louis real estate businesses for sale. SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY, she wrote. The post was later removed.

Wades Oklahoma business is called Pure Pressure Farms, LLC, and it has a license to grow medical marijuana.

During our interview, I asked Wade three times if she was living in Oklahoma, and she refused to answer.

I have businesses in St. Louis, in Illinois. Im in multiple places, she said.

When I pressed, she offered: Im in partnership with a business in Oklahoma.

Wades absence has raised questions and added to tension on the Continuum of Care board. There has long been tension on the board, which is made up largely of leaders of nonprofits that work to serve the homeless or keep them off the street. Delort was one of three people who left the 15-member board in recent months.

The agencies also have long had conflicts with the city over the dispersal of federal money. For the past few years, Continuum of Care leaders have worked to create a new, over-arching nonprofit, called House Everyone STL. The goal is to better coordinate homeless services in St. Louis and take some of the planning responsibility from the city. But that process, too, has been plagued with tension over power and control. Wade has been in the center of the storm, sending sharp-elbowed emails in the past few months to city and federal officials and board members of House Everyone STL.

So why does Wade still have her role? It might be because Continuum of Care members arent aware of her contract problems with the city. But she also has key supporters who are among the strongest voices in the group.

She has been in communication with me every week, says Shanna Nieweg, a Continuum of Care board member and executive director of Horizon Housing Development Co.

Anthony DAgostino, who was chairman before Wade, also came to her defense.

I know Toni really well and Ive worked with her over the years, DAgostino told me in an interview.

He is currently the CEO of Peter and Paul Community Services, and was previously the CEO at St. Patricks Center when Wade signed her first subcontract with the city.

Any issue she had with the city had nothing to do with the Continuum of Care situation, DAgostino said.

That situation is a precarious one. The board of the agency responsible for coordinating homeless services, and administering millions of dollars in federal grants, is in disarray. Members are leaving, the chairman is absent and there are frayed relationships among nonprofits, the city and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

At a February meeting of the Continuum of Care, Wade spoke briefly by phone to give the board a pep talk.

This has been a stressful time, she said.

Her plan for the board moving forward was to work in transparency and unity.

It was an empty promise, offered from afar.

COMING WEDNESDAY: The Continuum of Care has tried for years to create a new nonprofit to coordinate homeless services. Its been a bumpy ride.
Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, and the last night of Animals Aglow lantern festival at the St. Louis Zoo, and, perhaps more importantly, the deadline for submitting the petition to get a referendum on the Missouri ballot allowing voters to determine the future of our abortion laws.

One other important event that is about to occur on our college campuses is commencement. Unfortunately, protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza are affecting these celebrations.

The University of Southern California has already announced it will scuttle its main graduation ceremony to avoid providing a target for demonstrators. Other schools around the country are scaling back their ceremonies or considering cancellation.

As a child of the 60s, I certainly understand the value of protests. Without them, legalized segregation would still exist, as would discrimination over the entire gamut of categories protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and similar laws.

After my first experience exercising civil disobedience while a senior at Sumner High School, I, like many of the idealized youth today, believed we could effectuate change by simply standing up to the establishment. Sometimes its true.

It was 1967, during the Vietnam War, about a month before graduation when we learned that one of our 407 class members, one scheduled to give a speech, would be denied the chance to march in the processional, much less give her speech, because she was pregnant.

Our schools administrators didnt care that her pregnancy would not show under a gown, or that she was a married woman with a husband deployed to Vietnam.

Had they discovered her condition earlier, she would have been transferred to the special school for kids with disciplinary problems and pregnant girls. (The father of these babies, if a student, would not have been sent there, incidentally.) But so close to graduation, the solution was a mailed diploma.

Our class officers invited seniors to a meeting where we unanimously agreed to boycott the ceremony if our classmate was banned. It was immaterial that our caps and gowns had been ordered, that the Kiel Opera House (now Stifel Theater) had been rented, or that invitations and tickets had been dispensed. We refused to walk.

Parents were furious. Teachers tried to guilt-trip and intimidate us by threatening that our transcripts would not go to colleges and scholarships would be rescinded, but we stood our ground.

Ultimately this impasse was resolved when enough parents stormed the principals office and demanded our classmate be included in the processional and allowed to give her speech. Which she did.

Four years later, I was a senior at Washington University when student protests shut down the school for the last few weeks of the semester. Since there was no way to hold classes virtually, as this was before the age of personal computers, many finals were rescheduled or moved off campus.

The year before, there had been campus protests over the Vietnam War that resulted in the destruction of the ROTC building and the burning in effigy of the chancellor on his front lawn.

By this time, in 1971, however, the protest was a peaceful sit-in at the chancellors office by a few of the approximately 60 Black undergrads on campus, demanding more Black recruitment, more Black faculty and additional Black studies.

There was no threat of canceling our commencement as is occurring at some of the schools today. This is a sad and unnecessary consequence of the current protests. Not every student on these campuses where protests are occurring has, or plans to be, involved.

Covid-19 cost many in the 2024 graduating classes the pomp and circumstance of the high school experience. Now, because of campus protests, many could be denied again.

Families, many of whom have sacrificed for these students, have been planning to participate in the graduations. These kids and their families deserve to have ceremonies if they choose and not be deprived because of a litany of untenable demands from protesters.

President Biden cannot force Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the bombing in Gaza, or force Hamas to do anything. If we stop providing aid to Israel, we would be breaking our oath to an ally.

Its horrendous that Hamas murdered some 1,200 people in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel and kidnapped hundreds, with more than 100 still being held. Its also atrocious that the response to this attack has cost the lives of more than 34,000 people (so far) in Gaza.

But depriving college students and their families of their graduation ceremonies will not change either of those things.

So on Sunday, enjoy your Cinco de Mayo celebrations, get tickets to visit the final night of the lantern festival at the zoo and consider supporting the campaign to support abortion rights in Missouri.

And if you are a student or parent at a school that has seen campus turmoil, make it clear to administrators that depriving kids of their rightful graduation ceremony isnt an acceptable response.
Fifty-four years ago, this weekend, protesters at Washington University in St. Louis  incited by the widening of the Vietnam War and the killing of four student demonstrators at Kent State University  made national headlines when they torched a campus R.O.T.C. building.

I was a WashU first-year student that year, and last weeks pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the campus  as well as the universitys controversial response  brought back memories of what we students called the Year of the Revolution at colleges across the country.

Then and now, students voiced legitimate concerns about U.S. foreign policy and what some viewed as the universitys role in supporting the military industrial complex. But there are fundamental differences between the anti-war movement in 1969-70 and this years protests.

Perhaps most importantly, todays demonstrations are deeply dividing student populations, inciting fear among Jewish students who in some cases criticize Israels actions in Gaza but worry that the protests are inciting wider anti-Semitism in the U.S. and around the world.

One of my Jewish classmates who took part in the 1970 demonstrations told me this week: I never experienced anti-Semitism back then. But the rhetoric of todays protests and the campus conflicts have made me much more aware of it  and extremely nervous about it.

Wayne Fields, a retired professor who was then a young instructor in the WashU English department, recalls heated disagreements about the Vietnam War among students and faculty. But, other than overt criticism of a few ROTC students, there was no targeting or ostracism of major segments of the student body.

Fields, a founder of the universitys American Culture Studies program  whose students have compiled an oral history of the Vietnam-era campus protests  says those demonstrations were led by student activists, with minor input from outsiders. The advent of social media in recent years has not only made it easier to coordinate demonstrations but also attract far more participation from non-students and, in some cases, agitators.

But the biggest difference between the Vietnam-era and todays protests  about a war using American weapons but not fought by U.S. soldiers  is that young men in 1970 could be drafted into the military. Fields says students then had to think about what was worth dying for.

Some of us had friends or relatives who had joined the armed forces and been wounded or killed in Southeast Asia, a war that cost the lives of about 58,000 members of the U.S. military. Three soldiers from St. Louis lost their lives in Cambodia the month that student protests peaked.

In 1970, protestors at WashU and many other campuses argued that ROTC programs should be abolished or moved off campus. Early that year, the Armys small structure burned in an unsolved arson. But during the night after the May 4th Kent State shootings, as 2,500 demonstrators chanted Kent State from a nearby hill, more than two dozen students ransacked the separate Air Force ROTC structure, which was set on fire. Police injured a number of students when they intervened to stop the riot and a few demonstrators threw stones at firefighters who were called to the scene.

In the aftermath of that attack, the university cancelled final exams, a dozen WashU students were banned and six were charged and later convicted (one case was reversed) of charges related to the demonstration. One of the leaders skipped bail after his conviction and went underground, not re-appearing for another three decades. He was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

This year, from Columbia University in New York to UCLA in Los Angeles, campus protests have been widespread. However, other than aggressive police actions and clashes with opposing groups that have led to some injuries and numerous arrests, there has not yet been a key incident like Kent State to further inflame the rioting.

Lets hope it stays that way. Students have a right to hold peaceful demonstrations, whether they are protesting unjust wars or fighting for civil rights. Universities have a right to protect their campuses and shield non-protesting students from prejudice or attack.

There should be a happy medium, avoiding over-reaction from either side. I hope my alma mater and other universities can develop more effective ways to foster responsible student activism while also encouraging students to debate divisive issues without disrupting their campus community.
The Post-Dispatch Editorial Board continues to demonstrate an astonishing bias in favor of the state of Israel and against the basic humanity of suffering Palestinians.

In its recent editorial "Campus Gaza protest movement risks becoming a haven for antisemitic hate" (April 24), this bias manifests itself clearly in the first sentence. The editorial refers to the Hamas actions of Oct. 7 as "barbaric," while then writing that the Israel's subsequent destruction of the entire Gaza Strip has "ushered in a humanitarian crisis." Unlike Hamas, Israels behavior is not called barbaric.

The terrible Hamas attacks of Oct. 7 killed an estimate 1,139 Israelis including 36 children. Since that time Israel has killed at least 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 13,000 children.

It has destroyed every one of Gaza's universities and destroyed or badly damaged every hospital. It has forced the vast majority of its residents to flee their homes and live with others or in tents.

Israeli soldiers have repeatedly filmed themselves gleefully looting the possessions of Palestinians' homes. Israel has murdered aid workers and journalists. Israel has destroyed Gazas greenhouses and farms and blocked food aid from entering, literally starving people to death.

This is not merely ushering in a humanitarian crisis  this is a deliberate campaign of plausible genocide, as the opinion of the International Court of Justice put it.

How is this not "barbaric"? Why are student protestors so much better than the Editorial Board at seeing and acting on this obvious reality?

Michael Berg

St. Louis
The Polish leadership does not rule out the possibility of sending its troops to Ukraine to help the Armed Forces in the war against the Russian invaders. The hint was found in the words of the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski.

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In an interview with the British national broadcaster, the Polish Foreign Minister spoke about the threat to the EU from Russia and the mistakes of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. He did not directly answer the question about sending Polish troops to Ukraine but made a fairly transparent hint that it was possible.

"We will not show our cards. We will let President Putin guess what we will do," Sikorski said. He added that the idea of French leader Emmanuel Macron to put Putin in a situation where he would not be sure of the allies' responses is right.

This is how Macron first commented on his proposal to send French troops to Ukraine.

"I think it would be good for President Putin to recognize his invasion as a mistake and make a new calculation, given that we will help Ukraine as long as it takes," the Pole suggested.

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According to Sikorski, Poland currently spends the largest share of GDP in NATO on defense (4 percent), pleading to "spend even more."

The diplomat also expressed satisfaction that the U.S. Congress had finally approved military aid to Ukraine. He also suggested that the European Union could do even more when it comes to helping our country.

"Ukraine desperately needs anti-aircraft missiles to protect its industry, to protect its power plants, to protect its infrastructure. I believe that it is much better to spend money on the defense of Ukraine than to rebuild it later," Sikorski said.

As reported, Warsaw has filed an official request to deploy nuclear weapons of the North Atlantic Alliance on its territory. According to officials of the Polish Ministry of National Defense, it is an application for participation in the NATO program called Nuclear Sharing, which has already been joined by such members as Germany, Belgium and Italy.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
An Army lieutenant colonel assigned to Fort Campbell, Ky., was arrested Thursday, May 2, 2024, on federal charges for importing firearms parts from Russia and other countries and dealing in firearms without a federal license to do so, according to the Justice Department. (Samuel Shore/U.S. Army)

AUSTIN, Texas  An Army lieutenant colonel assigned to Fort Campbell, Ky., was arrested Thursday on federal charges for importing firearms parts from Russia and other countries and dealing in firearms without a federal license to do so, according to the Justice Department.

Frank Ross Talbert, 40, faces a 21-count federal indictment in the Middle District of Tennessee that charges him with eight counts of importing defense articles without a license, eight counts of smuggling firearms parts into the United States, one count of firearms trafficking, two counts of possession of unregistered machine guns, one count of transporting a machine gun without a license and one count of dealing in firearms without a license.

If convicted, Talbert faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million.

Talbert pleaded not guilty Thursday. An attorney listed for him declined to comment Friday. A trial is scheduled for June.

The charges involve activity between October 2022 and October 2023, and involve acquiring firearm parts from Russia, Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, according to court documents.

Talbert, who serves as deputy commander of the 52nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, smuggled accessories for AK-style firearms including grips, hand guards, muzzle devices, sights, folding stock pieces and gas tubes.

On Sept. 12, 2023, Talbert sold a partially destroyed machine gun kit, as well as transported it from Tennessee to Kentucky, according to court documents. He also possessed an unregistered machine gun on Oct. 18, 2023.

Talbert has been in the Army since 2006 and has served overseas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and France, according to his official service record. His previous awards include two Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and two Army Commendation Medals. He also earned the Combat Action Badge, two Combat and Special Skill Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

Fort Campbell is in Kentucky along the border with Tennessee. Its largest unit is the 101st Airborne Division.
Pfc. Jorze Jauand, a 25th Infantry Division infantryman, secures an area during a Balikatan air-assault drill on Batan Island, Philippines, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

BATAN ISLAND, Philippines  U.S., Philippine and Australian troops are practicing raids on wind-swept islands south of Taiwan  the sort of mission they may need to execute if conflict breaks out over the island or in the South China Sea.

Early Sunday, 76 members of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry gathered with about a dozen Australian soldiers on Calayan, an isle in the Luzon Strait separating the Philippines main island from Taiwan.

The troops loaded onto UH-60 Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks flown by the 25th Aviation Brigade and traveled 80 miles north to Batan, a dumbbell-shaped isle about 120 miles south of Taiwan.

The choppers landed in a grassy field beside Boulder Bay, a stony, wave-battered coastline near Mount Iraya, a 3,310-foot active volcano. They were met there by 35 Filipino troops who arrived a day earlier.

Our main objective is to continue to integrate with our partners, both the Filipinos and Australians, Army Capt. Mike Shipley told Stars and Stripes on Batan.

These are guys who we could, one day, fight alongside on the battlefield, said Shipley, who commands Company A, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment.

Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division walk toward a CH-47F Chinook helicopter during a Balikatan air-assault drill on Batan Island, Philippines, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) A CH-47F Chinook helicopter flies 25th Infantry Division soldiers over Batan Island, Philippines, during the Balikatan exercise, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division walk toward a CH-47F Chinook helicopter during a Balikatan air-assault drill on Batan Island, Philippines, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

Batan and several nearby islands are next to the Bashi Channel, which links the Philippine and South China seas, where Beijing has territorial disputes with many of its neighbors, including the Philippines.

The channel is a route for Chinas navy to the east coast of Taiwan and the Pacific. Its also a potential transit point for U.S. forces headed to the Taiwan Strait from Guam.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated his intent to reunite the self-governing and democratic island of Taiwan with mainland China, by force if necessary.

The air assault onto Batan was part of the annual Balikatan exercise that includes 16,000 troops, mostly from the U.S. and Philippines. Balikatan  shoulder to shoulder in Tagalog  began April 22 and wraps up Friday.

During last years exercise, 25th ID soldiers, Marines and Filipino troops air-assaulted onto Batan, Calayan and Fuga. That training sent a message to China that America is ready to defend its allys sea territory, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan, then-commander of 25th ID, said at the time.

Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division are loaded onto a CH-47F Chinook during a Balikatan air-assault drill on Batan Island, Philippines, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division exit a CH-47F Chinook during air-assault exercise on Batan Island, Philippines, May 5, 2024. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

During Sundays air assault, Sgt. Michael Kawell, a squad leader, sweated in the morning sun while his buddies sought shade under coconut trees near the landing zone.

He said the troops, who spent time at Fort Magsaysay and Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz on Luzon before heading to the islands, spent three days on Calayan. They marched across the island to check out an airfield.

They expect to remain on Batan in the coming days for more reconnaissance patrols to check out the local airfield and port, Kawell said. U.S. Army and Filipino divers were preparing to clear debris from the seabed at the port on Sunday to improve vessel access.

The waiting is the hardest part, he said of the missions downtime. If you are training, time goes by fast. The waiting sucks.

In their downtime, the soldiers have been climbing trees, picking and eating coconuts, Kawell said. They sleep in hammocks tied between coconut trees.

Its a good day for us any time we get to sleep in a hammock and not in a hole, he said.

Looking up at Mount Iraya, Kawell compared Batan to Hawaii.

It seems like we landed at the lowest point on the island, he said. So, wherever we go, we are probably going to walk up hill.

Balikatan will include additional island air assaults by members of the Hawaii-based 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment and Filipino troops, Army Col. Rob Shaw, who commands 25th IDs 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said in an April 22 phone interview from Fort Magsaysay.

This mission has given troops an idea of the Pacifics vastness, Kawell added.

You are in Hawaii and then you fly all the way out here and its still the Pacific, he said.
Pfc. Veronica L. Wynn, 39, of Hurtsboro Ala., was engaged in a training exercise Monday, April 29, 2024, when she became unresponsive. (U.S. Army)

A 39-year-old Fort Jackson soldier died last week during basic training, according to a news release Thursday.

Pfc. Veronica L. Wynn of Hurtsboro Ala., was engaged in a boot camp training exercise Monday when she became unresponsive. Emergency personnel performed life-saving measures and transported Wynn to a local hospital, where she later died, the release said.

Wynn, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, was involved in a structured and disciplined pickup in the company area, the release said.

Today is an especially sad day for Team Jackson after the loss of one of our newest soldiers, Fort Jackson Commander Maj. Gen. Jason E. Kelly said. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and loved ones. We are providing comfort and assistance to her family and fellow trainees.

The maximum age to enlist is 35, but the Army can lift some restrictions based on the need for certain roles to be filled.

An investigation into the death is underway, Fort Jackson said.
Military Sealift Commands newest ship, USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), is christened Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. (Sarah Cannon/Military Sealift Command Pacific)

Military Sealift Command christened its newest ship, the Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB-7), on Saturday in San Diego.

The 785-foot ship honors Pfc. Class Robert E. Simanek, a U.S. Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War at Outpost Irene. During the battle, Simanek threw himself on a grenade, absorbing the explosion with his body and shielding his fellow Marines from serious injury or death. Though he sustained severe injuries to his legs, Simanek survived, and spent a year recovering.

Today we gather in a time-honored tradition to christen this vessel, which will represent the unmatched strength and fortitude of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, said Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.

Among those on hand for the ceremony were: Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy; Brig. Gen. Robert Weiler, assistant division commander, 1st Marine Division; Capt. Micah Murphy, commander, Military Sealift Command; Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Britt Slabinski; Capt. Bobby Summers, Simaneks civil service master; four Medal of Honor recipients; and members of the Simanek family.

For the official christening moment, Simaneks daughter, Ann Simanek Clark, broke a bottle of champagne over the bow with the words, For the United States of America, I christen you the USNS Robert E. Simanek. May God bless this ship, and all who sail on her.

Simanek is the seventh ship in the expeditionary mobile base platform built for MSC, and the third expeditionary staging base model. ESBs are highly flexible platforms that provide logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations, the Navy said. The ESB variant is designed around four core capabilities: aviation; berthing; equipment staging area; and command and control.

Military Sealift Command directs and supports operations for approximately 140 civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea. It conducts specialized missions, pre-positions combat cargo at sea around the world, performs a variety of support services, and moves military equipment and supplies to deployed U.S. forces.
U.S. Air Force Maj. John C.G. Kerr, 35, of Florida and U.S. Army Cpl. Richard Seloover, 17, of Illinois. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

U.S. Air Force Maj. John C.G. Kerr, 35, of Florida, reported missing during the Vietnam War, was accounted for April 24, and U.S. Army Cpl. Richard Seloover, 17, of Illinois, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for Jan. 10.

On Aug. 22, 1967, Kerr was piloting an A-26A Invader attack aircraft on a solo nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over the Plain of Jars, Laos. After he failed to check in via radio and didnt return from the mission, U.S. forces began an extensive electronic and visual search of the area, in which extensive enemy defenses were present, but could not find Kerr or the aircraft. Likely related to this incident, a New China News Agency broadcast reported the Aug. 22 shootdown of an American aircraft near Ban Ban and the deaths of its crew members.

Kerr was declared killed in action on June 4, 1971.
(Peter Jaeger/Stars and Stripes)

Camp Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 10, 2000: NORDIC Battle Group and SFOR (Stabilization Force) vehicles stand in front of houses in the town of Doboj and show off their corresponding shapes. Camp Doboj was the base camp for the NORDIC Battle Group. Comprised of military units from Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Norway, Finland and Sweden, the battle group took the lead on keeping the peace in the area, with contributions from SFOR members.

Looking for Stars and Stripes historic coverage? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through https://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/
A Russian Iskander-M missile launcher parades through Red Square during the general rehearsal of the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 7, 2022. ( Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

With the annual celebration of its victory over Nazi Germany and President Vladimir Putins inauguration for a fifth term just ahead, Russia has mounted a month-long exhibition of military equipment captured in the war in Ukraine with the message that even as it fights the entire collective West, victory is inevitable.

The exhibition at Moscows Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill comes just before a May 9 Victory Day celebration that could not be more different from last years when Russia was facing battlefield setbacks and a Ukrainian summer counteroffensive powered by new Western military equipment. Instead, this year, Ukrainian forces have been driven out of several front-line villages as weapons supplies have stalled.

The Victory Day celebration has grown in political importance with the invasion and the increased militarization of Russian society, as Putin seeks to equate Ukraines leaders with World War II Nazis and portray Russia as a nation saving the world with its special military operation.

The trophies, which included an American M1 main battle tank, were surrounded by dozens of red flags bearing the word Victory! It was an exhibition full of contradictions: there was triumphalism that Russia had captured the Western military equipment, even as the propagandists sneered at its quality, as if capturing them was not a challenge.

Putin is riding high after a March election decried by Western governments as flawed that delivered him at least six more years in power and the battlefield advances in Ukraine, and he is brimming with confidence ahead of his inauguration on Tuesday and the Victory Day parade two days after.

With Ukraine still hampered by weapons and personnel shortages, Russian forces are besieging the strategically important town of Chasiv Yar, an elevated location that could open the way to further advances. The United States passed a long delayed $60 billion military aid package last month, but its effect has yet to be felt on the battlefield.

Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence, told the Economist that the fall of Chasiv Yar was probably a matter of time, adding that Ukraines position was as bad as it had been since the first days of the invasion.

More than 30 pieces of military hardware from 12 countries were displayed at the exhibition, marked with the flags of their origin countries, including the U.S. Abrams tank, an M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, a German Leopard 2 tank, and British Husky and Mastiff armored vehicles, as well as U.S. howitzers.

Many of these were sent with great fanfare to Ukraine for its much vaunted summer offensive, which later bogged down against heavy Russian defenses.

Our victory is inevitable, trumpeted the billboards around the venue.

The Kremlin and Russian military have used propaganda and repression throughout the war to depict Ukraine as not a real country but part of Russia and led by Nazis. Russia criminalized criticism of the military and suppressed its own war casualty figures, estimated by U.S. intelligence at more than 300,000 killed and wounded.

Russia on Friday sentenced antiwar activist Angel Nikolayev in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk to 15 years in prison for alleged terrorism and grave desecration in relation to antiwar activism, including setting fire to a military enlistment office and painting flags on the graves of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine. The prosecution charged that the symbols Nikolayev painted were visually similar to Nazi symbols, a claim he denied.

At the exhibition, a Russian soldier with the call sign Syria and armed with a collapsible pointer stick, explained the features of the Abrams tank to visitors and journalists, pointing at shrapnel holes in the vehicle.

The Abrams was no miracle weapon, he said in video aired by TV Zvezda, owned and run by the Russian Ministry of Defense. There is also a political context here: Here it is, this vehicle in the center of Moscow, bowing to the Russian soil.

An American tank in the center of Moscow during the May holidays is not at all what [the enemy] would like to see there. Especially when our most important holiday - Victory Day - is approaching.

Another serviceman with the call sign Java prodded at the M2 Bradley, claiming that it was poorly designed for the Ukraine operation and often sank into the soil.

Zvezda TV anchor Irina Losik claimed without evidence that many Western journalists had written about what a colossal humiliation this exhibition of trophies on Poklonnaya Hill is for the entire NATO bloc, adding that Russian engineers would take the vehicles apart to learn about them.

This equipment has not even had time to fight in the war. This is a confirmation of my words that the machinery is defeatable, with poor cross-country ability, and is expensive to maintain, Losik said. Ukraines military, she claimed, often abandoned Western military vehicles that get stuck in the first puddle in the fields.

While January polling by Levada Center, an independent polling agency, indicates that most Russians - 52 percent - want an end to the war, support for the actions of Russias military in Ukraine also remains high at 77 percent, with the same percentage convinced that the war will end in Russian victory.

The exhibition appears partly designed to convey to Russians the difference between May 2023 when Russian forces had suffered successive retreats and setbacks, and now. In last years scaled-back parade, only one World War II-era T-34 tank was displayed.

Since then, Russia has ramped up military production, prevented Ukraines breakthrough to the southern coast during the counteroffensive last year, and made advances.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed Friday that Russia had taken control of 547 square kilometers of territory in occupied Ukraine since early January, referring to the region as the new Russian territories.
The Russian terrorist army continues its offensive in different directions to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. There were 95 combat engagements in the frontline over the last day.

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The most active fighting continues in the Avdiivka, Novopavlivka and Bakhmut sectors. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of May 5.

During the day, Putin's troops launched 5 missile and 69 air strikes, fired 74 MLRS at the positions of our troops and populated areas. Russian terrorist attacks resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private and apartment buildings, civilian infrastructure facilities were destroyed and damaged. At night, the occupiers once again attacked Ukraine using 24 Shahed drones. The Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 23 attack UAVs.

The following settlements came under air strikes: Krasny Khutir, Chernihiv region; Luhivka, Sumy region; Kharkiv, Slobozhanske, Vesele, Cherkaski Tyshky, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kharkiv region; VerkhnokamVerkhnekamianske, Spirne, Klishchiyivka, Novosadove, Druzhba, Tarasivka, Novooleksandrivka, Progress, Yevhenivka, Novoselivka Persha, Umanske, Karlivka, Heorhiivka, Kostiantynivka, Vodyane, Urozhayne, Staromayorske in Donetsk region; Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka in Zaporizhzhia region; Beryslav, Sadove and Krynky in Kherson region.

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More than 110 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.

The operational situation remains unchanged in the Volyn and Polissya sectors.

In the Siversky and Slobozhansky sectors, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas and conducts subversive activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas.

In the Kupyansk sector, our troops repelled 12 attacks in the vicinity of Sinkivka, Pishchane, Kyslivka in Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Berestove in Luhansk region.

In the Lyman sector, nine attacks were repelled in the areas of Serebryanske forestry in Luhansk region and Terniv in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut sector, our soldiers repelled 12 attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka in Luhansk region, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Novyi, Klishchiyivka, and south of Ivanivske in Donetsk region.

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In the Avdiivka sector, our defenders repelled 20 attacks in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Sokil, Novopokrovske and Umanske in the Donetsk region.

In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold back the enemy near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vodiane and Urozhayne in Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defense of our troops 15 times.

In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attacked our positions 5 times in the areas south of Novodarivka, Staromayorske in Donetsk region and Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region.

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In the Kherson sector, the enemy has not abandoned its intention to drive our units from the footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Over the past day, he made 10 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our troops.

At the same time, our soldiers continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, depleting the enemy along the entire front line.

During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck 7 areas of concentration of personnel, 3 control points, 3 anti-aircraft missile systems and an enemy ammunition depot. Ukrainian air defense forces also destroyed an X-59/69 guided missile. The missile troops hit a control center, a personnel concentration area, a radar station and another important enemy object.

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As a reminder, the White House has stated that the Ukrainian Defense Forces will seek to launch a new counteroffensive at the front, probably in 2025. At that time, the country will "hold the line" thanks to military assistance from the United States.

Earlier it was reported that on the night of May 5, the Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine with Shahed-type kamikaze drones. Some of the drones were sent to Kharkiv, and the city was hit by a private sector.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Boeings Starliner spacecraft in 2022 in Florida. A decade after NASA awarded Boeing a contract to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, the craft is set to lift off Monday with two astronauts. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Before a door-size panel blew out of a Boeing 737 Max, leaving a gaping hole in the side of an Alaska Airlines aircraft shortly after takeoff; before whistleblowers came forward to say they were threatened for bringing up safety issues at the company; and before the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the blowout incident, Boeing was struggling with another set of issues, on another high-profile vehicle.

Its Starliner spacecraft, designed to fly astronauts to orbit under a $4.2 billion contract from NASA, had suffered a series of problems that put its launch with astronauts years behind schedule. Its onboard computer had failed during its first test flight. A second test flight was scrubbed after valves in the vehicles service module stuck and wouldnt operate. Then, after the craft finally flew a test mission successfully without anyone on board, Boeing discovered that tape used as insulation on wiring inside the capsule was flammable and would need to be removed. The parachute system also had problems, which forced the company to redesign and strengthen a link between the parachutes and the spacecraft.

Now, a decade after NASA awarded Boeing a contract to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, Boeing will finally attempt to fly its Starliner spacecraft with people onboard. If all goes to plan, at 10:34 p.m. on Monday, the company is set to fly a pair of veteran astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore, on a mission that will be one of the most significant tests for Boeings space division  and for NASA  in years.

The flight is intended to see how the spacecraft performs in space with a crew onboard. If all goes well, the spacecraft will catch up with the space station  which travels at 17,500 mph  about a day after lifting off. Along the way, the crew members will test manually flying the spacecraft before it docks autonomously with the station. NASA and Boeing will also be eager to see how the spacecrafts heat shield and parachutes work as it brings Williams and Wilmore back to Earth after about eight days.

NASA officials express confidence in Boeing and say the company has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the mission will be successful. They are eager to have another spacecraft, in addition to the one SpaceX flies, that can ferry astronauts to the station. I can say with confidence that the teams have absolutely done their due diligence, James Free, NASAs associate administrator, said at a briefing last week.

I see a total focus on this mission and making it successful from the way that we always have done human spaceflight in my time at NASA, said Steve Stich, who oversees NASAs commercial crew program. Its really just taking it step by step, methodically getting to flight.

Still, launching humans to orbit is extremely difficult and dangerous, especially on a new vehicle that has a history of trouble and has never flown people before.

The first crewed flight of a new spacecraft is an absolutely critical milestone Free said. The lives of our crew members, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, are at stake. We dont take that lightly at all. The most important thing we can do is protect those two people, as well as our crew currently on board the space station.

Safety, he said, has and always will be our primary core value at NASA.

The mission comes at a crucial time for Boeing. After the panel blew off the Alaska Airlines flight, the company announced it would reshuffle its leadership and replace CEO David Calhoun. Calhoun took over the company after another disaster  the crashes of two 737 Max airplanes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

Boeings commercial aviation division and its space program are managed separately. But both have faced similar quality-control issues.

After the failure of Starliners first test flight, managers at Boeing acknowledged they had cut short a test that would have caught the software problem. That caused NASA to offer an unusually harsh assessment of its partner, saying that there were numerous instances where the Boeing software quality processes either should have or could have uncovered the defects.

Mark Nappi, Boeings Starliner program manager, told reporters the past week that the problems with the companys airline division had not added to pressures in the mission.

We signed up to go do this, and were going to go do it and be successful at it, he said. So I dont think of it in terms of whats important for Boeing, as much as I think of it in terms of whats important for this program, to follow through with the commitments that we made to our customer.

Boeings woes have been amplified by the fact that SpaceX has been flying astronauts on its spacecraft for four years, even though the companies received their contracts at the same time and SpaceX was paid $2.6 billion, far less than Boeing. Since then, SpaceX has flown multiple missions for NASA, as well as taken private astronauts to the station and to orbit. It also has received an extension on its contract with NASA to fly astronaut missions.

Not only has Boeing yet to fly people on Starliner but the delays have meant about $1.4 billion in cost overruns. In an interview last year, John Shannon, vice president of Boeing Exploration Systems, said the future of Starliner was uncertain. Probably the biggest challenge I have is defining how do I make this into a positive business case, given the market conditions as we see them right now, he said then.

Asked about the future of Starliner recently, Nappi was noncommittal. He said the company would fulfill its contract with NASA, flying a handful of missions, which would take the company to the end of the decade.

So weve got plenty of time to think about whats after that, he said. And we will do that. But right now, the focus is on CFT  or the crewed flight test.

In December 2019, Starliner launched successfully to orbit, but the spacecraft ran into problems shortly after it separated from the launch vehicle. Engineers on the ground were able to diagnose the problem  the onboard computer was 11 hours off, so the spacecraft had started executing commands for an entirely different part of the flight.

Engineers also soon discovered a second software problem, which could have caused the service module to crash into the crew capsule during separation. The issues were so severe that NASA officials said the spacecraft could have been lost because of either of them, threatening the lives of astronauts, had any been on board. The flight never reached the space station, and after it returned to Earth, Boeing said it would attempt a second flight test after reviewing 1 million lines of code in the spacecraft.

The second attempt to fly the capsule without anyone onboard came about a year and a half later, during the summer of 2021. By then, Boeing said it had fixed the software issues. But this time several of the valves in the spacecrafts service module were corroded shut, and Boeing was unable to fix them while the craft was mounted on top of the rocket at the launchpad.

Taking it down led to another delay.

Boeing finally completed the uncrewed test flight in May 2022. But a little over a year later, as it was gearing up to fly astronauts, it announced the problem with the parachute system and the flammable tape.

Part of the purpose of the crewed test flight is to see how the vehicle reacts in the vacuum of space, and NASA officials said they anticipate that the astronauts and ground controllers will have to react to unexpected issues. That, they said, is how they make the vehicle safer and more reliable.

Let me just remind everybody again: This is a new spacecraft. Ill also remind you this is a test flight, Free said. We certainly have some unknowns in this mission, things we expect to learn. This being a test mission, we may encounter things we dont expect. But our job now is to remain vigilant and keep looking for issues.

Williams, who was assigned years ago to the commercial crew program and has been waiting to fly since then, said shes convinced the teams are ready.

We do anticipate everythings going to go as planned, she said in an interview. But if it doesnt, well take a moment and analyze it and talk about it, and well be okay. So our confidence in the mission is high.
You go to petrol station or buy something with alcohol, they say its bomb, that is problem. You have gas for lighter, somebody say this is bomb.

Staff at Amigos refused to give Switaj his money back for the kebab he bought

Sebastian Switaj tells our reporter that he had the improvised petrol bombs at Amigos takeaway for use in his fireplace

A man who turned up at a takeaway with what were described as improvised petrol bombs says he wasnt trying to commit terrorism but was unhappy with what he described as a sh*t kebab.

Sebastian Switaj (42), of Rathowen, Fermoy, Co Cork, is set to be sentenced next month for the bizarre incident at his local takeaway Amigos on August 6 last year.

Fermoy District Court heard earlier this month that Switaj had been unhappy with his food from the takeaway and got into a dispute with staff.

Sergeant Majella OSullivan told the court that Switaj went to the takeaway with two glass containers and placed them on the counter.

The containers had lids which had holes cut into them and stuffed into the holes was cloth that had been soaked in petrol.

Sebastian Switaj

Staff at Amigos smacked the glass containers away during the incident. Mr Switaj told the Sunday World this week that he was really unhappy with a kebab he had bought from Amigos and wanted his money back.

I went up to get my money back and that man told me get out, f**k off. I said, Where is my money for kebab? This is sh*t kebab, its no good. I did nothing wrong, I only wanted my money back, thats all.

He said f**k off I dont give you nothing, you have good kebab.

They said get out, f**k off you crazy man, go home, this is only money.

And you see what happened.

Asked why he had petrol bombs with him, Switaj said: It was for fire in fireplace.

He said he took the flammable liquid out of his bags and placed it on the counter in front of staff who quickly brushed them away and broke them.

He broke that and that is problem, he said.

Switaj said he didnt try to light the flammable liquid.

Amigos Pizza Place

You go to petrol station or buy something with alcohol, they say its bomb, that is problem. You have gas for lighter, somebody say this is bomb.

Then you have a witness saying yeah he said hed kill us. That is problem also. Everything problem. (sic)

Mr Switaj said he didnt make any threats to kill staff at the restaurant.

Its bullsh*t. He told gardai I said Im going to kill him, he said.

Man has bomb and says hes going to kill him and this is terrorism!

Switaj admitted he is still unhappy all these months later about his kebab and not getting his money back.

Why must I give him money for free? When I pay [for food] I need good stuff for me because I paid for it. Im customer, I paid him.

He said when he realised he wasnt getting a refund he tried a different approach.

When they said they wouldnt give me money back, I said then give me a new one. They said no. They told me to get out.

He said he felt people would understand his situation more if he had taken a picture of the food.

Maybe if I had a photo of the kebab, he mused.

Switaj said the meat pieces in it were too small.

They werent bigger pieces. They were smaller.

Asked if he ended up eating the kebab anyway, he said: I didnt eat that kebab because its sh*t, you know.

He said he had previously had kebabs from the takeaway and they were fine.

He no longer orders food from Amigos and said there are other takeaways in the town.

Staff at Amigos refused to give Switaj his money back for the kebab he bought

The court was told that Mr Switaj had five previous convictions, including one for assault and one for obstruction, and that five months before the incident at Amigos he had received a suspended sentence for assault.

Judge Colm Roberts said: Clearly he was trying to frighten and intimidate the people in the takeaway.

I would be very concerned about his ability to regulate himself, particularly his anger and his violent emotions.

To be honest, Im finding it difficult to find a reason why I shouldnt sent him to prison.

Switaj told the Sunday World that the assault he was previously convicted of took place when he was drinking and he no longer drinks due to health problems.

I had problem with alcohol two years ago and had a case before. My health now is bad with my heart, stomach and liver. Im stopped drinking.

He said he came to Ireland from Poland 20 years ago and previously worked in a food processing plant, but lost his job.

Before I had good health. I dont have good health now.

The judge adjourned the case until June 28 for the completion of a probation report.
The despised 81-year-old criminal, who flooded Dublin with the deadly drug was buried in Crookstown cemetery on Tuesday morning

Tony Fellonis three sons (L-R) Mario, Luigi and Ronaldo at their fathers funeral on Tuesday

This is the plot in an isolated rural graveyard in Kildare where King Scum heroin dealer Tony Felloni now rests.

The despised 81-year-old criminal, who flooded Dublin with the killer drug in the 80s and 90s and even peddled it to his own family, was buried in Crookstown cemetery on Tuesday morning.

Following a funeral witnessed by his children, Regina, Lena, Mario, Luigi and Ronaldo and a few grandchildren, the drug peddlers casket was lowered into the ground as Regina, holding a red rose, sobbed openly.

Tony Fellonis coffin at the church in Dublin

The grave, a source told this newspaper, is the same one where Fellonis father and mother rest. No headstone is erected above it.

Instead, an unadorned wooden cross is all that marks the plot.

Earlier on Tuesday, in a ceremony devoid of gangland pageantry held in St Saviour Church on Dominick Street in north inner-city Dublin, five of the Felloni children came together to mark the passing of their father.

No eulogies were read, with the only oblique reference to the deceaseds criminal past coming as his coffin was wheeled out of the church to the music of Love Theme from The Godfather movie.

A wooden cross and floral tribute at the cemetery

A source told the Sunday World there had been no attempt to glamourise or sanitise Fellonis evil deeds.

His criminality was a blight on the city in the 80s and 90s. God know how many deaths the heroin he brought in was responsible for, he said.

But he was also a blight on his family.

His criminality led a number of his own children into addiction, criminality and ill health.

But, at the end of the day, he was their father.

And they are doing their best to deal with his death with as much dignity as they can.

The impact of Fellonis evil crimes on his children is well documented.

Mario, Fellonis eldest son, did 10 years in prison in Parkhurst in the UK in the 1990s after he was convicted of an armed robbery carried out to pay for his heroin addiction

Regina and Luigi received sentences, 72 and 83 months in prison respectively, after a court heard they had been coerced into working for their father in the drug trade.

In 2011, Ronaldo was given a four-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery of a woman on North Frederick Street two years earlier.

Tony Fellonis three sons (L-R) Mario, Luigi and Ronaldo at their fathers funeral on Tuesday

He told gardai he needed money for heroin and said he had been an addict since he was 12 years old.

Another daughter Anne, when sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 1997, told the judge: I never had a normal girls childhood. I was just used by my father to distribute heroin.

And in 2014, Lena, who is a graduate of Trinity College in sociology and addiction studies, told RTEs Liveline she had been on the Dublin City Council housing list for 19 years but hadnt been able to get a place because of her fathers name.

Although Tony Felloni earned the nickname King Scum in his role as one of Irelands leading heroin traffickers in the 1980s and 1990s, his background was in vice.

In the 1960s, he exploited young naive women trying to make their way in Dublin, getting them drunk, taking compromising photos and extorting their wages from them.

As a burglar and sneak thief, he spent a lot of his life behind prison bar before getting into the drugs trade.

Lena Felloni

Originally from Lower Dominick St, Dublin, 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 CAB after it was set up.

The Criminal Assets Bureau spent 14 years chasing his money and property eventually taking almost 500,000 from him.

After he was jailed in 1996, Felloni became close to John Gilligan, who also serving a lengthy sentence for drug dealing at the time.

Tony Fellonis funeral

On his release in January 2011 there was nobody there to meet Felloni when he left Mountjoy Prison Training Unit and he was driven into the city centre by a probation worker before fleeing into Temple Bar.

He was effectively homeless and had to rely on family members for help.

Of Fellonis passing and burial, our source said this week: Hes gone, hes dead and he cant hurt anyone anymore.

But the damage he did in this city can still be seen.

Generations later and its still there to be seen.

Thats the real tragedy.
Judge Francis Comerford noted Harmon did not seem to understand the harm he had caused as he jailed him for 16 months

Edward's diary entry for the day he was abused by Harmon on July 11, 1981, aged 11. The two tiny black marks at the centre of the bottom of the page were 'code' for the abuse

The day before he went to jail for abusing children, Jim Harmon whiled away the time posting trivia on social media.

Whether it was in distraction or denial, the child abuser took to Quora, a question-and-answer forum, with gusto. And the 80-year-old former scoutmaster from Shannon, Co Clare, showed his tetchy side.

How many years ago did Titanic sink?

Look it up and find out for yourself, he replied.

How do you write a letter that ends with you reap what you saw?

I do believe the quotation should be you reap what you sow, was his smug reply.

That phrase came home to roost for Harmon less than 24 hours later when he presented at Ennis Circuit Court last Wednesday  alone and without support  to reap the punishment for admitting to indecently assaulting five boys between 1976 and 1981.

We looked at each other and both realised what was going on in the next tent

Judge Francis Comerford noted Harmon did not seem to understand the harm he had caused as he jailed him for 16 months for offences against each of the five boys, totalling six years and six months.

The boys are now men in their 50s who met for the first time as adults at Ennis Courthouse, strangers drawn together by their abuser. Each travelled a different path to get there, uniquely impacted by the devastating childhood experience of being sexually abused by Harmon.

All of them minimised or buried it in some way. Two men had reported him years ago, but Harmon escaped.

Do you know, the horrific thing I got from meeting those men in that room that day was the links of damage that Harmon caused, said Tom who, along with three others, spoke to the Sunday Independent under a pseudonym after the case concluded.

Jim Harmon outside court last week

Harmon came to Limerick in 1973, having worked for 13 years as RAF groundcrew in the UK.

He was 30, lived at home with his parents in Garryowen and worked at Shannon Development in various roles, including EU information officer, until his retirement in 2003. He had joined the scouts and began sexually abusing boys from at least 1976.

Five men last week recalled a well-built, tall man with glasses, who bragged about his exploits in the RAF, impressed with his motorbike and terrorised them with unspeakable acts they didnt understand.

It became apparent during the garda investigation that his pursuit of the boys followed a pattern  ingratiating himself with the boys families, and targeting those who seemed vulnerable.

In the five cases in court last week, the boys fathers worked away from home.

There was a modus operandi: molesting boys under their clothes, in broad daylight, in their tents at night, in his tent, finding excuses to strip them to their underwear, to weigh or measure them.

You quickly learned not to cry. If you did, you would be brought to his tent

Tom recalled how Harmon spent months befriending his mother  his father worked away from home  and persuaded her to allow the boy to stay overnight in Garryowen, on the pretext of driving him to camp the following day.

That night, his parent elsewhere in the house, Harmon got into Toms bed, put his hand down the back of his pyjamas, and asked: What do you call your bottom?

Tom called him a creep  a term he picked up from his older sister. Harmon left the room and dumped the boy home the next morning.

Harmon never molested Tom again. But things Tom saw and heard are seared in his memory. They include one of a boy Harmon ordered to sleep in his tent during a camping trip to OBriens Estate in Cratloe.

Tom and his friend were in an adjoining tent and heard shouting.

We looked at each other and we both realised the same thing about what was going on next door.

The boy was Ruairi Hickey, who waived his anonymity. Harmon abused Ruairi regularly, sometimes creeping into the tent where he slept with other boys to molest him, sometimes forcing him into his tent.

Ruairi recalled a camping trip to Holy Island on Lough Derg. Harmon sent two boys off exploring and made Ruairi stay and play chess. Harmon undid the boys trousers and abused him as he played.

I remember seeing the other two walking away and being powerless, knowing and dreading what was to come.

"I close my eyes and can see the travel chess set, brown and white squares, magnetic white and black pieces, watching the backs of the other two walk away, said Ruairi in his victim impact statement.

Edward's diary entry for the day he was abused by Harmon on July 11, 1981, aged 11. The two tiny black marks at the centre of the bottom of the page were 'code' for the abuse

Adam*, the youngest of the five, recalled: You learned very quickly not to cry, not to say you were missing your parents. If you did, you would be brought to his tent... I knew at a very young age thats not where I wanted to go.

Harmon molested Adam in his tent on a camping trip. On another occasion, Harmon drove Adam and another boy to his home in Garryowen.

I remember being stripped down to my underpants being weighed, being measured, being touched for preparation to an overseas camp called Peak 80, he said.

Even now he finds it hard to talk about and believes he has blocked out certain memories. Adam got away from Harmon when his family moved back to Dublin in 1980.

Gardai advised him not to pursue his complaint against the child abuser

In 1981, Harmon molested Edward* at a campfire on OBriens Estate when he was 11, cold and tired after a long day. Harmon took him on his lap and to the childs incomprehension and shock, put his hands inside his pants.

The next day, Harmon caused Edward to fall into water and made his move, offering to change the boys clothes. Edward, despite his innocence, instinctively and robustly rebuffed him.

Harmon left the scouts a short time later, triggered by an 11-year-old boy who decided he could not take the abuse anymore.

John* joined the cub scouts aged seven or eight. He was molested repeatedly by Harmon, on camping trips and outings, and in Johns own home, where he sat beside him on the couch, tickled him and put his hand down his trousers.

In the summer of 1981, he had been on a family holiday and had been looking forward to joining the scouts on a camping trip in Kilgarvan.

I arrived at the camp late. I realised the atmosphere was not good. he said. Something had shifted in me. Maybe I was a little bit older at that stage.

Jim Harmon was jailed for six years and six months

He left the camp, walked the couple of miles to the village and phoned his parents. As his mother bathed him that evening, he told her Harmon had been putting his hands down his trousers.

I told her I didnt want to go back. She said she would take care of it. That was the end of it, he said.

Johns mother warned other parents and complained to the scouting authorities. Harmon was forced out  he would later tell gardai he left because his parents were still alive and he didnt want to cause a scandal.

There is little doubt Johns actions and his mothers response saved other boys from further abuse.

If harm is done to children at a young age, they carry it into their lives

As soon as Ruairi Hickeys mother heard from Johns mother, she immediately pulled her boy out of the scouts.

Edward was the first to report Harmon to gardai. It was 1996, he was in his mid-20s and had come through a troubled period  Harmon, he said, was a monkey on his back.

Gardai advised him not to pursue his complaint. It would be Harmons word against his, they said.

Edward again reported Harmon to gardai in 2014, prompted by a counsellor. This time Harmon was arrested. He answered no comment in garda interviews and denied knowing Edward.

Once again, it was Edwards word against Harmons and he was not prosecuted.

His victim was deeply disappointed.

One of the motives I had in going to the police was that they would investigate and intervene so that he might not be doing that to other people, said Edward.

In 2016, Tom disclosed his childhood trauma to a counsellor who urged him to report Harmon to gardai. Harmon was questioned voluntarily. He made no admissions. Again, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute.

Innocent lives were destroyed by the abuse. Photo; Getty

Two men  unbeknownst to the other  had now come forward alleging child abuse against the same scoutmaster, but their cases were apparently never connected and their complaints investigated in isolation.

There was a third complaint for which Harmon was prosecuted in 2017, also investigated in isolation.

Harmon pleaded guilty to molesting a 14-year-old boy on a camping trip in Waterford. He portrayed the incident as an isolated one off, for which he was sorry  and walked away with a suspended sentence and his identity protected.

Harmon finally received the joined-up investigative attention he deserved after details of widespread sexual abuse in Scouting Ireland led to a public scandal, and Ruairi Hickey made a formal complaint to gardai in 2019.

John did not respond when gardai first contacted him in 2020.

I ignored them. I didnt get in touch. I didnt want to go there, he said. He eventually agreed. If they are going to the effort of doing this, I should help. I wasnt doing it for a resolution for myself, he said.

In his victim impact statement, he said he went to college, married and forged a successful international career.

Bubbling beneath the veneer of success is a person who has been damaged and upset by having been abused by a very young age.

John struggles to describe how Harmons abuse had impacted on him. But I know it has  and profoundly so.

Ruari, who counts himself lucky in life with family and friends, said in his victim impact statement that he keeps his memories buried and tries to live his life in spite of them.

Edward, whose statement was read by his wife, went off the rails in his 20s but forged friendships, a happy marriage and a successful career despite Harmons devious efforts to destroy his innocence.

Harmon was a prolific paedophile and an evil predator.

Adam said his childhood was corrupted and any trajectory he had in his life had changed. He experimented with drugs and alcohol from a young age to escape the self-loathing bestowed on him by a predator.

Harmons actions have created ripples of evil, affecting not only his life but his wife and his childrens.

Disturbingly, the HSE placed a six-year-old child in Harmons care

Tom, who struggled in his teens, suffered from anxiety. He said he is haunted by the images of Harmons acts. His wife, who is also affected by her husbands trauma, said what he saw, he can never unsee and he will never forget.

The men praised Denise Moriarty, the detective garda who brought them through this case. They have urged others who have been abused to come forward and to trust in the criminal process.

Some were unhappy with Scouting Irelands response.

Harmon, frail, in spectacles and navy jacket, closed his eyes as the men read their victim impact statements.

The court heard he had married a widow with five children in 1994. The couple became foster parents.

Disturbingly, the HSE placed a six-year-old child in Harmons care. His wife died in 2000. He was alone in the world, estranged from family and friends.

Harmon had claimed to be a victim himself, the court heard, but he showed no understanding of the impact of his actions.

This idea that children are resilient and will get over things, said Judge Comerford. If harm is done to children at a young age, they carry it into their lives.

The five men who gathered more in sadness than in jubilation outside Ennis courthouse last Wednesday can attest to that.

In a statement, Scouting Ireland welcomed Harmons conviction and reiterated its public apology to those hurt by him. It said it provides counselling and support to all adult survivors.

Adam, Edward, John and Tom are pseudonyms to protect the mens identities. Ruairi Hickey waived his anonymity
A trial two years in the making involving the death of five friends on the fishing trip of a lifetime starts in the Whangarei District Court today.

Open Justice reporter Shannon Pitman has been covering the case since its first appearance and gives an in-depth overview of the upcoming trial.

In what was poised to be the ultimate adventure, a group of friends embarked on a journey they had eagerly awaited: a five-day fishing expedition aboard the Mangonui vessel The Enchanter.

For the band of avid anglers hailing from Cambridge and Te Awamutu, the excursion was more than just a getaway, it was a long-anticipated dream, meticulously planned over a year, with an estimated cost of $25,000 for the exclusive charter.

Under the ownership and operation of Lance Goodhew, a local of Coopers Beach, Enchanter Charters set sail with eight enthusiastic passengers and a dedicated deckhand, Kobe ONeill. Their destination: the remote and rugged Manawatawhi-Three Kings Islands, situated 80km up the coastline, promising three days of unparalleled fishing.

However, on the day slated for their return, the weather took a perilous turn. MetService issued an orange warning, signalling rough seas, high winds, and heavy rain for the next 24 hours.

On March 20, 2022, Goodhew headed off from the Three Kings islands to bring the crew back to Mangonui, but as he rounded North Cape, tragedy struck.

Lance Goodhew was the skipper of the vessel for the five-day fishing trip. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

A rogue 10m wave capsized the boat plunging the men, who werent wearing lifejackets, into the cold sea amid the remnants of a destroyed ship.

Miraculously in the chaos, an emergency beacon found its way to a piece of debris where two men clung. They desperately activated the beacon which set in motion what would become one of the most harrowing rescue missions undertaken by emergency services.

As sunset fell, it became apparent men were missing. It would take more than four agonising hours for emergency responders to reach the remaining survivors.

Shay Ward, Ben Stinson, Jayde Cook, Lance Goodhew and Kobe ONeill were rescued from the water, but five friends lost their lives that night: Richard Bright, 63, Mike Lovett, 72, Geoffrey Allen, 72, Mark Walker, 41, and Mark Sanders, 43.

A helicopter crew rescues men from the wave-smashed charter-fishing vessel The Enchanter, skippered by Lance Goodhew.

Northland Rescue Helicopters were later awarded the highest New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards accolade which they shared with Northland Police Search and Rescue Squad, Police National Dive Squad, Maritime New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre, crews of the Florence Nightingale and Pacific Invader, and Enchanter deckhand Kobe ONeill.

Three inquiries were launched by Maritime New Zealand, WorkSafe and The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and charges were formally laid by Maritime New Zealand in the Kaitaia District Court against Goodhew and his company on April 13, 2023.

The charges

Lance Goodhew resides in Coopers Bay and set up Enchanter Fishing Charters in 1995. His fishing charters are said to specialise in big game fishing and the qualified offshore master, also the director of L & M Goodhew Ltd, claims to be on the sea for 250 days of the year.

Goodhew is charged by Maritime New Zealand with breaching his duties as a worker on the vessel and in doing so, allegedly exposing individuals to a risk of death or serious injury. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a $150,000 fine.

The Enchanter charter fishing boat charters out of Mangonui and will be the core focus of the trial.

His business, L & M Goodew Ltd, has been charged with a breach of the Maritime Transport Act in operating a ship without the prescribed qualified personnel by not having a current medical certificate at the time of the incident, which comes with a maximum penalty of a $100,000 fine.

The business is also charged with exposing individuals to the risk of death or serious injury carrying a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.

Goodhew entered a not-guilty plea on all charges and elected a judge-alone trial in August 2023. In the following months, multiple discussions between parties about the particulars of one charge delayed the process and eventually, failed to resolve.

The trial

The trial, beginning on Monday, May 6, is judge-alone, meaning no jury will be selected and one judge will hear all the evidence, decide the verdict and likely release the decision weeks after the trial finishes.

Judge Philip Rzepecky , who sits on the Te Tai Tokerau justice service area, has been overseeing the case since early in its court phase and will be the judge determining the trial, scheduled for three weeks.

Although the incident occurred within the Far North district, making the Kaitaia District Court the base for all charges, Judge Rzepecky directed the trial be heard in Whangarei District Court.

The capacity in the court [Kaitaia] is the issue, theres only one court and its used for everything. So you could end up waiting a long time for a fixture for your trial, which can then be interrupted quite often by issues that arise that need to be dealt with such as bail hearings etc.

It would be in the interest of justice if there was not an inordinate delay, Judge Rzepecky said last August.

Legal counsel for The Enchanter Trial starting on Monday May 6 (from left): Stacey Fraser for The Enchanter and Lance Goodhew, Richard Monigatti for Maritime NZ, Fletcher Pilditch KD for The Enchanter and Goodhew, Sam McMullan for Maritime NZ. Photo / NZME.

Goodhew and Enchanter Fishing Charters are represented by Fletcher Pilditch KC, who was elected Kings Counsel in 2021, and Stacey Fraser.

Pilditch, lead counsel for the defence, has more than 22 years of experience in law and has been involved in multiple high-profile court cases including the recent Whakaari-White Island case.

Maritime New Zealand is represented by lead counsel, Sam McMullan, from Meredith Connell, and Richard Monigatti, from Maritime New Zealand, as junior counsel.

McMullan has led the prosecution on more than 100 trials, including the recent trial against Ye Hua who laundered at least $18m for the drug cartel Xavier Valent, and is now serving the longest prison term for money laundering ever handed down by a New Zealand court.

The victims

Mark Sanders, 43, a builder from Te Awamutu and father of three, perished in the sinking and was described as a pretty popular, amazing guy.

Sanders embarked on the trip with cautious optimism, mindful of the impending weather forecast. His family remembers his anticipation for the trip of a lifetime.

The deaths of Geoffrey Allen, 72, and Mark Walker, 41, were a double tragedy for their devastated family.

Walker, a husband and father to a newborn baby and 12-year-old daughter, was the familys provider, having recently purchased their first home.

Allen, a father of four daughters, husband to Jean and grandfather to Walkers newborn baby, was a respected figure in Cambridge, known for supporting children with intellectual disabilities through the IHC.

The five victims of the Enchanter sinking were Richard Bright, Mark Sanders, Mike Lovett, Mark Walker and Geoffrey Allen.

Richard Bright, 63, owner of the Group One Turf Bar in Cambridge and father of two daughters, shared a jovial message with his wife before departing on the ill-fated trip - a picture of his last dinner in Mangonui the night before heading out.

Their love story began in Ngaruawahia and spanned four decades and various occupations before they realised their dream of opening a pub.

Mike Lovett, 72, a father of four and dedicated worker at a thoroughbred stud farm, was remembered as a good bloke and devoted family man.

He had been a regular at Brights pub in Cambridge for years and was known for his steadfast nature and likeable personality.

The father of four adult children embodied the values of old-fashioned Kiwi life: reliability, a strong work ethic and commitment to his family.
Almudena Nogues Malaga Sunday, 5 May 2024, 09:02 | Updated 09:15h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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This weekend, Malaga port has welcomed a new megayacht in the waters of its marina for luxury vessels. Moonrise is a symbol of luxury and engineering skill and has been moored for several days in the area alongside Muelle Uno of the city's port. The craft is some 100 metres long and has a beam of 16 metres. Its owner is the multimillionaire and philanthropist of Ukrainian origin Jan Koum, best known for being the co-founder of the WhatsApp messaging application.

The vessel, built in 2020, has capacity for 32 crew and can accommodate 16 passengers in eight luxurious double cabins. Its interiors were designed by Remi Tessier Design, a studio characterised by modern and welcoming environments. The maximum cruising speed is 19.5 knots (36.1 kilometres per hour). Its value? A whopping 220 million dollars.

Zoom Migue Fernandez

Moonrise - flying the flag of the Cayman Islands - is an elegant nautical masterpiece bearing the stamp of the reputable Dutch shipyard Feadship. To date, it holds the record of the largest superyacht by length ever built in the Netherlands. It is notable for its exterior lines, with extensive use of glass, grey hull, dark glass, four decks and a modern vertical bow designed by Studio De Voogt.

Among its main features, it has a helipad at the bow and a platform at the stern for launching water sports. Its extremely silent character is another of its assets, with noise and vibration attenuation standards for the comfort of its crew. ln short, a real jewel which can currently be seen in Malaga.
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Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
On the afternoon of May 5, after the air raid alert was announced, explosions were heard in Kharkiv. Local residents were urged not to ignore the danger and to stay in safe places.

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The explosions occurred in the regional center around 14.15. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported the enemy shelling on Telegram.

The head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, urged residents of Kharkiv and Kharkiv district not to ignore the danger. According to him, the occupiers continue to carry out air strikes.

"The occupiers are striking. Kharkiv and Kharkiv district: stay in shelters!" the head of the regional military administration wrote.

The Air Force Command warned about the activity of enemy tactical aviation in the northeast and the threat of using air strikes at 14:09. A few minutes later, powerful explosions were heard in Kharkiv.

According to monitoring channels, Putin's terrorists attacked the regional center with guided aerial bombs.

Later, the mayor clarified that Russian terrorists struck the central part of the city. The Russians once again attacked a residential area.

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Terekhov said that according to preliminary information, two people were wounded. More information on the consequences of the shelling will be available later. In his turn, the head of the JFO said that the enemy attacked Shevchenkivskyi district.

"Occupants attacked Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv. According to preliminary information, there are casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Specialized services continue to inspect the area," said Sinegubov.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on the night of May 5, the Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine with Shahed-type kamikaze drones. Some of the drones were sent to Kharkiv, and the city was hit by a private sector.

Earlier it was reported that the Russian occupation forces launched more than a dozen Shahed kamikaze drones towards the Dnipro region on the night of Orthodox Easter, May 5. Air defense forces shot down 12 targets, but there was damage to infrastructure in the regional center.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Update: Woman killed was shot once in Syracuse home by partner in what may have been an accident

Original report

Syracuse, N.Y.  A 27-year-old woman died shortly after being dropped off at Upstate University Hospital Friday evening after she was shot, Syracuse police said.

The woman was Kimberlin Gatewood, of Syracuse, police said in a news release Saturday afternoon.

Police responded to the hospital at 6:24 p.m. Friday after Gatewood was dropped off at the hospital, police said. Gatewood died a short time later, they said.

Police said they are working to determine where the shooting happened.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call investigators at (315) 442-5222.
Ithaca, N.Y.  A 19-year-old Ithaca College student was airlifted to a hospital after being hit by a vehicle driven by an impaired driver, state troopers said Sunday.

The student was walking in the 1500 block of Slaterville Road around 1:30 a.m. Saturday when they were struck in the town of Ithaca, troopers said in a news release.

The driver, Blake A. Curtis, 30, of Ithaca, immediately called 911, police said. The student was taken to Robert Packer Hospital with serious injuries, they said.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Police are investigating an altercation reported after a pro-Palestinian protest Saturday afternoon near the Syracuse University campus.

After the protest concluded around 4:30 p.m. in Walnut Park, an individual not affiliated with the university was reported to have made the Nazi salute toward a group of students, according to an email sent Saturday evening to SU students and employees. It was signed by Chief Student Experience Officer Allen Groves and Craig Stone, who leads the universitys Department of Public Safety.
Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, is currently free of Russian occupants, but the enemy is massing its forces in the direction of the town and the village of Ivanivske. These settlements remain the hottest spots on this frontline.

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For the Russians, it would be important to capture Chasiv Yar before the Ukrainian forces receive foreign assistance. This was stated by Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Troops, in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, the Ukrainian Defense Forces control the situation around Chasiv Yar. The Russian army is actively shelling the outskirts of the town, but the situation has not changed over the week. Active fighting continues day and night, Voloshyn said.

"Russian propaganda periodically claims that their army has entered the city. The enemy has not had any territorial successes in recent days, there is no enemy Russian army in the city," he emphasized.

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In order to capture the town, the Russian army is trying to outflank it through the settlements to the right and left - Bohdanivka and Ivanivske - actively storming them to take Chasiv Yar into an operational encirclement. "The enemy is trying to go head-on, where there is a canal, an artificial obstacle, but they are not fully succeeding," the spokesman noted.

At the same time, the Russians continue to wipe out Chasiv Yar and the surrounding settlements with aircraft and artillery. The enemy is probably preparing the ground for the next wave of attacks.

In the Chasiv Yar area, they are completing the regrouping and deploying additional assault groups near Bilohorivka. The enemy is also moving assault groups to Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

"In this area, the enemy is trying to find the frontline areas where it believes it can develop success, and is bringing additional troops and reserves to advance. The enemy is already advancing near Bilohorivka and Rozdolivka, trying to break through and block Siversk to create conditions for continuing the offensive on Sloviansk," the spokesman said.

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The enemy is also trying to regain control of Klishchiivka. In general, the enemy has no success in this area, and their advance has been stopped. However, Russian troops continue to exert pressure, so fighting continues in this area of the frontline.

As reported, after unsuccessful assaults on the town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, Russian troops tried to outflank the town but failed. Ukrainian Defense Forces units are holding their positions firmly.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,482 Thanked: 23,667 Times

Ferrari 12Cilindri globally unveiled; 819 BHP V12 engine & 9,500 rpm rev limit







The Ferrari 12Cilindri is powered by the brand's 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine producing 819 BHP and 678 Nm. The engine has been updated, allowing it to rev up to 9,500 rpm, and comes paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari claims the 12Cilindri Coupe is capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, while 200 km/h comes up in 7.9 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 340 km/h. The spider is slightly slower, with 0-100 km/h taking 2.95 seconds and 200 km/h coming up in 8.2 seconds. The 12Cilindri Coupe weighs in at 1,560 kg, while the spider is slightly heavier at 1,620 kg - both dry weights.







In terms of design, the Ferrari 12Cilindri features a sharp front end with sleek headlights & DRLs. The overall design feels more sophisticated than its predecessor, featuring clean lines and muscular proportions. Ferrari has also integrated plenty of active aero elements all around the car.







Inside, the Ferrari 12Cilindri features three screens, a massive 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch central infotainment display and an 8.8-inch display in front of the passenger. The car carries forward the capacitive buttons on the steering wheel like in other Ferrari models.







The Ferrari 12Cilindri comes with a starting price of 395,000 euros for the Coupe and 435,000 euros for the Spider version.



Link to Team-BHP news Ferrari has taken the wraps off its latest front-engined V12 supercar, named '12Cilindri'. The new Ferrari 12Cilindri (Italian for 12 Cylinders) is a direct replacement of the 812 Superfast. The newest supercar from the Italian brand will be offered in Coupe & Spider versions, both of which were unveiled at an exclusive event held in Miami Beach.The Ferrari 12Cilindri is powered by the brand's 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine producing 819 BHP and 678 Nm. The engine has been updated, allowing it to rev up to 9,500 rpm, and comes paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari claims the 12Cilindri Coupe is capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, while 200 km/h comes up in 7.9 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 340 km/h. The spider is slightly slower, with 0-100 km/h taking 2.95 seconds and 200 km/h coming up in 8.2 seconds. The 12Cilindri Coupe weighs in at 1,560 kg, while the spider is slightly heavier at 1,620 kg - both dry weights.In terms of design, the Ferrari 12Cilindri features a sharp front end with sleek headlights & DRLs. The overall design feels more sophisticated than its predecessor, featuring clean lines and muscular proportions. Ferrari has also integrated plenty of active aero elements all around the car.Inside, the Ferrari 12Cilindri features three screens, a massive 15.6-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch central infotainment display and an 8.8-inch display in front of the passenger. The car carries forward the capacitive buttons on the steering wheel like in other Ferrari models.The Ferrari 12Cilindri comes with a starting price of 395,000 euros for the Coupe and 435,000 euros for the Spider version. Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 3rd May 2024 at 12:00 .
Singh09 BHPian



Join Date: May 2015 Location: Moradabad Posts: 171 Thanked: 499 Times

View My Garage





Rajasthan Trip: Exploring Jaipur and Udaipur in my Honda Amaze CVT Background:

Hello BHPians,

Finally I got time to pen my wonderful Rajasthan Trip and share it with this Family. So, the actual plan was to take this trip in January but due to some work-related commitments had to postpone this plan and in fact I went to Manali in February for which the Travelogue is still pending. But finally, everything came in order and the plan for Rajasthan was ON and it happened.

Also, I would take this opportunity to share with you guys that I have ventured into Travel Vlogging and started my YouTube channel named Expedition Wheels



The Plan:

This was going to be a solo trip, so first of all I got my Car checked at the Honda ASS and everything turned out to be perfect. The plan was to drop my better half and Junior at my In-laws (that was my BAIL PAPERS to go on the trip alone ) and stay in Gurgaon with one of my cousin.



The Ride:

And the ride for this trip was my Honda Amaze CVT  Diesel which I bought last year. And the Amaze performed brilliantly through out the trip and that CVT gearbox is just Awesome.



Preparation:

Now this part has changed a lot after I started my You Tube channel. Earlier the preparation used to be like: did we pack enough clothes, juniors stuff, getting the car checked, stocking up snacks and other tit  bits to munch, do we have enough cash etc but know its like:

1- Laptop  tick

2- DSLR  tick

3- GoPro  tick

4- Both Cell phones  tick

5- Oh, wait are both the batteries charged for the Gopro  tick

6- Gorilla tripod  tick

7- GoPro Mount  tick

8- Mobile Holder  tick

9- Cell phone cables  tick

10- Oh, wait where is my cable to charge GoPro in the car  I just bought it. Honey did you see it? I cant find it.

She  Which cable? You have like 100 cables.

Me  One with the cloth skin on it.

She  What cloth skin??

Me  Leave it, Ill find it. And after struggling 10-15 mins, I realized  Oh its in the back pocket of the passenger seat.

11- Vlogging gear bag  tick

12- Tripod stand  tick

13- Memory card  tick

14- Oh wait, did I empty all my cards.  tick

15- Sunglasses oh they are in the other car, get them  tick

Then as soon you get in the car:

1. Adjust mobile on the mobile holder

2. Attach the GoPro

3. Check the dashcam

4. Connect their wires for charging

5. Oh  hell I didnt check the view from the GoPro. Check and adjust the overview from GoPro using the mobile.

Just a small change, right!





Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: Moradabad  Delhi  Gurgaon

Day 2: Gurgaon to Jaipur

Day 3: Jaipur

Day 4: Jaipur to Udaipur

Day 5: Udaipur

Day 6: Udaipur  Chittorgarh  Gurgaon

Day 7: Gurgaon  Moradabad



Day 1: Moradabad - Gurgaon

Next day of Holi we (my wife, son and myself) left from Moradabad as per our plan. I had enough diesel and the plan was to fill up from Delhi or Gurgaon next day when I leave for Jaipur. Drive from Moradabad to Delhi is simply a breeze now, thanks to the 6-lane highway (NH-24). It took us around 2.3 hours approx to reach Delhi and another 1.3 hours to reach Dwarka from Sarai Kale Khan as I had to drop my better half and junior at my in-laws. So, after dropping them at Dwarka and having a nice tea I left for Gurgaon and called the day off.

Kms Covered  252 KMS

Toll Paid - Rs. 420



Day 2: Gurgaon  Jaipur

Next day I woke up filled with excitement and joy. Took a quick shower, got ready packed my stuff, had my breakfast and headed to the nearest petrol pump. Got my tank filled and instructed the operator to stop at auto cut. And within 10 mins I was on the southern peripheral road and then onto the Gurgaon  Sohna road. After driving for almost 15-20 mins I was onto the Delhi Mumbai Expressway and took a quick shot as soon as I saw this board for my thumbnail. LOL





Once you are on the DME/NE-4 you just put your foot the accelerator and put your car on cruise. I went to Jaipur few months back and at that time there were bumps or undulations at couple of places. But this time the experience was amazing and after driving for a while I reached the toll. The toll gate looks huge from far and has more than sufficient lanes. And after crossing 4 or 5 rest areas from the toll you get McDonalds at the rest area. So I took a quick stop and grabbed a cold coffee and left





With the flowers in the middle of the road overall ambience feels really nice. I mean you are cruising at 120 km/hr and you dont have to worry about motorcycles, animals and as a matter of fact even people crossing the road. You just enjoy the beautiful and colourful highway till Dausa, Unitl you take the exit for Jaipur. And the damage to your fastag account while exiting the DME at Dausa toll is Rs. 415 ONLY.

https://youtu.be/CYr8qVi54kE



AMBER FORT:

Ticket: Rs. 102/-

Parking: Rs.50/-



I reached Jaipur by 2:30 PM and decided to go directly to the Magnificent Amber Fort. Perched majestically on a hilltop, Amber Fort also known as Amer Fort, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that serves as a testament to the grandeur of Rajasthans royal legacy. Built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh I, the fort is a stunning blend of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles, showcasing intricate marble and red sandstone craftsmanship.

You have 2 ways to reach the fort.

1. You can park your vehicle in the parking and walk upwards to the fort which is not advisable if you are visiting during the day time as it gets really hot. But if you can make early morning than you can take an elephant ride all the way up to the palace.

2. You can drive all the way to the fort and park your car at the parking on top and the route for private vehicles is like 100 meters ahead of the public parking. So I choose to drive.





As I entered the fort through the imposing Suraj Pol (Sun Gate), I was immediately struck by the grandeur of its palaces, courtyards, and gardens. Each element seemed to tell a story of Rajasthans rich cultural heritage and the opulence of its rulers.





Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace): A dazzling hall adorned with thousands of intricately placed mirrors, reflecting the flicker of candlelight to create a mesmerizing effect. It's said that this palace was designed to mimic a starry night sky, offering a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of the royals.



Ganesh Pol (Ganesh Gate): An ornately decorated gateway adorned with vibrant frescoes and intricate lattice work, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in every corner of the gate were truly remarkable.



Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience): A majestic hall where the kings held private meetings and audiences with dignitaries. The hall's elegant columns and beautifully carved marble screens spoke volumes about the royal court's sophistication and grandeur.



Mughal Garden:



Saffron Garden:







JAIGARH FORT

Ticket + Parking: Rs. 250

After exploring the Amber Fort I drove to Jaigarh Fort which is around 6-7 kms from Amber Fort and it took me around 15-20 mins to reach there. This fort is still in the possession of the Royal family of Jaipur and they have their own security at the fort.

Perched high on the rugged hills of the Aravalli Range, Jaigarh Fort stands as a formidable sentinel overlooking the Pink City of Jaipur. Built in the early 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, this imposing fortress served as a stronghold for the Kachwaha Rajput rulers and played a crucial role in defending the region against enemy invasions.



As I ascended the fort's winding pathways, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale and strength of its fortifications. The massive walls, built of thick red sandstone, stretched for miles around the hill, creating an impregnable barrier against potential attackers. It's no wonder that Jaigarh Fort is often referred to as the "Fort of Victory," a testament to its military prowess and strategic significance



Jaivana Cannon:One of the most iconic features of the fort is the Jaivana Cannon, the world's largest cannon on wheels. Crafted in the 18th century, this colossal artillery piece is a marvel of engineering and stands as a symbol of Jaigarh Fort's military might. The cannon's sheer size and historical significance left me in awe of the ingenuity of the craftsmen of that era.

The weight of this cannon is 250 ton and it required 100 kg gunpowder to shoot one cannon ball which alone was 50 kgs in weight. This cannon has only been fired once in its entire lifetime and that was for testing purpose only. The guy who fired this cannon used a 100 meter batti and jumped in the water pond behind this cannon but couldnt survive due to the sheer power and noise of this cannon. And the cannon ball that was fired from this cannon fell 35 kms away from this very location.





This is the cannon ball used for the Jaivana Cannon.



And these were the bombs used in that era like time bomb, rocket bomb etc.



From the ramparts of Jaigarh Fort, I was treated to panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the picturesque Maota Lake and the sprawling cityscape of Jaipur.







NAHARGARH FORT

Ticket  Rs. 52

Parking  Rs. 50

Finally after spending some time at the Jaigarh Fort I left for Nahargarh Fort which is around 5-6 kms and it took me about 10-15 mins as I stopped in between to take few shots.





Now the good part is that Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort are all nearby and you don't have to travel a lot to cover all these in a single day. . And if you plan to visit Jaipur plan in a way that you reach Nahargarh fort at last, in the evening so that you can enjoy the amazing sunset.















At Nahargarh fort you can enjoy RFajasthani food at the "PADAO RESTAURANT" and visit the Jaipur Wax Museum as well.



You can watch the full video for DAY 1 in Jaipur here: https://youtu.be/W97wgSI5mZ0 Hello BHPians,Finally I got time to pen my wonderful Rajasthan Trip and share it with this Family. So, the actual plan was to take this trip in January but due to some work-related commitments had to postpone this plan and in fact I went to Manali in February for which the Travelogue is still pending. But finally, everything came in order and the plan for Rajasthan was ON and it happened.Also, I would take this opportunity to share with you guys that I have ventured into Travel Vlogging and started my YouTube channel named  https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionWheels . A passion project I had been wanting to start since last 6-7 years, or I would say ever since I returned from USA. But couldnt do it due to many factors. But finally, I thought a lot about it and got started. Even though it becomes a nightmare for me to manage things between Business, You Tube, Editing, Kids, Family etc but when I pack my stuff there is a big grim on my face. And I plan to take this channel to great heights. So, its just a starting point as of now and I am learning to manage things accordingly and I believe one day Ill conquer the style to deal with everything. LOLThis was going to be a solo trip, so first of all I got my Car checked at the Honda ASS and everything turned out to be perfect. The plan was to drop my better half and Junior at my In-laws (that was my BAIL PAPERS to go on the trip alone) and stay in Gurgaon with one of my cousin.And the ride for this trip was my Honda Amaze CVT  Diesel which I bought last year. And the Amaze performed brilliantly through out the trip and that CVT gearbox is just Awesome.Now this part has changed a lot after I started my You Tube channel. Earlier the preparation used to be like: did we pack enough clothes, juniors stuff, getting the car checked, stocking up snacks and other tit  bits to munch, do we have enough cash etc but know its like:1- Laptop  tick2- DSLR  tick3- GoPro  tick4- Both Cell phones  tick5- Oh, wait are both the batteries charged for the Gopro  tick6- Gorilla tripod  tick7- GoPro Mount  tick8- Mobile Holder  tick9- Cell phone cables  tick10- Oh, wait where is my cable to charge GoPro in the car  I just bought it. Honey did you see it? I cant find it.She  Which cable? You have like 100 cables.Me  One with the cloth skin on it.She  What cloth skin??Me  Leave it, Ill find it. And after struggling 10-15 mins, I realized  Oh its in the back pocket of the passenger seat.11- Vlogging gear bag  tick12- Tripod stand  tick13- Memory card  tick14- Oh wait, did I empty all my cards.  tick15- Sunglasses oh they are in the other car, get them  tickThen as soon you get in the car:1. Adjust mobile on the mobile holder2. Attach the GoPro3. Check the dashcam4. Connect their wires for charging5. Oh  hell I didnt check the view from the GoPro. Check and adjust the overview from GoPro using the mobile.Just a small change, right!Day 1: Moradabad  Delhi  GurgaonDay 2: Gurgaon to JaipurDay 3: JaipurDay 4: Jaipur to UdaipurDay 5: UdaipurDay 6: Udaipur  Chittorgarh  GurgaonDay 7: Gurgaon  MoradabadNext day of Holi we (my wife, son and myself) left from Moradabad as per our plan. I had enough diesel and the plan was to fill up from Delhi or Gurgaon next day when I leave for Jaipur. Drive from Moradabad to Delhi is simply a breeze now, thanks to the 6-lane highway (NH-24). It took us around 2.3 hours approx to reach Delhi and another 1.3 hours to reach Dwarka from Sarai Kale Khan as I had to drop my better half and junior at my in-laws. So, after dropping them at Dwarka and having a nice tea I left for Gurgaon and called the day off.Next day I woke up filled with excitement and joy. Took a quick shower, got ready packed my stuff, had my breakfast and headed to the nearest petrol pump. Got my tank filled and instructed the operator to stop at auto cut. And within 10 mins I was on the southern peripheral road and then onto the Gurgaon  Sohna road. After driving for almost 15-20 mins I was onto the Delhi Mumbai Expressway and took a quick shot as soon as I saw this board for my thumbnail. LOLOnce you are on the DME/NE-4 you just put your foot the accelerator and put your car on cruise. I went to Jaipur few months back and at that time there were bumps or undulations at couple of places. But this time the experience was amazing and after driving for a while I reached the toll. The toll gate looks huge from far and has more than sufficient lanes. And after crossing 4 or 5 rest areas from the toll you get McDonalds at the rest area. So I took a quick stop and grabbed a cold coffee and leftWith the flowers in the middle of the road overall ambience feels really nice. I mean you are cruising at 120 km/hr and you dont have to worry about motorcycles, animals and as a matter of fact even people crossing the road. You just enjoy the beautiful and colourful highway till Dausa, Unitl you take the exit for Jaipur. And the damage to your fastag account while exiting the DME at Dausa toll isONLY.Rs. 102/-Rs.50/-I reached Jaipur byand decided to go directly to the Magnificent Amber Fort. Perched majestically on a hilltop, Amber Fort also known as Amer Fort, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that serves as a testament to the grandeur of Rajasthans royal legacy. Built in the 16th century by, the fort is a stunning blend of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles, showcasing intricate marble and red sandstone craftsmanship.You have 2 ways to reach the fort.1. You can park your vehicle in the parking and walk upwards to the fort which is not advisable if you are visiting during the day time as it gets really hot. But if you can make early morning than you can take an elephant ride all the way up to the palace.2. You can drive all the way to the fort and park your car at the parking on top and the route for private vehicles is like 100 meters ahead of the public parking. So I choose to drive.As I entered the fort through the imposing Suraj Pol (Sun Gate), I was immediately struck by the grandeur of its palaces, courtyards, and gardens. Each element seemed to tell a story of Rajasthans rich cultural heritage and the opulence of its rulers.A dazzling hall adorned with thousands of intricately placed mirrors, reflecting the flicker of candlelight to create a mesmerizing effect. It's said that this palace was designed to mimic a starry night sky, offering a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of the royals.An ornately decorated gateway adorned with vibrant frescoes and intricate lattice work, dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in every corner of the gate were truly remarkable.A majestic hall where the kings held private meetings and audiences with dignitaries. The hall's elegant columns and beautifully carved marble screens spoke volumes about the royal court's sophistication and grandeur.Ticket + Parking:After exploring the Amber Fort I drove to Jaigarh Fort which is around 6-7 kms from Amber Fort and it took me around 15-20 mins to reach there. This fort is still in the possession of the Royal family of Jaipur and they have their own security at the fort.Perched high on the rugged hills of the Aravalli Range, Jaigarh Fort stands as a formidable sentinel overlooking the Pink City of Jaipur. Built in the early 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, this imposing fortress served as a stronghold for the Kachwaha Rajput rulers and played a crucial role in defending the region against enemy invasions.As I ascended the fort's winding pathways, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer scale and strength of its fortifications. The massive walls, built of thick red sandstone, stretched for miles around the hill, creating an impregnable barrier against potential attackers. It's no wonder that Jaigarh Fort is often referred to as the "Fort of Victory," a testament to its military prowess and strategic significanceOne of the most iconic features of the fort is the Jaivana Cannon, the world's largest cannon on wheels. Crafted in the 18th century, this colossal artillery piece is a marvel of engineering and stands as a symbol of Jaigarh Fort's military might. The cannon's sheer size and historical significance left me in awe of the ingenuity of the craftsmen of that era.The weight of this cannon is 250 ton and it required 100 kg gunpowder to shoot one cannon ball which alone was 50 kgs in weight. This cannon has only been fired once in its entire lifetime and that was for testing purpose only. The guy who fired this cannon used a 100 meter batti and jumped in the water pond behind this cannon but couldnt survive due to the sheer power and noise of this cannon. And the cannon ball that was fired from this cannon fell 35 kms away from this very location.This is the cannon ball used for the Jaivana Cannon.And these were the bombs used in that era like time bomb, rocket bomb etc.From the ramparts of Jaigarh Fort, I was treated to panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the picturesque Maota Lake and the sprawling cityscape of Jaipur.Ticket Parking Finally after spending some time at the Jaigarh Fort I left for Nahargarh Fort which is around 5-6 kms and it took me about 10-15 mins as I stopped in between to take few shots.Now the good part is that Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort are all nearby and you don't have to travel a lot to cover all these in a single day. . And if you plan to visit Jaipur plan in a way that you reach Nahargarh fort at last, in the evening so that you can enjoy the amazing sunset.At Nahargarh fort you can enjoy RFajasthani food at the "PADAO RESTAURANT" and visit the Jaipur Wax Museum as well.You can watch the full video for DAY 1 in Jaipur here: Attached Thumbnails



Last edited by Singh09 : 4th May 2024 at 23:19 .
The big picture: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's new automatic emergency braking rule requires automakers to develop and equip vehicles with technology that is currently unavailable. Consumer advocates question whether automakers have enough time, given the five-year window, to develop this technology and ensure it meets rigorous testing standards.

The NHTSA, a branch of the US Department of Transportation, issued a final rule late last month mandating automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, as standard on all passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks by September 2029.

The catch is that the current technology does not meet the standard set by the NHTSA, which expects these systems to be capable of braking at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour and detecting pedestrians in both daylight and darkness  effectively raising the speed and nighttime requirements beyond the capabilities of available technology. However, the safety agency notes that some vehicles currently available offer this "maturing technology" as an add-on feature.

Automatic emergency braking "is now so advanced that we're requiring these systems to be even more effective at higher speeds and to detect pedestrians," said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman. "Most new vehicles already come with AEB, and we expect that many cars and light trucks will be able to meet this standard ahead of the deadline, meaning even more lives will be saved thanks to this technology."

According to the NHTSA, an AEB system utilizes various sensor technologies and subsystems that collaborate to detect when a vehicle is about to crash, automatically applying the brakes if the driver has not done so or applying additional force to supplement the driver's braking.

The NHTSA emphasizes the importance of this standard for safety, anticipating that it will annually save at least 360 lives, prevent at least 24,000 injuries, and save more than $5 billion each year in property damage.

Testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, however, shows that the current crop of vehicles is not addressing crash scenarios very effectively. The institute recently updated its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test to address crashes occurring at higher speeds, and only one of the first 10 small SUVs evaluated earned a good rating (it was the Subaru Forester, in case you are wondering). The updated test includes trials run at 31, 37, and 43 mph, as well as other scenarios, and incorporates both forward collision warning and AEB systems.

The IIHS has high hopes for the new standard set by NHTSA. "I think the automakers are in a good position to respond to this new regulation," said David Zuby, chief research officer at IIHS. "What's tricky about the regulation is that it does now sort of raise the bar for the level of performance that [NHTSA] is asking for from these systems."

William Wallace, associate director of safety policy at Consumer Reports, points out that many automakers already have to comply with stricter European regulations. "Already in the last few years, AEB technology has improved significantly. It will continue to improve, especially given the opportunity to have five years for implementation," he said.

It is evident, however, that automakers will have to make additional investments in their existing AEB technology. Automatic braking systems relying on traditional cameras are usually less effective at night, especially with respect to pedestrians. "There are various advances in the marketplace and various technologies that could be used in order to improve the performance of these systems," Wallace said.

Using lidar sensors instead of radar and camera detection or employing thermal technology to detect body heat are among the suggested improvements. The final rule also mandates that vehicles pass a series of tests to prevent false activation of the AEB systems, which could also add to the cost for automakers.

Last month, NHTSA upgraded a probe into Honda Motor Co. vehicles due to reports of unexpected activation of emergency braking. The NHTSA had received 2,876 consumer complaints, and reports of 93 injury incidents and 47 crashes linked to the defect.
Why it matters: In the wake of major cyberattacks and criticism from the feds, Microsoft is going all-in on beefing up security across its products and services. The company is rolling out a massive overhaul to put security at the forefront, as outlined in an internal memo from CEO Satya Nadella.

According to an internal memo obtained by The Verge, security is now Microsoft's "top priority" above all else. Nadella makes it crystal clear to employees that if they ever face a tradeoff between security and another objective, the answer is simple: prioritize security, no questions asked.

"If you're faced with the tradeoff between security and another priority, your answer is clear: Do security," Nadella states bluntly. "In some cases, this will mean prioritizing security above other things we do, such as releasing new features or providing ongoing support for legacy systems."

That last part is especially noteworthy. Microsoft has long been known for extending software support much longer than typical. But Nadella hints the company may have to let go of some legacy baggage in order to stay ahead of evolving cyberthreats.

The security reckoning comes after the US Cyber Safety Review Board labeled Microsoft's past security practices as "inadequate" following an investigation into major incidents like last summer's Storm-0558 attack. The company is now implementing a "Secure Future Initiative" that Nadella says will govern "every facet" of Microsoft's products and operations going forward.

The initiative has three core principles: "Secure by Design" (baking in security from the start), "Secure by Default" (security protections on automatically), and "Secure Operations" (continuous monitoring and improvement). Nadella says the principles will be applied across key areas like identity protection, system isolation, threat detection, and incident response.

Part of the senior leadership's compensation will also be tied to hitting security goals and milestones under the new initiative. So they'll have some extra financial motivation to get things right.

In the memo, Nadella stresses that the entire company  not just the security teams  is responsible for this security push. "Every task we take on - from a line of code, to a customer or partner process - is an opportunity to help bolster our own security and that of our entire ecosystem," he writes.

The urgency behind Microsoft's security overhaul is underscored by last year's devastating Exchange Online hack. Believed to be the work of China-linked threat actor Storm-0558, the attackers stole an Azure signing key from a Microsoft engineer's laptop in late 2021 following a company acquisition. This key then granted them access to the online email inboxes of over 20 organizations, impacting hundreds of high-profile victims including senior US government officials.

In January, Nadella advocated for a "cyber Geneva Convention" between the US, Russia, and China after Russia's Cozy Bear breached Microsoft's network, warning that unchecked nation-state cyberattacks could trigger global instability.

With cyberattacks ramping up and regulation likely on the way, it was high time for Microsoft  along with other major tech giants  to get its security house in order.
Why it matters: Hundreds of thousands of potentially damning internal conversations may have gone missing at Google, according to allegations from the Department of Justice. As the landmark antitrust trial over Google's search engine monopoly winds down, this revelation could prove pivotal.

The DOJ alleges that Google instituted a policy encouraging employees to disable chat history and delete logs of discussions around sensitive business practices, such as revenue-sharing agreements and mobile app distribution deals. According to government lawyers, these conversations may have revealed Google's intent to illegally exclude rivals and maintain its dominance in the search market.

Judge Amit Mehta expressed incredulity, not mincing words when addressing Google's attorneys. He stated his surprise that a major tech company would deliberately destroy records like that. "Google's document retention policy leaves a lot to be desired," he remarked during Friday's heated closing arguments.

The Justice Department has been forthright in its approach. It has asked Mehta to sanction Google by issuing harsh presumptions that the deleted chat logs contained evidence of anticompetitive conduct and monopolistic intent. Essentially, the government wants the court to assume the worst about those undisclosed conversations.

In Google's defense, company lawyer Colette Connor argued that the DOJ has no proof that the lost chats were relevant to the case. She also claimed that Google had properly disclosed its chat retention practices to at least one state involved in the litigation: Texas.

But DOJ lawyer Kenneth Dintzer pushed back hard. He told the court that informing just one plaintiff didn't fulfill Google's obligations, asserting, "Only upon finding that the party acted with the intent to deprive another party of the information's use in the litigation may the court presume that the lost information was unfavorable."

The entire internal chat drama represents just one battleground in the larger war over Google's alleged search engine monopoly. Throughout the trial, DOJ lawyers have sought to demonstrate that Google's distribution deals with smartphone makers, browsers, and others illegally stifled competition - akin to the infamous Microsoft antitrust case from the late '90s.

In a pointed remark, Dintzer claimed that the Google case "fits like a glove" with the Microsoft precedent. However, Google's legal team vigorously pushed back, arguing that while Microsoft forced an inferior product onto users, Google prevailed by offering a superior search experience.

Now, the high-stakes case rests in Judge Mehta's hands. If he rules against Google on the search monopoly claims, a separate proceeding will commence to determine potential remedies - which could even, theoretically, include breaking up pieces of Google's business empire.

Regardless of the trial's outcome, the battle is far from over. The DOJ has a second antitrust skirmish against Google's ads business looming this fall.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government moved to shut down Al Jazeera's activities in Israel amid the Gaza war, citing security concerns. The news organization quickly denied these accusations as "dangerous and ridiculous lies" that put its journalists at risk, stating that it intended to sue.



Netanyahu announced on social media that the cabinet unanimously approved the shutdown of the "incitement channel" and issued orders to implement it immediately, according to Reuters.



In response, Al Jazeera has blasted Israeli restrictions as part of a larger push to suppress them.The Qatari-funded news network repeatedly criticizes Israel's military activities in Gaza.

Broadcast Equipment Seized

Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Communications Minister, ordered Al Jazeera's immediate ban, escalating the issue. The orders seize Al Jazeera's content delivery equipment, including editing and routing equipment, cameras, microphones, servers, laptops, wireless transmission equipment, and certain mobile phones, per the news network.



Israel's tense relationship with Al Jazeera, which has faced accusations of bias and Hamas complicity, has reached a new low with this decision. Qatar-funded Al Jazeera often denies these claims.



Qatar is crucial to Gaza conflict mediation; therefore, this action might escalate Israel-Qatar relations. Al Jazeera, one of the few international media stations in Gaza, has extensively covered the conflict, releasing images of bombings and pressure on local medical facilities and accusing Israel of crimes.



After a legislation gave senior Israeli ministers the power to shut down international news networks deemed a security danger, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised speedy action against Al Jazeera. Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of inciting and specifically targeting Israeli soldiers.

A picture shows a view of the Al Jazeera television network offices in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 5, 2024. Israel's Prime Minister said on May 5 that his government has decided to shut down the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, with which his administration has had a long-running feud.

Israel's Action Blasted

Al Jazeera criticized Netanyahu's allegations as provocation and emphasized the Israeli authorities' global responsibility for worker and property safety. Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera's Ramallah reporter, reaffirmed the network's commitment to reporting the Palestine-Israel conflict despite potential dangers to its operations.



Al Jazeera, which reports in English and Arabic, called Netanyahu's claim a "false accusation in a disgraceful manner," according to NPR.

Waleed Omari, Al Jazeera's Israel and Palestinian Territories Bureau head, called the move political rather than journalistic, per the news network.



In April, the Israeli parliament gave the government the power to shut down international news networks deemed dangerous to national security, with some members calling Al Jazeera "a mouthpiece of Hamas." This law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close Al Jazeera's headquarters for 45 days, with certain flexibility.



In a separate update, the IDF claimed that Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border with Gaza after launching 10 missiles. Reports said the Hamas attack harmed at least 10 individuals.

The crossing serves as one of Gaza's remaining humanitarian supply channels.

According to BBC, the incident occurred as Egyptian negotiators worked to end the conflict and free Israeli hostages. Israel has rejected Hamas's Gaza war-ending requests. Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the pact would retain Hamas in Gaza, threatening Israel.

The negotiations in Cairo might result in a 40-day break in hostilities while Israeli jails release Palestinian prisoners.

An assistant to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed the latest proposal was taken with "full seriousness." However, he insisted that any solution must incorporate an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.
Apple, long seen as a leader in consumer technology, is now making significant strides to establish its presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) race, with a unique focus on cost efficiency.

Amid questions from Wall Street about its AI plans, Apple CEO Tim Cook has assured investors that concrete details are on the horizon. As Reuters reports, Cook highlighted Apple's strong investment in AI, with the company having spent a staggering $100 billion over the past five years on research and development.

Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook attends the China Development Forum in Beijing on March 24, 2024.

Apple Is Joining the AI Race, Slowly

Big Tech is investing in AI as if there were no tomorrow. Microsoft alone has allocated $14 billion to AI investments and development for the most recent quarter. Meta, similarly, has announced intentions to invest over $35 billion to enhance its AI offerings.

While tech giants have also invested heavily in AI, with expenditures reaching billions of dollars, Apple stands out for its strategic approach to cost management. Despite its rivals' massive spending on data centers to host AI services, Apple's capital expenditure, like on every year, was comparatively modest, at just the usual $10 billion.

Despite cutting ties with a number of companies comprising its supply chain in recent years, the company's approach to handling capital expenditures involves a combination of using its own data center capacity and leveraging capacity from third parties, a model that has proven successful for more than a decade. This cost-effective strategy has allowed Apple to maintain its cash generation while keeping expenses in check.

However, Apple's cautious stance on AI investment has not been without consequences. Concerns among investors about falling behind in the AI race led to a 10% decline in Apple's shares. Yet, following hints of new AI features, Apple's shares rebounded by 6.4%, indicating renewed confidence among investors.

Apple Is Working on AI Integration: A Closer Look

Apple's AI ambitions extend beyond financial considerations. A recent AppleInsider report suggest that the company is gearing up to introduce significant AI enhancements to its core system components, including Safari, Spotlight Search, and Siri.

These enhancements aim to leverage Apple's own generative AI technology, with a focus on improving user experience while preserving privacy through on-device processing.

Among the anticipated AI upgrades, Safari 18 is expected to introduce article summarization through an Intelligent Search feature, allowing users to generate brief summaries of webpages.

Similarly, Siri is expected to undergo enhancements to integrate more closely with the Messages app, enabling the digital assistant to analyze and summarize message contents.

Central to Apple's AI strategy is its proprietary large language model (LLM) named Ajax, which is capable of generating basic responses entirely on-device. While more advanced AI features may require server-side processing, Apple is reportedly exploring partnerships with Google or OpenAI to facilitate this aspect of its AI ecosystem.

Crucially, Apple's AI advancements are designed with user privacy in mind. The company plans to display privacy warnings before Ajax utilizes information from Safari or Messages, underscoring its commitment to protecting user data.

As Apple prepares to unveil its AI innovations at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, industry observers are eager to see how the tech giant's AI efforts will stack up against its competitors.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Classic Confucius book symbolizes cultural exchange between China and France

People's Daily Online) 08:11, May 05, 2024

At the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to France.

During Xi's state visit to France five years ago, Macron presented him with a copy of the original French version of [u1] "Confucius, or the Science of the Princes." Macron mentioned that Confucianism had inspired French thinkers such as Voltaire and profoundly influenced the French Enlightenment.

The book encapsulates the brilliance of Confucian ideas, transcending time and space. It serves as a testament to the story of mutual appreciation and learning between China and France, two significant representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations.

As exchange visits increase, so does affinity. President Xi's upcoming visit to France is expected to open a new chapter in China-France relations and inject new momentum into exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations.

(Web editor: Du Mingming, Wu Chengliang)
The dominance of tech companies is growing despite regulatory pressure. Authorities in the United States and Europe have launched an offensive to end monopolistic practices that they consider illegal. But meanwhile, the digital giants are growing larger and larger as bankable entities, nourished by the new golden goose of artificial intelligence. Profits at Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta shot up 38% in the first quarter to $92.037 billion.

The five big tech companies have been joined by Nvidia, which operates on an irregular fiscal calendar and will present its February-April earnings report on May 22 and is also expected to evidence record-breaking sales and profits. Those six companies add up to a stock market value of $13 billion and have reached all-time trading highs, backed by their performance.

Apple enjoys a vast market share in high-end smartphones; Google is without rivals as a search engine and in online advertising; Amazon dominates e-commerce; Microsoft, operating systems; Meta has an enviable position within social media with Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp; while Nvidia holds a new monopoly in high-powered processors. Each one is sucking the juice out of its respective market, and continues to add new divisions.

Another similarity is that all six firms are working with artificial intelligence, which requires high levels of investment to maintain market position. Microsoft leads the pack, thanks to its alliance with OpenAI. Not just its cloud computing business has benefited  it is also incorporating levels of artificial intelligence to its products. Alphabet, which was caught off-guard by generative artificial intelligence, is making up the ground it lost at a rapid pace in its server business. Amazon was a pioneer in identifying cloud data and computing as big business, but it is also taking advantage of artificial intelligence among its commercial offerings, inventory management and even route optimization. Meta has seized on AI to better hook users on its social platforms and to improve its ad management. Apple is a wildcard, having fallen behind in generative artificial intelligence, but it does incorporate certain functions and apps in its products and services that feed off of AI. Nvidia, which counts the other firms as clients, has been the greatest beneficiary of the new technologys gold rush.

Alphabet, profit leader

The only firm that did not break records in the first quarter was Apple. A drop in iPhone sales and supply chain delay in Chain has hobbled sales, which fell 4% to $90.753 billion, and profits, which dropped 2% to $23.636 billion. The company is facing regulatory pressure related to its app store and a lawsuit over illegal monopolistic practices in the United States smartphone market. The Department of Justice has accused the company of protecting the iPhones dominant position by closing off its technological ecosystem to competitors.

Tim Cooks Alphabet has become a profit leader at $23.662 billion, 57% higher thanks to a 15.4% growth in sales stemming from improvements in marketing and server growth. The company headed by Sundar Pichai has received multimillion-dollar sanctions from the European Union and faces two lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice. One, regarding the search engine market, is set to be ruled on next Friday in Washington D.C. Another, related to digital advertising, is working its way through the courts. For its part, Amazon leads in sales, with a $143.313 billion growth that equals a potent 12.5% increase. Its profits have tripled to $10.431 billion. E-commerce business accounts for the bulk of CEO Andy Jassys company, but cloud computing and advertising business (on its commercial platform and streaming service) have also become primary motors for its growth. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), directed by Lina Khan, has accused Amazon of monopolistic practices that inflate prices, degrade quality, stifle innovation for consumers and businesses.

Sales and profits at Microsoft grew more than expected, driven by business demand for its cloud and AI services. Profits at the company led by Satya Nadella rose 17% to $61.858 billion in the first quarter of the calendar year, equal to a third of its fiscal year. Net income was $21.939 billion, an increase of 20%. After overcoming obstacles to its purchase of Activision, its alliance with OpenAI is now under the scrutiny of both the Department of Justice and the FTC.

The only poor showing on the market came from Meta, but not due to numbers, per se. Sales at the company that was founded and is run by Mark Zuckerberg shot up in the first quarter by 27% to $36.455 billion. Still, after its 2023 austerity exercise, it spooked the market by raising its spending and investment estimates based on AI. Its second quarter forecast was also disappointing. Aside from its lawsuits over the impact of social media on minors, the FTC sued Meta in 2021, accusing it of reducing competition with its purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp, and that process is still underway. The FTC wants that to go to court this year.

For now, neither fines, nor lawsuits, nor investigations, nor regulatory change have been able to slow the unstoppable growth of the tech giants, which have become digital age monopolies thanks to the innovation and global success of their goods and services. Theyre all competing for their slice of the AI pie.

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Chad's cotton farmers burned by climate change and false promises



Kagtaou, Chad, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



Declador Rimleldeoudje waded through his field between thousands of stalks he hopes will become a bumper crop of cotton -- knowing that Chad's white gold has a future as unpredictable as the rains.

For decades, cotton has sustained his region of southern Chad. But the prized crop is now under threat.

At the entrance to his village of Kagtaou, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Moundou, the main city in the south, stands a huge container overflowing with cotton.

CotonTchad, the semi-private company that was supposed to purchase it, still has not honoured its pledge and growers fear the unpredictable rains will destroy their harvest before it's sold.

"We like cotton but it's too difficult ... the climate isn't stable and that's a real drawback. It effects the tonnage," Rimleldeoudje explained, shading his eyes from the scorching sun.

The 24-year-old's profits have tumbled to a third of what they were last harvest.

Nearly everyone in Kagtaou makes their living from cotton.

But more and more people are becoming discouraged because of the damage wrought by climate change and long-running conflicts between farmers and herders.

"Evidence of climate change -- irregular rainfall which sometimes causes drought and other times sporadic floods -- leads to huge drops in production," explained Laohote Baohoutou, a climatologist at N'Djamena University.

It also exacerbates ancestral conflicts, he said.



- Climate change -



Nomadic herders from the arid Sahel areas of the north drive their animals through fields belonging to growers in the south, or let the animals graze there. There are disputes about who owns some land.

At least 23 people died in a week of fighting in March. Women and children are often the victims of these frequent conflicts.

Intense rains are a new threat. The United Nations says floods in 2022 destroyed more than 350,000 hectares (1,350 square miles) of crops and killed 20,000 livestock in the central African country.

The south was the worst hit.

"It's so disheartening," sighed Rimleldeoudje.

"I get the feeling the south doesn't even figure on the map of Chad any more... We don't get any financial support."

Since April, Africa has seen more extreme climate events.

The west has sweltered in heatwaves of more than 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit).

The east has been battered by torrential rains that have caused fatal floods in Kenya and Tanzania.



- 'Forgotten' -



Once one of Chad's most flourishing agricultural sectors, cotton has plummeted as a share of GDP and exports shrank from 2.15 percent in 2015 to 0.7 percent in 2020, according to World Bank figures.

The prospects for Chad's white gold will weigh on the minds of southern voters when the country of 18 million votes for a new president on Monday.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who was made head of state by the army three years ago after he led a military coup, is competing with the prime minister he appointed in January as his main opponent.

Some believe that Succes Masra, a fierce opponent-turned-ally of Deby, has been put up as a sham candidate to offer a veneer of democracy to an election Deby will easily win.

Others say that Masra, 40, who has attracted large crowds, is a genuine opponent and could push Deby into a second-round run-off.

Jean Benaudji, head of the cotton growers' association in Kagtaou, plans to vote for Masra.

"He's the only one who can provide support for the cotton growers, who've been abandoned and forgotten by the rest of the country," he said.

Masra, who hails from the south, has made promises of "justice and fairness" that have struck a nerve with many out-of-work cotton growers, who get nothing when their crops are destroyed by livestock or rains.

"His slogan is justice, equality and peace. That's what I'm looking for and that's why he'll get my vote," said Rimleldeoudje.
ADL warns of global surge in anti-Semitism



New York, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



The Anti-Defamation League on Sunday warned that "the future of Jewish life in the West" was under threat, detailing a sharp rise in anti-Semitism since the start of the war between Hamas militants and Israel.

The annual report from the ADL, the leading Jewish advocacy group, said anti-Semitic incidents had been increasing before the war erupted in October, but that the conflict had fueled "a fire that was already out of control."

Jointly written with Tel Aviv University, the report said anti-Semitic incidents in 2023 were far above 2022 figures in most countries with large Jewish minorities, including the United States, France, Britain, Australia, Italy, Brazil and Mexico.

The publication of the report coincides with Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel.

"The aftermath of Hamas's horrific attack on Israel on October 7th was followed by a tsunami of hate against Jewish communities worldwide," Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the New York-based ADL, said.

"This year's report is incredibly alarming, with documented unprecedented levels of anti-Semitism, including in the US, where 2023 saw the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US ever recorded by ADL."

A wave of pro-Palestinian protests on US university campuses has been the latest front in a fierce worldwide debate over anti-Semitism as anger over the huge civilian death toll from Israel's offensive has triggered complaints that protests and criticism have sometimes veered into hate rhetoric against Jews.



- Harassment, vandalism, assault -



The ADL's data recorded 7,523 incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States in 2023 compared with 3,697 incidents in 2022.

These acts included harassment, vandalism and assault, targeting Jewish-owned businesses, Jewish institutions and organizations and Jewish students.

Under a broader methodology that includes anti-Zionist rhetoric, activism and calls for "resistance," the ADL found a total of 8,873 incidents in the United States in 2023 -- 5,204 between just October 7 and the end of the year.

The move to equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism has drawn some criticism, including -- according to multiple media reports -- from within the ADL itself.

In France, the number of anti-Semitic attacks increased from 436 in 2022 to 1,676 in 2023, with physical assaults increasing from 43 to 85. Incidents in Britain rose from 1,662 to 4,103, including 266 physical assaults.

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,654 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

The ADL published a plan for "globally combating" anti-Semitism.

Professor Uriya Shavit of Tel Aviv University wrote in the report that "if current trends continue, the curtain will descend on the ability to lead Jewish lives in the West -- to wear a Star of David, attend synagogues and community centers, send kids to Jewish schools, frequent a Jewish club on campus, or speak Hebrew."
Kenya floods death toll at 228 as crisis persists



Nairobi, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



Kenya said Sunday that the death toll from weeks of devastating rains and floods had risen to 228 and warned that there was no sign of a let-up in the crisis.

While Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania escaped major damage from a tropical cyclone that weakened after making landfall on Saturday, the government in Nairobi said the country continued to endure torrential downpours and the risk of further floods and landslides.

In western Kenya, the River Nyando burst its banks in the early hours of Sunday, engulfing a police station, school, hospital and market in the town of Ahero in Kisumu County, police said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties but local police said water levels were still rising and that the main bridge outside Kisumu on the highway to Nairobi was submerged.

Weeks of heavier than usual seasonal rains, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern, have wreaked chaos in many parts of East Africa, a region highly vulnerable to climate change.

More than 400 people have been killed and several hundred thousand uprooted from their homes in several countries as floods and mudslides swamp houses, roads and bridges.

"It's a serious situation and we should not take it lightly," Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said at a briefing on the crisis on Sunday.



- 'Concerns of wider humanitarian crisis' -



Across the border, the Tanzania Meteorological Authority declared that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya, which had threatened to pile on more misery, had "completely lost its strength" after making landfall on Mafia Island on Saturday.

"Therefore, there is no further threat of Tropical Cyclone 'Hidaya' in our country," it said.

Tanzania remains one of the countries worst hit by the floods, with 155 people dead since early April.

In Kenya, Mwaura said while the cyclone had weakened, it had caused strong winds and waves on the coast and heavy rains were likely to intensify from later Sunday.

One fisherman had perished and another was missing, he added.

Across the nation, the disaster has claimed the lives of 228 people since March with 72 still missing, according to government figures.

More than 212,000 people have been displaced, with Mwuara saying many were "forcibly or voluntarily" evacuated.

The government has ordered anyone living near major rivers or dams to leave the area or face "mandatory evacuation for their safety", with many dams or reservoirs threatening to overflow.

Mwaura also warned of the risk of waterborne diseases, with one case of cholera reported as well as incidents of diarrhoea.

Jagan Chapagain, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said on X on Saturday that forecasts of more rains raised "serious concerns about a wider humanitarian crisis".

The Kenyan government has been accused of being unprepared and slow to respond to the crisis despite weather warnings, with the main opposition Azimio party calling for it to be declared a national disaster.

President William Ruto said in an address to the nation on Friday that the weather picture remained "dire", blaming the calamitous cycle of drought and floods on a failure to protect the environment.

In the deadliest single incident in Kenya, 58 people perished when a dam burst on Monday near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley north of Nairobi, the interior ministry said.

Several dozen remain missing.

Rescuers are also hunting for 13 people still missing after a boat capsized in Tana River County, killing seven, the ministry said.

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Japan urges 400 to evacuate northern city over forest fire



Tokyo, May 5 (AFP) May 05, 2024



More than 400 residents in northern Japan were urged to evacuate on Sunday over fears a forest fire that has been blazing for two days could spread to residential areas.

Helicopters poured water for hours on the mountains around Nanyo city in Yamagata prefecture to douse the flames, but the operation was called off after dark with the fire still burning.

"We're urging over 400 residents in the three districts" of the city to evacuate, an official in charge of the disaster response told AFP.

"There is a risk the fire will spread" to the residential area, she said, adding firefighting efforts will resume on Monday morning.

Footage from public broadcaster NHK showed white smoke rising from the mountains.

The northern city has been sweltering under higher-than-average temperatures and saw the mercury rise past 31 degrees on Sunday, according to private weather forecaster Weather News.

The fire broke out on Saturday -- prompting several road closures -- with around 95 hectares of land burnt down by Sunday evening, city authorities said.

Globally, 2024 has already been marked by climate extremes and rising greenhouse emissions, spurring fresh calls for more rapid action to limit global warming.

Japan's northern Sapporo city, known for its February snow festival, saw temperatures hit 25 degrees Celsius last month, the earliest since records began in 1877.
The case of the three missing surfers in northern Mexico is nearing its resolution pending formal identification of the bodies of the three young men found in a well near where they were lost track of last week. The authorities in Baja California are almost certain they correspond to the Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and the American Jack Carter Road. The prosecutors office announced Sunday that forensic tests on the bodies revealed that they had a bullet wound to the head. This, together with the testimony of one of the three people detained in relation to the crime, reinforces the main hypothesis of the investigation: that the young men were killed while trying to prevent their van from being stolen.

The three men went missing on April 27 in Punta San Jose, near Ensenada, and were located last Friday a few kilometers from where they were last seen. The authorities reported that during the search operation blood and teeth were found near the tent where the three surfers had slept. The vehicle in which they were traveling was burned. On Sunday, prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez gave a press conference where she outlined how events could have unfolded. The preliminary hypothesis is that these people were camping in that area. There is evidence of that. The aggressors passed by in a white Ford Ranger, while the victims white Colorado pick-up was there.

According to the prosecutor, the attackers intended to steal the wheels from the vehicle the three men were traveling in, but were met with resistance. The aggressors took out their weapon and killed the one who initially resisted, Andrade Ramirez said. The other two young men, attempting to defend him, were also shot in the head, according to the prosecutors version. Afterwards, the bodies were thrown into a well around seven kilometers from where the burnt pick-up was found.

The Mexican Forensic Institute (Semefo) reported that the tourists had been dead between five and seven days when they were found, suggesting they were killed on the last weekend of April. That date coincides with the first reports of their disappearance. Having been submerged in water, the corpses are in an advanced state of decomposition but the authorities are confident identification will be positive. Due to the clothing and some characteristics, such as long hair, and some specific physical descriptions, we have that high probability that they are the surfers reported missing, Andrade Ramirez said. The three bodies remain in the Semefo facilities waiting for the Prosecutors Office to deliver them to their relatives.

Authorities have already arrested two men and one woman, who were discovered with the mobile phone of one of the three missing youths. We already have [made] significant progress. At this moment, a working team is at the location where they were last seen, the prosecutor added.

Members of a rescue team work at a site where three bodies were found, in La Bocana. Francisco Javier Cruz (REUTERS)

Last Wednesday, the mother of the brothers, Debra Robinson, appealed for help on social media to locate her sons, who had embarked on a trip to surf the waves of Baja California the previous Thursday along with their friend Jack Carter. I am reaching out to anyone who has seen my two sons. They have not been in contact with us since Saturday, April 27th, she wrote on the Facebook page Talk Baja, where 120,000 members provided travel recommendations in the border state with the United States.

The womans greatest concern was that her son Callum, 33 years old, is diabetic and requires medication. He works in San Francisco as a lacrosse player. His brother Jake, 30 years old, had visited him from Perth, the Australian city where they both originated. Together with Jack Carter, they had made the two-hour journey from the United States to Ensenada in their Chevrolet Colorado with California license plates, number 70189W1, according to the information provided by their mother. Last Saturday, when they disappeared, they had a reservation at a vacation home in Rosarito.

The news had a significant impact in Australia. A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had confirmed that consular assistance is being provided to the family. What concerned the friend of one of the young men who spoke to ABC Radio Perth the most was that the Robinson brothers did not post on social media after their disappearance: Part of the concern is that they had been traveling around the United States and had been fairly regular with posting about their trip up until the weekend.

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Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

When I was 12 years old, I remember seeing the crude oil flowing down the river like jelly for the first time in the Waorani lands, in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon. When the river overflowed, that crude would then spread across our land, contaminating and staining everything, from our houses to our lush green forests.

When the oil industry arrived at the Yasuni, they promised to bring development and a better life for the Indigenous peoples that have called it home for millennia. Instead, we only inherited death, destruction, and diseases we never had before, like cancer.

Our vibrant forest, where once we heard only the sounds of our people and the vast biodiversity, is now silenced by the sound of chainsaws and bulldozers, and our environment is contaminated. We can no longer sow in the place we have always sowed because the yucca and banana plants no longer bear fruit  instead of growing, they die.

Last year, my country chose life over all this death  a majority of Ecuadorians chose to end drilling in the Yasuni in a binding referendum. It was an inspiring vote of faith in the future of Ecuador that we could build together as citizens. A future that respects the Earth and our communities.

President Noboa seemed to want this future too  he voted yes in the referendum and made it clear that Ecuador would need to look beyond oil to achieve sustainable prosperity. Eight months later, it is clear that my people are not a part of Noboas #NuevoEcuador.

According to the will of millions of Ecuadorians, the Yasuni oil operations should shut down completely by this August. This is a historic decision at the national level that forces the Noboa government to define urgent actions to act in a post-extractive process and generate sustainable options that sustain the ways of life in this megadiverse territory. But now, four months from that deadline, not a single step towards the end of drilling has been taken. Rather, President Noboa has been signaling that our vote might not be respected.

An oil production facility in the Yasuni National Park (Ecuador), in October 2016. Georg Ismar (picture alliance/Getty Images)

Ecuador is troubled with violence and a deepening economic crisis that this government hopes to address using fossil fuel revenue. However, weakening our democracy and destroying our greatest natural asset, the Amazon, is not the solution. These choices cannot be undone and they will continue to devastate Ecuador. No economic recovery is possible without the Amazon.

President Noboa has been traveling the world looking for financial support to take our country out of this violent turmoil. But we cant build a new Ecuador while relying on the same outdated oil economy of destruction. Are financial institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank willing to pour more money into unsustainable development and invest in a plan that weakens democracy to benefit the oil industry?

The same crude that contaminates our rivers and leaves our children thirsty for clean water flows straight to the global North to quell the thirst for more oil in places like California, filling the pockets of fossil fuel companies that are driving our planet to a precipice.

April was a decisive month for us in Ecuador. On April 21, citizens voted on a new referendum on measures to fight organized crime and reform the Ecuadorian Constitution. But how can we hope that our vote will be respected if the Yasuni referendum results have been kicked to the corner?

The world cant trust an Ecuador that does not abide by its democratic processes. We are worried about giving more powers to a president who has shown he does not respect the word of the people on the Yasuni. We have seen how easily fighting crime has turned to authoritarianism elsewhere, such as in El Salvador. Is Noboa a new leader or just an Instagram version of the same old politics?

People often say that the Amazon is the lungs of the world. But for us, Waorani, she is a whole person: it has rivers that are connected and flow like blood, trees that spread like limbs and it pulses life towards the entire world like a heartbeat. The Yasuni is a sacred person to us, and the oil industry is hurting her very existence. The oil that today spills in our lands is also spilling destruction beyond our borders, and what happens here matters everywhere.

We, the Indigenous peoples, are the guardians of this planet, and our fight to keep the Yasuni and the Amazon standing is a fight for a livable world for all. We, the Waorani, are known for the strength of our women: we are mothers, leaders, and warriors. Since my younger days I have learned to fight for the survival of my people and of our home. And I now call on the world to join this fight toward an Amazon free of fossil fuels.

Recently, our brothers and sisters in Colombia took important steps committing to the non-proliferation of fossil fuels. Now, Ecuador has an incredible opportunity to also lead this movement, and to inspire other countries to follow its leadership. Will President Noboa have the courage to build a truly New Ecuador, one that respects its people and biodiversity?

Isabel Nomenia Baihua Mipo is president of the Women's Association Waorani Orellana - AOWARE.
Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing hard for state legislators to convene a special convention next month to rewrite Louisianas constitution, but few voters see this as a top priority, according to a new poll for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate.
What else can financial abuse look like? Centre for Womens Economic Safety chief executive Rebecca Glenn says financial abuse often escalates after partners separate. Because so much of managing our finances are online, financial abuse can happen without physical abuse, and continue after separation, she says. Since victims can be left in the dark about their financial situation during a relationship, Glenn says perpetrators can rack up debt and wreak havoc on their credit scores. What we see is a lot of debt caused by abusive partners, she says: a form of financial abuse known as sexually transmitted debt. Victims may have loans put in their name by perpetrators, credit cards opened in their name or loans taken out on credit cards they didnt know about.

Financial Rights Legal Centre senior solicitor Erin Mulally says people can be pressured into providing assets as security for a loan. A person who doesnt have the means to get a loan might ask their partner to put up their car for example she says. Then, when the relationship ends, the victim is the one being chased for the debt. Jasmine Opdam, Redfern Legal Centres financial abuse team senior solicitor. Glenn says issues are most common with joint products, with perpetrators able to clear out joint bank accounts without consent. Its legal but abusive and problematic for victim survivors, she says. Catherine Fitzpatrick is founder and director of Flequity Ventures  a social enterprise aimed at disrupting financial abuse through product and service design  and a former bank executive. She says perpetrators can cancel a joint insurance policy without knowledge or consent of the co-insured. One woman was told her insurance policy had been cancelled four months earlier, but that the premium refund was paid out only to her partner, Fitzpatrick said. She only discovered she wasnt covered when her partner threatened to burn down house with her and her children in it.

Perpetrators can also damage a victims property, which often cannot be claimed on an insurance policy if the perpetrator is a joint holder. However, Fitzpatrick notes two insurers  Suncorp and Allianz  have added a clause allowing them to assess a claim under special circumstances. Mulally says utilities companies and telecommunications firms can also be roped in. Electricity or phone bills can be put in a victims name, even though the service is being used by someone else, she says. Financial abuse can have a lasting, snowballing effect, including tarnishing credit scores and victims ability to access centrelink payments, Opdam says. Many leave a relationship and try to go to Centrelink to keep their heads afloat, only to find out theyre not eligible because theyre a director of a company they dont know about.

How are companies tackling the issue? Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh says people facing financial abuse shouldnt feel alone, and that banks can help open up new accounts, resolve issues around joint accounts and provide advice on financial hardship and referrals to support services. Banking staff are in a unique position where they can often see financial abuse playing out, she says. Theyre trained to spot red flags and banks have specialist support teams who regularly respond to abuse. Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh says banking staff can often see financial abuse playing out. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Wall from CBA says the bank has about 20,000 interactions a year with victims. One of the most common types of abuse is customers sending threatening and harassing messages through the description field of one or two cent transactions.

While we identify about 2500 high-risk cases every year, were blocking over a million transactions from being sent that include words or phrases which are inappropriate, she says. Loading Wall says those transactions are a means of bypassing orders that prohibit contact. The bank has built an artificial intelligence model in response to scan transactions, weighing up factors such as the value of a transaction, the language used and the relationship between sender and receiver. That allows us to reach out to people experiencing this form of abuse to ensure theyre safe, and ask if theyre comfortable with us taking action against the perpetrator, Wall says. The bank can then restrict abusive users or, in serious cases, de-bank that customer for breaching the banks terms and conditions.

Westpacs head of customer excellence Tiffiny Lewin also says it is a problem she encounters. The bank will usually send a warning to the perpetrator or a letter telling them they were not using the service in line with its terms and conditions. In greater than 90 per cent of these cases, those customers cease their behaviour, she says. So that intervention, and bringing to a customers attention that were monitoring that behaviour is a really effective way of stopping it. Westpac head of customer excellence Tiffiny Lewin says the bank sends warnings to perpetrators Lewin says Westpac has made it easier for clients to cancel direct debits themselves, rather than needing to go to each service provider. This helps in situations where a perpetrator may use a victims card to pay for an ongoing service, but the service provider refuses to cancel the recurring transaction because it is under a different persons name. What more needs to be done?

In April, there was an inquiry launched by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services into financial abuse. Submissions are due by June 14. Fitzpatrick, who will be making a submission, says government should compel financial services to understand how their products are being weaponised, and change the design of those products and services. No financial service wants to be safe haven for abusers, she says. Loading While there are industry codes of practice, Mulally says guidelines can be non-binding or vague. We need more specific laws to improve financial providers, she says. As more services have moved online, Mulally also says it has reduced friction in some processes and increasing risk for victims. When people go into a branch for a loan, staff can more easily pick up if one party is doing all the talking or doesnt seem to understand whats going on, she says. A few extra steps may help financial abuse victims.

While some companies, including Westpac, have started training design staff to think about how to introduce friction, or empower customers to prevent harm, Glenn says she wants financial safety to be considered when designing all products. She also says lenders should extend the support they provide to victims of financial abuse. Ive seen too many women unable to refinance and desperately trying to repay their mortgage, she says. They often end up paying more on the rental market, and just need a bridge on their mortgage for some period of time. We need regulators, banks and government at the table, thinking about how we can provide that bridge of support for a bit longer. While Opdam says banks have done well to upskill their staff, she says many smaller lenders could exercise more scrutiny to identify financial abuse. They need to take a closer look at joint loans when only one person is benefitting, or where one person is doing all the negotiating, she says.

Fitzpatrick says any organisation offering joint accounts needs to make it easier to separate those accounts. They need to understand abuse can start or worsen at separation, she says. For people seeking more immediate help, Mulally says there are free financial counsellors and a national debt line which can help assess individual circumstances, and Glenn suggests taking a look at the Centre for Womens Economic Safetys steps to financial safety. The tip of the iceberg With perpetrators continually jumping to newer products such as buy now, pay later, Mulally says businesses and regulations need to constantly be evolving and considering the threat. And while the first priority is often understandably physical safety, Glenn says financial safety should not be forgotten. Financial safety affords options which can improve physical safety, she says.
In any case, because differing groups of people have differing beliefs and motives and objectives, ethical dilemmas  deciding whats the right thing to do in all the circumstances  are common, particularly in business. Thats why we have a new profession of ethicists offering advice to organisations, of which Longstaff is the most prominent. But whats that got to do with the economy? Well, lets be clear. The only reason we should need to do the right thing is that its the right thing to do. And the only reward we should expect is being able to sleep well at night in the knowledge that were treating people justly, often at some cost to ourselves. However, as Deloitte Access Economics has demonstrated in a report for the Ethics Centre, there is a strong business case for behaving ethically. A case that makes sense not just for individuals and businesses, but also for the treasurers and Treasuries responsible for improving the way the economys working. The case rests on an obvious, but often forgotten truth: market economies rely on a high degree of trust. Trust between buyers and sellers. Trust that youre not selling me a dud. Trust that your cheque wont bounce.

Trust that youll let me return it if theres a problem. Trust that youll honour your promise to service the thing for the next X years. Trust that you wont pinch someone elses bag from the airport carousel. Trust that youll repay the money I lent you. Loading Trust that if I let you check yourself out at my supermarket, you wont slip in a few things you didnt ring up. Trust that if I work for you, youll treat me fairly. Trust that the law will back me up if you do the wrong thing. Point is, the more confident we are that we can trust each other  trust the businesses we deal with  the more smoothly and cheaply the economy runs and the more business gets done. When we have to spend a lot of money on security and making sure were not ripped off, the costs mount up, and we end up not doing all the transactions we could. So, how do we get more trust into the economy? How do workers, employers and businesses get themselves a good reputation? By always behaving ethically. (I could say this also applies to politicians, but that would be pushing it.)

Research by Access Economics finds evidence that fewer unethical decisions lead to better mental and physical health for individuals. And evidence that unethical behaviour leads to poorer financial outcomes for business. And evidence that ethical behaviour results in higher wages. But Access also reminds us of the evidence that our ethical standards could be a lot higher than they are. The World Values Survey finds that only a bit over half of Australians think most people can be trusted. The Governance Institute finds that, on a scale running from minus 100 to plus 100, Australia ranks at plus 45, or somewhat ethical. Then theres the string of royal commissions finding unethical or even illegal behaviour in institutional responses to child abuse, misconduct in the banking industry, and aged care. And thats before we get to the epidemic of wage theft that so many otherwise respectable big businesses have had to admit to  all of it purely accidental, apparently. OK, OK, we could do a lot better, with that producing tangible economic benefits. But how? Well, one approach would be for economists and econocrats to switch their sermonising from productivity to ethical behaviour. Perhaps not. What would help is for ethical questions to get a lot more of our attention. As sociologists understand, but most economists dont, businesses  like the rest of us  tend to want to do what others are doing. If were all being ethical, I dont want to be seen as uninterested in ethical behaviour.

If we could give ethics a higher profile, wed probably get more of it. If expert advice on ethical problems was more readily available, more would be asked for. If there were more training and meetings and conferences on the topic, more decisions would be examined for their ethical implications. Loading Longstaffs Ethics Centre has a proposal to improve our ethical infrastructure by teaming up with the universities of Sydney and NSW to establish an Australian Institute of Applied Ethics, which would be open to receiving requests from governments and the private sector to report on major ethical questions facing the nation. It would be a bit like the Productivity Commission or the Australian Law Reform Commission, but it would not be a government body. It would also contribute to education, training and leadership development, building the practical skills of good decision-making on ethical issues in the private and public sectors. Copying the pattern used to establish the hugely successful Melbourne-based Grattan Institute, the proposal is for the federal government to contribute $30 million towards a $40 million one-off endowment. The new institute would be funded from the earnings on this endowment, plus earnings from providing education, training and other services.
The nations new privacy commissioner is frustrated big tech companies are pushing for the urgent rollout of artificial intelligence without appropriate safeguards in place to protect citizens.

Commissioner Carly Kind said she was not terrified of an AI-future, but was concerned about the speed at which the fast-evolving technology is being used, adding it would take time to understand AIs implications and legislate against its misuse.

Commissioner Carly Kind wants a cautionary approach to the rollout of artificial intelligence. Credit: Edwina Pickle

Im frustrated theres a sense of urgency for deployment, which seems to override a cautionary approach, said Kind, who has extensive experience in AI.

Theres a sense that were not using AI right now, were missing out on an opportunity, which is squeezing out the time we need to think about what does it look like in a good way and how do existing laws and regulations apply.
Addictions hijack the brain, subduing it until it gives up on its most basic needs. Even eating and drinking  essential for sustaining life  are no longer priorities. But that substance or behavior that generates such brain dysfunction is usually just the symptom of a deeper phenomenon the tip of the iceberg of a complex network of vulnerability and poor mental health.

Ruben Baler agrees with this assessment. Hes an expert in public health and addiction neuroscience at the United States National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): We need to worry about whats important, not just about whats urgent, the neuroscientist warns.

Baler, 64, has first-hand familiarity with the dimensions of the public health crisis facing the US, since his job consists of working to address it. And, perhaps precisely for this reason, hes able to hone in on whats behind the grotesque figures. Its not about the substances, but rather the phenomenon behind them. He assures EL PAIS that there are hidden interests and hands that pull the strings of the dynamics that are harmful to public health. From alcohol and tobacco, to junk food or digital content, there are increasingly powerful forces that have an interest in these products becoming more and more addictive and popular, the neuroscientist affirms.

Last week, he spoke with EL PAIS while visiting Palma de Mallorca, Spain, to participate in the joint congress held by the Spanish Society of Dual Disorders and the World Association on Dual Disorders.

Question. What happens to an addicted brain?

Answer. Actually, its very simple. The brain is designed to identify what gives it a natural and healthy reward. When theres something that increases our chance of survival, a little dopamine is released. [Hence], we learn from the experience and are better equipped for the next time. Its a very delicate mechanism, which works like a thermostat: between minimum and maximum values. Evolution designed a thermostat thats regulated by dopamine, which is what regulates reward learning. Now, in the modern world, there are things that can skew the thermostat and push dopamine release values to [unnatural] levels. Say, for instance, if sex takes your dopamine from one to 10, methamphetamines take it to a thousand. But the brain isnt designed for that. So, if someone takes meth 10 times, the thermostat can break and, in that case, the only thing that can offer a reward would be more meth. The brain adapts to that. This artificial learning is an addiction.

Q. Why do some brains become addicted and others dont, when faced with the same behaviors?

A. Each individual is a universe. This variation manifests itself in different vulnerabilities and [levels of] robustness. Interindividual differences are enormous, due to genes and life experience.

Q. What are the differences when you expose the brain of an adult or a teenager to these harmful substances?

A. The adolescent brain is being programmed. Its changing in a very malleable, rapid and dynamic way. All these changes program the circuits to prepare them for life. This programming is like running: any little trip can make us fall, distort the quality of that programming and take us down an unhealthy, harmful path. Drugs can very effectively corrupt the quality of programming.

Q. What are the biggest risks?

A. One of the most obvious examples is the issue of [hardcore] pornography. In adults, their brain is developed and has the ability to understand that, while the images are strange, theyre not normal, nor do they lead to healthy or lasting rewards. But a 12, 13, or 14-year-old boy whos exposed to the same type of pornography could end up with sexual dysfunction, because the brain is programming the circuits that will serve sexual function. [If such material] is absorbed at a critical moment, this could become normalized, making real sex unable to trigger the response that it should, because ones brain has already been programmed and adapted to bizarre and strange things. Thats why were starting to see sexual dysfunctions in younger and younger people.

Q. How have screens and new technologies impacted addictions?

A. Its very difficult to say, because science is very careful, very rigorous. It has its methods and its rhythm. And that pace has nothing to do with the technologies that were trying to prevent or regulate or understand. Theres a gap between what we can study and whats relevant from a public health perspective. And that gap creates the potential for a [massive] experiment. The possibility of an adverse relationship between some aspects of social media and mental health is so potentially harmful that we have to be much more cautious about what were doing. At the very least, we must postpone exposure to screens until [children reach] the age of 16.

Q. When you talk about potentially harmful, are you referring to the risk of addiction to screens?

A. Yes, because algorithms are addictive. Who invented infinite scrolling? Thats addictive. The algorithms are a dopamine laboratory, which studies how to make these social media platforms more addictive. Especially for kids who gravitate so much towards social comparison  who depend so much on feedback from a community  all of this is extremely addictive and creates habits that are, in many cases, pathological.

Baler, at the Palma de Mallorca Conference Center, during the annual meeting of the World Association on Dual Disorders. FRANCISCO UBILLA

Q. What can be done?

A. We cannot depend on politicians, nor can we wait for scientists to save us. I think the solution is at the local level, in the schools. For now, parents can stop the use of screens in bed, because it affects a childs sleep. Thats a vicious circle that leads them to get into risky situations a lack of sleep alters the brain. I dont understand why kids are allowed to bring devices to class, because that interferes with learning, class dynamics and attention span. It makes no sense.

We have to educate ourselves about how the brain works and [understand] that were being taken advantage of. Were guinea pigs  commodities. Our attention has become a profitable commodity.

Q. For the industry?

A. Yes. Were paying a price voluntarily and the decision is up to each one of us. Either were zombies and sleepwalkers, or we take the reins of our own lives. Right now, were selling our souls to the devil, both our privacy and our brains. I understand how difficult it is, because this little device (he points to his cell phone) is everywhere and we depend on it. But we have to make an effort to see the good and the evil. We must try to take advantage of what it offers us for our well-being, while discarding the harmful effects of these technologies.

Q. At NIDA, you focus on researching drug abuse. Which is the substance that worries you the most?

A. In adolescents, the prevalence of alcohol is very problematic, especially in cultures in which its normalized. Its an issue not only because its addictive, but because alcohol has neurodegenerative properties, producing holes in the brain over prolonged periods of consumption. The problem is that alcohol is combined with the perception of being low-risk  everyone makes it a normative behavior, as if nothing happens [when you drink]. But something does happen.

Q. And which substance concerns you the most when it comes to adults? In the US, theres a major opioid crisis.

A. Yes, but what the crisis teaches us is that its not about a drug  its a phenomenon. [The different drugs] are all symptoms: this epidemic started with prescription drugs (OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.). When we tightened the valve on doctors overprescribing these things, the curve of those prescriptions went down and the curve of heroin began. When heroin started to rise, traffickers realized they could cut it with something much more powerful: they started creating fentanyl. Hence, synthetic opioids came along. Now, the fourth wave has to do with amphetamines that are cut with heroin and that appear mixed with fentanyl and a new drug  xylazine  which prolongs the psychoactive effects of fentanyl. But these are all symptoms.

We need to worry about whats important, not just about whats urgent. Why do people use drugs? What leads them to it? Misery? Hopelessness? Boredom? Thats what needs to be attacked. You have to look for the deep root causes.

Q. And what are they?

A. Theres a financialization of the economy. There are groups that are very interested in the profitability of businesses: if we talk about junk food, these are industries that produce an incredible amount of profit, but the foods are addictive  they dont help public health. [Digital content] platforms are addictive. The tobacco, cannabis, or alcohol industries produce enormous amounts of profits. And for the owners, for those who sit at shareholder meetings, the only thing that matters to them is the companys profits public health isnt a priority. And, in that equation, the population will always lose. There are increasingly powerful forces that have an interest in making these products more addictive and popular.

Q. Is capitalism the problem?

A. No, I think capitalism is the only system that works. Im not against capitalism, but Im against this form of overflowing capitalism that apparently has no sense of responsibility towards citizens.

Q. Can brains that have been made ill from addiction be cured? Can you go back to the beginning?

A. No brain  healthy or sick  goes back to the beginning. If brains are characterized by something, its constant change. Learning changes the architecture of the brain, but it can be good or bad learning. And addictions are based on learning through rewards. Its like riding a bike: can you imagine a situation where you unlearn how to ride a bike? No. Because what was learned that way  with that intensity, in those learning trenches in the brain  cannot be unlearned. Addiction is the same: it will never heal, it wont go away. The learning trenches are going to stay there. They can be covered with new, better, more passionate, more natural, more evolutionarily appropriate learning but the trenches are going to remain. Thats why theres always the risk of relapse.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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A former military lawyer who helped expose allegations of war crimes by leaking classified documents is asking a judge for leniency but prosecutors want him to spend at least two years behind bars.

David McBride pleaded guilty to three offences including stealing commonwealth information and passing it onto journalists.

Justice David Mossop heard arguments in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday about the severity of the crime and McBrides motivation as he determines what punishment to hand down.

David McBride arrives at the ACT Supreme Court. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

McBrides barrister Stephen Odgers SC argued he disclosed the sensitive documents because of a commitment to the public interest.

McBride felt he had a duty to go public with the information as he believed soldiers were being unduly investigated for actions that werent war crimes as a PR exercise so the department could say it was doing something, Odgers said.

The sensitive documents were initially only collected to back up a complaint he would make to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, Odgers contended.

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McBrides impaired emotional wellbeing because of PTSD and substance abuse as well as his sense of duty then compelled him to go to a journalist and have senior officials investigated when he believed his complaint wouldnt go anywhere.

Good soldiers were put through serious trauma, that was his complaint, Odgers said.

His goal was to get somebody to investigate properly his suspicions of criminality.

McBride knew he was breaking internal defence codes and would face disciplinary actions but didnt think he was committing a criminal offence as a court would find he acted in the public interest, his barrister said.

While ignorance of the law is no excuse, it lessens culpability he said.

AAP
I think they saved my life and my childrens lives, Bridget said. Getting those strong orders and restraints were a crucial part in us feeling safe and being in a stable environment. During the financial year 2019-20, Legal Aid NSW duty solicitors provided 4603 services, such as meeting with survivors, appearing in court and drafting legal documents. The solicitors have provided 7841 separate services in the current financial year to date - a 70 per cent increase in five years - and there are still two months left. Of the services, 94 per cent were to

women and 36 per cent to those in regional NSW. Acting director of Legal Aid NSWs domestic violence unit, Anna Baltins, said the services statewide hotline and duty lawyers have both recorded significant increases in demand in the last two years in particular.

Going to court can be really triggering and re-traumatising for clients particularly because the women we see are in crisis, theyre having to tell the most difficult and personal details of their life to someone over the phone, Baltins said. Many of the cases involving domestic violence are complex; financial pressures, drug problems, child custody, housing. Baltins said it might begin in local court with an ADVO but move into the family court, as it did in Bridgets case. What it looks like on the ground, its not uncommon for us to start the day with 60 women waiting to talk to us, Baltins said. Thats a lot of pressure for our staff. It means sometimes we dont get to speak to every woman on the same day, which is what we would love to do and we aim to do - no one gets turned away. National Legal Aid last week announced it needs $317 million a year to keep up with the growing domestic violence crisis which is killing one woman every four days across Australia and hospitalising and traumatising countless more.

There have been a staggering 22,500 breaches of ADVOs in the last year alone, the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found. Legal Aid NSW, which receives about 30 per cent of the national budget, is bracing for another increase in demand in July when coercive control laws pass in NSW. We are stretched, and we are struggling to keep up with demand, Baltins said. And we are expecting an increase in demand with the Coercive Control Reforms. The state government says the new laws will criminalise repeated patterns of physical or non-physical abuse used to hurt, scare, intimidate, threaten or control current or former intimate partners.

The Herald last week revealed women are being forced to sleep in tents and car parks to escape violence around Newcastle as the cost of housing spirals completely out of control. Weve had clients who have said that they wont leave a violent home because they have nowhere to go, Baltins said. They cant afford to find new housing or theres no housing available. Theres no emergency accommodation. More hotline calls are reaching Legal Aid NSW from the regions, Baltins said, and the duty solicitors are going to more regional and remote courts for hearings. Increased awareness of the signs of domestic violence, new laws and the increased reach of specialised DV Police and legal services have all been suggested by experts as factors behind the rise in reports of abuse in recent years.
Political chest-thumping

After reading the Sunday Age headline MPs on both sides pressure unis over protest camps (5/5), I wondered if these politicians had visited these sites.

I had been to Melbourne Uni the day before, as I was in the neighbourhood. The camp was tidy, and seemed well set up. I saw many placards and banners with Gaza and genocide. There was nothing derogatory or threatening regarding Israel or its supporters.

The International Court of Justice issued a direction ordering Israel to prevent genocide so usage of that word is valid, and the message is urgent.

I hope to see more people speaking up and even pitching a tent, rather than the chest-thumping politicians spreading division.

Phillip Burnham, Collingwood Enduring protest

Some Liberal Party leaders want the university encampments dismantled and state they are only there due to weak university leadership. I would remind them that an encampment by Indigenous Australians is still operating some 50 years later after it was formed during which time both Labor and Liberal governments have been in charge. Sometimes the softly-softly approach is better, rather than confrontation which will only exacerbate the situation.

Alan Inchley, Frankston Student loans

The best piece of advice I received at university was from the comedian Tommy Little. Speaking on my first day, he reminded the new cohort that, as arts students, we will never need to pay for our degrees.

Considering the announced HECS debt reduction of $3 billion, and reflecting upon a decade of middling jobs, postgraduate study and unemployment, I wonder if, like me, many of my peers will herald this relief.

Universities, despite the number of student loans that remain unpaid, continue to flourish. They are not small businesses who without revenue will close because the government understands their significance in society and as part of the economy. Yet to invoke Coleridge, HECS remains the albatross about many of our necks.

Anders Ross, Heidelberg A bank for HECS debtors

There is a desperate need for a bank that supports graduates saddled with HECS debts, small business owners, and others in need of finance upon whom our economy and the future is heavily dependent.

Those who can demonstrate they are as credit-worthy as a salaried, HECS-free employee should not so readily be turned away. Providing finance to them would be responsible lending, but not of the type practised by most commercial banks which leans heavily towards supporting only those with established wealth: hence gross cash transactions at one end of the real estate market and desperation at the other.

The long-term impact of this social division, is disadvantage, servitude, a class system (something Australia Fair has been largely free of to date), and lost opportunity.

But most financial institutions beholden to shareholders and the profit motive do not generally address the wider concern; indeed 20th-century shareholder theory states they should not. It is time to move on and establish a responsible government bank that supports both its customers and the society within which it exists.

Emma Borghesi, Rye Independents cant hide

Re former Greens convenor Linda Gale comment (Letters, Greens discord, 4/5), when she says, independents, however sincere, lack the infrastructure and policy framework that enables them to consistently resist lobbyists and corporate pressure.

You dont need infrastructure and policy framework or any other set-up to resist lobbyists and corporate pressure. All you need is integrity, something sadly lacking in our political parties.

However, if incentive is needed to resist those pressures, theres nothing like being answerable directly to your constituents, with no party infrastructure to hide behind, to keep an independent politician pretty focused on doing the right thing each and every day.

Margaret Callinan, Hawthorn

Nuclear warning

There was a striking juxtaposition of two Age articles recently: Finland charging into nuclear future and Forever chemicals and how to avoid them.

To the forever chemical PFAS, we might safely add nuclear wastes Plutonium-239, with a half-life of 24,000 years, or Iodine-129, 15.7 million years. The Finnish multi-layered repository, being completed twenty years after their parliament decided it should be responsible for dealing with its own nuclear waste, is said to be good for 100,000 years.

The lengths to which Finland has gone to bury its spent nuclear waste tells us just how problematic it is. The first commercial reactor in Finland began operation in 1977. With almost half a century of experience, a new reactor was approved for Olkiluoto in 2005, but was not switched on until April 2023 after a series of delays, breakdowns and outages.

These timelines indicate the complexity and unreliability of the technology associated with nuclear. And yet in Australia - with no experience, little appetite when faced with the realities of a nuclear facility in the neighbourhood, no agreed site for nuclear waste, no costings, no realistic time-lines - the Coalition would have us bogged down in a faux debate about it.

Fiona Colin, Malvern East Tax plastics polluters

Megan Herberts cartoon about the longevity of Forever Chemicals (Letters, 5/5) is a reminder that PFAS global contamination is but one of four waves of mass-produced chemicals designed to make our life easier, but which may have the ultimate effect of making humans extinct.

Before PFAS, it was lead produced by petrol fumes, DDT (weakens bird eggshells), and phthalate esters (plasticisers which act as human sex hormone mimics and may be responsible for the gradual decrease in male fertility over the past decades). All of these chemicals are mass-produced and earn the production companies billions.

They are found in the blood of all human populations and can be detected in all drinking water supplies worldwide. The use of leaded petrol and DDT has been reduced after decades of argument and mountains of evidence of the toxic effects; however the argument against PFAS has barely begun.

These chemicals will still persist in the environment and in our bodies, for eons. Its time we taxed these companies for their global pollution and set them to repair their damage.

Greg Tanner, Elwood Keatings losses

Peter Hartcher (Paul Keatings apprentice is painting a vastly different portrait of Australia, 4/5) reminds us of the previously government owned businesses sold by Paul Keating including the Commonwealth Bank, Qantas, Australian Airlines, the major airports and the Commonwealth serum laboratory. John Howard went on to sell Telstra.

We have also recently been reminded of the mega profits of these companies. Telstras profits from its mobile business - $1 billion net profit for the six months to December 3 (Mobile price rises deliver bumper profits, The Age 16/2). It now expects between $8.2 and $8.3 billion in underlying earnings for the 2024 financial year. And this is down from $8.4 billion projected previously.

Similarly, the Commonwealth Bank has made a profit of $5 billion (which the CBA made in the first half of 2024), (The Age, 15/2). All are making huge profits but are now paying dividends to those lucky and wealthy enough to own their shares instead of contributing to government revenue and ultimately to improving infrastructure and services for all Australians. The government bottom line may have been very different if in years past, short-term gain and lack of foresight had not lost these revenue streams.

Jenny Macmillan, Clifton Hill No computer is secure

Organisations and businesses from governments and banks down insist we do everything on line without personal contact and without cash payment. At the same time criminal gangs and rogue states are pillaging our information and preparing to attack major infrastructure. There is no such thing as computer security.

Neil Falconer, Castlemaine AND ANOTHER THING

Domestic violence

Get rid of the euphemism  women arent lost  theyre murdered, usually by men they know.

Belinda Burke, Hawthorn Not all men are sinners and not all women are saints. All genders can use cruel, petty and humiliating words and actions that can lead to emotional and mental damage, and sadly, devastating physical violence and suicide.

Teresa Grace, Leopold Actions speak louder than words. Banning gambling ads would reduce an accelerant of domestic violence. What are the odds for that?

Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale Your correspondent (And Another Thing, 2/5) is concerned that only women demonstrating are called a mob. Not so. Massive crowds of all genders demonstrated against the Iraq war. John Howard had the bad manners to call us the mob. As it turned out, the mob was in the right.

Anne Flanagan, Box Hill North Gaza

Does Israel not understand its tactics are ensuring there will be even more Hamas battalions formed?

Doris LeRoy, Altona
Four boys from an exclusive private school in Melbournes east have been suspended after rating their female classmates, using disparaging language to rate their appearances.

Police are being notified after the year 11 students from Yarra Valley Grammar School in Ringwood shared a spreadsheet of photos of their female classmates to messaging app Discord and ranked them in categories. The girls were ranked from top to bottom as wifeys, cuties, mid, object, get out and then finally unrapable.

Boys from Yarra Valley Grammar have been suspended for ranking girls in categories on a chat group. Credit: Eddie Jim

The school became aware of the post last Wednesday, and by Friday the students had been suspended pending further investigation. The parents of the girls pictured in the post were notified by the school.

Yarra Valley Grammar principal Dr Mark Merry has described the post as disgraceful.
The Cook Labor cabinet approved Alcoas mining in December despite its own experts warning it posed a high risk to Perths water supply and the states treasured jarrah forest.

The states environment regulator opposed Alcoas mining management program in its entirety because it lacked clarity and coherence about what areas would be mined and provided insufficient information for the regulator to fully assess risks from its strip mining for bauxite.

Normally the ministers for water, state development and the environment approve Alcoas mining plan but for 2023 it was elevated to be a cabinet decsion. Credit: WAtoday

Perths water supply faces twin threats from bauxite mining: contamination from oil and chemicals that may be spilt by Alcoa and runoff of sediment from expansive cleared areas.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation advice obtained via a freedom of information request revealed deep concerns about Alcoas mining, including a foreseeable risk it could render unusable water from Serpentine Dam. In extreme circumstances this could shut down the source of 18 per cent of Perths water for years.
The Minns government will invest $230 million to address both the cause and effect of violence against women via a package of reforms that includes the statewide rollout of a program aimed at allowing victims of domestic violence to stay in their own home rather than flee violent partners.

On Monday, the government will announce the funding following a public outcry after the alleged murder of 28-year-old mother Molly Ticehurst by her former partner, a broader spike in domestic violence-related assaults and a rise in demand for services.

The funding includes tens of millions of dollars in extra funding for domestic violence support and prevention. Almost $50 million will go towards the expansion of the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, which aims to allow victims of domestic violence to remain in their own homes through increased security such as CCTV and duress alarms, while also helping with rent, groceries and other measures.

Another $48 million will be spent on an increase in funding for specialist staff who support children accompanying their mothers to womens refuges, including support for mental health. As well, $24 million will go towards an increase in domestic violence support staff working within the justice system.
The beast that attacked Pomonal also smashed the wider economy. New figures from economists Urban Enterprise, produced for Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism, show Februarys bushfires cost the region $202 million and a decline of 460,000 people on last years visitor numbers. Regrowth in Pomonal 12 weeks after the bushfire roared through the town. Credit: Joe Armao Pomonal is finding a way to recover in part thanks to a local association that long before Februarys fire had a specific resilience plan in place. Its community resilience, not personal resilience, says Jill Miller, chair of the Pomonal Progress Association and a former chief executive of Grampians Community Health. About eight years ago, the progress association organised the association so that it divided the tiny town into small districts.

We notionally divided the town into four parts  youre in the Pomonal CBD now, she jokes of the Pomonal General Store, where we are sitting and which her daughter Nadia owns, and the idea was that in town, you got to know 50 people. That led to a street-by-street directory in each district, updated annually, which allowed people  if they were willing  to be connected with their neighbours, so they could be alerted in an emergency. And importantly, after the emergency had passed, when those in need could be matched with those who could give. Jill Miller, the chair of the Pomonal Progress Association, in the town store and cafe. Credit: Joe Armao Among those who lost their home was Anton Henricksen, who was making gelato in his Halls Gap ice-cream store, a 15-minute drive from Pomonal, when his son called to say they had to evacuate. We came home, loaded up some of the animals  that was basically all we loaded  and took off to an evacuation point in Ararat, Henricksen says.

He wasnt allowed back in for five days. When he returned, I was surprised at the totality of what went. There wasnt even floorboards left. Henricksen is halfway through taking apart the rubble of his steel-framed Pomonal house for removal and, like others in the town, has been frustrated by the slow clean-up. Only the steel frame remains of Anton Henricksens seven-bedroom home in Pomonal. Credit: Joe Armao But Henricksen says the mood in the town has been remarkable and the communitys generosity in response to the losses has been striking. Soon after the fire, he mentioned on a podcast that hed lost his Royal Doulton figurine collection. Then Royal Doulton figurines started arriving at the post office. From people who dont know me from a bar of soap.

Henricksen lives next door to Pomonal Cottages, a business Bela Pechnig and his family bought six months before the fire. They were out of town, at a friends wedding, on the day and returned to find their cottages destroyed. Pechnig says they were under-insured, and he too is frustrated at the clean-ups slow pace. They give you a timeline and then they dont stick to the timeline, says the father of two. But, he says, I dont want to complain too much because the community support has helped them through. Two watches Henricksen pulled from the ashes of his house. He still hopes to find a missing gold ring. Credit: Joe Armao Pechnig is at the community hall when we meet, as is Lynne McKinnon, who is giving clothing, toiletries or whatever else to people who have lost everything they need. The fastest-moving item is mens workwear, as those who lost their clothing begin cleaning up properties. Donations have come from all over the state, says McKinnon, who lives in the town and planned to stay and defend her property on the day. But seeing the pressure the town was under, she decided to leave. If I stay, theyve got to go and look after a little old lady. So I left. As I drove away, I was just worried about everybody else.

Central to the towns recovery has been those who run key stores, such as the general store and the pub. The work done by the progress association long before Februarys fire hit has been key to supporting each other once the fire passed. Susie Macaffer at the pub she and husband Colin run, Barneys Bar & Bistro. Credit: Joe Armao Loading For years weve done things like community dinners to try and meet your neighbours or talk about fire safety stuff. During COVID it was about COVID, says Susie Macaffer, who with husband Colin runs the pub, Barneys Bar & Bistro. Macaffer says the 12 weeks since the fire havent been easy. Managing the emotions of each of us individually  the ups and the downs  are like riding a wave. Recently, though, she and Colin held a fundraiser that collected about $12,000, which in time locals will decide how to best spend.

Another local, John Matthews, spent 22 years in the military and 16 years as an air traffic controller, which made him almost perfectly prepared both to survive that brutal February day and to later help co-ordinate the recovery effort. Pomonal resident John Matthews helped co-ordinate the towns recovery effort. Credit: Joe Armao Things are progressing slowly, says Matthews, who works for the local Ararat council. But understandably so because all of the people and the agencies involved are just getting their head around it. Matthews has lived in Pomonal since 2016 and says the community had talked about resilience long before Februarys fire. He says the generosity of neighbouring towns has been astounding. The Aussie spirit of someones down, give him a hand was on display, Matthews says.

Farmers in Berriwillock, population 180, knew that feeding livestock after a fire was often the hardest thing. And so those farmers loaded up two trucks, each with 60 enormous hay bales, and drove 200 kilometres south to Pomonal. Matthews and others realised this would be more than enough, so they asked the farmers to divert the second truck to nearby Dadswells Bridge, which also burnt and had more livestock to support than Pomonal. Lyn Rasmussen from BlazeAid, which repairs fencing lost after a disaster. Credit: Joe Armao Lost en masse in the fire that hit Pomonal were kilometres of fences. Lyn Rasmussen volunteers with BlazeAid, which moves in after a natural disaster to help farmers and landowners rebuild fences. Rasmussen says the need for emotional support in rural towns is often needed as badly as the fences, although in Pomonal they have already reinstated them at 32 properties.

We go and visit a farmer, and they just sit there and shake their head and say, I dont know where to start. If theyve saved their livestock, theyve still got to go around and hand feed a lot of times, Rasmussen says. Volunteers from Disaster Relief Australia have also been crucial to recovery, and several locals commended their hard work. Jill Miller from the Pomonal Progress Association says those who want to help the town recover need to keep the Grampians in their mind for longer than just a short news cycle. It is necessary to keep us in your hearts for a while longer because we wont know how the recovery has really gone for another 12 or 18 months. Pomonals I have, I need box in the towns general store and cafe. Credit: Clay Lucas Sitting on the cafe table as Miller speaks is the towns I have, I need box, where people fill out a slip of paper saying what they have to give away or what they desperately need.
What do I remember of my first visit to Malta, decades ago? Not the cathedral or Grand Masters palace. I remember being locked out of my guesthouse, swept up in demonstrations, and nearly set alight by fireworks.

Valletta made for a memorable destination, but not for the reasons youd expect. Credit: iStock

When I think about how little we remember of the places weve been to, or what weve done there, Im glad things went so entertainingly wrong. My holiday in Malta remains forever special, even after so many others have vanished into a memory fog.

If you press yourself to recall your earliest travels, youll be alarmed at how little comes to mind. I know I barely remember big-name sights, or even entire countries from my early days, let alone any day-to-day detail.

And yet I can still recall the corridor of my Valletta guesthouse, and the lock on my rooms blue door, no doubt because I spent a couple of hours looking at them. One night my door clicked closed and I found myself locked out without my key  or wallet.
Ever snapped an image of your airline boarding pass and posted it to social media? Some do, and its not hard to find them. A quick trawl through Facebook and Instagram and bingo, there they are, with passengers names, ticket numbers and Passenger Name Records, the keys that can unlock a trove of useful information for anyone looking to do you wrong.

Airlines know a lot about you and much of that information can be gleaned from a boarding pass. Credit: iStock

In a much-publicised instance, in 2020, former prime minister Tony Abbott snapped a photo of his boarding pass for a Qantas flight from Tokyo to Sydney and posted it to Instagram. Using Abbotts booking reference and surname, hacker Alex Hope went to the Manage booking section on the Qantas website and, without too much difficulty, unzipped Abbotts passport number, phone number, seat preference and staff comments regarding the former PM. Hope had no ill intent, and the only damage was a new passport for Abbott, but it could have been worse.

The airlines you fly with know a lot about you. Your name, date of birth, your passport number if you fly internationally, email address, phone number and credit card details. In the wrong hands, that data becomes part of a bigger picture about you that can be used to scam your credit card, plant malware in your computer or even steal your identity and transfer funds from your accounts to theirs.

In 2016, in a live demonstration at Europes annual Chaos Communication Congress, Karsten Nohl, chief executive of Berlins Security Research Labs, demonstrated how using nothing more than the barcode on your boarding pass a hacker could access your personal information, alter your coming flights to another passengers name, break into your frequent flyer account, steal your airline points and find out your address and travel dates.
I am getting concerned that growth is all we are thinking about. Thats what Ben Gomes, the former head of Search at Google, wrote in an internal email in 2019. The concern was part of a debate that was opened when senior executives, worried about weak query numbers, decided to create a yellow code. This sparked the tech giants biggest internal alarm.

One objective of that yellow code was to increase the number of searches on Google. The ultimate problem they wanted to solve was to find a way for users to see more ads to earn more advertising money. This email chain between Google executives has come to light thanks to the monopoly case that the U.S. Department of Justice has brought against the company. Bloomberg reported on these emails last fall and, a few days ago, an article in journalist Ed Zitrons newsletter  titled The Man Who Killed Google Search, which is based on those emails and provides new details  has sparked a huge debate in Silicon Valley.

Zitrons story delves into the growing controversy about how Googles search results have gotten worse. According to this narrative, the culprit is clear: short-term profit. In the email chain, the companys Advertising department is clearly seen pressuring the Search department, which does not want to harm the user experience.

Since 2014, Google has maintained more than 90% market share in search engines. But the arrival of AI and the deterioration of its responses has put its leadership in question. In March, at a meeting of Google employees, senior vice president Prabhakar Raghavan  who is now in charge of the Search and Ads, among others areas  warned that the company had to brace for change. We can agree that things are not like they were 15 to 20 years ago, things have changed, Raghavan said. Its not like life is going to be hunky-dory forever.

Prabhakar Raghavan is precisely the person Zitron accuses of killing Google search for allegedly prioritizing economic benefit over good search results. But it is difficult to pin down a process as complex as sorting the web for billions of results to just one person. And, in response to the commotion caused by the article about Raghavans role, the company has issued a clear message: As we have stated definitively: the organic results you see in Search are not affected by our ads systems, it said.

But the debate that took place over various emails, in which the people in charge of Search tried to defend its integrity, hints that the company may have at various times prioritized growth over user experience.

The whole debate is fascinating, but there are several quotes that stand out. Shashi Thakur, who in 2019 was vice president of Engineering, Search and Discover, warned that there was a good reason our founders separated search from ads. Then, in a more limited message to his team, he wrote: I think finance folks are running like chicken with heads cut off. I guess the free ride is ending and this is the first time they have to figure out how our business actually works.

The most cited line of these emails is from Ben Gomes, head of Search, who responded directly to Thakur: I think we are getting too close to the money, he wrote in an internal email. I think it is good for us to aspire to query growth and to aspire to more users. But I think we are getting too involved with ads for the good of the product and company, he added.

Its easy to reduce this debate to a single topic: more queries mean more ads and, therefore, more profits. Of course, from the users point of view, it is worse if you need three queries to find what you could previously find in one. Google, as a product, could get worse; but given its near-monopoly as a search engine, the danger did not seem very great.

Better one search than three

In an email that Gomes left in a draft  he only showed it to his team  he warned what could happen: We could increase queries quite easily in the short term in user negative ways (turn off spell correction, turn off ranking improvements, place refinements all over the page). If we, as a company, want to go there, we should discuss that. It is possible that there are trade-offs here between different kinds of user negativity caused by engagement hacking. But I will say that I am deeply, deeply uncomfortable with this. Indeed, Gomes felt so uncomfortable that a year later he left his position, which was given to Raghavan, who continued his rise at Google until today.

In a debate about this article in the Hacker News forum  a kind of social network for Silicon Valley engineers  the most popular response is from a former Google engineer, who argues that complexity, not money, has affected search results: I know a lot of the veteran engineers were upset when Ben Gomes got shunted off. Probably the bigger change, from what Ive heard, was losing Amit Singhal who led Search until 2016. Amit fought against creeping complexity. There is a semi-famous internal document he wrote where he argued against the other search leads that Google should use less machine-learning, or at least contain it as much as possible, so that ranking stays debuggable and understandable by human search engineers.

According to this post, since Singhal left, complexity has skyrocketed, with each team launching as many deep learning projects as possible, just like any other large company in the sector: The problem though, is the older systems had obvious problems, while the newer systems have hidden bugs and conceptual issues which often dont show up in the metrics, and which compound over time as more complexity is layered on. Finally, the engineer explains that they found an old bug that reordered the top results for 15% of queries since 2015. I handed it off when I left, but have no idea whether anyone actually fixed it or not, the user says.

In addition to this complexity, there are the thousands of SEO specialists who, on a daily basis, try to trick or confuse the Google algorithm so that their results are ranked higher, with the sole objective of achieving advertising revenue or links to e-commerce platforms. These types of sites have gone from being trustworthy companies  honestly trying to advise on which coffee maker or tent to buy  to pure spam. Everything is leading to a perfect storm in which one of the pillars of the 21st century  the Google search engine  is getting a glimpse at the end of its days.

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Wyomings Office of Outdoor Recreation facilitates eight outdoor recreation collaboratives convened throughout the state to bring together local community members, recreation stakeholders, businesses, conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and elected officials to identify and prioritize grassroot opportunities for the growth and enhancement of outdoor recreation.

Dates, times, locations, and call-in information for upcoming Collaborative meetings are as follows:

Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SCORC - Sweetwater County) will meet on Tuesday, May 7th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm online. Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/rqx-nwnu-ffk or dial (US) +1 440-462-2895 PIN: 374 605 217#. The meeting will include a guest speaker, a subcommittee update, and updates from partners and advisors.

Wind River Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (WRORC - Fremont County) will meet on Thursday, May 9th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm online. Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/dvs-vztz-kav or dial (US) +1 402-623-0107 PIN: 240 090 791#. The meeting will include time for project and topic discussions, community updates, and discussion on collaborative activity opportunities for July.

Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (SWORC - Albany and Carbon Counties) will meet on Thursday, May 30th from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, in the Courtroom at the Town Hall in Saratoga (110 E Spring Ave). Join virtually here: https://meet.google.com/mus-phzr-osr or dial (US) +1 413-398-0170 PIN: 302 385 798#. On the agenda for May is a presentation, focused discussions, subcommittee updates, and updates on the July SWORC hike and picnic.

Members of the public are welcome to attend collaborative meetings in-person or virtually. There will be a designated time for public comment near the end of each meeting.

Established by recommendation of the 2017 Governors Outdoor Recreation Task Force, the Office of Outdoor Recreation aims to diversify Wyomings economy by expanding, enhancing, and promoting responsible recreational opportunities through collaboration, outreach, and coordination with stakeholders, landowners, private industry, and public officials.
Terror attack on iaf convoy 1 soldier killed, 4 injured in Poonch





JAMMU :

ONE soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. Officials said five security personnel were injured, two of them critically, when four terrorists opened fire on IAF vehicles moving towards Sanai Top in Poonchs Surankot area in the evening. One of the critically injured soldiers later succumbed at a military hospital during treatment, they said. An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J&K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress, the IAF said in a post on X. In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire.

In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces, it said in another post. The terror attack took place around 6:15 pm when the troops were returning to the air force station from Jaranwali. The officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists who ambushed troops in adjoining Bufliaz on December 21 last year, leaving four soldiers dead and three injured. One of the trucks in the IAF convoy bore the maximum brunt of the attack with several bullets hitting its windscreen and side. The terrorists, who were armed with AK assault rifles, are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, the officials said. Reinforcements from the Army and police have been rushed to the area and a massive search and cordon operation has been launched to track down and neutralise the terrorists, they said, adding that there has been no contact with the fleeing terrorists so far.

Police assisted by paramilitary forces had been carrying out searches in Poonch town since Friday following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. However, no one was arrested during the operation, the officials said. The border district of Poonch along with adjoining Rajouri has witnessed some major terrorist attacks over the past two years. The latest incident in the Pir Panjal region follows the killing of government employee Mohd Razaq, brother of an Army personnel, by terrorists in Rajouris Kunda Top on April 22 and village defence guard Mohd Sharief in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur on April 28.
A S Lovely, 4 others join BJP ... after quitting Cong





Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, BJPs Virendra Sachdeva with newly joined party leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely and Raj Kumar Chauhan, in New Delhi on Saturday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

ARVINDER Singh Lovely, former Delhi Congress chief and Rajkumar Chauhan, a former Congress Minister, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in the capital on Saturday. Apart from Arvinder Lovely and Rajkumar, a couple of other known faces of the Delhi Congress unit including Naseeb Singh, Neeraj Basoya and Amit Malik joined the BJP on Saturday.

Notably, the Delhi Congress unit has been beset with intense turmoil and infighting, as the city leaders are miffed and upset over the alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the high command giving preference to outsiders over local leadership, in ticket allotment for Lok Sabha polls and also for partys affairs. Rajkumar Chauhan, the former Delhi Minister and the All India Congress Committee (AICC) member resigned from the party last month after Delhi Congress disciplinary committee objected to his dissent to the party line. Arvinder Singh Lovelys resignation as the Delhi unit chief, last month, came as a big blow to the party. This followed a series of exits including couple of well-known names like Naseeb Singh and Neeraj Basoya, both former Delhi legislators.
Cong gnawing at itself like termite, facing ideological bankruptcy: Scindia





By Manish Shrivastava GUNA (MP) :

THE CONGRESS is heading towards its end and is like a termite gnawing at itself, Union Minister and BJP Guna Lok Sabha seat candidate Jyotiraditya Scindia has said. The Congress has become ideologically bankrupt and nobody wants to stay with it. While the party has not fielded candidates on many seats, some of its nominees have withdrawn from the poll race, Scindia told PTI in an interview. The scion of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior severed his 18-year-long ties with the Congress in 2020 and joined the BJP. In a coordinated rebellion, Scindia quit along with 22 Congress MLAs loyal to him, leading to the collapse of the then 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh Government and the BJPs return to power in the State. Hitting out at the Congress over its allegation that the BJP will change the Constitution if it returns to power, Scindia said the party that imposed Emergency in the country is now giving lessons on the Constitution. The Congress has become bankrupt in terms of ideology, human resources... Nobody wants to stay with the Congress and there is no honour and respect for anyone in the party, Scindia told PTI on his way from Guna to Shivpuri amid hectic electioneering.

The party that used Article 356 (to impose Presidents rule) 91 times to dismiss elected Governments, the party whose Prime Minister had changed the Chief Minister before going to Andhra Pradesh, the party which had imposed Emergency in the country is now giving us lessons on the Constitution. The party which defeated its own candidate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the elections is giving sermons to the country on the issues of Dalits and the Constitution, it should look at its track record. The Constitution is the BJPs scripture and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clarified that no one has the courage to change the Constitution, he added. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradeshs Bhind on April 30, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, it will tear apart and throw away the Constitution which grants rights to the poor, Dalits, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. Scindia claimed the Congress is headed towards its end.

It was not clear (till Friday) who is contesting from Amethi and Rae Bareli. The (Congress) candidates from Indore and Surat Lok Sabha seats have withdrawn from the race. There are no candidates on many seats, while on many others, they have not been declared yet. The Congress is now heading towards its end and is like a termite which is gnawing at itself, he said. The Congress on Friday announced the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from the Rae Bareli seat, held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades, and that of Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, from Amethi. Asked about the dip in the voter turnout in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections as against 2019, Scindia said the lotus (BJPs poll symbol) will bloom in all 29 parliamentary constituencies in Madhya Pradesh as people have complete faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership.

The voter turnout stood at 66.14 per cent in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections and at 66.71 per cent in the second phase, according to the Election Commission. In 2019, a voter turnout of 69.43 per cent was recorded in the first phase and 69.64 per cent in the second phase. Scindia is contesting the polls from Guna seat for the sixth time. He won four of the last five elections but lost the seat to sitting BJP MP and his former confidant K P Yadav in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Yadav defeated Scindia by a margin of over 1.25 lakh votes. This is the first time in his political career that Scindia (53) is contesting as a BJP candidate from Guna, which was earlier represented by his late father Madhavrao Scindia and late grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia.

The Union Civil Aviation Minister is pitted against the Congress Rao Yadvendra Singh. Guna goes to polls in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 7. Interestingly, both Scindia and his father had defeated Singhs late father Rao Deshraj Singh Yadav as Congress candidates from Guna in the 1999 general elections and the 2002 Lok Sabha bypoll. Guna Lok Sabha constituency comprises eight Assembly seats -- Shivpuri, Kolaras, Pichhore, Bamori, Guna (SC), Ashok Nagar (SC), Chanderi and Mungaoli spread across three districts (Guna, Ashoknagar and Shivpuri). In the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, the BJP won six seats and the Congress two. There are 18,83,202 voters in Guna, including 9,80,683 men, 9,02,471 women and 48 third gender persons.
Deve Gowdas son Revanna taken into custody in abduction case





BENGALURU :

KARNATAKA JD(S) MLA H D Revanna was taken into custody on Saturday by sleuths of the Special Investigation Team, minutes after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a kidnapping case, officials said. The former Minister was picked up from the Padmanabhanagar residence of his father, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda here, and brought to the SIT office. The case was registered against Revanna, a former Minister and his confidant Sathish Babanna in Mysuru on Thursday night for allegedly abducting a woman.

The case was registered on a complaint filed by the womans son, who also alleged that his mother was sexually abused by Revannas son and the BJP-JD(S) candidate for Hassan Lok Sabha seat Prajwal Revanna. Babanna has already been arrested in connection with the case. The woman was allegedly abducted to prevent her from testifying against Prajwal, police sources said. Revanna was charged under Section 364(a) (kidnapping for ransom, etc), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and 34 (the acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Seeking anticipatory bail in the case, Revanna approached the Special Court for Elected Representatives, which on Saturday dismissed his plea.

Revannas advocates promised the court that he would attend interrogation by the SIT if the bail plea was granted. However, objections were raised by the SIT public prosecutor to his bail application. On Saturday, police officials rescued the abducted woman from a farmhouse, allegedly belonging to an aide of Revanna at Kalenahalli village in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district. Explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of Deve Gowda, had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the state government constituted a SIT to probe the sexual abuse allegations against the MP.
Indias Military Diplomacy





By Lt General M K Das :

Just last week, India delivered the fourth and final batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines as a clear signal to China. It is perhaps for the first time that India has strengthened a friendly foreign country involved in conflict with China in the maritime domain.

India has stepped up defence ties with countries having dispute with China in the South China Sea, namely Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malayasia, Philippines and Taiwan. With military training exercises with many friendly foreign countries including ASEAN block, India has pursued aggressive military diplomacy in the region and across the globe.

IN ORDER to expand military ties with new countries with focus on arms export, India has posted defence attaches (DAs) to these nations recently. It has been said that 15-16 new attaches from the Army, Navy and Air Force are being posted to countries like Poland, Armenia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ivory Coast and Philippines for the first time. Just last week, India delivered the fourth and final batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Philippines as a clear signal to China. China has been meddling in the South China Sea and has major maritime and territorial dispute with Philippines.

It is perhaps for the first time that India has strengthened a friendly foreign country involved in conflict with China in the maritime domain. BrahMos missile is made in India and has exceptional performance dynamics, with very few parallels. Both the above events signal Indias aggressive military diplomacy to countries where it had less or minimal representation and defence deals. The military engagement in Africa is significant after India as president of the G-20 succeeded in inducting the 55 nation African Union as permanent member of the grouping last year. India is conscious of Chinas well-established footprint in many African countries. India has also stepped up defence ties with countries having dispute with China in the South China Sea, namely Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malayasia, Philippines and Taiwan. With military training exercises with many friendly foreign countries including ASEAN block, India has pursued aggressive military diplomacy in the region and across the globe. Military diplomacy is the art of pursuing foreign policy in the defence and security domain. A defence attache (DA) is a military officer, not below the rank of Colonel or equivalent in our case, who is posted to an embassy of India in foreign countries.

The main role of DA is concerned with focus on strengthening bilateral or regional military relations. India has about 70 DAs posted all over the world, with major representation in the USA, Russia and UK. These officers are from the Army, Navy and Air Force, based on the defence related requirement of the host nation. Having served in the Personal Branch of the Army dealing with the officer cadre, I am aware that the selection process of a DA is very stringent and only the best of the lot is selected. Now the focus of the Indian government is to boost arms export in a big way through the DAs. Indias defence export reached the milestone of Rs 21,083 crores in the financial year 2023-24, a major jump of 32.5 % over the last fiscal. The target for the next fiscal is Rs 35000 crores worth of exports. It is here that the newly appointed DAs would play a critical role to boost the exports. What is heartening is that the private sector of India has contributed towards 60% of defence exports and our Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) accounting for the rest 40%. Two major initiatives of the Modi government have enabled the growth of defence industry in the country. In October 2021, Ministry of Defence converted Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into seven 100% Government owned corporate entities. Before this, OFB was largely a sick enterprise with little contribution in manufacturing world class arms, ammunition and equipment.

Just in over two years, the DPSUs are already in profit. Second major reform was to encourage the participation of the private industry. The private companies have significantly contributed towards defence production in the last five years. Indian private companies have manufactured armament and equipment matching global standards and these companies already account for about 25 % of the total defence production, with major chunk going in the exports. While the above news is heartening, it is also a fact that India remains largest arms importer in the world, accounting for almost 9.8% of the global imports. Our arms imports have grown little more recently because of the heightened tension with China since Galwan faceoff in June 2020. But now the focus is on becoming Aatm Nirbhar (Self Dependent) in the defence sector and significantly reduce the arms import in the next five years. The private industry is working towards meeting our requirements besides contributing towards the export route. Defence Industry is highly competitive and the profit margins are high when a company develops niche technology. For example, the future wars may employ drones and pilotless aircraft in a big way.

Then there is the naval ship industry where India had rich maritime heritage in the past. This can be revived. Ultimately, India has to emerge as the global hub of one or two niche or cutting-edge armament and equipment technology. This would require huge amount of investment and R&D, both from the government and the private industry. Indian Armed Forces are rapidly transforming themselves. So far, our focus was to fight like the last war but the mindset has now changed to fight the next war. Indian Army which is the second largest standing Army after China has been undergoing 2023-24 as the Year of Transformation and Technology Absorption.

The Armed Forces are increasingly giving the necessary impetus towards being self-reliant and to come up with weapon and equipment profile to match the best in the world. No wonder that the world has taken notice of our giant strides in defence and have evinced interest in dealing with us. As India aspires to be a developed nation by the year 2047, the military power would play even more significant role in ensuring the national security. Military diplomacy would be intricately involved in deciding the trajectory of foreign relations, groupings and treaties. The aggressive push in our military diplomacy is rightly timed for India to emerge as the respected global power in the comity of nations.
Online radicalisation continues to pose significant challenge to global security: India





NEW DELHI :

UNDERLINING that there can be no distinction between good terrorism and bad terrorism, India has said online radicalisation continues to pose a significant challenge to global security. Heading the Indian delegation at the recently-concluded 19th Interpol Conference of Heads of National Central Bureaux at Frances Lyon, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Praveen Sood highlighted the challenges posed by the nexus between organised crime, terrorism and extremist ideologies. Sood said online radicalisation poses a significant challenge to global security. He unequivocally condemned all forms of terrorism and conveyed that there can be no distinction between good terrorism, bad terrorism.

The event was attended by the national central bureaux of 136 countries, represented by senior police officials, according to a statement issued by the CBI. The National Central Bureau (NCB) in each country is the nodal organisation responsible for coordination with Interpol. In India, the CBI is the designated NCB. The aim of the event was to strengthen the operational cooperation among the NCBs of Interpol to combat transnational crimes.

During the event, the Indian delegation held discussions with law-enforcement agencies from multiple countries for enhanced coordination on Interpol channels for a concerted action to combat organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, online radicalisation, cyber-enabled financial crimes and to prevent these crimes on a real-time basis, the statement said. The three-member Indian delegation, during its discussions with a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, emphasised the need for swift sharing of information through Interpol, expediting mutual legal-assistance referrals and extradition requests.
Our Own Sin !





THE fact that water reservoirs across India have reported an average storage of as low as 28%, should become a matter of great national concern. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has expressed concern over the decline of national reservoir storage, and has stressed also that southern States of India -- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu -- form the worst hit area of the country in this regard with water storage having dipped to as low as 16%. But these statistical details are also indicative of the sin we -- as the larger Indian society -- have been committing for decades on end.

Some natural phenomena may be cited as the causes of such a dip in national water storage, but more factually, this needs to be traced back to the terrible neglect of water management across the country particularly during the British rule and after Independence. Water was one natural resource that was taken for granted by the British rulers who allowed countless numbers -- possibly in lakhs -- of water bodies to fall on bad days. And not to lag behind, the Indian rulers after 1947 also followed the same doctrine of neglect of water as a resource. The current condition is the outcome of that terrible neglect of nearly two centuries. Various experts, researchers and activists as well as Government agencies have been cautioning the larger Indian society about the impending water shortage in the country. Yet, for reasons never explained by anybody, the Government and the society have continued to ignore the caution and allowed the national water resource management to go off track for decades on end.

Take any city for example -- New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Raipur ... -- and mountains of evidence would emerge demonstrating how water as a natural and national resource has been neglected (as if deliberately)! This is the story everywhere -- story of neglect, story of apathy, story of a resolute no to following scientific method of water and water-resource management. Add to this story the dimension of the neglect of overall green cover besides the forests, and the picture gets complete and dirtier. Old records suggest that India was a blessed country in terms of water resource management. Ancient systems of water management had proved to be very useful since those practices were planned in complete accordance with the ecological contours and needs. In areas as dry as Rajasthan, royalties as well as the society had evolved a people-oriented system of water resource management that helped the generally water-deficit regions survive terrible summers. In other words, thanks to a fine water-management system, Rajasthan never faced a serious famine for centuries.

That old wisdom created wonderful systems that ensured most optimal usage of water as a common resource. The British rulers threw that wisdom out of the window -- and imposed their own regulations that destroyed old systems that, in turn, led to the current condition of shortages in national water storage. The rulers of Independent India, too, followed their British predecessors to the hilt. Unless this system is turned upside down and a logical and scientific method adopted, India cannot hope to improve its national water reservoir. This is a wake up call that we can hardly afford to ignore.
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2024 - 22:10 | All, Japan

Train services in parts of western Japan restarted at around 6 p.m. Sunday after being disrupted earlier in the day due to a report of suspicious items found at Kyoto Station, the operator said.

Police said a passenger found a backpack on a train upon its arrival at the station. They said the backpack was notable because it had kanji characters spelling out what appeared to be a chemical name.

However, only clothes were found inside the backpack and posed no danger, the police said, adding that they returned the backpack to its owner, believing it was not left on the train intentionally.

A station worker initially reported to a command center of West Japan Railway Co. at around 4:35 p.m. that there were suspicious objects on platforms 2 and 3, according to the company.

A total of 80 trains were canceled, and 97 were delayed by up to nearly two hours on JR Tokaido Line and other rail services, affecting about 85,000 people, it said.

The country's Golden Week holiday, which began in late April, is coming to an end. Train stations and airports are crowded with tourists amid easing fears of COVID-19.

"Today is the last day of my trip. It would take a long time to drive home, so I have no choice but to stay (one more night)," a 26-year-old woman from Fukui Prefecture said.
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2024 - 11:52 | Arts, All, World

This year's Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia will shine a spotlight on global issues amid ongoing conflicts and disasters worldwide, while also showcasing the first-ever movie entirely written by artificial intelligence.

With the theme "Illuminate your life," organizers are seeking to use the selected films to foster empathy, discovery and inspiration among viewers.

Among the more pertinent pieces is "Palestine Islands," a French film that centers around a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank.

The film tells the story of a young Palestinian girl who embarks on a mission to make her blind grandfather believe the Israeli wall separating their refugee camp from his native land of Jaffa has fallen.

"We wanted this film to be a utopian tale, between drama and comedy," said co-director Nour Ben Salem.

In the smartphone category, "Siren! Air Raid Alert! Head for Cover!," a 5-minute Ukrainian documentary made from footage shot by survivors of a Russian missile attack on Kyiv in October 2022, illuminates another prominent global conflict.

Meanwhile, "Efe," a documentary directed and filmed by Shiori Ito -- a journalist who became a symbol of Japan's #MeToo movement after going public with a high-profile rape case -- shows life after the Turkey-Syria earthquake in February 2023 through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy.

The festival, founded by Japanese actor Tetsuya Bessho in 1999, is the only international short film festival in Asia that is eligible to nominate five films, including animation, for the following year's Academy Awards.

Taking place in hybrid form with both online and in-person screenings, this year it will showcase about 270 films selected from 4,936 submissions in 114 different countries and regions.

With technology a running theme in recent years, audiences will also be able to enjoy a special line-up of films made with the assistance of AI.

This includes the Austrian experimental animated film "The Artificial Conjuring Circle," the first film made completely by AI to be featured at the festival, and the Chinese film "Dragon Gate," the first ink-wash style short animation using AI-generated content.

Other features this year include Life Log Box, an online marketplace for short film creators to connect with business opportunities, and voting in a festival promotional video contest using NFTs, or non-fungible tokens.

Short Shorts Film Festival and Asia will screen at several venues in Tokyo from June 4-17. Some films are already available to watch online until June 30.

Related coverage:

Studio Ghibli to receive honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes

Fans flock to Hokkaido station featured in film as line section closes

Animator Miyazaki, scholar Ueno among Time's 100 influential people
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2024 - 10:13 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Saturday to work together with South American countries to tackle global challenges including climate change, economic disparity and poverty.

Kishida made the remarks in a speech in Sao Paulo on Japan's policies toward Latin America and the Caribbean as Tokyo seeks to deepen relations with emerging and developing nations, collectively referred to as the Global South.

With Brazil holding the presidency of the Group of 20 economies and Peru serving as the chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the Global South is "under the world spotlight" this year, Kishida said in the speech.

On Friday, Kishida held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena as part of his six-day tour that also took him to France. It was his first visit to South America since he took office in October 2021.

Kishida said Japan has decided to provide funds to a program aimed at preserving Brazil's Amazon rainforest, seen as the "lungs of the Earth," while helping Caribbean islands vulnerable to global warming to prepare for natural disasters.

On the economic front, Kishida criticized "debt trap" diplomacy, although he avoided singling out China. Beijing has been accused of drawing recipient countries into substantial debts, potentially allowing it to exert control over them.

Japan will continue to promote high-quality infrastructure and other sustainable economic cooperation projects by taking into consideration the conditions in recipient nations, while putting emphasis on the environment and human rights, Kishida said.

He noted that Japanese companies have set up more than 1,000 new offices in the Latin American region over the past 10 years.

As around 3.1 million people of Japanese descent live in teh region, his government will also introduce a people-to-people exchange program involving 1,000 individuals for the next three-year period, Kishida added.

Also on Saturday, Kishida met with a group of people who moved to Brazil from Japan after surviving the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 towards the end of World War II, including a 100-year-old man.

The gathering took place in Sao Paulo after Kishida pitched his vision of a world without nuclear weapons at the Group of Seven summit, which he hosted in May last year in his home constituency of Hiroshima, the world's first city to be struck by an atomic bomb.

Later Saturday, Kishida said at a press conference before concluding his trip, "Latin America is rich in natural resources, such as minerals, energy and food, while having a large young population. Many of its countries have great potential."

"On the other hand, it is also true that many nations face social issues such as inequality and poverty," Kishida said, adding Japan will offer "diverse and inclusive cooperation" tailored to each country, including those in Central and South America.

Related coverage:

Japan, Brazil agree to jointly protect Amazon rainforest

Japan PM calls for speeding up debate on revising Constitution

Japan, 3 nations concerned with China's "dangerous" actions at sea
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.  Mark Twains Own Autobiography: The Chapters from the North American Review.

From airports to roads, from hospitals to schools, we call it elephant projects, they are dead horses for me, national embarrassments. If youve ever worked in government or the private sector, you may be all too familiar with similar projects running on life support

In Nigeria, it is not just about airports, after all we were recently told that a whole airport in Abia state only existed in the figment of someones imagination, money gone, no airport anywhere, at least an airport is not something that just disappears or can be hidden.

Anyway, this admonition is nowhere near anything about airports, and talking about airports, how about the Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill, it is not a mill, it is not rolling and there are steel products anywhere near. You will be forgiven to think that this is about the Steel Rolling Mill, but again it is not, it is also not about the Lagos/Ibadan expressway of the Abuja/Kogi expressway, this episode of mine is not about the imaginary resuscitation of the Kaduna textiles.

But please follow me in this conversation.

The Dead Horse Theory states that When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. In the context of business and bureaucracy, the meme refers to a failed project which is nonetheless kept alive by wilfully ignorant management. Sage advice. But lets start from the beginning.

The Tribal wisdom of the Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that, When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. However, in modern business, education and government, far more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:

1. Buying a stronger whip.

2. Changing riders.

3. Threatening the horse with termination.

4. Appointing a committee to study the horse.

5. Arranging to visit other countries to see how others ride dead horses.

6. Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included.

7. Re-classifying the dead horse as living-impaired.

8. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.

9. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the speed.

10. Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the dead horses performance.

11. Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horses performance.

12. Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead and, therefore, contributes substantially more to the bottom line of the economy than do some other horses.

13. Re-writing the expected performance requirements for all horses..

14. Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position of hiring another horse.

I have yet to meet someone with experience in business and government to whom this bizarre analogy doesnt make perfect sense. Would I be wrong to assume that you have no problem recalling your own personal dead horse story?

A story told with frustration, passion and incredulity. It doesnt have to be a colossal airport disaster or Ajaokuta. Any lost cause or pointless project that mainly serves as a black hole for resources will do. The chance to save the dead horses life by doing a Premortem Analysis was missed. So, to figure out what happened, lets do a brief post-mortem on the dead horse.

The first underlying assumption of the Dead Horse Theory is that the horse has in fact met its maker. This makes it seem like pronouncing it dead was an objective and straightforward exercise. The implication is: Dismounting and abandoning the failed endeavour is not only possible but highly advisable. The list of advanced strategies reduces the seemingly simple solution to absurdity. It implies that the failed endeavour is an open secret. Yet, theres no shortage of plans on how to solve the unsolvable.

It looks like were dealing with an exasperating mix of groupthink , wilful blindness and wishful thinking. Something is keeping people from doing the obvious, from dismounting the dead horse, from abandoning the lost cause. On top of that, there are no mechanisms such as institutionalised devils advocacy that brings these issues to light. Lets brainstorm a few reasons why:

Know-How: The will to dismount is there. But nobody knows how and what mode of transportation to take instead. Responsibility: Its not anyones call to issue the death certificate and arrange the funeral of the poor horse. Instead, they might be engaged in an eternal game of buck-passing . Vested Interest: Whoever could make the call profits from the horse being deemed alive and well. Investment: Similarly, there may be too much financial or emotional investment at stake. Ego: As a result, the reputational damage of abandoning the dead horse is too high. Withdrawing gracefully feels impossible.

Whatever it is, living an awkward lie seems to be preferable over admitting the nag should be buried six feet under. That puts the virtuous and principled employee in a bind. On the one hand, you dont want to pour fuel into the fire of collective delusion. On the other hand, dismounting and abandoning your post might not be your preferred course of action either.

You see the Nigerian looks upon Nigeria as a theatre and the entire population representing and manifesting the full spectrum of acts and actors. In this revelry, life is the theatre; the nation is the stage upon which we perform. The politicians and a few of us are the actors, very often mediocre. When stars appear it is more often because a play must have a star rather than because the player is possessed of some dramatic genius. We falter and we muff our lines; sometimes our performance takes on an aspect of the grotesque-nobody takes this seriously because it is perceived as being the nature of the play. Our people become the audience.

The fact is that in the last 24 years I have averaged a one per year article on fuel or petroleum motor spirit palaver in Nigeria, from subsidies, to scarcity, to long queues to price increase, it is a story that is as old as the first car driven by fuel in Nigeria.

It is one of our many dead horses, just some stone throw few years ago, the Federal Government blamed the ongoing fuel scarcity on increased demand by nations in temperate regions. Addressing State House correspondents after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said: This is winter period. There is always more demand for refined products from petroleum during winter in the colder countries. This is what we are experiencing now.

Mohammed also insisted: The government has no intention at all to increase the pump price of petrol.

Marketers meanwhile at same time blamed the NNPC for alleged favoritism in distribution of petrol. At the same time Kachikwu the then Minister of state for Petroleum at a press briefing in Abuja blamed the fuel crisis on the gap in supply of petroleum products. There was obviously some level of gap in terms of volume. That gap arises from the fact that NNPC is the only one that is importing products currently.

This is a ministry that in the last 24 years the president has continued to oversee as senior minister, yet it remains a dead horse! Deceased horses are an opportunity to accept things as they are. As soon as you realise youre riding a dead horse, feel free to dismount and find one with a better health record. Alternatively, you may want to stoically commit yourself to the horses resurrection. In order to show the futility of the whole effort, or on the off-chance that you were wrong and the horse was only in a state of apparent death. May Nigeria win...on a dead horse--Only time will tell
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

It was learnt that no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-weeks intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

In a statement made available on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday 24th April after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael. The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.

Another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra state where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday 27th April while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.

Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday 29th April. Their arrest led to another operation in Abia state where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa, the statement reads partly.

Babafemi added that NDLEA operatives during a stop and search operation along Abuja-Abaji highway on Wednesday 1st May intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG and upon a thorough search discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.

The consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo state and meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution. Four suspects: Efe Abel Mikel, 39; Ebigide Cyril, 29; Ejechi Monday, 41; and Friday Benson Chukwudi, 39, have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

While two suspects: Aminu Umar, 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their house at Unguwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state on Monday 29th April, Bashir Umar, 35, was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano on Friday 3rd May with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Osun state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 1st May arrested an ex-convict, 51-year-old Suleiman Usman who is currently facing trial for another drug offence at the Federal High Court Osogbo. At the time of his latest arrest at Okinni town, Suleiman was found in possession of 4.4grams of Cocaine, 28.5kg of cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of rophynol weighing 6.2grams and 812 pills of tramadol. The following day, Thursday 2nd May, NDLEA operatives at Agbara checkpoint, Seme border, Badagry Lagos intercepted a Toyota camry car marked KJA 825 FT conveying 113 jumbo parcels of cannabis with a total weight of 64kg. The driver, Charles Amoni, 45, was promptly arrested.

In Bauchi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on Monday 29th April arrested Clement Chukwuka, 39, with 595 bottles of codeine; 38,260 pills of opioids such as tramadol, rohypnol and diazepam, while another suspect, Friday Ibochi was nabbed at NDLEA check point, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue state onTuesday 30th April with 66 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg. In the same vein, 42-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley was arrested with 12kg of same substance at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, the NDLEA spokesperson added.
Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Budapest, Hungary, April 18, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, May 4 (Xinhua) -- As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) gained fresh momentum last year on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Hungary is looking forward to furthering its cooperation with China, a Hungarian official has said.

During a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy said that the Hungarian side is looking forward to further cooperating with China in terms of foreign trade, capital investment, infrastructure, logistics, artificial intelligence, and new energy, among others.

The two countries have enjoyed a stable relationship, which is based on mutual trust and respect, Nagy noted.

He said that in 2023, Hungary was able to attract a total of 13 billion euros (about 13.86 billion U.S. dollars) in foreign direct investment, of which about 8 billion euros (about 8.53 billion dollars) were from Chinese investments.

Cooperation between Hungary and China in the financial field has also made great progress, he added.

He cited the example of the Bank of China, which has been present in Hungary since the mid-1980s and has chosen Budapest as its Central and Eastern European headquarters. In addition, many Chinese financial institutions have established or are about to establish branches or representative offices in Hungary.

Hungary is the first European country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document with China. In recent years, the BRI has synergized more closely with Hungary's Opening to the East policy, enhancing bilateral practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance, and other areas.

Stressing the global significance of the initiative, Nagy said the BRI energizes global trade and economic cooperation among partner countries.

Hungary actively participates in the BRI, he said, noting that the Budapest-Belgrade railway, a flagship BRI project, not only benefits the two countries but facilitates the economic development of the entire region.

Citing China's robust economic performance, he said China's economic success is good news considering the Chinese economy's influence on the global economy.

China is on the right track based on its strategic thinking, he said, noting China's successful development of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem as an example.

By developing solar panels, charging stations, electric cars, and batteries simultaneously, China's strategic thinking is the reason for its success, he said.

Talking about China's EV industry, Nagy expressed concern over the ongoing anti-subsidy probe launched by the European Union.

"Now we fear that some countries might come up with the foolish idea to impose tariffs on Chinese electric cars," he said, noting that protectionism has always been a dead end.

"Protectionism is a bad path, especially in terms of electric cars," he said.

China's battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and EVE Energy, as well as EV maker BYD, have been working on production facility plans in Hungary.

The investment that came along with the rise of China's EV industry has been an opportunity, Nagy noted, adding that by giving space to Chinese companies, Hungary has become a hub for electric car and battery manufacturing. 
Over the basic demands of better roads, drinking water and bridges, two villages in East Burdwan have threatened to go on mass boycott of Lok Sabha election this year.

Debnagore village, under Merhtala panchayat in Kalnas Purbasthali block has declared a poll boycott. The village has just 370 voters. The area falls under the Bardhaman Purba Lok Sabha constituency. The residents have demanded a permanent road linking Debnagore and Merhtalla, a 3 km district, which the locals complained that despite several appeals, the state authorities remained indifferent.

Kankora, a small hamlet inhabited by tribal residents also has given a call for a boycott of the polls. It falls under the Ausgram block of East Burdwan within the Bolpur Lok Sabha seat. The village reels under severe drinking water crisis during the hot summer days. The village has 430 voters. The local BDO, Ausgram- II came to know about the recent call for a poll boycott. He said that the matter is being looked into.

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For the first time perhaps in the history of north Bengal, hot winds, a phenomenon in the northern plains of India, have been sweeping the region since the past two weeks.

With a rare heatwave sweeping across the region, along with the rest of the country, the hot and dry loo blowing in most parts here has made life miserable, especially for those, who have to move outdoors for hours together for various reasons.

According to meteorologist and former convener of North Bengal University Weather Service Station, Subir Sarkar, loo winds are extremely rare in north Bengal. Hot loo winds, which are high on dust particles, are not unknown to the people of our region. They call it pachai (west wind). But it is quite rare here, he said.

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As these winds have dangerous and potentially fatal effects on vegetation, humans and animals, both environmental and medical experts are enormously concerned about them.

Noted environmentalist Dipojyoti Chakraborty said that due to the loo this year, birds and other animals in the region, who were not used to these winds here, were migrating to other regions from north Bengal. Many birds and animals have already succumbed to the loo in our region, especially in the urban areas, where these winds are blowing almost unhindered this year and shelter is unavailable due to deforestation. This may upset the ecological balance of north Bengal in the near future, he warned.

The medical superintendent and vice-principal of Jalpaiguri Medical College, Dr Kalyan Khan cautioned that the hot winds this year might seriously affect the health of the people in north Bengal, as they were not accustomed to it. He advised people, especially children and the elderly to stay indoors, take plenty of fluids and avoid eating spices or fruits outside.
A fire broke out in a multi-storey building at Dasdrone in the Kaikhali area. The fire engulfed a garment manufacturing unit on the top floor of a five-storey building.

Flames could be seen from afar. Four fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Local residents assisted fire control efforts. Locals have reported that several people were trapped on the fifth floor of the building where the manufacturing mill is located. It is not yet known if anyone is still trapped, police said. Efforts were being made to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby areas. The situation has caused panic in the area. Firefighters were managing the situation. Everyone has been instructed to maintain a safe distance for now. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Local police also arrived at the scene.

The building in Kaikhali where the fire broke out is a residential one. There are several other houses nearby. Questions have been raised about how permission was granted for the manufacturing unit on the top floor of the five-storey building.

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Union home minister Amit Shah will hold organizational meeting and join rallies in the state tomorrow.

Ahead of the third phase of voting, the BJPs campaign in Bengal is gaining momentum. Amit Shah will arrive in the state tomorrow night to hold an organizational meeting. On Monday, a rally in support of BJP candidate Dilip Ghosh will be held in Durgapur. Afterwards, Amit Shah will campaign in support of BJP MP candidate Amrita Ray in Krishnanagar.

On Wednesday, J P Nadda will hold rallies and roadshows in Bankura, Birbhum, and Asansol. Narendra Modi will campaign in Arambagh on 12 May. Before the fourth phase of voting on 10 May, the Union home minister will visit Bengal again. Rallies and roadshows will be held in Ranaghat, Birbhum, and Howrah. This time, helicopter arrangements have been made for the convenience of BJP state president Sukanta Majumdars campaign across the state.

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Meanwhile, Election Commission of India (ECI) sources said that the number of central forces will be increased for the fifth phase of election in the state. The fifth phase of elections will be held on 20 May in seven constituencies of the state. There will be 750 companies of central forces deployed in these seven Lok Sabha constituencies. The Election Commission has informed that in the inter-state movement, 574 companies of central forces will be deployed in these seven constituencies. Among them, there are 143 companies of CRPF, 288 companies of BSF, 31 companies of CISF, and 56 companies of ITBP personnel.

Additionally, 51 companies of SSB personnel will be deployed, along with 14 companies of RAF being utilized.

On 7 May, elections are scheduled in Murshidabad. Just three days before that, a significant amount of bombs were recovered from at least three locations in Murshidabad, along with bomb-making materials. According to confidential sources, on Saturday night, a joint operation was conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the police and state police in the areas of Forajipara Maidan, Khidirpara, and Rajpur crematorium. At least 20 socket bombs were recovered. The recovered items included plastic barrels, nylon bags containing socket bombs, and bomb-making materials. The operation also revealed half-prepared socket bombs, explosive materials, marble pieces, nails, and stones.

After the recovery of the bombs, the police have intensified security in the three areas. The bomb squad has been informed. Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, three socket bombs were recovered from an area under the jurisdiction of the Jalangi police station in Murshidabad. The police have cordoned off the area. The police are investigating who placed these bombs.
India has discussed the issues of pharmaceutical pricing control in generic drugs and the need for closer cooperation in critical minerals with Australia, the Union Commerce Ministry said on Saturday.

The need for closer collaboration for establishing disease-free zones for shrimps and prawns in India also came up for discussion at the first Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) in Canberra under the India-Australia Economic Co-operation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA), the ministry said.

Besides, the JCM meeting also addressed certain critical services issues, including the consideration of Indias request for facilitation of cross-border e-payments and mutual recognition of qualifications in professions like nursing and dentistry.

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India and Australia are looking at joint investments to build new supply chains underpinned by critical minerals processed in Australia that will help Indias plans to lower emissions from its electricity network and become a global manufacturing hub, for electric vehicles and smartphones.

Critical minerals are a key raw material in these hi-tech products. Currently, China has a near-monopoly on critical minerals. India and Australia are both keen to set up a strong alternative supply chain to break Chinas dominance of the market.

The two sides have decided to work closely on timely resolution of market access issues, deepen people-to-people contacts, and create an institutional mechanism for sharing of preferential import data, according to the ministry statement.

India and Australia have already signed an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) that came into effect on December 29, 2022.

Both sides while acknowledging the smooth implementation of the ECTA, briefly elaborated on ECTA implementation issues including MRAs (mutual recognition agreements) on organic products, market access issues related to products like okra, pomegranate, grapes, cottage cheese, .pharmaceutical pricing control in Australia particularly on generics, progress made by the working group on whisky and wine, the ministry said.

The meeting also touched upon the WTO issues wherein both sides appreciated the Commerce Secretarys stand on the importance of the support of Australia for early resolution of the long pending issue of a permanent solution to public stock holding (PSH).

Australia sought the support of India for the plurilateral arrangement for domestic support for services. Both sides agreed to discuss these matters intersessionally if required.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organised a walkathon in Rajinder Nagar on Sunday morning in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under the Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se campaign.

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 youths participated in the walkathon with AAP flags and cutouts of CM Kejriwal.

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Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, senior leader and MP Sanjay Singh, Partys Delhi state convener and Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai and Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti participated in the walkathon. Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi, MLA Durgesh Pathak, MLA Vishesh Ravi and MLA Shiv Charan Goyal and other senior leaders were also present.

Delhi state convenor Rai said there was a lot of anger among the people of Delhi against the arrest of the CM.

Every section of the society including the youth, women and elders of Delhi is extremely saddened by the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The people of Delhi are asking why instead of seeking votes on the basis of their work, the BJP picked up a working Chief Minister and put him in jail? Today, only one voice is being raised from every corner of Delhi that this dictatorship of the BJP has to be removed and this time the working MPs have to be elected and sent to Parliament, Rai said.

He added that the AAP workers and youth were protesting against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal in different ways.

People have gathered here early in the morning with full energy. This is indicating that the people and youth of Delhi are standing with Arvind Kejriwal. We will answer this dictatorial government of the BJP on May 25th with the power of our votes, Rai added.

Sanjay Singh, AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, who was recently released from Tihar jail after six months in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, said a walkathon is a very good way to convey the partys message to the people.

Through this walkathon we are awakening the public. The way the Chief Minister of Delhi has been wrongfully jailed, the people of Delhi will respond by voting and all the seven seats in Delhi will go to the INDI Alliance, Singh averred.

Voting for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi is scheduled to take place on May 25, during the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The seven Lok Sabha constituencies in the national capital are New Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, West Delhi, Chandni Chowk, North West and North East Delhi.

Counting of votes for all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4.
Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in his first reaction to the arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year.

This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens, Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying by CBS on Saturday.

As the RCMP stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday, the Canadian prime minister added.

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His remarks came hours after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that authorities in the Integrated Homicide Investigative Team (IHIT) and the Federal Policing Program Pacific Region had arrested three Indians in connection with the Nijjar killing.

In a statement, the RCMP said, The work doesnt end here and, as the investigation continues, I will underscore that there are separate and distinct investigations ongoing.

The arrested Indian nationals have allegedly played different roles as shooters, drivers and spotters on the day Nijjar was killed at the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

The Canadian media identified the arrested persons as Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Karan Brar.

The police have charged them with first-degree murder and conspiracy in the Nijjar case but the charges have not been tested in the court.

Reacting to the arrests, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the suspects apparently are Indians of some kind of gang background but added New Delhi will wait for the police to share details in this regard.

Well have to wait for the police to tell us, Dr Jaishankar said, according to Reuters.

But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organised crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada, the minister added.

The murder of the Khalistani terrorist had become a major flashpoint in the diplomatic relations between India and Canada last year after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the Indian governments hand in it.

Trudeau told the countrys Parliament that Ottawa has credible allegations of the involvement of Indian government agents in Nijjars killing.

New Delhi vehemently rejected his allegations, terming them absurd and politically motivated. India also demanded evidence from Canada to back Trudeaus claim, but they failed to provide any.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Congress party wants to implement the Karnataka model of reservation in the country.

As long as Modi is alive, I will not allow reservation on the basis of religion, he announced, adding that SP and Congress people are keeping an eye on womens Stridhan Mangalsutra.

Prime Minister Modi said the BJP works on the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas in which every section of the society is benefited. But the princes of SP and Congress are doing appeasement politics to address a section of the society.

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In an election rally held in Hargaon, Sitapur, PM said Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur are called the sugar bowl of Uttar Pradesh but the Samajwadi Party government has added bitterness to the lives of sugarcane farmers.

The sugarcane was wasted and payment was not made. The Yogi government has removed all these shortcomings and has given the same amount of money to sugarcane farmers in seven years that SP and BSP did not give to the sugarcane farmers in their 10 years of rule, the PM claimed.

PM Modi said that the government was also working on making this area a hub for banana farming.

Referring to Nighasan, Dhaurahara Road, Gola to Shahjahanpur Road, PM Modi said that the people of Sitapur and Lakhimpur can proudly say that they are no less than anyone in the case of development .

Hargaon is adjacent to Lakhimpur district Hargaon town of Sitapur is about three kilometers from the border of Lakhimpur district on Lakhimpur-Sitapur Road.

The PMs election meeting is being linked to the electoral equation of Sitapur, Dhaurahara and Kheri Lok Sabha seats.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that the INDIA bloc has been surrounded by controversies since its formation itself.

Speaking to media persons at his residence before addressing public meetings in Hardoi and Etawah, he said: This is the reason why controversial statements of its leaders are continuously coming to the fore. This is nothing new for them. This is their character.

He said: INDIA bloc is an alliance of selfishness. This is the reason why they are constantly making controversial statements. The statements are being made by their leaders to please the enemies of India and create discord and disharmony in Indian society for petty political ends.

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The CM further mentioned that through their statements, the people of INDIA bloc are causing irreparable damage to national security and integrity.

This is the character of family-based political parties. The statements of Congress, National Conference and Samajwadi Party leaders encourage anti-nationals, promote terrorism, and threaten national security, he claimed.

This act of the INDIA bloc is extremely condemnable. They have no control over any of their leaders. Thats why they are using disrespectful language, Yogi added.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the progress in Jammu and Kashmir towards a more robust democratic environment and a renewed focus on development.

The dominance of dynastic rule, which previously held sway, has waned, and the selection of representatives now reflects the true will of the people. This transformation is evident in the outcomes of the recent Panchayat elections, he pointed out.

For these reasons, the opposition is feeling desperate and resorting to such statements. These statements bring joy to Pakistan, which expresses its support for all INDIA bloc leaders including Rahul Gandhi, he added.
Hello, kite!

People's Daily Online) 12:12, May 05, 2024

In 1958, the film "The Magic of the Kite," the first co-production between People's Republic of China and a foreign country, hit French theaters. A kite inspired by Sun Wukong (Monkey King) in the film forged a bond of friendship between Chinese and French children. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. That iconic kite has taken flight, soaring from one nation to the other, carrying friendship and hope from the past into the future. Its flight has woven an enduring tale of the close bond between the two nations, a connection that not even vast mountains and rivers can sever.

(Web editor: Du Mingming, Hongyu)
Airkir Duliki works at a railway station in Jinchang, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

URUMQI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Unlike her elder generations, who rarely left the pastoral areas in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Airkir Duliki has frequently traveled through various areas of Xinjiang and other parts of China, mostly by train.

Airkir Duliki is China's first Tajik train conductor, working for the Chengdu fleet of the China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd.

The 27-year-old is in charge of the services on the train running on the line connecting Kashgar Prefecture, in southern Xinjiang, to the city of Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan Province. As an important line, the passenger flow of the train remains high all year round.

Airkir Duliki's responsibilities include keeping order, quickly organizing passengers as they enter and leave the train, and keeping the daily supplies well stocked. According to her, there are some 25 stations in total between the two locations, and sometimes the dwell time is only two minutes.

"I must be clear-headed, responsible for more than 20 colleagues in the team, and serve more than 1,000 passengers on the whole train," she said.

Airkir Duliki was born and raised near the snow-capped mountains and on pastures of the Tajik Autonomous County of Taxkorgan on the Pamir Plateau.

Her first train ride was to the regional capital of Urumqi to attend university, which was more than 1,000 km away. At that time, her father Duliki Bairfek drove more than 300 km of mountain roads to escort her to the nearest railway station.

After arriving at the school, Airkir Duliki rang up her father to say that everything was alright. Her father, who had waited at the train station for more than 10 hours for the notification, finally returned home.

Airkir Duliki and folk artists perform dance for passengers on a train from Kashgar to Chengdu in China, April 19, 2024. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

Having lived in the pastoral areas since childhood, Airkir Duliki has developed a warm and optimistic personality. "Our village is small, the neighbors help each other, and everyone is friendly and hospitable," she said. In her view, the essence of providing railway services is the desire to help one another.

Recalling her first days as a train attendant, she said she was under a lot of pressure.

"After more than half a year, I became a qualified attendant," she said. During her four years as an attendant, she scored among the best in all assessments. In 2023, she signed up for the train conductor qualification examination and passed a series of comprehensive evaluations with excellent results.

To provide passengers with a pleasant train ride, she and her colleagues would invite them to dance and sing together, helping to enhance their enjoyment of Xinjiang's beauty.

"When I was a child, I had never seen a train, and I thought it was a great thing. Now I work on the train every day, and I still think it is great, because of the changes it has brought about," she said. 
The Delhi Tamil Confluence programme was organised on Sunday at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital by the Tamil Nadu Prakosth (wing) of the Delhi BJP.

The event, chaired by Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, was addressed by Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai as the Chief Guest.

Besides, the Delhi BJPs organizational secretary Pawan Rana and New Delhi parliamentary constituency candidate Bansuri Swaraj, BJP leaders Satish Garg, Pankaj Jain, Ashok Thakur, Vinod Bachheti, Sona Kumari, and Sarika Jain were present.

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On this occasion, Sachdeva said: A year ago, the Tamil Confluence was organized in Kashi, and thereafter, the idea of organising a Tamil Confluence in Delhi was conceived, and today we are successfully organising it.

Among us is K Annamalai, who has worked to advance the BJPs work in Tamil Nadu. He said that our ways of eating, drinking, and living may be different, but there is a voice from the heart, Victory to Mother India, Sachdeva said.

Annamalai said: Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi has respected the Tamil community everywhere.

The Tamil Nadu BJP president further said after May 13, all colleagues from Tamil Nadu are preparing to come to Delhi so that they can ensure the BJPs victory on all seven Lok Sabha seats in the elections on the 25th May in the national capital.
Devender Yadav, who was the interim president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), took charge as the Delhi Congress president on Sunday.

This latest political development comes a day after former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP.

After taking charge as Delhi Congress president, Yadav asserted that he will work hard to fulfill the responsibilities bestowed upon him and expressed the hope that the INDIA bloc will win all seven seats in Delhi in the Lok Sabha elections.

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It is an important day for me because I have been given a big responsibility. I want to thank the central leadership for showing faith in me and want to assure them that I will work hard to fulfill all my responsibilities. These are difficult times, but we will work and you will see that the INDI alliance will win all 7 seats in Delhi to strengthen the Congress, he told a news agency.

Yadav on Saturday slammed his former colleague, Lovely, who joined the BJP and said some people have selfish motives but pointed out that the turncoat leader might have had some compulsions.

A few peoples selfish motives and aspirations grow a lot. This is the same Lovely who had advocated for an alliance with AAP. Today, he made an excuse because he had to go to the BJP. Lovely might have had some compulsions. But his character has come before everyone today, he said.

Meanwhile, after joining the BJP, Lovely said he had resigned last Sunday from the post and till date no response has been received from party leaders.

I had resigned last Sunday and till date no response has been received from the party. So those who cannot take care of their own people, how will they take care of the people of Delhi? Lovely said.

He also mentioned that he met all his colleagues and thousands of Congress workers after resigning who said to him that he should not sit at home but continue his fight for the people of Delhi.

In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital, former Delhi Congress president Lovely, former city government minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and three former leaders from the grand old party, joined the BJP on Saturday.

All the former Congress leaders expressed confidence in the BJPs ideology and the developmental politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yadav was made interim president of DPCC days after Lovely announced his resignation from the post of partys Delhi unit chief through a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Voting for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi is scheduled to take place on May 25, during the sixth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

According to the seat-sharing agreement under the INDIA bloc, the Congress is fighting on 3 Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while the AAP is contesting on 4 seats in the polls.

Counting of votes for all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4.
Chief Justice of Manipur High Court Siddharth Mridul led a delegation to the administrative hub of Ukhrul district to take stock of existin HC delegation led by Chief Justice Mridul, addresses judicial challenges in Manipurs Ukhrul g infrastructure and operational hurdles encountered by the local judiciary.

Addressing reporters, Chief Justice Mridul reaffirmed the courts dedication to the principle of Access to Justice for all citizens. He acknowledged the importance of a dedicated court building and adequate staffing levels in Ukhrul to ensure the efficiency and integrity of judicial processes.

Regarding the delayed District and Sessions Court project, Chief Justice Mridul announced that construction would kick off within the current quarter. He stressed the necessity of having both the district judge and chief judicial magistrate physically stationed in Ukhrul, rather than relying on video conferencing from Imphal.

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The physical presence of judicial officers is paramount, Chief Justice Mridul emphasised, stating that it would expedite decision-making and bolster access to justice for the populace. He disclosed that the required land for the court complex had been secured and construction plans greenlit.

The Chief Justice outlined a completion timeline of approximately two and a half years. He underscored that the delegations visit aimed to uphold the High Courts pledge to ensure Access to Justice at every doorstep.

The delegation consisted of esteemed members of the High Court team, including Justices A Bimol Singh and A Guneshwar Sharma, Registrar General Yumkham Rother, District & Sessions Judge Binny Ngangom, Registrar (Judicial) Ojesh Mutum, and member secretary of Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), Alek Muivah.

During the visit on Saturday, the Ukhrul Bar Association, represented by President Micheal Zimik, put forward a memorandum advocating for three crucial measures: expediting the completion of the District and Sessions Court complex, appointing a presiding officer to facilitate regular court proceedings, and establishing a District Consumers Court.
The Opposition Congress has condemned the cowardly terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch in which one soldier was killed while five others sustained injuries.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply pained by the attack and added that India is united for the soldiers.

Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism. Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave air warrior who made the supreme sacrifice. We hope that the injured air warriors recover at the earliest and earnestly pray for their well-being. India is united for our soldiers, Kharge said.

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Party leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.of the martyred soldier.

The cowardly and terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible, he wrote in a post on X.

One Indian Airforce (IAF) soldier was killed and five personnel were injured when two vehicles of their convoy were on Saturday ambushed by terrorists in the border district of Poonch.

Reports said that the vehicles came under heavy terrorist fire while they were passing through Mendhar near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Surankote Sector area of the Jammu division.

The injured soldiers have been shifted to the Northern Command military hospital at Udhampur.

Pictures of the attacked IAF truck show the windshield bearing multiple bullet marks and the windows on the driver side broken. It indicates that the terrorists had taken positions on three sides of the road.

This was the first major attack on the armed forces this year in the border region that witnessed several casualties of soldiers in terror attacks last year.
An Iranian boat has been taken into custody by the Coast Guard in the Keralas Koyilandi offshore.

It has been reported that there are six fishermen from Kanyakumari in the boat. They are part of the group that went fishing in Iran, as per primary reports.

The Coast Guard found the group who had escaped after not getting their salary. The boat was found 20 nautical miles from Koyilandi. The boat is currently in the custody of the Coast Guard.

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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said here on Sunday that the contribution of the Indian electoral space and work done by the Election Commission of India (ECI) hold a significant portion of the world democratic space.

The CEC made the statement while addressing 75 delegates from 23 countries, who are in India to witness the Lok Sabha elections as part of the international Election Visitors Programme (IEVP).

In terms of the process and capacity, it generates what can be legitimately called democratic surpluses is of a huge significance in the otherwise growing concerns of shrinkage of or decline of democratic spaces worldwide, he said.

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Stating that the Indian electoral space is unique, as neither electoral registration is compulsory nor voting is mandatory, the CEC said, Therefore, the ECI is required to operate in an entirely persuasive space, inviting the citizens to volunteer to become part of electoral roll and, thereafter, through systematic voter awareness programme, to motivate them to exercise their franchise.

It would be axiomatic to say that the credibility of the processes that we undertake is validated through the sheer turnout at elections and the near saturation of electoral rolls in terms of elector-population ratio, he said.

Commenting on the scale of the electoral exercise in India, the CEC said, A 970 million strong electorate will be welcomed by over 15 million polling personnel at over 1 million polling stations spread across the country. 

He said that diversity of the nations electorate can be witnessed in its full expression by the visiting delegates at the polling stations.

On the sidelines of the event, the Commission also held bilateral interactions with the Chief Election Commissioners of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal along with their delegation.

Earlier in the day, the delegates were briefed on various aspects of Indian General Elections including EVM-VVPAT, IT initiatives, role of media and social media.

The delegates will split into groups to visit six statesMaharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh to observe polls and related preparedness in various constituencies.

The general elections are being held in seven phases between 19th April and 1st June. The first phase of polling was held on 19th April and second phase on 26th April. The results will be declared on 4th June.
Tensions soared in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency barely 48 hours before polling following registration of an FIR against over 100 Samajwadi Party workers who allegedly vandalised the memorial of Maharana Pratap, a national hero, and tampered with his statue on Saturday evening.

Following the incident, protests broke out in the area with irate people holding demonstrations at Maharana Pratap Chowk on Sunday morning and demanding the arrest of the SPs Lok Sabha in-charge and Legislative Assembly in-charge along with other SP leaders.

On Saturday, SP President Akhilesh Yadav held a road show in Mainpuri in support of his wife and partys candidate Dimple Yadav. During the road show, SP workers reportedly raised indecent slogans at the Maharana Pratap Chowk.

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After the road show, they climbed the statue of Maharana Pratap, the national hero who fought for Swadesh and Swadharma, damaging the statue. As a result of the incidence the spear of Maharana Prataps statue got bent while the SP flag was planted in its hand.

Not only this, the SP workers allegedly abused the state chief minister and the prime minister. There is anger among the people of the entire state over the disrespect to the statue of national hero Maharana Pratap.

Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the SP and Congress cannot be expected to respect national leaders. In a statement, he said these people (the SP and Congress) patronise, encourage, glorify mafia, rioters and terrorist elements and on the other hand, insult national leaders. He recalled that after coming to power in 2012, the SP tried to withdraw the cases of terrorists who attacked Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Sankatmochan Temple in Kashi, Lucknow courts as well as the CRPF camp in Rampur.

The chief minister further said, Recently, when a notorious mafia don died, the Akhilesh Yadav visited his house with a condolence message. How did he behave with devotees of Ram during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in Ayodhya? This is not confined to the Samajwadi Party, Congress too shares the same disrespect for the national heroes. Rahul Gandhi refused to take a statue of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj in Maharashtra when a supporter offered him in Maharashtra.

Expressing deep anguish over the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assured that the culprits wont be spared under any circumstances.

Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police have registered a case against 90 to 100 SP workers and leaders under Sections 147, 188, 295-A, 504 and 171H of the IPC.

On Friday last, during a roadshow, Yogi Adityanath paid floral tributes to Maharana Pratap at his statue.

Meanwhile, Social media users demanded a public apology from Akhilesh Yadav for the incident. A video juxtaposing the visuals of CM Yogi paying floral tributes to the hero at his statue and that of the desecration of the statue by SP workers is being shared widely on the Internet.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav said the police picked up about 40 people without any reason. Alleging pressure on the police from the government to register a case against the SP workers, he said since the people do not want to vote for them they were resorting to immoral tactics.

Yadav informed that a SP delegation would visit the Election Commission in Delhi and Lucknow and register an objection against the UP government in this regard.
In a blistering attack on the opposition parties on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, A certain family in the country prioritises its interests over the security of India, recklessly endangering the future of the youth and fostering a culture of corruption.

Addressing an election rally in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi remarked: Their actions seek to deny the underprivileged access to essential welfare schemes. In stark contrast, Modi Ka Parivaar  under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party  works tirelessly for Indias security, dignity, and prosperity. Modi Ka Privaar is a beacon of the nations heritage, progress, and integrity, propelling the BJP government forward.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi by presenting him with a patka, symbolising respect for him.

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Additionally, Etawah MP and BJP candidate Ramshankar Katheria, Kannauj MP and BJP candidate Subrata Pathak, and minister in the Yogi government and Mainpuri Lok Sabha candidate Jaiveer Singh conveyed their congratulations and appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by presenting him with angvastra.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also called upon the people to actively participate in the democratic process by turning out in large numbers at polling booths to cast their ballots in the third and fourth phases of elections scheduled for May 7 and May 13 for shaping the future of India.

Reflecting on the transformation, CM Yogi expressed, In the past, people in Etawah would say, Ayodhya Mai Ek Bhi Parinda Par Nahi Maar Sakta, but today, Ram Lalla resides there, blessing all with his presence. This marks a new beginning, considering the tumultuous situation prevalent in earlier times.

He added, The state was crippled with stagnant development, fostering an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder, posing threats to the safety of women and businessmen. However, under the governance of the BJP, security is widespread, and everyone is accorded due respect.

In light of the progressive shift, CM Yogi urged everyone to actively contribute to the vision of a developed India.
Campaigning will touch a crescendo in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Etawah  a Samajwadi Party (SP) bastion.

The BJP campaign has been targeting the main opposition partys bastions, especially those from where members of the SPs first family are contesting.

In almost all their rallies, BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have raked up how five members of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadavs family are contesting the Lok Sabha election.

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Also, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has held two rallies and a roadshow in Mainpuri, an SP citadel that the BJP has never won.

After Etawah, Prime Minister Modi will also address a rally in Sitapur on Sunday afternoon. Thereafter, he will go to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple and then hold a roadshow in the holy city.
Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, hit back at the BJP over its claim that the Rahul Gandhi camp was systematically marginalising them as neither of them got a party ticket for Amethi or Raebareli, saying no power can come between their family.

In a Facebook post, Robert Vadra wrote, No power, positions of politics can get between our family. We all have, we will and we shall always work for the people and betterment of our great nation. Thank you to everyone for your support and best wishes. Will help as many people as I can, through my public service always.

Earlier on Saturday, BJP leader Amit Malviya claimed Vadra was overlooked for the Amethi seat despite (his) immense popularity.

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Spare a moment for Robert Vadra, who, despite claiming immense popularity in Amethi, was overlooked for the seat. It is obvious that the Rahul Gandhi camp is systematically marginalising both, Priyanka Vadra and her husband, in the Congress. How soon before the sister rebels? Malviya posted on his X handle.

Last month, in an interview to a news agency, Vadra expressed his desire to contest from Amethi, saying the people of the constituency expect him to represent them in Parliament. However, the Congress, on May 3, announced Rahuls name as its candidate from Rae Bareli and loyalist KL Sharma from Amethi, keeping Priyanka as well as Vadra out of the electoral contest.

Sharma is pitted against Union Minister Smriti Irani, who trounced Rahul in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Amethi seat has been represented by Rahul Gandhi since 2004, and he remained a member of Parliament from the constituency until 2019. His father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, too, was an elected member of Amethi in the Lower House from 1981 till his death in 1991.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi contested and won Amethi in 1999 before passing the baton on to Rahul Gandhi in 2004.
BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Education has issued a trial regulation on the tiered and classified safety management of laboratories at universities and colleges.

The regulation clarifies the responsibility system, work principles and management requirements concerning the safety management of labs at universities and colleges.

According to the regulation, a laboratory should be graded as major risk, high risk, medium risk or low risk according to its hazard sources and their volume, and be classified into types such as chemistry, biology, radiation and electro-mechanics.

Those in charge of a laboratory, its safety managers and staff should undergo safety training and emergency response drills according to the lab's safety grade, as highlighted in the regulation.

It also stipulates that scientific research projects and other experimental activities carried out in a laboratory should be subject to safety risk assessment. 
Several persons were detained for questioning on Sunday as the Indian Army launched massive search operations in the Surankot Sector of the Poonch district where a soldier of the Indian Airforce (IAF) was killed and five others injured in an ambush by Pakistan backed terrorists on Saturday evening.

The IAF has identified the martyred soldiers as Corporal Vikky Pahade and the Chief of Air Staff Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. IAF personnel conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families.

Top officers of the White Knight Corps of the Army, IAF and Additional Director General of Police (Jammu Range) Anand Jain took stock of the incident that was the third of its kind that took place in a fortnight in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

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Drones, sniffer dogs and other gadgetry have been deployed to trace the terrorists.

The modus operandi of the ambush was similar to those employed by the terrorists in April and December last year in which five and four Army soldiers were killed respectively at Bhatta Durian in Poonch and Rajouri sectors.

A commanding officer of the Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and soldiers travelling in a convoy in January this year had a miraculous escape when they came under the attack of terrorists in the Daradhullian Khwadia area of Poonch.

In a targeted attack a few days ago, , terrorists killed a government official near the Shahdara Shrine in Rajouri and thereafter a Village Defence Group (VDG) activist. However, it has become a difficult task for the security forces to track down the highly trained terrorists involved in attacking Army convoys in Rajouri and Poonch.

The terrorists disappear immediately after indulging in these attacks and become untraceable by the time reinforcements reach the spot.

Massive cordon and search operations have been launched since last evening in many areas including Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai and Sheendara and teams of Armys Para Commandos were also engaged in the operation.

However, there has been no contact with the terrorists so far. The search operation, which started on Sunday morning to trace the terrorists, is being supervised by senior Army and police officers, including the GOC of the Army Division, DIG and SSP of the J&K Police.

The terror attack has come days ahead of polling in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. Polling for the seat was earlier scheduled to be held on 7 May, but the election commission postponed it.

It is worth mentioning that having remained peaceful for almost 20 years, terror strikes reappeared in the Rajouri and Poonch districts since 2023.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X that the terror attack in the Surankote Sector is part of a worrying trend of terror attacks, particularly against security personnel, in the hilly Rajouri-Poonch areas situated near the Line of Control. It is a matter of grave concern that since January 1 2023, 25 of our brave security personnel and eight innocent civilians have lost their lives in the Rajouri-Poonch area. In contrast, there were no major incidents of terrorism in this area between 2007 and 2014.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, made a scathing attack on the Opposition in Etawah, a Samajwadi Party stronghold, claiming that the slogans and the promises of the SP-Congress combine are false.

Addressing an election meeting in Etawah bordering Kannauj and Mainpuri seats from where Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi said, Some people consider Mainpuri, Kannauj and Etawah as their heritage, while others consider Amethi-Rae Bareli as their heritage.

The slogans of the SP-Congress are false and their intentions are flawed. These people will lie continuously no matter how much loss it causes to the country and society, he alleged.

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Lashing out at the Opposition, the PM said, Modis legacy is the poors house, toilet, free grains, free treatment, and the National Education Policy. Modis influence is of everyone and is for everyone, the tea seller has broken this evil practice of the son of the royal family becoming PM-CM. PM Modi has exposed appeasement policy.

Hitting out at the Opposition parties over Covid vaccine issue, PM Modi, they did not even spare the country even during the Corona crisis. The scientists of the country made the vaccine, but the people of the SP-Congress defamed it. They themselves used to get vaccinated secretly while using it to instigate the public. While abusing Modi, these people started insulting Lord Krishna, he added.

Praising the people of Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri, he reminded them about what Mulayam Singh Yadav had said in Parliament before 2019. Mulayam Singh Yadav had said in Parliament, Modi ji, you will come back victorious. In 2019, I got his blessings and became the prime minister again.

PM Modi took a dig at Shivpal Yadav, saying what Mulayam Singh had said in Parliament, now his brother Shivpals thoughts have come to his mind that is why he is appealing for BJPs victory that is why I have come to your place to seek blessings.

A few days ago, while speaking at the SP public meeting held in Badaun, Shivpal Yadav had appealed to the people to support the BJP to win by a huge margin. His video also went viral on social media.

PM Modi further said that after laying the foundation of a strong India, whether Modi is there or not, the country would always be there.

The SP-Congress combine is fighting the elections for their future, for their children, but Modi-Yogi has not kept anything in front of them, we are working for your children. We are working hard to build the future of your children, this is the resolve of a developed India, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with other BJP leaders, was present at the meeting.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress, saying both the Opposition parties are contesting polls to benefit their families and their vote banks.

Addressing an election rally at Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, I do not have children, nor does Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. We are working for your children. Our resolve for Viksit Bharat will ensure a happy world for your children. This is what I will leave for them.

After my 10-year tenure, I seek your blessings. You have witnessed my hard work and honesty. I am not just preparing for the next five years; Im paving the way for 25 years. Indias strength will endure for a thousand years; Im laying its foundation. Why? Modi rahe na rahe desh hamesha rahega (Whether I remain or not, this country will always remain), the prime minister said.

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What are Congress and SP doing? They are contesting elections for their future and for the future of their children, he said.

Modi further said he being a Chaiwala has broken the tradition that the heir of a royal family will automatically become the chief minister or the prime minister. This tea seller has broken the custom that the heir of a royal family can become the chief minister and prime minister, he said.

Modi slammed the Opposition for defaming indigenous COVID-19 vaccines. He said, They secretly got vaccinated and incited the public on TV and social media. Why? So that uproar spreads and sins are pinned on Modis forehead.

The prime minister attacked the Samajwadi Party and Congress and said that some people consider Mainpuri, Kannauj, and Amethi-Raebareli as their legacy.

What is the legacy of these dynasts? Their legacy is cars, mansions, and political power games. Some consider Mainpuri, Kannauj, and Etawah as their heritage. Some regard Amethi-Raebareli as their estates. But Modis legacy a Pucca House for the poor. Modis legacy  toilets for mothers and sisters. Modis legacy provides Dalits and backward classes  electricity, gas, and water connections. Modis legacy includes free grains, free healthcare, and a National Education Policy. Modis legacy belongs to everyone, for everyone, he said.

He pointed out that even today in the entire state SP couldnt find a single Yadav candidate outside their family. In contrast, in the BJP, any karyakarta can reach the highest positions.

Later, the prime minister reached Ayodhya and offered prayers at Ram Temple. After offering prayers, Modi held a roadshow in Ayodhya.
Senior Congress leader K Sudhakaran, who temporarily assigned the charge of KPCC president to MM Hassan, after his nomination to the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency is unhappy over the delay in handing over the post to him even after the conclusion of the polls.

Sudhakaran, who was the party candidate from Kannur, was planning to take the mantle of KPCC president on Sunday, a day after the partys Lok Sabha poll review meeting. However, the party directed him to wait for a communication from the national leadership.

During Saturdays KPCC meeting convened to review the election, initial reports indicated that K Sudhakaran will assume the charge of the KPCC president again. Sudhakarans supporters had also informed the media about this. But AICC general secretary Deepa Das Munshi, who is in-charge of the state, suggested the interim president MM Hassan should continue in his position until the election results are announced.

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After the poll review meeting on Saturday, Sudhakaran reportedly asked AICC general secretary K C Venugopal whether he is still the KPCC president, apparently referring to the delay in handing over the charge. Venugopal told him that a letter from the AICC leadership has to be released asking him to resume his duties as the state party chief.

Sudhakaran suspects that there is a conscious effort to shift him from the position of the KPCC president. Sudhakarans supporters wonder why there should be a delay in handing over the charge of the KPCC chief to Sudhakaran as polling is over in Kerala. Waiting for the result is not a justification for delaying the handing over of the charge to Sudhakaran, they feel.

It is reported that a faction of state leaders, referred to as the A group, is trying to use the delay in the decision as an opportunity to replace Sudhakaran. Earlier, there was an attempt to remove Sudhakaran from the post due to his health problems.
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal on Sunday said the Congress-led government in Telangana will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice to the family of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula.

The statement of the Congress general secretary and in-charge of the Organisation came days after the Telangana police filed a closure report in the 2016 case of Vemulas death.

In a post on X, Venugopal wrote, Rohith Vemulas death was a grave atrocity that completely exposed the anti-Dalit mindset of the BJP. The Congress, including Rahul Gandhi ji, has stood with Rohith Vemulas family through this difficult period.

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As has been clarified by the Telangana Police, the concerned closure report was prepared in June 2023. There were many discrepancies in the investigation conducted previously. The Congress government in Telangana will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for Rohiths family, he said.

The senior Congress leader further said, Not only that, when we form a government at the Centre, we will pass a Rohith Vemula Act specifically addressing the issue of caste and communal atrocities on campuses to ensure no student coming from socio-economic backwardness has to face the same plight as Rohith ever again.

In the closure report filed on Friday, the state police claimed that Vemula committed suicide in January 2016 out of fear that his real caste might come to light since he did not belong to the Scheduled Caste category.

It further claimed that his mother had arranged a Scheduled Caste certificate for him.
Ahead of the review to be taken by the Union Home Secretary regarding the land subsidence in village Pernote of Ramban district, J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Sunday assessed the measures taken up so far by the administration towards relief and rehabilitation of the affected population.

He asked the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to examine the cause of the sinking of land that has badly damaged more than 60 houses in the village.

Dulloo had a detailed assessment about the relief measures being initiated by the divisional administration to provide succor to the affected families. He asked about the health status of the victims besides taking appraisal of the aid being extended to the affected by the local administration. He enquired about the total damage caused to livelihoods of the affected people and asked for working out long-term rehabilitation measures.

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The Chief Secretary also interacted with the scientists of the GSI, who provided insights into the scientific reasons behind this natural calamity. He also asked about their recommendations for taking preventive measures to avoid such incidents in future.

He asked them to conduct a detailed analysis of this area in view of historical incidents that occurred previously in the area. He called for having a broad analysis of all the critical infrastructure present in this area like transmission towers, railways, water distribution network and roadways so that the requisite plans are formulated accordingly.

Dulloo also reviewed the status of alternative link connecting Gool Sub-division to Ramban and asked for restoration of affected services and utilities on a war-footing.

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar provided detailed information about the relief measures being carried out by the administration saying that the affected families were being given relief as per the standard SDRF norms. He revealed that the district administration provided relief under the categories of ex-gratia for damaged structures, loss of utensils, clothings, assistance for land loss, fodder for cattle besides providing shelter and making arrangements for food.

He also suggested certain measures regarding permanent rehabilitation of the affected families. He presented the status of restoration of utilities in the area and the progress on restoration of the 400kv transmission line that had hit electric supply.
Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, one of Indias leading producers of smelter grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, recently launched was advanced Energy Management System (EMS) across its power plant.

The EMS will help monitor the energy performance parameters of 120 critical electrical assets, thereby enhancing energy efficiency levels across the plant.

The initiative is a notable digitalisation effort that will result in enhanced functional optimization and increased automation of the refinery operations.

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The Energy Management System is a crucial component within manufacturing industries to ensure systematic monitoring, analysis, control, and optimization of critical assets.

It is an integrated setup that monitors the optimal energy distribution and reliability of various critical equipment and comes with trigger systems to check for any unexpected deviations, while providing quality checks and energy improvement recommendations, leading to overall energy efficiency.

Leveraging a data-driven approach, the system is executed through a central database, ensuring end-to-end consolidation of the entire refinerys operations.

The alumina refining process has significant energy requirements, which are primarily fulfilled by a captive co-generation power plant. Implementing advanced, automated, and data-driven processes such as the Energy Management System increases operational efficiency and leads to significant GHG (Green House Gas) emissions reduction.

Through its focus on the adoption of innovative and leading technologies, the company reaffirms its commitment to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050 or sooner, as part of its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO  Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd said, Our pursuit of operations excellence is deeply rooted in a sustainable business model. Through initiatives such as Energy Management Systems, we are committed towards bolstering our energy efficiency. In an industry that requires an uninterrupted supply of energy, we are integrating cleaner and more sustainable energy systems to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, thereby shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

Vedantas alumina refinery has achieved several recognitions for its energy efficiency initiatives under several Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) circles as well as from Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Government of India.

The awards were in recognition of its energy efficient performance, utilizing renewable energy sources, and energy utilization improvements through in-depth analysis.

Vedanta Aluminium has committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050 or sooner by adopting a two-fold strategy of reducing its carbon footprint by increasing operational excellence and enhancing the quantum of renewables in its energy mix, while also offsetting its carbon footprint through extensive afforestation efforts.

Through its operations, the company is enabling wider global access to responsibly produced, high-quality aluminium to ensure a greener future for the planet.
The glaring gender disparity in political representation revealed by the numbers of women candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is not just a statistical anomaly but a sobering reflection of entrenched patriarchal norms that continue to pervade Indian politics. Despite the grand rhetoric surrounding nari shakti (womens power) and the pas sage of the womens reservation law, political parties have fallen short of their professed commitments to gender equality. The dismal figures speak volumes: with the BJP fielding just one woman for every six candidates and the Congress faring worse at one in seven, it is evident that mere lip service to womens empowerment is not enough to ensure meaningful change. The failure of both major parties to nominate a single woman candidate in Bihar, a state notorious for its patriarchal politics, underscores the pervasive nature of gender discrimination within the political establishment. While the womens reservation law holds. promise for increasing womens representation in Parliament and state assemblies, its implementation was deliberately pushed back. Both the BJP and the Congress have touted their support for the legislation, yet their actions belie their words. Despite incremental improvements in the number of women candidates fielded compared to previous elections, neither party has come close to meeting the 33 per cent target..

Moreover, the lack of women candidates is not confined to the two major parties alone. Other political outfits, including regional players like AAP and BSP, have also failed to prioritise gender diversity in their candidate selection processes. The absence of women candidates in key states like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh reflects a broader pattern of marginalisation and exclusion faced by women in Indian politics.

The reasons behind this gender gap are complex and multifaceted, rooted in deep-seated societal attitudes and structural inequalities. Despite progress in areas such as education and economic empowerment, women continue to face barriers to political participation, ranging from cultural norms that discourage women leadership to systemic biases that favour male candidates. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort on multiple fronts. Political parties must adopt proactive measures to promote womens leadership within their ranks, including setting targets for female representation and implementing gender sensitive policies. Civil society organisations and grassroots movements also have a crucial role to play in advocating for gender equality and holding political leaders accountable for their commitments to womens rights.

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Ultimately, achieving gender parity in Indian politics is not just a matter of numbers; it is about transforming the underlying power dynamics that perpetuate gender inequality. As India celebrates its 77th year of independence, it is time to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of equality and justice for all, regardless of gender. Only by harnessing the full potential of womens power can we build a more inclusive and democratic society for future generations. As things stand, the reluctance of parties to secure greater representation for women is palpable.
Most parts of India witness hot to very hot conditions in the pre-monsoon months of March, April, May and June, with some coastal areas having a combination of heat and humidity. While hot weather is not a new concern for the country, what has been concerning in recent years is the occurrence of multiple record-breaking heat wave events and the widespread nature of these events, in terms of their timing, severity, duration, spatial extent or all of them. It is now well-accepted in the scientific community that human burning of fossil fuels results in rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that increases the earths average temperature and intensifies many extreme events, including heavy rain and droughts, though the confidence in climate change attribution varies across these events. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, based on a synthesis of state-of-the-art scientific literature, there is the highest confidence that human emissions intensify hot extremes and heat waves, with overall higher average temperatures making hot extremes more likely. Studies have shown that the heat waves in India in 2022 and 2023 were made at least thirty times more likely by human-induced climate change. In addition to global warming and climate change, Indias targets of rapid urbanisation and economic growth are likely to result in further loss of green cover and surface water bodies, resulting in local conditions favourable for heat waves. On top of that, poor air quality can coincide with heat waves, jeopardising public health. This is all the more critical for South Asia in general and India in particular, which have an abundance of black carbon aerosols, tiny particles in the atmosphere that can absorb radiation and enhance heat stress.

The science of climate change attribution has developed fairly recently, and studies focusing on extreme events in India are few and far between. If the weather is imagined as a dice with several possible outcomes, one can say that human-induced climate change has loaded the dice, increasing the chance of certain outcomes. Scientists find out how much such a chance is altered by looking at computer model simulations of a world without climate change, vis-a-vis a world as it is, with human signals. Here, it is important to acknowledge that not all weather-related risks might result in on-ground loss and damage. Socio-economic vulnerability, local regulations and interventions, adaptation and planning, and even public awareness play a role. A classic example related to heat waves is the city of Ahmedabad, which came up with its own heat action plan after the disastrous event of 2010, resulting in significantly better management of the heat wave event of 2015 and subsequent years. Therefore, attribution studies not only should be encouraged but should also foster collaborations between climate scientists, engineers, city planners and administrators, disaster management agencies, as well as experts in the social sciences.

While the climate change attribution question has the merit of scientific curiosity, the implications may be deeper and far-reaching. For example, the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) have now operationalised the Loss and Damage Fund, an arrangement to aid developing countries to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. Support has been pledged by developed countries to the Loss and Damage Fund in the COP28 held in 2023 in Dubai. While the mechanisms of actual financial assistance are being worked out, the key role of climate change attribution cannot be underestimated. For any fund allocation, it would be imperative to understand if and by how much a disaster had been worsened by human-induced climate change. Therefore, the attribution community has the additional responsibility to make the scientific methods more robust, address existing pitfalls, and communicate associated uncertainties appropriately.

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While global efforts by governments are underway, how can a public citizen engage? In April 2024, in the first-ever climate litigation won on human rights, a group of elderly Swiss women claimed that human-induced warming had affected their health and lives. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in their favour and held the Swiss government responsible for not meeting its emission reduction targets. Roughly around the same time, the Supreme Court of India has suo moto recognised the fundamental right of a citizen to be free from adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation. Both rulings can potentially have cascading effects on the law in multiple countries and can definitely trigger more fights over justice related to climate change. Incidentally, the heat wave in Europe in 2003 was the first-ever event that was scientifically attributed to human-induced climate change. More contributions from Indian researchers in the science of climate change attribution in the coming years will strengthen Indian citizens to fight for climate justice.

The author is associate professor of civil engineering and climates studies at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced that Aiman Zaarab, a senior commander of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade, was killed in an airstrike on the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah.

Zaarab directed the Islamic Jihads elite forces during the October 7 onslaught on Kibbutz Sufa and the Sufa military post bordering the Gaza Strip, the IDF was quoted as saying on Saturday by Xinhua news agency.

Zaarab had commanded and directed several attacks, and over the past few days, he led the Islamic Jihads preparations for combat in the southern Gaza Strip against the Israeli military, according to the IDF statement.

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Along with Zaarab, two other Islamic Jihad operatives were killed during the strike, the IDF added.
This photo taken from Kibbutz Malkia in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing above the southeast Lebanese village of Mays al-Jabal during an Israeli bombardment on May 5, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

BEIRUT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and three others were injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The military sources, who spoke anonymously, said that the missile attack by an Israeli warplane destroyed a house in Mays al-Jabal, killed four people of the same family, and wounded three others, including a member of the Lebanese Civil Defense team.

According to the sources, the casualties were transported to Salah Ghandour Hospital in the city of Bint Jbeil in the central sector of the border region.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said its fighters targeted the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona with dozens of rockets in retaliation to Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon without specifying the casualties.

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that about 20 surface-to-surface missiles were launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel, some of which were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 449 people on the Lebanese side, including 283 Hezbollah members and 84 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. 

This photo taken from Kibbutz Malkia in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing above the southeast Lebanese village of Mays al-Jabal during an Israeli bombardment on May 5, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 6, 2024 shows a building destroyed during an Israeli strike in Mays al-Jabal, Lebanon. Four people were killed and three others were injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo taken on May 6, 2024 shows a building destroyed during an Israeli strike in Mays al-Jabal, Lebanon. Four people were killed and three others were injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

A soldier checks buildings destroyed during an Israeli strike in Mays al-Jabal, Lebanon, on May 6, 2024. Four people were killed and three others were injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
Job Title: Residential Helper

Organisation: Embassy of Belgium in Kampala

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Monthly Gross Salary: UGX 1,910,537 /=

About US:

The Embassy of Belgium in Kampala is the diplomat mission of The Kingdom of the Belgium.

Job Summary: The Belgian Embassy is looking for a new locally recruited Multidisciplinary residential helper (full time), who speaks English, Dutch or French, for an undetermined time (with a trial period of 3 months).

We are looking for someone with former work experience with excellent communication skills who is able to fulfill a position at the Residency of the Belgium Ambassador. As a Multidisciplinary residential helper you are responsible for both cooking, cleaning and the execution of small duties at the Residency.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for the good organisation of the kitchen in order to ensure a smooth service of meals for guests and offer them a quality menu.

Takes into account the information provided by the head of mission or the person responsible for the management of the event in order to be able to offer an adapted menu to guests and residents.

Will be responsible for the cleanliness of the residence and its surroundings

In order to contribute to a clean and pleasant environment for residents and visitors

In order to be able to run the household correctly

May be called upon to contribute to the smooth running of representative activities in the residence

May be called upon to act as a driver.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

To the extent possible, a degree from a cookery school or other training within the field

Drivers license is a benefit.

Awareness of the hygiene and security rules in the residence

Ability to work in a team

Ability to work service-oriented towards both internal and external users

Ability to adopt to a flexible attitude, adapt to changes in various situations.

Demonstrate involvement and desire to achieve their goals and the goals of the service and the position.

The position is graded in salary scale 2, with a starting gross salary of 1.910.537,40 UGX/ month.

How to Apply:

All candidates should send their application letters with updated CVs to: kampala@diplobel.fed.be latest Wednesday 24th April 2024 before 5pm (only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.)

Deadline: 24th April 2024 by 5:00pm

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-04-19 Valid Through 2024-04-24 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Embassy of Belgium in Kampala Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda

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Much has been said this election season about the alleged north-south divide. There are those who believe there is a political line drawn across the map of India and those who believe that these are divisive ways to understand elections and the country.

As a Punjabi from Delhi, I have just driven through most of peninsular India. My election road trip series, Dhabas of Democracydesigned to discover all the resplendent flavours of Indiabegan in Kanniyakumari and wove its way through Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Wayanad, Mysuru, Bengaluru, Kurnool, Hyderabad and onwards to Maharashtra.

I have discovered and loved pazham kanji (watery fermented rice with chili and onions), marvelled at the popularity of kalaan (Tamil for mushroom) served by the street side in a stir fry paste, stood in line to eat a butter masala dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan, discovered what the history is of Mysore Pak, devoured the onion samosas of Hyderabad and eaten curd rice at every meal I could.

Imaging: Deni Lal

I have gathered some food for thought as well.

While I wont use the word divideand normally I hate generalisationsthe southern states did feel different. For starters their cities were cleaner and better planned and their surroundings were greener and more lush. The emphasis on education seems greater in many of these states. For instance, in Coimbatore, the high-profile seat of the BJPs Tamil Nadu chief K. Annamalai, two of the three candidates are IIM alumni (including Annamalai) and the third has a doctorate. I cant think of another constituency in India with a similar profile of contestants.

The other thing that struck me was the role of religion. I felt the physical presence of religion and faith much more overtly in the south than in the northtemples, churches and mosques. In fact, elaborate wood carvings framed homes in villages, the temples are gigantic compared to the north and much more ornate and grand. And, yet, among everyone I spoke to across peninsular India, not one person mentioned the Ram temple in Ayodhya as an election issue. There was only one elderly gentleman in Kerala who referenced it. But other than that, it came up in conversation when I asked about its impact. Of course, despite the single-minded push by Narendra Modi in the south, the BJP is, at the moment, playing to increase vote share rather than seats. It knows that with the exception of Karnataka, which it swept last time, any gains will be incremental. But, whats most important is that this response on the temple held true even among Modi voters and fans. In the urban pockets of these states I met many citizens who are big admirers of Modi. But when I asked them why they were voting for the BJP, I often got the same answerunder Modi, Indias standing in the world was stronger than ever before. Sometimes I would follow it up with a question on the Ram temple, and mostly the answer would be that it was of no or little consequence to their political choices.

Modi still holds the distinct advantage in these elections. And maybe the answers I will hear will be very different in the north. But my travels through two phases of the elections convince me that in the southern states there is no political surge around the temple despite religion being a more entrenched and visible part of daily life than in the north.

editor@theweek.in
I have long been intrigued by the prime ministers desire to hug every passing sheikh and sultan and his contrasting contempt for the ordinary Indian Muslim. The contempt becomes particularly evident at election time when the audience are invited to identify the transgressors by their dress (libhaz), the numbers of their children, or as infiltrators and traitors (ghuspait/gaddaar). Where any other party leader would immediately be pulled up, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) does not appear to apply, in the eyes of the Election Commission of India as presently constituted, to the prime minister. Secular fundamentalists like me are outraged but clearly the general electorate, especially in the Hindi heartland, are only amused by these sly innuendos. Muslimsat any rate, Indian Muslims, it seems, are fair gamebut woe betide any opposition candidate or leader who dares step on what passes for Hindu sentiment. Then the knives are drawn (in some cases, literally) and appeasement-bashing comes into its own. Reinforcing this contempt for the Indian Muslim is the portrayal of Pakistani Muslims as secessionists-turned-terrorists. Thus are the Indian and Pakistani Muslim linked together in the sangh parivar imagination as the enemy.

Imaging: Deni Lal

And, thus, is carried forward the Savarkar-Hedgewar-Golwalkar thesis that the Muslim and the Christian can never be true Indians because while they may by birth and ancestry belong to the pitra bhoomi (the fatherland) of Bharat, this land can never be their punya bhoomi (sacred or holy land) because their land of worship is located to the distant west of the sub-continent. Regarding Muslims as essentially invaders from outside, the race theories of Hitler and his ilk held a special appeal for the leaders of the RSS. To imported Nazi notions of race purity, they added the fascination for violence that B.S. Moonje brought to Nagpur from a visit to Mussolinis fascist Italy. It gave organisational structure to Savarkars belief that the Hindu discovers himself only in violence (cf. Vinayak Chaturvedis defining study of hindutva).

In the eyes of hindutva bhakts, it is the ineluctable presence of a 200-million strong Muslim community in Bharat that comes in the way of the realisation of a Hindu rashtra, while the slightly larger number of Muslims in breakaway Pakistan makes impossible the realisation of a Hindu rashtra in Akhand Bharat. On the other hand, the Muslims of the Gulf region, and West Asia and North Africa in general, are in their own punya bhoomi and hence of no concern to the Hindu rashtra that the sangh parivar aims at securing in the pitra-cum-punya bhoomi of Bharat. Hence, hugs and kisses on the cheek for the rulers of Muslim lands but subversion of identity for the Indian Muslim; demonisation as tushtikaran (appeasement) of measures of compassion for a wretchedly deprived minority, economically, socially and educationally, as revealed by the Justice Rajinder Sachar Commission; fierce opposition to the hijab and a personal civil code for the minorities; perversion of history leading to the avenging of real and imagined happenings in the mediaeval past; rejection of our composite culture and the syncretic heritage of our great civilisation to which all communities have contributed, more often than not in creative partnership, in language, literature, poetry, music and song, dance, painting and architecture; threats to the security of life and limb for Muslims; the bulldozer for their humble dwellings; harassment and discrimination in their everyday existence; sneers for their clothing and way of life; obstacles in their places of worship and burial grounds; all of this leading to lynching, cow-protection related vigilante violence, rape and mass murder.

So, it is not Islam or the Muslim ummah to which the BJP objects. It is just to them being here!

Aiyar is a former Union minister and social commentator.
In Mumbai, where I live and work, there is a severe heatwave going on. The highest temperature this month has been 40 degrees, sweltering and humid for the coastal city. Of course this is a savage reminder of climate change, and how brutal even its early effects are. Even as some of us may be privileged to remain in air-conditioned environs of the home or the office, a majority of people in the city do not have access to climate control. They live in small, poorly ventilated and crowded rooms, and leaving home is usually an escape.

India has always been a hot and humid country. But how wonderful times may have been when we dressed for the summer. Even nobles wore soft, diaphanous muslin, Indian mulmul or its more sophisticated avatar of jamdani. This gossamer-like fabric was the specialty of Bengal and Bangladesh, and remains the finest fabric made by human hands. European colonisers found it shameless because of its transparent nature, and yet it is the only fabric they would wear to face our summers.

Humans have always dressed for the weather. But globalisation and industrialisation have wreaked havoc on our wardrobes. Clothing is expected to be mass produced, factory made and make fat profit by creating cheap, even unhealthy fabrics to dress a vast population. Thus polyester, nylon, and a whole host of flammable, heat-inducing and microplastic-filled fabrics now crowd our wardrobes. Dont even say fast fashion, Zara and H&M never claimed to give you quality clothing, just trendy stuff.

Handblock printed from Anokhi | Instagram@anokhijaipur

India has always been an agrarian country. Our villages created slow fashion as we understand it today. Everything the villagers wore, and many continue to wear today, pays respect to the environment. They made clothes without electricity; looms still dont consume it, but work on mechanised leverslike hand pumps or bicycles do. A large frame builds the fabric, a long tooth comb separates the threads, and a mousey shuttle creates the warp and weft.

Thread was spun from rain-harvested plant fibre, fabrics were dyed using spices, fruit, vegetables, mud and soot. Clothing was made from nature. It was vibrant, and it was cooling.

Even winter wear came from sheep or animal hide. Nobody went out to kill an animal for its skin, animals were greatly respected for the food and milk they provided. Their carcasses were repurposed into gorgeous, functional and long-lasting leather, giving another example of how zero waste solutions have always existed.

There is an argument that handlooms are expensive. They dont have to be. A cotton sari costs a few hundred rupees. Moreover, if you buy an item from an apparel manufacturer or a fast fashion brand for Rs500, it has probably cost Rs80 to make and is filled with trashy bits. Like McDonalds, or your delicious streetside vada pav, you cant eat it every day or it will kill you.

Two amazing privately-owned brandsAnokhi and Fabindiahave found the sweet spot between natural fabrics and economies of scale. They have taught us that you can have your cake and eat it, too. You can dress daily from either of these two companies for as little as Rs2,000 a day. Whereas designer handlooms may cost Rs15,000 per outfit or more.

It has been shown that hand-loomed fabric (perhaps not hand tailored though) can dress a population, simply because lakhs of people are making it across India. Dont believe companies that tell you factories are the only means to dress people. They want fatter profits for themselves by selling you junk. They wont tell you they can still make a slightly smaller profit by selling you good quality natural clothing.
Once upon an Aesopean time, an army of frogs living in a well thought they needed a king. They prayed to Jove, the king of gods, to send them one. Jove flung a log into their midst. The kupamandukas, terrified by the splash, scampered behind the rocks, but soon found the log to be harmless. In no time they were climbing and dancing over their king.

Soon enough, they got tired of their lifeless king. They asked Jove to send them one who had life and vigour. This time Jove sent them a stork. He ate them all up.

If you listen to our political pundits, you would think we are caught between a King Stork and several King Logs. The BJP intellectuals (pardon the oxymoron) would have us believe that if the INDIA alliance wins this election, they would rule as King Logsa new one every year, as Narendra Modi has been mocking. Those kings would look the other way when others claim our family wealth, when terrorists strike, and would do nothing to boost economic growth.

The Congress intellectuals (pardon the oxymoron) would like us to think Modi would turn into a King Stork if he gets a big win. He would scrap the Constitution, curtail liberties, arrest professors, exile poets, raid merchants, jail leaders, and give Indias wealth to his tycoon friends.

Illustration: Deni Lal

Caught between the two, what should we the people, who gave to ourselves a Constitution, do? Press the NOTA button? Sorry, NOTA cant make governments. So, hold on.

Truth be told, the Log-Stork binary has been there in Indias electoral narrative ever since Modi stormed into the national scene in 2014. He had come in then scoffing at Manmohan Singh as a King Logone who wrote love letters to Nawaz Sharif, was too weak to fight terrorists, and had looked the other way when political colleagues were carting away our coal reserves and downloading our 2G spectrum for a song. On its part, the Congress had then accused Modi of showing King Stork traitshaving let Gujaratis massacre Gujaratis, let trigger-happy cops kill outlaws in cold blood, and helped crony capitalists to fatten themselves.

This columnist had used the same Aesopean allegory to describe the voters dilemma then too. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Congress and co are now worried that Modi could actually turn a constitutional stork if he gets his 400-plus. He would turn a tyrant, they say, who would use the legislative majority to rejig the Constitution, or scrap it and get a new one.

Ironic it may sound, it was Modis own men who started the talk. First his handpicked intellectuals did a little loud thinking that got a bit too loud. Then as the polls approached, party MP Anantkumar Hegde called for a 400-seat target so as to amend the Constitution. Soon every party MP and his elder brother, every aspiring MP and his younger brother, and everyone who had flashed a saffron flag or shouted the Jai Shri Ram slogan was talking about it.

It was then that the opposition sensed danger, and an opportunity. They turned the message around, reposted it to the dalit millions who swear by Constitution-maker B.R. Ambedkar, saying the Modi-ki-guarantees in the BJP manifesto would replace the constitutional guarantees of school seats, scholarships and job quotas. In no time, the BJP sensed danger, cried shantam-paapam, tauba-tauba, and stopped talking of 400.

Now, another problem. Many among the upper castes had thought, though without basis, that it was a matter of time before Modi and co scrapped the quotas lock, stock and barrel. Who would they vote now Log or Stork?

prasannan@theweek.in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Odisha's capital city of Bhubaneswar on Sunday night as part of BJP's election campaign for the first phase of polls to be held on May 13. He will address two public meetings in South Odishas Berhampur and Nawarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Monday.

The Prime Minister's campaign is likely to indicate the turn the electoral battle may take in the state where the ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) and BJP lock horns.

Simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held in Odisha in four phases from May 13.

Both parties have always been on good terms because BJD has always supported the BJP on national issues. This also fueled speculation about an electoral alliance between the two parties. But, that did not happen.

The BJP has now drawn the battle lines with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda, during their Odisha visits, calling for a change of guard in the state. The duo sought the installation of a BJP government while urging the voters to give the party maximum Lok Sabha seats.

Even Prime Minister Modi, during a TV interview recently, had said 'Odishas pride' (Asmita) and Odia language were in danger. "I dont think Odishas people will tolerate it for long," he said. "The BJD used to support us on many issues like many other parties which give us issue-based support. Our relations with the BJD in the state are different. In such a situation, we deserve a chance to serve Odisha. If we get elected, the BJP will take Odisha to the peak of development," said the Prime Minister.

He added Odisha could become the richest state in the country with abundant resources.

While the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were always friendly - Modi has never spoken anything against the BJD supremo - but the start of the poll process has changed equations. Ever since the alliance failed to materialise, both parties have blamed each other on several issues.

Spotlight on

Berhampur, Nawarangpur

According to Odisha BJP leaders, both Modi and Nadda are coming to Odisha on Sunday separately. While Nadda will dedicate the partys 'Sankalpa Patra' to the people of the state, the PM will address the partys Vijay Sankalpa rallies at Berhampur and Nawarangpur towns.

In 2019, the BJD won both Lok Sabha seats. Berhampur is a general constituency in Chief Minister Patnaiks Ganjam district, where his Hinjli assembly segment lies.

The saffron party has fielded former BJD minister Pradip Panigrahy as its candidate for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat. A former confidant of Patnaik, Panigrahy was Gopalpur MLA but was arrested by the state vigilance on an alleged corruption case in 2020, an incident that soured his relations with the BJD. Panigrahy alleges the case was a political conspiracy. He switched sides to the BJP before the elections, following which he was made the BJP candidate for Gopalpur.

The BJD has fielded Bhrigu Buxipatra against Panigrahy as its Lok Sabha candidate for Berhampur. Buxipatra was a senior leader of the BJP and had been the partys Lok Sabha candidate at Berhampur in 2019. He lost to BJD candidate Chandrasekhar Sahu, who was a former union minister at that time. Sahu failed to get a BJD ticket this time after he was made the chairman of the partys manifesto committee

Nawarangpur is a reserved constituency for ST.

BJD supremo Patnaik on Saturday already addressed four election meetings in four south Odisha districts, Koraput, Nawarangpur, Raygada and Gajpati, covering three Lok Sabha constituencies of Koraput, Nawarangpur and Berhampur.

He sought peoples acknowledgement of his governments welfare schemes like Biju Swasthya Bima Yojana (health insurance of state government), Kalia for farmers, Mamta Scheme, student scholarship, mission shakti, Laccmi bus to connect rural areas and heritage projects.

It was a unique style of brief interaction with people. He blamed the opposition for telling lies and shedding crocodile tears. Patnaik also sought support for BJDs MP and MLA candidates who were present with him in the meetings.

Though the chief minister had launched BJDs election campaign on April 24th at Sheragada, which falls under his Hinjli constituency in Ganjam district, it was Saturday meetings that marked the beginning of the state-wide election campaign.

As for the BJP, it is roping in Union Ministers and national leaders for the campaign, including External Affairs Minister S Jayshankar who had campaigned in the state on Saturday.
Local residents rallied in a town on Australia's eastern coast on Saturday to protest against possible plans to establish a local base for nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS agreement. #GLOBALink





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The Karnataka government on Sunday said a Blue Corner Notice has been issued against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing sexual abuse allegations, while his MLA father was remanded to custody in a related case. The Congress party kept up the attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the matter, asking him to break his 'silence' on the issue in which the BJP's alliance party leader is accused.

The Congress-led Karnataka government announced financial assistance to those were allegedly sexually assaulted by Prajwal.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced financial assistance to the rape victims who are in hundreds, since it is a unique case which has never happened in the last 75 years," Congress general secretary and the party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference in the presence of the state CM, in Bengaluru.

With Prajwal stated to have left the country, a Blue Corner notice has been issued against him and the Interpol's help is being taken to bring the NDA's Hassan Lok Sabha candidate back to India, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said.

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a person's identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.

"Already Blue Corner notice has been issued. The Interpol will inform all the countries and locate him," Parameshwara told reporters.

Explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old Prajwal, grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days, following which the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual abuse allegations against the MP.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Prajwal's father and JD(S) MLA, HD Revanna was remanded to police custody till May 8 by a Bengaluru court in connection with a case of alleged kidnapping and illegal confining of a woman.

Revanna was arrested on Saturday by the SIT after his bail plea was rejected in the case related to kidnapping and illegally confining a woman who is the mother of three children. Police had also arrested one Sathish Babanna in connection with the abduction and secured the victim from a farmhouse.

The FIR was registered against the 66-year-old Revanna based on a complaint by the woman's son on Thursday.

After his medical examination at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital here, the former minister was produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, who remanded him to the custody of the SIT.

The SIT was formed by the Karnataka government on the recommendation of the Karnataka State Commission for Women chief Nagalakshmi Chowdhary after a huge cache of explicit videos of Prajwal, allegedly sexually abusing women, became public.

There are three FIRs registered in connection with the sexual abuse allegations, involving the father and son, in total.

In the first case in Holenarasipura, the cook and relative of the Revannas complained that the two had molested her. In the second complaint at CID Bengaluru, a JD(S) leader accused Prajwal of raping her at gunpoint, videographing the incident and then blackmailing her.

The third complaint is against H D Revanna pertaining to the abduction and illegal detention of a woman.

Before being produced before the magistrate, Revanna claimed there is no evidence of his involvement.

"There are no evidences pertaining to the May 2 complaint. It's a big political conspiracy... A conspiracy was hatched against me," Revanna told reporters at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, where he was taken for a medical checkup.

The Congress on Sunday once again targeted PM over the issue and asserted that its women's wing will keep raising its voice until Prajwal is brought back to India to face the law.

All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba slammed Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and National Women Commission Chairperson Rekha Sharma for being silent on the case.

"Today half the population of the country is demanding that Smriti Irani and Rekha Sharma break their silence," she said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also expressed concern over the matter and former party chief Rahul Gandhi has written a letter to the Karnataka chief minister, asking for strict action, Lamba said.

"Prime Minister, break your silence. Until PM Modi brings Prajwal Revanna from Germany and hands him over to the Karnataka government, Mahila Congress will raise its voice from every corner of the country. Not only us, half the population of the country (women) will ask you questions," she said.

"Mahila Congress will 'gherao' PM Modi everywhere, because we are not afraid of your power and police machinery," she said.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said the Karnataka State government will provide financial assistance to hundreds of victims allegedly sexually assaulted by Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna.



Addressing presspersons, Surjewala said the financial assistance has been announced since such an incident has never happened in 75 years. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced financial assistance to the rape victims who are in hundreds, since it is a unique case which has never happened in the last 75 years," Surjewala said.

Prajwal, the JD(S)-BJP alliance candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and nephew of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. He is wanted in a case pertaining to rape and molestation after hundreds of explicit videos allegedly came out in open.

Flanked by Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Surjewala charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with protecting their alliance partner JD(S) candidate, who is a 'mass rapist'. "Why did BJP form an alliance with the JD(S) despite having information about Prajwal?" he asked.

He also sought to know why the External Affairs Ministry did not stop Prajwal from fleeing abroad.

"Why did the PM not cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport and why no blue corner notice through Interpol was issued to bring him back?" Surjewala questioned.

Earlier on Sunday, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, A blue-corner notice has already been issued to nab Prajwal Revanna. The Special Investigation Team will locate him wherever he is and after that, procedurally whatever is required, SIT will do that to bring him here.

In a meeting with the chief minister on Saturday, the SIT informed Siddaramaiah that the Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to issue a blue corner notice against Prajwal Revanna.

The SIT has reportedly sent a request to the CBI, the nodal body for Interpol matters in India, seeking a blue corner notice against Prajwal Revanna. "Once CBI issues this notice, SIT hopes to get information about the whereabouts of Prajwal Revanna," official sources told PTI.

-with inputs from agencies.
Villagers of Mahalam in Ferozepur hacked to death a young man, allegedly for tearing pages of Guru Granth Sahib on Saturday. Punjab police have registered a case for murder against the mob.



According to police, the deceased was identified as Bakshish Singh (25), a resident of Talli Gulam village and he visited the gurudwara in Bandala village on Saturday afternoon. After offering prayers, Bakshish allegedly tore off pages of Guru Granth Sahib and tried to escape from the place.

Villagers who saw this nabbed Bakshish and he was thrashed and attacked him brutally with swords, police said. Though Bakshish was rushed to hospital for treatment, he succumbed to injuries. His father Lakhwinder Singh said that Bakshish was mentally challenged and was undergoing treatment for it.

Police have filed an FIR against the youth for the alleged sacrilege. Bakshish's father, however, called on the police to register a case against those who killed his son.

Senior police officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police Saumya Mishra, reached the village after the incident. Police lodged an FIR against Bakshish under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code at the Arif Ke Police Station on a complaint lodged by Lakhvir Singh, chairman, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.

According to police, initially a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) was registered against unidentified members of the mob, but it later turned into a FIR for murder. Police sources told Hindustan Times that some members of the mob who killed Bakshish have been identified.

Bakshish's father Lakhwinder said his son had been mentally disturbed for the last few years and has been undergoing treatment. The police should also register an FIR against those who killed his son, he said.

Meanwhile, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh expressed grief over the incident of sacrilege in Ferozepur. He termed Bakshish's death as a reaction to the "failure to punish the culprits and give exemplary punishments by law."

Moreover, the Jathedar has also asked the Sikh 'Sangat' to socially and religiously boycott the family of the accused of sacrilege and not to allow the last rites of the accused to be held in any gurdwara.

In a statement, Singh said for a long time, incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib have been taking place under a "well-planned conspiracy". He said that the government's law is neither proving successful in stopping the incidents of sacrilege nor in punishing the culprits.

He said the sacrilege in Ferozepur is a very unfortunate incident which has hurt the sentiments of Sikhs. "For Sikhs, there is nothing above Sri Guru Granth Sahib and incidents of sacrilege badly harm the soul and mentality of Sikhs," he said.

-with inputs from agencies.
Security personnel have launched a massive search operation to track down terrorists who ambushed the Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday. One soldier was killed and four were injured in the attack.

Additional forces of the Army arrived at the Jarra Wali Gali in Poonch Saturday late at night, reported ANI. Security forces have laid down nakas and checking continues in the area. The terrorists, who were armed with AK assault rifles, are believed to have fled into the nearby forests, PTI quoted officials.

The local Rashtriya Rifles have cordoned off the area and are aided by the Army and the Police to track down the perpetrators. There has been no contact with the fleeing terrorists till late on Saturday night.

#WATCH | J&K: Morning visuals of tight security checking by Indian Army personnel in the Poonch district.



An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district.



One of the five Indian Air Force soldiers injured in the terrorist attack has pic.twitter.com/SYoeTFgwVi  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2024 #WATCH | J&K: Additional forces of the Indian Army reached the Jarra Wali Gali (JWG) in Poonch.



An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district.



One of the five Indian Air Force soldiers injured in the terrorist attack has passed away in pic.twitter.com/7dv6CIc75F  ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2024 VIDEO | Security forces conduct a search operation in Mendhar in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.



One soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead pic.twitter.com/2r13yYixbs  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2024

The officials suspect the involvement of the same group of terrorists who ambushed troops in adjoining Bufliaz on December 21 last year. In the incident, four soldiers died and three were injured.

One of the trucks in the IAF convoy bore the maximum brunt of the attack with several bullets hitting its windscreen and side.

Police assisted by paramilitary forces had been carrying out searches in Poonch town since Friday following inputs about the movement of suspected persons. However, no one was arrested during the operation, the officials said.

The attack comes three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.

Congress condemns attack

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack as "extremely shameful and sad." "The dastardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad. I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible, Gandhi said on X.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress also condemned the terrorist attack. The statement by Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani said the repeated terror attacks on the forces need to be responded to strongly and underlined the need to check the rise in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. "We condemn the terror attack on the IAF personnel... We express our grave concern over the escalated attacks by terrorists in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Rajouri-Poonch belt, resulting in the loss of several precious lives of our jawans and officers," Wani said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said even if the BJP opens the door for him, he will not go back to his former ally, accusing the saffron party of sinking his government in 2022 through treachery.

Addressing a rally at Alibaug in Maharashtra's Raigad district, Thackeray claimed if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha polls, crackers will be burst in India as well as in China as there will be a timid government in New Delhi.

He slammed the BJP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that Pakistan was eager to make Congress MP Rahul Gandhi India's next PM. Thackeray said the former ally resorts to fearmongering using Pakistan's name during polls.

Referring to the Poonch terror attack, Thackeray said the PM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah won't go there, but visit Maharashtra to destroy him.

One soldier was killed and four were injured after terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.

Even if the doors are open, do whatever you want. I will not come to you. And there will be no need to come back to you because you will not be there (in power), Thackeray said, adding that his government was pulled down through treachery in 2022.

The Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state collapsed in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the undivided Shiv Sena and joined hands with the BJP to become the chief minister.

In an interview to a news channel last week, Modi had said that he would respect Uddhav Thackeray as Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's son and would be the first person to help him if he is in distress.

Thackeray said Modi has only given pain to people till now, but he is ready to campaign for him if people say they are happy with his government's work.

The Sena (UBT) chief said that had the BJP worked for 10 years, it would not have had to engineer splits, referring to the upheavals in Shiv Sena and NCP.

Accusing the BJP of harbouring hatred for Maharashtra, he said that despite giving over 40 MPs to the NDA in 2019, the state was betrayed.

The former Maharashtra chief minister accused the Centre of taking away big-ticket projects to Gujarat and imposing the ecologically destructive Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant project and a refinery project on the state.

On BJP's 400-plus seat call, Thackeray said its confidence is growing and its hunger is insatiable. He also alleged that the BJP wants to change the Constitution after getting a brute majority.

In the Raigad Lok Sabha constituency, which will vote on May 7, the ruling Mahayuti is backing Sunil Tatkare of Ajit Pawar-led NCP against Anant Geete of Sena (UBT).
Amid the escalating Israel-Hamas war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned news network Al Jazeera.

The decision was announced by Netanyahu on X. However, it is still not clear whether the measure was a permanent or temporary one. My government decided unanimously: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will close in Israel, Netanyahu posted on X.

Al Jazeera has vehemently denied that it incites against Israel.

An Al Jazeera correspondent on its Arabic service said the order would affect the broadcaster's operations in Israel and in east Jerusalem, where it has been doing live shots for months since the Oct 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza, reported The Associated Press.

Another correspondent said that the order barred the channel from holding offices or operations in Israel.

Israels decision heightens the tensions with Qatar since the government is leading mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. Qatar along with Egypt and the United States is involved in the mediation efforts.

Since Israel accused Qatar of not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to agree to a truce deal, Netanyahu had strained ties with the country.

Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Mideast governments. Those include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a yearslong boycott of Doha by the countries amid a years-long political dispute that ended in 2021.

(With PTI inputs)
A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported noticeable progress in cease-fire talks with Israel, though an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war in Gaza.

Pressure has mounted to reach a deal halting the nearly 7-month-long war. A top UN official says there is now a full-blown famine in northern Gaza, while Israel insists it will launch an offensive into Rafah, the territory's southernmost city on the border with Egypt, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.

Egyptian and US mediators have reported signs of compromise in recent days, but chances for a cease-fire deal remain entangled with the key question of whether Israel will accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying Hamas.

Egypt's state-owned Al-Qahera News TV channel said Saturday that a consensus had been reached over many disputed points but did not elaborate. Hamas has called for a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, played down the prospects for a full end to the war. The official said Israel was committed to the Rafah invasion and that it would not agree in any circumstance to end the war as part of a deal to release hostages.

The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organisation, said it appears that Hamas has agreed to the framework that Egypt proposed and Israel has already accepted. He said if Israel sends its top negotiators to Cairo after the Sabbath ends on Saturday evening, that would signify it's very serious.

The war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's local health officials, caused widespread destruction and plunged the territory into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The conflict erupted on October 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 250 people and killing around 1,200, mostly civilians. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Israeli strikes early Saturday in Gaza killed at least six people. Three bodies were recovered from the rubble of a building in Rafah and taken to Yousef Al Najjar Hospital. A strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed three people, according to hospital officials.

In the last 24 hours, the bodies of 32 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to local hospitals, Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies but says that women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.

The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim. It has also conducted mass arrests during its raids inside Gaza.

Gaza's Health Ministry urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the death in Israeli custody of a Gaza surgeon. Adnan al-Borsh, 50, was working at al-Awda Hospital when Israeli troops stormed it in December, detaining him and others inside, according to the Palestinian Prisoner's Club.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said it and Shin Bet had killed five terrorists in Tulkarem. Palestinian authorities said five people were killed by Israeli fire in the town of Deir al-Ghusun, roughly 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) northeast of Tulkarem.

In related developments this week, Israel briefed Biden administration officials on plans to evacuate civilians ahead of the Rafah operation, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands would be at imminent risk of death if Israel moves forward into the densely packed city, which is also a critical entry point for humanitarian aid.

The director of the UN World Food Program, Cindy McCain, said Friday that trapped civilians in the north, the most cut-off part of Gaza, have plunged into famine. McCain said a cease-fire and a greatly increased flow of aid through land and sea routes was essential.

Israel recently opened new crossings for aid into northern Gaza, but on Wednesday, Israeli settlers blocked the first convoy before it crossed into the besieged enclave. Once inside Gaza, the convoy was commandeered by Hamas militants, before UN officials reclaimed it.
Two years since the Russian troops stormed into Ukraine's territories, Moscow has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its list of wanted criminals. According to the state news agency TASS, the Russian Interior Ministry database showed Zelenskyy's name on a wanted list.

The Ukrainian President's name appeared on the wanted list "under an article of the Criminal Code" with a pre-war photo of his. Though his data was given, there is no other detail. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials as to why Zelenskyy had been added to the list.

However, Ukraine's foreign ministry has responded to this, calling it a worthless Russian announcement. A statement issued by the ministry said Russian President Vladimir Putin was himself subject to arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant.

"We would like to remind you that unlike the worthless Russian announcements, an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes is quite real, and subject to implementation in 123 countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said the Russian announcement was "evidence of the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which can think of no other way to attract attention".

Commander of Ukraine's Land Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko have also appeared in the online database on Saturday.

Zelenskyy is not the first foreign politican to be placed under the wanted list. In February, Moscow said it placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas under the list for the "desecration of historical memory" over the Baltic country's move to destroy Soviet era monuments. Besides Kallas, Lithuania's culture minister and members of the previous Latvian parliament are on a wanted list for destroying Soviet-era monuments. Russia also issued an arrest warrant for the International Criminal Court prosecutor who last year prepared Putin's war crimes warrant.

Russian missiles pound Ukraine

Russia continued to attack Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro regions and the Black Sea port city of Odesa on Saturday. Zelenskyy said Russia used eight missiles of various kinds and nearly 70 guided aerial bombs

against communities and frontline positions during the day. He also claimed that Ukraine's air force downed 13 Shahed drones that targeted the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions overnight. The President added that Ukraine's 110th mechanised brigade brought down a Russian Su-25 fighter-bomber over the eastern Donetsk region, one of four areas of Ukraine Moscow says it has annexed.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the recent arrests made by Canada in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was Canada's internal matter and had nothing to do with India. He also added that India will wait for Canadian police to share information on the three Indian men it has arrested.

The Canadian police charged the three on Friday over the murder of Nijjar. All of them were Indian nationals and were arrested in the city of Edmonton in Alberta on Friday. The Canadian police added that a probe was on to establish whether the men had any links to the Indian government.

The EAM told reporters in Bhubaneswar that he had seen the news of the arrests. "The suspects, apparently, are Indians of some kind of gang background. We'll have to wait for the police to tell us. But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organised crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada," said Jaishankar.

The EAM said a section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canada's democracy, creating a lobby and have become a vote bank. "The ruling party in Canada has no majority in Parliament and some parties depend on pro-Khalistan leaders. We have convinced them several times not to give visa, legitimacy or political space to such people which is causing problems for them (Canada), for us and also for our relationship," Jaishankar said, adding that the "Canadian government has not done anything."

"India sought the extradition of 25 people, most of whom are pro-Khalistan, but they did not pay any heed," he said, adding that there was political compulsion in Canada to blame India. "As election is coming in Canada, they indulge in vote bank politics," Jaishankar added.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Verma, India's high commissioner to Canada, said he hoped to get regular updates from Canadian authorities regarding the three arrested Indians. "I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard," Verma was quoted by Reuters.
Interview/ N. Biren Singh, chief minister, Manipur

Imphal is blanketed in darkness. The sun has set a little too soon in the valley, but N. Biren Singh is yet to call it a day. His pet Chestera French bulldogoblivious to human conflicts, walks up to be petted by the many visitors thronging his residence during the Lok Sabha polls. Singh looks fatigued, but he has not given up. It is a litmus test for the Manipur chief minister who sits over a divide that is complete after one year of ethnic clashes between the valley-based Meiteis and the hill-based Kuki-Zo ethnic group.

We will find a viable solution to bring both communities together.The Centre has made it clear that without touching the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur, we will hold peace talks.

Today, the general public is living in islands of peace that exist within the hills and the valley. Manipur has become a tinderbox of multiple pulls and pressures not just within but also on its borders. Government-owned arms have gone missing, and there are fears of a revival of insurgency, with more than half a dozen Indian insurgent groups taking shelter in Myanmar and lending covert support to the internal strife in Manipur. Even as Singh looks to the Centre for long-term solutions, the next step to bridge the divide on ground will have to come from the state government.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q/ It is one year since violence gripped Manipur. How do you see the security situation today?

A/ The security situation has improved, but around 50 companies of paramilitary forces were withdrawn from the state due to elections, causing a vacuum in some vulnerable areas. But no major untoward incident has taken place in the last four to five months, and I can assure you that peace is returning.

Q/ Looking back at the year gone by, do you have any regrets?

A/ The general public impacted by the violence is innocent. They misunderstood the state government in the beginning and blamed it for the violence. From the time the violence began on May 3 until around August last year, we have mostly been busy managing the situation, putting the displaced in shelter homes and relief camps and making security arrangements. From September onwards, we resumed gathering data and visual proof of poppy plantations, creation of unnatural villages and of illegal smuggling on borders and presented it before the public. The public now understands that the crisis Manipur is facing today has not happened overnight. Over the years, indigenous people have lost their rights, and they have come under threat from drugs even as ecological concerns multiplied with forest lands being grabbed for illegal activities.

Q/ What do you mean by unnatural villages?

A/ The Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur is 398km long, and there was no fencing at all. In the past, attempts were made to fence around 4km, but even that could not be completed. Under the BJP tenure, we fenced around 10km of the border, and work will begin to fence another 21km. But the fact is that the border is porous and totally unguarded, and people have been coming and going at will. The Kuki-Chin population is living on both sides of the border with close ties. The Free Movement Regime enacted in the past was brought in to facilitate their easy movement. But taking advantage of this facility, people came and settled down here illegally. The economic situation in Myanmar cannot be compared with the Indian side. So, settling down here is far more advantageous, and they get free ration, water, electricity and schools. Since the language, ethnicity, religion, community are same on both sides, it is difficult to identify the outsiders. A peculiar entry in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Manipur called any Kuki tribe also enables them to get access to benefits of tribals. In the last 20 to 30 years, a huge population has entered Manipur creating an alarming situation today.

Q/ You were in the Congress earlier. What did you do about it then?

A/ Yes, I was an MLA in the Congress in 2013 and I had warned the then government about people coming in from Myanmar and their demands for a separate state. My vision was not heard because of appeasement policies. I left the Congress and joined the BJP and raised the same issues with the prime minister and then BJP president Amit Shah. I asked for extension of the Inner Line Permit system to Manipur.

Q/ But the large population that has already entered over the years cannot be pushed back.

A/ Why not? We should push them back. Under the Inner Line Permit guidelines, we have kept 1961 as the base year to segregate indigenous and non-indigenous population. We have begun taking data. Approximately 2,400 persons who came earlier and nearly 7,400 new entrants have been identified, and we have started the process of deportation from Chandel, Churachandpur and Moreh. If all of them are accommodated, where will the indigenous people go? This is also one of the reasons for the resistance to the state governments policies.

Q/ How do you see the Assam Rifles role in guarding the border?

A/ The Assam Rifles is not a border guarding force; it is a counterinsurgency force. The entire border is open.

Q/ Are you saying the Indo-Myanmar border needs a special force to guard it?

A/ The Assam Rifles are not trained for guarding borders, which is why we have requested the Union home ministry to deploy a separate force to guard the border. The Assam Rifles is not operating on the border line; it is sitting around 15km inside Indian territory. Can an international border be guarded like this?

Q/ Which insurgent groups are active in Manipur today?

A/ There are a handful of insurgent groups like PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) or PREPAK (Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak) that remain a concern. After 60 years, we began peace talks with the UNLF (United National Liberation Front) and hundreds of cadres came on board. We are also trying to talk to other insurgent groups.

Q/ Is the present crisis in Manipur fuelled by insurgent groups taking shelter in Myanmar?

A/ Those who entered Manipur are (from insurgent groups) and those who are fighting the junta (in Myanmar) also belong to them. So, it is all related. The movement of arms across the border, the threat from the Golden Triangle, extending from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand into Manipur, with 60 to 70 per cent poppy plantation taking place here made the situation worse. The jungles were cut down to give way to these illegal activities in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Kamjong, Ukhrul. Due to strict action, such activities have come down in parts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.

Q/ There are reports that youth vigilante groups and indigenous people in the valley have picked up arms.

A/ It is true that they are picking up arms, but they are not doing it as anti-nationals. They have done it for self-defence and protection of their people against illegal immigrants who resorted to killing and burning down their homes. If we can provide full security and if normalcy returns, then the youth will not bear arms. We are also carrying out operations to recover arms both from the valley and the hills.

Q/ Who is supplying arms to these groups in the valley?

A/ The arms were looted from police armouries. Some of them have been recovered, but it also depends on public cooperation. We cannot use too much force against people, but we are making constant efforts. When they feel fully secure, we hope to recover all the arms. But the recovery of all arms is crucial for peace to return in Manipur.

Q/ From which areas were the arms looted in the valley and the hills?

A/ On May 3, arms were looted from Churachandpur, Singngat and Kangpokpi police stations, and two days later from the police armoury and training centre in Imphal valley.

Q/ There are concerns outside Manipur that the Christian community was targeted?

A/ We are all one and we cannot be divided. We have to live together. Those who are living here need not fear. The state government is only identifying illegal entrants and acting against the drug problem, which impacts all communities alike. We have already begun talks with Kuki-Zo and Meitei brothers, Nagas and civil society organisations. There is no threat to Christians, Hindus, Meiteis, Kukis or any other community based on religion. Around 300-400 churches are there in the valley. The attacks that happened were carried out by mobs. We want everyone to live together peacefully.

Q/ When the Union home minister says the government will talk to both sides, how will it happen when both communities are divided?

A/ We will find a viable solution to bring both communities together. Talks have already begun. Manipur was a kingdom before it came under the ambit of the Indian Constitution. More than 35 tribes live here and just because one says it cannot live with the other does not mean the state should be divided. The Centre has made it clear that without touching the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur, we will hold peace talks.

Q/ Why is there a need for ST status for the Meitei community?

A/ The indigenous people have concerns around job reservation and land rights. So, all the nitty-gritties must be discussed before a decision is taken on the ST status for Meiteis. The decision should not be taken forcefully, but with consensus. Whether it is through the ST status or not, the Meiteis definitely need protection under the Constitution. It is a micro population. How can it compete with 100 crore of more advanced people? For example, there is restriction on land [ownership] in the hills. Let us give similar protection to the people of the valley.
BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Committee of China's State Council on Sunday announced that it will oversee the investigation into a university fire in central China's Henan Province.

The fire occurred on Thursday at a grand auditorium in the Minglun campus of Henan University.

The committee will dispatch a team to supervise and guide the local investigation work. It urges efforts to carry out scientific and rigorous investigations to determine the cause of the fire, as well as to seek accountability in accordance with laws and regulations. 
The generals, men in khaki, bureaucrats and kurta-clad politicians have all put on their thinking hats to reevaluate the role of the Assam Rifles in Manipur. The two-century-old force, which is called the Sentinels of the Northeast, is now facing what some may term an existential crisis.

A senior home ministry official said local villagers must be included in security plans to elicit their support in establishing outposts and for area domination.

The Assam Rifles came into being in 1835 as a militia called the Cachar Levy. It was formed with 750 men, mainly to protect British tea estates and settlements against tribal raiders. Later, it was renamed the Frontier Force and its role was expanded to carrying out punitive expeditions across the borders of Assam. The force was merged with three Assam military police battalions in 1870. It saw action during World War Iaround 3,000 men were sent to Europe and the Middle Eastand got its current name in 1917. Its strength today stands at 46 battalions and the primary role has evolved into counterinsurgency in the northeast and security along the borders with Myanmar under control of the Indian Army (it is headed by a lieutenant general rank officer, with sector headquarters commanded by brigadiers).

The Manipur violence has led to heated debates between the critics and supporters of the paramilitary force. Multiple options are now being considered. Should the Assam Rifles be relieved from the Myanmar border and tasked only with counterinsurgency? Or vice versa? Or, should there be a radical change in the form, shape and control of the force? These are some of the questions before the authorities.

There is a demand from the Manipur government to replace the Assam Rifles with a new, dedicated border force for its districts lying near the Myanmar border. The Biren Singh regime wants this new force to have a proper chain of border outposts so as to act as the first line of defence against rampant cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons by insurgents and the entry of illegal immigrants from Myanmar. The state security officials say that if the Centre deploys a dedicated border force, then the states own police units will become the second line of defence, thereby strengthening the security grid.

In the current scenario, though the Union defence ministry, through the Army, has operational control of the Assam Rifles, the Union home ministry has administrative control. Turf wars between the ministries have led to several draft notes reaching the cabinet committee on security, during the NDA and UPA regimes, seeking to replace the Assam Rifles with either the Indo-Tibetan Border Police or the Border Security Force. Both these central armed police forces are under the home ministrys control, but, these ideas were shot down following the intervention of the generals.

In 2019, then Army chief General Bipin Rawat told Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that the Assam Rifles must be strengthened to respond to border threats and counter armed insurgents who are active in Manipur and have operational bases in Myanmar.

While the home ministry has long felt the need to implement the Kargil Review Committees recommendation of one border, one force, there is a realisation now that a more holistic approach is needed to enhance national security, both along the border and internally.

There has to be effective coordination between the state government and the border guarding forces, said retired Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan, former director general of the Assam Rifles. Each force needs to build its capability to tackle threats ranging from law and order to counterinsurgency. The strength of the Assam Rifles needs to be doubled because the force needs to be in full strength if it has to be on the frontline like the BSF and other central armed police forces. We are not dealing with cattle smugglers here.

The home ministry realises that before it takes a call on which force will guard the vulnerable international border in Manipur, it first has to build all-weather roads and create border outposts at an interval of 10km-15km so that security personnel can cover the area by foot or mobile patrolling. A senior home ministry official said that the local villagers must be included in the security plans to elicit their support in establishing the outposts and for area domination in times of crisis. As many as 46 border outposts will be needed, which means doubling the strength of the border guarding force to man these posts, the official added.

When it comes to the state police forces, their vulnerability in conflict zones has been seen many times in Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern states. The survivability of a state police post with a dozen men is near-impossible in these areas as they can be overrun by a group of guerrillas (insurgents) anytime, said Lt Gen Chauhan. Also, state police forces often feel the pulls and pressures of their political bosses, thereby constraining their growth. This is why the central armed police forces or the Army step in. Manipur is no different.

At the same time, creating an effective border infrastructure in such tough terrain is not a days job. It takes several initiatives and work can take years to complete. After all, the neglect has gone on for decades.

The police infrastructure in the hills need immediate attention and so does road connectivity and basic facilities in border villages.

Bringing telecom companies to instal towers in the vicinity of outposts and asking the state police to create contingency plans to provide assistance in times of crisis are the next steps.

The violence in Manipur may not be a direct outcome of external pulls and pressures, rather an assertion of ethnic identities that fear a slow erosion of their roots. But, between the fear and the fight, there is now a realisation that violence makes the border state more vulnerable. Especially when drones and gunshots fly within Myanmar and insurgent groups are coming out of hiding.
Roughly 100,000 immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children are expected to enroll in the Affordable Care Acts health insurance next year under a new directive the Biden administration released Friday.

The move took longer than promised to finalize and fell short of Democratic President Joe Bidens initial proposal to allow those migrants to sign up for Medicaid, the health insurance program that provides nearly free coverage for the nations poorest people.

But it will allow thousands of migrants to access lucrative tax breaks when they sign up for coverage after the Affordable Care Acts marketplace enrollment opens Nov. 1, just days ahead of the presidential election.

While it may help Biden boost his appeal at a crucial time among Latinos, a crucial voting bloc that Biden needs to turn out to win the election, the move is certain to prompt more criticism among conservatives about the presidents border and migrant policies.

The action opens up the marketplace to any participant in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, many of whom are Latino.

Xavier Becerra, the nations top health official, said Thursday that many of those migrants have delayed getting care because they have not had coverage.

They incur higher costs and debts when they do finally receive care, Becerra told reporters on a call. Making Dreamers eligible to enroll in coverage will improve their health and well-being and strengthen the health and well-being of our nation and our economy.

The administrations action changes the definition of lawfully present so DACA participants can legally enroll in the marketplace exchange.

Then-President Barack Obama launched the DACA initiative to shield from deportation immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as children and to allow them to work legally in the country. However, the immigrants, also known as Dreamers, were still ineligible for government-subsidized health insurance programs because they did not meet the definition of having a lawful presence in the U.S.

The administration decided not to expand eligibility for Medicaid for those migrants after receiving more than 20,000 comments on the proposal, senior officials said Thursday. Those officials declined to explain why the rule, which was first proposed last April, took so long to finalize. The delay meant the migrants were unable to enroll in the marketplace for coverage this year.

More than 800,000 of the migrants will be eligible to enroll in marketplace coverage but the administration predicts only 100,000 will actually sign up because some may get coverage through their workplace or other ways. Some may also be unable to afford coverage through the marketplace.

Other classes of immigrants, including asylum seekers and people with temporary protected status, are already eligible to purchase insurance through the marketplaces of the ACA, Obamas 2010 health care law, often called Obamacare.

(AP)
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, North Carolina, home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbors house.

As bullets flew just feet away, Chhoeun took out his phone and started live-streaming the standoff between officials and a man wanted for possession of a firearm by an ex-felon and fleeing to elude.

By the end of the ordeal, five people including four officers and the shooter were dead and more injured in the deadliest single-day incident for U.S. law enforcement since 2016.

The deadly shootout also illustrated how smartphone-wielding bystanders dont always run for cover when bullets start to fly. Increasingly, they look to livestream their perspective of the attack. Experts say the reaction reflects the new role that bystanders play in the age of smartphones.

Its become sort of a social norm, said Karen North, a digital social media professor at the University of Southern California Annenberg.

Humans always have had trouble defining the responsibilities of a bystander in a crisis situation, North said. Its not always safe to intervene, as with the situation in Charlotte, and people can feel helpless when theyre doing nothing. Social media has provided a third option.

The new responsibility of the bystander in the digital era is to take a record of what happened on their phones, she said.

It used to be, If you see something, say something,' North said. Now, its, If you see something, start recording.

Chhoeun had been about to leave for work when U.S. marshals blocked his driveway and he was forced to huddle for safety in his garage, his keys in the ignition of his truck. He crouched by the door knocking for his son to let him in with one hand and recording with the other.

Chhoeun said he never would have risked his life to shoot a video if he hadnt been locked outside. But since he was, he thought: I might just live it, you know, get everybody the world to see also that Ive witnessed that. I didnt see that coming.

Rissa Reign, a youth coordinator who lives in the neighborhood, said she was cleaning her house when she heard gunfire and walked out to find out what was happening.

She began recording when she heard sirens, thinking she would share the video to Charlit, a Facebook group with 62,000 members where residents post about news and events. She had no idea how serious the situation had become until a SWAT vehicle pulled up behind her.

Once we were out there, it was, Oh, no. This is an active situation, she said. And the next thing you know, youre in the middle of something way bigger than what you thought.

Reign saw livestreaming as a way to keep the community informed, she said.

Seeing that really puts things in perspective and lets you know that is really real, not just reading it or hearing about it in the news, she said of the live stream video. When you really see it, you can, you know, you know that its real.

Mary Angela Bock, a media professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said there are many reasons why someone might pull out their phone in a situation like the one in Charlotte. There are always going to be people who try to shoot videos because of a human attraction to violence or to catch someone in an embarrassing situation.

There are also good reasons for good people to respectfully, from a safe distance, record police activity, or any kind of government activity for the sake of citizenship: to bear witness on behalf of other citizens, to bear witness on behalf of the community, she said. Were all in this together.

Bock, who studies people who film law enforcement, said police leaders often will say to her that they support the idea of respectfully distanced citizen video because it creates more evidence. But that is sometimes easier said than done on the ground during a crisis situation.

Police officers will often talk about how, and this is true, video doesnt always show the whole story. Video has to start and stop. Somebody might not have been there in the beginning, somebody might not see the whole thing. One perspective is not the whole perspective, she said.

Which is why I advocate to people to respectfully record from a distance because the more perspectives, the better when we triangulate. When we have more than one view of a scene, we have a better idea of what happened, Bock said.

Numerous federal appeals courts have affirmed the right to record police work in public.

Stephen Dubovsky, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said for someone in that situation, connecting with others through livestreaming might give them a sense of safety.

You go out there and you might be at risk, but youre looking at it through your phone, he said. Youre looking at it through the video, youre one step detached from it.

In Chhoeuns video, two agents can be seen sheltering behind a vehicle. Another agent is shown by a fence in his yard, dropping to the ground as what appear to be bullets spray the area around him.

It was so, so sad for law enforcement, he said. I know they are not choosing to die on my backyard, but just do their job. And thats what happened to them, left their family behind.

(AP)
Multiple Manhattan synagogues were subjected to false bomb threats on Saturday, prompting evacuations and a swift response from law enforcement.

According to police, Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side was evacuated at approximately 3:15 p.m. after a reported bomb threat. The threat was later deemed unfounded.

Shortly after, at around 4:30 p.m., Chabad of Midtown and Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, a progressive reformed synagogue, also received false bomb threats. The latter was empty at the time, and no one was injured in any of the incidents.

Additional bomb threats have been reported at additional Shuls, with up to two dozen being targeted with the hoax threats across New York City.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement condemning the threats, saying, Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear and antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions. Her office is actively monitoring the situation alongside law enforcement.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A shocking discovery has been made at Adolf Hitlers former military headquarters in Poland, where five human skeletons were unearthed without their hands and feet. The remains, including those of three adults, a baby, and an older child, were found buried inside the villa of Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering.

The Latebra Foundation, a group of amateur archaeologists, made the discovery while excavating the site with official permission. Youd never expect such things in such a place the most guarded place in the Third Reich and after the war, the Russians took over this place, said Dominik Markiewicz, a member of the Latebra Foundation.

The skeletons were found buried just below the ground in a part of the building where a wooden floor once existed. It is unclear whether the remains date back to World War Two or were buried there later. An investigation has been opened, and forensic investigators have examined the bodies under police supervision.

The Wolfs Lair, Hitlers military headquarters during World War Two, consisted of over 200 structures covering 250 hectares. It was destroyed by German Nazi forces in 1945 to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Soviet Red Army. Today, the remaining bunkers, shelters, and barracks in the forest of Gierloz, northeastern Poland, are open to tourists.

The villa of Hermann Goering, who was Hitlers designated successor, has largely fallen into decay.

In other Nazi news, the Berlin government is offering to give away a villa once owned by Adolf Hitlers propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, in an effort to end a decades-long debate over the sites future. The villa, located in the countryside north of Berlin, has been disused and fallen into disrepair.

Berlins finance minister, Stefan Evers, announced the offer on Thursday, calling for proposals that reflect the sites history. He did not specify if proposals from private individuals would be considered. The offer comes after repeated attempts to hand over the site to federal authorities or the state of Brandenburg, where the villa is located.

The villa was built in 1939 as a luxury retreat for Goebbels and his family. It was used to entertain Nazi leaders, artists, and actors. After the war, the site was briefly used as a hospital and then taken over by the youth wing of the East German communist party.

Since German reunification in 1990, the site has been owned by the state of Berlin, but the city has found no use for it. The site has become an attraction for day-trippers, who can explore the overgrown grounds and peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa.

If no suitable proposal is received, the city has threatened to demolish the site, which has become a burden due to maintenance and security costs.

Goebbels and his family killed themselves in Hitlers bunker as Soviet troops closed in during the final phase of World War II.

The familys opulent home on an island in Berlin was sold at auction in 2011.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
TOKYO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 30,000 peace-seeking Japanese have participated in a massive rally in Tokyo to defend the country's pacifist constitution, chanting "No constitutional amendments, defend the constitution, protect peace!"

Japan marked the 77th memorial day of its pacifist post-war Constitution on May 3. The supreme law's Article 9 renounces war and bans the country from maintaining land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential. However, nowadays, concerns mount among Japanese people regarding the steadfastness in upholding the principles of the war-renouncing constitution.

Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, took to the podium on Friday's protest in the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park to criticize what the government has done to Japan.

"Now Japan is in a constitutional crisis, a peace crisis, a war crisis, and a human rights crisis!" she said.

Kanehisa Yamauchi, who just returned from Okinawa, told Xinhua that Okinawa has become increasingly militarized. A month ago, the Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed its first surface-to-ship missile unit on the main island of Okinawa at Uruma Base.

"I saw many people protesting near the base in Okinawa," said Yamauchi, adding it was "very absurd" that the Japanese government concocted lies to deceive the people.

"Lifting the ban on collective self-defense, doubling defense spending, gaining enemy base strike capabilities, lifting the export ban on lethal weapons... All of these are clearly prohibited by Article 9, but all of them have been done by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over the years under the pretext of 'peace,'" Tomoko Tamura, chairperson of the Japanese Communist Party, gave a thought-provoking speech at the rally.

"In today's Japan, the constitution is pacifist in name but not in reality, and Japan is seeking to become a military power!" Sayo Saruta, director of the Japanese think tank New Diplomacy Initiative, said in his speech.

"I am here to better defend the constitution, especially Article 9," Akiko Nogaki, from Tokyo's Suginami Ward, told Xinhua.

A particularly eye-catching flag waved above a crowd of protesters. At the top of the flag was a picture of a little girl flying in the wind on a dove of peace, with the words "No war! Don't get involved in the U.S. war!" written in big letters below.

Flag holder Shoichi Itoh from the Article 9 Association, one of the largest anti-constitutional revision groups in Japan, told Xinhua that they are retired primary and secondary school teachers from Tokyo.

"This flag is an expression of our common aspirations. I have taught middle school history all my life, and in my classes, I will definitely tell the children to reflect on the war and never let it happen again!" he said.

However, on the same day as in previous years, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida continued to send a video message to a small gathering of pro-constitutional amendment forces, once again emphasizing the need to speed up discussions on revising the constitution.

Also on Friday, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun wrote: "Not only should the Self-Defense Forces be written into the constitution, but also the 'capability to attack enemy bases.'"

"Force does not bring peace!" "No to war!" the people at the rally shouted together.

After the rally, people took to the streets carrying signs and flags. A citizen told Xinhua, "For no other reason than to alert more people, I hope more people will join the team to defend the constitution next year." 
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

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This past Erev Shabbos, Klal Yisroel lost a Rosh Yeshiva, a Gadol, and a Mussar giant in Rav Yechiel Yitzchok Perr zatzals passing. Rabbi Perr was a close Talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler and took physical care of him during Rav Aharons last illness. It was a week in which three Talmidim of Rav Aharon passed away: Reb Dov Wolowitz, Rav Avrohom Stefansky, and Rav Perr. Aleihem hashalom.

Rav Yechiel Yitzchak Perr had grown up in South Ozone Park, Queens, where his father, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Perr served as a Rav for over 50 years. He spent summers in Camp Bnos and davened in Camp Agudah. As the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Eisan, he educated thousands of Talmidim who took their place as the backbone of numerous Torah institutions.

In his Camp Agudah days he davened in the Masmidim minyan and would often argue in learning with Rav Belsky ztl after the Dvar Halacha given by Rav Michoel Levi shlita of Beis Yaakov DRav Meir.

Rav Perr was exposed to the Slabodkan Mussar of Rav Avigdor Miller ztl (whose yartzeit is tonight) where he attended high school at Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin. After completing high school, he studied at the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia under Rav, and then at Lakewood Yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey under Rabbi Aharon Kotler from 1954 to 1962.

Rav Perr married Rebbitzen Shoshana Nekritz  the daughter of Rav Yehuda Leib Nekritz, and the granddaughter of Rabbi Avraham Yaffen, and great-granddaughter Novardok, Rabbi Yosef Yozel Horwitz ztl.

Rav Perr later studied at Yeshivas Beis Yosef/Novardok in Brooklyn, New York and also incorporated Novardik Mussar in his Mussar ouvre. In 1969, he established the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway.

Aside from his deep mehalech haLimmud and his unique Musaar insights, Rav Perr cared deeply for Klal Yisroel, helping Agunos throughout his life, standing up for the downtrodden, the poor, Baalei teshuvah, Geirim, and he stood strongly for Kiruv. He stood for Yashrus in every aspect of it. Whenever a danger to Klal Yisroel arose, he stood at the forefront to stop it. Rav Perr was one of the first to stand strong against molesters in Jewish education. He challenged others in yashrus  backing the nusach below when others did not. We, the undersigned, affirm that any individual with firsthand knowledge or reasonable basis to suspect child abuse has a religious obligation to promptly notify the secular law enforcement of that information. These individuals have the experience, expertise and training to thoroughly and responsibly investigate the matter. Furthermore, those deemed mandated reporters under secular law must obey their States reporting requirements.

Lives can be ruined or ended by unreported child abuse, as we are too often tragically reminded. The Torahs statement in Leviticus 19:16, Do not stand by while your neighbors blood is shed obligates every member of the community to do all in ones power to prevent harm to others. In conclusion, every individual with firsthand knowledge or reasonable cause for suspicion of child abuse has a Torah obligation to promptly notify the proper civil authorities.

He lent strong support to others who swam against the tide to make things better for Klal Yisroel. he was an unabashed supporter of the need for Mussar and for strengthening its study everywhere.

Rav Perrs Mussar Vaadim were masterful works  and inspired thousands. He would teach from the classical work of the Alter of Novardik  Madreigas HaAdam and knew its contents thoroughly.

Rav Perr ztl had a unique koach hatziur which helped all of his listeners relate to the emotion of what was being felt. And it would bring the lesson home. An example of this in some of his thoughts from Bereishis is:

And she bore Kayin, saying, I have acquired a man with Hashem. And additionally, she bore his brother Hevel. (Bereishis 4:1-2)

The differences that human beings have, in their separate spiritual journeys, are illustrated to us in the Torah almost at its very beginning, with the story of Kayin and Hevel. It may not have been an innate shortcoming in Kayin. His mother had named him Kayin out of the thrill of having borne him. He was her child. And he was her precious acquisition. He belonged to her, and every time she called him by his name, he heard the importance of acquisition, of ownership. We are not told why Chavah then called her second son Hevel.

But the name speaks for itself. Hevel. Vanity. Emptiness. Everything is empty. Now it was Kayin who first conceived the idea of thanking Hashem for His blessings with a sacrifice. Yet, at the same time, Kayin would not give the best of his produce. After all, the best was the most valuable. And Hashem doesnt need the best, does He?

Hevel, on the other hand, had no problem bringing the best. Who needs the best? All acquisitions are emptiness. If we are grateful to Hashem, we should show it by giving the best. Kayin was then zoche to a mussar shmuez from the Creator Himself.

Sin, he is told, lies at the door. It is waiting for you to go anywhere, do anything. But sin desires you  it needs you! Therefore, you are its master, and you can control it. Just dont open the door!

We can picture to ourselves the excitement with which Kayin shared this vital information with Hevel. And Kayin said to Hevel his brother.. (Bereishis 4:8). Perhaps it was this that Kayin said: You hear, Hevel? Just be aware when you open the door! But Hevel didnt respond. He was not concerned with the sin lying at the door. He had no interest in going through that door or any other door. He had no need to conquer or to acquire the world. Havel havalim; all is emptiness.

Kayin saw Hevels lack of interest, and suddenly realized that he alone faced a lifetime of struggle. Hevel surely had his own spiritual work to do. But this grinding, day-by-day struggle was not his. When Kayin realized this, he was filled with rage over the unfairness of it all. He could no longer live with Hevel. and it was when they were in the field that Kayin rose against Hevel his brother and he killed him (ibid, v. 8).

His son, Rav Moshe Perr, a remarkable Talmid Chochom is the current Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Eisan (Yeshiva of Far Rockaway).

the author can be reached at [email protected]
A former US Army officer has revealed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is using Israeli hostages as human shields to protect himself and his family. General Jack Keane, former US Army Vice Chief of Staff, told Sky News that sources confirm Sinwar has surrounded himself and his family with 15-20 hostages, ensuring his survival.

My sources tell me that Sinwar, who is the number one leader in Gaza of the Hamas organization, has 15-20 hostages protecting him and his family, Keane stated. Thats why they have these hostages to guarantee their survival.

Keane emphasized that Israel is justified in applying military pressure to force the release of the hostages. Israel is absolutely right in putting military pressure on them to force the release of the hostages, he said.

This report corroborates a February Washington Post article, which stated that the IDF believes Sinwar is hiding in tunnels beneath Khan Yunis, surrounded by a human shield of hostages to deter capture or killing.

If confirmed, this would explain Hamas refusal to release 40 hostages and insistence on releasing only 20-33, citing inability to locate the demanded number of hostages and requiring a ceasefire to do so.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The wave of pro-Hamas protests on college campuses in the US seemed to occur suddenly, shocking US citizens. But according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday, the political tactics behind some of the protests were the result of months of training, planning and encouragement by longtime activists and left-wing groups.

Student organizers at Columbia University received advice from the National Students for Justice in Palestine, veterans of campus protests, and former Black Panthers.

We took notes from our elders, engaged in dialogue with them and analyzed how the university responded to previous protests, said Sueda Polat, a graduate student and organizer in the pro-Hamas encampment.

According to the report, the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), which has over 300 chapters across the US, helped organize many of the college encampments and building occupations.

NSJP already began promoting demonstrations at colleges in October, shortly after Hamass brutal massacre of over 1,200 Jews  calling for a day of resistance on college campuses. Its rhetoric escalated over time  on April 25th, NSJP wrote on social media: The Student Movement for Palestinian Liberation will not be silenced; we will escalate until our demands are met.

The same day, NSJP referred to US police as pigs, on social media, advising students: If someone is arrested, dont linger too long or pigs will kettle the march.

Four days later, as university administrators began expressing concerns that the protests could interfere with graduation ceremonies, the NSJP announced a new chant on social media: No divestment, no commencement.

Some students attended a Resistance 101 with guest speakers that included activists with Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based group that celebrated the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and is linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Samidoun has been banned in Germany and was deemed a terror organization by Israel in 2021.

During the training, Samidoun coordinator Charlotte Kates told students: There is nothing wrong with being a member of Hamas, being a leader of Hamas, being a fighter in Hamas. These are the people that are on the front lines defending Palestine.

The report quoted one Jewish student, Jacob Schmeltz, a senior political-science major at Columbia, who went home to Montclair, N.J., for Pesach and said he felt so uncomfortable with the antisemitic rhetoric on campus, he hasnt come back.

This should be the time I should be able to enjoy my senior year, he said. But instead I have felt so rejected by much of the Columbia community that have refused to call out the incidents of antisemitism on campus.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A Saudi news site reported on Motzei Shabbos that Israel is no longer opposed to the release of murderous terrorist Marwan Barghouti on the condition that he is released to the Gaza Strip and not to the West Bank.

Barghouti, the former leader of the Tanzim organization, was sentenced by an Israeli court in 2004 to five cumulative life sentences and 40 years in prison for acts of terror in which five Israelis were murdered and many injured.

The report added that Hamas is expected to demand Barghoutis release during the first stage of an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire/hostage deal. The report claims that Hamas is poised to agree to the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire/hostage release deal. They will demand guarantees for the end of the war and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza at the end and the third final phase of the agreement.

Al Jazeera reported that a Qatari delegation departed for Cairo to assist in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

According to Egyptian reports, the Hamas delegation notified Cairo that it is willing to begin the implementation of the humanitarian phase of the deal even without an Israeli commitment in advance to end the war, provided that the continuation of the agreement will lead to the end of the war.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
The New York Police Department has released photos of items recovered from a Columbia University building occupied by anti-Israel protesters. The items include gas masks, helmets, goggles, hammers, knives, ropes, and a book on terrorism.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry shared the photos on social media, writing, These are not the tools of students protesting, these are the tools of agitators, of people who were working on something nefarious.

The Columbia Jewish Alumni Association responded to the NYPDs post, criticizing university staff who had spoken out against the police dispersal of the anti-Israel encampment. You are a disgrace, the group said.

The incident began on Tuesday night when protesters broke into Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves inside. Police cleared the building and made over 100 arrests on Thursday when they dispersed the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A intense shootout between Israeli security forces and terrorists in Deir al-Ghusun, near Tulkarem in the Shomron resulted in the deaths of five terrorists and the critical injury of a Yamam counterterrorism officer.

The operation, which lasted nearly 13 hours, aimed to apprehend the terrorists responsible for the murder of Elchanan Klein HYD in November. The terrorists, barricaded in a home, engaged in a fierce battle with Yamam officers and IDF forces.

The shootout involved the activation of the pressure cooker protocol, with two UAV attacks on the structure, firing of matador missiles, and sustained gunfire. The terrorists hid in a boydem, a concealed storage area, and utilized walls for protection.

The critically injured Yamam officer was shot point-blank during the final stages of the fighting. He was evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where medical staff are fighting to save his life.

Among the killed terrorists was the murderer of Elchanan Klein, a father of three from Einav in Shomron, who was killed last November in a shooting attack near Einav.

During the operation, military equipment and weapons components were confiscated. The injured officers family has been notified, and Beilinson Hospital reported his condition as very serious.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is set to join House Speaker Mike Johnson in inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, despite recent criticism of Netanyahu by Schumer.

According to The Hill, Johnson sent Schumer a draft invitation around a month ago, but Schumer had not yet cosigned it. However, Schumers office has now confirmed that he intends to join the invitation, with the timing being worked out.

This will be Netanyahus second address to Congress, following his 2015 speech. The invitation comes despite Schumers recent criticism of Netanyahu, including a speech in March where Schumer demanded elections in Israel and said Netanyahu had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace.

Schumers remarks were criticized by officials in both the US and Israel, but President Joe Biden later expressed support for Schumers comments. Netanyahu responded, calling Schumers remarks totally inappropriate.

Despite this, Schumer hinted in March that he would still welcome Netanyahu to address Congress, saying that the US-Israel relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Elyakim Shlomo Libman, Hyd, who was presumed to have been abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7th, was pronounced dead after his remains were found in Israel, the IDF announced on Friday.

On October 7th, Libman, zl, 23, was working as a security guard at the Nova music festival. After the attack, he spent hours at the site helping wounded victims. He was in an ambulance treating a victim when it took a direct hit from an anti-tank missile. His remains were unrecognizable and were mistakenly buried alongside one of the other 365 people murdered at the festival. Since his remains were never found, he was presumed to have been abducted but no forensic evidence of his abduction was ever discovered.

The IDF said that his remains were identified after a complex investigation carried out by the IDF, police, Health Ministry and the Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The process of identification took over a month and involved ZAKA Tel Aviv opening dozens of kevarim to determine if more than one victim was buried together.

Elyakim Shlomo, Hyd is the son of Eliyahu Libman, the former head of the Kiryat Arba-Chevron council, whose brother, Shneur Shlomo Libman, Hyd, was murdered in a terror attack in Yitzhar near 1998 at the age of 24.

Elyakim, Hyd, who was named after his uncle, was murdered at about the same age. In addition, the terrorists who murdered his uncle were released in the Shalit deal in 2011 and may have played a part in the October 7th attack.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
An Orthodox Jewish professor wrote a scathing letter to the administration of Rutgers University for letting the campus turn into a hotbed of bigotry, the New York Post reported over the weekend.

Rebecca Cypess, a music professor, is leaving Rutgers to become the dean of the undergraduate college at Yeshiva University after the toxic culture at Rutgers forced her out, she wrote in a letter to President Jonathan Holloway and Chancellor Francine Conway.

Cypess said that the skyrocketing antisemitism in recent months has prevented her from carrying out academic research and writing as she spends all her time confronting antisemitism and advocating for students, staff members, and faculty members in distress.

Pro-Hamas students at Rutgers were caught on video yelling, Hitler would have loved you at Jewish students; chanting for intifada and plastering anti-Israel posters featuring a photo of a Jewish freshmans face all over their dorm.

Throughout this year, I have found it difficult to breathe. I have lost my taste for my job; the joy that I used to feel in working at Rutgers has disappeared, Cypess wrote.

In her letter, Cypess also slammed the university for giving in to numerous demands made by the organizers of the anti-Israel tent encampment, who she says have held the university hostage all year.

They have harassed and intimidated Jews. They have propagated hate, including disgusting, antisemitic blood libels, she wrote.

Cypess said that she, along with the group Jewish Faculty Administrators and Staff [JFAS], tried to work in a collaborative spirit with the administration to improve Jewish life on campus, but now feels that approach was misguided.

If JFAS had pitched tents on Voorhees Mall, unfurled hateful banners from Murray Hall, and forced the cancellation of hundreds of exams, would our recommendations have been implemented? she wrote.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Ten Israelis were injured, at least one critically and two severely, on Sunday afternoon by a rocket barrage launched by terrorists in Rafah at the Kerem Shalom border crossing area.

At least 10 rockets were launched and several rockets exploded near an IDF facility and several people, likely soldiers, were injured. They received medical aid at the scene and were evacuated to the hospital.

The incident occurred as the IDF is preparing to launch an operation in Rafah if the Hamas terror group does not agree to a hostage release deal.

The videos below show the evacuation of the victims to Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva:

Shortly after the attack, Arab-language reports say that the IDF carried out airstrikes in Rafah. The IDF also announced that it has closed the Kerem Shalom Crossing to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks.

Hamas later claimed responsibility for the attack and said that they targeted a group of soldiers.

Following the incident, Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir said: We didnt attack Gaza and we received October 7th. We didnt attack Rafah and we received a pinpoint attack. Netanyahu, enter Rafah now!

Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen slammed the government, stating: The hesitancy of the Israeli government, which doesnt know how to speak Arabic, is costing lives.

The IDF issued a statement saying: While the IDF is facilitating humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, terrorists fire rockets into the same area. Israel remains committed to providing life-saving aid while Hamas remains committed to destroying lives.

Moments earlier, a heavy rocket barrage of about 30 rockets was fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon toward Kiryat Shmona. At least 16 Katyusha rockets fell in the city, injuring three people and causing heavy damage to buildings, vehicles, infrastructure and property.

An MDA intensive care unit was also damaged by shrapnel.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- During the ongoing May Day holiday lasting from May 1 to 5, many Chinese people have embarked on journeys to explore the vast country, underscoring China's economic vitality and resilience.

Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, famed for its sprawling skylines, leisurely lifestyle and spicy hot pot, has been among the most popular destinations.

At the city's Shibati scenic area, which features an ancient stairway and various traditional style buildings, Lao Xingye, a tourist from central China's Hubei province, is amazed by the strong sense of history and unique terrain features of the mountain city.

"In Shibati, there is a mixture of the old and the modern," Lao said. On one side of the main passage of the scenic area are trendy brands and fashion buyer stores; while on the other side are traditional shops selling products such as vintage items, wood carvings and bronze wares.

"Nowadays, tourists pay more attention to quality, and expect a personalized and diversified experience," said Yu Zhu, in charge of investment promotion of Shibati area.

"We should fully take advantage of the local culture and present it in a creative way, trying to establish an emotional connection with tourists, so that the scenic spot can have lasting vitality," Yu said.

As of 11:00 p.m. on May 3, Yuzhong District, where Shibati is located, received about 5 million tourists in the holiday, an increase of more than 15 percent over the same period last year.

During the first three days of the holiday, the district saw its comprehensive tourism revenue totaling 4.28 billion yuan (about 591 million U.S. dollars), up 17.5 percent, according to local government.

Meanwhile, north China's Jilin Province, where the tourist hot spot Changbai Mountain is located, has also seen a large influx of travelers.

The province received 3.21 million tourists on the first day of the holiday, up 80 percent year on year, and the Changbai Mountain scenic area received 17,100 tourists on the first day, registering a growth of over 326 percent.

Zuo Honglei, manager of the ticket management department of the tourist distribution center of the northern area of Changbai Mountain, said the scenic spot has extended the opening hours to increase tourist carrying capacity, and strictly implemented policies of time-sharing and reservation.

The management committee of the mountain has attracted many catering enterprises such as barbecue shops, cafes, and seafood shops to the commercial street of the scenic area.

"This is my second time to the Changbai Mountain. This time I have not only enjoyed the beautiful views, but also had a one-stop taste of the local delicacies," Yu Tingjiao, a tourist from east China's Jiangxi Province said, adding that she also bought black fungus, ginseng and other specialties here.

Located in easternmost Jilin, the border city of Hunchun has been attracting tourists with a wide variety of products imported from Russia, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The Hunchun Northeast Asia Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park received more than 15,000 tourists per day during the holiday, an increase of 50 percent, and its daily sales exceeded 3 million yuan, an increase of 200 percent.

The industrial park recently launched a Russian bakery, a king crab themed exhibition hall, along with some discounted activities, said Sun Jufeng, head of the reform and innovation bureau of the Hunchun demonstration zone.

During this holiday, travel destinations in lower-tier markets are embracing a surge in popularity, as infrastructure improves and hospitality capabilities expand.

The small county of Xingguo in Jiangxi Province, have launched activities such as music shows, comedy shows, and folk song parties to cater to curious tourists.

Li Yong has traveled from the neighboring Fujian Province to the county. "My family plan to stay here for the holiday, to eat delicious food, enjoy shows and see sceneries," Li said. "It's unlike in the past when I would travel around and spend a lot of time struggling to secure tickets as well as making plans for the entire trip."

According to a market forecast by Trip.com, hotel bookings in county-level markets have spiked by 68 percent year on year during the holiday. Data also shows a rise of 42 percent in countryside trips compared to the same period last year.

The country's railway network is expected to handle 144 million passenger trips during the eight-day May Day holiday travel rush from April 29 to May 6, according to China Railway. 
Ask a fund manager investing in UK shares what is his or her biggest problem and the answer you are likely to get is: redemption.

The investment gurus are not seeking absolution for their sins, financial or otherwise. They are, however, pointing to a crisis of confidence in the UK stock market.

Redemption is the technical term for investors pulling their money out of a fund.

Over the past months and years, redemptions by small savers from funds that invest in UK shares have been taking place on a worrying scale.

March was the 32nd month in a row where there were net withdrawals from UK equity funds by British private investors, according to the Investment Association.

Flagging: Over the past months and years, redemptions by small savers from funds that invest in UK shares have been taking place on a worrying scale

Savers took out more than 13.5billion in 2023, which was the worst year on record, on top of 12billion the year before.

The exodus is terrible for the UK stock market and the wider economy. This level of redemptions means fund managers don't have the cash on hand to invest in up-and-coming British companies.

In open-ended funds, they are having to dip into resources to give savers their money back.

In order to buy into a new and potentially profitable opportunity, they would have to sell an existing holding.

If an opportunistic bidder comes along with a lowball offer for a UK company, fund managers are under pressure to accept, because they need the cash.

Instead of backing British companies, small investors here are supporting foreign corporations, particularly in the US.

It happened on a grand  in both senses of the word  scale at Coutts.

The posh private bank used by the Royal Family has switched more than 2billion of its clients' money out of the London stock market and put it overseas. Unpatriotic, maybe, but it is hard to blame anyone, given the respective returns.

As broker AJ Bell puts it, the UK funds industry 'is going through a dark age'

There is no great mystery as to the attractions of the US market.

Savers everywhere want to buy into the Magnificent Seven tech stocks: Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, Tesla, Meta, Microsoft and Apple.

The movement of money across the Atlantic is gathering pace.

The amount invested in US equity funds in the latest quarter is more than double the 625m that sloshed in during the final three months of 2023.

As broker AJ Bell puts it, the UK funds industry 'is going through a dark age'.

More than 50billion has been withdrawn from the UK by small savers in the past two years, which is a shocker.

The various reforms put forward by the Government have gone nowhere.

The Great British Isa is a good idea in principle but unlikely in itself to turn the tide.

Bold moves are needed such as the scrapping of Stamp Duty on share purchases.

Another smart measure would be to raise the minimum contributions on auto-enrolment pensions.

These stand at 3 per cent of qualifying earnings for an employee and 5 per cent for the employer, which is nowhere near adequate and should be doubled. That would provide investment capital and give people a better chance of a decent retirement.

Labour is attempting to exploit the loss of credibility the Tories suffered in the financial world in the Truss- Kwarteng interlude.

The party has gone so far as to state in its plan for financial services that it will 'unashamedly champion' the sector as 'one of the UK's greatest assets'.

We shall see, but someone needs to.
A former business minister has urged officials to roll out the red carpet to convince Unilever to list its ice cream arm in London.

Ministers and London Stock Exchange bosses should take an 'activist approach' to ensure the UK doesn't miss out to Amsterdam or New York, Tory MP Greg Clark told the Daily Mail.

Six years ago, Clark was part of a charm offensive that persuaded the Magnum and Ben & Jerry's maker not to move its headquarters from London to Rotterdam.

Sought after: Unilever wants to float its ice cream arm, promoted here by Eva Longoria

The company was forced to back down after a public backlash from shareholders.

Now, Unilever is holding talks with three exchanges over a potential float of its 15billion ice cream arm.

Clark, who was business minister from 2016 to 2019, said: 'It was an important vote of confidence in the UK when Unilever chose London as its headquarters.

'At the time, the Government and the LSE were persuasive in communicating to shareholders and to the Board the advantages of a London listing. I hope that they are taking a similarly activist approach with this opportunity.'

A float in the US or Netherlands would be a kick in the teeth to the embattled City as it already faces a wave of departing firms.

London is the home of Unilever's listing and the birthplace of Wall's, which started in an Acton factory in 1922. So far UK officials have not spared many details over how they plan to make the case for London.

But Unilever boss Hein Schumacher has confirmed there has been 'regular updates with people in [UK] government'. But the Dutch government is confident it is a frontrunner due to commitments from Unilever in 2020 after it opted for the UK as its official base.

Last month Schumacher said he would look 'at all the options', and 'dedicated project teams are progressing the work at pace'.

A decision will be taken over the next 18 months.

There are also fears a private equity predator will snap up the business.
JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that the order to launch the Israeli onslaught on Rafah, the enclave's southernmost city, will be given "very soon."

A photo shared on Gallant's official account on social media platform X showed him donning a helmet as he walked alongside commanders during a tour near the sea in Gaza's central region.

Gallant said that Israel assesses the likelihood of reaching an agreement with Hamas as low. "The implication of this -- a large-scale operation in Rafah and other areas of the Gaza Strip very soon," he said.

"We are on the verge of a highly prepared operation," Gallant added.

About 1.2 million people have been sheltering in Rafah, according to estimates by the United Nations, escaping Israeli bombardments in other areas as well as the famine-stricken northern Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in indirect negotiations on a ceasefire deal aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza.

While Hamas has not fully endorsed the recent version of the proposed deal brokered by Egypt, it has expressed positivity. Israel has not officially commented on the proposal.

The main point of contention between the two sides remains the duration of the truce, with Hamas demanding that Israel halt the conflict, while Israel insists on continuing until it deems Hamas defeated. 
Palestinian children are pictured among debris in southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, May 5, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday.

It added that the Israeli army killed 29 people and wounded 110 during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October.

The statement noted that some victims remained under the rubble amid heavy bombardment and a lack of civil defense and ambulance crews.

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. 

A Palestinian clears debris in southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, May 5, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

People walk past debris in southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, May 5, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian amputee is pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian amputee is pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A technician installs a prosthetic leg for a victim of Israeli attacks at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian amputee wearing a prosthetic leg is pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A technician installs a prosthetic leg for a victim of Israeli attacks at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A technician installs a prosthetic leg for a victim of Israeli attacks at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Prosthetic limbs are pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian amputee is pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A technician installs a prosthetic leg for a victim of Israeli attacks at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Palestinian amputee is pictured at a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 5, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 34,683 and injuries to 78,018 since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, said the Hamas-run health authorities in a press statement on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
In the global drive towards a greener future, China assumes a pivotal role in facilitating the transition for both developed and developing nations, experts said.

BRUSSELS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Amid lush greenery, fragrant flowers, and the gentle murmur of grazing flocks of sheep lies an endless array of photovoltaic panels, creating a mesmerizing scene of sustainable energy production at the Francisco Pizarro photovoltaic (PV) plant in southwest Spain.

The Iberdrola group, a leading Spanish multinational electric utility company, inaugurated the plant, Europe's largest, in 2022. With around 1.5 million solar panels imported from China, the plant's clean energy output is substantial, catering to the needs of 334,000 households and creating over 1,500 jobs.

A herd of sheep take a rest under solar panels at the Francisco Pizarro photovoltaic power plant in Caceres, Spain, on March 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

As exemplified by the Spanish PV plant, China's rapid progress in the renewable energy sector has played a pivotal role in advancing the European Union's (EU) green transition.





WIN-WIN GREEN COOPERATION

The European Green Deal, launched by the European Commission in 2019, targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To achieve this, the EU has pledged to increase the binding renewable energy share to at least 42.5 percent by 2030. However, with the current renewable energy share at approximately 23 percent, innovation is urgently needed.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, an association for the European solar PV sector, has warned that Europe must ramp up its solar deployment to meet the necessary targets, while WindEurope, a major wind energy association, also stressed the need for immediate action.

This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2020 shows a lifting operation at the construction site of the Senj Wind Farm project in Senj, Croatia. (Photo by Ding Decai/Xinhua)

China's green energy equipment manufacturing industry is well-established and competitive. Chinese solar products and wind turbines would be indispensible for EU to achieve its 2030 emission reduction targets, said Qin Yan, a lead analyst at Refinitiv and researcher at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

In fact, many European countries have reaped the benefits of green energy collaboration with China in recent years.

Pedro Amaral Jorge, president of the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association, highlighted the growing cooperation between China and Portugal in the solar energy sector, as Portugal aims to install approximately 8 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2026 or 2027 and reach 22 GW by 2030.

"To achieve the objectives set for increasing installed capacity, cooperation with China must increase," Jorge told Xinhua in an interview.

In Croatia, the Chinese-built Senj Wind Farm, inaugurated in December 2021, produces about 530 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green electricity each year and reduces Croatia's carbon dioxide emissions by about 460,000 tonnes per year.

This photo taken on May 27, 2021 shows the Kaposvar solar power plant built by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) in Kaposvar, Hungary. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

"These are projects where the benefit of cooperation with large countries like China, which have the knowledge and potential to realize such large projects, can be seen," said Mladen Plese, Croatian political analyst and Asia expert, in an interview with Xinhua.

For Zlatko Prpic, chief engineer of the Senj Wind Farm, the project, the largest of its kind in Croatia so far, represents a "miracle" and a shining example of China-Croatia cooperation.

China's Norinco International, a civil engineering company, has been the main contractor and builder of the farm.

As Croatia and the EU ramp up their transition to green and renewable energy, it presents a significant opportunity for Norinco International and other Chinese firms to demonstrate their cutting-edge technology and equipment in large-scale projects, Prpic said.





BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION

The United Nations has urged countries to accelerate the transition to an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system by investing in renewable energy resources, prioritizing energy efficient practices, and adopting clean energy technologies and infrastructure.

This photo taken on March 25, 2022 shows silicon wafers at a monocrystalline silicon solar cell factory of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

In the global drive towards a greener future, China assumes a pivotal role in facilitating the transition for both developed and developing nations, experts said.

"The future of Europe and the world hinges on them," said Plese, underlining the necessity for a united front transcending borders and political affiliations in combating climate change.

"China is developing technology and we need the cooperation of Chinese companies in that area as well," he said. "Croatia has the potential for similar green energy projects and cooperation with China is still welcome."

The 2021 report from the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU highlighted the impressive growth of China's PV cells and modules industry over the past decade. With affordable prices and significant economies of scale, Chinese enterprises emerge as the prime choice to complement the EU industrial chain, meeting the region's escalating demand for PV products.

Converting the roof of Brussels' 130-year-old Marche des Abattoirs into one adorned with solar panels from China and high-power density inverters produced by Chinese telecom giant Huawei, the Belgian renewable energy specialist ESE Group demonstrates the efficacy of these products in sustainable energy solutions.

A drone photo taken on Sept. 8, 2023 shows wind turbine blades ready for transportation at a port in Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

The project involves the installation of 5,400 solar panels on the building's 10,000-square-meter steel roof. Under the Belgian regulations on the preservation of cultural heritage, the look and feel of the original building cannot be altered, so the design team at ESE customized a batch of special solar panels manufactured in China.

"It is a very good example of how to secure a listed building by using state-of-the-art architectural solutions," said Paul Thielemans, director of public relations at the Anderlecht Abattoir.

Climate change cooperation, which enjoys bright prospects, has emerged as a focal point in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe.

In April, a delegation of climate envoys from the EU and member states including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark visited China and had productive discussions with their Chinese counterparts. Both sides were committed to intensifying climate dialogue and cooperation to bolster global climate governance.

A man checks Chinese-made solar-powered equipment installed at his house in Schwarzenbek, Germany, May 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz toured a China-Germany hydrogen technology cooperation project in Chongqing, southwest China, during his official visit to China in April. This underscores the extensive partnership between China and Germany in green energy, offering a glimpse into their broad collaboration.

(Video reporters: Chen Wenxian, Peng Zhuo, Kang Yi, Guo Shuang, Martina Fuchs, Yuan Hengrui, Li Hanlin, Che Yunlong, Li Chao, Li Xuejun, Relja Dusek; Video editors: Hong Liang, Miu Xuyao, Zhang Yucheng) 
Our local progressive activist newsies remain defiant against GOP Super Majority leaders in an ongoing war of words that THREATENS TO RUIN Cinco De Mayo tacos for anybody silly enough to pay attention.

Accordingly . . .



Today we notice the ongoing effort to carve out a victory for Mayor Q when, in fact, the episode mostly provided EPIC EMBARRASSMENT and alienated the politico from most local voters.

Check-it:



"How exactly Kansas City would handle immigrant workers remains unclear. Local lawmakers arent considering designating Kansas City as a sanctuary city, which would mean passing ordinances protecting people in the country illegally from deportation or federal prosecution . . .



"But city officials are looking at ways to bolster the metros workforce . . . Unemployment in Kansas City was at 3.6% in February of this year. In Missouri, it was 3.3% and in Kansas it was 2.7%. Nationally, unemployment was at 3.9% in February.



"Another factor: Kansas Citians are aging out of the labor market. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that by 2030, 25% of Missouris population will be over 60.



"The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency,predicts U.S. deaths will exceed births starting in 2040. Then, immigration will account for all population growth."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Additional info on this Midwest tragedy and a link to more deets . . .

Paul Grice is the fifth member of the self-proclaimed Gods Misfits group to be charged with murdering two women from Kansas

Here's a quick profile of the suspect:



Months before the murders, Mr Grice made several bizarre statements, including claiming his children as his property and that he is not a US citizen, according to court records from 2023, obtained by The Independent.



Mr Grice then admitted to investigators that he was part of the planning, killing and the burial of both Butler and Kelley, according to his arrest affidavit.



Mr Grice had been named in the first arrest affidavit released a week ago relating to the other suspects, obtained by The Independent, along with couple Barrett and Lacy Cook, a couple who also have ties to the Gods Misfits group.



All are believed to be part of an anti-government, religious group calling themselves Gods Misfits.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Developing . . .


Missouri politicos didn't get much done this session . . . But here's a glimpse at legislation that might spark a bit of GOP Super Majority unity . . . Check-it:



The Missouri General Assembly renewed its opposition against certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements at public universities during the 2024 legislative session.



SB 1125, championed by Senator Ben Brown, aims to prohibit public universities from requiring an applicant, student, employee, or contractor to submit DEI statements. The bill would also prohibit public universities from giving preferential consideration in admissions or employment on the basis of an individuals or entitys submission of an unsolicited statement relating to a discriminatory ideology.



The bill concerns DEI in the context of hiring and enrollment processes and does not restrict research or coursework at public universities.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri Times: Senate bill seeks to address DEI statements


JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved the shutdown of the Al Jazeera channel and office in the country on Sunday.

Under the decision, Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English operations in Israel could be banned for an initial period of 45 days, with the possibility of indefinite renewal.

Immediately after the cabinet meeting, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi signed decrees formalizing the ban on the Qatari-based news organization.

"Anyone who incites against the State of Israel... will no longer broadcast from Israel here, and his equipment will be confiscated," Karhi said in a video posted on social media platform X.

The move came after the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, approved a law in April granting the cabinet authority to shut down foreign broadcasts in Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deems them, based on the opinion of Israeli security services, to pose a national security threat.

Israel has long accused Al Jazeera of having close ties with Hamas, which the channel denies, and a pro-Palestinian stance in its coverage of Israel's actions in the occupied Gaza Strip and West Bank. 
The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 89 enemy attacks in six directions over the past day, most of them in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook, publishing operational information as of 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.

During the day of May 5, there were 103x tactical engagements.

The enemy launched a total of 2x missiles and 100x airstrikes, 57x MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the russian terrorist attacks have wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses, as well as other infrastructure, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. The enemy 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. The enemy launched an airstrike in the vicinity of Hremyach (Chernihiv region). More than 20x settlements, including Yeline, Klyusy, Semenivka, Oleksandrivka, Mykolaivka, (Chernihiv region), Tarasivka (Sumy region), came under enemy artillery and mortar fire.

Kupyansk and Lyman axes: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Synkivka, Pishchane, Berestove (Kharkiv region), Stelmakhivka (Luhansk region), where the enemy, using air attacks, attempted to improve its tactical position. The occupiers launched an airstrike on the city of Kharkiv. The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv region).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Novosadove and Torske (Donetsk region). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka (Luhansk region), Terny, Torske (Donetsk region).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 32x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk region), Verkhnokamyanske, Spirne, Vyimka, Rozdolivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka (Donetsk region), where the enemy, with air support, attempted to improve its tactical position. The adversary launched airstrikes in the vicinity of Dyliivka (Donetsk region). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Klishchiivka, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk region).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 24x attacks in the vicinities of Novooleksandrivka, Novopokrovske, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove (Donetsk region), where the enemy, with air support, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Prohres, Vovche, Halytsynivka (Donetsk region). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Sokil, Novopokrovske, Umanske (Donetsk region).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy near Kostyantynivka, Krasnohorivka, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk region), where the invaders, using air attacks, made 16x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The invaders launched airstrikes in the vicinities of Yevhenivka and Yelyzavetivka (Donetsk region). The enemy fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk region).

Orikhiv axis: the enemy, using air attacks, launched 5x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiorske (Donetsk region) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia region). Around 15x settlements, including Bilohirya, Robotyne, Kamyanske (Zaporizhzhia region), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.

Kherson axis: the enemy does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of May 5, the invaders, with air support, executed 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson region). The occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Veletenske, Ponyativka, Inzhenerne, Inhulets, Antonivka, Sadove (Kherson region).

During the day of May 5, the Ukrainian Air Force launched airstrikes on 13x concentrations of troops, 4x anti-aircraft missile systems of the russian invaders.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x concentration of troops, 3x radar stations, 2x air defense systems, 2x artillery systems of the enemy.
The warm spring of Beijing welcomed a group of high school students from France. Although the five-day journey was short, an idea gradually took root in almost everyone's mind: come back one day.

Just like 13 years ago, their alumni, Marie Derien. She said that France gave her life, while China filled her life with colors.

She launched a "Handshake Project" on Chinese social media for those French students, which unexpectedly, received heart-warming blessings from all over China.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2024) Two day Pakistan-Saudi Arabia investment conference will begin here Monday to promote bilateral trade and investment, besides fostering a new era of growth and prosperity for the people of both the countries.

A 50-member high-level business delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is also visiting Pakistan from May 5 to explore investment opportunities in different sectors as well as to forge strong bonds with local entrepreneurs.

Some 30 Saudi companies representing different economic sectors, including information technology, telecoms, energy, aviation, construction, mining exploration, agriculture and human resource development would be part of the delegation, which would be led by the Assistant Minister of Investment, a Ministry of Commerce official said on Sunday.

The ministry had selected a large number of Pakistani companies in the respective sectors whose officials would have business-to-business meetings with their Saudi counterparts, and would hopefully enter into business and investment deals, he added.

He said that Saudi Arabia was an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities, however, it was now undergoing a transformation to reduce oil dependence, diversify income sources and enhance competitiveness under the Vision 2030.

Currently, he said, the major exports of the Kingdom included mineral fuels, mineral oils, plastics and organic chemicals, whereas it was importing machinery, vehicles, and agricultural products.

The official said that during the first half of the current financial year, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was recorded at $2,482.37 million, with Pakistan's exports of $262.58 million and Saudi exports of $2.219 billion.

He said Pakistan's major to the KSA consisted of rice, meat of bovine animals, fruits and vegetables, and tents and camping goods, whereas imports were petroleum products, and polymers of propylene and ethylene.

The official said Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had agreed on a Free-Trade Agreement. Pakistan, he added, was also planning to organize a Single Country Exhibition and Lifestyle Show in Saudi Arabia.

He said that Pakistan would welcome and fully facilitate investments and partnerships from Saudi Arabia in IT, minerals, textiles, food security, engineering and energy sectors.
Lome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2024) Togo's ruling party won a parliamentary majority in the April 29 legislative elections, the country's electoral commission said Saturday, after a divisive constitutional reform critics say allows President Faure Gnassingbe to stay in power.

Gnassingbe's Union for the Republic party (UNIR) won 108 of 113 seats in the new assembly, according provisional results announced by the national electoral commission.

Under the new constitution approved by lawmakers in April, Gnassingbe will now be able to take a new post as president of the council of ministers, a kind of prime minister role automatically assumed by the leader of the majority party in parliament.

Already in power for nearly 20 years, Gnassingbe succeeded his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades in the small coastal West African state between Benin and Ghana.

Opposition parties had denounced the reform as an "institutional coup" that created a role tailor-made for Gnassingbe to evade presidential term limits and extend his family's political dynasty. UNIR loyalists say the reform made Togo's democracy more representative.

Gnassingbe, 57, has already won four elections, though all were denounced as flawed by the opposition. The main opposition boycotted the last parliament election in 2018, citing irregularities.

According to the new constitution, Togo's president now becomes a mostly ceremonial role elected by parliament, and not the people, for a four-year term.

Togo's shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system means power now resides with the new president of the council of ministers, who will be the leader of the majority party in the new assembly.
Good arrival on the left of the winger Godts, who put in a cross, which the goalkeeper pulled out, but left the remake to Akpom to extend the lead on the scoreboard.
HOUSTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Nine people were injured after a car rammed into a restaurant on Saturday afternoon in Jersey Village, south-central U.S. state of Texas, authorities said.

Several families were dining in the restaurant when an elderly woman crashed her car into the building, according to the Jersey Village Police Department.

Police believe that the driver showed up to eat and confused the gas pedal for the brakes, said a report from local media outlet ABC13.

The injured range in age between 16 and 76, said the report. 
With the midday sun blazing, an experimental orange and white F-16 fighter jet launched with a familiar roar that is a hallmark of U.S. airpower. But the aerial combat that followed was unlike any other: This F-16 was controlled by artificial intelligence, not a human pilot. And riding in the front seat was Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

AI marks one of the biggest advances in military aviation since the introduction of stealth in the early 1990s, and the Air Force has aggressively leaned in. Even though the technology is not fully developed, the service is planning for an AI-enabled fleet of more than 1,000 unmanned warplanes, the first of them operating by 2028.

It was fitting that the dogfight took place at Edwards Air Force Base, a vast desert facility where Chuck Yeager broke the speed of sound and the military has incubated its most secret aerospace advances. Inside classified simulators and buildings with layers of shielding against surveillance, a new test-pilot generation is training AI agents to fly in war. Kendall traveled here to see AI fly in real time and make a public statement of confidence in its future role in air combat.

"It's a security risk not to have it. At this point, we have to have it," Kendall said in an interview with The Associated Press after he landed. The AP and NBC were granted permission to witness the secret flight on the condition that it would not be reported until it was complete because of operational security concerns.

The AI-controlled F-16, called Vista, flew Kendall in lightning-fast maneuvers at more than 800 kph that put pressure on his body at five times the force of gravity. It went nearly nose to nose with a second human-piloted F-16 as both aircraft raced within 305 meters of each other, twisting and looping to try force their opponent into vulnerable positions.

At the end of the hour-long flight, Kendall said he'd seen enough to trust this still-learning AI to decide whether to launch weapons in war.

There's a lot of opposition to that idea. Arms control experts and humanitarian groups are deeply concerned that AI one day might be able to autonomously drop bombs that kill people without further human consultation, and they are seeking greater restrictions on its use.

"There are widespread and serious concerns about ceding life-and-death decisions to sensors and software," the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned. Autonomous weapons "are an immediate cause of concern and demand an urgent, international political response."

Kendall said there will always be human oversight in the system when weapons are used.

The military's shift to AI-enabled planes is driven by security, cost and strategic capability. If the U.S. and China should end up in conflict, for example, today's Air Force fleet of expensive, manned fighters will be vulnerable because of gains on both sides in electronic warfare, space and air defense systems. China's air force is on pace to outnumber the U.S. and it is also amassing a fleet of flying unmanned weapons.

Future war scenarios envision swarms of American unmanned aircraft providing an advance attack on enemy defenses to give the U.S. the ability to penetrate an airspace without high risk to pilot lives. But the shift is also driven by money. The Air Force is still hampered by production delays and cost overruns in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will cost an estimated of $1.7 trillion.

Smaller and cheaper AI-controlled unmanned jets are the way ahead, Kendall said.

Vista's military operators say no other country in the world has an AI jet like it, where the software first learns on millions of data points in a simulator, then tests its conclusions during actual flights. That real-world performance data is then put back into the simulator where the AI then processes it to learn more.

China has AI, but there's no indication it has found a way to run tests outside a simulator. And, like a junior officer first learning tactics, some lessons can only be learned in the air, Vista's test pilots said.

Vista flew its first AI-controlled dogfight in September 2023, and there have only been about two dozen similar flights since. But the programs are learning so quickly from each engagement that some AI versions being tested on Vista are beating human pilots in air-to-air combat.

The pilots at this base are aware that in some respects, they may be training their replacements or shaping a future construct where fewer of them are needed.

But they also say they would not want to be up in the sky against an adversary that has AI-controlled aircraft if the U.S. does not also have its own fleet.

"We have to keep running. And we have to run fast," Kendall said.
It was a frigid winter morning when authorities found a Native American man dead on a remote gravel road in western New Mexico. He was lying on his side, with only one sock on, his clothes gone and his shoes tossed in the snow.

There were trails of blood on both sides of his body and it appeared he had been struck in the head.

Investigators retraced the man's steps, gathering security camera footage that showed him walking near a convenience store miles away in Gallup, an economic hub in an otherwise rural area bordered on one side by the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo on the other.

Court records said the footage and cell phone records showed the victim  a Navajo man identified only as John Doe  was "on a collision course" with the man who would ultimately be accused of killing him.

A grand jury has indicted a man from Zuni Pueblo on a charge of second-degree murder in the Jan. 18 death, and prosecutors say more charges are likely as he is the prime suspect in a series of crimes targeting Native American men in Gallup, Zuni and Albuquerque. Investigators found several wallets, cell phones and clothing belonging to other men when searching his vehicle and two residences.

As people gathered around the nation on Sunday to spotlight the troubling number of disappearances and killings in Indian Country, authorities say the New Mexico case represents the kind of work the U.S. Department of Justice had aspired to when establishing its Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons outreach program last summer.

Special teams of assistant U.S. attorneys and coordinators have been tasked with focusing on MMIP cases. Their goal: Improve communication and coordination across federal, tribal, state and local jurisdictions in hopes of bridging the gaps that have made solving violent crimes in Indian Country a generational challenge.

Some of the new federal prosecutors were participating in MMIP Awareness Day events. From the Arizona state capitol to a cultural center in Albuquerque and the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, marches, symposiums, art exhibitions and candlelight vigils were planned for May 5, which is the birthday of Hanna Harris, who was only 21 when she was killed on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana in 2013.

It was an emotional day in Albuquerque, where family members and advocates participated in a prayer walk. They chanted: "What do we want? Answers! What do we want? Justice!" There were tears and long embraces as they shared their stories and frustrations. They talked about feeling forgotten and the lack of resources in Native communities.

Geraldine Toya of Jemez Pueblo marched with other family members to bring awareness to the death of her daughter Shawna Toya in 2021. She said she and her husband are artists who make pottery and never dreamed they would end up being investigators in an effort to determine what happened to their daughter.

"Our journey has been rough, but you know what, we're going to make this journey successful for all of our people that are here in this same thing that we're struggling through right now," she said, vowing to support other families through their heartbreak as they seek justice.

Alex Uballez, the U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico, told The Associated Press on Friday that the outreach program is starting to pay dividends.

"Providing those bridges between those agencies is critical to seeing the patterns that affect all of our communities," Uballez said. "None of our borders that we have drawn prevents the spillover of impacts on communities  across tribal communities, across states, across the nation, across international borders."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal oversees MMIP cases for a region spanning New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Nevada.

Having law enforcement agencies and attorneys talking to each other can help head off other crimes that are often precursors to deadly violence. The other pieces of the puzzle are building relationships with Native American communities and making the justice system more accessible to the public, Neal said.

Part of Neal's work includes reviewing old cases: time-consuming work that can involve tracking down witnesses and resubmitting evidence for testing.

"We're trying to flip that script a little bit and give those cases the time and attention they deserve," he said, adding that communicating with family members about the process is a critical component for the MMIP attorneys and coordinators.

The DOJ over the past year also has awarded $268 million in grants to tribal justice systems for handling child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence and bolstering victim services.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bree Black Horse was dressed in red as she was sworn in Thursday during a ceremony in Yakima, Washington. The color is synonymous with raising awareness about the disproportionate number of Indigenous people who have been victims of violence.

She prosecutes MMIP cases in a five-state region across California and the Pacific Northwest to Montana. Her caseload is in the double digits, and she's working with advocacy groups to identify more unresolved cases and open lines of communication with law enforcement.

An enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and a lawyer for more than a decade, Black Horse said having 10 assistant U.S. attorneys and coordinators focusing solely on MMIP cases is unprecedented.

"This is an issue that has touched not only my community but my friends and my family," she said. "I see this as a way to help make sure that our future generations, our young people don't experience these same kinds of disparities and this same kind of trauma."

In New Mexico, Uballez acknowledged the federal government moves slowly and credited tribal communities with raising their voices, consistently showing up to protest and putting pressure on politicians to improve public safety in tribal communities.

Still, he and Neal said it will take a paradigm shift to undo the public perception that nothing is being done.

The man charged in the New Mexico case, Labar Tsethlikai, appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty while standing shackled next to his public defender. A victim advocate from Uballez's office was there, too, sitting with victims' family members.

Tsethlikai's attorney argued that evidence had yet to be presented tying her client to the alleged crimes spelled out in court documents. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGinley argued that no conditions of release would keep the community safe, pointing to cell phone data and DNA evidence allegedly showing Tsethlikai had preyed on people who were homeless or in need of alcohol so he could satisfy his sexual desires.

Tsethlikai will remain in custody pending trial as authorities continue to investigate. Court documents list at least 10 other victims along with five newly identified potential victims. McGinley said prosecutors wanted to focus on a few of the cases "to get him off the street" and prevent more violence.
Australia has agreed to strengthen its security cooperation with the United States, Japan and the Philippines. Analysts say the move is a response to Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.

China's ambitions in the South China Sea continue to alarm Australia, its Indo-Pacific allies and the United States.

In response, Australia, the United States, and Japan have agreed to step up military drills with the Philippines. Defense officials from the four countries met in Hawaii on Friday, declaring their commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in the region.

Earlier this week, the Philippines accused China of "dangerous maneuvers" and "harassment" after its use of water cannons against two Philippine vessels during a patrol in the South China Sea.

Last month, Australia, the U.S. and Japan held their first joint naval exercises in the region.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters closer ties would enhance security.

"There is a power and a significance in our four countries acting together. The meetings that we have held represent a very significant message to the region and to the world about four democracies which are committed to the global rules-based order," he said.

Experts believe increased military cooperation with the Philippines is an attempt to counter Chinas increased aggression.

Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an independent research organization.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Beijings regional ambitions are causing growing concern.

"What you are seeing is concern that China will continue to escalate its aggression against the Philippines to try and coerce them in to backing down and accepting Chinese domination of the entirety of the South China Sea, which China wants as its territorial waters. This is China undertaking hostile actions against a sovereign state in international waters," he said.

In response, Beijing urged the Philippine government not to "challenge Chinas resolve" to defend Chinas sovereignty in the region.

China has sweeping claims in the South China Sea, which has rich fishing grounds and is a major international shipping route.

Davis says Chinas territorial ambitions could have implications for Australia and the United States.

"It would affect Australia because then China could deny our commercial shipping the right to passage through those waters and, obviously, it would affect U.S. security," he said.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have claims overlapping with each others or Chinas in the South China Sea.

Beijing has refused to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected its expansive claims in the region.

Beijing has insisted that efforts by the United States to boost its security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region are aimed at containing China and threaten stability.
A 16-year-old boy armed with a knife was shot dead by police after he stabbed a man in the Australian west coast city of Perth, officials said Sunday.

The incident occurred in the parking lot of a hardware store in suburban Willetton on Saturday night.

The teen attacked the man and then rushed at police officers before he was shot, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook told reporters Sunday.

"There are indications he had been radicalized online," Cook told a news conference.

"But I want to reassure the community at this stage it appears that he acted solely and alone," Cook added.

A man in his 30s was found at the scene with a stab wound to his back. He was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition, a police statement said.

Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organization agents have been conducting a counterterrorism investigation in the east coast city of Sydney since another 16-year-old boy stabbed an Assyrian Orthodox bishop and priest in a church on April 15.

That boy has been charged with committing a terrorist act. Six of his alleged associates have also been charged with a range of offenses, including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act. All remain in custody.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been briefed on the latest stabbing in Perth by Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess, who heads the nation's main domestic spy agency.

"I'm advised there is no ongoing threat to the community on the information available," Albanese said.

"We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia," he added.

Police received an emergency phone call after 10 p.m. from a teenager saying he was going to commit acts of violence, Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch said.

The boy had been participating in a program for young people at risk of radicalization, Blanch added.

"I don't want to say he has been radicalized or is radicalized because I think that forms part of the investigation," he said.

Police said they were later alerted by a phone call from a member of the public that a knife attack was underway in the parking lot. Three police officers responded, one armed with a gun and two with conducted energy devices.

Police deployed both conducted energy devices but they failed to incapacitate the boy before he was killed by a single gunshot, Blanch said.

Blanch said members of the local Muslim community had raised concerns with police about the boy's behavior before he was killed on Saturday.

The imam of Perth's largest mosque, the Nasir Mosque, condemned the stabbing.

"There is no place for violence in Islam," Imam Syed Wadood Janud said in a statement.

"We appreciate the effort of the police to keep our communities safe. I also want to commend the local Muslim community who had flagged the individual prior with the police," Wadood added.

Some Muslim leaders have criticized Australian police for declaring last month's church stabbing a terrorist act but not a rampage two days earlier in a Sydney shopping mall in which six people were killed and a dozen wounded. The 40-year-old attacker in the mall attack was shot dead by police. Police have yet to reveal the man's motive.

The church attack is only the third to be classified by Australian authorities as a terrorist act since 2018.

In December 2022, three Christian fundamentalists shot dead two police officers and a bystander in an ambush near the community of Wieambilla in Queensland state. The shooters were later killed by police.

In November 2018, a Somalia-born Muslim stabbed three pedestrians in downtown Melbourne, killing one, before police shot him dead.
At least 44 people who died in a horrific bus crash during Easter weekend in South Africa were laid to rest in neighboring Botswana on Saturday.

About 5,000 mourners clad in black gathered in the Botswana village of Molepolole to pay their last respects nearly a month after the bus crash that claimed the lives of everybody on board except one 8-year-old child.

The bus driver, Ogaufi Noonyane, was buried separately in the village of Thamaga, about 40 kilometers away.

The victims were travelling to an Easter pilgrimage of the Zion Christian Church, one of the biggest churches in southern Africa, when their bus plunged about 50 meters from a bridge near Mokopane village in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo.

The accident was a tragic reminder of how deadly South Africas roads become during the Easter period, when millions crisscross the country during the long holiday weekend.

The mass funeral followed the repatriation of the victims' remains to their home country of Botswana.

"We stand here with devastated hearts," said Limpopo provincial minister of health Phophi Ramathuba, who was among the South African dignitaries who attended the funeral.

Atlang Siako, the sole survivor, was transported back home to Botswana after receiving medical attention in South Africa.

Last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi visited the scene of the crash, where they laid wreaths and paid their respects to the deceased.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday arrived in France on a state visit hosted by Emmanuel Macron where the French leader will seek to push his counterpart on issues ranging from Ukraine to trade.

Xi's arrival for the visit marking 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China was the start of his first trip to Europe since 2019 which will also see him visit Serbia and Hungary.

But Xi's choice of France as the sole major European power to visit indicates the relative warmth in Sino-French relations since Macron made his own state visit to China in April 2023 and acknowledges the French leader's stature as an EU powerbroker.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the plane carrying Xi had touched down in Paris.

The leader of the one-party Communist state of more than 1.4 billion people, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, was to be welcomed at Paris Orly airport by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Xi is to hold a day of talks in Paris on Monday  also including EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen  followed by a state banquet hosted by Macron.

Tuesday will see Macron take Xi to the Pyrenees mountains to an area he used to visit as a boy for a day of less public and more intimate talks.

A key priority of Macron will be to warn Xi of the danger of backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with Western officials concerned Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in arms production.

Beijing's ties with Moscow have, if anything, warmed after the invasion and the West wants China above all not to supply weapons to Russia and risk tipping the balance in the conflict.

"It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order," said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.

"We must, therefore, work with China to build peace," he added.

Macron also said in the same interview Europe must defend its "strategic interests" in its economic relations with China, accusing Beijing of not respecting the rules on international trade.

But he acknowledged in an interview with the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper that Europeans are "not unanimous" on the strategy to adopt as "certain actors still see China essentially as a market of opportunities" while it "exports massively" to Europe.

The French president had gladdened Chinese state media and troubled some EU allies after his 2023 visit by declaring that Europe should not be drawn into a standoff between China and the United States, particularly over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan.

China views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

"The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction," Macron said at the time, warning against a "bloc versus bloc logic."

Rights groups are urging Macron to bring up human rights in the talks, accusing China of failing to respect the rights of the Uyghur Muslim minority and keeping dozens of journalists behind bars.

"President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing's crimes against humanity come with consequences for China's relations with France," said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch.

The group said human rights in China had "severely deteriorated" under Xi's rule.

However, analysts are skeptical that even with the lavish red carpet welcome and trip to the bracing mountain airs of the Col du Tourmalet over 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) above sea level on Tuesday Macron will be able to exercise much sway over the Chinese leader.

The other two countries chosen by Xi for his tour, Serbia and Hungary, are seen as among the most sympathetic to Moscow in Europe.

"The two core messages from Macron will be on Chinese support to Russia's military capabilities and Chinese market-distorting practices," said Janka Oertel, director of the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"However, both messages are unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behavior: Xi is not on a mission to repair ties, because from his point of view all is well."
Truce negotiations between Hamas delegates and Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediators ended Saturday without reaching a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The mediators are proposing a 40-day cease-fire during which Hamas would start releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas has asked for a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel has vowed to crush Hamas and has said it will not agree to end the war as part of a hostage release deal, nor has it taken its intended Rafah invasion off the negotiating table.

After the talks began, a top Israeli official accused Hamas of "thwarting the possibility of reaching an agreement" by refusing to give up its demand for an end to the war. Israel has not sent a delegation to Cairo.

Shortly before 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), a senior Hamas source close to the negotiations told Agence France-Presse that the talks would resume on Sunday.

Earlier Saturday, Egyptian state media reported that "noticeable progress" had been made during the negotiations.

CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo Friday as part of Washington's diplomatic effort. The CIA has declined to comment on Burns' itinerary.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Israel's truce offer as "extraordinarily generous," and he urged Hamas to accept it.

It remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms of the negotiators and whether Israel will back off its plan to end its all-out war aimed at destroying Hamas, which has been designated as a terror group by the U.S., the U.K. and other Western countries.

Israel has repeatedly warned it is planning to launch an assault against Hamas cells in the southern Gaza city of Rafah where about 1 million displaced people are crowded together, having fled months of Israeli attacks on the enclave.

"It could be a slaughter of civilians and an incredible blow to the humanitarian operation in the entire strip because it is run primarily out of Rafah," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office, or OCHA, at a Geneva news briefing.

Among the aid operations in Rafah are medical clinics, warehouses stocked with humanitarian supplies, food distribution points, and 50 centers for acutely malnourished children, Laerke said.

Israel has promised to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from Gaza's border city with Egypt.

A World Health Organization official said at the same briefing that a plan for Rafah had been prepared, and it included a new field hospital. He underscored however, it would not be enough to prevent a significant increase in the death toll in the event of an assault.

Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, said via video link that he was "extremely concerned" that any incursion would close the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a corridor currently being used to import medical supplies.

In the last 24 hours, the bodies of 32 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to local hospitals, Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday.

This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal Palestinians remove the body of a man after a military operation in the Palestinians town of Deir al-Ghusun, near the West Bank town of Tulkarem, May 4, 2024.

The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to support its claim. It also has conducted mass arrests during its raids inside Gaza.

Nearly 500 medical workers have been killed since October 7, according to a Gaza Health Ministry statement.

The World Health Organization and other medical groups have called for hospitals and medical workers to be off limits in Israel's war on Hamas. However, Israel says Hamas uses the medical facilities for military purposes, making them legitimate targets.

At least 34,622 Palestinians have been killed and 77,867 have been injured during Israel's military offensive against Hamas since the beginning of the war, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement Friday.

The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies but says that women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.

Israel's counteroffensive on Gaza was triggered by Hamas' October 7 terror attack in southern Israel. The attack killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and the assailants abducted about 250 people. 105 of them were released during a November truce while Israel estimates that 35 hostages out of the 129 remaining in Gaza are dead.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
People wait for trains at Belgrade railway station in Belgrade, Serbia, April 29, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Serbia is proud of its participation in the BRI, under which Chinese companies have undertaken many infrastructure projects in the country, Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic told Xinhua in an interview.

BELGRADE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Serbia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has boosted overall development of the country and its neighbors, said Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic.

Serbia is proud of its participation in the BRI, under which Chinese companies have undertaken many infrastructure projects in the country, the official told Xinhua in an interview.

Serbian officials are impressed by China's transport infrastructure development and see the country as a model for economic growth, Vesic said.

"When you connect the country with railways and roads, then you have an easier population migration, you have greater mobility, and you have an even development of the region. So, everything that China has done, and what we in Serbia are, of course, trying to do, and because of that, we are recording quite high economic growth," he said.

Vesic cited the high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest as an example of successful BRI cooperation.

"China, Hungary and Serbia are involved in this project, facilitating a high-speed train connection between our capital cities, Belgrade and Budapest, in less than three hours," he said.

China and Serbia inked a free trade agreement in last October, which, Vesic said, would offer great opportunities for Serbian and European enterprises and boost the region's exports to China.

Serbia is interested in developing smart, environmentally sustainable infrastructure and electric vehicles, Vesic said, expressing his hope to cooperate with China in these fields.

"We are developing the Serbian-Chinese Science and Technology Park in Borca to attract more Chinese companies and collaborate where China excels globally."
Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including four fighters from the militant group Hamas, in an overnight raid near the city of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli officials said Saturday.

Hamas confirmed that four of the men killed during the raid in Deir al-Ghusun village were from its al-Qassam armed wing. The Palestinian health ministry said their bodies had been taken by the Israeli military.

There was no information about the fifth man, whose body was too disfigured for immediate identification, the Palestinian health ministry in the West Bank said.

The Israeli military confirmed the deaths and said an Israeli officer from a special police unit was wounded in the operation that targeted a Hamas cell responsible for numerous shootings and car bombing attacks.

It said the group was responsible for killing a reservist soldier and wounding a police officer in an attack last November and also carried out a car bombing attack in April that wounded two Israelis including a soldier.

Saturday's operation near of Tulkarm was the latest in a series of clashes in the West Bank between Israeli forces and Palestinians. The violence had deescalated for more than two years but picked up in intensity since the Hamas-led attack on Israel last October.

Hamas, the Islamist group that Israel has been fighting in Gaza, had also been building its fighting network in the West Bank before the start of the war.

During the raid, the Israeli army leveled a two-story house with a bulldozer in an operation that lasted more than 12 hours.

According to Palestinian Health Ministry records, nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or Jewish settlers in the West Bank or East Jerusalem since October 7. Many have been armed fighters, but stone-throwing youths and uninvolved civilians have also been killed.

Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war, as the core of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

U.S.-backed talks to reach an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for the past decade, but the Gaza war has raised pressure for a revival of efforts to reach a two-state solution.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's seven-month-old assault on the Gaza Strip, say health officials in the Hamas-ruled enclave. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others, of whom more than 130 are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel and Hamas remained deadlocked Sunday on how to halt nearly seven months of fighting in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than a million Palestinians from their homes.

After no apparent progress was reported Sunday, the Hamas delegation left the Cairo negations with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to consult with it leadership. It said it planned to return to Cairo on Tuesday.

Earlier, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the Palestinian militant group wants a comprehensive cease-fire that would end Israeli "aggression" and guarantee Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, while Hamas frees about 100 hostages in exchange for hundreds of prisoners jailed by Israel.

In a statement, Haniyeh blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties" who have for weeks been unsuccessful in negotiating a cease-fire of any sort.

In Jerusalem, Netanyahu rejected any end to the fighting that would leave Hamas in control of Gaza, the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea, and pose a continuing threat to the Jewish state.

Israeli officials did not send negotiators to Cairo to take part in indirect diplomacy.

Netanyahu said that while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power."

"Israel cannot accept that, he said. "Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping."

Netanyahu, who has pushed for a six-week cease-fire and exchange of some hostages for jailed Palestinians, has repeatedly vowed to launch a ground offensive on Rafah, near the Gaza-Egyptian border, to root out four remaining Hamas battalions regardless of whether a cease-fire deal is reached.

The U.S., Israels chief arms supplier, has told Netanyahu it is adamantly opposed to a new attack on Rafah, which already has been under an Israeli aerial bombardment.

In Cairo, Palestinian officials said Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, but there was no apparent progress reported.

One Palestinian official, close to the mediation effort, said the Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo with a determination to reach a deal, "but not at any price."

Egyptian sources said U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, who has also been involved in previous truce talks, arrived in Cairo on Friday. Washington  which, like other Western powers and Israel, brands Hamas a terrorist group  has urged it to enter a deal.

Israeli media reported that Burns, a main mediator in the talks, would meet with Netanyahu on Monday.

Israel has given preliminary approval to terms that one source said included the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a truce of several weeks.

The situation was further inflamed Sunday as Hamas launched 14 rockets from Gaza at the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza earlier Sunday, killing three Israeli soldiers and wounding a dozen others.

Three of the 12 wounded were in serious condition, the Israeli military told AFP.

The armed wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, which led Israeli authorities to close the crossing, one of the key entry points of aid delivery to Gaza.

The war was triggered by the October 7 Hamas terror attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. About 100 of the hostages were freed in a weeklong truce in late November.

Israels ensuring counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,600 Palestinians, about two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters it has killed.

Months of Israeli attacks have devastated much of the narrow enclave and left tens of thousands of Palestinians famished, even with massive efforts to increase United Nations and Western humanitarian assistance.

As the latest cease-fire talks were underway, residents and health officials said Israeli planes and tanks continued to pound areas across the Palestinian enclave overnight, killing and wounding several people.

Meanwhile, Israel said Hamas attacked the Kerem Shalom crossing point with 10 strikes, forcing it to close. The crossing point has become a primary gateway to get much needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel gave no details on the source of the assault but said it had come from the direction of the nearby Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border. Hamas said it had targeted Israeli soldiers in the area.

Some material in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Japan and India on Saturday decried remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden describing them as "xenophobic" countries that do not welcome immigrants, which the president said during a campaign fundraising event earlier in the week.

Japan said Biden's judgment was not based on an accurate understanding of its policy, while India rebutted the comment, defending itself as the world's most open society.

Biden grouped Japan and India as "xenophobic" countries, along with Russia and China as he tried to explain their struggling economies, contrasting the four with the strength of the U.S. as a nation of immigrants.

Japan is a key U.S. ally, and both Japan and India are part of the Quad, a U.S.-led informal partnership that also includes Australia in countering increasingly assertive China in the Indo-Pacific.

Just weeks ago, Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on an official visit, as the two leaders restated their "unbreakable alliance" and agreed to reinforce their security ties in the face of China's threat in the Indo-Pacific.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a state visit to Washington last year, when he was welcomed by business and political leaders.

The White House said Biden meant no offense and was merely stressing that the U.S. was a nation of immigrants, saying he had no intention of undermining the relationship with Japan.

Japan is aware of Biden's remark as well as the subsequent clarification, a Japanese government official said Saturday, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The official said it was unfortunate that part of Biden's speech was not based on an accurate understanding of Japanese policies, and that Japan understands that Biden made the remark to emphasize the presence of immigrants as America's strength.

Japan-U.S. relations are "stronger than ever" as Prime Minister Kishida showed during his visit to the U.S. in April, the official said.

In New Delhi, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday also rebutted Biden's comment, saying India was the most open society in the world.

"I haven't seen such an open, pluralistic, and diverse society anywhere in the world. We are actually not just not xenophobic, we are the most open, most pluralistic and in many ways the most understanding society in the world," Jaishankar said at a roundtable organized by the Economic Times newspaper.

Jaishankar also noted that India's annual GDP growth is 7% and said, "You check some other countries' growth rate, you will find an answer." The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% in 2023, according to government figures.

At a hotel fundraiser Wednesday, where the donor audience was largely Asian American, Biden said the upcoming U.S. election was about "freedom, America and democracy" and that the nation's economy was thriving "because of you and many others."

"Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden said. "Look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants."

Japan has been known for a strict stance on immigration. But in recent years, it has eased its policies to make it easier for foreign workers to come and stay in Japan to mitigate its declining births and rapidly shrinking population. The number of babies born in Japan last year fell to a record low since Japan started compiling the statistics in 1899.

India, which has the world's largest population, enacted a new citizenship law earlier this year by setting religious criteria that allows fast-tracking naturalization for Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who fled to India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, while excluding Muslims.
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.

Baja California state prosecutors released grisly details of the slayings but have not yet officially confirmed the identity of the bodies. They said family members of the victims are viewing the bodies to see if they can be identified by sight.

The corpses were decomposing after the thieves dumped them into a remote, 15-meter deep well. If relatives cant identify them, further tests will be conducted. The well also contained a fourth cadaver that had been there much longer.

The probability that it's them is very high, said chief state prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez, noting the corpses still appeared to be identifiable by sight.

The three men went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, posting idyllic photos on social media of waves and isolated beaches along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada.

But Andrade Ramirez described the moments of terror that ended the trip for brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad.

She said the killers drove by and saw the foreigners' pickup truck and tents, and wanted to steal their tires.

Surely, they resisted, she said of the victims, and the thieves shot them to death.

The thieves then went to what she called a site that is extremely hard to get to and dumped their bodies into a well they apparently were familiar with. She said investigators were not ruling out the possibility the same suspects also dumped the first, earlier body in the well as part of their thefts.

They may have been looking for trucks in this area, Andrade Ramirez said.

The site where the bodies were discovered near the township of Santo Tomas was near the remote seaside area where the missing mens tents and truck were found Thursday along the coast. From their last photo posts, the trip looked perfect. But even experienced local expats are questioning whether it is safe to camp along the largely deserted coast anymore.

The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has lived in the area for almost two decades, wrote in an editorial Saturday that the reality is, the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas are outweighing the benefits anymore.

Baja California prosecutors had said they were questioning three people in the case. On Friday, the office said the three had been arrested on charges of a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but that was before the bodies were found. It was unclear if they might face more charges.

At least one of the suspects was believed to have directly participated in the killings.

Last week, the missing Australians mother, Debra Robinson, posted on a local community Facebook page an appeal for help in finding her sons. Robinson said Callum and Jake had not been heard from since April 27. They had booked accommodations in the nearby city of Rosarito.

Robinson said one of her sons, Callum, was diabetic. She also mentioned that the American who was with them was named Jack Carter Rhoad, but the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately confirm that. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports of a U.S. citizen missing in Baja but gave no further details.

In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were killed in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California  also known as the Sea of Cortez  from the Baja peninsula. Authorities said they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects were arrested in that case.
When Ademola Adesina founded a startup to provide solar and battery-based power subscription packages to individuals and businesses in Nigeria in 2015, it was a lot harder to raise money than it is today.

Climate tech was new in Africa, the continent was a fledgling destination for venture capital money, there were fewer funders to approach and less money was available, he said.

It took him a year of "running around and scouring" his networks to raise his first amount  just under $1 million  from VC firms and other sources. "Everything was a learning experience," he said.

But the ecosystem has since changed, and Adesina's Rensource Energy has raised about $30 million over the years, mostly from VC firms.

Funding for climate tech startups in Africa from the private sector is growing, with businesses raising more than $3.4 billion since 2019. But there's still a long way to go, with the continent requiring $277 billion annually to meet its climate goals for 2030.

Experts say to unlock financing and fill this gap, African countries need to address risks like currency instability that they say reduce investor appetite, while investors need to expand their scope of interest to more climate sectors like flood protection, disaster management and heat management, and to use diverse funding methods.

Still, the investment numbers for the climate tech sector  which includes businesses in renewable energy, carbon removal, land restoration and water and waste management  are compelling: Last year, climate tech startups on the continent raised $1.04 billion, a 9% increase from the previous year and triple what they raised in 2019, according to the funding database Africa: The Big Deal. That was despite a decline in the amount of money raised by all startups in total on the continent last year.

That matters because climate tech requires experimentation, and VC firms that provide money to nascent businesses are playing an essential role by giving climate tech startups risk capital, said Adesina. "In the climate space, a lot of things are uncertain," he said.

The money raised by climate tech startups last year was more than a third of all funds raised by startups in Africa in 2023, placing climate tech second to fintech, a more mature sector.

Venture capital is typically given to businesses with substantial risk but great long-term growth potential. Startups use it to expand into new markets and to get products and services on the market.

Venture capitalists "can take risks that other people cannot take, because our business model is designed to have failures," said Brian Odhiambo, a Lagos-based partner at Novastar Ventures, an Africa-focused investor. "Not everything has to succeed. But some will, and those that do will succeed in a massive way."

That was the case for Adetayo Bamiduro, co-founder of MAX, formerly Metro Africa Xpress, which makes electric two- and three-wheelers and electric vehicle infrastructure in Nigeria and has raised just under $100 million since it was founded in 2015.

Adetayo said venture capitalists "are playing a catalytic role that is extremely essential."

"We all know that in order to really decarbonize our economies, investments have to be made. And it's not trivial investment," he said.

The funds can also bridge the gap between traditional and non-traditional sectors, said Kidus Asfaw, co-founder and CEO of Kubik, a startup that turns difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into durable, low-carbon building material. His company, which operates in Kenya and Ethiopia, has raised around $5.2 million since it was launched in 2021.

He cites waste management and construction as examples of traditional sectors that can connect with startups like his.

"There's so much innovation in these spaces that can transform them over time," he said. "VCs are accelerating that pathway to transforming them."

Besides venture capital, other investments by private equity firms, syndicates, venture builders, grant providers and other financial institutions are actively financing climate initiatives on the continent.

But private sector financing in general lags far behind that of public financing, which includes funds from governments, multilaterals and development finance institutions.

From 2019 to 2020, private sector financing represented only 14% of all of Africa's climate finance, according to a report by the Climate Policy Initiative, much lower than in regions such as East Asia and Pacific at 39%, and Latin America and the Caribbean at 49%.

The low contribution in Africa is attributed to the investors putting money in areas they're more familiar with, like renewable energy technology, with less funding coming in for more diverse initiatives, said Sandy Okoth, a capital market specialist for green finance at FSD Africa, one of the commissioners of the CPI study.

"The private sector feels this (renewable energy technology) is a more mature space," he said. "They understand the funding models."

Technology for adapting to climate change, on the other hand, is "more complex," he said.

One startup working in renewable energy is the Johannesburg-based Wetility, which last year secured funding of $48 million  mostly from private equity  to expand its operations.

The startup provides solar panels for homes and businesses and a digital management system that allows users to remotely manage power usage, as it tries to solve the problems of energy access and reliability in southern Africa.

"Private sector financing in African climate is still rather low," said founder and CEO Vincent Maposa. "But there's visible growth. And I believe that over the next decade or so, you'll start to see those shifts."

Investors are also starting to understand the economic benefits of adapting to climate change and solutions as they have returns on investment, said Hetal Patel, Nairobi-based director of investments at Mercy Corps Ventures, an early-stage VC fund focused on startups building solutions for climate adaptation and financial resilience.

"We're starting to build a very strong business case for adaptation investors and make sure that private capital flows start coming in," he said.

Maelis Carraro, managing partner at Catalyst Fund, a Nairobi-based VC fund and accelerator that funds climate adaptation solutions, urged more diverse funding, such as that which blends private and public sector funding. The role of public financing, she said, should be to de-risk the private sector and attract more private sector capital into financing climate initiatives.

"We're not gonna go far enough with just the public funding," she said. "We need the private sector and the public sector to work together to unlock more financing. And in particular looking beyond just a few industries where the innovation is writ large."
Some residents of Nairobis suburbs are up in arms over what they say is illegal construction of high-rise buildings in their neighborhoods, mainly by Chinese developers. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi. Camera and video editing by Amos Wangwa.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at an encampment at the University of Southern California, one of the focal points of anti-Israel protests across U.S. college campuses, left the scene early Sunday after authorities warned them that they could be arrested.

Their departure came after university safety officers and Los Angeles police began clearing the center of campus, where police had arrested 93 people on April 24.

"If you are in the center of campus, please leave, the university warned the protesters on the social media platform X, saying they could be arrested if they stayed.

Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian protests continued at several college graduation ceremonies on Saturday.

At the University of Virginia, 25 people were arrested for trespassing after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from the campus.

At the University of Michigan, demonstrators chanted anti-war messages and waved flags during graduation ceremonies. More protests occurred at Indiana University, Ohio State University, Princeton University in New Jersey and Northeastern University in Massachusetts.
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Human rights defenders say political repression in Pakistan has increased in the year since supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan stormed military properties to protest his arrest. VOA Pakistan bureau chief Sarah Zaman has the details.
Talas, a dusty town in northwestern Kyrgyzstan, is not accustomed to foreign dignitaries. Tourists occasionally stop there, but even officials from the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, rarely visit this remote part of the country.

In mid-April, though, a high-level Kremlin delegation descended on the town of 30,000, putting it in national spotlight.

On April 18 and 19, a Russian government delegation led by Igor Maslov, chief of the external cooperation directorate in President Vladimir Putins executive office, took part in ceremonies honoring local World War II veterans. The Kremlin officials gave a $2,000 award to Arake Arstanbekov, one of the few living veterans of that war from Talas, and donated textbooks and equipment to several local schools.

Addressing a group of Talas residents, Vladimir Korobovski, a representative of the Russian delegation, said the visit and assistance provided clear symbols of friendly relations between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

This act underscores the importance of humanitarian and social initiatives in supporting the development of [Kyrgyzstani] regions, he said.

The delegation's visit, some regional experts say, is part of a broader Russian charm offensive to bolster Moscows influence in Central Asia. While Russia views Central Asia as vital to its national interests and its regional governments have cast themselves as Russia's partners because of historical, political and trade relations, some observers say Russian influence has been waning there because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in a December 2022 analysis that the invasion significantly weakened Moscows influence among former Soviet republics, including those in Central Asia.

"None of the Central Asian nations have supported Russias invasion of Ukraine, and all are adhering to Western sanctions against Russia, the report said.

The regions banks do not accept Russian MIR payment cards [used since Visa and Mastercard suspended Russian activity], for example, and only Kazakhstan allows their use by private individualsand only after getting U.S. approval to do so. Not one of the countries in Central Asia has recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics  or other Ukrainian territory that Russia claims to have annexed  as part of Russia, it said.

Russian officials showed their displeasure with this seeming disloyalty, with some MPs in Russia's Duma calling for stiffening restrictions on Central Asian migrants.

However, instead of relying on arm-twisting, Kremlin officials are evidently relying on soft-power diplomacy to win the hearts and minds of the regional countries. The campaign targets all of the five Central Asian republics, but the main focus is on Kyrgyzstan, long a key ally where Russian language and culture are particularly strong.

According to Russian Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstans capital, more than 350,000 people in the country are registered with the embassy as Russian compatriots, a category usually referring to those with Russian citizenship or who have family or professional ties to Russia.

Kyrgyzstan is also a member of two Russia-dominated organizations  the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a military alliance also including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Belarus, and the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Armenia Balarus and Kazakhstan. In addition, Russia maintains a military airbase on the Kyrgyzstani territory, as part of CSTO cooperation.

Moscow unveiled plans in September to build nine Russian-language schools in Kyrgyzstan. At an estimated cost of $5.5 million, construction is to be completed by 2029. Russia also announced plans to build 10 schools in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Moscow officials have adopted a variety of other measures to keep Kyrgyzstan within Russia's orbit of influence. A Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund gave out more than $500 million for development projects in Kyrgyzstan between 2014 and 2023. The fund, established in 2014, is mainly financed by Russia.

Russia is also financing the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavonic University, a well-regarded higher educational institution in Kyrgyzstan. Each academic year, Russia gives out stipends to 1,000 Kyrgyzstani students for undergraduate arts and sciences study in Russia. As part of the annual academic exchange program, approximately 120 Russian secondary school teachers spend an academic year in Kyrgyzstan, where they teach Russian language and literature. An organization called the Coordination Council of Russian compatriots in Kyrgyzstan has united approximately 40 pro-Russian nonprofit organizations, and it serves as a conduit for Russian diplomacy.

Russian efforts working

Russia's diplomacy is paying off in Kyrgyzstan, according to analysts.

A Bishkek-based expert on Kyrgyz-Russia relations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told VOA Kyrgizstan is one of the few countries in the region where Russian language and culture play dominant roles in society."

Russian language has a status as an official language, and a lot of people rely on Russian media for their news," he said.

The expert said that because the Kremlin uses Russian media as a propaganda tool in Kyrgyzstan, many people have pro-Russian views of international affairs.

He cited the Kyrgyz foreign agents law, enacted last month, as among the most recent examples of Russian influence, saying it was modeled after a Russian one, and it gives [Kyrgyz] authorities wide powers to control local NGOs."

He said the closure of Western organizations under the law will allow more Russian influence.

Some activists have voiced concerns that Kremlin is using rising influence to promote Russian state propaganda in Kyrgyzstan. Local media reports said Russia will not only build the nine schools in Kyrgyzstan, it will also provide all the technical resources and choose the school principals.

In a September 3 interview with RFE/Rl, Bishkek political analyst Aibek Tenizbaev asked what kind of educations programs the schools would follow.

Kyrgyz authorities need to sort this issue out, he said.

Russia has adopted new standards. In their history textbooks, Russian authorities have included a section on their justification for the invasion of Ukraine in these textbooks, and these textbooks contain blunt [Russian government] propaganda," he said.

Politicians bothered

Russian efforts to expand its influence in Kyrgyzstan is bothering some politicians too.

Nurlanbek Shakiev, speaker of the Supreme Council, the countrys parliament, has emerged as a voice for political groups lamenting that Russian language and cultures dominant role in Kyrgyzstan has been undercutting government efforts to spread use of Kyrgyz language.

Shakiev told Kyrgyz MPs on April 11 that, with children speaking Russian in villages across the country, Kyrgyz [is disappearing because children are watching mainly Russian-language content on the internet.

We need to block all broadcasts, all cartoons in Russian and other foreign languages," he said.

President Sadyr Japarov, apparently fearing to alienate Russia, quickly distanced himself from Shakiev's statement, calling it "Shakiev's personal opinion," adding that he disagreed with Shakiev's claim Kyrgyz is disappearing in villages.

"I havent heard our children speaking Russian since the childhood. On the contrary, there are cases when students leave school without knowing a word in Russian and go to Russia. They go there, and they have problems with the language. That is why I personally took the initiative and asked Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] to build nine Russian-language schools for us. Construction work will begin soon, he said.

Japarov had previously played down activists concern about Russian-financed schools.

Addressing a September 1 groundbreaking ceremony for one of the schools, he said, The language of instruction in these schools is Russian, and the curriculum will be based on the standards adopted in both of the two countries."
Twenty-five people were arrested Saturday for trespassing at the University of Virginia after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from campus, and demonstrators at the University of Michigan chanted anti-war messages and waved flags during commencement ceremonies.

In Virginia, student demonstrators began their protest on a lawn outside the school chapel on Tuesday. On Saturday, police wearing heavy gear and holding shields lined up on the campus in Charlottesville.

The university administration said in a statement that the demonstrators were told the tents and canopies they erected were prohibited under school policy and were asked to remove them. Virginia State Police were asked to help with enforcement, the university said.

It was the latest clash in several weeks at colleges and universities around the country that have seen protests and hundreds of arrests at demonstrations over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Protesters have been calling on universities to stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support the war in Gaza. Some schools have reached agreements with protesters to end the demonstrations and reduce the possibility of disrupting final exams and commencements.

The Associated Press has recorded at least 61 incidents since April 18 in which arrests were made at protests, with more than 2,400 people being arrested on 47 campuses. The figures are based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies.

Many encampments have been dismantled.

Michigan was among the schools bracing for protests during commencement this weekend, including Indiana University, Ohio State University and Northeastern University in Boston. Many more are slated in the coming weeks.

In Ann Arbor, the protest started at the beginning of the event at Michigan Stadium. About 75 people, many wearing traditional Arabic kaffiyehs along with their graduation caps, marched up the main aisle toward the graduation stage.

Officials said no one was arrested, and the protest didn't seriously interrupt the nearly two-hour event, which was attended by tens of thousands of people, some of them waving Israeli flags.

State police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the stage and university spokesperson Colleen Mastony said public safety personnel escorted the protesters to the rear of the stadium, where they remained through the conclusion of the event.

At Indiana, protesters were urging supporters to wear their kaffiyehs and walk out during remarks by President Pamela Whitten on Saturday evening. The Bloomington campus designated a protest zone outside Memorial Stadium, the arena for the ceremony.

At Princeton, in New Jersey, 18 students launched a hunger strike in an effort to push the university to divest from companies tied to Israel.

One of them, senior David Chmielewski said in an email that the strike started Friday morning and will continue until administrators meet with students about demands including amnesty from criminal and disciplinary charges for protesters.

Princeton students set up a protest encampment and some held a sit-in at an administrative building this week, leading to about 15 arrests.

Students at other colleges, including Brown and Yale, launched similar hunger strikes earlier this year before the more recent wave of encampments.

Meanwhile in Medford, Massachusetts, students at Tufts University peacefully took down their encampment without police intervention Friday night.

School officials said they were pleased with the development, which wasn't the result of any agreement. Protest organizers said in a statement that they were "deeply angered and disappointed" that negotiations with the university had failed.

The protests stem from the conflict that started October 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking roughly 250 hostages.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. Israeli strikes have devastated the enclave and displaced most of its inhabitants.
GAZA/JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Sunday that it fired rockets at an Israeli military base in southern Israel, while at least seven Israelis were reportedly injured.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a press statement that "our militants targeted an Israeli army gathering at the Kerem Shalom site and its surroundings in the city of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip with a 114 mm short-range (Rajoum) missile system."

The statement provided no further details on the attack.

The Israeli state-owned Kan TV reported that Israeli helicopters and tanks struck Gaza's Rafah city after the Hamas attack.

For its part, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a release that approximately ten mortars were fired from Rafah towards Kerem Shalom, a crossing located near the southern Gaza Strip.

"The Kerem Shalom crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks," the military said.

The Soroka Hospital in the city of Beersheba said that at least seven Israeli citizens were injured to varying degrees.

The attack occurred amid a sensitive time in the Egyptian and Qatari-brokered negotiations between the Palestinian group and Israel regarding a ceasefire and a hostage release deal. 
Afghanistans hardline Taliban leaders have threatened to militarily suppress unprecedented violent public protests in a northeastern border region against a nationwide ban on poppy cultivation.

The unrest erupted last Friday when the Talibans anti-narcotics forces began destroying poppy fields in Badakhshan province, prompting angry farmers to resist it with the support of local residents.

Multiple sources confirmed Sunday that Taliban security forces used firearms to disperse the demonstrators, killing two of them during the two days of protests.

Videos circulating on social media showed residents chanting slogans against reclusive Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who has banned poppy cultivation across Afghanistan through a religious decree. VOA could not ascertain the authenticity of the footage independently.

While Taliban authorities claimed Sunday the situation had returned to normal, residents said tensions were running high, and they were waiting for a high-powered government team to address their complaints.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in an overnight official announcement that their army chief, Qari Fasihuddin, a Badakhshan native, would lead the team to thoroughly investigate the violence and circumstances leading to it.

Mujahid said that an anti-poppy campaign in Badakhshan was under way in line with Akhundzadas decree to prevent the cultivation of the illegal crop and its smuggling.

This decree extends to all regions without exception. Regrettably, there have been incidents where offenders attempted to attack the security forces involved in the fight against poppy cultivation, resulting in tragic events, he said.

Fasihuddin reportedly warned on Sunday that he would be compelled to deploy additional military forces to quell the rebellion if the demonstrations persist. He reiterated the Taliban's resolve to eradicate poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and vowed to achieve this goal, come what may.

Badakhshan and surrounding Afghan provinces are ethnically non-Pashtun regions. The province borders Tajikistan and Pakistan.

The Taliban, who represent the countrys majority Pashtun population, were unable to take control of these provinces during their first stint in power in the 1990s.

Following their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have successfully established control over all 34 Afghan provinces.

However, some experts argue that the public uprising in Badakhshan highlights the potential obstacles that the Taliban may face in maintaining their authority.

The international community has not yet formally recognized the Taliban government, citing its restrictions on Afghan womens access to education and work, among other human rights concerns.

Afghanistan has faced dire economic problems since the Taliban takeover nearly three years ago. The Afghan banking sector largely remains isolated, and terrorism-related sanctions on Taliban leaders continue to deter donors from resuming financial assistance for development programs.

The restrictions have fueled unemployment and economic problems for the poverty-stricken countrys estimated 40 million population.

The World Bank noted in its latest report released on Thursday that the Talibans ban on opium cultivation precipitated a staggering $1.3 billion loss in farmers' incomes.

Citing U.N. estimates, the report said that the opiate economys value has contracted by 90 percent, while the area under cultivation declined by 95 percent, costing Afghans 450,000 jobs at the farm level alone.

The World Bank report noted that Afghanistan's economic outlook remains uncertain, with the threat of stagnation looming large until at least 2025. For a sustainable future, Afghanistan needs to address harmful gender policies, invest in health and education, and focus on the comparative advantages it has in the agricultural and extractive sectors, it said.

Afghanistan used to be the world's largest opium-poppy producer until the Taliban imposed the ban on cultivation in early 2022.

The ban strictly prohibits the cultivation, production, usage, transportation, trade, export, and import of all illicit drugs in Afghanistan. Afghan poppy farming accounted for 85% of global opium production until recently, according to United Nations estimates.
Russian airstrikes hit the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Kharkiv killing three people and injuring at least 17, officials said Sunday, as the two countries observed Orthodox Easter Sunday.

Russia had used a guided aerial bomb in the strike launched from a plane. The regions governor, Oleg Syniehubov wrote on the Telegram messaging app that Russia is using such extremely destructive weapons more frequently.

He also said a separate overnight drone attack on the city of Kharkiv wounded six, including a 9-year-old child.

The Russian defense ministry said Sunday its forces seized the village of Ocheretyne with a prewar population of 3,000, in Donetsk. Russian troops have been pummeling Kyivs ammunition-depleted forces with artillery, drones and bombs.

Russian troops advanced in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the strategic town of Chasiv Yar, while Kyiv's troops wait for U.S. military aid that would help them push back Russian forces.

Despite the imminent Russian threat, residents in Kostiantynivka, 15 kilometers (about 9.32 miles) southwest of Chasiv Yar, attended the Orthodox Easter liturgy.

"We came in 2022 and in 2023, and we'll come again," said Natalia Hryhorieva, 58, outside an Orthodox church as she waited for a priest to bless her Easter basket with holy water.

In the background, cannon fire could be heard. The priest led a prayer for Ukraine's victor

Kostiantynivka, a key Ukrainian city in the industrialized Donetsk region, could be next in line to face a Russian onslaught if Chasiv Yar falls, analysts have said.

In an Easter message from Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainians to unite in prayer for each other and soldiers on the front line, saying God has a "Ukrainian flag on his shoulder."

"Let's pray for each other. When we all came closer to each other, we were no longer strangers to each other," he said in a video posted on Telegram. Standing in front of the 1,000-year-old Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has now been fighting for 802 days against Russia.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter service led by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, a staunch supporter of the Russian leader and Russias war in Ukraine.

Eastern Orthodox Christians usually celebrate Easter later than Catholic and Protestant churches, because they use a different methodology for calculating the date of what they believe is Christs resurrection.

Ukraines Kharkiv and Dnipro regions also were hit by Russian drones Saturday. At least six people were injured, including a 13-year-old, when the drones struck commercial and residential buildings, regional officials said.

The Ukrainian air force said it downed 23 out of 24 Shahed drones targeting the regions again Sunday, with the debris from the falling drones in Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv striking civilian targets, injuring four people and causing a fire in an office building that has been brought under control, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a post on Telegram.

Ten more people were wounded in an airstrike Sunday afternoon on the Kharkiv regional capital, also called Kharkiv, Syniehubov said.

Fires broke out when debris from the drones that were shot down fell on buildings in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. No casualties were reported.

Russian state news agency RIA reported Saturday that Russian forces targeted a drone warehouse overnight in Kharkiv that it said had been used by Ukrainian troops. The state media cited Sergei Lebedev, a self-described coordinator of local pro-Moscow guerrillas.

His comments could not be independently verified, The Associated Press reported.

Some information for this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Burt Rutan was alarmed to see the plane he had designed was so loaded with fuel that the wing tips started dragging along the ground as it taxied down the runway. He grabbed the radio to warn the pilot, his older brother Dick Rutan. But Dick never heard the message.

Nine days and three minutes later, Dick, along with copilot Jeana Yeager, completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling.

A decorated Vietnam War pilot, Dick Rutan died Friday evening at a hospital in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with Burt and other loved ones by his side. He was 85. His friend Bill Whittle said he died of a severe lung infection.

"He played an airplane like someone plays a grand piano," said Burt Rutan of his brother, who was often described as having a velvet arm because of his smooth flying style.

A design, a dream

Burt Rutan said he had always loved designing airplanes and became fascinated with the idea of a craft that could go clear around the world. His brother was equally passionate about flying. The project took six years.

There was plenty to worry Burt during testing of the light graphite plane, Voyager. There were mechanical failures, any one of which would have been disastrous over a distant ocean. When fully laden, the plane couldn't handle turbulence. And then there was the question of how the pilots could endure such a long flight on so little sleep. But Burt said his brother had an optimism about him that made them all believe.

"Dick never doubted whether my design would actually make it around, with still some gas in the tank," Burt Rutan said.

Voyager left from Edwards Air Force Base in California just after 8 a.m. on Dec. 14, 1986. Rutan said with all that fuel, the wings had only inches of clearance. Dick couldn't see when they started dragging on the runway. But when Burt called on the radio, copilot Yeager gave a speed report, drowning the message.

"And then, the velvet arm really came in," Burt Rutan said. "And he very slowly brought the stick back and the wings bent way up, some 30 feet at the wingtips, and it lifted off very smoothly."

They arrived back to a hero's welcome as thousands gathered to witness the landing. Both Rutan brothers and Yeager were awarded a Presidential Citizenship Medal by President Ronald Reagan, who described how a local official in Thailand at first "refused to believe some cockamamie story" about a plane flying around the world on a single tank of gas.

"We had the freedom to pursue a dream, and that's important," Dick Rutan said at the ceremony.

A vet of combat missions

Richard Glenn Rutan was born in Loma Linda, California. He joined the U.S. Air Force as a teenager and flew more than 300 combat missions during the Vietnam War.

He was part of an elite group that would loiter over enemy anti-aircraft positions for hours at a time. The missions had the call sign "Misty" and Dick was known as "Misty Four-Zero." Among the many awards Dick received were the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.

He survived having to eject twice from planes, once when his F-100 Super Sabre was hit by enemy fire over Vietnam, and a second time when he was stationed in England and the same type of plane had a mechanical failure. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel and went on to work as a test pilot.

Dick Rutan set another record in 2005 when he flew about 10 miles (16 kilometers) in a rocket-powered plane launched from the ground in Mojave, California. It was also the first time U.S. mail had been carried by a such a plane.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his government had "unanimously" decided to shut down the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel, one of the few outlets which still has an operational bureau in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera, which went off-air in Israel shortly after the announcement, condemned the move as a "criminal act."

Here are five things to know about the Arab media giant, with which Netanyahu's administration has had a long-running feud that began well before Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza started on October 7.

Foundation

Al Jazeera was launched in Doha in 1996 by a decree issued by the former emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

While stipulating that the channel should be "totally independent of all influences," the decree also provided a $150 million government loan for "setting it up and covering its operating costs for five years."

Though Al Jazeera Media Network is a private business, the broadcaster has retained some Qatari government funding, which its critics often cite when questioning its editorial independence from Doha.

The broadcaster immediately emerged as a rival to international media giants but its no-holds-barred coverage as the self-described "first independent news channel in the Arab world" also sparked a series of legal disputes in the region in its early years.

Global reach

The channel says it operates in 95 countries with 70 bureaus and a staff of 3,000 employees, with a global audience of 430 million homes.

Al Jazeera, the network's initial Arabic-language news channel, was joined in 2006 by an English service.

Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English  the network's flagship channels  have distinct editorial lines with the Arabic-language channel more frequently facing criticism from within the region.

The network also includes a live public affairs channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher, and its digital-only AJ+ channel, which is aimed at a youth audience.

Arab Spring

When a wave of popular uprisings swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, Al Jazeera was seen as a key shaper of public opinion because it gave unprecedented airtime to opposition groups, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood.

The network has repeatedly rejected any accusation of bias in its coverage.

Al Jazeera faced pressure from governments across the region and became the focus of a feud between Cairo and Doha after the 2013 military ouster of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi.

Cairo considered it a mouthpiece for Morsi's Islamist movement and Egyptian authorities arrested three Al Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, provoking international condemnation.

Qatar blockade

In 2017, Qatar's neighbors, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed a three-year diplomatic and economic blockade on the Gulf monarchy.

As well as demanding Qatar cut ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and its sister organization Hamas, and downgrade relations with Iran, the boycotting states also called for the closure of Al Jazeera and all its affiliates.

The channel called the pressure an attempt to "silence freedom of expression."

Israel-Hamas war

Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, Al Jazeera aired continuous on-the-ground reporting of Israel's campaign and its consequences.

Its broadcasts have been among the most watched in the Middle East amid widespread disenchantment with Western media coverage.

Last month, Netanyahu called Al Jazeera a "terrorist channel," saying he would "act immediately" to halt its activities after a new law was passed.

At the time, the news station called the proposed ban a "part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera," which it said included the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, one of its most prominent journalists in the region, while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank in May 2022.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Al Jazeera's office in the Palestinian territory of Gaza has been bombed and two of its correspondents killed.

In January, Israel said an Al Jazeera staff journalist and a freelancer killed in an airstrike in Gaza were "terror operatives."

The following month, it accused another journalist with the channel who was wounded in a separate strike of being a "deputy company commander" with Hamas.

Al Jazeera has fiercely denied Israel's allegations and accused it of systematically targeting Al Jazeera employees in the Gaza Strip.

Its bureau chief in Gaza, Wael al-Dahdouh, was wounded in an Israeli strike in December that killed the network's cameraman.

His wife, two of their children and a grandson were killed in the October bombardment of central Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp.

His eldest son was the Al Jazeera staff journalist killed in January when a strike targeted a car in Rafah.
Two Zimbabweans and a non-governmental organization have filed a High Court application seeking to declare some provisions of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act 2023 as unconstitutional.

The applicants - Valentine Maponga, Paidamoyo Muzulu and Firinne Trust Trading as Veritas  want the court to declare Section 22A of the law as an infringement on peoples rights and freedoms.

In their application they also argue that the death penalty related to crimes committed under Section 22A of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act should be repealed. The respondents are the Minister of Justice, Attorney General and Parliament of Zimbabwe.

According to the applicants, willfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe in this section is vague and designed to instill fear in Zimbabweans.

 Sections 22A (2) and (3) are an infringement of the right to a fair public trial as protected by Section 69(1) and sections 58 and 61 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe  The penalty provisions of section 22A are an infringement of the right to a fair and impartial trial as provided by Section 69(1) and section 69(3) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe as well as the right to equal protection and benefit of the law codified under section 56(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

They argue that the death penalty imposed in Section 20(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act on the basis of violating the law are a breach of the rights of Zimbabweans.

The law states that a person who is convicted of breaching Section 22A (2) shall be guilty of willfully damaging the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and be sentenced to death.

Under the law, Zimbabweans are barred from engaging foreigners on national issues without state approval. Its unlawful for them to discuss sanctions and related matters with foreign government representatives or just foreigners.

Justice secretary Virginia Mabhiza said she has not yet received papers challenging some provisions of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
HOUSTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- More than 600 people have been rescued from flooded areas around Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city, as a flood watch continues through Sunday afternoon in eastern Texas.

More rainfall was forecast, raising the risk of major flooding.

"The next round of heavy rainfall is expected late (Saturday) into Sunday," National Weather Service posted on social media.

More than 21 inches (53 centimeters) of rain fell in past five days near the city of Splendora, about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Houston, said the service.

Lina Hidalgo, judge of Harris County, said at a news conference on Saturday that nearly 180 people and 122 pets had been rescued from murky water across multiple areas in the county.

Local media reported more than 100 water rescues in Polk County and nearly 400 in Montgomery County. All the three counties are in or around the Houston metro area.

The water rose nearly as high as the power lines close to the East Fork of the San Jacinto. Other areas had water up to rooftops, the Houston Chronocle reported on Saturday. Hidalgo described the flooding along the East Fork as the "worst one since Harvey."

Hidalgo on Thursday ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Houston areas along the east fork of the San Jacinto River, asking residents to leave their homes as soon as possible.

Houston city officials said on Satuday that the area received about four months' worth of rain in about one week. So far no deaths or injuries have been reported. 
More than 600,000 people are released from U.S. prisons every year, vowing never to go back. Many do. One man is trying to change that.
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 On the tiny island of Olkiluoto on Finlands Baltic Sea coast, just over three hours drive north-west from Helsinki, a minor miracle of engineering and science, planning and governance is unfolding. On the far western edge of the little island  just 5 kilometres across  Finland has switched on the first new nuclear reactor in Europe in the past 15 years; it is the tiny nations fifth reactor. The reactor now generates 1.6 gigawatts, enough to supply more than 750,000 modern Australian households. The newest nuclear reactor on Olkiluoto, Finland, took more than 17 years to build. Drive back towards the mainland a kilometre or two and you will come to the gates of Onkalo, a Finnish word meaning something like cavity in English, which will soon open to become the worlds first deep geological repository for the permanent storage of high-level nuclear waste. Soon robot tractors will begin the work of transferring Finlands spent fuel rods 450 metres down into the bedrock along the 50 kilometres of Onkalos tunnels to be sealed in gigantic copper cylinders, packed in bentonite  an absorbent clay that swells when exposed to water and is the main ingredient in kitty litter  and finally entombed behind vast concrete plugs to rest in safety for 100,000 years. Or that is the plan arrived at in Finlands parliament in 1994, when the nations leaders decreed that the generation that benefited from nuclear power was responsible for safely disposing of it and set a timeline to get it done. A site would be selected by 2000, operations would begin by the mid-2020s. And so it was that a site was chosen by that date and Posiva, the company that won the contract to bury the waste, has just won a licence to start operations later this year.

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This is also important for Finnish culture that we stick to the schedule, says Mika Pohjonen, managing director of Posiva Solutions, a subsidiary that sells the companys expertise internationally, as he talks through the extraordinary considerations of such a project. The timelines, he says, as we speak in his Helsinki office on an unseasonably snowy spring afternoon, are impossible for human minds to properly grapple with. The plant will operate for 100 years before it is sealed and returned to the state. In 100,000 years the radioactivity of the waste will have reduced to background levels, but the facility is intended to last 1 million years. The underground nuclear waste storage facility in Olkiluoto will store spent fuel rods 450 metres beneath the surface. Credit: Posiva Any human being cannot really understand what this means, says Pohjonen. You understand 10 years, 100 years, maybe. The Roman Empire was 2000 years ago, OK. But then 10,000 years? 100,000 years? That is beyond comprehension.

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I ask him how long the facility would remain safe if due to some unforeseen future calamity there was no one left to maintain it. If there is no nobody in Scandinavia or Finland? Then in fact who would care? Besides, he notes, the next ice age will cover the entire area with a few kilometres of ice in less than 150,000 years. The bedrock into which Onkalo is built is 1900 million years old. So it is relatively stable, says Pohjonen, who is possessed of a manner of speech so dry it is impossible to know whether he is always or never joking. The underground facility has 50 kilometres of tunnels. Credit: Posiva The site was selected not just for its stability but for its utterly unremarkable geological make-up. The designers wanted to be sure that no future civilisation would seek to disturb it, so they selected an area that not only had no known useful minerals, but one whose geological make-up was so common that there would be no reason to mine it for materials that might one day become valuable. Posivas view is that it should be left utterly unmarked, says Pohjonen. There should be no reason for anyone to disturb it. (Just as no other deep permanent facility has yet been completed, there is no international consensus on this. A report by a major US nuclear research lab went as far as proposing wording to be inscribed upon such facilities. This place is not a place of honour, reads the proposed text. No highly esteemed deed is commemorated here ... nothing valued is here. What is here was dangerous and repulsive to us. )

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However unthinkable the timelines that Onkalos keepers are grappling with, Climate and Environment Minister Kai Mykkanen has no doubt about nuclears role in Finlands economy. Inside the new reactor. Credit: Getty Mykkanen represents a centre-right government installed in June 2023, more than a year after Russias invasion of Ukraine. It is more conservative and more West-facing than its predecessors and determined that not only should clean electricity help Finland meet climate targets, cheap and abundant energy should also bolster its economy. Loading Finlands climate targets are among the most ambitious on earth. It aims to have a net-zero economy by 2035 and after that to go negative. That is, it aims to have its forests absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than its economy pumps into it. So far it is having success in reducing its emissions but struggling to improve its forest emissions sink. By comparison, Australias targets are to reduce emissions by 43 per cent compared with 2005 levels by 2030, and reach zero in 2050. To reach Finlands ambitious goals, nuclear is crucial says Mykkanen. Nuclear power, along with the mass deployment of wind and solar, will allow it to double its electricity production so it can power electrified green export industries. It plans to ramp up the production of green steel, synthetic fuels and hydrogen.

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It has also allowed Finland to sever its energy lifelines with Russia, which until the invasion of Ukraine was a source of gas, wood and biomass for Finland. So convinced of the efficacy of nuclear power is Finland that when it adopted its ambitious targets it lobbied for the European Union to recognise nuclear as a form of green energy. Support for nuclear comes from across the political spectrum, too. While opposition to nuclear power is woven into the creation of the early Green political movements, particularly in Germany and Australia, MPs for the Green League in Finland now support it. Partly this has to do with Finlands typically pragmatic approach to policymaking, says Veikko Sajaniemi, a lead consultant with the Finnish sustainability advisers Third Rock. Finland has a population of just over 5.5 million people, which is well-educated and well governed. In one annual global report, Finland was famously named the happiest country on earth seven times running, in part because it is among the least corrupt.

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Authorities are intercepting an increasing number of shipments of a synthetic drug that is potentially deadlier than fentanyl, sparking concerns among Australian medical professionals that it could trigger a wave of overdoses.

Australian Border Force officers detected nitazene, a potent lab-manufactured opioid, in 22 packages shipped into the country by cargo mail from the UK last October. Officers had previously detected the drug on only two other occasions.

Metonitazene intercepted by law enforcement officers in a parcel bound for the Northern Territory. Credit: AFP

Nitezines have been connected to the deaths of more than 100 people in the UK since June last year, according to its National Crime Agency. The British government has banned the narcotic and introduced tougher prison sentences for those caught supplying it.

In April, the opioid was linked to a cluster of about 20 severe overdoses in Penrith in western Sydney, prompting NSW health authorities to issue a warning about the dangers of synthetic opioids.
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Nor is the link yet clear between the six charged this week and the church attacker, though one described him as a mate. The others, police say, were identified as they began investigating associates of the knife-wielding 16-year-old. The most striking feature of the group remains their youth and yet, this would have come as no surprise to law enforcement and intelligence authorities. In an address to the National Press Club last week, ASIO chief Mike Burgess noted that in terms of minors, weve been talking about this for a long time. They had comprised half of ASIOs priority counter-terrorism caseload just a couple of years ago, and its picked up again, he said. They are a vulnerable cohort. He singled out social media as one driver, though not the only one. Speaking at the same event, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw cited evidence of Syrian-based radicals endeavouring to groom a child in Australia via an online gaming platform. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess told the press club that young terror suspects were not a new problem. Credit: AAP In a report released on Thursday responding to the raids, the influential Australian Federation of Islamic Councils said that young Muslims growing up in a post-9/11 world find themselves having to navigate ... complex identities and prejudices from a very young age. This led to constant pressure to prove their loyalty to Australia, which coupled with the internal conflict between their Australian and Muslim identities can lead to significant psychological stress and isolation. The phenomenon of radicalised teens is not unique to Australia. In Germany last month, a boy and two girls, aged 15 to 16, were arrested on suspicion of planning an Islamic State terrorist attack using knives and Molotov cocktails.

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Burgess has also spoken about society needing to stare into this problem earlier, to catch kids early and understand how to quickly help them and be deradicalised. But Muslim community leaders say that message looks hollow against the way in which last weeks highly publicised raids were conducted. Muslim leaders have slammed authorities for not exploring alternatives to the counter-terrorism raids in Sydney last month. Credit: Police Media The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils report slammed the raids excessive force ... [which] not only directly impacted the individuals involved but  resonated negatively across the broader community. The federation says the failure of authorities to consider alternatives to a security-only approach risks creating a cyclical problem where heavy-handed security measures feed the very radicalisation they aim to prevent. It is now calling for an overhaul of the countrys national security regime, including the removal of religious cause from the definition of terrorism, adoption of a more nuanced approach where minors are identified as a terrorism risk, and redoubled resourcing for community engagement, early prevention and mental health. Federation chief executive Kamalle Dabboussy says: The policing response should be the last resort, but it appears to be the first resort at the moment.

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Rather than the last resort, policing seems to be the first response to dealing with young people at risk of radicalisation, says Kamalle Dabboussy. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Clarke Jones, a criminologist at the Australian National University with experience in countering violent extremism, says relations between authorities and Islamic communities in Sydney and Melbourne are probably at the lowest ebb I have ever seen. There are lots of other things happening that are causing divisions between Muslim communities and the government and police, Jones warns. These include anguish over the mounting death toll in Gaza, following the Hamas terror attacks of October 7 that precipitated a massive Israeli bombardment; the failure of the Australian government to bring home the remaining women and children trapped in camps in north-east Syria following the collapse of IS; and two public references Burgess has recently made to the risks of Sunni violent extremism. (In fairness to Burgess, he did so while also highlighting the growing risks of right-wing extremists seeking to fan race warfare here, and noting a recent Christian religious fundamentalist terror attack.) The speed with which police designated the church stabbing a terrorist incident, just hours after it occurred, remains another source of grievance. The death toll in Gaza is fuelling community discontent in Australia. Credit: Bloomberg Jamal Rifi, a former GP with deep links in western Sydneys Arabic-speaking community, has been in extensive contact with the family of the church attacker, and says there should have been an early mental health assessment before he was labelled a terrorist.

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I was shocked to find out that there is a life-long history of behaviour that indicates a mental health issue, that unfortunately has gone untreated, Rifi says. This boy is still a minor, he hasnt been treated, and now he is getting a potential life sentence. Rifi is struck by the contrast with the Wieambilla siege in Queensland in December 2022, when Christian fundamentalists gunned down three people, including two police. It took two months, not a few hours, for police to decide that was a terror attack, he says. More broadly, Rifi says authorities have dropped the ball on the long-haul task of maintaining strong connections with Islamic communities and investing in engagement and prevention. Jamal Rifi was shocked to learn the 16-year-old accused of harming Mar Mari Emmanuel had a history of mental illness that had gone untreated. Credit: Janie Barrett You build your friendship at the time of peace so you can count on it in the time of crisis. And what happened in the time of peace? The director-general of ASIO twice pointed the finger and says the risk to Australia stems from Sunni Muslims. To be honest, all my life we have worked to improve relations with the NSW police in particular and the Australian Federal Police. Unfortunately, I feel that relationship has weakened recently. Earlier this week, Rifi met with AFP chief Kershaw in Sydney, one of a series of meetings with Islamic community representatives that appear to have been hastily arranged after last weeks raids. Of the meeting, Rifi says: We agreed this is a crucial time  we need to improve the relationship. Jones urges authorities to expand their range of contacts within the Islamic community, and says nothing can happen without trust and mutual respect. He is critical of the fact that we have thrown [millions of dollars] into countering violent extremism. But how much has gone into helping around mental health, and supporting and preventing kids from stupid behaviour? The system has failed.

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Thank you for joining us on this very busy news day.

We just learned that Perth bikie Troy Mercanti is accused of backhanding a woman and raping her after night out in Northbridge.

The 56-year-old appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday via video link from Hakea Prison looking dishevelled and unshaven after a weekend in the cells.

In unbearably sad news, the girlfriend of one of the Perth brothers killed in Mexico has led the online tributes for them after Mexican authorities confirmed the identities of three bodies found in a well last week.

Prosecutors believe Perth brothers Callum, 33, and Jake Robinson, 30, and American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were killed after resisting the theft of their ute.

Callums girlfriend Emily Horwath, an American who lives in San Diego where he played professional lacrosse, expressed her devastation in posts about the brothers and their American friend.

My heart is shattered into a million pieces, she said. You are one of one. I will love you forever.

And a 42-year-old West Australian woman is accused of attempting to murder her disabled child by injecting her with insulin, a court has heard.

The mother, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the child, went on trial in the WA Supreme Court on Monday. She was arrested and charged after blood tests taken in January 2022 following a triple-zero call showed the child had life-threatening levels of insulin in her system.

Finally, we offer you a change of pace here, with an inspiring opinion piece titled: I signed up for a one-way ticket to hell and (somehow) came out transformed. Perhaps itll inspire us to get out of bed that bit earlier and start exercising.
London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on political death row after his party suffered crushing defeats in a series of mayoral contests at the weekend, including London and its flagship West Midlands. His fate appears sealed whether his Conservative colleagues mount a challenge to him in the coming weeks or not.

No amount of positive spin on the horror result can mask the fact that British voters are waiting with cricket bats for a 14-year-old government, with the Conservatives losing close to 500 council seats as well as the Blackpool South parliamentary byelection on a 26 per cent swing to Labour.

Putting on a brave face  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Credit: Getty

Analysis of the votes across the country put the Tories at a record-low 25 per cent projected national vote share, with the party overtaken by the Liberal Democrats in the number of council seats for the first time since 1996.

While it remains unclear whether Labour could form a majority in its own right, the Conservatives now seem incapable of avoiding a hammering.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at an April 23 news conference that the office had received reports that several Palestinians were unlawfully killed and that soldiers used unarmed Palestinians to shield their forces from attack and killed others in apparent extrajudicial executions. The Israel Defence Forces denied allegations of extrajudicial killings and using civilians as human shields. It said that Palestinian militants, not Israeli soldiers, had killed Rajai and that Jihad, the 14-year-old, had attacked Israeli forces. They said they were not aware of the incident involving the wounded militant. Mustafa Nasser Zandiq, the father of Jihad Nyaz Naser Zandiq, 15, uses his mobile phone to show a photograph of his son. Credit: The Washington Post Fourteen terrorists were killed by Israeli forces in close-quarters fighting and 10 Israeli soldiers were wounded, the IDF said, though it did not provide evidence that all those killed were militants. The operation appeared to target the head of the Tulkarm Brigade, Mohammed Jaber, better known as Abu Shujaa, who survived. More than 450 West Bank Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since October 7, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Nearly 40 per cent of the fatalities were recorded in camps such as Nur Shams, established decades ago for Palestinians who were forced from their homes or fled after Israels founding in 1948.

Nine Israelis, including five members of the security forces, have been killed in the West Bank over the same period, according to OCHA. In the attack on Nur Shams, Israeli forces used ground troops, bulldozers and drones to inflict unprecedented and apparently wanton destruction on the camp and its infrastructure, according to the UN human rights office. As the militants fought the army, they fled over rooftops and fought from homes, residents said. The Israelis have been invading the camps regularly. They want to suppress any form of resistance, Palestinian opposition politician Mustafa Barghouti said during a visit to Nur Shams a few days after the raid. Over the last six months, he said, Israeli forces became totally liberal in doing anything, without any consideration of any right, or any restraint, or any regulation. It is lawlessness, he said. Total lawlessness.

I lost my life Rajai Abu Sweilem lived on the second floor of a large building owned by his family, across the patio from his father and mother. During the raid on Nur Shams, soldiers took over Rajais apartment, his relatives said  a pattern repeated throughout the camp, as soldiers occupied homes, residents said. When the soldiers came for him, Rajai was staying in his parents apartment with his eight-year-old son, his father said. A group of militants was holed up downstairs in a ground-floor apartment that belonged to Rajais aunt. Roughly 30 seconds after Rajai was taken away, Mohamad, his father, heard the first gunshots and his sons cries; then there was more gunfire, he said  a lot, a lot, and explosions. The father and other relatives allege that soldiers took Rajai as a human shield to confront the militants, then shot him before the decisive gun battle. The IDF called him a suspect who claimed to have hidden armed terrorists in a storage room located in his home. After he directed the soldiers to the room, the suspect distanced himself to avoid harm, but the terrorists inside the storage room fired at the forces and hit him, Israels military said.

The forces did not instruct him to lead the way, and he was not standing in front of them, the IDF said. Look, my son was in their custody, Mohamad said. From the minute they took him to the minute he died, they are responsible. Loading The family said Rajais body was found in a debris-filled alleyway behind the house, near the corpses of three militants who had been in the downstairs apartment. His body was brought to the emergency room April 21, according to the hospital report. Rajai had suffered a brain hemorrhage and skull fracture caused by bullets, as well as internal bleeding and shots to his chest and abdomen.

Mohamed, who has heart problems, said he and his wife had leaned heavily on their eldest child, including at the family store. Anything I needed to do, he would do it for me, he said. I lost my life. Dont shoot The family of Jihad Zandiq, 14, said they had arrived at Nur Shams around the same time that the Israelis did on April 18. Palestinian citizens of Israel, they live in Tayibe, south of Tulkarm, and were visiting Jihads grandfathers house, as they did most every weekend. Jihad had arrived at the camp a day earlier, his father said. On April 18, Jihad told his parents he was going to a nearby store but did not return until the next day, his father said. He left again April 19, the day he was killed, ignoring his parents pleas not to go out, and went to his great-uncles house. His family said he was not armed when he left. Haneen Zandiq, the aunt of Jihad Nyaz Naser Zandiq.The 15-year-old was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier. Credit: The Washington Post

Israeli soldiers near the great-uncles house called on fighters to come out and surrender, according to residents and Jihads family. When Jihad did try to surrender, he was shot in the head, said his aunt, Haneen Zandiq, who was in a nearby building and filmed the body, which she said lay in the street for 16 hours. A picture she had on her phone appeared to show Jihad with a large bullet wound in his right eye. I heard him, she said. He was telling them he wanted to surrender. Other people who lived in the area where Jihad was shot said they heard him surrendering. Dont shoot, dont shoot, 33-year-old Nihaya, who spoke on the condition that she be identified only by her first name for fear of reprisal, quoted him as saying. But the soldiers were on high alert and were firing randomly, she said. Mohammed Jaber, 30, Jihads distant cousin, said he heard the army shouting Hand yourselves over, and instructing those surrendering to lift their shirts. He said he heard Jihad say Dont shoot, we are surrendering, followed by the sound of heavy gunfire.

The killing of someone who has surrendered, even a combatant, is considered a war crime under the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court. Jihads father, Niyaz Nasr Zandiq, said his son was a ninth-grader in Tayibe who played Xbox and hoped to become an electrical engineer. He did not belong to the Tulkarm Brigade, which is led by Jihads cousin, the father said. But it seemed clear the boy wanted to be among the fighters, or at least to watch the battle. Father, forgive me, he said as he ran away from the house April 19. And he left behind a will, which his family discovered after he was killed. Calling himself a mujahid, a term used for people who fight in the name of Islam, he wrote that he was on the path of liberating Palestine from the filth of this occupier, who only knows the language of murder and destruction. Most of the children of the camp write wills, his father said. They see death from the army every day.

Jaber, the distant cousin, said Jihad thought it was a game, and he could follow the young men from place to place, referring to the militants. He also said Jihad did not carry a weapon. While Jihad was gone, his father, Niyaz, was interrogated by Israeli officers and beaten, he recounted, showing bruises he said he received from being struck by a gun. The IDF said Jihad was a terrorist in the terror infrastructure of Nur Shams and during the activity, he threw grenades and fired at IDF forces. The IDF is not aware of live fire towards unarmed individuals. The IDF did not respond to a question about whether soldiers had beaten his father. Bloodstains on the ledge of a window in the home where family members of Rajai Sweilem claim he was executed by Israeli soldiers and thrown into the alley outside. Credit: The Washington Post Days after the raid, blood still pooled in the cramped alleyways of Nur Shams, near the flower pots residents use to brighten the cracked concrete. Some apartments were torn apart by gunfire, with bullet holes on every surface. In one apartment, on a wooden wardrobe, someone had written, in Hebrew, the word revenge.

The UN humanitarian affairs office said an initial assessment after the raid found that 11 households with a total of 55 people were displaced when their homes were rendered uninhabitable by bulldozers or explosives. The operation entailed massive bulldozing of several vital road sections inside the camp and those leading to Tulkarm city, causing severe damage to water, sewage, electricity, and telecommunication networks. One family was sheltering from the raid when a 20-year-old fighter, Ahmed Arref, entered the house from the roof, trailing blood. Save me, he said, according to Khawla Jaber, 63, who lived in the house. Cover me. Forgive me, Jaber recalled him saying. She read him verses from the Quran as he sat in an armchair, bleeding like a fountain from bullet wounds in his legs that the family tried to treat. Israeli soldiers arrived and asked the family if Arref had a weapon. The family said he did not. You are responsible. If he has anything on him, you will be dead, she quoted one of the soldiers, an Arabic speaker, as saying.

The family went upstairs to the roof. A video they recorded showed the scene they returned to, about 10 to 20 minutes later: Arref, dead on the floor of a bedroom, lying on a bloodied carpet with what the family said were several fresh bullet wounds, including two to the head. When reporters visited, the carpet had been removed. The tile beneath it was chipped by what the family said were the shots fired by the Israeli soldiers into the wounded man. Arrefs father, Ghaleb Mahmoud Arref, 54, said he was away from the neighborhood when his son was shot. Ahmed, who had been wanted by the IDF for about two years, did not spend much time at home  just stopping by to eat from time to time. They had quarrelled over his decision to fight. I told him to forget about this path you are taking, he said. His wife was so worried about her son that she became ill. Loading Among those wounded in the raid was a nurse, Hamza Jitawi, 21, who said he was shot in the leg by an Israeli sniper as he responded to a call to help an injured man. Jitawi said he had been wearing the red and white vest of the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
BAGHDAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A Shiite militia in Iraq on Sunday claimed responsibility for an attack with a cruise missile on Haifa Port in Israel.

The militia, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, said in an online statement that its fighters launched an attack on Saturday afternoon with a long-range al-Arqab upgraded cruise missile on Haifa Port in northern Israel.

The statement provided no additional details about the specific location targeted or any resulting casualties.

It stressed that the attacks were carried out "in solidarity with the people of Gaza," and the militia pledged to persist in targeting "the enemy's strongholds."

Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has launched multiple attacks on Israeli and U.S. bases in the region. 
Mexico City: Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutors office said overnight.

The missing men  brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad  went missing last week. They did not show up at their planned accommodations last weekend.

A missing persons poster for Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad.

While there has not yet been forensic confirmation, physical characteristics  including hair and clothing  point to a high likelihood the bodies are those of the three tourists, local TV network Milenio reported, citing chief state prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez.

It is presumed that [the bodies] are the ones being investigated, an employee of the state prosecutors office who was not authorised to be quoted by name.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The life of Robert F. Kennedy Jr took an odd turn in 2005. Possibly because of his own sons nut allergy or possibly because, as he would later say, other parents had been approaching him with concerns, he became worried that vaccines might be the cause of a spike in childhood neurological disorders. This was not new territory. The British doctor Andrew Wakefield had already made waves in 1998 for his claims that the MMR (combined measles) vaccine was linked to a rise in autism cases. He was subsequently found to have fraudulently falsified his research and was banned from practising medicine. But the notion that some vaccines were a danger that was being covered up by the establishment was conspiracy catnip for Kennedy, nephew of president John F. Kennedy (JFK) and son of former United States attorney-general Robert F. Kennedy. RFK Jr, who until that point had a storied record as an environmental lawyer, dived into the topic with zeal, sharing his findings in Rolling Stone and on the website Salon. I devoted time to study this issue because I believe that this is a moral crisis that must be addressed, he wrote, quoting one activist as telling him: The damage caused by vaccine exposure is massive. Its bigger than asbestos, bigger than tobacco, bigger than anything youve ever seen. His research, though, was problematic, and the story had to be corrected several times after publication. It was later disavowed entirely. Robert F. Kennedy Jr at a forum in New York City in July 2023. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted But the die was cast. Kennedy shrugged off the criticisms and doubled down on his vaccination theories, which helped propel him, nearly 20 years later, to run for president of the United States. His constituents are a curious coalition of anti-vaxxers, Bitcoin evangelists, libertarians, disaffected Democrats, manosphere podcasters and those old enough to still remember, misty-eyed, the golden years of the Kennedy familys Camelot. Dismissed by some as a no-chance crank when he announced his campaign in 2023, RFK Jr had been polling strongly enough to be taken seriously, with around 12 per cent of the popular vote in May, which had dropped to 4.2 per cent in 26 polls after Kamala Harris entered the race in August: still not nothing. If he sticks around until polling day, theres an outside chance he could sway the result in a close race towards Harris or Trump. Which is why his opponents have been paying attention.

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And sometimes its hard not to. Most recently, there has been the incident involving the bicycle and the bear. RFK Jr said in a video, posted on social media in August, that in an episode of high-jinks in 2014 he dumped a dead bear cub in New Yorks Central Park and staged it to look like a bike had hit it. In the video, he explains he had been driving in the Hudson Valley when a woman in a van in front of him had hit and killed the cub, which he then put in the back of his car, intending to skin it and store its meat. But he had been out hawking (hunting game using a hawk), then had a late dinner then had to go to the airport. At that time, this was the little bit of the redneck in me, he tells comedian Roseanne Barr in the video. I wasnt drinking, of course, but people were drinking with me who thought this was a good idea, he says. I had an old bike in my car that somebody asked me to get rid of. I said, Lets go put the bear in Central Park and well make it look like he got hit by a bike. The discovery of the bears body sparked a police investigation. In the video, RFK Jr explains that fact-checkers at The New Yorker had asked him about the incident ahead of the publication of a story about him. Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one, @NewYorker he wrote with the video post. If this sounds unusual, consider another story that came to light this year, about a particular health struggle of RFK Jr: he said he had, at one point, suffered some memory loss due to a dead parasitic worm being found in his brain. So who, exactly, is Robert Francis Kennedy Jr? Why is he running for president? And why are the major parties so concerned? Robert F. Kennedy Jr with his uncle, John. F. Kennedy, flying home from the Democratic National Convention of 1960, at which JFK had been nominated as presidential candidate. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Who is RFK Jr? The Kennedys, for a long time but not any more, per se, were considered the royal family of the United States, explains Thomas Whalen, a presidential historian at Boston University. RFK Jr is a member of the third generation of the Kennedy dynasty. He was nine when JFK was assassinated in a motorcade in Dallas in 1963, and 14 when his father was shot in a Los Angeles hotel after claiming a win in pursuit of the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968.

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He was in the hospital after his uncle had been shot, and at 14, he was a pallbearer for his father, says David Nasaw, an emeritus professor at the City University of New York, who has interviewed several Kennedys including RFK Jr. From that point on, he lived the most troubled life. RFK Jr veered into drug addiction in his teens and 20s, and was eventually sentenced to two years probation for possessing heroin after he fell ill in an aeroplane toilet in 1983. To satisfy the conditions of his probation, he volunteered for the environmental activist group the Natural Resources Defence Council, a turning point. Robert and Ethel Kennedy with four of their children (from left) David, Robert Jr, Joseph and Mary in 1957. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted We talked about [the addiction episode] at some length, says Dick Russell, a long-time friend of Kennedy and author of the recent biography The Real RFK Jr: Trials of a Truth Warrior. He felt that this was, you know, a struggle that had really shaped his life in the sense that he was able to recover and become an environmental lawyer. He was somebody who had been through a lot of tough times. And he had been able to not just maintain himself but become a stronger person. Loading In 1995, New York Magazine called him The Kennedy Who Matters amid a push to protect the citys water supply. In 1999, Time named him a hero of the planet for his work at the not-for-profit Riverkeeper. Career highs included cleaning up the notoriously polluted Hudson River; a battle to close the nuclear power plant Indian Point; and work to defeat dams in Chile and Peru. He spent a month in prison in 2001 for protesting against US naval exercises on a Puerto Rican island; in 2013, he was arrested and fined in Washington, DC, with one of his seven children, son Conor, while rallying against the extension of an oil pipeline between Canada and the US. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a pallbearer at the New York funeral of his father in 1968. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted

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His early career in public life fits a well-trodden path in the Kennedy family. His grandfather, Joseph P. Kennedy  an investor whom Fortune placed in the top 16 wealthiest US individuals in 1957  was US ambassador to Britain and intended for his fortune to enable his family to pursue public life. Ted Kennedy, another of RFK Jrs uncles, was elected to the Senate nine times. His aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the Special Olympics. None of them went into business or tried to make money, Nasaw tells us. It was mostly the same with the next generation, the grandchildren. Some of the Kennedys in public service Of RFK Jrs 10 siblings, two have entered politics. His cousin, Caroline Kennedy, is the US ambassador to Australia. Meanwhile, the Kennedy family connection with what used to be called the jet set endures (think Marylin Monroe; Jackie Kennedy-Onassis). RFK Jr is married for the third time, to actress Cheryl Hines, who played the wife of Larry David in the TV comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Son Conor briefly dated Taylor Swift. In RFK Jrs home office in Los Angeles, he reportedly has a stuffed tiger (a gift to his father from Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia) and a stuffed bat from the actress Glenn Close, godmother to one of his two daughters. He has been brought up as a Kennedy to believe in himself, says Nasaw, to believe that hes the smartest, most charming man in any room. But there is also something different  a tendency to view events through the prism of conspiracy and corruption. He has this brooding intensity. When he visited RFK Jr for an interview in the early 2000s, Nasaw was impressed. I didnt sense anything out of the ordinary, he says. Then Kennedy gave Nasaw a book to read. He was surprised to later find it was a super-conspiracy theory that blamed the CIA and US Defence Department for JFKs assassination. Im a historian, and I know all this literature backwards and forwards, and Id never heard of this book, Nasaw says. It was more outlandish than anything Id read. Nasaw says this is a worrying mix. Theres a hubris and egotism thats taking him beyond bounds. Bobby Kennedy Jr., who developed a love of falconry, handles an augur hawk in a wildlife television special in 1975. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted

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What does RFK Jr believe? RFK Jr was born into a family at the centre the biggest conspiracy theory in US history  that JFKs assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, wasnt acting alone. That there was a second shooter that day in Texas, that JFK was killed by the Mafia, or the CIA, or both. Thats the first conspiracy that this young boy has to confront, says Nasaw, who believes the swirling theories and distrust of official findings impacted his worldview. If there was ever a young man, a human being, who was destined to get into trouble and see the world as one giant conspiracy, it was Robert Kennedy Jr. His scepticism and distrust of official stories initially found an outlet in environmental work as he took on corporations and regulators, inspired, he has said, by the work of Rachel Carson, whose 1962 treatise Silent Spring warned America of the dangers of the insecticide DDT. If Kennedy had stuck to environmentalism, he might have achieved the heroic role he craved as a child, writes Andrew Miller in The Economist. But the instinct had a logic and momentum of its own. Indeed, he was universally well regarded until he delved into vaccination science, says his biographer, Dick Russell. People that had been supporting him all along suddenly decided not to because they felt like he was overstepping his bounds. He has subsequently made remarks or raised questions about 5G networks being used for mass surveillance and to control behaviour, antidepressants playing a role in rising school shootings, that Republicans stole the 2004 presidential election, that Wi-Fi opens your blood-brain barrier, and that chemicals in water play a role in transgender identity. He says, however, that he is not an anti-vaxxer but has concerns over the way some vaccines are manufactured. In 2018, he went to see Sirhan Sirhan, the man convicted of killing his father, at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, a California state prison outside San Diego. After that meeting, he called for the investigation to be reopened. (RFK Srs widow, Ethel, and most of his children have opposed Sirhans release.) RFK Jr, an environmental lawyer, on Earth Day in 1995. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted While RFK Jrs most notable passion is to link childhood vaccines to autism  a claim the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has debunked  he was turbocharged during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling mandatory vaccination policies a crime against humanity.

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A few weeks back, I wrote about the bee and how it came to be such a good friend of humankind. The bee is vital in pollinating our crops, which in turn is vital to our very survival. Then, of course, there is the honey and wax that they produce and there is even a hint of their supernatural powers.

The truth is that we know precious little about this powerful influencer in our midst. It seems they have a life of their own, operating within a complex system that is all controlled by a brain that is only the size of a poppy seed.

On fine Ox Mountain days, the pleasant hum of bees will build over the coming weeks. There are up to 100 species of bee flying around in Ireland on any given summers day. Some are common and plentiful, others are scarce, more are endangered. In among them is the honey bee, the boy that makes our honey.

Rear breed

The Irish Native and Rare Breeds Society includes our native Irish honey bee on their list.

Apis mellifera mellifera, also called the Black Bee or the Dark European Honey Bee, was originally widespread throughout the whole of northern Europe but sadly is no longer prevalent there now, due to hybridisation with other sub-species. However, scientific research and DNA analysis has confirmed the Irish strain to be both pure and distinct and remains in Ireland.

This Black Bee is the one kept by most beekeepers. Along with other bees and pollinators generally, it is also struggling due to habitat loss, pesticide use and intensive agriculture. Sadly, one third of all Irelands bees are at risk of extinction.

Beeline

The bees navigational sense is phenomenal. The word beeline, borrowed from the world of bees, has become part of our everyday language - Beeline, noun, a direct route travelled quickly - but regardless of the line they take, how do bees know where they are going? In the animal kingdom, this ability to get around is vital; some animals can forage for miles, yet still manage to find their way home. Among them, bees are the most notable navigators, managing to find their way back to their hive every time, even if they forage a long way from home. The British Beekeepers Association provides the answer.

Bees use the position of the sun to navigate and there is evidence of their sensitivity to the earths magnetic field. Also, bees' eyes are sensitive to polarised light, which penetrates through even thick cloud so, bees are able to see the sun in poor weather.

With such short life spans, and with so much work to do, it is important that bees waste no time getting lost when they are out foraging for food. Depending on the conditions and availability of food, bees will fly up to seven miles from the hive in search of food, representing a total search area of more than 100,000 acres. For those of us who fail to find our way around Ballina without the aid of Google Maps, bees finding their way home after endless zig-zagging and hunting for pollen seems like an impossible task.

This sun isnt the bees only aid because apparently they also have the ability to communicate the direction of the food to other bees, through their waggle dance. There was some doubt over this theory, because the brain of the wee bee is so small. It was thought that they couldnt possibly figure out location and communicate to such an extent, but repeated tests have shown that their navigation instructions to other bees are indeed extremely accurate.

Finally, it seems there is also another element at play; the mental maps theory. It appears bees also form mental maps of their geographical surrounding to ensure that they never get lost. Science ABC sums it up quite nicely.

Now that you know, if anyone ever insults the intelligence of bees in your presence, you should step up and set them straight. Furthermore, if anyone ever acts like bees arent important, kindly remind them that without bee pollination, estimates say that human beings would only be able to survive for four years. I guess we should be happy theyre such great navigators!

Sacred animal

The use of natural honey as food and medicine has been happening since the dawn of man. Records show that raw honey is the most ancient sweetener. Natural honey is widely accepted as being of high nutritional value and of immense health benefit.

Before bees were kept in hives, people in Ireland would have obtained honeycombs from wild nests in trees, and combs were still harvested from natural nest sites long after they were abandoned. A lovely website, nativeirishhoneybees.ie, has some interesting information to impart in relation to bees and honey, dating back to ancient times in Ireland.

In the Celtic times, beekeeping was an important industry in Ireland and honey was used as a currency. Honey was also used as a sweetener, as a food source, and as a medicine. The Celts believed that the bee was a symbol of wisdom and fertility and revered it as a sacred animal. They also believed that the bee was a messenger between the human world and the spiritual world.

In the medieval period, beekeeping continued to flourish in Ireland, with monasteries serving as important centres of beekeeping knowledge and practices. Monks raised bees and produced honey, wax, and mead.

The Promised Land

Honey is widely valued and its use transcends the barriers of culture and ethnicity. The use of honey is even advocated and embraced by most religions. Repeatedly in the Old Testament, The Promised Land was described as a land flowing with milk and honey. This poetic description of Israel emphasises the fertility of the soil and the bounty that awaited Gods chosen people. Oh, how that beautiful symbol has become distorted.

A beehive is a cross between a royal court, a military barracks, and a honey factory, all running with the precision of a Swiss watch. Unlike humans, bees have a system devoid of jealousy or greed, without individual ambition or tribal privilege. They have no place for elections or hostile takeovers or war. As they go about their busy lives, they have no desire to rape the earth for riches or pollute the air with toxins. They look only to their own wellbeing and their own business and in doing so, ensure survival for us all. They have a finely tuned system that serves them perfectly, without injury to themselves or the planet. Would that we could all be a little more like the bee.

The Murmur of Bees, is an exhibition currently taking place at the Museum of Country Life near Castlebar, displaying a journey into the fascinating world of Irish bees. Catch it over the summer if you can at all.
I must confess to a love affair with the Yorkshire Dales. I am not sure where it originated but I know it has been reinforced by watching the television programme, All Creatures Great and Small. Maybe that old-fashioned representation of farming life reminds me of childhood and the animal breeds that populated our fields in times past. Chief among these animals was the Shorthorn cow; a warm, good-natured and productive creature. Indeed, the Shorthorn has so many endearing qualities.

Back in the days of James Herriot, the heritage breeds held sway. Breeds of cattle, sheep and poultry that had emerged from the Agricultural Revolution. By todays production standards, these breeds fail to make the cut, but back then, they were the best any progressive farmer could hope to own.

Early breeding

The Shorthorn breed was developed from Teeswater and Durham cattle. In the late eighteenth century, the Colling brothers, Charles and Robert, started to improve the Durham cattle using selective breeding. The breed formed into an easily fed animal with a nice temperament that soon endeared it to dairy farmers throughout Britain and Ireland. It later became very popular in America and Australia.

The breed was originally seen as a dual-purpose animal, suitable for both dairy and beef production. However, certain bloodlines within the breed always emphasised one quality or the other. Over time, these different lines diverged, and by the second half of the twentieth century, two separate breeds had developed  the Beef Shorthorn, and the Dairy Shorthorn. All Shorthorn cattle are coloured red, white, or roan, although roan cattle are preferred by some, and completely white animals prized by others. The Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom leads boldly with the following glowing endorsement of the Dairy Shorthorn.

Dairy Shorthorn: Fertility, Locomotion, Longevity  the one breed that has it all. Milk yields of up to 10,000kg, combined with all the superior attributes of a native breed. Suitable for all types of production systems, particularly extended grazing and organic systems.

The Irish Shorthorn Society provides additional information about the breed and its development here over the decades.

The dairy breeders also sought to improve the dairyness of their animals, and a blending scheme to introduce outside blood from other breeds was introduced in 1970. Some breeders did not wish to participate in this scheme, and so there is now quite a diversity of type within the Shorthorn breed. This diversity of type means that the Shorthorn can be used in a variety of different systems. In Ireland, the majority of Shorthorns are used for their suckler/beef capabilities, whereas in the UK the milking qualities of the breed have been developed.

The importance of the Shorthorn breed in the development of other cattle breeds is huge, and Shorthorn genes have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds. The breed has a very long and distinguished history, and recent developments have gone a long way to ensure that the breed also has a very bright future.

The Shorthorn cow: a warm, good-natured and productive creature.

The Heifer Calf

When my father was farming, his main income came came from dairying. He hand-milked up to 12 cows, a hodge-podge bunch of misfits but they evidently had enough dairy genes in their makeup to justify selection on the team. They were quiet, docile beasts and while not the most productive cows on earth, they did provide enough milk to bring in a good milk cheque each month.

He always kept an eye out at the local fair for a nice heifer calf. Such a calf would be lovingly reared to the stage where she could be put in calf and eventually be promoted to the first division; a place in the cowhouse alongside the elder lemons  no pun intended!

One such heifer calf, that my father fancied and bought, was a Shorthorn. She was, concerningly, a bit gangly and long in the face when compared to the breed standard. From the start, she was flighty, again unusual for a Shorthorn. The thinking was, however, that hand-rearing and pregnancy and birth and the daily routine of milking would calm her down. That was the thinking. Of course, she was some kind of feral beast, with only a passing resemblance to a true Shorthorn. To say that she was highly strung was the understatement of that decade, but my father retained high hopes for his roan darling.

She eventually calved and so, her time as a milker began. From the very start, she persecuted my father and mother, the two main milkers in the house. Her telling kicks were not her worst attribute; her unpredictability was her trump card. She could kick with lightning speed, without warning and with devastating effect.

My mother came to hate the cow, and she was a kind-hearted woman when it came to most animals. My father, on the other hand, kept faith and hoped for an improvement. It never came. I remember one evening meeting my mother coming out of the cowhouse in a daze, drenched in new milk and fighting back tears of rage. She still retained in her hand the battered bucket that the wilful cow had buckled beyond recognition. The long-legged, long-faced interloper had struck again.

Our dog at the time was Rover. He was a harmless old collie but also quite deranged. He had the unique distinction of having castrated himself in his youth while leaping over a barbed wire fence. His method of bringing in the cows for milking was to attack them from behind, barking madly and rushing them towards the gap that led from the field.

One early summer morning he took to the field to gather the herd. As usual, he stole up behind the sleepy cows before he commenced his attack. Maybe he was not fully awake himself that morning or maybe he was just off the pace but the first cow he picked on was the wily Shorthorn. Roused from her relaxation  and she was seldom relaxed - she delivered a ferocious kick to the dog at close range. Instantly defeated, Rover slinked home with his tail between his legs. Afterwards and for several weeks, he whimpered painfully with every movement. The truth to be told, he was never the same Rover again. Oh, how that Shorthorn left her mark for the few years she was on our farm.

Always a place

Some Shorthorn herds still survive and are valued for both their heritage and their production value in todays farming world. The Fox family from near Oranmore in Co Galway still maintains a herd of award-winning dairy Shorthorns. On trips through that part of the country over the years, I was often delighted to be held up at their road crossing point as they slowly walked from pasture to parlour. Stone walls, green grass, morning sunlight and a stream of Shorthorn cows making their way to morning milking  a sight to behold.

As we speed towards meeting the food demands of a growing world population, I hope there will always be a place for heritage and beauty and how better to display it than through the Shorthorn breed of cattle, whether in the Yorkshire Dales or the high fields of the Ox Mountains.

I took a photographic trip a few years ago through the Ox Mountains. In a field near Attymachugh, I noticed a Shorthorn cow, lazily passing her day in a high field that overlooked the plains of Mayo. She fitted so perfectly into the scene, comfortable and timeless. I must pass that way again in the hope of seeing her.
A forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France was held here on Saturday, in a bid to boost cooperation and mutual learning. #GLOBALink
By David Young, PA

Students taking part in a pro-Palestinian encampment protest on the grounds of Trinity College in Dublin have voiced confidence the action will force the university to cut ties with Israel.

Visitors were unable to access the historic Book of Kells over the weekend due to the action that began on Friday evening when student activists set up tents inside the campus of the prestigious university.

The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest.

Outgoing students union president Laszlo Molnarfi said the size of the camp continued to grow, with around 100 people and 70 tents as of Sunday.

He said they were committed to maintaining the blockade of the Book of Kells until the university severed all ties with Israel.

The Book of Kells is blockaded, theres absolutely no tourism and were staying there, he said.

So, I think this is putting a lot of student and staff pressure on them (the university authorities).

The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Mr Molnarfi said, as of Sunday afternoon, university officials had yet to reach out to those taking part in the protest since it began.

He said there was a lot of energy in the encampment.

People are very confident, he said.

There is board games and guitar and political discussions and music and food.

Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by those participating in the encampment protest and blockade and we support the right to peaceful protest. Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount.



Read our full statement here: https://t.co/Q2zJKKw2sI pic.twitter.com/i2kmWcHPZK  Trinity College Dublin (@tcddublin) May 4, 2024

Its a nice community thats been built. So people are feeling very confident.

The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US.

The encampment was initiated days after it emerged that the university authorities had fined the students union more than 200,000 over previous protests on campus.

It invoiced the union for 214,285 after a series of demonstrations about fees and rent, as well as pro-Palestinian solidarity protests.

The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

The university cited a loss of revenue due to blockades of the Book of Kells and famous Long Room library among the reasons for the fine.

In response to the latest demonstration, the university said that while it supported the right of students to protest, they must be done within the rules of the institution.

Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest, it said in a statement on Saturday.

There are also, however, many good reasons why the universitys policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect must be followed when doing so.

Protesters gathered outside Trinity College in Dublin on Saturday. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. We have not made this decision lightly.

The university added: Trinity shares concerns about the ferocious onslaught in Gaza and the ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. We have taken a number of practical steps in response to the war in Gaza. These range from updating our investment portfolio with a view to excluding UN blacklist companies, to providing supports for students from Gaza coming to study in Trinity.

Trinity is always open to engaging with staff and students on these issues: in the past week alone, the provost has met with Academics for Palestine and also with the Students Union president and Students Union officers to discuss these issues. We also continue to engage with our Jewish staff and students who are impacted.

Trinity said it was responding to the war in Gaza in several ways, including the work to update its investment portfolio in line with a UN blacklist of companies.

Labour expresses solidarity with TCD Students raising plight of Gaza 



Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the University have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest - @hoeyanniehttps://t.co/iZS65QYFqE pic.twitter.com/ypialHysa2  The Labour Party (@labour) May 5, 2024

In regard to ties with Israeli institutions, Trinity said it was for its academics to make their own decisions about what universities they collaborate with, insisting it would not impinge on that cornerstone of academic freedom.

The Labour party has expressed solidarity with those taking part in the protest.

The students of Trinity College Dublin are rightly protesting against Trinitys financial investments in Israeli companies and links to Israeli institutions, Labour senator Annie Hoey said.

Ms Hoey added: The students have protested these issues consistently, and by Trinitys rules, for the past number of months but there has been little response or action taken.

Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the university have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest.
James Cox

Leo Varadkar's decision to resign came as a huge shock to the country in March as he outlined both personal and professional reasons for the decision.

Like any leader, Mr Varadkar divided opinion.

However, a sample of 40 messages sent to the Taoiseach's Office after his announcement, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, were overwhelmingly positive.

On Wednesday, March 20th, the day Mr Varadkar made the announcement at Government Buildings, his office received a flurry of messages.

One person said "I did not always agree with government policy, but I always felt you had the greater good of the country at heart".

While many of the messages focused on Mr Varadkar's leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic, and other domestic issues, one message focused on his role internationally.

An email sent at 12.37pm on March 20th read: "Thank you Leo for your good work with [Joe] Biden on Gaza. I wish you the very best in the future. You are obviously more suited to the international stage as that seems to be where your heart is, and you have represented us well on the international stage.

"Very best wishes for your future endeavours and for your own personal happiness. Well done for your courage."

Many of the emails contained well wishes for the future.

'Stunned at your news today'

One read: "You served the country well, and you can be proud of yourself. Stunned at your news today.

"Always enjoyed your spontaneous, spunky and lively responses. You are the only reason I supported Fine Gael. Enjoy your freedom and privacy again. You deserve a life too."

One person, who said they were "devastated" to hear Mr Varadkar was stepping down, added: "Firstly, I wish to complement you on your record to date. Your handling of Brexit and the Covid crisis was exemplary.

"I feel you were the politician of a generation and I wish you the best in your career, and indeed, life ahead."

Another person told Mr Varadkar he was "the only political leader I trusted and felt was an honest and decent human being, working for the people".

They added: "Unfortunately it's people like you who take the hits harder, and so I hope you are doing okay. Look after yourself."

Another person, who said they had never given their first preference in voting to Fine Gael, wrote "I just want to say that I have admired you as a politician and as a statesman".

In an email with the subject 'Sad news for Ireland', one person said when they first moved to Ireland "nobody would have dared to open the civil society to abortion and gay couples, you gave my daughter a better future. I am scared for what could happen now. You guided the country through very difficult times".

One person wrote "I would like to personally thank you for always responding to my emails", adding: "It always meant a lot that you took the time to write back."

Another person encouraged Mr Varadkar to run in the upcoming European elections: "Please consider running in Europe, we need a strong voice in Europe after the elections."

Referendums

In one email, received at 5pm on the evening of Mr Varadkar's resignation announcement, someone praised him for his roles in the gay marriage and abortion referendums, adding that they feared the overwhelming no vote in the recent family and care referendums was a bad sign for the country.

"I am a granny from [redacted], and to be fair I didn't vote for your party at the last election... at least not very far up!

"I'm really sorry to hear that you are standing down. You steered us through Covid with grace and compassion, and you helped two major referendums over social issues win through.

"You helped make us see that being a gay man in politics should not be seen as remarkable. I worry about what the result of the last referendum might indicate. I would hate to see the country I have seen liberalise and modernise take a right wing turn. Maybe I should have not read [Paul Lynch's] Prophet Song! You will be missed Leo."

A number of messages wished Mr Varadkar's family and his partner Matt Barrett well.

One person, who said they were not a supporter of Mr Varadkar or his policies, spoke about the abuse politicians face in modern Ireland.

Another person urged him not to be pressured into sharing the personal reasons behind his decision to step down.

Leo Varadkar leaves after announcing his decision to step down as taoiseach outside Government Buildings. Photo: PA Images

One email had a subject line that read 'fantastic news'.

The person said it was "fabulous news" that Mr Varadkar was resigning as taoiseach. They added: "Now is it possible for Leo, Micheal [Martin] and Eamon [Ryan] to employ a bit more common sense and decency by calling an election."

Another critical email had the subject line 'Good Riddance'.

This person labelled Mr Varadkar "Mr Woke".

Another person said they had "great hopes" for Mr Varadkar, but felt he did not live up to "statements like 'managed immigration' and helping 'people who get up early in the morning'".

Speaking about his decision in an interview on The Late Late Show, Mr Varadkar said: I think the hardest thing was actually going through with it  I nearly chickened out the night before.

But it was definitely the right decision for me and I hope as well, the right decision for the country too.

Its something that I had been thinking about for a few months but had only definitively made the decision in the days before.

I was thinking back to 2017 when I first became taoiseach, and I went into that meeting of 27 prime ministers, and I thought to myself, there are only three or four of us left, most of whom are now going, and in politics, as another former prime minister said to me once, there are really only three ways you cease to be prime minister  its a huge privilege to get there, quite hard to leave  so you either die, lose or resign, and if youre not going to die or lose, resign is the only option, then its a question really as to whether it is voluntary or involuntary, and I always wanted to make sure it was my decision and on my terms.

I think we have a good Government, Id like to see it re-elected. For that to happen, my party has to do a bit better than it did last time, gain some seats, and I felt there was a better chance of that under a new leader.
MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- One female was killed and another adult injured in a fire that broke out in Manila City on Sunday, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.

Firefighter Charles Bacoco told reporters that the fire broke out around 9:30 a.m. local time, trapping the sleeping bedridden woman inside a building.

Bacoco said the fire started at a residential building at the back of a hotel owned by the victims.

Firefighters put out the fire an hour later.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. 
GAZA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- No positive progress has been made in the Gaza truce talks on Saturday, a source from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the negotiations encountered challenges due to Israel's insistence on not committing to a (permanent) ceasefire.

Hamas demanded in the deal an Israeli pullout from Gaza and a complete end to the conflict, conditions that Israel has been rejecting.

An earlier report from Al Arabiya News channel said Hamas had agreed to release 33 hostages, instead of the initial 20, in the first phase of the ceasefire deal, as required by Israel.

Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo Saturday to meet the Egyptian mediators on a possible Gaza truce that would see the return to Israel of some hostages. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with President of the Merieux Foundation Alain Merieux at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2024. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

With over 40 years of presence in China, the Merieux family has witnessed and contributed to China-France relations, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua)  In 1978, the year that China opened up, Alain Merieux, president of the Merieux Foundation, landed in China for the first time to introduce the vaccines developed by the Merieux Institute to the Chinese science community.

The visit marked the start of his decades-long bond with China. Since then, he has traveled to the Asian country numerous times, engaging in extensive cooperation with China in vaccine work, medical diagnostics, and infectious disease prevention and control.

In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Merieux and his wife Chantal in Beijing. During the meeting, Xi expressed appreciation for the long-term support from the couple and the foundation for the development of China-France relations and China's health cause.

With over 40 years of presence in China, the Merieux family has witnessed and contributed to China-France relations, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

Unwavering Support

The Merieux Foundation has always adhered to the principle of "in China, with China, for China," said Merieux, cooperating with Chinese partners to promote the development of public health. Together, they have established high-level biosafety laboratories to jointly address public health challenges such as SARS, avian influenza and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 1978, when Merieux first visited China, the scope of cooperation has gradually expanded to include medical diagnostics, immunology, food safety control, and infectious disease prevention and control. In 1997, bioMerieux established an office in Beijing. In 2004, the company's Asia-Pacific headquarters was established in Shanghai.

Merieux Institute has obtained 37 patents and published over 20 papers from its collaborative projects in Shanghai. Today, Shanghai has become the company's third-largest R&D, production and operation base worldwide, said Liang Ji, head of the joint R&D laboratory of bioMerieux Greater China.

On Dec. 18, 2018, at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, he was awarded the China Reform Friendship Medal, with the certificate number 001.

On his deep affection for China, Merieux once said he is "the Frenchman with the most Chinese blood flowing through him." He praised China for achieving world-renowned development over the past few decades and playing an increasingly important international role.

"For us, China has become an important industrial and research center where we can develop high-level, long-term partnerships in medical diagnostics and food safety," he said. "My support for China will remain 100 percent as always."

Photo taken on March 10, 2019 shows the Biomerieux research center in Lyon, France. [Xinhua/Tang Ji]

Decades-Long Bond

Merieux's earliest connection with China comes from his father-in-law Paul Berliet. Long before China and France established diplomatic relations, Berliet promoted cooperation between France and China in automobile manufacturing.

In 1975, during Deng Xiaoping's visit to France, Merieux and his father-in-law accompanied him to an automobile factory, where Deng and the older generation of revolutionaries worked and studied. "At a moment like that, you can feel it. The foundation of China-France friendship is so deep," he said.

His grandfather, Marcel Merieux, was a student and assistant of Louis Pasteur, the "father of microbiology." At the end of the 19th century, he established the Merieux Institute to fight the spread of tuberculosis in Europe. This laid a solid foundation for the family's cooperation with China's public health undertakings.

In the late autumn of 2012, Xi met with Merieux in Beijing. Xi voiced his appreciation for the French foundation's attention to and support for China's public health drive and hoped the foundation would continue supporting China's efforts to improve medical care in the country.

In March 2014, Xi made a special trip to the bioMerieux research center in Lyon during his visit to France. "It was an unforgettable visit for us," Merieux recalled. "President Xi mentioned our friendship and our family's contribution to France-China friendship."

"I love China from the bottom of my heart, and this deep emotion comes from years of accumulation, "said Merieux.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L, front) and his wife Peng Liyuan (4th L, front) listen to the introduction of the Biomerieux research center in Lyon, France, March 26, 2014. [Xinhua/Lan Hongguang]

Together for the Future

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the China-France diplomatic relations, Merieux said that at present, "the people of China and France should cooperate more closely."

During his stay in Beijing in April, he visited the Institute of Pathogen Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to launch the new Christophe Merieux laboratory.

The original laboratory was established in 2005 and has been committed to researching emerging infectious diseases. Its related technologies have been applied in over 10 developing countries. The laboratory was named after Merieux's late son for his outstanding contributions.

"My wife and I saw Christophe's sculpture and name appearing in China's top medical research institutes. At that moment, I was moved beyond words," Merieux said.

Merieux not only looks forward to deepening medical and health cooperation with China but has also set his sights on the wider world, hoping to share the results of cooperation with more developing countries.

"To address the growing threat of infectious diseases, it is imperative for countries worldwide to transcend political differences and engage in long-term cooperation. To achieve this, all nations should share scientific, medical and technological resources. Both China and France must play a role in this endeavor," Merieux said.

Merieux called for increased investment in startups, hospitals and research institutions. He hoped for collaboration with more like-minded individuals and organizations "to strive for peace and friendship, to strive for common ideals, and to strive for the cause of human health."

(Source: Xinhua)
This undated file photo shows inbound tourists walking towards the Dongxing Port in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Dongxing municipal publicity department/Handout via Xinhua)

NANNING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Vuong Van Thanh, a tour guide from Vietnam, led 19 Vietnamese tourists across Beilunhe Bridge connecting the Vietnamese city of Mong Cai with China's Dongxing for a one-day tour of the border city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Separated from Mong Cai only by a river, Dongxing facilitates close interactions between border residents of China and Vietnam. It is also a popular tourist destination for Vietnamese tourists looking to experience Chinese customs.

"Our guests are very interested in Chinese food and think it is very distinctive. This time, they have come for a special chicken soup," Vuong Van Thanh said.

According to data from Fliggy, one of China's leading travel platforms, outbound travel experienced a peak in bookings during the May Day holiday, with bookings for travel services seeing strong growth of nearly 100 percent on the basis of a rapid rebound last year. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries are among the popular destinations for outbound tourism from China.

One-day tours to border cities such as Dongxing and Pingxiang, including shopping in supermarkets, buying small household appliances and sampling delicious foods, have become popular among Vietnamese tourists in recent years.

The May Day holiday is a statutory holiday in both China and Vietnam, and it is also a peak season for cross-border tourism for people from the two countries.

The general border inspection station in Guangxi expects more than 140,000 inbound and outbound passengers to travel through Dongxing Port during this May Day holiday, and Youyiguan Port will see more than 45,000 inbound and outbound passengers.

"During the May Day holiday, more than 200 tour groups are expected to enter and exit the country in a single day. In order to cope with the peak passenger flow, we have promptly communicated with Vietnamese travel agencies and inspection departments to obtain the transit information of tour groups in advance, so as to reduce waiting time for passengers and provide a better travel experience for them," said Huang Yeqiang, who works for the Dongxing entry-exit border checkpoint.

"During the May Day holiday, our agency's more than 20 Vietnamese-speaking tour guides have all been booked, and they are simply too busy," said Ye Xiaozhou, deputy general manager of Pingxiang Nanfang International Travel Agency Co., Ltd., adding that cross-border tourism is recovering rapidly.

Self-driving tours are also a new trend in cross-border tourism between China and Vietnam.

During the holiday, Pingxiang Peace International Travel Service Co., Ltd. has organized a cross-border self-driving tour involving 13 vehicles and 29 people, that is scheduled to visit Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Halong Bay and other places in Vietnam.

"We hope to cooperate with more Vietnamese travel agencies and domestic car clubs, so that more Chinese self-driving tour enthusiasts can travel to Vietnam through Friendship Pass, enjoy exotic scenery, taste special delicacies, and experience folk customs," said Liang Yunyan, general manager of the travel agency.

Cross-border tourism has flourished with the deepening of tourism cooperation between China and Vietnam. The two sides have worked together to explore new forms of cross-border tourism and promote the construction of cross-border tourism cooperation zones.

The China-Vietnam Detian Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone, which began trial operations on Sept. 15, 2023, in the border city of Chongzuo in Guangxi, has witnessed an increase in the number of tourists from both countries.

The zone has also rolled out a series of events to attract tourists during the May Day holiday, including talks and interactive activities. 

This undated file photo shows people visiting the China-Vietnam Detian Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone in the border city of Chongzuo in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming)
Calls to improve Wales audiology care as patients face substantial delays

This article is old - Published: Sunday, May 5th, 2024

A North Wales Member of the Senedd has called for a fully-fledged primary care audiology service in Wales.

Conservative MS Mark Isherwood said that patients in Wales are being left facing substantial delays and that the provision of high-quality treatment in the community would help to resolve this.

Mr Isherwood has previously called for the Welsh Government to let the optical industry help NHS Wales improve access to NHS hearing loss services.

Speaking in a Short Senedd Debate on Primary care and the Preventative Agenda, Mr Isherwood said: Independent Primary Care providers are commissioned by every NHS Health Board in Wales to provide specialist eye health services in the community, but adult hearing loss services in Wales are provided exclusively by NHS Health Boards.

In common with other developed nations, Wales has a large and growing population of adults with age-related hearing loss.

There is considerable evidence that community audiology is highly cost effective and can be safely delivered by independent providers, supported by the service delivery models operating in England and Republic of Ireland.

Although the Welsh model of primary care audiology improves accessibility, patients continue to face substantial delays, and a fully-fledged primary care audiology service in Wales is needed, providing high-quality and timely treatment in the community, including wax management, delivered by independent primary care providers commissioned by NHS Wales.

This would help to prevent a myriad of further health complications at Primary Care level as an integral part of a preventative agenda.
Britains ruling Conservatives suffered heavy losses in Thursdays local council elections, losing nearly 500 seats with its share of the national vote at 25 percent, a record low.

With 107 councils contested, the Tories lost control of 10, with Labour winning eight and the Liberal Democrats two. The Tories also lost the Blackpool South parliamentary by-election to Labour on a 26 percent swing, their fifth in succession, reducing Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks working majority in the House of Commons to 47the Tories came out of the last, 2019, general election with a majority of 80.

A voter enters a polling station in Longsight, Manchester, May 2, 2024

Labour also won several mayoral elections, including in London, Liverpool, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands. The Tories were only able to hold the Tees Valley mayoralty in the north-east of England on a much-reduced majority.

Amid talk of a move to oust Sunak and even of a July general election, millions of workers and young people will be happy to see the end of a government hated for its vicious austerity measures, attacks on the right to strike, refugee witch-hunt, and support for genocide in Gaza and war against Russia and China. But the elections above all underscored the absence of any genuine alternative to this party of right-wing criminals.

The main beneficiary of the anti-Tory tidal wave is Sir Keir Starmers Labour party, whose policies on all these issues are identical to Sunaks. This is widely understood, indicated by the fact that Labour, despite its successes, failed to monopolise the anti-Tory vote.

The Tories lost 473 seats overall, around half of those it was defending, but Labour gained fewer than half of these, taking 186 seats. The swing to Labour was not as big as predicted, with Sky News and others noting that, if translated to a general election, it would not secure the party a majority.

The Liberal Democrats, the party of the respectable middle class, won 104 seats. But the most significant expression of growing hostility to Labour was the vote for candidates opposed to its support for Israels genocide in Gaza. This found its most concentrated expression in areas with a large Muslim population, but also saw a marked impact on Labours vote in seats with large student populations.

The biggest party success was the increased vote for the Greens, who secured an additional 74 seats and who are demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the end of arms sales to Israel. They increased their support in their main target city of Bristol, winning 10 seats to become the biggest party on the City Council.

Elsewhere the vote went to various Independent councillors, many of whom have recently defected from the Labour Party but also from the Conservatives.

Labour lost control of Oldham Council in Greater Manchester, with Independent candidates beating Labour in several wards, and in Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire, where Independents gained five seats. In Bradford, West Yorkshire, Independents beat Labour in six wards. Independents also won seats in Tameside and Bolton in Greater Manchester, Blackburn in Lancashire, and Rotherham in South Yorkshire.

According to analysis conducted by the BBC, in 58 local council wards where more than one in five residents are Muslim, Labours share of the vote was 21 percentdown versus 2021.

A smaller vote was registered by George Galloways Workers Party of Britain (WPB), and for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) led by the pseudo-left Socialist Party, both of which made Gaza a central question.

The WPB is Galloways latest political vehicle, having been expelled from Labour in 2003 by Tony Blair for his opposition to the Iraq War. It fielded 36 candidates in the elections, winning four seats. The most significant was the defeat of the deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Luthfur Rahman, in Longsight, by Shabaz Sarwar. Sarwar is well-known figure due to his leading role in the Smile Aid charity.

The WPB also won two seats in Rochdale, where Galloway became the local MP after a landslide by-election win in February, taking the seat from the Labour Party. The other council seat won by the WPB was in Park, Calderdale.

None of these politicians or parties offer workers and young people a way forward. The Independents are mainly, but not exclusively, Muslim politicians concerned for their own political skins and in many cases having no other disagreement with Starmer or Sunaks parties other than Gaza. It is likely that many former Labour loyalists will work to prop Labour up in councils where it has no overall control.

The political dead-end of such a protest vote is illustrated by the successful candidates fielded by Galloways party. In Rochdale, Farooq Ahmed left the Labour Party 10 years ago, after hurling homophobic abuse at a fellow councillor, for which he was prosecuted. At the beginning of this year he was busy campaigning for the Liberal Democrats, before switching to the WPB.

In Park, Shakir Saghir was a former Tory councillor in the ward, as was his father. In 2007, he stood as a councillor in the ward for the far-right English Democrats.

Galloway is all over the media boasting of his successes, pledging to help deny Labour an overall majority and then using a hung parliament to press forward the WPBs demands. But even in the unlikely event that the WPB was able to repeat Galloways by-election success in a general election, it is a virulently right-wing nationalist outfit dedicating as much of its programme to mopping up the support of disillusioned Tories as to appeals to be recognised as the real Labour Party.

Its law-and-order rhetoric is epitomised by the declaration, We are not soft-hearted liberals who believe that everyone is capable of redemption and direct appeals to the frustration of many police officers that bureaucratic systems and political decisions are weakening their ability to function. These officers deserve our support.

The WPB proposes a migration policy that reflects the anxiety felt among the working class about an influx of migrants which appears to be out of control, denouncing refugees for swamping social services and repressing wages and pledging to undertake investment in border security, including heightened sea-going and coastal patrols to get a grip on numbers.

While claiming to be indomitable enemies of profit-seeking international military-industrial interests with a stake in war, they boast, We will avoid war but we will also ensure that we are prepared for it Any threat to our country or our interests will be met with a highly effective military response.

The Socialist Equality Party rejects the call to sink political differences to bring about one big anti-Labour Gaza protest vote. This is only the latest desperate manifestation of the insistence by myriad pseudo-left tendencies that Labour can be pushed to the left by mass pressure, coupled with an offering of a possible new Labour-style party at some future point, formed through a political regroupment under the leadership of various left-talking ex-Labour Party and trade union bureaucrats.

This is only made necessary by the abject failure of their last collective project of backing Jeremy Corbyn as a means of achieving Labours socialist transformation. Now they are reduced to begging Corbyn, who even refuses to criticise Starmer, to stand against Labour as their undisputed leader.

The SEP also rejects the lie of a lesser evil vote for Starmers party, or any of its MPs who might formally back a ceasefire.

We will stand candidates in the general election opposed to the joint Tory/Labour party of war and fighting unambiguously for a programme of socialist internationalism. Our appeal will be to workers, especially the younger generation, to join our party and strike out on a new coursefor the systematic mobilisation of the British and international working class against the Gaza genocide, against war in Ukraine and the Middle East, to oppose all attacks on democratic rights and the destruction of workers living standards.
Thousands of people turned out across the UK to demonstrate against the Gaza genocide again this weekend. Socialist Equality Party members attended the rallies and spoke with some of those taking part.

Inverness

At the rally in Inverness, Socialist Equality Party member Darren gave a speech advertising the international May Day rally organised by the World Socialist Web Site for that evening and drawing the connection with the fight to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Student and artist Jessica delivered a speech at the rally. After the rally she told the WSWS, Its so necessary for students to respond to the genocide.

Look at the treatment of students in the US. Theyve been assaulted by US police officers who work with and are trained by Israel. I think the lesson to learn from this is that the students in the US and around the world will be treated the same way as the Palestinians. Its only been a month of the encampments and students have been beaten, tear-gassed, assaulted. Weve seen women with their clothes ripped off, with their hijabs ripped off.

It just proves that the deeper we sink into the crisis of capitalism, the more danger we are all in. None of us are safe from this. Capitalism is like a disease; its crisis doesnt stay isolated to one part of the body, this wont stay isolated in the Middle East.

She said, If the resistance to Israeli colonisation is crushed and they establish Israel all over the land they wont just stop there; theyve already started striking Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The question is where does it end? With capitalism it (the drive to war) doesnt end. The end starts with us.

Jessica [Photo by Highland Palestine]

Jessica described Zionism as a modern expression of fascism and the love child of US imperialism and the British Empire, adding, They are weaponizing antisemitism. They are taking something that has so much historical pain attached to it that you cant argue with it and twisting its meaning for their own benefit.

She noted that The people this hurts the most arent just the Palestinians but Jews too. Since October 7th theyve used the term antisemitism so much that they are determined for the word to lose all meaning.

Asked by Socialist Equality Party members if the conclusion to be drawn from her comments was that it was necessary for workers and students to struggle for socialism, Jessica replied, Yes, one hundred percent! And if its an issue that you dont think effects you, that its just a question for the Middle East, then have a look how much your food shop has gone up this week. How much have your bills risen? It all ties in.

Manchester

Around 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched from St Peters Square in Manchester down Oxford Road to join a student encampment in Brunswick Park, in the grounds of the University of Manchester.

Stewards joined hands to protect the demonstrators from a handful of Zionist supporters, who shouted abuse as the disciplined marchers, many with young children and babies in buggies, passed by.

The rally in Manchester, May 4, 2024

The encampment was set up on Wednesday despite intimidation from the University authorities, who declared it wholly unauthorised.

Each student taking part received a letter May 3 which said, We have received a number of reports and complaints from people around the encampment and via social media regarding chanting at the protest that has caused much distress, specifically the phrase from Manchester to Gaza, globalise the intifada which is regarded as discriminatory.

It is important for you to know that such chanting has been reported to Manchester police.

Speaking about the violence and intimidation meted out to students who have set up protest camps across the US, law student Nasreem said, The violence of the police when it comes to acting against the students who are protesting and at the guys at the encampment just shows that the whole thing of freedom of speech and political dissent is non-existent really; if you dont stand with the US and their geopolitical interests, theyll treat you as disposable, theyll treat you as not worth protecting.

Isma, a student at Salford University who was attending her first demonstration, said, The Israelis and the police say they want peace but are demonstrating the opposite. Everything they say they are standing for is completely contradictory. They promote free speech, but they are not allowing free speechthey are promoting abuse to Palestinian supporters. They are very violent.

Hina (back right)

Her friend Hina said the conflict in Gaza was not Jews versus Muslims. There are Jewish people suffering in Palestine. Its wrong to say that opposing genocide in Gaza is antisemitic, it doesnt make sense.

Labour supports Israel. Whoever supports genocide, we shouldnt be supporting. If they carry on theyll drag us into another world war.

Another student, Brian, who said he was going to join the protest camp, commented regarding the authoritarian methods to clear camps in the US: It seems a very coordinated attempt to dismiss the movement. Its Islamophobic. The most maddening thing is its Orwellianto call [Israel] apartheid is not antisemitic.

We need to bring together forces that can actually oppose this and that has to be the working class. We need a mass movement from below.

Several protesters gave video interviews, including an organiser of the Palestine Action group leading the encampment:

Another organiser was so enthused by the leaflet Release Bogdan Syrotiuk, socialist opponent of NATOs proxy war from Ukrainian prison he asked to shake the hands of Socialist Equality Party members distributing it and offered to help with its distribution.

He said, Its very nice, its very refreshing to see an organization that finally is willing to stick its neck out and tell the truth about issues that seem to only have one major storyline. Its nice to see an organization thats telling the truth and exposing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Were [the West] not always the good guys and the East is not always the bad guys.

Haider argued, There is no difference between the main parties:

Another student explained, All forms of injustice and oppression are completely interlinked, and without one being free, well all never be free:

Leeds

In Leeds, artist Sunny said, You have got Leeds University that has been investing in BAE Systems. I think they had someone high up working for the chancellor who had been working closely with students who had quite clear Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian ideas; they should not have been in that role.

Leeds students have occupied the Parkinson building for quite a while now, they have been having dinners there, learn-ins. For years now there has been a push to get universities to divest [from Israel].

Sunny

Sunny continued, In the UK, since October, millions of people have marched against this. There are a lot of Jews in that community and yet it keeps being labelled as antisemitic behaviour, which has been really damaging for people; some have lost their jobs because of it.

She added that If there is a war it will be the working class who will be sent out there.

Fria, from University College London, explained, What is happening in Gaza is genocide, thousands are being killedmore than 12,000 children. More are being killed through starvationno food, no medicines. And the world is watching, everybody can clearly see. Its not like the First World War or the Second World War: everyone can see it on TV.

He argued, The Palestinian people have a right to resist. They have a right to stay in their own country. The Israeli government with all the powers that they have, they are using them to kill innocent peoplethose who do that are the terrorists.

The rally in Leeds, May 4, 2024

Fria continued, Workers need to become more powerful; they need to grow in strength to stop the genocide, adding, I am sure that if we do not stop it, it will spread to the entire Middle East and then to Africa as well The workers need to get together. Until we get together, we cant do anything. Once we get together, we can push them [the governments] to stop the genocide.

Adam spoke about how the most vulnerable would be made to pay the costs of Britains increasing military budget:
GUANGZHOU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The 135th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, concluded Sunday in south China's Guangzhou, with a record number of international buyers in attendance, according to the fair organizer.

A total of 246,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions participated in the offline fair, up 24.5 percent from the previous session.

Since its opening on April 15th, the event has attracted about 160,000 buyers from countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, a 25.1-percent rise from the previous session. Around 50,000 buyers from Europe and the United States attended the fair, marking a 10.7 percent increase.

Offline export transactions totaled 24.7 billion U.S. dollars, while online platform export transactions reached 3.03 billion dollars, up 10.7 percent and 33.1 percent, respectively, compared to the previous session.

Founded in 1957, the offline Canton Fair is hosted twice a year in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trading events in China, and is hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade. 
The death of the actor Bernard Hill at the age of 79 deprives Britain of one of its most versatile and talented actors. His demise is all the sadder for the knowledge that he was about to be seen on television tonight, playing Martin Freemans father in the second series of The Responder. Hill had not been as much of a presence in cinema or on TV over the past few years as he was in his heyday, whether by choice or circumstance, but when he did appear in anything, it was certain that he would add a remarkable degree of class and conviction to whatever role he played. From Shakespeare and Arthur Miller to big-budget special-effects fantasy, Hill could be guaranteed to give a weak project gravitas and a great one magnificence.

For a notably modest and unassuming man who shunned celebrity circles, it undoubtedly would have amused him that his two best-known roles came in the two pictures that won 11 Oscars apiece, the billion-dollar behemoths Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Hill had terrific roles in them both and showed Hollywood his worth as a fine character actor. Yet there was other, less widely seen work that may have resonated more with him given its quieter nature. To watch a Bernard Hill performance was seldom to see capital-A Acting; it was, instead, to see someone wholly inhabit a character without ostentation. Here are five of his finest hours.

Boys from the Blackstuff (1982)

Hill began his career with supporting appearances on stage and in television drama, but it was his early role as Jimmy Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdales legendary social-realist television series that first established him as a major actor. As the moustachioed, hapless and perennially unemployed Hughes, Hill gave his shabby and shambling career dignity as he was reduced to begging for work against the backdrop of Thatcherite enterprise. His catchphrases, including Gizza job, were both funny and pathetic, but Hills skill was to make Yosser sympathetic rather than pitiable, even as he is denied the pat happy ending that a lesser writer might have foisted on the character.

'Gizza job!': Hill as Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff

Shirley Valentine (1989)

Willy Russells one-woman monologue was opened out for cinema, and it took a remarkable actor to hold his own against Pauline Collins as the eponymous Shirley, frustrated with her lot in life and desperate to escape. Hill, playing her unthinkingly controlling husband Joe, excels at conveying the characters casual sexism and entitlement, and plays much of this for broad laughs; he manages to make the scenes in which he reacts to his wifes atypical flight to Greece as being dictated by menopause or mid-life crisis seem genuinely funny, rather than simply boorish.

Yet he is also offered redemption at the end when he finally heads to see her and understands that she is an independent human being in her own right, rather than his chattel. Roger Ebert, in an otherwise negative review, wrote when he follows his wife to Greece at the end of the film, there are a few moments so truthful that they show up the rest.

Husband vs wife: Hill with Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine - Alamy

Titanic (1997)

From the Blackstuff to the most expensive film of all time is quite a stretch in anyones career, but if anyone could manage it, it was Hill. Splendidly white-bearded and stiff-upper-lipped as the real-life captain of the Titanic, Edward Smith, Hill excels at conveying the slight pomposity but also the enormous decency and eventual sacrifice of Smith, going down with his ship in one of the films most moving scenes.

Its mega-success launched Hill into a brief, unlikely career as a Hollywood character actor. He always remained deeply sanguine about the experience of working on a notoriously difficult and troubled shoot; he commented that what he had enjoyed most about the role was the opportunity to work with his friend and former colleague David Warner, and that the experience of making it was kind of a group thing... everybody really liked each other and there was no strain. It was quite intimate.

The Two Towers/The Return of the King (2001/2002)

If Smith was noble, then Hills performance in the second and third Lord of the Rings films as King Theoden was heroic, although not without its own arc. The viewer is introduced to him in the grip of possession by Saruman, via the vicious Wormtongue, and when the spell is dispelled, Theoden is allowed to take arms against the forces of evil and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Gandalf, Aragorn and the rest of them.

Hill gets one of the most memorable moments in the trilogy in the third film, at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields scene; no longer the enfeebled figure that he once was, he delivers a stirring battle cry (Ride now, ride now! Ride for ruin, and the worlds ending!) as he leads the forces of the Rohirrim in a death-or-glory charge against apparently impossible odds. It remains incredibly thrilling, over two decades on, and it is testament to Hills powerful yet wholly subtle work that it would be a rare viewer who did not want to take up arms alongside him.

Under Saruman's spell: Hill as the enfeebled King Theoden with Brad Dourif as Wormtongue - PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy

A Very Social Secretary (2005)

Hill played real-life figures throughout his career, from Captain Smith to the so-called Canoe Man John Darwin. Yet perhaps his most intriguing and effective performance of this kind came when he played former Home Secretary David Blunkett in a comedy-drama about the furore that ensued when Blunkett had an affair with Kimberley Quinn, former publisher of the Spectator magazine, and was dragged into controversy when he was accused of offering her special treatment and thereby abusing his office.

Remarkably sympathetic: Hill as David Blunkett with Victoria Hamilton as Kimberly Quinn - Channel 4/PA

Although the show itself often descends into broad farce, Hills performance  for which he was nominated for both a BAFTA and an Emmy, neither of which, unfathomably, he ever won  is wholly sympathetic, showing the extent to which he managed to overcome his blindness to rise to the heights of political office, and also the way in which he could be figuratively blinded by lust. By the shows end, as Blunkett comes to terms with the folly of his actions, Hill delivers a remarkable performance that may, after Yosser, be the best he ever gave on screen.

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Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones, perform during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Mick Jagger briefly waded into Louisiana politics, taking a verbal jab at the state's conservative governor, as The Rolling Stones performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The band had finished You Can't Always Get What You Want during Thursday evening's set when Jagger began talking about inclusion, according to New Orleans news outlets. We want to include him too, Jagger said of Gov. Jeff Landry. "Even if he wants to take us back to the Stone Age.

Jagger didn't mention specific policies. Landry is a Republican who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. He was the state attorney general before taking office as governor in January. He has supported controversial conservative legislation and causes including a near total abortion ban, a prohibition on gender-affirming medical care for young transgender people and harsher sentences for crimes.

Landry clapped back at the 80-year-old Jagger on social media.

You cant always get what you want, he posted on X. The only person who might remember the Stone Age is Mick Jagger. Love you buddy, youre always welcome in Louisiana!

Landry, 53, capped the post with #LoveMyCountryMusic.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend day 2 'Style Wednesday' of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13, 2024 in Cheltenham, England. .

Princess Eugenie is sharing a sweet message in honor of her husband's birthday.

On Friday, May 3, the royal family member posted three new photos to her Instagram account to celebrate her husband, Jack Brooksbank's, 38th trip around the sun.

In one photo, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson stares lovingly at her husband as the pair stand side-by-side while attending the inaugural Winter Gala for her charity, The Anti-Slavery Collective.

In another photo, Brooksbank is photographed with his son, 3-year-old August, as the father-son duo play at the beach.



The third photo shows the happy couple posing on another (or perhaps the same) beach, their hands in their air with the sun behind them.

"Happy Happy Birthday my love," the royal captioned the sweet and heartfelt post. "Always making joy wherever you are. ."

A post shared by Princess Eugenie A photo posted by princesseugenie on

Princess Eugenie and her husband first met in 2010. Seven years later, Brooksbank proposed during a trip to Nicaragua and without a ring.

"I didn't want to do anything until Eugenie had signed off on it," Brooksbank said of his decision to propose without an engagement ring during a televised BBC 1 interview. Once the pair returned to the U.K., they designed Princess Eugenie's ring together.

In the same interview, Princess Eugenie said it was "love at first sight" when she first met her now-husband of more than 10 years.

We met when I was 20, he was 24, she said at the time. "We fell in love. We have the same passions and drive for life.

On Oct. 18, 2018, the pair got married in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. In an Instagram post celebrating the couple's first wedding anniversary, Princess Eugenie said her wedding day was "the greatest day of my life."

A post shared by Princess Eugenie A photo posted by princesseugenie on

Shortly after, in 2020, the couple announced they were expecting their first child in another Instagram post, along with a close-up picture of the pair's hands holding tiny little baby shoes.

"Jack and I are so excited for early 2021...." Princess Eugenie captioned the post.

"Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021," Buckingham Palace announced at the time. "The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr. and Mrs. George Brooksbank, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news."

The couple's first son, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, was born on Feb. 9, 2021. Two years later, the couple announced Princess Eugenie was pregnant with their second, and on May 30, 2023, the pair welcomed Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank to the fold.
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Kamala Harris Are Reuniting for a Cause Near to Both of Their Hearts (Exclusive)

The 'Abbott Elementary' actress has crossed paths with the vice president multiple times, even joining her on a trip to Ghana last year

John Salangsang/Variety via Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty Sheryl Lee Ralph (left) and Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris will team up with actress Sheryl Lee Ralph during an official campaign stop in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, May 8, to fire voters up about the ongoing threats to women's freedoms.

The event will be a reunion of sorts for the two, who crossed paths at a Philadelphia mobilization event during Harris' 2020 vice presidential campaign  and who traveled to Ghana together in the spring of 2023.

Related: Why Sheryl Lee Ralphs HIV Film Unexpected Focuses on Black Women: No Longer a Gay White Mans Disease (Exclusive)

NIPAH DENNIS/AFP via Getty Idris Elba and Sheryl Lee Ralph join Vice President Kamala Harris at a community recording studio in Ghana on March 27, 2023

After Ralph's notable Emmys win in 2022 for her supporting role in Abbott Elementary  in which she became only the second Black woman to win in her category, and the first since 1987  the actress revealed that Harris called her to extend a congratulations.

"She called and I had to say, We did it Kamala. We did it," Ralph told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. "It was great."



Related: 'Abbott Elementary' Star Sheryl Lee Ralph Stops Emmys in Song After Historic Win: 'My Voice Belongs'

Mark Makela/Getty Sheryl Lee Ralph takes a selfie with Kamala Harris during a "Sister to Sister: Mobilizing in Action" event in Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 2020

Outside of her acting career, Ralph  who is married to Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes  has been outspoken about a number of causes close to her heart, including abortion rights and reproductive freedom.

Related: Sheryl Lee Ralph on the Inspiration Behind Her AIDS Activism: 'Somebody's Got to do Something'

At a "Bans Off Our Bodies" rally in Harrisburg, Pa., after the Supreme Court's Dobbs opinion was leaked in 2022, Ralph spoke out against the government interfering with a woman's right to make decisions about her own health.

No matter what you believe, I believe this is my body. It is my choice. No one else should have the right to tell me what to do with my own body, Ralph said, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. No more wire hangers. Weve got work to do.

Related: Sheryl Lee Ralph 'Collapsed' After Her Son Had a Brain-Damaging Car Accident Then Was Shot 3 Times in 2013

Joe Raedle/Getty Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to voters in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 1, 2024, as the state's six-week abortion ban took effect

Ralph's outspoken support of reproductive freedom falls in line with Harris' mission to keep women's rights at the top of voters' minds ahead of the 2024 election.

Their joint event in Montgomery County, Pa., on Wednesday comes as the vice president has been touring the country to talk about the ongoing threats to women's health.

Related: Biden Campaign Sees Florida as Winnable After States 6-Week Abortion Ban Threatens Women in the Southeast

On May 1, the day Florida's six-week abortion ban took effect, Harris appeared in Jacksonville to express that  aside from walking back the rights long afforded by Roe v. Wade  extreme state bans like Florida's restrict abortion before many women realize they are pregnant, and threaten to target medical professionals for doing their jobs.

"Basically under Donald Trump, it would be fair game for women to be monitored and punished by the government, whereas Joe Biden and I have a different view," she told the crowd. "We believe the government should never come between a woman and her doctor.

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I shop for a living  here are the best Mother's Day gift ideas that your mom will actually like and use in 2024.

Finding the perfect Mother's Day gift can be challenging. Whether you're shopping for an "I don't need anything" kind of gal or an "I don't know, surprise me" girl, many moms (mine included) don't always make it obvious for us gift-givers. With Mother's Day around the corner (it's on Sunday, May 12), the countdown is on to order the perfect gift and, importantly, have it arrive on time. To lend a helping hand on your gift-shopping journey, we've rounded up 50 gift ideas that, if I don't say so myself, are perfect for Mother's Day 2024. With options for every budget, let this Mother's Day be the one in which you go above and beyond for the woman who birthed, bathed and burped you. To shop the edit, check out our list of the best Mother's Day gift ideas in 2024 below.

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $25

MasterClass Best Last-Minute Gift MasterClass Subscription Whether she's into cooking, music, business, tech or art, MasterClass covers every topic under the sun. Individual courses are taught by some of the most famous faces on the planet, including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Stephen Curry, Serena Williams, Chris Hadfield and many more. From $13 at MasterClass

Cameo Best Pop Culture Gift Cameo Personalized Message Treat your mom to a personalized video message from their favourite reality star, actor or musician. If you're willing to part with some cash, you can even hear directly from a Real Housewife or a Bachelor alum. Cameo video messages start at under $25 and go up to thousands of dollars (we're looking at you, Lindsay Lohan). From $25 at Cameo

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $50

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $100

Dermalogica Best In-Person Treatment Dermalogica Facial Speaking from experience, I love a Dermalogica facial. With treatments starting from $75, you can treat your mom to some professional TLC this Mother's Day. Trust us, you can't go wrong with a good facial, especially one from Dermalogica. Starting from $75 at Dermalogica

Saje Best Gift for Aches & Pains Saje Extra Strength Pain Relieving Remedy Roll-On If aches and pains are getting you (or your mom) down, Saje reviewers love this roll-on oil for medication-free relief. Its essential oils are designed to soothe and alleviate muscular pain, soreness, tension and tightness caused by sore muscles, backaches, strains and sprains. According to the brand, 82 per cent of users feel pain relief throughout the next day. $68 at Saje

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $200

Alo Yoga Best Cute Sweatpants Muse Sweatpant Alo Yoga's best-selling Muse Sweatpants (which are on sale for 30 per cent off, by the way) are soft, comfortable and flattering  perfect for lounging or running errands. Shop them in five colours. $125 at Alo Yoga

lululemon Best Yoga Mat The Mat 5mm The lululemon yoga mat is made from FSC-certified rubber, giving you cushioning and a textured grip for low-sweat practices. It comes in eight designs and, according to one shopper, is the "perfect" yoga mat. $108 at lululemon

Anthropologie Best Beach Bag Raffia Checkered Angular Tote This jumbo tote bag is a chic accessory to have on hand this summer. It comes with a zippered removable pouch that "easily stores your essentials." Shop it in two colours. $138 at Anthropologie

Mejuri Best Value Jewelry Set The Everyday Set This gorgeous two-piece gift set includes Mejuri's Mini Pearl Satellite Bracelet and a pair of Round Topaz Studs. Normally retailing for $206, the set saves you 10 per cent ahead of Mother's Day. $185 at Mejuri

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $300

Amazon Best Gift for Pasta Lovers Philips Pasta & Noodle Maker If fresh, homemade pasta is your Achilles heel, then the Philips Pasta and Noodle Maker is the next best thing if an Italian vacation is out of the question. This handy device automatically kneads dough and extrudes a variety of pasta, making 450 grams of fresh pasta and noodles in just 18 minutes. $213 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $323 at Walmart

Best Mother's Day gift ideas under $1,000

Best Buy Canada Best Sleep Tracker Oura Ring Gen3 The Oura Ring Gen3 is a sleeker, less noticeable biotracker alternative to an Apple Watch, Fitbit or other fitness devices. It monitors your sleep, activity levels, temperature trends, stress, heart rate and more, allowing you to take charge of your health. One Yahoo Canada writer calls it the best biotracker for sleep monitoring that you can wear round the clock. $700 at Best Buy Canada

Away Best Gift for Vacationers The Large A first-class ticket around the world would (obviously) be the best travel gift, however, one of Away's viral suitcases isn't a bad choice either. This award-winning suitcase is designed for 2+ weeks away and comes in nine colours. $375 at Away

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
SHENYANG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- German carmakers are casting a vote of confidence in China's promising auto market amid the country's rapid growth in electric mobility.

Among the major global players ramping up their investments in the Chinese market is BMW, which in late April announced an additional investment of 20 billion yuan (about 2.81 billion U.S. dollars) in its production base in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"The planned upgrades and expansions will also make Shenyang ready for the production of our NEUE KLASSE -- a completely new generation of BMW models that combine all our innovations in the areas of electrification, digitalization and circular economy," said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, in a speech.

According to the German auto giant, the investment will be used for upgrading as well as technological innovation at the Dadong plant of BMW Group's joint venture in China, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA).

"The planned investment underlines not only our confidence in China's long-term economic prospects, but also in the innovation capabilities of our Chinese partners," said Zipse.

Another prominent German auto giant eyeing China's potential is luxury carmaker Audi AG.

In January this year, Audi initiated pre-mass production at the Audi FAW NEV project, its first production facility for purely electric vehicles in China, marking an important step for the company in further optimizing its strategic layout in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market.

In cooperation with China's leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd., the project, with total investment expected to surpass 35 billion yuan, broke ground in June 2022 in northeast China's Changchun, Jilin Province. Three pure electric models tailored for the Chinese market are expected to roll off its production lines by year-end, successively becoming available on the market from early 2025.

Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center Automotive Research Institute in Bochum in Germany, said the Chinese electric vehicle market is far from saturated and will continue to maintain a faster and stronger growth momentum compared to the European and American markets.

Manufacturers are achieving cost reductions and efficiency improvements through economies of scale, while the European Union's investigation into Chinese electric vehicle "subsidies" and "dumping" is untenable, Dudenhoeffer said.

Meanwhile, a review of financial reports from German automotive giants such as BMW, Audi and Volkswagen reveals that the penetration rate of new energy products is steadily increasing.

In 2023, BMW delivered over 375,000 pure electric vehicles worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 74.2 percent, including approximately 100,000 pure electric vehicles delivered to China. Adding plug-in hybrid models delivered throughout the year, BMW Group's global sales of new energy vehicles exceeded 560,000 units in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 30.5 percent

Last year, Audi's global deliveries reached approximately 1.9 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 17.4 percent, with pure electric vehicle sales reaching 178,000 units, surging by 51 percent year on year.

As one of China's most representative emerging industries, the NEV industry is driving the development of worldwide related sectors such as vehicle production, smart innovation research and development, and the automotive industry chain.

Highlighting that China's vigorous development of new quality productive forces is highly compatible with BMW's core strategy, which provides broad space for further deepening Sino-German cooperation, Zipse said that sustainable development is a path best trodden together -- with China and Germany sharing the belief that green development presents a new opportunity for further expanding cooperation.

Ola Kallenius, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group, reiterated the company's commitment to expanding its presence in China and advancing electric and digital transformation in collaboration with its Chinese partners

"China is not only the largest market for new energy vehicles, but also an innovation hub featuring industry-leading companies and a mature NEV supply chain," he said, adding that he believed that the Chinese market will continue to grow and play a leading role in innovation in the industry.

"As we know, what moves China today moves the world tomorrow," said Zipse. 
Lovers of jammy glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon may appreciate a different kind of pour to diversify their drinking palates during summer cookouts. Carmenere can be the easy answer for those who choose full-bodied red wines with notes of fruit and spice. With most bottles hailing from Chile, Carmenere is akin to a Merlot in its mouthfeel and body while still delivering hints of berries and the peppery accents that Cab Sauv connoisseurs seek out to sample.

Though Chile has laid claim to Carmenere, other countries have planted the grape variety to make wine. Carmenere grapes were originally grown in France's Bordeaux region, but halfway through the 19th century insects killed all the Carmenere grapevines in Europe and they were considered extinct until plants were rediscovered in Chile. These surviving grapevines also share genetic composition with Cabernet Gernischt, a Chinese red grape, and the grapes can also be called Grande Vidure. With its popularity spreading, the grape can be found beyond Chile, in Italy, France, the U.S., and Australia.

Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have

Carmenere Is A Unique Sipper To Serve

Chilean Hemisfero Carmenere wine and glass - Yusa / Instagram

Unlike the darker fruit notes found in bottles of Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons, glasses of Carmenere can offer tastes of lighter red fruits like raspberries and cherries, making the wine ideal to serve during summer nights alongside grilled dishes. Without the same amount of tannins that a Cab or Merlot carries, Carmenere won't overpower your carefully cultivated menus of grilled mushrooms and marinated meats. Even a simple bowl of spaghetti topped with perfectly made marinara sauce can sing when served with a glass of this delightful easy-drinking red.

Different bottles of Carmenere may offer subtle layers of chocolate, coffee, tobacco, and herbs. Since this label isn't a common choice of hosts, it can provide intrigue and be the comforting yet interesting taste your backyard party needs. Carmenere can share familiar tasting notes of other classic reds, particularly Cabinet Sauvignon and Merlot, and the drinkable glasses make a unique change for your guests.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico itself?

Sharon Kourous

A long history of discrimination explains why minorities seek to celebrate their origins; they simply need acknowledgment of their culture. Americas ethnic populations are growing at a faster rate than its white populations. The resultant fear means Latino-Americans live in an America that frequently is unwelcoming, often difficult, sometimes dangerous.

Cinco de Mayo is a day for those fears to be set aside. And so for one day, for a few moments, music, food, dance, the language spoken by grandparents are celebrated; and for that one day skin color or language or heritage are openly enjoyed. The rest of the year, as Esperanza, the young narrator says in "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros, All brown all around, we are safe. But watch us drive into a neighborhood of another color and our knees go shakity-shake and our car windows get rolled up tight and our eyes look straight. Yeah. That is how it goes and goes. Although the setting for that novel is Chicago, driving while Mexican is not a joke in Michigan either.

But every day of the year, the Diego Rivera murals in the Detroit Institute of Arts enrich our community. Inspired by Rivera, Detroit muralist Elton Monroy Duran brought brilliant murals to southwest Detroit streets, inspiring young residents to see themselves as a vital part of their home city. Of Durans 20 murals situated in Michigan, nine are in southwest Detroit. Murals have become a popular way to revitalize our communities; many are a result of the artistry of brown artists who enrich us all.

The literary gifts of authors whose homeland is South or Central America are also impossible to overlook: works by Nobel author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sandra Cisneros, Carlos Fuentes and many others enrich readers. The Midwest is home to Latino writers who draw upon their heritage and reveal how the subtle and not-so-subtle prejudices of white America have damaged lives for generations. One of the most impactful and beautiful short stories I ever shared with students was written by Chicago-based Hugo Martinez-Serros as he describes the abiding strength of a father for his sons as he guides them through life in a poverty-stricken Chicago neighborhood. It is a story of courage and familial love.

Michigan has benefitted from immigrants in many ways according to the report, The Contributions of New Americans in Michigan, which states Today, the Great Lakes state is home to more than 640,000 individuals who were born in another country. Such immigrants serve as everything from college professors to mechanical engineers, making them critical contributors to Michigans economic success overall. The rate of entrepreneurship among immigrants is higher than that of the population as a whole, accounting for 8.8% of all entrepreneurs. This in turn brings higher employment, more taxpayers, and active communities and more than one in every 14 dollars paid in state and local taxes. Additionally, Despite making up 6.5 percent of the states population, foreign-born Michiganders made up 15 percent of STEM workers in the state in 2014. Immigrants, both documented and undocumented are here to work. In our towns and on our farms, a majority of them are actively working and contributing taxes and social security funds.

Heritage holidays remind all of us of a simple truth: Our ancestors all came from somewhere else, some other land, often some other continent. We all are Irish on St. Patricks Day, Juneteenth offers all Americans a moment to reflect on our slave-owning heritage, Ramadan brings us closer to our Muslim neighbors, Hannukah embraces our Jewish neighbors, Polish neighborhoods treat us to paczki  and so on. Each of our family trees shows us our roots in other lands. Sadly, many of our ancestors made every effort to erase that past, to lose the language, change the spelling of names, teach children to blend in. And gradually we began to fear other cultures

Unless our family descends from Native Americans, each of our ancestors brought new customs, new values. America thrives through diversity.

Cinco de Mayo is a beautiful celebration of our shared humanity.

Sharon Kourous is a member of Stronger Together Huddle, a group engaged in supporting and promoting the common good of all. She is a former teacher and resides in Monroe. She can be reached at mcneil102@icloud.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Sharon Kourous: Cinco de Mayo a celebration of shared humanity
Clueless tourist tries to photograph son with sea lions on Californian seafront  it doesn't go well

Sea lions are beautiful animals, but like most wildlife, they don't appreciate humans getting too close and can lash out if they feel threatened. It's a lesson that one man learned the hard way when visiting La Jolla in San Diego with his young son.

In a video shared via Instagram account TouronsOfNationalParks this week, the man can be seen approaching a sea lion on rocks at La Jolla Cove to take photos, then trying to pose his child near the animal, which lunges forward. The man is able to pull the boy back in time, but things could easily have gone differently.

"Even after the sea lion made an aggressive move towards his child, he continued trying to get more photos," wrote Shari, who shot the original video. "And I wasnt kidding. As soon as he departed, another guy showed up for his own selfie."

A post shared by @touronsofnationalparks A photo posted by on

NOAA Fisheries advises beachgoers to share the shore responsibly with seals and sea lions, and to remember that it is a violation of federal law to harass the animals.

"Move away at the first sign of disturbance or agitation," says the agency. "Seals on land are easily disturbed and may change position, move away, flee, trample or abandon their pups. Animals may become stressed and repeated interruptions by you and others may be harmful to their health or cause abandonment. Bring your binoculars and enjoy them from a safe viewing distance to protect their health and yours."

If a seal or sea lion starts to stare, fidget, or flee, it's a sure sign that you're too close. NOAA Fisheries advises staying at least 100 yards (91 meters) away to ensure you don't disturb the animals' natural behavior.

Aggressive sea lions

Last summer, holidaymakers in Southern California were warned to watch out for particularly aggressive sea lions suffering the effects of a neurotoxin (domoic acid) released by a large algal bloom just off the coast. Five people were bitted by affected animals within the space of a few weeks, and officials received hundreds of reports of sea lions in distress.

"If you get bit by a sea lion, you have to worry about two things," Alissa Deming of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach told NPS in July. "Number one, the trauma associated with that bite. And also, there's a lot of bacteria both in their mouths and in the ocean water itself, and that can result in significant infections."

The best water shoes: footwear for seaside hikes
NEW YORK (PIX11)  Happy AAPI Heritage Month!

Every May is a time to celebrate the historical and cultural contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

NYCs first pet-friendly homeless shelter will open in the Bronx

And there is so much to celebrate at the Rubin Museum of Art. A new exhibit is called Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now.

It features 32 artists bridging past and present using contemporary artwork in dialogue with museum objects.

All these works are created by people from the Himalayas, Asia, or the diaspora.

The beauty and craftsmanship of Himalayan artists have been exquisite throughout time, Michelle Bennett Simorella, the exhibits curator, told PIX11 News. Also, there are stories behind the narratives, she added.

Kunsang Gyatso, born in Nepal but 14 years now a New Yorker, created this tangerine shrine. It was placed next to a traditional Buddhist shrine inside a wealthy Himalayas home.

This is very simply an imagined shrine that has been taken out of a different time and space, Gyatso told PIX11 News. It imagines that tangerines are considered sacred, so inhabitants have dedicated a shrine to them. It also explores what faith means, he added.

John Tsung, raised in Taiwan, is a sound artist. He installed 1,000 feet of cables and microphones throughout The Rubin to capture the movements of everyone in the museum.

The sounds then emanate from this rock in front of the traditional shrine.

This rock is a piece of the foundation of the Rubin Museum, the sound artist John Tsung told PIX11 News.

Tsung continued: When I found the museum was changing its incarnation, Its a fitting way to say hello and goodbye to the museum and a way to say hello to the next incarnation, he added.

A five-story installation of prayer flags and all the artwork will be at the Rubin until Oct. 6, when the building closes.

Then, the exhibit will travel to Chicago.

For more information about the future of the Rubin and all its traveling exhibits, go here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Dog Rescued After Being Found Hiding in Small Cutout on Side of Mountain in Arizona

A hiker spotted the 2-year-old Shar-Pei mix and waited with her for nearly two hours until Arizona Humane Society rescuers arrived

Arizona Humane Society Bright Eyes

A dog was saved from a near-death situation thanks to a kind-hearted hiker.

On April 24, Arizona Humane Society (AHS) dispatchers received a call about a canine in distress who was spotted by the good Samaritan hiding in a small, rocky cutout on the side of Lookout Mountain in Phoenix, according to a release from the animal organization.

The hiker stayed with the dog, a 2-year-old Shar-Pei mix named Bright Eyes, for almost two hours until two AHS emergency animal medical technicians, Tracey Miiller and Ruthie Jesus, arrived at the site to help. At the time of her rescue, Bright Eyes was in dire condition. A quick medical assessment revealed that the dog was "dangerously dehydrated" and injured with cuts on her paws and a wound in her hind end.

Arizona Humane Society Bright Eyes, who was rescued in Arizona.

The animal was so weak that Miiller and Jesus had to take turns carrying her down the mountain to the waiting ambulance. After being transported to AHS Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital, Bright Eyes received fluids, antibiotics and pain medication, and was also treated for stomach issues.

Related: Dog Missing for 2 Months Rescued from Colo. Mountain in 'Act of Kindness' Ahead of Thanksgiving

AHS said in the release that they don't know exactly how long the resilient canine was in the mountain cutout or how she ended up there. "If not for the quick thinking of a good Samaritan and two AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technicians jumping into action to save the pup, chances are she would not have survived much longer," the organization said.

Arizona Humane Society Bright Eyes gets medical attention.

She was given the name Bright Eyes because the hiker only happened to spot the dog in her hiding spot due to her amber-colored eyes as she blended into her surroundings.

"She literally is the same color as the dirt," Jesus said in a video taken by AHS shortly after the rescue. "She blended in so much."

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.

Jesus recalled that Bright Eyes was a bit scared at first and reluctant to go with her rescuers.

"She was really sweet in letting me pet her head, but she absolutely did not want to come out of that den," she said. "So, we kind of just had to pull her out."

Arizona Humane Society A rescuer carries Bright Eyes down the mountain.

Related: Dog Missing in Arizona Desert for 9 Months Is Found Safe Thanks to Community Help

"Once we got her out, she was so thirsty. We gave her some water from our water bottles that we brought," Jesus continued of Bright Eyes' condition. "She could walk but she actually had torn paw pads on her two front feet and a laceration on her hind end. And honestly, she was just too weak."

Jesus said the animal appeared calm and relaxed as she made the journey down the mountain with the rescuers. "It was a very teeny, tiny rocky trail that was pretty slick and so Tracey and I took turns carrying her down the mountain and she was just an absolute angel," she recounted.

Arizona Humane Society She was just an absolute angel.

Bright Eyes is currently recovering from her ordeal at AHS' facility.

"This was just an absolute high for me," Jesus said of the animal's successful rescue. "We were so elated to be able to get her [off the mountain]. Again, she was just so dehydrated and I think she'd probably been up there several days and that was probably her last day. This good Samaritan really saved her life."



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Read the original article on People.
Nurses can get a free drink at Dunkin' locations on May 6, 2024.

For healthcare workers needing a boost on Monday, Dunkin' will offer a free coffee in honor of National Nurses Day.

Participating Dunkin' locations will offer a free medium hot or iced coffee, with no additional purchase necessary, on Monday, May 6.

This National Nurses Day, Dunkin' is honored to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the nurses who serve our communities day in and day out, said Shannon Durkin, Dunkins Field Marketing Manager for Texas. "As a small token of our gratitude, we're inviting nurses to take a well-deserved coffee break on us."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Dunkin' celebrates Nurses Day with free coffee for healthcare workers
Kentucky Derby 150 is over: What to do if your flight home get delayed or canceled

Kentucky Derby 150 has come and gone.

Maybe you're headed home a little richer thanks to some skilled betting. Or maybe you're headed home a bit lighter in the wallet but with memories to last.

Either way, you're headed home from Kentucky and the last thing you want to deal with is an airline flight delay or cancellation. While annoying, some air travelers out of Louisville may inevitably face unexpected travel issues out of their control.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation released some consumer protections that will help impacted travelers in the future. Some key points include an automatic cash refund, which will go into effect in six months.

But for now, if the impacted traveler is you, here are some tips to help you stay aware and make the best of an undesirable situation.

Should I download my airline's app?

An Allegiant Airlines jet prepared for takeoff at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Feb. 9, 2024

Downloading your airline's app at least a week before travel will allow you to start getting notifications, including if your flight is experiencing any delays or cancellations closer to your actual travel date.

The airline apps can also assist with rebooking and enable you to contact customer service, when necessary, the Detroit Free Press previously reported.

In the event you need to rebook, take a moment to consider your options.

Teresa Murray, who directs the Consumer Watchdog office for U.S. PIRG, a nonprofit advocacy group, that has highlighted consumer complaints and advocated for more passenger protections previously told the Detroit Free Press, also part of the USA TODAY Network, that you don't want to rebook on a different flight that could trigger more delays down the road. It's important to note that more connections can lead to more delays.

What airline travel problems may I encounter?

An Allegiant Airlines jet rolled down the runway during takeoff at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Feb. 9, 2024

Delays are a main travel concern for flyers.

To anticipate delays, consider using freely available tools such as FlightAware.com. This website allows travelers to search for their specific flight the day before departure as well as throughout the day leading up to the flight. There is even a feature that allows travelers to see where their plane is in the present moment and if it is on schedule.

While cancelations prove rare  with less than 2% of flights canceled across the 10 largest U.S. airlines in 2023, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report issued in March by the U.S. Department of Transportation  tools like FlightAware allow travelers to prepare in advance of cancelation and start formulating a plan to keep their travel on schedule as much as possible.

What are your rights as an airline passenger?

De-icing solution is sprayed over a Delta flight at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Monday, January 15, 2024

If you face a small delay of a half hour, you may not be entitled to much.

But if facing significant and controllable travel burdens, travelers may be eligible for things such as free rebooking, meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, rebooking on another airline, and in some cases, cash compensation.

We hate to rain on your parade, but weather is considered an uncontrollable factor, and many airline policies don't directly apply to weather-related events. However, don't let this stop you from politely asking the airline staff if you can be rebooked to another flight if you face delays or cancelations due to weather.

The U.S. DOT offers a dashboard, the Airline Customer Service Dashboard, where flyers can see what they may be eligible for in the event of significant delays or cancelations. The dashboard is focused on the 10 largest airlines and can be a good tool for comparing airline policies as well.

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What should you do if your flight is delayed or canceled? What to know
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  On Saturday, thousands of people gathered at LMCU Ballpark for the Tots & Taps Festival, making it one of the first of its kind in the country.

This years event was put on by Outlier Events, the same organization that hosts the worlds only Donut and Beer Festival, the Mac and Cheese Festival and the Taco and Tequila Festival.

This year, Grand Rapids was chosen over twelve other cities to host the event. Attendees were able to try samples of dozens of different beers and tater tots.

Food is great. I mean, you cant beat beer and tater tots. Thats the best combination in America right there, Chris Hindenach, a festivalgoer, said. The Darth Vador all the way at the end on the third base side are the best.

The family-friendly festival brought people from all over to West Michigan.

Theyve got a couple things for a lot of people, stuff for the kids, the food is really good, a lot of cool beers and drinks, said Tom Newvine, a festivalgoer. So, I mean, overall, its pretty solid, and a lot of people came out.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Sam Chiappetta knew the Myrtle Beach area well before he moved full-time.

Chiappetta, 67, attended Belmont Abbey College just outside of Charlotte, N.C., and vacationed in the Myrtle Beach area during college in the early 1980s. He rented a house in Cherry Grove from Elliot Reality, went to the beach, and held barbecuesalso making the occasional trip to the local amusement park. However, he couldnt remember the name.

After college, Chiappetta got a job at General Motors in Massachusetts, where he worked for 21 years. Although, the allure of the Grand Strand remained.

Married for 37 years with two grown adult children, Chiappetta and his wife liked to go on vacation, and a few years ago, Chiappetta pitched going to Myrtle Beach.

I said, Hey, why dont we try Myrtle Beach? He remembered. We kind of fell in love with the place, and we said maybe when we decide to retire (well move down).

That is what the Chiappettas did. In 2018, they bought a house on the Conway and Myrtle Beach border, close to 20 minutes from the beach. Sam said the couple paid in cash for the newly built home, which they are currently customizing it to their liking, and when he took an early retirement from GM, he moved full-time to the Myrtle Beach area in 2023.

Chiappetta likes the area and is comfortable in the Grand Strand. His son is also moving to the area and plans to start a trucking business. Prices are lower, people are nicer, taxes are lower, the weather is better, and many fellow Grand Stranders share his worldview, Chiappetta said.

Im more at home down here, He added.

Chiappetta is part of a larger trend of retirees moving to the Grand Strand area. According to the Census Reporter, the median age in Myrtle Beach is 47, and 47 percent of the total residents are 50 years old and over. Census Reporter also reported that the median age in the North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and Conway metro area is 50.9, about 1.3 times the United States median, with 50 percent of residents being 50 years old or over. With retirees making up a large part of the areas population, developers and home re-designers are catering towards them.

Heres how new retirees are impacting Myrtle Beach, SCs real estate economy

Indeed, builders are starting to design entire communities for retired-age individuals, often called active adult communities. Bruce Carrell is a custom home builder from Myrtle Beach who began his career on the Grand Strand in the 1980s.

Carrells built more than 1,200 custom homes and designed the first homes sold in the Grande Dunes area. Recently, however, as plots for custom homes have reduced as golf courses have closed and the downtown Myrtle Beach area has become mostly developed, Carrell turned to building active adult communities. His first one, The Courtyards by Carrell, in partnership with Epcon Communities, opened in Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County, N.C., with 66 patio homes planned. Hes already looking for land for his second community.

The transition is natural for Carrell  as many of his custom home clients were already part of the active adult demographic.

The active adult concept brings some parameters to it that appeal to that group of people, Carrell said. Whether thats restricting the rental opportunities ... that keeps transient traffic out of the community.

The relationship is symbiotic for retirees, builders, and realtors who service them. Older home buyers typically can pay more upfront for their homes, sometimes in cash alone, reducing the risk for all parties. Carrell said between 30 and 40 percent of buyers pay in cash or leverage assets like 401ks to buy their homes.

Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors President Brie Bender added that older home buyers are attractive clients given the current marketplace. Fixed-rate 30-year mortgages remain around seven percent, their highest since late 2000 and early 2001, according to the Federal Reserves Economic Data. For Bender, retirees with more assets on hand are safer clients.

When you have somebody thats bringing cash from the sale from another area, you have less challenges with moving forward with the cash sale than you would financing right now, she added. They dont want to have this carrying costs. They want to just have the home paid for.

Retirees also serve as a lucrative market for home re-designers.

A display at Newberry Home Improvement in Myrtle Beach. The home renovation firm specializes in helping older customers make their homes safer to live in and more user-friendly.

Newberry Home Improvement started on the Grand Strand in 2020, and Christopher Winey with the company said some of its renovations are geared toward retirees looking to age in place in their new homes.

Newberry Home Improvement does bathroom and kitchen remodeling, Winey said. He added that a significant part of the companys business is adjusting peoples homes so they can stay in their homes and be more user-friendly.

We turn the tub into a beautiful walk-in shower that they can easily get into, He said. Cleaning is a big factor. Since we dont use tile and grout, which are always a mess, we use acrylic.

Walking into the showroom of Newberry Home Improvement at 1732 Edward E Burroughs Highway, Highway 501, you can see appliances designed for retirees aging in place. The showers are walk-ins with nothing to step over, reducing the risk of slipping and falling. Drawers dont slam shut. Instead, they open and close slowly to protect retirees hands. Kitchen cabinets are taller than normal to provide support, and Winey added the appliances are designed to be safer for retirees to use as they age.

He added that retirees look to change their homes to maintain their independence. Simple tasks like walking and showering get more challenging with age, and remodeling a home could reduce danger for retirees, Winey added.

When you add just simply walking can be a challenge, as you start to lose some of your mobility and your balance; add water and soap, and its very slippery. It makes it scary, Winey said. A lot of homeowners realize that if theres a fall in their home, theres a certain percentage of people that dont come back home, and they dont want that. They dont want to lose their mobility.

Why retirees are moving to the Myrtle Beach, SC, area

Tina Hayes and Norris Townsend team up to play a doubles pickleball match in North Myrtle Beach on Tuesday. Pickleball, invented in 1965, is considered Americas fastest growing sport, according to a 2022 report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. October 17, 2022.

The makeup of Myrtle Beach has changed in the years between Chiappettas first visits to the Grand Strand.

Once, Myrtle Beach was known for young adults cruising the boulevard and hopping from nightclub to nightclub. However, the days of the nightclubs dominating the Grand Strand have passed, as many historic places closed beginning in the early 2000s. For the last eight years, more and more retirement-aged people have been moving to the Myrtle Beach area, Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Sandy Davis said.

Many retirees are moving for reasons similar to Chiappettas. Beth Ferguson-Clarke is a retired school bus driver from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who lives near the Little River and North Myrtle Beach area with her husband. Ferguson-Clarke moved to the Grand Strand in 2022 and prefers the warmer climate. She regularly attends shows at the Alabama Theatre and visits the aquarium when her grandchildren visit.

Theres nothing to do really in Poughkeepsie, She added. Theres a lot to do here.

Indeed, the Grand Strand has geographical advantages that other retirement hubs like Florida lack for people moving from places like the northeast United States. Myrtle Beach has a four seasons climate, is closer to retirees previous homes, and lacks the severe weather events currently impacting Florida.

While this trend has also sparked a trend of Floridians moving to the Palmetto State in general, Myrtle Beachs retiree population continues to grow, and realtors, developers, and home re-designers are looking to provide services for the new customer base.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With the second Sunday in May around the corner, its almost time to pamper the moms in your life.

Here are a few suggestions of places to dine at or find gifts for Mothers Day in Portland.

Portland ranks in top 10 cloudiest U.S. locations, others rank higher

When: Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Potted in Portland, 2627 SE Clinton St, Portland, OR 97202, and Cookshop, 2625 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97202

Plant nursery Potted in Portland and cooking classes business Cookshop are joining forces to host a market where people can buy gifts for the mother figures in their lives. The vendors will sell anything from handbags to home goods.

When: Sunday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Punch Bowl Social, 340 SW Morrison St Suite 4305, Portland, OR 97204

Punch Bowl Social is offering food, $3 mimosas and a live jazz performance from musician Kiran Raphael. Thorntree Floral & Botanical Design will also create unique flower arrangements for customers.

How much are Oregon, Washington teachers making? New report explains

When: Sunday, May 12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Craft PDX, 320 SW Harvey Milk St, Portland, OR 97204

Found in the Hi-Lo Hotel, Craft PDXs brunch menu will feature $5 mimosas with any entree. The restaurant serves cinnamon apple beignets, avocado toast, omelets and more. Additionally, it will have fresh tulips for moms.

When: Sunday, May 12 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: Hals Cafe, 303 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205

Hals Cafe, one of the many restaurants from the McMenamins group, will have its typical brunch and dinner offerings along with specials for moms. The menus include breakfast burritos, grass-fed burgers and bloody marys.

When: Sunday, May 12 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: 5 and Dime, 6535 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206

Neighborhood bar 5 and Dime is hosting a pop-up market in collaboration with Staghorn PDX. The all-ages market gives visitors an opportunity to purchase any last-minute gifts. Rose and Dagger Tattoo artist Brandon Garcia will also be on-site, as well as DJ Kevins Gate.

Portland auditor says shelter firm violated city lobbying code

When: Sunday, May 12 starting at 5 p.m.

Where: Normandie, 1005 SE Ankeny St, Portland, OR 97214

At $72 for two customers and an extra $35 for a third, Normandie will hold a four-course, family-style prix-fixe meal. Dinner parties will feast on spring green salad, coq au van, an ice cream trio and more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Paris for a state visit. Many locals and overseas Chinese in France have gathered here to welcome him.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Whether you're a customer who had to return a mistaken food order to the kitchen or a waitstaff member who wants to know what to expect, you may wonder if restaurant managers and owners charge servers for food mistakes. There are lots of complicating factors that don't make this issue clear-cut, and it's important to note that "can," "do," and "should" are three very different things. Some employers do charge staff and can do so legally in many areas. Laws around this vary from city to city and state to state, and it can be illegal in some cases, but that doesn't necessarily mean all employers adhere to these rules.

One of the biggest complicating factors in the U.S. is that the minimum wage can vary greatly, especially for tipped workers. The federally mandated minimum wage for all workers is $7.25, but employers in many areas can pay a much lower hourly wage of just $2.13, so long as their tipped wages are equal to $7.25 or more per hour. However, some cities have voted for higher minimum wages, even for tipped workers. In New York City, the minimum wage is $10.65 for tipped restaurant workers as of 2024, but their tips must be greater than or equal to $16 an hour. Otherwise, employers must pay the difference. How does this affect chargebacks? Chargebacks are prohibited if they drop the employee's hourly earnings below the area's minimum wage requirement for tipped workers.

Read more: 16 Little-Known Facts About Salt

Restaurant Employees Should Be Aware Of Local Laws

Person with hand to head - Pixelseffect/Getty Images

Certain areas have criteria employers must meet to legally garnish an employee's wages for a food service mistake. For example, New York State law prohibits employers from charging employees for "spoilage and breakage" among other things. If an employee were to add a meal to a tab and then cancel the order from the bill to eat it themselves, an employer could legally charge the server. Examples of mistakes employees can't be charged for include tripping and breaking a platter of food and offering too many paper napkins that go unused because these fail to show willful intent or liability. However, just because there are legal regulations, that doesn't mean all employers follow them. Therefore, it pays to be savvy and up-to-date on local laws and learn which restaurants servers avoid working at. When in doubt, look up your state or city's regulations.

If you are a server, ask your employer for a list of their written policies. Many of these will have clauses specifying which scenarios will result in a chargeback (if any), and you'll have the opportunity to cross-check them against local laws.

Read the original article on Mashed
For most people, theres one name that is synonymous with Tennessee whiskey: Jack Daniels (okay, maybe two names if youre a George Dickel fan). But a small but growing number of craft distilleries have been opening across the state over the past decade, making whiskey that may or may not adhere to the Lincoln County Process that defines Tennessee whiskey (filtration through charcoal before barreling). One of the best of the bunch is Chattanooga Whiskey, and the latest release from the distillery is worth diving into.

Founders 12th Anniversary Blend is, as you can guess from the name, a whiskey released to commemorate Chattanooga Whiskeys 12th year of making booze. The booze in question is excellent, anchored by a range of unconventional bourbons that are produced from a recipe consisting of a very high percentage of specially roasted malted barley. The core bourbon is called Tennessee High Malt for that reason, and is made from a mashbill of yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley (those descriptors refer to the way the grain is roasted, not actual flavoring). After aging for two years, that whiskey is finished in a 4,000-gallon solera barrel where it mingles with much older liquid that is always present in this cask. Chattanooga doesnt use the Lincoln County Process for its whiskey, choosing to focus on experimenting with malted barley for flavor instead.

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The solera is a key part of the production process of the new Founders Blend as well, a whiskey that was blended from the three barrels that are in the distillerys Solera Room. This is the third version of Founders Blend, and each release is different from the previous one. The makeup of the 12th Anniversary Blend is kind of a liquid snapshot of the journey that Chattanooga Whiskey has taken since its founding. The past is represented by whiskey that came from the 1816 solera barrel (12 percent of the total), a four to six-year-old high-rye (21 percent) bourbon distilled at MGP in Indiana that was the distillerys original recipe. The present is represented by whiskey pulled from Barrel 91 (60 percent), the high-malt whiskey described earlier. And the future is represented by whiskey from the Infinity Barrel (28 percent), a blend of malt and rye whiskeys between three and seven years old that include things like cherrywood smoked Danko rye malt.

Thats a lot of information to digest, but the real question is, as always, how does this whiskey taste? Im not going to try to convince you that this is an everyday sipper, but its really unique (as is the case with all of Chattanooga Whiskeys releases) and is certainly worth trying. The color is a dark reddish-orange, and there are notes of malted chocolate, raspberry, and honey on the nose. That chocolate continues onto the palate, but evolves into more intense dark cocoa along with notes of caramel cake, blackberry, molasses, candied orange, with some black pepper spice, cinnamon Red Hots, and a touch of menthol on the finish. Its bottled at 100 proof, so theres a bit of heat but also a nice body to the whiskey.

Founders 12th Anniversary Blend sounds and tastes like an experimenta successful one, to be clearand thats pretty much what it is. This is a one-off whiskey, not meant to be replicatedwhich would be an impossible task anyway. If youre a fan of Chattanooga Whiskeys off-kilter but tasty bourbon, or its weird and wonderful expressions like Bourbon Barreled Limoncello and Triple Peat, give this a try. This is a whiskey that is probably best tasted in the context of everything else the distillery is doing for comparison, but go ahead and sample it even if its completely new to you.

Score: 86

100 Worth trading your first born for

95  99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet

90  94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram

85  89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market

80  84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable

Below 80 Its alright: Honestly, we probably wont waste your time and ours with this

Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review.

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When it comes to breakfast combinations, one of the classics is ham and eggs. It can be served in various ways, from a simple ham steak topped with over-easy eggs to a delicious breakfast sandwich. While you could use basic deli ham and store-bought eggs for this filling breakfast treat, honey-baked ham and fertile farm-fresh eggs take it up a notch. But if you really want to impress your friends and family at your next brunch, why not go all out and grab some Spanish Iberico jamon and a spoonful of caviar?

This perfect bite is luxury at its finest. It may not be the filling entree we're used to, but it's pure decadence and a wonderful way to start any meal from breakfast to dinner. Christopher Dennis, the chef de cuisine at Yaamava' Resort's Pines Modern Steakhouse, tells us that this bite is actually a traditional dish in Spain. "It's referred to as an Iberico Spanish taco. So, Spanish Iberico with caviar, and you pick it up like a taco and you would eat it," he explains as he hands us the stunning bite at L.A.'s inaugural Wine & Food Festival. While you could use any type of caviar from Beluga to Golden Osetra for this dish, if you want to truly indulge, not just any jamon will do. It needs to be Iberico ham.

Read more: 21 Delicious Ways To Use Up Leftover Rice

Cinco Jotas Is The Best Iberico Ham In The World

Iberico ham being sliced - Jennifer Richmond/Tasting Table

Jamon is a very popular cured meat in Spain. But just like here in the States, there are different types. The best of the best is Iberico, which comes from Andalucia. But the best Iberico comes from the Cinco Jotas brand. "Many people feel that it's the best Iberico ham in the world," explains Senin Carbia, a master carver from Spain. Cinco Jotas is the best because, unlike other jamons, its product is a black-label jamon.

The process behind making a great Iberico ham doesn't just start with location, but with the pigs who produce it. The pigs are Iberico pigs who spend their days grazing in meadows and eating nothing but acorns the last few months of their lives. Those acorns not only add to the pig's weight, but they produce all that gorgeous fat lining each slice. Once the pig is slaughtered, the legs are set aside to cure and age.

Coming from the little town of Jabugo where the temperature is ideal for curing, this particular jamon is aged longer than most, making it a black-label ham. See, this Iberico pork is cured between three to five years. "So, it's a very aged Iberico," Carbia continues. "Normally Ibericos are aged only one year." Those extra years add to its black-label status, making it the best jamon you can buy.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Visit Greece the week they celebrate Easter -- the Greek Orthodox Easter typically falls on a different day from Catholic Easter -- and you are bound to come across sweet tsoureki, a fluffy bread that will remind you of your favorite challah bread recipes. Tsoureki, however, is a baked good uniquely flavored for Greek palates. Loaves can be topped with toasted seeds and smaller bun-like presentations crowned with sliced almonds. But recipes for this Greek Easter specialty food are almost always flavored with mastic, a unique spice, hailing from the Greek island of Chios, and mahlab, a spice made from ground cherry seeds.

Regardless of the exact ingredients used to make the bread, a perfectly made tsoureki offers a crust that is soft and pillowy, formed into braids. These braids are thought to hold religious significance by representing the Holy Trinity. It is not uncommon to find dyed red boiled eggs served alongside the bread during the Easter celebrations, as these colorful eggs also hold symbolic meaning to do with life and victory to honor the religious holiday.

Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained

Tsoureki Isn't Just For Easter

seeded tsoureki bread - rawf8/Shutterstock

The popularity of tsoureki has made the sweet fluffy bread a now-common staple in bakeries across Greece, and tsoureki lovers can be found snacking on the treat not only in the morning alongside warm cups of coffee but also in the afternoon with a cup of tea. Slices of the spongy bread can be coated in butter or fruit jam or enjoyed simply by fingers tearing apart the stringy, spongy layers.

Making a tsoureki recipe is a labor of love. Recipes can take those preparing them for Easter celebrations or any other event several hours to put together, but the finished result of a buttery, satisfying bite makes all their culinary effort worth it. Though the term tsoureki is derived from the Turkish word to describe corek, a piece of round bread, bakers may choose to make loaves of longer braids or even smaller-sized rolls filled with chocolate to offer to salivating guests. And it's not uncommon for other flavors to be added, such as orange or chestnut spread. If you're booking a holiday in Greece anytime soon, don't miss out on trying some. And count yourself lucky if you happen to live near a Greek pastry shop that sells them.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Want award-winning seafood, sandwiches and more? Here's where to go from Sanibel to Naples

Note to readers: The News-Press and Naples Daily News are providing special coverage of food and dining this week. We will have interesting and unique Southwest Florida food and dining stories published on our websites from Sunday, April 28 to Sunday, May 5. Bon Appetit and Bottoms Up!

The bread piques your interest first.

It looks like (and is) thin, crisp pizza dough with petite air pockets adding a wonderful, slightly charred texture and a familiarity that we love.

It cradles layers of salty sweet prosciutto di parma (aged for 24 months), silky stracciatella, a schmear of sun-dried tomato spread and fresh arugula. Youre one mouthwatering bite in when you realize hot honey is the source of this creations warmth.

More: 'Weird' pizza toppings: We found grasshoppers, Peeps, waffle fries and more on SWFL menus

San Matteo Italian Restaurant & Bar added the panuozzo to its menu. The award-winning sandwich took first place in the International Italian Sandwich division at the 2024 Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Its a panuozzo from Gragnano in Naples, Italy, said Giuseppe Manco, co-owner of San Matteo Italian Restaurant & Bar in University Village Shops in south Fort Myers. Its the kind of sandwich we do there. Fabio (Casella) brought it here and came up with these ingredients to put inside.

Armed with his panuozzo, Casella  a two-time Burger Bash champion and co-founder of San Matteo in New York City  was crowned world champion in the International Italian Sandwich division at the 2024 Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March.

It is on our menu now, said Manco, a three-time world champion pizza maker at the event. Come in and try it.

San Matteo owner Giuseppe Manco won two of his three World Champion Pizza Maker titles at the Las Vegas Pizza World Championship for his Margherita pizza.

But wait. San Matteo is more than the award-winning panuozzo.

On May 1, Manco was invited to the Gambero Russo Top Italian Wine Road Show in Miamis historic Alfred I. DuPont building. His restaurant, one of 19 in Florida recognized by the Italian magazine and publishing group, was honored for being one of the world's top Italian restaurants for its pizza slices.

They told us it is not the first time they sent inspectors to the area, Manco said. And they really think were doing an exceptional job.

San Matteo and Osteria 500 in Sarasota were the only restaurants on the west coast to be awarded. All the others were located in Miami.

Try the award-winning sandwich, pizzas and more at 19810 Village Center Drive, Suite 145A. Call (239) 234-2536 or go to sanmatteorestaurant.com or Instagram

Manco, Casella and San Matteo arent the only ones in Southwest Florida earning accolades and gaining attention. Chefs and restaurants from Captiva and Sanibel to Naples and Marco Island have been in the national spotlight in 2024. A foodie road trip to the following may be in order:

The Mucky Duck

This iconic Captiva restaurant was named one of Southern Livings best beach bars in the south. With cold drinks, good food and spectacular sunset views for 50-plus years, we can see why it was selected among just 17 others in Southern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and, of course, Florida. Everything about this tiny pub on Captiva Island is surprising, Southern Livings writeup says.

The Mucky Duck is know for its laid-back vibe and spectacular beachfront sunset views.

That includes the menu which combines a bit of everything  fried seafood platters youd expect from a place on the water, favorite appetizers youd expect from a pub, and even a few white-tablecloth additions like duck a lorange, the article continued.

Go early, grab a seat at an umbrella-covered table, dig your feet in the sand and enjoy. Mucky Duck, 11546 Andy Rosse Lane on Captiva; (239) 472-3434; muckyduck.com or find it on Facebook .

Kane Tiki Bar & Grill

Kane Tiki Bar & Grill at JW Marriott Marco Island.

Youll find another of Southern Livings favorite beach bars in the south at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. As colleague Diana Biederman points out, Kane  which takes its name from the Polynesian god of creation and growth  is a must-stop for locals and visitors with its idyllic sunsets and gorgeous Gulf views.

On one of the widest area beaches, Kane draws inspiration from Hawaii for a creative menu of fusion street food and an idyllic thatched-roof outdoor tiki bar, according to the Southern Living team, which also liked the coconut shrimp, rum collection and cigar bar menu. Kane Tiki Bar & Grill, 400 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island; 239-394-2511; kanetikibarandgrill.com

More: Restaurant inspections: 10 things to know about them in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape, Bonita

Fort Myers Brewing

Fort Myers Brewing Co.'s Chocolate Stout won a silver medal at the 2024 World Beer Cup in Las Vegas.

Cheers to this award-winning brewery in Gateway for again medaling at the World Beer Cup. In a ceremony at The Venetian in Las Vegas on April 24, its Chocolate Stout won silver in the 2024 global competition in the chocolate beer category.

In March, Chocolate Stout won a bronze medal at the 2024 Best Florida Beer Brewers Ball in Tampa. The brewery, which recently celebrated its 11th anniversary, was also named Floridas Best Large Brewery at the time.

Fort Myers Brewings Chocolate Stout  a blend of lovely chocolate flavor and subtle hints of dark roasted coffee  took gold at the 2022 World Beer Cup event and silver at last year's awards ceremony.

Its one of our favorite brews around. Fort Myers Brewing, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, Fort Myers; (239) 313-6576; fmbrew.com or on Facebook .

Chef Melissa Donahue

Melissa Donahue, chef-owner of Sweet Melissa's Cafe on Sanibel, was one of 20 semifinalists for Best Chef: South at the 2019 James Beard Awards.

The owner of Sweet Melissas Cafe and Island Pizza on Sanibel hit the national spotlight when she appeared in a recent episode of Beat Bobby Flay called Dont Muck My Yuck. Although she didnt advance to the final round to face Flay, she did get to meet him.

He was very nice, Donahue said. I got to talk to him a little bit. He came over (to her first-round dish) and said I like this.

Had she reached the final round, Donahue  the first Lee County chef to earn a James Beard Awards nomination in 2019  would have gone with her blackened redfish dish with pickled collard greens, grits and pecan brown butter.

Island Pizza is also the home of Sweet Melissa's Cafe pop-ups.

While Sweet Melissas Cafe is still being rebuilt after being severely damaged in Hurricane Ian, Donahue has been doing pop-ups at her Island Pizza from 4-8 p.m. Thursdays and all day on Fridays.

And that blackened redfish is on that menu along with other greatest hits.

We really do call it greatest hits, she said. Its a small menu with the best items. The fish stew, shrimp and grits, a scallop dish, watermelon salad.

Reservations are strongly recommended for the pop-ups. Island Pizza Company and Sweet Melissa pop-ups, 1619 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel; (239) 472-1581 for Island Pizza orders (open daily) and Sweet Melissas Cafe pop-ups (Thursdays and Fridays); islandpizzasanibel.com

Cape Cod Fish Co.

The "Monstah Lobstah" roll from Cape Cod Fish Co. in south Fort Myers is enough to feed two to three hungry lobster lovers.

This New England seafood-shack-flavored restaurant tucked away off Old McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers landed on Yelps Top 100 U.S. Seafood Spots 2024 list.

With an impressive 4.6 of 5 rating from 790 reviews, it claimed No. 38 in early March.

Locals and visitors are drawn to the menu chock-full of New England favorites, from Rhode Island clam cakes and chowder to Atlantic cod fish & chips, whole belly clams and four different lobster rolls (classic, Connecticut, naked and monstah).

Let's eat: Restaurants open on Matlacha and Pine Island, including all the waterfront and hidden gems

There are also clam rolls, salads, seafood baskets and tacos, and lobster dishes to name a few.

As a native Rhode Islander, its on my list of favorites too. Cape Cod Fish Co., 15501 Old McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; (239) 313-6462; capecodfishfl.com or follow on Facebook

Angelinas Ristorante

This fine-dining destination earned a new distinction earlier this year. The Bonita Springs restaurant with modern, upscale Italian cuisine was listed on OpenTables top 100 romantic restaurants in America for 2024 list. It was one of seven in the state to earn the honor and the only one in Southwest Florida.

Don and Angela Smith opened this gem in 2008. If you haven't been, this could be your sign to go. Make a reservation and visit on a Sunday through May 12 (Mother's Day!) for an elevated brunch experience from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Angelinas Ristorante, 24041 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; (239) 390-3187; angelinasofbonitasprings.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram

Chef Kayla Pfeiffer

Bicyclette Cookshop's Executive Chef Kayla Pfeiffer is a "Chopped" champ.

Southwest Florida earned a Chopped champion this year. The partner and executive chef of Bicyclette Cookshop off Vanderbilt Beach Road won the title and $10,000 on a January episode of the popular Food Network show.

During three rounds, she made a za'atar-crusted alligator heart with snow pea chimichurri, roasted squab with beet and puntarella puree and monkey bread with balsamic-candied kumquat and licorice cream.

As for the latter, Bicyclette Cookshops desserts are terrific and simple. Pfeiffer said she doesnt necessarily like pastry, but I can wing it.

Catch her creating locally sourced small-plate wonders in North Naples. Bicyclette Cookshop, 819 Vanderbilt Road, Naples; (239) 54-3333; bicyclettecookshop.com or on Facebook and Instagram

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyers.gannett

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: San Matteo, Mucky Duck, Cape Cod Fish Co. in national foodie spotlight
Costco's food court items can be hit or miss. It's not unusual for customers to slam its sloppy rotisserie chicken salad while praising its chocolate chunk cookie. In this case, Costco's hot turkey and provolone sandwich was a huge hit that had fans looking forward to a blissful after-shopping splurge every time. That was until the pandemic, when it was discontinued.

The pressures of the pandemic may have wiped out Costco's fan-favorite sandwich, but the fact that it never made it back raises questions. Was the sandwich unpopular, too expensive, or begging to be upgraded? The answers are no, no, and definitely no  especially given the terrible backlash its initial upgrade, a roast beef sandwich, received. A plausible explanation, however, may lie in the wisdom of one Reddit user who suggested that the turkey sandwich was "not cost effective nor labor effective." Although it's mere speculation, this answer might suffice.

Costco's hot turkey and provolone sandwich was $3.99 before the grocery store's latest replacement attempt  a more costly turkey Swiss sandwich at $6.99. The former was served hot, while the latter is served cold. Considering that the hot sandwich required the labor of being panini-pressed, and hot sandwiches are subject to sales tax in some states like California and Iowa, Costco may have wanted to factor this extra cost into its provolone sandwich. The pandemic adjustments likely presented an opportunity to make a price and product shift from hot to cold while saving Costco money.

Read more: 26 Best Toppings To Add To Your Chicken Sandwich

From Petitions To Pleas: Anything For One More Bite

man biting sandwich

To say fans miss Costco's hot turkey and provolone sandwich is an understatement. There's been a petition running since March 2022 named "Bring back the Costco turkey pesto sandwich" dedicated to airing customers' opinions. "Ever since it left my life has not been the same," one supporter wrote. Others called it the worst move Costco's ever made. But perhaps the most captivating efforts are those sharing copycat recipes of the food-court item, with one TikTok user even claiming they're a Costco ex-staffer now spilling their sandwich secrets. So what's in this beloved menu item? Another ex-staffer gladly shared to Reddit what lies between the toasted torta rolls: turkey, basil pesto, tomato, onion, and provolone. Simple enough, yet every attempt to replace this sandwich has been an utter failure.

Even the new turkey Swiss sandwich has failed to live up to the former's glory, which proves that the devil is in the details. It may be that the new sandwich uses mayo, while the former used a bright basil pesto. Or that the new one is served cold while the former was served hot. Or, maybe the much higher price of the new sandwich is enough to anger and turn away potential customers. Whatever the case, it's clear that Costco's hot turkey provolone sandwich occupied customers' hearts pre-pandemic and never left.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
CHICAGO  A man is dead and another was injured after a crash early Sunday morning in Chicagos South Deering neighborhood.

The crash happened around 1:10 a.m. in the 9500 block of South Paxton.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

According to information from the Chicago Police Department, the driver of a sedan struck an SUV at the intersection and died. The passenger in the car was injured and taken to a hospital in unknown condition.

Three people were in the red SUV and werent injured, police said.

The crash is still under investigation by Area Two detectives.

Chicago police said no citations are pending.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
1 dead, another hospitalized after boating accident near Courtney Campbell Causeway, officials say

1 dead, another hospitalized after boating accident near Courtney Campbell Causeway, officials say

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  One person is dead and another is hospitalized after a boating incident, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

On Saturday, the FWC responded to the single boating incident near the Courtney Campbell Causeway alongside Tampa police and fire crews.

Armed motorcyclist flees Sarasota County officials at 100 mph, hides in woods with pistol

Officials said one person was declared deceased and another was taken to a nearby hospital, but their condition was not disclosed.

All members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would like to express our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the victim, they said in a press release.

No further details were provided.

This remains an ongoing investigation by the FWC.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
10 of the best national parks to visit in the summer, and 2 to avoid, according to a couple who have been to all 63

10 of the best national parks to visit in the summer, and 2 to avoid, according to a couple who have been to all 63

A Gen X couple who has been to all 63 national parks says some are better than others in the summer.

Matt and Karen Smith would avoid parks like Death Valley because of killer summer temperatures.

The best to visit in the summer are high alpine national parks.

There are 63 national parks in the US, but according to a couple who have been to all of them, not every park is a summer destination.

Matt and Karen Smith, both 63, told Business Insider they left their jobs in 2010 with the sole mission of visiting every US national park after being inspired by their friends Bob and Sue.

Since then, the couple has written several books about their national park experiences and shares their tips and tricks on an Instagram page with over 247,000 followers as of May 2024 and on their podcast, "Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast."

The National Parks Service reported earlier this year that over 325 million people visited at least one national park last year, a 4% increase from the year prior.

With popularity close to an all-time high, here are eight parks the Smiths advise going to in the summer and two they'd recommend avoiding.

Visiting Death Valley in the summer can be a killer  "literally."

Death Valley National Park is in California. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

If you're considering stopping by Death Valley this summer, the Smiths would highly encourage otherwise.

As much as they love the Californian desert park, hiking the Gower Gulch Loop, and soaking in the sunset views from the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Matt and Karen said the sweltering heat conditions in the summer aren't worth the hassle.

"We love Death Valley," Matt said. "Don't go to Death Valley in the summer. It's not because Death Valley is a bad park. It's that the heat can kill you, literally."

He has a point. In early July 2023, tourists made headlines for arriving at the park in droves despite the NPS issuing multiple warnings of a dangerous heat wave reaching temperatures of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Several deaths were reported in the aftermath, including that of an older hiker, who the NPS reported was discovered collapsed by a restroom near the Golden Canyon trailhead.

For a safer, less brutally hot visit, the Smiths recommend planning a trip in January or February.

The same goes for Joshua Tree, which the Smiths say can also be "brutally hot."

Sunset at Joshua Tree National Park, a popular getaway for residents of Los Angeles and San Diego. Frank DeBonis/Getty Images

In the same vein, Matt and Karen would advise against visiting Joshua Tree National Park in the summer as it can get "brutally hot."

Instead, they say the best time to go is January and February when temperatures are cooler.

When you arrive, they suggest trekking their favorite hike, the Panorama Loop, which they say is less crowded and offers great views.

Among the best parks to visit in the summer is North Cascades in Washington.

North Cascades National Park is in Washington. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

According to Karen, some of the best national parks to visit in the summer are high alpine parks "in the general northwest part of the country."

The Smiths say North Cascades is a prime example and provides a perfect visit from July to September.

The alpine hiking trails are reminiscent of the Swiss Alps and make you feel like you're in the wilderness despite only being a few hours from busy cities and towns like Bellingham and Mount Vernon, they added.

Another summer favorite of the Smiths is Mount Rainier, also in Washington.

Mount Rainier National Park is in Washington. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Mount Rainier is only a few hours from the Smiths home in Washington, which is convenient since it's one of their favorite parks to visit in the summer.

"Mount Rainier isn't quite as popular as some of the others, but Mount Rainier is incredible," Karen said. "It's like you're in Switzerland. It's world-class hiking at Mount Rainier."

One of their favorite spots in the park is the Sunrise area, which they say is accessible by car from July 1. "Mount Rainier is literally in your face," Karen added.

A summertime visit to Glacier is worth it for the views alone, the Smiths say.

Glacier National Park is in Montana. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

In Montana lies Glacier National Park, which the Smiths say offers hiking experiences in areas like Logan Pass or Many Glacier that rival the Swiss Alps.

Besides the hiking, the couple says the best reason to visit Glacier is for the panoramic views you get while driving down the Going-to-the-Sun road.

The only caveat the Smiths have is that the window of time to visit Glacier in the summer is slightly tighter. They'd recommend visiting from mid-July to mid-September, though, toward the end of that period, they warn that weather can turn from full-on summer to winter storms in just a few days.

Your chances of getting unobstructed views of Crater Lake are higher in the summer.

Crater Lake National Park is in Oregon. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

Another national park that the Smiths recommend visiting in the summer is Crater Lake in Oregon. One of the reasons is that many of the roads in the park "don't open until at least July 1," Karen said.

But, more importantly, the couple say views along the rim of the crater are the most spectacular and unobstructed by clouds during the summer, from July to September.

Yosemite is "a beauty" during the warmer months of the year.

Yosemite National Park is in California. Michael Gerard Santos Ceralde/Getty Images

Yosemite is "a beauty" and "a great one to visit" from July to September, Matt says.

It's not impossible to visit in the winter, he added, but it's not the same since most of the high-elevation areas and roads are closed off.

As Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks, the couple likes to avoid crowds by opting for less popular high-country trails in the Tioga Pass area, which they say are just as good as the more well known trails.

An underrated alternative to Yosemite that is just as beautiful in the summer is Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon National Park is in California. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

For those interested in escaping the crowds at a national park in the summer, the Smiths would encourage looking into Kings Canyon in California.

The Cedar Grove area of the park is similar to Yosemite Valley, but without the crowds, they say. While access depends on the snow conditions, they say the best chances of a successful visit is from July to September.

Sequoia National Park is another great option for those looking to beat the crowds in the summer.

Sequoia National Park is in California. Elena Pueyo/Getty Images

As the name suggests, the towering Sequoia trees are the main draw of visiting this national park, the Smiths said.

However, they say it's also home to some great hiking, through areas like the Giant Forest and trails leading to the top of Moro Rock.

Given the park's high elevation, Sequoia gets quite a bit of snow. According to the couple, it's best to go in the summer when temperatures are warmer and the snow has melted. That said, hiking in the winter when the roads are cleared can be a magical experience.

If you're a wildlife lover, be sure to visit Yellowstone in the early summer.

Yellowstone National Park is mostly in Wyoming. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

The Smiths' favorite activities in Yellowstone are hiking to the overlook of the Grand Prismatic Spring and driving through the Lamar Valley to see bison roaming.

From late spring to mid-June, the couple say visitors also have the opportunity to see a lot of baby bison, nicknamed "Red Dogs" for the orange tint of their fur after they're born.

It's important to remember that it can snow in Yellowstone no matter the time of year. However, Matt and Karen say it's generally not an issue from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Grand Teton is Yellowstone's "sister park" and is also perfect to visit in the summer.

Grand Teton National Park is in Wyoming. Courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith

"Grand Teton is another phenomenal park that you should visit in the summer," Karen said, specifically between Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Located less than a three-hour drive from Yellowstone, the park is home to a bounty of wildlife, including grizzly bears, so the couple encourages visitors to carry bear spray with them.

Being the avid hikers they are, the couple recommends hiking to the west side of Jenny Lake and into Cascade Canyon, where they say they regularly spot moose.

Denali is just one of the 15 national parks in Alaska that the Smiths recommend for summer visits.

Denali National Park is in Alaska. KeenaiPhotography / iStock

"If people want to see the Alaska parks, you want to go in the summer," Karen said.

While some of the Alaska parks are pretty remote and less accessible, like Wrangell St. Elias, one of the most convenient to visit is Denali.

"It's just a couple of hours north of Anchorage," Karen said. "So it's one of the easiest parks to get to and it's also phenomenal."

The couple said that with a permit, visitors can ride a bus into the park and enjoy the vast wilderness it offers.

Matt and Karen added that the best time to go is in August because it's less cloudy, so there's a higher chance of getting a clear view of the mountain, and, importantly, because there are mosquitos.

Read the original article on Business Insider
GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The delegation of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will return to Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to deliver the movement's "final response" to the Egyptian proposal over a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange with Israel, a Palestinian source told Xinhua on Sunday.

The source, who preferred not to mention his name, said the Hamas delegation, who departed Cairo on Sunday for consultations with the movement's leadership in Doha, Qatar, will return with a "final response" to the Egyptian proposal two days later.

According to the source, during the two-day talks in Cairo, the Hamas delegation met with Egyptian security officials and addressed "all issues" that could hinder reaching an agreement on the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange with Israel, confirming that "significant" consensus has been achieved between the delegation and the Egyptian mediators.

The Egyptian proposal consists of three stages, aimed at exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, taking necessary measures to reach a ceasefire, and restoring sustainable calm.

The first stage would span 40 days and bring out a temporary halt of military operations between the two sides, an exchange of hostages and prisoners, and the return of internally displaced civilians to their areas of residence in Gaza.

It also includes facilitating the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid, relief materials, and fuel into Gaza, as well as the equipment needed to remove rubble, establish camps for the displaced, and rehabilitate and operate hospitals, health centers, and bakeries in the strip.

Earlier in the day, Hamas said in a statement that the current round of negotiations in Cairo had concluded, adding the delegation left Egypt on Sunday night for further consultation with the movement's leadership.

It affirmed that it takes "a positive and responsible approach with determination" towards reaching an agreement that "meets the national demands of our people, ends the aggression completely, achieves withdrawal of Israeli troops from the entire Gaza Strip, allows for the return of the displaced, intensifies relief efforts, begins reconstruction, and completes the prisoner exchange."

Also on Sunday, Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that his movement is keen to reach a comprehensive agreement that ends the current conflict in Gaza and ensures a prisoner exchange with Israel.

In the meantime, he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "inventing constant justifications to continue the aggression, expand the scope of the conflict, and sabotage mediation efforts."

The Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday for talks on the Gaza ceasefire. 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. According to relevant Palestinian organizations, some of these prisoners have died due to worsening conditions since the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict began last October.

However, despite intensive mediation efforts and international calls for a ceasefire, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday that Israel assesses the likelihood of reaching an agreement with Hamas as low, adding the order to launch an onslaught on Rafah, the enclave's southernmost city, will be given "very soon." 
A middle school student in Denton says she was attacked by a classmate and her mother as she rode the bus home from school on April 23

GETTY A stock image of a school bus

A 13-year-old girl in Texas was allegedly attacked during her bus ride home from school last month.

Police are investigating after the middle schooler in Denton was allegedly attacked by another student and an adult. Speaking with CBS News Texas, the unnamed girl recalled being threatened by the other girl before the incident on April 23.

"She said if I didn't keep her name out of my mouth, then she was going to beat me up," said the girl, whom the outlet called "Nicole" for the purpose of anonymity.

Later in the day, when both girls were on the bus on the 1600 block of East McKinney Street, Nicole said that her classmate hit her in the back of the head after she refused to get off the bus and fight her. Soon after the altercation began, she realized that the other girl's mother had joined in when she heard her call out "Mom."

In a video obtained by CBS News Texas, a person can be seen dragging Nicole by her hair and hitting her while she lies on the ground outside the school bus. In another clip, two people can be seen hitting Nicole as she sat in a seat on the bus.

According to a statement from the Denton Police Department (DPD) obtained by PEOPLE, the bus driver called 911 to report the assault just after 4 p.m. local time.

Nicole told CBS News Texas that although her classmate and the adult woman got off the bus and left her alone momentarily, they followed the bus in their car to attack her when she got off at her stop. Nicole's mother called 911 to report the attack on her daughter at around 4:15 p.m., DPD said.

"Responding officers located an injured 13-year-old girl, who was evaluated by medics and was not transported to the hospital," DPD said in its statement.

"I didn't deserve it," Nicole told CBS News Texas of the attack. "I don't think no kid deserves to go through anything like that."



Nicole's mother also alleges that the bus driver failed to stop the attack.

"Had he locked the door, called for help, waited for the police to arrive, those grown adults wouldn't have been able to get on a bus, assault my child, and they wouldn't have been able to follow the bus and continue assaulting her," Nicole's mother told CBS News Texas. "And then while [the adult] was out there fighting her ... he just drove off."

Speaking with the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton Independent School District officials could not offer specifics about repercussions for the student involved in the attack due to privacy laws, but noted that one student won't be allowed return to the middle school's campus.

"This horrible video depicts unacceptable conduct Denton ISD never condones, including an adult unlawfully boarding a school bus," reads a statement from the school district sent to the Denton Record-Chronicle and CBS News Texas. "The altercation involved a conflict that began in a neighborhood and spilled over onto school property, which was the school bus."

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.

"Per district policy, the driver immediately called dispatch and requested law enforcement," the districts statement continued. "Drivers are not authorized to use their personal cellphones while on the bus to ensure safety."

According to DPD, the case is being investigated as an "injury to a child" by the department's Special Victims Unit.



"While an arrest has not been made at this time, investigators have identified the adult suspect and continue to follow up on the case," DPD said in its statement. "Another update is expected in the next few days."



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Read the original article on People.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A 14-year-old girl was killed when she was among six teenagers shot on Alexander Place near Jefferson Avenue on Saturday night, according to Buffalo police.

Police responded to the 1500 block of Jefferson, near Alexander Place, just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Six teenagers, all between 14 and 16 years old, were shot while in a parking lot.

The 14-year-old girl was transported to Oishei Childrens Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. She was identified by Crimestoppers WNY on Monday as Jazzmine Fomby, and Crimestoppers is offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Courtesy: Crimestoppers WNY

Four other teens were transported to ECMC by ambulance, including a 15-year-old boy who is listed in critical, but stable condition. As of Monday morning, he is on his way to recovery, according to city officials.

The other three, who were identified as two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old girl, have been treated and released.

Local pastor voices concerns after back-to-back weekends of gun violence in Buffalo

Police said Sunday that hundreds of teens were in the area for a large house party. There was an initial loud music call around 10:20 p.m., which was followed by a fight call around 10:30 p.m., when the crowd was dispersed in a period of around 30 minutes.

A first shots fired call was made at 11:10 p.m., followed by the first calls for a person shot shortly after. Police believe that the fight was what led to the the shooting. Police said that they believe that three handguns were present at the party.

This is a senseless crime, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said. To open fire on a group of children absolutely makes no sense whatsoever.

Several of the children are Buffalo Public Schools students. There will be counseling available and increased security at the schools attended by the students.

Masten District Council member Zeneta Everhart has been in contact with the Buffalo Police Department and Browns administration.

I urge anyone with information to come forward and assist law enforcement in their investigation, she said. We must continue to stand united against gun violence, not just within Buffalo, but across our nation as well.

The shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the confidential TIPCALL line at 716-847-2255.

Watch the video above for an update from Buffalo city officials.

Latest Local News

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.

Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (ABC4)  A 17-year-old was reported missing out of South Salt Lake on Thursday, according to South Salt Lake Police.

Zailey Quist, 17, ran away from a residence on the 3400 block of South State St. at around 3:50 p.m. on May 2, police said.

MISSING: Twins reported missing out of Box Elder County

Courtesy of South Salt Lake Police

Courtesy of South Salt Lake Police

Quist is described as 511, 130 lbs, with short red hair. She was reportedly last seen wearing denim shorts, a dark sweater, and carrying a red handbag.

If you have any information regarding Quists whereabouts, please contact South Salt Lake Police at 801-412-3600.

No further information is available at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
UPDATE, 2:34 p.m.: The victim in this incident has been identified as Christian Jeffrey Fisher, 18, of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fisher was swimming with friends in the dive park area at Sand Hollow State Park when the drowning occurred, according to a press release from Utah State Parks. While swimming, Fishers friends reportedly saw him struggle to keep his head above water. He then went under and did not resurface, officials said.

Santaquin Police officer hit, killed by semi-truck on I-15, suspect in custody

Authorities recovered Fishers body at 4:20 p.m. Saturday, two hours after his drowning.

The Utah Division of State Parks extends our condolences to Fishers family and friends. This incident remains under investigation at this time, the release states. With the recreation season now underway, outdoor recreators should work diligently to prioritize safety. Always recreate with a buddy, wear your life jackets and helmets, and let somebody know where you are going and when to expect your return. Checking weather conditions and water temperatures is also vital. Pack appropriate gear for your activity and stay hydrated while outdoors.

No further information is available at this time.

ORIGINAL POST: WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  An 18-year-old man has been declared deceased after drowning at Sand Hollow State Park on Saturday, according to Utah State Parks.

The victim, an 18-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada, was swimming with a friend in what is known as the dive park area, according to Candace Smith, park manager for Sand Hollow State Park.

Motorcyclist hospitalized after hit-and-run crash in Logan, police searching for driver

The victims friend reportedly swam back to shore to call for help after the incident.

Authorities received the initial report shortly after 2:20 p.m. on May 4. The man was found deceased at 4:20 p.m.

The two had reportedly been swimming in an area between the swim dock and land, where no boats are allowed. Swimming and diving in this area is common, Smith said.

Smith is urging swimmers at the state park to wear life vests, emphasizing the importance of doing so even if you believe you are an experienced swimmer. Authorities have never had to rescue an individual because of a life vest, only those who choose not to wear one, Smith said.

The identity of the victim and the exact cause of the drowning has not been released at this time.

No further information is currently available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Friday that two people have been charged after an investigation into elder abuse.

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

Authorities arrested Jeffrey Roberts, 74, of Toccoa this month and Daniel Bennett, 58, of Toccoa, in February.

These arrests come after allegations of elder exploitation and neglect that occurred in Toccoa. Authorities did not say where the abuse took place.

TRENDING STORIES:

Roberts and Bennett are charged with neglect to a disabled adult, elderly person, or resident. No other details were released.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland at 706-348-4866. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling 1-800-597-8477, submitting a tip online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:




GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Three people were taken to the hospital after a Saturday night shooting in Grand Rapids.

Just before midnight, officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department were sent to the area of S Division Avenue and Rose Street SW for a shooting.

GRPD said three people were shot, two females and one male. Their ages have not been released. They were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

No suspect information has been released.

Its unclear what led up to the shooting.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The shooting remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
4 charged after investigation into Decatur shooting, victim still in critical condition

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  Decatur Police say a male juvenile is still in critical condition and four people have been charged following a shooting investigation that led police to recover stolen items.

Officers with the Decatur Police Department (DPD) responded to Decatur Morgan Hospital on Friday, May 3 after a male juvenile arrived at the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. DPD says the victim was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment and is still in critical condition as of Sunday.

POLICE: 5 arrested one week after robbery at Florence apartment complex

Detectives with DPDs Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene at Decatur-Morgan Hospital. determined the shooting happened in the 1100 block of 7th Avenue Southeast.

Police say a 14-year-old boy was identified as a suspect in the shooting.

It was discovered that the vehicle the victim arrived at the hospital in was reported stolen on February 3, 2024, from the 1800 block of Beltline Road Southwest, DPD said in a release about the investigation.

The department confirmed Kaleb Kirk and three juveniles had the vehicle that was reported stolen. Stolen guns were also found at a home in southwest Decatur when police executed a search warrant, DPD added.

The guns were determined to be stolen during a burglary reported on April 30, 2024, at Bama Pawn, the department stated.

Kirk is charged with first-degree receiving stolen property and second-degree receiving stolen property. He is being held at the Morgan County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

The 14-year-old was charged with first-degree assault and first-degree receiving stolen property. DPD says the two other teens were charged with receiving stolen property.

All three of the teenagers were taken to the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Facility in Tuscumbia, Alabama, per the Morgan County Juvenile Probation Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The recent round of Gaza truce talks concluded on Sunday in the Egyptian capital Cairo, with the Hamas delegation leaving for Qatar to conduct additional discussions on a ceasefire proposal, according to a senior Hamas official.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the delegation would "continue their discussion over the ceasefire deal in Gaza."

The negotiations have not failed, "but the movement needs to discuss some points of the new proposal," he stressed.

In a statement released shortly after the conclusion of the truce talks, Hamas said it had delivered the movement's response to mediators from Egypt and Qatar.

In the statement, Hamas affirmed that it takes "a positive and responsible approach" towards reaching an agreement that "meets the national demands of our people, ends the aggression completely, achieves Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, facilitates the return of the displaced, intensifies relief efforts, begins reconstruction, and completes the prisoner exchange deal."

The Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday for negotiations on an Egypt-proposed truce initiative. Israel did not send officials to participate in the talks.

The Egyptian initiative, which includes three stages, aimed at exchanging Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, taking necessary measures to reach a ceasefire, and restoring sustainable calm.

The first phase of the proposed initiative spans 40 days and stipulates a temporary halt of military operations between the two sides, an exchange of detainees and prisoners, and the return of internally displaced civilians to their areas of residence in Gaza.

It intends to facilitate the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid, relief materials and fuel into Gaza, as well as the equipment needed to remove rubble and rehabilitate and operate hospitals, health centers and bakeries in the enclave.

The proposed deal also aims to facilitate the entry of the supplies necessary to establish shelter camps to accommodate homeless Palestinians.

Cairo, Doha, and Washington mediated a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas that ended in late November 2023, which included a swap between Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages as well as more humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. 
In response to student demonstrations over the closure of People's Park in 1969, Gov. Ronald Reagan called in the National Guard to restore order on the UC Berkeley campus. (Ted Streshinsky Photographic Archive / Getty Images)

In May 1969 a National Guard helicopter hung over the campus of UC Berkeley, spraying protesters with what The Times then described as heavy clouds of tear gas.

It was the sixth consecutive day of campus demonstrations over plans to develop the land known as Peoples Park. An ambitious governor who would go on to become president had called in 2,300 National Guard troops and hundreds of Highway Patrolmen. They brought shotguns, rifles and bayonets.

The problems, then-Gov. Ronald Reagan said in a feisty televised appearance , all started because universities "let young people think they had the right to choose the laws they would obey, as long as they were doing it in the name of social protest."

Reagan was unapologetic in his response to protests on the campus, which was also home to large demonstrations against the Vietnam War. He called student protests "orgies of destruction."

Gov. Ronald Reagan walks past some of the 100 law enforcement officers assembled at University Hall on his arrival to attend a meeting of the regents of the University of California on the Berkeley campus. A screaming mob of demonstrators was dispersed at UC Berkeley in a massive tear gas barrage and Reagan later alerted National Guardsmen should their assistance be required. (Bettmann / Getty)

Almost exactly 55 years later, California campuses are again overwhelmed by student uprisings and police crackdowns, including violent clashes last week at UCLA. This time, over the Israel-Hamas war.

And another ambitious California governor is responding with a very different approach.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has lingered in the background as universities grapple with student protests, which have led to at least 200 arrests at UCLA, three injuries at UC Berkeley and forced classes to move online at Cal Poly Humboldt.

While hes met privately with law enforcement officials and university leaders, Newsom has yet to speak to the news media about the unrest. He directed the state's office of emergency services to support police response on campuses when requested by local agencies, but did not activate the National Guard. He took to social media last week to condemn the violence at UCLA, with a written statement saying "The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism or lawlessness on campus."

Students and activists assemble on the campus of UC Berkeley for a protest related to the nearby People's Park on May 19, 1969. (Garth Eliassen / Getty Images)

On Thursday, hours after the arrests at UCLA, Newsom posted a video promoting expanded national monuments that showed him at a creek beneath the trees on a sun-drenched hillside  a move seen by some as tone-deaf.

For a governor who is rarely shy about grabbing the spotlight on controversial issues, including new abortion restrictions and mass shootings, Newsoms response to the campus upheaval has been noticeably low-key.

Reagan and Newsom are political opposites and led California at very different times. In many ways, their divergent responses to campus unrest reflect how they presented themselves to the voters who elected them. Reagan, a Republican, ran for office during an earlier period of campus protests and had promised to "clean up the mess at Berkeley." Newsom, a Democrat, campaigned as a champion for legalizing marijuana and gay marriage, and supported ending California's decades-old tough-on-crime policies.

But the responses also reflect different political eras and highlight the complexities posed by the Israel-Hamas war, particularly for Democrats.

A lone demonstrator stays behind to argue with National Guard troops who moved in to help California Highway Patrol officers break up a rally on the UC Berkeley campus on May 16, 1969. (Associated Press)

"Reagan's moves fit the political environment and the political dynamic of the time," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a retired professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at USC.

"Newsom understands that if he [gets] out front, he risks alienating, at this point in time, critical constituencies he doesn't have to."

Young people, progressives, people of color and Jewish voters are all important constituencies for Democrats, Bebitch Jeffe said, but the party is split over President Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Read more: As protests roil college campuses, young voters' support for Biden hangs in the balance

The divisions have created an opening for Republicans, even in Sacramento where they lack power. That didn't stop GOP leaders from calling a news conference in the state Capitol last week to call for cutting state funding for administrators at campuses where protests turned violent, and rescinding Cal Grant scholarships from students engaged in criminal acts.

"It's unacceptable that our governor has largely said very little about this and taken very little action to quell what has been going on on our campuses," Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) said Thursday.

Some Democrats have been raising alarms about the climate on California campuses for months.

In a letter in November, a month after Hamas attacked Israel, members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus called for "immediate action" from University of California President Michael V. Drake and California State University Chancellor Mildred Garcia to protect Jewish students from what they called an "explosion of antisemitism."

Newsom, too, sent the university leaders a letter then calling on them to do more to stop threats against students who were "targeted because of a Jewish, Arab, or Muslim identity." He wrote that "some faculty have inflamed the discourse with violent rhetoric. This is unacceptable and demands action."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an event in San Francisco on Nov. 9, 2023. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

In March, well before the protests had reached the level of violence they did this past week, the Jewish caucus introduced a bill that would require California college leaders to adopt policies prohibiting violence, harassment, intimidation and harassment specifically when it comes to any events that call for or support genocide."

Democrats leading the legislation have emphasized that they aren't trying to limit free speech, but the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the bill, saying it goes further than federal laws that already do not protect hate speech or violence under the 1st Amendment and that it could allow universities to silence a range of protected speech based on viewpoint alone.

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who is a co-author of the campus bill and signed the letter to university leadership, said he supports the right to protest, especially on college campuses.

But what's happening now "crosses a line," he said.

Whats different here is in addition to the protest, we have the targeting harassment of one specific group of students  Jewish students," he said. I want them to be able to protest the war in Gaza and to call for a cease-fire and to call for peace.  that's healthy. But you have some people who are going well beyond that and saying antisemitic things, and it is undermining what theyre actually protesting for."

Read more: 'I've been terrified.' Student fears triggered by Israeli-Palestinian conflict skyrocket

The governor has taken quiet actions in recent weeks by convening Jewish and Muslim leaders, publishing a plan to combat antisemitism and communicating with Palestinian American communities about Islamophopia. He has said he supports Biden's call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Newsom has no direct authority over California's public universities, but does exert influence as an ex officio member of the UC regents and the Cal State Board of Trustees. That gives him some responsibility for what happens on campus, said Bill Whalen, a fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institute who was a speechwriter for GOP Gov. Pete Wilson.

Demonstrators occupy a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA as authorities breach and break up the encampment on Thursday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

"The governor technically is the landlord of these operations," Whalen said. "Even if he's behind the scenes, you would hope that he is very active."

But the politics within the Democratic Party make it difficult for him to be too forceful, Bebitch Jeffe said. Newsom is supporting Biden's reelection campaign while also navigating divisions among Democratic voters who are torn over U.S. support for Israel.

"If you're Gavin Newsom and you don't know whether it will help or hurt you, just leave the battlefield," Bebitch Jeffe said. "And that's apparently what he's done."

Times librarian Scott Wilson contributed research for this article.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Rep. David Trone wants to become Maryland's next U.S. senator, but he'll need to stop a Black woman, Angela Alsobrooks, to get there. Bill Clark via Getty Images

BALTIMORE  Rep. David Trone, a white Democrat, knows the path to winning a Democratic nomination in Maryland goes through its Black voters.

All of my elections, Ive always done fantastic in minority areas, because so much of what I stand for is people who are left behind, said Trone, a three-term congressman from not far outside Washington, who became lavishly wealthy operating a national chain of discount liquor stores.

That wealth has allowed Trone to spend an eye-popping $57 million of his own money to try and trample his opponent in Marylands Democratic U.S. Senate primary  who happens to be a Black woman.

The May 14 contest between Trone, 68, and Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, 53, has put an uncomfortable spotlight on race for a party that prides itself on elevating women and people of color.

Alsobrooks is overwhelmingly backed by the states top Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Marylands Black governor, Wes Moore, who called her a leader with vision and intention. But Trone, the founder of Total Wine & More, is spending boatloads to convince Marylands diverse electorate (nearly a third of the states population is Black) that hes the progressive outsider and underdog.

Trone has argued that diversity is absolutely fantastic while also telling voters to leave color behind and choose the best candidate.

That pitch, delivered via more than two dozen unique TV ads, seems to be working, based on the very limited public polling of the primary. But its still enough of a wild card that both candidates are sweating the outcome.

Trone argues his money, which he made over the course of three decades as he grew Total Wine & More from a small family business, frees him from the pressures of special interests. And hes promised that if he wins the nomination, hell continue to tap his fortune to fund his campaign against Republican Larry Hogan, the states ultra-popular former Republican governor and the GOPs best shot at winning this seat.

I think everybody who understands how politics works  that money helps drive it  realizes that having a candidate that can do an awful lot of self-funding is a big win, Trone told HuffPost last Thursday, after an event with a group of mostly Black seniors in Baltimore, the heart of the states Black Democratic electorate.

Many of the people behind Alsobrooks do not see it that way.

I find it appalling and out of touch that I can watch a woman stand on stage last week and be so stateswoman-like, and you can have an individual looking at her saying hes the underdog, shouted Sydney Harrison, a Prince Georges County council member, at a rally for Alsobrooks last Friday. How can a billionaire who spends 10-to-1 look at a woman of color and say hes the underdog?

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the former House majority leader, told the same crowd: If you want to be for inclusion, if you want to make sure that all people are included in the United States Senate, you need to be for Angela Alsobrooks.

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, here at an April 24 campaign event, is running to become the first Black woman elected to the Senate from Maryland. Bill Clark via Getty Images

Dampening down the negativity

Alsobrooks is running to be one of the few women of color ever elected to the U.S. Senate, where Black women are painfully underrepresented  and the optics of a white man trying to stop her is making this primary especially ugly for Democrats in a state they cant afford to lose in November.

I think were all committed to dampening down the negativity, and preparing to support whoever wins with all weve got, insisted Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, another member of the Maryland congressional delegation behind Alsobrooks. This is really about the future of the country.

The 2024 election could give Democrats the opportunity to add not just one, but two Black women to the Senate next year. In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester is likely to succeed retiring Sen. Tom Carper in November. But Alsobrooks, running to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin, would need to clear the primary against Trone and the general election against Hogan to join her. (A third Black female Senate candidate, Rep. Barbara Lee, finished fourth in Californias March all-party primary behind a pair of white male candidates: Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff  who is backing Trone  and Schiffs GOP challenger.)

Against this backdrop, Trone is arguing that race does not matter in his primary, though hes made several unforced errors underscoring why it does.

Last month, Trone apologized for using what is widely known to be a racial slur during a congressional hearing, claiming he simply reached for the wrong word. At a debate a few days later, Trone cited Reps. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), both of whom are Black, as great diversity candidates. And last week, Trone ignited a barrage of criticism after he referred to some Alsobrooks supporters as low-level folks.

The race between David Trone and Angela Alsobrooks is a wildcard even though Trone has lent his campaign $57 million. Baltimore Sun via Getty Images

I didnt even know what the word meant, Trone told HuffPost, referring to the slur he used, instead of bugaboo, at the hearing. We made one word that was a mistake in a budget hearing and we apologized for it immediately.

Joseline Pena-Melnyk, a Maryland state delegate backing Trone, said even though the slur incident troubled her at first, she believes Trone is a good person whos using his money to help Marylanders. You know, it does bother me, she said. But when I spoke with him, he apologized for it right away. He took ownership of it.

This week, Trone debuted his first attack ad against Alsobrooks, featuring several Black leaders from her county questioning whether shes qualified to be a senator.

The U.S. Senate is not a place for training wheels, Edward Burroughs, a member of the Prince Georges County council, says in an early cut of the ad, which was later reworked without this line. (Trones campaign told HuffPost it found more compelling footage to replace it with.)

You know, it does bother me. But when I spoke with him, he apologized for it right away. He took ownership of it.Joseline Pena-Melnyk, a David Trone supporter, on Trone accidentally using a racial slur in a congressional hearing

But Trone also describes Alsobrooks, who was elected states attorney for Prince Georges County in 2010 before becoming county executive in 2018, as a career politician, seemingly undercutting his argument that she has no political experience. Slowly, Angela, a state employee, state executive, county executive, just moved up the chain, he said.

Money cant buy you love

None of this has helped Trone look any better to Alsobrooks backers, who see a clumsy candidate forcing a lopsided primary.

Money cant buy you love. Hes using his wealth to elevate himself, said Cheryl Landis, a former Maryland state lawmaker.

Im thinking if I had $45 million, I would rather give that money to charity, Landis added, citing the amount of money that Trone was thought to have given his campaign just a week ago, before financial disclosures revealed he had dropped another $12 million. Alsobrooks, meanwhile, has raised nearly $8 million, throughout the primary.

Several of the Black seniors who heard from Trone last week in Baltimore told HuffPost they didnt see anything wrong with Trones massive degree of self-funding.

Hes been successful at the American dream, thats what we all want, said Sarah Holley, a 76-year-old who voted for Hogan once previously, but plans to vote for Trone in the primary and general election. How and why on earth would you try to find something wrong with the fact that hes done what we all want to do?

Sarah Matthews, a Black woman who founded a Baltimore-based advocacy group for older adults, said she isnt moved by Alsobrooks wanting to become the states first Black female senator. Those sound like personal ambitions, and Im not really interested in her personal ambitions.

A slow success

Trone, who has a raspy voice and gruff demeanor, ensured the Baltimore audience they can feel good about his spending because hes not an overnight success, having gradually expanding his familys wine and beer store into a 30-state chain after his family chicken farm went under. Im a slow, slow success, and because Ive been successful, I can use my finances to pay for this election, he said.

Trone says he doesnt need the buck-75, or $174,000, annual salary that comes with being a congressman, and stresses hes focused as a lawmaker on mental health and substance use disorder treatment and prison reform. I dont care about the bullshit that goes with being in Congress and running campaigns, Trone told HuffPost, thumping his hand against a table for emphasis. I actually hate it.

Alsobrooks, a young-looking Gen Xer who can quietly command a room, didnt mention Trone by name to the group of volunteers clad in neon green campaign tees at her rally last Friday. But his presence hung over the event.

You know, there are some in this race who talk and it makes me so angry  the more I heard about the pandering, the talk about second chances, said Alsobrooks, swiping at Trones push to employ formerly incarcerated people at his liquor stores. I see all of us as people first.

Alsobrooks told HuffPost that Trones money advantage means shes had to work 10 times as hard as him, but Im accustomed to that.

She described her upbringing as the daughter of a receptionist and newspaper distributor in the same county where shes now the top elected official. Ive never had it easy before, she said.

The Washington Post, in its endorsement of Alsobrooks over Trone for the nomination, lauded her stewardship of Prince Georges during the pandemic and through public-safety emergencies, and her push for the FBIs new headquarters to be built in Greenbelt, Maryland. Those aspects of her record are also things she points to on the stump.

Is Trone a racist, or something close to it, for his recent remarks and how hes running this race? Alsobrooks wouldnt go there. I think his language is reflective of his mindset. I mean, you heard him refer to very talented congresswomen as diversity candidates.  Its a reflection of how he feels about women candidates generally. And I think more specifically, some of the other language that hes used speaks for itself, she said.

Belinda Lindsay, a 61-year-old college professor who showed up to see Alsobrooks last week, said Alsobrooks is hope and inspiration for a generation of Black women, though she knows the odds right now are against her.

There are those who just dont want women in there, forget that theyre Black, she said. Im nervous about that, but Im excited that its going to happen.
The twin towers of the World Trade Center after the hijacked airliners crashed into them on Sept. 11, 2001. The suspected terrorist attack has caused the collapsed of both towers. (Henny Ray Abrams/AFP via Getty Images)

The 9/11 terrorist attacks not only killed 3,000 innocent people in New York and Washington, D.C., but also shattered the post-Cold War peace Americans had become accustomed to during the 1990s. Suddenly the U.S was plunged into a worldwide fight against terrorism. There were new security procedures at airports and office buildings. And, of course, new wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Sept. 11 was one of those history-making events that we will always be grappling with. Below, some of the books, movies and podcasts that have done the most to bring clarity to the tragedy.

Read more via the New York Daily News: Biden to be a no-show at 9/11 ceremony in NYC amid feud with Adams over migrants

WHAT TO READ

The lower Manhattan skyline on 9/11. (Robert Giroux/Getty Images)

102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers

This book by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn is arguably the best record of the attacks themselves. The title refers to the span of time between American Airlines 11 hitting the South Tower at 8:46 AM and 10:28 AM, when the North Tower collapsed.

Dwyer and Flynn recreate the scene in incredible detail as thousands of people in the World Trade Center complex tried to make sense of the mornings events. Some rushed down to street level. Others called loved ones to assure them that they were OK.

The authors unflinchingly place the reader in the minds and hearts of the people who actually confronted our worst fears, James B. Stewart wrote in his New York Times review of the book. I suspect that you, like me, will read this book in a single suspenseful sitting, even though we know the ending.

Read more via Yahoo News: Remembering to remember the World Trade Center

The Falling Man - Iconic Image from 9/11 pic.twitter.com/qOzMmI7wtp  Anthea (@Anthea06274890) September 10, 2021

The Falling Man

In his 2003 story for Esquire, Tom Junod tried to answer one of the enduring mysteries of the attacks: Who is depicted in the famous Falling Man photograph, which shows a figure plunging with almost haunting serenity from the top of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

The story is less about the answer than about the tragic plight of the people who, faced with infernal conditions inside the burning towers, jumped to their deaths.

They jumped to escape the smoke and the fire; they jumped when the ceilings fell and the floors collapsed; they jumped just to breathe once more before they died, Junod writes.

Read more on Yahoo News: Photographer behind 9/11 "Falling Man" retraces steps, recalls "unknown soldier"

Just blocks from the World Trade Center, a man who has just escaped from the falling debris of the burning towers enjoys a cigarette and a bottle of water, thankful to be alive. (Getty)

The Real Heroes Are Dead

This powerful New Yorker story memorializes Rick Rescorla, a fascinating figure who died on 9/11 in the midst of trying to save people from the South Tower. As one of Rescorlas friends from military service in Vietnam says, There are certain men born in this world, and theyre supposed to die setting an example for the rest of the weak bastards were surrounded with. Beautifully written, this is a story filled with adventure, romance  and, yes, loss.

Read more on Yahoo News: The babies born on 9/11 are about to turn 20

Visitors at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, on Monday. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind

Jennifer Senior won a Pulitzer Prize for her 2021 article in the Atlantic about a 26-year-old Merrill Lynch employee who was attending an event at the Windows of the World restaurant atop the north tower when the building was struck by American Airlines 11.

Senior had known Bobby, who roomed with her brother at Princeton. The boy was incandescent. When he smiled it looked for all the world like hed swallowed the moon, Senior writes.

The story is less about the attack itself but about the monumental grief that followed.

Read more via Associated Press: The U.S. marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska

WHAT TO WATCH

9/11



Jules and Gedeon Naudet filmed the attacks from the perspective of a lower Manhattan firefighting company. (CBS News)

French documentarians Jules and Gedeon Naudet were in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, to shoot a documentary about a TriBeCa firehouse. That was not, however, the movie they wound up making.

Instead, the Naudets got unprecedented access to the New York Fire Departments heroic response, which saw companies from across the city flock to the World Trade Centers. The documentary shows scenes of confusion, destruction and valor. Working in unimaginable conditions, New Yorks Bravest ascended high into the towers to rescue as many civilians as they could.

In all, 343 members of the NYFD would die on 9/11. But, as Jim Dwyer would later write in the New York Times, Thanks in large part to the Naudet film, the world witnessed the valor of emergency responders on 9/11.

Read more via The Hill: Names of 43 firefighters added to World Trade Center Memorial Wall ahead of 9/11 anniversary

Zero Dark Thirty

Locals ride past the demolished compound of Osama bin Laden, in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2021. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)

On the evening of May 1, 2011, President Obama announced that 9/11 mastermind and al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been killed during an audacious raid inside Pakistan by members of the American military. It was a moment of closure many thought they would never see.

Kathryn Bigelows 2012 film, Zero Dark Thirty, starring Jessica Chastain as an intelligence analyst, dramatizes the search for Bin Laden, which took more than a decade, spanned continents and culminated in an audacious Navy SEALS assault on his walled compound.

Though some criticized the film as propaganda, it unflinchingly shows the cruelty of the Bush administrations enhanced interrogation techniques, also known as torture. As for the raid that took out the terrorist leader, Bigelow recreates it with heart-pounding skill.

Read more on Yahoo News: Zero Dark Thirty presents an unflinching look at the mission to find bin Laden, via Movie Talk

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

9/12"

A New York City police officer at the Sept. 11 museum prior to the ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

In the years after the terrorist attacks, 9/12 became shorthand for life in a new world: a world of airport pat-downs, color-coded warnings and foreign wars. 9/12, a popular podcast from Pineapple Street Studios, is about how people tried to make sense of the attacks. One episode is about the Onion, the satirical magazine wrestling with questions about humor in times of crisis; another is about a leader in Brooklyns Muslim community, which came under intense scrutiny after the attacks.

Read more on Yahoo News: 9/11: The 25 most powerful photos
I-95 to reopen in both directions after fiery Norwalk crash

I-95 to reopen in both directions after fiery Norwalk crash

NORWALK, CT (PIX11)  The Interstate 95 will reopen Sunday morning in both directions following a fiery crash that burned the Fairfield Avenue Bridge, according to Gov. Ned Lamont.

Both directions will reopen by 10 a.m., Lamont said.

Traffic snarled as workers begin removing I-95 overpass scorched in Connecticut fuel truck inferno

The bridge was scorched Thursday morning after a gasoline tanker collided into two other vehicles and burst into flames.

Authorities demolished the bridge and will continue work on replacing Fairfield Avenue Bridge, according to Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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.
Proposals from the 14 Wisconsin residents, brought together to come up with consensus solutions on abortion, arrived at proposals designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead to people choose abortion. (Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

Editors note: This story is the third in a series about a group of people from Wisconsin trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. Their larger goal is to find common ground on one of the most divisive issues in America.

MADISON, Wis.  The Starts With Us civic experiment on abortion began with a hypothesis that was reflected in the sessions first working title: Abortion Access & Limits.

And the experiments results, following heated discussions among 14 Wisconsin residents with divergent abortion beliefs, are reflected in the sessions final title: Abortion & Family Well-Being, whose just-released five proposed consensus solutions are designed to address the economic, health, and education disparities that can lead people to choose abortion. The group ultimately could not come to any consensus about abortion itself.

But they came very close.

Shortly before Starts With Us went live with its public feedback period on Wednesday, participant Dr. Kristin Lyerly experienced what facilitator Mariah Levison had throughout this session described as heartburn.

The OB-GYN and abortion provider told States Newsroom she couldnt sign off on the final language of what would have been a sixth proposal titled, Keep abortion available when a woman is experiencing a life-threatening medical risk. She said she took issue with some of the non-medical terms like unborn child, but her bigger concern was that the proposal used Wisconsins definition of a life-threatening medical risk, which she said is poorly defined and does not explicitly include mental health emergencies.

As a physician  I do this in practice, and everybody else is just talking about the theory of it, said Lyerly, who has since stepped away from the Starts With Us project because her recently launched congressional campaign conflicts with its nonprofit status. When Im taking care of my patients, Im focused on, what does my patient need medically right now? Not, hey, can you Google what current Wisconsin law says about when a mothers life is in danger?

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)

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.

A June 2023 poll conducted by Marquette University in Milwaukee found that 32% of those polled believe abortion should be legal in all cases, 34% in most, 25% illegal in most, and 6% illegal in all. The participants in the Starts with Us civic experiment came from diverse backgrounds and points of view on abortion access. (Sofia Resnick/States Newsroom)

Starts With Us head of programs Ashley Phillips said that after the public feedback period concludes on May 31, the participants will find out which proposals got the most support and then evaluate potential next steps, including bringing them to state lawmakers. She noted that for their first session, on gun rights and safety launched last year in Tennessee, more than 30,000 Tennesseans weighed in on eight proposals and five majority-supported proposals were ultimately brought to the state legislature.

Phillips said Starts With Us absorbed a lot of participants feedback (including hiring a mental-health counselor to help guide the final session in April) as they continue to iterate their Citizen Solutions sessions throughout the country. She said the results of this particular experiment, on abortion in Wisconsin, make her optimistic.

If you look at the five [proposals], theyre much more about root causes of abortion, Phillips said. Thats the conversation that this group is trying to have. How can we expand the conversation on abortion, so its not just about weeks, and its not just about exceptions and carve-outs and bans and not bans and morality or not?

Many of the participants said this experience was hard, but for most it was worthwhile.

I think its important to hear where people are, Muldrow said. As important as the areas where we agree, I think the areas where we disagree are deeply important. If you want there to be this kind of happy Kumbaya ending to a conversation about abortion with people with very different beliefs, its a little disappointing that one of the more pronounced elements of that conversation is where people disagree, but people were able to disagree and stay in that space together. I think theres a lot to learn from that.

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Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 23 of the 24 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported on May 5.

The Russian drones were launched from the neighbouring Kursk Oblast of Russia, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea.

All of the drones Russia launched were intercepted over Kharkiv, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling the air attacks.

Earlier in the night, Russia launched drone attack on Kharkiv, setting fire to at least three residential homes in the city of Kharkiv and injuring one man. Debris from shooting down the drones in the Osnovianskyi district of the city reportedly caused the fire.

Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. Overnight on May 4, Ukrainian air defenses destroyed all 13 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight.

In recent months, Russian attacks on critical infrastructure have increasingly targeted Ukrainian energy facilities.

Read also: Russian drone attack on Kharkiv injures 1





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Al Jazeera decries Israeli move to shut down the TV channel in Israel

The lettering and logo of the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera can be seen on the company's premises. Tim Brakemeier/dpa

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his Cabinet has unanimously voted to close broadcaster Al Jazeera's operations in Israel.

The move came after Israeli lawmakers recently approved a new media law - widely referred to as the "Al Jazeera law" - that gives the government powers to ban foreign broadcasters if they are deemed a risk to state security.

Netanyahu announced the Cabinet decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in which he called Al Jazeera "the hate channel."

Al Jazeera decried the Israeli decision and vowed to pursue "all avenues" available to protect its rights and employees.

The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera, which is based in the Gulf emirate of Qatar and has a wide reach in the Arab world, of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera has reported extensively on the catastrophic situation in the Palestinian territory and shown images of death and destruction that are rarely seen on Israeli television stations. The channel also regularly shows videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers by Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades.

On Sunday, Al Jazeera again categorically denied accusations from Israel of biased reporting on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"The Netanyahu government has decided in a highly misleading and calumnious step to endorse the order to shut down Al Jazeera offices in Israel," the network said.

The channel condemned what it called an "Israeli criminal act" that violates the human right of access to information.

"We confirm that we will pursue all avenues at international and legal organizations to protect our rights and crews," it added without elaborating.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said on Sunday that he had signed the closure order and that it would be implemented immediately.

According to Israeli reports, this means that offices in Israel could be closed, broadcasting equipment confiscated, the station removed from cable and satellite television channels and its website blocked.

The channel has repeatedly rejected the allegations of bias and, in the past, accused Netanyahu of spreading "new lies and inflammatory slanders" against the network.

Al Jazeera has also accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists on several occasions.

Netanyahu has accused Al Jazeera of "damaging Israel's security, actively participating in the massacre on October 7 and inciting against Israeli soldiers."

Al-Jazeera was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Doha. It was one of the first Arab TV stations to publish critical reports on the region and quickly gained popularity.

The Israeli government's efforts to ban Al Jazeera have drawn criticism from some of the country's most prominent allies, including the United States and Germany.

The US State Department expressed irritation of the decision and reiterated support for the free press all over the world.

A German Foreign Office spokesman also criticized the so-called Al Jazeera law last month: "A free and diverse press landscape is the cornerstone of a liberal democracy."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Cabinet unanimously voted on Sunday to close the Al Jazeera broadcaster in Israel, the prime minister said on X.

The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel, Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday.

Al Jazeera has denied inciting against Israel, The Associated Press reported, but the announcement escalates Israels long-running feud with Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatars government.

Al Jazeeras English broadcast, the AP reported, often resembles other major networks, but its Arabic version often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region.

It was not immediately clear what the effects of the Israeli governments vote would be. The AP reported that Al Jazeera correspondents took to air on Sunday to give their understanding of how the vote would affect the operations in Israel. One said it would not affect the Al Jazeera operation in the Palestinian territories, and another said the order barred the channel from holding offices or operating them in Israel and said the websites would be blocked.

The vote comes amid ongoing talks about a cease-fire, which Qatar is helping to broker between Israel and Hamas.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his signed article published in French media Le Figaro on Sunday that he will visit France bringing with him three messages from China.

China will work with France to carry forward the spirit that guided the establishment of their diplomatic ties, build on past achievements and open new vistas for China-France relations, he said, adding that China will open even wider to the world and deepen cooperation with France and other countries, and that China will strengthen communication and coordination with France to uphold world peace and stability.

With the establishment of China-France relations, a bridge of communication between the East and West was built, and the international relations were able to evolve in the direction of dialogue and cooperation, he said.

"We welcome investment by companies from France and other countries to China," he said, adding that to this end, "we have fully opened up China's manufacturing sector, and will move faster to expand market access to telecom, medical and other services."

"France is advancing re-industrialization based on green innovation, whereas China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. Our two countries can deepen cooperation on innovation and jointly promote green development," he said.

On the Ukraine crisis, "China hopes that peace and stability will return to Europe at an early date. We stand ready to work with France and the whole international community to find a reasonable way out of the crisis," said the Chinese president.

"China and France have many in common on the Palestine-Israel issue. It is thus critical that we strengthen cooperation and help restore peace in the Middle East," he said, noting that "both China and France value independence as two major countries. Our interactions in the long course of history have released tremendous energy swaying the trajectory of the world." 
The lettering and logo of the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera can be seen on the company's premises. Tim Brakemeier/dpa

Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera on Sunday decried a decision by the Israeli government to close its offices in the country, saying it would pursue "all avenues" available to protect its rights and employees.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday his Cabinet had unanimously decided to close Al Jazeera's operations in Israel.

Israel accuses the Doha-based broadcaster of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, Al Jazeera categorically denied the accusation.

"The Netanyahu government has decided in a highly misleading and calumnious step to endorse the order to shut down Al Jazeera offices in Israel," the network said.

The channel condemned what it called an "Israeli criminal act" that violates the human right of access to information.

"We confirm that we will pursue all avenues at international and legal organizations to protect our rights and crews," it added without elaborating.

Last month, the Israeli parliament approved what is known as the "Al Jazeera law" which allows for broadcasters from abroad to be shut down if they are deemed to pose a risk to state security.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war, Al Jazeera has reported extensively on the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip and shown images of death and destruction rarely shown on Israeli television.

The channel also regularly shows videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers by Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Senate this week approved, and then killed, a bill that would give public school teachers eight weeks of paid parental leave.

Senators on Thursday voted 26-2 for the measure but then refused to grant the unanimous consent required to send the bill for a possible vote in the House of Representatives during the sessions final days.

Alabama court wont revisit frozen embryo ruling

State Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, the sponsor of the bill, called it an example of the mostly male Legislature ignoring the concerns of women in the state.

Maybe Im going to have start raising hell at the Senate floor, she said. The females are a minority in elected office all over, but we are not a minority as voters.

Alabama legislative rules require unanimous agreement after the 26th legislative day to send Senate bills to the House of Representatives for a vote. The Senate took the measure up on the 27th legislative day.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed objected to the bill being transmitted. Reed said there are questions over how much the paid leave will cost the state and school systems.

Sen. Arthur Orr, the Republican senator who chairs the education budget committee, said he wants to get cost estimates and comparisons with what other states do on paid leave.

Alabama lawmakers approve legislation to ensure President Biden is on the November ballot

Figures said the issue goes beyond the one bill. There are four women in the current 35-member Alabama Senate. Three are Democrats and one is a Republican.

Alabama lawmakers in 2019 approved a near-total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape. Anti-abortion language that lawmakers and voters added to the Alabama Constitution in 2018 became the basis of a court ruling this year that led fertility clinics to halt IVF services. Services resumed after lawmakers approved legislation shielding providers from lawsuits.

So many bills are passed that make decisions for us that you all dont have to go through, but we do, Figures told her male colleagues. None of you have ever been pregnant or will be pregnant.

Figures said she will be back with a vengeance next year with bills related to womens rights.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
(KRON)  The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum in Alameda became the hub for a group of researchers attempting to combat climate change.

Last month, researchers from the University of Washington started shooting sea salt particles otherwise known as aerosols into the sky to reflect sunlight away from the Earth.

Researchers arent entirely sure yet, but they believe doing so can slow or even reverse the effects of climate change.

This was the first cloud-brightening experiment ever conducted in North America and the second experiment conducted worldwide.

Theyre calling the project the Marine Cloud Brightening Program (MCB).

Prescribed burning planned at Mount Diablo State Park

THE STUDY

Despite promises about reducing harmful emissions, climate assessment reports show that even with mitigation, our climate will still be warming for decades.

As a result, scientists are exploring other options of reducing climate change through technology, otherwise known as solar radiation modification.

In 1987, scientists realized sea water being sprayed back into the atmosphere through ship tracks significantly increased the reflectivity of a cloud, hence preserving the earths temperature.

With that in mind, scientists chose Alamedas USS Hornet as the hub for the MCB and named it the Coastal Atmospheric Aerosol Research and Engagement (CAARE) facility.

In this way, there are very few facilities in the world like it, the University of Washington said on its MCB website.

Researchers say the studies involve intermittent brief releases of sea salt particles, generally for 5-10 minutes (max 30 minutes) a few times a day, a few days a week, during different seasons of the year, MCB said.

THE CONCERN

California Highway Patrol introduces 8 new canine teams

The idea of halting global warming might sound ideal, but scientists say the feat comes with its unique set of hurdles.

The practice could change ocean circulation patterns or drive unexpected weatherwhich could, in turn, impact fisheries or farms.

As a result, scientists leading the experiment agree that curbing fossil fuel emissionsrather than sending additional particles into the atmosphereis the best course of action.

There is a lack of adequate tools to assess how small-scale perturbations to cloud brightness might affect larger-scale circulations and the extent to which these might contribute to regional changes in precipitation and radiative forcing of the climate. Furthermore, the timescales of these feedbacks are poorly quantified, the US Department of Energy said in a 2022 report concerning UCB.

The study follows the termination of a Harvard University experiment in April that planned to inject reflective aerosols into the air near Sweden before it was canceled after receiving criticism from Indigenous groups.

Improving our understanding of the influence of aerosols on clouds and climate is essential to understanding near-term climate risks, and whether and how marine cloud brightening could help reduce them. If we dont improve our knowledge now, well be flying blind. The international community needs the best information it can get in order to chart a responsible course into a future with a rapidly changing climate. Atmospheric Scientist and UW MCB Program Director Sarah Doherty

The CAARE facility will run through the end of May, according to a weather modification form the team filed with federal regulators.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A 21-year-old Albany man surrendered to Marion County deputies early Saturday morning after a four-hour standoff following a stabbing.

The stabbing happened around 1 a.m. around Phipps Lane and Beverly Avenue in northeast Salem, the sheriffs office said in a release. The suspect, later identified as Diego Guajardo, was inside a residence.

Street racer gets 36 months for 2022 incident which killed young mother

Over the next hours, crisis team negotiators and a Marion County SWAT unit worked with the suspect and those inside the house to end the standoff.

Guajardo surrendered around 5 a.m. and was booked for assault and unlawful use of a weapon, officials said.

The stabbing victim was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
ALEA: Russellville man dead after being thrown from ATV, another injured

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  A Russellville man died over the weekend after an ATV he was driving turned over, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Officials said the crash happened on Franklin County Road 78 near McCulough Road, about five miles east of Russellville around 8:45 p.m. Saturday.

37-year-old woman hit by car, killed on N Memorial Parkway

ALEA says that Joarthur C. McDonald, 37, was thrown from the ATV he was driving when it overturned while going around a curve. He was transported to Russellville Hospital where he died from his injuries.

A 23-year-old man was a passenger in the ATV. Troopers said he was also thrown from the ATV, injured and transported to Russellville Hospital for treatment.

ALEA is continuing to investigate the crash, and says no further information is available at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
Amazon driver fatally shoots person trying to steal vehicle at gunpoint, Ohio cops say

Police in Ohio are investigating after they say someone attempted to steal an Amazon delivery vehicle and the driver fatally shot them, news outlets report.

It happened around 4 p.m. May 4 in Cleveland, according to WJW. Police said the suspect tried to carjack the Amazon delivery drivers vehicle.

The suspect was armed with a gun, and at some point there was an altercation between the driver and the suspect, during which the driver shot the suspect, police told WKYC. The suspect tried to drive away in the vehicle and crashed shortly after.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, WOIO reported.

McClatchy News reached out to Amazon and the Cleveland Division of Police for more information but did not immediately hear back.

We are saddened to learn of this tragic incident and are working closely with law enforcement as they investigate, a statement from Amazon to WJW said.

Oblivious suspect drops pile of wallets and IDs at feet of deputies, Florida cops say

Amazon delivery driver raped in apartment mailroom and kidnapped, Tennessee police say

Sleeping Amazon drivers fatal crash into teacher was preventable, Missouri suit says
Amber Alert issued for missing baby after 2 women found dead, child injured in New Mexico

CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE)  Two people are dead, a child is wounded, and a baby is missing after an incident in rural New Mexico on Friday.

On Friday, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) issued an Amber Alert for 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres. Officials sent out the alert after the Clovis Police Department found the girls mom and another woman dead at Ned Houk Park.

The deceased victims were identified as 23-year-old Samantha Cisernos and 23-year-old Taryn Allen. A 5-year-old girl was also found injured at the scene. Authorities believe Torres should have been with her mother.

Multiple teens rescued from abandoned missile silo, one critically hurt

Eleia Maria Torres is 28 inches tall with brown eyes and brown hair. New Mexico State Police shared this photo of her with the Amber Alert:

New Mexico State Police issued an Amber Alert for 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres, seen here, on Friday, May 3, 2024. (Via New Mexico State Police)

Details remained limited during a Sunday press conference as investigators pleaded for information leading to Torres and those responsible for the senseless act of violence.

Investigators said surveillance footage showed the victims had stopped for food before going to a store in Clovis.

Later, two men entered Ned Houk Park and found Cisernos, Allen, and the young girl lying beside their van. A man walking in the park later told police he had heard gunshots, but did not immediately report them.

K-9 finds missing 85-year-old clinging to a tree in Colorado

Authorities said the 5-year-old girl was still receiving medical treatment but did not explain what injuries they suffered. The fathers of both children have been cooperating with law enforcement.

Deputy Police Chief Trevor Thron said Sunday that investigators with New Mexico State Police helped search the ponds and surrounding areas. Those search efforts did not uncover any additional evidence.

Authorities obtained surveillance footage that showed the victims stopping for food before going to a store in Clovis. The FBI and Clovis police are now asking anyone with information to come forward, noting that no tip is too small or insignificant.

If you have any information on this case, call 575-763-9472.

Clovis is roughly 220 miles east of Albuquerque and 10 miles from the Texas border.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
American Airlines apologized Saturday night after a flight from Charlotte to San Francisco diverted to St. Louis.

Flight 2651 with 174 passengers aboard landed safely and was inspected by an AA maintenance team, according to the airline. No injuries were reported, AA said.

The flight diverted due to a possible maintenance issue, according to a statement provided to The Charlotte Observer by AA spokeswoman Bri Harper.

Passengers boarded a replacement plane that was scheduled to depart St. Louis for San Francisco at 7:10 p.m. central time.

We never want to disrupt our customers travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience, according to the AA statement.

This is a developing story.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Paris for a state visit to France at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, May 5, 2024. Xi was received by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at Paris Orly airport upon arrival. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Paris on Sunday for a state visit to France, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal greeted him at the airport with "Nihao," hello in Chinese.

Chinese and French national flags flutter in the wind at the airport as the French side rolled out red carpet for the Chinese leader. A team of high-level French government representatives headed by Attal were waiting for Xi's arrival. This diplomatic protocol arrangement shows that the French side attaches great importance to the visit.

It is Xi's third state visit to France, and his first trip to Europe in nearly five years. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations.

When Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, stepped out of the cabin, they waved to the welcoming crowds.

As Xi walked down the gangway, Attal stepped forward, and said "Nihao" to the Chinese leader.

Attal and Xi walked and chatted as he accompanied the Chinese leader to the limousine.

He told Xi that he once visited China when he was a lawmaker. "I studied Chinese for one year," he said.

"You speak very well, very standard. Welcome to China for a visit," Xi said with a smile.

The Chinese leader is also an enthusiast of French culture, who developed a keen interest in French history, philosophy, literature and art in his youth.

"France holds a special fascination for us Chinese," Xi said in a signed article published Sunday in French media Le Figaro. 
Missing American and Australian tourists were likely killed in carjacking in Mexico, police say

Missing American and Australian tourists were likely killed in carjacking in Mexico, police say

The American and Australian tourists who vanished while on a trip in Mexico were believed to have been killed in a robbery-turned-shooting, authorities say.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Carter Rhoad, from the United States, were reported missing after failing to show up to their accommodation in Baja California on Saturday 27 April. Their car was later found burnt out, and three tents abandoned.

The deaths have put a spotlight on the widespread violence fuelled by turf wars between local drug gangs in Baja California, one of Mexicos most violent states.

On Sunday, the Baja California prosecutor said that the men were shot in the head.

Police said the tourists were believed to have been targeted by thieves who wanted to steal their white pick-up truck for its tyres and were shot when they resisted. The bodies were then disposed of in the well some 6km away from the site where they were killed.

(Supplied)

When they tried to get the vehicles, the victims opposed the robbery. The robbers were armed with a firearm and then apparently shot the victims, said Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez.

She described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip of the three men whose bodies were found at a site that is extremely hard to get to a rugged area in the southern part of the municipality of Ensenada.

Their bodies were found covered in the well with boards. It was literally almost impossible to find it, Ms Andrade Ramirez said, adding that it took two hours to winch the bodies out of the well.

The relatives of the three tourists have now viewed the corpses, recovered in an advanced state of decomposition from a remote well about 50ft (15 metres) deep, and confirmed their identities, Baja California state prosecutors said.

All three bodies meet the characteristics to assume with a high degree of probability that they belong to the tourists, the attorney general said on Saturday.

Jack Carter Rhoad, missing tourist from San Diego (Supplied)

Laboratory tests are underway to determine the identity of the recovered bodies, 7News reported.

Investigators also found a fourth body in the well, believed to be the property owner, and is not believed to be linked to the case, police said.

Investigators announced on Friday that three Mexican citizens had been charged with a crime equivalent to kidnapping in connection to the tourists disappearance. They dont appear to have been charged with murder.

The prosecutor also named Jesus Gerardo N, aka El Kekas, as one of the people arrested in connection to the trios deaths at a Sunday press conference.

The swift investigation of the case has led to questions over the lack of similar action in cases involving the disappearance of locals.

On Sunday, dozens of mourners, surfers and demonstrators gathered in a main plaza in Ensenada, the nearest city, to voice their anger and sadness at the deaths and similar killings over the years.

Ensenada is a mass grave, read one placard carried by protesters.

Gabriela Acosta, a surfer who attended the protest, said she came to show love, solidarity and respect for the three lives that were lost. Ms Acosta said that surfers in Baja are aware of the dangers.

We are women and we would sometimes like to surf alone, Ms Acosta said. But we never do that, because of the situation. We always have to go accompanied.

A woman held up a sign that read: They only wanted to surf  we demand safe beaches.

Surfers later led a paddle-out ceremony where they formed a circle on their boards in the ocean to pay their respects to the dead.
Americans ditch suffocating healthcare costs and divisive politics to retire in Italy: 'It's the way they approach life'

Some Americans are choosing to retire abroad because of healthcare costs and divisive politics.

Many of them are moving to Italy, where the cost of living is more affordable.

They like Italy's dedication to a work-life balance, especially compared to American hustle culture.

Eric and Christina Schwendeman's relationship got serious the day he brought up retirement.

"I have a long-term plan," Eric, 53, recalled telling his now-wife nearly two decades ago. "I want to work as hard as possible and retire to Italy as young as I possibly can."

At the time, the couple lived in Naples, Florida, which is more than 5,000 miles and a 13-hour long-haul flight from Italy.

"He was like, 'That's my goal. If you're on board for that, then let's do this,'" Christina, 40, said.

Christina and Eric Schwendeman. Eric and Christina Schwendeman

The Schwendemans began planning for their life outside the United States about 17 years ago, but an increasing number of Americans these days are following their example.

The US State Department estimated that 9 million American citizens lived abroad in 2020, which is a jump from 5 million in 2010.

The US is no longer a desirable place to retire

There used to be a seemingly clear-cut path to retirement in the United States.

People worked until 65, then left the workforce with the help of Social Security and personal savings. That began shifting in the 1980s when Americans gravitated toward defined-contribution plans  like 401(k)s  instead of defined-benefit plans like pensions. This has shifted more responsibility onto employees to determine how much to invest and save.

"Put simply, the shift from defined benefit to defined contribution has been, for most people, a shift from financial certainty to financial uncertainty," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote in a 2024 letter to investors.

Millions of baby boomers now struggle to cover their cost of living.

An AARP survey in April found that one in five Americans who are 50 or older have no retirement savings, and more than half of respondents were concerned they wouldn't have enough to support themselves if they retired.

So, as retirement in the United States gets bleak, some Americans are looking elsewhere. Specifically, they are looking to Italy, which ranks among the top 20 countries with the most generous retirement systems.

Americans are settling into quaint Italian towns

Photo of Clavesana. Eric and Christina Schwendeman

For the Schwendemans, the opportunity to leave the United States arrived in 2022.

Eric and Christina worked in the automotive industry, which was severely impacted by the pandemic. About 575,000 jobs in the industry were lost by the fall 2021.

"We could see that the automotive industry was going to take a turn around the same time that we were seeing it in the housing industry," Christina said. "We said, 'It's probably a good time for us to leave our jobs and sell our house.'"

They moved to Clavesana, a small town of less than 900 people in Italy's Piedmont region and purchased a home that sits on just under an acre of land. Eric and Christina did not share the exact cost, but said the home was about 150 euros  or $161  per square foot.

The Schwendeman's home. Eric and Christina Schwendeman

Although moving to Italy was always a dream, the couple said other factors, including the cost of healthcare in America, also played a role.

Micki Dukinfield, 72, echoed that sentiment. Dukinfield and her husband left Minnesota for Vicenza, a city about an hour from Venice, in November 2023. Their home cost about 188,500 euros or about $200,000.

Micki Dukinfield's home in Vincenza. Micki Dukinfield

"I knew that as we got older, healthcare would always become an issue," Dukinfield told Business Insider.

According to Fidelity's 2023 Retiree Healthcare Cost Estimate, a single individual can spend an average of $157,000 on medical expenses and healthcare throughout retirement. For couples, that climbs to $315,000.

"In 2022, despite the fact that neither of us had anything terribly wrong with us, we spent over $6,000 on premiums and medical bills," Dukinfield said. "We're like, 'this is insanity.'"

In Vicenza, Dukinfield said she and her husband spend between $1,500 and $1,600 yearly on healthcare costs. The Schwendemans said they pay about $2,800 yearly while in Clavesana.

Vicenza. DEA/W. BUSS/Getty Images

Dukinfield also said the US political climate played a role in her decision to move to Italy.

The United States is gearing up for presidential elections in November. It's expected to be another tight race between Donald Trump, who is facing ongoing legal troubles, and President Joe Biden, who is struggling to rally the kind of support he had in 2020.

Colin Esaw, 59, felt the repercussions of the political and cultural divisions while living in Florida, especially under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the Republican primaries.

Esaw was raised in Ireland before his career led him to Orlando in the fall of 1994. He's remained in the area for 30 years, holding American and British passports. He told BI that he began noticing a change in recent years.

"When I first came to America, I had no plans on living or being here any longer than I needed to be because of a preconceived idea of what American people were like," Esaw said. "When I got here, I couldn't believe how friendly and welcoming Americans were. It absolutely stunned me."

Colin Esaw. Colin Esaw

Now, Esaw said the political tension is too much. Adding to that the rising cost of living, he said he felt it was time for a change.

"I don't like to live in a society like that," he said.

So, Esaw is preparing to retire in Scalea, a coastal town in the Calabria region, within the next two years. He's purchased a condo for about 55,000 euros, or $59,000.

A growing online community is helping Americans move to Italy

Patrizia Di Gregorio has witnessed the uptick in people, including Americans, looking to retire in Italy firsthand. Gregorio, 52, is an Italian-American who founded the international social network Expats Living in Rome in 2001.

The network has become an essential tool for people across the globe eyeing a move to Italy. The organization offers resources for those looking to move, including financial guidance and immigration advice.

Screenshot of the Expats Living in Room website. Expats Living in Room website.

It also offers a community through Facebook groups like Expats Living in Rome and Expats Living in Italy, where people can ask questions and share updates on their journeys. The Expats Living in Italy group now has more than 107,000 members.

Gregorio told BI she first noticed increased interest from Americans around the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patrizia Di Gregorio. Patrizia Di Gregorio

"Before COVID, we had a lot of immigration, but after COVID, we can't even keep up," she said. She said that one Facebook group she created had more than 800 requests to join at one point.

Expats said Americans live to work but that in Italy, they work to live

Moving to Italy as an American isn't without challenges.

A series of hurdles must be cleared: securing a visa, finding a property, transporting goods across the Atlantic Ocean, applying for necessities like healthcare, and  of course  navigating a language barrier.

Both the Schwendemans and Dukinfield are working to become fluent in Italian  which can sometimes make everyday tasks more arduous  but said leaving the United States was the right choice. They cited a better quality of life, which is no longer bogged down by America's unforgiving and overarching hustle culture.

Eric and Christina Schwendeman. Eric and Christina Schwendeman

"It's the way they approach life," Eric said, referring to Italian culture.

In Clavesana, locals take "pausa," a two-hour break each afternoon, which contrasts with the average lunch break in the United States, which is 36 minutes.

"You stop working," Eric said. "You go have lunch with your family and your friends."

Dukinfield agreed, adding that the slower pace of life and living in a walkable city have been positive changes. Moving to Vicenza has also allowed her to live near her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild.

"You can walk to the downtown area," Dukinfield said. "We lived in a very nice house on a nice lot in suburbia [in the US], but the only place we could walk to was the Super America or the Speedway, which was three-quarters of a mile away."

The phenomenon Eric described is a popular phrase among US expats: In America, you live to work. In Italy, you work to live.

"I have to say it's pretty much a total dream," Christina said. "Every morning, we wake up and look outside and say, 'I cannot believe we live here.'"

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Anger mounts as Kenyans left homeless and searching for loved ones swept away in floods

When Julia Wanjiku put her son Isaac to bed after a day celebrating his third birthday, she didnt realize she was also saying goodbye.

In the early hours of the following morning, Wanjiku awoke after hearing screams from her neighbors. A ferocious river of muddy water had blown through a blocked tunnel and was sweeping into the town of Mai Mahiu, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Kenyas capital, Nairobi. As the water hit, her partner tried to hold on to their son but was overwhelmed  Isaac was swept away.

We still dont know where our son is, Wanjiku told CNN, recalling the morning of April 29. She was among the survivors gathering at Ngeya Girls High School in Mai Mahiu on Tuesday last week. Supported by her mother and her aunt, she wept as she said she was at least grateful she survived. Isaacs father was too devastated to speak.

The flooding in Mai Mahui has claimed the lives of at least 52 people, 18 of whom were children.

Its a tragedy echoed across swaths of Kenya, including Nairobi and parts of the famous Maasai Mara wildlife reserve, after weeks of intensely heavy rainfall triggered flash floods that have now killed at least 228 people, left 72 others missing and displaced more than 212,000, according to statement Sunday from the office of the Kenyan President William Ruto.

Despite the huge toll the floods have already taken, the worst may be yet to come as rain keeps falling onto already saturated land and swollen rivers. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture, Ruto said on Friday.

A damaged car buried in mud in an area heavily affected by torrential rains and flash floods in the village of Kamuchiri, near Mai Mahiu, on April 29. - Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images

People removing mud and water from their house in Mai Mahiu, Kenya, on April 29. - Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images

Kenya is used to heavy rain at this time of year  its long rainy season runs from March until May  but this has been on a scale not seen for years.

Over just two days at the start of May, more than half a months rain fell on parts of the country.

Satellite images from the county of Garissa show waters spreading well beyond the banks of the swollen River Tana, turning land usually green with vegetation into muddy brown swamps.

Experts say the rain has been intensified by a mix of two natural weather patterns  El Nino and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, when warmer waters are pushed west across the Indian Ocean  as well as the underlying trend of human-caused global warming.

Life has been upturned for many.

On Thursday, Kenyas interior cabinet secretary, Kithure Kindiki, announced 178 dams and reservoirs may spill over any time, ordering people living near them to leave their homes within 24 hours or risk being forcibly removed.

More than 163,000 residents in Nairobi have now been evacuated, some voluntarily and some forcefully, the government announced Sunday.

Schools, which have been closed during the flooding, will remain shut until further notice, Ruto announced Friday. Some are being used as shelters for those displaced.

People in informal settlements are particularly hard hit, said Mark Laichena, chief strategy officer at Kenyan grassroots organization Shining Hope for Communities, which works in urban slums.

Their clean water has been contaminated, healthcare is scarce, and their food supply has been washed away or spoiled, he told CNN. These floods are on a scale of destruction that we havent seen in recent years.

Destroyed homes in the Mathare informal settlement in Nairobi on April 25. Torrential rains triggered floods and caused chaos across Kenya, blocking roads and bridges and engulfing homes in slum districts. - Luis Tato/AFP via Getty Images

A resident of Mathare slum in Nairobi trying to salvage possessions following deadly flooding in the capital on April 24. - Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images

From a multi-year drought to deadly floods

The government has set up more than 50 camps across the country to provide shelter for those displaced and evacuated, and it plans to increase this number, Mwaura said. Its also distributing food and other essential supplies. Foreign assistance is coming, too. The United Arab Emirates is sending 80 tons of food aid.

But as the scale of the catastrophe widens, anger is growing over the pace of the governments response and a lack of information about what happens to those forced to flee.

Human Rights Watch, a non-profit headquartered in New York, criticized the governments action in a statement on Thursday.

It said the government had failed to put in place a timely national response plan, despite warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department as early as May 2023 that El Nino would intensify Kenyas rainy seasons.

The unfolding devastation highlights the governments obligation to prepare for and promptly respond to the foreseeable impacts of climate change and natural disasters, said Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

As the world warms, while the overall volume of rain may fall in East Africa, the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events is expected to increase, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, making dramatic floods more likely.

Heavy rains have also affected other East African countries including Tanzania, where at least 155 people have died.

Rescuers carry the body of a young man recovered in the debris following flooding, in Mai Mahiu, Kenya. - James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Flooding in Mathare slum in Nairobi on April 24. - Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images

Mwaura pushed back strongly on criticisms of the government, saying it was doing its best with the resources it had. You can never be quite fully prepared for these humanitarian crises, he said.

He stressed the conversation should really be one about climate change, and who is most responsible. Western countries are wreaking havoc by warming the earth and African countries are paying the price, he said, despite accounting for less than 4% of global levels of planet-heating pollution.

Kenya, a country firmly on the frontlines of the climate crisis, has swung from a devastating, multi-year drought  which scientists said was made at least 100 times more likely by climate change  into deadly flooding.

When people are still reeling from one extreme weather event, it makes them highly vulnerable to another, said Joyce Kimutai, a researcher at Imperial College Londons Grantham Institute.

This vulnerability is starkly clear in Mai Mahiu. The town is still littered with remnants of the disaster: tangled heaps of furniture, twisted sheets of metal ripped off the roofs of houses, SUVs flung upside down and wedged into the ground. They are still trying to pull bodies from the mud.

The people here are mostly subsistence farmers and market traders. Many, like Githukuri Makau, a goat herder who is sheltering at Ngeya Girls High School, escaped the flooding with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

Makau said his house was flattened in the floods. He doesnt know what hell do when the school reopens and he needs to find a new place to stay. Im now left destitute, he said, theres nowhere to go, theres no one to turn to.

Larry Madowo reported from Mai Mahui and Laura Paddison reported from London. CNNs Louis Mian, Niamh Kennedy, Allison Chinchar and Mary Gilbert contributed to reporting.

This story has been updated.

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Donald Trump unleashed his anger against President Joe Biden at a closed door GOP fundraiser on Saturday where he made a speech that was frustrated and often obscene, according to The New York Times. In a Truth Social post the following morning, Trump attacked Biden as a very dishonest man, a Manchurian Candidate and predicted World War Three, and everything else!

These people are running a Gestapo administration, Trump said of Biden at the fundraiser hosted at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, audio of which was obtained by the Times. And its the only thing they have. And its the only way theyre going to win, in their opinion, and its actually killing them. But it doesnt bother me.

Trump baselessly accused the Biden administration of secretly masterminding the indictments against him in numerous jurisdictions, resulting in 88 criminal charges. Trump is facing business fraud charges in New York, classified documents charges in Florida, a state election interference case in Georgia, and a federal election interference case in Washington, D.C.

The former president espoused conspiracy theories about why he lost the election in 2020 and without evidence accused Democrats of cheating in elections and getting welfare to vote.

When you are Democrat, you start off essentially at 40 percent because you have civil service, you have the unions, and you have welfare, Trump said Saturday. And dont underestimate welfare. They get welfare to vote, and then they cheat on top of that. They cheat.

Even Trumps own former attorney general, William Barr, has called Trumps election interference allegations all bullshit and admitted there was not voter fraud on any scale that would have influenced the election. At the fundraiser, Trump attacked Barr and said his future pick for attorney general would need courage should Trump win the presidency.

Speaking to donors, Trump mocked Special Counsel Jack Smith as unattractive both inside and out, adding, This is one unattractive dude. Trump then used two expletives to describe Smith, per the Times. According to NBC News, the former president called Smith an evil thug and deranged.

Trump also mentioned South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was at the event but reportedly left early. He called Noem somebody that I love even though sources told Rolling Stone that Trump was disgusted by an anecdote in Noems book where she proudly described shooting her family dog.

On Sunday, Trump took his anger to his keyboard, posting a rambling message on Truth Social attacking his opponent. Trump blamed Biden for the anti-war protests that are taking place on college campuses and falsely claimed Biden is unable to talk, unable to reason, unable to put two simple sentences together, unable to even climb 3 steps to a helicopter, or the main stairs to Air Force One.

Trump also  without evidence  accused Biden of receiving money, for no apparent reason, from foreign countries.

Now we have the protests, and Crooked Joe Biden doesnt know what to do  Next will be World War Three, and everything else! Trump wrote. We are a Nation in Serious Decline, a Failing Nation, but we will not be a Failing Nation much longer. Four years ago we were a GREAT NATION, AND WE WILL SOON BE A GREAT NATION AGAIN!!! MAGA2024.

During his speech on Saturday evening, Trump challenged donors in attendance to give $1 million that night. If they did, Trump promised, I will let you come up and speak. According to the Times, Trump sounded disappointed until someone accepted the invitation.

One of the people who accepted the challenge, per NBC, was a woman who came to the podium and stated that Donald J. Trump is the person that God has chosen.

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Anti-Israel teaching assistant fired from NYC elementary school after being handcuffed at Columbia

Social media post from James Parra left, showing him wearing keffiyeh with child hugging him and caption explaining he was fired; at right, him smiling and posing with red keffiyeh scarf over head

An embattled Brooklyn teaching assistant who was handcuffed at a Columbia University protest last week has been fired, The Post has learned.

James Parra, a fifth-grade paraprofessional at Brooklyn Arbor in Williamsburg who called Israel a racist and terrorist state, shared his ouster on social media Wednesday.

After 8 years of dedicated service and after 6 months of doxxing and harassment and Zionist parents making themselves the victims, my superintendent just a few moments ago terminated me from my position, Parra, 27, wrote on Instagram.

Brooklyn teaching assistant James Parra, who was cuffed and removed from a recent Columbia University protest, announced on social media last week that he was fired. ZUMAPRESS.com

Parra took to social media to announce his firing as a one-on-one paraprofessional at Brooklyn Arbor. instagram @rebelsoftoday

Fk these Zionists and fk these administrators who are complicit and sympathizers with Zionism and genocide, he added with a photo of himself wearing a keffiyeh while a child hugs him.

Parra received a summons on April 22 for refusing to move from outside the campus gates at a pro-Palestine protest.

The former one-on-one special-ed paraprofessional attended LaGuardia Community College and Hunter College, according to LinkedIn and a GoFundMe he started to raise tuition money.

At a parent council meeting on April 18, Parra blasted his boss, Superintendent David Cintron, as a spineless coward for not protecting him from the backlash he received after posting on Palestine  apparently while on the job  including photos of himself wearing a keffiyeh.

Controversial Community Education Council 14 President Tajh Sutton responded to his rant, We love you, James, and added, You are the best of this district.

Sutton was reprimanded by city Schools Chancellor David Banks in an April 16 letter for improper conduct by involving herself in Parras personnel matter after his suspension in February.

Parra was handcuffed at a fiery Columbia protest just days after he slammed his boss as a spineless coward for suspending him over posting an antisemitic video. ZUMAPRESS.com

Parra, who attended LaGuardia Community College and Hunter College, was arrested at a Columbia protest on April 22. ZUMAPRESS.com

Parents and activists have demanded Parras removal for months. In January alone, the DOE received more than 850 complaints about him.

There is no place in NYC or in the NYC Public Schools for anti-Jewish rhetoric or hatred of any kind, Tova Plaut, founder of the New York City Public Schools Alliance, told The Post.

The DOE confirmed Parras firing in an email.

Parra ranted on a Zoom call last month, calling his boss a spineless coward, adding You know what? Fk it. Free Palestine forever and always.

After 8 years of dedicated service and after 6 months of doxxing and harassment and Zionist parents making themselves the victims, my superintendent just a few moments ago terminated me from my position, Parra, 27, wrote.

Parra did not respond to requests for comment.
Vladimir Shahinyan is a proud Armenian but he says he has been betrayed.

The 37 year-old is one of the losers in a deal encouraged by the US and the EU for Armenia to hand control of four border villages to arch-enemy Azerbaijan.

Nikol Pashinyan, Armenias prime minister, sees the deal as a chance for peace but Mr Shahinyan sees it as a sell-out that has created a personal crisis. Under the redrawn border, his car repair garage will be moved inside Azerbaijan and out of his reach.

I dont know what I will do when I lose the workshop. I have two children that I need to provide for. I feel psychologically pressured, he said as he waited for permission to drive through a police roadblock in this mountainous corner of north-east Armenia.

Russias war in Ukraine overshadows flashpoints between western democracy and Kremlin-inspired autocracy in the South Caucasus but analysts say these conflicts are critically important for building influence in the strategically important region that connects Asia and Europe.

Georgians has also taken to the streets over Kremlin-inspired legislation - GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP via Getty Images

In Georgia, police wearing balaclavas have in recent weeks attacked crowds demonstrating against a Kremlin-inspired law that undermines western-backed non-governmental organisations and here, in this lush border zone a three-hour drive from Yerevan, Armenian officials are conceding land to Kremlin-backed Azerbaijan after several military defeats since 2020.

Armenias relations with the Kremlin have soured over Russias failure to protect it despite security guarantees amid its war on Ukraine.

In September, Azerbaijan completed its capture of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh after Russian peacekeepers were ordered to stand aside moments before an assault, which some believe was approved by the Kremlin.

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijans president, was seen laughing and joking with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin days after Russia withdrew 2,000 peacekeeping soldiers from Nagorno-Karabakh because they were no longer needed.

Tigran Grigoryan, head of the regional centre for democracy and security think tank in Yerevan, said that Azerbaijans military superiority, often financed by oil and gas sales to Europe, the Kremlins preoccupation with its war in Ukraine and Azerbaijans importance for Russian trade routes to Iran encouraged Mr Aliyev to complete the capture of Nagorno-Karabakh despite a peace deal imposed by Russia after a 2020 war.

Azerbaijan is one of the big winners of the war in Ukraine and, aside from Ukraine, Armenia is one of the biggest losers, he said.

The demarcation process that Mr Pashinyan is now trying to sell to Armenians is supposed to fix the border, twisted by conflict and ethnic cleansing by both sides since the late 1980s, but most Armenians said they felt humiliated and dont believe that Azerbaijan will keep to its side of the bargain to give up Armenian territory that it has captured.

Protestors arrested

In the past week, police in Yerevan have arrested dozens of people protesting against the land handover. Levon, an off-duty taxi driver smoking a cigarette on a street in the Armenian capital, rolled his eyes when asked about the deal and explained the deep-rooted distrust.

You give them this much, and then they take this much, he said, first holding his thumb and finger close together and then moving his hands apart.

Armenians have been demonstrating against the land transfer to Azerbaijan - KAREN MINASYAN / AFP

And this remote border zone is currently the focus of the Armenian fury.

Here, Mr Aliyev claims sovereignty over four villages, including part of the village of Kirants where Mr Shahinyan, the mechanic, lives. The village will be split after the border is shifted by more than a mile.

My house will be right next to the border. I dont know how my children will be able to live there as they know their uncle was killed by Azeris in the war in 2020, said Mr Shahinyan.

The villages were part of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era, and have Azerbaijani names as well as Armenian names, but have been controlled by Armenia since the 1990s. Most were abandoned although several people living in Kirants told The Telegraph that they would lose their house and land with the border demarcation.

On Friday, a few dozen police manned a blockade of the road leading to the villages because the Armenian army was demining surrounding fields ahead of the handover.

Bagrat Galstanyan, a charismatic local archbishop, has been campaigning against the border transfer and had travelled to see the roadblock.

This is all about geopolitics. Russia is playing dirty games, he said.

The sight of the tall archbishop in his black cassock clearly buoyed distressed villagers crossing through the police blockade but most still declined to give their names. They all said that they were angry and frightened.

They have just handed over everything, the next thing to happen is ethnic cleansing, said Artsrun, after gesticulating at the police and then returning to his battered car where three small children clambered impatiently over the backseats.

Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's president, was seen laughing and joking with Vladimir Putin days before Russia withdrew troops from Armenia - ROMAN ISMAYILOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Talk of ethnic cleansing in Armenia is poignant. Millions of Armenians were forced out of Turkey in 1915, trekking to modern-day Armenia, Lebanon and Syria for sanctuary. Many died on the journey, which Armenians describe as the first genocide of the 20th century.

Nagorno-Karabakh

In September, after Azerbaijan completed its capture of Nagorno-Karabakh, 100,000 ethnic Armenians also fled from Stepanakert, their regional capital, an exodus that effectively ethnically cleansed the region.

Mr Aliyev, who has been in power since 2003 and won an election with 93 per cent of the vote this year after imprisoning independent journalists and opposition activists, has gloried in his military victories which include capturing sovereign Armenian territory overlooking a popular spa town in 2022.

After capturing Stepanakert, he was photographed wearing a military uniform and standing on the flag of Armenian rebels.

Although Armenia has signed weapon supply deals with France and India over the past few months and has added a defence attache to its beefed-up embassy in Britain, Mr Grigoryan, the analyst, said Azerbaijan was militarily dominant and could dictate affairs.

Back on the remote road in northeast Armenia, this dominance was playing havoc with the Armenian villagers who are now facing the tumult of being uprooted.

One harassed middle-aged villager said that she didnt know now if she would be able to return to the village and in a telephone interview from Kirants, 56-year-old Khanum Tamrazyan said that she had been told that she would have to give up her home of 25 years.

This is my land and my house. We have the documents proving that it belongs to me. Theres no way Im going to leave it, she said. Our fate is very unclear.

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Assaults on medical staff in SC hospitals are rising. Were trying to stop it. | Opinion

For more than 30 years, Ive experienced the wide range of complex issues facing healthcare providers, and I cant remember a time when we were more concerned about the safety and security of our workforce.

South Carolinas hospitals and health systems represent more than $28 billion in state economic impact and 77,000 employees. Many of those employees have taken an oath to Do No Harm, and Im sad to say that same courtesy is not being given to them.

Healthcare workers account for roughly three-fourths of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in the workplace. According to government data, that nurse getting ready for her shift is five times more likely to be assaulted at work than employees reporting to virtually every other job.

Gayle Resetar

Its been said that the true measure of a society is how it treats the most vulnerable among us  but what about how we treat those who care for us in our most vulnerable moments?

Until now, weve only been able to rely on anecdotal stories from front-line workers to express this problem, but thanks to an upcoming report from the South Carolina Hospital Association and Antum Risk, we finally have actionable data to illustrate the impact of workplace violence on the states hospital workforce.

The South Carolina Workplace Violence Collaborative was established in 2023 to address the increased incidence of violence against healthcare workers. The collective includes aggregate data submitted by 48 South Carolina healthcare facilities, including acute care hospitals, physician practices, outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centers, in 2023. For standardization purposes and to isolate these events, only incidents of physical violence are included in the report.

South Carolinas hospitals and health systems have created a national model for enhancing hospital safety and security with a voluntary data collective actively sharing incidents of workplace violence in their facilities, and were already learning valuable lessons:

 68% of health care assaults in the state were committed against bedside nurses and nursing support in 2023.

 96% of these incidents were initiated by patients; however, we are seeing a growing trend of assaults by patients family members and visitors.

 80% of these incidents occurred in the emergency department or the patients room or bathroom.

Our hope is that by focusing on building a data collective around outcomes for employees, as we do for patients through our Zero Harm program, we can learn more about the conditions to eliminate preventable harm in our facilities. If we can use data to improve surgical outcomes, we should be able to apply those same principles to bolster employee safety.

South Carolinas hospitals and health systems are already using cutting-edge solutions to improve hospital safety and security, including enhanced surveillance, elevated training for security officers, first-alert badges for staff and trained K-9 units to uphold a more secure environment for everyone, including patients, employees and visitors.

Hospitals and health systems are also providing additional resources and support for employees who are affected by violent incidents. And, we are working closely with state and local law enforcement to help ensure we have strong partnerships for addressing incidents and maintaining a healing environment in our facilities.

Its important to spotlight this issue and the amazing feats our healthcare heroes take on every day to lead South Carolina to a better state of health. So, the simplest way to celebrate nurses today when you need care is to be kind. Extend that kindness to everyone in the hospital, from the security guards to food services. Every day they suit up for work, our hospital employees make a commitment to Zero Harm. Lets make that same commitment to them.

Gayle Resetar is chair of the South Carolina Hospital Association and executive vice president/Chief Operating Officer at Tidelands Health. Learn more about what S.C. hospitals and health systems are doing to advance safety and security at donoharmsc.com .
Abigail Beck, a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in political science at Arizona State University, is the eighth recipient of the Don Bolles/Arizona Republic News 21 Fellowship.

The fellowship was created in 2016 in memory of Bolles, a Republic investigative reporter who was mortally wounded when a dynamite bomb exploded under his car on June 2, 1976. He died 11 days later after three of his limbs were amputated to stave off infection.

In 2019, Republic investigative reporter Richard Ruelas examined Bolles' death and some of his unfinished work in a podcast, "Rediscovering: Don Bolles, Murdered Arizona Journalist."

Each summer, a senior or graduate student has the opportunity to participate in a full-time investigative project through ASU's News 21 program. The student receives a $15,000 stipend to cover travel and other expenses.

This summer's project tackles the state of democracy in America and examines potential hurdles leading up to the 2024 election.

Fellows spent 15 weeks this spring conducting research before heading to Phoenix for their 10-week field reporting fellowship. Their final stories  to be produced in text, video, audio, photos and graphics  will be shared with national media outlets for publication.

Abigail Beck

Previous News21 projects have taken on topics including police reform, COVID-19, extremist groups and juvenile justice, and past publication partners include the Washington Post, NBC News, the Associated Press and USA TODAY.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation provides core support for the program. Individual fellows are supported by their universities as well as a variety of foundations, news organizations and philanthropic partners that include the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, Hearst Foundations, The Republic and Gray Television. The Republic initially established the fellowship for five years but sustains it with a grant to the ASU Foundation from the newspaper's Season for Sharing education program.

Beck, 21, was born and raised in Gilbert where she attended Gilbert Classical Academy. The following interview has been edited for clarity.

Question: How has Don Bolles influenced your career?

Answer: Prior to this (fellowship) I didn't really know a lot about him. So I started researching him and I was really impressed by his work and his dedication to local investigative journalism. I just think that people like him that dedicate their livelihood to creating this good investigative journalism that's hyperlocal really makes accountability possible through journalism.

Q: Why did you want to be part of this fellowship?

A: I really have always liked doing long-form work and opportunities like this don't happen a lot and so I applied for it and when I got it I knew I had to dedicate a lot of time to this issue because I really care about (political reporting). This is an opportunity as a student that not many reporters may get in their life, so I'm really grateful to be a part of it.

This year's project is through the lens of election season and voting access is really what I've been focusing on and how people and authorities interact with the election season.

I think I'll gain a new perspective on how to report on something from a national level. I'm just really grateful for the opportunity and the fact that The Arizona Republic  they didn't have to sponsor somebody within it but they did which shows their commitment to young journalists in Arizona and I think that's something really special.

Q: What do you hope to gain from the fellowship?

A: I've never had the chance to report on something nationally. I've always been doing local coverage. And so I finally get a chance to do something that really looks at things not necessarily from an Arizona or a Tempe or Phoenix lens but actually a United States lens which I think is a good, new challenge for me just because it's so much broader and there's a lot of complexity that I haven't been introduced to before this.

Past Don Bolles fellows

2017: Agnel Phillip is a data reporter at ProPublica in New York. He was previously a data reporter at The Arizona Republic.

2018: Kianna Gardner is a regional digital editor for Lee Enterprise's Mountain West sites. She's also been a sustainability reporter and digital producer at Arizona PBS.

2019: Isaac Windes is an education reporter at San Antonio Report. He was previously an education reporter at the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram.

2020: Franco LaTona is a communication specialist at the University of Texas at Austin.

2021: Emma VandenEinde is a Mountain West reporter for KUNC Colorado.

2022: Nathan Collins is a Dallas Accountability Reporter for KERA North Texas.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Don Bolles investigative reporting fellowship goes to Abigail Beck
Mikel Watts, an attorney representing more than 100 families and ranchers who were substantially affected by the recent Texas Panhandle wildfires, spoke about his lawsuit against the utility companies responsible for the Smokehouse Creek Fire. Named in the suit are Xcel Energy, its Texas subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Co. (SPS) and Osmose Utilities Services.

Watts has been involved in many high-profile cases during his legal career and was part of the litigation that brought a $13.5 billion settlement from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for the 2017 and 2018 California Camp Fires. PG&E was found to have had equipment failures and downed powerlines that started the wildfires that resulted in the loss of over 18,000 structures and 85 deaths. Watts is also representing the families of 29 residents who died in the town of Lahaina in a suit against Hawaii Electric for the Maui Wildfires, which left over 100 people dead and 2,200 buildings destroyed.

Osmose Utilities Services was contracted to the company that inspected poles for SPS, and the lawsuit contends that the contractor "negligently failed to adequately or properly inspect or report on the rotten pole that caused the fire."

A power line near Canadian is seen burning from the Smokehouse Creek Fire in February in Hemphill County.

One of Watts's clients is Melanie McQuiddy, the first plaintiff to file suit in Hemphill County and one of the many affected by the Smokehouse Creek fire, which destroyed over a million acres in the Texas Panhandle. The lawsuit claims the power pole owned by Xcel subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Co. was in bad physical shape before it fell and caused the fire, with the company failing in its duty to inspect and maintain its equipment.

The fire started when a rotted-out utility pole fell in high winds," Watts said. "The pole had been inspected by Osmose in the weeks before the fire. They put a red stamp on the pole, which is a signal not to climb this pole, and it is not stable. It had been scheduled to be replaced, but the company had not gotten around to replacing it."

Watts was not sure of the exact timeline for when the pole had been marked but speculated it had to have been in the last seven weeks. He said the exact timeline for the trial would be revealed in the discovery stage.

Several hundred structures were lost, and over a million acres of valuable ranchland were lost, Watts said. "This was an out-of-control wildfire that burned at about 3,000 degrees. This type of fire burns and kills the root systems and (the land) will not be usable for cattle grazing for several years. Economically, this will devastate local ranchers who lost tens of thousands of cattle collectively.

Watts said the economic impact could be felt for generations to come. Watts sees a recurring issue with these utility companies not maintaining their infrastructure, causing multiple fires across Texas.

This is a recurrent problem across the western United States, with an aging utility grid where profits are put in front of people and equipment is not being properly served and maintained," Watts added.

With this fire, Watts says that Xcel has admitted responsibility, but at issue is the degree of responsibility and damage.

I think they know they are responsible, but their position seems to be, oh, it's not that bad, and so we will have a debate about the degree of the damage that Xcel caused, Watts said. They acknowledge they must pay the damage because their equipment started the fire.

Beyond land and livestock damages, Watts says the ranchers have lost their means to make a living and the area to do it in. For these ranchers, many of whom have had generations of breeding a line of cattle to create value in their product, there will have to be a complete restart of their herds and bloodlines.

It is difficult for these farmers and ranchers who lost the land that they treasure, many of which have been in their family for generations, Watts said. "They have lost their livelihoods, and the question is how long that will last, so we need to get these people compensated quickly.

Another issue regarding the level of damage that these plaintiffs have sustained is that, according to Watts, insurance is usually not sufficient to cover all damage.

I think litigation pressure from communities results in changes in technologies, procedures, and cooperation policies to prevent disasters like this from happening again, he said. Utilities are government sponsored monopolies that are given the ability to charge regulated prices to insure themselves a profit. You cannot just turn the power off. These companies must do a better job of maintaining their equipment, because when wildfires happen, people die. In this case, a lot of cows died.

Watts says that the requirement for Xcel to make sure that its equipment does not fall apart and start a fire is a non-delegable duty in the state.

You cannot assign it to somebody else, but these utility companies hire other companies, and, in this case, Xcel hired Osmose to do the inspections for their poles and the like. Osmose was clearly out there, the pole was clearly rotted out, and a red tag was clearly put on it, marking it not safe. Only discovery will tell whether Xcel made the decision not to do it or just had not gotten around to it or what. But there is plenty of blame to go around, he said.

Watts said that litigation like this often results in companies being prosecuted for their responsibility for not maintaining their infrastructure.

According to Watts, a great amount of effort is still being made to assess the damage his plaintiffs have suffered. Hopefully, this moves forward in months, not years, he said. "We need to press this issue collectively as a community. A bunch of ranchers combining forces is an army the utility companies must take notice of. So collectively, you are much stronger than if only some people are involved and others are not.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Attorney for lawsuit over Texas Panhandle wildfires speaks on impact
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL)  Grief counselors will be available this week at Auburn High School following the tragic loss of a senior in a weekend shooting.

The incident occurred early Saturday morning in Union Springs, Alabama, situated in Bullock County. The Union Springs Police Department is actively investigating. WRBL has made inquiries to the police department for further details.

WRBL reached out to the Bullock County Coroners Office, but as of now, the victims name has not been released.

The AHS administration is currently gathering and verifying information. Updates are anticipated to be included in the weekly newsletter distributed to parents on Sunday evening.

Our thoughts are with the family and community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As the head of a third-party operation company for e-commerce giant Meituan's food delivery service in central China's Hubei Province, 31-year-old Jiang Zeyu has been quite busy conducting interviews to hire new employees recently.

An increasing number of catering enterprises in China are embracing online services, leading to surging demand for digitalization professionals and lots of work for people like Jiang.

By visiting merchants, assessing their business situations, designing food delivery products, and optimizing online operations, Jiang and his team provide a series of food delivery management services, helping merchants expand their brand influence while increasing revenue.

"Seeing the average monthly income of the merchants we serve increase by over 60 percent gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. There is great market potential for digital empowerment in the catering industry and beyond," Jiang said.

Jiang is one of the growing community of professionals driving the transformation of various industries in China towards a smart future. The flourishing digital economy in various fields has given rise to a variety of digital professions and a strong demand for digital talents, setting up a broad stage for career development.

The added value of the core industries of China's digital economy in 2023 is expected to exceed 12 trillion yuan (about 1.69 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for about 10 percent of GDP.

The key to developing the digital economy is to speed up the cultivation of digital talents and train a large number of high-level digital engineers and highly-skilled personnel, said Li Jinsheng, an official with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

It is estimated that a gap requiring about 25 million to 30 million digitalization professionals needs to be filled to meet the demand of China's digital economy.

China has in recent years stepped up efforts to nurture professionals serving the digital economy, including developing national occupational standards for digitalization professions and designing tailor-made training courses.

In the country's latest revised version of its list of recognized occupations released in 2022, 97 professions related to the digital sectors, such as internet marketing specialist and digital twin application technician, were added for the first time.

In April 2024, the government unveiled a three-year plan to foster talent to drive the growth of its digital economy. The initiative aims to enhance support for digital talent through various programs and policy reinforcements.

This new policy outlines six key projects, including digital technology engineer training, digital skills enhancement and international exchanges for digital talent. It also encourages educational institutions and enterprises to play their part in boosting the supply of talent.

In 2020, Meituan joined hands with the country's human resources ministry to roll out a food delivery operations skills training project, which has so far trained tens of thousands of food delivery operators in the catering industry, benefiting over 100,000 small and medium-sized businesses.

In southwest China's Guizhou Province, a digital economy pioneer province in the country, colleges have set up related majors, while 20 training bases for big data professionals have been identified there.

The number of professionals related to big data has risen to 430,000 in 2023, said Zhang Tao, who is in charge of HR and talent development for the province's big data industry.

"We also saw improvement in the talent structure. However, we still need more high-skilled professionals and R&D talents," Zhang added. 
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Austin city leaders are working to build out a grant program to help provide financial assistance for certain home-based child care providers, according to a city memo released last week.

Austin Public Health and the citys Economic Development Department are recommending the new grant program be enacted, with the following eligibility criteria:

State of Texas licensure or registration

Location with Austins full purpose jurisdiction

Active agreement with Workforce Solutions Capital Area

Participation in the Texas Rising Star program, featuring entry-level designation or higher

The memo detailing the potential grant program came following Austin City Councils November 2023 vote directing the city manager to determine what financial relief opportunities would be available.

0429-Child-Care-Staff-UpdateDownload

Based on the proposed grant programs eligibility criteria, approximately 21 providers would qualify for the assistance. Those qualifying organizations owe property taxes ranging between $856 and $2,821 for 2023, per the memo, with a total owed amount of $33,122.

This new grant program would provide relief to home-based child care providers, many of whom are women of color, operating on narrow margins, the memo read in part.

APH is in the process of building out its support network for home-based child care services as part of the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) planning grant from Home Grown, per the memo. The City of Austin is pursuing that planning grant and, if approved, would receive $75,000 annually from Home Grown for both FY25 and FY26. The city would be responsible for a 100% match to receive the funds.

However, the memo noted funding isnt currently available for the citys match, and staff are working to find opportunities in the FY25 budget to support it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Australian police shoot dead armed teen after stabbing attack that had hallmarks of terror

Australian police shot dead a teenage boy after he stabbed an injured a man in an attack that had the hallmarks of terror, authorities said.

The teenager, described as a 16-year-old Caucasian male, was armed with a knife when he carried out the attack in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia (WA) Premier Roger Cook said.

WA police commissioner Col Blanch said that the attack has the hallmarks of a terrorist act, adding that it meets the criteria or at least the definition of this type of crime.

Blanch said that on Saturday night, local police received a call from a male indicating that he was going to commit acts of violence.

Police received another call from a person minutes later stating that a man with a knife was running around, Blanch continued. Police immediately responded to that call, he said, and three officers were dispatched.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they were confronted by the teen, who was alone and holding a large kitchen knife, Blanch said.

The officers ordered him to put down the knife, but the suspect refused, instead rushing the police. Two tasers were deployed and when they failed to subdue him, the third officer fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male, Blanch continued.

Police discovered after the shooting that the teen had stabbed and injured a middle aged man prior to his confrontation with the police.

The victim is currently in hospital in a serious but stable condition with a wound in his back, Blanch said.

The teen was known to the police prior to the incident, Blanch said, as he was part of a program about online radicalization for the last couple of years.

We are dealing with complex issues with this 16 year old male, both mental health issues but also online radicalization issues, Blanch said.

The program focused on covering violent extremism for those that are exhibiting concerning behavior, Blanch said.

Blanch said police received multiple calls both before and after the incident from members of Western Australias Muslim community who had concerns about the individual.

I do want to thank members of the Muslim community who did that because that enabled us to identify rapidly who this individual was and respond as [quickly] as we did, Blanch said.

In a statement released Sunday regarding the incident, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia.

The incident comes after last months stabbing of a priest and bishop at a church in Sydney. Police have arrested a 16-year-old over the attack, which they described as a terrorist act.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Austria tries to curb family migration through DNA tests on relatives

Karl Nehammer, Austrian Chancellor, takes part in a press conference after a meeting and a joint cabinet meeting with the Minister-President of Bavaria in the Hofgarten. Sven Hoppe/dpa

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer wants DNA tests carried out on relatives of people with refugee status to curb the inflow of migrants to the country.

Nehammer, a conservative, announced on Sunday the increased use of genetic tests to prove family relationships.

Checks by document experts and security officials are also to be tightened as part of the family reunification process, he told the Austrian news agency APA.

"We will restrict family reunification through strict checks," said the chancellor. He did not say how much fraud had been discovered in such procedures to date.

The reunification of close relatives of already recognized refugees had been hindered by the coronavirus pandemic; now the capital Vienna in particular is facing a huge increase.

The Interior Ministry registered around 6,900 asylum applications in the first quarter. Of these, 45% were made by people who had received an entry permit as part of a family reunification programme. In the previous year as a whole, the proportion was 16%.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities are investigating a train collision involving one person in the city of San Diego on Sunday.

According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, the non-fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Taylor Street and Pacific Coast Highway around 10:10 a.m., near milepost marker 254.25 on the North County Transit District train tracks.

San Diego police and firefighters responded to the scene, however, the individual did not sustain serious injuries and declined medical attention, authorities said.

The sheriffs Transit Enforcement Unit responded to the scene to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the sheriffs departments non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is asking for the publics help to locate a missing woman.

Authorities say 34-year-old Melissa Barrios was last seen around 10 a.m. on April 27 in the 4400 block of Rosemead Boulevard in the city of Rosemead.

Barrios has mental health conditions and her family is extremely concerned for her well-being.

The 34-year-old is described as a Hispanic woman who is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds. She has brown eyes and long black hair. Barrios was last seen wearing a brown sweater with black pants and black shoes.

Barrios has a tattoo saying LA near her left eye and a tattoo of a cross near her right eye. She has tattoos on her wrist as well.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Missing Persons Unit at (323) 890-5500.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call Crime Stoppers by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the P3 Tips Mobile APP on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website lacrimestoppers.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Students laugh as schools reopen after the fall in temperature, in Dhaka

Students laugh as schools reopen after the fall in temperature, in Dhaka

By Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Schools in Bangladesh reopened on Sunday and classes were continuing over the weekend after a searing heatwave a week ago that suspended lessons as the country baked in temperatures that surged to well over 40 degrees Centigrade.

Bangladesh has wavered over reopening schools for some 33 million students amid pressure to prepare pupils for exams, even as the worst heatwave in seven decades sent temperatures as high as 43.8 C (110.84 Fahrenheit) last week.

Many people have died across the region, and experts warned the heat could exacerbate inequalities, widen a learning gap between developing and developed nations in the tropics.

Bangladesh, which follows the Islamic work week from Sunday to Thursday, will hold classes on Saturdays until further notice, the education ministry said. Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has said schools would open on Friday if needed to complete the curriculum.

Parents have welcomed the decision.

"Children don't want to study at home. This will help them make up for the loss," said Fatema Akhtar, who was waiting to pick up her grade-two daughter outside a school.

Scientists have said climate change is causing more frequent, severe, and lengthy heat waves during summer months.

The U.N. children's agency has estimated that one in three children, or nearly 20 million children, in low-lying Bangladesh bear the brunt of such climate change every day.

Separately, a fire that broke out amid the heatwave on Saturday and spread across three acres of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest that is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, was brought under control on Sunday, officials said.

Intense heatwaves have caused water shortages and frequent power cuts, hitting the key apparel sector which accounts for more than 80% of exports and supplies retailers such as H&M, Walmart and Gap Inc.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Its been six years since Bari Weiss published a long, glossy, and much-discussed New York Times profile, titled, Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web. The subheading declared an alliance of heretics is making an end run around the mainstream conversation and asked: Should we be listening?

Despite the occasional caveat throughout almost 3,700 words, Weiss made it clear that her answer to this question was Yes.

Weiss listed three distinct qualities that members of the IDW shared: their commitment to civil discourse, even about controversial subjects; their fearless pursuit of the truth, regardless of what was politically convenient; and their expulsion from institutions that have become increasingly hostile to unorthodox thought.

Jordan Petersons Astounding Ignorance on Russia and Ukraine

Weiss elevator pitch was that members of this grouppublic intellectuals, podcasters, and self-proclaimed classical liberalswere dissident thinkers willing to smash taboos, free speech warriors who shared a commitment to open debate and civil discourse, and renegade thinkers defending Enlightenment values against the forces of authoritarianism.

They were heterodox and tribeless. Their only loyalty was to the truth.

However, in the 2018 Times essay, Weiss conceded that audience capturea phenomenon where public figures are rewarded for producing content that flatters the biases and prejudices of their audiencesprobably helps explain why some people in this group talk constantly about the regressive left but far less about the threat from the right. Weiss warned of the dangers of aligning with right-wing charlatans who happen to have large platforms. She worried that cranks, grifters and bigots might take over the movement.

These concerns turned out to be well-founded.

The IDW name, nowadays, is more of a punchline than a movementnot even used by superfans of its erstwhile members. This is in no small part because many of its core members have devolved into a cadre of virulent MAGA activists, anti-vaxxers, and unhinged conspiracy mongers of all kinds.

Even Weiss has hinted at some regrets over her role in making the IDW a thing. In a January 2023 conversation with the journalist Helen Lewis, Weiss acknowledged that the IDW has unraveled and wondered if her original IDW essay had gotten it wrong.

And yet, Weiss hasnt spent much energy covering the degeneration of the movement she helped catapult into the mainstream back in 2018. But shouldnt she?

Bari Weiss, in Beverly Hills, California, on May 3, 2022. Mike Blake/Reuters

After all, the IDW may be a tarnished brand, but it lives on under less-defined umbrellas like heterodox, politically tribeless, anti-establishment, and anti-elite. Some audiences who seek refuge under these umbrellasand happen to be quite fond of many IDWers, even as theyve spiraled into conspiracismoverlap with Weiss own. In her conversation with Lewis, Weiss suggested that the overall audience of the IDW has maybe has even grown in size since she published her Times article.

Weiss website and media company, The Free Press, is one of the most influential platforms in the alternative media network the IDW helped to create. The site claims to focus on stories that are ignored or misconstrued in the service of an ideological narrative and publishes provocations from those thinking outside the lines. Sound familiar?

Weiss views it as her mission to fill the political and intellectual void left by what she regards as a corrupt and ideologically homogeneous mainstream media. The Free Press promises the quality once expected from the legacy press, but the fearlessness of the new.

While Weiss is plenty fearless when it comes to challenging the mainstream, shouldnt she be holding her friends in the IDW to at least as high a bar?

If Weiss intends to build a new alternative media with the same commitment to credibility and speaking truth to power as the old institutions, its on her to call out the cranks, grifters and bigots who claim to be in the same anti-establishment trench as her. (The Daily Beast made multiple attempts to reach Weiss for comment, but received no response.)

Jordan Petersons Downfall Is How Boring Hes Become

WHICH WAY, INTELLECTUAL DARK WEB MAN?

When your brand is built around dissent from the establishment, theres constant pressure to reject elite wisdom or prevailing narrativeswhich often means rejecting mainstream science and expertise.

This reflexive contrarianism is emblematic of the IDW, and naturally grows increasingly paranoid and extreme as conspiracy-minded audiences reward the more sensationalist theories and narratives with their attention.

Again and again, this has proven to be the pattern followed by the IDW leaders Weiss profiled in 2018.

Eric Weinstein, a mathematician who spent years working for right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, gave the IDW its namewhich he has described variously as a half-joke and also a brilliantly calibrated troll designed to get maximum attention. Hes considered one of the least extreme of the original IDW members.

But both in 2018 and now, Weinstein decries what he calls the gated institutional narrative and the irredeemable systemic corruption he believes has infected a vast array of institutions, from academia to the media. Hes convinced that many of these institutions are conspiring to silence himself and his friends (and prevent them from winning Nobel Prizes).

The self-help guru and conservative public intellectual Jordan Peterson rose to prominence in 2016 for resisting a Canadian bill that outlawed discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Petersons been celebrated as a kind of Paul Revere on the right for his belief that wokeness is a poisonous ideologyand his view that a return to traditional Judeo-Christian values is the only way to resist it. Whenever Weiss Free Press covers Peterson, it does so reverentlyas a powerful voice of dissent standing against woke authoritarianism.

While Peterson was always prone to hyperbole, he has become increasingly unhinged.

He now says climate activists want to sacrifice the poor, compares them to Nazis, and suggests that global elites are using climate change as an excuse to depopulate the planet. He compares this effort to genocidal societies with a utopian vision which leads to the mass destruction of millions of people. He believes Vladimir Putin may well be on the right side of a civilizational battle against wokeness. He describes COVID-19 as a so-called pandemic and claims its highly probable that the vaccines (which he refuses to call vaccines) were more dangerous than the disease.

Dave Rubins Dont Burn This Country Is His Desperate Plea for MAGA Love

Another IDWer, Dave Rubin, became a superstar in right-wing media as a Why I Left the Left personality, who on his show conducted non-confrontational interviews with far-right provocateurs and a handful of anti-woke liberalsbut more than anyone, IDW types like Peterson, Weinstein, and Ben Shapiro.

Rubins North Star was civility. But these days he tweets things like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) is a dishonest communist cunt, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is a vile jihadist cunt. Tweeting recently about United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator Samantha Power, Rubin said, this bitch can fuck off.

Ben Shapiro speaks during the Conference European Jewish Association at DoubleTree by Hilton in Krakow in Jan. 2024. Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Another member of this tribe devoted to civility and rational discourse is the popular conservative podcaster and writer Ben Shapiro. As the right-wings angry motormouth one-time wunderkind, hes remained somewhat consistenthaving gone from saying things like, Israelis like to build. Arabs like to bomb crap and live in open sewage. This is not a difficult issue to things like, Hamas is running Columbia University.

In 2018, Bret Weinstein (Erics brother) was a biologist who (along with his wife, Heather Heying) was best known for confronting a woke mob at Evergreen State College in 2017. This episode brought them to the attention of a national audience that might have come for the controversy, Weiss wrote, but has stayed for their fascinating insights about subjects including evolution and gender. Weiss, in 2020, applauded Weinstein for his clarity and courage and in 2021 said Weinstein and Heying were made for this moment. Weinstein returned the favor by saying Weiss is doing marvelous things on Substack, and encouraged his followers to subscribe as Bari builds an institution outside the capture zone.

Here are a few of Weinsteins fascinating insights today: He suspects that the United States is involved in a plot with China and the WHO to create a turnkey totalitarian planet. He claims that a credible estimate of the number of deaths caused by mRNA vaccines is 17 million. He suggests that China is financing infrastructure in Central America to launch an undeclared invasion with a covert army of military age men. Hes a big fan of RFK, Jr., who compared public health measures during the pandemic to Nazism and the Holocaust.

Joe Rogan, another IDW member profiled in Weiss 2018 piece, hosts the most popular podcast in the country, which also serves as a launchpad for innumerable conspiracy theories.

Joe Rogan on April 13, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

To cite just one example, when Weinstein recently suggested on The Joe Rogan Experience that vaccine mandates in the U.S. military were meant to purge ethical and freethinking soldiers and replace them with disloyal and compliant immigrantsa force that would be capable of acting on behalf of tyranny against AmericansRogan didnt offer any critical comment.

Instead, he said: Holy shit. Then you have a real coup.

Joe Rogans Im a Moron Defense Is a Cop-Out

ITS NOT JUST CANDACE OWENS

Ben Shapiros Daily Wire recently fired the right-wing conspiracist Candace Owensapparently for a long history of antisemitic comments. Weiss responded to the well-publicized right-wing media dust-up by describing Owens as truly batshit and lamented, That it took the Daily Wire this long to sever ties with Candace Owens is alarming.

Weiss, however, wrote of Owens in the 2018 IDW profile as a sharp, young, black conservative and a telegenic speaker with killer instincts. Weiss acknowledged several of Owens outrageous statements, but she couldnt hide her admiration.

The problem is, Owens was no less batshit in 2018.

Ben Shapiro Is Astonished by Candace Owens Being Her Usual Self

In a 2017 interview with Rubin, Owens said, I think abortion is really just about population control. Rubin replied with a characteristically uncritical and incurious follow-up: Thats some serious red-pill right there. In 2018, Owens claimed that liberals want to exterminate blacks via Planned Parenthood, which she would later describe as a silent genocide. She said Black conservative politicians are all called coons by the media. She declared that the word racism is repeated obsessively by people who wish to enslave black people to the Democratic Party.

Five months before Weiss published her piece, Owens called for the imprisonment of journalists and political opponentssomething that probably should have pricked the ears of a movement which claimed to be unwavering in its defense of free speech and civil discourse.

Instead, much of the IDW defended Owens.

Eric Weinstein described her as an evolving force who appealed to moderates and lefties who envy her strength when dreaming of one day themselves standing up to the crowd.

Christina Hoff Sommers (introduced by Weiss in the Times profile as a feminist) once co-headlined a tour with right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopolous, who repeatedly described feminism as cancer. But Yiannopolous wasnt the only grifter Hoff Sommers was drawn to. Rather than express skepticism toward Owens (a supposed IDW hallmark), Hoff Sommers lauded her as the pseudo-lefts worst nightmare: a formidable young black woman saying the emperor has no clothes.

Douglas Murray, a right-wing commentator also featured in Weiss 2018 profile (and now a columnist for The Free Press), described Owens as a seriously smart and sassy young American conservative whose campus and media appearances have seen her begin to gain the audience she deserves. Dave Rubin declared, I love the way Candace Owens thinks.

The IDWs embrace of Owens is a representative example of how the movement was less based on first principles like free speech, civil discourse, and independent thoughtand much more about consolidating online media clout, contrarianism, and opposition to anything deemed woke.

Although Owens is a transparent opportunist and demagoguejust as she was in 2018many members of the IDW happily hitched their wagons to her rising celebrity.

In what was perhaps a veiled dig at Owens, Shapiro recently attacked corrupt commentators who peddle conspiracy theories behind the smokescreen of just asking questions, saying such people claim to have an answer that they want to suggest, but they know theres no evidence for it In other words, theyre completely full of shit.

Shapiro appears oblivious to how much the just-asking-questions front is currently deployed on his own platform.

Ben Shapiro Is Helping Elon Musk Fight a War on Freedom of Speech

Take, for example, Jordan Petersons recent conversations with Bret Weinstein and another IDWer featured in Weiss profile, Maajid Nawaz, published on The Daily Wire.

Weinstein was just asking questions about the secret Chinese invasion pushing up through Central America. Nawaz was just asking questions about whether nefarious globalist authoritarians are using COVID mandates and climate change regulations to engineer a great reset which will enslave people and deprive them of their civil liberties. Peterson was just asking questions about globalist depopulation schemes and the dangerous side-effects of the vaccines distributed during the so-called pandemicand vaccines in general.

Given how influential this group is becoming, Weiss wrote in 2018, I cant be alone in hoping the IDW finds a way to eschew the cranks, grifters and bigots and sticks to the truth-seeking.

Six years later, its evident that the IDW didnt just fail to eschew the cranks and griftersmany headliners of the movement are cranks and grifters.

Bari Weiss on Nov. 18, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Alberto E. Tamargo/Sipa via AP Images

Now, Weiss is willing to condemn Owens. But she doesnt appear to have engaged in any public reflection over the IDWs role in pushing Owens ever closer to the mainstream. Nor has she condemned the worst statements and actions of many other IDW figureswho have only become more influential over the past six years.

During her conversation with Helen Lewis, Weiss said the IDW remains one of her favorite subjects. If this is true, wouldnt now be a good time to speak up about the moral and intellectual collapse of the movement she said we should all listen to a few years ago?

REAL BRAVERY IS ADMITTING YOU MADE A MISTAKE

Weiss has become one of the most influential figures in the anti-establishment alternative media ecosystem. The Free Press has more than 630,000 subscribers and ranks number one on Substack. She has 1 million followers on X. Her voice carries weight, especially in the world of heterodox media where IDWers have amassed millions of readers, listeners, and patrons.

During a conversation with Peterson in 2021, Weiss said her move from the legacy media (The Wall Street Journal, then The New York Times) to Substack meant she had joined a lot of heterodox journalists who dont fit in with a tribe. Peterson responded: Its like an IDW of journalists. She smiled and agreed.

Weiss told Peterson she had to leave The New York Times in order to fight for liberalism. She wanted to create a common address for independent-minded readers who had been failed by the legacy media.

When Peterson described this failure as cataclysmic, Weiss replied: I spent monthsI could cry thinking about itmourning that. It is catastrophic. If she spent all her time dwelling on the wreckage of institutions like The New York Times, she said, she would spend my life in grief. But Weiss concluded: Believe me, we can rebuild new institutions.

For several years, this is exactly what Weiss has been doing. She now presides over one of the largest alternative media platforms in the world, and she has built her brand around the idea that journalistic standards have collapsed in the establishment media she left behind. The Free Press bills itself as a new media company built on the ideals that were once the bedrock of American journalism.

How the Intellectual Dark Web Spawned Groomer Panic

Weiss has spent much of her post-New York Times career attacking the legacy media. She describes her attempt to restore the integrity of American journalism as trying desperately to shore up something that is so clearly rotten.

Does she have any similar feelings toward the IDW? And if so, shouldnt she be even more vocal about those feelings, given the intersections between the IDW and the alternative media ecosystem shes building?

New York Times editors and fact-checkers would never let a columnist rant about the WHOs plans for global domination or how the harm caused by the vaccines was far worse than the so-called pandemic.

Would Weiss allow claims like these in The Free Press? Would she let them go unchallenged in a public conversation? If the answer to these questions is no, Weiss could have a powerful impact by saying so.

Being fearless and independent doesnt just mean challenging the mainstreamit also means challenging your allies when you know theyre wrong. This is one form of tribalism Weiss does not appear willing to give up.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In the decade after they went up, the 25,000 LED lights illuminating the western side of the Bay Bridge endured a brutal pounding. The span is to be relit, with twice the lights. (Courtesy of Illuminate)

In the decade after they went up, the 25,000 LED lights illuminating the western side of the Bay Bridge endured a brutal pounding.

"It's the salty air, the wind, the fog, the rain, the 24-7 vibrations on the bridge, lightning strikes, car grit and grime  and more," said Ben Davis, founder of the San Francisco nonprofit behind the light installation that went up in 2013.

With the lights deteriorating faster than they could be fixed, Davis asked to turn them off in 2023, leaving what he calls "a hole in the night sky" for the last year.

To restore the lights, Davis launched a campaign to raise $11 million without city or corporate funding. With $10.5 million now raised, he said, the 1.8-mile work of public art will return early next year, with more durable lights, and twice as many.

"We're in really great shape," he said, and news of the relighting has sent "a shiver of excitement" through San Francisco.

The public art installation, called "The Bay Lights" and designed by New York-based artist Leo Villareal, originally relied on "off-the-shelf" LEDs because they were the best available, Davis said.

After about eight years, they were suffering noticeably, with sections flickering and dying along the bridge that connects San Francisco to Oakland.

In the decade after they went up, the 25,000 LED lights illuminating the western side of the Bay Bridge endured a brutal pounding. The Bay Bridge is to be relit, with twice the lights. (Courtesy of Illuminate)

"There was no way we could keep up with the failure rate," said Davis, founder of the public-art nonprofit Illuminate. "It was throwing money into a hole." Shutting the lights off last year "was a tough choice."

He said more than 1,200 people donated to the relighting effort, including five who gave million-dollar gifts.

The nearly 50,000 new, tougher lights are being custom-engineered and made by Musco Lighting in Iowa.

San Francisco restaurateur Pete Sittnick hosted fundraisers to bring the lights back. From windows, decks and patios at his two restaurants, EPIC Steak and Waterbar on the Embarcadero, guests marveled at the lights across the water for a decade.

"It was energizing to see the joy it brought to the guests, everybody taking photos, taking videos," Sittnick said. "You could sit and watch it for an hour and it would always be different patterns.

"What we get now is, 'What happened to the lights?' People remember them, they see them in photos. 'Why did they go out, and are they coming back?' are really the two biggest questions we get asked. And thank God, now now we can tell them they're coming back."

With his unrivaled view of the bridge lights, Sittnick came to regard himself as their unofficial steward. When he saw lights flickering or dying, he'd alert Davis, who would in turn alert engineers.

In the beginning it was infrequent, Sittnick said, but after a decade, he was doing it every month or so. "For those of us who knew [the installation], you could tell, hey, it's starting to fail."

No small amount of bad press has beset San Francisco in recent years, often on themes of crime and homelessness. But "the Bay Lights are something that can bring a sense of hope," Sittnick said.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Leaked documents reveal that Russia has been coercing Cuban citizens into the Russian Armed Forces with salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, in addition to offers of a Russian passport within months of signing up, a BBC investigation revealed on May 4.

According to the BBC, hundreds of Cubans have allegedly joined Russia's Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, online leaks reveal.

At least 200 names of Cubans were leaked in September and October 2023 by pro-Ukrainian hackers, with the BBC confirming at least 31 accounts whose names matched leaked records appearing to be in Russia or linked to the Russian army.

The BBC investigation further revealed social media posts suggesting some Cubans are receiving Russian passports within months of signing up for the Armed Forces, a theory that was corroborated by local media reports suggesting that citizenship to newly-recruited Cuban fighters would be granted "in the future."

Other Cubans who have moved to Russia on the prospects of finding work in the construction industry were reportedly instead sent to Ukraine's eastern front. In September 2023, Cuba uncovered a human trafficking ring aimed at recruiting people to fight for Russia, a violation that Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry "firmly rejects."

Russia continues to increase its campaign to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries and exploited migrant workers for its war against Ukraine to avoid domestic mobilization. Foreign recruits from Nepal, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Somalia, as well as additional central Asian and African countries, have served as primary targets for recruitment.

In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreign nationals who join the Russian Armed Forces to be able to apply for Russian citizenship.

Cuba and Russia, two allies since the start of the Cold War, have reciprocal visa-free travel between the countries, as well as direct flights between Havana and Moscow.

Read also: Id be a king in Somalia with this money: Foreign POWs on being lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine

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TAMPA  The University of South Florida this past week became a microcosm of the nation, which is reeling from a wave of pro-Palestinian protests and police crackdowns at college campuses as the war in Gaza rages on.

Officers deployed tear gas and arrested 10 people last Tuesday during a chaotic scene at MLK Plaza, where protesters set up tents and brandished makeshift shields and umbrellas.

That was after a Monday protest at the same spot, where police arrested three people. On Wednesday, nearly 300 demonstrators marched toward the plaza following an off-campus rally in Temple Terrace. The event was calmer, with no major police response.

But who, exactly, is organizing the USF protests? Here are three of the key groups.

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society is a USF student organization with up to 15 members, said Victoria Hinckley, 21, a key organizer. Most members of the left-wing activist group are undergraduates, but graduate students and alumni are also involved. It was founded around 2008.

Its one of more than 40 local chapters of Students for a Democratic Society, a national organization that launched in 2006 during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A group by the same name was prominent during Vietnam War protests in the 1960s, popularizing slogans like make love  not war, according to the nonpartisan Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. Florida State University recently suspended its chapter of the group after pro-Palestinian members interrupted a board of trustees meeting.

The USF chapter is heavily involved in activism at the Tampa campus. Until recently, the group was a registered student organization, Hinckley said, but it was suspended last month after entering the Marshall Student Center and asking to meet with Danielle McDonald, associate vice president and dean of students, to discuss demands related to campus diversity.

The group was the lead organizer of the April 29 and 30 protests at MLK Plaza, Hinckley said. Members were inspired by other demonstrations, known as encampments, at Columbia and Yale universities, the University of Minnesota and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, she said. Such protests erupted nationwide last month as students called for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and for university endowments to divest from companies tied to Israels military operations. The death toll in Gaza has surged to more than 34,000 since Israel launched its campaign in response to an Oct. 7 Hamas attack that left about 1,200 Israelis dead.

The national Students for a Democratic Society also encouraged local chapters to set up encampments, Hinckley said. The umbrella organization hosts webinars for chapters across the country to learn from each other and strategize. Hinckley said she attended one last Tuesday night.

The group relies on donations from community members sent through Cash App and Venmo, Hinckley said. Funds are used for supplies such as food and water and to collect money to help detained protesters make bail. It uses Instagram to promote its events.

No student members were arrested on April 29 or 30, she said. But Hinckley was suspended from campus and, as of Thursday afternoon, was barred from returning to university property due to alleged Student Code of Conduct violations, such as disruptive behavior, according to records reviewed by the Tampa Bay Times. Hinckley, a senior majoring in sociology with a minor in womens studies, said she was prohibited from attending graduation this past weekend. Another group member was also suspended, Hinckley said.

The university said Hinckley, who was the chapters president when it was a registered student organization, led the Monday demonstration. Protesters were told they couldnt put up tents, but failed to comply with warnings from USF staff, the records say. On Tuesday, the student group held its second protest and told people to come to MLK Plaza because police planned to use force, according to the records. Hinckley created an unsafe environment, the university alleges.

Hinckley, who grew up in Brandon, said she doesnt have Palestinian ancestry. But its important for us to be on the right side of history, she said, and demand that the war end. She said USF infringed on students rights to free speech and protest.

The university in a statement last week said the expression of free speech must remain peaceful and not violate the law or USF policies.

Were going to fight the suspensions, Hinckley said. Were going to fight the charges.

Shes unsure if there will be additional on-campus protests after commencement but said she expects rallies in the community.

USF Divest Coalition

The USF Divest Coalition is a student group that formed earlier this year, said member Will Mleczko, 20, a sophomore studying economics. Its not officially recognized by the university. He declined to say how many coalition members there are.

The coalition launched a hunger strike in March, Mleczko said, hoping to push the university to divest from companies that support Israels war effort in Gaza. Eighteen students began the strike, including Mleczko. At least two were hospitalized and several needed medical care. The protest lasted more than two weeks.

Mleczko said the group collaborates with Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and helped organize the April 29 and 30 protests. The coalition grew interested after seeing the Columbia University encampment.

More than 100 students are participating in the coalition on a daily basis, Mleczko said. Its not part of a national organization.

We dont have any sort of hierarchy or leadership. Its just a group of students, he said. Were not registered with USF, so we dont have a president or a vice president or a treasurer or anything like that.

Mleczko, whos from Illinois, declined to say if he helped found the group.

Two members were arrested last week, he said. Mleczko and at least two others have been suspended from campus. He said he started pitching a tent at the Monday protest and USFs student conduct case centers around that.

The coalition has a fair amount of individuals with Palestinian ancestry, Mleczko said.

We want to be able to go to university and know that everything is being as ethically sourced as possible  that were not helping build this war machine or helping fund a genocide, he said of non-Palestinian students, including himself.

Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

The Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression is an activist group that formed in 2020 during the nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd, said Laura Rodriguez, 24, a USF alumna who was a member of Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society while in college.

The group was originally called the Tampa Bay Community Action Committee, but rebranded in March. It includes about 15 members, said Rodriguez, a barista who majored in environmental biology and was part of the so-called Tampa 5, a group of protesters who were arrested by USF police during a March 2023 demonstration about state efforts to cut diversity programs. Rodriguez is still banned from campus, even though she and the others reached a deal with prosecutors last year to have felony battery charges dismissed.

The Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression is a chapter of the left-wing National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which was founded in 1973 and focuses on issues ranging from police brutality to prison health care. The national organization and Students for a Democratic Society are affiliated, said Rodriguez, who grew up in Jacksonville.

The Tampa chapter helped distribute bail money to friends or family of those arrested last week, she said. It also assisted in organizing a May 1 rally off East Fowler Avenue alongside several other progressive activist groups. Demonstrators marched to campus and prayed at MLK Plaza.

Palestinian community members in Tampa were interested in holding an event to support USF students, said Rodriguez, whose family is Colombian and Puerto Rican.

The group also participated in a rally outside President Joe Bidens April 23 campaign stop at Hillsborough Community Colleges Dale Mabry campus. About 100 people protested the United States support for Israel in the war. Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society and the USF Divest Coalition were involved in the event, too.
LILONGWE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Malawi's soya industry has made a breakthrough into Chinese market as the southern African country seeks to increase agricultural exports to boost the economy.

Malawi Investment and Trade Center Chief Executive Officer, Paul Kwengwere, confirmed to local media Friday that a 240 metric tons trial consignment by Paramount Holdings Limited, a local company, was successfully exported and approved by Chinese authorities.

He further said this is a culmination of efforts by various stakeholders, including government agencies, private enterprises, and Chinese representatives.

Paramount Holdings Limited Managing Director Mahesh Ghedhia told the local media his company emerged successful out of the companies that went through accreditation process by the Chinese authorities to ascertain quality of the produce before it was shipped to China.

He further said the successful trial will lead to exportation of 20,000 metric tons of soybeans by his company.

"This shipment opens a door for Malawian exporters and we plan to increase our volumes because the Chinese market is looking for 100,000 metric tons of soya. We signed a 20,000 metric tons contract," Ghedhia is quoted as saying.

According to Ghedhia, the exports are subject to waivers that the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture would give to exporters as the produce is under export restrictions.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe told the local media that the export deal with China was a government to government agreement and so far they had signed protocols on soybeans, macadamia nuts, dry chillies and negotiations are on going to sign protocols on tobacco, tea and ornamental fish.

He further said the Chinese authorities were doing their own accreditation of individual exporters of all the accredited commodities to ensure they meet standards.

"Those exporters that have been accredited will be given waivers on the export restrictions because they ought to fulfill contracts they signed with the Chinese importers," said Gwengwe.

He described the deal as a game changer to transform the export base currently dominated by tobacco.

Total exports for soybean in 2023 was recorded at 6.9 million U.S. dollars, according to the country's 2024 annual economic report. 
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government has voted to shut down Al Jazeeras offices, while the broadcaster condemned the move as deceptive and slanderous.

The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel, Netanyahu wrote on X/Twitter.

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He said in a statement, Al Jazeera correspondents have harmed the security of Israel and incited against IDF soldiers. The time has come to eject Hamass mouthpiece from our country.

Al Jazeera said that the move also included withdrawal of crew accreditations. banning distributors from transmitting its broadcasts and blocking Al Jazeeras websites.

Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences, the broadcaster said.

The Israeli prime ministers office cited a law that allows for restricting a foreign media channel that is acting against the state. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi signed the orders.

We will take immediate action against those who use freedom of the press to harm the security of Israel and IDF soldiers, and incite to terrorism in time of war, Karhi said. There will be no freedom of expression for Hamass mouthpieces in Israel. Al Jazeera will be closed immediately and its equipment will be confiscated.

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From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch

Hello and happy Sunday. I wasnt around for the late 1960s, but Ive seen plenty of movies about that era. And so for much of the past couple of weeks, the lyrics to Buffalo Springfields For What Its Worth have been on repeat in my head. (Sing along with me now: Theres something happening here/What it is aint exactly clear.) I cant be the only one who thinks it feels a lot like 1968.

Anti-Israel protests have spread across the country since mid-April, when students set up a tent encampment at Columbia University. Columbia asked the NYPD to come in and break up the protest, a move that backfired spectacularly. A new tent encampment sprung up almost immediately, and similar protests started popping up on campuses elsewhere. In The Morning Dispatch on Friday, we published this helpful map showing campuses where, in total, more than 2,000 protestersmany of them outside agitatorshave been arrested. Since then, 25 people were arrested at the University of Virginia.

(Map via Joe Schueller/New York Times)

On Tuesday, protesters at Columbia occupied Hamilton Hall (not a random choice: Protesters took over the same building during Vietnam War protests in 1968). At UCLA, where more than 200 people have been arrested, demonstrators blocked Jewish students from walking through campus. Pro-Israeli counterprotesters tried to dismantle the UCLA encampment Tuesday, clashing with protesters and shooting off fireworks.

Theres a lot to unpack about these protests above and beyond the conflict between Israel and Hamas that prompted them. Lets start with what they say about the state of academia, particularly at elite schools like Columbia. In his Wednesday G-File (), Jonah wrote about Johannah King-Slutzky, a Columbia graduate student who served as a spokeswoman for the protesters who occupied Hamilton Hall. She went viral for a press conference in which she demanded the university provide food to the group, prompting Jonah to write: The notion that the school has a moral obligation to feed students illegally occupying a campus building is so cringey, so parodically perfect in its tidy summation of whats wrong with these protesters and schools, I struggle to find the words. But he managed to find some anyway, and made the point that the schools have no one to blame but themselves: These leftist activists are exactly the kind of students they sought out. He writes:

The elite education system is geared toward a very specific understanding of what [insert fancy school name here] material is and it leans very much to the left.  Creating cadres of elite investment bankers or successful knee surgeons isnt why people go to work as education bureaucrats. Instead, creating cadres of educated activists, journalists, and academics committed to social justice is why theyre there.

While the idea that the protests might in any way influence the war between Israel and Hamas seems farcical, the chance they could influence the presidential election here in the United States is real. As Nick asks in Boiling Frogs (), Are these histrionic imbeciles actually going to end up tipping the election to Trump? We have written before that Joe Biden needs the support of young voters (and he really cant afford to lose Michigan, which has a large Arab American population), but thats not what Nick focuses on. What worries me about the campus protests isnt that theyre persuading young voters or Democrats writ large to boycott Biden, he writes. Its that theyre giving otherwise Trump-skeptical centrists a reason to hold their noses and support you-know-who.  Voters might not care much about Israel and Palestine but they do care about civic disorder.

Nick wrote that on Tuesday, and in that newsletter he called attention to an article Jonathan Chait wrote for New York magazine in which he wondered whether we might see an alignment of pro-Hamas activists and Trump supporters. In Fridays Boiling Frogs (), Nick shares a video from the University of Alabama, where protesters and counterprotesters found solidarity for a brief moment, coming together to shout the, um, profane version of Lets Go Brandon.

As the week wore on, administrators sought to clear the encampmentswith mixed success. NYU brought in the NYPD, and classes will resume at UCLA on Monday. How long other protests continue remains to be seen: Many colleges are in finals right now and students should be getting ready to head home. What if they dont?

Coming back to Buffalo Springfield, its worth noting that the iconic song that appeared in Forrest Gumpand has been covered by acts ranging from Ozzy Osbourne to Lucinda Williamswas not actually a Vietnam War protest song, but a response to the Los Angeles riots in 1966. The band broke up in 1968, but two of its members, Stephen Stills and Neil Young, later gave us a much more somber protest song. In 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young recorded Ohio in response to the shootings that killed four Kent State University students amid protestsand the anniversary of that tragedy was yesterday. Lets hope history stops repeating itself before its too late.

Thanks for reading.

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David Drucker and John have a deeply reported piece on the maneuverings that resulted in legislation requiring Chinese-owned ByteDance to divest from TikTok to keep the popular app from being banned. The bill was voted out of committee on March 7 and signed into law by President Biden on April 24, but that quick process belies the years of negotiation that led up to it. Drucker and John talked to Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-sponsored the legislation with recently resigned GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher, and learned that talks took a year. They detail how lawmakers kept the negotiations quiet, which allowed them to catch TikTok off-guard, and how TikToks rushed responsewhich included asking users to call their representativesbackfired. They also get into Donald Trumps flip-flop on TikTok (as president he tried to ban it by executive order but was stopped by the courts; now he opposes it on the grounds that a ban would help Facebook) and look at the reasons Trump might have been quiet about the bill. And then theres the inevitable question as to whether it will affect the election, given that the app is popular among young people that Biden cant afford to lose. What if any political fallout might there be? Drucker and John ask. Democrats are skeptical it will have any impact in November because the bill was changed between initial passage in March and April to extend the divestment timeframe from six to up to 12 months. That would push the divest-or-ban deadline well past Election Day, even if likely court challenges fail to delay enforcement of the law.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel this week to promote U.S. efforts to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Charlotte reports on his visit and the state of negotiations. Under the U.S.-backed proposal, Hamas would release hostages in phases, with each exchange kicking off a 40- or 42-day pause in the fighting. The proposal includes no commitment to end the war, however, which Charlotte notes is a key demand of Hamas and a non-starter for Israel. And if the deal falls through, expect Israel to launch an offensive in Rafah. Israel has also begun preparations to evacuate and provide shelter, food, and other humanitarian services to the citys more than a million civilians, Charlotte writes, most of them displaced by fighting elsewhere in the Strip. Israeli officials reportedly assessed that the movement of Gazans  will take between two and three weeks, after which the IDF ground forces can begin clearing Rafah of its thousands of Hamas fighters neighborhood by neighborhood.

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And heres the best of the rest:

Its been almost a year since the Supreme Court ruled that race-based admission policies at the collegiate level violated the Constitution. What about competitive high schools, though? Alison Somin of the Pacific Legal Foundation writes that the court recently declined to hear a case that would have addressed the issue but notes that there are other cases working their way through the system.

Sometimes, you just have to laugh. So Michael Warren and Sarah take a much-deserved break from reporting on the minutiae of Donald Trumps trial in Manhattan in The Collision to check in on what late-night comedians think of the proceedings as a proxy for how the deliberations are breaking through to voters.

Six months out from the presidential election, polling shows that the race is pretty much a dead heat. To sort out where things stand, Chris Stirewalt looks at some other numbers: satisfaction with the state of things, party identification, and voter enthusiasm. There, he finds some signs favoring Donald Trump.

In Wanderland (), Kevin (sort of) praises Speaker Mike Johnson for calling Marjorie Taylor Greene and other House of Representatives disruptors bluff. How did Johnson do it? He learned that you dont negotiate with terrorists.

If youre feeling a little down about the state of things, check out this piece we published today from Scott Salvato about growing up in a Catholic-Jewish neighborhood on Long Island.

In Dispatch Politics , David Drucker, Michael, and Charles report that a recent Federal Election Commission decision could radically reshape campaign politics. The FEC ruled that campaigns and supporting super PACs, long banned from working together directly, can now coordinate on door-to-door voter turnout efforts.

On the pods: On Advisory Opinions, Sarah and David French discuss two big Supreme Court arguments: Trumps immunity case and the suit over Idahos abortion ban. Do the campus protests resemble 1968, as I discussed above? What about January 6? Or the Occupy Wall Street Movement? Sarah, Jonah, and Steve ponder the question on The Dispatch Podcast. On The Remnant, Jonah welcomes Robert Kagan to discuss his new book, Rebellion, and debates him over whether Donald Trump represents the logical evolution of the American right.

Read more at The Dispatch

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A better church is possible: Methodists celebrate as the church embraces the LGBTQ

On a Sunday morning in 2020, while Rev. Andi Woodworth welcomed her congregation to the Neighborhood Church in Atlanta, Georgia, she had an epiphany.

For years, Woodworth said she and her wife and co-pastor, Anjie, worked to build a United Methodist Church community that was radically inclusive of everyone  especially its LGBTQIA+ members.

Their church flouted the Methodist denominations official ideology, which, in 1972, declared homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching and later banned self-avowed practicing homosexuals from becoming ordained.

But that Sunday morning, as she welcomed everyone to church no matter their race, identity, or sexuality, Woodworth said she realized she was talking to herself.

At the very beginning of 2020, I came out to myself as being trans, she said. I thought I was this White straight guy and, as it turns out, thats not who I am at all. I spent a lot of the quarantine time at home figuring some things out about myself and realized that Anjie and I helped to start a church where I could actually be myself.

While she was accepted by her own church community, Woodworth said the decision to embrace being a trans woman and a pastor in the United Methodist Church also meant that she could lose her job, her home and her congregation.

Im trans and that means if Im going to be honest with myself and authentic in how I show up in the world, Im going to have to wade into not just my own congregation, but into my denomination, Woodworth said. I was really not sure how that would go.

Rev. Anjie Woodworth, left, and Rev. Andi Woodworth during a service at the Neighborhood Church in Atlanta. - Courtesy Neighborhood Church Atlanta

A church at war with itself

The United Methodist Church has been at war with itself for decades over its stance on homosexuality.

Until recently, pastors were forbidden from performing same-sex marriages and those who did risked punishment, including being put on trial by the church, suspended or defrocked. One minister was even ousted for officiating his sons wedding.

Others told CNN they felt they were blocked from becoming ordained after coming out. For decades, it is speculated that thousands of clergy and church members hid their sexuality, while a chasm grew between the conservative, the closeted and the challengers who protested the churchs anti-LGBTQ stance.

There was always the threat for queer clergy that even with a supportive Bishop, even with the opportunity to serve in an out or semi-out way, that charges could be brought because the rules did exist, Rev. Kristin Stoneking told CNN.

In 2019, the United Methodist Churchs governing body opened a temporary window for congregations to petition to leave over the issue. By 2023, according to church records, more than 7,600 churches voted to disaffiliate, with many conservative-leaning congregations splintering off.

But that longstanding schism ended this week when, in a historic move, the church passed a series of measures to remove anti-LGBTQ policies from its Book of Discipline, which sets out the denominations bylaws and regulations.

The churchs governing body marked a new era of LGBTQ inclusion by voting to lift the bans on LGBTQ clergy and on pastors performing same-sex unions. They also removed the language that said homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching.

Many, including Woodworth, felt the changes were monumental.

This change in our church law is so huge because it means that folks can choose to show up as who they really are and still choose to serve God, she said.

Anjie Woodworth, who attended the meeting known as the General Conference, said she watched as, with each vote, many of her colleagues and friends dissolved into tears.

Weve basically been through a denominational divorce already in a lot of ways, she said. Theres been so much harm done and so much abuse wrought on queer folks in our denomination  really overtly sometimes at past General Conferences  I think peoples fear and trauma responses have been coming up, even though things were going well.

Anjie serves on the board of the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization thats worked for 40 years to ensure full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the United Methodist Church and clergy.

She said she celebrated the end of the churchs anti-LGBTQ policies with people who had been fighting for that inclusion for longer than shes been alive.

To get to watch these young folks celebrate with folks who have been at this work for decades  I was sobbing just at the beauty of it all, she said.

Rev. Andy Oliver reacts after the United Methodist Church removes a rule forbidding "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" from being ordained or appointed as ministers. - Chris Carlson/AP

Elation tempered by sadness

Rev. Andy Oliver, senior pastor at the Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, said after such a historic week his thoughts are immediately drawn to the thousands of people who arent alive to witness the change, including his friend Robert BJ Jackson.

Oliver said his views on homosexuality changed when he met Jackson, his choir director in college. Jackson was gay and in a loving relationship, but he was forbidden from marrying his partner, Tim.

Over the years, Oliver said he and Jackson became best friends. He didnt hesitate when they asked him to officiate their wedding, or dwell on the consequences performing the ceremony could have within the Methodist church.

BJ and Tims May 2014 wedding was the first same-sex union Oliver performed. He says hes spent the last decade battling complaints and the threat of a church trial for officiating 26 others.

Robert BJ Jackson died in January 2023.

He is really one of the reasons why I dedicated myself to this work  to create a church that would be fully inclusive and loving for him, Oliver said.

He called Tim, Jacksons widow, after the churchs historic week.

I said, You know, and I know, BJ was here, Oliver said, growing emotional. Can you imagine staying a part of a church all this time that in its rules tells you youre incompatible? And yet you stay, and you fight because you know, a better church is possible.

A sign outside the Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. - Courtesy Rev. Andy Oliver

The Real Work Begins

The United Methodist Church, is one of the largest mainline Protestant Christian denominations in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. As of 2022, the UMC says it has more than 5.4 million members in the US, across nearly 30,000 active churches.

The church has deep roots in Savannah, Georgia, where the founder of the Methodist movement  John Wesley  served as a minister when the city was the capital of the British colony, according to church history.

Rev. Billy Hester, said the churchs legacy and impact is visible throughout Savannah, which made it even more consequential when, in 2019, his congregation at Asbury Memorial Church voted to leave the denomination over its stance on homosexuality.

Hester said many of Asburys congregation identify as LGBTQ and after years of fighting against the UMCs bylaws, the vote to disaffiliate was overwhelming.

Although his church is no longer a member of the UMC, Hester said he was encouraged by the news this week.

Im sorry that theres been so much pain and suffering up until this point. Im so glad this happened for the denomination, he said.

But he also cautioned against sweeping pronouncements of change.

Just because the denomination says its okay, doesnt mean the local churches will. What I hope will happen now in these Methodist congregations is for LGBTQ folks to feel very affirmed.

CNNs Justin Gamble contributed to this report.

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The Biden administration paused a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel, according to a source familiar with the matter, who did not disclose why the decision was made. The hold is not connected to a potential Israeli operation in Rafah and doesnt affect other shipments moving forward, the source said.

Asked about the paused shipment, a National Security Council spokesperson cited ongoing security assistance to Israel.

The United States has surged billions of dollars in security assistance to Israel since the October 7 attacks, passed the largest ever supplemental appropriation for emergency assistance to Israel, led an unprecedented coalition to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, and will continue to do what is necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself from the threats it faces, the spokesperson said.

Axios first reported the paused ammunition shipment.

US officials have maintained that there is no change in policy toward Israel. And last month, Biden signed a foreign aid bill that included $26 billion for the Israel-Hamas conflict  including $15 billion in Israeli military aid, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and $2.4 billion for regional US military operations.

But US officials remain concerned about a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been sheltering.

The US is currently involved in intensive negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Israel-Hamas war.

Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas have remained locked in a back and forth over who to blame for stalled ceasefire talks even after the latest round of negotiations in Cairo created some cause for optimism. Both sides blamed the other for extreme views, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking issue with Hamas demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza.

CIA Director Bill Burns, who had been in Cairo for the ceasefire negotiations over the weekend, also went to Doha to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. He will remain in Doha on Monday, despite previous plans to go to Israel, a source familiar with his meetings told CNN.

Burns has acted as a key interlocutor for the United States in the multiparty talks between Israel, Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar over a release of hostages held in Gaza that would be paired with a temporary ceasefire.

Its unclear why Burns stay in Doha was extended or what may have changed. Sources have consistently noted how fluid the negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire are.

The US has sought to increase the pressure on Hamas to accept what is thought to be the most recent proposal  which sources previously told CNN would require the group to release as many as 33 hostages kidnapped from Israel in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza  while also trying to prevent the Israeli military from launching a ground offensive on Rafah.

Even with a deal in place, Netanyahu has said Israel could still enter Rafah as it looks to eliminate the threat from Hamas.

This story has been updated with new reporting.

CNNs Alex Marquardt, Jack Forrest, Ibrahim Dahman, Tim Lister, Michael Schwartz, Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Becky Anderson and Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report.

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Correction: Liz McCaman Taylor is senior federal policy counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights. A previous article misstated her affiliation.

President Bidens administration is working overtime to ensure his health care priorities are protected from a potential second Trump White House.

In recent weeks, regulatory agencies have been racing against the clock to finalize some of their most consequential policies, such as abortion data privacy, antidiscrimination protections for transgender patients and nursing home minimum staffing.

At issue is the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a fast-track legislative tool that allows lawmakers to nullify rules even after the executive branch has completed them. The CRA also bars agencies from pursuing substantially similar rules going forward, unless Congress orders it.

Rules can be protected if they are finished before the look-back window opens in the last 60 legislative days of the 2024 session. But because of the quirks of the congressional calendar, nobody will likely know when that is until after Congress adjourns for the year.

According to a review from the George Washington University, that window has often fallen between May and August, most regularly occurring in July.

Most of the major rules that supporters of the administration were concerned about were published in April. Advocacy groups praised the White House for finalizing regulations they said will protect vulnerable populations.

The administration is advancing important work with respect to health care, affordability, and access, said Ben Anderson, deputy senior director of health policy at the left-leaning consumer advocacy group Families USA. If rules arent finalized soon enough in the calendar, then everythings sort of at risk of being undone by a future Congress.

Resolutions of disapproval are not subject to filibuster rules and need only a simple majority of the House and Senate to agree in order to pass. If the president signs the resolution, regulations can be undone in days, rather than the months or years it would take going through the normal notice-and-comment period.

If former President Trump wins again and ushers in GOP control of Congress in 2025, the CRA could be a powerful tool to undo the agenda of the Biden White House.

We dont know whats going to happen in November. So Im not sure that wed necessarily think about legacy at this point. But what were seeing are really important advances to protecting access and affordability for health care, Anderson said.

The CRA was passed in 1996, a part of then-Speaker Newt Gingrichs (R-Ga.) Contract with America. Republicans have used it more than Democrats, though prior to 2017, Congress had only used it once to repeal a final rule.

[CRA] wasnt on peoples radar the way it is now. We were aware of it, but we werent thinking about the deadline the way they are now, said Susan Dudley, former administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under former President George W. Bush.

But during the Trump administration, Congress used the CRA to overturn 16 rules issued toward the end of former President Obamas term, including one involving family planning grants.

That history has likely led to a scramble among agencies.

Dudley, who is the founder of the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center, said there were more major rules issued in April than in any other month since 1981.

I think what were seeing thats different this year is theres so much more awareness, especially because we know who the nominee is by now, and we know hes used CRA before. And so I think theres just much more acute awareness of this deadline, Dudley said.

Among the rules health care advocates had been pushing hard for were ones that would expand protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, privacy regulation for people seeking abortions, as well as another to protect LGBTQ patients from discrimination. Both were released last week and could be likely targets of a future Trump administration.

Liz McCaman Taylor, senior federal policy counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said she had been most anticipating the abortion privacy rule, which blocks health providers and insurers from disclosing protected health information to state officials to aid in the investigation, prosecution or suing of someone who sought or provided an abortion.

It really responds to the moment were in post-Dobbs, where people are traveling for care, but also, technology is such that  my health care data travels with me, McCaman Taylor said. Your data can follow you, but that could also haunt you in a situation where providers are truly very fearful of the consequences.

The antidiscrimination rule itself reinstated and expanded protections that had been gutted under a rule from the Trump administration. So even if a rule cant be overturned with the CRA, there are still other pathways. Lawsuits filed in conservative courts can also nullify the rules, especially if a new administration takes over and decides not to defend a policy it disagrees with.

Dania Douglas, a senior attorney at the National Health Law Program, said she had been concerned that the administration wouldnt be able to finish key rules before the CRA look-back period, especially because of the uncertainty about when it would fall.

But that hasnt been the case.

The Biden administration has been doing a lot of work around health care equity  in the last two weeks, so many of the rules that provide these really critical protections have been issued, Douglas said.

She specifically referenced a rule bolstering antidiscrimination protections in health care for people with disabilities, something that hadnt been updated in nearly 50 years.

I think the Biden-Harris administration was very aware of this CRA deadline and worked very hard to try to get these rules out in April  at a time when they think it will hopefully be safe from the CRA look-back period, Douglas said.

Updated May 6 at 10:19 a.m. EDT

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Biden and Trump need party extremists to win the election. It's pushing average voters away.

A glance at news coverage or social media, pretty much at any time, shows that there are extremists in politics on both sides of the aisle. Its disconcerting at best, and terrifying at worst.

The sad truth is that those extreme edges of the parties have become necessary to win the White House. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden need those factions to win in November.

What does this say about where we are in American politics and the future of the parties? Is this what the American experiment has come to and is there hope that things can change for the better?

Lets start with Democrats. It has been disappointing to watch far-left progressives harbor antisemitic and anti-American sentiments in protests and encampments on university campuses across the country.

Progressives have moved so far to the left in ideology  whether its approving transgender care for minors, raising the minimum wage to astronomical heights or defending hate speech  that average liberals can start to seem like moderates.

But extremism is also happening in the Republican Party. As a conservative, it has been maddening to see just how much the MAGA faction of the party  which at first just seemed small, zealous and overly consumed with the populist Trump  has taken over the message. Despite plenty of better options, the GOP has again gathered around Trump despite indictments, a hush money trial, election denials and the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

Biden needs support of extreme progressives to keep White House

Generation Z, spanning 1997 to 2012, makes up a small, but perhaps vital, share of voters  and its members are by far the most progressive. They embrace Marxism, LGBTQ+ rights and abortion rights while also showing a willingness to vote.

Data shows that more than 28% of voters ages 18-24 voted in the 2022 midterm elections and that Gen Z is much more progressive than their parents or grandparents.

Campus protests help Trump: These anti-American college protests will only help Trump win the election

Pew Research Center found that 70% of Gen Z think the government should work harder to solve peoples problems, the highest rate of all the age groups.

While Biden has not catered to Gen Zers as much as theyd like him to, he did give them a peace offering in the form of student loan forgiveness months before his next election.

Biden needs his fringe far-left faction, even if he hasnt fully embraced them. So the president needs the group of young voters who think that despite a whopping deficit, the government isnt big enough yet, socialism is cool, America isnt that great, and antisemitism and anti-American protests from encampments at Ivy League universities are a rite of passage.

Trump, Republicans need MAGA voters to beat Biden

A woman holds a jacket up as former President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a rally at Avflight Saginaw in Freeland on Wed., May 1, 2024.

On the other hand, Republicans have embraced Trump and his MAGA movement as the best representation of their party. Polls show almost three-quarters of Republicans would be satisfied with Trump as the GOP presidential nominee again. He has bested every Republican candidate in polls without showing up to debates.

MAGA has taken over the Republican National Committee and the speaker of the House.

Conservatives need MAGA to help take back the White House. So Trump needs the segment of voters who think that Jan. 6, 2021, wasnt an insurrection, just a riot, and that the election was rigged. He needs voters who believe he is innocent and practically a demigod.

What does this mean about where we are in American politics?

There is some hope that America will find a political center

According to a study on polarization from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, American voters are less ideologically polarized than they think they are, and that misperception is greatest for the most politically engaged people.

Is unity too much to ask for? Republicans want a functioning House. So why are they always fighting?

The study goes on to say that the people who are most involved in civics hold the least accurate views of the other sides beliefs and tend to become the most polarized.

With social media algorithms working overtime, one could see how a Fox News junkie continually hears versions of the story that the 2020 election was rigged and a 22-year-old TikTok junkie only hears versions of the idea that empathizes with Osama bin Ladens hatred of Western values. One can see the fuel fanning the flames on the extreme sides of the aisle.

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I hope that fringe extremists ultimately dont represent either party and that America is less polarized than it feels. But if this is true, why is the GOP embracing it? Why is Biden even catering to Gen Z at all?

While political and civic involvement is vital to a healthy democracy, the growing existence of fringe extremists on both sides has turned average Americans off. Most Americans dont think about politics much, and their views shift with time, the news and perspective. Americans likely agree with each other on some core concerns, even if they differ in how to handle them.

This could be depressing for hard-core politicos, but it's a relief for keen observers who think the Democratic Party is going to turn into a raging horde of antisemites and the Republican Party is going to become one with a narcissistic loon shouting MAGA from the White House balcony.

Were here, with Trump and Biden catering to the extreme right and the left, because of social media, false perceptions and ignorance. But the fringe right or left doesnt have to define American politics. Americans must continue to condemn extremists and find common ground.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump needs MAGA, Biden needs protesters. Where does that leave us?
A pole holding traffic lights and a Ulez camera is sawn in half

Anti-Ulez vigilantes known as blade runners have chopped down cameras used to police the clean-air scheme just hours after Sadiq Khans re-election.

The opponents of the Labour Mayor of Londons expansion of the ultra-low emission zone to outer boroughs have accused him of being tyranny reigning over us as they continued their attacks on the scheme.

Mr Khan won a record third term by an 11 per cent margin on Saturday, beating his rivals Susan Hall of the Conservatives and Reform UKs Howard Cox who had made scrapping Ulez their top pledge.

But that has not swayed vigilantes who have launched another purge of the schemes infrastructure.

Critics claim the 12.50 daily charge on older polluting vehicles is hitting the poorest Londoners who rely on their cars, but supporters say it is vital to improving the citys air quality.

Videos on TikTok appear to show that nine Ulez locations across the capital have been targeted in the hours since polls closed on Thursday and the announcement of Mr Khans victory.

A traffic light and Ulez camera raised to the ground after having been sprayed with white paint

Matt Hardy claimed on Friday that after polls closed he had reports flooding in this morning [that] theres been a purge out there last night after this election.

Describing Mr Khan as a little rat, Mr Hardy added: Have some of that, its people pissed off about the tyranny reigning over us and getting out and doing things about it  real votes, real boys here.

His video showed that traffic light poles holding Ulez number plate recognition cameras had been cut in half, spray-painted and toppled to the ground in Ickenham, Northwood and other parts of the borough of Hillingdon.

Elsewhere, he claimed power boxes supplying Ulez cameras and traffic lights were burnt in the suburban village Yiewsley on the outskirts of the capital.

Dan the Man with a Van

In another video, an anti-Ulez activist under the alias Dan the Man with a Van claimed three cameras had been toppled in Feltham, Hounslow, west London hours after the election on Saturday night.

Khans been re-elected for the third time and look at that, Feltham have already chosen direct action  the whole pole has come down with the Ulez camera on it, he told followers.

Those behind the attacks, who often operate at night, have begun slashing power supplies from entire traffic light junctions as their supporters claim traffic flows better without signals.

Last month, three Ulez cameras and traffic lights were cut down at one junction in Hillingdon with a St Georges Cross painted alongside one.

The Metropolitan Police recorded 795 crimes relating to Ulez cameras between April and September last year. There were 200 reports of cameras being stolen and 595 involved cameras being damaged.

Taxpayers are having to pick up the bill for repair teams and security patrols in the wake of the attacks which have persisted since the expansion last August.

Transport for London and Mr Khans office have been contacted for comment.

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Social media sites like TikTok are partly to blame for widespread criticism of Israels war effort against Hamas in Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The comments came as part of a conversation at the McCain Institutes 2024 Sedona Forum in Sedona, Arizona, between Secretary Blinken and US senator Mitt Romney.

The Utah Republican asked the top diplomat why the PR has been so awful against Israel since the beginning of the 7 October conflict.

Why has Hamas disappeared in terms of public perception? he continued. An offer is on the table to a ceasefire and yet the world is screaming about Israel.

Mr Blinken said that part of the reason for that dynamic was a changing media environment, where people no longer all read from the same authoritative news sources and instead learn about current events on chaotic social media feeds.

Now of course were on an intravenous feed of information with new impulses, inputs every millisecond, Mr Blinken said. And of course the way this has played out on social media has dominated the narrative. You have a social media ecosystem, environment in which context, history, facts get lost and the emotion, the impact of images dominate. We cant discount that, but I think it also has a very very challenging effect on the narrative.

Mr Romney appeared to agree, saying the effect Mr Blinken was describing was why there was such overwhelming support for us to potentially shut down TikTok.

The US secretary, at another point in the conversation, also emphasised the inescapable reality that Palestinian civilians continue to suffer grievously.

We have to be focused on that and attentive to that.

The comments echoed a wider narrative thats been put forth about critics of Israel in the US, particularly on college campuses: that their criticisms dont stem from the facts of the conflict, and instead are the product of alarming outside influence.

New York mayor Eric Adams recently accused students at universities of falling under the sway of outside agitators, though the NYPD has offered little compelling evidence to support that charge.

Protesting students interviewed by The Independent said they had been moved to act by seeing images of destruction and suffering caused by Israel in Gaza, with the full backing of the US.

You know, when I wake up in the morning and see a video of a parent carrying bits of their child in a plastic bag, that should not be normal, that should not be acceptable, said Ava Lyon-Sereno, a Columbia student protester.

Its not just social media where Israels war effort has been criticised though.

In March, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories argued in a report that there are reasonable grounds to conclude Israel has committed acts of genocide in Gaza.

This week, a group of 88 congressional Democrats urged the Biden administration to consider restricting aid to Israel, arguing theres compelling evidence that the country has stopped humanitarian aid from the US and other countries from reaching Gaza, where civilians are experiencing famine levels of hunger.

The extent of Israels continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement in March.

In late April, health authorities in Gaza said so many civilians have been killed, and the country has been so devastated by widespread Israeli bombing, that officials are no longer able to count the dead. At least 34,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began.
Blinken to travel to Guatemala on Tuesday, US State Dept says

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the press at the port of Ashdod

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Guatemala on Tuesday to lead a delegation to the a ministerial meeting of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, the State Department said on Sunday.

Blinken will meet with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo and other leaders to discuss enforcement, migration management and refugee integration, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa)
LOME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Togo's ruling party, the Union for the Republic, won a majority in the legislative elections, the country's Independent National Electoral Commission said Saturday.

According to the provisional results, the Union for the Republic won 108 out of 113 seats in the new National Assembly, while four opposition parties took the other five seats.

There were approximately 4.2 million registered voters, while the participation rate in the election was about 61 percent, according to the electoral commission president Dago Yabre.

Togo kicked off legislative elections on Monday, with over 2,300 candidates vying for 113 seats in the National Assembly and its first-ever regional elections.

On April 19, Togo's National Assembly passed the second reading of a new constitution, switching the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system.

Under the new constitution, the president of Togo will henceforth be elected by the parliament in a largely ceremonial role for a four-year term, renewable once.

Additionally, the new constitution introduced the position of president of the council of ministers, which will be assumed by the leader of the political party or coalition winning the majority of seats in legislative elections, with a mandate of six years and considerable power in the management of government affairs. 
Mexican authorities have identified the three dead bodies found in a well in Mexico as Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their travelling companion, Jack Carter Rhoad.

The trio, who went missing in the Pacific coast state of Baja California, were killed with gunshots to the head, Mexican authorities said on Sunday.

The victims relatives identified the bodies without need for genetic tests, the state attorney generals office said in a statement.

Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez, the states attorney general, said she was committed to investigating these unfortunate events until those responsible feel the full weight of the law.

Callum and Jake Robinson, both in their 30s, were Australian siblings from Perth. Jake was visiting Callum, who lived in San Diego, California, for a planned surfing holiday, with their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, a US citizen who also lived in San Diego. The trio were reported missing when they failed to check in to pre-arranged accommodation in Rosarito, Mexico, last weekend.

The bodies were found dumped in a remote well about 15 metres deep that was about 6km from the camping site where the foreigners were believed to have been killed.

Related: Mexican cartels are fifth-largest employers in the country, study finds

The preliminary hypothesis of the investigation is that the missing men were attacked by people who wanted to steal their car, partly because they wanted the tires.

The attackers drove by [the travellers campsite] in their vehicle, Andrade Ramirez said. They approached, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and taking the tires and other parts to put them on the older-model pickup they were driving.

Upon approaching and surprising [the missing men], there was surely resistance and these people, the attackers, took out a firearm they had and took their lives.

When what was meant to be a robbery had got out of control, they tried to dispose of the bodies by throwing them into a well.

They were not attacked because they were tourists, the intent was to steal their vehicle.

The attackers had burned the tents and covered the well with boards, she said.

Journalists asked whether organised crime might have been involved, and whether the fact all were killed with shots to the head implied a kind of execution. Andrade Ramirez refused to speculate, saying that the car robbery hypothesis was what authorities had for now.

The investigation has only just begun, Andrade Ramirez said.

Three Mexican nationals have been detained, one of whom has been charged with kidnapping.

The other two are being held for possession of crystal meth, though Andrade Ramirez did not discard the possibility that they were linked to the crime.

In fact, we are sure that more people took part in the attack, she said.

At least one of the suspects was believed to have directly participated in the killings. In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him only by his first name, Jesus Gerardo, AKA el Kekas, a slang word that means quesadillas, or cheese tortillas.

Dozens of mourners, surfers and demonstrators gathered in a main plaza in Ensenada, the nearest city, to voice their anger and sadness at the deaths.

Ensenada is a mass grave, read one placard carried by protesters. Australia, we are with you, one man scrawled on one of the half-dozen surfboards at the demonstration.

Dozens gathered on Sunday evening in the seaside community of San Miguel for a paddle out  a late afternoon vigil to honour the missing brothers and their friend.

Im just shaken to my core, said Gino Passalacqua, the vice-president of the Baja Surf Club and a Peruvian who said he had lived in Baja since 2009.

Residents trekked down barefoot from their small beach cottages to the shoreline for the quiet ceremony.

Surfer Phil Brown, who said he spends four months a year in San Miguel, said he had planned to camp last weekend about 10km from the last known location of the surfers - an isolated area he said hes traveled to often.

And thats whats scary: did I just get really lucky, or did they just get very unlucky? Brown said.

Another surfer held up a sign that said Exigimos Playas Seguras, Limpias Accesibles  We Demand Safe, Clean and Accessible Beaches.

Surfboard maker Eduardo Echegaray said: Were all brothers. In the water, it doesnt matter what country were from, were all brothers.

Surfers put flowers on their boards and paddled about 20m out to sea, as others watched from the stony beach.

The men had planned a camping trip near the beach, then a stay at an Airbnb in Rosarito, Mexico, according to social media posts from friends and family. But they never checked in to the Airbnb and Callum Robinson did not show up to work in San Diego as scheduled.

The missing mens tents and burned-out truck were found on Thursday, by a remote stretch of coastline.

The brothers parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, told Australian news outlets they were heading to Mexico to be close during the search.

Callum and Jake are beautiful human beings. We love them so much and this breaks our heart, they said in a statement.

On Friday, four bodies were found in a covered-up well on an isolated ranch land six or seven kilometres from where the missing mens car was found.

Three of the bodies had been there five to seven days before they were found on Friday, the authorities said. A fourth body was also found in the well, which was estimated to have been there 15 to 30 days.

Andrade Ramirez said authorities did not believe the attackers knew the victims were tourists, and emphasised that Baja California was still safe for tourists.

In 2023 there were more than 30,000 homicides in Mexico for the sixth consecutive year. More than 100,000 people are missing.

In 2015, Western Australian surfers Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas were murdered, believed to have been shot by gang members in the neighbouring Sinaloa region before their van and bodies were burnt.

Associated Press contributed to this report
Three New York City synagogues and The Brooklyn Museum were hit with bogus bomb threats over a roughly two-hour span  and the threats are believed to be part of a mass email sent to nearly two dozen Jewish houses of worship, according to a Jewish philanthropic organization.

The emailed threats, all determined to be unfounded, drew the attention of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said on Twitter.com Saturday night her office was actively monitoring them.

The first threat came at about 3:15 p.m., to Congregation Rodeph Sholom at 7 W. 83rd St., according to both police and the congregations leadership.

Police called for an evacuation, and after a search found no explosives.

Sadly, threats to Jewish institutions across the country have increased and this afternoons threat was part of an ongoing, broader effort, the synagogue posted on its Facebook page.

Just before 4:30 p.m., cops say someone sent an email to Congregation Beit Simchat Torah at 130 W. 30th St.  known for its progressive and openly LGBTQ congregation. No one was inside the building at the time, and cops found no explosives, police said.

About 45 minutes after that, the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue at 131 Remsen St. received a similar threat, leading three employees to clear out, cops said. That threat, too, was unfounded.

Finally, just before 5:30 p.m., someone sent an email to the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway, claiming explosives had been planted on the No. 2 and 3 subway lines, cops said. Police found no explosives.

Cops have not said whether the threats are linked.

A security bulletin obtained by the New York Daily News said the synagogue threats were all the work of a single person who sent out a mass email to 14 Jewish houses of worship in Manhattan, two in Brooklyn, five in Queens, one on Long Island, one in upstate Utica, and one in Iowa.

Hello, if you see this email just have notice of a bomb I have set inside of your building, the email reads, according to the bulletin by the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New Yorks Community Security Initiative, which is run by former NYPD director of intelligence Mitch Silber.

This isnt a threat I have set a bomb in your building, you have a few hours to disarm or else blood will shatter everywhere, the email continues. The group Terrorizers111 is behind this.

The threats come as tensions and college campus protests roil the city after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing almost 1,200 and sparking a sustained Israeli siege in Gaza that has killed roughly 35,000.

We are actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York, Hochul said in her statement. Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.

As the conflict continues, antisemitic hate crimes have jumped by 45% citywide, according to NYPD stats.

_____
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  Bomb threats made to at least two synagogues in New York City were deemed not credible, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul and police.

Threats of explosives were emailed to two synagogues in Manhattan Saturday, according to the NYPD. One on the Upper West Side was evacuated out of an abundance of caution and another in Midtown was unoccupied, according to police.

Off-duty FDNY firefighter saves man from burning car: Ingrained into you that you help

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said at least four synagogues in Manhattan received bomb threats Saturday.

Police also reported two similar incidents at a synagogue in Brooklyn and a threat of an explosive on a Brooklyn subway, both of which were determined to be false, according to the NYPD.

We will not tolerate individuals sowing fear and antisemitism, Hochul said. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.

Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday was expected to announce $400 million in funding to boost security at synagogues, mosques and churches.

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.
Boyfriend of woman found dead in 4m mansion wants more Airbnb checks

Members of a forensic search team are seen outside after Kamonnan Thiamphanit's death - Getty/Leon Neal

The boyfriend of a woman found dead at a 4 million mansion she planned to let to the suspect on Airbnb, has said the site must strengthen identity checks.

Kamonnan Thiamphanit, 27, known as Angela, was found with fatal stab wounds last month at her home in Bayswater, Westminster.

The Metropolitan Police said her killer is believed to have fled the country and now her family has spoken out over fears he could be a danger to other young women.

Ms Thiamphanits mother Fiona Fu travelled to London this week for her daughters funeral and met with detectives for an update on the manhunt.

There have not been any arrests made and the Met said that inquiries are ongoing.

The force has issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, who it has not named.

Ms Thiamphanit, who had dual Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality, had been living in the UK for around nine years, having originally come to study at university.

Before her death, she had been running a successful Airbnb business in central London, where she would redecorate homes and rent them out.

Ms Thiamphanit had been running a successful Airbnb business in central London

Her family suspects that Ms Thiamphanit was killed by an unknown man who messaged her on Airbnb, the holiday rental app, inquiring about subletting her newly leased five-bedroom townhouse for a month.

After Thiamphanit agreed to meet the man on April 5, she stopped responding on her phone to her boyfriend.

An inquest heard that Ms Thiamphanit died from multiple stab injuries at some point after 6.15am on April 6.

Speaking to Mail Online, her long-distance boyfriend Chris Zeng, who accompanied Ms Fu to the funeral, said she had not told him much about the man who wanted to rent her property, only that he seemed to be very rich.

The 27-year-old said: Angela was an innocent, single woman who was killed in cold blood and this man is still free.

Airbnb need to examine how effective their identity checks are because who knows, he might do something like this in another country using the same method?

While he is still at large, women are in danger, and we dont want anyone else to suffer like we are.

Moved in straight away

Mr Zeng said that the suspect had suggested to her daughter that he and Angela deal with each other directly as he wanted to move in quickly and was concerned that Airbnb might not approve the booking because of its strict potential party risk policy, which aims to prevent properties being used for parties.

Ms Fu, 63, added: The man suggested that he and Angela just deal with each other directly.

He said he would bank transfer her 30,000 the following day and moved in straight away.

In a statement to MailOnline, Airbnb said: We were saddened to learn of this shocking incident and while it did not take place during an Airbnb reservation, we are supporting the police with their investigation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Following consultation with the CPS, police obtained a first instance warrant (often referred to as an arrest warrant) and every effort is being made to bring the suspect before a court in the UK as soon as feasibly possible.

The family have, and will continue to be, supported by specialist officers throughout the process.

The force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after Ms Thiamphanits death as it had downgraded her missing status to medium risk.

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SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Sunday he had to be hospitalized again in the northern city of Manaus due to a skin infection caused by a bacteria, adding there is no forecast for when he could be discharged.

Bolsonaro said on social media he was hospitalized again with erysipelas, a skin disease which he had in 2022 and again on Saturday, when he was also briefly hospitalized, according to a spokesperson.

Bolsonaro is ineligible for political office until 2030 for spreading electoral misinformation during the 2022 election, when he lost a bid for reelection to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

He also has been formally accused by police of fraud related to his COVID-19 vaccination records.

(Reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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Brazils worst disaster in the last 80 years has left more than 100 people dead and some 160,000 people displaced by catastrophic flooding. The southern state of Rio Grande do Sul received more than 70 percent of all the rain it typically has in April in the space of four days.

The torrential rains have destroyed key infrastructure, including water treatment plants, roads, and power lines, leaving thousands without power and waiting to be rescued from the water.

The rain isnt stopping however, as Brazil faces a Katrina moment, one analyst told Bloomberg that could impact President Lula da Silvas government as the 2005 hurricane did George W. Bush. The government has unveiled a $9.9 billion relief package. It includes programs to help rural communities and flood victims, and officials are working on a debt relief proposal for Rio Grande do Suls reconstruction. Meanwhile, to aid emergency responders, tech mogul Elon Musk promised to donate Starlink terminals so they could access the internet.

The floods are the latest consequence of a global spate of extreme rain events that have also recently hit Indonesia, Kenya, and Dubai. Experts point to climate change and this years juiced El Nino-La Nina weather pattern as the likely driver  with deadly consequences.

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Climate change is juicing natural weather patterns

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Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press

Brazils unrelenting rain is being driven by a climate phenomenon known as El Nino, a periodic event that sees surface ocean water warm up, spurring storms and rain in the southern hemisphere. Climatologists say the floods are evidence of a disastrous cocktail made up of human-caused global warming and more typical El Nino weather effects. Brazil has recently endured months of extreme drought and a deadly cyclone; Ane Alencar, science director for the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, told the Associated Press last year that the oscillating pattern of extreme drought-extreme rain was likely the new normal.

Floods worsen ongoing humanitarian and environmental crises

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Sources: Greenpeace, Voice of America, Semafor

Brazil is not alone in this: Extreme flooding has affected countries around the world, and especially in east Africa. An El Nino-intensified Cyclone Hidaya has caused deadly floods in Kenya and Tanzania, a stark reminder of the human cost of the climate crisis, Greenpeace Africas executive director said. Thousands of refugees in Kenyas Dadaab refugee camps have been displaced by the rising water levels. Many people here who are now displaced still dont have anywhere to go, some dont even have food, Joseph Ndungu, a resident of Mathare, Nairobi, recently told Semafor Africa.

Climate patterns have become harder to predict

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Sources: NOAA Research , Mother Jones, United Nations

The changing El Nino and La Nina climate cycle adds another degree of complexity for understanding how climate change will affect future weather patterns, according to research by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists predict these extremes may become even stronger than they are today, and that El Nino-like events could double in frequency by the end of the century. Ultimately, experts say many countries  and especially developing nations most vulnerable to climate change  are ill-prepared. Around 40 to 50 million people are currently affected by the weather pattern in 16 countries, according to the United Nations. The UN Climate Crisis Coordinator for the El Nino/La Nina Response, said action needs to happen now to support them.

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Breastfeeding moms sent naked photos, videos to purported lactation consultant on Facebook. Now they fear it was a scam.

Sleep-deprived and anxious about feeding their babies, tens of thousands of moms in Illinois and elsewhere recently turned to a variety of Facebook groups offering support for breastfeeding, pumping breast milk and postpartum care.

Direct responses were often remarkably prompt from the creator and admin of these groups, a Facebook user named Cathy Marie Chan, whose profile featured a smiling picture of a woman purporting to be a board-certified lactation consultant and founder of Chan Lactation LLC.

Via Facebook Messenger, Cathy Marie Chan would request photos and video recordings of the mothers naked breasts  and in some cases vaginal areas  for supposed health care purposes, according to multiple members of the groups and screenshots of private messages.

Some of the images of breasts that women sent were bare, others were taken while expressing milk or feeding infants; some women received specific instructions to include their face in the shot, according to group members recollections and screenshots of messages.

In one Facebook Messenger exchange captured in a screenshot, Cathy Marie Chan offered to perform a quick assessment of your vagina with you for a postpartum mother who was worried about a possible prolapse, a medical condition in which one or more of the pelvic organs slip down from their typical position. Multiple lactation experts said a lactation consultant would not be qualified to provide this type of assessment.

Soon members of the Facebook groups  including at least two board-certified lactation consultants  began asking for more details about Cathy Marie Chans credentials. They also questioned the nature of some of her requests for videos and photos, which seemed unnecessarily sexual and had dubious clinical or therapeutic value, according to several lactation experts.

Shortly after these questions surfaced, the Cathy Marie Chan Facebook profile suddenly vanished. The Facebook account was deactivated in early March and many of the various lactation and motherhood groups it created and ran  at least 17, by one group members count  were archived by Facebook because they lacked an admin, according to messages posted on some of the group sites.

You can only review posts but not react, create new posts or add members, the archive messages stated.

Now many of these new moms fear they were victims of what appears to be an elaborate and well-researched scam: Theyre left wondering who was actually behind the now-defunct Cathy Marie Chan Facebook profile  and how all of the nude images and recordings they sent are being used.

A few days after her Facebook profile disappeared, Cathy Marie Chan admitted she wasnt actually a board-certified lactation consultant to one Facebook group member in an email, using an email address that has since been deactivated.

Cathy Marie Chan is similar to the name of a real lactation consultant who is listed on the public International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Commission certification registry, though they have different middle names. Several Facebook group members told the Tribune they had assumed that the real credentialed lactation consultant was the same person they were communicating with on the social media platform.

The Tribune reached the real lactation consultant, who said she was aware of this situation, adding that she was not affiliated with Cathy Marie Chan.

I was never a part of these Facebook groups, and I have no leads to who this person is, therefore I have no further information about what occurred, she said.

The Tribune searched all 50 states and could find no business named Chan Lactation LLC. The website once used by Cathy Marie Chan to accept payment for services shows an error message.

I felt hurt. Betrayed, said Christina Gonzalez, 35, of northwest suburban Des Plaines, who was a member of several of these Facebook groups, including one for mothers of multiples.

Gonzalez said she sent the Cathy Marie Chan Facebook account video of her breastfeeding her twins via Facebook Messenger; she said Cathy Marie Chan had insinuated doing so would help promote education and better lactation support for other moms.

Many mothers describe feeling tremendous pressure to breastfeed their babies. The Chicago-based American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first six months of an infants life, citing numerous health benefits for the mother and baby.

Yet following those recommendations can often be difficult for a plethora of reasons. Some moms have a low milk supply. Babies can have trouble latching onto the breast. Breastfeeding moms can develop mastitis, an inflammation of breast tissue that often causes pain and swelling.

All of these women are coming together because they have similar problems and they want help, Gonzalez said. And you form like a connection with them because youre all going through the same thing. Motherhood is tough. You want to know that youre not alone.

Looking back, Gonzalez was just grateful the videos she sent were low-quality with poor lighting and didnt show her face. Gonzalez still has no idea who was behind the Facebook profile. She never spoke with Cathy Marie Chan on the phone nor had she ever seen her in a video.

I think thats the scariest part, Gonzalez said. She  and I say she, because thats how I perceived her, everyone perceived her. Thats how she presented herself. Who knows? It could be  I would say they/them, because it might even be like a group of people. It might be a guy. It might be a girl. We dont even know.

Gonzalez also fears for the fate of all of the sensitive videos and photos the Cathy Marie Chan Facebook account might have collected; one of the Facebook groups lists its creation as December 2022, though others appear to have been started more recently.

Thats the part that makes people question everything, Gonzalez said. Because she could have sold them. She could have put them on the dark web.  She could have done anything.

Magnitude of scale

Its unclear how many women were impacted by these Facebook groups.

One that focused on breastfeeding and pumping support had more than 43,000 members, according to screenshots. There were groups designed for different populations: Young moms. Older moms. Asian moms. Another focused on postpartum sexual health and self-care, with discussions about healing after childbirth.

Since the Cathy Marie Chan profile was deactivated, some members started a new Facebook discussion group for those who feel they were victims, which has grown to more than a thousand members.

The Tribune has interviewed eight women  three from Illinois and the rest from other parts of the United States  who said they sent naked photographs or videos of their breasts to the Cathy Marie Chan profile through Facebook Messenger.

One lactation consultant said some of her clients had sent pictures of their breasts and vaginal areas to Cathy Marie Chan on Facebook. Another woman said she never sent images but recalled some of Cathy Marie Chans comments to her in private messages seemed oddly sexual and inappropriate for a supposed health care professional.

Several of the women the Tribune interviewed said they filed complaints about the Facebook groups with the FBI. An FBI spokeswoman said in a written statement that the agencys policies prevent confirming the existence or nonexistence of any specific investigation that may be occurring.

Scammers regularly target societys most vulnerable citizens during times of increased stress, and lactation scams certainly follow this established pattern, the statement said. As with any business transaction, anyone seeking lactation assistance should be wary of services offered online by unknown individuals. Many hospitals and non-profit organizations maintain lists of locally based, vetted providers who can provide feeding assistance to new parents.

The statement also encouraged anyone who believes they have been a victim of an online lactation service scam to file a complaint through the FBIs Internet Complaint Crime Center.

A spokesperson for Facebook parent company Meta said in a statement, We have strict rules against soliciting, sharing or threatening to share someones intimate images. The statement also said the company has worked with experts to develop online tools such as StopNCII.org, which was designed to help people take back control of their intimate images and try to prevent them from being shared online.

The spokesperson added that we work with law enforcement to investigate criminal activity.

The Illinois attorney generals office has not received any complaints about the Facebook groups or a user named Cathy Marie Chan, but recommends anyone impacted contact local law enforcement, a spokesperson said.

Some lactation experts say part of the problem is a lack of state licensing of lactation consultants across much of the nation, including in Illinois. While most health care professionals are licensed by state agencies, only three states  New Mexico, Oregon and Rhode Island  license lactation consultants.

Proponents of licensure believe that having this layer of government oversight in more states could help prevent problems, as well as offer another avenue to report lactation support practices that seem inappropriate or suspected fraudulent behavior.

If a (state) board gets information that someone is impersonating and its in their auspices of authority  they have the authority to investigate and to send cease and desist letters, and perhaps even initiate court proceedings, said Merrilee Gober, board member of the National Lactation Consultant Alliance. Clinical patient care needs to be delivered by licensed practitioners.

As for Gonzalez, the new mother of twins, she said Cathy Marie Chan contacted her on Facebook Messenger in November asking about how she breastfeeds her son and daughter at the same time, ostensibly to learn more about tandem feeding.

If you could just record that first like minute or so as you get them onto the breasts and then the minute or so of you getting them off, one message said. I think Id love to learn from you on how to easily get them on and off.

I really wanna (sic) help mommas with twins and tandem feeders but I cant have tons of exposure to them, reads another message.

At one point, Cathy Marie Chan asked about the size of her breasts, Gonzalez recalled. She said she gave that information because she believed she was communicating with a health care professional.

Just trying to feed my child

After giving birth in October, 24-year-old Sophie Harpster of central Illinois found breastfeeding to be a struggle.

Her baby wanted to feed frequently and for long stretches, so the first-time mom decided to supplement with pumped breast milk in bottles. To get advice, Harpster said, she joined three Facebook groups with 30,000 to 40,000 members each that focused on breastfeeding and pumping.

She recalled the admin of the groups, Cathy Marie Chan, was offering help with sizing for breast pump flanges, the plastic or silicone shield that goes on the breast when pumping milk. So Harpster sent the admin a message on Facebook Messenger requesting that service, which cost $25 for priority sizing  paid through Cathy Marie Chans website  or free for those willing to wait a few days.

Harpster opted for free sizing but was surprised that she actually got back to me super-fast anyway.

Via Facebook Messenger, Cathy Marie Chan sent a list of instructions: Harpster recalled she was told to send photos of her bare breasts to compare nipple symmetry, images of the breasts alongside a coin for sizing comparison and recordings of each nipple while pumping. She said she didnt send any recordings or photos with her face included. Several other group members described receiving similar instructions for flange sizing from Cathy Marie Chan, and some sent the Tribune screenshots of the list.

Based on her credentials and how many women were in the group, I trusted what she said and sent the photos and videos, Harpster said.

Cathy Marie Chan responded with a recommendation for a specific flange size and that was their last message exchange, Harpster recalled. She said she was never asked to sign any patient consent forms or other paperwork.

Harpster said she didnt think about the photos and recordings again until a few months later when the Cathy Marie Chan Facebook account was suddenly deactivated and the Facebook groups were archived.

Then Harpster saw posts on Facebook from other moms warning that Cathy Marie Chans credentials couldnt be verified.

My heart just sank and my stomach turned. I felt  extremely violated, recalled Harpster, who added that she had previously survived sexual assault. So having something like this happen where I was vulnerable and trusted someone with something  it just felt awful.

She describes herself as typically very careful with whom she trusts and what she puts on the internet.

As a new mom who just wants to feed her baby, also being in a postpartum fog, its really hard to have the best sense of judgment, she said. Youre so tired. You dont think clearly. Youre emotional. You have lots of hormones going on.

New moms are an extremely vulnerable population, Harpster added.

In retrospect, Im just trying to give myself grace, she said. Because I was really just trying to feed my child.

These kind of requests for nude images and recordings via private message on a public social media site were red flags, which would constitute inappropriate behavior for a real board-certified lactation consultant or any type of health care professional, according to several lactation experts.

The Cathy Marie Chan Facebook profile used the credential IBCLC, or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, which requires 95 hours of lactation-specific education, 300 to 1,000 hours of lactation-specific clinical practice, health sciences education courses and passage of an exam.

An IBCLC should require patients to sign consent forms before providing any kind of care, said Katie Cohen, professional development coordinator for the United States Lactation Consultant Association.

Cohen said IBCLCs in the United States must also comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, national standards that protect sensitive patient health information. They should only be providing care online using secure, encrypted platforms, she added.

An IBCLC failing to provide care in this manner would risk being stripped of their credential, Cohen said.

We have a pretty strict code of ethics. . Were allied health professionals, said Cohen, an IBCLC and registered nurse. So an IBCLC would never  and really no legitimate health care provider  would ask somebody to send, not even photos or videos, but even just discussing in any way protected health information on Facebook. Or anything like that thats not secure.

Still conflicting

Each IBCLC has a credential number thats available on the public certification registry, where names and credentials can be verified. But there was the IBCLC listed on the registry with a name thats similar to Cathy Marie Chan, and several Facebook group members said they had just assumed that this was the same person as the Facebook admin they were interacting with.

Nicole Santana, a registered nurse and IBCLC in Rockford, was a member of some of these Facebook groups. She said she emailed Cathy Marie Chan asking her to verify her credentials after her Facebook profile disappeared in March.

In response, Cathy Marie Chan said she was not a credentialed IBCLC but had started training to become one and never finished, adding that she had inflated in some places, according to the email.

The Gmail account Cathy Marie Chan used included the acronym IBCLC in its username.

Cathy Marie Chan went on to claim in the email that she had become an RN but stopped practicing after having her son, though no documentation of her having been a registered nurse was provided in the email.

She also said in the email that she had a certificate in lactation from an online program but added that she would rather not say which program and offered no proof; someone with this kind of certificate would not qualify to use the credential IBCLC, which requires much more education and training.

Cathy Marie Chan also claimed she had deleted all the photos and videos and made sure to wipe down my computer, according to the email to Santana.

First of all, I apologize. What I did was wrong, the email said. In an attempt to feel better about myself and feel helpful, I created this so I could stop being a stay at home and feel like I was actually working and helping others. My husband wont let me work so I needed some outlet.

Another Facebook group member said she had used the same email address to contact Cathy Marie Chan and sent the Tribune screenshots of her own email exchanges with the same account from March.

When the Tribune sent an email in April to the address to try and seek comment from Cathy Marie Chan, the email bounced back with the message the address couldnt be found, or is unable to receive mail.

Santana said she didnt find any of Cathy Marie Chans explanations or promises in the email exchange reassuring, since nothing could be proven.

Her story was still conflicting, said Santana, owner of Soak Lactation. I just want moms to find qualified, appropriate care.

About 83% of infants born in 2020 were breastfed at some point and roughly 45% were breastfed exclusively through three months; by six months, only about a quarter of babies exclusively received breast milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Roughly 21% of breastfed infants received formula supplementation within the first two days of life, CDC data showed.

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants can be a critical source of support for breastfeeding moms, according to the 2011 U.S. Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.

Research shows that rates of exclusive breastfeeding and of any breastfeeding are higher among women who have had babies in hospitals with IBCLCs on staff than in those without these professionals, the report stated.

Yet data indicates there arent enough IBCLCs to keep up with potential demand.

The report cited the need for 8.6 IBCLCs for every 1,000 live births nationwide. As of February, there were 19,930 IBCLCs in the United States, according to the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; thats about 5 IBCLCs for every 1,000 live births, based on the roughly 3.6 million births in 2023, according to the CDC.

Several women the Tribune interviewed cited various barriers to accessing a lactation consultant including poor internet service, cost in cases where their insurance wouldnt cover lactation care, a lack of nearby providers in more rural areas and the challenge of leaving the house to seek in-person care while parenting.

One Facebook group member, a 28-year-old mother from New Jersey who wanted to remain anonymous, commented that Cathy Marie Chans services had been easy and accessible.

She seemed like a good person that was there to help, the mom recalled. I thought, Shes so busy, how nice of her to follow up with me. Shes nice.

Unknown identity, dubious tests

After a traumatic cesarean section in September, 23-year-old Rose Baxter of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, had lost so much blood she didnt have the strength to hold her newborn daughter right away, let alone breastfeed.

Following a blood transfusion and a little time to get her energy back, Baxter tried to nurse but her daughter wouldnt latch, she said. So the new mom began exclusively pumping but developed milk blisters, mastitis and clogged milk ducts, which she attributed to poor flange size fitting in the hospital.

She had joined several Facebook groups created by Cathy Marie Chan to get help and support through this new, beautiful, exhausting journey of motherhood.

Everyone had recommended Cathy for flange sizing. I was very, very on the fence and was very hesitant to go to her, Baxter said. I went back and forth on it for about a month but decided I needed to do this so I can feed my precious baby girl.

Baxter said she checked online and found a LinkedIn profile for a lactation consultant with a similar name to Cathy Marie Chan.

I again hesitated, but I knew my baby needed me to get sized so she can have my breast milk, Baxter said. I went ahead and sent Cathy pictures and videos of my breasts and while pumping.

Baxter said she believes Cathy Marie Chan did size her correctly. Afterward, her problems with pumping went away. But ever since the Facebook profile was deactivated, Baxter has been wondering who gave her this advice and what would happen to her photos and videos.

She seemed genuine, but I still had this weird (gut) feeling that I pushed aside in order to get help, Baxter said, adding that she filed a complaint with the FBI. Unfortunately, in the situation Im in, its hard for me to be able to get out and go to a lactation consultant in person, and I dont have the greatest internet connection for an online consultant.

Baxter cautioned others to be wary of who you trust, even if they come with hundreds of recommendations.

This Cathy person now has pictures and videos of my breasts and I have no control over what they do with it, she said. I feel helpless, embarrassed, and full of shame. This isnt something I would wish upon anyone.

Jessica Anderson, an IBCLC in Hawaii and owner of Genuine Lactation, said she first encountered Cathy Marie Chans Facebook groups close to 18 months ago; Anderson said women had come to her in the past trying to figure out if the admin was a legitimate provider.

Then, after the profile was deactivated, more women began sharing strange or off-putting encounters with Cathy Marie Chan, Anderson recalled.

Screenshots of messages show Cathy Marie Chan giving a mom instructions for what she refers to as an emptiness and pain test, which specifically request the woman show her face in the video recording.

Record yourself hand expressing on each side for 45 seconds. Prop the phone up in front of you so that you can use two hands, the message said. One to express and one to catch the milk. Also include your face in the frame so I can look for any pain cues as you are expressing. Talk aloud about how it feels and if there is any pain. This way I can understand how the milk is flowing as well as understand if you are giving any pain signs.

Anderson and Santana said there would be no clinical reason to request this kind of recording.

In another message, Cathy Marie Chan asked someone to record herself topless with no bra on and to trace her fingers over her breasts.

Keep your full face in frame so I can watch your reaction as you do it, the message said, according to screenshots.

Anderson, who reviewed the screenshots, called these requests sexual exploitation.

There was nothing clinical about some of these photos or videos that were obtained, she said. There would be no therapeutic value in it. It is strictly stuff that would be of a sexual nature.

Lack of state licensing

Anderson said 40 to 50 clients have contacted her about their encounters with the Cathy Marie Chan Facebook profile. Roughly 10 of them told her they sent images of their breasts or vaginas to the Facebook account via Messenger; Anderson said those clients have also sent the images to her via a secure patient portal, because they wanted to know if this was appropriate care.

Thats why I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, this is not lactation care, she said.

One client who Anderson had recommended see a physician about a medical condition turned to Cathy Marie Chan for help, but Cathy Marie Chan was actually exploiting her for weeks and weeks on end, Anderson recalled.

Shes like I thought about telling you, but then thought that if there was something wrong youd think that I was stupid. So I just kept my mouth shut. And I feel awful for her, Anderson added. This person was supposedly meeting with (the client) nightly via Facebook chat to get these videos, for weeks on end. Which is not the behavior of a professional.

To Anderson, part of the problem is that very few states license lactation consultants, a landscape she believes makes it easier for someone to pose as a lactation professional.

Most health care professionals are licensed by state agencies, which means the public can typically search a government site for their name, address, when the license expires and whether theyve been disciplined. The National Lactation Consultant Alliance says this kind of state regulation is needed to protect the public and profession.

Licensure validates a minimum standard for education, training, and expertise, upholds the integrity of a profession, and helps assure the provision of competent care, states the organizations position paper on licensure.

Measures to license lactation consultants are pending in Connecticut and New Jersey. Illinois does not license lactation consultants, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Yet licensing can be controversial. Georgia in 2016 passed a law requiring providers of lactation care and services be licensed by the state and that only International Board Certified Lactation Consultants were eligible to receive a license.

But in May 2023, the Georgia Supreme Court determined the law was unconstitutional because it violated the due process rights of other types of lactation care providers to practice their profession.

Thus, it may well be true that regulations promoting quality care are desirable as a policy matter, but that is not a sufficient interest to justify an unreasonable burden on the ability to pursue a lawful occupation, the ruling states.

Critical, emotional situation

Thirty-three-year-old Hala Hardy of Virginia, another member of some of the Facebook groups, said she was never asked for images or recordings. But she recalled that Cathy Marie Chans conversations with her on Messenger became really, really unprofessional  just very sexual.

Conversations started turning into a lot of talk about masturbation and sexual things, Hardy said.

Hardy said Cathy Marie Chan began sending her direct messages in the middle of the night.

She would talk about how she has a fetish for Black women. And I am Black, Hardy said.

One 25-year-old first-time mom from Tennessee who asked that her name be withheld said she was embarrassed that she sent photos and video recordings of her naked breasts to Cathy Marie Chan.

Now someone out there has photos and videos of me, she said. And who knows what theyre doing with them?

Yet shes still puzzled by how knowledgeable Cathy Marie Chan seemed, at times.

Whats crazy is  a bunch of people say they got good advice. And I feel I got kind of good advice from this person, she said. Its almost like they did their research to know, this is what I need to know in order to get these pictures and videos sent to me.

Nick Nikiforakis, associate professor of computer science at Stony Brook University in New York and a cybersecurity expert, said these Facebook groups have all of the earmarks of a social engineering scam, where an online actor uses deception and manipulation to get another individual to act in a way thats not in their best interest.

After the truth comes to light, the online profile is often deleted, he said.

They can just delete it and create a new one with a new identity, he said. And then again, ultimately, the problem is they can claim to be whoever they want to be or whatever they want to be.

This becomes kind of a whack-a-mole game, he added, because there are so many versions of the same scam.

The onus unfortunately, for better or for worse, is on users, on members of the Facebook platform to kind of cautiously use the site in a way that makes sense, he said. I dont foresee a world where it makes sense to send pictures of your naked breasts lactating to a stranger.  I think people fall for this because they are in this critical, emotional situation, where probably they feel they need urgently to give milk to their babies. And then they do things they wouldnt normally do.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com
The Revolutionary War found the American colonies in a desperate struggle for independence against one of the great superpowers of the 18th century, the British Empire. America found help in unexpected places. What turned out to be some of its most important foreign aid came from half a continent away from a largely unknown provincial Spanish governor, Bernardo de Galvez. Galvez served as governor of Spanish Louisiana, an area that at the time included Texas.

Bernardo de Galvez was born in a small mountain village on the southern tip of Spain in 1746. His father was a respected officer in the Spanish army. The younger Galvez began his military career at the age of 16 during the Seven Years War in the Spanish attack on neighboring Portugal. He earned the rank of lieutenant and was sent to what is now the American Southwest shortly afterward and fought in many battles with the different Native American tribes the Spanish were trying to subjugate. He was injured many times and cited for his bravery, rising to the rank of captain while still in his teens.

Ken Bridges

He returned to Spain in 1772. He took a number of assignments, including serving as an instructor at a military academy before returning to the New World and rose through the ranks. In 1777, Galvez, just 31, was named governor of Spanish Louisiana. The sprawling territory, which included Louisiana, large portions of East Texas and the Red River Valley, and lands all the way to the Dakotas and the Rocky Mountains, were under his command.

The American Revolution erupted two years prior to Galvez becoming governor. A British defeat would take immense pressure off the Spanish in North America. However, the delicate diplomatic situation between Spain and Great Britain prevented him from taking any overt action. Nevertheless, he devised a plan to aid the colonists anyway. In 1777, he quietly pulled together supplies and sent them up the Mississippi River to the Ohio River and from there to Pennsylvania. He sent weapons, medical supplies, and uniform materials worth more than $2 million in 2024 dollars to a grateful Continental Army.

In 1778, a group of American refugees came to Galvez seeking land and founded Galveztown in Southeast Louisiana. Galvez began sending troops and colonists to the area in hopes of transforming the area in a Spanish military base against British intrigues in Spanish Florida. By August 1779, Spain was at war with England, and it was Galvez's job to oversee the defense of Spanish interests in the region.

While there would be clashes between Spanish and English land forces, Galvez realized the bulk of the fighting would be naval battles in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. English naval supremacy prevented many supplies from reaching the colonies. By contrast, the American navy, though staffed with spirited men, consisted of only a handful of ships and was too small to cause any significant damage to the huge British fleet. However, France and Spain, with their large fleets, proved to be a much more even match.

In late 1779, a message to British forces in Jamaica was intercepted by the Spanish, and Galvez prepared Louisiana for an attack. His forces deflected a British force at Baton Rouge in 1779. He sent the Spanish fleet to attack British ports and ships in the region. Slowly, he wore down the British advantage, allowing much needed supplies to reach the Americans. Galvez was preparing to press the advantage of the Spanish with an invasion of British Jamaica when word came that the war had ended. George Washington himself extended his lavish praise to Galvez in his role in the long war for American freedom.

With the fighting over by 1782, Galvez represented Spain in the treaty negotiations in Paris to formalize the end of the war. He worked closely with his American counterpart, Ben Franklin, to help secure the new nations strategic interests while regaining Florida for Spain. The Treaty of Paris was formally approved in 1783.

In 1785, he was appointed viceroy of New Spain by King Charles III. New Spain included all of Spains imperial possessions in North America and the Caribbean Sea, from Panama to California to Florida. As viceroy, Galvez was second only to the king in all matters relating to North America.

He fell ill and died in Mexico City in November 1786 at the age of 40. Statues honoring him were later placed in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Mobile, Alabama. Galveston was named for him when it was founded as a Mexican port in 1825. Congress named him as an honorary American citizen in 2014.

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Galvez served as governor of Spanish Louisiana in American Revolution
(WHNT)  Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville are two of 18 co-sponsors on a bill aimed at making campus protestors convicted of crimes ineligible to receive certain loan forgiveness.

The bill, called the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act, was introduced on May 2 by Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas).

Senator Katie Britt issued the following statement regarding the bill:

American college campuses shouldnt be daycares. When students disrupt campus learning environments by choosing to break the law, they should face real-world consequences. One of these consequences should certainly be that American taxpayers arent going to pick up their tab. The No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act isa commonsense bill that would deter further lawlessness on campuses across our nation. Senator Katie Britt

Senator Tommy Tuberville also issued the following statement regarding the bill:

I spent 40 years in education, our college campuses are not daycare facilities. You have the right to protest in this country, but you do not have the right to riot, takeover public spaces, or threaten other students. The Supreme Court has already ruled that Bidens student loan scheme is unconstitutional. Taxpayers shouldnt be forced to pay a cent towards other peoples loans and they certainly shouldnt pay the tuitions of these entitled criminals who are wreaking havoc on college campuses. We need law and order and common sense restored in this country. Senator Tommy Tuberville

Alabama state senator chides male colleagues for letting parental leave bill die

If passed, the bill looks to establish that an individual who is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law related to the individuals conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education shall be ineligible for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans.

The introduction of the bill comes amidst college campus protests nationwide.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik and other school officials appeared before the House Education Committee to testify about their response to on-campus antisemitism last month.

The testimony from campus officials sparked a Gaza solidarity encampment that began on Columbias campus the same day. Nearly 400 campus protests have occurred in the two weeks since, according to a report from The Hill.

Alabama court wont revisit frozen embryo ruling

Here in the Yellowhammer State, hundreds of students at the University of Alabama took part in a pro-Palestine protest outside of the student center last week.

People have been arrested at 36 universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and California Polytechnic University, Humboldt, The Hill reported. 25 students were arrested for trespassing at the University of Virginia on Saturday.

You can read more about the recent campus protests here.

According to Cottons office, Congressman Brandon Williams of New Yorks 22nd District is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
SYDNEY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Western Australian (WA) Police Force announced on Sunday that a 16-year-old boy who stabbed another man with a kitchen knife in Perth was shot dead by police on Saturday night.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said at a press conference that police received a call at about 10:10 p.m. local time from a male that indicated he was going to commit acts of violence. But he didn't provide his name or a location.

Some minutes later, police received another call from a person stating that a male with a knife was running around a car park. Police immediately responded to that call, and three officers attended that location. When they exited their vehicle, the officers were confronted by a male alone, with a large kitchen knife.

Blanch said that the officers challenged the male to put down the knife, but he did not comply and rushed one of the officers. Two officers deployed their tasers but both of them didn't have the full desired effect. The male continued to advance on the third officer with a firearm, who fired a single shot and fatally wounded the male.

The deceased male was a 16-year-old Caucasian man. He was taken to hospital and declared deceased at approximately 11:00 p.m., the police commissioner added.

"There was a report and we didn't know that until after the shooting, that a male had been stabbed in the back in the car park where police did respond," Blanch said. "That male is currently in hospital with a stab wound to the back. He's in a serious but stable condition."

State media Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted WA Premier Roger Cook as saying that there were indications that the boy had been radicalized online. 
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) dodged a question Sunday on whether he would be concerned about political violence if former President Trump loses the presidential election in November.

Co-host Jake Tapper pressed Burgum on State of the Union about whether he is worried that there could be political violence if the former president loses the race in November. Tapper noted that Trump told Time magazine in a recent interview that it depends when asked if there could be political violence after the election if he doesnt win.

Burgum sidestepped the question and instead began to rattle off previous contests that he said were widely contested after the elections. He told Tapper that the bigger context here is about elections in America.

We talk about an election like its one thing in our country, but elections are still run at the state, the county and the precinct level, he said. And in Cook County, it was very close between Kennedy and Nixon, and Nixon conceded. In 2000, theyve made movies about it, and that election was contested for two months in the courts afterwards.

Tapper then pressed Burgum more about his question on potential violence, but the governor did not directly answer his question. Burgum instead emphasized that both sides should be focusing on securing elections so that both feel good about how it was counted.

Im looking forward to next January when Vice President Harris certifies the election for Donald Trump. I mean, the American people are the ones that get to decide these elections, but for both parties and for all Americans, weve got to make sure that every county, every precinct is beyond reproach, that everybody can be confident in our country, he replied.

Tapper was referring to Trumps recent interview with Time magazine, where he was asked about potential political violence after Novembers election. Trump first told the magazine that he expected to win and that there would be no violence.

I think were gonna have a big victory. And I think there will be no violence, he replied, according to the transcript.

Days later, he was pressed further in the interview on whether there could be violence if he does not win the election.

I think were going to win. And if we dont win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election. I dont believe theyll be able to do the things that they did the last time. I dont think theyll be able to get away with it. And if thats the case, were gonna win in record-setting fashion, Trump said, according to the magazines transcript.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(FOX40.COM)  Sacramento received its first presidential visit nearly 150 years ago in 1879, and since then, it has had a relatively modest relationship with U.S. presidents who have stepped inside Californias Capitol.

However, did you know that part of Sacramentos history with US presidents includes an attempted assassination nearly 50 years ago? And the president whom the assassination was intended for was almost assassinated again just a few weeks later in San Francisco?

Hiram Johnson, the only governor of California who was born in Sacramento

On Sept. 5, 1975, President Gerald Ford was the target of an assassination attempt while on his way to meet with then-Governor of California Jerry Brown.

Before arriving at Californias Capitol, President Ford, walking to the government building from his hotel, decided to shake hands with people crowded around his hotel and following him on his walk.

According to President Ford in an interview with The History Channel, he said, I went to shake a hand, looked down, and instead of a hand to be shaken, it was a gun pointed directly at me.

Ford was referring to a Colt 1911 semi-automatic .45 caliber pistol held by a woman named Santa Monica-born Lynette Fromme, who has become known as Squeaky Fromme.

Archives of the assassination describe Fromme as an infamous member of the Manson family, who are most commonly known for the murders of actress Sharon Tate and grocery store executive Leno LaBianca along with many others.

Who was the first president to visit Sacramento?

In an interview, Fromme said her reason behind attempting the assassination was spawned by her desire to save redwood trees she believed were in danger of falling. She had recently spoken to a government official in San Francisco to plead for them to save the trees but was unsuccessful and returned home to Sacramento.

When I came home from that trip, I saw on the news that [President] Ford was coming into town, Fromme said. My original thought was Ill go and talk to him, but then I realized you dont get attention for that.

Seeing an opportunity to bring attention to the devastation facing the redwoods, Fromme, dressed in a long, red robe, attached a gun to her leg and joined the crowd of people who were attempting to shake hands with President Ford.

President Ford said, As I walked along, I couldnt help but notice a lady in a very vivid red dress who kept following me, referring to Fromme.

Fromme described the internal conflict she was dealing with and said she initially didnt want to shoot the President as he got closer but decided to move forward with her plan at the last moment.

Whats the oldest city in California? Its complicated

As Fromme pointed her gun at President Ford, one of his Secret Service agents, Larre Buendorf, managed to place his thumb between the hammer of the gun and the gun itself, rendering it ineffective as other Secret Service agents worked to arrest Fromme.

Take it easy, the gun didnt go off, Fromme recounts saying to agents who were trying to wrestle her to the ground. She adds that she was very calm as she was being arrested.

I didnt believe [President Fords] life was more important than the redwoods, Fromme concludes.

After the assassination attempt, President Ford continued toward the California Capitol and shook hands with Governor Jerry Brown, who remained completely unaware of the incident, especially because the president never mentioned anything about it to him.

I didnt mention anything about the incident, Ford said. Why should I?

Fromme received a life sentence for the assassination attempt, but in 2009, she was paroled from prison.

The gun used by Fromme that day is now in the collections of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A few weeks later on Sept. 22, President Fords life was at risk again when Sara Jane Moore tried to shoot him following a presidential address to the World Affairs Council with a .38 Special revolver, making Ford the only president in American history to receive two unsuccessful attempts at assassination.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
The states Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case this week that could determine whether Californians are allowed to weigh in on an expansive ballot measure that would put virtually all tax increases before voters.

Its part of a rare case in which the court will consider removing a proposition from the ballot before an election. At issue is whether the sweeping ballot measure, known by its supporters as the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, is a constitutional amendment or a constitutional revision.

The business-backed initiative would mandate that voters sign off on all new tax increases, both at the state and local level. If approved by voters, the initiative would also reclassify many government fees as taxes and require any tax increase enacted since 2022 to comply with the new requirements.

A heavy-hitting coalition of Democratic officials and public labor leaders  from Gov. Gavin Newsom to teacher and firefighter unions  are asking the states highest court to remove the measure from the November ballot. They argue the ballot initiative is too broad to be considered a constitutional amendment, but is instead a constitutional revision.

While voters can propose amendments to state law and the constitution through ballot measures, only the legislature can propose broader constitutional revisions.

Business and taxpayer advocates submitted more than 1 million signatures in late 2022 to place the measure on the ballot.

Its backers say the measure is an attempt to rein in what they describe as runaway spending by Californias Democratic leaders and make the state more business-friendly.

California is the highest-cost state in the country and every employer knows it, said Robert Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, a lead proponent of the initiative. Its our job to try and create balance in those policies or try and change those policies in a major way by appealing directly to voters.

What the Taxpayer Protection Act would do

At its core, the Taxpayer Protection Act is designed to make it harder to raise taxes in California.

The measure would require voters to sign off on any new statewide tax or tax increase  in addition to an existing requirement that any tax increase be approved by a two-thirds majority in the legislature. And for certain local taxes, the measure would raise the necessary threshold for voter approval from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority.

It also contains provisions to reclassify many fees as taxes, and to nullify recent taxes that dont meet its requirements.

State and local officials have raised alarm at how those provisions could affect governments ability to raise taxes to provide services, particularly during crises such as natural disasters, economic downturns or a pandemic.

Newsom spokesperson Erin Mellon has said that while the governor is not a proponent of tax increases, the measure would effectively block the states ability to quickly respond to major challenges. She noted the state temporarily raised taxes after the 2008 Great Recession to avoid further slashing funding for education and social services.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown and three former leaders of the state Department of Finance have filed court briefs in support of Newsom and the legislatures attempt to take the measure off the November ballot. The former finance leaders wrote that the measure would drastically impair the Legislatures ability to perform the essential government functionand a Constitutionally required dutyto approve a balanced budget if lawmakers are not able to raise revenue without seeking voter approval.

By reclassifying many government fees as taxes, the initiative would require voters to sign off not just on broad tax increases, but proposals to raise fees including parking rates (as recently proposed by Sacramentos city manager), trash collection or other service charges. Local officials warn that waiting for an election would significantly delay a city or countys ability to raise revenue for even basic services, and that ballots could include dozens of questions asking voters to weigh in on various funding proposals if the initiative is approved.

Is someone going to want to vote for a parking meter rate? Thats the level of how expansive this measure is, said Ben Triffo, a lobbyist with the League of California Cities. He said if approved, it would decimate critical services, from cities trash collection and street paving to staffing 911 emergency services.

At the end of the day, if you dont have necessary tax revenue or fee revenue, youre going to have to backfill from other sources or youre going to have to make cuts, he said.

The Taxpayer Protection Act would also retroactively nullify tax increases approved since 2022 that do not meet the proposed requirements. It provides a one-year look-back period for local governments to remedy new taxes and fees.

That could affect a fairly new mansion tax in Los Angeles, which charges sellers a 4% land transfer fee if their property goes for more than $5 million. Property sales above $10 million are subject to a 5.5% fee, with all revenue earmarked for affordable housing and renter protections.

The tax, which has been criticized as dampening the citys luxury real estate market (including on the Netflix series Selling Sunset), was approved by 58% of Los Angeles voters in 2022. But if the Taxpayer Protection Act is approved by voters, the mansion tax would be forced back to the ballot.

Theyre going to have to go back because of our look-back provision to get a two-thirds vote on that, instead of the majority vote that it received, in order for it to continue to move forward, Lapsley said.

The League of Cities estimates roughly $2 billion in municipal revenue around California could be lost under the look-back provision if the funds are not re-approved by voters.

When is a constitutional amendment actually a constitutional revision?

The main argument posed by opponents of the measure is that its too broad to be considered a constitutional amendment.

In court documents filed last fall, lawyers for Newsom and the legislature argued the proposal is unlike any measure that has ever gone before the voters with respect to the sweeping changes it would make to Californias fundamental governmental structure, the foundational powers of its branches, and the governments ability to provide the essential government functions required by a functioning state.

Supporters of the initiative argue in court documents that it merely amends existing sections of the constitution.

The California Supreme Court has invalidated ballot measures after ruling them illegal constitutional revisions at least twice before: In 1948, the court removed a massive ballot measure that dealt with various topics and would have repealed or amended 15 of the 25 articles of the state constitution at the time. The case preceded and helped give rise to a later rule that ballot measures deal with a single issue. The court also struck down part of a 1990 ballot measure it deemed an unlawful constitutional revision, but only after voters weighed in and approved it.

Otherwise, the states highest court has often defended Californias citizen initiative and referendum process as one of the most precious rights of our democratic process and has maintained it a duty of the courts to jealously guard this right of the people.

Backers of the Taxpayer Protection Act point out that the landmark Proposition 13, which limits property tax increases, faced a similar pre-election challenge in 1978. At the time, the California Supreme Court allowed it to stay on the ballot.

Lapsley with the California Business Roundtable acknowledged there was a different court makeup in 1978, but said he is confident the court would let the current measure remain on the ballot.

They would be setting a massive precedent if they take us off the ballot, he said. Let me be clear about this: if they do that, then we are a one-party state from top to bottom, with no independent judiciary whatsoever. That is going to be the message that business takes away across the country.

Do other states require voter sign-off on taxes?

Proponents of the measure said its modeled after Colorados Taxpayers Bill of Rights, a 1992 law that requires voter sign-off on any new taxes. The law was amended in 2020 to require voter approval of new fees or fee increases. It also mandates the state refund surplus revenue to taxpayers, among other restrictions.

The law, known as TABOR, has led to tax refunds for Coloradans over the years, but has often gummed things up for lawmakers trying to balance a budget, said Richard Auxier, a researcher with the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

When youre in the middle of a recession, delays [in raising revenue] could then lead to job losses and a worse economic situation, he said. We always want voters to be part of the process but the reason we have representative legislatures is so they can act on these things and then adjust to fast-moving situations.

Many states, including those with Republicans in charge, only require supermajority votes from legislators to impose new taxes, Auxier said. That rule already applies in California.

He described the measure less as a good-government initiative but as just politics. This is one side setting the rules that would be most advantageous to their side, not rules that would necessarily be advantageous to public policy.

The states highest court will hear oral arguments in the case May 8 in San Francisco. Both sides have asked for a decision before June 27, which is the deadline for the Secretary of State to certify Californias general election ballot.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser speaks at a topical hour on "Russia, China and the AfD" in the German Bundestag. Jessica Lichetzki/dpa

Protesters have called for demonstrations in Germany to denounce recent attacks on politicians and campaign workers in street violence that shocked the country.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, meanwhile, has reportedly sought an urgent meeting with her state-level colleagues to address added security measures to prevent further political violence in the lead up to June's European Parliament elections.

Matthias Ecke, a Social Democrat (SPD) and member of European Parliament since 2022, was brutally beaten by a gang of four assailants on Friday evening while hanging campaign posters in the eastern German city of Dresden.

Minutes before Ecke was attacked, according to the police, a group of four unidentified assailants had assaulted a 28-year-old Green Party campaign worker while he was putting up posters in the same part of Dresden.

According to the police, four young men believed to be between 17 and 20 years old attacked Ecke.

A police spokesman said witnesses described the assailants as dressed in dark clothing and said they seemed to be part of the far-right extremist scene. Police are still investigating the crime and have not identified suspects.

There have been several violent incidents during election campaigns across Germany, including on Thursday evening in the western German city of Essen, where the Green Party member of parliament Kai Gehring and his party colleague Rolf Fliss were attacked after a party event.

In the western German town of Nordhorn, a politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was beaten at an information stand on Saturday morning, according to police reports.

Two activist groups called for demonstrations on Sunday in both Dresden and Berlin to denounce the violence.

Interior ministers from Germany's 16 federal states are expected to convene next week to discuss the attacks. Faeser, a fellow member of the SPD, called for the meeting on Saturday, not long after police disclosed details of the assault on Ecke, the Tagesspiegel newspaper reported.

Ecke, 41, was severely injured in the attack and required an operation in hospital, according to his political party.

The Greens in the eastern state of Saxony have already reacted after other attacks last weekend in Chemnitz and Zwickau and are no longer sending their members to put up posters on their own. Other parties are now also making similar considerations and guidelines in the wake of the assault on Ecke.

"The constitutional state must and will react to this with a tough approach and further protective measures for the democratic forces in our country," Faeser said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, a Green, also condemned the recent attacks on Sunday.

"Brutal attacks on committed democrats, campaigners & politicians are attacks on the foundation of our democracy: free elections," the minister, currently on a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"The reports about this are frightening. Violence is never a means of democracy."

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) steps out of the Airbus A350 on her arrival at Nadi International Airport. Baerbock's week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will focus on security policy and climate protection. Sina Schuldt/dpa

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock steps out of the Airbus A350 on her arrival at Nadi International Airport. Baerbock's week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will focus on security policy and climate protection. Sina Schuldt/dpa

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) steps out of the Airbus A350 on her arrival at Nadi International Airport. Baerbock's week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will focus on security policy and climate protection. Sina Schuldt/dpa
The union representing the 10 University of California police departments says UC administrators, not the UCLA police chief, are to blame for UCLAs response to on-campus protests last week.

In a statement, the Federated University Police Officers Association said the lack of response to violence from pro-Israeli counter-protesters at the UCLA encampment on Tuesday, and subsequent raid on the encampment early Thursday morning, followed the guidelines written by UC administrators.

Officers raid pro-Palestinian protest encampment at USC

The written guidelines for roles and responsibilities make clear that senior UC administrators on each campus are solely responsible for the Universitys response to campus protests; those administrators decide the objective, and campus police are only responsible for tactics in implementing those objectives, said Wade Stern, President of the FUPOA. As such, the UCLA administration owns all the fallout from the response and lack of response to this protest.

Last week, UC President Michael Drake opened an investigation into the UCLA campus polices response, or lack thereof, to the violence on Tuesday night. About 50 counter-protesters stormed the on-campus encampment and launched fireworks at tents inside.

The attacks were condemned by Jewish groups and Governor Gavin Newsom.

Drake ordered a detailed accounting from the campus about what transpired and ordered an independent review of the universitys planning, its actions and the response by law enforcement.

Israel orders Al Jazeera to close its local operation and seizes some of its equipment

According to the Los Angeles Times, the probe revolves around UCLA Police Department Chief John Thomas and his alleged lack of a safety plan amid the protests, despite the universitys insistence that he provides one.

The campus police union, however, says the lack of a plan is at the fault of administrators.

Its paramount to recognize that when protests erupt on campus, the decisions regarding the response of the UC Police rest firmly in the hands of campus leadership, the FUPOA statement reads. They shoulder the accountability for the outcomes stemming from these decisions, not the UC Police Department. It underscores the crucial distinction between operational execution and strategic direction. The campus leadership, not law enforcement, owns the results of their decisions.

Early in the morning on Thursday, law enforcement agencies from across Los Angeles raided the UCLA encampment in a forceful and violent fashion, resulting in hundreds of arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters. Law enforcement officers, dressed in riot gear, allegedly used rubber bullets and flashbangs as they cleared the encampment around 3 a.m.

Study: The hardest place to save money in America is in Southern California, but its not L.A.

Students at other Los Angeles-area college campuses  including University of California, Riverside and University of Southern California  have held rallies and erected encampments in protest of the Israel-Hamas conflict; on April 24, police in riot gear arrested dozens of demonstrators at USC as they dispersed a large pro-Palestinian protest, and three days later, a city-wide tactical alert was issued by LAPD officials due to the disturbances,

Another encampment that had been erected at USCs Alumni Park last week was taken down early Sunday morning. No arrests were reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A school bond in Canutillo ISD appears to be heading for a slim victory after the El Paso County Elections Department posted unofficial final voting totals at about 10 p.m. Saturday, May 4.

The bond led for most of Saturday night but as later vote totals were announced, opponents cut into the lead as the evening progressed.

A bond in the Lower Valley Water District also appears headed to a slim victory after trailing all evening, according to unofficial final results.

Canutillo Independent School District is asking for a $387 million bond to be approved by the districts voters.

The bond is broken up into two ballot questions. Proposition A would issue $379 million of bonds for new construction, repairs and upgrades of the districts schools. Proposition B would issue $7.2 million in bonds to repay debt incurred during the pandemic to equip the districts students with laptops for remote learning.

Proposition A appears to have passed with 1,042 votes (50.78 percent) with 1,010 votes against (49.22 percent).

Proposition B appears to have passed with 1,026 votes in favor (50.32 percent) with 1,013 votes against (49.68 percent).

The district says the average homeowner in Canutillo would see an increase in their property taxes of $3.17 a month if the bond passes. Qualifying senior citizens would not see their tax rate increase.

The bond would be used to rebuild and relocate Davenport Elementary and Alderete Middle School campuses from their current locations to the fast-growing Enchanted Hills subdivision, the district said.

The Enchanted Hills subdivision is one of the places Canutillo ISD is considering for relocating schools. Jesus Baltazar/KTSM

The bond would also allow the district to re-build and relocate Canutillo Middle School from its current location to a fast-growing Upper Valley location.

Other projects would include: the construction of a brick-and-mortar Northwest Early College High School campus; upgrades to the heating and cooling systems at existing schools; district-wide roof replacements, safety and security improvements; and other repairs at aging campuses, according to the district.

Elsewhere in El Paso County, the Lower Valley Water District is asking for a $35 million bond for various projects.

The bond trailed for most of the night but appears to be headed for a slim victory after unofficial final results were announced.

The bond garnered 314 votes in its favor (50.48 percent) vs. 308 votes against (49.52 percent).

The Lower Valley Water District provides water, wastewater and solid waste services in the southeastern part of the county.

In San Elizario, three candidates are running for mayor. Miguel Chacon led all night and finished with 222 votes (45.96 percent), according to unofficial final results. Chacon was followed by incumbent Isela Reyes with 168 votes (34.78 percent) and Vincent Jemison with 93 votes (19.25 percent).

Story continues

It is unclear if San Elizario has runoff elections in races where a candidate does not secure a majority.

Two alderperson seats are also being contested in San Elizario.

In Place No. 4, Armando (Mando) Alarcon is the apparent winner with 309 votes (67.91 percent) with Antonio Flores Jr. tallying 146 votes (32.09 percent).

In Place No. 5, Thomas Black appears headed to victory with 282 votes (62.25 percent). Octavio Hernandez Jr. trailed with 171 votes (37.75 percent).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Captain jailed for jumping overboard during fire leaving 34 to die trapped below deck

The captain of a California dive boat who jumped overboard rather than put out a fire that killed 34 people has been jailed.

Jerry Boylan was sentenced to four years for criminal negligence over his response after a fire broke out on The Conception in September 2019, killing 33 passengers and one crew trapped below deck.

It was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the country for years and led to an overhaul of laws and congressional reform. There are several still ongoing lawsuits.

Relatives of the victims have denounced the sentence, saying he should have been jailed for the 10-year maximum allowed.

Robert Kurtz, father of the sole deckhand killed, Alexandra Kurtz, held a small container with him as he spoke to the court. This is all I have of my daughter, he said.

After the sentencing, Susana Solano, who lost three of her daughters and their father on the boat, said she was extremely disappointed. She said: Its just heart-wrenching.

Boylan, 70, was found guilty of a pre-Civil War statute colloquially known as seamans manslaughter. It was designed to hold steamboat captains and crew responsible for maritime disasters.

Kathleen and Clark Mcllvain whose son Charlie died - RICHARD VOGEL/AP

His lawyers had argued that the real blame lay with Glen Fritzler, who, with his wife, owns Truth Aquatics Inc, which operated The Conception and two other scuba dive boats. They alleged that Mr Fritzler was responsible for failing to train the crew in firefighting and other safety measures.

But that argument was rejected by the court.

The couple have not publicly commented on the fire since an interview with a local TV station a few days afterwards. Their attorneys have not responded to requests for comment from reporters.

Though investigators never found the cause of the fire, which broke out in the early hours, there was speculation that it was sparked by overheated lithium ion batteries.

Reports based on a leaked probe by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives suggested it began in a plastic rubbish bin located on the main deck and then spread rapidly. The blaze blocked the exits for those who were below deck.

A total of 39 people  33 passengers and six crew members  were aboard the ship. Surviving crew members told the National Transportation Safety Board that the boats smoke alarms did not go off.

Barbara Chan whose brother, Scott, and niece, Kendra, were killed - RICHARD VOGEL/ap

During the hearing, Boylans lawyer read a statement in which he expressed his condolences and said he had cried every day since the fire.

I wish I could have brought everyone home safe, the statement said. I am so sorry.

Federal judge George Wu said that when it came to deciding the length of sentence he had taken into account Boylans age, health, and the unlikelihood of a recurrence.

He said while Boylans behaviour was reckless, the guidelines for sentencing did not warrant a 10-year sentence.

This is not a situation where the defendant intended to do something bad, he added.

Boylan is appealing the conviction and is currently out on bail.

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A woman has been spotted endangering her young child at Estes Park, Colorado, by leading the youngster right up to a napping bull elk. The tourist is so preoccupied with trying to photograph the snoozing animal, she seems unaware of the risk to her youngster, who crouches on the ground about two feet from the powerful animal.

Estes Park is a picturesque town that often serves as a base for people visiting nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, and is well known for its population of elk. Around 2,400 of the animals were estimated to be living in the Estes valley in 2020, and they are a common sight year round.

The animals roam freely, occasionally straying into local businesses like hunting stores and gift shops. Residents know to give them plenty of space and call for expert help to guide them out of harm's way, but visitors aren't always as cautious.

A video of the careless photographer and her daughter (which you can see below) was shared this week via Instagram account TouronsOfNationalParks, which calls out bad behavior at sites of natural beauty around the world, often including wildlife.

A post shared by @touronsofnationalparks A photo posted by on

Viewers were alarmed, roundly criticizing the parent's lack of consideration for the threat such a powerful animal could pose to a small child.

"How incredibly unsafe," wrote one commenter. "The first thing I see is a sleeping animal [startled] awake and running straight for these two with its rack in defense mode. I wouldn't even let my dog near a sleeping giant much less a child."

"Im a former zookeeper and current wildlife rehabber," said another. "That child would be gored if she ran playfully at them."

Elk safety

Officials at Estes Park warn visitors to give elk plenty of space, and take care not to disturb them, particularly during calving season in the spring and rutting season in the fall.

"Every day our dispatch center receives numerous calls for police officers to respond to elk issues around town, and the vast majority of issues are caused by people," says Estes Park Police Chief Wes Kufeld.

Most problems are caused by people getting too close to the animals, or by visitors stopping their cars in the road to take pictures, causing traffic jams.

"Safety should be first on the minds of elk-viewers, so they can have a great experience," says Kufeld.

For more advice, take a look at our guides how to enjoy elk rutting season safely and wildlife safety: eight tips for surprise encounters.

The best binoculars: enjoy watching wildlife from a safe distance
Sign outside Ann Arbor polling place, Nov. 8, 2022 | Laina G. Stebbins

Last month, Wisconsin joined 27 other states that have banned or restricted local governments use of private donations to run cash-strapped election offices, buy voting equipment or hire poll workers for Election Day.

All of the state laws came in the past four years, pushed by conservative lawmakers and activists who claim that Democratic voters disproportionately benefited from hundreds of millions of dollars in grants primarily funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, during the 2020 presidential election.

Courts and federal regulators have rejected those claims, but the debate over the role of outside money reveals a broader worry among election experts, who say there are significant shortcomings in local government funding of election offices. That includes not just Election Day duties and vote counting, but also the year-round administrative work of maintaining voter rolls and taking care of and updating voting equipment.

Local municipal budgets are tight, and they vary depending on the tax base. It can be hard to justify a new ballot-counting machine when there are potholes to fix or schools to fund.

The ongoing funding uncertainty is untenable, said Tammy Patrick, the chief executive officer for programs at the National Association of Election Officials. Election officials need to have consistent funding to know they can replace outdated equipment and provide a secure and efficient voting experience, she said.

Ultimately and ideally, we wouldnt need to run such a critical function of our democracy relying on volunteers or donations, said Patrick, who is leading a national initiative to promote election funding. Everyone wants our elections to be secure, accessible, legitimate. And in order to have that, we have to support our election administrators.

This isnt a situation where we can just overcome it with pure grit and buck up and get it done. We need the tools to get it done.

 Dusty Farmer, election clerk of Oshtemo Township, Mich.

Funding democracy

Counting ballots at 2:30 a.m. on election night in 2020, Dusty Farmer, the election clerk of Oshtemo Township, Mich., realized she should have chosen a high-speed ballot tabulator.

When Michigan voters amended the state constitution in 2018 to allow for voting absentee without having to provide an excuse to officials, the number of mail-in ballots shot up and townships had to find a way to process those new ballots. Farmer opted for the less expensive, slower ballot processors.

After two years of lobbying her local board, she was able to secure the $40,000 high-speed counting machines last year  a big investment ahead of the 2024 election, she said.

This isnt a situation where we can just overcome it with pure grit and buck up and get it done, Farmer said. We need the tools to get it done.

Money from Congress has been limited. This year, congressional leaders agreed to provide $55 million in election grant funding for states to distribute locally. That is around as much as Los Angeles County alone spent conducting a gubernatorial recall election in 2021.

State and local election officials could breathe easier about some of the cybersecurity challenges if they had more funding from Congress, Arizona Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said to a room of fellow secretaries of state at a Washington, D.C., meeting in February.

This is an unfunded federal mandate, the only part of our critical infrastructure that does not have sustained federal funding, he said.

State money for elections varies widely. Lawmakers in some states do not allocate any of their budget to local election officials. In many cases, states just distribute federal grants for improving election security or as reimbursement for new equipment. Often, however, states hold onto federal grants dollars because they are unsure when the next installment from Congress might come.

Other states do allocate some local election funding in their budgets, but often not at a level that would allow for major equipment replacement, said Matthew Weil, executive director of the Democracy Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a D.C.-based think tank.

States such as Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii and Louisiana also reimburse localities for a portion of elections where statewide candidates are on the ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Alaska and Delaware pay for all expenses of state and federal elections, while other states will pay for statewide special elections or presidential primary elections.

Funding elections mostly at the local level is not the model that is going to work for the future, Weil said.

But asking state governments to use their limited budgets on election equipment is politically tough, he added; its hard to cut a ribbon on a new $100 million voting system. Local governments spend as much on elections as they do to maintain parking facilities, according to a report by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in 2021.

I dont necessarily disagree with banning private funding in elections, Weil said. But that does require that counties, states and the federal government step up and fund elections at the levels they need to provide the services that voters have come to expect.

Banning private money in elections

Four years ago, as thousands of Americans died every day during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, local election officials hurriedly prepared for the 2020 presidential election, not knowing whether they had the money needed to allow voters to safely cast a ballot and for their staff to safely count those votes.

Foreseeing a democratic disaster, the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a Chicago-based nonprofit, used $350 million from Zuckerberg and Chan to hand out grants to nearly 2,500 local election offices across 49 states.

Local clerks, like Robin Cleveland of Williamstown Township, Michigan, used that money to buy personal protective equipment, pay and train temporary election workers, and run voter education campaigns.

The $5,000 private grant was essential for getting desperately needed supplies for her small community east of Lansing, Cleveland said. Though she feels supported by her township board, she has not been able to pay election workers more competitive wages nor replace ancient equipment  except in 2018, when she got a federal grant for new ballot tabulators.

Basically, the money has to come from somewhere if were going to have safe, secure and accurate elections, she wrote to Stateline in an email about private grants.

In Wisconsin, more than 200 communities received a collective $10 million in private grants. Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee and Racine  the states most populous cities  received 86% of that money, according to a report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, a conservative litigation group that supported the ballot question to ban private donations for election administration. Those five cities accounted for nearly 18% of the states total registered voters.

It was important to prevent outside groups from potentially dictating terms for grants or giving the impression that the money is helping a certain political party, said Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.

It creates an appearance of impropriety, and it undermines confidence in the outcome of the election, he said. Elections are a public function that have to be undertaken with scrupulous neutrality.

Esenberg doesnt think elections are underfunded. If local election officials feel like they need more money, he said, they should go to their state legislature.

Voters approved the states new constitutional amendment by more than 54%.

Of the 28 states that have now enacted bans, only Pennsylvania supplemented its measure with more election funding. In 2022, then-Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law the compromise measure, which invested $45 million in local elections.

A total lifeline

Before Wisconsins ban went into effect, Cities Forward, a nonprofit based in the state, awarded an $800,000 grant to Milwaukee for new ballot tabulators, text messaging services to reach voters and polling place upgrades. Madison was also able to spend $1.5 million from Center for Tech and Civic Life and U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence grants before the ban went into place.

The need hasnt dissipated, said Tiana Epps-Johnson, founder and executive director of the Center for Tech and Civic Life, the nonprofit that drew conservative ire. Election officials need equipment, such as fast-counting ballot processing machines, to prevent delays in results that can fuel misinformation, she said.

We hear from election officials in every corner of the country who are severely underfunded, she said. Right now, election officials run the risk of having equipment that is not up to the task of the demand that theyre going to see from voters this fall.

Although the Center for Tech and Civic Life is not issuing grants this election cycle, it is a founding partner of the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence, which has been distributing money to local offices in states that allow it in the years since the last presidential election.

Macoupin County, Illinois, a downstate farming community halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, recently received a $500,000 grant to create a new early voting center  an amount equivalent to two years of the countys election budget.

The voting center, which opened in January, is in a building that used to house an insurance agency and law office. It sits across the street from the courthouse, where early voters used to have to cast ballots in cramped hallways, next to people waiting for their court dates. Election equipment was stored under staircases in a hallway or in the boiler room.

It was a total lifeline that otherwise never would have happened, said Pete Duncan, the county clerk. While we would love for it to have been federal or state funding that came in to help get this accomplished, thats just not something that the feds or states are interested in doing.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Access to guns

The killing of four law enforcement officers in Charlotte last week is the ultimate result of the gun lobbys professed goal, that everyone needs a gun to protect themselves from the government  even if the government is police and the perpetrator is wanted for a crime.

To add insult to injury, some gun lovers want college students to be armed. Thats perfect, especially when we have campus protests, some of which have turned violent.

Guns for teachers. Guns for students. Easy access assault rifles. Guns. Guns. Guns.

Robert Herrin, Charlotte

Shooting suspect

What the individual who killed four law enforcement officers did Monday was simply murder. The question keeps coming up as to why he did it. A very simple answer is that he did not want to go back to jail  where he should have been considering the record he had. Enough said.

Bill Lane, Polkville

UNC protest

Regarding Schools like UNC are silencing peaceful protest with police force, (May 1 Opinion):

Initially, when told to remove the encampment that violated UNC policy, activists complied. Then, they overtook the quad and ignored warnings about violating university policies. It escalated and some threw objects and insults at passersby, law enforcement, and the chancellor before removing the U.S. flag, causing general chaos.

Of 30 people arrested, 20 were not UNC students. The chancellor said some protesters were outside activists. As weve seen across the country, the necessary presence of law enforcement doesnt foment the chaos, but responds to contain it and restore order.

Coddling disruption and violence isnt a solution. Activists should adhere to accepted methods of instigating change.

Robert Lewis, Charlotte

Unhelpful protests

One cant help wishing the protesters would expand their awareness. Scenes of chaos scare the electorate, and play into the hands of the MAGA bloc. If the election is handed to Trump, does anyone think he will restrain his good buddy Benjamin Netanyahu? How will this all help Gazans?

Steve Craig, Charlotte

Antisemitism bill

How noble of the House GOP to pass an antisemitism bill. The Middle-East situation is a complex issue. Republicans simply want to hail the triumphalism of right-wing Christians and discredit legitimate concerns about all the dead Palestinians. Of course, never again applies to Jews. It also applies to innocent Arab children and civilians.

Sam Roberson, Fort Mill

Border control

I just read the RINOs in Congress letter in the April 28 Forum about the passage of the foreign aid bill. Its clear the writers news sources have failed to enlighten him that there was a comprehensive border control bill co-authored by Republican Sen. James Lankford.

However, it appears the former president instructed Speaker Mike Johnson to not put it on the House floor for a vote. Apparently, the GOP presidential nominee feared passage of a border bill could limit his ability to campaign on the issue.

Obviously, something has to be done about our southern border. It really should be a bipartisan issue, not a political one.

Jack Matthews, Charlotte

No SC peaches?

While Im unconcerned by the 10% drop in global wine production, the April 27 article about the state of world wine gives food for thought.

A warmer winter also reduced Georgias peach production by 90% in 2023 and brought a comparable reduction in the Carolinas.

These warm winters are predicted to continue, making peach farming potentially nonviable. Similarly, yields of staple crops such as wheat, soybeans, corn and cotton will be affected by climate change.

As a mother, I worry about food security and our childrens future. Immediate bipartisan Congressional support of a carbon tax would help reduce carbon emissions, securing future food production for all of us.

Sandra ONeill, Cornelius

________

Correction: A letter in the April 28 Forum about RINOs in Congress was written by Jim Cherry, not Trigg Cherry.
PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- There is huge potential for cooperation between China and France in the field of nuclear energy and other low-carbon energies and EDF will continue to make more high-quality investments in China, said Fabrice Fourcade, chairman of French energy company EDF's China branch.

From Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant to Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant and Taishan Nuclear Power Plant, 40 years of cooperation between EDF and its Chinese partners has contributed to building mutual trust between the two countries and laid the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation in the future, Fourcade, also vice president of EDF Group, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

EDF, France's leading electric utility company, was fully involved in the design, construction, and operation of Daya Bay, the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in Chinese mainland from the start of its construction in 1984 to the launch of its commercial operation in 1994.

In recent years, EDF has established partnerships with major Chinese partners including China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC) in various fields such as material aging and digital technology.

Nearly 50 small and medium-sized enterprises in the French nuclear industry have also established extensive cooperative relationships with Chinese nuclear industry enterprises. Some of these enterprises have achieved considerable development in China in recent years, according to Fourcade.

"More and more countries realize that nuclear energy is a useful tool to achieve carbon emission reduction and cope with climate change. In some places, it is even believed to be an indispensable tool," he said.

"Both France and China have ambitions in the field of nuclear energy and should take advantage of the 40-year technical cooperation relationship and industrial proximity to ensure maximum success for these construction plans," he said.

EDF has also diversified its investments in China into other low-carbon energy fields, especially renewable energy. In 2021, EDF and China Energy Investment Corp jointly delivered an offshore wind power project in Dongtai, Jiangsu province. In 2023, the two parties signed an agreement to expand the project to an offshore comprehensive smart energy island demonstration project with wind, solar, hydrogen energy and storage.

EDF has also launched a number of smart integrated energy service projects such as district heating and cooling in China's Shandong, Henan and Hainan provinces. Its innovative platform "EDF Pulse" has launched a series of competitions in China to identify local start-ups in the energy field.

"Renewable energy is continuing to develop at a very rapid pace globally, especially in China," Fourcade said. "EDF is committed to developing low-carbon energy on a global scale, with special attention to cooperation with China."

"We will continue to make more high-quality investments and deliver more outstanding projects in China. We look forward to the first-class business environment with a stable regulatory framework as promoted by the Chinese authorities," he added.

"The presence of EDF in China is marked by two characteristics -- courage to be the first and perseverance. When we dare to be the first, we are not looking for a blockbuster, but for long-term cooperation with mutual trust and win-win results," stressed Fourcade.

As to the "new quality productive forces" promoted by the Chinese authorities, the head of EDF China believes that they are "inseparable from the leading role of innovation that is also strongly promoted in France, including by EDF."

"In the energy field, there is great potential to develop new quality productive forces. Nuclear energy and low-carbon energy together with hydrogen, smart grids and digitalization are key drivers for new business models and for better and higher quality future," he said. 
LANCASTER  Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit (LFPT) has hired a new director -- Aaron Kennedy.

Kennedy has spent the last several years at the Chillicothe Transit System, overseeing innovative solutions and enhancing service efficiency.

Aaron Kennedy

We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Kennedy as the newly appointed director at Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit, said Fairfield County Commissioner Steve Davis in a news release. His extensive experience and innovative ideas position the County to take public transit to the next level to meet the needs of the Countys workforce. We look forward to the impact he will make.

The team at Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit welcomed Kennedy with enthusiasm, eager to hear his insights and how he will use his experience to make an impact on transit in Fairfield County. As the Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit System transitions to become a Fairfield County department, the department is poised to enhance the current public transit system to serve residents and employers.

I am honored and thrilled to join Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit as the new director, said Kennedy. Fairfield County holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to contribute to the community through innovative transit solutions. I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated team at LFPT and the County to further develop our public transit services and serve the needs of our community.

Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit System provided 128,489 passenger rides last year

Kennedy attended Ohio Christian University where he majored in business with a concentration in logistics. While pursuing his education, he gained practical experience in the public transit industry by joining the Chillicothe Transit System, first as the transit coordinator, then as the transit director.

He currently resides in Amanda, with his wife Sarah and their four children. Outside of work, he attends the Heritage Nazarene Church in Circleville where he sings with their praise team and volunteers with their small groups.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Amanda resident hired as director of Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit
China-France relationship should be model for the world, says Xi Jinping as he lands in Paris

Chinas relationship with France should be a model for the world, said President Xi Jinping as he landed in Paris on Sunday.

The Chinese leader made the rare visit to France against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the European Union.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Mr Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Mr Xi is due to meet Mr Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, before he and Mr Macron go on a visit to the Pyrenees the next day.

Mr Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems.

France is backing an EU probe into Chinese electric vehicle exports, and in January, Beijing opened an investigation into mostly French-made imports of brandy, a move widely seen as a tit-for-tat retaliation.

Tibetan protesters demonstrated in Paris as Mr Xi arrived - Thomas Padilla/AP

We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account, Mr Macron said in an interview with French newspaper La Tribune ahead of Mr Xis two-day visit, his first trip to the region in five years.

The EUs 27 members - in particular France and Germany - are divided on their attitude towards China. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Mr Macron and Mr Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, sources said.

In Europe, we are not unanimous on the subject because certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities, Mr Macron said, without naming any countries.

These divisions could undermine the EUs ability to influence the Asian giant.

France will also seek to make progress on opening the Chinese market to its agricultural exports and to resolve issues around the French cosmetic industrys concerns about intellectual property rights, officials said.

A protester wearing a mask bearing the Uighur flag in Paris as Mr Xi arrived - STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP

China may announce an order for around 50 Airbus aircraft during Mr Xis visit, but it remains uncertain whether it will be a new deal, people familiar with the negotiations said.

France has been keen to nudge China into pressuring Moscow to halt operations in Ukraine, with little progress apart from Mr Xis decision to call President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time shortly after Macron visited Beijing last year.

If the Chinese seek to deepen the relationship with European partners, it is really important that they hear our point of view and start taking it seriously, a French diplomatic source said.

Mr Macron will take Mr Xi to the Pyrenees, a mountainous region dear to the French president as the birthplace of his maternal grandmother, on Tuesday, before Mr Xi heads to Russia-friendly Serbia and Hungary.

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China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan wave as they arrive Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Orly airport, south of Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron will seek to press China's Xi Jinping to use his influence on Moscow to move towards the end of the war in Ukraine, during a two-day state visit to France that will also see both leaders discuss trade issues. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, Pool)

PARIS (AP)  Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a three-country trip to Europe on Sunday with the continent divided over how to deal with Beijing's growing power and the U.S.-China rivalry.

European carmakers are losing ground to subsidized Chinese electric vehicles. Diplomats fret about alleged Chinese spies in European capitals. And Chinas continued defense trade with Russia worries anyone in Europe who supports war-ravaged Ukraine and fears that the Russian army wont stop there.

But Europe and China have hefty economic ties  EU-China trade is estimated at 2.3 billion euros per day  and Xi appears determined to rebuild and deepen relations with European leaders after a prolonged absence prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xi started Sunday in France, whose president wants Europe to have more economic and strategic independence from other world powers. Then the Chinese president heads to Serbia and Hungary, both seen as China-friendly and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and recipients of substantial Chinese investment.

Xi's trip will be closely watched in Washington for signs of diminishing European support for its key foreign policy goals. At the same time, there's increasing uncertainty in Europe about future U.S. support for trans-Atlantic allies.

Xi was greeted at Paris Orly Airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal  and by protests by groups demanding that France pressure China to respect Tibetan and Uyghur minority rights. Activists seeking a free Tibet attempted to unfurl a banner Saturday beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and protested in the French capital around the same time as Xi's plane landed.

After arriving, Xi said he hoped the visit would bring strategic convergence'' between China and France, and that further developing their relations would contribute to stability and positive energy in an turbulent world,'' according to a text provided to reporters at the airport.

On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron will treat the Chinese leader to formal honors of a full state visit. They will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to join Macron in pushing for fairer trade policies and for China to use its leverage with Russia to push it toward ending the war in Ukraine.

The EU launched an investigation last fall into Chinese subsidies and could impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China.

China claims neutrality in the Ukraine conflict but has refused to call the full-blown Russian assault on its neighbor an invasion, and has been accused of bolstering Russias capacity to produce weapons.
China's Xi arrives in Paris for first European trip in five years

China's President Xi Jinping (L) and his wife Peng Liyuan wave upon their arrival at Orly airport, south of Paris. Michel Euler/AFP/dpa

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Europe on Sunday, on a trip that will take him to France, Hungary and Serbia.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal received Xi in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled for Monday.

It is Xi's first trip to Europe in five years.

Ahead of the Chinese president's arrival, protesters gathered in the French capital calling for a "Free Tibet."

The status of the autonomous Chinese region in the Himalayan highlands under international law is disputed. China's leadership suppresses the independence aspirations of the approximately five to seven million Tibetans.

According to the Elysee Palace, the talks in Paris will focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.

Macron said ahead of the visit that everything must be done to involve China in the major global issues.

It is in our interest "to ensure that China has a say in the stability of the international order," Macron said in an interview published on Thursday by the Economist magazine.

Xi is reportedly seeking to strengthen Chinese relations with Europe, an important trading partner, amid heightened Chinese tensions and economic competition with the United States.

Before Xi's departure, Chinese state media painted a picture in which the Europeans allowed themselves to be pushed into dependence on Washington, particularly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

After his stay in France, 70-year-old Xi will continue on to Serbia and Hungary.

Serbia maintains close relations with China and is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative, in which Beijing is investing billions in transport routes and harbours worldwide, but particularly in the Global South.

The Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also considered to be China-friendly. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Beijing has emphasized the upcoming visits to Serbia and Hungary with particularly friendly words.

China is looking forward to expanding its "iron friendship" with Serbia, said Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He also described Xi's trip to Hungary as a "landmark visit."

Since Xi's last trip to Europe in 2019, relations have clearly deteriorated. A proposed trade agreement between China and the European Union was put on hold due to tensions and concerns about Chinese human rights abuses, and some EU leaders have warned of excessive economic dependence on China.

The EU has taken action on some trade issues, including threatening tough new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which European regulators contend receive substantial state subsidies and are being sold on the world market at artificially low prices.

China has responded by courting closer relations with France, while also launching its own trade investigation into European brandy.

China has also been heavily criticized in Europe for not taking a stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and maintaining close ties with Moscow.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to arrive in Europe on Sunday, on a trip that will take him to France, Hungary and Serbia.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was set to receive Xi in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are then scheduled for Monday.

According to reports from the Elysee Palace, the talks will focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.

Macron said ahead of the visit that everything must be done to involve China in the major global issues. As Europeans, we hope that the country will work towards the stability of the international order, Macron said.

After his stay in France, 70-year-old Xi will continue on to Serbia and Hungary.

Serbia maintains close relations with China and is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative, in which Beijing is investing billions in transport routes and harbours worldwide, but particularly in the Global South.

The Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also considered to be China-friendly. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Chinese President Xi sets off on first trip to Europe in five years

Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to arrive in Europe on Sunday, on a trip that will take him to France, Hungary and Serbia.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was set to receive Xi in Paris on Sunday afternoon.

Talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are then scheduled for Monday.

It is Xi's first trip to Europe in five years.

According to the Elysee Palace, the talks in Paris will focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, economic cooperation and climate protection.

Macron said ahead of the visit that everything must be done to involve China in the major global issues.

It is in our interest "to ensure that China has a say in the stability of the international order," Macron said in an interview published on Thursday by the Economist magazine.

Xi is reportedly seeking to strengthen Chinese relations with Europe, an important trading partner, amid heightened Chinese tensions and economic competition with the United States.

Before Xi's departure, Chinese state media painted a picture in which the Europeans allowed themselves to be pushed into dependence on Washington, particularly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

After his stay in France, 70-year-old Xi will continue on to Serbia and Hungary.

Serbia maintains close relations with China and is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative, in which Beijing is investing billions in transport routes and harbours worldwide, but particularly in the Global South.

The Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is also considered to be China-friendly. Hungary is one of the few EU countries to be a member of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Beijing has emphasized the upcoming visits to Serbia and Hungary with particularly friendly words.

China is looking forward to expanding its "iron friendship" with Serbia, said Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He also described Xi's trip to Hungary as a "landmark visit."

Since Xi's last trip to Europe in 2019, relations have clearly deteriorated. A proposed trade agreement between China and the European Union was put on hold due to tensions and concerns about Chinese human rights abuses, and some EU leaders have warned of excessive economic dependence on China.

The EU has taken action on some trade issues, including threatening tough new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which European regulators contend receive substantial state subsidies and are being sold on the world market at artificially low prices.

China has responded by courting closer relations with France, while also launching its own trade investigation into European brandy.

China has also been heavily criticized in Europe for not taking a stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and maintaining close ties with Moscow.
CIA Director William Burns is set to travel to Israel on Monday to continue cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, The Associated Press (AP) reported, as Israeli leaders downplay the likelihood of any deal that could end the conflict.

Burns has repeatedly traveled to the Middle East to assist in negotiations between the two sides, working toward a deal to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. He participated in a negotiation in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday, which Hamas described as in-depth and serious discussions.

Israeli representatives did not attend the Saturday meeting, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant saying that an attack on the Gaza city of Rafah by the Israeli military is in the very near future. The Biden administration has repeatedly urged the Israeli government not to invade Rafah without a proper plan to avoid civilian casualties.

Negotiations have become rocky in recent days despite previous progress, after Hamas attacked an Israeli border crossing and Israel announced it will close the Qatari-operated Al Jazeera office in Gaza. Qatar has acted as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas during negotiations for months.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also downplayed prospects of a deal, calling Hamass demands extreme and committing to continuing the war against the militant group.

The resistance to a deal comes as the United Nations warns that famine has set in among the more than 2 million people in Gaza. U.N. leaders have repeatedly warned that the amount of humanitarian aid that Israel has allowed into Gaza is far from enough to maintain the population.

Gazas vast humanitarian needs put pressure on the pursuit of a cease-fire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7, and it would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the AP reported.

An Israeli strike Sunday on a house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, all from the same family, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.

Another Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least five people, according to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Israels military said it struck a Hamas command center in central Gaza. It didnt mention casualties.

In a fiery speech for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SOFIA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Increased cultural exchanges between China and Bulgaria were called for at an event here on Sunday.

The event, hosted by the China Cultural Center in Sofia, also aimed to promote mutual learning between civilizations.

In a congratulatory letter to the event, Bulgaria's Vice President Iliana Iotova said that in today's world, "the desire to know the other is more important than ever."

"Only when you know them, you can understand them and cooperate successfully," she added.

Tsoncho Ganev, deputy speaker of parliament and chairman of the parliamentary friendship group "Bulgaria-China," said he believes that sustainable ties and friendly feelings between Chinese and Bulgarian civilizations as well as peoples will continue.

And they will form a solid basis for mutual cooperation and dialogue in the future, he added.

Wang Min, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, said that in recent years, China and Bulgaria have been carrying out an increasingly close and cordial people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

During discussions, Boyan Chukov, former foreign policy advisor to Bulgaria's prime minister, expressed the hope that it was the beginning of a series of such meetings and he would be happy to continue this conversation with representatives from China.

The event was co-organized by the Chinese Association for International Understanding and local newspaper China Today. 
(WFXR) As today is Cinco de Mayo, locations across Central and Southwest Virginia are hosting events in celebration of Mexican culture.

Here is a list of events happening near you:

Roanoke:

Awful Arthurs Cinco de Mayo Party: Cinco de Mayo is being celebrated at Awful Arthurs Seafood Company in Downtown Roanoke throughout the day.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., live music will be performed by Foster Burton. This will be followed by a Cinco de Mayo party starting at 8 p.m., featuring music from DJ Dollar Bill until 11 p.m.

Awful Arthurs will be serving specialty food and drinks all throughout the day

For more information, visit Awful Arthurs Facebook page.

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Twisted Track Brewpub: Twisted Track Brewpub is hosting a Cinco de Mayo is hosting its own fiesta starting at 4:30 p.m.

Along with good food and cold drinks, guests will have a chance to learn Bachata and Latin Line dance prior to the dance party starting at 5 p.m.

DJ Guia and DJ Tato will be spinning the beats throughout the evening.

For more information, visit this link.

Lynchburg:

Family Fiesta at River Ridge Mall: The River Ridge Mall is hosting a Family Fiesta at Papa Gallo Cocina Mexicana from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Along with a live mariachi band, guests will be able to grab a free sombrero, make an awesome craft, enjoy delicious treats, hop on a bounce house, and other fun activities celebrating Mexican culture.

Forest:

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Apocalypse Ale Works: Apocalypse Ale Works is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, featuring their own specially crafted Mexican lager and Margarita KRSH, chicken tacos, and festive music.

Along with food and drink, there will be a special trivia event starting at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit Apocalypse Ale Works Facebook page.

Danville:

Luna Loca Cinco de Mayo 2024: Luca Loca restaurant is hosting its Cinco de Mayo fiesta from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Along with good food, live music will be presented by Salvage Title, who will be playing 70s, 80s, and 90s classics throughout the night.

For more information, visit the Luna Loca website.

Blacksburg:

El Rodeo Cinco de Mayo Celebration: El Rodeo on First and Main is presenting its Cinco de Mayo Celebration from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Live music will be presented by DJ Bozh with guests being able to enjoy food and drinks, margarita specials, and more.

For more information, visit this link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
John Hood

RALEIGH  Which major urban area in America experienced the largest decline in homelessness last year? According to a recent analysis by the Brookings Institution, it was Wake County  North Carolinas most-populous. It had a rate of 78 homeless residents per 100,000 population, down 40% from 2022.

If you live in or near the states capital city, however, this finding may surprise you. Over the past year, homeless encampments in parks, vacant lots, and forested lands along highway interchanges in Wake County have generated major stories for local media and major headaches for local officials.

Just a few days ago, law enforcement cleared out two encampments south of Raleigh, one along the Beltline and the other near the boundary of Raleigh and Garner. In each case, the police acted only after repeated efforts to notify the homeless that they were camped unlawfully on public property and to connect them with services for substance abuse, mental illness, and other challenges.

While some in the camps accepted help, others refused such services. In my view, the police had no alternative but to intervene. People camped next to busy highways are a danger to themselves and others. There were also reports of criminal activity and complaints from nearby businesses.

The problem extends well beyond the Raleigh area. Charlotte, High Point, Asheboro, Wilmington, Salisbury, and Asheville are among the many North Carolina localities where legal and policy battles over homeless encampments have made headlines in recent years.

And last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments about a local ordinance in Oregon that forbids unpermitted camping on public property and sleeping in many public spaces. The constitutional question in that case isnt really whether local governments can police vagrancy on public property but whether the application of criminal penalties to homeless violators runs afoul of the 8th Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

During the proceeding, Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed to view the plaintiffs argument with favor. If a stargazer wants to take a blanket or a sleeping bag out at night to watch the stars and falls asleep, you dont arrest them, she said to the municipalitys attorney. You dont arrest babies who have blankets over them. You only arrest people who dont have a home.

Justice Samuel Alito, however, expressed skepticism about how local authorities could manage their parks and other public lands if the Oregon plaintiffs prevailed. The individual police officer would go around and count the number of people who are getting ready to sleep outside for the night, and then ask each one of them whether youve tried to find a bed at a shelter, whether that person would be willing to go to a shelter, if a bed is available without any conditions, or whether the bed would have to be available on the conditions that the individual wants?

Homelessness is a complex problem with multiple causes and imperfect solutions. While the availability and affordability of housing clearly affects its extent, many of those who are chronically homeless suffer from addictions or other mental illnesses. Victims of domestic violence are also disproportionately represented.

In short, while policymakers should make it easier to build and operate housing  including the multi-family units most likely to ameliorate the problem  thats neither an adequate nor a timely response to the problem of encampments. Its not adequate because many of the hard cases who insist on sleeping and camping outside are in need of medical intervention. And its not timely because the encampments are themselves a health and safety threat that simply cannot be tolerated on public property.

We should worry less about the harms associated with citing someone for camping in a park, writes Manhattan Institute senior fellow Stephen Eide, and more about the kinds of victimization to which the street homeless are routinely subjected, such as assault, theft, and rape. Cruelty reigns in encampments, and to an unusual degree; a more civilized society would put up with them less.

John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: John Hood writes about policing homeless encampments
NEW YORK  The city Department of Correction temporarily pulled almost 3,500 body-worn cameras after one caught fire and injured a correction captain, the department said Saturday.

The captain was on duty in the George R. Vierno Center on Rikers Island Friday when her Reveal Media D5 body-worn camera spontaneously ignited, said department press secretary Annais Morales.

Medics brought the captain to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation and released, Morales said.

The safety of our staff is paramount, which is why I am removing all body-worn cameras from the service out of an abundance of caution while we investigate how and why this incident occurred, Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said in a statement.

Maginley-Liddie issued the department-wide order Saturday afternoon, ordering supervisors to collect the 3,480 body-worn cameras worn by uniformed staff, and to store them in a control room.

Thats all this is for  the safety of our officers and all staff is paramount, said Correction Officers Benevolent Association spokesman, Michael Skelly.

Morales said the department is in contact with the camera manufacturer to investigate the cause of the malfunction. Reveal Media could not be immediately reached for comment Saturday evening.

The investigation is expected to take one to two weeks, Morales said. In the meantime, uniformed staff members have been ordered to ensure that all serious incidents and refusals are documented using a handheld camera in accordance with departmental policy, as stated in Maginley-Liddies memo.

The Federal Monitor, which oversees city jails, was notified of the malfunction and the departments decision to suspend body-worn camera use, Morales said.

Fridays incident was the first the department has seen since they began using body-worn cameras in 2015, Morales said. All uniformed officers wear the cameras.

The New York Police Department pulled 2,000 Axon AB2 body-worn cameras offline for inspection after a cop at the 34th Precinct in Inwood noticed smoke coming out of one 2021, police said. The cop removed it, and it ignited, according to a memo released at the time.
City fills in underground vaults of downtown buildings. Why is that?

This is part of an ongoing series answering "Why is that?" questions about Salem and the Mid-Valley.

The question: Why is the city of Salem filling in some of the underground sidewalk vaults downtown? We have the answer. But first, there is a whole lot of history to dig into.

The background: A seven-block area bounded by Chemeketa, High, Ferry and Front streets makes up the Salem Downtown Historic District.

The district includes 57 buildings as contributing resources, including about two dozen built in the late 1800s and another two dozen in the early 1900s. Many have basement vaults extending under the adjacent sidewalks, not to be confused with tunnels.

A grid of purple glass blocks was repurposed in the new sidewalk in front of the Bike Peddler on Commercial Street NE, even though it no longer illuminates a vault below. The city contracted with Gelco Construction to fill the vault with cement and rock.

Salem has its share of tunnel lore.

Nearly two miles of tunnels beneath the Oregon State Hospital once were used to transport patients and supplies between buildings and under Center Street NE when the campus stretched across both sides.

But tunnels downtown?

Local officials refute the claims, saying the state hospital tunnel system often has been conflated with downtown.

The downtown tunnel myths were perpetuated more than a decade ago by some well-intentioned individuals who organized underground tours to drum up tourism. YouTube videos show guides accompanying visitors into building basements and showing them vaults, not tunnels.

Other organizations, social media sites, and even mainstream media outlets  including the Statesman Journal with coverage of the underground tours  fueled speculation and public imagination.

A tunnel under the Oregon State Hospital as photographed in 2010.

The sidewalk vaults in downtown Salem were installed around the turn of the century and used primarily for deliveries  some for coal  through steel hatches still found in some blocks. Grids of purplish glass blocks were embedded in the sidewalks to help illuminate the vaults.

Recent sidewalk and streetscape work has stoked another round of tunnel tales. A post on one Facebook group page referred to the Chinese tunnels under Salem and how sadly the city is filling these in and burying them.

First, there is no documentation of individuals of Chinese heritage living or working in tunnels in Salem. Willamette Heritage Center reports systematic scholarship, archaeology and oral history have poked holes in these myths.

But yes, the city has been filling in some vaults during ongoing streetscape improvements because many are more than a century old and no longer used as intended.

Most importantly, it is happening for safety reasons.

Why is the city filling in some of the underground vaults?

Most downtown visitors have no idea they could be walking on the roof of an underground vault whose structural integrity may be impacted by time and elements.

Some vaults have not been maintained or inspected, and deterioration may not be evident. They could be hidden hazards, like in other cities.

A woman in 2017 was injured falling through a sidewalk and into an abandoned vault in Manhattan, New York. In 2020, a man was injured at a Bronx bus stop when the same thing happened to him. Last November, a maintenance worker in Duluth, Minnesota, was injured when his boom lift tipped through the sidewalk and into a vault.

Salem officials worried more than 20 years ago it could happen here.

Recent construction work wraps up on the east side of Commercial Street NE in downtown Salem.

In 2003, a vault was revealed under the Grand Theatre by workers who tore down a section of moldy drywall in the basement. The vault appeared to be in danger of collapsing, with the owner discovering missing sidewalk supports and rusty rebar in the concrete. City workers moved the next day to shore up the space using timbers.

Two years later, vaults were filled at the Grand and the Reed Opera House before the city did sidewalk repairs. After tearing out the old sidewalks, mason walls were added to the basements along property lines, concrete slurry was poured into the vaults, and new sidewalks were built on top.

At that time, city officials wanted to launch vault safety inspections, but there were challenges.

No one knew exactly how many or where they were. They had rough knowledge of about 50 downtown sidewalk vaults but assumed there were more.

Access was  and still is  a challenge. The vaults are in the right-of-way, under city-owned sidewalks, but accessible only through the private property of building owners.

Fast forward to today, and a contractor for the city just completed work in a two-block area on the east side of Commercial Street, replacing sidewalks and filling vaults.

Two vaults were under the building that includes the Bike Peddler, which used the dark and sometimes damp space for cardboard storage. Construction workers on-site said they saw settling and cracks in the vaults before tearing out the sidewalk.

In their opinion, it was a matter of when  not if  the sidewalk would eventually collapse.

A partially filled vault during recent sidewalk improvements on Commercial Street NE. The contractor for the city used a type of concrete that flows into excavated cavities and fills all voids, then added three feet of rock before building a new sidewalk.

The crew used controlled density to fill the vaults, a type of concrete that flows into excavated cavities and fills all voids, then added three feet of rock on top before building the new sidewalk.

The same construction company also filled the vaults in the basement of US Bank on the corner of Commercial and State streets. That is the old Ladd & Bush Bank building, built in 1868 and one of the oldest downtown.

The city says it has had six vaults filled in the past four years and still is unsure how many there are. Although it has a downtown map marked with filled and unfilled vaults based on businesses self-reporting, records are spread across departments, including permitting, transportation and engineering.

The map shows 11 vaults have been filled, not including the most recent four.

Grids of purple glass blocks salvaged from sidewalk repairs downtown are being stored in the city of Salem's archaeology lab. The glass blocks illuminated basement vaults that extended under the sidewalk.

Oh, by the way

The city salvaged some of the purple glass grids. One is embedded in the new sidewalk outside the Bike Peddler. Three others are being preserved and stored in the city archaeology lab.

Speaking of downtown sidewalks and streets, how about some Salem trivia?

Salem poured its first concrete sidewalk in 1883 in front of a building on the southeast corner of Commercial and Chemeketa. First National Bank operated there for nearly 20 years.

The first paved street did not happen for another 24 years, a three-block section of Court Street in late 1907.

Help keep sidewalks and streets safe

Staff with public works conduct regular visual inspections of downtown pavement and sidewalk conditions to ensure timely identification of any deterioration or damage.

They notify engineering staff of issues, initiating an investigation to determine potential causes and identify necessary repairs as needed.

Inspections may also be initiated in preparation for construction projects planned in the area or at the request of property owners seeking a permit to make improvements.

The city encourages public participation in maintaining the downtown street network, asking residents to report concerns to the Public Works Dispatch Center at 503-588-6311 or service@cityofsalem.net.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Email your "Why is that" questions to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Why is city of Salem filling in underground vaults downtown?
UPDATE: Police have announced that Zorriah Hunter has been located.

*********

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A City Watch has been put in place for one-year-old, Zorriah Hatcher.

At 1:32 p.m., a City Watch was put into effect following the custodial abduction of Zorriah Hatcher.

Police say the victim was abducted by her non-custodial biological mother, Sabrina Hatcher, and taken to Southaven, Mississippi with the aid of the suspects mother, Brenda Brown.

Hatcher was last seen in the 1600 block of Winchester Boulevard. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt.

Police have described Sabrina Hatcher as a 55 woman with black hair and brown eyes. Brown has been described as a 56 woman with black hair and brown eyes.

Police also say they were driving a gray Honda Civic.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
This time of year is a time for new beginnings  and an ending, but thats elusive.

Graduates cross the stage, but they never really end their association with their alma mater. Theyll be back, to say hi, accomplishments behind them and in front of them. Weve spent the past year starting a new class down the road to graduation and helping to prep those departing in the spring for the next steps.

As the semester wound down, I spent time grading, serving up pancakes at Cram Jam, and announcing the WLAX game. All after a morning going over comprehensive exams  a scary hurdle faced down each year by successive graduating classes in my department consisting of a six-hour assessment of the past four years. At this writing, I was a bit tired. Ive had a few meetings with students about ongoing projects, but exams are over, and I wanted to at least try to put down a small bit of reflection on the semester  and the year.

The class that graduates this spring has been widely labeled pandemic graduates, or something of the sort, since many started their college careers in fall of 2020, the year the virus hammer came down hard. They came into our world under normal conditions, then saw it spiral downward into the chaos of disconnection.

We all struggled back, finally fully returning to pre-pandemic conditions this past year. Faculty and administrators and staff all went through this, too. The students who are first-year college kids this year went through the disarray, bedlam and polarity of restrictions in high schools, only surfacing to something like stable this year, as they entered college for the first time.

Voice of the People (May 5, 2024): Roundabout at Galloway and 10th Street would be a waste

There are a ton of news articles, opinions and autopsies crawling weakly into print this spring outlining how this cluster of college students is paranormally different from all that came before them. According to these reports, they are somehow more fragile, more tenuous, less driven  weaker in the soul  than the class of 2019. And there are some differences, but most of the media clatter is hogwash and jangled clickbait for worried parents.

Dont worry. In my estimation, their performance has been, far and away, in the positive direction.

My observance is unscientific, anecdotal and based on my own narrow experience rather than anemic pseudo-psychology. Its simple: the people who make up this crew  class of 2024  are some of the very best all-round students weve had in our classrooms. Im blown away by what this graduating class will be headed toward and cant wait to see how our first-year class tackles the next three. Not kidding.

Does this connect to the pandemic? I have no idea (see unscientific, noted above). But in my view, people who face actual crises and come out the other side packing that experience just tend to do better when it comes to facing down the littler adversities.

Trump on trial: 'Free the New York One!' | R. Bruce Anderson

Hunter used to say when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro, and theres a sense of that in this bunch. Those entering college in 2020 had to battle through four years of tearing what they needed from a global environment that was fractured by calamity and divided by strong opinions on how to solve for it. And they adjusted  as did we all  and came out of it great communicators, great writers, solidly educated.

Despite the restrictions and adjustments, colleges turned out to be real havens of learning, of shared responsibility, and of collaboration, as never before. We all learned to accept and move forward  and it all impacted this class. There are no snowflakes among them. They are tough and tested and ready for a new world.

R. Bruce Anderson

This is an exceptionally strong class this year: seasoned by catastrophe, emotionally sturdy and knowledgeable, ready for the workplace, medical or law school, graduate school, or whatever comes next.

Happy graduation, class of 2024.

R. Bruce Anderson is the Dr. Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Endowed Chair in American History, Government, and Civics and Miller Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Florida Southern College. He is also a columnist for The Ledger and political consultant and on-air commentator for WLKF Radio in Lakeland.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 'Pandemic graduates' are no snowflakes | Anderson
CLEVELAND COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  A Cleveland County Detention Center (CCDC) inmate died Saturday afternoon after suffering a medical incident.

According to the Cleveland County Sheriffs office, a preliminary review showed Thomas Sanchez Pesina, 58, interacting with his cellmates in the morning. In-person sight checks were conducted between the hours of 7:22 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and no issues were detected.

Inmate at Cleveland County jail dies following medical incident

Authorities said that detention officers were in the pod at 10:20 a.m. and began serving food trays. Pesina was served and ate his meal.

At 11:35 a.m. Pesina was found unresponsive and a medical alert was issued. Medical and detention staff were in the unit at 11:37 a.m. when they immediately began to perform CPR to Pesina while EMS services were dispatched.

Pesina was transported to Norman Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m.

According to medical staff, there were no signs of physical trauma to Pesinas body. The cause of his death will be determined by the Oklahoma Medical Examiners office.

An investigation has been opened into Pesinas death and the Cleveland County Sheriffs has requested the assistance of Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations in the process.

Pesina was booked on May 21, 2023 into the CCDC following his arrest for charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication. He was found incompetent to stand trial during his hearing in August 2023 and has been waiting to transfer to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita, Oklahoma.

This is the second inmate death in just a few weeks that has occurred at the CCDC. On April 19th, William Kenneth Moore, 36, was also found dead following a medical incident according to CCSO.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Clyburn hits out at Trump over Gestapo comment: Incredible but not surprising

James Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, accused Trump of having an understanding of this country that I thought we left behind more than 100 years ago.

James Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, accused Trump of having an understanding of this country that I thought we left behind more than 100 years ago. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/AP

The senior congressional Democrat James Clyburn has responded to remarks made by Donald Trump at a private event on Saturday in which he compared the Biden administration with the Gestapo secret police in fascist Germany, saying it was incredible, but its not surprising.

The 83-year-old South Carolina Democrat added that Trump is given to hyperbole on every subject that he ever approaches  The country got off track after that 1876 election and we are approaching the same kinds of elements today.

The 1876 election between Republican Ohio governor Rutherford Hayes and Democrat Samuel Tilden was one of the most disputed ever, with widespread allegations of electoral fraud, violence and voter disenfranchisement.

Clyburn accused Trump of having an understanding of this country that I thought we left behind more than 100 years ago. But as I watch things happen in the country today, Ive been harkening back for some time now, to the 1876 presidential election, and how this country got off track after the civil war.

He added: The words are different. But the meanings are the same.

On Saturday, the former president hosted a private lunch for Republican donors and party leaders at his Mar-a-Lago club. The fundraiser also included many of those presumed to be on the list for running mate, including the South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, who has been politically damaged by an admission in her memoir that she shot a 14-month-old hunting dog two decades ago. Noem was reported to have left the event early.

Others at the lunch included North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, Ohio senator JD Vance, New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, Florida senator Marco Rubio, and Byron Donalds, a congressman from Florida.

According to CNN, Trump singled out Stefanik, who he described as an amazing talent, as well as Marco Rubio. NBC reported that Trump brought the guests, with the exception of Noem, on stage including House speaker Mike Johnson.

But during an address that lasted over an hour, Trump likened the Biden administration to Hitlers secret police. These people are running a Gestapo administration, Trump said, according to NBC News. Its the only thing they have. And its the only way theyre going to win in their opinion.

Burgum, appearing Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, all but confirmed Trumps statement, but tried to diminish its importance.

This was a short comment deep into the thing that wasnt really central to what he was talking about, said Burgum.

Burgum affirmed that Trump drew the parallel as part of his accusation that Bidens White House is behind his legal troubles. A majority of Americans, Burgum said, feel like the trial that hes in right now is politically motivated.

Trump is due back in a Manhattan courtroom on Monday where he is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in relation to hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Colombia or Columbia? Internet confused about who severed ties with Israel

Theres a world of difference between Colombia and Columbia, one is a country that has severed ties with Israel and the other is an Ivy League University in New York that has become the epicenter of disagreement over the Israel-Hamas war.

Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, the country, announced that diplomatic relations with State of Israel would be broken effective Thursday.

This, in turn, confused many on the internet, who thought that Columbia University had officially divested or cut ties with Israel after weeks of protests on their campus.

Colombia's new President Gustavo Petro gestures after delivering a speech during his inauguration ceremony at Bolivar Square in Bogota, on August 7, 2022.

It's been quiet on campus since Tuesday night, following the arrest of pro-Palestinian protesters by the New York Police Department. Minouche Shafik, university president, has requested police maintain a presence on campus through at least May 17, USA TODAY reported.

Heres what were seeing online.

Colombia or Columbia? Only one has cut ties with Israel despite typo, error

A number of people on the internet have chimed in to give their thoughts on "Columbia" breaking diplomatic relations with Israel even though only one entity has, and it is Colombia, the South American country.

There are many posts with incorrect information, circulating the idea that Columbia University has severed those ties. When it has not. There is also the very real possibility that they are just using the incorrect word or have misspelled the word they mean to use.

Others are using the "play on words" to make a point about which group did the "right thing."

Yayyyyy!!!! Columbia has broken all ties with Israel!!!! Bolivia cut ties in November and now this! South Africa has cried out as well, maybe theyre next. NOW GET OUR Fing government to get out of Israels pockets and stand up for humanity. pic.twitter.com/js9ejmjNzL   Good Golly Miss (@MollyBee_82) May 1, 2024

Sorry whats that you say professor at Colombia University?



The Jewish members feel safe? Hmm interesting 



pic.twitter.com/YFecpGjR1G  JonnyUtd (@JonnyFX1) May 2, 2024

okay so at least one Colombia isnt afraid to do the right thing https://t.co/Ad40s9Sfv5  i can be your long lost pal (@PallaviGunalan) May 2, 2024

Okay. Okay. Colombia wins the internet today. Thanks everyone else for playing, come back tomorrow and try again. https://t.co/5vKoY9zXje  Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) May 1, 2024

Colombia did what Columbia refused to do.  art  (@turiuriuri) May 1, 2024

Now if only the President of Columbia could manage to do as well on this as the President of Colombia.  Chris Richards  eclecticradical .bsky.social (@EclecticRadical) May 1, 2024

CN seems to not know that Colombia is a country  https://t.co/okTyA07O5N pic.twitter.com/KlVE64sOzP  /\ (@myoshiarts) May 1, 2024

In a world of Columbias, be a Colombia. https://t.co/h309FUzdMX  Pontificating with Pete (@JenChangeFL) May 1, 2024

Israel has a 'genocidal' government, Colombian president says

El Presidente @petrogustavo informo que, a partir de hoy, 2 de mayo, Colombia rompe relaciones con el Estado de Israel para reafirmar su rechazo al genocidio del pueblo palestino.



Si muere Palestina, muere la humanidad y no la vamos a dejar morir", afirmo el mandatario en la pic.twitter.com/HiMt2jgSAP  Presidencia Colombia  (@infopresidencia) May 2, 2024

Petro said Colombia is cutting diplomatic ties with Israel because the nation is home to a "genocidal" government and president, according to recorded statement obtained by Al Jazeera.

"I believe that today all of humanity, in the streets and by the millions, agrees with us. And we agree with them. Times of genocide cannot be, cannot return and cannot come," Petro said.

Petro said the extermination of an entire people cannot occur before while his nation stands idly by.

"If Palestine dies, humanity dies. And we will not let it die, just like we won't let humanity die," Petro said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colombia nation cuts ties with Israel amid Columbia University protest
This article was originally published in Colorado Newsline.

Colorado legislators are advancing a last-minute bill that would require public libraries to implement guardrails on how they review and remove materials in their catalogs.

Senate Bill 24-216 would require boards for public libraries across the state to establish written policies on how they acquire, display and use library resources, as well as a process for reconsidering materials. State Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat sponsoring the bill, said many libraries already have these processes in place and will be able to keep them.

The bills introduction comes shortly before the end of the 2024 legislative session, and months after lawmakers killed a similar bill, Senate Bill 24-49, in February. The new version has broader support given its focus solely on public libraries  the previous bill included school libraries as well, but many school districts opposed the policy. Cutter said that otherwise, the provisions in the new bill are almost exactly the same.

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The bill would require libraries to adhere to certain procedural standards when a member of the public seeks to remove material from their collections. During the review, the material would have to remain in circulation, and the results of the review must be made available to the public. Library materials covered by the bill include digital and physical book collections, as well as displays and community programs.

The bill would also require that someone challenging a book or other library material lives within the service area of that library. Materials would also be eligible for reevaluation once every five years. Cutter said both of these requirements are intended to protect library staff from ban bombing to ensure they arent overwhelmed with hundreds of requests.

Cutter said librarians work hard to curate materials that patrons will benefit from under a tight budget, but attacks from culture war extremists have threatened the ability for other library patrons to access the materials and programming they need. The bill would also prohibit retaliation, such as demotion, firing or discipline, against someone working at a library who refuses to remove a library resource before it has gone through the review process.

This is a very thoughtful process that librarians go through, and instead of simply choosing not to attend an event or check out a book, other people want to make those choices for others, Cutter said at the bills committee hearing Monday. Public libraries have a duty in our system to challenge censorship and to stand firmly against partisan or doctrinal disapproval when making their decisions.

While she said she was disappointed after the first bill failed, Cutter still wanted to establish standards for public libraries, many of which strongly supported the legislation. She said Senate leadership knew the bill was a priority for her and shes grateful to have introduced it before the end of session.

Its really interesting to learn about other experiences and other cultures and broaden your worldview, Cutter said. Im really excited that were going to help support the idea that a wide range of literature should be available for people to enjoy and learn from and explore without unnecessary restriction.

Support from librarians

Mark Fink, executive director of Anythink Libraries, the public library system in Adams County, testified in support of the bill on behalf of the Colorado Association of Libraries. He said the bill challenges censorship and protects the right to read freely, as well as library workers.

Our community is becoming more diverse and our library needs safeguards so we can amplify all the voices and experiences of our residents and include diverse items in our collection that resonate with them, Fink said. This bill protects our ability to do this important work.

Fink said parents are entitled to determine what they want their children to read, but that right does not extend to other children.

While a specific book may not be the right fit for one child, that doesnt mean it isnt the perfect fit for another child, Fink said.

In the last few years, an unprecedented wave of book bans and censorship spurred by parents and right-wing groups has targeted books that center on the LGBTQ+ community, Black history and diverse stories across the country. Douglas County Libraries rejected an effort last year to ban four LGBTQ-focused books after months of meetings and public comment.

State Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat and co-sponsor of SB-216, said at least 136 book titles were challenged across Colorado in the first eight months of 2023  a 143% increase from 2022, according to the American Library Association. Fink added that materials representing LGBTQ and BIPOC voices made up 47% of the titles targeted in Colorado last year.

Regardless of background, zip code or socioeconomic status, we have a right to read a wide range of materials that provide us with the knowledge base and the critical thinking skills that we need to be informed citizens who will contribute positively to our democracy, Michaelson Jenet said at the committee hearing. Our communities deserve to be represented in public spaces like public libraries, and codifying those legal standards demonstrates our commitment to protecting all Coloradans.

The Senate Education Committee approved the bill in a 4-3 vote along party lines. Republicans on the committee thought the five year limitation on material review was too long.

The committee approved two amendments to the bill, making changes to some definitions and wording to better align with library terminology and to win support from the Colorado Municipal League.

The bill will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The 2024 legislative session will conclude on May 8.

Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com. Follow Colorado Newsline on Facebook and Twitter.
Computer science could become required to graduate in Louisiana

Computer science classes might be required for Louisiana high school graduates starting in the 2027-28 school year.

House Bill 264, authored by Democrat Rep. Jason Hughes from New Orleans, passed without objection Wednesday out of the Senate Education Committee. The bill adds computer science requirements for every path to a high school diploma at Louisiana public schools.

Computer science would also be required to receive any award from Taylor Opportunity Program for Students. The TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors awards would require students to take one credit of computer science as part of their math or science curriculum or in place of a foreign language.

For TOPS Tech, students can take computer science as one of their math or science courses or as one of their electives.

The option for using computer science to complete graduation requirements would partially begin in the 2027-28 school year.

For those graduating in 2028 and pursuing TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors awards, computer science can only be used in place of the foreign language requirement. The TOPS Tech pathway does not allow for students graduating in 2028 to use computer science to fulfill any of the existing requirements.

LSUS Computer Science Faculty and Students Share Hour of Code with Eden Gardens Magnet students in this file photo.

Two years ago, then-Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, gained approval for a bill that allowed students to count two credits of computer science instead of a foreign language for TOPS eligibility.

Hughes bill now heads to the Senate floor.

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

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Computer science could become required to graduate in Louisiana
How Congress is responding to pro-Palestine protests on US campuses

How Congress is responding to pro-Palestine protests on US campuses

DENVER (KDVR)  Pro-Palestinian protests continue on college campuses across the U.S. as students spend the final weeks of the semester demonstrating against Israels violence in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks.

In Denver, 44 people were arrested on the downtown Auraria Campus last week. Students demand university leaders condemn the war in Gaza as genocide and shed light on any of the schools investments in Israel.

On this weeks Colorado Point of View, political analysts look at the rising tensions and how Congress has responded, including with a bill that addresses antisemitism.

Meanwhile, Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn give exit interviews to The New York Times condemning the state of Congress, and Lauren Boebert passes a bill to remove federal gray wolf protections, with Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo joining in favor.

Watch the full episode in the video player above. Colorado Point of View airs weekends on Colorados Very Own Channel 2.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Finley Olsen guided trains over a bridge and around some curved track at St. Paul's Union Depot on Sunday afternoon.

The tracks were wooden and not quite as big as the real ones outside. Dressed in a striped conductor's hat and overalls that matched his blue glasses, the nearly 3-year-old has been "into trains for quite a while," said his mother, Molly. Hence the trek from Menomonie, Wis., to visit Choo Choo Bob's Train Store this weekend as its new Union Depot location opened.

Union Depot boosters are about as thrilled about the model train store as Finley, and they point to its relocation  and the announcement last week that Amtrak's new Borealis route from St. Paul to Chicago will come and go from Union Depot daily  as signs the historic depot's fortunes may be on the rise.

"I've been here six years and I feel like this is the most excited our team has been," said Lindsay Boyd, the Depot's general manager through property manager JLL.

'Passages to the past'

The hundred-year old depot has seen ups and downs since it opened in the 1920s, replacing one destroyed by fire. That decade, nearly 300 trains carrying 20,000 passengers passed through the depot daily.

Within decades of Union Depot's completion, passenger rail travel fell victim to the automobile, facilitated by the national highway system. "The only tickets you can buy at most train stations now are passages to the past," the Minneapolis Star published in 1971, the same year Union Depot closed after the last train left the station.

Ramsey County planned to revive Union Depot, spending $243 million to buy and renovate it and turn it into a transit hub that reopened in 2012. In the more than a decade since, it's seen passenger rail, light-rail and local, regional and long-distance bus routes. Still, some have questioned whether the investment has paid off.

Before the pandemic, the depot helped spur growth in Lowertown. But even then, its sparse foot traffic and quiet, cavernous waiting room suggested county leaders' hope  that it would become Lowertown's "living room"  hadn't fully materialized.

Then the pandemic hit, slowing some of the momentum Union Depot had built. Concerns about safety at the depot heightened with light-rail crime and Lowertown crime problems.

Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, who championed the depot's restoration, said last week that the depot has been rebounding from the pandemic, listing popular events such as its European Christmas Market.

"I think it's doing very well given two years of being sort of locked up," he said. "I feel good about it."

Momentum ahead?

But it's been a while since Union Depot has had a week as exciting as last, between the train store opening, the Borealis announcement and throngs of visitors to the depot Friday to see a vintage Empress steam train roll through.

Jen Moberg, owner of Choo Choo Bob's, said the store has considered a move to Union Depot for years. The store left its longtime Marshall Avenue location in St. Paul when COVID-19 hit and opened a pop-up in St. Louis Park in 2022.

Moberg said she'd worried about Union Depot's lack of foot traffic. By the time a space big enough for Choo Choo Bob's opened at the station, she felt the move to St. Louis Park had proven the store  and its birthday parties, story times and live music  is a draw in itself.

"We know we can bring in our own foot traffic. We know we can help out the businesses around and in Union Depot," she said.

The new Borealis train, coming May 21, is also expected to bring traffic. While the Empire Builder leaves St. Paul around 9 a.m. and arrives late at night, the Borealis departs Union Depot midday and arrives from Chicago around dinnertime. Boyd said Amtrak is estimating 170 people, on average, on Borealis trains.

"The second train just makes Union Depot around-the-clock, making sure it's active all throughout the day," Ortega said. Discussions about adding trains are in the works. More concretely, the Gold bus rapid transit line from Union Depot to Woodbury is expected to open in March 2025. Someday, the Riverview Corridor is expected  by one mode or another  to connect Union Depot to MSP airport.

Boyd said Union Depot has just one retail/office space vacancy left. Tenants include a bike and coffee shop, a restaurant and others. She teased another big announcement in the works.

"There's just a lot of really good momentum going on here," she said. "I am excited for people to be able to enjoy this property as it's intended and celebrate all the great things that are going on here."
CHICAGO  The Chicago Police Department is asking for the publics help in finding a 15-year-old girl who went missing from the citys Dunning neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

CPD said Solangie Meneses was last seen at her residence in the 6400 block of West Berteau Avenue around noon on Thursday.

Police describe her as being 5-foot-1-inch tall and weighing around 100 pounds with brown eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion.

Anyone with information that could help Chicago police locate Meneses can reach out to Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Crash on I-540 in Fort Smith blocks traffic

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the accident has been cleared.

FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A crash on Interstate 540 in Fort Smith blocks traffic on April 5.

According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the accident affects the left and right shoulders headed south at Exit 6 near Kelley Highway.

ARDOT says there are no injuries.

Updates on this accident and others can be found on iDrive Arkansas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Czechia and Estonia have confirmed that their representatives would not attend Vladimir Putin's so-called inauguration on 7 May.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky revealed on Nova TV on Sunday that the government has recalled the Czech ambassador to Russia, Vitezslav Pivonka, and that there will be no Czech presence at Putin's inauguration on Tuesday.

Quote: "The current relations between the Czech Republic and Russia do not mean that the representative of our embassy must attend the inauguration of the Russian president on Tuesday," Lipavsky explained.

In addition, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna acknowledged in statements to local media, particularly ERR, that the Estonia delegate will not be at the "Putin spectacle" on 7 May.

"Estonia cannot legitimise diplomatic relations with the aggressor state, and we decided not to attend Putin's inauguration ceremony," Tsahkna said, adding that Tallinn "considers it unthinkable to participate in ceremonies that perpetuate his rule".

According to Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, and Canada have also stated their plans to boycott the inauguration. The European Union has not yet issued an official remark on this matter.

The so-called presidential elections in Russia, which European countries did not recognise as democratic and fair, were held on 15-17 March and ended with Vladimir Putin's triumph. He received a remarkable 88% support.

Read also: We're no longer referring to Putin as "president". Why not, and why it matters

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Czechia, Estonia will not attend Putin's inauguration on May 7

Representatives of Czechia and Estonia will not be in attendance for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming presidential inauguration, the foreign ministers of the respective countries confirmed on May 5.

Russia's most recent presidential election has been internationally recognized as rigged by the Kremlin. Credible opposition politicians were not permitted to run in the election.

Czechia and Estonia join the United Kingdom, Canada, Latvia, and Lithuania in boycotting the inauguration schedule to be held in Moscow on May 7, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Other Western allies, including the European Union, have to yet to confirm whether their representatives will be in attendance at the event.

"Estonia cannot legitimize diplomatic relations with an aggressor state, and we have decided not to attend Putin's inauguration ceremony," a spokesperson for Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

"During a time when Putin is engaged in a war of aggression in Europe, killing and deporting innocent people, while carrying out hybrid attacks against EU and NATO members, we find attending ceremonies that perpetuate his rule to be unthinkable."

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky echoed comments made by his Estonian counterpart, adding that "the current relations between Czechia and Russia do not warrant the presence of our embassy representative at the Tuesday inauguration."

According to evidence published by election experts, observers, and media, the March 15-17 presidential election, which Putin 'won' with 87 per cent support, was the most rigged in Russia's modern history.

Estimates of vote rigging range from at least 22 million votes to about 31.6 million votes, without taking into account the online voting and the election at gunpoint in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

If these results are included, voting fraud could have amounted to up to around 40 million votes, or 46% of the people who allegedly voted.

Read also: Evidence shows recent presidential elections most rigged in Russias modern history

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Czechia withdraws its ambassador to Russia who has been in Prague since 2022

Czechia withdraws Vitezslav Pivonka, its ambassador to Russia, who has been in Prague since 2022, from office.

Source: Jan Lipavsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, in a comment for the CTK agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Earlier Lipavsky announced the withdrawal of Pivonka on air of the Nova TV-channel, talking about his refusal to come to the so-called inauguration of Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 7 May.

Quote: "We are working closely on choosing the new ambassador. The current ambassador has been withdrawn. I believe that we will find the new Czech ambassador one day."

Lipavsky refused to comment on the deadline of appointing the new ambassador, or their name.

The minister told CTK that the Czech ambassador in Russia will resign at the end of May.

Earlier the media assumed that Daniel Kostoval, a diplomat and former deputy minister of defence of Czechia, may become the new head of the Czech embassy in Moscow.

Vitezslav Pivonka had been the Czech ambassador in Russia since 2018. In 2022 after the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine he went to Prague, preserving his position. De facto the representation in Moscow was headed by his deputies, for instance Jan Ondrejka.

Background: The Czech government has been discussing whether it should have an ambassador in Moscow for some time amid Russian armed aggression in Ukraine.

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The D.C. Court of Appeals has temporarily suspended the law license of former President Trumps ex-lawyer following a similar order made in late March by a California State Bar Court.

Former Trump attorney John Eastmans license is suspended in D.C. pending a final disposition in the California court proceedings, chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals, Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, said in an order filed on Friday.

A California judge in late March recommended disbarring Eastman due to his false and misleading statements regarding his claims of 2020 election fraud and the role of provoking the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. State Bar Judge Yvette Roland also recommended that he pay $10,000 in monetary sanctions.

This week, Roland shut down Eastmans request to remove the suspension of his license, stating on Wednesday he was not able to prove hes not a threat to the public.

The California Supreme Court will give a ruling regarding the case which Eastman, Chapman Law Schools former dean, can appeal.

Roland, the California judge, found him guilty of 10 counts filed in California last year.

Eastman faces charges in two upcoming 2024 election battleground states.

Eastman faces eight criminal charges in Georgia where he and other allies of the former president are accused of overturning Georgias 2020 election results. He has pleaded not guilty in the case. In Arizona, he and allies other Trump allies face charges regarding their efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the Grand Canyon State.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KOIN 6 News contacted candidates who are running for Oregon attorney general in 2024, asking them to respond to these questions:

Why are you running for Attorney General?

What is your previous government/civic experience?

If elected, what would be your top priorities as attorney general?

What is going right in the Attorney Generals office? How would you build on it?

Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, the Oregon Department of Justice launched the Oregon Reproductive Rights Hotline and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum led a multistate lawsuit with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson  securing an injunction to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. If elected, how will your office work on these issues?

In 2023, the Oregon DOJ convened a group of law enforcement members, health care providers, and lawmakers to discuss ways to address the states fentanyl crisis. If elected, how will you address the fentanyl/substance abuse crises?

Dan Rayfield is running as a Democrat. Here are his responses:

Why are you running for attorney general?

Oregon currently faces a unique set of challenges from our addiction and substance abuse problem to the struggles were seeing with housing affordability in every community. At the same time, our state also has opportunities right now to better help struggling Oregonians to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities in life. I am running for attorney general because I believe, with the right leadership, the Department of Justice can be an indispensable partner to help fix these issues and to help make Oregon the best place to work, live, and raise a family.

What is your previous government/civic experience?

I believe there are three areas of my background that have prepared me to be a good Attorney General. The first is a solid legal background, with nearly 18 years as a practicing attorney in Oregon, Ive focused on general civil litigation, consumer protection and representing people with claims against the insurance industry and large corporations. I gained my first trial experience during law school, clerking in the Benton County District Attorneys Office and prosecuting DUIs and misdemeanors. The second is my record as a legislator and Speaker of the Oregon House, where I delivered for Oregonians by passing laws to expand access to health care, increase funding for public schools, increase the minimum wage, protect our environment and help address the climate crisis, and pass the strongest reproductive health care and abortion protections in the country. The third is more personal. Growing up, I saw up close how physical abuse and addiction impacts families  and what it is like to struggle to make ends meet. That is why I have worked hard to bring law enforcement and criminal justice reform advocates together to address the drug addiction and crime that are impacting our communities, and protect Oregonians from predatory lenders and insurance companies. This unique set of experiences equips me with the vision and expertise required to be an Attorney General who can protect all Oregonians no matter your background or where you live in Oregon.

If elected, what would be your top priorities as attorney general?

The principal role of the Attorney General is to serve as the legal representative of the state, which is why it is important that they have hands-on, Oregon legal experience. Within that framework, there are three overarching goals that will focus our work. First, we will work to protect Oregonians values  and the laws that reflect those values  from national threats, including those to reproductive health care, collective bargaining, and our vote-by-mail system. The second focus will be to expand the work of the Civil Enforcement Division, ensuring enforcement of the laws that uphold our values and protect vulnerable Oregonians. Specifically, I would create the Working Families Unit, and strengthening the support for folks  like my single mom  who relied on child support showing up on time. Finally, we will focus on partnering with law enforcement and criminal justice reform advocates to keep our communities safe, reduce gun violence, and help combat homelessness and substance abuse disorder. Many positive steps were taken in HB 4002 (2024) but the crisis will not be fixed overnight and were committed to continuing these efforts to improve community safety.

What is going right in the Attorney Generals office? How would you build on it?

Building on Attorney General Rosenblums tenure, our administration will look for additional opportunities to proactively investigate and prosecute when Oregonians are being harmed. I would particularly focus on the most urgent needs of our time: environmental protection, civil rights, and consumer protections. First, we will increase the ongoing work to hold corporations accountable, especially those contributing to climate change. Second, through the expansion of the Civil Enforcement Division, we will bolster the Department of Justices capacity to ensure our civil rights and consumer protection laws are being enforced  and hold bad actors accountable when theyre not. Third, I would create a Working Families Unit in the Department of Justice; this unit would consist of attorneys and investigators focused on enforcing key labor protections like wage theft, misclassification, and child labor. We have some of the strongest protections in the country, but if they are not being enforced, they dont mean anything. Finally, I am committed to conducting a comprehensive review of the internal processes at the Department of Justice to identify and implement improvements in areas such as State Agency third-party contracting, procurement processes, and litigation review. This will ensure that state services are getting to Oregonians effectively and efficiently  and state agencies are getting the best legal counsel to deliver those services.

Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, the Oregon Department of Justice launched the Oregon Reproductive Rights Hotline and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum led a multistate lawsuit with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson  securing an injunction to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. If elected, how will your office work on these issues?

There is nothing more intensely personal than the decision of when or whether to have a child. That decision, and any decision about reproductive health, is a right that should belong to the individual  not a judge and certainly not politicians. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a harsh reminder that we can never take our fundamental rights for granted. The extreme Dobbs decision is making women and families across the country less safe and is harming millions of people; this is especially true for people of color, and low-income individuals, which only worsens existing inequities.

I am proud of my work in the legislature to ensure that, here in Oregon, reproductive rights and healthcare have the strongest protections in the nation. As Attorney General, I will fiercely defend those protections and stand up to extremists attempts to impose any national abortion bans and efforts by some states to reach beyond their borders to restrict safe access to abortion. I am committed to protecting, strengthening, and expanding safe, equitable access to reproductive and gender-affirming care, no matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you make.

In 2023, the Oregon DOJ convened a group of law enforcement members, health care providers, and lawmakers to discuss ways to address the states fentanyl crisis. If elected, how will you address the fentanyl/substance abuse crises?

As a child, I saw the impacts of addiction and substance abuse up close and even attended AA meetings with my mother. This is a deeply important and personal issue to me. Addiction is a significant public health crisis; effectively and immediately delivering treatment to those struggling with it must be a top priority. It is also clear that addiction is part of a complex web of issues that include homelessness, mental and behavioral health, and criminal activity.

As Attorney General, I will bring together law enforcement and criminal justice reform advocates to find proven, solutions-driven approaches to better connect people to services while strengthening efforts to go after large-scale drug trafficking

Its clear that housing and substance abuse can often be linked together.

During Oregons housing crisis I have worked to create the largest housing packages in the states history to get people off the streets and into stable housing and increase the supply of housing so homes are more affordable for all Oregonians. I have been frustrated by the red tape and time that it has taken for these investments and policies to make an impact in our communities. As Attorney General, I will work with state agencies to streamline these legal processes to get these investments into communities so that services can be delivered now.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Dangerous outbreak of tornadoes in the Plains will kick off busy week of severe weather

As AccuWeather meteorologists correctly forecasted, another dangerous outbreak of severe weather, including strong and long-track tornadoes, unfolded through Monday night.

AccuWeather meteorologists first raised the potential of severe weather for this stretch of May back in April and have been raising the severe weather threat level since early last week. An 'extreme' risk of severe weather, including tornadoes, was issued by AccuWeather Monday morning, which is rare and reserved for the most dangerous events.

The extreme classification implies the risk of multiple dangerous, strong, long-track tornadoes.

On Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a "potentially dangerous situation (PDS)" watch area because of the seriousness of the event.

A tornado near Interstate 80 in Lincoln, Nebraska, on April 26, 2024. (Nebraska Department of Transportation)

This dangerous weather will kick off another multi-day episode of severe storms that will expand east to also include parts of the Midwest, East, and South through the rest of the week. After that, a change in the weather pattern will bring a much-needed break in the stormy weather for the nation's heartland.

Following a relative lull in severe weather over the weekend, the same storm that brought heavy rain, mountain snow and gusty winds to the West will emerge in the Plains. It was this system, combined with a warm and humid air mass, that sparked the tornadic thunderstorms to start the week, say AccuWeather meteorologists.

Thunderstorms rapidly erupted from west-central Kansas to central Nebraska, western South Dakota, and southeastern Montana on Monday afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms then raced across these states, while thunderstorms quickly developed in west-central Oklahoma, through Monday night, producing over 200 reports of hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes. A strong tornado moved through the towns of Barnsdall and Bartlesville, Oklahoma Monday evening, causing significant damage and leading to at least one casualty, according to the Osage County Sheriff's Office.

As of early Tuesday morning, over 50,000 customers were without power in Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas as a line of severe thunderstorms moved through the states.

Monday's extreme risk was the first issued by AccuWeather since April 4, 2023. In addition to April 4, the only other extreme risk in 2023 was a few days earlier on March 31.

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This region has been no stranger to severe weather lately, with more than 100 confirmed tornadoes, some deadly, and over 1,000 incidents of severe weather reported since April 25. That tally is sure to grow in the coming days.

By Tuesday and Tuesday night, while the severe weather and tornado threat will shift largely out of the central Plains, it will impact millions more from Arkansas to Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including in the metropolitan areas of Chicago and Indianapolis.

"The Tuesday morning commute is likely to be a slow one as a line of thunderstorms roars through areas from St. Louis to Fort Smith, Arkansas," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys. "Chicagoland should also get in on these potentially strong storms in the morning."

There are some questions about how primed the atmosphere will be for storms later in the day, farther south and east on Tuesday, thus leading to lower risk categories for severe weather. Despite that, thunderstorms are still expected to develop again later in the day after some daytime heating provides fuel for the atmosphere.

The zone at moderate risk from severe thunderstorms, including several tornadoes, stretches outward from much of Indiana to southeastern Illinois, western Ohio and western and central Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The risk for severe thunderstorms will not abate after Tuesday. AccuWeather meteorologists say that dozens more states will be threatened by storms during the mid- and late-week periods. New injections of atmospheric energy will be responsible for maintaining this threat through at least Friday, extending all the way to the East Coast.

"A more potent day of severe weather is anticipated on Wednesday as an area of low pressure develops across the eastern Plains into Missouri," said Roys. "Widespread severe thunderstorm activity, including the risk of flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes, can occur from northeastern Texas to the Ohio Valley."

Included in the risk area on Wednesday will be many of the same areas that were under at least 'some' risk for severe weather on Tuesday. Additionally, AccuWeather meteorologists have increased the risk for severe weather on Wednesday to 'high' across southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western Kentucky, southeastern Missouri and far northwestern Tennessee.

The likelihood of severe weather will extend to the Atlantic coast and toward the Gulf coast later this week.

By the time this week ends, it will have been over two weeks since the recent rash of severe weather and violent tornadoes kicked off in the Plains. With little in the way of breaks in between weather systems over that timeframe, those cleaning up from the storms will be happy to know a much-needed break in storminess is in the forecast, say AccuWeather meteorologists.

Drier air expanding across the Plains beginning on Friday, but especially during the upcoming weekend dates of May 11 and 12, will lead to a much quieter weather pattern across the region. This is especially great news because Mother's Day falls on May 12.

Even after those dates, early in the following week, conditions should remain quieter than earlier in May because the amount of energy in the atmosphere appears displaced from the region and weaker than is required for severe weather outbreaks.
On This Day, May 5: Thailand crowns 1st new king in nearly 7 decades

On May 5, 2019, Thailand officially crowned a new king for the first time in nearly 70 decades -- Maha Vajiralongkorn, pictured in 2016 File Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/European Pressphoto Agency

May 5 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St. Helena.

In 1847, the American Medical Association was founded in Philadelphia.

In 1862, Mexican troops, outnumbered 3-1, defeated invading French forces of Napoleon III.

In 1925, biology teacher John Scopes was arrested for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in violation of Tennessee state laws.

U.S. troops surrender to the Japanese at Corregidor, Philippines, on May 6, 1942, one day after an attack by the latter. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

UPI File Photo

In 1930, British and Indian troops were put on alert in the major cities throughout India following the arrest and incarceration of Mahatma Gandhi.

President Nixon honored the Apollo 14 Astronauts with a White House dinner on March 1, 1971, and presented them with NASA's distinguished Service Medal. Astronaut Alan Shepard (L), after receiving his medal, jokes wth the president, causing Nixon to cover his face with laughter. On May 5, 1961, Shepard became the United States' first man in space in a brief sub-orbital flight. File Photo by John Full/UPI

In 1932, Sen. George W. Norris, R-Neb., leader of the western insurgent Republicans, bolted the party and threw his support behind Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt for president.

In 1942, Japanese forces stormed the Philippine island of Corregidor in a bid to capture a strategic access point to Manila Bay. By 9:30 a.m. on May 6, the Japanese had taken control of the island fortress.

Monument to Elsie Mitchell and five children killed by Japanese balloon bomb on May 5, 1945. They were the only civilian deaths on continental U.S. soil in World War II. The monument is located in the Mitchell Recreation Area in Oregon. File Photo by Jayedgerton/Wikimedia

In 1945, Elsie Mitchell and five neighborhood children were killed in Lakeview, Ore., when a Japanese balloon they had found in the woods exploded. They were listed as the only known World War II civilian fatalities in the continental United States.

In 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the United States' first man in space in a brief sub-orbital flight from Cape Canaveral.

Mahatma Gandhi stands with his arms around two female relatives in New Delhi, India, ca. 1947. On May 5, 1930, British and Indian troops were put on alert in the major cities throughout India following the arrest and incarceration of Gandhi. File Photo by Bert Brandt/Acme Newspictures/UPI

In 1981, imprisoned Irish-Catholic militant Bobby Sands died after refusing food for 66 days in protest of his imprisonment by British authorities as a criminal rather than a political prisoner.

In 1995, a surprise hail storm and flash flooding in Dallas left 17 people dead. It was the worst recorded hail storm in the United States in the 20th century.

Darrell Roderick of Kansas City, Mo., helped salvage items from his mother-in-law's property May 5, 2003, after a tornado tore through the area the night before. File Photo by Todd Feeback/UPI

In 1996, Jose Maria Aznar became prime minister of Spain.

File Photo by Michael Kleinfeld/UPI

Umaru Yar'Adua, president of Nigeria, addresses the 62nd General Assembly at the United Nations on September 26, 2007 in New York City. On May 5, Yar'Adua died after a long illness and Goodluck Jonathan, the vice president, assumed the presidency. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI

In 2003, authorities said a two-day wave of tornadoes killed about 40 people in Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee. About 400 tornadoes would go on to strike several Southern states over a nine-day period, killing 42 people and causing nearly $1 billion in damage.

In 2005, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was elected to a third term.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair stands with his family (L-R) Nicky, Euan, Cherie, Leo and Katherine, at No.10 Downing St. after winning a record third term in power on May 6, 2005. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

In 2010, Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua died after a long illness and Goodluck Jonathan, the vice president, assumed the presidency.

In 2019, Thailand crowned a new king for the first time in nearly 70 decades -- Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In 2022, President Joe Biden announced Karine Jean-Pierre would replace Jen Psaki, making her the first Black and first openly LGBTQI White House press secretary in U.S. history.

File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Defense Ministry: Medical commission members can no longer use own discretion on conscripts' eligibility

Members of the Military Medical Examination Commission can no longer use their own discretion when determining a person's eligibility for the military, the Defense Ministry said on May 4.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on April 2 canceling the "partially eligible," which stipulates that certain health issues exempt conscripts from specific kinds of military activities.

The law came into force on May 4, reducing the categories to "eligible" and "non-eligible." Men between the ages of 18 and 60 who were listed as "partially eligible" must be re-examined.

The list of illnesses that could grant a given person an exemption must be evaluated, the Defense Ministry said.

This change will prevent corruption and draft dodging during the medical examination, the ministry said.

"In fact, the individual evaluation of (a given candidate's) eligibility was canceled. From now on, Military Medical Examination Commission members will not be able to make decisions on their own but will be guided only by clear rules," the statement read.

Ukraine's government aims to update the legal framework around mobilization to ramp up its number of available troops in 2024.

In early April, Zelensky approved laws to lower the minimum age of compulsory military service from 27 to 25, allowing younger men to be mobilized, and to create the online register for conscripts.

Ukraine's president also signed an updated mobilization bill on April 16, one of the key points of which is the right of disabled soldiers and those who have returned from captivity to discharge themselves.

Read also: Foreign Ministry clarifies rules for men abroad applying for consular services

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A DeKalb County man has been charged with murder after being accused of shooting his manager inside of a Lee County Little Caesars restaurant, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

The GBI and the Lee County Sheriffs Office arrested and charged Daquan Divonte Harris, 28, of Lithonia with felony murder and aggravated assault in connection to the death of Joseph Dorminey, 50, of Leesburg, Georgia.

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On Friday after 9 p.m., the LCSO responded to the Little Caesars Pizza restaurant on U.S. 19 North in Leesburg. When they arrived, they found Dorminey with multiple gunshot wounds. Officials identified Dorminey as the store manager.

He was taken to Phoebe Putney Hospital in Albany, where he later died.

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Harris was arrested Saturday morning and booked into the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Anyone with information concerning this case is encouraged to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 229-759-6012 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Americus at 229-931-2439.

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IN OTHER NEWS
A 1.8% decrease in overdose deaths is not a political victory lap, Delaware.

Numbers dont equate human life.

Say their names.

Since I started using heroin in 2016, after my overdose in 2017, and my cousins death to overdose in 2019, Delaware seems to be waiting to see what other states are doing to combat the overdose crisis.

Safer supply policy could work in Delaware

Instead, the state of Delaware should be looking to the use of safer supply policy in Canada. According to the Canadian government:

Safer supply services provide prescribed medications to people who use drugs, overseen by a health care practitioner, with the goal of preventing overdoses and saving lives. They are provided in a less clinical and more flexible way compared to other care options for substance use, such as opioid agonist treatment, OAT."

Safer supply services may offer:

a range of medication options

accessible locations (for example, services available at a community health centre)

flexible eligibility requirements

flexible dosing conditions and carrying rules (for example, clients may be able to pick up their supply and use as needed)

flexible client goals (for example, focusing on improving health and not requiring that clients stop using illegal drugs)

These services are intended to reach people at risk of overdose for whom currently available care options have been ineffective or inappropriate.

Safer supply can provide opioid medications, stimulant medications and benzodiazepines.

Safer supply as a harm reduction practice includes support beyond drug use alone, the Canadian government states:

In some cases, safer supply services include providing or connecting people with other health and social services, where possible and appropriate, such as:

general medical care, including substance use disorder treatment programs

mental health counseling

supports for any other health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C

employment supports

housing supports

Meanwhile, in Delaware

The State of Delaware has not made any call to action to remove state and federal red tape around safer supply in Delaware, which costs lives to overdose in Delaware every year.

Delaware is looking to Philadelphia to understand Xylazine, which costs lives to overdose in Delaware every year.

A "stop opioids use" door knocker hangs on a doorknob during an opioids outreach event along West 23rd and North Market streets in Wilmington on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. Wilmington City Councilperson Zanthia Oliver, community members and organizations distributed door knockers and opioid rescue kits, which contained Narcan and dual fentanyl-xylazine test strips, to community residents as part of the "stop the use of opioids" event.

We must wake up, Delaware. We must change ourselves. We must save lives through our innovation, Delaware. Stop waiting for the federal government to institute safer supply, and innovate, Delaware. We must create an overdose reversal medication for Xylazine. Stop waiting for Philadelphias treatment of Xylazine, and innovate, Delaware.

The drug supply is poisoned. Poisoned supply is why your loved one isnt here. Poisoned supply is why my cousin isnt here. Poisoned supply is why I overdosed. If you use drugs, the poisoned supply is going to kill you. Someone you love is going to overdose in Delaware from the poisoned supply. The poisoned supply, is why some of you wont be here.

When you see your loved one next time, dont simply tell them you love them. Show them. Show your loved one you love them by contacting our Delaware representatives to cut red tape from safer supply in Delaware on the State and Federal level, and create a Xylazine overdose reversal medication through Delaware innovation. Don't you want to see your loved one again, that is in crisis now? We must have a safer supply and Xylazine overdose reversal medication, so overdose doesnt have to happen to another person, like it happened to us.

When are we going to hold ourselves accountable for tackling the most important issue of the overdose crisis? Safer supply is the most important issue of the overdose crisis. Overdoses will increase in Delaware because we as a state cannot go beyond our own thinking if we dont institute safer supply and a Xylazine overdose reversal medication.

Jordan McClements: Our Delaware family and friends are dying from poisoned drugs. We have to help them

You want the answers to the unsheltered crisis and the overdose crisis? Change. Now. Change, by saving your loved one. Change, by loving someone else. Change, by being yourself. When you change, we change. When we change, we save our state. When we change, we save lives.

Drug use is chasing an eclipse, grasping for light. Delaware needs a rapture. We all need a rapture. The rapture of stopping overdose in Delaware is through safer supply, a Xylazine overdose reversal medication and further harm reduction.

Jordan McClements MA/MFA, is an overdose crisis journalist who will be attending Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism for his MSJ in Social Justice and Solutions Journalism this fall. Jordan survived overdose and lost his cousin to overdose. He resides in Felton.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware overdose crisis could benefit from safer supply policy
When student Lauren Brown first heard the commotion, including firecrackers, she assumed the sounds were coming from nearby frat houses. Then, at about four in the morning, she heard helicopters. Later, she awoke to news and footage of a violent attack by pro-Israeli protesters on an encampment set up to oppose the war in Gaza.

It was hard to watch, said Brown, 19, a freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles, whose dorm was near the encampment. And I wondered where the police were. I saw posts from people talking about them being teargassed and maced and campus security was just watching.

Related: Mass deportations, detention camps, troops on the street: Trump spells out migrant plan

Eventually, a large police contingent did arrive and forcibly cleared the sprawling encampment early on Thursday morning. Flash-bangs were launched to disperse crowds gathered outside and more than 200 people were arrested. Afterward, campus facility workers could be seen picking up flattened tents and pieces of spray-painted plywood, and throwing them into grey dumpsters.

Similar scenes of tumult have played out this week at about 40 universities and colleges in America, resulting in clashes with police, mass arrests and a directive from Joe Biden to restore order. The unrest has unfolded from coast to coast on a scale not seen since the Vietnam war protests of the 1960s and 1970s.

The president has cause for concern as the issue threatens his youth vote, divides his Democratic party and gives Donald Trumps Republicans an opening to push allegations of antisemitism and depict Bidens America as spiralling out of control.

There are inescapable parallels with 1968, a tumultuous year of assassinations and anti-war demonstrations that led to chaos at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Democrats lost the White House to Republican law and order candidate Richard Nixon.

Now, there are fears that history will repeat itself as anti-war protests again convulse university campuses, and the Democratic National Convention again heads to Chicago. Biden faces Republican law and order candidate Donald Trump in Novembers presidential election.

Bernie Sanders, an independent US senator from Vermont, told CNN this week: I am thinking back and other people are making this reference that this may be Bidens Vietnam.

I am thinking back and other people are making this reference that this may be Bidens Vietnam US senator Bernie Sanders, to CNN

Drawing parallels with President Lyndon Johnson, whose considerable domestic achievements were overshadowed by the Vietnam war and who did not seek reelection in 1968, Sanders added: I worry very much that President Biden is putting himself in a position where he has alienated not just young people but a lot of the Democratic base, in terms of his views on Israel and this war.

The Gaza war started when Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October last year, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostage. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 34,600 people in Gaza, mostly women and children.

The ferocity of that response, and Americas ironclad support for Israel, ignited protests by students at Columbia University in New York that rapidly spread to other campuses across the country. Students built encampments in solidarity with Gaza, demanding a ceasefire and that universities divest from Israel. The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful, although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks and violent threats.

University administrators, who have tried to balance the right to protest and complaints of violence and hate speech, have increasingly called on police to clear out the demonstrators before year-end exams and graduation ceremonies. More than 2,300 arrests have been made in the past two weeks, some during violent confrontations with police, giving rise to accusations of use of excessive force.

Biden, who has faced pressure from all political sides over the conflict in Gaza, attempted to thread the needle on Thursday, saying: We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. But neither are we a lawless country. Were a civil society, and order must prevail.

The president faces opposition in his own party for his strong support for Israels military offensive. Hundreds of thousands of people registered versions of uncommitted protest votes against him in the Democratic presidential primary.

Yaya Anantanang, a student organiser at George Washington University in Washington, told the Politico website: My message is that we do not support Biden. We do not capitulate to the liberal electoral politics, because, quite frankly, the liberation of Palestinians will not come through a Democratic president but by organizing and ensuring that there is full divestment within all of these institutions.

Such views ring alarm bells for those who fear that even a small dip in support from Bidens coalition could make all the difference in a tight election.

Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F Kennedy, who was gunned down while running for president in 1968, urged the protesters to support Biden despite their misgivings. We need their votes now, she said. They might not love Joe Bidens policies but the choice is not between Joe Biden and their ideal. The choice is between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, whos going to institute the Muslim ban on day one.

Republicans, meanwhile, are seeking to exploit the unrest for political gain. They have accused Biden of being soft on what they say is antisemitic sentiment among the protesters and Democrats of indulging wokeness in Americas education system.

Chris Sununu, the Republican governor of New Hampshire, said: The crisis youre seeing on college campuses is a result of the colleges themselves not having and pushing the right education, the right discussion in the classrooms, in the right way. They play this woke game where they dont want to touch an issue.

They create a vacuum of information. The students get bad information and propaganda. Theyre effectively being used by terrorist organisations overseas to push an anti-American, anti-Israeli message, which is just awful. Its not a difference of opinion. Its complete misinformation.

Images of disarray on campus have played endlessly on Fox News and in other rightwing media, feeding a narrative of instability and lawlessness under Biden while conveniently sucking political oxygen away from Trumps own negatives.

On Tuesday, for example, the Republican nominee was in court for his hush-money trial; Time magazine published an interview in which Trump set out an extremist vision of an imperial presidency; and Florida introduced a six-week abortion ban after Trump helped overturn Roe v Wade. But TV screens were dominated by the protests.

Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of the progressive movement Indivisible, said: All of those stories  any individual one would have been possibly disqualifying for a presidential candidate in a previous election  received a fraction of the coverage of the protests against [the Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahus massacre of Gazans.

Thats problematic for those of us who want to see Joe Biden re-elected and want to see Democrats win because every day that we spend talking about this immoral war that US tax dollars are supporting is a day were not talking about the dangerous, creeping fascism presented by the Republican party.

Still, Democrats hope that, with the academic year soon drawing to a close, students will head home for the summer and the energy will disperse. Donna Brazile, a former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, doubts that the issue will be decisive in November.

Were going to have an October surprise every month, and we cannot predict which of the many surprises will actually drive the election. she said. A month ago, it was abortion was going drive the election. Now its the campus protesters. Next month itll be something else.

Brazile also defended the students right to protest as past generations have against the Vietnam war, South African apartheid, the Iraq war and, during the most recent election campaign, police brutality. Ive been on several college campuses and the majority of them are quite peaceful, she said.

These are students who are using their first amendment right to advocate for change in the Middle East, and everyone has to be clear that there are rules. Just a handful have gotten out of control because if you violate the rules or break the law, you you have no right to do that. That is forbidden.
DENVER (KDVR)  Denvers weather will remain breezy with some warmer temperatures and increased sunshine on Sunday. This will be followed by cooler temperatures throughout the workweek.

Weather today: Breezy and warm

Mostly sunny and breezy conditions are forecasted to dominate the area on Sunday. There is a High Wind Warning across the western slope until midnight, with gusts up to 70 mph possible. Meanwhile, the Foothills along with the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains are under a High Wind Watch with gusts also up to 70 mph likely.

Because of these strong winds in south-central and southeast Colorado, the National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a Red Flag Warning for the San Luis Valley and for the southeast part of the state. Warm and dry weather will make for dangerous fire conditions, and outdoor burning is not recommended.

High temperatures in Denver will be in the upper 70s and lower 80s under partly cloudy to mostly clear skies.

Weather tonight: Mostly clear and windy

Sunday night will bring partly cloudy skies and breezy conditions as overnight low temperatures drop down into the upper 40s nearing 50 degrees. Winds will be out of the south anywhere from 20-30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph possible.

Meanwhile, there is a Winter Weather Advisory for Rabbit Ears Pass and for the Elkhead and Park Mountains as a system is set to drop 5-10 of snow Sunday night into Monday morning.

Looking ahead: Cooler air ahead, unsettled second half of the week

Monday brings us cooler high temperatures, only in the upper 50s and lower 60s under partly cloudy skies.

This will be followed by sunshine and mid-60s on Tuesday. Temperatures will drop again Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as the next chance for showers moves in.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Description

Enjoy an afternoon of traditional Iranian music at the Great Neck Library featuring The Chakavak Ensemble's founding members Bahrain Sadeghian (vocals) and Shahla Nikfal (qanum). The ensemble was formed in 1987 to advocate and offer an understanding of traditional Persian music to the tri-state area and has become more successful than ever.

Registration is required. Great Neck Library cardholders and residents have priority for seating. Sign up online, in-person, or via phone beginning April 25 at 10 a.m. Non-residents are welcome as walk-ins, as space allows. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.
As representatives for Hamas arrived in Cairo to continue peacemaking negotiations on Saturday, Israeli officials appeared to reject the impending end of the war, according to several reports.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz spoke with an anonymous Israeli official Saturday who said Israel will, under no circumstances, agree to end the war as part of a deal to release the hostages. The Associated Press also spoke with an anonymous Israeli source who corroborated the report.

Both outlets report the Israeli government is committed to conducting a ground offensive into Rafah, the Southern Gaza city where more than 1 million Palestinians have fled to shelter from Israels attacks in Gaza. Israel has given Hamas one week to reach a peace deal before it begins attacking Rafah, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Al-Qahera, an Egyptian state-affiliated news channel, reported noticeable progress in the cease-fire talks Saturday, with Hamas asking for a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, according to the Associated Press. The Hamas delegation was meeting with officials from Qatar, who were conducting indirect negotiations facilitated by Egypt and the United States.

Egyptian mediators floated a three-part peace plan, the first phase of which would involve an immediate 40-day cease-fire for the partial release of Israeli hostages and withdrawal of some Israeli forces, per the AP.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed sending an Israeli delegation to the peace talks until after he spoke with cabinet ministers Gadi Eisenkot and Benny Gantz, The Jerusalem Post reported, prolonging matters further.

The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is entering its eighth month since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 led to 247 Israeli hostages and 1,143 deaths. Since then, more than 34,000 Palestinians have died as Israel mounted a counteroffensive throughout the Gaza Strip, according to data shared by the Gaza Health Ministry. The conflict has also led to widespread infrastructure damage in Gaza, including a famine in the north, according to UN officials.

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Street art covers the facades of two buildings that make up the Phoenix Arts District in Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood. The district is in the early phase of being redeveloped and incorporated with the Emerald Trail project.

Placemaking is a buzz word in the real estate and development world these days. It is a concept focused on building with the intention to revitalize and reinvigorate communities that have suffered from lack of resources or underinvestment.

But what if we took this concept a step further? What if developers first took the time to build trust within the community by engaging its members in conversation about their hopes and dreams for their neighborhood?

Dialogue is a core principle of regenerative placemaking, which is the development framework for the Phoenix Arts and Innovation District, located on 8.3 acres in the North Springfield neighborhood within Jacksonvilles Urban Core and five minutes north of downtown.

Regenerative placemaking builds on the idea of public spaces by taking an inclusive approach  co-creating with the community to design the best outcome for a development to serve the neighborhoods needs and growth. At Future of Cities, we see this approach as having three pillars  community, nature and culture.

These are the three living systems that make up all neighborhoods. When we began the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District project, we started by listening to and working with the community. That way, we garnered a deeper understanding of what type of development would nourish the people and culture already living there.

We also fully embraced and supported the visionary efforts of the Emerald Trail, which runs through our district.

What weve learned is that there is a thriving artist and maker community, which had already been engaged by Christy Frazier, the entrepreneur who pioneered the Phoenix district before Future of Cities got involved. The priorities include more public green space with shade and trails, a venue for community events, affordable artist studios and supported gallery spaces.

A grocery store is needed, as well as easier access to public transit. Affordable and workforce housing is also desired and essential while mitigating gentrification. Assisting the community with legal support for title and heir issues will ensure those who want to stay in their generational homes can do so.

We held formal workshops and informal events to bring the people living near the district together to share their ideas. As we listened, we shaped our master plan to reflect what the community felt would best to support their vision of growth for North Springfield.

Mark Woods: $147 million federal grant a game-changer for Groundwork Jacksonville, Emerald Trail

We believe that success moves at the speed of trust. Trust is our most valuable commodity, and we endeavor to authentically foster it within the community and the city at large. We want to be allies by building public private partnerships that elevate the great work of many partners from all sectors.

Regenerative placemaking aims to consciously revitalize underserved communities. Celebrating their unique cultural assets and people raises their value at the start of a development project. In return, the process nourishes self-sufficiency, empowerment, stability and  ultimately  the joy of living in an authentic, vibrant and healthy neighborhood.

Letters: Thanking those who helped save JEA for National Public Service Recognition Week

Since we began this journey at the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District, we have welcomed thousands of citizens to gather, explore and enjoy. We aspire to be a hub for small independent creative businesses and a home to artists and innovators from around Jacksonville and the region.

We are excited to bring this new vision of development to the city of Jacksonville and invite you to come see it in action  or better yet, be a part of it. Join us in the co-creation. Learn more at PhxJax.com.

Tony Cho was an early investor in Miami's Wynwood Art District and is now investing in Jacksonville's Phoenix Arts District which is in the early phase of being redeveloped and incorporated with the Emerald Trail project.

Tony Cho is the founder and CEO of Future of Cities, as well as the founding managing partner of Phoenix Arts and Innovation District, Jacksonville.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Arts district to embrace community, nature, culture of Jacksonville
A prosecuting attorney from another county says all three Canyon County commissioners violated Idahos Open Meeting Law by attending a Republican Central Committee meeting and deliberating facts there, without first telling the public that they would meet together.

But a former Idaho attorney general hired by the commissioners to review the incident says the Bonner County prosecutor in Sandpoint relied almost entirely on facts provided by Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor and did not interview anyone involved. The Bonner County prosecutor missed the fact that the commissioners had asked one of Taylors deputies beforehand whether their attendance would violate the law and were told no, former Attorney General David Leroy said.

Commissioners Brad Holton, Zach Brooks and Leslie Van Beek attended the Canyon County Republican Central Committee meeting on Jan. 31. That day, the committee interviewed candidates for the Canyon County clerk job vacated by Chris Yamamoto.

Under state law, the county committee of the political party to which a departing elected county official belongs must nominate three candidates for the county commission to choose from.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall was appointed by an Idaho District Court judge to investigate the alleged violation. That is required by Idaho law to avoid the conflict of interest inherent in a prosecutor investigating commissioners, who control the prosecutors budget and to whom the prosecutor provides legal counsel.

In a letter to Taylor, Marshall said Holton and Brooks attended in their roles as members of the Central Committee, and Van Beek, whose husband is on the committee, attended as a private citizen. They did not provide public notice on the commissioners online agenda, and it appears that all three deliberated about the clerk candidates during the unnoticed meeting, Marshall wrote.

The Canyon County Commission meets in August 2023. From left: Brad Holton of District 2, Zach Brooks of District 3, and Leslie Van Beek of District 1. All are Republicans.

Commissioners hold nine-minute meeting to elect clerk

After the Central Committee meeting, board members sent a letter to the commissioners ranking the three applicants for the clerk job. They ranked Rick Hogaboam as No. 1 , Steve Almer as No. 2 and Jo Dee Arnold as No. 3. Hogaboam had recently been hired as the countys director of constituent services.

In a Feb. 2 meeting listed on the county website, the commissioners were scheduled to consider recommendations of the Canyon County Republican Central Committee on a new clerk appointment. During the meeting, Van Beek said the Board of County Commissioners was privileged to attend the Republican Central Committee meeting where candidates presented themselves and there was a five-minute question and answer and presentation of their qualifications for the duty in the office of clerk. We felt like there was one clear recommendation and candidate that was head and shoulders above the rest in that selection process.

The Feb. 2 meeting was 10 minutes long and during it, all three commissioners voted to appoint Hogaboam. Holton made no comments about why he voted to appoint Hogaboam, and Brooks said he would vote for Hogaboam because of his previous experience in government.

No other deliberations were made in a public meeting, and no candidates were interviewed by the commissioners in an open meeting.

Canyon County commissioners Zach Brooks, Leslie Van Beek and Brad Holton in January 2023.

In his March 29 letter, Marshall wrote, The board appears to have deliberated on its choice for a county clerk by attending the CCRC Meeting when the matter of selecting a clerk was already before the board. He said the commissioners violated the law by attending the Republican Central Committee Meeting that was not noticed on the county website, and by using that meeting to make a decision or deliberate toward a decision.

Marshall also took issue with Van Beeks comments that the board of county commissioners attended the meeting. He said Van Beeks consistent use of the we in her narrative could be construed to mean that the board discussed and determined its selection prior to the February 2, 2024, board meeting. He also said that Holton and Brooks did not correct Van Beeks narrative.

The penalty for the first violation of Idahos open meeting law is $250 and the penaty for any subsequent violation is $2,500. The penalty for a governing body that knowingly violates the open meeting law is $1,500.

However, Marshall also concluded that more than 30 days had passed since the violation, and there was no longer any remedy to fix it.

By phone, Brooks told the Statesman that he and Holton asked Carl Ericson, deputy prosecutor, if he thought Brooks and Holton attending the committee meeting as members would violate the Open Meeting Law. Brooks said Ericson said he did not have a problem with the two attending the meeting in their capacities as committee members.

Brooks denied there was a violation of the law. He said he was short with his comments at the Feb. 2 meeting because he did not want to diminish the other two clerk candidates on the record.

I did not want my comments in the deliberation period to somehow come across as slighting or impugning the other two names that were there with Rick, he said. But in my opinion, just from knowing them, neither one of them were qualified to take his job on.

Later,during the April 8 commissioner meeting, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alexis Klempel said the violation did not occur because Brooks and Holton attended, but because they appeared to have deliberated toward a decision outside of a public meeting.

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Commissioners clash with prosecutors office

According to comments made in public meetings, the commissioners were not aware of Marshalls investigation into the alleged violation until Brooks received an anonymous tip. Brooks mentioned the tip in an April 8 public meeting where Taylor was present.

All three commissioners were furious with Taylor. They said he owed them notice before he sent the investigation to Marshalls office. But Taylor said it is common practice not to inform commissioners when there is an allegation of an open-meeting-law investigation and to simply send the evidence to the special outside prosecutor.

In an email Friday, Taylor told the Statesman that his priority as prosecuting attorney is to the public.

We understand that our job is not to help the board do what it wants, but to tell them the truth as we see it and explain the law as it stands, Taylor said. When those things align, the county functions at a high level. When they do not, then the county does not function at the level it should.

Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Taylor

During the April 8 meeting, Klempel said it was Taylors duty to consider whether an alleged violation could be proved beyond a reasonable doubt before sending it to another prosecutor.

In a criminal case, you can make that initial determination just by reviewing brief information, Klempel said. Youre not always going to chat with a suspect or somebody whos been accused of a crime before making that determination.

But the commissioners remained upset.

You took this allegation and you said, Yes, I need to see if theyre guilty or not, Holton said. But you and I are a client and attorney. You would think there would be some kind of notification that were under investigation.

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Canyon County Clerk Chris Yamamoto swears-in county commissioner Brad Holton to office on Jan. 9, 2023 at the county administration building in Caldwell.

Jim Jones, another former Idaho attorney general and a former Idaho Supreme Court justice, told the Idaho Statesman by phone that Taylor was following Idaho law.

Thats the procedure that is set out in the statute, Jones said. And I dont particularly think that the commissioners can complain about it, because thats what the state law says.

Jones also said the county prosecutor could give the commissioners a heads up that an investigation was forthcoming, but it isnt required by Idaho Law.

Brooks told the Statesman, I find it unethical that my own attorney whos supposed to be my counsel did not come talk to me. And thats who he is. He does not come talk to us. Ive only seen him seven or eight times in the room.

Brooks was also concerned that Marshall adopted most of Taylors findings as his own, in his March 29 letter.

Attorney David Leroy appointed to represent commissioners

During the April 8 commissioners meeting, Taylor said the open meeting law violation was closed, since Marshall did not recommend any further remedy.

But in the two days to follow, the commissioners hired Leroy to represent them in a conflict matter between them and Taylors office. In an April 10 meeting, the commissioners hired Leroy at $350 per hour and his paralegal at $150 an hour to conduct a legal review of the alleged violations.

We need to dialogue through this on why were doing this and what were doing, because it has become  and I can say this, but I dont think you two should say it  it has become a campaign issue, Holton said during the meeting. He was referring to Van Beek and Brooks, who are running for re-election in contested primaries on May 21.

During the April 10 meeting, Klempel said the prosecutors office did not agree that its appropriate for (the conflict) to be reviewed by outside legal counsel.

In an April 12 commissioners meeting, Leroy issued an opinion on the conduct between the prosecutors office and commissioners. He suggested that Taylor inform the commissioners if a violation is suggested and if he sends it to a special prosecutor.

When the prosecutor makes a special prosecutor referral . . . he is placed in the situation of having a potential concurrent conflict of interest, Leroys letter said. This raises the risk of a material limitation on some of the range of the offices advice to the (commissioners), and at a minimum invokes the need for the informed consent of the (commissioners) about the existing issue and any potential impairment of the ongoing attorney-client relationship.

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Leroy is also Van Beeks private attorney. He is representing her in an investigation into her use of the county print shop for campaign materials.

Leroys firm is one of five law offices that the commissioners have hired for legal services outside of the in-house services provided by the Canyon County prosecutors office. The previous board, which included Van Beek, Pam White and Keri Smith, hired just one, according to records obtained by the Statesman.

Since February 24, 2023, the commissioners have paid $40,275 to outside law firms, according to records.

How Canyon Countys prosecutor says a commissioner seeking re-election broke a state law

Whos got your vote for Canyon County commissioner? See the candidates and what they say
I didnt punch any officers, North Carolina man says after new Jan. 6 assault charges

Former Marine Lee Stutts of Lake Norman on Saturday defended himself against new federal charges against him related to the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

I didnt do what they say I did, the 46-year-old Terrell resident told The Charlotte Observer, days after a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted him on two more charges. I didnt punch any officers. I didnt push any officers.

A superseding indictment filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia adds two counts of assault and resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon, for a total of 15 counts against Stutts, according to an Observer review of court records.

A superseding indictment typically adds charges to an original indictment after investigators obtain additional information.

A federal grand jury originally indicted Stutts on Jan. 10, the Observer previously reported.

On Jan. 6, 2021, after a speech by then-President Donald Trump, Stutts joined several thousand people who ascended on the Capitol building in Washington. There, a crowd broke through police barricades, breached the building and attempted to stop the joint session of Congress where electoral votes were being counted in the 2020 presidential election.

Members of the U.S. House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack found that Trump provoked his supporters to violence through his false allegations of fraud in the election.

Four people died at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, WTOP reported  a woman shot by a police officer, two men of natural causes and a woman who died from an accidental amphetamine overdose. Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer assaulted at the scene, died a day later of a stroke that was ruled natural, according to officials.

Whup somebodys ass from antifa

Stutts is accused of pushing and shoving officers with his hands, a barricade, a battering ram and a bike rack as he helped lead the Capitol breach, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Lee Stutts is shown during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

In an interview in January, Stutts told the Observer that he thought antifa would be at the Capitol, but he instead encountered walls of police officers with shields and batons.

He was referring to the far-left, anti-fascist activists whom President Donald Trump blamed for the protests against racial injustice across America in 2020.

I went up there to support our country and to whup somebodys ass from antifa, Stutts said in January. We have to protect the people.

I wore a helmet and had my fists, he told the Observer in January. I roughhoused a little bit, but I didnt punch them, none of that.

Although evidence suggests the crowds that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 were overwhelmingly made up of longtime Trump supporters, Stutts on Saturday said he believed FBI agents who didnt like Trump infiltrated and provoked the crowd. The notion that the FBI orchestrated the Jan. 6 riot is a conspiracy theory that lacks evidence, The Associated Press has reported.

Someone poured fake blood near him to further incite people, Stutts said.

Its all about Trump, he said of the FBI. They vote for Biden.

He said he never assaulted officers with a large sign, as alleged in an FBI agents affidavit. The sign appeared behind him in the crowd and then above his head, Stutts told the Observer. I was trying to protect my face, he said.

What FBI affidavit says

In the affidavit, the FBI agent said Stutts and other rioters moved a large sign on wheels with a metal frame toward a police line and barricade. The rioters used the sign as a battering ram against officers attempting to hold the line, the agent said.

Lee Stutts wraps his arms around a U.S. Capitol Police officer in this image included in a criminal indictment affidavit charging Stutts with assaulting officers.

Stutts then grabbed the bike rack barricade beneath the sign and pushed it toward the officers, according to the affidavit.

After police took the sign from the rioters, video shows Stutts throwing a water bottle at the police line, the FBI agent said.

Later that afternoon, Stutts was one of the rioters leading the way in a final breaking of the police line, the agent said. After the Plaza was overrun, Stutts could be observed raising his arms and pumping his fists in a celebratory manner as police officers retreated from the oncoming swarm of rioters.

The accusations are false, Stutts reiterated to the Observer on Saturday.

Its just a bunch of mess, he said.

The U.S. Department of Justice media affairs office did not respond last week to a request for comment.

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Die Zeit: Data on Bundeswehr meetings were available online until May 3

Data on over 6,000 meetings held by Germany's Budeswehr was available online until May 3, according to the German media outlet Die Zeit.

Die Ziet's report came after an audio recording of a conversation between German Air Force officers on the delivery of Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian troops was leaked.

The nearly 40-minute conversation was published on March 1 by Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Kremlin-controlled TV channel RT.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later said that the call between the officers was held via Webex videoconferencing software hosted on German army servers, but "not all participants adhered to the secure dial-in procedure as required."

Several thousand links containing information about conferences were available online until the evening of May 3, according to Die Zeit. The information reportedly included information on meetings' schedules, agendas, duration, organizers.

The leak could be "severe" as some of the online meetings were secret, Die Zeit said.

Die Ziet journalists could reportedly join the private video conference rooms of some Bundeswehr employees, including the head of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz. Die Zeit claimed that the meeting had no password protection.

The Budeswehr has reportedly not ruled out the possibility that secret information was leaked as a result.

The Bundeswehr told Die Zeit that it has decided to temporarily stop using Webex.

Read also: Germany accuses Russia of cyberattack against governing party in 2023

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Former president Donald Trump waits in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York to welcome Polish President Andrzej Duda last month. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Donald Trumps presidential campaign is weighing whether to join TikTok, the wildly popular video app he once tried to ban, and the decision has sparked discussion among his advisers in recent weeks, according to four people familiar with the matter.

In 2020, the then-president said the app was a threat to national security because its parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, and he called for TikToks forced sale or a nationwide ban as part of an executive order that was ultimately overturned by the courts.

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But Trump advisers say he changed his stance before the election that year after seeing internal polls suggesting a ban could hurt his standing with voters. More recently, he has criticized a similar sale-or-ban effort signed into law by President Biden as mostly benefiting Facebook, which he has partially blamed for his election loss.

Trump would be one of the few high-profile Republicans to use the app, which many in his party have attacked over concerns that the Chinese government could use it to gather data on Americans or spread propaganda.

The discussions within the Trump campaign have centered on whether the benefits he might accrue politically would be worth the criticism, primarily from Republicans and those in the intelligence community who have crusaded against the app, people with knowledge of the conversations said. They are also trying to figure out how Trumps brand can be translated to TikTok, a youth-beloved app with a culture all its own.

The advisers have argued that the platform would help the campaign reach voters, undercut Biden and tap into an online undercurrent of Trump support. The video app is one of the countrys most popular media platforms, with 170 million U.S. accounts.

Several advisers said that Trump would be unlikely to use it himself - preferring to post on the website he owns, Truth Social - but that advisers could post in his name and potentially include videos that he records.

Among those making the strongest arguments to Trump and his advisers is Kellyanne Conway, a former senior White House official who remains close to Trump and his team and is being paid to advocate for TikTok through the conservative advocacy group Club for Growth.

Conway has told Trump that he has more supporters than Biden on the app and that many young people are forming their opinion based on what they see on their TikTok feeds.

And unlike other social networks such as Facebook and X, she has argued to Trump, he was never banned from TikTok.

David Urban, another Trump ally who has lobbied for TikTok, has made similar cases to Jason Miller and John Brabender, two Trump advisers.

Conway told The Washington Post in March that Trump believed the TikTok sale-or-ban effort was about abruptly taking away something from millions of users, many of whom are his people.

Joining TikTok, however, could upset Trump allies who are hawkish on China and support aggressive action against the app. Many Republicans have taken to calling the app a weapon in the hands of Communist China and digital fentanyl, including former vice president Mike Pence, who has criticized Trump for defending the app.

Too many politicians talk a big game but crack under the pressure of wealthy donors or personal grudges - including my former running mate, Pence wrote in a Fox News column in March. When lobbyists for a company controlled by the Chinese Communist Party can turn a former president against his own political legacy, we should all be concerned. (ByteDance has said it is owned primarily by institutional investors and is not controlled by the Chinese government.)

Former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon, who runs an influential right-wing podcast, has suggested that Trumps softening on TikTok was driven by his desire for Yass Coin - money from Club for Growth megadonor Jeff Yass, whose trading firm, Susquehanna International Group, owns roughly 15 percent of ByteDance. Trump said in March that he had not discussed TikTok with Yass, and a person familiar with Yasss affairs said he has no plans to donate to Trumps campaign.

The outcome of the discussions is still uncertain, with some advisers noting that Trump has been too busy with his ongoing New York hush money trial and campaign appearances to decide on the issue.

Some aides have suggested that Dan Scavino, a longtime Trump adviser who led his White Houses social media operation, could add TikTok to his portfolio alongside posts on Trumps accounts on Truth Social, Facebook and Instagram. Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, has given Scavino more than $2 million in promissory notes, $240,000 in consulting fees and $600,000 in bonuses, company filings show.

Advisers in favor of the idea have argued that Trumps punchy quips and scene-stealing moments are well-calibrated for virality on TikTok and would help further distinguish him from Biden, whom they are eager to present as out of touch. One proposal that has been discussed: launching the account with a video showing Trump dancing on a rally stage, already a meme.

The hope among supportive advisers, one of the people said, is to fuel a sense that being pro-Trump had become a counterculture movement, and  that it is the cool, edgy thing to be Trump-adjacent.

Some in Trumps orbit also said they see a moment to boost support among younger voters angry at Biden over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war and his signing of the TikTok law. The Biden campaigns posts on TikTok in recent days have been flooded with comments criticizing the president for taking TikTok away.

Only a few dozen members of Congress use TikTok, and all are Democrats or independents; Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have major presences on the app, with more than a million followers. Bidens campaign has said it will continue using TikTok while his administration gears up to defend its sale-or-ban law in court.

But pro-Trump content is common on TikTok, and accounts with such names as AmericaFirst617, which post celebratory videos from Trumps rallies and interviews, have gained hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of likes. One account, The Trumpest, which organizes clips of Trump into playlists with such names as Donald vs reporters and Donald Funniest moments, has 755,000 followers - more than twice as many as the Biden campaigns 314,000.

TikTok hosts plenty of criticism of Trump, too, and the Biden White House has worked to build relationships with its most prominent content creators by inviting them for briefings on such issues as the Ukraine war. Michael Cohen, Trumps former fixer turned critic, has live-streamed on TikTok nightly during the hush money trial, in which he plays a central role.

But some in Trumps circle are also finding a robust TikTok audience. John McEntee, who was head of personnel in Trumps White House, regularly posts to the 2-million-follower account of the Right Stuff, a dating app for the right wing he co-founded in 2022. And Trumps daughter Ivanka joined TikTok with a verified account in March, posting a video showing her, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their 13-year-old daughter, Arabella, on a dreamy voyage of love, laughter and unforgettable moments in India.

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who in 2022 called TikTok a Trojan Horse for the [Chinese Communist Party] to corrupt American kids, joined the platform last year, leading to some internal party criticism of his about-face. After Nikki Haley noted his reversal last year on the GOP candidate debate stage, Ramaswamy fired back that Haleys daughter used it, leading Haley to call him scum.

Ramaswamy has 467,000 followers, more than Bidens campaign, and has defended joining TikTok as critical to capturing a new generation of Americans online. Its idiotic for Republicans to complain that TikTok content skews pro-Democrat, while also boycotting TikTok & criticizing Republicans who use it, he wrote on X in January. Time for the Grand Old Party to show up & grow up. Thats how well actually win.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A dog who was taken to a Georgia kennel for training returned to her owner pregnant and sick with parasites.

Nala is a 10-month-old Goldendoodle who was taken to the kennel in hopes of bettering her behavior around others through training.

The dogs owner, Steven Schild, told WFLA.com that some parents at their daughters school referred them to Savage River Kennels, located in Chickamauga, Georgia.

Schild said they wanted Nala leash trained and to have a dog with manners.

But what they didnt want, was their dog returned to them sick and pregnant.

Nala was at the Kennel from Jan. 31 through Feb. 26 and when she returned, Schild said she had diarrhea for nearly two weeks.

We thought that the first day or two it was maybe due to the anxiety from being away but after about a week of it, I mentioned to my wife that something wasnt normal so we made a vet appointment, Schild said.

The vet diagnosed Nala with Giardia, a parasite caused by contaminated food, water, and environmental factors, that lead to diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).





Schild said the kennel claimed it wasnt from their facility, but he said the sickness began as soon as they returned home with Nala.

Along with the parasite, Schild said he discovered his dog was pregnant approximately two weeks prior to her giving birth to her seven puppies on April 17. He said several weeks after her return home, he noticed physical changes and felt the puppies move in her stomach.

He is unsure of the breed of the father but has sent in a DNA test kit to find out, and hopefully can connect back to the kennel.

After dropping $2,000 on the training, Schild said the company refuses any kind of refund or to cover vet expenses.

As of this report, Schild plans to seek legal advice, but no legal action has taken place yet. He said the contract he signed said the kennel isnt liable for any breeding but does require them to notify them at first sign of being in heat, which he claimed did not happen.

WFLA.com has reached out to Savage River Kennels for comment but hasnt received a response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against a Texas prison agency for allegedly denying religious accommodation to an employee over wearing a head covering.

Franches Spears, who was a records clerk within the agencys Pam Lychner State Jail near Humble, Texas, was first put on leave with pay and later terminated after wearing a head covering as an expression of her Ifa faith.

Employers cannot require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or improperly question the sincerity of those beliefs, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement.

This lawsuit is a reminder to all employers of their clear legal obligation to offer reasonable religious accommodations. In our country, employers cannot force an employee to choose between their faith and their job.

The federal lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of Texas on Friday against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). It alleges that the agency violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The lawsuit alleges that Spears requested to wear the head covering in accordance with her religion. TDCJ refused to accommodate her request, first suspending her without compensation and later terminating her employment after not wanting to remove her head scarf, according to court documents.

Spears wore the head covering in September 2019. After over a month of wearing it without objections, she was directed to human resources and informed of breaching the agencys business-casual uniform and grooming standards for non-uniformed employees, according to the complaint.

There, she elaborated on her Ifa faith but was allegedly told by Human Resources Specialist Elizabeth Fisk basically you just pray to a rock.

Spears was told to complete the Religious Accommodation Form, but was cautioned that your accommodation may not ever get approved.

Spears felt compelled to adhere to the tenets of her faith and declined to remove her head covering to continue working. As a result, TDCJ placed her on indefinite unpaid leave, the complaint alleges.

Apart from seeking a permanent injunction to stop the prison agency from performing discrimination based on religion, the DOJ is seeking to fully compensate her for the pain and suffering caused by TDCJ.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump says he doesn't care too much about his legal troubles: 'Life is life'

Donald Trump said he doesn't care too much about his numerous legal troubles, NBC News reported.

The former president spoke at a luncheon during the RNC's spring retreat in Florida.

He also compared the Biden Administration to the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police force.

Donald Trump told attendees at a private donor event in Florida on Saturday that he wasn't too bothered about his numerous legal troubles.

Speaking about his criminal indictments during a luncheon at Mar-a-Lago, the former president said: "If you care too much, you tend to choke. And in a way, I don't care. It's just, you know, life is life," NBC News reported, citing audio of the event.

Nevertheless, Trump told those in attendance that he was shocked when he first found out he had been indicted.

"Once I got indicted, I said, Holy shit. I just got indicted. Me. I got indicted," Trump said, per the report.

Last month, Trump made his first appearance in court for one of his four criminal cases, facing 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

In this courtroom sketch, former President Donald Trump is surrounded by his attorneys, court security and Secret Service seated behind him, during jury selection in his New York criminal trial on April 16, 2024. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

During the Mar-a-Lago event, Trump also took the opportunity to hit out at Democrats, saying they were "running a Gestapo administration," referencing the Nazi secret police force.

"And it's the only thing they have. And it's the only way they're going to win in their opinion," he said.

"Once I got indicted, I said, well, now the gloves have to come off," Trump continued, adding that Biden was "the worst president in the history of our country. He's grossly incompetent. He's crooked as hell. He's the Manchurian candidate, he accepts massive amounts of money from China, from Russia, from Ukraine, and many other countries."

The luncheon was part of the Republican National Committee's (RNC) spring retreat in the Sunshine State. Hundreds of people came together for the event, and several donated $40,000 or more, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the fundraiser.

Trump also brought up several potential vice president candidates onstage, NBC News reported, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.

Sources familiar with the retreat's itinerary told CNN that attendees first gathered for a welcome reception featuring House Speaker Mike Johnson, RNC cochair Lara Trump, and House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.

Business Insider has reached out to Donald Trump's team for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This article takes a look at the 15 best states to retire for women in the US. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on unveiling the gender gap in retirement savings, you may go to the 5 Best States to Retire for Women in the US.

Unveiling the Gender Gap in Retirement Savings

Is Social Security gender-neutral? According to the Social Security Administration, yes, it is. Women with identical earning histories as men are treated the same in terms of benefits. But if Social Security is truly gender-neutral, why do men receive larger monthly benefits than women, even when they've worked in the same positions? As of 2021, the average annual Social Security income received by women 65 years or older was $14,204, as compared to $18,108 for men. The next year, it was reported that women received lower pension benefits largely due to their relatively lower earnings and higher share of part-time work. If this doesnt demonstrate that retirement is possibly a harder time for women, the situation is compounded by the fact that women typically outlive men in retirement, placing them at a higher risk of depleting their retirement funds.

So it seems that the Social Security Administration's claim of gender-neutrality isnt a facade. Apparently, it's the income disparity between men and women, rooted in earning differentials, that is to blame. On average, women in the US receive 83 cents for every dollar that men receive. Statistics also show that men dominate higher-paying jobs even today. As of 2023, women were paid 21.8% less than men on average, and that too after controlling for factors such as race and ethnicity, education, age, and geographic division. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) summarizes a list of all factors responsible for women facing the huge gender gap. They state that women face wage gaps, more career interruptions, and have longer life expectancy that are together responsible for the gap. This is further worsened by the fact, notes Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), that they are less confident about retirement savings and are less likely to take on investment risks.

Women take on many roles and often navigate complex lives. A solid financial foundation can help a woman take care of her family, look out for her future, and simplify her life. Shelley OConnor  Chairman and CEO Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A

A further analysis by T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) on women and retirement states how access to retirement plans has no gender gaps either, but women greatly lag behind men when it comes to contributions, savings, and retirement confidence in general. The factors that T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) highlights when it comes to the retirement gap that they face are lower incomes, a higher load of debt, and shorter job tenures. A 2022 T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TROW) Retirement Savings and Spending Study, a survey analyzing a nationally representative group of 401(k) participants, focused on the gender gap in retirement savingsaims to shed light on these disparities.

Story continues

The survey shows that women have been contributing less to their workplace retirement accounts, resulting in lower retirement account balances. The median 401(k) balance for women, they found, was 65% lower than men. The study further finds out that at any given level of income, women were more likely to participate in retirement plans than men, implying that had there been no income disparities, they would be very likely to save more than men.

To conclude, it can be safe to say that the retirement savings gap between men and women is attributable to a number of complex factors. In such a scenario, searching for the best age for a woman to retire in the US, or even figuring out how much a woman needs for retirement, may seem like the right questions to ask. The age women should be retiring depends on when they can claim their full retirement benefits, and how much they have already saved for retirement. Moreover, since women on average live 5 years longer than men, they need savings that can last them longer too. While addressing these issues promptly is crucial, it's also important for women to navigate their current situation effectively. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of the top states for women to retire in the US.

15 Best States to Retire for Women in the US

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

To compile a list of the best states to retire for women in the US, we began by listing out all the states in the US. Next, we ranked the states based on the average life expectancy of women in each state, the average Social Security check that a woman receives on average, women's earnings as a percentage of men in each state (as many retirees work part-time), cost of living, and tax-friendliness. Life expectancy was sourced from KFF; women's earnings as a percentage of men were taken from BLS 2022 averages, and average SS monthly benefits were taken from our previous computations on the best states to retire in the US financially. On average, women receive $354 less than men in benefits, which was subtracted when calculating the estimated average benefits that a woman receives in each state. Cost of living and tax-friendliness have been taken from our previous articles. States were ranked and scores were summed up to calculate an Insider Monkey Score. The top 15 states are presented below.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Here are all the best states to retire for women in the US:

15. New Hampshire

Insider Monkey Score: 136

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1609.5

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 75.4

Life Expectancy: 81.5

Cost of Living: 114.1

Tax Friendliness: Tax-Friendly

Ranking 15th on our list of best states to retire for women in the US is New Hampshire. This tax-friendly state doesnt tax Social Security or retirement income, and its estimated average Social Security monthly benefits for women are comparatively higher than other states. The life expectancy of women in this state is 81.5 years.

14. New Jersey

Insider Monkey Score: 137

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1662.6

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 83.5

Life Expectancy: 80.5

Cost of Living: 113.9

Tax Friendliness: Moderately Tax-Friendly

A WalletHub study recently ranked New Jersey as one of the best states for working moms. Well, the state is good for retired females just as much. The average life expectancy for a woman here is 80.5 years, and those interested in working should know that women's earnings as a percentage of men are higher than in many other states.

13. Oregon

Insider Monkey Score: 137

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1476.3

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 89.2

Life Expectancy: 81.3

Cost of Living: 114.7

Tax Friendliness: Moderately Tax-Friendly

Oregon may be moderately tax-friendly for retirees and have a cost of living higher than the national average, but retired women who wish to work have a better chance to earn since women's earnings as a percentage of men is 89.2%. Living on only Social Security benefits can be hard, which leaves retirees with little or no savings no option but to continue working in retirement. The cost of living in many cities and towns in the state is affordable as compared to the state average.

12. Illinois

Insider Monkey Score: 139

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1503.1

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 80.3

Life Expectancy: 79.8

Cost of Living: 92.1

Tax Friendliness: Tax-Friendly

One of the best states to retire in the US financially is Illinois. Illinois is not just a tax-friendly state but also boasts a cost of living that is 7.9% lower than the national average. Women who've worked and chosen to retire in this state have a better chance of securing a higher Social Security benefit since their earnings as a percentage of men is higher than in many other states.

11. Massachusetts

Insider Monkey Score: 139

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1546.5

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 85.8

Life Expectancy: 81.5

Cost of Living: 146.5

Tax Friendliness: Moderately Tax-Friendly

Massachusetts is another one of the best states considering retirement, boasting an Insider Monkey Score of 139. With an estimated average Social Security monthly benefit of $1546.5, women stand to receive better support than many other states. Additionally, the state has a considerably-moderate equitable gender pay ratio, with women earning 85.8% of what men earn. A noteworthy life expectancy of 81.5 years provides the promise of extended retirement enjoyment.

10. Pennsylvania

Insider Monkey Score: 141

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1535.7

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 82.1

Life Expectancy: 79.6

Cost of Living: 95.6

Tax Friendliness: Tax-Friendly

Another strong contender for the best state to retire for women in the US is Pennsylvania. Boasting a cost of living lower than the national average, a tax-friendly status, and a fairly better average monthly benefit, women have a better chance to live and then retire in this state. The state also boasts a good earning percentage as compared to men, standing at 82.1%.

9. Rhode Island

Insider Monkey Score: 143

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1510.9

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 99.6

Life Expectancy: 80.9

Cost of Living: 110.7

Tax Friendliness: Not Tax-Friendly

Rhode Island may be a bit expensive to live in on average, but there are plenty of cities and towns within the state that are affordable for retirees. What makes this state great to retire for women in particular is its impressive womens earnings as a percentage of mens, standing at 99.6%. The life expectancy for women here is pretty great too, standing at 80.9 years.

8. Nebraska

Insider Monkey Score: 150

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1482.2

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 87.7

Life Expectancy: 80.3

Cost of Living: 90.9

Tax Friendliness: Not Tax-Friendly

Next on our list of best states to retire for women in the US is Nebraska. The state is not just tax-friendly, but also boasts a cost of living that is lower than the national average. Life expectancy in the state is 80.3 years, and women earn 87.7% of what men earn in the state.

7. Kansas

Insider Monkey Score: 152

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1533.1

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 85.3

Life Expectancy: 79.2

Cost of Living: 87.1

Tax Friendliness: Moderately Tax-Friendly

Offering an estimated average Social Security monthly benefit of $1533.1, and a gender pay ratio of 85.3, Kansas is another option for women retirees to consider. While the life expectancy of 79.2 years is slightly lower, the state's moderately tax-friendly policies and cost of living enhance its appeal as a retirement destination.

6. Michigan

Insider Monkey Score: 154

Estimated Average SS Monthly Benefits: $1563.5

Womens Earnings as a Percentage of Mens: 82.5

Life Expectancy: 78.8

Cost of Living: 90.6

Tax Friendliness: Tax-Friendly

Number six on our list of best states to retire for women is Michigan. The cost of living in the state is 9.4% lower than the national average, and the state is tax-friendly when it comes to retirement income.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best States to Retire for Women in the US. Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: none. 15 Best States to Retire for Women in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey.
TechCrunch

Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, has confirmed that over 77,000 customers had personal information compromised during an August data breach, including Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. The Boston, Massachusetts-based investment firm said in a filing with Maines attorney general on Wednesday that an unnamed third party accessed information from its systems between August 17 and August 19 "using two customer accounts that they had recently established. We detected this activity on August 19 and immediately took steps to terminate the access, Fidelity said in a letter sent to those affected, adding that the incident did not involve any access to customers Fidelity accounts.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department said one person was killed in a shooting that happened Saturday evening in the Hale neighborhood.

DPD first posted about the incident at 6:39 p.m. and said the shooting happened in the 4800 block of E. Hale Parkway.

Police said one victim, a male, took himself to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

FOX31 saw investigators on the scene.

The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Saturday evening in the Hale neighborhood. (KDVR)

The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Saturday evening in the Hale neighborhood. (KDVR)

The Denver Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Saturday evening in the Hale neighborhood. (KDVR)

The case is being investigated as a homicide and police are asking anyone with information to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. The investigation is ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
One person was killed and another injured when their vehicle slammed into a church in South Los Angeles early Saturday. (KTLA-TV)

A driver was killed and his passenger injured when his SUV slammed into a church in South Los Angeles, authorities said.

The crash took place shortly after midnight Saturday morning, when the driver  a man in his 40s  was heading west on Manchester Avenue, according to Norma Eisenman, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department.

The vehicle struck a light pole and then the building, causing the driver to be ejected, Eisenman said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his injured passenger was taken to a hospital, she said.

The collision caused major damage to Challenge of Faith Church of God in Christ, on Manchester just west of Central Avenue. Building inspectors have yellow-tagged the church, designating part of the structure as off limits, according to one city official.

David Jessie, an assistant pastor at the church, told KTLA-TV that cars have crashed into the church before  a situation he attributed to dangerous road conditions on Manchester. Church leaders have previously asked city leaders to do something about a nearby dip in the road, he said.

"We have been through this so many times," he told the station.

An aide to Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price, who represents the area, said her office received a complaint from the church in August 2022 about the condition of the street. Weeks later, the city resurfaced a stretch of Manchester between Central Avenue and Broadway, said Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, the Price aide.

Price, after learning about the latest crash, plans to contact the city's Bureau of Street Street Services about making additional fixes to the roadway, Valencia-Dumarot said.

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.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A driver recorded a blood alcohol level of .342 and another driver was caught going 109 mph in a 55 mph zone on Cinco de Mayo weekend, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced the arrests as part of a crackdown on impaired driving.

4 arrested in Hillsborough County organized street racing event: HCSO

A blood alcohol level of .342 is more than four times the legal limit.

In total, overnight Saturday night into Sunday, deputies made 47 traffic stops. 18 people were arrested for DUI, eight people were given other citations, and 41 were given warnings, Chronister said.

None of the people who were arrested have been identified by law enforcement as of Sunday afternoon.

1 dead, another hospitalized after boating accident near Courtney Campbell Causeway, officials say

Drinking and driving is always avoidable and never acceptable, Chronister said in a statement. Its deeply alarming to see people making such reckless choices, especially when the consequences can be so devastating. Our mission is to keep our roads safe for everyone, and we will continue to enforce the law to the fullest extent to prevent tragic outcomes.

Chronister added that a full tally of the weekends traffic arrest numbers will be provided at a later time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Less than a month after the remains of Dylan Rounds were found, his family officially launched a nonprofit organization  called Dylans Legacy  in his honor.

ABC4.com spoke with Dylans mother, Candice Cooley, about what the organization means to her, and she said it is heartwarming to speak with families in a similar situation and walk them through it.

He was gonna build his own legacy. And that got cut short, Cooley said. So, now Im going to build one for him. Well just do it in a different way.

PREVIOUS STORY: Skeletal remains confirmed to be Dylan Rounds, his mother speaks out

Cooley said she and her family have been working with other families to search for missing loved ones, but they were waiting to go public with it until they found Dylan. The nonprofit offers a resource page for those who visit the website.

Cooley said there are online trolls and many groups that arent certified, accredited or recognized by law enforcement who offer their services. She and her family found that out through their own experiences.

We want, through Dylans Legacy, to be that safe place after everything we went through, Cooley said.

Cooley said the organization is focusing on education regarding K9 task forces, drone awareness and family support. Dylans Legacy works with a K9 task force based in Idaho Falls that Cooley said is dispatched across the country to help find missing persons.

There is no manual, there is no guidebook, nobody can guide you through it, Cooley said.

LEARN MORE: What should you do if someone goes missing?

Cooley said her family was unaware that if law enforcement doesnt invite a K9 team in, what the team finds may be dismissed in court.

Any accredited dog team, K9 team, will not self-deploy, Cooley said. We had quite a few self-deploy on Dylans case. And we didnt know.

Dylans Legacy already has a success story. Cooley said the mother of a missing child reached out to her, and they were able to find the missing person and bring them home after bringing media awareness to the situation.

When you have a child go missing and you cant find them, it never goes away, Cooley said. And so when you have somebody that you can talk to that gets it, thats huge.

Cooley wanted other families to know that there are people out there that they can trust in these situations, such as Missing in America Network. She urged families to not post about missing loved ones on their own social media accounts  especially if a reward is being offered.

Contact Missing in America Network, Cooley said. Theyre all over Facebook, theyre all over online. They will do it for you and they will control the situation.

Cooley also said families should stop and think before doing something.

Stop and think what the repercussion might be in the case of who youre looking for, she said.

Cooley said nearly 20 people have already reached out to Dylans Legacy about their own situations. While Cooley said she cant help everyone in every situation, just having someone to talk to who has been in a similar situation can be helpful.

Theres really a lot that needs to be changed, to help protect people and bring them home, Cooley said. Thats our goal, is hopefully a family does not have to go through what we went through.

Cooley said she will be doing a lot of lobbying during the next legislative session.

Dylan will have a legacy, his mother said.

Dylan Rounds disappearance

Around May 30, 2022, Rounds mother first discovered no one had seen her son in a few days. His family reportedly traveled to Utah after not hearing from Rounds and becoming concerned.

We knew our son, Cooley previously told ABC4.com. Dylan would never walk away from that farm. Ever.

In June 2022, it was confirmed that a pair of boots belonging to Rounds was found on the property where he was living in a camping trailer.

In July of 2022, a suspect was named in connection to the disappearance of Dylan Rounds. That suspect was James Brenner, who was being held on unrelated federal firearm charges.

Previous reports indicated Brenner was reportedly squatting on Rounds property. He was also said to have a violent past.

In August 2022, Nevada authorities executed a search warrant on Brenners home.

In October 2022, the case was declared a homicide investigation by Box Elder County officials.

In March 2023, Brenner was formally charged with aggravated murder and abuse or desecration of a human body. According to documents, digital forensics revealed a time-lapse video allegedly showing Brenner cleaning a gun with blood on his arms and shirt.

Officials say they obtained Brenners shirt, analyzed it and discovered DNA belonging to Rounds.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Easter eggs near Bakhmut and Easter bread in trenches: how Ukrainian soldiers celebrate Easter  photo, video

Soldiers of the 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade showed their skills in making Easter eggs Photo: 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade

Ukrainians celebrate their third Easter in the midst of the full-fledged war. The soldiers make sure to adhere to Easter traditions.

The 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade soldiers, who are carrying out combat missions near Bakhmut, demonstrated the process of making traditional Easter eggs at the front.

"I hope all the guys will come home safe and sound and will paint Easter eggs with their families and children and teach this craft to our next generations," said one of the soldiers.

A military chaplain blessed bundles of homemade goods donated to Lviv paratroopers from the west of Ukraine. He stated that this allowed the soldiers to briefly escape from the reality of daily combat, mentally return home, and experience the Feast of Resurrection.

Galician paratroopers painted Easter eggs near Bakhmut

Photo: 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade

"Even being far from families and home, Galician paratroopers adhere to Easter traditions. It is not the first year that the soldiers find time to bless Easter cakes and Easter baskets in between combat missions.

Traditions and faith in the turbulent present give the defenders of Ukraine hope for victory and a peaceful future," the brigade reports on social media.

These are the Easter eggs coloured by the soldiers of the 80th brigade

Photo: 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade

It is not the first time that soldiers find time for consecration of bread and Easter baskets

Photo: 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade

On the eve of Easter, paratroopers painted Easter eggs and delivered them from the Bakhmut front to the Garrison Church of Peter and Paul in Lviv.

In Lviv, you can come to the charity exhibition Easter Eggs from near Bakhmut and donate to buy a quad bike for the rescue of the injured.

The 63rd Mechanised Brigade showed themselves painting eggs on the front lines. To accomplish this, the defenders collected onion husks, brushes and paint.

"We prepare Easter eggs in atypical conditions, but we put our soul into work," the 63rd Mechanised Brigade wrote. '

The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade also showed touching photos of its soldiers celebrating Easter.

Soldiers of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade celebrate Easter in the trenches

Photo: 3rd Separate Assault Brigade

"Our Easter is at the front. The meaning of this holiday is the victory of life over death. For this, we continue to fight. We fight for the sake of those who are waiting for us at home from day to day," wrote the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

Faces of those who fight for the victory of life over death

Photo: 3rd Separate Assault Brigade

Easter bread for the Ukrainian defenders

Photo: 3rd Separate Assault Brigade

And the border guards showed the Ukrainians a video of a celebratory feast from the front lines: first they beat the Russians, and then the Easter eggs.

Also, Ukrainians were congratulated on Easter by Oleksii Biloshytskyi, the First Deputy Head of the Patrol Police Department.

"I congratulate all Christians of the Eastern rite on Easter! Faith gave David strength to overcome Goliath, and the faith of the Ukrainian people gives us strength to overcome enemies. May all prayers be heard and save us from evil. Christ has risen! Ukraine will win!" he wrote, showing the police celebrating Easter at the front.

Law enforcement officers in the Defence Forces do not forget about the holidays

Photo: Patrol Police

Easter eggs made by the policemen

Photo: Patrol Police

Easter eggs made by the policemen

Photo: Patrol Police

Frontline Easter bread

Photo: Patrol Police

Last year, we showed how Ukrainian National Guard and Armed Forces servicemen commemorate Christ's Resurrection and consecrate celebratory baskets.

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Ecumenical Patriarch calls on Ukraine and Russia to exchange POWs "all for all"

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has called for an "all for all" prisoners of war exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

Source: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War with reference to Patriarch Bartholomews speech

Details: In his address on the celebration of Christ's resurrection, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew underlined the need for prisoner exchange.

Quote: "This would be a tangible confirmation of the Lord's Resurrection.

We beseech the Lord for mercy to illuminate our thoughts and hearts so that we might tread the path of truth and freedom, full of hope, with the message of Christ's resurrection in our lips."

In his traditional Easter message in March, Pope Francis also called for an "all for all" prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

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President Bidens statement that he would be happy to debate Donald J. Trump means that voters will have at least one opportunity to see the two major-party candidates answer questions side by side. Aside from satisfying some viewers interest in whether the elderly candidates display mental lapses, debates offer an opportunity for voters to compare the candidates temperaments and glean differences on issues. This is especially useful for those who dont follow presidential campaigns closely.

That said, Biden could have declined to debate Trump on the legitimate grounds that his likely opponent is not a normal candidate but an unhinged former president who sought to overturn an election he lost  an outrageous campaign that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his followers. In commenting on Trumps absence from debates during the Republican primary campaign the editorial board wrote: No one who has attempted to overturn the will of the voters deserves to be on a debate stage again.

Read more: Opinion: It's not a debate  Republicans want Trump vs. Biden in an apocalyptic battle

But now that Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee  an indelible stain on the party that has normalized him  its impossible to have a meaningful debate without him. By participating, Biden has the opportunity to delineate his differences with his predecessor on everything from abortion rights to the economy to foreign policy. Trump likewise will be able to interrogate Biden on his record.

The question is whether Trump will sabotage the civic purpose of presidential debates, as he did when he went berserk in his first debate with Biden in 2020, incessantly interrupting his opponent and spewing vitriol.

Read more: Editorial: Trump was less unhinged in the second debate, but Biden still scored

Ideally the moderator of any 2024 presidential debate would have the steely fortitude of Juan M. Merchan, the judge presiding over Trumps criminal trial in New York City. Debate moderators cant hold candidates in contempt of court, levy fines or have misbehaving candidates physically removed, but they aren't without the authority to keep participants on track. For instance, they can deal decisively with nominees who bluster, bully, ignore time limits and engage in name-calling by shutting off their microphones.

Trump also should not be permitted to meander endlessly into irrelevancies (nor should Biden) or be allowed to roam around the stage to loom over his rival, as he did during a 2016 presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. Keeping the candidates on topic will be easier if the debates are divided into subject areas. We say debates in the plural because multiple encounters at least potentially expand the ground that candidates can cover, as well as assure candidates that they wont be devastated by one bad night.

Read more: Editorial: GOP's move to pull out of presidential debates fits in with ongoing attack on truth

The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has announced dates for three presidential debates  Sept. 16, Oct. 1 and Oct. 9  and one between vice presidential nominees on Sept. 25. (The Trump campaign has complained that the commission hasnt scheduled debates soon enough to accommodate early voters. In California, ballots will be mailed out by Oct. 7 and ballot drop off locations will open on Oct. 8. But the commission on Wednesday said that its timetable was based on factors including religious and federal holidays, early voting, and the dates on which individual states close their ballots.) Ideally all three debates will go forward, but Biden should feel free to reconsider if Trump doesn't follow the debate rules.

In an open letter calling for Trump and Biden to debate, a group of news organizations (not including the Los Angeles Times) wrote: If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high. Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation.

Yet for debates to fulfill that function there must be rules of civility and common decency  and candidates must abide by them.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Edmonds PD search for hit and run suspect

Edmonds and Shoreline Police Departments are reportedly searching for the suspect of a hit and run, eluding, and firearm violation in Edmonds on Saturday night.

The suspect struck two cars, injuring a 63-year-old woman who was transported to Swedish with minor injuries and a 62-year-old man who declined aid.

Officers say the suspect is a black male, 511, 150lbs, wearing a green camouflage jacket/sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

The suspect is possibly armed.

Call 911 if seen.





Officers near 244/76th investigating a Felony hit and run, eluding, and firearm violation. Suspect is a Black male, 5'11... Posted by Edmonds Police Department on Saturday, May 4, 2024
A landspout tornado was spotted in Mercer County on Saturday.

>>RELATED: Is the Miami Valley part of a new Tornado Alley?

The tornado formed during a weak thunderstorm between 7:38 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. southwest of Rockford, according to Storm Center 7s Weather Specialist Nick Dunn.

The landspout was given an EF-U rating as no damage was left to indicate how strong it may have been.

A landspout was seen in Mercer County on Saturday, May 4.

Storm Center 7s Weather Specialist Nick Dunn said no rotation was noted on the radar due to the nature of the storm.

A landspout was seen in Mercer County on Saturday, May 4.

The tornado traveled over a field for approximately .6 miles, according to Storm Center 7s Weather Specialist Nick Dunn.

A landspout was seen in Mercer County on Saturday, May 4.

Landspout tornadoes are different from traditional tornadoes.

According to Storm Center 7 Weather Specialist Nick Dunn, landspout tornadoes form near the ground while traditional tornadoes form during to a severe thunderstorm with violently rotating updrafts.

>> Stray showers, mostly cloudy skies tonight; Tracking stronger storms this week

Landspouts are a condensation funnel and they are typically weak and short-lived, which is what has been reported from Mercer County.

Storm Center 7s Weather Specialist Nick Dunn said landspouts are generally weak and short-lived, which matches what was seen in Mercer County.

Saturdays landspout is Ohios 36th tornado in 2024.
In this article, we will look at the 20 most urbanised countries in Asia. We have also talked about the latest urban development projects being carried out in Asia. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 Most Urbanised Countries in Asia.

Urbanization is a defining element of the modern day and age, with over half of the global population residing in urban areas today. The World Bank indicates that by 2050, this figure will increase further, with nearly 70% of people expected to be living in cities. On one hand, cities serve as hubs of economic activity, generating over 80% of global GDP and promoting innovation. However, the speed and scale of urbanization strain existing infrastructure and services and lead to issues like affordable housing shortages, inadequate transportation systems, and environmental degradation.

Importantly, urbanization in Asia specifically is undergoing unprecedented growth, with over half of the world's urban population residing in the region. By 2030, it is projected that over one billion urban residents may face multiple high or extreme hazards, highlighting the vulnerability of rapidly expanding cities to environmental and societal challenges. Despite efforts to reduce slum conditions, more than half a billion people still live in such areas.

Speaking of Asia, Singapore is a country that is 100% urbanized where Siemens AG (OTC:SIEGY) is also strategically investing with a 200 million ($213.60 million) allocation for a high-tech factory. This investment is also in alignment with Singapore's aim to enhance its advanced manufacturing capabilities and solidify its position as a regional technology hub. The new factory will be equipped with leading-edge digital twin technology and intelligent hardware and will not only cater to the burgeoning Southeast Asian markets but also set a benchmark for connectivity and digitalization.

Moreover, Siemens AG (OTC:SIEGY) expects that its expansion in Singapore will create over 400 new jobs, contributing to employment growth and skills development in the region. By capitalizing on Singapore's stable and advanced manufacturing ecosystem and strategic location, Siemens AG (OTC:SIEGY) aims to meet the rising demand for high-tech products and solutions across Southeast Asia.

On the other hand, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) has been a driving force for urban development across India which is one of the most urbanized countries in South Asia. The company is leveraging its expertise to transform cities in India into more efficient, sustainable, and liveable spaces. With a focus on connectivity and infrastructure enhancement, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) has spearheaded projects that have largely impacted urban landscapes in the region. To date, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) has supported the construction of over 11,000 kilometers of highways across India, facilitating smoother transportation networks that connect communities and foster economic growth. Additionally, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) has been instrumental in the development of metro rail projects in 12 cities, enhancing urban mobility and reducing congestion.

Moreover, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) is also committed to sustainable urban development which is evident in its leadership in smart city initiatives. Projects like Dholera, India's largest greenfield smart city, confirm AECOM (NYSE:ACM)s dedication to harnessing technology for creating more efficient and environmentally friendly urban environments. These endeavors not only improve quality of life for residents but also serve as models for future urban planning endeavors. Furthermore, AECOM (NYSE:ACM) also has a strong focus on sustainable architecture as it oversees more than 67 LEED-certified projects, including the design and construction of environmentally friendly structures like the India International Convention and Expo Centre in New Delhi, setting a benchmark for sustainable development in the region.

Beyond Asia, Monaco is one of the countries with the highest share of people living in urban areas in Europe whereas Uruguay is one of the countries with the highest rate of urbanization in Latin America.

20 Most Urbanised Countries in Asia

An e-scooter rider exploring an urban landscape, highlighting the company's micro mobility division.

Our Methodology

To list the most urbanized countries in Asia, we relied on urban population data (as a percentage of the total population) by country gathered by the World Bank for the year 2022. The idea is that a higher urban population percentage indicates a greater shift towards urban lifestyles and economic activities in a country. Hence, it also translates into increased levels of development accompanied by improved infrastructure, access to services, and economic opportunities.

The list is presented in an ascending order.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20. Iraq

Urban Population (% of Population): 71%

Urbanization in Iraq, particularly evident in cities like Basra, has been high due to a surge in population as a result of climate-induced migration and rural-to-urban shifts. This influx strains urban infrastructure and exacerbates social fragility.

19. Iran

Urban Population (% of Population): 77%

Currently, urbanization in Iran is undergoing a profound transformation as a result of internal migration from rural to urban areas, as well as city-to-city movement across provinces. This shift is driven by factors like underdevelopment, unemployment, and environmental challenges, with young job-seekers constituting a major portion of the migrating population.

18. Turkey

Urban Population (% of Population): 77%

Turkey has experienced rapid urbanization, particularly in and around Istanbul, leading to environmental challenges like the 2021 "sea snot" outbreak in the Marmara Sea. The unregulated industrialization and dense urban development along the coastline have contributed to the proliferation of marine mucilage, threatening marine life and ecosystems.

17. West Bank and Gaza

Urban Population (% of Population): 77%

The urbanization of the West Bank and Gaza is accelerating, with 77% now considered urban. This growth often strains local authorities, leading to uneven development and ad hoc urban sprawl. To address these challenges, the Integrated Cities and Urban Development project, supported by the World Bank, is working on integrated metropolitan approaches in major urban areas like Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem, Ramallah-Al Bireh, and Gaza City.

16. Malaysia

Urban Population (% of Population): 78%

Over the past five decades, Malaysia has experienced a major increase in urbanization, with its urban population rising from 3 million in 1970 to 24.4 million in 2020, nearly tripling in size. Despite this rapid urban growth, the rural population has seen only a slight increase, rising from 7.5 million to 8.1 million over the same period.

15. Brunei Darussalam

Urban Population (% of Population): 79%

Urbanization in Brunei has steadily increased over the years, with around 79% of the population residing in urban areas as of 2022. One of the reasons for high urbanization in the country is that its small land area necessitates concentrated development. Moreover, the country's oil wealth has led to rapid modernization and infrastructure growth, particularly in urban centers like Bandar Seri Begawan.

14. South Korea

Urban Population (% of Population): 81%

South Korea is one of the most urbanized countries in East Asia. In fact, Seoul is undergoing a phenomenal transformation into a smart city, with innovative technologies to address urbanization challenges. Smart mobility initiatives, such as the Seoul Smart Mobility Reform, have largely reduced traffic congestion by prioritizing public transportation over private cars, facilitated by advanced intelligent transport systems.

13. Saudi Arabia

Urban Population (% of Population): 85%

Saudi Arabia is observing a speedy urbanization, with over 83.8% of its 34 million residents residing in cities as of 2021. This trend is expected to continue, with urban populations projected to reach 90% by 2030. Despite being one of the largest countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia faces challenges associated with urban sprawl and unsustainable development. Major cities in the country are struggling with issues such as spatial fragmentation, ecological imbalance, and economic sustainability concerns.

12. United Arab Emirates

Urban Population (% of Population): 88%

Urbanization in the UAE has accelerated, giving rise to infrastructure vulnerabilities. In April, flooding devastated the country, causing extensive damage to buildings, cars, and infrastructure, including Dubai airport as more than 1,000 flights were canceled. All of these disruptions are undoubtedly related to the rising urbanization in the region.

The UAE is also one of the most respected countries in Asia.

11. Oman

Urban Population (% of Population): 88%

Oman's high urbanization is primarily driven by economic growth, infrastructure development, and rural-to-urban migration. The country's speedy modernization, fueled by revenue from oil and gas resources, has led to the expansion of urban areas and the establishment of new city projects.

10. Lebanon

Urban Population (% of Population): 89%

In Lebanon, urbanization has become a dominant trend, with approximately 89% percent of the population residing in urban areas which confirms the country's urban-centric nature.

On a side note, Lebanon is also one of the top countries with the most beautiful women.

9. Bahrain

Urban Population (% of Population): 90%

Bahrain is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. It has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its urban landscape driven by an increase in population from just under 400,000 in the early 1980s to 1.5 million by 2022. Different satellite images reveal that there has been a stark evolution over 35 years, notably in the north, where coastal expansion projects have created new landmasses.

8. Jordan

Urban Population (% of Population): 92%

Jordan's urban population exceeds 9 million, heavily dependent on imports due to the absence of domestic oil or natural gas resources. Only 3% of its land is arable, with just 1% under permanent cultivation. Compounded by limited water accessibility, Jordan is among the top five most water-scarce countries in the world.

7. Japan

Urban Population (% of Population): 92%

Japan's urbanization journey is a great example of meticulous planning and a commitment to inclusivity. With phased urban development since post-World War II, Japan has some of the world's most accessible cities. Prioritizing economic growth and sustainability, Japan's model integrates urban and transport planning, exemplified in Toyama City.

An interesting fact to note is that Tokyo, Japan is the biggest city in Asia by population. To read more on the topic, see the most populated cities in Asia.

6. Israel

Urban Population (% of Population): 93%

Israel is one of the most urbanized countries globally, with around 93% of its population residing in urban areas. Its urbanization process accelerated largely during the latter half of the 20th century and continues to progress rapidly. Cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa are bustling hubs of culture, commerce, and innovation, attracting people from diverse backgrounds.

Click here to see the 5 Most Urbanised Countries in Asia.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 20 Most Urbanised Countries in Asia is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Energy Minister: Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure cause over $1 billion in damage

Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure have cost the state over $1 billion in damage, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on May 5 on national television.

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.

"We are talking about losses worth more than $1 billion. But the attacks continue, and it is obvious that the losses will increase," Halushchenko said.

The most damage was caused by the attacks on thermal, and hydro electricity generation facilities. Russian troops have been attacking other energy infrastructure facilities on a daily basis as well, using drones, artillery, and missiles, the minister added.

"The system is stable today, but the situation is quite difficult," Halushchenko said.

The situation remains under control, partly thanks to favorable weather conditions, which allow to run Ukraine's energy system with renewable energy sources, among others, according to the minister.

Halushchenko added that restrictions on the electricity supply are still in force in Kharkiv Oblast, where the Russian attacks have intensified this spring, even causing blackouts. The local services are working in the region to stabilize the situation and preparing for the autumn-winter period.

On April 27, Russian forces hit energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts in a mass attack against Ukraine that involved 34 missiles. A few days earlier, 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 the 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: Surviving through the darkness: How Kharkiv endures new wave of brutal Russian attacks (Photos)

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams wanted to send New York police in earlier to break up the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, but we were not going to overstep out authority, he said Sunday.

[We] communicated with the college officials for several days leading up to the New York City police department action, and we knew we had to get permission unless there's imminent threat to life or severe threat to property, and once the school's made the determination, we shared the information that we had, Adams said during an interview on ABCs This Week.

Our intelligence division looked at it, and it was concerning to me, but we were not going to overstep our legal authority and right to do so, he added.

NYPD officers swarmed Columbia University last week, after protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, the same campus building that students advocating for racial justice and an end to the Vietnam War occupied in 1968.



The police response, at both Columbia and the City College of New York, was the largest mobilizations yet of New York City police in response to recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. Officers only responded after the colleges formally requested the NYPDs help, Adams emphasized, though the New York Times reported last week that Adams and police officials made an effort to persuade school leaders that it was time for intervention.

Adams on Sunday also defended the decision to use police at all on the protesters, after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) warned against the militarization of our schools.

One has the right to have his or her opinion, and I respect that, Adams said, before turning to a claim he has leaned into since police first responded to the protests at Columbia: that outside agitators, had infiltrated the encampments and inflamed tensions.

When I use the term of 'outside agitators,' anyone can protest in the city, but when you are on college grounds and you do not attend that college, you are an outsider, and then when you train people to do destructive things, you are an agitator, Adams said.
The EU executive body is proposing that the Voice of Europe media outlet be added to the upcoming 14th round of EU sanctions against Russia, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Vera Jourova, said on May 5, as reported by European Pravda.

Yurova, originally from the Czech Republic, said the Voice of Europe was used to interfere in European elections.

Earlier this month, the Czech government uncovered a Moscow-financed propaganda network that sought to influence European politics and turn public opinion against aiding Ukraine.

Prague named Viktor Medvedchuk, a Kremlin-linked former Ukrainian oligarch, and Artem Marchevskyi, a media manager who used to work at one of Medvedchuk's TV channels, as the people behind the operation.

Their activities were carried out through the Voice of Europe website, promoting pro-Russian narratives and paying Moscow-friendly politicians ahead of the European Parliament elections.

Yurova said she could not confirm whether Medvedchuk or Marchevskyi would be on the sanctions list but that "Voice of Europe will be there." According to the EU official, the European Union considers the platform to be a tool of Putin's propaganda.

The European bloc has already adopted 13 packages in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, aiming to undermine Moscow's economic output and the ability to sustain the war. EU leaders are expected to introduce a 14th round of sanctions in the coming months.

Verova emphasized that the European Commission is looking to add 67 individuals and 23 legal entities to the new package, as well as introducing restrictions on the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.

Despite Brussels' target to be free of Russian fossil fuels by 2027, several EU members remain heavily reliant on Russian gas, and imports of liquified natural gas (LNG) from Russia reached record heights last year.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: US aid will help launch counteroffensive in 2025, Sullivan says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
European intelligence agencies have warned their governments that Russia is planning sabotage across the continent.

Source: Financial Times (FT); European Pravda

Details: Representatives of European intelligence agencies believe that Russia has begun to actively plot covert bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure on European territory, both directly and through proxies.

The FT has seen intelligence assessments from three European countries that show evidence of more aggressive and coordinated efforts to carry out sabotage.

Intelligence officials are increasingly speaking out about this threat in an effort to increase vigilance.

"We assess the risk of state-controlled acts of sabotage to be significantly increased," Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said last month.

Haldenwang stressed that Russia now feels comfortable conducting operations on European soil "[with] a high potential for damage".

One senior European official said that information is being passed through NATO security services about "clear and convincing Russian mischief" that is coordinated and large-scale.

He added that it was time to "raise awareness and focus" on the threat of Russian aggression on European soil.

One intelligence official stated that Moscow's sabotage efforts should not be seen in isolation from other operations. He added that the increased activity reflects Russia's desire to exert maximum pressure "across the piece".

He said Russian ruler Vladimir Putin is now feeling "emboldened" and will try to push the dividing lines in Europe as far as he can on several fronts: through disinformation, sabotage or hacking.

Background: On Friday, the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) discovered that Russian intelligence agents are working in Western Norway, which could mean that Russia may be preparing sabotage operations at critical infrastructure.

In addition, two Germans of Russian origin were recently detained in Germany, suspected of seeking potential targets for sabotage against German support for Ukraine.

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A child sits on a sign, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, in Malmo

MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) - Eurovision 2024 began in the Swedish city of Malmo on Sunday when 37 contenders walked the "Turquoise Carpet" amid heightened security and calls for boycotts due to Israel's participation.

The 68th version of the song contest, which is always billed as non-political, is taking place against the backdrop of the devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Much focus is expected to be on Israeli contestant Eden Golan, when she performs her song "Hurricane" in the second semi-final on Thursday, with bookmakers placing the entry among the top 10 to win the competition.

The Israeli delegation did not attend the carpet on Sunday due to Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel, said Swedish broadcaster SVT, which co-organises the contest with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Israel agreed to modify the lyrics of its original song "October Rain", which the EBU said made reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught.

The contest comprises three live shows, with half a dozen countries having a shot at the title this year, according to fans and bookmakers.

Sweden's Loreen won the 2023 competition in Liverpool, northern England, with her song "Tattoo", granting the Nordic country an automatic entry into next Saturday's grand final.

The "Big Five" of the EBU - the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy - are also automatically given a spot in the final, while the other contenders will compete in semi-finals for the remaining places.

It will be the seventh time Sweden is hosting the song contest after last doing so in 2016, and the third time Malmo will stage the competition.

Sweden's participants for this year, twins Marcus & Martinus, were drawn in March to open the final with their dance pop song "Unforgettable".

(Reporting by Ilze Filks and Tom Little in Malmo, Louise Breusch Rasmussen in Copenhagen,; Writing by Louise Breusch Rasmussen,; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Former Purdue University President Mitch Daniels said Sunday that student protesters who break the law should be expelled from universities and their spots given to other applicants who originally were denied entry.

I think that the proper consequences here, first of all, are expulsion from the university, Daniels, who is also the former Republican governor of Indiana, said in an interview on NewsNations The Hill Sunday.

These so-called elite institutions pride themselves on their selectivity, he continued. For every student who just broke a rule or a law there were 10, 20 students who would love to have had that space. And that space should now be made available to one of them so that they can come and use this wonderful opportunity of attending a good university as it was intended.

Daniels said he does not support the idea of taking away student visas from those who support Hamas, the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization that carried out the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Probably not in most cases, Daniels said when asked about that proposal.

Although if somebody broke the law, I suspect that there already are the rules that require or at least permit the termination of their right to visit this country. You dont have a right to come in and harm others, and there has been some of that [going] on, he continued. But no, not in general.

As protests have escalated on college campuses in recent weeks, university administrators have faced scrutiny over their responses. Some have criticized schools for not taking sufficient steps to enforce campus policies and protect Jewish students who feel threatened on campus, while others have blasted the polices intervention as unnecessarily aggressive.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: Public hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington

FILE PHOTO: Public hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington

By Richard Cowan

ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland (Reuters) - A former U.S. Capitol police officer who defended lawmakers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and a man who served time in prison for joining the mob, could both be headed to Congress next year if they succeed in primaries later this month.

Their campaigns for respective Democratic and Republican nominations present a split-screen look into a divided nation more than three years after the siege by Donald Trump supporters trying to overturn his election defeat.

The pair -- Democrat Harry Dunn in Maryland and Republican Derrick Evans in West Virginia -- are seeking their parties' nominations in strongly partisan districts, meaning both could serve together in the House of Representatives next year if they prevail in their separate May 14 contests.

Dunn, 40, said he was thrust into politics by what he experienced on Jan. 6, which he said stoked his concerns about the stability of U.S. democracy.

When he was called to testify to the probe into the attack, Dunn, who is Black, described the way that rioters taunted him with racial slurs as they tried to overturn Democratic President Joe Biden's election.

"Going forward, it is imperative on us that believe in democracy, that believe in the Constitution, to fight for it," Dunn told Reuters in a Thursday interview near his campaign headquarters in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Some 300 miles (480 km) to the west in West Virginia, Evans, 36, is trying to unseat third-term Republican U.S. Representative Carol Miller, who was among 139 House Republicans who supported Trump's bid to overturn the 2020 election result.

Evans, a former teacher who served briefly in the state legislature, was among the throng that illegally entered the Capitol on Jan. 6.

He served three months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge of "impeding, obstructing or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder."

Dunn and Evans both cite the need to defend the U.S. Constitution at a moment they say presents great peril for the U.S.

That is where their similarities end.

DIVIDING LINE

Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, called Jan. 6 "a dividing line that has made our polarization much worse."

"Its no surprise that candidates who have a direct connection to such a signal event would be able to parlay their involvement into something else on the public stage," Sabato said.

If elected, Dunn said, he would want to pass legislation to strengthen voter protections, guard election workers from intimidation and reduce the influence of corporate campaign contributions.

Reuters asked Dunn if he would be willing to work for legislative compromises with Evans if they both were to be elected.

"Absolutely," he responded. "We've got to realize that compromise is what it's all about. Anytime that one individual gets everything they want, then that's no longer a democracy. That's not working for the American people."

Asked the same question in a phone interview, Evans responded, "I'm not running to make friends. I'm not running to play patty-cake politics. I'm working to kick in the front door and expose the corruption in D.C."

Dunn, with $3.7 million raised as of March 30, leads in campaign contributions in a crowded field of 22 candidates and has secured the endorsement of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. For Evans' one-on-one battle against incumbent Miller, he so far has raised $660,745 to her $921,369.

COMPETING AGENDAS

In the run-up to Jan. 6, according to court documents, Evans expressed excitement on social media about a "wild" gathering at the Capitol and upon entering the building cheered on rioters.

Now, he presents that foray as a badge of courage, campaigning on themes that run strong in the district spanning the entire southern portion of the Trump-loving state.

Evans wants Trump's border wall built, calls his opponent "an undocumented Democrat" for her votes on some bipartisan bills and pushes term limits "that these scumbags in Congress are not ever going to vote for."

Miller's chief of staff, Matthew Donnellan, responded to Evans' characterization, writing in an email: "Carol Miller was just endorsed by unequivocal conservative Congressman Jim Jordan, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and the pro-life Susan B Anthony List for her unwavering conservative Republican values."

Donnellan also noted that Evans in 2016 initially ran as a Democrat for a seat in the West Virginia legislature.

"I stood with President Trump that day and made a big sacrifice for it," Evans said, stressing that he did not engage in violence while inside the Capitol, unlike hundreds of his fellow protesters.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)
TABOR CITY, N.C. (WNCN)  A North Carolina firefighter died on Saturday morning following a vehicle crash, officials said.

Danny Nobles Jr. with the Tabor City Fire Department, died after a crash in South Carolina, according to friends and the fire department. Saturday is also International Firefighters Day.

It is with great sadness that the Tabor City Fire Department lost one of our own early this morning, fire officials wrote on Facebook.

Nobles, 20, of Tabor City was a 2022 graduate of South Columbus High School in Columbus County, according to friends.

Please keep his family as well as the fire department in your prayers in the coming days, Tabor City fire officials wrote.

Danny Nobles Jr. (left) with the Tabor City Fire Department along with Ryleigh Hayes (right) the 2023-2024 North Carolina Yam Festival Queen at the Yam Festival event in Tabor City. Nobles died on Saturday following a car crash near Conway, South Carolina. Photo courtesy: Heather Watts

Many messages were posted on social media about the loss of Nobles, who was also known as DJ.

He was one of the most kind, loving, respectful people and would do anything for anyone! wrote Heather Watts, the mother of Ryleigh Hayes, the 2023-2024 queen of the North Carolina Yam Festival, which is held in Tabor City.

Watts acknowledged the death would be difficult for the Nobles family, including brother Brady Nobles.

I hope the Lord wraps his loving arms around this entire family! Please, please add this family to every prayer list that you can! wrote Watts, whose daughter is a former classmate of Nobles at South Columbus High School.

Danny Nobles Jr. (right) with the Tabor City Fire Department responding to a house fire in the past. Photo from Tabor City Fire Department. A tribute image (left) for Danny Nobles Jr. was also posted by the Tabor City Fire Department

Nobles family thanked Horry County, South Carolina agencies after the deadly crash near Conway, about 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The wreck happened around 1:30 a.m. along U.S. 501 Business, which is called North Main Street, in Conway, Horry County Deputy Coroner Petty Bellamy told WBTW-TV.

Nobles died at the scene. The cars driver was taken to a nearby hospital with unknown injuries, WBTW reported.

Nearby fire and rescue agencies shared their thoughts and condolences concerning Nobles death.

Join us in sending the best to our partner to the north, Tabor City Fire Department, as theyre going through the excruciating pain of having lost one of their own, Horry County Fire Rescue of the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, area wrote on Facebook.

Our heart is with you, Tabor City Fire Department! Call on us however you need us! wrote officials with Horry County (South Carolina) Fire Rescue.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
BreAnna Droge  the newest Topeka Fire Department recruit  said she is thankful for the women who came before her and excited for those who will follow.

Droge is the first woman to be recruited to the fire department after spending time at Camp Courage, a camp designed to encourage young women ages 16 to 20 years old to learn more about firefighting.

"It's just a really cool process because it brings you back to when you were doing that," said Brendy Brundage, head coordinator at the camp. "You remember how focused and determined you were. It's really cool seeing that in other people because they're going love the job."

Brundage said the goal is to encourage women to join because women traditionally don't become firefighters.

"You want them to have fun," Brundage said. "We want to keep it fun, but we also want them to know this is a serious, dangerous job."

Topeka Fire Department recruit BreAnna Droge poses in front of the TFD training tower Friday afternoon at the headquarters in downtown Topeka. Droge is the first woman recruited to the fire department after attending Camp Courage.

A life-changing introduction

Droge attended the 2021 Camp Courage when she was 19 after her mother recommended it

"By Tuesday, I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, this is what I want to do forever,'" said Droge, who attended Hayden High School.

Droge said the experience was eye-opening and showed her she could spend her life as a firefighter.

"When the men came in there, I could see an equal level of respect," Droge said. "Everyone viewed each other as equals, and I really liked that. I really liked seeing how just because they were women didn't mean that they were any less. Or just because they're women didn't mean that they couldn't do this job as well as a man could.

"And I think that was really eye-opening.

After attending the camp, Droge decided to work toward a career in firefighting while finishing school. She will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Spanish with an emphasis in medical terms from Rockhurst University later this month.

Topeka Fire Department recruits BreAnna Droge, left, and Alyssa Conway carry a ladder to practice two-person training Friday afternoon at the TFD headquarters in downtown Topeka.

What is Camp Courage?

The camp started in 2019. This year will be the fifth edition for the camp.

The fire department accepts about 20 young women. This year's camp will be June 3-7. Applications are closed for this year's camp, and applications for the 2025 camp will open in the early spring.

Activities take place across the city, including headquarters, 324 S.E. Jefferson St., and the department's neighboring training facility.

BreAnna Droge felt a call to service

After working toward becoming a firefighter for the past two and a half years, Droge received the call that began her career. She was at work when she was offered a position at the Topeka Fire Department.

"I was trying so hard to maintain my composure because I was so excited," Droge said. "I was just so relieved. ... I think because I knew there were so many other people that could have been chosen over me. I actually had to take a minute from work, because I was just trying not to cry because I was just so elated."

After getting the call to service, she began training at the Topeka Fire Department Academy. She will also complete her training this month. She then will be sent to Alabama to get Hazmat certified and return for emergency medical technician training.

Getting used to climbing into windows using ladders is one of the aspects Topeka Fire Department recruit BreAnna Droge has learned as she shows off proper technique.

By the end of the summer, she will be serving Topeka in full capacity.

Droge said she is looking forward to being present in the community and showing other Hispanic women that firefighting is an option.

"I feel like a lot of people like females and minorities, we don't always see that," Droge said. "We don't always see this as a job opportunity. Growing up, I only knew one other Hispanic person that was a firefighter. Now that I'm older and I'm here, I see so many other branches of life, so much diversity here, in nationalities, cultures and genders. And I think that's great to see."

Droge said many women she met through Camp Courage and the fire department had encouraged her and routinely checked up on her. She said Capt. Diane Hawkins took Droge under her wing.

Topeka Fire Department recruit BreAnna Droge drags a dummy in the training facility at the TFD headquarters.

Firefighter recruit is one of eight going through academy

Droge is one of eight academy students who started training in April. While in training, she has spent every day working out, learning and practicing real-life scenarios.

While she said she's been dreaming for these moments, she also has had moments of frustration and struggle.

She said there were times when she struggled and didn't get things right immediately. She said she has struggled with hose management and running the hose.

"I was getting frustrated at points, but I just kept reminding myself, this just along with everything else that we learned is going to be one of the most important parts of the job," Droge said. "If I can't do this, I can't help someone else. So, that's really what I tell myself when I'm out there, 'If you can't do this, you can't do your job.'"

'I want to be the bright light in their horrible day'

With her academy and college graduations coming, Droge reflected on what she hopes her future career will look like.

"I'm ready to be done, move on to the next part of my life," Droge said. "I think that this job is really me moving up, (I'm) really becoming an adult, being my own person, an individual, and being able to help my community."

Topeka Fire Department training officer Chelsea Reese, middle, hands off an ax to recruits Alyssa Conway, second from right, and BreAnna Droge, far right, at the TFD headquarters.

Droge said she plans to use her Spanish degree while on the job because of the large Hispanic population in Topeka roughly 16% of Topeka residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2022 United State Census. She said she hopes she can help members of the Topeka community who don't speak English and primarily speak Spanish.

"I've seen it where people get stressed out and worried and then they can't communicate," Droge said. "I would just hate for that to be something that impedes someone's health or impedes someone's chance of survival."

Droge is counting down the days until she can go into the field and make an impact.

"Honestly, I'm just excited to go out and be around the community and get to help out," Droge said. "You know, when people call 911, that's normally the worst day of their lives and I want to be the bright light in their horrible day.

"If I can just do one thing to make that horrible day a little bit better, I want to experience that. I want to be there for that person."

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka Fire Department gets first female recruit from Camp Courage
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Pentamaster Corporation Berhad's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

A total of 6 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership

Insider ownership in Pentamaster Corporation Berhad is 24%

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Pentamaster Corporation Berhad (KLSE:PENTA), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 46% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Pentamaster Corporation Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Pentamaster Corporation Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Pentamaster Corporation Berhad?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Pentamaster Corporation Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Pentamaster Corporation 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 Pentamaster Corporation Berhad. Our data suggests that Choon Chuah, who is also the company's Top Key Executive, holds the most number of shares at 20%. When an insider holds a sizeable amount of a company's stock, investors consider it as a positive sign because it suggests that insiders are willing to have their wealth tied up in the future of the company. Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia is the second largest shareholder owning 8.8% of common stock, and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan holds about 6.2% of the company stock.

We did some more digging and found that 6 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

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 a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Pentamaster Corporation Berhad

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.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Pentamaster Corporation Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM3.0b, and insiders have RM745m worth of shares in their own names. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 26% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 3.4%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

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 find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The removal of dams that restricted water flow has led to the restoration of a river in Maine.

As explained by The Nature Conservancy, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $2.9 million in funding to assist in removing "narrow culverts, small dams and other hindrances" to revive the Penobscot River.

This helps bring incredible progress to "a 15-year effort" to restore the river started by the Penobscot Nation and the utility PPL-Maine and continued by the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, a nonprofit partnership that includes the two aforementioned organizations as well as conservation groups and state and federal agencies.

Thanks to the river restoration, the environment has improved for local marine wildlife. The removal of the blockages allowed alewives to return to the Mattamiscontis Lake, whose waters eventually flow into the Penobscot River, by way of Mattamiscontis Stream. These fish grew scarce "in the years since Europeans brought mill dams, hydropower, logging roads and industrial pollution to northern Maine," per The Nature Conservancy. It was noted that the alewife population ballooned to six million in the Penobscot River in 2023 after registering near zero in 2010.

"When these fish get into the smaller streams and there are hundreds of thousands of them, you can't miss seeing them," said Dan McCaw, fisheries biologist for the Penobscot Nation. "When I first saw them in these numbers, it was a mind-blowing, guttural emotional response."

The Penobscot River restoration effort joins similar success stories from around the world. One of the largest dam removal projects in history is underway at the Klamath River in California, aiming to restore the river to its natural state. Other projects in Oregon and England have also produced impressive results.

McCaw added that while the progress made so far has been great, the Penobscot Nation is not satisfied because there's still work to be done.

"A lot of people tell me, you must be thrilled to see these gains," McCaw said. "And we're better now than we have been, but we've just turned the corner. We've taken the first steps, but we have a massive set of challenges ahead of us, still. The Penobscot River still has dozens and dozens of dams with poor or no fish passage, and the largest hydroelectric dams still do not prevent millions of fish from passing through their turbines each year."

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Explosions were heard in the city of Dnipro on the night of 4-5 May. Ukrainian authorities had previously issued an air-raid warning in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Suspilne Dnipro, a Dnipro-related branch of Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Details: Suspilne reporters noted that "sounds of explosions have been heard in Dnipro".

At 01:17, Suspilne reported more explosions in Dnipro.

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Explosions rock Kharkiv, fires break out due to Russian Shahed UAV attack overnight  photo

A Russian Shahed UAV struck a residential area in the city of Kharkiv. Photo: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne

Explosions were heard in the city of Kharkiv during a Russian attack on the night of 4-5 May.

Source: Suspilne Kharkiv, a Kharkiv-related branch of Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov

Quote from Suspilne: "Explosions in Kharkiv".

Updated: At 00:39, Terekhov reported: "Another explosion in Kharkiv. Stay in shelters".

At 00:59, Terekhov added that a Russian Shahed loitering munition had hit a residential area in Kharkivs Osnovianskyi district.

The official said three private houses had caught fire in the strike.

"Emergency services are swiftly working at the scene," the mayor added.

Suspilne reported that at least one person had been injured in the Shahed attack.

Afterwards, Suspilne posted a photo showing the aftermath of the Shahed strike.

Quote from Suspilne: "At least one car has burnt to the ground in some garages. Windows have been smashed and roofs damaged in at least three private houses."

A Russian Shahed UAV struck a residential area in Kharkiv.

Photo: Suspilne

A Russian Shahed UAV struck a residential area in Kharkiv.

Photo: Suspilne

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Info scourge

At some future time (if there are humans left on Earth) some historian will conclude that the final fatal blow to the worlds democracies was social media.

Before its inception, any individuals conspiracy theories, unfounded statements or slanders would not ripple out much beyond the narrators circle of friends and acquaintances. But those same utterances on social media today can immediately reach a huge segment of our population. It has become many peoples go-to source of news, when it is anything but reliable journalism.

After World War II, in my Southern California homeland, the oft-chanted slogan became, You cant stop progress. That was the reason they gave for bulldozing the regions orange, lemon and avocado groves, precious natural open spaces and homes that were in the way of new freeways, which have brought us climate change.

Not all progress is beneficial, social media being just one example. Artificial intelligence has been implemented without public discourse about its ramifications. For example, how will people earn a living after AIhas replaced them in their jobs? Hey, you cant stop progress.

- Patrick Shannon, Lawrence

Good neighbors

I have been in Gladstone since 1958 and lived in Kansas City for a year before that. After reading about people objecting to Mayor Quinton Lucas statements about welcoming legal migrants to work here, I had to share my opinion.

I know many people who work here legally who are from other countries but are not yet full U.S. citizens, because it takes a long time to accomplish that. They have made difficult trips from indescribably horrible situations in their home countries and are just looking for a safe, decent life. If we all knew the conditions that forced our own ancestors to come here, maybe we would be more welcoming and compassionate.

Several workers from Central America just finished remodeling my basement bathroom. They were faithful, reliable and hardworking, and did a great job. I would recommend them to anyone.

I believe people who prejudge others because of their skin color or nationality are depriving themselves of some of the best experiences they could have by opening their hearts to people they dont think are like themselves.

Mary Ann Glenski, Gladstone

Farmers first

Farmers depend on a steady supply of glyphosate, which controls harmful weeds and saves millions of tons of valuable topsoil because of its essential contribution to conservation practices. Not only that, glyphosate also helps keep consumer food prices low.

Passing Missouri House Bill 2763 this legislative session would keep liberal trial lawyers from bankrupting producers of essential herbicides such as glyphosate. Farmers must have the American-made products they need to supply families with fresh, healthy food.

Without this legislation, Missouri farmers would be forced to rely on China, the only other producer of glyphosate, making our nations food security dependent on a rival that doesnt share our values. Weve outsourced manufacturing and let China dominate for decades. Is our food supply next? Having to import a product that is used on 66% of corn and 91% of soybean acres in Missouri would drive up costs significantly for farmers and consumers.

This bill protects our principles of individual liberty and economic freedom by supporting farmers and equipping U.S. agriculture to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.

With the session ending soon, the General Assembly must act to protect our rural communities from being hollowed out by liberal lawyers assisting Chinese communists.

- Blake Hurst, Former president, Missouri Farm Bureau, Westboro, Missouri

Seen this before

I am at the age when events begin to repeat themselves. Example: Calling out the National Guard to quell protesters. Event: May 1970, the Ohio National Guard killed four and wounded nine unarmed students at Kent State University (said to be no ones fault). Its bad enough when police drag students off to jail for the impudence to protest at their own college (also known as property belonging to Columbia University but not to its students). Are there no wise heads at these schools who can protect their Jewish students and free speech at the same time without resorting to arms?

If you need history before my time, consider the 1932 Bonus Marchers of nearly 20,000 World War I veterans (many accompanied by their families and 26,000 other supporters) camping in a Washington, D.C., park, asking for the release of their promised bonus payments  because of the Great Depression, for Gods sake. After the vets defeated the D.C. police, President Herbert Hoover ordered Gen. Douglas MacArthur, 500 infantry, 500 cavalry (then on horses), six tanks and 800 policemen to attack. They cleared the scene with two killed and at least 55 injured.

Consequences: Tents and belongings burned. No bonus in D.C. Angrier students at Columbia. Violence and spineless leaders abound.

- Mary Weston, Kansas City

Royal mess

Who is making the calls for the Royals? They blew the new stadium issue, and now it appears they gave their TV rights to a company in bad financial shape. (May 3, 1B, Royals no longer available on Comcast/Xfinity)

I wonder how many fans lost Royals TV this past week. Thanks, John Sherman  now we have to pay more. Ewing Kauffman is rolling over in his grave.

- Philip A. Stompoly, Lees Summit
Federal court strikes down Biden administration rule put in place to regulate state's transportation  here's what it would have done

A federal court struck down a Biden administration rule that would have required cities and states to set carbon pollution reduction targets for transportation, The Hill reported.

What happened?

In March 2024, a federal judge ruled in favor of a group of states that had sued the Biden administration for a rule that would have required states and cities to measure transportation-related pollution and develop reduction targets.

The rule would also have required these entities to report on their progress, and it would have set up a national framework to measure and report transportation-related pollution.

In light of the ruling, a spokesperson for the Transportation Department's highway administration said the agency was determining its next steps, per The Hill.

Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans cheered the news. Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) said in a joint statement, "This was a clear case of blatant overreach by the Biden Administration from the beginning, and we commend the court for its ruling."

Why is the ruling important?

Transportation in the U.S. is responsible for more planet-warming pollution than any other sector, accounting for more than a third of all pollution, according to the Department of Transportation.

Delaying action on pro-climate initiatives like this rule endangers communities, as our changing climate supercharges natural disasters, making them more frequent and powerful.

We're already seeing the devastating effects of a warming world. For instance, experts warned that droughts caused by El Nino and an overheating planet could endanger our food supply. Meanwhile, warmer-than-average temperatures led to deadly heat waves in the U.S. during the summer of 2023 and an outbreak of fires in the Amazon region in early 2024.

What is being done about our overheating planet?

Across the world, people are coming together to reduce planet-warming pollution. For instance, Scotland is turning many urban neighborhoods into "20-minute cities," so residents have access to public transit. Meanwhile, Tokyo is requiring most new buildings to have solar panels, and Los Angeles outlawed gas power in all newly constructed buildings.

You can help by voting for pro-climate candidates or advocating for change in the workplace. You can also make small changes like opting for public transportation or riding your bike more instead of driving your car.

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What were tracking

Rain south Sunday

Severe storms Monday

Quiet pattern

A disturbance just off towards our south brings widespread rain into Oklahoma tomorrow morning. Some of these showers and storms will try to move as far north as our southern counties by the late morning and early afternoon hours on Sunday. The best chance for rain on Sunday looks to be south of I-35.

The chance for severe weather returns on Monday afternoon and evening as a strong storm system approaches. Storms look to form a line in Central Kansas in the early afternoon and move east into Northeast Kansas by the middle to late afternoon.

Monday is certainly a day to be weather aware. All modes of severe weather are possible with these storms. Things quiet down after this storm system moves out. We will have plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures through the rest of the work week.

KSNT Storm Track Meteorologist Ely Millard

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Paul Grice is the fifth member of "God's Misfits" to be charged in a murder investigation. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)

On the afternoon of July 6 last year, Paul Grice went to the county clerks office at the Cimarron County Courthouse at Boise City, Oklahoma, and paid $104 to file a peculiar document in an attempt, among other things, to renounce his U.S. citizenship.

You may have heard of Grice, a member of an anti-government group in the Oklahoma panhandle called Gods Misfits, because he was recently the fifth member of the group to be charged with the murder of a pair of Kansas women in connection with a custody battle.

But the custody dispute is only part of the story. It appears the Misfits may have embraced reckless and vengeful violence as an extension of their apocalyptic religious beliefs that children are property and that no government or other human institution can interfere in parental authority.

Grice had turned 31 a few days earlier, so maybe he was thinking about his place in this world  and perhaps the next. We dont know exactly what was on his mind when he walked into the historic red brick courthouse at the center of town to deliver his bundle of papers, but the story told by the 35-page document is of a world vastly different from the one the rest of us inhabit.

Grices world was based not on reality but instead spun from poisonous conspiracy theories, half-baked legal hypotheses and religious delusion. Im assuming he must have walked into the Cimarron County Courthouse at Boise (pronounced Boyce) City because he lived with his wife and three kids only 16 miles to the northeast, at Keyes, a town of just a few hundred people. Theres no indication in the documents of whether he delivered them in person, or mailed them, but I imagine he would have visited in person.

We know Grice sent copies of the renunciation document to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken by certified mail. The return receipt is in the filing.

I am a creation of nature and natures God, he declared in the courthouse document, in the curious spelling and punctuation that has become the legal patois of the sovereign citizen movement. A people, a man, found alive and living, commonly known by my family, friends and neighbors as Paul Grice and so here I (w)ill stand.

He had dominion over all things, he asserted. His three children were his God-given property and subject to none other. He lived not in Oklahoma, but in the Oklahomat Republic, and the United States had been under martial law since the Civil War. The 14th Amendment, which most of us understand as granting citizenship to formerly enslaved persons and guaranteeing due process and equal protection under the law, had actually made slaves of us all. The Federal Reserve was illegitimate, the U.S. had become a corporation that sold its citizens as debt to foreign powers, and 1930s Pennsylvania congressman Louis T. McFadden was right when he said there was a Jewish conspiracy for world domination.

He also claimed state and federal authorities, in cooperation with judges and attorneys, were engaged in child kidnapping and trafficking.

All of it is nonsense, but its the kind of nonsense associated with anti-government rhetoric from the sovereign citizen movement, topped with QAnon conspiracy theories.

Sovereign citizens believe they are not under the jurisdiction of the federal government and consider themselves exempt from U.S. law, Travis McAdam, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told me. And that is all based on a variety of conspiracy theories and falsehoods they use to justify their beliefs and activities.

The sovereign movement has been around for decades and has typically been linked to militias, McAdam said, but recently it has gained strength from QAnon. Although the movement has usually been seen as irksome by public officials, because of the copious court filings that are a favorite tactic of sovereigns to avoid paying taxes or confound the legal system, sovereign resistance has sometimes taken violent forms. The FBI classifies the movement as a domestic terrorism threat.

Terry Nichols, the convicted Oklahoma City bomber, was part of the movement. In 1992, Nichols  like Grice  attempted to renounce his U.S. citizenship.

I am no longer a citizen of the corrupt political corporate state of Michigan and the United States of America, he wrote in a letter to officials.

Such attempts arent legally recognized. You can only renounce your citizenship, according to the State Department website, from outside the U.S., and only by following established procedure.

Weve seen more and more sovereign groups trying to recruit people who are involved (in disputes) with child protective services, McAdam said. They really try to use the idea of this is an illegitimate government, this is an illegitimate court system trying to take your kids away, and maybe we can help.

On April 24, Grice became the fifth Misfit to be arrested.

After two women went missing, Two weeks after the women went missing, law enforcement made four arrests in Oklahomas Cimarron and Texas counties (clockwise, from top left): Cole Twombly, Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum and Cora Twombly.

After two women went missing, law enforcement made four arrests in Oklahomas Cimarron and Texas counties (clockwise, from top left): Cole Twombly, Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum and Cora Twombly. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)

He faces the same charges as his former prayer partners, Tifany Adams, Tad Cullum, and Cole and Cora Twombly. Adams was in a bitter custody dispute with the mother of her grandchildren and, according to court documents in the criminal case, the five were involved in a conspiracy to kidnap and kill. The plan was to ambush the childrens mother, Veronica Butler, and a court-approved supervisor when they came to pick up the children for a birthday party March 30, the day before Easter, the documents say. Both women were from Hugoton, just across the state line in Kansas.

Their car was found abandoned along a dirt lane in Texas County, Oklahoma. Smashed windows, a broken hammer, a purse with a pistol magazine and blood at the scene indicated something violent had taken place. The women were the object of an intense search for two weeks after their disappearance.

The bodies of Butler, 27, and Jilian Kelley, 39, the supervisor, were located following the initial arrests. They had been mothers and church members in their hometown of Hugoton. Their remains were found in a freshly dug hole covered by dirt and hay at a rural property rented by Cullum for grazing cattle. Tifany Adams, according to an affidavit filed by prosecutors, had confessed to participating in the murder of the women.

Affidavits in the case also named Grice as being involved, including helping to block the highway and divert Butler and Kelleys car. Authorities have not said where Grice was before he was arrested. He was arraigned Wednesday at Texas County District Court at Guymon, Oklahoma. Like his co-defendants, he was denied bond.

On April 23, 2024, Grice was interviewed and admitted that he was part of the planning and killing of both Butler and Kelley, an affidavit supporting probable cause for his arrest said. Grice admitted to (an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent) that he participated in the killing of Butler and Kelley and their subsequent burial.

In his manifesto-like filing at Boise City last year, Grice cited a litany of perceived governmental abuses that are common among sovereign citizens and Christian Identity adherents. Grice recalled the April 19, 1993, siege at Waco, Texas, as the murder  of 86 men, women and children by agents of the federal government. Part of Timothy McVeighs motivation in bombing the Alfred P. Murrah federal building on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City  which killed 168 people and was the worst act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history  was the Waco siege.

I am not anti-government, anti-military, or anti-America, Grice claimed in the document. The eccentric capitalization that follows is his: Quite the contrary. For Generations, My family served the united States of America in both active and inactive service all over the world.

The sovereign citizen movement began with William Potter Gale, a World War II veteran who formed an anti-tax resistance movement called the California Rangers in the 1960s. Gale also was a key figure in Christian Identity and white supremacy and a founder of the Christian Patriots of the 1980s. At one point, he broadcast his message to radio listeners from a studio in Dodge City. He was convicted of tax crimes, sentenced to prison and died awaiting appeal in 1988.

In the document filed July in Cimarron County, Grice rails against government oversight and regulation, the genetic manipulation of food, vaccines and the United Nations. He does get two things right: The Tuskegee Experiment, in which hundreds of Black men were left untreated for syphilis so the course of the disease could be studied, and Project MK-Ultra, a CIA project in which unsuspecting individuals were given experimental drugs in an attempt at mind control.

Near the end, he references the Book of Revelation.

I must now also leave Babylon the Great and not partake of her sins any longer lest I receive her plagues, he writes, for her sins have reaching unto Heaven, and God will remember her iniquities. May God have mercy on the people of the United States/UNITED STATES!

They spell their name and others in all caps or they use weird punctuation, McAdam said. They think the Treasury Department has set up these accounts when any child is born, and that somehow there is this corporate account, that exists differently (but represents) the actual child. And so youll see in these court filings where theyll think that OK, if I just get the punctuation right, if I get the capitalization right, Im going to be able to reclaim my sovereign status.

Its as if the sovereigns believe there is a kind of magic code to legal documents, that if only they get the weird spelling and capitalization right, all of their problems will be solved. But there doesnt appear to be a Sovereign Citizens Stylebook, and every document looks a bit different.

Some sovereign citizens also believe that the only legitimate governmental entity is the state, but they tend to view each state as a republic. McAdam said, however, he did not know why Grice spelled Oklahoma as Oklahomat Republic.

Reading Grices manifesto left me wondering how many others out there believe what he does, or at least what he professed to. McAdam said the SPLC had not heard of Gods Misfits until news broke about the arrests. He also said the center doesnt have a way to track actual members in a movement, but that it was pretty clear the sovereign citizens were growing.

McAdam, who works for the SPLC from his home in Montana, compared the movement to a prairie twister.

Many of these movements are like a funnel cloud or tornado, where way up in the clouds at the big end of the funnel, you have people the get pulled in for all kinds of reasons, McAdam said. They kind of spin out and back in again. But then there are people who really start to go down into the funnel. And as they do that, they become steeped in these conspiracy theories and worldviews. And if you go all the way through down to the ground and pop out, well those are people like Timothy McVeigh.

The post A fifth Misfit is accused of murdering two Kansas women. Last year, he declared extremist beliefs appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Flags ordered flown at half-staff to honor fallen firefighters today in Ohio

Flags have been ordered to be flown at staff today in Ohio.

>>Suspect hospitalized after being shot by officer in Huber Heights

Governor Mike DeWine has ordered both the flags of the United States and State of Ohio to be flown at half-staff today, according to the governors spokesperson.

It is in accordance with an order issued by President Joe Biden in honoring the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, the spokesperson said.

Flags will be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds throughout Ohio today from sunrise to sunset.
Chalabala / Getty Images/iStockphoto

If you talk to any frequent traveler, theyll all probably tell you the same thing. Theyd prefer to be toward the front of the plane than squished near the back, fighting for space on the armrest. Unfortunately, first-class seats arent getting any cheaper, and most are available to only the richest 1%.

Read Next: 8 Tips To Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy

Find Out: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Keep reading to learn more about the most expensive airlines in the world, their costs and what you can expect on board.

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

Etihad Airways

If youre looking for one of the most luxurious first-class cabins, look no further than Etihad Airways. The Residence class, which includes private apartments, is limited to its A380 aircraft. Each apartment is a three-room suite that includes a spacious living area with a leather couch, a separate sleeping area with a double bed and a private en-suite shower. And thats not all. A dedicated butler will be at your service throughout the flight.

Flying in The Residence offers  ultra-luxurious amenities and unparalleled privacy, said Arsen Misakyan, co-founder and CEO of LAXcar. When booking via Etihads website in December for a mid-May flight from New York to Abu Dhabi, the cost for first-class apartments ranged between approximately $9,000 and $10,000 each way. For The Residence, an additional $3,000 per leg was added, bringing the total to about $24,000.

Misakyan also said that as of March 2021, Etihad Airways held the record for the most expensive airline ticket, with a one-way fare from New York to Mumbai priced at $38,000.

Check Out: 11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024

Emirates

For many people, sleeping on an airplane can be a challenge. However, thats not the case when flying on an Emirates A380 aircraft. This Dubai-based airline has private suites with electronic sliding doors instead of the curtains that many airlines have. Plus, to help you feel refreshed when you reach your destination, youll be provided with a pair of moisturizing pajamas.

Passengers can enjoy gourmet dining options prepared by onboard chefs, along with a selection of fine wines and champagne, said Tony Abrams, founder of Four Hundred Travel. Emirates is known for its luxurious onboard showers in first-class on select aircraft, providing passengers with the unique experience of freshening up during a long flight.

According to The Luxury Travel Expert, the price for an Emirates first-class round-trip ticket can range from $5,000 to $25,000.

Story continues

Singapore Airlines

Another airline that offers the opportunity to fly in luxury if you can afford the price tag is Singapore Airlines. Booking its first-class suites on an A380 aircraft will set you back quite a few dollars, but youll feel like you have the airplane to yourself.

Your spacious suite will include not only a swivel leather chair but also a separate single bed. If youre flying with a significant other, you can book as a double, and the partition will be removed, making a double bed. Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines suites dont include private showers as Emirates do, but each suite does have a sit-down vanity counter that will allow you to freshen up before landing.

Singapore Airlines offers one of the most opulent first-class experiences globally with its suites, which feature individual cabins with sliding doors, standalone beds, leather chairs and gourmet meal service, Misakyan said. Fares for these suites can start from $15,000 for routes like Singapore to New York, underlining the airlines focus on supreme comfort, exquisite personal service and culinary excellence.

Cathay Pacific

Next on the list is Cathay Pacific, where first-class flights can cost $30,000 or more depending on the route and time of year. Other airlines have fully closing doors that help isolate you from other travelers. While Cathay Pacific doesnt provide that, the experience is nearly as grand. There are only six first-class lie-flat seats, and each comes with Bamford 600-thread-count sheets. Plus, youll receive pajamas, slippers and Bamford skin care products.

Cathay Pacific is also known for its onboard food choices. Plus, it has a great wine selection that is well above what other airlines offer.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa rounds out the list of the most expensive airlines in the world. In the fall of 2024, its expected to launch its latest Allegris first-class product, which will rival some of the other airlines on this list. Youll be able to choose from a Suite or Suite Plus.

Suites will come equipped with a fully closing door and an extra-wide seat that transforms into a bed. Theyll also have a 32-inch 4K TV and a personal wardrobe for keeping your belongings.

Booking a Suite Plus is ideal for a couple traveling together. It comes with two extra-wide seats that can be turned into a double bed. Youll also have a 43-inch 4K TV and wireless charging for your electronics.

While exact prices for flights in a Lufthansa Suite and Suite Plus havent been released, the expectation is that theyll be some of the most expensive flights in the world.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Most Expensive Airlines in the World
Melissa Fleming defeated Alan Simms on Saturday in the race between political newcomers for the Place 3 seat on the Round Rock City Council. Meanwhile, two charter amendments were approved by wide margins.

Fleming had 1,992, votes, or 65.7%, with Simms having 1,041 votes. Kristen Stevens, a 48-year-old Realtor, ran unopposed for a second term in Place 5.

Proposition A on court judges and the Municipal Court had 2,533 votes for and 380 votes against. Proposition B, which is intended to shorten the time to have a plat approved, was winning 2,038-852.

The totals include votes from both Williamson and Travis counties. The votes will be official after being canvassed by the City Council. A swearing-in ceremony is expected to be scheduled for this month.

Fleming, 47, is a wealth advisor with Ironbridge Private Wealth, while Simms, 64, is the owner of Rio Grande Tex-Mex restaurant. Place 3 incumbent Matthew Baker did not seek a third term to the seat he has held since 2018.

Melissa Fleming

"I am thrilled to win the election last night and want to express my gratitude to everyone who came out to support me, Fleming said on her campaign website Sunday. "As your newly elected city council member, I am dedicated to representing the voices and interests of the people of Round Rock. I am excited to get to work to continue to make our city that special place we all love."

During the campaign, Fleming said public safety, maintaining city infrastructure and preserving the uniqueness of the city are the biggest issues the city is facing. She said residents are also concerned about traffic and the city's water supply.

More: Meet the 2 political newcomers running for Place 3 seat on Round Rock City Council

In 2022, the city's estimated population was 124,614, with 184,993 residents in the greater Round Rock area. As of April, the city officials have estimated the population within city limits is 132,927. A 2022 report by the city projected that by 2040, the population within city limits will be 194,151 and the population in the greater Round Rock area will be 266,051.

To address residents' concerns about water supply she said there needs to be direct involvement with the community to promote water conservation. For traffic concerns, she said the city needs a comprehensive transportation plan along with a strong street maintenance program.

"Prioritizing proper planning and funding for roads and maintenance is crucial to the future of our city, Fleming said. "I will seek to attract businesses offering high-quality, well-compensated jobs, and to establish long-term strategic plans that safeguard our city's infrastructure needs."

Fleming started the Austin-Round Rock Chapter of the Cure Starts Now, or Team Brock, in honor of her son, who died of a rare, incurable type of brain cancer at the age of 7.

Simms said the major issues facing the city are those that affect the quality of life for residents, such as traffic congestion, affordability, drug abuse within the community and water conservation.

Alan Simms

He said that if elected, his main goal would be to create a collaborative and inclusive community that supports local businesses by assisting mom-and-pop shops. He also said he wanted to work to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance transportation infrastructure.

Charter amendments

Round Rock voters also approved amendments to the citys charter to clarify the roles and procedures of the Municipal Court and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The first proposed amendment will clarify the designation and requirements of court judges and the handling costs and fines by the Municipal Court.

In a report, the chairman of the Charter Review Commission said the change was recommended because the sections language is vague and does not give distinctions between judges. He also said the section does not consider where costs and fines are intended to go.

The second amendment will delete a subsection of the charter allowing city staff to have the ability to approve, conditionally approve or disapprove a plat, aligning with the Texas Local Government Code. The report said the amendment was recommended to quicken the development process.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Check out election results for Round Rock City Council. See who won.
Florida has become the first state to outlaw the manufacture and distribution of lab-grown meat. But other states including Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee have similar measures cooking.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, May 1, signed into law the bill, which would ban lab-grown meat, also called cultivated meat because it's grown from animal stem cells. "Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere," he said. "We're not doing that in the state of Florida."

The ban  it does not include Impossible meat, which is made from plant-based ingredients  is meant to protect cattle ranchers and the "integrity of American agriculture," DeSantis said.

But critics call the move misguided for several reasons. For starters, the first cultivated meat regulatory approvals in the U.S. came through less than a year ago.

No one in the field has yet scaled up to the levels you need to produce food for supermarkets, David Kaplan, a biomolecular engineer focusing on cellular agriculture at Tufts University, told Scientific American. Theres not even an industry yet. Its just fledgling!

Many meat-alternative companies and supporters consider lab-grown meat as a way to address the environmental and ethical concerns tied to traditional mass-production of meat. Initially, lab-grown meat will cost more than three times as much to produce as natural beef, a 2021 analysis found.

Cinco de Mayo 2024: Food and drink specials include deals at Taco Bell, Chipotle, TGI Fridays, more

However, non-profit think tank Good Food Institute has cited research published in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment forecasting cultivated meat to eventually be nearly three times more efficient than conventional beef production, with the potential to reduce the carbon footprint by 92%, land use by 90%, and water use by 66%.

Why did Gov. DeSantis ban lab-grown meat?

With the ban, Florida is fighting back against the global elites plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals, DeSantis said in a statement. Our administration will continue to focus on investing in our local farmers and ranchers, and we will save our beef.

Beef is pretty big business in Florida. In 2024, the state ranked ninth for beef cattle production with 862,000. Beef cattle sales and sales of breeding stock generate a total economic impact of more than $900 million annually, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

DeSantis made fun of liberals advocating for "fake meat" as a way to combat climate change  and chided global leaders such as those at The World Economic Forum, which has advocated for insects as an alternative edible protein source (they are considered delicacies in certain cultures).

Not all lawmakers were on board. When the bill was being debated in the Florida House in March, Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, said the food fight part of the bill sends a bad message to researchers and investors about cultivated meat, according to the News Service of Florida.

I think it will deter future manufacturers from coming to Florida because they don't know what day of the week that the Legislature will be OK with them being in the state of Florida, Hunschofsky said.

What states have banned lab-grown meat?

So far only Florida. But Alabama, Arizona and Tennessee have recently considered bills banning lab-grown meat.

The Alabama bill, which originated in the state Senate, would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells. The state House passed it April 30, but an amendment requires it goes back to the Senate before being sent to Gov. Kay Ivy, Food Safety magazine reported.

The approved bill, similar to the Florida law, removed a research ban that could affect NASA and the space industry, which is looking at cultivated meat for long-term space missions.

In the Arizona legislature, two different bills passed the House  one banning lab-grown meat and another for tougher meat labeling  but neither made it out of the Senate, Food Safety News reported.

The Tennessee bill, which would ban the sale of cultured meat and impose fines of up to $1 million, was not considered by either house before the General Assembly session ended. But the bill "would be the death knell for (cultured meat)," said its sponsor state senator Frank Niceley, a farmer, The Daily Mail reported. "And in the long run, we'd be a lot better off."

Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell disagrees, arguing that the industry's prospects "offer huge potential benefits."

"To be clear, this is not about a left-wing nanny state forcing the sale or consumption of lab-grown meats," she wrote recently. "Its about a conservative nanny state prohibiting the voluntary consumption and sale of these products (which again, mostly dont yet exist).  These bans are partly about, well, throwing red meat to the base."

Why shouldn't we eat lab-grown meat? Is it safe?

Even though the Food and Drug Administration in 2022 said it is safe to eat lab-grown meat and the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave its approval in 2023, there remain questions about the health effects of lab-grown meat.

Among the rumors that have been debunked:

Good Meat's cultivated chicken displayed at the Eat Just office on July 27, 2023, in Alameda, California. Good Meat and Upside Foods got approval from the USDA to sell lab-grown chicken in June 2023.

Are animals killed for lab-grown meat?

No animals are slaughtered to make cultured meat. However, scientists can take cells from slaughtered livestock to make the meat. A CNN article from 2023 suggests those with religious or ethical reasons for not eating meat look deeper into where their lab-grown burger came from before trying it out.

Can vegans eat lab-grown meat?

Cultured meat is still taken from animal cells, so it's not considered vegan. But an article from VegNews said a poll from the dating app Veggly found 24% of vegans surveyed would be open to eating lab-grown meat since it does not involve slaughter.

Does lab-grown meat taste like real meat?

Reviews for cultured chicken from Upside Foods, which was among the first two companies approved, have been largely positive, with one reviewer from the MIT Technology Review saying, "while the bites I slowly chewed and considered were still softer than a chicken breast, they were definitely more chicken-like than other alternatives Ive tried." An Associated Press review said it, well, "tastes like chicken."

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida lab-grown meat ban: DeSantis says it protects beef industry
Lab-grown meat is a long way from landing in retail grocery stores, but the state of Florida has preemptively banned its sale within state borders. With the flick of a pen, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law on May 3, lessening the chance of cultivated meat products ever threatening Florida's thriving agricultural industry. Announcing the passage of SB 1084, DeSantis declared (via FOX 13 Tampa Bay), "Take your fake lab-grown meat elsewhere. We are not doing that in the State of Florida."

The lab-grown meat at the heart of this legislation refers to meat that's been cultivated from the cells of animals. It thus far takes place in a laboratory-style production facility, leading adversaries to call it names such as "Frankenstein meat," per NPR, and point out the as-yet-unknown health implications of cellular-based meat creation. They also accuse big business, big agriculture, and big food industries of trying to manipulate what's available for human consumption.

Cultivated meat advocates, on the other hand, point out advantages such as the ability to increase nutritional values, lower environmental impact, and decrease the spread of food-borne illnesses. Regardless of speculation, the realities are far from certain, and Florida is the first U.S. state to criminalize lab-grown meat, making it illegal to produce, distribute, or sell future products. Three additional states have bans or restrictions under consideration, including Arizona, Tennessee, and Alabama. This follows similar legislation in other countries, such as Italy's 2023 ban on lab-produced food, which also encountered divisive pushback.

Read more: Your Guide To The Different Cuts Of Steak

The FDA And Market Implications Of Lab-Grown Meat

Artificial lab-grown meat sample - Kitreel/Shutterstock

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is far from absent in the innovative field of lab-grown meat. Calling it an emerging area of food science, the FDA describes this kind of meat as "human food made with cultured animal cells." The department works directly with the developers of cell culture technology to ensure product safety, accurate labeling, and adherence to FDA marketing requirements.

It also coordinates with the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), in shared-jurisdiction areas for specified animal species. That joint regulation agreement, cemented in 2019, specifically includes human food from the cultured cells of livestock and poultry. It oversees multiple facets of this complex method of food production, including how to classify lab-grown meats.

Florida is a big player in the beef cow industry, and its pushback against displacement by cellular production is hardly surprising. However, experts in such scientific fields as psychology and bioengineering express growing concern over emotional rhetoric drowning out reason and logic, tainting what could be a safer and more efficient way to produce food in the future. Regarding the passage of SB 104, DeSantis stated, "Florida is fighting back against the global elite's plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals." In other parts of the country, cultural issues crop up, including debates over halal and kosher qualities of lab-grown meat.

Read the original article on Tasting Table
A former Baker County detention deputy was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual battery on an inmate.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

On April 23, 2019, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency received an allegation that an inmate was accusing a Baker County detention deputy of sexual battery. Baker County Sheriffs Office investigators identified Brian Louis Robinson as the suspect who sexually battered the victim multiple times.

Robinson was arrested by BCSO on July 10, 2020, for the crime.

Read: Just turned 65: House fire claims elderly mans life in Lincoln Villas neighborhood

A Baker County jury found Robinson guilty of sexual battery during a week-long trial ending Feb. 16, 2024. The jury deliberated for a little over 2 hours.

Judge Phillip A. Pena presided over the sentencing held on May 1. The victim appeared via Zoom to provide a victim impact statement to the court.

The State requested Robinson receive the maximum sentence of 90 years in the Department of Corrections. Judge Pena sentenced Robinson to 25 years in the Florida DOC, followed by 5 years of sex offender probation. Robinson is also designated as a sexual predator.

Read: Concertgoers frustrated after being locked out of Luke Combs performance due to invalid tickets

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Former senator from Forza Italia party talks about Putin giving roe deer heart to former Italian PM

Fabrizio Cicchitto, a former senator from Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, has claimed that the late former prime minister witnessed Russian leader Vladimir Putin cutting out the heart of a roe deer during their joint hunting trip in 2013.

Source: Cicchitto said this in an interview with Corriere della Sera, European Pravda reports

Details: The former Italian senator said that Berlusconi, despite his friendship with Russian leader Putin, doubted him at least once, and it happened during their joint holiday in Russia in 2013.

Cicchitto says that Berlusconi had agreed to go hunting with Putin, although he "never touched a gun before".

"When we were walking in the snow, he saw two roe deers and pointed to one of them: 'This one is yours. Shoot it.' I made him understand that I would not shoot in any case. So he shot at both of them and killed them," Cicchitto retells the words of the former Italian prime minister.

Then, Cicchitto says, Putin went down to the dead animals, quartered one of the roe deers and cut out its heart.

"Then he asked a man from his escort to bring him a wooden tray, handed it to me and put the bloody piece of meat on it: 'This will be an extraordinary meal'. I was shocked. I hid behind a tree and threw up," Berlusconi had said.

Cicchitto goes on to describe the relationship between Putin and Berlusconi as "psychological homosexuality".

"They admired each other and their relationship was absolutely equal. Putin considered this Italian entrepreneur, who controlled television and managed to break into politics, a genius. Berlusconi, in turn, considered him a pragmatist who was capable of running a country like Russia and with whom they could do many things together, from business to women," he says.

The former senator added that Berlusconi's mistake was that he "completely failed to take into account Putin's cultural background," which was based on Russian autocrats Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible and Joseph Stalin.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi died in Milan's San Raffaele Hospital at the age of 86 on 12 June 2023.

Berlusconi headed three Italian governments from 1994 to 2011. The politician is known for his friendship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and has made controversial statements about Ukraine. In particular, in October 2022, he said that Ukraine could negotiate with Russia if it stopped receiving arms and was offered only reconstruction assistance.

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Four people killed and four more hurt in crashes in same South Carolina county, cops say

Four people were killed and four more were injured in a series of crashes that happened last week in the same Midlands county, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Four deadly wrecks happened in a six-day span in Orangeburg County, the Highway Patrol said.

Saturday

The most recent collision happened Saturday, and involved two vehicles, according to Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover.

At about 3:45 a.m., a 2007 Honda Accord and a 2018 GMC Terrain crashed on U.S. 21, Glover said.

The Honda was driving north on U.S. 21, and the GMC was heading south when they collided near the intersection with Mays Chapel Road, according to Glover.

Glover said the driver, who was the only person in the Honda, died at the scene.

There were two people in the GMC, and both were taken to an area hospital, according to Glover. Further information on the GMC occupants conditions was not available.

There was no word if any of the people involved in the wreck were wearing seat belts.

Information about what caused the collision was not available, but it remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.

Friday

Another person was killed in an Orangeburg County crash the prior day.

On Friday at about 4:30 a.m., a pedestrian died in a collision, according to Glover.

A 2007 Ford F-450 was driving north on U.S. 321 when the pickup truck hit the pedestrian who was walking in the road near the intersection with Caughman Trail, Glover said.

The pedestrian died at the scene, according to Glover.

Glover said the driver, who was the only person in the pickup, was not hurt, and no other injuries were reported.

Glover did not say if the Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate Fridays deadly wreck.

Tuesday

In another Orangeburg County crash, one person was killed Tuesday in a collision at the junction of two major interstates, according to Glover.

At about 1:40 p.m., a 2023 Harley-Davidson was driving north on Interstate 95 and as the motorcycle took Exit 86 to head west on Interstate 26 the two-wheeler swerved left and the rider spilled into the exit ramp, Glover said.

The rider died at the scene, Glover said.

Glover said the rider was the only person on the motorcycle, and no other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the rider was wearing a helmet.

Information about what caused Tuesdays wreck was not available, and Glover didnt say if the Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash.

Monday

One person was killed and two others were hospitalized in an Orangeburg County crash at the beginning of the week.

At about 9:25 p.m. Monday, a 2021 Toyota SUV was driving west on Binnicker Bridge Road and crossed left of the center line and crashed head-on into an eastbound 2006 GMC pickup, according to Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway.

The pickup driver and a passenger, both from Pelion, were taken to a hospital in Orangeburg, while the SUV driver was airlifted by helicopter to Prisma Health Richland hospital in Columbia, Ridgeway said.

The pickup driver died at the hospital, according to Ridgeway.

Further information on the conditions of the pickup passenger and the SUV driver was not available.

There was no word if anyone involved in the wreck was wearing a seat belt.

Information about what caused the SUV to veer into oncoming traffic was not available, but the crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.

The Orangeburg County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the crash victims.

Through Tuesday, 289 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least 10 people have died in Orangeburg County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 36 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS reported.
FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron stand in front of Chinese and EU flags at a signing ceremony inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

By Michel Rose and Noemie Olive

PARIS (Reuters) -President Xi Jinping lauded China's ties with France as an international model on Sunday as he arrived in Paris for a rare visit against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the EU.

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine. China's President is due to meet Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.

Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were "a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems".

France is backing a European Union probe into Chinese electric vehicle exports, and in January, Beijing opened an investigation into mostly French-made imports of brandy, a move widely seen as a tit-for-tat retaliation for EU probes.

"We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account," Macron said in an interview with French newspaper La Tribune ahead of Xi's two-day visit, his first trip to the region in five years.

The EU's 27 members - in particular France and Germany - are divided on their attitude towards China.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, sources said.

"In Europe, we are not unanimous on the subject because certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities," Macron said, without naming any countries.

These divisions could undermine the EU's ability to influence the Asian giant.

France will also seek to make progress on opening the Chinese market to its agricultural exports and resolve issues around the French cosmetic industry's concerns about intellectual property rights, officials said.

China may announce an order for around 50 Airbus aircraft during Xi's visit, but it remains uncertain whether it will be a new deal, people familiar with the negotiations said.

France has been keen to nudge China into pressuring Moscow to halt operations in Ukraine, with little progress apart from Xi's decision to call President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the first time shortly after Macron visited Beijing last year.

"If the Chinese seek to deepen the relationship with European partners, it is really important that they hear our point of view and start taking it seriously," a French diplomatic source said.

Macron will take Xi to the Pyrenees, a mountainous region dear to the French President as the birthplace of his maternal grandmother, on Tuesday before Xi heads to Russia-friendly Serbia and Hungary.

(Reporting by John Irish, Michel Rose, Ingrid Melander, Sybille de La Hamaide, Noemie Olive, Tim Hepher; Editing by Frances Kerry, Bernadette Baum and Alexander Smith)
In a heartfelt gesture honoring the memory of local music industry luminary Tib Miller, founder of Flying Saucer Presents, the Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall (FOPVCH) made a significant announcement during the recent Load Out event at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

The organization revealed on April 26th its establishment of the first-ever music scholarship at the North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE), donating $4,000 to the cause.

Tib Miller remembered as one of North Floridas most cherished concert promoters and a friend to the music industry, had a deep connection to NFSSE.

His son, Gram Miller, a talented musician himself, has been a student at the school since the age of six and continues to thrive there today at the age of 20.

Jerry Wilson, Board President of FOPVCH, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to honor Tib Millers legacy through the scholarship, stating, As the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall celebrates our history with an eye toward the new era, we are honored to remember our dear friend Tib Miller.

Sally Hazelip, Head of School at NFSSE, extended heartfelt appreciation to FOPVCH for their transformative gift, saying, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall for providing our students with the transformative gift of music.

Pepper Miller, Tib Millers daughter, spoke passionately about the role of music in her brothers life, expressing hope that the scholarship recipients would experience similar positive impacts, Tib shared his love for music with my brother Gram, and it has become an integral part of who Gram is.

The announcement of the Music Scholarship not only marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between FOPVCH and NFSSE but also spotlights the power of music to enrich lives and build communities.

Those interested in supporting these initiatives are encouraged to join the Friends of Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and explore the inspiring work being done at the North Florida School of Special Education.

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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.
FT: US aid to Ukraine will help Ukraine launch counteroffensive in 2025, Sullivan says

Ukraine will look to launch a counteroffensive in 2025 with the support of the approved $61 billion aid package from the United States, as well as additional Western aid funding, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the Financial Times on May 4.

Sullivan echoed Ukraine's hopes that the country will "move forward to recapture the territory that the Russians have taken - the clearest such articulation as to how the Biden administration sees the war evolving in the coming months.

The Financial Times notes that any new Ukrainian offensive would require additional military aid from Western allies, including the United States. The most recent $61 billion aid package from the U.S. took months to pass through Congress amid political infighting.

The United States is currently leading talks among Group of Seven (G7) allies to develop a military aid package to Ukraine worth up to $50 billion, Bloomberg reported on May 3. The potential package would reportedly be funded by the profits generated by accrued interest on frozen Russian assets.

Despite mounting pressures of an anticipated Russian summer offensive, Sullivan noted that with incoming U.S. weapons supplies, Ukraine will have the capacity to "hold the line" as it faces a difficult period in the war over the next few months.

Last month, in an interview with Germany's Bild magazine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that while there is a plan for a eventual counteroffensive, any such developments would be contingent on receiving additional aid from Western allies.

Amid a looming presidential election in the United States, questions have risen over the U.S.'s ongoing support of Ukraine if former President and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is once again elected to office.

In early April, media reported, citing undisclosed sources, that Trump had privately said he could end Russia's war by pressuring Ukraine to cede Crimea and Donbas to Moscow, which was denied by his advisor.

According to a former advisor to Trump, the former president made it very clear that he believed Ukraine must be part of Russia.

Despite his comments, Trump reportedly voiced support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, following a vote on military aid for Ukraine after months of delays, and has previously suggested providing Ukraine aid as loans.

Read also: Bloomberg: US leading efforts within G7 to develop $50 billion aid package to Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
In this article, we look at the 9 largest private military contractors in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on the history and current trends of the private military industry, and head over directly to the 5 Largest Private Military Contractors In The World.

Private military companies have a controversial but important role to play in global security. These contractors are independent businesses that offer specialized military services related to war, combat operations, intelligence gathering and more, to national governments, substate actors, and international organizations.

A majority of these private companies are led by military veterans and offer several war-related services, consultancies, and other forms of support such as construction, logistics, and training. For example, Academi, formerly Blackwater, was founded by Erik Prince, a former Navy Seal. Many of them are even equipped with fleets of utility and transport aircraft.

After World War II, many western countries privatized arms manufacturing, and this was followed by military services. The use of private military companies further gained prominence with the conclusion of the Cold War in 1990, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia downsizing their militaries, which resulted in a large number of soldiers left unemployed. This vacuum was filled by private military companies, who were often contracted by the same countries to do their 'dirty work' without directly involving themselves militarily in conflicts.

According to DW News, the United States spent around $300 billion between 1994 and 2007 on 12 private militias, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq. On the other hand, the Wagner Group has for the last several years been actively advancing Russian security interests in Syria first, and later Ukraine. Not only do private contractors offer the benefit to countries of not involving themselves directly in the conflict, but also that any casualties faced by these private companies do not evoke the same emotional response and pressures at home as it would if soldiers of a national army were to die in an external war.

However, incidents over the last couple of decades have shown that it is not always beneficial for countries to cede their monopoly over power and coercion to private contractors. The most notable learning of this was the 2023 mutiny by the Wagner Group in Russia, in which thousands of mercenary fighters that were engaged in the conflict in Ukraine rebelled against Putins government and decided to march towards Moscow. Moreover, there were also numerous instances of shootings carried out by private military contractors during the Iraq war on both American and Iraqi troops, as well as civilians.

Since the rolling back of American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the role of private military contractors has begun to diminish in the United States, and the industry is witnessing consolidation. Academi, which was one of the most powerful private military contractors in the world about a decade ago, merged with Triple Canopy in 2014 to form Constellis Holdings. Some other companies that are part of the Constellis Holdings include Olive Group, American K-9 Detection Services, and Centerra. Military offerings of the group are now mainly limited to ensuring security of US government sites and installations at home and abroad.

Last year, Centarra was awarded a $1 billion contract by the Department of Energy in exchange for security services at the Savannah River Site for a period of 10 years. On the other hand, Triple Canopy signed a $1.3 billion agreement with the State Department in June 2022 under which the company would provide protective services to the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

DynCorp was another prominent private military contractor that was recently acquired. In 2020, the group announced the news of its acquisition by Amentum, a leading US federal government contractor. DynCorp was among the eight private companies that were chosen by the United States to serve in Iraq while the US troops pulled out. The contractor had a manpower of 10,000 personnel, some of whom were also actively engaged in battles against drug dealers in Peru and rebels in Colombia.

In Russia, Wagner's power and public goodwill appears to have significantly diminished as well after the rebellion of June 2023. However, despite that, the group remains a key international player for several reasons. Firstly, what separates the group from its predecessors and other private military companies is the sheer size of its manpower. It is a full-fledged armed unit, with aerial, ground, and sea combat capabilities. Moreover, it is actively involved in conflicts in Libya, Syria, Sudan, Mali, and Ukraine, and the death of its leader Evgenij Prigozin in a plane crash after the rebellion, seems to have had no impact on the group's involvement in those conflicts. Lastly, while Wagner has historically enjoyed the backing of the Kremlin, it still operates independently from the Russian armed forces under its own ideology of Russian ultranationalism coupled with the nostalgia of the Soviet Union era.

9 Largest Private Military Contractors in the World

NEstudio/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

The 9 largest private military contractors in the world are ranked in ascending order of their number of personnel. Data has been sourced from several independent news reports and publications, including the Special Ops Magazine, DW News, and Business Insider, among others.

If interested, you can also take a look at the 15 Most Elite US Military Special Forces and Their Role.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Lets now head over to the list of the largest private military companies in the world.

9 Largest Private Military Contractors In The World:

9. Defion Internacional

Personnel: 1,000

Defion Internacional is a Peruvian private military contractor, with offices in Iraq, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. The group is known to recruit fighters, security guards, and drivers from across the developing world, especially Latin America. According to a 2012 report in Business Insider, there were about 1,000 Latin American mercenaries in the Middle East, with most of them likely linked to Defion Internacional. The report also stated that Triple Canopy has recruited heavily from Defion Internacional in the past.

The personnel belonging to Defion Internacional hold expertise in performing the role of static guard forces, as well as offering administrative and logistical support to the contractor.

8. Unity Resources Group

Personnel: 1,200

Next on our list is the Unity Resources Group, an Australian-owned private military company that is active in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The group is managed by military veterans from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, and is believed to have a manpower of 1,200 personnel. The private military company is best known for its roles in guarding the Australian embassy in Iraqs capital Baghdad, assisting with ensuring secure parliamentary elections in Lebanon, as well as evacuating oil companies representatives from crisis zones in Bahrain.

However, the Unity Resources Group, like any other private military company, has not been short of controversies, and has been involved in a couple of infamous shooting incidents in Iraq, one of which resulted in the passing of an Australian academic, and another in which two civilian women were killed.

7. Aegis Defence Services

Personnel: 5,000

With a manpower of around 5,000 personnel, British company Aegis Defence Services is one of the largest private military contractors in the world, that primarily works with the United States, the United Nations, and oil companies, according to the Special Ops Magazine. Aegis has experience working on projects in over 60 countries, and besides offering military services, the company also lends expert advice on various aspects of security, counter-terrorism, and government support.

A story on NBC News in 2007 reported that Aegis Defence Services had been accused of indiscriminately opening fire on Iraqi and American troops, and shooting civilians that got within touching distance of their convoys.

6. Triple Canopy

Personnel: 8,000

Triple Canopy is one of the largest private military contractors in the world, with a manpower of about 8,000 personnel. The group was founded in 2003 by veterans of the US special military forces to provide risk management and armed security to governments and corporate clients. In 2014, Triple Canopy merged with Academi to form the Constellis Holdings.

Many of the company's personnel are tasked with providing security to the United States diplomatic missions in Haiti and Israel. In 2022, Triple Canopy was awarded a $1.3 billion contract for 10 years to provide protective services to the American embassy in Iraq.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Largest Private Military Contractors In The World.

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Disclosure: None. 9 Largest Private Military Contractors In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Northern Gaza is experiencing a full-blown famine which is rapidly spreading across the strip after almost seven months of war, the World Food Programme warned, as negotiators meet in Cairo in hopes of agreeing a ceasefire in the conflict raging in the territory.

The remarks have brought into sharp focus the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding.

Whenever you have conflicts like this, and emotions rage high, and things happen in a war, famine happens, the WFPs Executive DIrector Cindy McCain told NBCs Meet the Press in a clip released ahead of the interview airing on Sunday.

What I can explain to you is  is that there is famine  full-blown famine  in the north, and its moving its way south. While McCains remarks do not constitute an official declaration of famine, she said they were based on what WFP staff have seen on the ground.

Its horror, she said of the situation in Gaza. Its so hard to look at and its so hard to hear.

McCain said the WFP is asking for a ceasefire and unfettered access to Gaza as delivering aid to the territory has been extremely difficult.

Israel has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks to allow aid into Gaza after its military strikes killed seven staffers of World Central Kitchen, a US-based charity.

Human rights agencies have long warned of a spiraling humanitarian crisis in Gaza under Israels military assault, launched in response to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza as of May 1, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Over the course of the war, more than 1.9 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, according to the UN, with many sheltering in cramped tent camps that cannot offer enough access to sanitation or food. The entire population of more than 2.2 million people is now at risk of famine, and at least 30 children have already died of malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza, according to the health ministry.

Concerns are also heightened over an anticipated Israeli military operation in southern Gazas Rafah, prompting renewed calls for a ceasefire.

As negotiations continued in Cairo, Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement Sunday saying that the Hamas movement is still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal [of the Israeli military from Gaza], and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal.

Haniyeh said that the delegation carried positive and flexible positions aimed at stopping the aggression against our people, which is a fundamental and logical position that lays the foundation for a more stable future. A Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt on Saturday for discussions on a possible ceasefire and hostage deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement accusing Hamas of making unacceptable demands in the negotiations.

He said Israel had demonstrated a willingness to go a long way but Hamas remained entrenched in its extreme positions, chief among them the demand to withdraw all our forces from the Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas intact.

The State of Israel cannot accept this, Netanyahu continued. Israel will not agree to Hamass demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved.

People in southern Gaza queue to receive a bowl of food for their families from charity organizations, on May 3, 2024. - Doaa Albaz/Anadolu/Getty Images

Potential Rafah operation

US officials currently assess that a limited number of tents are currently being constructed in southern Gaza for the purpose of temporarily sheltering civilians who would be moved out of Rafah in the case of an incursion by the Israel Defense Forces, according to a senior administration official on Friday.

However, the official stressed that the tents that are being built are nowhere near the amount that would be needed to house the more than 1 million people who would seek shelter.

[There is] no sign that they are imminently able to, willing or ready to go into Rafah, the official said of Israeli forces. Certainly theyre not prepared for the care and the feeding and the sustenance of a million and a half people.

The Israeli government briefed humanitarian aid organizations in recent days about its plans for evacuating civilians from Rafah, according to a source familiar with the matter. The government warned that a Rafah operation was coming but did not provide any sort of timeline and didnt suggest it was imminent.

US and Israeli officials have said any potential agreement on a framework that would bring both a temporary ceasefire and a release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would likely be followed by continued negotiations over the finer details.

A final deal between Israel and Hamas is expected to take several more days to negotiate in the Egyptian capital.

CNNs Kareem Khadder, Mostafa Salem, Eve Brennan, Ibrahim Dahman and Tim Lister contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Gaza ceasefire in peril as Netanyahu promises Rafah invasion with or without deal

As Israeli began observering its annual Holocaust Remembrance Day on Sunday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the key planks of a potential ceasfire with Hamas, further indicating Israel is preparing to go forward with an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza that will likely kill untold numbers of civilians.

Despite a brief flash of hope over the weekend that Israel and Hamas were getting closer to a ceasefire agreement, the prime minister painted a far less optimistic picture in remarks on Sunday.

Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, he said. Israel cannot accept that  Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping.

I say to the leaders of the world: No amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself, he added. Never again is now.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, in his own statement on Sunday, accused Hamas of not being interested in a hostage deal.

The official suggesting Israel would go ahead with its planned invasion in Rafah, where over a million Gazans displaced by the Israeli war effort are sheltering, in the near future.

We have clear goals for this war. We are committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages. We have given [Hamas] time and we wanted to reach a situation where we would realize the release of the hostages as quickly as possible, with a certain delay in the operational action, because the hostages are in a difficult situation and we need to make every effort to release them, Mr Gallant told troops in central Gazas Netzarim Corridor.

His comments echo a statement from Mr Netanyahu earlier this week, who said Israel will invade Rafah with or without a deal  in order to achieve the total victory.

Despite the hard line from the top, hundreds of Israeli citizens took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest, calling on the Netanyahu government to hammer out a ceasfire deal and release the scores of Israeli hostages still in Hamas custody.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, meanwhile, said on Sunday the group still sought a ceasefire with a serious deal to exchange prisoners, as well as an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

He accused the Israeli prime minister of the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

The Netanyahu government has encountered criticism from the right and left, with hard-liners threatening to pull support from the Netanyahu coalition if he accepts a ceasefire, and liberal critics accusing the PM of avoiding real prospects for peace.

A recent piece from liberal-leaning Israeli newspaper Haartez accused Netanyahu of "torpedo[ing] Israels last and best chance at bringing the hostages home."

In the face of the stalemate at the negotiating table, the various parties are now seeking to plot their next moves.

A Hamas delegation, which arrived for negotiations in Cairo on Saturday, announced Sunday it was leaving to consult the groups political office in Qatar, then would return to Egypt on Tuesday for continued talks.

Israel, meanwhile, has yet to send a delegation to the Egyptian capital.

US CIA director William Burns is also reportedly traveling to Doha.

"Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister aimed at exerting maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiating," a diplomatic source told Reuters.

Hamas was reportedly presented with a proposal that would begin with a six-week ceasefire and the partial release of hostages, in exchange for some level of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas is seeking a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as part of its negotiating strategy, a demand Israel says it will not accept while Hamas remains in power.

Ending the war, and leaving Hamas intact  the State of Israel cannot accept that, Mr Netanyahu said on Sunday. We are not prepared to accept a situation in which the Hamas brigades come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel.

Until the parties can agree, the violence on the ground looks set to continue.

On Sunday, Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack from Rafah on the Kerem Shalom border crossing into Gaza, which killed three Israeli soldiers.

In response, Israel said it would prevent aid trucks from entering Gaza through the border point.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO/DOHA (Reuters) -Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim on Sunday as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

The two sides blamed each other for the impasse and the Hamas delegation said it would leave Cairo truce talks on Sunday night to consult with its leadership. However, the Hamas officials planned to return to the Egyptian capital on Tuesday, two Egyptian security sources said.

In their second day of talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli officials have not travelled to Cairo to take part in indirect diplomacy, but on Sunday Netanyahu reiterated Israel's aim since the start of the war nearly seven months ago: to disarm and dismantle the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas for good or else endanger Israel's future security.

The prime minister said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

"But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said. "Israel cannot accept that."

One official briefed on the talks told Reuters: "The latest round of mediation in Cairo is near to collapse."

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas seemed not to be serious about reaching a truce.

"We are observing worrying signs that Hamas does not intend to reach an agreement with us," Gallant said. "This means strong military action in Rafah will begin in the very near future, and in the rest of the Strip."

In a statement released shortly after Netanyahu's, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was still keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that ends the Israeli "aggression", guarantees Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and achieves "a serious" deal to free Israelis being held hostage in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Haniyeh blamed Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties".

Qatar, where Hamas has a political office, and Egypt are trying to mediate a follow-up to a brief November ceasefire, amid international dismay over the soaring death toll in Gaza and the plight of its 2.3 million inhabitants.

The war began after Hamas stunned Israel with a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed, 29 of them in the past 24 hours, and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel's assault, according to Gaza's health ministry. The bombardment has devastated much of the coastal enclave and caused a humanitarian crisis.

RAFAH ASSAULT

Israel has been warning for months it plans to send troops into Rafah, the southern city bordering Egypt where more than a million displaced Gaza residents have taken refuge. Israel believes thousands of Hamas fighters are holed up in the city, along with potentially dozens of hostages.

Such an incursion would put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk and be a huge blow to the aid operations of the entire enclave, the U.N. humanitarian office said on Friday.

Residents and health officials in Gaza said Israeli planes and tanks continued to pound areas across the Palestinian enclave overnight, killing and wounding several people.

Hamas' armed wing claimed responsibility for an attack on Sunday on the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, which Israeli and Palestinian media reports said had resulted in Israeli casualties.

Washington - which, like other Western powers and Israel, brands Hamas a terrorist group - has urged Hamas to enter a deal.

CIA Director William Burns - who had been in Cairo - is traveling to Doha to hold an emergency meeting with Qatar's prime minister, an official briefed on the talks said late on Sunday.

"Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister aimed at exerting maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiating," the source added.

Although the two sides remain deadlocked over the issue of an end to the war, Israel has given a preliminary nod to terms that one source said included the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a truce of several weeks.

That would leave around 100 hostages in Gaza, some of whom Israel says have died in captivity. The source, who asked not to be identified by name or nationality, told Reuters their return may require an additional deal.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maytaal AngelEditing by Frances Kerry and Nick Macfie)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  George Washington University (GWU) President Ellen M. Granberg issued a statement on Sunday that called the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests illegal and potentially dangerous.

Sunday marks day 11 of the pro-Palestine encampment and demonstrations on GWUs Foggy Bottom campus. For nearly two weeks, students, faculty, staff and community members have been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and demanding the university divest from any companies helping to fund Israel.

As of Thursday, protesters said eight students had been suspended.

Pro-Palestinian protest at George Washington University enters 9th day; police took down Palestinian flags put up by students

In her statement, Granberg wrote, in part:

There is a dire humanitarian crisis occurring in Gaza that must be addressed, and I am personally grief-stricken by the suffering and loss of innocent lives occurring on both sides of this conflict. I fully support and encourage our community to speak out and engage in controversial and critical dialogues on these crucial issuesas long as they occur within the limits of our universitys policies and the Districts laws. However, what is currently happening at GW is not a peaceful protest protected by the First Amendment or our universitys policies. The demonstration, like many around the country, has grown into what can only be classified as an illegal and potentially dangerous occupation of GW property. Ellen M. Granberg  President, George Washington University

25 arrested at pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Virginia

She continued to say that the George Washington University Police Department is not equipped to manage the unprecedented encampment.

I think the letter really just cements what we already know. which is that the university does not know what to do with us, said Miriam, a Jewish student whos one of the organizers of the protest.

When unlawful activities go beyond these limits, we must rely on the support and experience of the DC Metropolitan Police Department. At this time, the District is in communication with the university, and the DC Metropolitan Police are providing an increased security presence on and around University Yard, the statement read.

I think our safety [is] all intertwined  as one people, Miriam said. And I know that Jews cannot be safe while Palestinians are being oppressed, and while Palestinians are being bombed and killed or starved.

The university is pursuing avenues to resolve the situation swiftly and safely, but all efforts so far have failed.

DC News Now reached out to GWU and the Metropolitan Police Department about whether officials plan on dismantling the encampment in the coming days, but have not yet received a response.

Click here for Granbergs full statement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) steps out of the Airbus A350 on her arrival at Nadi International Airport. Baerbock's week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will focus on security policy and climate protection. Sina Schuldt/dpa

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday condemned recent attacks on politicians.

"Brutal attacks on committed democrats, campaigners & politicians are attacks on the foundation of our democracy: free elections," the minister, currently on a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"The reports about this are frightening. Violence is never a means of democracy."

On Friday evening, a German politician was putting up campaign posters in the eastern German city of Dresden ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections when he was attacked and seriously injured by four assailants.

Matthias Ecke, a 41-year-old Social Democrat lawmaker in the European Parliament, was taken to hospital with serious injuries and required an operation, his party said.

Minutes before Ecke was attacked on Friday, according to the police, a group of four unidentified assailants had attacked a 28-year-old Green Party campaign worker while he was putting up posters in the same part of Dresden.

There have been several violent incidents during election campaigns across Germany, including on Thursday evening in the western German city of Essen, where the Green Party member of parliament Kai Gehring and his party colleague Rolf Fliss were attacked after a party event.

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L) steps out of the Airbus A350 on her arrival at Nadi International Airport. Baerbock's week-long trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji will focus on security policy and climate protection. Sina Schuldt/dpa
Roman Poseck, Minister of Internal Affairs of the German federal state of Hesse. Stock photo: Getty Images

Roman Poseck, Minister of Internal Affairs of the German federal state of Hesse, believes that regional governments should help Ukraine bring back men of military-age who left Ukraine after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Source: Roman Poseck on ARD TV channel, as quoted by the Tagesspiegel newspaper, European Pravda reports

Details: The Hessian Minister of Internal Affairs believes Germany should help Ukraine with recruitment, and such assistance may also include "our help in enabling Ukraine to use men who have fled abroad but can be involved in the war".

Poseck added that it is important to "support Ukraine's defence capabilities", but at the same time, Germany should maintain its status as a safe haven for refugees.

Speaking about ways in which Berlin could facilitate the return of Ukrainians, the minister rejected the possibility of issuing German documents as a substitute for Ukrainian ones: "I am sceptical, because I do not see that there are appropriate conditions for this. Ukraine is not an illegitimate state".

The ARD reported that the federal states and the German Federal Ministry of the Internal Affairs will start discussing what to do with Ukrainian men of military age on 7 May in order to reach a national solution.

Background:

On 23 April 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine decided to temporarily suspend the provision of services at Ukrainian diplomatic institutions to men who are liable for military service under the law on mobilisation.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has stressed that Ukraine will not forcibly bring military-age Ukrainian men back from other countries.

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MEP Matthias Ecke at the state party conference of the SPD Saxony in Chemnitz, where he was again nominated as a candidate for the upcoming election. Heiko Rebsch/dpa

Following an attack on a German member of the European Parliament in Dresden, his party has warned not to treat the incident as an isolated case, as hundreds took to the streets in the eastern German city in solidarity with the severely injured lawmaker.

"It is very clear that this willingness to use violence did not occur in a vacuum," Saskia Esken, leader of Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), said ahead of a rally in Dresden on Sunday afternoon.

A 17-year-old turned himself in to police earlier on Sunday following the attack on Matthias Ecke, who represents the SPD in the European Parliament, during campaign work on Friday evening.

The teen reported to Dresden police early Sunday morning and told officers he had assaulted the politician, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) said.

The investigation is ongoing and police are working to corroborate the teen's statements, a LKA spokeswoman said.

Ecke was brutally beaten by a gang of four assailants on Friday evening while hanging campaign posters in the eastern German city.

He was hospitalized and underwent surgery on Sunday, the head of the SPD in the state of Saxony, Henning Homann, said.

Ecke suffered a fracture to his cheekbone and eye socket as well as haematomas to his face, but he was doing well given the circumstances, according to his party colleague.

Witnesses described the assailants as dressed in dark clothing and said they seemed to be part of the far-right extremist scene.

The three other suspects are still unknown, police say. They are believed to be young men between 17 and 20 years old.

Ecke is the SPD's top candidate in the state of Saxony for June's European elections. He has served in the European Parliament since 2022.

The attack shocked the country and prompted outrage in Germany, with politicians from a number of different parties decrying the violence and warning of a threat to German democracy.

In her address, SPD party leader Esken blamed the attack on the seeds of social division and messages of contempt for democracy from far-right parties and far-right extremists.

"In this respect, these people who have threatened to hunt us down, to clean up this country, to muck it out, also share responsibility for the social climate in which such acts are possible," she said.

"We will oppose this as a constitutional state, but of course also as a society and as political parties."

Minutes before Ecke was attacked, according to the police, a group of four assailants had also assaulted a 28-year-old Green Party campaign worker while he was putting up posters in the same part of Dresden.

According to a Green Party activist who had been with the politician at the time of the attack, he was punched several times before being kicked in the stomach and ribs while lying on the floor.

"He suffered injuries, mainly bruises," Anne-Katrin Haubold told Der Spiegel news magazine on Sunday. According to her account, the attack took place on Friday evening some time after 10 pm while they were putting up election posters in the district of Striesen.

Police assume that the same perpetrators are responsible for the attack on Ecke, which took place shortly afterwards.

Protesters have called for demonstrations in Germany to denounce the attacks and defend Germany's democratic values.

Some 3,000 people took to the streets in Dresden's Striesen district on Sunday afternoon to protest again violence and for democracy, according to police and organizers. SPD party leader Esken, German Culture Minister Claudia Roth from the Green Party and Saxony's state Justice Minister Katja Meier also joined the rally.

In Berlin, more than 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the German capital's iconic Brandenburger Gate, according to initial police estimates.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, meanwhile, has reportedly sought an urgent meeting with her state-level colleagues to address added security measures to prevent further political violence in the lead up to June's European Parliament elections.

There have been several violent incidents during election campaigns across Germany, including on Thursday evening in the western German city of Essen, where a Green Party member of parliament, Kai Gehring, was attacked along with his fellow Green colleague Rolf Fliss after a party event.

In the western German town of Nordhorn, a politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was beaten at an information stand on Saturday morning, according to police reports.

Interior ministers from Germany's 16 federal states are expected to convene next week to discuss the attacks. Faeser, a fellow member of the SPD, called for the meeting on Saturday, not long after police disclosed details of the assault on Ecke, the Tagesspiegel newspaper reported.

The Greens in the eastern state of Saxony have already reacted after other attacks last weekend in Chemnitz and Zwickau and are no longer sending their members to put up posters on their own. Other parties are now also making similar considerations and guidelines in the wake of the assault on Ecke.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for united action against right-wing extremism.

"Democracy is threatened by something like this, and that is why shrugging our shoulders is never an option," Scholz said on Saturday evening. "We must stand together against it."
After more than eight weeks of operations in the Red Sea, the German frigate Hessen returned to its home port on Sunday.

The Defence Ministry said the 143-metre-long warship had safely escorted 27 commercial vessels through the critical maritime corridor that connects Europe and Asia.

The ministry said the crew of the frigate successfully fended off four attacks launched by Yemen's Houthi militia using drones and missiles.

The Hessen had around 240 servicemen and women on board and was accompanied by two helicopters as it entered the harbour in Wilhelmshaven. Hundreds of cheering relatives greeted the crew as the ship pulled into shore and a naval band played.

The frigate was part of the EU's defensive maritime mission Aspides and was deployed in the Red Sea in February to protect merchant ships from attacks by the Iran-aligned militants in Yemen.

The militants are trying to force an end to the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip by attacking commercial cargo vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Germany's Scholz mentions Ukraine in his greeting on Orthodox Easter

In his greeting on Orthodox Easter, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to support Ukraine as long as necessary.

Source: Scholz on Twitter (X)

Quote from Scholz: "On today's Orthodox Easter, we think in particular of the many Orthodox Christians in Ukraine who cannot celebrate this holiday in their families and in peace."

Details: Scholz stressed that Germany will support Ukraine "as long as it takes".

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King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the ruler of the Asante people in Ghana - EDDIE MULHOLLAND

An African king is seeking to permanently keep golden treasures loaned to him by the British Museum and the V&A in a landmark deal.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the ruler of the Asante people in Ghana, negotiated a historic deal to have ancestral artefacts temporarily repatriated by the two museums. They were handed over last week as part of a three-year loan.

The king wants to avoid handing back the Asante gold and is hopeful that a future government would change the laws which currently ban museums from repatriating artefacts abroad permanently.

The Tories have already ruled out doing so, making Labour the best chance for the legal change he needs to retain the artefacts.

British Museum and V&A bosses joined the king in the Asante capital of Kumasi on May 1 to celebrate the handover of the treasures, comprising items of royal regalia taken by British forces in the 19th century.

Tristram Hunt, the V&A director, said he supported a change to the laws, and Asante courtiers believe that the currently agreed three-year loan period may be long enough to allow the changes to be enacted.

Oheneba Owusu Afriyie IV, the prince and member of the Asante inner court, spoke to The Telegraph in Kumasi, explaining: We are hoping that after the two three-year terms, things would have evolved, and your laws back home might have changed.

We are very hopeful. Things are evolving to eventually getting them back home.

A golden ceremonial cap worn by courtiers at coronations are among the artefacts on display in Kumasi - EDDIE MULHOLLAND

The Government has refused to amend legal constraints on repatriating museum artefacts, but the Labour party has not set out a policy position ahead of the general election.

The British Museum Act 1963 bars the institution from handing over any items from its collection, which has led to an impasse in the Greek campaign to reclaim the Elgin Marbles, and the National Heritage Act 1983 places the same constraints on the V&A.

Under current laws, the 32 newly loaned items, which include a golden sword used to swear in tribal chieftains and gold pendants worn by attendants who ritually purify the Asante kings soul, remain the official property of the two British museums and will have to return to the UK.

Ivor Agyeman-Duah, the writer, academic and director of the Asante kings museum within the Manhyia Palace complex in Kumasi, aims for their permanent return.

Speaking at the Manhyia Palace Museum, Mr Agyeman-Duah confirmed that the permanent return of Asante artefacts from British collections is the end goal and how it has been envisaged, adding that spiritually significant treasures remaining with the king is as it should be.

Sources close to the palace added that the loan deal was just the beginning of repatriation plans for near-sacred golden artefacts to be returned to the king, and the ruler may push to repatriate more of the Asante material in the V&A and British Museum.

Tristram Hunt from the V&A attended the opening of the exhibition in Kumasi - EDDIE MULHOLLAND

Mr Hunt, a former Labour MP, attended the handover ceremony in Kumasi where he told The Telegraph that a permanent return was possible.

He said: Initially its a three-year loan, maybe renewable in future, but then we could see a situation whereby the 1963 Act or the 1983 Act was reformed in future.

My view is that those acts should be reformed and trustees should have responsibility for what is in their collection.

He added: But thats not where the Government is at the moment, and we have to respect that.

The king or Asantehene is a unifying figure for the Asante, who by tradition was ordained by heaven to sit on the Golden Stool, the equivalent of a throne, and who wields significant political and judicial power in the present day.

In 1874, the Asante were defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Asante war, having earned a reputation as warriors by defeating colonial troops in previous conflicts, and the kings ceremonially significant golden regalia were taken as a war indemnity.

These were auctioned off to major institutions including the British Museum and what would become the V&A to raise money for widows and injured soldiers.

One of the king's personal bodyguards - EDDIE MULHOLLAND

In May 2023, the current Asante king began negotiating with the British Museum and V&A to reclaim golden regalia ahead of the 150th anniversary of when it was taken from his ancestors when British forces took Kumasi.

The long-term vision to keep the loaned artefacts permanently may be helped by the rolling nature of the V&As deal, which can be extended from its initial three-year term.

British Museum representatives in Kumasi did not comment on legal changes but said there would be future projects with the Asante.

The Tory government has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of reforming the two acts which compel national museums to keep their collections, held on behalf of the British public, intact.

This has led to an impasse in a string of repatriation struggles over the Benin Bronzes, Ethiopian sacred tablets, and the Elgin Marbles.

While Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader has reportedly been open to returning the Elgin Marbles, his party has not set out a policy position regarding the British Museum and National Heritage Acts.

The Labour party has been contacted for comment.

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Aflac (NYSE:AFL) First Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$5.44b (up 13% from 1Q 2023).

Net income: US$1.88b (up 58% from 1Q 2023).

Profit margin: 35% (up from 25% in 1Q 2023). The increase in margin was primarily driven by higher revenue.

EPS: US$3.27 (up from US$1.94 in 1Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Aflac Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 27%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 111%.

Looking ahead, revenue is expected to decline by 1.7% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, while revenues in the Insurance industry in the US are expected to grow by 6.0%.

Performance of the American Insurance industry.

The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Aflac (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The global synthetic drugs crisis has hit West Africa, where people are digging up human bones to make a drug called 'kush'

Two recovering Kush users at a hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on June 22, 2023. JOHN WESSELS | Getty Images

Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency over widespread drug abuse.

One drug causing particular concern in the West African nation is the synthetic drug "kush."

Locals say the drug is made with ground human bones.

Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, is a bustling African port city on the Atlantic Ocean, where even the dead can't rest, say its residents.

Cemeteries are bolstering their security measures because gravediggers are stealing human bones to make powerful synthetic drugs, local journalists told Business Insider.

Sierra Leone, in West Africa, declared a state of emergency in April over rising cases of synthetic drug abuse due to the spread of "kush," which contains ground human bones, locals say.

Addressing the nation on April 4, Sierra Leone's president, Julius Maada Bio, said the country was facing "an existential threat" from "the ravaging impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the devastating synthetic drug kush."

A vendor sells daily necessities at a market in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Feb. 21, 2024. Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

As with the rise of synthetic drug use in other parts of the world, such as the fentanyl crisis in the US, kush could be set to spread.

International expansion is "almost inevitable," Michael Cole, a professor of forensic science at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, told BI.

While there are no official statistics on the number of users of the drug, they are not hard to spot, reports say.

The streets of Freetown, the country's capital, are said to be awash with young men, often sitting or lying in the spot where they lost consciousness after smoking the drug, Sally Hayden reported for The Irish Times.

Why locals say kush is sometimes made with ground human bones

A man sleeps on a motorbike inside a drug den at the Kington landfill site in Freetown on June 21, 2023. JOHN WESSELS

Kush has been around for years in Sierra Leone, but its exact origin and composition remain unclear.

Cole told BI that kush was a mixture of tobacco, cannabis, tramadol, and fentanyl  but he noted that some believe it can also contain formaldehyde, a preservative used in embalming fluid for corpses.

Formaldehyde also has euphoric properties, says the National Library of Medicine, which explains why kush users could be raiding Freetown's cemeteries.

Mabinty Magdalene Kamar, the editor of a local news outlet, Politico SL, said that kush users had claimed to her that the drugs did indeed contain bones.

"We heard stories about boys breaking into cemeteries and tombs and then taking out the bones of dead bodies, grinding them just to produce kush," she told BI.

The drug has a ravaging effect on users' physical health. Abdul Jalloh, a mental health expert and hospital care manager at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, told BI he had observed kush users suffering from issues such as skin necrosis, ulcers, wounds, oral issues, kidney and liver problems, and eye infections.

It can also be fatal, with one doctor telling the BBC that "in recent months," hundreds of men had died in Freetown after suffering organ failure caused by the drug.

Police guard Freetown's cemeteries

Headstones line the Waterloo Ebola graveyard in Waterloo, Sierra Leone on December 14, 2017. HUGH KINSELLA CUNNINGHAM | Getty Images

Local media outlets have reported cases of gravedigging for bones to extract formaldehyde and make the drug.

Thomas Dixon, the editor of the Salone Times newspaper in Freetown, told BI that while his publication had not been able to confirm the use of human bones in the drug, "you will see missing bones" if you go to cemeteries in the city.

Fears over grave robbing for kush production have become so widespread in the city that some cemeteries have requested police protection, the BBC reported.

Business Insider contacted the Freetown Police Force for comment.

"It makes you forget"

Jalloh said most kush users were "between the ages of 20 to 34."

Sierra Leonians face soaring unemployment rates, and much of its population lives in poverty  and some seem to be turning to kush in a bid to forget such problems.

Two men relax on a car at the Kington landfill site in Freetown on June 21, 2023. In recent years Kush, a mix of various chemicals and plants that mimic the natural properties found in cannabis, according to the National Drug Agency, is increasingly being used by youth in Sierra Leone. JOHN WESSELS | Getty Images

Jalloh said that many of the patients he had dealt with cited unemployment, stress, and peer pressure among the reasons they had started using the drug.

"It makes you forget," Salifu Kamara, a 21-year-old kush user, told NPR. "We're under such strain. There's no work. There's nothing here."

Dixon said he believed it pointed to a "systemic failure" in the country, adding that kush turned young people into "zombies."

"Young people don't believe in the authorities anymore. The people don't believe in the political system anymore - they are sliding into taking drugs," he said.

People gather in a Kush drug den in Freetown on June 26, 2023. JOHN WESSELS | Getty Images

Jalloh noted that the use of synthetic drugs was not unique to Sierra Leone.

"It's a global crisis everywhere," he said.

Synthetic cannabinoids

Authorities have likened kush to synthetic cannabinoids, the Guardian reports.

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemically engineered substances that mimic the effects of cannabis but can be much more harmful and unpredictable.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that toxic synthetic cannabinoids can cause rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.

"Synthetic marijuana" can be up to 100 times as potent as traditional marijuana, inducing extreme physical effects like seizures, psychosis, and even death.

Packets of synthetic marijuana illegally sold in New York City put on display at a news conference in New York, 2015. Reuters

Recent years have seen a worldwide growth of synthetic drugs, marketed as "spice," "K2," "black mamba," or "crazy clown."

Drugmakers change the specific ingredients so fast  and produce the drugs in such massive quantities  that enforcement agencies can't keep up.

In 2021, Kensington, a low-income neighborhood in North Philadelphia, became notorious for abuse of a sedative called "tranq."

Also known as "xylazine," the animal sedative was often cut with other drugs. A side-effect of this drug can be struggling to stand upright, which is why users are commonly described in the media as "zombies."

Last month, the Financial Times reported that tranq had reached the UK.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In the aftermath of a shooting incident on Thursday night at Copeland Drive, one man finds himself in custody while another is recovering from a gunshot wound.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to the Glynn County Police Department, on May 2, Geraldme Kirby, the victim, was discovered seeking assistance at Glynn County Fire Rescue Station 1 after sustaining a gunshot to the neck. He was subsequently transported to a Jacksonville hospital for medical treatment.

The Glynn County Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division launched an investigation upon receiving Kirbys account of the events. Their investigation led them to 121 Copeland Drive, where they uncovered a .380 caliber handgun believed to have been used in the shooting.

According to witness statements, an altercation between Kirby and another individual, identified as Markwail Jacobs, escalated to the point where Jacobs fired at Kirbys vehicle, with one shot striking Kirby in the neck.

Jacobs was promptly apprehended by authorities and faces charges of Possession of Firearm during Commission of Certain Crimes and Aggravated Assault. He was subsequently transported to the Glynn County Detention Center.

As the investigation continues, the authorities urge anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist in the process. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Those with information pertinent to the case are encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (912) 554-7802 or the non-emergency line at (912) 554-3645. Alternatively, tips can be submitted anonymously through Silent Witness at (912) 264-1333.

[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.
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Following an arrest of a man in Fresno County after hundreds of dead and malnourished animals were discovered Friday, the Central California SPCA announced they will be leading the investigation.

The Fresno County Sheriffs Office says they responded to a home on Mt. Whitney and Chestnut Avenues near Laton for a report of deplorable conditions.

Man arrested after abuse, neglect of 300 animals, 4 children, in Fresno County, deputies say

Upon arrival, deputies report about 300 animals ranging from ducks to dogs either dead or malnourished. Four teens were also found to have been living on the property that reportedly looked like a landfill.

As a result, investigators arrested the owner of the property, identified as 41-year-old Carl Mendes under suspicion of child neglect and animal cruelty.

Three CCSPCA Humane Officers responded to the scene on Friday and after finding the animals in absolutely inhumane conditions, they worked with deputies and Fresno Humane Animal Services to remove dozens of animals from the property.

CCSPCA says they seized seven goats, six of which were kids or newborns, to be examined. One of the baby goats started to crash and had to be transferred to an emergency veterinarian where it was stabilized.

Either talk about euthanasia or keep watching dogs die in the streets, Fresno dog rescuer warns

Unfortunately, officials say the baby goat was not improving and was humanely euthanized. The other kids were examined on Saturday at a local vet where they were all found to have bacterial infections.

CCSPCA says all are now being treated and will remain in their care as they lead the animal cruelty investigation on this case.

Officials ask anyone who suspects animal cruelty can report it online on the CCSPCA website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Why is the GOP trying to turn Idaho into Maryland?

The Idaho GOP warns that passage of the open primary initiative would turn Idaho into California. It should be stated that the primary system in California is not whats being proposed, and that system was not even enacted until 2010, when most conservatives would agree California was already in a sorry state. Im a conservative and would oppose any system that would transform our state into a left-wing paradise.

However, this raises a point. Why has the Idaho GOP enacted a closed primary system thats identical to whats in place in Democratic enclaves like Oregon and Maryland? Why are they trying to turn Idaho into Maryland?

Of course, its not that simple. A primary system cant radically transform a state against the wishes of its voters. This is the logic that underlies the closed primary system but which the Idaho GOP denies when it comes to the Open Primary Initiative so it can stir up unreasoning fear to maintain its own power. This type of argument shows why the initiative is needed. Fundamentally, the Open Primary Initiative is about taking power away party bosses who can only rule by fear and returning it to the general electorate.

Adam Graham, Boise

Simpsons immigration ads are deceptive

Mike Simpson is running political ads on television that are not truthful. Idaho is not being overrun by immigrants. The number of undocumented immigrants has remained stable since 2002. They are working in construction, service jobs and agriculture. Gang activity has increased in Idaho, but its due to gangs coming in from California, Chicago, and our home grown Idaho prisoners and white supremacists. China is the biggest supplier of Fentanyl to the US, and any coming in from the southern border is being brought in by US citizens to sell to US citizens. Has there been a huge increase in people trying to claim asylum in the US? Yes. The pandemic had a drastic effect in many countries, in addition to political upheaval. Is President Biden responsible for the current problems, or should we thank Republicans in Congress for not supporting any solutions so that they can blame Democrats? How can we hope for meaningful solutions to problems when we do not choose to look at factual information?

Lori Ramirez, Meridian

GOP to blame for border issues

Marjorie Taylor Greene railed against the Ukraine package. She wondered why Congress wasnt defending the southern border. But isnt she one of the main reasons the border deal was killed? Donald Trump complains about the Biden border crisis but isnt he the one who blocked the border deal? Trump says other countries are sending prisoners, , drug dealers, mental patients and terrorists, and the worst they have. But isnt Trump the one who blocked the border deal? Donald Trump says that immigrants are causing a  border blood bath. Donald Trump accuses immigrants for an increase in violent crime even though data does not support that migrants are increasing crime. Are migrants really worse than Donald Trump?

Sidney Asker, Boise

Making Iran-Contral look like childs play

Does anyone remember the Iran-Contra investigation? Oliver North leading the charge. Fawn Hall testifying before Congress: Sometimes you have to you above (beyond) the law. I was a twenty-something and appalled at that supremely egotistical, disrespectful, idiotic take on how this country functions. No one is above the law in this republic. We have three distinct branches of government. Each one is responsible for specific functions. But none are to function alone, unchecked, unresponsive to the citizens of this nation. No one can be deemed at any point to be above the laws of the land. Period. Trump tried to overthrow the government of these United States. Fake electors tried to overthrow the governments of these United States. Lawfully admitted to the bar attorneys tried to overthrow the government of these United States. Clarence Thomas has no right to sit in this current judicial term. He sits. God have mercy on this republic.

Jeanie Lynn, Nampa

Thank Legislature for hungry kids

This legislative session has been a challenging one but one of the most disappointing acts in this years Legislature is denying vulnerable young children food security during the summer month in their budget. This would cost $120 per child. The state would pay an administrative cost of about $545,000 and the federal government government about $16 million.

As a member of the Homeless Coalition, we see first hand the impact of the rising cost of rent and the cost of living, while wages have not kept up. While $120 worth of food may not seem like much, for many families this can make a big difference. Many families are one bill away from not being housed. Our hardworking families could use the help of the state and federal government to continue to help feed their children over the summer months. It is a small budget item for the state but a big budget item for the families.

Linda Beebe, Boise
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum accused Joe Biden of vote-buying going on at a scale like we have never seen before because the president has forgiven student loan debt for nearly four million Americans.

You start trying to give away hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money its like were borrowing to give it away When you see those citizens understand those are like pre-election payoffs, Burgum said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. Those are like, Hey, folks, please vote for us because were relieving your debt. So at what point does it cross over, programs like student debt, to just vote-buying?

Burgum continued, The people that are working hard and are paying off their debts and arent getting loan relief are saying, Hey, this is just isnt fair. And, in America, people want things to be fair, not unfair. And I think its clear that theres vote-buying going on at a scale like we have never seen before.

Viewed through Burgums cynical lens, then arguably the $1,200 per income tax filer stimulus checks signed by Trump and distributed in April 2020 were his own attempt at buying votes ahead of the November elections. Or, as host Jake Tapper pointed out, Trumps promises to lower taxes on the rich could also be seen as buying votes.

Does [Biden forgiving student loans] offend you more than Donald Trump telling a room full of donors, wealthy people  millionaires, billionaires  that hes going to cut their taxes? Is that buying votes any different? Tapper asked.

On Saturday, Trump addressed a group of wealthy Republican donors and accused Biden using welfare to cheat in elections. Dont underestimate welfare. They get welfare to vote, and then they cheat on top of that  they cheat, Trump told donors this weekend.

Burgum, however, said he doesnt think that was Trumps intention that he meant when he said that.

Burgum responded to Tappers question by pushing back against the hosts characterization that Trumps donors are wealthy donors but did not directly answer whether promising lower taxes is an attempt at buying votes. Well, first of all, I just reject the whole premise of this idea of wealthy donors, Burgum said. I mean, the room of people that were there yesterday are all people that were job creators. These are Americans that took risks, that sometimes risk everything they had to start a business.

So, theyre not wealthy? Tapper asked skeptically.

Well, theyre wealthy now because the American system of capitalism worked for them to create jobs, to help them build their communities, Burgum said, adding that Trumps donors are among the most generous people in the country. (Generous except, perhaps, when it comes to paying taxes.)

Responding to Trumps Saturday night comments that the Biden administration is like the Gestapo and that the president is orchestrating Trumps prosecution, Burgum said that a majority of Americans feel like the trial that hes in right now is politically motivated.

Only 34 percent of Americans polled late last month said that Trump was receiving harsher treatment than other criminal defendants.

More from Rolling Stone

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When The Daily Beast reported on the plans to make the Republican National Committee white again in March, the party was quick to deny that it was deprioritizing voters of coloreven though the committee was scrapping plans to open new minority outreach centers.

Since then, theres been little word about what exactly Republicans have in mind when it comes to attracting voters of color, who have traditionally supported Democrats by wide margins. Thats especially true when it comes to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters, who make up a small but rapidly growing 6 percent of the electorate.

Make the RNC White Again: GOP Ends Minority Outreach Program

But sources with knowledge of RNC efforts to win over these voters told The Daily Beast that Republicans arent abandoning outreach programs for AAPI voters. Theyre actually doubling downquietly.

I dont think theyre deprioritizing anything on this or taking them for granted, a person knowledgeable about the GOPs Asian American outreach efforts told the Daily Beast. The folks on the ground on the Asian side were already set with the former president to be the nominee.

State parties are really moving towards engaging with the communities, this person continued. Campaigns are listening. The Trump campaign is listening a lot when it comes to this. They pay attention because they understand the demographics.

This source added that the efforts to win over Asian American voters wasnt as broadcast as some other efforts, but that Republicans truly do see that demographic as potentially critical. They care massively, this person said of Republicans. These are voters that voted for him before.

Exit polls indeed show that in 2016 and 2020, Trump slightly surpassed Mitt Romneys 2012 performance among Asian Americans. And there is other data suggesting that the demographic has recently shifted right, though roughly two out of three Asian American and Pacific Islander voters still back Democrats.

The effort to sway Asian Americans goes all the way to the upper echelons of the Trump operation. California RNC member Shawn Steel, who has long pushed for better outreach to Asian Americans and is married to Korean American Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), recently met for a 10-minute conversation with the Trump team that ended up lasting three times that.

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) speaks to the media during a get out the vote event in Buena Park, California, in Nov. 2022. Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Trump senior advisers have read an article Steel published in early April outlining how Asian American voters could seal victory for the former president. Steel said the Trump team is receptive to the plan, but nothing is fleshed out yet.

Theyre smart, Steel said. They know what it takes to win.

Back in September 2012, Steel got proof of concept in Nevada, sending out numerous mailers and making calls to Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese voters in their native languages.

After the election, a New York Times exit poll found that even though Romney only won 26 percent of Asian Americans nationwide, he won 47 percent of them in Nevada. This year, Shawn Steel is looking for the right state to repeat this success in Nevada. Hes already presented the case to the Trump team that the spending required is inconsequential.

Any consultant who spends a dime on Fox ought to be pilloried in a public square with tiny little rocks, Steel said. But on the other hand, if you do a little Mom and Pop Hindi publication in central Michigan, and you give them a couple of thousand dollars a month, theyre gonna love you forever, give you free media, have extra big pictures, and thats just how its always worked with ethnic media, at least in my professional background.

Inside Ronna McDaniels Six-Figure Severance From the RNC

Former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who stepped down in March after losing Trumps endorsement, had been a particular advocate for throwing open the big tent to more minority voters, including Asian Americans. She released statements during APA Heritage month and attended ribbon cuttings at community centers, party offices that the RNC opened around the country to connect with more minority voters. The centers served up bubble tea and cafecito alongside traditional conservative messaging about family values, immigration, education, and opportunity.

A Daily Beast analysis of the RNCs rent payments and conversations with people familiar suggest that nearly all of the original community centers, including all of the Asian American-focused ones, closed at the end of 2022, casualties of bylaws prohibiting contracts that outlasted the chairs term. One in Georgia is now the site of a sex toy shop.

But the effort began to ramp up again last year with the opening of several new community centers. Last August, the party advertised the grand opening of a new community center in Rep. Steels district. It now appears to be the only one focused on Asian American voters among the seven currently operating. Shawn Steel described the place as buzzing with activity.

Tai Chi Tuesday afternoon, Vietnamese line dancing in the parking lot outside at 7:30 Saturday morning how to become a U.S. citizen, ESL classesall free, free, free and pretty much nonpolitical, he said. Except theres giant signs of Michelle inside. Thats Michelles political headquarters at the same time. Our people are there, their people are there, sometimes we have to leave because its too noisy! Last night, there was karaoke. And thats what its designed for.

According to a person familiar, the RNC was on the brink of signing leases for even more new community centers when Trumps new hand-picked leaders arrived and squashed those deals, arguing that minority outreach is about more than bricks and mortar. But the new operation insists Asian American voters will still be a priority.

There has been no bigger advocate for the AAPI community than President Trump, as he created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity, and prosperity were afforded to everybody, wrote Trump campaign senior adviser Steven Cheung in a statement to The Daily Beast. Anyone who says otherwise is disgustingly using the AAPI community to play political games for their own benefit. The 2024 campaign is poised to build upon the strength and successes of Asian Americans during President Trumps first term to propel him to a historic second term victory.

(Of course, many Asian Americans were also outraged at Trump over language he used connecting them to COVID-19 and his use of a racist nickname for Sen. Mitch McConnells wife, Elaine Chao.)

Still, the under-the-radar nature of the partys efforts, especially just six months before the election, have left some community members scratching their heads.

Christine Chen, co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote, told the Daily Beast that theres been no word recently about what the GOP is doing in terms of AAPI outreach.

Honestly, we havent heard much, she said. The biggest thing is really about the shake-up and staffers being let go. Ever since then, I havent really heard anything.

For years, Chen said, she was in touch with an RNC staffer focused on APA outreach, who she found helpful and responsive. But her contact recently left the committee, and she no longer knows who at the RNC to connect with about the presidential town hall her organization has scheduled this summer.

Its not shocking that the RNC hasnt told anti-Trump Republican strategist Rina Shah about its latest AAPI outreach efforts, either. But shes surprised shes not hearing about more GOP outreach in the Asian American communities shes connected to, which include many voters who share her distaste for the former president.

Stephen Colbert Blames Trumps Kung Flu Racism for Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

She senses a shift from the 2010s, when she recalls then-RNC co-chair Sharon Day acknowledging the partys shortcomings, saying things like, We hate that our outreach to these communities, like the Asian American communities, is so eleventh hour. We hate it.

I dont think thats going to be the case any more under Lara Trump, Shah told The Daily Beast.

She added that Democrats and Republicans alike seem to be focusing on motivating their bases rather than expanding their coalitions as Trumps legal problems sop up much of the countrys attention.

Right now, both sides are doing what is, I think, the political playbook of working to turn out their bases, and so AAPI members become a bit of an afterthought with that, Shah said.

In her view, Trump is using a victim playbook that does not win favor among Asian American voters. When I see the victim playbook, I see a squandered opportunity to bring in more people under the banner, she said.

Even now, some Republicans understand the value theyll miss out on if they dont try to make inroads. Thats especially true in House districts with large AAPI communities. In this years special election in New Yorks 3rd District, for instance, NBC News reported that the Republican candidate met with Asian American groups, attended Lunar New Year celebrations, used WeChat to connect with those communities, and brought on phone-bankers who made calls in Asian languages.

Demographic trends emphasize the opportunity Republicans have to make gains among AAPI votersor at least prevent losses. According to Chen, theres been a recent increase in the share of Asian Americans who dont identify very strongly with either party. That includes Vietnamese Americansthe subset of Asian Americans among whom the GOP has traditionally performed the strongestwho appear to be defining themselves more often as independent.

Between 2020 and 2022, the share of Vietnamese Americans who didnt strongly identify with either of the two parties jumped from 34 percent to 46 percent, according to the Asian American Voter Survey. A robust outreach effort could help keep a greater share of those voters casting their ballots for Republicans.

Nonetheless, much of the national party is not familiar with the details. The typical Republican consultant has little personal experience with Asian Americans voters.

He doesn't know that Korea Times is a thicker publication than the LA Times, Steel said, adding that theres multiple agendas and priorities and political technicians who need to be educated. But Steel is willing to wait for that to happen.

Im a patient guy, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed May 2024 as Jewish American Heritage Month.

In a proclamation issued Sunday, Newsom praised the accomplishments of Jewish immigrants who sought the promise of freedom and opportunity to start life anew in California, which is home to the second largest Jewish population in the U.S.

This month, we recognize the enduring faith, perseverance and resilience of the Jewish people and lift up the many ways that Jewish Americans enrich our culture, politics, civil society and countless other areas, Newsom said. As we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also recognize the bigotry and violence that Jews have faced throughout history and that shamefully persist to this day.

The governor added that the state of California is partnering with the Jewish Caucus and other leaders to fight against brazen displays of antisemitism by providing funding for increased security at houses of worship and programs that combat intolerance and support victims.

Study: The hardest place to save money in America is in Southern California, but its not L.A.

Additionally, the state has launched the CA vs. Hate Resource Line and Network, which is a statewide resource for victims and witnesses of hate acts to anonymously report them.

The proclamation also addressed the shocking decline in awareness among young people about the Holocaust; California has enlisted experts to guide the states Commission on the State of Hate and the Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education towards better teaching methods, and the state has released a plan to counter antisemitism in all its forms on a statewide level.

This Jewish American Heritage Month, let us pay tribute to the many and varied contributions of the Jewish people to our California story and celebrate our common commitment to pluralism, cultural diversity and religious freedom, Gov. Newsom said.

The full proclamation can be read here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Rod Neander from Western Canada (right) meets his stem cell donor Tom Marshall, from Sheffield - Megan Marshall/MM Photography/PA

A grandfather from Canada has flown thousands of miles to the UK to meet the stem cell donor who helped save his life.

Tom Marshall, 30, from Sheffield, signed the Anthony Nolan stem cell register aged 18.

He described recipient Rod Neander, who is from Western Canada and in his early 60s, as more like family than a friend following the visit last month.

Mr Marshall said: Ive always sort of given blood and I think I read in one of the pamphlets about joining the stem cell register.

I saw it as an opportunity to help people, if I could do it then I thought why not?.

Grandfather-of-three Mr Neander was diagnosed with a blood cancer known as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, in 2018.

After finding out he was a match for someone, Mr Marshall donated stem cells at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in April 2020, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said he felt a bit of excitement and a bit of apprehension on getting the call, but felt it was his opportunity to do something good for someone else.

When donating, Mr Marshall said he did not know if he would ever meet the person who received his stem cells.

The Anthony Nolan registers terms and conditions say there cannot be any contact made for two years after donating stem cells, to protect patients and donors.

Once this period was up, Mr Marshall and Mr Neander started communicating via email and video calls, with the latter making the trip from Canada to Sheffield in April.

Best thing Ive ever done

Mr Marshall said: I was more excited than apprehensive about meeting Rod. Meeting him in person made me feel that donating stem cells is the best thing that Ive ever done.

Becoming a dad has made me realise that time is so precious and donating stem cells to give Rod more time is the best gift that I have ever given.

The blood we share hasnt just made us friends but more like family.

Mr Neander added: The chance to say thank you to Tom, my stem cell donor, is overwhelming. The stem cell transplant allowed me to get back to the things I love.

Mr Marshall described donating stem cells as an honour and said he wouldnt have to pause for a heartbeat to do it again.

Henny Braund, chief executive of Anthony Nolan, said: Our donors like Tom are incredible; they allow Anthony Nolan to save lives through stem cells.

If you are aged 16-30, please visit our website to join the stem cell register to become a lifesaver like Tom. Anthony Nolan needs more young men to step forward, as they are more likely to be chosen to donate.

Currently men aged under 30 make up more than half of those asked to donate their stem cells but make up only 16 per cent of the register.

If you cant join the Anthony Nolan register, please support our work by making a financial donation. Your money will help give someone like Rod the best chance of survival.

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.
(FOX40.COM)  A Grant High School student was pronounced dead after an early morning shooting on Sunday, according to the Sacramento Police Department.

Around 1 a.m., SPD responded to reports of a shooting in the 3100 block of Buchman Street. Upon arrival, officers said they found the 18-year-old with a life-threatening gunshot wound. Despite efforts taken to save him, first responders pronounced him dead at the scene.

The victim was confirmed by the family to be Grant High School student Jeremiah Walker, who just attended prom a week ago. He was expected to graduate this year.

Wrong place at the wrong time: Grant High School student fatally shot in senseless crime

The Twin Rivers Unified School District released a statement regarding Walkers death, saying, Our hearts ache as we mourn the tragic loss of one of our Twin Rivers Unified students to gun violence. Jeremiah Walker was a senior at Grant Union High School. This is an incredibly difficult time, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jeremiahs family and friends who are going through unimaginable pain.

As we mourn together, we will honor Jeremiahs memory by striving to create a safer, more compassionate and peaceful environment for all, especially our children. But we cant do it alone. Its going to take every member of the community working together to prevent these senseless acts of violence that continue to shatter far too many families.

In the wake of this tragedy, the Districts Crisis Intervention Team will be at Grant Union High School on Monday as we come together to grieve and heal.



Anyone with information on the crime is advised by Sacramento police to call the department at (916) 808-5471, or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV)  A 77-year-old Green Bay man has died after a two-vehicle crash at an intersection in Kaukauna on Sunday afternoon.

According to the Outagamie County Sheriffs Office, deputies were sent to the intersection of Cty Tk U and West Frontage Road right around noon on May 5.

The preliminary investigation revealed an SUV, being driven by a 77-year-old man from Green Bay, was westbound on the West Frontage Road approaching Cty Tk U. An SUV, being driven by a 35-year-old woman from Oneida, was southbound on Cty Tk U approaching West Frontage Road.

Deputies say the Green Bay man failed to yield the right-of-way to the southbound SUV and entered the intersection, the southbound SUV then hit the westbound SUV.

The 77-year-old died at the scene of the crash and the 35-year-old woman was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

The Outagamie County Sheriffs Office was assisted on the scene by the Wrightstown Police Department, Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, Oneida Tribal Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Town of Vandenbroek Fire Department, Town of Vandenbroek First Responders, Town of Lawrence Fire Department, and Gold Cross Ambulance.

No other details were given.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Steve Hruby, CFP and Amy Wagner

Every week, Allworth Financials Amy Wagner and Steve Hruby, CFP, answer your questions. If you, a friend, or someone in your family has a money issue or problem, feel free to send those questions to yourmoney@enquirer.com.

Paul from Alexandria: What are your thoughts about easing in to retirement? I think it sounds preferable to quitting work cold turkey, but Im not sure the best way to go about it.

Answer: A "phased" retirement  which simply means gradually reducing your work hours  can be a great way to carefully transition from work into the new chapter of your life. But there are definitely some things youll want to think about (and research) before going this route.

Assuming you work for an employer, one of the biggest questions you need to address is: Will your company even allow it? Because according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), its not very common  as of 2019, only about six percent of employers offer a formal phased retirement program. So, check with your HR Department. If its not offered, youll likely have to take matters into your own hands and talk to your boss (SHRM says informal or ad hoc programs are a little more common). Be specific about what youre thinking (How many days will you work? What do you envision your role to look like? What pay are you expecting?) and be sure to illustrate why its worthwhile and valuable for the company to keep you on as part of the team.

Also, can you stay on the company healthcare plan during this transition? The number of hours you work may determine this. And once you reach age 65, your Medicare coverage depends on the size of your company: If it employs less than 20 people, you generally have to sign-up for Medicare; if the company is bigger, then you can choose to stay on the company plan and delay Medicare.

And, of course, whats your financial situation look like? Fewer hours means a smaller paycheck. This could have a potential impact on your current lifestyle and create less of an opportunity to save for your full-time retirement. On the other hand, a paycheck is still a paycheck  and this income stream could allow you to leave your retirement savings untouched for a little while longer. Social Security is a consideration as well; if youre younger than your Full Retirement Age and simultaneously claiming your benefit while working, your benefit could be reduced.

Heres the Allworth Advice: There are a lot of moving parts to implementing a phased retirement. Be sure you think through all the ramifications before following through and meet with a fiduciary financial advisor if you have questions or concerns.

Shane from Newport: Im 29 and starting a new job soon. What should I do with my old 401(k)? It only has about $20,000 in it.

Answer: Theres no only about it - $20,000 is a lot of money! And if you make the right moves, it can continue to grow  which is why we dont ever recommend cashing out an old 401(k). Youll get hit with taxes and an early withdrawal penalty. Plus, you would be losing out on all the potential growth and future compounding.

This leaves three other options. First, you could potentially keep your 401(k) with your former employer while youre getting adjusted to your new job (it would be one less thing to worry about). Second, assuming your new employer offers a 401(k) plan, you could transfer the money to the new plan. Or third, you could roll the money into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that you open on your own at a brokerage firm. No matter which route you choose, just be sure youre comparing your investment options and fees.

The Allworth Advice is that theres no absolute rule for what to do with an old 401(k). But there is an absolute rule for what you shouldnt do: Dont cash out. Always keep that money earmarked for retirement.

Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendation in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, financial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney. Retirement planning services offered through Allworth Financial a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through AW Securities, a Registered Broker/Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Visit allworthfinancial.com or call (513) 469-7500.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Allworth Advice | What to keep in mind about a phased retirement
DENVER (KDVR)  A K-9 with the Greenwood Village Police Department led an officer to an 85-year-old woman who was found clinging to a tree after going missing two hours earlier.

K-9 Mercury joined the department over a year ago and is trained to search for and track down missing people as well as narcotics detection.

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On Thursday, police said Officer Austin Speer and Mercury responded to a call reporting that the woman had been missing for a couple of hours. Mercury led Speer to the woman, who according to police was found clinging to a tree down a steep ravine.

The department said she was in a spot where she could not be seen from the roadway or canal.

The police department posted a video of the rescue, in which Mercury got plenty of praise as he and Officer Speer ran toward the woman.

Hi, maam! This is a friendly dog, he found you. Were going to get you home, OK? Speer said.

The police department said the woman was returned safely to her home and family.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A 39-year-old man is facing charges after Hall County authorities found a video of children engaged in sexual acts.

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

On May 16, Caleb Moore-Rosario, 39, was reportedly in possession of at least one video of two children engaged in sexual acts.

Hall County deputies said the video was found on Moore-Rosarios personal computer at his home on Bridle Creek Drive in Flowery Branch.

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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said they received a cybertip which prompted the investigation.

Moore-Rosario was arrested on Tuesday and charged with sexual exploitation of children. Investigators continue to process Moore-Rosarios other electronic devices and more charges are anticipated.

He is currently being held without bond at the Hall County Jail.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of abuse and murder. Reader discretion is advised.

Brianna Williams reported her five-year-old daughter, Taylor Williams, on November 6, 2019. However, the police claimed she stopped working with them and cooperating with the investigation right after filing the report. During the search for the girl, authorities found human remains in the woods of Alabama on November 12. Weeks later, they confirmed that the remains were of the 5-year-old, People Magazine reported.

The mother claimed that she woke up on the morning of November 6 and could not find Taylor Williams in her room. The back door of the house, she claimed, was unlocked. Soon after the disappearance, Brianna was charged with child neglect and giving false information to authorities working on the case. She had been arrested but was not charged for her daughters death.

Police reports revealed that Brianna Williams took an Arm & Hammer laundry detergent in an attempt to suicide right before her arrest. She was then admitted to the hospital. Authorities also reportedly found a closet in her home that had traces of bodily waste and human decomposition. They deduced that Brianna kept Taylor Williams in that closet when the former was not home. Blood stains on the walls and carpets of the Southside apartment had Taylors DNA on them, as per a report by The Florida Times-Union.

Among the false information Brianna Williams gave to authorities were details of the childs daycare and other statements. She claimed she drove to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to her parents place to pick up Taylor sometime in October 2019. However, Taylor Williams grandparents said they had only seen the child about a year ago. According to CNN, Taylor had not attended her daycare since April.

What was Taylor Williams cause of death?

An autopsy conducted after Taylor Williams remains had been identified left the cause of the victims death inconclusive. First Coast News reported that the autopsy pushed for suspicions of homicide. However, no definite evidence of violence was found on the victims bones. Linear enamel hypoplasia on the skull and teeth of the victim pointed toward possible neglect or grave illness but not anything conclusive.

According to News 4 Jax, the victims autopsy revealed signs of malnourishment, trauma, and disease. Moreover, a search through Briannas computer showed that she had been searching for information about malnutrition and refeeding syndrome. Authorities accused Brianna of torturing, maliciously punishing, and caging her daughter between April 2019, when Taylor was last seen, and the time she went missing. A thorough investigation also revealed traces of fecal matter, soiled clothes, and soup cans in Brianna Williams Honda Accord, as found in her closet.

Brianna Williams, a former Navy chief petty officer, was then accused of neglecting her child Taylor to the point of starvation. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and signed the guilty plea on February 17, 2022. She was 30 years old when she was sentenced to prison. Brianna Williams is currently serving time at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Florida, according to state records. By the time of the sentencing, she had already served 1043 days in custody. According to People Magazine, this was taken into account during the sentencing.

Mom Realizes Police Discovered Her Horrifying Secret is a true-crime documentary on the Explore With Us, a prominent YouTube channel. The documentary follows the crimes of Brianna Williams that led to the death of Taylor Williams.

The post What Happened to Five-Year-Old Taylor Williams? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
The process to replace a candidate in the event of death would undoubtedly be complicated.

The process to replace a candidate in the event of death would undoubtedly be complicated. Illustration: Marcus Peabody/The Guardian

Americans are bracing for a rare presidential rematch between the two oldest candidates in US history: the 81-year-old president Joe Biden and the 77-year-old former president Donald Trump.

Concerns about their age, mental fitness and the possibility that Trump could be convicted of a felony and sentenced to prison time before election day have raised questions about what would happen in the extraordinary event that one of them dies, becomes incapacitated or abruptly withdraws.

If Biden, as the sitting president, were to die the vice-president, Kamala Harris, would assume the powers of the presidency under the 25th amendment. But replacing Biden or Trump as their partys presumptive nominees for president  a prospect that is entirely hypothetical  is more complicated. In the event of an unforeseen vacancy, party rules, state and federal election laws and the US constitution would guide what would undoubtedly be a messy process.

What happens if Biden or Trump needs to be replaced?

The answer, experts say, depends largely on when the vacancy arises. Is it after the partys nominating convention? Before election day? What if the winning candidate is no longer able to take the oath of office? The timing matters.

If the unexpected occurs, the job of replacing the presidential candidate would fall to 10,000 people who no one has ever heard of, according to Elaine Kamarck, a member of the Democratic National Committee rules committee and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Collectively they represent convention delegates, members of the parties national committees, the 538 members of the electoral college and the 435 members of the House of Representatives.

Each plays a relevant role at different stages of the election process.

Related: Who is running for president in 2024? Biden, Trump and the full list of candidates

What if it happens before a partys convention?

Biden and Trump have secured enough delegates to be their parties nominee in mid-March, but neither will be formally selected until the conventions this summer. The Republican national convention will take place in Milwaukee in mid-July. The Democratic convention will take place a month later in Chicago.

Before then, state parties will continue to hold primaries, caucuses and conventions, electing delegates to send to conventions.

If Biden or Trump were to withdraw or die before being formally nominated, their delegates would arrive at the convention in Milwaukee or Chicago largely uncommitted. A replacement nominee would then probably be chosen at the convention in a messy floor fight. Imagine frantic horse-trading, back-room dealing and public speech-making.

Democrats also have a system of superdelegates  unpledged senior party officials and elected leaders whose support is limited on the first ballot but who could play a decisive role in subsequent rounds.

Would the running mate automatically move to the top of the ticket?

The short answer is no. Neither Harris, nor Trumps eventual vice-presidential pick, would automatically become the nominee, according to DNC and RNC rules.

But delegates tend to be people with a degree of loyalty to the candidate or party. So in all likelihood, the running mate would emerge as a strong contender for the nomination.

Presumably a Biden delegate would be open to supporting Harris, who, in the event Biden has died or fallen critically ill, would already be serving as president. Nevertheless, if a vacancy emerges, it is possible alternative candidates would step forward  imagine the California governor, Gavin Newsom, or his Michigan counterpart, Gretchen Whitmer.

On the Republican side, Trump has yet to choose a running mate. The runner-up for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley, proved deeply unpopular with the partys base and could struggle to win over Trumps delegates if he were not the nominee.

Has this happened before?

Many Americans will have no memory of the 1968 Democratic primary, when President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek re-election after only narrowly winning the partys New Hampshire primary contest in March. Weeks prior, Senator Robert F Kennedy had launched his campaign for the partys presidential nomination. He was assassinated in June, after winning the California primary.

Johnsons vice-president, Hubert Humphrey, eventually accumulated enough delegates through the support of party insiders to win the Democratic nomination. But the convention that year was so disastrous for the party, which went on to lose the presidential election, it prompted an overhaul of the entire primary system, resulting in the contest-driven nominating process in place today.

What if a vacancy arises after the convention but before election day?

Here again the political parties would play a central role.

The Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee have slightly different rules guiding how they would replace the deceased presidential nominee by majority vote.

According to party rules, the DNC has the power to fill the vacancy on their party ticket after the chair consults Democratic governors and congressional leaders. The RNC, according to its rules, could reconvene a national convention or select the alternative candidate itself.

For simplicity, the parties would probably consider the running mate, but there is no guarantee.

If there were enough time, the replacement candidate might appear on the ballot. But states have different ballot filing deadlines and several states begin mailing their ballots as early as September.

In states where ballots have already been printed or mailed, the party could instruct voters  and electors  to treat the names at the top of the ticket as hieroglyphics, said Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame.

If it says Biden-Harris, you should interpret that as Harris-Booker, he said, offering the hypothetical example of an alternative Democratic ticket with the New Jersey senator Cory Booker as Harriss running mate.

Has this ever happened before?

No. But there are some examples of how this might play out.

In 1972, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, Senator Thomas Eagleton, was forced to withdraw from the ticket after the convention following reports that had been treated for mental illness. The Democratic National Committee convened a meeting in Washington to select Eagletons replacement, Sargent Shriver.

Experts also point to 2000, when the Democratic candidate for a Senate seat in Missouri, the states governor, Mel Carnahan, died weeks before the election. The states lieutenant governor, a Democrat who ascended to the governorship, committed to appointing Carnahans wife, Jean, to the seat if he won posthumously, which he did. She was then appointed to fill her late husbands seat.

The electorate can learn about these things if given the cues to do so, Muller said.

Could Congress delay the election?

It is possible but improbable. The date of the election is set by federal law, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which is 5 November.

Both chambers of Congress would have to approve a measure delaying the election, and the president would have to sign it, unlikely in a divided government.

Even if it were to happen, Congress could only push the election by a matter of weeks because the constitution states that a presidents term shall end at noon on the 20th day of January.

What happens if the candidate is incapacitated, not dead?

Timing would still matter. The rules and laws would still apply. But the scenario takes on a new degree of complexity.

All of these questions become much more complicated in situations where you have a disability or youre physically unable to take the oath, Muller said. There are just more contingencies in place that you dont have when it comes to death.

What if the winning candidate dies after election day?

It is important to remember how the presidential election process works. To win the White House, a candidate must accumulate a majority of electors  270  in the electoral college. In each state, political parties choose slates of electors and voters cast their ballot for a partys electors.

When you vote for president, youre actually not voting for Joe Biden or Donald Trump, Kamarck said. You are voting for a slate of electors who have been chosen in that state as part of the electoral college.

After the election, the winning presidential candidates slate of electors, generally party loyalists vetted by local party leaders for the role, meet in their states to cast their votes for president and vice-president. This year, that occurs on 17 December.

Some states bind electors to vote for the winner of the election in their state, laws that were upheld by the supreme court in a 2020 ruling, but other states allow electors more independence to cast faithless votes. The supreme court justice Elena Kagan added in a footnote that nothing in this opinion should be taken to permit the states to bind electors to a deceased candidate.

If the electors havent met when the vacancy occurs, they would be strongly incentivized to coalesce around a replacement candidate designated by the party. The running mate would be an obvious choice, but, again, not the required one.

The electors could also decide to back the deceased candidate and under the 20th amendment the vice-president-elect would become the president-elect. More on this later.

What happens if the winning candidate dies before Congress declares a winner?

A newly elected Congress will meet on 6 January to certify the results of the presidential election by counting the electoral votes. Traditionally this has been a ceremonial affair. But in 2020, a violent mob of Trump supporters overran the US Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Bidens victory.

In this polarized and charged environment, there are concerns about how elected officials in Congress would handle a situation in which the winner of the electoral college vote cannot assume the presidency. Reforms made after the 6 January insurrection on the Capitol made it harder for members of Congress to object to the counting of certain electoral votes, a partisan practice.

But Congress would be operating in uncharted territory.

Is there a precedent?

No. No winning presidential candidate has died in the period between election day at the start of November and the inauguration on 20 January.

But there is one example of a losing presidential candidate dying after election day. In 1872, the Democratic presidential candidate Horace Greeley died after losing the election to Ulysses S Grant but before the casting of the electoral college votes. Although his death did not affect the outcome, there was a debate over what to do with the 66 electoral college votes he had won. Most electors chose to cast their votes for another candidate and Congress chose not to count the three votes cast for the deceased Greeley.

Some experts say Congresss decision not to count the votes should not necessarily be taken as precedent, especially because it occurred before the 20th amendment was ratified. Others argue that members of Congress might have decided the matter differently if the votes would have affected the outcome.

So what does the 20th amendment say?

Section 3 of the 20th amendment states: If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice-President elect shall become President.

But there is some debate over when a winning candidate becomes president-elect. Is it after the electors vote on 17 December or not until a joint session of Congress counts the electoral votes on 6 January?

The balance of scholarly opinion holds that the president- and vice-president-elect are chosen once the electoral votes are cast, according to a 2020 Congressional Research Service memo. But the law itself leaves some ambiguity.

How will it look to voters?

Amazingly, these are only some of the hypothetical scenarios that could unfold.

If the unexpected occurs, parties will jockey for political advantage and bad actors would probably try to seize on the chaos. This will be especially true in the event the election results are contested, as Trump is laying the groundwork to do, or in the nightmare scenario neither candidate earns 270 electoral votes.

With the election expected to be narrowly decided, there is no doubt an unexpected vacancy would jolt a system already rattled by an onslaught of spurious claims and political misinformation.

Holly Idelson, a policy advocate with the non-partisan group Protect Democracy, said education and public awareness will be critical to defuse the potential for a crisis atmosphere in the circumstance of a presidential candidates death or withdrawal.

Yes, there are unprecedented scenarios that could arise, and yes, there may be genuine questions about how to apply the law, but in many cases there is law to apply, she said. We should focus our efforts on promoting regular order rather than undue alarm.

This article was amended on 6 May 2024 to correct the number of electoral college members to 538; a previous version incorrectly said there were only 535 members. The article was also amended to clarify that if Biden were to die, Harris, as vice-president, would take office.
Happy National Astronaut Day 2024!

As the inspiring President and CEO of Uniphi Good, music industry fixture Annie Balliro has presided over her successful artist management and marketing firm since 2009 before branching out into Uniphi Space Agency, which has expanded into the nation's biggest private talent management firm for astronauts.

Emboldened with the company's tagline of #webelieveinastronauts, Uniphi Good partners with corporations or institutions to advise NASA's intrepid homegrown heroes on navigating partnerships in media, film and television by creating a positive network of bridges between the worlds of space travel, music, and pop culture.

In 2016, Balliro envisioned an opportunity to create a wellspring of astronaut recognition by launching National Astronaut Day. This special occasion is now observed every May 5 in salute to Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard's historic first spaceflight aboard Freedom 7 on May 5, 1961.

Related: Happy National Space Day 2024! Here's how 8 lucky kids can win a trip to Florida's Space Coast

A colorful astronaut plays an electric guitar

This year she's thrilled to spearhead the inaugural Astronaut Rock Star Awards, an evolving event that celebrates the unique intersection of astronauts and music, with real rock stars handing out awards in three categories to astronauts, individuals and organizations who are pillars of support and pioneering voices in space exploration and STEM/STEAM education. All winners will be announced on May 5, 2024.

Included in this debut year's list of victors are:

Astronaut Alan Shepard - First American in Space on May 5, 1961. Astronaut Wendy Lawrence will present this legacy award to Alans daughter Laura.

High schooler STEMist Yuridia Sanchez & 18-year-old Sophia Crowder, ITGirls girl-empowering initiative founder and beyond.

Former NASA Astronaut and Intuitive Machines executive Col. Jack D. Fischer, who oversaw the Odysseus ("Odie") lunar landing this year as part of the IM-1 mission in 2024. The IM-1 mission successfully landed the first spacecraft on the Moon's south pole region, marking the United States' first return since Apollo 17, as well as, the first private lunar lander on the Moon.

Fischers award will be presented by rock greats O.A.R. at their Boston, MA show at Leader Bank Pavilion on July 20th, 2024 - in sync with the actual moon landing date from the Apollo 11 Mission in 1969, the first time a human walked on the Moon.

The Science Haven's initiative to provide 100 telescopes to 100 families across the U.S.

A woman with a floppy hat wearing a pink t-shirt

"We still continue to grow our roster at Uniphi Space to this day," Balliro tells Space.com. "We have almost 40 exclusive clients and we've worked with over one-hundred astronauts so far. It's a small family if you will. We consider ourselves as astronaut allies and advocates. That's what we're here for, really, to help navigate whatever request might come in, like book deals or endorsements, and to help them however much or however little they want to be active."

When Balliro originally launched Uniphi Space Agency there was no commercial space program or private astronaut program, so this was an entirely new concept.

"So now it's been such a ride because one of our clients, Michael Lopez-Alegria, has gone back to space twice and we've been a key part of that and it's really incredible to watch. When we first started this I dont think people quite realized that some of our clients would then be going back to space so soon. Because of that we've been able to do some incredible collaborations because it's a very different twist when there's a private astronaut mission versus a government-type mission. So that's been a real honor to be able to work with not only the astronauts, but all the commercial space companies. We have our fingers and toes in a little bit of everything because now all of our astronauts work at all those companies.

"As a girl from Swampscott whose dad would drive us down near Cape Canaveral and we'd stay in the trailer to watch rocket launches when I was five or six years old, and being always fascinated with the stars, to be in the presence of such individuals is incredible."

a colorful astronaut at a dj's turntable mxing board

National Astronaut Day is now in its eighth year after kicking off at Space Symposium in 2016 with a core cadre of astronauts, Fisher Space Pen, and great enthusiasm.

"To get the support early on was very important," she explains. "National Astronaut Day is not going anywhere. It is now fully baked into the DNA of our culture which is exactly what we wanted. But we knew we had to take it to the next step so that's where the Astronaut Rock Star Awards came along. The truth of it is, if MTV can give astronauts to bands, why can't we give rock plaques to astronauts?

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"The most gratifying part for me is feeling like we are creating something that will last forever I hope, that will always continue to honor and celebrate astronauts for generations to come.

"And further amplify their platform so they can keep inspiring people and talk about things like the 'Overview Effect' or continue to help have space be the most beautiful example that international peace is possible, and continue to share stories about why science that happens in space is so important and does help those of us on Earth. It's a true honor."

For more info on National Astronaut Day 2024, the Astronaut Rock Star Awards and their upcoming presentations, visit them on social media and their official site.
Grace Charnley says the sense of achievement gained from agricultural work makes up for the long and lonely hours - RUSSELL SACH

Charles Ward has been riding tractors since his feet could barely reach the pedals. I got into farming as soon as I could waddle, he says. Every day Id come back from school and start seeing to the cows, or sit on my dads knee in the tractor.

Now 27, Ward is a fully fledged farmer in his own right but still works on his parents farm in Derbyshire, which has been in his family for some 200 years.

Theres no wage or salary  youre investing into a family business, so youre never drawing a salary out of it.

Despite dedicated families like Wards, Britains once-proud farming heritage is in a state of worrying decline.

Charles Ward works on his family farm but is forced to rely on stonemasonry jobs to bring in extra income - Lorne Campbell

The numbers are already bleak: last year, the overall number of agricultural workers fell by 1.7pc to 462,000, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). There are some 10,000 fewer agricultural workers than there were in 2018.

Meanwhile, farms are under greater pressure than ever before. Defras most recent report into the state of agriculture in the UK found that one in 10 farms were making a net loss, while 40pc averaged a farm business income  equal to net profit  of just 50,000.

Ward, who also works as a stonemason to bring in extra income, is acutely aware of the volatile nature of the industry. His own farm has also had to diversify into an ad-hoc butchers shop to bring in more money.

Not enough youngsters want it

Britains agricultural sector has for generations relied on children taking on family businesses, but as labour becomes more difficult to import post-Brexit, the industry is at great pains to lure in new domestic talent from outside of farming families.

Since 2017, apprenticeships have emerged as a popular route  not least because they do not saddle farmers with student loan debt.

Figures published by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education show that around 6,500 young people have opted for agriculture-related apprenticeships every year for the last five years, bar a brief dip over the pandemic.

There are young people getting involved, but theyd rather work with machinery in the arable sector so theres a shortage of people working with livestock, says Ward.

I have a friend on a dairy farm and theyre crying out for staff all the time  they have to import foreign labour because not enough youngsters want it.

Farming is a lonely career path: the work is exhausting, the days start early and finish late, and much of the time is spent alone. The weather gives you such a small window  you literally have to make hay when the sun shines, says Ward.

I do make time to enjoy myself but I dont have holidays.

Jeremy Clarksons Amazon Prime series Clarksons Farm has brought a fresh wave of attention to the plight of Britains farmers, from spiralling costs to the rise of Nimbyism. But a fairer picture of what young farmers lives are like emerges more clearly on TikTok, where users document their day-to-day lives for audiences of thousands.

Ive met people from all over the country through TikTok, says Ward, who has 20,000 followers and whose most-viewed video has half a million views. He has opted not to monetise videos or accept sponsorship money, but has had a few free clothes thrown his way.

Its a lonely job

It was Grace Charnleys boyfriend Toby who inspired her to get into farming by suggesting she do shifts on a dairy farm in Hampshire. I did all the milking and calf-rearing, and I learned to drive a tractor, she says.

Charnley, 21, had already attended an agricultural college where she specialised in equine care before deciding she would prefer the arable sector.

Its quite a big thing for a woman [in this industry] to be allowed that opportunity to sit in a 250,000 piece of equipment with a 50,000 bit of machinery trailing behind, she says of her work now.

Im not from a farming family and I dont have those connections.

For Gen Z-ers like Charnley, who earns about 12 an hour, farming offers the kind of day-to-day fulfilment that the corporate grind simply never will. The sense of achievement is what keeps me in it, says Charnley. Its a lonely job and you have to put your graft in  more so than anything else.

Young farmers groups have cropped up across the country to stop the career becoming too isolating. This weekend, most will be travelling to Blackpool for the annual DIY AGM  a long weekend of nights out that serves as the industrys unofficial freshers week.

Jamie Renwick has hopes of a life-long career in agriculture after graduating from college - Asadour Guzelian

Jamie Renwick, 18, is currently in the middle of his level 3 agricultural extended course, dividing his time between the farm he works at near Gateshead and studying.

Because of where I grew up I didnt interact with lots of farmers, so I missed out on the young farmers clubs, he says. But I enjoy the serenity of being by myself.

Now, though, Renwick is getting stuck in. Ive been to a few of the dos and its a great way to meet people, he says. You end up talking to people about their farming life and how they are struggling  you see that its not just you.

Like Charles Ward, Renwick documents his exploits on TikTok, and has cultivated a side-hustle selling tractor stickers. I really enjoy making videos and its something I want to push more.

But Renwicks first love will always be farming. He says: At the minute I am not getting paid, but as soon as I finish college Ill be straight at it  hopefully for the rest of my life.

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.
EASTLAND COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The community of Rising Star in southern Eastland County was heavily impacted by flooding caused by Saturday night storms.

Flooding in Rising Star: Highways 183 & 36 unsafe to drive on

Residents across the town have shared videos of flooding on roads and porches, with some properties experiencing water damage inside. Take a look at this footage from Ron and Meghan Sweet.

Courtesy of Alisha Spillman

Approximately 90% of downtown businesses have suffered damage due to flooding. The Rising Star Volunteer Fire Department had several water rescues, but no injuries or deaths have been reported.

Local first responders are working to clear debris and assess damages in the town.

Rising Star City Hall met with the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and Judge Hullum signed a Declaration of Disaster.

Later today, the Red Cross and Texas Baptist Men Association will arrive to assist with the clean-up and provide aid to affected businesses and homeowners.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for April 2024

In April, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found gasoline containers in a storage room, hair in an ice bin, rodent droppings and other health violations.

Out of more than 125 businesses inspected, 16 scored below a 90 and 31 received perfect scores. In April, New Hong Kong Express on South Padre Island Drive scored the worst with a 72.

The health district describes a food establishment as a place that sells or serves food to the public, which can include bars, hotels, apartments, schools and food trucks. These establishments must get an annual permit and be inspected by the health district.

Inspections are based on a demerit system, in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The inspection report checks for 47 different violations, each scoring from 3 to 1.

Here are the worst and best scores restaurants were given during April 2024.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers in a walk-in refrigerator during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Agave Jalisco Mexican Restaurant

4258 Baldwin Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected April 2 and received an 87. Inspectors found food items being stacked on top of each other without lids, toxic chemicals stored improperly, employees not wearing beard guards and food not dated.

Agave Jalisco was last inspected in March 2023 and scored an 89.

Bluffalo Wings Co.

5802 Yorktown Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected April 1 and received an 82. Inspectors found the ice cream cover not protected, dirty soda nozzles, no certified food manager present and employees without food handlers permits.

Bluffalo Wing Co. was last inspected in July 2023 and scored an 84.

El Charro Restaurant

4105 Agnes St.

The restaurant was inspected April 11 and received a 78. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, raw meat stored above vegetables, gasoline containers in a storage room and rodent droppings.

El Charro was last inspected in June 2023 and scored a 92.

El Gallo de Jalisco

10329 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected April 9 and received an 89. Inspectors found food not dated, food stored on the ground, a dirty microwave and employees not wearing hairnets or beard guards.

El Gallo de Jalisco was last inspected in January 2024 and scored an 88.

El Jalisciense Bar & Grill

7114 Saratoga Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected April 16 and received an 89. Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored improperly, gnats, food not thawing properly and dirty grill vents.

El Jalisciense was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 92.

Guerra's Restaurant

3787 Leopard St.

The restaurant was inspected April 12 and received an 80. Inspectors found sugar stored on the floor, toxic chemicals and medication stored near food, all employees with expired food handlers permits and no certified food manager present.

Guerra's was last inspected in January 2024 and scored an 89.

Hong Kong Asian Supermarket

2033 Airline Road

The supermarket was inspected April 30 and received an 80. Inspectors found fish uncovered in freezer, a dirty ice machine, employees without food handlers permits and no certified food manager present.

Hong Kong Asian Supermarket was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 95.

Mango Frozen Snacks

912 S. Port Ave.

The restaurant was inspected April 8 and received an 83. Inspectors found ice cream scoops not placed in running water, toxic chemicals stored improperly, no certified food manager present and employees without food handlers permits.

Mango Frozen Snacks was last inspected in April 2023 and scored an 100.

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, checks the dates and labeling on storage containers during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

New China Cafe

4110 S. Port Ave.

The restaurant was inspected April 4 and received an 87. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, rodent droppings, employees not wearing hairnets and no paper towels or soap at the handwashing sink.

New China Cafe was last inspected in December 2023 and scored an 84.

New Hong Kong Express

6201 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected April 18 and received a 72. Inspectors found a dirty prep counter, employees not washing their hands, many flies and toxic chemicals stored near food.

New Hong Kong Express was last inspected in July 2023 and scored an 81.

Ojos Locos

5133 S. Padre Island Drive

The restaurant was inspected April 11 and received a 78. Inspectors found gnats, spices not covered, food not labeled and missing ceiling tiles.

Ojos Locos was last inspected in January 2023 and scored a 78.

QC Meat Market

4258 Baldwin Blvd.

The butcher shop was inspected April 2 and received an 82. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, flies and gnats, employees not washing hands and employees not wearing hairnets.

QC Meat Market was last inspected in November 2023 and scored a 90.

Railroad Seafood & Brewery - 624

15701 Northwest Blvd.

The restaurant was inspected April 16 and received an 87. Inspectors found dirty soda nozzles, a dirty oven, toxic chemicals stored near a food prep area and employees eating at a food prep area.

Railroad Seafood was last inspected in October 2023 and scored a 100.

Snapka's Drive Inn

4434 Weber Road

The restaurant was inspected April 23 and received an 89. Inspectors found hair in the ice bin, employees not washing their hands, a dirty refrigerator and cooks not wearing hairnets.

Snapka's was last inspected in December 2023 and scored a 95.

Taqueria La Escondida #3

3302 Leopard St.

The restaurant was inspected April 11 and received a 74. Inspectors found food not being held at the proper temperature, raw meat stored above vegetables, gnats and meat not being thawed properly.

Taqueria La Escondida was last inspected in August 2023 and scored an 86.

Yoshi's Japanese Cuisine

5898 Everhart Road

The restaurant was inspected April 3 and received an 86. Inspectors found food stored on the floor, toxic chemicals stored improperly, no certified food manager present and employees without food handlers permits.

Yoshi's was last inspected in August 2023 and scored a 91.

A giant gourmet cookie sits on a table at Pretty One Cake Co. Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. It's a chocolate chip cookie mixed with pecans and drizzled in chocolate.

Perfect scores (100)

The Barn Drive Thru Beer & Keg Haus: 4301 S. Alameda St.

Baskin-Robbins: 4701 S. Padre Island Drive

The Blue Clove Seafood Bar and Grill: 5884 Everhart Road

D'Lites Cream: 6202 Dunbarton Oak Drive

Domino's: 6601 Everhart Road

Fresh Donut: 1216 Waldron Road

Giovanni's Pizzeria & Pasta: 711 N. Carancahua St.

HTeoO: 5425 Saratoga Blvd.

Impact Nutrition: 7114 Saratoga Blvd.

Lazy Breach Brewing and Cafe: 7522 Bichon Dr.

Jamba Juice: 5425 S. Padre Island Drive

McDonald's: 1229 Waldron Road

Papa John's: 10338 S. Padre Island Drive

Papa John's: 4037 Saratoga Blvd.

Paul's Seafood Market: 9810 S. Padre Island Drive

Pizza Hut: 1216 Waldron Road

Pretty One Cake Co.: 6702 S. Staples St.

Saigon's Civet Cafe: 2222 Airline Road

Shoreline Sandwich Co. (inside Kleberg Bank): 5350 S. Staples St.

Sonic: 6557 S. Staples St.

Starbucks: 4022 Saratoga Blvd.

Subway: 4101 HWY 77 L-7

Sufi Kabob: 7150 S. Padre Island Drive

Taco Bell: 1217 Waldron Road

Tortilleria Guadalajara: 10309 Leopard St.

Tropik Sun Fruit & Nut: 5488 S. Padre Island Drive

Whataburger: 1121 Waldron Road

Whataburger: 9402 Leopard St.

Whataburger: 6817 S. Padre Island Drive

Whataburger: 510 Texan Trail

Yolanda's Speciality Cakes: 2033 Airline Road

RELATED COVERAGE

More: Here's how Nueces County restaurants scored in health inspections for March 2024

More: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi students tackle food waste for Earth Day

John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva.

Consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Dirty soda nozzles: Which eateries had low health district scores
Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals how he made millions before becoming a movie star  and it wasnt from bodybuilding

Former California governor Arnold Schwarzeneggers journey epitomizes the quintessential American Dream.

Born in Austria from humble beginnings, Schwarzenegger arrived in America with "empty pockets" in 1968 at the age of 21. He competed in bodybuilding shows, winning numerous prizes  yet even as a champion, he found himself working in construction. He once remarked that he considered the $5,000 he earned from building a wall to be a big paycheck.

In 1982, Schwarzenegger made his breakthrough in the movie industry with "Conan the Barbarian, quickly establishing himself as a bankable star in Hollywood. With iconic performances in movies like "Terminator" and "Predator," he solidified his status as one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.

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However, movies weren't what brought Schwarzenegger his first taste of wealth.

In an interview with real estate mogul Grant Cardone, Schwarzenegger revealed the process that got him into the millionaires club.

I was a millionaire before I ever did Conan or Terminator, Schwarzenegger told Cardone. I became a millionaire because of real estate.

Schwarzenegger proceeded to detail exactly how he amassed his first fortune. But is it possible to replicate his strategy today?

Arnold, listen to me

There was a real estate woman by the name of Olga, Schwarzenegger recalled. She was from Lebanon, and she was Danny DeVitos height. She said to me, Arnold, listen to me, you need income property. When you have a house or when you have a condominium, then you have to pay the mortgage, you have to pay for the expenses, but I find you a six-unit apartment building that has an owner's unit in front.

Schwarzenegger recounted that the apartment building Olga found cost $240,000. He emphasized that this was back in the 1970s.

For context, the median price of houses sold in the U.S. in 1975 was around $39,000.

Although the apartment building represented a significant investment, it proved to be highly worthwhile for Schwarzenegger.

Story continues

Two years later, I got $400,000 when I sold the building  I put only 27 and a half down, he revealed.

In other words, Schwarzenegger made a tidy profit of $160,000 (subtracting $240,000 from $400,000). If the $27,500 down payment was his sole investment in the property (meaning the rental income covered mortgage payments and other expenses), the return on that investment would be 481.8%, not including the additional rental income he may have collected along the way.

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Now and then

Given Schwarzeneggers success with that investment, one might wonder if it's feasible to replicate that strategy today.

Well, the landscape has evolved significantly since the 1970s, with skyrocketing home prices demanding substantially higher investments.

While the fundamentals of real estate investment remain sound  you can purchase an apartment building and earn rental income  aspiring investors must navigate a market where entry costs have surged, posing greater challenges for those lacking substantial capital.

To put things in perspective, the median home price in the U.S. had reached $417,7000 in Q4 of 2023.

Apartment buildings with multiple units can command significantly higher prices.

However, these days, you dont have to be a landlord to invest in real estate. Publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) offer easy access for individuals seeking exposure to the sector. At the same time, there are also crowdfunding platforms that allow you to become part owners of diversified real estate portfolios.

What to read next

Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof  and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month

Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
A rendering from May 2023 by Lochmueller Group of how the I-70/U.S. 63 connector could look with proposed design enhancements. Design modifications are happening as Missouri Department of Transportation and design-build firm Millstone Weber ready for construction in July.

When the Missouri Department of Transportation and design-build firm Millstone Weber presented to the public this past week the plans for the Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63 connecter, there were some missing elements: design enhancements approved by the Columbia City Council in June.

While the enhancements were not on the publicly available plans, they still are moving forward said Eric Kopinski, MoDOT Improve I-70 program director. This was mirrored by Columbia Chamber of Commerce director Matt McCormick and City of Columbia spokesperson Sydney Olsen in messages to the Tribune.

"With the enhancement process, we are working closely with the city, county and chamber to ensure any enhancements that are desired from those groups are incorporated. We are working closely with them and have had a number of meetings with the plan sets to try and incorporate any enhancements," Kopinski said.

The design enhancements approved last year to make the connector more welcoming than just plain concrete were estimated to cost upward of $2.6 million, paid for by the City of Columbia, Boone County and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Enhancement designs at the time were based on MoDOT's direct connection flyover ramps and single-point urban interchange model for the connector. The plan from Millstone Weber still uses the direct connection ramps, but opts instead for underpass and roundabout connections to I-70 and U.S. 63 to draw a bulk of the traffic away from the connector. Therefore, modifications to the original design enhancements are needed.

Updated design enhancement renderings are not yet available, McCormick wrote.

"The city, county and chamber are currently working on updating the enhancements to fit with the new plan. The nice part is that we are able to modify the local plan from the themes and intention of the original plan," he wrote.

Construction of the Columbia to Kingdom City Improve I-70 project is expected to start sometime after July 4 and take upward of three years, so there still is time to get immediate need design enhancements to MoDOT and Millstone Weber and then continued work on other design enhancements as construction progresses.

"A lot of the overarching design concepts can still be incorporated, but may need to be reconfigured or a different layout. They are working quickly to adjust to the new design and what best to utilize with their funding," Kopinski said. "From MoDOT's perspective, we are providing a uniform approach for the nearly 200 miles (of I-70 lane additions), and then we are going to cities and counties and saying, 'if you want any enhancements, you kind of let us know what you want and we'll work to incorporate those.'"

Olsen agreed.

"The overall concept, colors, materials, etc. will remain similar," she wrote. "The City has amended their contract with Lochmueller and they are now working on revised plans and cost estimates. Once developed we will be meeting with the community stakeholders and making some more finalized recommendations."

More: These are the interchange enhancements sought for the I-70/U.S. 63 connector

The door also remains open to any community along the I-70 corridor on post-construction enhancements, such as landscaping, Kopinski added. A schedule recently was provided to the city, county and chamber so they can determine which design features are "mission critical" items within the next six months, he said.

All partners are working together to structure that first six months process, McCormick wrote.

"Our goal is to use this generational project to build a welcoming front door to Columbia and Boone County. Our plan is to use this as a launching pad to help design enhancements to I-70 through our community," he wrote.

More: Plans for I-70 widening relatively final. Here's when construction is expected to start

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: These I-70, U.S. 63 design enhancements not on plans will still happen
Editor's note: This is a personal essay by a Nashville high school student who witnessed the final vote to allow for classroom teachers to be armed.

The metal doors slammed as we left school early. We walked down the concrete sidewalk, conversations revolving around the bill that legislators proposed to add guns to an environment citizens actively want guns removed from.

We made it to the marble staircase leading up to the capital, the building holding hundreds of thousands of lives of students in their hands.

Before going through the glass doors, security, and the crowds of journalists, we sat in the hopeful shade of the stairs. The cool marble helped to slow the racing of my heart, sweating of my palms, and the doubt in my stomach.

At 12:56 we walked in and up the indoor marble staircase to the room where all the legislators were walking in. A little girl stood across the unofficial path for legislators. She had a bright blue sparkly bow on and was missing one of her front teeth. She held a sign that said, Don't arm my teachers.

She smiled and waved enthusiastically. I waved back and stood straighter.

Another view: My husband was killed in a 'gun free zone.' Arm teachers for safety and to save lives

Observers in legislature felt hope and hopelessness at the same time

A man came over and pressed the black button on the top of his camera that would preserve our presence. We then walked up more stairs to the gallery. We sat down, the red plush chairs doing little to break my fall into reality. Doubt and anxiety flooded my body and was on the faces all around me.

Demonstrators opposed to a bill allowing armed teachers in Tennessee schools stage a lie-in at the state Capitol after the House voted on the measure on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

The dynamic on the floor was different than expected, with phone calls and many side conversations. Apart from the suits and microphones, the atmosphere was laid back and calm. Nothing like the atmosphere of children cowering under desks and in corners of a room during their monthly active shooter drills.

They moved through each new piece of legislation with ease, leaning back in their seats and using long metal sticks to reach the buttons.

House Bill 1202 flashed across the large screen. People became increasingly restless; whispers broke across the viewing space. We stood up holding our signs higher. Both hope and hopelessness tangled in my stomach.

Amendment after amendment and all they accomplished was a red screen saying a majority believed that parents shouldn't be alerted when their child is in a room with an armed teacher, that there shouldn't be safe storage for guns in the classroom, there shouldn't be more training for teachers walking around with loaded weapons.

Sarah Shoop Neumann, a parent of a Covenant School student, hands off letters to Ian McEwen, Rep. Justin Pearson's, legislative aid, with more than 5,000 signatures opposing a bill that would allow teachers to carry guns to an aide at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 22, 2024.

A woman began screaming at the legislators, telling them that this was insane. Three troopers escorted her out.

Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, recognized the crowds and how detrimental this bill was, yet the majority continued munching on their Chick-Fil-A and tapping the glass screens of their phones.

My tears finally streamed down my face after the vote

I stood there alone, my arm hurt from holding up the sign for so long, tears pricked the back of my eyes threatening to show the overwhelming vulnerability and helplessness I felt.

Then the small bell rang out over the crowd, this sound would determine the fate of countless lives. The screen flashed green. The bill passed.

The tears that I had been holding back streamed down my face. The crowd began screaming, No, no!, verbalizing the anger and sadness I felt.

Parish DeVries

The chant Blood on your hands, Blood on your hands! filled the echoing room. I was scared. The troopers began escorting everybody out, doing little to suppress the chants of the crowds.

I stood in defiance, holding my sign as high as I could. Mothers embraced children. Quiet sobs of angry citizens filled the pauses.

A trooper told me to leave, he forced me to get in line. We all slowly walked down the stairs to the door of the chamber.

My walk to the bus stop did little to comfort me. The world continued to spin even though my world had just been flipped upside down.

Fifteen-year-old Parish DeVries is a freshman at Hume-Fogg Academic High School and comes from a family of Nashville natives. She loves to travel, loves her friends, and cares deeply about her sister and all of the foster children that come through her home.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Guns in Tennessee: Vote to allow arming teachers broke this student
NEW YORK  This was a crisis.

That was the consensus among senior Trump campaign aides on Oct. 7, 2016, after stepping out of a Trump Tower conference room, where the then-presidential candidates debate prep session was underway. There was to be a huddle about a more pressing matter.

A Washington Post reporter had notified the campaign that, in two hours, the paper planned to publish what became known as the Access Hollywood tape, a scandal that nearly ended Trumps first bid for president one month out from Election Day.

Hope Hicks, who received the reporters email, took the stand in former President Trumps New York hush money trial on Friday to detail her efforts to tamp down the chaos that followed, coupled with the revelations of hush money payments made to keep two women quiet about alleged affairs with the business mogul.

A fixture in Trumps inner orbit who served as his press secretary at the time, Hickss role shaping media narratives placed her at the center of it all  making her testimony in the trial critical to the Manhattan district attorneys case.

Hicks was one of the first staffers to work on Trumps 2016 campaign and quickly became one of his most trusted advisers. She served in the Trump White House over two separate stints, departing in early 2018 and eventually joining Foxs corporate team before returning to the White House in early 2020 as a senior adviser.

She previously appeared before a Washington grand jury as special counsel Jack Smith probed whether Trump knew he lost the 2020 election. Trump has since been charged in Washington, D.C., over his attempts to remain in power after the 2020 election.

Hicks has not been part of Trumps political circle since the end of his first term and does not have a role in his 2024 campaign, though people familiar with the matter said there is no tension between the two.

Hicks appeared nervous to be on the stand, at times running her hand through her hair and fidgeting with her earrings. Moments after indicating she doubted an explanation for the hush money payment Trump told her years ago, Hicks broke down in tears.

But before prosecutors questioned Hicks about the hush money, much of her testimony concerned the release of the Access Hollywood tape, which marked a watershed moment in Trumps 2016 campaign and ignited rampant speculation that the business moguls political ambitions had run their course.

On the tape, Trump is heard boasting about grabbing women inappropriately and seemingly without their consent, off-the-cuff remarks captured while on set of a soap opera more than 10 years earlier.

I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I dont even wait, he says in the tape. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anything  Grab em by the p-. You can do anything.

I was concerned, Hicks testified Friday about when she learned of the tape. I was very concerned.

Now, the former president is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with reimbursements his then-fixer received after paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. Trump, who denies the affair, pleaded not guilty.

While the tape is not at the center of the case, the district attorneys office is attempting to connect the fallout from Trumps remarks on it to the Daniels payment as part of efforts to portray Trumps charges as a criminal conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 election.

Hicks detailed learning of the hush money payments made to Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal.

When discussing the McDougal payment, Hicks testified that Trump expressed concern about how his wife, Melania, would react, bolstering one of Trumps defenses in the case: that the motivation behind the hush money was to save embarrassment for Trumps family, rather than to preserve his political fortune before the election.

But at other moments, Hicks gave testimony key to the prosecutions case of an election conspiracy. She testified about a conversation she had with Trump where he indicated ex-fixer Michael Cohen had made the payment to Daniels out of the goodness of his heart, a characterization she questioned.

Hicks added that Trump told her it was a good thing the Daniels payment story had made waves after he had already won the 2016 election, right before she broke down on the stand.

Prosecutors say the fallout from the Access Hollywood tape upped the ante for letting Danielss salacious allegations surface publicly just before Election Day, attempting to convince jurors that the hush money deal was part of a broader criminal conspiracy.

Hicks had been brought up earlier in the trial during the testimony of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who said she was in the room when Pecker met Trump to initially establish an agreement to catch and kill salacious stories about the then-candidate in order for them to never surface in the news.

But some of Hickss most compelling testimony was recounting the damage control she managed during the two hours between when the campaign was notified of the Access Hollywood tape by the Post and the story publishing.

Hicks said two strategies emerged as she forwarded the Posts comment request to four senior campaign aides, including Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon.

Need to hear the tape to be sure its accurate, or deny, deny, deny.

Strategy number two was going to be a little more difficult, Hicks said once she realized the reporter had provided a transcript of the tape.

Hicks then headed upstairs to a Trump Tower conference room, she said, where Trump was conducting a debate preparation session for his then-rival, Hillary Clinton.

Hicks said she motioned for a few aides to join her outside so as not to disturb the preparations, and they huddled about what to do.

Everyone was just absorbing the shock of it, Hicks testified.

Trump, who could see them through the conference room windows, eventually caught on that there was a problem and demanded his aides come back inside and explain the situation, Hicks said.

When confronted with the comment request, Trump told Hicks that it didnt sound like something he would say, she testified. But the first time he saw the tape, he was upset, she said. He later told her the remarks were pretty standard stuff for two guys chatting.

After a weekend filled with Republicans scrambling to figure out what to do, including what would happen if Trump ended his bid that late into the election cycle, the former reality television host managed to reengineer media attention toward his efforts to seat sexual abuse accusers of Clintons husband, former President Clinton, in a VIP box at the very debate he was prepping for at the time the Access Hollywood tape leaked.

Trump went on to beat Clinton in the general election a month later.

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hosting a migrant family in your home is now as simple as a phone call

DENVER (KDVR)  An organization in Denver is working to get migrants off the streets and into homes of host families across Colorado, and a new partnership is making that task easier than ever before.

Hope Has No Borders began pairing migrant workers and their families with hosts in Colorado in late 2023. Now, with help from the United Way, getting paired up is a simple phone call away by dialing 211.

How you can help migrants in Denver

Erin Lennon is one of the many hosts the organization has paired with migrants. She didnt realize the scope of Denvers migrant crisis until talking with a friend late last year.

Wow this is not just a little problem, this is a big problem, she remembers thinking.

A single mom with a spare bedroom in the house, she felt a call to help.

Why arent you doing something? You know? she said. Just in my heart, thats what I was telling myself.

She found her solution through Hope Has No Borders, which has paired 500 migrants with host families since late last year.

Its pretty significant, the number of people who are open to this idea, said Jenifer Kettering, one of three executive directors with Hope Has No Borders.

Through the organizations pairing process, which asks questions to find a perfect match for your home, Lennon welcomed a family of four to stay with her and her son. Her family was nervous at first about the idea of taking in strangers.

Some of the greatest things that, you know, that you do or have done, has been involved with some risk, Lennon said.

A normal reaction to have, she said, but their fears were quickly resolved.

Denver introduces nearly $90M newcomer budget plan for migrant aid

We cooked meals together, we cleaned the house together, you know, we just were a community with each other, Lennon said.

She hasnt been alone, either.

Hope Has No Borders is providing financial stipends that are negotiated sort of on the need of the host, says Kettering.

It helps with things like food or even utility bills.

After spending seven weeks with Lennon, the family is now taking care of themselves, living on their own in an apartment. Shes thankful for the opportunity to help and hopes others take the same chance she did.

Everybody has been super kind, everybody just wants to work, everybody just wants a chance to have their dream come true in America, Lennon said.

Anyone interested in hosting a migrant family can dial 211. Youll be asked a few questions, like how long youre able to host someone and what kind of space you can provide. Kettering says you can expect the call to last about 20 minutes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
For more on House Republican primary infighting, watch Inside Politics with Manu Raju on Sunday at 8 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET.

GOP Rep. Don Bacon has had it with the far-right of his conference.

Theyve thrown out one House speaker and are trying to dump another one, all while scuttling their leaderships agenda and now actively campaigning against incumbent Republicans  including himself.

After House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good of Virginia announced his support for Bacons GOP rival ahead of his May 14 primary, the Nebraska Republican now plans to take matters into his own hands.

I am supporting Bob Goods opponent now  because Bob Good came out and endorsed my opponent, Bacon, who says he has never endorsed against a colleague until now, told CNN. So were going to go in with everything weve got. Thats how it works.

It has long been a breach of protocol on Capitol Hill to campaign against sitting members of the same party. But the 118th Congress has seen the House GOP descend into a seemingly endless series of intraparty wars, with members hurling personal insults at each other, pointedly blaming each other for their failures to enact a conservative agenda and now actively stumping to defeat their own Republican colleagues in races that will carry major consequences for the direction of the party.

In Texas, Rep. Tony Gonzales is trying to fend off a challenger backed by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and by Good  whom the incumbent Republican recently derided as scumbags  ahead of his May 28 runoff. In South Carolina, members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus are rallying around conservative state Rep. Adam Morgan, who is trying to knock off Rep. William Timmons in the June 11 primary. In Virginia, center-right Republicans and the ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy are helping Republican challenger John McGuire ahead of the June 18 primary against Good, one of eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy last fall.

Other intraparty feuds are also taking shape  in defiance of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has told his colleagues to knock it off and stop campaigning against each other.

Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington state, one of two remaining Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump in the wake of the 2021 Capitol insurrection, faces the ire of the MAGA base with Trump publicly calling for his defeat. Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, a former Freedom Caucus leader, told colleagues recently he was looking into the race to consider whether to prop up Newhouses GOP challenger, Jerrod Sessler, according to a source familiar with the matter. (Perrys office didnt respond to a request for comment.)

And in the eleventh hour before a filing deadline late last month, a primary challenger emerged against Gaetz  the leader of the effort to oust McCarthy  who has made no secret of his desire to see Gaetzs career come to an end. The development comes as some McCarthy associates had been trying to recruit a candidate to topple Gaetz. Now McCarthy allies in the House GOP Conference are considering giving a boost to Aaron Dimmock, the retired Navy officer facing off against Gaetz in the August 20 primary.

I would really like it if someone were to come here and focus on governing instead of getting on television, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Wisconsin Republican who recently called Gaetz tubby in a tense confrontation on the House floor. The entire conference is sick and tired of Matt Gaetz, Bob Good and (Rep.) Chip Roy (of Texas). Theyre bullies and the only way to get back at a bully is to push back hard on that.

Gaetzs response: Bring it on.

Gaetz brushed aside his primary challenge, attacking his foe as out-of-step with his Florida panhandle district and saying that the race makes him as excited as a Golden Corral buffet.

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida walks past reporters as he leaves a House GOP caucus meeting at the US Capitol on April 10, 2024. - Samuel Corum/Getty Images

The battles underscore the larger debate within the GOP between members who are open to bipartisan deals to govern incrementally in a divided Washington and hardliners who view such compromises as an affront to conservative orthodoxy  a feud that intensified in the 2010 tea party wave and has grown more pronounced in the Trump era. And while the outcomes in most of these primary races wont impact the GOPs efforts to keep the majority, they will shape the makeup of the next House Republican Conference and how they pursue their agenda.

We go for the most conservative of people to run for office, said Rep. Ralph Norman, a Freedom Caucus member who is backing GOP challenger Morgan against Timmons, a fellow South Carolinian. This country is in trouble. We got to step out. And thats what were willing to do.

Its all the norms that have been undermined

Unlike in the other races, Bacons is a true swing seat  given that Joe Biden carried the district in 2020  and could help tilt the balance of power in November. Already, both Democratic and GOP groups have poured in roughly the same amount on the airwaves  with a total of $3 million in ad spending so far.

Democrats are hoping state Sen. Tony Vargas can knock off Bacon, who is heavily favored to win his primary against Dan Frei  a conservative candidate who emerged on Nebraskas political scene in the tea party era a decade ago in an unsuccessful primary bid against former Rep. Lee Terry. He has made the national debt and illegal immigration a centerpiece of his campaign against Bacon.

Hes been there eight years. When he went there, we were roughly $17 trillion in debt. Were $34 trillion in debt, Frei said in an interview. When he first got there we had tens of thousands of people crossing the border, we now have millions in this country.

Asked whether it was fair to single out Bacon, Frei said: How can you not blame those that are there?

Another Bacon foe trying to undercut his bid: Eric Underwood, the GOP chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party.

Underwood told CNN his decision to endorse Frei was a personal one and argued Bacon doesnt represent the values of Nebraska Republicans, citing Bacons position on same-sex marriage and his support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, though the incumbent has also backed more stringent border security measures.

The chairman also defended working against an incumbent from his own party. Theres a lot of misconceptions of what a party is supposed to be doing, Underwood said in a phone interview. The objective of the party is to further our principles and the maintenance of the government, of, by and for the people.

Asked whether hes worried Frei could cost Republicans the seat in November, Underwood told CNN: We believe that everybodys electable if they put the work and the effort into it, and surround their campaign with the values and the principles of the party.

Underwood said there would be no financial resources or fundraising done by the party for Freis campaign. But a pro-Frei mailer attacking Bacon, shared with CNN, indicates it was paid for by the Nebraska Republican Party.

Underwood maintains they were fully reimbursed by the Frei campaign for the mailer, and said its just one of several party resources that endorsed candidates are allowed to take advantage of.

Good, the House Freedom Caucus chairman, declined to comment on Capitol Hill last week when asked why he was backing Bacons opponent. And his office didnt respond to a request seeking comment.

Rep. Tony Gonzales at the US Capitol in January. Several of Gonzales' colleagues in the House are backing a GOP primary challenger in his race for reelection. - Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa

National groups are coming to Bacons defense.

We wish we werent having this internal fight, said Sarah Chamberlain, head of the center-right Republican Main Street Partnership, which is dropping $450,000 in ads to boost McGuire, Goods primary challenger in his rural Virginia district.

In an interview, Bacon pushed back against his foes and defended his record. And he said the critics represent a Steve Bannon faction of the Nebraska GOP, adding this of his party chairman: He says he wants unity. Ive seen more disunity from this leadership team back there dividing us.

Johnson has endorsed Bacon and campaigned for the congressman in his district in December. Bacon has over 100 endorsements, and no elected official from Nebraska is supporting Frei.

Bacon said that his critics may take issue with some of his votes, including to approve billions in aid to Ukraine. Im more of a traditional Republican and some of these folks are definitely isolationist, he said. Its their right to feel that way. I dont think thats a Republican.

Bacon, who has aligned himself with his partys leadership on key issues, criticized his colleagues for undercutting the norms of the House  including by stymying legislation on the first procedural vote, something that had rarely been done before but has been weaponized by hardliners in this Congress.

Its all the norms have been undermined by these guys, Bacon said.

CNNs Jeff Zeleny and Sheden Tesfaldet contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Illinois voters could be asked this November whether millionaires should be taxed more, whether insurance policies in Illinois should be required to cover in vitro fertilization treatments and whether candidates running for office should face civil penalties for interfering with election workers.

Those questions are part of a larger piece of legislation that passed the Illinois House Wednesday.

If approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, they would appear on the ballot in advisory, non-binding capacities. That means they wouldnt carry weight if voters say yes.

Insurance coverage for IVF treatments

Voters would be asked whether insurance policies that cover pregnancy care in Illinois should be required to cover all forms of assisted reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilization, with no limits.

Lawmakers tend to use these questions to gauge support on hot topics before introducing legislation.

In light of the recent decision in Alabama, regarding the issue of in vitro fertilization, we [believe that] this is something that we would like to understand how the general public feels about that, state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), the measures sponsor, told the House Executive Committee.

He was referring to a February Alabama Supreme Court decision that said frozen embryos used for IVF should be considered children.

Lawmakers also use these questions to entice people to the polls in important election years. The theory is that placing topics like IVF on the ballot, even if theyre only advisory, will get people to polling places where theyll hopefully fill out the entire ballot.

Millionaires surcharge to spur property tax relief

Progressives also tend to like more taxes on millionaires, which is included in the measure. If approved, voters would be asked whether income earned over $1 million should be taxed an additional 3% to help fund property tax relief.

Income under $1 million would be taxed the same.

Voters considered a different proposal during the 2020 election, which would have eliminated Illinois flat 4.95% income tax rate and replaced it with a graduated rate that taxed income over $250,000 at a higher percentage. It failed, but wasnt tied specifically to property tax relief  it was billed as a way to tackle Illinois historically high budget deficits.

Unclear through this referendum, however, is whether the $1 million income level is supposed to apply only to individuals, or if it also includes businesses filing as individuals. Also unknown is how the money raised from the surcharge would be put toward property tax relief.

If [voters] like the general concept, then we in the General Assembly  would debate how the property tax relief would work, Hoffman said.

Election security

Voters would be asked whether a candidate for office  at any level  should face civil penalties if they try to interfere with an election worker. As with the other referenda, its simply an advisory question and doesnt suggest what those penalties should be.

No abortion protections

An amendment to codify abortion protections into the state constitution will not make it to this years ballot even though it appeared to be one of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers top priorities when he was sworn in for a second term.

The right to privacy and bodily autonomy demand that we establish constitutional protections for reproductive rights in Illinois, he said during his inaugural address in January 2023.

But Pritzker, whos hitting the campaign trail nationally to advocate for abortion protections, said theres more time to get this done in Illinois.Were focusing on states where those rights have either already been taken away, or theyre highly at risk, Pritzker told reporters Wednesday. I think its less important here than it is in other states that we pass a constitutional amendment.

Lawmakers have until six months before an election to approve binding ballot questions, and this year that deadline is May 5. Election law only allows three statewide referenda per ballot, but local municipalities can still add their own.

What else does the bill do?

Right now a political party can slate someone to run in a general election 75 days after the primary  even if they didnt file for or run in the primary or conduct a write-in campaign. This bill eliminates that ability.

If you dont either run on the ballot by filing the petitions  or run as a write-in candidate in the primary  you then couldnt just be put on the ballot one day by backroom deals by local party leaders, Hoffman explained, noting that Illinois is an outlier nationally in allowing this practice.

It wouldnt affect the ability of party leaders to appoint replacements in the event of deaths, resignations or other reasons.

It also moves the deadline for candidates to submit their nominating petitions 28 days earlier  a change requested by county clerks.

Republicans vote present, many walk out

Hoffmans measure passed the House but the chambers 40 Republicans voted present. A large group went downstairs and held a news conference a few minutes later, with GOP leadership decrying a pattern theyve seen before.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said she was very surprised to see the bill surface Wednesday morning for the first time, only to be passed the same afternoon  its pretty early in the month of May for that.

Serious legislators should want to give time to the public to understand the impact on our state, said McCombie.

Were used to seeing this kind of maneuvering on May 31. But we dont understand the sense of urgency right now. Unless the end goal is to stifle the democratic process.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  An Independence man is facing second-degree murder charges for killing his wife as she lay in a hospital bed on Friday night, according to Jackson County prosecutors.

Court records released on Saturday said that just before 11:30 p.m., an off-duty officer at Centerpoint Medical Center was called to the ICU for an assault. Upon arrival, the victim, a woman, was unresponsive and had no pulse.

Veteran gifted service dog named in honor of fallen Olathe Marine

Medical staff told police they had heard the victims husband, Ronnie Wiggs, saying, I did it, I killed her, I choked her, according to court records.

The officer placed Wiggs under arrest and on an investigative hold for first-degree domestic assault and took him to the Independence Police Department. At that time, the victim was not pronounced dead. But shortly after, she was taken off life support for no reported brain function, court records said.

While being interviewed by police, Wiggs admitted to strangling his wife and leaving the hospital. After leaving, he said he asked a relative to pick him up and take him back to the hospital.

When he returned, a witness  the relative who picked him up  and hospital staff said Wiggs admitted to killing his wife and choking her. This was after another witness had reported suspicious injuries and fresh wounds to the victims neck, court records said.

Wiggs told police he had covered her nose and mouth to keep her from screaming and placed his thumbs over her throat. He also admitted to trying to kill his wife two other times during previous hospital and rehabilitation visits.

Missouri honors fallen Kansas City officer James Muhlbauer, K-9 Champ Saturday

In the interview, he told detectives he killed his wife because he was depressed and could not take care of her anymore nor pay for her medical bills.

Court records said the victim was at the hospital to get a new port for dialysis.

Wiggs is currently being held on a $250,000 bond, police said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Gary Gregory was walking his dog around his mobile park home in Benecia when police, looking for a reported gunman, saw him at the entrance. Complying with police orders, the innocent pedestrian was kneeling with his hands up when a police attack dog freed itself from the police car after its handler left the car door open.

The attack dog tackled Gregory, biting into his neck, rupturing his jugular vein and leaving him with permanent facial scarring, emotional distress and muscle and nerve injury. Videos of the incident show that the dog latched onto Gregorys neck for 25 seconds, and the police handler had to forcibly remove the dog.

Gregory is just one of many Californians whove needlessly suffered from a police dog bite. As physicians who reviewed 30 cases of police attack dog bites in the state that occurred over the past decade, we were disturbed to see the degree of harm people have suffered due to police attack dogs, including permanent injuries, disfigurement and disability.

Opinion

Police dogs generally weigh 70 pounds and can produce a bite force greater than 4,000 pounds per square inch  a pressure equivalent to a rhinoceros balancing on a postage stamp. During a prolonged bite, a dogs long canine teeth anchor into flesh, while its sharp molars shred and tear the tissue around them. This can result in severed nerves that cause chronic pain or permanent paralysis of an arm or leg, traumatic head injuries, lifelong disabilities and psychiatric illnesses.

Police dogs can be used in positive ways, such as search and rescue or detecting explosives. However, their deployment as a use of force can have significant repercussions and there should be strict limits governing its use.

Right now, the California legislature is considering two bills inspired by the dangers of police attack dog injuries. Unfortunately, neither bill provides appropriate oversight nor meaningfully changes the status quo.

Introduced by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey, Assembly Bill 3241 would require the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to adopt minimum guidelines for the use of police attack dogs and requires agencies to report only legitimate deployments. This may result in police failing to report accidental or unintentional incidents, both of which occur regularly.

The second bill, AB 2042, as amended by Assemblymember Corey Jackson, D-Perris, would similarly require the commission to develop their own standards and training guidelines for the use of police attack dogs  maintaining the status quo.

Neither bill would have protected Gregory, nor would have Gregorys injuries been reportable under AB 3241.

The Commission on Peace Office Standards and Training is composed almost entirely of law enforcement personnel. Allowing the commission to only report legitimate deployments while simultaneously allowing them to determine the policies governing deployments could undermine transparency. Furthermore, the power granted to the commission would lack legislative or community checks.

Public records show that nearly half of Californians severely injured or killed by police attack dogs showed signs of a mental health disability or crisis. Using attack dogs on people who are unarmed and do not pose a serious danger to officers or others is inappropriate. However, records show that these instances are the most likely times when California police deploy attack dogs.

As physicians who have both cared for patients severely injured by canines and reviewed dozens of records of police canine injuries, we know that maulings can cause long standing trauma and damage. It is imperative that we develop strong legislation to protect the public from the overuse of police attack dogs. AB 2042 and AB 3241 fail to provide the transparency and legislative checks that should govern a dangerous use of force.

Instead of passing these bills, we call on the California Legislature to truly regulate police attack dogs and enact strict and clear limits of their use into state law. Creating laws delineating the narrow use of police attack dogs and supporting broad reporting of their use can help alleviate the immense suffering we have seen inflicted  oftentimes on innocent people.

William Weber works as an emergency physician at Rush University and serves as medical director of the Medical Justice Alliance, a nonprofit which supports the medical rights of people behind bars. Altaf Saadi is a neurologist and assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. Minali Nigam, who also contributed to this piece, is a trained journalist and neurology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Womens Hospital, teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School. Weber, Saadi and Nigam are three of six co-authors on Unleashed Brutality: An Expert Medical Opinion on the Health Harms from California Police Attack Dogs, published in Physicians for Human Rights in January .
If there is one eternal rule of spycraft, Professor Sir David Omand says, its that youve got to really understand your adversary. The dangerous alternative is to guess. The worst thing is to project your way of thinking onto them, imagining that somebody from a very different background, in very different circumstances, is going to think the same way as you.

Good intelligence officers learn this, of course; but the most valuable spies of all, double agents, dont need to  they already know their adversary as well as they know themselves. And rarely has this been truer than during the Cold War, says Sir David, a former head of GCHQ. Its why people like Oleg Gordievsky are so useful.

The use and value of Gordievsky, arguably one of the most effective double agents in the history of British intelligence, is explored in a thrilling new BBC documentary series, Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game.

Sir David was principal private secretary to defence secretary John Nott in the early 1980s and later became director of GCHQ, the UKs listening post. He joins a cast of talking heads in the series that includes former KGB and CIA agents, plus Marina Litvinenko, the widow of Alexander, British political figures such as Lord Butler of Brockwell, Margaret Thatchers principal private secretary, and former Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) officers, among them the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith and Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale.

Omand says that 'so much effort went into trying to recruit people from the other side's intelligence community' - BBC Studios

Usually for the first time on camera, they discuss a climate of nuclear paranoia, cultural misunderstanding and ideological tussle between East and West. Both sides felt they had to arm themselves to the teeth to deter the other, says Omand, now 77. But neither side actually wanted conflict, and therefore it got displaced into what today wed call the grey zone: intelligence activity, or what the Russians still call active measures.

Because the conflict was largely played out in the shadows, so much of the effort went into trying to recruit people from the other sides intelligence community, who might be able to tell you youve been penetrated. This means that spy vs spy became the dominant intelligence activity.

At the time, in the early 1980s, London was crawling with spies from the Soviet intelligence agencies KGB and GRU; in turn, MI6 had its people in Moscow  albeit far fewer. But the prize, of course, was a double agent: somebody who could help Britain understand its adversary and keep the British and US governments one step ahead of the Soviets. Gordievsky, a senior KGB figure, became that man.

The son of an officer in the NKVD (the precursor to the KGB), Gordievsky had been working for the Soviet security agency for 11 years when he became disillusioned and was recruited by MI6 in Copenhagen in 1974. He then spent over a decade, on and off, passing secrets about the operations and motivations of the Soviets to his British handlers  an exchange which was interrupted for four years when he was moved back to Moscow in 1978, but resumed when he was posted to London in 1982.

Everything to do with Oleg we were meant to take to the grave with us, and we tried very hard to muddy the waters, but then of course Oleg wrote a book, says Lady Ramsay, over a pot of Earl Grey and slice of chocolate cake in the House of Lords tea room last week. As it is, its one of the few things she can talk about.

Lady Ramsay says of Gordievsky: 'We don't make a habit of exfiltrating people out of the Soviet Union. But he's a special person. And make no mistake: they would [still] kill him' - BBC Studios

A Labour life peer, Lady Ramsay is now 87 and reluctantly walks with a stick, but remains sharp as a knife when it comes to recalling her extraordinary previous career. For 22 years, between 1969 and 1991, she worked for the Secret Intelligence Service, running its Helsinki station in the early 1980s, right on the Soviet doorstep.

The Finns really understood the Soviets, in a way that we, and particularly the Americans, just didnt, she says. So it was a very good posting to get, and quite senior. And everybody knew who the KGB were in Helsinki, and they knew who we were, and who the Americans were. They were so numerous, there in their hundreds. She laughs. I used to joke to my team that we had them surrounded. But of course we didnt.

Being one of the few female spies had unexpected benefits: the KGB didnt really have female intelligence officers, and would never have put a woman in a position of equivalent seniority to Lady Ramsays. The KGB were super chauvinist, which gave you a bit of an advantage, you know: youre different.

She never knew about Gordievsky when she was there, of course. Only around eight people in the world knew he was a double agent, such was the sensitivity and importance of his work, and the risk of losing him was far too great.

He was special, Sir David says. He was a senior officer in the KGB, from a family of KGB, and beautifully placed. The Danes putting us onto him was a wonderful opportunity, and then the strategic patience of MI6 to not run him until he was back overseas, in London, was really the thing.

Gordievskys motivations have always been explained as simple: his time in Copenhagen opened his eyes to the falsities of the Soviet doctrine, so he courageously decided to risk it all by flipping. Everybody gets tested, to make sure theyre not a dangle, and hed been recruited very carefully, to make sure he had genuinely turned against the Soviet system, Sir David says.

Former British Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma with Gordievsky's wife Layla, centre, at the British embassy in Moscow - Frederique Lengaigne

He was unusual in many ways, says Lady Ramsay. Not just his seniority, but in my experience usually KGB or GRU [double agents] had a problem of some kind. Usually theyre being overlooked, theyve got money problems, a bad marriage, a messy personal life  something wrong with them that makes them think its an idea to get out. But he wasnt any of those things. He was very successful, had a very happy second marriage, two wee girls he loved madly. He just saw when he was in Copenhagen that the Soviet system was a lie.

In London, Gordievsky was invaluable in alerting Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, the then US president, to what had never been clear before about the mentality of the Soviets  not least that Yuri Andropov, the ailing Soviet leader, was far more paranoid than they had ever realised. Yet in May 1985, just as he was to be promoted by the KGB in London, Gordievsky was suddenly summoned back to Moscow. It would later transpire that Aldrich Ames, a CIA agent secretly informing the Soviets, had identified Gordievsky as a double agent.

In Moscow, Raymond Asquith, now the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith, headed up MI6s station. We all had to act as if we were being listened to and followed wherever we went, but Asquith had the added difficulty of knowing even his own office was being listened to, Lady Ramsay says.

In the documentary series, the now 71-year-old Lord Oxford, as he is known, tells a brilliant story about once arguing with his wife about where theyd agreed to take their children on a picnic that weekend. Pettily, he decided to address the ceiling and say, Well, where did we agree? To his amazement, a note shortly appeared under the door confirming theyd agreed on Kuskovo. I thought that was a KGB surveillant who had a good sense of humour, actually, Lord Oxford remarks today.

Gordievsky nine years after he was dramatically smuggled out of the Soviet Union in the boot of a diplomatic car - Ilpo Musto/REX

Once returned to Moscow, and after surviving being drugged and interrogated, Gordievsky briefly continued working for the KGB, but he was sure his security had been compromised when he realised his apartment had been raided by his superiors (they had locked the door behind them with a third bolt, which he never normally used). He then triggered an exfiltration plan, codenamed Pimlico, which would surely have been rejected by John le Carres editors for being too far-fetched.

It is legendary but worth sketching again, and well worth seeing Lord Oxfords colourful retelling in the series. At 7.30pm on Tuesdays, Lord Oxford or another British officer would watch a bakery next to Kutuzovsky Prospekt, a diplomatic complex in Moscow. If there was danger, Gordievsky would turn up holding a Safeway bag. When he did, an MI6 officer would walk past and lock eyes with him while holding a Harrods bag and eating a Mars Bar or a KitKat. This meant that Pimlico was being set in train. (The plan was years old and well-rehearsed, but if anybody involved needed a reminder, a memo was concealed in an Oxford University Press edition of Shakespeares sonnets.)

Believe me, Ive had so many KitKats or Mars Bars in our glove compartment that I absolutely hate them to this day, Lord Oxford says in the documentary, the first time hes spoken on camera about the operation. He was, he says, bloody frightened. A few days later, after Thatchers final approval of the operation, Gordievsky went for his evening jog, but managed to lose the KGB agents following him and catch a train to a meeting point near the Finnish border.

There, he hid in the boot of Lord Oxfords car, which also contained the British spys wife, his baby daughter, his assistant and his assistants wife, who pretended to have a gynaecological complaint that required urgent attention. Well the thing was, Moscow staff always came to Helsinki for their medical treatments and to have babies, so it wasnt unusual for them to be making the trip, Lady Ramsay points out.

Lord Oxfords car was able to lose the pursuing KGB vehicles and make the Finnish border. The baby was a secret weapon. Lord Oxford would later learn that the KGB couldnt believe a British intelligence officer would take his baby on such a perilous journey. But babies, wives, they could be very helpful, you know. You do what you have to do, Lady Ramsay says now, with a shrug.

Near the border, ingeniously, and absurdly, a well-timed nappy change over the boot distracted a pair of Soviet Alsatian search dogs just as they were about to sniff where Gordievsky was hiding. They moved on, and Gordievsky made it over the border into the safety of the west. Outlandishly, Pimlico had worked. It would be a long time before the Soviets even knew which border he made it through. I had very convincing arguments for it being the Turkish one, Lady Ramsay says.

Gordievsky would later write books about his career - UPPA/Photoshot

She later came to know Gordievsky well. You cant not be quite a complex person to have a life story like Gordievskys. He went on to meet with Reagan publicly, and wrote books about his career. Now 85, Gordievsky is still alive but hes not been well, Lady Ramsay says.

His words are heard in the documentary but he is otherwise played by an actor in reconstructions (better looking than the real thing, Lady Ramsay makes sure to add). Sentenced to death in absentia by the Soviet Union after his defection, he has long been thought to have been living under British protection in the Home Counties.

He was special, says Lady Ramsay. We dont make a habit of exfiltrating people out of the Soviet Union. But hes also a very special person. And make no mistake: they would [still] kill him. They really hate him. Dont think they havent tried, hes certainly still on their list.

After leaving the office (MI6) in 1991, Lady Ramsay went on to work in politics, including as foreign policy advisor to her friend John Smith, the former Labour leader. And she can certainly believe a point made at the end of the series, that Vladimir Putin, a rising KGB agent by the end of the 1980s, would hate Oleg for very special reasons, personally, because hes got this big thing about Mother Russia.

None of this is exactly ancient history, of course. Just last week, a British man accused of being a Wagner Group spy for Russia was alleged to have recruited two men to burn down a building in London linked to Ukraine. Both Lady Ramsay and Sir David agree there are likely just as many Russian spies in London today as there were at the height of the Cold War. Who knows the numbers, but I wouldnt have thought it was any less, says Lady Ramsay.

As it is, the Gordievsky affair still stands out as a remarkable chapter in a fraught era, and one that remains largely shrouded in secrecy. Yet the eternal lesson persists: know your adversary, but ideally get them on side, like Gordievsky. Absolutely, Sir David says, and sadly, its rare to have that kind of insight.

These days, international relations between West and East are fraught once more, and who knows what is going on in the grey zone. In some ways, spying has changed enormously. But Lady Ramsay doesnt think its changed quite as much as wed think.

Oh, theres only so many ways you can do surveillance and counter-surveillance, and theres only so many motivations human beings can have for being cultivated or not, she says, with a slight twinkle in her eye.

She pushes her chocolate cake away. The same things that made one generation tick will make the next generation tick. Technology changes, politics changes, its not the Soviet Union any more. But the human bits are always the same.

Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game will air on BBC Two on Wednesday May 8 at 9pm, with all three episodes available on iPlayer

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When you think about setting up a trust, the first thing that comes to mind is a plan for how wealth will be passed down after you die. But there is also an asset protection trust, which protects your assets from creditors while youre still alive.



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Read on to learn about the different types of asset protection trusts and how to set one up.

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What Is an Asset Protection Trust (APT)?

An asset protection trust protects your assets from creditors and lawsuits. These are typically irrevocable trusts, meaning once theyre established, youll no longer have control of the assets, and they cant be removed.

Asset protection trusts are common for people working in risky career fields. Doctors, for example, might use one to protect their assets if someone sues them for malpractice. Some people will use foreign trusts to protect their assets from divorce proceedings.

Types of Asset Protection Trusts

When considering an asset protection trust, you should understand the different types.

Domestic Asset Protection Trust

Domestic asset protection trusts are set up within the United States. However, not all states currently allow them, and each has different rules.

Even though domestic asset protection trusts are irrevocable, you still have some control over the assets. This includes the ability to receive trust income, change the trustee and influence the trustees investment choices.

However, its important to understand that you cant set up a domestic asset protection trust after a lawsuit has been filed against you. In such a situation, the creditors would have access to any assets held outside the trust when the lawsuit was filed.

Foreign Asset Protection Trust

Sometimes called an offshore trust, a foreign asset protection trust is established outside the United States. Not all countries will help you establish one, but popular options include the Cayman Islands, the Cook Islands and the Bahamas.

These tend to be more expensive than a domestic asset protection trust, and if the assets were used for a crime, they wouldnt be protected from recapture.

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust

Medicaid asset protection trusts are established to help a person qualify to receive Medicaid. Because Medicaid eligibility is determined by your total assets, a Medicaid asset protection trust will reduce the assets used when determining eligibility.

Story continues

Be aware that you cant apply for Medicaid directly after establishing a Medicaid asset protection trust. The law requires five years between opening the trust and applying for benefits.

How To Set up an Asset Protection Trust

Setting up an asset protection trust is a complex task. It is best to hire an estate planning attorney to handle the work.

The first step is to choose whether you want a domestic or foreign asset protection trust and determine its location. Next, your attorney will draft the trust agreement, and youll pick the trustee. Once this has been done, youll need to fund the trust. Funding sources can include investments, cash, real estate or other property you own.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is an Asset Protection Trust?
International Welcome Center Executive Director Christina Hodgkinson poses for a portrait outside the center based in Grace Bible Church in New Franklin.

Earlier this month, the International Welcome Center in New Franklin announced an agreement with the city of Barberton and other partners to help resettle refugees in the Magic City.

The deal marks a significant advancement in the capabilities of the IWC, which began as an organization helping individuals who had already been resettled in the Akron area for three months or more.

Now, the IWC has become an affiliate of World Relief to help refugees on Day 1 of their journey from some of the most ravaged areas of the world.

The risks of helping the U.S.

Wadsworth resident Essa Adeeb served as a translator for U.S. and allied forces for 13 years in Afghanistan. He started when he was 17 and faced numerous life-threatening situations while working side-by-side with soldiers.

Mark Carpenter, an Ohio National Guard member who served in Afghanistan, said he and Adeeb found themselves at the front of a major battle in 2010, well ahead of other allied forces. They came under fire and had to take cover in a trench.

It was a dangerous situation that Adeeb faced again and again as an interpreter, Carpenter said.

"They are just as much a veteran as [Carpenter] and I," said Matt Hicks, a Marine and Department of Justice-accredited representative with the IWC.

Adeeb said he became so well known in the province in Afghanistan where he lived that he and his family had to flee for their lives from the Taliban. At one point during the flight, the road was blocked and Adeeb and his family had to cross a checkpoint.

From left, Christina Hodgkinson (green shirt), Nadera Adeeb (yellow dress), Noor Adeeb (standing in white shirt), Essa Adeeb (purple shirt), Hosnna Adeeb (child being held), and Matt Carpenter (back in gray shirt with a beard) at the Adeeb home in Wadsworth.

They were stopped and questioned, with Adeeb fearing he would be recognized. If he had, he and his family could have lost their lives.

Assistance from 'Grandma' and 'Grandpa'

Adeeb said in a recent interview that he had wanted to come to America since he was a child, something he discussed with Carpenter when they worked together.

Adeeb fled to Germany but didn't immediately get the go-ahead to come to the U.S. When he did, in January, Adeeb and his family arrived in Detroit in a blinding snowstorm.

Since then, the IWC has provided support for Adeeb and his wife and two daughters. The family found a home in Wadsworth, and he started a job last month as a translator for Akron Public Schools.

Two IWC volunteers have become so close to the Adeebs as they acclimate to their new home that they're referred to as "Grandpa" and "Grandma."

That level of commitment is an example of the type of help IWC tries to provide, said IWC Executive Director Christina Hodgkinson. Such help includes practical assistance from cooking classes to transportation  all the things that someone new to the U.S. needs.

From Day 91 to Day 1

Since 2019, the organization has been providing those services, but it was limited to "Day 91" assistance, Hodgkinson said. The announcement of its agreement with Barberton marks a new chapter, with the IWC now able to help from Day 1.

To get to that point, the organization submitted a detailed proposal with World Relief, a leading refugee resettlement organization founded in 1944. The proposal was reviewed and approved by the U.S. State Department, Hodgkinson said.

The program in Barberton is relatively small, with IWC hoping to help resettle 10 to 15 families this year, or about 50 people depending on family size, she said.

The organization hopes to accomplish that goal by September.

Hodgkinson said at a Barberton City Council meeting that the organization expects its first client to arrive in June.

In an email, Barberton Mayor William Judge said the city will provide a supporting role in the IWC agreement and noted that Barberton has helped with refugee resettlement in the past.

" this happened in Barberton in the mid-late 1990s, with Bosnians," the mayor said.

An Oct. 6, 1997, article in the Akron Beacon Journal reported that about 100 individuals had been resettled in Akron and Barberton from May to October of that year.

Distinguishing between refugees and illegal migration

The IWC announcement received some critical comments on social media, with individuals posting and commenting fears that the agreement would bring immigrants arriving illegally in the U.S. to the Magic City. Some cited a recent influx at the U.S.-Mexico border, which has recently seen a record number of migrants.

In December, for instance, the U.S. Border Patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border reported 250,000 migrant encounters, a record high. The influx has led to other records, according to an April 9 report from the U.S. Census Bureau. In it, the bureau estimated that the U.S. foreign-born population stood at 15%, a modern-day high. In Ohio, the estimate was much lower, at about 4.9%. The estimates includes both legal and illegal immigration, the Census Bureau said.

Hodgkinson said the IWC has had calls from individuals who link the organization's agreement to the recent surge.

When callers are told the IWC works with refugees who've followed the extensive legal path to come to the U.S., the callers' concerns usually dissipate, she said.

"The moment we  describe the difference most of time, people understand," she said.

She said the IWC agreement covers immigrants with refugee status who, like Adeeb, often spend years on paperwork before they are given the green light to enter the U.S.

"It's not a simple process when somebody comes here from another nation," said Hicks.

Welcoming new residents to Barberton

Barberton City Councilman Thomas Heitic said opposition expressed on social media may arise from confusion about who's coming to Barberton.

On Monday, IWC representatives, including founder Cary Duckett and Hodgkinson, explained the organization's mission at a Barberton City Council meeting.

Heitic stated his strong support for the program and the refugees IWC is helping.

In an interview prior to the council meeting, Heitic said refugees like Adeeb deserve support for the help they've given their new country. Heitic said he's talked with the mayor about the city forming a possible welcoming committee.

"They protected our interests, and it's our duty to protect them in return," he said. "How many lives did they potentially save while risking their own?"

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: IWC, World Relief team up to help resettle refugees in Barberton
The Iowa State Fair is older than Des Moines' tenure as state capital. Where did it start?

Just curious: This occasional feature in the Des Moines Register aims to answer your questions about Iowa. Is there some place, event, lore, history or cultural quirk you're just curious about? Email your question to the Des Moines Register's Bill Steiden at wsteiden@registermedia.com.

The Iowa State Fair will mark the 170th year since its inception when it opens this Aug. 8. That's longer than Des Moines has been Iowa's capital. Where did it start and when did it settle in to its current site?

What was the Iowa State Fair's first home?

It really didn't have one. It started in 1854 in Fairfield, then shifted to Muscatine, Oskaloosa, Iowa City, Dubuque, Burlington, Clinton, Keokuk and Cedar Rapids. It finally moved to Des Moines in 1878, "run down at the heel," according to a local newspaper, and $8,000 in debt.

How deep do the fair's east side roots go?

Iowa State Fair memorabilia sits on display in the Ralph H. Deets Historical Museum at the fairgrounds in Des Moines on Friday, April 28, 2023.

The Iowa State Fairgrounds between East University and Dean avenues along East 30th Street have been welcoming fairgoers for a very long time  138 years. But that's not the fair's original Des Moines site.

Today, the fair is an east side institution, and East Side Night, the first Friday, is always one of the best-attended of the fair's 11-day run. But when it first arrived in Des Moines, the fair set up shop on the west side.

Where was the fair's first Des Moines location?

The 60-acre site today is bounded by Grand Avenue on the south, Pleasant Avenue on the north, 38th Street on the east and 42nd Street on the west. Then known as Brown's Park, it today is a mainly residential section of the North of Grand neighborhood, with St. Augustin's Catholic Church and Plymouth Church anchoring its southwest corner. It also includes a four-block stretch of Ingersoll Avenue.

What were the original Des Moines fairground's features?

The current fairgrounds cover 445 acres, so the original Des Moines site was considerably smaller  less than one-seventh the size. But according to accounts in the Des Moines Register, no expense was spared in preparing it to house what would become one of the state's most treasured institutions.

Grand Avenue had to be extended about a mile to reach the new site, and a waterline connected to hydrants along the way, allowing the unpaved road to be sprinkled to keep the dust down. A railroad spur reached from the mainline along the Raccoon River through a ravine, roughly following the route of what is now Tonawanda Drive, with hourly runs from Winterset and Indianola.

Five main buildings went up on the site: the Floral and Fruit, Fine Arts, Vegetable, Mechanical and Power halls. A 4,000-seat stadium was the centerpiece, and a racetrack circled a pond known as White's Lake.

What was the first Des Moines fair like?

Cattle grazed the grounds and horses, pigs and sheep were on display, along with other examples of Iowa's bounty, including "big beets, monster pumpkins, mastodon gourds, elephant squashes and rhinoceros ears of corn."

But the fair, just as today, had much more to offer. There was a dizziness-inducing swing ride, vendors hawking peanuts and ice cream, a 25-cent sideshow, horse racing, displays of quilts, clothing, jams and jellies and demonstrations of the latest farm machinery and even a chemical firefighting apparatus that quenched a roaring blaze fueled by tar and benzine.

The Iowa Craft Beer Tent, margarita bars and Busch Light weren't a thing yet, but there was were Iowa wines on exhibition and it probably was possible to find purveyors of a quick, if illicit, nip.

And though the first butter cow had yet to be sculpted, there was a display of freshly made butter.

How did the fair do in Des Moines?

Some 30,000 people showed up for the fair's six-day first edition. The fair board reported receipts of almost $30,000 at the fair's end  enough to pay off the fair's debt and bank $1,000 after expenses.

Why did it move to the east side?

A bird's-eye view of the Iowa State Fair midway, circa 1940.

If the fair had a problem, it was that it was too successful. Quickly bursting at the seams, the fair remained in Brown's Park, then a mile west of the city limits, for just eight seasons before the Iowa Legislature and city built its now-permanent site.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Where and when did the Iowa State Fair get its start?
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Israels main cable provider stopped broadcasting Al Jazeera on Sunday, after the government voted to ban the Qatar-owned news outlet on national security grounds, ordering it to cease operations in the country immediately.

The network decried the decision as a criminal act, and suppression of the free press. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the outlet a Hamas mouthpiece, and accused it of incitement and an anti-Israeli bias.

It follows the passage of a sweeping law earlier this year that allows the government to temporarily shut down foreign news networks on national security grounds, prompting concern from international human rights and press advocacy organizations.

Israel has ordered Al Jazeera to close its offices in Israel and police reportedly raided an office space used by the network and confiscated equipment shortly after the ban went into effect. The Al Jazeera website was still accessible in Israel on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

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Dark day for media, press association says

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Sources: Foreign Press Association, AP, CNN

The Foreign Press Association said it was a dark day for the media, and that Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban [Al Jazeera]. Israel has had a tense relationship with Al Jazeera for years, in part because it is funded by the Qatari state, a key mediator in truce talks between Israel and Hamas and the temporary home of the latters political operation. In 2022, an Al Jazeera reporter, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed by Israeli fire, and since the Israel-Hamas war began several Al Jazeera journalists have been injured or killed by Israeli strikes, according to the outlet. Al Jazeera has had a rare on-the-ground vantage point on the crisis, as most other global news outlets have been unable to report from Gaza.

Foreign media law faces court challenge

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Source: The Jerusalem Post

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has challenged the law that enabled Israels Al Jazeera ban. They argue that Al Jazeeras pro-Palestinian slant isnt sufficient cause to block it. The network routinely includes the perspectives of Israeli Arabs and people in Arab countries who are also quoted by Israeli media, the group argued. While some Al Jazeera content could be considered incitement against Israel, the ACRI argued, it was no worse than Israeli medias incitement against Palestinians, The Jerusalem Post reported. A court is set to rule on the legal challenge after May 15.

Banning Al Jazeera could jeopardize ceasefire talks

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Sources: The Guardian, The Times of Israel, BBC

The ban, coupled with newly reported Israeli and Hamas strikes in Gaza and on the border with Egypt, could imperil the latest ceasefire negotiations. A Hamas delegation was in Cairo for talks Saturday and will reportedly return on Tuesday, according to Egyptian state media, raising some hopes for a deal. However an Israeli official told The Times of Israel the talks were near collapse and other officials downplayed any hint of progress. Meanwhile, the US CIA chief Bill Burns was on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with the Qatari prime minister. Israel also closed the main corridor for aid into Gaza after reporting Hamas strikes on the Kerem Shalom crossing.

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Israel orders shut down of Al Jazeera in the country, seizes equipment, in dark day for democracy

Israel shut down Al Jazeeras operations in the country and seized some of its communication equipment Sunday, prompting condemnation from the United Nations and rights groups over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus moves to restrict press freedoms.

The closure comes as ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Cairo show little sign of breakthrough after almost seven months of war, and international concern mounts over Israels expected military offensive in southern Gazas Rafah, where 1.5 million people are sheltering amid a devastating humanitarian crisis.

The Qatari-based news network, which has produced dogged, on the ground reporting of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, called the closure of its offices a criminal act, while critics said the move was a dark day for democracy and that it sets a concerning precedent for other international media outlets operating in Israel.

In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said: The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel.

The Israeli Ministry of Communications said Sunday it had closed the networks Jerusalem offices, and confiscated its communication equipment. In addition, the networks broadcasts on cable and satellite were stopped, and access to its websites was blocked, the ministry said.

Netanyahus government has long complained about Al Jazeeras operations, alleging anti-Israeli bias and accusing the network of being a mouthpiece for Hamas, and the closure follows the passage of a sweeping law allowing the government to ban foreign networks perceived as posing a threat to national security.

Israeli cable providers ceased carrying the Al Jazeera networks by late Sunday afternoon, CNN journalists in the country confirmed. Al Jazeeras cable channel in Israel now displays a message stating, In accordance with the governments decision, Al Jazeera channel broadcasts were stopped in Israel.

Ofir Gendelman, the prime ministers spokesperson to the Arab world, quoted Netanyahu as saying: Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against IDF soldiers. It is time to expel the mouthpiece of Hamas from our country.

Video obtained by CNN showed Israeli police accompanied by agents of the Israel Security Agency entering Al Jazeeras broadcasting position in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Al Jazeera said the Israeli cabinets decision infringed on the human right to access information.

It continued: Israels suppression of the free press to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists did not deter us from performing our duty. More than 140 Palestinian journalists have been martyred for the sake of the truth since the beginning of the war on Gaza.

Several of the networks journalists working in Gaza have been injured or killed since October 7.

Al Jazeera again denied Israels false allegations regarding our violation of the professional frameworks governing media work, and called on media and human rights organizations to condemn the Israeli authorities repeated attacks on the press and journalists.

Assault on freedom of the press

The move comes a month after Netanyahu vowed to shut down the television channel in the country following the passage of the new law, which placed a raft of restrictions on Al Jazeera in Israel.



Those restrictions included giving the government authority to take action against offices operated by the network and confiscate equipment and reporters press cards, as well as restricting its broadcasts and public access to its website.

Netanyahu said on X in early April that he intended to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the outlets activity in the country.

Al Jazeera has an office in Jerusalem, as well as in the West Bank and Gaza.

Since the start of the war, it has produced critical, on-the-ground coverage of Israeli military operations and their humanitarian impact on the embattled enclave.

The new law gave the prime minister and communications minister authority to order the temporary closure of foreign networks operating in Israel  powers that rights groups say could have far-reaching implications on international media coverage of the war in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Sunday condemned the closure of Al Jazeera. As we have said before, we stand firmly against any decision to roll back freedom of the press. A free press provides an invaluable service to ensure that the public is informed and engaged, Dujarric said.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel described the move as a dark day for democracy and a cause for concern for all supporters of a free press, while the Committee to Protect Journalists said it sets an extremely alarming precedent for restricting international media outlets working in Israel.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch condemned the decision as an assault on freedom of the press, according to a written statement shared by Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watchs Israel, and Palestine Director (HRW) on Sunday.

Rather than trying to silence reporting on its atrocities in Gaza, the Israeli government should stop committing them, Shakir said.

The move to close the network comes amid mounting concerns from press freedom groups about causalities among journalists operating in war zones there and what they describe as obstruction of journalistic work by Israeli authorities.

As of May 3, 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists preliminary investigations showed at least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed since the war began.

The annual Press Freedom Index, released Friday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the war in Gaza saw a record number of violations against journalists and media since October.

Palestine  the term the organization uses for the Palestinian territories  is ranked 157th out of 180 countries and territories on the Press Freedom Index, and its the deadliest region for journalists, according to RSF. Israel is ranked 101, slipping four places from 2023.

The move to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel comes as negotiators met in Cairo on Saturday, in a bid to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Negotiators have made progress on the technical aspects of a potential deal, but two Israeli sources say it could take a week to finalize the deal itself. Qatar has played a key role in ceasefire negotiations in the on-going war.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Simone McCarthy, Eyad Kourdi, Hadas Gold, Eugenia Yosef, Hamdi Alkhshali and Richard Roth contributed reporting.

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TEL AVIV, Israel  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera, escalating Israels long-running feud with the channel at a time when cease-fire negotiations with Hamas  mediated by Qatar  are gaining steam.

According to a statement from Netanyahus office, the decision goes into effect immediately.

It could include closing the channels offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channels reports and blocking its websites, among other measures, the statement said.

Israel announced it would be shutting down Al Jazeeras offices in its borders. REUTERS

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision.

Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against soldiers, Netanyahu said in the statement. Its time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.

The extraordinary move is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet, although its government has taken action against individual reporters in the past. The statement from Netanyahus office said that under a law passed last month, the government can take action against a foreign channel seen as harming the country.

There was no immediate comment from Al Jazeera headquarters in the Qatari capital of Doha.

But several Al Jazeera correspondents went on air to give their understanding of how the decision would affect the channel.

An Al Jazeera correspondent on its Arabic service said the order would affect the broadcasters operations in Israel and in east Jerusalem, where it has been doing live shots for months since the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza.

It would not affect Al Jazeeras operations in the Palestinian territories, the correspondent said.

Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against soldiers, Netanyahu said in the statement. Its time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country. AP

Another correspondent, on Al Jazeeras English channel, said the order barred the channel from holding offices or operating them in Israel. He said the broadcasters websites would be blocked, though they were still accessible by Sunday afternoon in Jerusalem.

The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.

Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal.

Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile.

The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.

Shortly after the governments decision, Cabinet members from the National Unity party criticized its timing, saying it may sabotage the efforts to finalize the negotiations and stems from political considerations. The party said that in general, it supported the decision.

Al Jazeera will continue to operate its Palestinian offices. REUTERS

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias.

Relations took a major downturn nearly two years ago when Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

Those relations further deteriorated following the outbreak of Israels war against Hamas on Oct. 7, when the militant group carried out a cross-border attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

In December, an Israeli strike killed an Al Jazeera cameraman as he reported on the war in southern Gaza. The channels bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, was injured in the same attack.

In 2017, Israel threatened to revoke an Al Jazeera reporters credentials after an interview surfaced in which the reporter expressed support for Palestinian resistance.

An order barring a broadcaster is seen as an extraordinary measure by the Israeli government, which broadly allows media outlets to operate in the country. However, the government has in the past revoked press cards issued to individual correspondents over their coverage.

The country has a critical and outspoken local media scene, though Israel views some international outlets as harboring bias against it.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres. Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas.

Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatars government, did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment.

While Al Jazeeras English operation often resembles the programming found on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region. It similarly came under harsh U.S. criticism during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Mideast governments.

Those include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a yearslong boycott of Doha by the countries amid a yearslong political dispute that ended in 2021.

Sundays development immediately recalled Egypts shutdown of Al Jazeera after the countrys 2013 military takeover following mass protests against President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. The channel covered many of the Brotherhoods protests live, to the anger of Egypts military government. At the time, Egyptian security forces raided a luxury hotel the channel operated out of, arresting its correspondents.

Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed received 10-year prison sentences, but were later released in 2015 amid widespread international criticism.

Egypt considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group and accused both Qatar and Al Jazeera of supporting it.
Dont expect summer break to lower the political temperature among American college students protesting the Israel-Gaza war.

While police have shut down some encampments ahead of graduation ceremonies  moves that temporarily dismantled the most eye-catching platforms for pro-Palestinian messages and criticism of college presidents  activists at some schools say theyre planning to carry on well past graduation.

I don't have any expectation that things are going to slow down, Ember McCoy, a doctoral candidate and demonstrator at the University of Michigan, said in an interview from an encampment in the heart of the school's Ann Arbor campus. "Both locally, state, and nationally, there is valid and continued pressure on politicians to respond to Palestine  and there's a lot that can happen between now and November that I hope folks are paying attention to."

Protests are almost certain to continue dividing Democrats and serve as fodder for former President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers suggesting that President Joe Biden is presiding over a lawless America in the run-up to the November election.

The pressure on campuses also ensures university presidents will stay within the scrutiny of Republicans on Capitol Hill, where multiple committee chairs are launching probes into research grants and the tax-exempt status of some colleges. Three school presidents, including the University of Michigans, are expected to testify later this month.



Like many other institutions, Michigan faces a standoff amid its graduation ceremonies, some of which were interrupted on Saturday: Last month, the states ACLU chapter denounced a draft school disruptive activity policy administrators proposed after protests interrupted a March honors convocation ceremony.

Demonstrators from a broad coalition of student-led groups say they will not leave their encampment until the school divests its finances from companies that profit off of the human rights violations committed by Israel, and aid in the apartheid system maintained against Palestinians. Officials quickly rebuffed the idea.

That type of pressure has school leaders preparing for a long haul.

I don't think anybody is feeling tremendous relief, Barbara Snyder, who served as president of Case Western University from 2007 to 2020, said in an interview.

It is true that our campuses have fewer students during the summer term, so that presents an opportunity to take a breath, said Snyder, who is now president of the Association of American Universities, a consortium of top research institutions. That doesn't mean  and I don't think any of our presidents or chancellors think it means  that this is over or that these demonstrations might not continue even during the summer.



The presidential nominating conventions, still months away, promise to feature renewed dissent.

The national College Democrats of America organization rebuked the White House for taking "the mistaken route of a bear hug strategy" for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a "cold shoulder strategy for its own base" and Americans who want to end the war.

It's a very complicated situation and unlike anything that I think we've ever faced before, Snyder said.

The biggest difference is that the protests in the 60s were characterized by the students against the national administration, she said. In this case, we have a situation where students are deeply divided against each other in some cases. That's very difficult for college and university leaders to deal with.

At the University of Utah, demonstrators walked out on President Taylor Randall during a commencement ceremony after he urged graduates to express their views in a dignified, peaceful, and legal manner following confrontations where riot police cleared a campus encampment and arrested roughly 20 people.

Some students at the University of Vermont have called to cancel this months convocation if the school does not break off a scheduled commencement speech from United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The speech was nixed Friday night.

At Cal Poly Humboldt, an institution that officials closed through the end of the semester despite entrenched protests, commencement ceremonies will be broken into smaller off-campus events.

Some schools are still trying to figure out how to recover from recent protests and move forward.



We were a little less prepared for it. And I think the administration was a little less prepared for how divisive it was and how divisive it would get, University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker said in an interview.

"In this situation, maybe for the first time ever, we have students on both sides with very strong views who believe that one side is trying to eliminate the other one," said Acker, a Democrat and former Homeland Security attorney-adviser who was elected to his post in 2018. "That can really come back to bite an institution."

Michigan officials recruited volunteers to deescalate anticipated demonstrations during a Saturday graduation ceremony set to be staged inside one of the planets largest stadiums. The schools goal, it said in a recent campus announcement, is to limit substantial disruption.

The school did not respond to questions on whether officials would order demonstrators to disperse from the campus square, or authorize police to forcibly remove them. Michigan President Santa Ono was unavailable for an interview, a university spokesperson said.

It doesn't matter one way or another to us. Were staying here, Ryan Mersol-Barg, a Michigan senior, said in an interview.

There is a genocide going on in Gaza and there's nothing that will deter us from doing everything we can to end it," he said. This movement is not a flash in the pan, but it's here to stay and we'll stay until we achieve divestment as happened with the South African anti-apartheid movement in the 80s and so many others.

Even when the tensions subside and protesters eventually leave, plenty of work will remain, said Acker, the Michigan regent.

We have to use this moment, as difficult as it is and as painful as these conversations can be, as a teachable moment for our students, he said.
Israel and Hamas trade blame amid little sign of breakthrough in ceasefire and hostage talks

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he cannot accept Hamas demands to end the war in Gaza as the two sides traded blame amid fresh ceasefire talks that showed little sign of a breakthrough.

Discussions are thought to have centered around a new framework, proposed by Cairo, that calls for the militant group to release hostages kidnapped from Israel in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza.

A Hamas delegation has now left Egypt after the latest round of gruelling months of talks, saying in-depth and serious discussions took place.

There had been some cause for optimism, with Egyptian media citing an Egyptian official as saying there had been significant progress in negotiations. But the latest comments from Israel and Hamas show how far apart the two remain.

On Sunday, Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the group was still keen to reach an agreement with mediators but that any proposal would have to guarantee Israeli withdrawal and cease fighting in the enclave permanently.

He reiterated that the delegation carried positive and flexible positions aimed at stopping the aggression against our people, which is a fundamental and logical position that lays the foundation for a more stable future.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh again demanded Israel withdraw from Gaza. - Vahid Salemi/AP

However, referring to the Israeli government, Haniyeh said that the world has become a hostage to an extremist government, which has a huge number of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza, and accused its leadership of seeking to sabotage the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

Netanyahu in turn accused Hamas of making unacceptable demands in the Cairo talks, adding that Israel had demonstrated a willingness to go a long way in the negotiations.

He said Hamass demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza was out of the question.

Hamas remained entrenched in its extreme positions, chief among them the demand to withdraw all our forces from the strip, end the war, and leave Hamas intact, he said. The State of Israel cannot accept this.

We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding settlements, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country.

Israel will not agree to Hamass demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved, Netanyahu said.

Later on Sunday, an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations told CNN that Egypt had received Hamass response to a truce proposal and relayed it to the Israeli side.

Several alternatives and scenarios were proposed to overcome the main point of contention related to ending the war, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to address the media.

The source also confirmed that the Hamas delegation is set to leave Cairo for Doha on Sunday evening to conduct internal consultations on what was discussed during the round of negotiations in Cairo.

Looming offensive in Rafah

Amid the tense ongoing negotiations is an expected ground offensive on the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be sheltering after fleeing fighting in the north.

The US has sought to increase the pressure on Hamas to accept the deal on the table, while also trying to prevent the Israeli military from moving towards Rafah. Most recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held another round of high-stakes talks in Israel on Wednesday.

However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on Sunday to expect intense action in Rafah in the near future, and in other places all over the strip.

Galant entered the enclave Sunday morning, according to the Defense Ministry, where he told soldiers that Israel was committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages.

We recognize alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to go to any outline agreement with us, the meaning of this - action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the near future, Gallant said.

We are just before an action, were in high readiness, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) knows what to do, we are prepared for things and it will encompass the entire strip from north to south, all the area and within it Rafah.

On Sunday, six Palestinians  including two women and three children  were killed in an airstrike on Rafah, according to a medical source at Abu Yousuf Al-Najaf Hospital.

The source said the airstrike struck a house belonging to the Al-Attar family in the Yabna camp in central Rafah.

A local journalist who was in the hospital told CNN that the Palestinians killed in the airstrike arrived dismembered.

Video seen by CNN showed a building being demolished while civilians dug through the rubble to find injured people. Another video obtained by CNN shows the dead body of what appears to be a boy with a fatal head injury bleeding.

Rocket barrage near Kerem Shalom

Meanwhile, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing to humanitarian trucks after it was hit by at least 10 rockets on Sunday morning, according to the IDF.

The crossing has been central to getting aid into Gaza.

It wasnt immediately clear where exactly the rockets had landed in the area or if there were any injuries or fatalities. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it had targeted the crossing with rockets.

Following the rocket barrage, Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) blamed Hamas aid not reaching the besieged strip.

In a post on X, COGAT said: Hamas will do anything to prevent aid from reaching the people of Gaza. Over the last few days and in separate incidents: Hamas shot mortars at the corridor for humanitarian purposes, disrupted aid from traveling from southern to northern Gaza, and prevented residents from receiving humanitarian aid.

A CNN stringer in Rafah, Gaza said that people there had become fearful as immediately after rockets hit Kerem Shalom, artillery fire could be heard east of the city as Israeli jets struck unspecified targets.

CNNs Eugenia Yosef, Tareq El-Helou and Kareem Khadder contributed to this story.

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Israeli soldiers drive a tank at a staging ground near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

JERUSALEM (AP)  The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after in-depth and serious discussions, the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected. After earlier signs of progress, the outlook appeared to dim as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to resist international pressure to halt the war.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas wasn't serious about a deal and warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza " after Hamas attacked Israel's main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid, killing three soldiers. Israels military said it believed Hamas was targeting soldiers massed on the Gaza border in preparation for a possible Rafah invasion. Hamas said it targeted soldiers in the area.

But Israeli media reported that CIA chief William Burns, a main mediator in the talks, would meet with Netanyahu on Monday. An official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Burns was traveling to meet the prime minister of Qatar, which along with Egypt has been an intermediary dealing with Hamas. It was not clear whether a subsequent trip to Israel that had been planned would happen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.

Israel didnt send a delegation to the latest talks. Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went for discussions in Qatar, where the group has a political office, and will return to Cairo for further negotiations on Tuesday.

Another threat to talks came as Israel ordered the local offices of Qatars Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Netanyahu, under pressure from hard-liners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a cease-fire deal, calling the key Hamas demands extreme  including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war. That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that triggered the fighting, he said.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a statement earlier said the militant group was serious and positive about the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority.

But Israel's government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid.

Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another. The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launched at the crossing in southern Israel and said its fighter jets later struck the source. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 soldiers remained hospitalized. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian workers. He also said Israel this week denied him entry to Gaza for a second time.

The closing of Kerem Shalom came shortly after the head of the U.N. World Food Program asserted full-blown famine in devastated northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on aid entering the territory. It was not a formal famine declaration.

In the full NBC interview, WFP chief Cindy McCain said famine was moving its way south in Gaza and that Israel's efforts to allow in more aid were not enough. We have right now a mass on the outside border, about enough trucks and enough food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to get that in," she said.

Gaza's vast humanitarian needs put pressure on cease-fire talks. The proposal that Egyptian mediators put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Netanyahu claimed that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but "will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved. That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas. Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the U.S. and others about the danger to civilians.

In a fiery speech for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.

An Israeli strike Sunday on a house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, all from the same family, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital. Another Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least five people, according to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Israel's military said it struck a Hamas command center in central Gaza. It didn't mention casualties.

The Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Netanyahu is under pressure from some hostages' families to make a deal to end the war and get hostages freed.

Israeli's air and ground offensive has killed over 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who don't differentiate between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up a majority of those killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.

___

Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Jack Jeffery and Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
For the fourth year in a row, United Way has honored Athene with its Spirit of Central Iowa award, further cementing the retirement services companys status as a corporate leader in community involvement and philanthropy.

West Des Moines-based Athene is a relative newcomer to the metro; its purchase of Aviva USA closed in October 2013. Yet Athene is a six-time winner of the Spirit of Central Iowa award, bestowed for exceptional commitment to our community through giving, advocating and volunteering.

The United Way of Central Iowa presented the award last week at its annual Live United luncheon, where Athene was praised for its 2023 United Way campaign total of $2.5 million in donations, a 30% increase over 2022, with 90% of employees participating. In addition, 374 staffers volunteered at nonprofits during United Ways Day of Action.

Grant Kvalheim, CEO and president of Athene USA, speaks during a dedication of the Athene North Shore Recreation Area at Easter Lake Park on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Des Moines.

Athene employees also collect books for United Ways annual Stuff the Bus drive, donating 92,426 books for preschool and elementary-age children since 2018. This years drive continues through the end of the week, and Grant Kvalheim, CEO and president of Athene USA, predicts the cumulative total will top 105,000 books.

But thats just one aspect of the companys community giving, as evidenced by a flurry of activity in the past few weeks:

On Thursday, Kvalheim was on hand for dedication of the Athene North Shore Recreation Area, at Polk County Conservations Easter Lake Park, in southeastern Des Moines. Athene contributed $1 million as the lead donor to help finance one of the most universally accessible parks in the country.

In late April, Athene announced a $500,000 gift to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity for its capital campaign, which, among other initiatives, will help finance construction of two housing developments. Athene employees have volunteered hundreds of hours on Habitat for Humanity building projects.

For the fourth year, Athene partnered with the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce on the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit, April 18 and 19, which focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by minority entrepreneurs and featured a pitch competition.

And another prominent example of the companys philanthropy in its hometown of West Des Moines is scheduled to open this fall: the Athene Pedestrian Bridge, which will cross the Raccoon River, connecting Raccoon River Park and Walnut Woods State Park. Athene donated $750,000 toward the project.

Athene donated $750,000 to build a pedestrian bridge over the Raccoon River, connecting Walnut Woods State Park with Raccoon River Park, as shown in this rendering.

The needs of children and families in central Iowa are growing

The United Way of Central Iowas annual luncheon each year highlights inspiring examples of individuals, nonprofits and companies that are doing great work to help our neighbors.

But the program also includes presentation of sobering data from the organizations annual community report. According to this years report, for example, 41% of central Iowa renters are considered housing-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on rent. Another startling finding: 57% of youth in Iowa dont receive the mental health services they need.

And some key trend lines are moving in the wrong direction, the report found:

As the Registers reporting has documented, use of metro food pantries has set all-time highs in the past year. Among central Iowa children under 18, 8.9%, or nearly 15,000, are considered food insecure, and 27% of those children arent eligible for nutrition assistance.

The readiness for kindergarten of central Iowa children has dropped 14% in the past six years.

The percentage of central Iowa youth who report having a caring adult in their life has declined from 90% to 75% since 2014.

Central Iowa food pantries have reported record use in the past year.

Athene employees 'find an extra gear' to help the community

These growing challenges make individual and corporate community engagement all the more critical.

In a phone interview Friday, Kvalheim praised the Des Moines metro as a community that really tries to pull together and create opportunities for everyone. And with 1,500 Athene employees who live and work here, I feel like we have a responsibility to try to do our part to make Des Moines even better.

Athene, the country's largest annuities provider, focuses its philanthropy on foundational areas such as education, environmental sustainability, human services and health and well-being. Among other major initiatives: It has provided $1.875 million to the Great Outdoors Foundation to support water quality and habitat restoration, and $1 million will support the ICON Water Trails project. Its also committed $1 million over three years to ChildServe, which is planning a new facility to increase the number of children it can help.

As for community involvement, Kvalheim is quick to credit his employees for their commitment to local causes and their near-exponential growth in voluntarism.

I think weve got a great team of employees that work hard on behalf of the company every day, he said. But they seem to find an extra gear when its doing things in the community, and I think thats a great part of our culture.

Kvalheim says Athene has grown its community involvement in part by helping employees find and pursue their own passions. Hes personally drawn to supporting early childhood education, motivated by the research showing that a child whos proficient at reading by third grade has a much better chance of graduating from high school. Hes also appreciative of Athenes incredibly active veterans group, which conducts semiannual veterans cemetery cleanups.

But he described Athene at Work, a partnership with Easterseals to hire neurodiverse individuals, as the single program that Im most proud of. The first phase of the program involves intense training, and then participants are placed in professional roles.

I think thats a totally unique program in the state of Iowa, he said, and it underscores Athenes commitment to inclusive hiring.

At the United Ways luncheon this year and last, hes joked (kind of) that he wants another company to step up its efforts and win the Spirit of Central Iowa award next year. But he doesnt sound ready to cede Athenes community leadership role anytime soon. The companys three United Way campaign co-chairs already have put together their plan for this summer, and its kind of next level, he said. Im pretty excited to see what we can do this year.

The gauntlet is thrown. I hope many central Iowa companies will take up his challenge, for our communitys sake.

Carol Hunter is the Registers executive editor. She wants to hear your questions, story ideas or concerns at 515-284-8545, chunter@registermedia.com, or on Twitter: @carolhunter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What drives Athene's employee and corporate community involvement?
(Bloomberg) -- Israel closed the Kerem Shalom humanitarian crossing into Gaza on Sunday after a rocket barrage was fired by Hamas, as weekend talks on a potential truce broke up inconclusively.

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The status of the talks was unclear after the latest round in Cairo: Hamas officials said their negotiators had returned to Qatar to consult with the groups political leadership. CIA Director William Burns was also leaving Cairo for consultations in Qatar, Reuters reported.

Israel and Hamas have been negotiating for weeks through mediators toward a potential truce that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. At the same time, Israel has threatened to launch an operation in Rafah, where it says Hamas battalions remain intact, and where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are sheltering.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to have lunch at the White House on Monday with King Abdullah II of Jordan, underscoring the broader desire to contain the nearly seven-month conflict.

On the ground, the Israeli army said about 10 projectiles were fired at Kerem Shalom, a corridor for humanitarian aid transfers that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited last week. Israel has been criticized for not allowing enough aid into the Gaza Strip, where US officials say a famine is deepening.

Hamas military wing claimed responsibility for the attack. Three Israeli soldiers were killed in the barrage and three others were seriously injured, the military reported. Israel says it isnt restricting aid into Gaza.

The attack came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is prepared to temporarily halt the war in Gaza to gain the release of the hostages held there, but wont agree to the Hamas demand to end the war completely. Israels defense minister warned that its forces continue to prepare for a potential assault on Rafah in southern Gaza.

Netanyahus cabinet on Sunday also approved a decision to shut down Al Jazeeras broadcasts out of Israel under a recently-passed law, drawing condemnation from the Qatar-based network and the Foreign Press Association.

Read more: Netanyahus Cabinet Votes to Shut Al Jazeeras Israel Operations

Netanyahu doubled down on his position on Sunday.

We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding settlements, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country, Netanyahu said in a statement on Sunday. Hamas, not Israel, is preventing a deal, he added.

Giving in to Hamas demands would be a terrible defeat for Israel, a huge victory for Hamas and Iran, and would project a terrible weakness to Israels friends and enemies alike, Netanyahu said.

This weakness would distance any further peace agreement, Netanyahu said, in an apparent reference to potential normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia.

Read more: US-Saudi Defense Pact Not Possible Without Israel Deal, FT Says

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, brought seriousness and positivity to the current talks.

Netanyahu, he said, wanted to invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.

Hamas is still keen to reach a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the withdrawal of Israel forces and achieves a serious exchange deal of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, Haniyeh added.

In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he sees indications that Hamas doesnt want a deal, which would open the door to intense military activity in Rafah.

IDF forces are ready for a powerful operation all over Gaza and especially in the Rafah area, he said in a post on X.

Earlier on Sunday, an air strike blamed by Lebanon on Israel killed four civilians and wounded two others in a village in south Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah to fire rockets back across the border.

Israeli warplanes targeted Mays al-Jabal, causing massive destruction, Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported. Theres was no comment from Israel.

Tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese have fled their homes near the borders due to cross-border fighting. That erupted around the time Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and triggering the war in Gaza thats destroyed much of the enclave and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. More than 100 Israelis captured by Hamas are still being held in Gaza, although its unclear how many are still alive.

(Updates with Biden-Abdullah meeting in third paragraph, Israel says soldiers killed in Hamas attack in sixth.)

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Israel 'will stand alone' if need be, Netanyahu asserts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers an address during the opening ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem. Koby Gideon/GPO/dpa

Despite international criticism over the Gaza war, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel "will stand alone" and defend itself alone if need be.

In remarks late Sunday marking Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, Netanyahu said: "In the terrible Holocaust, there were great world leaders who stood by idly; therefore, the first lesson of the Holocaust is: If we do not defend ourselves, nobody will defend us. And if we need to stand alone, we will stand alone."

Israel has been waging war against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7.

This was triggered by the unprecedented massacre of more than 1,200 people killed by terrorists from Hamas and other groups in Israel.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. In view of the high number of civilian casualties and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel has been criticized internationally.

Israel's harsh warfare has recently caused a certain degree of alienation even among its closest ally, the United States.

US President Joe Biden regularly calls for more aid deliveries for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip.

He has urgently warned the Israeli prime minister not to send the military into the southern city of Rafah in an expected Israeli offensive before hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people crowded together there have been brought to safety.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers an address during the opening ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem. Koby Gideon/GPO/dpa
Israels defence minister has threatened an imminent invasion of Rafah where 1.5 million Gazans are sheltering if a temporary ceasefire agreement is not reached.

Amid faltering peace talks in Egypt, Yoav Gallant warned his government was preparing to launch a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.

Negotiations stalled on Sunday after Hamas said it would reject any deal that failed to end the war in the Palestinian territory.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said he cannot accept Hamas demands for an end to the war or the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza.

Israel claims Rafah, in south Gaza, is the last stronghold of Hamas, with four unharmed battalions remaining in the area, in addition to the remnants of other dismantled battalions which have fled since the ground invasion.

Mr Netanyahu has been urged by his allies, including the US, to abandon plans to launch an offensive on Rafah to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israeli armoured vehicles gather and wait at the Gaza border fence - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Speaking to troops on Sunday, Mr Gallant said that the invasion was imminent.

We have clear goals for this war: we are committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages we have identified alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to go for any agreement framework with us. What this means is an operation in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the very near future, he said.

On Sunday, a barrage of at least 10 projectiles was fired from Rafah towards the Kerem Shalom crossing, once a key entry point for the likes of food and aid, but currently closed for security reasons. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming it had targeted Israeli soldiers in the area.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators had been working alongside the head of the CIA, William Burns, in Cairo over the weekend to move forward a ceasefire agreement though Israel did not send a delegation.

Yoav Gallant with troops in central Gaza on Sunday - Shachar Yurman/Israeli Defense Ministry

Mr Netanyahu on Sunday said Israel has been very generous in its offer for a potential deal but added that Hamas still held to its extreme positions.

He continued: First and foremost the withdrawal of our forces from the Strip, the conclusion of the war and leaving Hamas intact.

Mr Netanyahu has said he is willing to pause fighting for 40 days to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas. But he has ruled out an end to the war until all his aims are achieved.

Thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against Netanyahu and call for the release of the hostages - AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Nearly seven months into the war, less than half the 250 or more hostages taken on October 7 have been released. Many are believed to have already died in captivity.

Hamass political head, Ismail Haniyeh, said the terror group would only do a deal that would secure Israels full withdrawal from Gaza, in addition to the hostages being exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Mr Haniyeh blamed Mr Netanyahu for the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

The war was sparked on October 7 when thousands of Hamas militia invaded Israel by land, air and sea, killing 1,200 mostly civilians and taking at least 250 hostages in the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. Since then, Israels retaliatory bombardment has killed over 34,000 according to Hamas.

Relatives of soldiers killed in the conflict demonstrate near the prime minister's office in Jerusalem - MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

We are not willing to accept a situation in which Hamass battalions leave their tunnels, reestablish control over the Strip, rebuild their military industries and go back to threatening the citizens of Israel in the communities of the Western Negev, the cities of the south and throughout the country, added Mr Netanyahu. In such a case, the next October 7 would only be a matter of time. Hamas would be able to realise its promise to carry out repeated massacres, rapes and abductions.

Protests swept across Israel over the weekend. Thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to demand a ceasefire and the release of hostages, calling for the resignation of Mr Netanyahu. But on Sunday, a counter-protest was undertaken by the families of the fallen Israeli soldiers, which is now nearing 400, calling for the invasion of Rafah in a bid to secure the end of Hamas.

The Heroic families forum, made up of the families of soldiers who have died since October 7, marched to Mr Netanyahus office in Jerusalem with banners reading the road to victory is via Rafah as calls for the continuation of the war contrasted with the ceasefire calls in Tel Aviv. Several ministers joined the protest including Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Right-wing national security minister and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister.

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Palestinian Orthodox Christian women share the light of candles during the Easter mass at the church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City on May 5, 2024.

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, May 5. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Monday, May 6.

Three Israeli soldiers were killed in a rocket attack claimed by the Hamas armed wing, near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, where Palestinian health officials said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday.

Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the area of the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. Other crossings remained open.

Hamas' armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli army base by the crossing and its media quoted a source close to the group saying the commercial crossing was not the target, according to Reuters. The Times of Israel reported that Palestinian medics said Israeli airstrikes killed 16 people in Rafah just hours after the Hamas attack.

Sunday's attack came amid the latest impasse in Gaza cease-fire talks. Hamas negotiators maintained their demand for an end to the war, Palestinian officials said. But on Sunday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a speech for the country's annual Holocaust Memorial Day that no international pressure "will stop Israel from defending itself."

"If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone," Netanyahu added.

Israel began its war in response to the Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages were taken, according to Israeli tallies. More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 have been wounded, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Parts of Gaza in 'full-blown famine': World Food Program director Cindy McCain says crisis worsening

Developments:

 Hamas called the Israeli decision on Al Jazeera a "blatant violation of freedom of the press, and a repressive and retaliatory measure against Al Jazeeras professional role in exposing the crimes of the occupation."

 Pro-Palestinian rallies and protests continued to sweep across the U.S., with dozens of arrests and sometimes violent clashes with counterdemonstrators.

Pro-Palestinian protests stretch on after arrests, police crackdowns: Latest updates

Israel orders shut down of Al Jazeera's offices in the country

Arab media giant Al Jazeera said Sunday it would "pursue every legal step" to continue operations in Israel, hours after Netanyahu's Cabinet voted to shut down the Qatari-based global outlet's offices in Israel until the war in Gaza ends.

Netanyahu, who has long accused Al Jazeera of bias toward Hamas, said the cabinet determined the outlet was a threat to national security. The decision comes amid concerns that cease-fire talks were failing and that an Israeli invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah is coming "in the near future."

Israeli authorities raided an East Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its office, and video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment. Israeli satellite and cable television providers suspended Al Jazeera broadcasts.

"Al Jazeera correspondents have harmed the security of Israel and incited against (Israeli) soldiers," Netanyahu said. "The time has come to eject Hamas's mouthpiece from our country."

Al Jazeera rejected those claims as a "dangerous and ridiculous lie" that puts its journalists at risk. The network is funded by the Qatari government, which has been a key mediator in cease-fire talks. Like many media outlets around the world, however, Al Jazeera has been critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza.

"The Israeli PM and his military... wanted everything to happen and be concealed without anybody reporting or talking about it," said Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmoud.

Talks 'near collapse,' Rafah invasion likely 'in the near future'

CIA chief William Burns is traveling to Doha from Cairo for an emergency meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani amid flagging negotiations for a hostage release and temporary truce deal, multiple media outlets reported, citing sources familiar with the talks. The goal is to exert "maximum pressure" on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiating despite indications the talks are "near collapse," Reuters reported, citing an official briefed on the talks.

Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages. Netanyahu, however, warned that Israel would make no deal that would free hostages in exchange for ending the war, saying that would keep Hamas in power and pose a threat to Israel. Israel is willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas-led militants, he said.

Netanyahu, Hamas leader Haniyeh blame each other as talks falter

Israel has shown willingness to negotiate a cease-fire while Hamas remains "entrenched in its extreme positions," including a demand that Israel remove all forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power. "Israel cannot accept that," Netanyahu said.

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh said the militants remain committed to a "comprehensive" cease-fire but said it must guarantee Israels withdrawal from Gaza. He blamed Netanyahu for the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties."

Israel calls for global support on eve of Holocaust Rememberance Day

Israel shut down humanitarian aid shipments through the Karem Abu Salem border crossing after a nearby rocket attack injured several people, Israeli officials said. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Hamas attacked from a civilian-populated area and, noting that Monday is Holocaust Remembrance Day, called the attack a "harsh reminder of the Nazi terrorist organization Hamas's methods."

"The world must wake up and support Israel in its mission to eradicate Hamas," Katz wrote on social media.

World Food Program director Cindy McCain parts of Gaza in 'full-blown famine'

Cindy McCain says Gaza now dealing with famine

Gaza, which has dealth with tens of thousands of war deaths along with the destruction of much of its infrasture, now has "full blown famine" to contend with, says Cindy McCain, director of the World Food Program. Her remarks are not an official declaration of famine, which is a technical designation spearheaded by the United Nations. The U.N. has said famine is "imminent" in Gaza since mid-March. But McCain, in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press," joined Samantha Power, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development, in making the claim. Power was the first to make the claim during congressional testimony last month.

Turkey cuts $7 billion in Israel trade over 'uncompromising attitude' in Gaza war

"There is famine  full-blown famine  in the north and it's moving its way south," McCain said. "It's horror. It's so hard to look at and it's so hard to hear."

 Riley Beggin

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gaza war update: Israel retaliates after deadly Hamas rocket attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his Cabinet has unanimously voted to close broadcaster Al Jazeera's operations in Israel.

The move came after Israeli lawmakers recently approved a new media law - widely referred to as the "Al Jazeera law" - that gives the government powers to ban foreign broadcasters if they are deemed a risk to state security.

Netanyahu announced the Cabinet decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in which he called Al Jazeera "the hate channel."

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said on Sunday that he had signed the closure order and that it would be implemented immediately.

According to Israeli reports, this means that offices in Israel could be closed, broadcasting equipment confiscated, the station removed from cable and satellite television channels and its website blocked.

The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera, which is based in the Gulf emirate of Qatar and has a wide reach in the Arab world, of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera has reported extensively on the catastrophic situation in the Palestinian territory and shown images of death and destruction that are rarely seen on Israeli television stations. The channel also regularly shows videos of attacks on Israeli soldiers by Hamas' military arm, the Qassam Brigades.

The channel has rejected allegations of bias and, in the past, accused Netanyahu of spreading "new lies and inflammatory slanders" against the network.

Al Jazeera has also accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists on several occasions.

Netanyahu has accused Al Jazeera of "damaging Israel's security, actively participating in the massacre on October 7 and inciting against Israeli soldiers."

Al-Jazeera was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Doha. It was one of the first Arab TV stations to publish critical reports on the region and quickly gained popularity.

The Israeli government's efforts to ban Al Jazeera have drawn criticism from some of the country's most prominent allies, including the United States and Germany.

The US State Department expressed irritation of the decision and reiterated support for the free press all over the world.

A German Foreign Office spokesman also criticized the so-called Al Jazeera law last month: "A free and diverse press landscape is the cornerstone of a liberal democracy."

The lettering and logo of the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera can be seen on the company's premises. Tim Brakemeier/dpa
Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (C-L) hugs his daughter during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah in January. File Photo by Ibrahim Al-Khatib/UPI

May 5 (UPI) -- The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raided the Jerusalem offices of Al Jazeera and shuttered the news broadcaster as critics blasted the move as a blow to press freedom.

"The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu said on social media. Netanyahu thanked Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi for his efforts in shuttering the network.

Karhi shared a video on social media that showed inspectors from the Communications Ministry backed by Israeli Police raiding the offices and confiscating the broadcaster's equipment.

Netanyahu's regime has been critical of Al Jazeera's coverage of his war in Gaza and previously called the network a "mouthpiece" for Hamas, the Palestinian militia that Israel and its allies consider to be a terrorist group.

The decision to raid the Qatar-based Al Jazeera came after the Knesset passed a bill in April that would allow the government to temporarily close any foreign media outlets. The move could strain relations with Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator throughout Israel's war.

Al Jazeera, in a news article covering its own closure, noted that it has "repeatedly rejected" accusations made by Netanyahu's government.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has not yet commented on Israel's move. However, in 2022, the U.S. National Security Council released a statement condemning Russia for similar moves amid its war in Ukraine.

Emily Horne, the spokesperson for the interagency advisory group, said then that Russia's censorship agency " shuttered independent Russian media outlets, blocked social media, and restricted access in Russia to international news outlets."

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an advocacy group for press freedom, noted late Saturday that Israel was among the worst jailers of journalists worldwide in 2023 and that Palestinian Gaza was among the deadliest countries for journalists.

The raid came just after World Press Freedom Day, an observance of the United Nations held Friday to raise awareness for the importance of press freedom.
A well-worn joke in American Jewish culture goes like this. A Jewish immigrant landed at Ellis Island in New York. The procedures were confusing, and he was overwhelmed by the commotion. When one of the officials asked him What is your name? he replied, Shayn fergessen, which in Yiddish means Ive already forgotten. The official then recorded his name as Sean Ferguson.

Today, members of many white ethnic groups  including Jews, Italians and Poles  believe that insensitive or ignorant Ellis Island officials changed their families names when they arrived in the U.S. to make them sound more American.

But there is actually much more evidence demonstrating that Jews and members of other white ethnic groups changed names on their own. In the research for my book, I looked at legal name change petitions in New York City throughout the 20th century showing that thousands of Jewish immigrants and their children indeed changed their own names.

As American Jews celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month in May, it is worth revisiting where and why the portrait of coercive Ellis Island name changing emerged.

No evidence in popular literature

Yonkle the Cowboy Jew. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.

Historians Marian Smith and Vincent Cannato argue convincingly that insensitive Ellis Island officials did not forcibly change immigrants names. In fact, immigration procedures did not typically include the question What is your name? Bureaucrats simply checked immigrants names to make sure they matched the names already listed on ships passenger lists.

Evidence from popular literature further supports their argument. Between 1892 and 1920, when thousands of immigrants passed through the immigration station on Ellis Island each day, there were no descriptions of Ellis Island name changing in popular magazines or books. And even after immigration slowed significantly in the 1920s, popular books and magazines for the next four decades did not typically describe Ellis Island officials changing immigrant names.

During this period, popular literature explored a variety of relevant topics such as the origins and usage of names, the social psychology of name changing, Jewish humor and Jewish immigration, but none addressed name changing at Ellis Island.

Indeed, one 1969 Jewish humor book even told a joke with the Sean Ferguson punchline. But the joke was about a Yiddish actor who went to California to become a movie star. All through the train ride, he worked on memorizing a stage name, only to forget it when he came face to face with an imposing Hollywood producer.

Cultural changes of the 60s and 70s

It was not until the 1970s that the image of Ellis Island name changing took hold of the American imagination. One popular 1979 book about Ellis Island and the immigrant experience, for example, described officials who were casual and uncaring on the matter of names.

Francis Ford Coppolas 1974 film The Godfather, Part II featured an insensitive immigration officer giving young Vito Corleone his name.

What Id like to argue is that the culture of the late 1960s and 1970s shaped these portraits of Ellis Island name changing. After the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act eliminated the discriminatory immigration quotas that had restricted immigration from southern and eastern Europe, American popular culture began to tell new stories that valorized the success of immigrants from those very regions.

Ellis Island itself  where Lyndon Johnson signed the 1965 act  transformed in the public mind from a set of abandoned buildings to a prominent symbol of European immigrants struggles and triumphs.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration and Nationality Act at Ellis Island. LBJ Library photo by Yoichi Okamoto

The late 1960s and 1970s also witnessed significant challenges to the authority of the United States government: The Pentagon Papers showed that the government had misled the American people, as the U.S. committed more and more troops to Vietnam. Persistent racial inequality exploded in riots in cities throughout the country. And the Watergate scandal exposed criminality and obstruction of justice at the highest levels of government.

Portraits of involuntary name changing at Ellis Island fit both with the islands new prominence as a symbol of immigration, and with growing distrust of government authority.

Name changing a betrayal of family values?

Ellis Island name changing also fit another emerging theme in American culture in the 1970s: a quest for authenticity. Historian Matthew Frye Jacobson has documented the quest of many white ethnic groups during this era, including Jews, to seek authentic culture to bolster their ethnic identities.

With films like The Godfather and Hester Street, which portrayed the challenges immigration posed for one young Jewish family in New York, American culture turned to the Old World  the European countries from which white immigrants had immigrated  as a source for family values and communal integrity. And within this context, changing names seemed like a betrayal of family, community and identity.

From the 1970s through the 1990s, novels, films and plays that portrayed Jewish life, such as Wendy Wassersteins play Isnt It Romantic? and Barry Levinsons movie, Avalon, represented name changers as phonies or sellouts.

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Although Jews were not the only ones to experience this longing for authenticity, my research suggests they changed their names in disproportionate numbers compared with other groups in response to American antisemitism.

In a culture that had begun to embrace the Old World as a source of authentic values, the fact that their parents and grandparents voluntarily changed their own names from their original Jewish ones may have been painful for many American Jews to accept. Blaming insensitive government officials at Ellis Island for erasing Jewish names was a much easier task.

But this emphasis upon Ellis Island only obscured the complicated reasons why Jews actually changed their own names.

The Sean Ferguson joke is thus more than a simple joke. It illustrates the ways that Jewish people have struggled, and continue to struggle, with their identity in America. It shows how hard it is to grapple with the past, but also how important that grappling is.

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: Kirsten Fermaglich, Michigan State University

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Johns Hopkins University Press provided funding as a member of The Conversation US.
Jewish Rutgers professor slams university in scathing letter to the president: All I do is confront antisemitism

An orthodox Jewish professor slammed Rutgers Universitys administration for letting the campus become a hotbed of bigotry, claiming in a scathing letter she cannot do any work because all I do is confront antisemitism.

Rebecca Cypess, a professor for the schools music department, said shes been privy to the details of antisemitic incidents at Rutgers from the classroom . . . to the highest offices at the university, according to the missive to President Jonathan Holloway and Chancellor Francine Conway.

The toxic climate has prevented her from publishing any scholarly writing, Cypess contended, noting she finds herself devoting all her time to advocating for students, staff members, and faculty members in distress.

Rebecca Cypess claims that the there is a culture of antisemitism at Rutgers that has prevented her from publishing scholarly writing. Rutgers

Anti-Israel protesters on the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey on May 2, 2024. Anne-Marie Caruso / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pro-terror demonstrators at the New Jersey state school have been caught on video yelling, Hitler would have loved you at Jewish students; chanting for intifada and plastering posters featuring a picture of Jewish student all over their dorm.

The toxic culture forced her out, wrote the professor, who is leaving Rutgers to become dean of the mens and womens undergraduate colleges at Yeshiva University.

Throughout this year, I have found it difficult to breathe. I have lost my taste for my job; the joy that I used to feel in working at Rutgers has disappeared, Cypess wrote.

The music professor also criticized the university for agreeing to numerous demands made by the organizers of the anti-Israel tent encampment, who she says have held the university hostage all year.

Tents set up at an anti-Israel encampment at Rutgers on April 29, 2024. ZUMAPRESS.com

Cypess said that antisemitic protesters have held the university hostage all year. SOPA Images Limited/Alamy Live News

They have harassed and intimidated Jews. They have propagated hate, including disgusting, antisemitic blood libels, she continued.

The professor claimed she, along with the group Jewish Faculty Administrators and Staff, had tried to work in a collaborative spirit with the administration to improve Jewish life on campus, but now feels that approach was misguided.

If JFAS had pitched tents on Voorhees Mall, unfurled hateful banners from Murray Hall, and forced the cancellation of hundreds of exams, would our recommendations have been implemented? she asked.
Joe Biden needs to look to the past: Use a little tough love to bring Israel to heel | Opinion

Bidens focus must be on Israel

What could cool down college protests, defuse the Middle East powder keg and decrease antisemitism? Simple: Israel needs to stop its slaughter in Gaza. Nothing justifies Israels indiscriminate bombing of innocent civilians, hospitals, mosques, universities, apartment buildings and refugee camps. Not Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, not anything.

Since prolonging this needless slaughter keeps him in power, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not end it on his own. President Joe Biden must stop sending weapons and money to Israel. Two U.S. presidents  Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush  used this kind of tough love to bring Israel to heel. Biden needs to do the same.

- Ken Pardue, Fort Worth

Dont fill the powder keg

Mideast countries act like children. One will do something the other doesnt like. Then, the other feels a need for payback, and on and on. How can peace be achieved if these countries wont act maturely? It merely takes negotiation and abiding by the results.

Some factions enjoy conflict, but families raising children and living their lives bear the brunt of the warmongers endeavors.

- Frankie Andrew, Willow Park

Hamas must be condemned

As a progressive who watches in horrified amazement as Republicans choose irrational ideology over facts, I am similarly appalled by Democrats who blame Israel for defending itself against Hamas barbarism.

The world weeps for innocent Gazans killed in battle, as it does for all noncombatants in war. Yet anti-Israel protesters absolve Iranian-backed Hamas for building tunnels beneath private homes, mosques and hospitals to store weapons and hide soldiers  and hostages.

Pro-Palestinian marchers erase years of terrorism culminating in the Oct. 7 massacre. They support the futility of trading land for peace.

Far-right Israelis have been vindicated. Failing to condemn Hamas emboldens those who say negotiating with the Palestinians is impossible; containment becomes the solution. The story of Pharaohs daughter offers a far more just way forward. She reached across boundaries to save a child. What if Palestinians and Israelis showed such compassion?

- Barbara Chiarello, Austin

Im seeing ominous signs in US

I was an impressionable teenager when World War II was killing our young men. Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, we knew what was happening in Europe. News at that time was read in newspapers or seen in newsreels at the movie theaters. We saw the atrocities committed against the Jews by a deranged madman. We were told about the evil experiments of a satanic doctor named Mengele. We were not spared the horror of innocents being marched into ovens and burned to death.

To my sorrow, Im seeing the same buildup of ill will toward Jews in an America that I dont recognize anymore. We all thought this could never happen again.

- Wanda Conlin, Fort Worth

Squandering years of GOP good

Third-generation GOP politicians, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, state party Chairman Matt Rinaldi and their grifter consultants, shout Liberal! or RINO! at fellow Republicans any time they dont get what they want. Meanwhile, theyre burning political capital hard earned by John Tower, Bill Clements, Phil Gramm, Kay Bailey Hutchison, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Rick Perry, along with consultants such as Karl Rove.

They dont propose policy. They blame. They dont persuade voters. They play on fear and envy. Their tantrums make them the snowflakes of the right, and theyre making a mess.

In the May Republican primary runoffs, send the children to their rooms and elect adults such as Craig Goldman for U.S. House and John McQueeney for state representative.

- John Murrin Pritchett, Fort Worth
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) are both investing in the long-term growth of the quantum computing market. While traditional computers process data as binary "bits" of zeros and ones, quantum computers process zeros and ones simultaneously as "qubits." That approach makes quantum computers much faster than their traditional counterparts, but they're larger, more expensive, and more prone to making mistakes.

As quantum computing technologies improve, those systems should gradually become smaller, cheaper, and more accurate. This makes them ideal for processing complex machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) tasks.

Image source: Getty Images.

According to Acumen Research and Consulting, the quantum computing market could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36% from 2023 to 2032 -- and early movers like IBM and IonQ could benefit from that secular expansion. But should you invest in the blue-chip stalwart or the speculative newcomer?

How IBM is investing in quantum computing

IBM deployed the world's first quantum computing system as a cloud-based service in 2016. Since then, it's deployed more than 80 quantum systems which are used to run over 3 trillion programs on a daily basis. It also recently installed its Quantum System One system at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. This is the first-ever installation of an IBM quantum system on a college campus.

IBM operates its quantum computing business as a freemium extension of its cloud ecosystem. It doesn't disclose the exact revenue separately, but it's likely insignificant compared to its larger software, infrastructure, and consulting businesses. In its latest 10-Q filing, IBM refers to quantum computing as one of its "next set of business opportunities."

So for now, investors should focus more on IBM's expansion of its hybrid cloud and AI platforms to offset the slower growth of its legacy software and hardware businesses. To drive that transformation, IBM divested its slower-growth managed infrastructure services unit as Kyndryl in late 2021, expanded its subsidiary Red Hat to wedge more open-source AI services between the public and private clouds, and restructured its business into three simpler units -- software, consulting, and infrastructure -- to generate "mid-single digit revenue growth" from 2022 to 2024.

That strategy has paid off. IBM's revenue and adjusted EPS rose 6% in 2022 and 2% in 2023. From 2023 to 2026, analysts expect its revenue to grow at a CAGR of 4% as its EPS increases at a CAGR of 6%. Those growth rates are steady, its stock looks reasonably valued at 19 times forward earnings, and it pays a hefty forward yield of 4%.

Story continues

How IonQ wants to revolutionize quantum computing

IBM's individual quantum computing units (QPUs) are several feet wide. IonQ is trying to shrink those QPUs to just a few inches wide with its "trapped ion" technology.

Unlike IBM, IonQ is a pure play on the quantum computing market which generates all of its revenue from its quantum computing systems. It provides its quantum computing power as a cloud-based service to the U.S. military and large enterprise customers, and it gauges its total computing power in its proprietary algorithm qubits (AQ) metric. It reached AQ 29 in 2023, AQ 36 this January, and it plans to achieve AQ 64 by 2025.

At AQ 64, it claims its platform would be "100,000 times larger than the limit of a classical supercomputer simulation." Looking further ahead, it aims to hit AQ 256 in 2026, AQ 384 in 2027, and AQ 1,024 in 2028. It believes it can achieve that rapid expansion by consistently miniaturizing its QPUs.

IonQ's revenue rose from $2 million in 2021 to $11 million in 2022, then doubled to $22 million in 2023. Analysts expect its revenue to hit $153 million in 2026 -- which would represent a CAGR of 91% from 2023. However, it's expected to remain deeply unprofitable for the foreseeable future, and it isn't a bargain at 12 times its projected sales for 2026.

Investors also shouldn't ignore the other red flags. Back in 2022, the short seller Scorpion Capital accused IonQ of exaggerating its miniaturization capabilities and secretly using third-party quantum computers from Honeywell to provide its cloud-based processing services. A few months later, Dr. Chris Monroe -- the company's chief science officer who had developed the trapped ion technology which its entire growth strategy was built upon -- abruptly resigned.

The better quantum computing play: IBM

IBM is growing slower than IonQ and hasn't generated significant revenue from its quantum computing systems yet. However, it's firmly profitable and supporting the future growth of its quantum computing systems by expanding its core businesses. As IBM locks in more enterprise customers, it will become easier to deploy its newer quantum systems.

IonQ's technology sounds promising, but it's richly valued, racking up steep losses, and faces troubling questions regarding its secretive miniaturization technologies. It might successfully scale up its quantum computing systems, but it's still too speculative for my tastes. So for now, I'd stick with IBM -- which seems like a better all-around investment and long-term play on the quantum computing market -- than take a chance on IonQ.

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JOHNSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Johnson County Sheriffs Office is investigating a death following a possible domestic violence situation that occurred Saturday evening.

A release from the sheriffs office said the incident took place Saturday at around 5:56 p.m. on Cross Mountain Road. The release said police arrived to find a male subject deceased just inside the door to a residence.

According to a spokesperson for the sheriffs office, a person of interest was developed, but no arrest has been made. The sheriffs office said the deceased has been sent to a medical examiners office for autopsy.

The investigation is ongoing and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is assisting, according to the release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
K-9 finds missing 85-year-old woman clinging to tree in steep ravine, Colorado cops say

A police dog found a missing 85-year-old woman clinging to a tree out of sight in a deep ravine, Colorado authorities reported.

The woman had been missing for about two hours before being rescued Thursday, May 2, the Greenwood Village Police Department said in a news release.

A video posted by the agency shows K-9 Mercury leading Officer Austin Speer to the woman, who could not be seen from a nearby roadway or canal.

This is a friendly dog, Speer says in the video. He found you. Were gonna get you home, OK?

The woman returned safely to her family, police said.

A comment by a man identifying himself as her son said the woman was gassed out after trying to climb out of the ravine and couldnt move. He called the rescue unbelievable.

Mercury, who has search and rescue training, joined the Greenwood Village police force 18 months ago, police said. Hes also trained to search for narcotics.

Greenwood Village is about a 10-mile drive south of Denver.

Bold move enables delivery driver to escape accused robber, California cops say

Climber injured in avalanche rescued from Mount Shasta, California sheriff says

2-year-old playing in bounce house dies after wind blows it away, Arizona cops say
DENVER (KDVR)  A K-9 has been credited with helping Colorado police find a missing 85-year-old woman last week.

According to officials in Greenwood Village, located just outside of Denver, K-9 Mercury has been with their police department for just over a year. He is trained in narcotics detection, as well as searching for people.

On Thursday, Mercury and Officer Austin Speer were called in to help search for an 85-year-old woman who had been missing for two hours.

Mercury was able to lead Speer to the woman, who authorities said was clinging to a tree down a steep ravine.

Driver dead after crashing into gate of White House complex: police

In a video shared by the village on Facebook, Mercury can be seen tracking down the woman and receiving plenty of praise upon finding her.

Hi, maam! This is a friendly dog, he found you. Were going to get you home, OK? Speer can be heard saying in the video.

According to authorities, the woman was in a spot where she could not be seen from the roadway or canal. She was able to safely return home after being found.

In a comment on the villages Facebook page, a man claiming to be the womans son explained that his mother had become gassed out after trying to climb the hill.

I had been searching for her for two hours and Mercury and Officer Speer found her in 10 minutes: UNBELIEVABLE! he wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Sunday that President Biden should and will visit college campuses amid the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that have roiled the country.

Host Margaret Brennan asked Khanna on Face the Nation whether the ongoing protests were becoming a distraction from the issues they are protesting. She also noted that Khanna has been to several college campuses in recent days to engage in conversations with students as the protests continue across the country.

No, I dont think so. I mean, in Wisconsin, the issues that came up first were abortion rights. Second, the cost of living and what the president was going to do on student loans, and for housing and rent. Gaza came up, he said.

But you know, one of the conversations in Madison with Jewish Americans and Arab Americans was extraordinarily civil, thoughtful and constructive. So I think in a lot of campuses, there are 4,000 of them in the United States, there is actually constructive dialogue taking place, he added.

Brennan then asked Khanna why Biden was not engaging in those conversations.

I think the president should and will get out there on campuses, Khanna replied.

Khanna then went on to say that the college protests have resulted in an awakening in Washington regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

Look, everyone from the president on down is aware that young people are upset at whats going on in the Middle East. And I  I do think its had an awakening in Washington, that this war has to end, that too many people are dying. And if you look at the presidents language, its certainly shifted over the last six months. Now, some of us want there to be consequences, Khanna said.

Biden addressed the ongoing college protests at the White House on Thursday, saying that violent protests are not protected while defending the right to demonstrate peacefully. He also condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia, saying there is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on Khannas comments.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Demonstrations on college campuses across the country about Israels war against Hamas continue to grow in number and in intensity. They are getting more confrontational.

University of Wisconsin Police and demonstrators got physical Wednesday when officers arrested more than two dozen people for violating the law against camping on campus.

Hundreds of officers in New York broke up a protest at Columbia University at the request of the administration after protestors started occupying a building on campus.

There was a more violent confrontation on the campus of UCLA between Palestinian supporters and Israel supporters. Classes were canceled there Wednesday.

Several members of Congress see the pro-Palestinian demonstrators as anti-Semitic, pointing to verbal attacks directed at Jewish students on campus.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act Wednesday to beef up federal anti-discrimination laws. It now moves to the Senate.

This response on Capitol Hill to those pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses pits the argument of free speech against anti-discrimination law.

Its one of the topics host Jim NIedelman gets into with Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood.

Weve seen a disturbing trend of antisemitic activity on college campuses, LaHood said. We should never tolerate the type of hate that weve seen toward Jewish Americans and Jewish students on campuses across the country.

To hear more from LaHood, 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.
Mitch Landrieu, the national co-chair of President Bidens reelection campaign, said Sunday that Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) comparison of ongoing college protests to those staged during the Vietnam War was an overexaggeration.

Landrieu was asked by CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union to respond to recent comments made by Sanders about the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that have broken out on college campuses across the country. Sanders told CNN last week that this may be Bidens Vietnam when asked how the protests could affect Biden and his reelection campaign.

Well, first of all, I think comparing it to Vietnam is an overexaggeration. This is a very different circumstance. I think that people who actually lived through that very difficult time, they would say that this isnt comparable. However, that is not to say that this is not a very serious matter, Landrieu said Sunday.

Landrieu noted that Sanders recently said young people have plenty of reasons to vote for Biden, noting that younger voters are interested in climate, student debt relief and their freedoms being taken away. He also reiterated that Biden has continued to call for humanitarian aid amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

There are not a lot of great options on the table for anybody as a result of the terrorist attack that Hamas invoked on Oct. 7 and what has happened since then. The president, as you know, has been very strong in his call for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to make sure that this humanitarian aid, make sure that the hostage crisis gets resolved sooner, rather than later, and that we get to a cease-fire as soon as practically possible, Landrieu said.

Sanders also told CNN last week he was worried Biden was putting himself in a similar position to former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Lyndon Johnson in many respects was a very, very good president. Domestically he brought forth some major pieces of legislation. He chose not to run in 68 because of opposition to his views on Vietnam, and I worry very much that President Biden is putting himself in a position where he has alienated, not just young people, but a lot of the Democratic base, in terms of his views on Israel and this war, Sanders said.

On Thursday, Biden addressed the ongoing college protests at the White House, saying that violent protests are not protected while defending the right to demonstrate peacefully. He also condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia, saying there is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Lansing Police are investigating the death of a 14-year-old boy Saturday afternoon.

Police said they were called to the 1400 block of West Oakland around 3 p.m.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

When they arrived a boy with gunshot wounds was found and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

At this time police have not made any arrests in this shooting and did say it is not considered to be a random act of violence.

Lansing Police investigate 14-year-olds shooting death (WLNS)

Lansing Police investigate 14-year-olds shooting death (WLNS)

Lansing Police investigate 14-year-olds shooting death (WLNS)

Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact the Lansing Police Department

at 517- 483-4600, Lead Detective Martha McGonegal at 517-483-4823, Crime Stoppers at 517-

483-7867, or send a private message through the Lansing Police Department Facebook page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
In a swift predawn operation three days before graduation ceremonies begin, USC campus police and LAPD officers in riot gear cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment from the center of campus Sunday as protesters beat drums, chanted and later pledged to continue their demonstration.

There were no arrests during the sweep, according to USC officials and student activists. By about 8 a.m. some 40 tents, posters, debris and barricades had been hauled away. A party rental company moved in as a tall black fence was installed around the park.

"The operation was peaceful. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing," USC President Carol Folt wrote in a campuswide email Sunday.

Folt, who has been confronted by supporters and opponents of pro-Palestinian activists for her handling of the protest and free speech on campus, said the university had "issued repeated warnings."

"When free speech protests devolve into illegal occupations, violating the rights of others, we must draw a line," Folt said.

A pro-Palestinian supporter waits outside the gate of USC after police secured the campus. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The police operation was the culmination of a second tense week of protests at USC and universities throughout the country as college presidents faced criticism for calling in police in riot gear to clear pro-Palestinian encampments. Leaders have struggled to balance campus safety and the right to protest, with calls to address antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Many have been under pressure to clear camps before commencements, when parents, alumni, donors and luminaries descend on campuses.

In one of the most violent incidents at a protest, a mob attacked a UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment last week, prompting anger over the universitys handling of campus safety. Police arrested more than 200 people after moving onto the Westwood campus to push out protesters.

Sunday's USC sweep was the second time police dismantled the encampment. It unfolded as graduation activities are set to kick off Wednesday with tens of thousands of guests on campus. Los Angeles police arrested 93 activists  most of them USC students  on April 24 on suspicion of trespassing when they cleared the encampment in Alumni Park.

At 4:17 a.m. Sunday, USC issued a text message alert saying the Los Angeles Police Department had arrived and that people should leave central campus, which was closed off to everyone, including students. Officers from the campus Department of Public Safety issued a dispersal warning to activists. About 30 protesters left as police pushed them toward the university's Jefferson Boulevard exit.

Free, free Palestine, demonstrators chanted as they faced police at the perimeter officers set up outside the camp, beating drums while helicopters hovered overhead.

About 5 a.m., police entered the encampment. They dismantled tents, leaving behind posters, trash and makeshift barriers. Campus Police Chief Lauretta Hill gave a fist bump to the remaining officers. An hour later, Alumni Park was empty and quiet, largely devoid of police, as workers cleaned the grounds.

The University Park campus reopened to students, faculty and staff about 10 a.m. as USC issued a new warning via text message: Tents and related equipment were prohibited, along with camping and unpermitted events. Those breaking the rules would be subject to discipline.

"No individuals or groups may obstruct free passage throughout our campuses, commencement setup, or other functions," the alert said.

"We will be back. Free Palestine," said a message the student activists posted the Instagram account of USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation. The pro-Palestinian group that set up the encampment, USC Divest from Death Coalition, uses the labor organization's social media for its official announcements.

"We are not done," a spokesperson for the student activists said after the camp was cleared. The spokesperson did not give details on future actions. The person declined to identify themselves because of fear of retaliation from the USC administration and students opposed to their activism.

Protesters  like others at universities nationwide  have demanded that USC boycott and divest from financial ties with Israel, which USC has rejected.

The encampment spokesperson said Sunday that "divestment is not a short-term movement. Divestment is a long-term movement.... The movement doesn't end with this occupation. The occupation is simply one way to bring attention and bring our demands."

After two meetings last week with protest leaders, USC President Folt posted on X that students "seemed more interested in having me issue a political statement in support of their viewpoint as opposed to coming up with practical solutions to resolve the situation."

In those meetings, Folt said she had "no intention" of asking the LAPD to come to campus again. In an interview with The Times last week, she did not rule it out as an option but said it was not her preference.

In her campus letter Sunday, Folt wrote that "despite our efforts to de-escalate, the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction over the last several days.... With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible."

Devin Griffiths, an associate professor of English and comparative literature, said it was disappointing that the LAPD was invited back onto campus after many faculty strongly expressed their anger and worry at the invitation of the LAPD a little over a week ago.

Griffiths joined a faculty march last week in support of students' rights to protest. He is among more than 380 faculty members who had recently called for a no-confidence vote in USCs top leadership for its handling of tensions.

Some campus members expressed relief that the encampment was cleared.

Read more: Encampments spread across California universities. Are they living on borrowed time?

"I hope it's gone for good. It's good news. My only concern is that it took so long for USC to act decisively on this," said Anna Krylov, a professor of chemistry who has opposed the protest. "I hope in the future they will act more promptly in dealing with this type of illegal disturbance."

Krylov writes for a Substack called "Voices Against Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism at USC." She is among nearly 100 faculty members who recently wrote to the USC Academic Senate, urging an investigation into the "persistent and escalating antisemitism and anti-Zionism at USC" and "harassment and intimidation of Jewish students."

The chemistry professor, who is not Jewish, said the camp had antisemitic slogans, such as signs and chants on "intifada." Pro-Palestinian groups say the word means a general "uprising," including boycotts against Israel; pro-Israel groups say it has been used describe deadly attacks against Jewish Israelis.

Student Sabrina Jahan, a pro-Israel senior, was also critical of the protest.

"Im just glad the focus will hopefully now be back on finals and graduation like it should have been in the first place, said Jahan, who is Jewish.

Among the remnants of the camp on Sunday morning, a Times reporter found a crumpled and torn document titled "Ground Tactics for the Student Intifada."

The four pages of typed papers included guides on how to organize human formations when confronted by police. "The purpose of a mass action is not make it go on for as long as humanly possible," the document read. "The purpose of a mass action is to maximize disruption at a minimum cost to the organizers.

Tents set up by pro-Palestine protesters in Alumni Park at USC on Saturday. Police cleared the encampment early Sunday morning. (Eric Thayer / For The Times)

John Vidale, a professor of earth sciences, rode his bike by Alumni Park as it was being cleared.

Im glad the Gaza protest is over. It was a nuisance," he said. "However, the students made their point clearly, mostly behaved well, and college is the time and place for such dramatic gestures. The few times it escalated come with the territory, and I like President Folts moderate and moral actions.

The university has designated a "free speech" area in a less visible campus green behind Leavey Library, south of West 34th Street.

Students in the camp said they are not interested in relocating to the designated free speech area, a lesser traveled part of campus.

"Protest locations cannot be dictated by the people in power because then it's no longer the freedom to protest and assemble," the encampment spokesperson said.

Read more: After canceling commencement, USC will host event at L.A. Coliseum, rolls out new campus security

The decision to clear the first camp sparked further anger after tensions rose when USC decided that valedictorian Asna Tabassum could not deliver a speech during its May 10 commencement  a first in the universitys 143-year history  over unspecified safety threats.

The move happened after pro-Israel groups criticized Tabassum for a link on her Instagram profile directing people to a pro-Palestinian website that they said was antisemitic. The site said Zionism is a racist settler-colonialist ideology and calls for the complete abolishment of the state of Israel so that Arabs and Jews can live together.

Within days, USC canceled its "main stage" commencement. The event draws 65,000 people each year to Alumni Park, where the encampment was set up.

To make up for that, USC on Friday announced a new "Trojan Family" graduation event at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The event will take place Thursday at 8:30 p.m. It will feature a drone show, fireworks and the Trojan Marching Band. Dozens of satellite graduation events for individual colleges, schools and departments will also continue.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
KOIN 6 News contacted candidates who are running for Oregon attorney general in 2024, asking them to respond to these questions:

Why are you running for Attorney General?

What is your previous government/civic experience?

If elected, what would be your top priorities as attorney general?

What is going right in the Attorney Generals office? How would you build on it?

Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, the Oregon Department of Justice launched the Oregon Reproductive Rights Hotline and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum led a multistate lawsuit with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson  securing an injunction to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. If elected, how will your office work on these issues?

In 2023, the Oregon DOJ convened a group of law enforcement members, health care providers, and lawmakers to discuss ways to address the states fentanyl crisis. If elected, how will you address the fentanyl/substance abuse crises?

Will Lathrop is running as a Republican. Here are his responses:

Why are you running for Attorney General?

Its no secret that Oregon has a crime problem and people across the State dont feel safe. I am a dedicated public servant, experienced prosecutor, and victims advocate. For the past twenty years, Ive devoted my career to protecting the worlds most vulnerable populations from violence, exploitation, and abuse. Its been painful for me to watch the state that I love suffer. Oregons politicians have failed to keep our communities safe and have embraced leadership with a partisan lens, rather than a servant heart. Oregon is a wounded beauty  a beautiful state marred by crime and addiction. I represent a dawn of new leadership focused on protecting people and solving problems, not radical partisan politics.

What is your previous government/civic experience?

My career began in Oregon where I served as a deputy district attorney, specializing in prosecuting child sex abuse cases. While my focus was on protecting children, I also prosecuted cases of adult sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Transitioning to the national level, I was hired to work on victim protection at the National District Attorneys Association.

Shortly thereafter, I assumed a leadership position with a global human rights organization. In this role, I gained extensive executive leadership experience. In close collaboration with international agencies and governments, I led large multinational teams dedicated to protecting vulnerable populations from violence, human trafficking, and forced labor in Northern Uganda and in Ghana.

No other candidate has the necessary experience and expertise to drive the change that Oregon desperately needs. My extensive law enforcement experience, executive leadership skills, and proven commitment to protecting vulnerable groups make me uniquely qualified for this role.

If elected, what would be your top priorities as attorney general?



1. Reduce the prevalence of drugs in our communities and hold drug traffickers accountable. Nobody in Oregon should be making millions of dollars by exploiting those suffering from addiction, crushing families, and devastating communities. The prevalence of fentanyl and dangerous drugs in our state have left a growing population in Oregon vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. As Oregons next Attorney General, I will work collaboratively across jurisdictions to drive the supply of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs out of our state.

2. Restore safe communities and support law enforcement. Its no secret that Oregon is suffering under a cloud of crime and people dont feel safe in their own communities. Ive dedicated my career to protecting children and those living on the margins from violence, exploitation, and abuse. Oregons politicians have defunded and stripped law enforcement of the tools that allow them to keep our communities safe. As Oregons next Attorney General, I will rebuild the Criminal Justice Division at the Department of Justice and will draw from my experience to work collaboratively with state, local, and federal law enforcement to keep our communities safe.

3. Restore trust in government and enforce Oregons corruption laws. Oregon has fallen into a pattern of allocating large amounts of tax-payer funds towards solving problems without accountability. As Oregons next Attorney General, I will enforce a zero-tolerance policy for misuse of public office and misuse of public funds.

What is going right in the Attorney Generals office? How would you build on it?

Oregon has strong consumer protection laws that are designed to create a level playing field and healthy competition among Oregon businesses while protecting Oregon consumers from bad actors. The current administration has successfully held large corporations accountable. However, I believe the current administration has over-emphasized targeting large corporations to produce catchy headlines. As Oregons next Attorney general, I will focus on equal enforcement of the law and will hold all bad actors accountable. Equal enforcement of Oregons consumer protection laws is essential for a healthy and free economy, and protects consumers.

Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, the Oregon Department of Justice launched the Oregon Reproductive Rights Hotline and Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum led a multi-state lawsuit with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson  securing an injunction to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone. If elected, how will your office work on these issues?

Currently, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum mentions on the Oregon Department of Justice website, The Dobbs case (which overturned Roe v. Wade) did not change any Oregon laws protecting a persons right to obtain an abortion in Oregon. For example, in Oregon there are no gestational limits, no waiting periods, and medication abortion (abortion pills) can be accessed by mail. Immigration status or ability to pay does not prevent someone from accessing abortion in Oregon. In 2024, abortion law remains well settled and universally permissive, and accessible, in Oregon. When elected, I will diligently enforce Oregons laws. It is hard to say what calamity or unexpected ruling might come in the future, but it is clear that the emergency of today is crime, addiction, and lawlessness. Oregonians do not feel safe and that reality is paralyzing progress across every sector. As Oregons next preeminent law enforcement officer, I have earned an excellent reputation of equitably enforcing the law and I have the expertise to rebuild our criminal justice system. I will lead Oregon out of this public safety crisis and return our state back to being a national leader in protecting victims and enforcing the law.

In 2023, the Oregon DOJ convened a group of law enforcement members, health care providers, and lawmakers to discuss ways to address the states fentanyl crisis. If elected, how will you address the fentanyl/substance abuse crises?

My top priority as Oregons next Attorney General will be to reduce the supply of fentanyl and prevalence of drug trafficking in our state. By statute, the Attorney General is charged with running point on statewide investigations into organized crime in Oregon, which includes drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized retail theft, online exploitation of children, racketeering, money laundering, etc. The Department of Justice should build a collective strategy for law enforcement across the state and collaborate with federal and international law enforcement agencies to reduce the inflow of drugs into Oregon. The Oregon Department of Justice has largely failed in that capacity over the last decade. I have extensive experience leading collaborative efforts between different agencies and governments to combat international crime. I am uniquely qualified to lead a collaborative, multi-state effort to reduce the supply of illegal drugs flowing into Oregon and to hold drug traffickers accountable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Despite all its issues over the last few years, there's still a robust case for buying Boeing (NYSE: BA) stock. After all, it's still one of only two truly global players in the commercial airplane market and has a $529 billion backlog in place, while continuing to win orders (125 net orders in the first quarter). Is it enough to justify buying the stock? Here's the lowdown.

Boeing's $10 billion target

Investors listen when management lays out medium-term targets. As soon as it does so, investors begin penciling in valuation assumptions. Since everyone knows this, management tends to lay out targets it can meet, and investors closely monitor progress toward the targets.

As such, when Boeing's management laid out its target for $10 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in the 2025/2026 timeframe, it's fair to say everybody expected Boeing to meet the target. The debate was over the timing: Early 2025 or late 2026?

Boeing won't hit the target

According to the Wall Street analyst (never the most critical audience) consensus, Boeing will miss this target, instead hitting $9.3 billion in FCF in 2026. Analyst consensus reflects that Boeing fell behind in its plan in 2023, notably in only delivering 396 Boeing 737 airplanes, compared to the targeted 400 to 450.

It gets worse. The quality control issues and a high-profile incident on an Alaska Airlines flight in January led to the grounding of Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes and only 67 deliveries of 737 airplanes in the first quarter. For reference, the $10 billion target assumed that Boeing would hit 50 deliveries of 737s every month in 2025/2026.

Nonetheless, Boeing's management still believes it will hit the $10 billion target, with CFO Brian West recently noting: "We continue to expect that this goal will take us longer than we originally planned and later in the '25, '26 window primarily tied to the 737 and 787 production delivery ramps of 50 per month and 10 per month, respectively" on the earnings call.

Image source: Getty Images.

Five reasons hitting the target will be hard

Unfortunately, there are plenty of headwinds Boeing needs to overcome before it gets there.

First, airplane ramps are tricky at the best of times. While the slowdown in deliveries will enable Boeing to overcome supply chain issues dogging the industry, its suppliers must also align themselves to aggressive production jumps.

Second, Boeing's potential acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems may reassure investors that one of its key suppliers (fuselages on the 737) is secure. Still, Spirit requires investment and has bled cash in recent years. That won't help Boeing's FCF aims.

Story continues

SPR Free Cash Flow Chart

Third, the delivery delays may cause airlines to order from Airbus or even Embraer (smaller airplanes), or insist on heavier discounting from Boeing to reflect the effect on cash flow from the delays. In addition, delivery delays often require compensation payments to airlines.

Fourth, Boeing is moving into summer negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) over the renewal of a contract that expires in mid-September. Due to previous layoffs, Boeing may struggle to negotiate as skilled workers are in high demand, not least due to the many layoffs leading to workers changing industries during the lockdowns.

The fifth -- and perhaps the most crucial -- point is that maintaining production quality requires significant investment. Boeing cannot sustain itself without ensuring production quality, and the company's management recognizes that its top priority is to guarantee manufacturing quality. While the $10 billion budget target may be open for negotiation, ensuring manufacturing quality control is not.

Is Boeing stock a buy?

There is a case for the stock, but it's not powerful for investors relying on Boeing to hit the $10 billion FCF target in 2026. As such, most investors should avoid the stock until there is clarity on the abovementioned issues or management readjusts its medium-term targets.

Should you invest $1,000 in Boeing right now?

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Lawmakers need only understand that trans people have same rights as all other people | Opinion

Understanding required

I speak as the nephew of state Sen. Richard Cash, as someone with a non-binary partner and as the son of a career educator.

I stand strongly opposed to HB 4624. This bill, from a party which claims to champion parental rights, strips away the rights of parents and adults to make healthcare decisions.

This bill is not about protecting children, otherwise the legislature would be pushing through a bill to feed the 1 in 8 hungry children in this state (according to Feeding America), or bolstering their access to public education.

Instead, it is attempting to undermine the rights of parents to seek healthcare for their children and goes against the advice of experts in the fields of pediatric medicine and education.

Not only would this bill directly harm some of the most vulnerable children and adults in South Carolina, it would also strip teachers of their autonomy and the nuance of context, and further harm our struggling educational system.

To those unsure how to feel about this bill, you dont need to understand what it is to be trans, you just need to respect that these people have the same rights as the rest of us.you dont need to understand what it is to be trans, you just need to respect that these people have the same rights as the rest of us.

Barham Williams, Camden

Use wisdom to avoid war

It is not surprising, but it is disappointing that our senators, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, are again calling for a more aggressive stance towards Iran.

After Iran attacked Israel in response to Israels bombing of their consulate, Graham and Scott were calling for decisive action and support for Israel in its retaliation.

Graham stated, We need to make it clear to Iran that if they attack Israel, the regime becomes a target.

Scott lambasted Biden for asking Israel to show restraint towards Iran.

This current conflict with Iran is part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus larger recklessness.

He has already completely lost the international community for his actions in Gaza, which have left more than 30,000 people dead and more than 70,000 injured.

The human rights abuses and war crimes are immense.

Netanyahu is also deeply unpopular with many in his own nation; therefore, he needs endless war to remain in power and avoid any type of accountability.

Netanyahus ultimate goal is to drag the U.S. into war.

You would hope that leaders like Graham who have pushed for every single war in recent memory, including those that have been disastrous like Iraq, would have a little more wisdom and humility before pushing us to go to war with Iran.

Of course, it will not be Graham or Scott fighting. It will be sons and daughters of South Carolinians, many who would lose their children for an avoidable and unnecessary war.

William McCorkle, Summerville

Vote for our children

Note: The writer is the state manager for Save the Children.

As a South Carolina native and mom of two, I understand elections profoundly impact policies and decisions that affect our childrens lives.

By participating in elections, we have the power to elect leaders who prioritize the needs of our children and advocate for their best interests.

In South Carolina, voter turnout has been low in recent years.

We have several upcoming congressional seats up for reelection.

Many eligible voters stay on the sidelines, assuming their vote wont make a difference. How can we become outraged when there is a lack of support for feeding children in South Carolina when we dont take part in the one action that makes our voices heard the loudest?

I know life gets busy, and voting may not be a priority; however, remember that our childrens future is at stake.

Children are not old enough to vote, so they rely on us to advocate and create a society that nurtures their growth and potential.

With the 2024 election fast approaching, it is critical to prioritize kids issues at the local, state and national levels.

Lets set an example for our children. We are stronger when we work as one powerful voice for kids.

Hafeezah Yates, Summerville
Editors Note: A new episode of the CNN Original Series How It Really Happened spotlights the terrifying anthrax attacks that followed Sept. 11, 2001, taking viewers inside one of the largest investigations in FBI history. It premieres Sunday, May 5 at 9pm ET/PT.

I had spent much of the week in a space suit.

It was March of 2001 and I was in training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, a little known facility operating on a former Army base in Alabama.

I had just left the New York Police Department to join ABC News as their expert on al-Qaida, Bin Laden and Terrorism. I landed in a class with 20 cops and firemen to get certified as a Weapons of Mass Destruction Technician. The space suits were Level A hazmat suits, with hoods and self-contained breathing apparatuses. We practiced how to operate in environments with nerve agents like sarin gas, or biological agents like anthrax.

When I completed my training, they gave me a small lapel pin in the shape of a cobra to signify I had trained in air-tight vaults with live deadly chemical agents and was certified.

Seven months later, I woke up struck by a most beautiful day. It was sunny, warm, and there was not a cloud in the blue sky. It was the morning of September 11, 2001.

In the days that followed, America tried to recover from events that had shaken us to our core. There were nearly 3000 dead and fears of another attack.

A new terror

Anthrax. The ABC news desk asked me to look into a Florida man who had died from anthrax poisoning. Was this terrorism? I ran down what I could, but it seemed that Robert Stevens, a photo editor at American Media near Boca Raton, FL, had been hiking on a vacation. He could have picked it up in a cave or from a dead animal. He didnt seem like a natural target for terrorists.

And then came the flood. A week later, the letters began coming to the New York Post and ABC News. Senate Majority Leader Tom Dachles office got one. More than two dozen staffers tested positive for anthrax exposure. NBC News got one addressed to Tom Brokaw. His assistant had been exposed and became very ill, but recovered.

On October 12, NYPD Detective Patrick Pogan finished up a long night at the Staten Island landfill, where he sifted through the debris coming in from Ground Zero, looking for evidence or human remains connected to the hijackers or any of Pats many friends and partners lost at the Twin Towers. He later joined the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Forces squad I-41, the Weapons of Mass Destruction Unit.

I caught up with him recently. Back then, after working at the landfill all night, I would sleep under my desk on the floor, he recalled. After 9/11, real sleep wasnt a thing anymore. I was asleep for a little while and the phone rang. The supervisor asked if I could cover a lead.

Anthrax. Another letter containing white powder had been received by Judith Miller, the New York Times lead reporter on WMD. Pogan says Miller told him it probably wasnt real. It smells like Talcum powder, he remembers her saying.

He had two thoughts; first, I hope she doesnt know that because she sniffed it, and second, she was probably right. He and his FBI and NYPD colleagues had responded to dozens of hoax calls that they referred to simply as white powder jobs. Pogan took the letter to the New York City Health Department lab for testing.

The next time Pogan went back to the lab, one of the biologists looked up from the microscope and said, Hey, glad youre here. We were just about to call you. This stuff is real, its anthrax.

The biologist let me look through the microscope. There they were. I could see them, these little tubes on the microscope image. This was anthrax, Pogan said, and he briefed his superiors.

I got back in the car and I turned to John Scarbeck, the agent I worked with and said, what do you want? I got cipro (ciprofloxacin) or doxycycline in the glove compartment, pick one. Both antibiotics are considered anthrax antidotes. On the WMD squad you always knew exposure was a risk, so I kept these in the car, he added.

Pogan and his team were still overwhelmed by 9/11 leads and a smoking wreck at Ground Zero, but they knew New York City was under attack again. This one wasnt fiery, instant, and deadly on a mass scale. This one was dark, slow, insidious and like nothing we had seen before.

It also lined up with what Pogan and I had learned in our COBRA training at Anniston. This weapons grade anthrax was finely milled into tiny particles that could not be contained simply by a sealed envelope. It escaped into postal facilities where the mail was processed. It floated through the air like a deadly lottery ticket where the unlucky person who chose to take a breath while passing by. It was killing people, one at a time, day by day. Between October 5, and November 22, 2001, five people who were exposed died from anthrax poisoning.

Seeking experts

Anthrax. Saddam Hussein? Bin Laden? A lone wolf in his basement? The FBI codenamed the case Amerithrax. In November, the FBI released a profile developed by the Bureaus Behavioral Science Unit saying that the anthrax killer was likely a male, a loner and might work in a laboratory. Hundreds of agents, analysts and scientists worked around the clock. For help, they turned to the US Department of Defense lab at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where anthrax expert Dr. Bruce Ivins worked.

By summer of 2002, the investigation had zeroed in on a main suspect. Search warrants were carried out at the Maryland apartment of Dr. Steven Hatfill, a bio-weapons expert who had worked for the Department of Defense as well as for governments in places like Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe.

The FBI swabbed Hatfils home and Florida storage lockers for traces of anthrax. Then they discovered he had been taking cipro. Investigators learned that Hatfills Easy Pass had registered road trips on the highways near the places in Maryland, and New Jersey where the anthrax letters were mailed from. Despite efforts to keep the investigation secret, Hatfills name came out, and he was described by Attorney General John Ashcroft as a person of interest in the case.

Investigators in protective suits prepare to enter the New York Times building in New York on October 12, 2001. - Peter Morgan/Reuters

By September of 2002, I had left the news business to become the Chief of Counterterrorism for the LAPD. White powder jobs continued to come in, all of them hoaxes or some accidentally spilled SweetN Low on a conference room table. The LAPD hazmat team had reduced its response from building evacuations, blocked streets, and decontamination showers to a discreet arrival by three hazmat team members and a quick assay using specialized equipment to determine the properties of the powder. Usually within half an hour, we could say it was non-hazardous, and quietly go away. But each time I rolled on one of those jobs, I knew the anthrax killer was still out there and I wondered if they would strike again.

In August of 2002, the person of interest, Dr. Steven Hatfill, held a press conference declaring his innocence and filed a civil lawsuit against the Attorney General, the Justice Department and the FBI. When I left the LAPD to join the FBI as an Assistant Director in 2005, my job was to run the FBIs outreach to the communities across the country and to serve as the Bureaus national spokesman.

My boss, then FBI Director Bob Mueller, met regularly at the FBIs command center with the families of the anthrax victims to update them as best he could about the case. Mueller took the Bureaus relationship with the families very seriously. He felt we owed it to them to keep them in the loop. The families were told a good deal that was not public. I dont believe they were ever the source of a leak about the case.

Eventually, Director Mueller changed the Amerithrax probes leadership. He worried that the focus on Dr. Hatfill had closed the investigation off from other suspects. Hatfill had been cleared and paid more than $2.8 million in a settlement that also included another $3 million to be paid out at $150,000 a year. Under a new inspector, the case started from scratch.

Police cars are parked outside the American Media building in Boca Raton on Oct. 8, 2001 where environmental tests detected anthrax bacteria. - Luis M. Alvarez/AP

In 2008, the investigation had narrowed down to Dr. Bruce Ivins, one of the bio scientists who investigators first interviewed looking for anthrax expertise.

Ivins essentially felt that his work was underfunded and underappreciated. The Ameritrhax squad believed Ivins thought an anthrax attack right after 9/11 would result in a flood of resources to his Army bioweapons research lab.

Ivins likely knew from the FBI interviews and conversations with his lawyer that he was about to be charged as the anthrax killer, so he took an overdose and died in an apparent suicide. He was right. We had a mountain of evidence, and were going to arrest him within 48 hours.

The anthrax case is full of lessons, successes, and failures. I learned that you can train for something the way the experts think its going to unfold, but when it actually goes down, you may find that even the best training didnt tell you everything about the real-world events.

I also realized how important it is to think of the victims and their families. FBI Director Mueller made it a point to develop a relationship of trust and accessibility with them. I believe thats why they never publicly criticized the agency, which would have only made the job harder.

The final takeaway is about tunnel vision. Every investigator has to follow their gut, but only to a point. You may have the best suspect in the world, but the real suspect may be standing right next to you.

John J. Miller is the Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst for CNN. He is a veteran award-winning journalist and experienced law enforcement and intelligence executive. Prior to joining CNN, Miller served as Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Hes also held positions with the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Letters to the Editor: It's not antisemitic to protest Israel's brutal war or its far-right government

Israeli soldiers work on tanks at a staging ground near the border with the Gaza Strip on April 11. (Tsafrir Abayov / Associated Press)

To the editor: In questioning the motives of protesters, one letter writer lists several instances of other governments' misconduct in the form of persecution of Indigenous populations and, in Russia's case, launching a war against Ukraine.

Although these are all causes worthy of protest, they are irrelevant to the Israeli-Hamas conflict. This is an example of the "whataboutism" pseudo-argument that tries to dilute or distract from the legitimate examination of a particular issue.

In expressing a concern that Israel has been "singled out" for criticism, the implication is that this criticism is driven by antisemitism. After all, what other reason would there be for focusing on the Israeli government's misconduct to the exclusion of all these other instances of bad government?

Indeed, the pro-Israeli lobby seeks to dismiss criticism of Israel's brutal siege of Gaza as antisemitic. It is not. It is Israel's extremist political leadership that is the target of global condemnation.

Andrew Spathis, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: As a Jew and a baby-boomer, I am distressed, saddened and worried about the campus protests over the war in Gaza. I too might be joining these protests if it weren't for a few inconvenient truths. Namely:





Hamas started this conflagration with a murderous rampage and the taking of civilian hostages.

Hamas continues to fight from bunkers while willingly placing Gazans in the line of fire.

Hamas continues to delay additional hostage releases and a cease-fire agreement.

I would ask the protesters this: If your parent, child or sibling were one of the hostages, what would you want Israel to do to free them?

Mark Warmbrand, San Diego

..

To the editor: I shake my head. Antisemitism remains all too alive, here in the 21st century.

One reader suggests that today's student protests criticizing Israel have a root in antisemitism. Quite possibly true.

Yet there is another reason. Myanmar, China and Russia  the countries whose repressive actions the letter writer cites  are all dictatorships.

Israel remains a vibrant democracy, so it's held to higher expectations.

Bob Wieting, Simi Valley

..

To the editor: I have lately read a few letters to the editor that ask why the college students do not protest other countries doing terrible things or Hamas. The question is really very simple to answer.

The students have no ability to have any effect on those other countries or Hamas. It is our country that has supplied aid and weapons to Israel.

The first demand of the protesting Columbia students is this: "Divest all of Columbia's finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine."

Alex Magdaleno, Camarillo

..

To the editor: So it is all about hostages.

Pro-Palestinian protesters attempt to hold American universities hostage until they divest from Israel. Hamas is holding their Israeli hostages until Israel ceases to exist.

And we are all being held hostages by fanatics and fundamentalists.

Barry M. Dank, Palm Desert

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
So many questions

Regarding the Akron police officers shooting of a youth who was holding a fake gun ...

Did the father know his son had such a toy gun? Did the mother know her son had such a toy gun? Did the friends of the 15-year-old boy know he had a toy guy?

Did the person who called police make mention of a toy gun? Did the police officer who came about this person know in a split second it was a toy gun in the teens right hand?

In the time it took to read the above, more than 20 shots of a real gun of that type could have been fired. Could you or any police officer have taken a chance of it being a toy gun?

The familys lawyer made mention that Ohio is a state with the right to carry. Does that law give a minor the right to carry a handgun in his hand in public or even holstered? A minor, I think not!

I would like to know if this lawyer, upon leaving his office, a teenager confronted him, gun in hand, would he reply, Put that toy gun away, or would he plead for his life?

So many questions, so many questions unanswered.

Parents or friends, please try to help our younger people not to carry real or toy guns anywhere.

For the parents and family of the teen who was injured, be thankful he is still alive. Lessons learned may be harsh, but are lessons learned.

Fred Dixon, Stow

Kyle Rittenhouse speaks April 16 at Kent State University.

Student hypocrisy

I was relieved to see there were no reports of violence at Kent State University on April 16 during Kyle Rittenhouses visit.

Im also pleased to see the university assent that Rittenhouse had the same First Amendment rights as the students who did not want him to speak at all. Some university students took up space so Rittenhouse would not be heard by others.

Unless I missed it, I havent heard a word or article mentioning that Rittenhouse is a bigot. Or a racist.

The next time there is a shooting in Akron and a young person is killed, I hope that Kent State students rise to the occasion and voice their opinions about the terrible gun violence.

The article I read was full of hate, but it wasnt coming from Rittenhouse.

Scott McCallum, Akron

Death to America?

We welcome people into the U.S.A. the legal way!

Death to America? Not welcome here.

Go back to your country. Fight their cause. Take those in Washington with you.

Clean up our cities, our country!

God bless America, U.S.A.

Jerry Lamm, Akron

Ask people to serve

The April 28 editorial column Lack of rural candidates bodes ill for representative government discusses a serious problem, for the many reasons given. It is true that responsible, civic-minded people should step up, but they dont.

Now, it might be admitted that some leaders find that having fewer people involved makes their job easier.

We can do better. There is another way to get qualified candidates: Ask people to serve. From my labor union experience, I know that if you ask people to serve and agree to work with them or help them, they will serve.

Generally, what you show people, you will get that back. If you show disinterest in them, thats what you'll get. If you show interest in people, that is usually what you will get back. That is true leadership. It works.

Philip Kroll, Akron

Ditch the chaos

How does one respond to the juggernaut of Donald Trump and all the chaos he has created for more than a decade? In all those years, no one has nailed down a way to ditch the chaos.

It does little good for people to denigrate Trump  the people who need to hear the truth have turned a deaf ear and, unfortunately, some have acted on the dog whistles that Trump has employed. How does one deal with such a situation? It seems there is no way to ditch the chaos.

His MAGA base is totally under his spell, causing fear to reign in the ranks of bullied Republican legislators across the nation. They fear losing their posts and power; thus, Washington is hamstrung. Trump contradicts himself daily; therefore, its useless to pin him down.

Letters to the editor sound the alarm and/or express the truth, but, ultimately, they dont reach his ingrained followers. I feel we are treading water and cant turn the tide. Am I the only one who feels this way?

My only hope is that thinking people will register  then, actually vote. Its imperative that this occurs.

Jeanette Ballantyne, Akron

Unthinkable in Norton

Norton City Council has done the unthinkable. The caretakers of our land, our water, our air and our people have failed us. Council has rezoned land to allow Saint-Gobain manufacturing company into our neighborhood.

There is a documented history of environmental destruction that has a human toll. I put forward just one example from New Hampshire.

Annie Ropeik reported July 21, 2021, on New Hampshire Public Radio: The company contaminated hundreds of water wells in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with PFAs (forever chemicals) linked to health problems and which persist in the environment.

Mara Hoplamazian reported Aug. 23, 2023, on New Hampshire Public Radio: Saint-Gobain  announced they are closing the plant  [and] will continue working with state regulators on ongoing environmental investigation and remediation efforts  [and] has agreed to provide alternative drinking water to more than 1,000 properties.

The Hannon Law Firm on June 22, 2017, filed a class-action lawsuit against Saint-Gobain in Merrimack, New Hampshire, seeking compensations for discharges, spills and leaks of toxic perfluorinated chemicals.

According to the law firms website, losses included property values and marketability, cost of remediation, cost of mitigation of contaminated water  loss of property enjoyment, annoyance, discomfort, inconvenience, cost of medical monitoring of early detection of illness, disease, disease process caused by exposure.

According to Hannon, toxic properties of PFAS include testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver function abnormalities, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, thyroid disease, high cholesterol and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The U.S. EPA has also advised that PFAs may result in developmental defects on fetuses during pregnancy or to breastfed infants.

Norton City Council arranged zoning for 690 cluster homes here. It essentially invited families with children to play, go to school and sleep here and had the audacity to rezone to accommodate this company! The next City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 6.

Ann Dye, Norton

Its satire, right?

The April 24 article DeWine: FirstEnergy money not influential belonged on the comics page, not the front page. Are you sure Dave Barry didn't write that one?

Robert L. Summers, Hiram

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Questions about Akron officers shooting of teen holding toy gun
Watch party attendees sign a flag in support of Proposition A on May 4, 2024. Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune

LUBBOCK  The green wave some Lubbock residents hoped for didnt materialize Saturday as voters rejected Proposition A, which would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana in the city. Nearly 65% of voters rejected the proposal.

The ordinance would have instructed Lubbock police to stop arresting adults for possession of marijuana if they have four ounces or less.

Adam Hernandez, spokesperson for Lubbock Compact, the organization behind the decriminalization efforts, said low voter turnout hurt the proposition.

We worked hard on it, we had a lot of volunteers, Hernandez said. We just werent able to get the voter turnout high enough.

When asked if they will revisit the issue in the future, he said, Before anything else can move forward, were going to have to focus on voter education and voter turnout.

The movement to end some low-level pot arrests was started by Lubbock Compact, a local advocacy group. When the proposal was unanimously rejected by the City Council, it kicked off a grassroots campaign to get the issue on the ballot for voters to decide.

What followed was weeks of political strife. Megachurches, state leaders and law enforcement spoke out against the ballot initiative, calling it an effort to undermine public safety.

Early voting numbers showed a higher interest in this years elections, as 26,103 ballots were cast early, significantly more than Lubbocks last municipal election. With Saturdays numbers, about 35,216 people voted this year. More than 190,000 people are registered to vote in Lubbock County.

Texas has long resisted efforts to legalize recreational marijuana or lower penalties for low-level possession. Since 2015, state lawmakers have allowed medical marijuana use through the Compassionate Use Program which has about 69,000 Texans enrolled. Aside from the program, lawmakers have drawn a line in the sand when it comes to recreational marijuana use and possession in Texas.

Similar ordinances have passed by voter approval in Austin, Killeen, Denton, Elgin and San Marcos. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued all five cities as a result. City leaders in Harker Heights, another city that passed a similar policy, refused to reform their enforcement guidelines.

The Texas Tribune answering reader questions about 2024 elections. To share your question or feedback with us, you can fill out this form.

Weve got big things in store for you at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Join us for three days of big, bold conversations about politics, public policy and the days news.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue negotiations with Palestinian extremist organization Hamas over a release of remaining hostages and a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war.

In a phone call on Sunday, Macron encouraged the Israeli premier to bring the negotiations, which could lead to de-escalation in the region, to a good end, according to reports from the Elysee Palace in Paris following a telephone conversation between the two politicians on Sunday.

Macron also reportedly stressed that France's priority remained the release of all hostages.

France fully supports the ongoing negotiations, it said. The fate of Palestinians in Gaza must no longer be subjected to the rule of Hamas while Israeli attacks on the coastal area must cease, according to the statement.

Macron once again reiterated his firm opposition to a planned Israeli ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons have taken refuge from fighting elsewhere in the strip.

Another round of negotiations between Hamas representatives and Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo was concluded on Sunday, according to the Palestinian extremist organization which said it would consult next with the organization's leaders in Qatar.
Most of the major adult sites are restricting access to users, at least in certain states. Other locations are now requiring age verification before visitors can access the adult website.

Over the past year, a battle over p-rnography, child protection, and free speech has heated up across the United States. Texas, along with seven other states, recently passed legislation that blocks millions from accessing P-rnhub, along with other adult websites, unless they can prove they are at least 18 years old.

Adult Websites Currently Disabled In Select States

Canva Stock Images

P-rnhub has removed access for people in states with age-verification laws, including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

Last year, Texas enacted an age verification law (HB 1181), which requires users to upload photos of their government IDs before accessing an adult website.

Unfortunately, the Texas law for age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Not only will it not actually protect children, [but] it will inevitably reduce content creators ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey with it, Alex Kekesi, vice president of brand and community at Aylo, Po-nhubs Canadian-based parent company, said.

On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the age-verification component of Texas' internet p-rn law to remain in effect.

P-rnhub Releases Statement

Canva Stock Images

P-rnhub cut off access for North Carolina users in protest of a new state law, which took effect on January 1, 2024.

Mandating age verification without proper enforcement gives platforms the opportunity to choose whether or not to comply, the P-rnhub statement reads. As weve seen in other states, this just drives traffic to sites with far fewer safety measures in place. Very few sites are able to compare to the robust Trust and Safety measures we currently have in place."

It added, "To protect children and user privacy, any legislation must be enforced against all platforms offering adult content  Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in North Carolina.

Major Adult Websites Ask Users To 'Demand Device-Based Verification Solutions'

Screenshot via The Blast

The Blast attempted to access major adult websites, including P-rnHub, RedTube, or YourP-rn, but received the following message:

Dear user, As you may know, your elected officials in Virginia are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website. While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk. In addition, mandating age verification without proper enforcement gives platforms the opportunity to choose whether or not to comply. As weve seen in other states, this just drives traffic to sites with far fewer safety measures in place. Very few sites are able to compare to the robust Trust and Safety measures we currently have in place. To protect children and user privacy, any legislation must be enforced against all platforms offering adult content.

P-rnhub Disables Its Website In Virginia, Among Other States

Canva Stock Images

The statement continues:

The safety of our users is one of our biggest concerns. We believe that the best and most effective solution for protecting children and adults alike is to identify users by their device and allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that identification. Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Virginia. Please contact your representatives before it is too late and demand device-based verification solutions that make the internet safer while also respecting your privacy. Model or Content Partner access P-rnhub is rated with RTA label. Parents, you can easily block access to this site. Please read this page for more information.

While the message states Virginia, this occurred when The Blast attempted to visit the adult site in Maryland.

New Jersey Residents Receive Warning When Attempting To Visit Adult Websites

Screenshot via The Blast

The Blast also attempted to visit adult websites in New Jersey and received an "adult website" warning.

This website contains age-restricted materials, including nudity and explicit depictions of sexual activity. By entering, you affirm that you are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in the jurisdiction you are accessing the website from, and you consent to viewing sexually explicit content.

Users can then click "I am 18 or older - Enter" or "I am under 18 - Exit."
(KRON)  A Suisun City resident was arrested after allegedly striking a person in the head with a rifle.

Walnut Creek police officers responded to the 1500 Block of N. Main St. for a reported disturbance around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Responding officers located a victim on the ground with a head wound. Police determined the victim was struck in the head with the stock end of a rifle.

3 people facing gun charges after traffic stop in American Canyon

The suspect fled prior to the officers arrival.

Walnut Creek detectives identified the suspect as 28-year-old Suisun City resident Malcolm Harris and presented charges to be filed to the Contra Costa District Attorneys office.

Harris was taken into custody on a warrant out of state by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department on the following charges:

Assault with a machine gun or assault weapon

Possession of a firearm by a felon

Possession of an assault weapon

Harris is currently in custody at the Contra Costa County Jail.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
CHICAGO  Detectives are searching for answers after a man was found shot to death on the West Side early Saturday morning.

Chicago police say the victim was located just before 2 a.m., in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street, in Garfield Park, with a gunshot wound to his head.

Chicago man accused in deadly West Side shooting

Officers say the victim was later pronounced dead on the scene. The victims identity has not yet been released.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the fatal shooting and authorities say no arrests have been made.

An investigation by Chicago police is now underway.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

It is the second deadly shooting that unfolded in the area overnight.

Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man died Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle while crossing in a crosswalk against a walk signal, police said.

The crash occurred just before 10 a.m. when, who police describe as an elderly man from Las Vegas, was crossing Charleston Boulevard, east of Decatur Boulevard in west Las Vegas, and was struck by a sedan traveling on Charleston Boulevard. Police said the man illegally crossed the street in a crosswal but against the walk signal.

The driver, an 81-year-old man from North Las Vegas, remained on the scene and police say he did not show any signs of impairment.

The fatal crash represents the 60th traffic-related death of 2024 for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments jurisdiction. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Man sentenced to 55 years in death of 19-year-old found in car

AUSTIN (KXAN)  A man was sentenced to 55 years in prison, more than four years after he was accused of killing a 19-year-old in Kyle.

Davonte Tennille Miller, 25, pleaded guilty to murder, according to court documents. His sentence will run concurrently with a prior sentence, according to the court. He was given credit for 1,623 days already served.

Officers discovered Benjamin Albert Verses body in a car parked at a business off of Interstate 35 in the early morning hours of Sept. 25, 2019.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
CLOVIS, N.M. (KRQE)  Two people are dead, a child is wounded, and a baby is missing after an incident on Friday. Authorities held a press conference on Sunday to address the situation.

You dont get to do this here to us in New Mexico because we are New Mexicans, said Albuquerque FBI Field Office Special Agent Raul Bujanda.

On Friday, New Mexico State Police (NMSP) issued an Amber alert for 10-month-old Eleia Maria Torres. Officials sent out the alert after the Clovis Police Department found the girls mom, and another woman, dead at Ned Houk Park. The deceased victims were identified as 23-year-old Samantha (also known as Harley) Cisernos and 23-year-old Taryn Allen. There was also a wounded 5-year-old at the scene. They believe the baby should have been with her mother.

As we speak, a five-year-old victim, who sustained a gunshot wound is recovering, is receiving care, said Clovis Police Deputy Chief Trevor Thorn.

New Video: Suspect arrested after gunshots ring out at ABQ apartment complex

During a press conference on Sunday, officials didnt have too many extra details to supply. They mentioned the five-year-old was still receiving medical treatment. They also mentioned surveillance footage showed the victims stopping for food before going to Dollar Tree. A witness nearby stated they heard gunshots that day, but they didnt immediately report it.

The FBI and Clovis Police Department are asking the public to come forward with any tips and leads. They said no information is too small or insignificant.

Finding Eleia and the subject, or subjects, responsible for this heinous act is our top priority, said Deputy Chief Thorn. We have teams of professionals working around the clock from all over the country here in Clovis, pouring over every bit of data, using every resource at their disposal trying to find Eleia and her abductor.

Officials also said the fathers of the children have been working and cooperating with law enforcement.

If you have any information on this case, call 575-763-9472.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Many states are eager to extend Medicaid to people soon to be released from prison

Community health worker Ron Sanders, right, helps a patient at San Franciscos Southeast Family Health Center, part of the Transitions Clinic Network that assists former inmates navigate health care after release. A new policy allows states to provide Medicaid health care coverage to inmates for specific services 30-90 days before their release. (Courtesy of Transitions Clinic Network)

A new policy that allows states to provide Medicaid health care coverage to incarcerated people at least a month prior to their release has drawn bipartisan interest and a slew of state applications.

Federal policy has long prohibited Medicaid spending on people who are incarcerated in jails or prisons, except for hospitalization. As a result, when people are released, they typically dont have health insurance and many struggle to find health care providers and get needed treatment. In a population that is disproportionately likely to have chronic conditions such as heart disease and substance use disorders, that can be deadly.

Some states terminate residents Medicaid coverage when theyre incarcerated, while others just suspend it. Either approach can cause delays in seeking health care for people recently released from incarceration, with sometimes disastrous outcomes: A seminal 2007 study found that former prisoners in Washington state were 12 times more likely to die from all causes within two weeks of release, compared with the general population. The leading causes were drug overdoses, cardiovascular disease, homicide and suicide.

Because a disproportionate number of Black, Native and Hispanic people are incarcerated, lowering their death risk after release might reduce racial health disparities in the overall population.

In 2022, about 448,400 people were released from prison, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Under federal guidance released a year ago, states can connect prisoners with case managers 30-90 days before they are released to develop plans based on their health needs. The case manager can help the person make post-release appointments with primary care doctors, mental health counselors, substance use programs, and housing and food assistance.

States that want to extend Medicaid coverage to people in prison or jail must request a federal waiver to do so. At a minimum, participating states must provide case management, medication-assisted treatment for people with substance use disorders and a months supply of medication upon release, though states are free to do more.

Imagine if we had three months to prepare. Having a plan of action and even having appointments already scheduled for their needs  its going to be game changing

 Alfonso Apu, director of behavioral health services at Community Medical Centers Inc., in California

The Health and Reentry Project, a policy analysis organization focused on health care for former prisoners, called the new policy groundbreaking.

What these waivers enable states to do is build a bridge to access to health care  a bridge that starts before someones released and continues after their release, said Vikki Wachino, executive director of the Health and Reentry Project and a former deputy director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Its about starting the process before they leave prisons and jails, so that they can have stronger connections to health care providers and treatment providers after they leave prison and jail.

As of last month, federal officials had approved waiver applications from four states  California, Massachusetts, Montana and Washington. Nearly 20 other states are waiting for approval, according to health research organization KFF.

Jack Rollins, director of federal policy at the National Association of Medicaid Directors, said states that want to participate are focusing on different incarcerated populations and medical conditions. Some would start with jails, others with state prisons or youth detention facilities. Some states would provide coverage to all inmates, others just to those with a substance use disorder.

Washington, for example, will cover people incarcerated in jails, prisons and youth correctional facilities beginning three months before they are released, an estimated 4,000 people each year. It will connect them to community health workers, bring in doctors and counselors for consultations, and provide lab services and X-rays.

Montana will limit its program to people in state prisons who have a substance use disorder or mental illness and will provide services beginning a month before release. It did not give an estimate of how many people would receive help each year.

California, where an estimated 200,000 people will be covered each year, also included community health workers in its plan. Dr. Shira Shavit, executive director of the Transitions Clinic Network, a California-based national network of clinics focused on formerly incarcerated people, said ex-prisoners are especially well suited for that role.

Shavit said her group consults them on where to locate new clinics and on strategies to reach recently released inmates, because the workers are adept at knowing where people are when they come out into the community and finding them there.

Community health worker Ron Sanders, standing, talks with a patient outside Southeast Family Health Center in San Francisco. (Courtesy of Transitions Clinic Network)

Research suggests that connecting recently released people with others who know what its like to be incarcerated makes it less likely that they will end up in the emergency room.

They know how to connect with people, and people trust them, and will follow them to come to clinic and feel comfortable coming, Shavit said.

Alfonso Apu, director of behavioral health services at Community Medical Centers Inc., a California network of neighborhood health centers that serves patients in San Joaquin, Solano and Yolo counties, said its easy to lose people once they are released.

The complexity of these patients is so intense that they are going to need three, four, five hours of encounters with primary care every month, at least, Apu said.

Imagine if we had three months to prepare, he said. Having a plan of action and even having appointments already scheduled for their needs  its going to be game changing.

Dr. Evan Ashkin is a physician who founded the Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program at the University of North Carolina, a network of community health centers that works with local health departments, clinics and community health workers to connect former inmates with health care. He agreed that employing community health workers who share the experience of previous incarceration is essential.

Im hoping well be able to expand this workforce, Ashkin said. In our state, North Carolina, theres not a lot of folks focusing on access to health care for people post-release.

North Carolina is awaiting word on its application.

Ashkin added that racial equity issues are really important.

We have to have our eyes wide open on the type of services we provide, that they are set up to bring in the communities most impacted, he said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Many states are eager to extend Medicaid to people soon to be released from prison appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Marco Rubio refuses to say whether hed leave Florida if Trump picks him as VP

Marco Rubio is seen on Capitol Hill. The Florida senator is thought to be near the top of Donald Trumps shortlist for VP (Getty Images)

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the man Donald Trump once dubbed Little Marco, is now vying to be his 2024 vice presidential pick.

And due to a technical glitch in the Constitution, it may be difficult for both the VP and president to be from the same state, which means Mr Rubio may have to leave Florida.

On Fox News Sunday, host Shannon Bream asked whether the Florida Senator would leave the state of Florida or change his residency if he were asked to join Mr Trumps 2024 ticket.

In short, the Republican lawmaker didnt answer her question.

He did, however, say, that Mr Trump is going to have an extremely talented group of people that can serve this country in multiple roles, and thats a decision hes going to have to make.

He added, Leaving me aside for a moment, I think that before anyone decides to move from their state, you better make sure you dont move to a state where theres not some DA [district attorney] that makes a career after going after Republicans.

Senator Rubio seemed to be referring to the ongoing hush money trial in New York that was brought by the Manhattan DAs office. Mr Trump is now standing criminal trial, with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments given to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Mr Trump.

Bream then joked, So, if you do move, not to New York. That wont be your choice.

The Fox News host then said there could be a technical glitch with having two people from the same state when it comes down to an Electoral College vote, should Mr Rubio be named as Mr Trumps running mate.

She was referring to the 12th Amendment, which states that after a presidential election, the Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves.

This could become a problem when Florida electors cast their votes, should a Trump-Rubio ticket emerge, since both men are from the same state as those electors.

But the former president has yet to unveil his 2024 running mate.

Mr Rubio has been considered to be on the former presidents shortlist of potential running mates, and was one of a handful of possible veep contenders at Mar-a-Lago this weekend for a RNC donor retreat.

The evolution of Mr Trump and Mr Rubios relationship from infamous feuds to potential running mates is astounding.

Both men ran for the 2016 GOP nominee, and their online spats quickly devolved into name-calling and jokes about the others physical appearance. Most notably, Mr Trump labeled the Florida Senator Little Rubio while Mr Rubio suggested that Mr Trump had small hands.
Maricopa County officials opened the doors of a new animal shelter on Wednesday, replacing an outdated facility in a move that could mark a new page for the historically troubled department.

The brand-new, $43 million building features larger kennels, more play areas, a large veterinary clinic and quarantine capabilities. It is designed to appeal to potential adopters, eschewing rows of wire kennels under florescent lightbulbs for glass-doored enclosures in small pods that are arranged to let in natural light and decrease noise and other stressors.

Located at Baseline Road and Lewis Drive in Mesa, it is at the heart of a retail corridor surrounded by residential communities  a shift from the previous East Valley shelter, which neighbored a ballpark and was bounded by freeways on two sides.

That shelter, built in the 1980s, was originally created as a rabies vaccination site. It was never intended to be used as a full-time animal shelter, and a task force formed in 2014 to improve animal shelter operations called it "inadequate and substandard."

Problems with the facility included little space for medical care, a cramped play yard, deafening noise in the kennels and weak heating and cooling equipment. Task force members concluded the county needed to make sweeping changes in its shelters and better fund them.

County officials hope the new facility, constructed with capital funding, will lead to happier, better-behaved animals that are more attractive as family pets. They're also betting a new location and a nicer building will entice more adopter foot traffic.

Volunteer Alex Skidmore feeds cats at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter in Mesa on Dec. 5, 2016. A new shelter opened on May 2, 2024, featuring larger kennels, better lighting and more play areas.

"It is gorgeous, and when you walk in, it is a totally different feeling," said Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Director Debbie McKnight. "It's not cramped, and it's not sad."

The county aims to replace its existing Phoenix shelter with a new West Valley one in the coming years. Ultimately, the goal of the new facilities is faster kennel turnover and more revenue from adoption fees.

"Capacity really depends on length of stay," McKnight said. "You could build a giant place with tons and tons and tons of kennels  you're just going to end up filling it up. So let's get them in and make sure they get out into a home as soon as possible."

An embattled department

The investment comes after years of turmoil for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

A 2019 investigation from The Republic detailed concerns about a toxic workplace within the department and bad conditions within the shelters. It also shed light on a controversial transport program that led Animal Care and Control to ship more than 4,000 dogs and cats to animal shelters in Utah, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico and beyond over a span of 19 months.

An earlier investigation found that veterinarians were botching surgeries on some shelter animals, leading to a years-long string of injuries and deaths.

As the problems racked up, the shelters also began experiencing severe overcrowding. During the work-from-home era of the pandemic, staff saw record lows in stray animals. But as normal life resumed and Valley's population boomed, the department began seeing a sharp uptick.

In recent years, the kennels have regularly been over capacity. At times, staff have been forced to turn away animals because of a lack of space.

Outdated facilities and pets in especially close quarters caused other issues. The county's shelters have seen numerous outbreaks of distemper, a highly contagious viral disease that can cause coughing, decreased appetite and vomiting in dogs. It can be fatal.

During a 2022 outbreak at the county's old East Valley shelter, staff had to temporarily quarantine all of the animals in the county's kennel facilities. Ultimately, 240 animals were infected, and several were euthanized to stop the spread. That ignited criticism from animal advocates, who accused Animal Care and Control of failing to protect and properly manage dogs in its care.

Amid that tension, internal turmoil continued. The department saw the departure of director Michael Mendel in December 2022. He left his role after several employees alleged he bullied and berated them during an emotional outburst over criticism of the department.

A fresh start

In recent months, the department has made a few changes.

It hired McKnight, its current director, from the Arizona Humane Society last year. It also redoubled efforts to fight overpopulation in the Valley through mobile spay and neuter clinics, targeting zip codes where stray animals are most often picked up.

U.S. Lexical Diaz holds onto Cookie who was recently spayed at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control's mobile clinic on March 31, 2023.

Now, it will demolish the old East Valley shelter. County officials said they plan to sell the land under the building.

McKnight is hoping the new shelter will help attract volunteers and lead to more community involvement with the department.

"It does take the whole community," she said. "We're not a silo. We need everybody, and it's helpful to have a very welcoming environment."

County officials will also build a new shelter to replace the county's Phoenix-based facility at 27th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. Plans are still in design, but County Manager Jen Pokorski said she expects the new facility will be located north and west of the current shelter  perhaps near Glendale, Peoria or west Phoenix.

That would bring the shelter closer to residential communities and retail corridors, like the new Mesa facility. Currently, the Phoenix shelter is surrounded by county buildings in a predominantly industrial area.

Pokorski said the new West Valley shelter will also be larger and have more kennels  although she couldn't state an immediate number.

"The goal is to have enough space for animals to come in, if they're a stray or for safety reasons like a bite, but not to house them indefinitely," she said.

No other new shelters have been officially approved. But some county leaders would like to go even further. Supervisor Tom Galvin, who represents a district spanning parts of the East Valley, said he's hoping for a third shelter within the next decade.

He envisions a new facility in north Phoenix or Paradise Valley that would create "a triangle of shelters" in the county.

"The county's huge," Galvin said. "It's 4.5 million people. Hundreds of people are moving here every single day. We have to meet the growing capacity needs that are really bumping up against these old buildings."

How to adopt

Interested in bringing home a new furry friend?

Maricopa County's shelters are open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. You don't need an appointment to take home an animal, but you can scope out adoptable pets online in advance of your visit.

Be forewarned  some pets go fast! The adoptable pets page provides a live look at what dogs have yet to find homes.

Once you arrive at a shelter, you can walk through the kennels to pick out pets to meet or let staff know if you already have a specific animal in mind. If a pet proves a good fit, you may be able to take them home with you on the same day that you meet them.

All pets are spayed or neutered before leaving the shelters. All animals are also microchipped before adoption.

Adoption fees are waived for dogs six months and older until May 15. Fees for puppies under five months are $150.

More information is available on the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control website.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and regional issues for The Arizona Republic. Do you have a tip to share? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Threads: @sashahupkasnaps.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: No more metal cages for potential pets at $43M new Maricopa County shelter
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 46-year-old male at the Peace Bridge border crossing Friday who had an active arrest felony warrant for strongarm rape.

Ethiopian citizen and lawful permanent resident of the U.S. Bereket Mengesha was on a bus returning to his residence in Maryland. An inspection revealed an active National Crime Information Center felony warrant for an alleged strongarm rape of a minor in Maryland, which is a first-degree felony in the state.

During further investigation to confirm the warrant, CBP found an additional charge for an alleged sexual abuse of a minor, which is also a first-degree felony in Maryland.

Mengesha was turned over to the Buffalo Police Department and was charged as a fugitive from justice. He is being held by the Erie County Sheriffs Office awaiting extradition.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024 as a digital producer. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) shareholders are probably feeling a little disappointed, since its shares fell 3.4% to US$160 in the week after its latest first-quarter results. Chevron missed revenue estimates by 3.9%, coming in atUS$49b, although statutory earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.97 beat expectations, coming in 4.0% ahead of analyst estimates. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for Chevron

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Chevron's 15 analysts is for revenues of US$199.2b in 2024. This reflects a credible 3.3% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to swell 16% to US$12.73. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$203.2b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$13.20 in 2024. The analysts seem to have become a little more negative on the business after the latest results, given the small dip in their earnings per share numbers for next year.

It might be a surprise to learn that the consensus price target was broadly unchanged at US$183, with the analysts clearly implying that the forecast decline in earnings is not expected to have much of an impact on valuation. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. There are some variant perceptions on Chevron, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$206 and the most bearish at US$155 per share. The narrow spread of estimates could suggest that the business' future is relatively easy to value, or thatthe analysts have a strong view on its prospects.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that Chevron's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 4.5% annualised growth rate until the end of 2024 being well below the historical 14% p.a. growth over the last five years. Juxtapose this against the other companies in the industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenues (in aggregate) 2.0% per year. Even after the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Chevron is also expected to grow faster than the wider industry.

Story continues

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. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Chevron analysts - going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

However, before you get too enthused, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Chevron 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.
Mayor Eric Adams defiantly told New York City colleges Sunday that they should move forward with their graduation ceremonies and not cave to anti-Israel provocateurs looking to disrupt the proceedings.

Its a wonderful experience to graduate from an institution, and I dont think we should allow anything to get in the way of our normal way of life, Adams said on ABCs This Week.

Well do our job, and if the institutions decide to graduate their students and celebrate a beautiful experience with their families, we will make sure its done in a peaceful manner, he said.

A Columbia University student taking graduation pictures amid the anti-Israel protests on campus on April 21, 2024. James Keivom

The mayor defended the police crackdown on campus protests at Columbia University and CUNYs City College in Manhattan, two of a slew of anti-Israel disturbances across the country.

Adams said the Manhattan school protests escalated into criminal activity and violence when protesters  including many agitators who were not students  occupied a building and vandalized property.

When those protests reach the point of violence, we have to ensure that we use a minimum amount of force to terminate what is perceived to be a threat, Adams told co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

Hizzoner said the police raid and arrests occurred after days of communication between the NYPD and Columbias administrators.

Adams said the crackdown on protests became necessary when they escalated to a point of violence. NY Post

He said the information gathered by the Police Departments intelligence division about outsider agitators fomenting unrest at Columbia and other campuses was concerning.

We knew we had to get permission unless theres imminent threat to life or severe threat to property, he said of the riot cops who moved in. We were not going to overstep our legal authority.

Karl asked Adams about criticism from Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Westchester/Bronx), who said the campus raids and arrests of students by the the NYPD and other cops across country goes against the role of education as the cornerstone of our democracy.

One has the right to have his or her opinion, and I respect that, the mayor said. And I have an obligation and responsibility to ensure the city is safe.

He went on to say that outside agitators are making a real attempt to radicalize our young people.

Mayor Adams told New York City colleges to hold graduation ceremonies despite the possibility of anti-Israel protesters looking to disrupt them. Michael Nagle

Adams defended the NYPD crackdown on protests at Columbia and City College last week. REUTERS

NYPD officers arresting a protester who refused to leave an encampment at City College on April 30, 2024. James Keivom

NYPD officers preparing to enter Columbias Hamilton Hall on April 30, 2024. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

We cant take this lightly, he said.

The mayor showed a flier from one of the protests that read, Death to America.

This has left the point of advocating for a particular item, he said.

When youre on college grounds and you do not attend that college, youre an outsider. And then when you train people to do destructive things, you are an agitator. So, Im not trying to be politically correct. Im trying to be correct for the City of New York as we make sure the city continues to be safe.
Media: Chinese leader wants to work with international community to end war in Ukraine

China wants to work with France and the rest of the international community to end the war in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told French media outlet Le Figaro on May 5.

The Chinese President arrived in Paris on May 5 to meet with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. The visit marks Xi's first visit to the EU in five years. Ahead of official meetings, Bloomberg reported that Macron is seeking to deepen his personal connections with the Chinese leader to contribute to ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

China officially declares itself a neutral party to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, but Washington has continued to sound the alarm on Beijing's support of Moscow's defense-industrial expansion efforts.

Reuters reported in April, citing unnamed U.S. defense officials, that China is aiding Russia's war machine in Ukraine by providing machine tools, weapons technology, and satellite imagery.

The Chinese President reportedly published a column in Le Figaro, stating that he came to France with "three messages." He said intends to work with France on the subject of Russia's war in Ukraine "to strengthen communication and coordination to preserve peace and stability in the world." He also said he understands the stakes of the Ukraine war for Europeans and remains committed to "territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, equality, and mutual benefit."

Additionally, President Xi claimed to "faithfully apply these principles."

"Since the founding of New China more than 70 years ago, it has never started a war or occupied a single inch of other people's land."

He also emphasized his "constructive role" in the Ukraine conflict. "China did not cause this crisis, nor is it a party or participant in it." Instead, the Chinese leader hopes "that peace and stability will quickly return to Europe."

China, instead, wants to "work with France and the entire international community" to "resolve the crisis" in Ukraine.

Beijing has fostered close ties with Moscow during its full-scale war against Ukraine, increasing economic cooperation and disrupting Western attempts at isolating Russia. China has also weighed in on possible peace negotiations, saying talks must include Moscow.

The Chinese government previously reacted to the criticism of its partnership with Moscow, claiming that both countries have a right to carry out "normal cooperation."

Read also: Ukraine war latest: US aid will help launch counteroffensive in 2025, Sullivan says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Eight candidates total are running in the Democratic and Republican primaries for state representative in Michigan's 64th District. Shown in alphabetical order from top left: John Anter, Jorja Baldwin, Mathew Castillo, Gary Eisen, Dan Geiersbach, Ken Heuvelman, Ryan Maxon, and Joe Pavlov. Anter, Castillo, and Heuvelman are running as Democrats, and Baldwin, Eisen, Geiersbach, Maxon, and Pavlov as Republicans, for nominations in the Aug. 6 election. Winners will go on to vie for the seat in November. The contests arose following state Rep. Andrew Beeler's news he would run again.

Voters on both sides of the political aisle will have a choice to make in next Augusts primary election for the next state representative in Michigans 64th District.

Each contest is crowded with newcomers and familiar faces aiming to vie for the seat left by the outgoing state Rep. Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican who announced earlier this year that he wasnt seeking re-election.

On the Republican side, former state representative Gary Eisen and current St. Clair County Commissioner Jorja Baldwin will be up against newcomers Joe Pavlov, Ryan Maxon, and Dan Geiersbach, while John Anter, Mathew Castillo, and Ken Heuvelman are running as Democrats.

The 64th District includes the cities of Port Huron and Marysville, and Burtchville, Clyde, Fort Gratiot, Grant, Kimball, Port Huron, and St. Clair townships in St. Clair County, as well as Worth Township in Sanilac County.

Redistricted in 2020, its borders include remnants of the former 81st and 83rd districts  now representing much of St. Clair Countys population center, where historically Democratic pockets and a broader political diversity helped inspire some candidates to try and swing the region to the left.

Others said they saw Beelers departure as a good opportunity to run, touting intent to pursue solutions for both common and personal issues ranging from local choice and schools to health care.

The other three districts encompassing part of the Thumb include the 63rd, 65th, and 98th. Those latter two had no listed primary contests, as of the April filing deadline, whereas the 63rd saw Cottrellvilles Michael Zoran contesting current state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, of Clay Township, for the Republican nod.

Gary Eisen, pictured as a representative in the former 81st District.

Republican candidates

For two terms, Eisen represented the 81st District in Michigans House of Representatives. However, 2022s redistricting put him newly in contention with Beeler, then representing the 83rd, that November.

This year, the St. Clair Township resident said he heard from former colleagues who encouraged him to run again.

Basically, the statement was Lansings a mess, and this isnt the time for rookies or kids to be in Lansing, he said during an interview April 25. They could use someone with some experience and could get back to work on day one. I dont need any indoctrination. I know all of the players. I know who to stay away from. I would just start where I left off.

There were even a handful of bills left waiting, Eisen said, including for road funding, a carbon neutral tax credit, and allowing individuals to go to any county to file a state concealed pistol license. He hoped to reapproach those issues, adding, he felt cheated out of the third term  a period when legislators are more seasoned and able to do a little butt-kicking.

Eisen, who runs his own welding shop, instructs CPL classes, and teaches taekwondo, said hed also support completion of Line 5, the continued spreading of awareness in skilled trades to students, and pro-life issues.

But its not so much what I want, he said. Its what I think the constituents want in the St. Clair County area, and what I want should come way down the line.

Eisen also pointed to local control issues; as did Baldwin.

Jorja Baldwin.

Local control has become elevated in the public discourse in the last year as state lawmakers moved to empower the Michigan Public Service Commission in zoning authority for large-scale solar and wind energy developments.

If you look at the two things that impact this district, the most greatly over the last five years have to do with taking away local choice, and one of those is short-term rentals. And the other is the siting for renewables and (developments for) renewable energy, said Baldwin, whos 12 years in elected office, including county commissioner and previously as supervisor of Fort Gratiot. Previously, shed worked in zoning administration and other capacities, racking up over two decades in local government.

And I believe I have the skillset to maybe make an impact on those things, she said. So, if local control is being discussed at a state level now on just these two issues, how many more are waiting in the pipeline or how many more could come up that were not even aware of?

Baldwin also said homeschooling was another focus, citing both experience with temporary custody of a relative who was homeschooled and a recent push to the county board to support parents homeschooling their kids.

She called those day-to-day issues and the kind that occur to people when youre pulling into your driveway or making decisions for your family.

Still, more hot-button concerns like immigration, job creation, or less government, Baldwin said, were examples of things in the more conservative purview shed expect to come into focus, as well. In addition to local government work, she owns the District 43 shoe store in downtown Port Huron.

Joe Pavlov poses for a portrait Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at Ocean Breeze in Marysville. Pavlov has donated at least 200 pints of blood.

For Joe Pavlov, a retired high school teacher, involvement with his church and organizations such as Right to Life of St. Clair County and the county GOP, as well as service with the local Knights of Columbus and past coordination of a local volleyball tournament were all major touchpoints that helped build experience for political office.

When asked about the state versus local level, he said, Ive always believed in the life issue, and Im a life member of the National Rifle Association. And just seeing the way things are going with taxes and talking with businesspeople, the regulations, and the taxes and restrictions, its like I needed to move up to another level where I could be a little bit more effective in writing bills and voting on laws.

Pavlov said he was concerned about how women were being treated in this country, and how illegal immigration may affect Michigan.

But like other candidates, he said hed go boldly where constituents led him because its not going to be what Joe Pavlov wants.

I firmly believe that in order for evil to triumph, (it) requires only good people to sit back and do nothing, Pavlov said. I cant say I was doing nothing. But at the level I was, I wasnt effective, and I want to be more effective in uniting people, bringing them together and coming up with legislation that will make our district better.

Dan Geiersbach.

Newcomers Geiersbach and Maxon cited life experiences as big components to their motivation to run for office for the first time.

Geiersbach, who works in construction, was driven initially by dealing with the family court system as a single father, believing courts discriminate against fathers  something, he said, hes heard from other people.

Later, concerned that Michigan wasnt among the U.S. states with a presumption of shared custody, he alleged he couldnt get ahold of Beelers office on the issue in the past.

And thats my other big motivation for running, Geiersbach said. So many people I talked to feel like they dont have a voice in politics anymore, that theyre not represented, that nothings going to change because the people that get in office arent the common man there.

When asked, Geiersbach pointed to things like supporting constitutional carry, as well as addressing school safety concerns and what kids are learning in the classroom. Also, he said, the cost of living.

Ive been in my apartment for eight years simply for the fact that I cant afford to move, he said. Everything cost of living-wise goes up, but none of our wages go up, and its getting harder and harder for the average person to even survive.

Ryan Maxon.

Maxon, a local real estate agent, said he believed his educational background could prove to be an asset in office, having graduated in December from Central Michigan with a bachelors in political science.

He wanted to help local families and people running small businesses, particularly in the lingering wake of COVID recovery, and though still early in the campaign season, he said hes connecting with local residents who tell him theres too many regulations and that their taxes were too high.

Maxon admitted he was kind of sick of the partisanship in politics and wanted legislating to get back to the basics of just being humans.

I think I am the youngest candidate so far, he said of the GOP side. I think helping teachers have more say in what their students learn is a big thing. I know some teachers, and they say theres too many state regulations for them to do their job. Thats important.

My big thing is economic, Maxon added. I want economic growth. I want to help small business. I want to make it easier for people to start businesses. I think thats huge for the area.

Mathew Castilo.

Democratic candidates

Born and raised in Port Huron, Mathew Castillo said hes never served in office but saw his experience outside that of a career politician as an asset.

He attended St. Clair County Community College, graduated from the University of Michigan, and moved to California but eventually returned to the area after his brother was paralyzed in a car accident.

After doing that, I started helping out (with) Paralyzed Veterans of America, and some of the handicapped people he knew and just getting involved in the community in that aspect, Castillo said. And then, one thing leads to another and you start helping. I thought, well, gosh, if I can help people on a small scale, Id love to be able to help them on a larger scale.

A bartender and waiter at Chilis for 17 years, Castillo said hes also been in management, owned his own cleaning company, and grew attuned to how to help people over time  or at least, help them find help where he couldnt assist himself.

Overall, he didnt see himself as appealing only to Democrats. And like some Republican counterparts, he said some of the issues affecting the county drew some focus such as a massive solar farm proposed in the district, adding, Everybody that I know that lives in that direction didnt want it, and you have to listen to them.

Castillo also pointed to better school lunch options for kids like his 14-year-old son and introducing finance classes to kids in education as other things hed like to pursue. A lot of kids today dont know how to invest, he said, dont know how to save.

John Anter.

Anter, also a longtime Port Huron native, currently serves on the citys planning commission and has sought a City Council appointment to fill a vacancy prior, though he hadnt run for office prior.

Ive thought about it before, and then, with the open seat and the redistricting, I think its a lot more likely for a Democrat to be able to win that seat, he said. And I want to try to do my part to keep the community great.

Now, helping the community could mean pursuing good jobs and clean water, Anter said.

Affordable health care, what we could do to help people, he said. Some people are struggling with health care now, so whatever we could do to have health care affordable and good jobs in the area.

Anters family has long-had small businesses in the region, and he said he understood how important that aspect was to the districts constituents. And the labor aspect because Im an electrician. Ive been out in the field working on things, (building the) infrastructure for the last 30-plus years.

He too hoped to gain the support of Republican friends because they know Im common sense and no BS, I do the right thing, and I think things out.

Ken Heuvelman.

Heuvelman, a local substance-use disorder program coordinator, holds an appointed seat on the St. Clair County Board of Health, the health departments advisory board, and chairs the St. Clair County Community Services Coordinating Bodys substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery workgroup.

As hes grown professionally, he said hes found a voice  something he said he hoped to utilize at the state level to lend a voice to a population that is often cast aside and those also in long-term substance use recovery but working successfully despite being stigmatized.

What really sparked it was there was a project I was working on for an overdose fatally review team, and I spent probably about two years in the background working to bring this to our community, Heuvelman said. Its something were launching in June, and then, to see the St. Clair (County) representatives vote against that initiative based on party (lines) was one of those (things) that made me realize I didnt have representation.

Heuvelman also recalled bringing an overdose response team to the Port Huron Police Department and distributing naloxone.

He said he wanted to take that push for better substance use and mental health treatment to Lansing and close significant gaps for better behavioral health care and treatment access at large.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Meet the 8 primary candidates running for 64th District state representative
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Hundreds of people on Sunday paid tribute to a Myrtle Beach woman whose body was found last week at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County.

Mica Miller, 30, originally of Wichita, Kansas, died on April 27, according to her obituary. Her husband John-Paul Miller is pastor of Solid Rock Church in Market Common.

Authorities told News13 last week theyre investigating circumstances behind Millers death, but so far have declined to offer any more details.

A morning Justice for Mica rally at the church drew more than 100 people. She was active in the church, running its womens ministry, helping with its graphic design and heading up worship sessions, according to her obituary.

I came out today to support her, to support her family, to support her story, said Melissa Snyder. Because her story is important, and it needs to be told.

Don Sites, who also attended the morning event, recalled Miller for her warmth.

I remember one time, just passing by saying hi, and she had the biggest smile on her face saying hi back, he said.

Later Sunday, a 3 p.m. beach memorial was planned at 91 S. Ocean Blvd. in North Myrtle Beach, hosted by members of her family. Solid Rock planned to conduct a celebration of life at the same time, according to Millers obituary.

Solid Rocks official website has been suspended.

* * *

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.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Hannah Huffstickler is a multimedia journalist at News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December of 2023. Keep up with Hannah on Facebook and Instagram. You can also read more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
FILE - David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. When the United Methodist Church removed anti-LGBTQ language from its official rules in recent days, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in mainline Protestant denominations. The moves sparked joy from progressive delegates, but the UMC faces many of the same challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations that took similar routes, from schisms to friction with international churches to the long-term aging and shrinking of their memberships. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-century's worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. Effie McAvoy took a longer view.

Oh, it didnt take days, honey," she said.

It took decades of activism for a change that was "so very healing," said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last week's UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement  not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally big-tent and culturally mainstream congregations  some predating America's independence.

The nations largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and influence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and colleges, which largely avoided past battles.

But for mainline Protestants, last weeks General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on America's religious calendar  impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience  clergy doing ordinations and marriages that defied church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

A part of me still doesnt believe it, said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

Weve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way," said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. "Our tears have turned into tears of joy.

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church  but said bigger issues loom..

Were an aging denomination, he said. "We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I dont see how this vote addresses any of that.

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s  some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and dont have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

There is no silver bullet for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022  less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

The mainline battles over LGBTQ issues began heating up in the early 1970s, before those initials were used.

A United Methodist General Conference in 1972 declared homosexual practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Other denominations issued similar teachings. Some imposed explicit bans on gay clergy.

An Episcopal bishop was tried and acquitted of heresy in 1996 for ordaining a gay pastor. The 2003 ordination of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, ignited long-simmering controversies.

Conservative and liberal groups formed their own church caucuses for denominational legislative sessions, where Scriptures and slogans flew back and forth between proclamations of Robert's Rules of Order.

Progressive Presbyterians blocked an entrance to a General Assembly in 2000 and were arrested. As the United Methodists steadily tightened LGBTQ bans, progressives disrupted General Conferences with protests, drums and songs. A conservative United Methodist leader, the Rev. Bill Hinson, roiled the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh with a call for denominational divorce  even though his side had won all its legislative battles.

Why do we go on hurting each other? asked Hinson. Others quickly tamped down the idea, but it was a foreshadowing.

By the second decade of the 21st century, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Episcopalians had largely dismantled their bans. They navigated major strains with partner churches elsewhere in the world.

Substantial minorities of their U.S. congregations joined more conservative denominations, saying the sexuality debates were symptoms of a deeper theological chasm.

The United Methodist Church is unique because it is international, with many delegates from countries with conservative sexual values and laws. A special legislative session in 2019 reinforced LGBTQ bans.

That result proved short-lived.

U.S. churches increasingly defied the bans and elected more progressive delegates for this year's gathering. Many churches began disaffiliating under a temporary measure approved in 2019 that let churches keep their properties under favorable conditions.

To Willimon, that process was devastating. Whether the congregation stayed or left, peoples' relationships were ruptured, he said.

Many churches went independent, but thousands joined the new Global Methodist Church, which pledges to enforce restrictions on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disaffiliate.

The General Conference did not listen to us, said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. We do not believe we know better than Jesus."

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of Nigeria said he would likely leave the denomination after his term ends, though he is staying for now to help heal a rift in the local church. From the tradition of the church in Africa, he added, marriage is between a man and a woman, period.

But other African delegates are heartened by a plan that expands regional autonomy on such matters. They said African churches will keep the marriage and ordination bans in their region while remaining in the denomination.

Our decision to stay in the United Methodist Church is not conditioned by what happens in America, said the Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Southern Nigeria. God has called us to a church, and the church is not a property of the United States.

Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of Zimbabwe the majority of the African bishops at General Conference agree the regionalization plan respects local cultures.

The United Methodist Church was the last of the major U.S. mainline groups to liberalize its policies on sexuality in part because of its large presence in rural, small-town and Southern areas, where a more conservative sexual ethos prevails, said James Hudnut-Beumler, a professor of American Christian History at Vanderbilt University. He is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister and co-author of The Future of Mainline Protestantism.

Thats why theyre the last to go, he said.

And it wont automatically bring back the more-accepting younger generations who left over the bans, said Hudnut-Beumler, adding that conservative evangelical congregations are not exempt.

Some conservative megachurch pastor may be thinking to himself, We won this. Look what happened to the Methodists and Presbyterians and Episcopalians, said Hudnut-Beumler, Dont be so smug.

___

AP reporter Holly Meyer contributed from Nashville, Tennessee.

___

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.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  It took just a few days for United Methodist delegates to remove a half-centurys worth of denominational bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriages.

But when asked at a news conference about the lightning speed of the changes, the Rev. Effie McAvoy took a longer view.

Oh, it didnt take days, honey, she said.

It took decades of activism for a change that was so very healing, said McAvoy, pastor of Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church in Hope, Rhode Island. A member of the Queer Delegate Caucus at last weeks UMC General Conference in Charlotte, she was grateful to be part of the historic moment.

The reversals can be seen as marking the end of a half-century of epic battles and schisms over LGBTQ involvement  not only in the United Methodist Church but in U.S. mainline Protestant denominations overall. Those are the tall-steeple churches in myriad town squares and rural crossroads, traditionally big-tent and culturally mainstream congregations  some predating Americas independence.

The nations largest Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran denominations have all now removed barriers to LGBTQ participation in the pulpit and at the altar. But this comes amid long-term declines in membership and influence.

Surely there will be skirmishes to come. Individual congregations, and entire regions across the world, will sort out the implications. Controversies have grown among some conservative evangelical churches and colleges, which largely avoided past battles.

FILE  David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. When the United Methodist Church removed anti-LGBTQ language from its official rules in recent days, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in mainline Protestant denominations. The moves sparked joy from progressive delegates, but the UMC faces many of the same challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations that took similar routes, from schisms to friction with international churches to the long-term aging and shrinking of their memberships. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

But for mainline Protestants, last weeks General Conference looks like a landmark. It was a relatively quiet coda to what had been an almost annual scene on Americas religious calendar  impassioned showdowns at legislative assemblies of Protestant denominations, marked by protests, political maneuverings and earnest prayers.

Across the decades, there were many cases of ecclesiastical civil disobedience  clergy doing ordinations and marriages that defied church bans, some of whom were tried for heresy or other infractions.

A part of me still doesnt believe it, said the Rev. Frank Schaefer, one of the last United Methodist ministers to face church discipline after presiding at the same-sex wedding of his son. Schaefer was restored to ministry in 2014 by a Methodist appellate panel after a lower tribunal had defrocked him.

Weve fought for it so long and hard, and there were so many disappointments along the way, said Schaefer, now a pastor in California. Our tears have turned into tears of joy.

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

All lost large numbers of congregations in schisms, and they have had to navigate fraught relations with partner churches in Africa and elsewhere.

Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon, a professor at Duke Divinity School, supported greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church  but said bigger issues loom..

Were an aging denomination, he said. We share that with so many mainline denominations. Unfortunately I dont see how this vote addresses any of that.

Willimon said even conservative breakaway groups like the new Global Methodist Church, comprised of many former UMC congregations, face similar challenges with predominately white, aging memberships.

In the U.S., mainline churches have lost millions of members since their peak in the 1960s  some to schism and many to underlying demographics. Their members are aging and dont have many children, and they struggle to retain the children they do have, said Ryan Burge, associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.

There is no silver bullet for reversing mainline decline, said Burge, who studies religious demographics.

The United Methodists counted 5.4 million U.S. members in 2022  less than half their 1960s peak, and the recent departure of about 7,600 mostly conservative congregations will lower that number further. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)s 1.1 million membership is barely a quarter its 1960s peak. Other denominations have similar trends.

The mainline battles over LGBTQ issues began heating up in the early 1970s, before those initials were used.

A United Methodist General Conference in 1972 declared homosexual practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Other denominations issued similar teachings. Some imposed explicit bans on gay clergy.

An Episcopal bishop was tried and acquitted of heresy in 1996 for ordaining a gay pastor. The 2003 ordination of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, ignited long-simmering controversies.

Conservative and liberal groups formed their own church caucuses for denominational legislative sessions, where Scriptures and slogans flew back and forth between proclamations of Roberts Rules of Order.

Progressive Presbyterians blocked an entrance to a General Assembly in 2000 and were arrested. As the United Methodists steadily tightened LGBTQ bans, progressives disrupted General Conferences with protests, drums and songs. A conservative United Methodist leader, the Rev. Bill Hinson, roiled the 2004 General Conference in Pittsburgh with a call for denominational divorce  even though his side had won all its legislative battles.

Why do we go on hurting each other? asked Hinson. Others quickly tamped down the idea, but it was a foreshadowing.

By the second decade of the 21st century, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Episcopalians had largely dismantled their bans. They navigated major strains with partner churches elsewhere in the world.

Substantial minorities of their U.S. congregations joined more conservative denominations, saying the sexuality debates were symptoms of a deeper theological chasm.

The United Methodist Church is unique because it is international, with many delegates from countries with conservative sexual values and laws. A special legislative session in 2019 reinforced LGBTQ bans.

That result proved short-lived.

U.S. churches increasingly defied the bans and elected more progressive delegates for this years gathering. Many churches began disaffiliating under a temporary measure approved in 2019 that let churches keep their properties under favorable conditions.

To Willimon, that process was devastating. Whether the congregation stayed or left, peoples relationships were ruptured, he said.

Many churches went independent, but thousands joined the new Global Methodist Church, which pledges to enforce restrictions on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.

Now attention turns to Africa, where the UMC counts 4.6 million members.

One group of African delegates protested outside the General Conference and said their members would discuss whether to disaffiliate.

FILE  The Rev. Michael Briggs, left, and the Rev. Ken Malcolm, right, hug as they walk after Episcopalians overwhelmingly voted to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples Wednesday, July 1, 2015, in Salt Lake City. When the United Methodist Church removed anti-LGBTQ language from its official rules in recent days, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in mainline Protestant denominations. The moves sparked joy from progressive delegates, but the UMC faces many of the same challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations that took similar routes, from schisms to friction with international churches to the long-term aging and shrinking of their memberships. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

The General Conference did not listen to us, said the Rev. Jerry Kulah of the conservative group, Africa Initiative, contending the denomination departed from biblical teaching on marriage. We do not believe we know better than Jesus.

Bishop John Wesley Yohanna of Nigeria said he would likely leave the denomination after his term ends, though he is staying for now to help heal a rift in the local church. From the tradition of the church in Africa, he added, marriage is between a man and a woman, period.

But other African delegates are heartened by a plan that expands regional autonomy on such matters. They said African churches will keep the marriage and ordination bans in their region while remaining in the denomination.

Our decision to stay in the United Methodist Church is not conditioned by what happens in America, said the Rev. Ande Emmanuel of Southern Nigeria. God has called us to a church, and the church is not a property of the United States.

Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa of Zimbabwe the majority of the African bishops at General Conference agree the regionalization plan respects local cultures.

The United Methodist Church was the last of the major U.S. mainline groups to liberalize its policies on sexuality in part because of its large presence in rural, small-town and Southern areas, where a more conservative sexual ethos prevails, said James Hudnut-Beumler, a professor of American Christian History at Vanderbilt University. He is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister and co-author of The Future of Mainline Protestantism.

Thats why theyre the last to go, he said.

And it wont automatically bring back the more-accepting younger generations who left over the bans, said Hudnut-Beumler, adding that conservative evangelical congregations are not exempt.

Some conservative megachurch pastor may be thinking to himself, We won this. Look what happened to the Methodists and Presbyterians and Episcopalians, said Hudnut-Beumler, Dont be so smug.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A demonstrator holding a bodyboard written in Spanish " I don't want to die" protests the disappearance of foreign surfers in Ensenada, Mexico, Sunday, May 5, 2024. Mexican authorities said Friday that three bodies were recovered in an area of Baja California near where two Australians and an American went missing last weekend during an apparent camping and surfing trip. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Relatives have identified three bodies found in a well as those of two Australian surfers and one American who went missing last weekend, Mexican authorities said Sunday.

Baja California state prosecutors said the relatives had viewed the corpses recovered from a remote well about 50 feet (15 meters) deep and recognized them as their loved ones.

Thieves apparently killed the three, who were on a surfing trip to Mexicos Baja peninsula, to steal their truck because they wanted the tires. They then allegedly got rid of the bodies by dumping them in a well near the coast.

The well was located some 4 miles (6 kilometers) from where the foreigners were killed, and also contained a fourth cadaver that had been there much longer.

Three suspects are being held in connection with the case, which locals said was solved far more quickly than the disappearances of thousands of Mexicans.

The three men were on a camping and surfing trip along a stretch of coast south of the city of Ensenada, posting idyllic photos on social media of waves and isolated beaches, before they went missing last weekend.

Chief state prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez described what likely would have been moments of terror that ended the trip for brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and American Jack Carter Rhoad.

She theorized the killers drove by and saw the foreigners pickup truck and tents and wanted to steal their tires. But when (the foreigners) came up and caught them, surely, they resisted.

She said thats when the killers would have shot the tourists.

The thieves then allegedly went to what she called a site that is extremely hard to get to and allegedly dumped the bodies into a well they apparently were familiar with. She said investigators were not ruling out the possibility the same suspects also dumped the first, earlier body in the well as part of previous crimes.

They may have been looking for trucks in this area, Andrade Ramirez said.

The thieves allegedly covered the well with boards. It was literally almost impossible to find it, Andrade Ramirez said, and it took two hours to winch the bodies out of the well.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers expressed sympathy for the Robinson family. I think the whole countrys heart goes out to all of their loved ones. It has been an absolutely horrendous, absolutely horrific ordeal and our thoughts are with all of them today, he said at a news conference Monday in the capital, Canberra.

The site where the bodies were discovered near the township of Santo Tomas was near the remote seaside area where the missing mens tents and truck were found Thursday along the coast. From their last photo posts, the trip looked perfect. But even experienced local expatriates are questioning whether it is safe to camp along the largely deserted coast anymore.

The moderator of the local Talk Baja internet forum, who has lived in the area for almost two decades, wrote in an editorial Saturday that the reality is, the dangers of traveling to and camping in remote areas are outweighing the benefits anymore.

But in a way, adventure was key to the victims lifestyle.

Callum Robinsons Instagram account contained the following slogan: If youre not living on the edge, youre taking up too much room.

At the news conference, Andrade Ramirez was questioned by one reporter who expressed approval that such a massive and rapid search was mounted for the foreigners, but asked why, when local people disappear in the area, little is often done for weeks, months, or years.

Do you have to be a foreigner in Baja California in order for there to be an investigation if something happens to you? asked the reporter, who did not identify herself by name. Every investigation is different, Andrade Ramirez replied.

As if to underscore that point, dozens of mourners, surfers and demonstrators gathered in a main plaza in Ensenada, the nearest city, to voice their anger and sadness at the deaths.

Ensenada is a mass grave, read one placard carried by protesters. Australia, we are with you, one man scrawled on one of the half-dozen surf boards at the demonstration.

A woman held up a sign that read They only wanted to surf  we demand safe beaches.

Gabriela Acosta, a surfer, attended the protest to show love, solidarity and respect for the three lives that were lost. Acosta said that surfers in Baja are aware of the dangers.

We are women and we would sometimes like to surf alone, Acosta said. But we never do that, because of the situation. We always have to go accompanied.

I think that what happened to them is just an example of the lack of safety in this state, she said.

Surfers later performed a paddle-out ceremony where they formed a circle on their boards in the ocean.

Baja California prosecutors had said they were questioning three people in the killings, two of them because they were caught with methamphetamines. Prosecutors said the two were being held pending drug charges but continue to be suspects in the killings.

A third man was arrested on charges of a crime equivalent to kidnapping, but that was before the bodies were found. It was unclear if he might face more charges.

The third suspect was believed to have directly participated in the killings. In keeping with Mexican law, prosecutors identified him by his first name, Jesus Gerardo, alias el Kekas, a slang word that means quesadillas, or cheese tortillas. Andrade Ramirez said he had a criminal record, and that more people may have been involved.

Last week, the mother of the missing Australians, Debra Robinson, posted on a local community Facebook page, appealing for help in finding her sons. Robinson said Callum and Jake had not been heard from since April 27. They had booked accommodation in the city of Rosarito, not far from Ensenada.

Robinson said Callum was diabetic. She also mentioned that the American who was with them was named Jack Carter Rhoad, but the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately confirm that. The U.S. State Department said it was aware of reports of a U.S. citizen missing in Baja, but gave no further details.

In 2015, two Australian surfers, Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, were killed in western Sinaloa state, across the Gulf of California  also known as the Sea of Cortez  from the Baja peninsula. Authorities said they were victims of highway bandits. Three suspects were arrested in that case.
New Mexico police issued an Amber Alert Sunday for missing a 10-month-old baby. The incident was part of a deadly shooting, and suspects remain at large. Photo courtesy of the Clovis Police Department

May 5 (UPI) -- Police in rural New Mexico continued to search for a missing 10-month-old girl Sunday after officials said the infant was abducted amid a mass shooting Friday in the town of Clovis.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert for the missing child, Eleia Maria Torres, on Friday, and it was still active as of Sunday morning.

Police in Clovis said the baby went missing when two women were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds. The dead women included the child's mother. The relationship of the other woman was not immediately known.

The mother's 5-year-old child was also shot and suffered a head injury. She was treated locally and then transported to a regional hospital in Lubbock, Texas, where officials said she is recovering.

"It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you today to address the tragic incident that unfolded at Ned Houk Park on Friday," Clovis Deputy Chief of Police Trevor Thron said during an update Sunday, providing as many details as he could about on the missing infant and the suspect, or suspects, who remain at large.

The missing baby has brown eyes and brown hair, measures 28 inches tall and weighs 23 pounds, according to officials.

"Our hearts are with the victim and her family during this incredibly difficult time," Thron said. "And we fervently hope for swift and complete recovery."

Thron reported the suspect's identity remains unknown as do the motives for the shootings. He said the suspect may have been in a maroon Honda, noting that investigators found a small piece of maroon debris at the scene, but that "we cannot be certain if it was part of the incident.
Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, wants to prohibit local governments from using ranked-choice voting in Louisiana. (Allison Allsop/ Louisiana Illuminator)

Ranked-choice voting is so dangerous, according to one Louisiana state senator, that no voter should be allowed to use it  except for the tens of thousands of military voters who have used it for years.

Senate Bill 101, sponsored by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, advanced from the House Judiciary Committee in a 8-1 vote Wednesday and is pending on the House floor for final approval.

Also called instant runoff voting, ranked-choice voting forces political candidates to try to appeal to a majority of voters.

To borrow an analogy from a New York Times report, if an election were compared to a group of people trying to choose a vacation spot, the traditional voting method forces voters to make only one choice, no matter how many options  mountains, beach, and big city  are under consideration. With ranked choice, voters get to list their preferences in order: First, the beach, but if no one else votes for the beach, then the mountains, and if not that, then the city.

When ballots are tallied on Election Day, the race is over if any candidate nets more than 50% of the first-place votes that are cast. If no candidate gets a majority in the first round, then the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. If a voters first choice is eliminated, rather than his vote being wasted, it is applied to his second favorite candidate. The process continues with the lowest ranking candidates being tossed out until one candidate gets more than half of the votes.

Miguezs bill would prohibit local governments from using ranked-choice voting for any elections in Louisiana, with an exception for out-of-state military members who have used it in Louisiana elections for decades.

The proposal virtually sailed through Wednesdays committee hearing with few questions from lawmakers about Miguezs claims, many of which dont hold up under scrutiny.

Ranked-choice voting guarantees that ballots are thrown in the trash, Miguez told the committee. But its a false claim that Federalist Society leader Leonard Leo, whos credited with steering Trump nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, and groups such as the conservative Election Integrity Network have been spreading heavily over the last year.

Service members stationed out of state or overseas have used it to vote in Louisiana elections with no issues since the 1990s. There has never been verified evidence that their ballots have been disposed of without being counted as Miguez claims.

Ranked-choice voting has been in use in the United States for over 100 years, but it has only recently become a target of certain politicians blaming the system for their election losses.

The real issue around ranked-choice voting is that it generally makes it difficult for extremist political candidates to win elections, according to Josh Daniels, a Marine combat veteran and former Republican election official in Utah.

If youre a political candidate whos extremely polarizing, you cannot effectively manipulate a ranked-choice election to your advantage, Daniels said in a phone interview. It just favors whatever party can appeal to a majority of the people. And thats good for democracy.

Daniels used ranked choice as a voter while deployed in Iraq and later managed several ranked-choice elections in 2019 and 2021 while serving as county clerk for the very conservative Utah County, Utah. Six southern states have used it effectively and without incident for their military voters for years. Now politicians in many of these states are suddenly decrying it as some sort of attempt to rob constituents of their voting rights, he said.

Its just hypocritical, Daniels said.

None of these points supporting ranked-choice voting have been mentioned during discussions and debate over Miguezs bill, though some lawmakers have opposed his bill on other grounds.

During Senate floor debate last month, Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, argued the proposal is unnecessary because Louisiana would have to first enact a law just to allow ranked-choice voting, which it has not done.

Do you have any other bills that define things that we dont do in Louisiana? Luneau asked Miguez. Im just curious how many different things are there in Louisiana that we dont do that we need to define.

Miguez would not give a straight answer to the question.

Lets not complicate the matter, Miguez said. Lets just look at the crux of this thing. If you support ranked-choice voting, then vote against my bill.

The Louisiana Senate is generally less politically polarized than the House, and some members are quick to point out those differences between the chambers.

Lets use this as a good teaching moment, Luneau said. This is not how we do things in the Senate. We answer the question that was asked.

Other lawmakers who opposed the bill argued the state would overstep by telling local governments how to conduct local elections.

Miguezs bill is part of Republican Secretary of State Nancy Landrys legislative agenda. During Wednesdays hearing, Landry did not repeat Miguezs false claims of trashed ballots but instead argued that ranked-choice voting can sometimes be complex and confusing, which has been the case in some elections.

She said a study of a ranked-choice election in another state indicated it caused low-voter turnout.

After a 2004 ranked-choice election in San Francisco, one analysis found that the prevalence of ranking all three candidates was lowest among African Americans, Latinos, voters with less education and those whose first language was not English, according to the Alaska Policy Forum.

However, other states and municipalities have seen success with ranked-choice voting. More recent polling after the 2021 election in Utah found that 86% of voters liked the system, and 81% said it was easy or somewhat easy to use, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Ranked-choice voting is used in more than 50 cities across 14 states. Colorado, Nevada and Oregon are on track to consider adopting it this year for statewide elections. It is even credited with helping Republicans break a decade-long losing streak in Virginia with the 2021 election of Gov. Glen Youngkin.

Like Miguezs bill, legislation in four other southern states trying to ban ranked-choice voting all include exceptions for overseas military voters.

RCV is such an effective tool that military voters can continue using it as they have for years, Daniels wrote in a recent column for Governing. So why this panicked rush to ban it for others? It doesnt make sense.

The post Miguezs arguments against ranked-choice voting lean on misinformation appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
FILE - David Meredith, middle, hugs fellow observers after an approval vote at the United Methodist Church General Conference Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. When the United Methodist Church removed anti-LGBTQ language from its official rules in recent days, it marked the end of a half-century of debates over LGBTQ inclusion in mainline Protestant denominations. The moves sparked joy from progressive delegates, but the UMC faces many of the same challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian and Episcopal denominations that took similar routes, from schisms to friction with international churches to the long-term aging and shrinking of their memberships. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

The fight to allow same-sex marriage and gay clergy has defined much of the last half-century for major mainline Protestant denominations in the U.S., mirroring in many ways the broader fight for LGBTQ+ inclusion in civic life.

Within these theologically moderate-to-progressive Protestant groups, the decades of wrestling over whether to reaffirm or overturn longstanding anti-LGBTQ+ church policies sowed deep divisions throughout the denominations. It's caused hurt feelings, broken relationships, disciplinary church trials and schisms.

The United Methodist Church, which stripped out its bans and related social teachings over the past two weeks, is the last of the major mainline church bodies to go through this process.

This timeline highlights key milestones and flashpoints within the UMC, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Church of Christ, as well as in civic life.

1960s

June 28, 1969 Police raid the Stonewall Inn, an underground gay bar in New York City. It sparked a rebellion and fueled the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

1970s

April 1972 The United Methodist Church has first public debate on homosexuality at a General Conference. The conference approves non-binding Social Principles, declaring the "practice of homosexuality ... incompatible with Christian teaching. It also says persons of homosexual orientation are persons of sacred worth.

June 25, 1972 William R. Johnson becomes the first openly gay person to be ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ.

September 1979 Episcopal Church General Convention approves resolution saying it is not appropriate for this church to ordain a practicing homosexual or any person who is engaged in heterosexual relations outside of marriage. It also says homosexual people have an equal claim on the churchs love and acceptance.

1980s

May 1984 United Methodist General Conference approves rule declaring that self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve.

1990s

Feb. 28, 1994 The federal  dont ask, dont tell  policy goes into effect, allowing gay and lesbian people to serve in the U.S. military only if they dont openly acknowledge their sexual orientation. A prior policy barred them altogether.

May 1996 Episcopal Bishop Walter C. Righter goes on trial in the church for heresy for ordaining an openly gay man as a deacon. He is later acquitted.

July 5, 1996 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly bans noncelibate gay clergy, requiring church officers to live in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.

Sept. 21, 1996 The federal Defense of Marriage Act is signed into law, limiting federal recognition of marriage to heterosexual couples.

2000s

June 7, 2003 Gene Robinson is elected the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Nov. 18, 2003 Massachusetts becomes the first to legalize same-sex marriage statewide.

July 4, 2005 United Church of Christ General Synod affirms marriage rights for all couples regardless of gender.

June 22, 2009 The Anglican Church in North America forms. It is led by a breakaway group of mostly former Episcopalians who disagreed with the Episcopal Churchs decision to allow an openly gay person to be a bishop, and other theological issues.

August 21, 2009 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americas Churchwide Assembly allows partnered gay and lesbian people to be pastors.

2010s

August 27, 2010 The Rev. Jane Spahr is found guilty in a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) trial on misconduct charges for presiding over same-gender marriage ceremonies.

August 27, 2010

North American Lutheran Church, a conservative denomination formed in response to liberal trends in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is constituted.

May 10, 2011 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ratifies amendment that opens the door to LGBTQ clergy, removing a requirement that clergy live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.

Sept. 20, 2011 Dont ask, dont tell law repealed.

January 2012 The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians forms. Conservative congregations joined this and older breakaway denominations in response to liberal trends in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

May 31, 2013 R. Guy Erwin becomes the first openly gay bishop elected in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

November 2013

The Rev. Frank Schaefer is found guilty in a United Methodist Church trial for performing his sons same-sex wedding in 2007.

March 17, 2015 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ratifies amendment to its constitution calling marriage a unique commitment between two people, no longer limited to a couple consisting of one man and one woman.

June 26, 2015 United States Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

July 1, 2015 The Episcopal Church permits any couple the rite of matrimony.

July 16, 2016 Karen Oliveto becomes the United Methodist Churchs first openly lesbian bishop.

2020s

May 8, 2021 Megan Rohrer becomes the first openly transgender bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

May 1, 2022 Global Methodist Church launches. This is a breakaway group that left the United Methodist Church over its lack of enforcement of its bans on gay clergy and same-sex marriage.

April 23 to May 3, 2024 United Methodists dismantle their denominations anti-LGBTQ policies and teachings, including lifting bans on same-sex marriage and gay clergy.

___

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.
By Katie Paul, Anna Tong and Krystal Hu

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Prominent computer scientist Fei-Fei Li is building a startup that uses human-like processing of visual data to make artificial intelligence (AI) capable of advanced reasoning, six sources told Reuters, in what would be a leap forward for the technology.

Li, considered a pioneer in the AI field, raised money for the company in a recent seed funding round. Investors included Silicon Valley venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, three of the sources said, and Radical Ventures, a Canadian firm she joined as a scientific partner last year, according to two others.

Spokespeople for Andreessen Horowitz and Radical Ventures declined to comment. Li did not respond to requests for comment.

Li is widely known as the "godmother of AI," a title derived from the "godfathers" moniker often used to refer to a trio of researchers who won the computing world's top prize, the Turing Award, in 2018 for their breakthroughs in AI technology.

In describing the startup, one source pointed to a talk Li gave at the TED conference in Vancouver last month, in which she said the cutting edge of research involved algorithms that could plausibly extrapolate what images and text would look like in three-dimensional environments and act upon those predictions, using a concept called "spatial intelligence."

To illustrate the idea, she showed a picture of a cat with its paw outstretched, pushing a glass toward the edge of a table. In a split second, she said, the human brain could assess "the geometry of this glass, its place in 3D space, its relationship with the table, the cat and everything else," then predict what would happen and take action to prevent it.

"Nature has created this virtuous cycle of seeing and doing, powered by spatial intelligence," she said.

Her own lab at Stanford University was trying to teach computers "how to act in the 3D world," she added, for example by using a large language model to get a robotic arm to perform tasks like opening a door and making a sandwich in response to verbal instructions.

Li made her name in the AI field by developing a large-scale image dataset called ImageNet that helped usher in a generation of computer vision technologies that could identify objects reliably for the first time.

She co-directs Stanford's Human-Centered AI Institute, which focuses on developing AI technology in ways that "improve the human condition." In addition to her academic work, Li led AI at Google Cloud from 2017 to 2018, served on Twitter's board of directors and has done stints advising policymakers, including at the White House.

Story continues

Li has lamented a funding gap on AI research between a well-resourced private sector on one side and academics and government labs on the other, calling for a "moonshot mentality" from the U.S. government to invest in scientific applications of the technology and research into its risks.

Her Stanford profile says she is on partial leave from the beginning of 2024 to the end of 2025. Among the research interests listed on her profile are "cognitively inspired AI," computer vision and robotic learning.

On LinkedIn, she lists her current job as "newbie" and "something new," starting as of January 2024.

By jumping into the startup world, Li is joining a race among the hottest AI companies to teach their algorithms common sense in order to overcome the limitations of current technologies like large language models, which have a tendency to spit out nonsensical falsehoods in the midst of otherwise dazzling human-like responses.

Many say this ability to "reason" must be established before AI models can achieve artificial general intelligence, or AGI, referring to a threshold at which the system can perform most tasks as well as or more capably than a human.

Some researchers believe they can improve reasoning by building bigger and more sophisticated versions of the current models, while others argue the path forward involves the use of new "world models" that can ingest visual information from the physical environment around them to develop logic, replicating how babies learn.

(Reporting by Katie Paul in New York and Anna Tong and Krystal Hu in San Francisco; Editing by Kenneth Li and Alistair Bell)
A car bomb explosion in occupied Berdiansk killed a Russian official allegedly responsible for setting up torture chambers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraines military intelligence agency, HUR, said on May 5.

Russian officials, their proxies, and collaborators have been routinely targeted in both occupied parts of Ukraine and inside Russia. Kyiv does not typically comment on the attacks or claim responsibility.

The official, Yevgeniy Ananievsky, who held a position in the Moscow-installed administration in the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, was killed in his car early in the morning on May 5. HUR said he set up torture chambers in the Berdiansk local penal colony.

Russian law-enforcement agencies confirmed the assassination, although they didn't disclose the name.

Russian forces occupied the port city of Berdiansk in the initial weeks of the full-scale invasion.

Without mentioning its involvement in the assassination, HUR said that every alleged war crime perpetrator would receive fitting punishment.

Ukraine has registered pre-trial information on over 128,000 victims of alleged Russian war crimes, the Prosecutor General's Office in mid-March. These include deliberate attacks on civilians, attacks on cultural sites or medical institutions, torture, and deportations.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Elon Musk is a major player on the global stage, striking business deals, getting high-profile photo ops, and making enemies out of world leaders along the way.

Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), jetted off to China earlier this week to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a bid to get self-driving cars approved in the country. The multi-billionaire went on a walk-and-talk with Qiang, and had a sit-down photo op that was reminiscent of the side-by-side chats that presidents of the United States enjoy with their counterparts.

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

While the surprise visit could yield more praise and approvals for Tesla in China, the worlds largest auto market, not everyone was thrilled with the trip. Musk had previously been scheduled to visit India and announce a $3 billion investment in a car plant, but ended up canceling the trip in favor of going to China.

Indias reaction to the snub has been anything but muted, with some questioning Musks opportunistic approach to foreign policy. The Mirror Now news ran a segment calling into question Musks moral code and ethos with the tagline: Shoddy ethics or simply business, according to Reuters. Digital news service News9 ran another segment that said: Hello China, Goodbye India?

Thats not the only international controversy Musk has ignited in recent months: The India affair comes on the heels of major feuds between the Tesla founder and the governments of Brazil, Australia, and Ukraine.

In Australia, the eSafety commissioner ordered Musks X to take down tweets that shared videos of a stabbing incident in Sydney in April. X only hid the posts from viewers in Australia, prompting the commissioner to bring a court case seeking an injunction. Musk faces fines upwards of AU$700,000 ($460,000) per day for each day the posts are online since the order was issued. The Australian Prime Minister has since lambasted Musk for being an arrogant billionaire who thinks he is above the law.

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro walk past flags with a portrait of tech tycoon Elon Musk during a rally. AFP via Getty Images

Musk has also sparked fights in Brazil, where the Tesla founder has been railing against the government for what he says are actions that stifle free speech. Former President Jair Bolsonaros online supporters have been at the center of a probe from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for spreading fake news and hate speech. When Musk called a decision by the judge to ban 150 accounts aggressive censorship early last month, Moraes shot back, accusing Musk of waging a disinformation campaign against the court.

While this kind of wheeling and dealing on the world stage has catapulted Musk into a unique position of influence, lending him the ears of dictators, despots, and democratic leaders alike, its clear that he does not have any kind of overarching foreign policy, former diplomat Rose Jacksonnow the director of the Democracy and Tech Initiative at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Labtold The Daily Beast.

I wouldnt call any of this a foreign policy for two different reasons. Number one, hes not a state. Number two, I dont think its intentional. Its not focused on any sort of cogent international strategy, Jackson said. I think every action can be understood as Elon Musk playing out his own interest in a variety of things. So his fight with Brazil, I think, is much more tied to his seeming affinity for [Jair] Bolsonaro, referring to Musks chummy relationship with the controversial ex-president.

Although his sparring in Brazil, or any number of other countries, might seem misguided or brash, Jackson defended the Tesla founders apparent motives in his feud with Australia.

In Australia, if anything, his response looks a lot more like what we would expect from the prior X, and is fair, actually, I think. It isnt appropriate for any single country to dictate to the entire world what is and is not accessible on the internet, Jackson said. But I don't think you could see that as part of a cohesive narrative.

Laura Thornton, the senior vice president of democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, warned that Musks approach to foreign relations isnt just erratic, but risky.

It just looks like chaos. And its the kind of chaos thats dangerous because its not just one idiot that runs a big social media company, she told The Daily Beast. Its a billionaire who runs a social media company, and is building SpaceX, and has satellites, and Starlink and has huge defense contracts, and then makes antisemitic comments.

To me thats a very unstable situation, Thornton said.

Chaos Be Damned

Even so, Musks powerful platform and billionaire status loom large in the United States, where he may soon wield his influence in the presidential elections by wading into presidential endorsement. Puck reported that he has been weighing formalizing some of his posts on X into an endorsement, whether against President Joe Biden or for former President Donald Trump.

Colin Kahl, the former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy at the Pentagon, has said that it had become necessary to view Musk as a foreign statesman in order to negotiate with him over the use of Musks Starlink in Ukraine, according to The New Yorker.

In the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, for instance, Musk said he thought Ukraine should be neutral while Russia invaded the country and tried to take over. The Kremlin showered him with praise as he parroted Moscows talking points that Ukraine should just roll over.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2024. Photo by Wang Ye/Xinhua via Getty Images

But Musk hasnt necessarily been a consistent hardliner against Ukraine. Since the early days of the war, Musk has helped Kyiv by providing his Starlink units to Ukraine to help soldiers on the front line fighting Russians. As time wore on, those around him observed that he seemed to grow paranoid that his company was being used to wage war. Eventually, he wiggled his way out of what he perceived to be a tight spot: Musk shared in the fall that he had rejected a request from Ukraine to re-activate Starlink units to help with an attack on Russian forces, drawing ire from Kyiv.

And Musks warm relationship with China could yet become more heated as competitors in China are catching up with Tesla, The New York Times reported.

For a while there's been a strong interest in having a fairly cozy relationship with China because he was manufacturing there, Jackson said. That might change as China does what China does, which is let a foreign company in, compete with it, and then kill it.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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More than 25 million people are under the threat of severe storms Monday from Dallas to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Multiple strong/potentially long-track tornadoes, very large to giant hail, and severe/damaging winds all appear likely, the Storm Prediction Center said Sunday.

A Level 4 of 5 risk for severe storms will affect more than 2 million people from Oklahoma City through Wichita, Kansas.

Some of the same areas hit by tornadoes just a little over a week ago are expecting severe storms again Monday afternoon and evening.

We are now at 10 days in a row of confirmed tornadoes across the country and the count could continue to grow.

A multiday severe weather outbreak is possible Monday through Wednesday, increasing the already-above average tornado count even higher.

May is statistically the peak month for tornadoes in the US, and we are already off to a busy start. As of May 4, the US has had a total of 583 preliminary tornado reports this year, which is slightly above the average to date of 531. Last month ended with 300 preliminary confirmed tornadoes which is the second-highest number on record for April.

CNN Weather

By Tuesday, the threat shifts eastward into the Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley regions. A Level 2 of 5 threat exists for Louisville and Nashville in Kentucky, Memphis and Little Rock in Arkansas, along with Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The main threat will be damaging winds but the potential for tornadoes and hail exists.

For portions of Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois, strong thunderstorms may already be ongoing Tuesday morning. The timing focus of the severe storms for all other areas will begin during the afternoon and continue through the evening hours.

Wednesdays severe potential is over a very similar area, including from northeastern Texas through western Ohio. Daytime heating and humid conditions will help fuel the severe threat during the afternoon and allow storms to continue through evening and overnight. All severe hazards are possible Wednesday including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

CNN Weather

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DENVER (KDVR)  Authorities in Colorado say multiple teenagers have been rescued from an abandoned missile silo. One of those teenagers, an 18-year-old, has been listed in critical condition after falling roughly 40 feet.

The Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office and several other agencies were called to the abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail, a small town located about 50 miles east of Denver, around 3:30 a.m. local time Sunday morning to rescue the teens.

The sheriffs office told Nexstars KDVR that eight teenagers had trespassed onto the land. The Sable Altura Fire Rescue, a team assisting on the call, later said that four teenagers were rescued from the missile silo.

Rue21 to close all stores nationwide after filing for bankruptcy

Recounting the rescue during a press conference Sunday, officials said they spent almost two hours trying to find the teenagers. Communication was difficult within the silo due to a lack of cell reception.

The operation was described as one of the most dangerous rescues authorities have ever done.

Eight teens were rescued from an abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail Sunday (Credit: Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office)

Eight teens were rescued from an abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail Sunday (Credit: Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office)

(Credit: KDVR)

(Credit: KDVR)

We searched for a while, Rich Solomon, fire chief for Sable Altura Fire Rescue, said during Sundays press conference. Its a maze of tunnels, twisted metal, an old railway that the military must have used, he said while describing the silo, which has likely been abandoned since the 1960s.

Solomon said they were able to find one teenager who had been looking for them. They then found the critically injured teen who had fallen roughly 40 feet down a shaft and a friend who stayed with him.

Man who bragged that he fed an officer to the mob of Capitol rioters gets nearly 5 years in prison

Just before 9 a.m. local time, authorities were able to rescue the critically injured teenager using technical handling. He was then hand-carried to a waiting helicopter, which air-lifted him to a local hospital.

Authorities told KDVR that the teen is expected to survive but its unclear what injuries he sustained. Another rescuer said the teen is lucky to be alive.

In total, Sable Altura Fire Rescue said it took nearly five hours for the teenagers to be rescued from the abandoned missile silo.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The first Hispanic woman to launch into space is now the second female astronaut to be awarded the United States' highest honor.



Ellen Ochoa, who later directed NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House on Friday (May 3). Ochoa is the 10th astronaut to receive the medal.



"For most, the American dream is to be successful in whatever endeavor you choose here on Earth. For Dr. Ellen Ochoa, her dream was in the heavens," said President Joe Biden, who presided over the ceremony. "Ellen was the first Hispanic woman to go to space, ushering in a whole new age of space exploration and what it means for every generation to reach for the stars."



Individuals chosen for the Presidential Medal of Freedom have significantly contributed to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other societal, public or private endeavors, according to the White House.



"Wow, what an unexpected and amazing honor!" said Ochoa, upon first hearing that she was going to be honored, according to a statement issued by NASA. "I'm so grateful for all my amazing NASA colleagues who shared my career journey with me."

Related: Pioneering women in space: A gallery of astronaut firsts

closeup view of seven gold, white and red medals attached to blue straps

Ochoa was working as a research engineer at NASA's Ames Research Center in California when she was selected with the agency's 13th group of astronauts in 1990. She flew on four space shuttle missions between 1993 and 2002, logging more than 40 days in Earth orbit.



During Ochoa's first flight, STS-56, she used the space shuttle's robotic arm to deploy and retrieve a satellite that observed the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona. The mission was devoted to collecting data about the relationship between the sun's energy output and Earth's atmosphere and how those factors affected the planet's ozone layer.



On her subsequent three missions, STS-66, STS-96 and STS-110, Ochoa continued to assist in the study of Earth's atmosphere; she was among the first astronauts to enter the International Space Station; and later helped install a segment of the station's backbone truss.



Ochoa was the 18th U.S. woman to launch into space and 22nd worldwide. She was the 295th person to leave Earth's atmosphere and the 288th to enter orbit, as recorded in the Association of Space Explorers' Registry of Space Travelers.



In 2013, Ochoa was named the 11th director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, home to mission control and the U.S. astronaut corps. Only the second woman to hold the position, Ochoa served for five years, during which she oversaw the selection of the first crews to launch on commercial spacecraft and first yearlong mission aboard the International Space Station.



In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ochoa has been recognized for her role in the U.S. space program with NASA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal, and in 2017 was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida. Schools bear her name today in California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington.

a man in a blue suit shakes hands with a woman in a dark blue suit in a crowded room with multiple american flags

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Past recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom include the first American to orbit Earth, John Glenn; the Apollo 11 moon landing crew of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins; Apollo 13 crewmates James Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert; and first American woman in space, Sally Ride.



Other past NASA honorees have included the Apollo 13 mission operations team (including astronaut Edgar Mitchell), "Hidden Figures" mathematician Katherine Johnson and computer programmer Margaret Hamilton, who led the MIT software engineering team that developed the guidance system for the Apollo spacecraft.



Ochoa was honored on Friday alongside 18 other Medal of Freedom recipients, including former Vice President Al Gore, Senators Elizabeth Dole, John Kerry and Frank Lautenberg, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, journalist Phil Donahue and actress Michelle Yeoh.



Also recognized by Biden was Jane Rigby, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, who serves as the senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope.



"By unlocking the secrets of the galaxy, Dr. Rigby sparks a sense of wonder deep in our souls," said Biden.



She worked on the development of the orbiting observatory for many years and then led the characterization of Webb's science performance after it was deployed in deep space in 2022.



"Webb has become a symbol not only of technical excellence and scientific discovery, but also of how much humanity can accomplish when we all work together," said Rigby in a statement released by NASA. "I'm so proud and grateful to lead the amazing Webb team."

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2024 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR)  Sunday, May 5 marked day one of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride for the Southern Route, the first route of the year. The 24th annual ride is to honor EMS workers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

On Sunday morning, a group gathered at the Carilion Clinics Lifeguard helicopter hangar for the opening ceremony. Around 9 a.m., they began their seven-day journey to Myrtle Beach.

This year, I am riding for a man who was in EMS since he was not able to drive. He was 14 when he got into the ambulance, and he dedicated his life to EMS, said Lisa Johnson, a memorial biker from The Villages, Florida.

15 Virginia first responders to be honored during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

Lisa Johnson has participated in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride since 2007. Throughout the years, she has kept dog tags of EMS workers she knew and wanted to honor.

He worked in almost every EMS service in Massachusettes, and I just thought this was the best way to honor him, said Johnson.

She was joined by 16 other bikers on Sunday, as well as other EMS professionals from around the region, as they honor the 83 EMS honorees who died this year.

Im actually riding for a personal friend of mine who passed away on the job, he had a medical event while he was working, Eric Morrison, a North Carolina biker and a National EMS Memorial Bike Ride board member. Im here riding with his dog tag to help show his family and to help show our coworkers that people remember him, that his sacrifices mattered, and that he mattered.

The group set out Sunday morning to travel approximately 500 miles, through hills and valleys, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. During the bike ride, each rider carries two dog tags with the honorees names.

The group will make stops at EMS stations along the way to meet the families of those whove fallen in the line of duty. Some will present dog tags to the honorees relatives.

Vinton History Museum features Vinton First Aid Crew pop-up for National EMS Week

When things get hard like today with the hills and climbs, especially just outside of Blacksburg  cause it gets really really hilly  all you have to do is reach down, touch these  look down and see them  and that gives you the motivation because this is why were doing it, said Hope Lineberry, Southern Route Coordinator with the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride.

The coordinator says, that while its been a while since the route came through the area, they decided to start in Roanoke this year to pay homage to the birthplace of the first volunteer rescue squad nationwide.











Lineberry said every day, riders will ride anywhere from 64 to 100 miles. Organizers say the ride also honors the physical and mental load current EMS workers take on every day.

We tell all riders  its not how far you ride or how fast you ride. Its why youre riding it, said Lars Granholm, the president of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. Youll have very sore muscles, sore other parts of your body that you dont even think about sometimes. But you wake up the next day and you want to keep doing it until you reach that finish line.

Read Mountain Volunteer Fire & EMS closes its doors after 33 years

Sundays ride was one of five long-distance rides that will be held throughout the year to honor EMS workers. The Southern Route riders will be combining with six more cyclists from the South Carolina Memorial Ride. They plan to end their ride in Myrtle Beach by Saturday.

The National EMS Memorial Ride is also looking to raise $25,000 this year to fund future rides. Granholm said they are starting a preliminary plan for their 25th-anniversary milestone next year. They hope to have the East Coast and Southern Route to meet in Roanoke.

For more information about the organization, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
After nearly three decades of 'problem-solving' for OTC students, Joan Barrett to retire

Joan Barrett, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at OTC, is retiring at the end of this school year. Barrett started her career at OTC in 1996 and has served OTC in a number of capacities.

For nearly three decades, Joan Barrett has worked to make it easier for students to enroll in college, figure out how to pay tuition, and find support when life takes an unexpected turn.

Barrett, who will retire in June, was first hired by Ozarks Technical Community College in 1996.

She started as a financial aid adviser and then assistant registrar but as the Springfield-based college expanded, so did her duties. Each position involved working with, or leading, a team to improve access to higher education and career training.

As the vice chancellor for student affairs since 2015  and assistant vice chancellor for five years before that  she oversees recruiting, admissions, financial aid, career services, personal counseling, academic advising and student life.

"She is probably the most caring, supportive person I've ever seen leading in student affairs," said OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon, who promoted her into the current role. "She really cares about everybody who works for her. She is a crier. Somebody has a baby, she is going to cry. Somebody loses a loved one, she is going to cry.

"She is really empathetic and looks out for her folks."

Joan Barrett, vice chancellor for student affairs at Ozarks Technical Community College, at a commencement ceremony in 2017.

Higdon said she entered the job at the right time, changing the culture of student affairs amid a "generational shift" in the approach to serving students.

"We are more attuned to the verities and challenges of students today than 20, 30, 40 years ago," Higdon said, noting a shift away from the idea of "let the student figure it out, let them fail a couple times and then they'll be better for it."

"She was much more of the mind that students need a clear path, clear guidelines and setting people up to fail is not a way to learn," he said.

Higdon said Barrett's long and vast experience will make her impossible to replace. But, the college has started to look for a successor.

"She started at the bottom of the organization and worked her way up and she also knows how to do everybody's job. If somebody comes in and says 'I'm having this issue' she has probably been there and done that," Higdon said. "She has also watched other people come in and helped them grow. She is a nurturer."

'Service is a theme in my family'

Barrett, the daughter of a career U.S. Army officer, was born in San Antonio, Texas and moved 10 times, including a three-year stint in Germany, before high school. Her family settled in northern Virginia.

In the early 1990s, she met and married husband Michael, who was just exiting the U.S. Navy. He worked in power production and accepted a job at City Utilities, where he worked for 27 years.

Joan Barrett, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at OTC, during a chancellor's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Barrett, who started her career at OTC in 1996, is retiring at the end of this school year.

They have two children, Ben, 26, and Madie, 21, a student at Kansas State University.

Barrett started her higher education journey at George Mason University but earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Missouri State University. Her doctorate in instructional leadership is from Lindenwood University.

She applied for the job at OTC after seeing a help wanted ad in the newspaper. It was February 1996 and the college was less than a decade old.

At the time, her office was at the Cox North Hospital and classes were held at the former North Town Mall, which is no longer standing at the corner of Kearney Street and Glenstone Avenue.

She took a short break from OTC in 2000 and part of 2001, when her son was young, and worked as a graduate student at Missouri State while completing a master's degree.

As the college grew, Barrett grew with it. She earned degrees and start to take on more responsibilities. She became an academic adviser in 2001 and moved up the ranks, becoming the dean of students and registrar in 2008.

"I didn't see myself as a learned faculty member but I knew that I was good at helping. Service is a theme in my family," she said.

She added: "I've built my career on problem-solving for students."

Changing the way students apply, access services

As vice chancellor, Barrett oversees a division with more than 100 full-time employees that serve students on the main campus as well as other locations.

Joan Barrett, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at OTC, during a chancellor's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Barrett, who started her career at OTC in 1996, is retiring at the end of this school year.

"My role isn't just Springfield. When we're making financial aid decisions about what we are going to require of students and how we are going to do it, it has to make sense everywhere," she said, noting there are six locations. "We are not replicating all of our departments everywhere but we are replicating all of our services."

She said the beauty and challenge of OTC is that it serves a wide range of students, including those who struggled in high school and those entering college after years in the workplace.

As enrollment grew and the demographics of students changed  the average age of students entering OTC is now much younger  Barrett said OTC had to figure out ways to streamline the admissions, financial aid and other processes.

"We had to really step away from our current processes and say 'OK, let's just forget what we know.' That is really hard ... We've tried to put ourselves in the position of the person out there," she said. "We think we are emoting care but what are they really experiencing? And so we've turned things over. We've broke some stuff, we've built some stuff and now we feel really proud of the experiences applicants have."

More: Ozarks Technical Community College has big plans for 2024. Here are 6 changes in the works

Once students apply and register for their first semester, with help, they are "warmly handed over to a navigator" who proactively assists with the next steps, answers questions, and troubleshoots any issues.

She said there used to be a larger gap between the number of students who apply and the ones who enroll. While some gap is to be expected, OTC has been able to largely close the gap because students get less discouraged during the admissions process.

There are big changes, like making sure each prospective student who shows interest in applying can talk to a real person in whatever way they prefer to communicate  phone, text or email. Other changes are smaller, like allowing a student who needs to verify information for financial aid to submit a document electronically instead of bringing a copy in person to a campus.

Tracy McGrady, provost, Ozarks Technical Community College

"It is just so different the way that we serve students now," said OTC provost Tracy McGrady, who is vice chancellor for academic affairs. "It almost feels like we were in the Stone Age before. Now it feels so much like, 'Why weren't we doing this all along?'"

'It's always about the people'

McGrady, who has been at OTC for 23 years, and Barrett have worked together closely and are friends.

The assistance only intensifies when students enroll and start taking classes. There is way for faculty and staff to quietly and respectfully alert the college if they see a student is struggling or has an unmet need. There are staffers who can connect students to resources.

"There are so many things I think about in terms of Joan's contributions but one of the most significant is Eagle breakfast," McGrady said.

Started on the Springfield campus and now available across the OTC system, the program provides a free breakfast to students each morning. They choose from a range of food and drink options, take it to the counter, and swipe their student ID. There are no questions asked.

"We've known for a long time that we had students that were hungry but we didn't have the tools to do anything," McGrady said.

Barrett said it was the right thing to do. "You don't have to tell us that you're hungry. We just said 'Mornings are hard, breakfast is easy.'"

McGrady described Barrett as "just sunshine" and noted she approaches problems with a positive spirit.

Barrett said her leadership style is open-minded. She likes to work with creative people and never wanted to have a "chilling effect" when one suggests an idea.

Joan Barrett, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at OTC, during a chancellor's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Barrett, who started her career at OTC in 1996, is retiring at the end of this school year.

However, she does not like to wallow in the negative. If a staff member brings a concern, she wants them to also help her brainstorm ways to fix it.

"She has led with such a wonderful sense of humor and such compassion but she is also firm and is...not going to suffer grousing," McGrady said. "She is very warm and that comes across not only to people in her division but just collegewide. Faculty love her."

More: Lost & Found Grief Center hires Mark Miller, longtime OTC spokesman, as its new director

Barrett said the work has been rewarding and while she is retiring from OTC, she is seeking a new challenge. She plans to stay in Springfield, where she has developed deep roots. "It has been our home base for so long."

This fall, she will teach a class at OTC, as she has in past years, and look for the next career.

Asked what she will miss most, Barrett said: "Being involved daily in the mission of OTC and certainly the people. It is always about the people."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks Technical Community College leader Joan Barrett retires
Can a neighbor film you with a drone camera? Can the police? What Missouri laws say

With warm weather and clear skies arriving in Kansas City, you may hear a faint buzz in the air when you step outside.

Thats not just summer insects arriving in the metro: Hobbyist drone pilots are also heading outdoors to practice their skills and get sweeping aerial photos and videos of their surroundings.

Remote-controlled drones straddle the line between private and public life. While some recreational flyers simply use their drones for nature photography or home videos, drones can also be deployed by private companies, media outlets and even the police.

So what happens when a drone camera records you, potentially without your consent? Here are the laws governing drones in Missouri, and what privacy rights you have in the state.

Where can you legally fly a drone in Missouri?

There are only three types of places where you arent allowed to fly a drone in Missouri without permission: over a prison, a mental hospital or an open-air facility like a sports stadium or concert venue.

While state law only restricts flying less than 400 feet above these areas, federal regulations prohibit most civilian drone pilots from flying higher than 400 feet anywhere. That means these three locations are basically off-limits to Missouris recreational drones.

Youre also not allowed to let your drone make contact with any of the people inside these facilities.

Breaking these laws is considered an infraction  a noncriminal offense similar to a misdemeanor unless your drone is used to deliver dangerous items like weapons or controlled substances to people inside. These types of deliveries are felonies under Missouri law.

Kansas Citys code of ordinances doesnt place any additional restrictions or guidelines on drone use specifically, although it does prohibit obstructing airspace at city airports.

Are government and police drones subject to the same restrictions?

Missouris drone laws carve out numerous exceptions for who can fly drones over restricted areas. They include people with written permission, employees of the facilities, and government or law enforcement agents conducting official duties.

The Kansas City Police Departments drone use policy document authorizes officers to use drones for documentation, surveillance, search and rescue, apprehending suspects and other uses. It also states an intention to respect the privacy of those unrelated to an ongoing law enforcement case.

Operators and observers will take reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, the policy reads.

Officers are also barred from using drone technology to conduct random surveillance, for personal business unrelated to work, to target a person based on profiling, or to harass, intimidate or discriminate against any individual or group.

However, these internal department policies dont carry the same weight as law, making the punishments for violating them less clear.

This photo provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and taken with a drone as it surveys the damage from a tornado that hit southeast Missouri on April 5, 2023.

Is it legal to record people using a drone in Missouri?

Missouri has laws about recording people without their consent in private spaces, but they dont extend to many drone uses.

For instance, recording audio of a conversation between people without either of their permission violates Missouris wiretapping law. But taking a photo or video of someone outdoors  even if theyre on their own property  isnt forbidden.

Missouris right to privacy law is narrowly focused on taking intimate photos or recordings of people without their consent. Other types of recordings arent mentioned, including those taken on private property.

This leniency applies to law enforcement and government officials, too. Currently, police can fly a drone on private property to collect information related to a case without a warrant.

Missouri legislators have made several attempts to pass a bill that would greatly restrict drone pilots ability to record people.

The Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act would require subjects permission to record them using a drone and property owners permission before flying or recording on their property. It would also require police to obtain a warrant before using drones for surveillance.

The bill was passed by the Missouri House of Representatives Special Committee on Homeland Security in February, but it is not scheduled for a vote in the broader chamber. That most likely means it wont be considered this year.

Do you have questions about your privacy rights in Missouri or Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera, escalating Israels long-running feud with the channel at a time when cease-fire negotiations with Hamas  mediated by Qatar  are gaining steam.

According to a statement from Netanyahus office, the decision goes into effect immediately. It could include closing the channels offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channels reports and blocking its websites, among other measures, the statement said.

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision.

Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against soldiers, Netanyahu said in the statement. Its time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.

The extraordinary move is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet, although its government has taken action against individual reporters in the past. The statement from Netanyahus office said that under a law passed last month, the government can take action against a foreign channel seen as harming the country.

There was no immediate comment from Al Jazeera headquarters in the Qatari capital of Doha. But several Al Jazeera correspondents went on air to give their understanding of how the decision would affect the channel.

An Al Jazeera correspondent on its Arabic service said the order would affect the broadcasters operations in Israel and in east Jerusalem, where it has been doing live shots for months since the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza.

It would not affect Al Jazeeras operations in the Palestinian territories, the correspondent said.

Another correspondent, on Al Jazeeras English channel, said the order barred the channel from holding offices or operating them in Israel. He said the broadcasters websites would be blocked, though they were still accessible by Sunday afternoon in Jerusalem.

The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.

Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile.

The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.

Shortly after the governments decision, Cabinet members from the National Unity party criticized its timing, saying it may sabotage the efforts to finalize the negotiations and stems from political considerations. The party said that in general, it supported the decision.

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias. Relations took a major downturn nearly two years ago when Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

Those relations further deteriorated following the outbreak of Israels war against Hamas on Oct. 7, when the militant group carried out a cross-border attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

In December, an Israeli strike killed an Al Jazeera cameraman as he reported on the war in southern Gaza. The channels bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, was injured in the same attack.

In 2017, Israel threatened to revoke an Al Jazeera reporters credentials after an interview surfaced in which the reporter expressed support for Palestinian resistance.

An order barring a broadcaster is seen as an extraordinary measure by the Israeli government, which broadly allows media outlets to operate in the country. However, the government has in the past revoked press cards issued to individual correspondents over their coverage.

The country has a critical and outspoken local media scene, though Israel views some international outlets as harboring bias against it.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres. Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas.

Al Jazeera, which is funded by Qatars government, did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment.

While Al Jazeeras English operation often resembles the programming found on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region. It similarly came under harsh U.S. criticism during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Mideast governments. Those include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a yearslong boycott of Doha by the countries amid a yearslong political dispute that ended in 2021.

Sundays development immediately recalled Egypts shutdown of Al Jazeera after the countrys 2013 military takeover following mass protests against President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. The channel covered many of the Brotherhoods protests live, to the anger of Egypts military government. At the time, Egyptian security forces raided a luxury hotel the channel operated out of, arresting its correspondents.

Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed received 10-year prison sentences, but were later released in 2015 amid widespread international criticism.

Egypt considers the Brotherhood a terrorist group and accused both Qatar and Al Jazeera of supporting it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
The lettering and logo of the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera can be seen on the company's premises. Tim Brakemeier/dpa

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his Cabinet has unanimously decided to close broadcaster Al Jazeera's operations in Israel, but did not say when the policy would go into effect.

The move came after Israeli lawmakers recently approved a new media law - widely referred to as the "Al Jazeera law" - that gives the government powers to ban foreign broadcasters if they are deemed a risk to state security.

Netanyahu announced the Cabinet decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in which he called Al Jazeera "the hate channel."

The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera, which is based in the Gulf emirate of Qatar, of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera has reported extensively on the catastrophic situation in the Palestinian territory and shown images of death and destruction that are rarely seen on Israeli television stations.

It has rejected allegations of bias and, in the past, accused Netanyahu of spreading "new lies and inflammatory slanders" against the network.

Al Jazeera has also accused the Israeli military of deliberately targeting journalists on several occasions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Israel orders Al Jazeera to close its local operation and seizes some of its equipment

Al Jazeera broadcast engineer Mohammad Salameh works at the Master Control Room unit inside the network's office in the West Bank city of Ramallah Sunday, May 5, 2024. Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance.

The extraordinary order, which includes confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channels reports and blocking its websites, is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country.

Al Jazeera went off Israels main cable and satellite providers in the hours after the order. However, its website and multiple online streaming links still operated Sunday.

The network has reported the Israeli-Hamas war nonstop since the militants' initial cross-border attack Oct. 7 and has maintained 24-hour coverage in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's grinding ground offensive that has killed and wounded members of its staff. While including on-the-ground reporting of the war's casualties, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other regional militant groups.

Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against soldiers, Netanyahu said in a statement. Its time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.

Al Jazeera issued a statement vowing it will pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions in its quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the publics right to information.

Israels ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law, the network said. Israels direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera."

The Israeli government has taken action against individual reporters over the decades since its founding in 1948, but broadly allows for a rambunctious media scene that includes foreign bureaus from around the world, even from Arab nations. It also blocked the foreign broadcasts of the Hezbollah-affiliated, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news channel at the start of the war.

A law passed last month allows the government to take action against Al Jazeera, Netanyahu's office said.

Israeli Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi later published footage online of authorities raiding a hotel room Al Jazeera had been broadcasting from in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day have for their future state. He said officials seized some of the channel's equipment there.

We finally are able to stop Al Jazeeras well-oiled incitement machine that harms the security of the country, Karhi said. His office said it would bar Al Jazeera from operating in Israel for at least 45 days, a measure that can be renewed.

The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip, where Israel wields control but which are not sovereign Israeli territory.

The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.

Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile in Doha.

The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.

In a statement Sunday, Hamas condemned the Israeli government order, calling on international organizations to take measures against Israel.

The Foreign Press Association in Israel criticized the order.

With this decision, Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station, it said. This is a dark day for the media. The New York-based Committee to Project Journalists similarly warned the move represented an extremely alarming precedent for restricting international media outlets working in Israel.

Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watchs Israel and Palestine director, criticized the Israeli order as an assault on freedom of the press.

Rather than trying to silence reporting on its atrocities in Gaza, the Israeli government should stop committing them, he added.

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias. Relations took a major downturn nearly two years ago when Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

Those relations further deteriorated following the outbreak of Israels war against Hamas on Oct. 7, when the militant group carried out a cross-border attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage. Since then, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed over 34,000 people, according to local health officials there, who don't break figures down into civilians and combatants.

Israeli media largely has avoided the plight of those in the Gaza Strip, instead focusing on the Oct. 7 attack, the hostages held there and tales of Israeli military heroism.

Meanwhile in December, an Israeli strike killed an Al Jazeera cameraman as he reported on the war in southern Gaza. The channels bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, was wounded in the same attack. Dahdouh, a correspondent well-known to Palestinians during many wars, later evacuated Gaza but only after Israeli strikes killed his wife, three of his children and a grandson.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres.

Criticism of the channel is not new, however. The U.S. government singled out the broadcaster during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein and for airing videos of the late al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.

Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Mideast governments.

Most notably in 2013, Egyptian authorities raided a luxury hotel used by Al Jazeera as an operating base after the military takeover that followed mass protests against President Mohammed Morsi. Three Al Jazeera staff members received 10-year prison sentences, but were released in 2015 following widespread international criticism.

___

Gambrell reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Jack Jeffrey in Jerusalem and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed.
North Richland Hills gets new mayor after 22 years. Winner is newcomer to city politics

Former Birdville school trustee Jack McCarty has taken a big lead for mayor of North Richland Hills, according to unofficial results.

McCarty, 61, a retired CPA, garnered 63.70% while Tito Rodriguez received 36.30% with all 180 vote centers reporting.

Rodriguez was endorsed by Oscar Trevino, who was mayor for 22 years, and announced in January that he would not seek reelection.

Rodriguez did not return a text message and voicemail on Saturday night.

McCarty said in an interview that he was surprised and overwhelmed by the wide margin in his first time bid for mayor.

We worked very very hard, McCarty said.

McCarty said he spent hours walking and riding his bike to meet people and knock on doors. He described spending 45 minutes at times with some residents who simply wanted to talk.

I was born and raised in this area. I was educated in this area. People I knew from high school and elementary school who never vote said they came out to vote for me, McCarty said.

McCarty said listening to people is key, and that he wants to have town halls throughout the city, not behind the guise of the council chamber.

McCarty ran on a platform of bringing a fresh voice to city hall, saying that people were not getting their voices heard and that it was time for a change. He listed his top three issues as rising debt, overcrowding and a need for civility at city hall.

McCarty stated in his voters guide questionnaire for the Star-Telegram that his civic involvement includes serving for 10 years on the Birdville school board, establishing a nonprofit for Future Farmers of America students and teaching Sunday school for 30 years.

Rodriguez, 69, who has served on the council since 2011, told the Star-Telegram editorial board that he is always available to listen to residents and that people are always welcome to speak during council meetings.

Rodriguez listed his top priorities as public safety, street maintenance and revitalizing older areas of the city.

Rodriguez spent over 20 years as a special investigator in the Attorney Generals child support enforcement division. He retired from the state of Texas in 2014.

Rodriguez is currently president of the Texas Municipal League, vice chair of the Trinity Metro board and and a member of the Regional Transportation Council.

Trevino was elected to the City Council in 1999 and as mayor in 2002. He was re-elected 10 times. During that time, the city grew from 55,000 to 70,663 residents.

In a statement announcing his retirement, Trevino said he was proud of investments that include a new library, recreation center, senior center, animal shelter, police station, fire stations and city hall.

The new city hall is the centerpiece of City Point, a mixed use development on the site of the old North Hills Mall along Boulevard 26 near Northeast Loop 820. Homes and apartments surround the municipal complex, and restaurants and shops are on the way.

During Trevinos tenure the city embraced the TEXRail line between Fort Worth and DFW Airport, and the development around the Iron Horse and Smithfield stations in the city.

Trevino is the second-longest serving mayor in Tarrant County. Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate was first elected in 1973.
Noem does not say whether she met Kim Jong Un amid criticism over book

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) did not say whether she met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when responding to the inaccuracies reported in her new book.

Noem has been facing mounting criticism over her forthcoming book, set to be released this week, and her inclusion of a story where she details shooting and killing a dog and a goat on her property about 20 years ago. In recent days, she has faced additional scrutiny after writing in her book that she had met Kim while serving in Congress on the House Armed Services Committee.

The Dakota Scout reported last week that a meeting between Noem and Kim would likely not have been possible, citing interviews with congressional staffers and North Korea analysts. While Noem had visited China as part of her time on the committee in 2014, there were no reports of Kim leaving North Korea until 2018, when Noem was campaigning for governor, according to the outlet.

Noems office later said in a statement to The Hill that Kim was included in a list of world leaders and shouldnt have been.

Host Margaret Brennan pressed Noem on CBSs Face the Nation on whether she had actually met Kim and how that story was included in her book, No Going Back: The Truth on Whats Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.

You know, as soon as this was brought to my attention, I certainly made some changes and looked at this passage, and Ive met with many, many world leaders. Ive traveled around the world. As soon as it was brought to my attention, we went forward and have made some edits, Noem replied.

Brennan then asked again if she met Kim, but Noem did not provide a clear answer.

Ive met with many, many world leaders, many world leaders. Ive traveled around the world. I think Ive talked extensively in this book about my time serving in Congress, my time as governor, before governor, some of the travels that Ive had. Im not going to talk about my specific meetings with world leaders, so Im just not going to do that, she said.

This anecdote shouldnt have been in the book, and as soon as it was brought to my attention, I made sure that that was adjusted, she added.

The book reportedly described Noems meeting with Kim during her travels.

I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Im sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (Id been a childrens pastor, after all), she reportedly wrote in the book.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A landing craft from the Norfolk-based USS Wasp was involved in an incident that left 30 sailors and Marines hurt on Wednesday night.

The U.S. Navy says the incident involved two air cushion landing craft (LCAC) crews, one from the Wasp and one from the USS New York, off the coast of Jacksonville.

Five sailors were evacuated and taken to Savannah Memorial University Medical Center, where one remains for further treatment. Other crew members were treated aboard the Wasp and New York.

Charlotte officer Eyers wife gives emotional speech at fallen husbands funeral service

The Navy didnt share many details in a release, but said the ships, part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), were conducting a training exercise at the time.

The Navy says the investigation and recovery process related to the incident are ongoing.

The USS Wasp, an 843-foot-long multipurpose amphibious assault ship, is behind only the USNS Comfort when it comes to medical capabilities at ships based at Naval Station Norfolk, Cmdr. John Roman told WAVYs Brett Hall in WAVYs Navy Ship Salute.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown is under fire from Democrats for 2022 remarks in which he expressed support for plans to store federal nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.

Nevada lawmakers from both parties have strongly resisted a federal plan to turn the isolated southwest Nevada mountain  about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas  into a nuclear waste storage facility since the idea was first proposed in the 1980s.

But Brown has expressed support for the idea in the past, and he can be heard in a new recording from his 2022 campaign saying the state risked losing out on an opportunity if it blocked the plans.

If we dont act soon, other states  are assessing whether or not they can essentially steal that opportunity from us, he said in the recording, first obtained by The Los Angeles Times.

Brown, who is seen as a favorite in Nevadas GOP Senate primary this June, said in a statement to The Hill he was not actively calling for the reopening of Yucca Mountain, but that future proposals should be considered.

I am not strictly committed to opening Yucca Mountain at this time, Brown said. However, I will consider all thoroughly vetted future proposals, with the safety of Nevadans being my top priority, while ensuring the proposals are substantially economically beneficial.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), who is running for reelection, quickly seized on the comments. Rosen is seen as vulnerable this fall in a state where former President Trump is up in polls. The Cook Political Report lists her seat as a toss-up.

For decades, Nevadans across party lines have been clear that we will not allow our state to become the dumping ground for the rest of the nations nuclear waste, Rosen said in a statement. Ive been fighting against Washington politicians trying to force nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain since Sam Brown was still living in Texas, and his extreme support for this dangerous and unpopular project underscores how little he understands the needs of our state.

Brown campaign communications director Kristy Wilkinson in a statement to The Hill accused Rosen of continuing the Harry Reid machines dirty political tactic of fear-mongering for votes  just in time for her struggling reelection bid.

Reid, the longtime Nevada senator and Democratic leader who died in 2021, made Yucca Mountain a national political issue, organizing resistance after Congress passed legislation to fund the project in 2002. Former Secretary of State John Kerry added his opposition to the idea to his 2004 presidential campaign platform thanks to pressure from Reid, and the Obama administration halted work on the repository completely in 2010.

Former President Trump supported Yucca Mountain funding early in his presidency, but he backed off the promise in 2020 under pressure from Republicans in the state. Trump has not discussed Yucca Mountain policy since the 2020 race, though the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 plan does support construction.

The Biden administration has repeatedly stated it has no plans to move forward with the Yucca Mountain repository.

Browns openness to restarting work at Yucca Mountain is backed by public officials in Nye County, a sparsely-populated area directly surrounding the Nevada Test Site.

In 2019, county commissioners wrote to Congress in support of the project, writing they have favored a full and fair review of the science by the NRC for years.

We want decisions to be made on Yucca Mountain to be based on facts and science, and not empty rhetoric and fear mongering, they wrote.

Backers have generally brushed off concerns from environmentalists, citing extensive geological studies finding that Yucca Mountain is one of the safer options for waste storage nationally.

The issue rose in Congress again last month, when House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) brought up an effort to advance the Yucca Mountain project after years without work.

Opposition has inhibited congressional appropriations and driven the executive branch to dismantle what has otherwise been a technically successful program, McMorris Rodgers said in a hearing. We must continue this committees work to update the law and build state support for our permanent repository at Yucca Mountain.

For years, I have been fighting to prevent Nevada from becoming the nations dumping ground for nuclear waste, Rosen said in a statement responding to McMorris Rodgerss comments. Nevadans have made clear that they dont consent to this nuclear waste being shipped to or stored in our state, and Ill continue working to make sure it doesnt happen.

The comments from Brown and House members have sparked a new wave of Yucca Mountain opposition from Nevada lawmakers.

We feel like that the science is not good, Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) told The Hill. Theres a fault out there, the water table, you got to transport [nuclear waste] through Las Vegas because there arent many roads or railroads there. One little accident would destroy our economy.

We dont use nuclear power, we dont make it. So why are we the dumping ground, she continued.

Titus blamed the resurgence in conversation over Yucca Mountain on what she dubbed Yucca fatigue, a drop in opposition enthusiasm over time. She doesnt think the fatigue will last.

They have to be reminded, Hey, this is just down the road, dont forget about it, she said. Its a statewide feeling. You had Democratic and Republican governors, Democratic and Republican senators, members of the House, all united on this.

Local environmental organizations, meanwhile, have also long expressed concerns about the prospect of using Yucca Mountain for waste storage, in particular pointing to concerns around the prospect of waste seeping into aquifers.

As the driest state in the nation, Nevada knows our water resources are precious and need to be protected, not put at greater risk, Nevada Conservation Leagues executive director, Kristee Watson, told The Hill in an email.

Taylor Patterson, executive director at Native Voters Alliance Nevada, described Yucca Mountain as an issue where Western Shoshone tribes in particular have been vocal for years.

Its crazy that we still have to re-address this after years and years and years, she told The Hill.

Nuclear energy experts have been skeptical about the idea of a deal on Yucca Mountain as well.

In an op-ed for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published Tuesday, David M. Klaus, who served as a deputy undersecretary at the Department of Energy during the Obama administration, called a Yucca Mountain deal a fantasy.

Klaus noted the logistical hurdles that would be involved in the process at the state level even if a federal agreement emerges in an interview with The Hill.

No matter the long road to project work at Yucca Mountain, just the talk of funding could rile the Silver State Senate race.

A The Hill/Nexstar poll of the Nevada Senate race released Tuesday found Rosen with an 8-point lead over Brown, taking 45 percent of the vote to Browns 37 percent. The senator also leads fundraising by a large margin, raising $23.6 million over the course of the campaign to Browns $5.3 million.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams in an interview Sunday defended the actions taken by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in response to campus protests.

We want to ensure we protect democracy and the right to protest, Adams said in an interview on ABC Newss This Week.

But we have an obligation that, when those protests reach the point of violence, as the president stated, Adams continued, we have to ensure that we use a minimum amount of force to terminate what is perceived to be a threat  not only by our intelligence, but also the school and college officials.

Police officers, dressed in riot gear, moved onto Columbia Universitys campus last Tuesday, in response to protesters occupation of a campus building, escalating tensions following more than a week of protests as the encampment continued to grow seemingly each day.

University officials had warned repeatedly the protesters were violating university policies and attempted to negotiate with them, but they refused to pack up their encampment.

Adams defended the timing of the NYPD response, saying that they responded to a request from university officials, and even if they had previously harbored concerns about the protests, they did not want to overstep their authority.

We communicated with the college officials for several days leading up to the New York City Police Department action, Adams said, when asked whether the NYPD should have responded earlier. And we knew we had to get permission unless theres imminent threat to life or severe threat to property. And once the school made the determination, we shared the information that we had.

Our intelligence division looked at it, and it was concerning to me, Adams continued. But we were not going to overstep our legal authority and right to do so.

Adams shrugged off criticism from progressives, including Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who characterized the NYPD response as a militarization of college campus, which he said stands in direct opposition to the role of education as a cornerstone of our democracy.

Thats the beauty of America. One has the right to have his or her opinion, and I respect that. I protested as a young man for apartheid and other issues to dismantle apartheid. And so, I respect that, Adams said in response to Bowmans statement.

He has his position. And I have an obligation and responsibility to ensure the city is safe, Adams continued.

New York officials said at least 100 people arrested at protests at Columbia University and the City College of New York (CCNY) were not affiliated with the respective schools.

Adams has raised concerns about outside agitators and the influence they have over students, saying in the interview that theres a real attempt to radicalize our young people, and when you look at some of the information and some of the people who were there, we need to be clear that we cannot take this lightly.

He clarified his use of the term outside agitators in this context.

And when I use the term of outside agitators, anyone can protest in the city, but when you are on college grounds and you do not attend that college, you are an outsider. And then when you train people to do disruptive things, you are an agitator, Adams said. So Im not trying to be politically correct. Im trying to be correct for the city of New York as we make sure this continues to be safe.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NYC pol demands anti-Israel teacher be removed from classroom after calling him old genocidal white guy

Queens Councilman Robert Holden sent NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks a letter Thursday demanding he pull Taiba Ahmad, an Israel-hating teacher at PS 153 in Maspeth, out of the classroom for "despicable racist and ageist" rants on social media, such as calling him an "old genocidal white" guy.

An Israel-hating public school teacher slammed a Queens pol as an old genocidal white, prompting the City Councilman to call for her to be pulled from the classroom for her despicable racist and ageist social media rants.

Taiba Ahmad, a teacher at PS 153 in Maspeth, allegedly made some of her derogatory posts over the past few months while on the job during regular school hours, contended Councilman Robert Holden in a letter to NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks.

Ahmad shouldnt be shaping young minds, the moderate Democrat wrote, urging Banks to take swift and appropriate action.

Taiba Ahmad, a teacher at PS 153 in Maspeth, was requested she be romved from the classroom for despicable racist and ageist rants on social media. X @Courage4America

Councilman Robert Holden is demanding Ahmad be removed from her classroom after she called him an old genocidal white guy on social media. Getty Images

The presence of an educator who openly expresses hatred and discrimination poses a threat to the very fabric of our community and sets a dangerous example for our youth, Holden wrote Wednesday.

Since Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, Ahmad has been quick to fire verbal jabs at pols on both sides of the political aisle whove defended the Jewish state.

Besides Holden, other Dems targeted by Ahmad include President Biden and Gov. Hochul.

In an X post Wednesday, she predicted the November presidential elections will be doozy because,  The Ruling Class love to listen to mediocre white people.

Shes also gone hard after Republicans, including accusing Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino and Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, without proof, of associating with white supremacists.

Ahmads latest social media attack against Holden came Tuesday after the Queens Dem poked fun at a video of a Columbia University student saying she believes the university shouldve fed and provided water to pro-Palestine protestors who shut down parts of the campus during a two-week standoff.

NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks was asked to take swift action against Ahmad over her posts. William Farrington

Whats the matter? Mommy and Daddy cut you off from their credit cards? Holden wrote on X. Cant access the trust fund while you were busy occupying buildings? Oh the humanity!

Ahmad fired back at the pol, writing: You old genocidal white [sic] all have the same mentality!

They locked all the gates so people cant bring them food, the teacher wildly claimed. @Columbia is using the same starvation tactics as the genocidal Israel army!

Holdens letter to Banks claims Ahmad should not be shaping young minds.

Ahmad, a teacher at PS 153 in Maspeth, is very outspoken about her disdain for elected officials who support Israel. X @Taibaah321

The letter, a copy of which was provided to The Post, fails to mention what action Holden believes DOE should take against the teacher.

However, Holden later told a reporter he thinks she should be re-assigned to a non-teaching job where shes out of the classroom and nowhere near kids.

DOE spokesperson Jenna Lyle said the agency takes such complaints extremely seriously and will review the letter.

Ahmad did not return messages, but on Saturday she updated her X account so posts can no longer be reviewed by the public.
Georgetown school district voters on Saturday overwhelmingly approved a $649.5 million bond package to build new schools, renovate aging facilities and update technology for the 13,000-student district.

"The passage of all four propositions of the 2024 Bond is a testament to our community's commitment to our students' success, Superintendent Devin Padavil said in a news release Saturday night after the election results were finalized.

With this crucial funding, we are well-positioned to accommodate the growth of our district and provide our students with resources to support their growth and achievement."

The cost to property tax payers for the bond package is estimated to be a maximum of $2.77 per month for the average homeowner in the district, according to the news release. It is the largest bond package ever approved for the district, officials said.

Proposition A received the most support from voters who approved the $597.47 million proposal for new elementary, middle and high schools; school security; land acquisition for school facilities; reconfiguring a middle school to house Frost Elementary; and school bus purchases. Proposition A received 5,689 votes, or 70%, with 2,460 voters, or 30%, against the measure.

The new elementary and middle schools will be built on district-owned property at Patriot Way and Texas 130, the news release said. The new high school will be constructed on district-owned property along DB Wood Road south of Cedar Breaks Road.

Some of the bonds will be used to reconfigure the former Benold Middle School as a new facility for Frost Elementary students. The current Frost Elementary is overcrowded with no room to expand, the school's principal has said.

A fourth grade class practices reading April 24 at Frost Elementary School in Georgetown. A bond proposal approved Saturday includes the renovation of a nearby middle school to become the new location of the overcrowded and outdated Frost Elementary.

Proposition B  a $20.33 million proposal for districtwide technology upgrades  received 5,488 votes in favor, or 67% support, with 2,655 voters, or 33%, opposing it. The money will help pay for improvements to cybersecurity and to replace or repair student and staff devices.

Voters also approved Proposition C  a $27.85 million package for a new performing arts facility at East View High School, for updates to equipment and uniforms, and to address aging conditions at the Klett Performing Arts facility and Black Box Theater at Georgetown High School. The measure received 5,100 votes in support, or 63%, compared with 3,031 votes in opposition, or 37%.

Proposition D also drew voters' approval. It will provide $3.86 million for track repairs at Georgetown High, and for a field house and locker room expansion at East View High. Sixty-one percent of voters, or 4,929 votes, were for the measure, compared with 39%, or 3,200 votes, against it.

Construction of new facilities could begin as soon as this fall, with new schools opening in two to four years, according to the news release.

The school district is expected to provide regular updates on the progress of all bond projects through its website, stakeholder meetings and school board meetings. Residents can also stay informed on the bond package's progress by visiting georgetownisd.org/bond.

The Georgetown school district is projected to enroll more than 6,000 additional students in the next 10 years, the release said. The projects approved in the 2024 bond package will accommodate 4,400 of the students in the projected increase, according to the district.

The district grew 13.5% in five years  from 11,508 students in the 2017-18 school year to 13,063 in the 2022-23 year, according to Texas Education Agency data.

With a 14.4% growth rate, Georgetown was the fastest-growing U.S. city of more than 50,000 people from July 2021 to 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

More: Georgetown ISD seeks $649.6M bond for new schools, facility upgrades, equipment

The last time the district had a bond election was in 2021, when voters approved $349.9 million of the district's $381.7 million in proposed bonds. Voters said yes in 2021 to new schools and technology upgrades but rejected a swim center and other extracurricular-related projects.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Voters approve Georgetown ISD $649.5M bond, will get 3 new schools
NYC pol says law allowing rape suit against him was unconstitutional  despite voting for the legislation

A Brooklyn state senator claims the law allowing a rape lawsuit against him to move forward was unconstitutional  even though he actually voted for the legislation and then bragged about it.

In court records filed this month, notoriously hot-headed pol Kevin Parker formally denied the rape allegations against him. But he also went a step further, asserting that the Adult Survivors Act, which allowed the related lawsuit against him to proceed, was unconstitutional.

The now-expired act permitted alleged victims to file civil lawsuits against their accused attackers within a certain window even if the states statute of limitations had run out on their claims.

State Sen. Kevin Parker of Brooklyn has denied that he raped a woman. William C Lopez/New York Post

Parker was accused of the 2004 alleged attack in November 2023 in a claim that made it just under the wire.

The state senator, along with every other member of the state Senate, had voted for the legislation in 2021.

Parker even touted his support of the law in a statement in which he denied the rape charges against him shortly after they were levied in November.

I voted in favor of the [Adult Survivors Act] to ensure all New Yorkers can seek justice and be heard, Parker wrote of the legislation, which was also passed by the assembly, signed into law by Hochul in May 2022 and expired in November 2023.

These allegations are absolutely untrue. My work and advocacy will continue, Parker said.

Olga Jean-Baptiste says she was working with Parker on relief efforts for Haiti in 2004 when he grabbed her by the wrists and forcibly raped her at her home, allegations that Hochul has called deeply disturbing.

The state Adult Survivors Act gave alleged victims of decades-old attacks more time to file claims. Getty Images

Parker has had several run-ins with the law before. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Neither Parkers Senate rep nor his lawyer returned Post requests for comment about his latest legal filing in the case.

This isnt Parkers first run-in with the law.

In 2005, he got slapped with misdemeanor assault charges after slugging a traffic cop who wrote him a ticket.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act in the Red Room at the State Capitol in May 2022. Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

A few years later, Parker lashed out at a Post photographer and smashed his camera as the shutterbug was snapping pics of the pol outside his Flatbush home. Parker was found guilty on misdemeanor criminal mischief charges and forced to attend anger-management classes.

The same lawyer who represented Parker in that case, Lonnie Hart Jr., is defending him against the sexual-assault charges.
New York City police officers remove and arrest Pro-Palestine protesters who occupied the Hamilton Hall building the campus at Columbia University in New York City on April 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

May 5 (UPI) -- The New York Police Department has been criticized for its messaging related to student protests gripping college campuses across the nation as top brass share politically biased posts online.

The NYPD released a joint press release by email with Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday in which it outlined how 29% of the 112 people arrested at Columbia University and 60% of 170 people arrested at City College of New York on April 30 were not affiliated with the schools.

"Since Tuesday night's arrests, the NYPD has been investigating which individuals were affiliated with different schools and which were not," the statement reads. It was not immediately clear if the NYPD is tracking such "outside agitators" among pro-Israel counterprotesters.

Now, critics are calling attention to the NYPD's narrative about so-called "outside agitators" and the discharge of a firearm by an officer on the campus.

The department did not respond to questions for comment by press time, specifically questioning the NYPD's intent on releasing the statistics, if the department would have reacted differently if the protests only involved students, and related inquiries.

Students and residents watch as New York Police Department officers prepare to remove and arrest Pro-Palestine protesters who occupied the Hamilton Hall building the campus at Columbia University in New York City on April 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Meanwhile, the phrase "outside agitator" carries bias and doesn't accurately reflect what's happening on the ground. For example, some schools have been quick to shut down student demonstrations. It's possible that students who would have participated in such demonstrations ended up on Columbia's campus as an "outside agitator."

And the department hasn't answered whether outside agitators behaved with any more alleged "violence" than students at the schools, all amounting to what some have categorized as an attempt by pro-Israel authorities to delegitimize the protests.

Police officers remove and arrest Pro-Palestine protesters who occupied the Hamilton Hall building the campus at Columbia University in New York City on April 30. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

"Who is funding this? What is happening? There is an unknown entity who is radicalizing our vulnerable students. Taking advantage of their young minds," NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell posted on social media Saturday from his official account.

"As parents and Americans we must demand some answers! I can't speak for the rest of America, but in NYC we won't rest until we find out! We will broadcast what we see and find. We will use the might of our Intelligence Bureau and our Federal partners to quite simply connect the dots. Follow the money!!!!!!"

Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Doughtry was filmed spreading the narrative that "somebody is radicalizing our students," even as he claimed on his social media account that police protect "everyone's right to free speech and peaceful protest."

Writing in the New York Daily News, reporter Graham Rayman questioned whether the NYPD has become too political with its messaging. He pointed to how the NYPD raised an American flag after arresting pro-Palestinian students at City College.

"They are supposed to be public servants, they are supposed to remain neutral, and this kind of politicking is inappropriate for police executives," Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society, told Rayman.

Rayman pointed to how, under the city charter, officials are prohibited from using official social media handles to make overtly political commentary, similar to the federal Hatch Act.

And Leonard Greene, another reporter for the Daily News, noted in an op-ed Sunday that the NYPD's messaging has been "irresponsible and fiery" as he called the narrative of the "outside agitator" as loaded and painful language from the Civil Rights movement.

Martin Luther King, for example, was "smeared" with the label of outside agitator during marches in Birmingham and other cities, Greene noted. Meanwhile, The Nation noted that the phrase has roots as far back as the 1940s when it was first said by John Birchers and Jim Crow police officers to slander Black activists.

"We know the terminology 'outside agitator' was used during the civil rights movement when people attempted to show that the movement was not legitimate," Adams has said, according to Greene. "So we understand that."

Yet the mayor and his police department have continued to use the terminology and push the narrative of "outside agitators," spread in the media by the likes of the Daily News' conservative crosstown rival.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) An off-duty FDNY member rushed into action to save a man from a car that later burst into flames on the Brooklyn highway Saturday morning, according to a post on the FDNYs official Instagram page.

The firefighter was driving and approaching the Bay Parkway exit when they noticed a cloud of dust. The post read that two cars had been in an accident, and one of the vehicles was on fire.

List of streets closed for the NYC Cannabis Parade

The FDNY member, identified as Lt. Rich Cannon from Brooklyns Ladder 148, pulled over and called the Brooklyn Fire Dispatch. The fire began to grow, and Cannon sprang into action.

As first responders, it is ingrained into you that you help on or off-duty, a statement from Cannons firsthand account read. Whether it was another off-duty Firefighter, EMT, Paramedic, or Police Officer, Im sure they all would have done that same thing to help save this persons life.

Cannon was able to help one of the victims, who was located in the front seat. The door, which was heavily damaged, was unable to open, so he had to go around to the passenger side to unbuckle the seatbelt and begin to pull the male victim out.

Lt. Cannon was able to free the victim before his car was fully engulfed in flames, according to the post.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Law enforcement officers in riot gear cleared another encampment formed by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the campus of the University of Southern California early Sunday morning.

According to media reports, as many as 100 protesters had pitched tents and erected banners at Alumni Park, located at the center of the private university in Los Angeles.

Witnesses said officers moved in around 4 a.m. and quickly dispersed the protesters.

UCLA police chief accused of security lapses before attack on pro-Palestinian encampment: Los Angeles Times

University officials issued an alert on social media saying the campus was closed due to the activity just before 5:15 a.m. Sunday.

If you are in the center of campus, please leave, USC posted on X, formerly Twitter. People who dont leave will be arrested.

A statement issued by USCs Senior Vice President of Communications Joel Curran just before 7 a.m. Sunday confirmed the removal of the encampment and said that no arrests were made.

Earlier today, the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety successfully removed the illegal encampment rebuilt on the universitys campus, Currans statement read. It was necessary to request the Los Angeles Police Department to respond and provide security as this was not carried out peacefully. No arrests have been reported.

Student journalists who were at the encampments as early as 3 a.m. told KTLA 5s Annie Rose Ramos that they were peaceful. The area was shortly cordoned off by authorities, who moved the journalists back and eventually cleared the encampment.

We saw police come in and surround the encampment, slowly move in and alert the protesters that they had 15 minutes to leave, student journalist Liv Kelleher said. Many picked up their things and left on their own.

A social media post put out by the university at 6:25 a.m. declared the encampment cleared, but said that the campus remains closed. More information is set to be released later on Sunday, the university said.

LAPD officers had left the scene before 7 a.m., but a large campus police presence was seen at the center of campus from Sky5. On the ground, Ramos observed many members of the universitys facilities department beginning to clean up the remnants of the encampment.

The public safety department announced that campus was reopened just before 11 a.m. upon presentation of valid identification.

As an important reminder, tents and related equipment remain prohibited on campus and will be subject to immediate confiscation, officials said. Camping and other non-permitted events are also prohibited and will be subject to discipline, and no individuals or groups may obstruct free passage throughout our campuses, commencement setup or other functions of the university.

In a statement, USC President Carol Folt said the encampment had been volatile in recent days with vandalism and harassment becoming common place.

With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible, Folts statement read in part. At 4:10 a.m., an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC.

Photos: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clash with police at USC

Sundays crackdown came a week and a half after a similar scene unfolded on USCs campus and resulted in nearly 100 arrests.

Activists were protesting Israels bloody military offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on civilians, and also the universitys decision to cancel valedictorian Asna Tabassums speech due to unspecified safety concerns. Tabassum, who is Muslim, had supported anti-Israel posts on social media drawing backlash from the Jewish community.

The university eventually canceled its main commencement event but later announced that a graduation celebration would take place at the Los Angeles Coliseum on May 9.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Ohio has nearly 27,000 bridges. Are the ones you drive over daily in 'poor' condition?

Work on the I-70/71 highway through downtown Columbus won't be completed until at least 2030, several years later than originally predicted. Ohio has a total of 26,960 bridges and culverts, the second-most in the United States behind Texas. More than 1,250 of them are in poor condition, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Every day, 61,022 westbound drivers leaving Columbus cross the Scioto River using an Interstate 70 bridge.

The condition of that high-traffic bridge? Poor, according to June 2023 bridge condition data from the Federal Highway Administration.

Poor bridge conditions aren't exclusive to highways; almost every bridge connecting German Village to downtown Columbus  Front Street, High Street, Third Street, and Fourth Street  is considered in poor condition. The only exception is the Grant Avenue bridge.

These are just a few of the 1,251 bridges or culverts in Ohio that are in poor condition, according to the most recent data from FHWA. There are a total of 26,960 bridges and culverts in Ohio, the second-most in the United States behind Texas.

After a steady decline in poor condition bridges, there was an uptick in the number of poor bridges in Ohio, increasing from 1,223 in 2019 to 1,251 in 2023, according to data from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

FHWA's bridge condition data is a "snapshot" of a community or state's bridge infrastructure, ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Black said.

"I think it really shines a spotlight on some of the challenges that areas may have as well as the progress that's been made in many areas in terms of those bridge conditions," Black said.

The Front Street bridge is currently closed for reconstruction, and the other bridges over I-70 are set for reconstruction in the next few years as part of ODOT's Downtown Ramp Up project.

In the meantime, thousands of motorists continue to travel these structures every day, according to data from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

One of these motorists, Michelle Johnson, a business manager at Katzinger's Delicatessen, crosses the Third Street bridge as part of three of her five weekly commutes to work, she said.

And while she's on the bridge, her mind is only on a few things.

"(I think) I really want to get off of it, and I can't wait until they rebuild it," she said.

On a national scale, the number of bridges in poor condition has been on a downward trend in recent years, Black said.

"It's a slow process. It takes a while. So that is good news," she said.

While the number of bridges in poor condition in the U.S. continues to dwindle, a significant challenge remains; around one in three bridges in the country need repairs, Black said.

In Ohio, it will cost more than $3 billion for the state to repair its 3,183 bridges that need it.

"There's certainly a lot of work that needs to be done, and although we've seen more resources put towards bridge projects, it is something that does take time for the work to be completed," Black said.

Ohio is 13th in the nation for the number of poor-condition bridges it has. In terms of percentage of poor bridges out of Ohio's entire bridge inventory, the state is ranked 38th with 5% of its bridges classified as poor.

Bridges in worst condition in Franklin County

The Downtown bridges aren't the only ones in poor condition in the county. Here's a full list of the 19 bridges in the worst condition in and around the state's capital city. Since FHWA's most recent data is from June 2023, some of the bridges listed have already been replaced.

Fourth Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction

High Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction

I-70 westbound bridge over Scioto River, scheduled for reconstruction

Front Street bridge over I-70, currently being reconstructed

Third Street bridge over I-70, scheduled for reconstruction

Brice Road bridge over I-70, scheduled for widening

State Route 104 bridge over I-270, reconstruction completed

Gantz Road bridge over I-270, scheduled for reconstruction

Frank Road bridge 0.2 miles west of Gantz Road

Harris-Georges Road bridge 0.25 miles south of State Route 665

Reese Road bridge over Big Walnut Creek, currently being reconstructed

Wright Road bridge in Pickerington Ponds Metro Park

Dempsey Road bridge 0.5 miles west of Sunbury Road

Beach Road bridge over Big Darby Creek

Orders Road bridge over Spitlinger Ditch

Kimberly Parkway bridge over Mason Run

West Selby Boulevard bridge over Rush Run, scheduled for reconstruction

Shawan Falls Drive bridge over South Fork Indian Run, reconstruction completed

Wynne Ridge Court bridge over Beem Ditch, scheduled for reconstruction

How are bridges rated?

U.S. bridges can be classified by the FHWA as in good, fair, or poor condition, according to the FHWA's website.

The condition of a bridge is based on the lowest rating of its components, namely the bridge's superstructure, substructure and deck on a scale of zero to nine.

A bridge is in good condition when its lowest deck, superstructure or substructure rating is greater than or equal to seven. A bridge is in fair condition when its lowest rating for the same structures is five or six. And a bridge is in poor condition when its lowest rating is four or lower.

Here's what each number on the scale means, according to a FHWA code book.

9: Excellent condition

8: Very good condition , no problems noted

7: Good condition , some minor problems

6: Satisfactory condition , structural elements show some minor deterioration

5: Fair condition , all primary structural elements are sound but may have minor section loss, cracking, spalling, or scour

4: Poor condition , advanced section loss, deterioration, spalling or scour

3: Serious condition , loss of section, deterioration, spalling or scour have seriously affected primary structural components. Local failures are possible. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present.

2: Critical condition , advanced deterioration of primary structural elements. Fatigue cracks in steel or shear cracks in concrete may be present or scour may have removed substructure support. Unless the bridge is closely monitored, it may be necessary to close the bridge until corrective action is taken.

1: "Imminent failure condition" , major deterioration or section loss present in critical structural components or obvious vertical or horizontal movement affecting structure stability. Bridge is closed to traffic, but corrective action may put it back in light service.

0: Failed condition , out of service, beyond corrective action

N: Not applicable

Culverts do not have superstructures, substructures or decks so they are rated only on the condition of the culvert as a whole. They're also rated on a scale of zero to nine.

Every Ohio bridge and culvert in poor condition

Consult the map below for a look at every Ohio bridge and culvert in poor condition.

What do these bridge terms mean?

There are three main components of a bridge that determine its overall condition: superstructure, substructure and deck.

A bridge's superstructure is what the road sits on; usually concrete, steel beams or a combination of the two. The substructure is what holds the superstructure up; supports, piers or abutments. A bridge is like a capital letter "T," the superstructure is the horizontal line at the top of the letter and the substructure is the vertical line supporting it.

A deck, meanwhile, is the surface of a bridge. Normally, this means a paved road, but it could also be railroad tracks, wood, or any other material suitable for crossing.

A diagram of a bridge's components included in an online FEMA presentation

Culverts are also included in the National Bridge Inventory. These structures are tunnels dug into the ground to allow water to pass beneath them.

Dispatch Reporter Eric Lagatta rides out of a Downtown drainage culvert on the Scioto River in 2020.

The FHWA also uses a few engineering terms to describe damage to bridges, namely section loss, spalling and scour.

Section loss is when a main piece of a bridge's structure, like a pier or a support beam, loses some of its "cross-sectional area" due to decay or damage. Spalling is when a chunk of concrete breaks off, leaving it pitted and less structurally sound. Scour is when erosion, usually from water, wears away the ground surrounding the foundation of a bridge.

How are Ohio's bridges maintained?

Federal law requires the Ohio Department of Transportation to inspect every bridge on a public roadway once every two years, but they often manage to inspect most of the state's bridges annually, Bruning said.

"Some of the better condition bridges, fairly new bridges, we do go back to the federal standard of every two years because, honestly, it's quite a bit of work to inspect every bridge on an annual basis," he said.

The only public bridges ODOT does not have to inspect are those owned by the federal government.

Once an inspection finds an issue with a public bridge, maintenance teams from county governments, township governments, cities or ODOT conduct repairs depending on where the bridge is located.

In the past, bridges in rural areas or on small local road networks often faced the most hurdles in getting repairs because of the high cost of fixing bridges, but that trend has started to be reversed, Black said.

"I think we're starting to see more local areas, and this is actually something we see in Ohio, there are a number of county and local ballot initiatives to try and raise local transportation funds to address some of these issues," she said.

Some of the most common damage bridges incur is when concrete chips away to reveal rebar underneath. While this may look concerning, it doesn't signal any structural damage to the bridge.

"The bulk of the structural integrity is actually inside the rebar. The concrete that you would see outside the rebar is simply protecting that. So I think sometimes someone might look at a bridge and say, 'Oh, that looks like it's in really bad shape,'" he said.

A bridge in poor condition isn't unsafe either, Bruning said.

"I never even think twice when I drive across a bridge in Ohio. It's just not something that I'm worried about because I know how much goes into keeping those bridges in good shape," he said.

NHart@dispatch.com

@PartofMyHart

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio bridge conditions as rated by the Federal Highway Administration
How Oklahoma tribes are reversing years of consolidation with their own meat processing plants

HOMINY  Cole McKinney leapt onto the edge of a metal fence and began banging its side, trying to spook a nearly 700-pound bison into turning around inside its pen. But the bison repeatedly lowered its horned head into the fence, resisting McKinneys order to face the other way.

This parts not easy, said McKinney, the plant manager at Butcher House Meats, a 19,000-square-foot meat processing facility in Hominy, Oklahoma. Owned and operated by the Osage Nation tribal government, the plant processes mostly bison and cattle.

After about 10 minutes of jumping along the side of the pen, McKinney finally got the bison to turn around and head through a chute leading inside the plants back door.

Cows are easier because they will often go right in, McKinney said. Bison have their own spirit.

Built in 2021, the facilitys 10 employees slaughter and package animals for dozens of ranchers in this part of northeast Oklahoma, where cattle mostly scatter along the rolling prairies or clump around its winding creeks. The plant also processes cows and bison from the Osage Nations own ranch, with some of the meat sold in a store at the front of the building.

The Osage Nations plant is a source of food and employment in this rural community, but its also an attempt to reverse a multi-decade trend of small and medium-size meatpacking plants closing in response to a consolidating cattle industry.

Today, cattle ranchers across the country have fewer processors to sell to, which many say has deflated their profits. Those who have tried to remain independent often dont have a small meatpacker nearby to do business with.

But the impact of consolidation has been especially jarring in Americas tribal communities, where the rate of plant closures has exceeded the national average.

Since 1990, beef processing plants on Americas tribal lands and reservations have closed at nearly double the rate of the national average, according to data from the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Services division, which monitors meat, poultry and egg production sites.

In Oklahoma, which ranks second in the nation for beef cow inventory and first in the percentage of Native American residents, 60% of the cattle processing plants that have closed since 1990 were in the states tribal areas.

From 1980 to 2022, the number of all animal processing facilities in Oklahoma declined from 201 to 82, with more than 70% of those closed plants located in tribal areas, according to the USDAs Livestock Slaughter Annual Summary report.

The USDA currently inspects 722 beef processing facilities across the country, less than half the number of plants that were open in 1980. Today, just 28 cattle processing plants are within tribal lands. Two-thirds of those plants are in Oklahoma.

There is in this region and in this country far too little capacity for meat processing and it's in the hands of far too few people and far too few corporations, said Chuck Hoskin Jr., the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, which opened its own meat processing facility in Tahlequah in 2022.

Over the past four years, the Osage, Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) nations have opened USDA-inspected processing plants in eastern Oklahoma, joining the Quapaw Nation, which opened its own facility seven years ago. Another tribe, the Choctaw Nation, has invested in a recently opened facility in southern Oklahoma.

Supply chain challenges during the early months of COVID-19 inspired many of the tribes to build their own plants, and some used federal pandemic relief funds for initial construction. Using cattle and bison from their own ranches, the tribes are processing meat to supply their day care centers, senior homes and hotels, as well as some low-income meal programs they operate with federal funding.

However, each plant also processes meat for area ranchers, offering custom cuts and packaging services that have not existed in some communities for many years.

A lot of ranchers around here were having to travel 40 or 50 miles to get to the nearest processors, but since opening, we have cut down that drive for a lot of ranchers in the area, said Adrian Sinclair, the plant manager at 1839 Cherokee Meat Co., the Cherokee Nations plant named after the year it formed its constitution. We are hearing all the time how this (facility) has eased diesel costs and reduced the stress on the animal by not traveling quite as far.

Some Cherokee ranchers raising cattle just for their own familys consumption started commercial operations because the new USDA-inspected facility was close enough to be cost-effective.

This plant made it easier to (produce) cows because closer is better, closer is cheaper, said Jill Hough, an Osage citizen whose family began processing its herd at the Osage Nations facility.

According to 2022 USDA figures, bison and beef make up the largest agricultural sector for Native American communities nationwide, accounting for 39% of all Native American agriculture production.

Operating a meat processing facility can give tribal governments more control over their cattle industries, said Chris Roper, a technical assistance director with the Flower Hill Institute, a nonprofit that works with tribes on food sovereignty issues.

Roper once worked for the Quapaw Nation, an Oklahoma tribe that built a meat processing plant in 2017. At the time, it was one of the few tribal-owned facilities in the country. Today, he estimates there are at least 12.

But there are about a dozen others that are currently working on a new plant that hasnt opened yet, said Roper, who helps tribes across the country plan and build meatpacking facilities. I think there is a lot of momentum around this, and I project that over the next five years, there will be 50-plus (tribal-owned) plants.

Forced into Oklahoma, tribes built a cattle industry

After being forced to relocate from Kansas to present day northern Oklahoma in the late 1880s, the Osage people struggled to grow crops on their new land. However, its high-nutrient grass made it a prime stop for cattle drives on the way from Texas to the stockyards of Kansas City.

By 1898, the Osage Nation leased more than 431,000 acres to cattle drivers and later raised its own herds, creating a burgeoning livestock industry that attracted new railroad lines.

Arguably, without Osage grass leases, Oklahomas modern economy may not have reached its admirable level since fewer homesteaders and businesses would have been able to settle there due to a lack of available transportation, wrote Athena Stephanopoulos in her 2007 research paper, How the Cows Came Home as Dinner, a history on the Osage cattle industry.

Other tribes followed with their own cattle operations, but the growth in white homesteaders led to the depletion of land suitable for grazing.

Before the end of the 19th century, President Grover Cleveland forced the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Reservation in present-day western Oklahoma to give up 2 million acres of its cattle grazing land to white settlement.

The loss of land for some tribes increased demand for others, including the Osage, whose cattle grazing leases topped 720,000 acres by 1910.

Over the next several decades, cattle remained a prominent economic engine in the Osage Nation, whose land became home to some of the states largest ranches, including a few owned by non-Osage citizens.

But by the second half of the 20th century, Americas cattle industry was beginning to shift to one dominated by just a handful of producers who built large facilities that often squeezed out smaller packers and limited where ranchers could sell their cows.

Nearly 45 years ago, 84% of cattle in America were slaughtered in processing plants that handled fewer than half a million animals a year. By 1997, those plants were processing just 20% of the nations cattle, according to a USDA report on meatpacking consolidation.

That consolidation push was led by four companies  Tyson Foods, Cargill, National Beef Packing Co., and JBS  that now slaughter more than 85% of the nations steers and heifers.

Large slaughter plants were built in western Kansas, eastern Colorado and the Texas Panhandle, which continued to make western Oklahoma a prime cattle ranching region, especially for large feedlots that fatten cattle just before processing. However, that geographic center moved farther away from eastern Oklahoma, where most of the states tribal communities are located.

In Osage County, which is also the boundary for the Osage Nation reservation, annual cattle production from 1970 to 2017 declined by more than 19%, while statewide numbers increased by 3% during the same time, according to USDA figures.

Of the 21 Oklahoma counties with a cattle population decline of at least 10%, 17 are within tribal reservation boundaries.

Roper, the director with the Flower Hill Institute, said consolidation has also increased the likelihood of supply chain challenges for tribal communities, along with hurting the small ranchers who run their own retail businesses.

These (tribal) communities realized that they can't rely on the consolidated industry and these big plants to keep the stores filled because at some point that supply chain is going to break down, said Roper, pointing to the pandemic as an example.

The Osage Nation Meat Processing facility in Hominy is pictured Feb. 21.

Workforce training and more funding needed, tribal advocates say

Sinclair, the plant manager at the Cherokee Nations meat processing facility, walked past a line of hanging beef carcasses inside a refrigerated room, but his eyes studied the floor for any meat scraps or other loose items.

I take sanitation very seriously, Sinclair said with a laugh. But Im proud of how clean we keep this facility, very proud.

In the next room, a team of five employees wearing orange aprons broke down a cut of beef, including one worker on a band saw who sliced through a rib section. In another room, two workers used a machine to grind beef chunks into hamburger patties.

Fourteen people work at the plant, most of whom are Cherokee citizens, said Whitney Dittman, a spokesperson for the tribe.

During the first three months of 2024, the plant processed about 45 cows for independent ranchers in the area, along with 14 sheep and 16 hogs. The plant also processed more than 46 cows from the Cherokee Nations own ranch.

The numbers are small compared to facilities owned by one of the four major packing companies. Plants operated by Tyson and National Beef in southwest Kansas each slaughter 6,000 head of cattle a day.

But the Cherokee Nations meat facility has enough capacity to supply 15,000 pounds of ground beef and 3,600 pounds of roast each month to the Cherokee Nations several food distribution sites across a 14-county region.

Dittman said processing its own meat helped the Cherokee Nation stretch further a $10 million USDA grant to address food insecurity in tribal communities.

Having this facility allows us to produce the protein that we would normally have to go out and buy from somewhere else, Dittman said. Its come full circle with Cherokees producing their own protein for other Cherokees.

Advocates for more tribal-owned meat processing facilities say it can enhance the numerous federal food assistance programs operated by tribes and offer more locally produced meat to users of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, what some call food stamps.

Nationwide, one in four Native Americans use federal food assistance programs, according to the Native Farm Bill Coalition.

The federal government provides some funding to help tribes build and expand plants, but recent demand has exceeded those amounts.

Last year, 67 tribes applied for more than $350 million in funding through the Indigenous Animal Harvesting Grant program, which had just $50 million in grants to award, according to the Flower Hill Institute.

Several Indigenous agriculture groups have pushed for Congress to add more support for tribal-led meat production in the next Farm Bill, not just through grants but also access to credit.

Congress should ensure that loan and loan guarantee opportunities are available for the development of meat, poultry, fish, and seafood processing facilities in Indian Country, the Native Farm Bill Coalition, a group advocating for federal policies, argued in its 2022 Gaining Ground report. Access to credit will assist Tribal communities in developing regional food systems and support tribal member access to traditional, affordable, and nutritional sources of protein.

Abi Fain, chief legal and policy officer for the Intertribal Agriculture Council, said the federal government should also look for ways to increase training for meatpacking jobs and USDA inspectors, especially since it can be hard to fill positions in rural communities, where many tribes are located.

If you are in Muscogee you may only be 30 minutes from Tulsa, said Fain, referring to the location of Muscogee (Creek) Nations meat processing center, Looped Square Meat Co., located about 25 miles south of the states second-largest city. But in other parts of Indian Country, that is not the case. In some tribes in South Dakota you may be two hours from the nearest city or nearest town.

Fain said she expects the number of tribal-run meatpacking plants to increase, even among tribal communities that have not traditionally been involved in agriculture production.

Gaining more control over local food systems is enticing for tribes when they see the success others are having, she added.

Food is power, Fain said, and having control over your food sources is the difference between independence or subjugation.

Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom. Our mission is to serve the public interest by exposing dangerous and costly practices of influential agricultural corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism. Visit us online at www.investigatemidwest.org

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Osage, Cherokee, Muscogee, Quapaw nations opened processing facilities
The University of Mississippi has opened at least one student conduct investigation after videos of pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded by counterprotesters circulated online, including one that many have singled out as racist.

Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce sent a letter to students and staff on Friday noting that Ole Miss leaders were aware of behaviors that were "offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones" at Thursday's protest.

"While student privacy laws prohibit us from commenting on any specific student, we have opened one student conduct investigation," Boyce wrote. "We are working to determine whether more cases are warranted."

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold signs protesting the Israel-Hamas war Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the University of Mississippi. (Maria Ramirez / The Daily Mississippian via AP)

On Thursday, a group of roughly 30 to 60 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on the quad and added to the list of demonstrations on college campuses nationwide. But the event turned hostile as they were outnumbered by counterprotesters, who at one point drowned out the chants of protesters by singing The Star-Spangled Banner.

Videos of the event circulated online, with many noting that the pro-Palestinian demonstrators appeared to be a multiracial group but were surrounded by a mostly white group of counterprotesters taunting them.

One confrontation drew particular offense, in which a Black female graduate student on the protest side of a barricade went up to two young men to record the group as they yelled in her direction.

In the corner of one widely shared video, a man can be seen jumping up and down and appearing to make a noise to imitate an ape at the woman.

A video still of hecklers shouting at a pro-Palestinian protester (Stacey J. Spiehler via AP)

Other members of the group yelled "Lizzo" and "Lock her up" at the woman, who was guided away by police.

The university's Black Student Union released a statement in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian group, whom they described as "nonviolent demonstrators who were advocating for Palestine," according to The Daily Mississippian.

"The students were exercising their right under the First Amendment, while the counter-protesters were present with malicious intent as well as a prominent lack of knowledge on the situation at hand," the statement posted to Instagram said.

Commenters online condemned the incident, comparing the racist overtones of the interaction to the long history of racial animus and violence in Mississippi.

More than 100 years ago, the state's senators voted to send all of its Black people to Africa. When the university was ordered by a federal court to admit Black students in 1962, 2,000 white people rioted against the arrival of new student James Meredith.

University of Mississippi students gather to protest against integration (Bettmann Archive / Getty Images file)

And even though it's in a state with one of the highest proportions of Black residents, only 11.4% of Ole Miss' student body is Black.

Boyce's message on Friday acknowledged both students' and faculty's rights to free speech and peaceful assembly under the First Amendment, but singled out behaviors that demeaned people "because of their race or ethnicity" as contrary to the school's values. He added that it is "important to acknowledge our challenging history, and incidents like this can set us back."

"It is one reason why we do not take this lightly and cannot let the unacceptable behavior of a few speak for our institution or define us," Boyce said. "We are a community of scholars committed to creating an academic experience that respects the dignity of each individual."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
One person and dead and a second person is in critical condition after a shooting on Saturday night near the state fairgrounds.

One person is dead, and another remains in critical condition after a shooting on Saturday night in Columbus' University District near the Ohio State fairgrounds.

Columbus Police Officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East 13th Avenue shortly before 9 p.m., where they discovered a man suffering from gunshot wounds. They then discovered a second gunshot victim on East 14th Avenue.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

The man found on East 14th Avenue died at the hospital at 1:55 a.m. on Sunday. Columbus Division of Police said they are withholding the victim's identity until they notify his next of kin.

Investigators are attempting to determine the circumstances that led up to this incident, and encourage anyone with more information to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: One dead after University District shooting near state fairgrounds
Gerdau S.A. (NYSE:GGB) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript May 3, 2024

Gerdau S.A. isnt one of the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds at the end of the third quarter (see the details here).

Renata Oliva Battiferro: Good afternoon and welcome to Gerdau's Conference Call Results for the First Quarter 2024. I'm Renata, Investor Relations. Here with us today are Rafael Japur and Gustavo Werneck. We would like to inform you that this video conference is being recorded and it will be available on the IR side of the company where the entire material is available for download. It is also possible to download the presentation using the chat icon. I would like to remind you that the broadcast of this video conference is being done with simultaneous translation using the tool available in the platform. For that end, just click on the Interpretation icon via the globe icon that is in the lower part of your screen, and then choose the language of your choice either Portuguese or English.

For those of you listening to this video conference in English, you have the option to mute the original audio in Portuguese by clicking mute original audio. During the company's presentation, all participants will have their microphones disabled. After that, we will initiate the Q&A session. Analysts and investors can send in their questions in advance using the Q&A and you can open your video if you so desire. Business outlook and goals of this presentation are based on beliefs and assumptions of the company's management as well as information currently available. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of performance and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur. Investors should understand the general economic conditions, market conditions and other operating factors could affect the future results of the company and may differ substantially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements.

A steel worker in high-visibility gear standing in front of a vast array of steel products.

Now, I would like to turn the floor to Gustavo Werneck to initiate the presentation. Gustavo, you may proceed.

Gustavo Werneck : Hello everyone. I hope you are well, and thank you for the opportunity to meet with us during this video conference to discuss Gerdau's results for the first quarter of 2024. Im joined by our CFO, Rafael Japur and it's always a pleasure for both of us to talk to you about our performance and to clarify any points that may arise during our presentation. I'll start by talking about the macro business environment about the highlights of the overall results and then I will detail the performance of our business operations in the quarter. Right after that, Japur will share with you some information on our financial performance. And finally, we'll highlight some points from our sustainability agenda and then we'll move on to our Q&A session.

Story continues

But before we move on to the presentation of our results, on behalf of all of Gerdaus employees, I would like to express our solidarity to the population Rio Grande do Sul, which is going through a very difficult period due to the intense and heavy rains that have hit the state since the beginning of the week. Gerdau as a company original from Rio Grande do Sul is providing all the assistance needed and we are supporting our employees and neighboring communities in mitigating the damages. The company maintains an open dialogue with the competent authorities and we will spare no efforts to stand side by side and meet the needs of the population in this challenging moment. Now, on the second slide, I would like to point out that we ended the first quarter of 24 with an accident frequency rate of 0.47, reinforcing our commitment to the people's health and safety.

See also

Morgan Stanley's Top 15 Stock Picks for 2024 and

14 Best Financial Sector Dividend Stocks To Invest In.

To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here.
One person killed when pickup truck runs off SC road and crashes into tree, cops say

One person was killed Saturday when a pickup truck crashed into a tree, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 1:20 p.m. in Newberry County, said Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover.

A 2004 Toyota Tundra was driving east on Jalapa Road, according to Glover. Near the intersection with Beth Eden Road the pickup swerved off the left side of Jalapa Road, then hit a ditch before crashing into a tree, Glover said. Thats near Exit 66 on Interstate 26.

There were two people in the pickup truck and one of them died at the scene, according to Glover.

The Newberry County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the victim who died.

Glover did not say if the other person in the pickup was hurt, and did not report any other injuries.

The Highway Patrol did not say if the the victim who died was the pickups driver or passenger.

There was no word if either of the people in the pickup were wearing seat belts.

Information about what caused the pickup to veer off the road was not available. Glover did not say if the Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.

Through Tuesday, 289 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least six people have died in Newberry County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were nine deaths in the county in 2023, DPS reported.
'One of the scary ones.' Ohio Parole Board rejects parole for man who killed Canton girl

Screen Shot 2024-05-05 at 11.29.08 AM by Dan Kadar on Scribd

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The Ohio Parole Board has denied parole for a Stark County man who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered 9-year-old Glenna Rose Brammer in southeast Canton in 1987.

The board voted 5-0 on April 11 to keep George Earl Deck, 67, incarcerated for at least 10 more years. His next parole hearing is scheduled for February 2034. He's serving his sentence at the Grafton Correctional Institution.

Then-Stark County Common Pleas Judge Sheila Farmer in 1989 sentenced Deck to 30 years to life in prison for aggravated murder and 10 to 25 years for kidnapping with parole eligibility in 6 1/2 years after he served the minimum 30-year sentence. Deck became eligible for parole this year.

Prosecutors in 1989 sought the death penalty for Deck, but a jury could not reach the required unanimous decision to sentence Deck to death. Two of the 12 jurors would not support the death penalty.

George Earl Deck in 1989

"Incarcerated adult Deck has served almost 37 years for the brutal homicide of a young female victim," the parole board said in its written decision, which was released Friday. "He has taken no cognitive program but has addressed his crimogenic factors with staff in prison. Further, his institutional behavior is much improved. His release plan is undeveloped. The board concluded that the negative aspects of this case outweigh the positive factors in this case. The board determined that additional incarceration is appropriate."

The board found it likely that Deck would reoffend if released or not comply with the conditions of release, and that giving him parole would create an undue risk to public safety.

Glenna Rose Brammer: A pivot point for Canton

Brammer family response to board's decision

Brammer's older sister, Kimberly Elmerick, could not be reached for comment.

But she told Fox 8 in Cleveland that her sister's death "devastated me, still does. I cant do anything on her birthday, I cant do anything on the [anniversary] of the day she died.

The group Block Parole heard about the case and set up an online petition to object to Deck's release.

It's not clear who represented Deck before the Parole Board. Documents submitted to the board arguing for or against parole or clemency are not public records in Ohio, a board spokeswoman said.

A message was left with the Ohio Public Defenders office, which frequently represents inmates before the Parole Board.

Bradley Iams, who was Deck's attorney in his 1989 trial and the death penalty phase, in a text message declined to comment Friday on the board's decision. But he said he took no part in making any arguments to the Parole Board on Deck's behalf.

Richard Reinbold was the assistant Stark County prosecutor who led the prosecution against Deck in 1989. Reinbold is a retired Stark County common pleas judge and currently the Democratic nominee for Stark County prosecutor.

Reinbold said he agreed with the Parole Board's decision. He called Deck "one of the scary ones."

"He should be incarcerated in maybe one of the state hospitals. But he should not be let out," said Reinbold, who vividly remembers the case, despite the passage of nearly 35 years. "It was a terrible crime he committed. I don't think he has the mental capacity to understand what he did. ... I'm afraid if he was released, he would commit the same crime."

Deck, who was homeless when arrested, apparently has no family members he could live with if he were released. And it's not clear where he could live.

What happened to Glenna Rose Brammer?

Late on a Friday evening in July 1987, Roberta Brammer of Seventh Street NW reported to police that her daughter, Glenna, had gone missing just days after celebrating her ninth birthday. Glenna was a member of Brownie Troop 555 and was set to enter the third grade at Summit School the following September.

The employee at a store near the park at Sixth Street and High Avenue NW where Glenna played kickball and other games with her friends told police that he had seen her with a man at 7 p.m.

Roberta Brammer said Deck had been seen around the park where her daughter played. Deck had won her trust by buying her pop and candy.

By Sunday, two days after Glenna failed to return home, police had arrested Deck, then 31, who confessed to sexually assaulting and stomping the girl to death. Deck led investigators to a wooded area in southeast Canton. There, they found Glenna's body buried in a shallow grave in the woods in southeastern Canton near Fourth Street and Madison Court SE.

Then-Stark County Coroner James Pritchard said that she had been beaten with a blunt instrument that police said was a club, her chest was crushed, her skull was fractured and she was strangled. And a pathologist found evidence of genital injuries.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Deck.

The trial was delayed because Judge Sheila Farmer in January 1988 found Deck mentally incompetent to stand trial. After he spent more than a year at a facility in Columbus, she found in February 1989 that he had regained competency, understood the nature of the charges against him and could assist in his own defense.

The trial began in July 1989.

Reinbold presented to the jury a recording by police of Deck confessing that he brutally sexually assaulted and beat Glenna to death.

"I just didn't know what I was doing," Deck told investigators, referring to mistreatment by his mother and her boyfriend. "I been shoved around so much. ... I just went out of my mind."

After a trial of more than a week and more than six hours of deliberation, the jury found Deck guilty of aggravated murder and kidnapping.

Deck grew up in foster care, later became an alcoholic

Iams in the death penalty phase called witnesses who testified that Deck, who had a developmental disability, grew up in a home without heating or lighting and with animal droppings in the early 1960s.

His mother was addicted to alcohol and exchanged sex for beer and money. His mother and stepfather were charged with parental neglect. Deck lived in three foster homes as a child.

Iams and witnesses said that Deck was subjected to sexual abuse by older boys at an orphanage near Alliance, his mother and stepfather. When his mother lost custody of him, Deck spent years at the Apple Creek State Institute. He frequently ran away to go back to his mother.

By 1987, Deck was homeless and an alcoholic himself. His mother's boyfriend had kicked him out of his mother's home, which a psychologist said triggered his rage at being cut off from his mother.

Another psychologist testified that Deck had suffered from significant brain damage and years of alcohol abuse.

Reach Robert at robret.wang@cantonrep.com. X formerly Twitter: @rwangREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: George Earl Deck denied parole for killing Glenna Rose Brammer
If everythings honest, Id gladly accept the results. That was former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, playing cute with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinels question over whether hed accept the outcome of Wisconsins presidential election. As my colleague Clarissa-Jan Lim pointed out, Trump has a long track record of similar statements, offering sham justifications to disguise the fact that he doesnt feel bound by election results. The events of Jan. 6, 2021, laid bare the true consequences of this shell game.

But this latest instance  coupled with statements Trump recently made in his interview with Time magazine  highlight a disturbing and underappreciated aspect of his 2024 campaign. Trumps approach to election results has become his approach (and his devotees approach) to the law more broadly. Even as their policies and rhetoric have become more extreme, Trump and his MAGA acolytes are already lining up the justifications  legal and otherwise  to buttress their extremist and authoritarian agenda in ways that simply didnt occur to the first Trump administration.

The deportation of millions, the deployment of the National Guard and even the military domestically, the firing of prosecutors, the autocratic expansion of executive authority, the potential weaponization of the Comstock Act to ban abortion: all of these will have excuses that range from tendentious to outright fiction. Or, as Trump told Time: Ill be doing everything on a very legal basis.

Take, for example, immigration: Its easy to forget how Trumps immigration policy has shifted in eight years, even as it has remained consistently bigoted. His 10-point plan on immigration in 2016 consisted of the border wall and a bunch of truisms. (Well build safe zones, which is something I think all of us want to see.) The military was absent; the word invasion was nowhere to be found, and the courts barely merited a mention.

Contrast this with the Time interview, where Trump defends deploying the military both at the border and inland to deport 15 million and maybe as many as 20 million undocumented immigrants  the equivalent of deporting the entire state of Florida. With bigger autocratic moves come bigger fictions. Migrants are no longer just bringing crime; Trump has created a whole separate (and demonstrably false) category of migrant crime.

Domestic deployment of the armed forces would seem to violate an 1878 ban on using troops against civilians. But this Trump, unlike the 2016 version, has a legal facade ready to go: Undocumented immigrants are invaders, not civilians, and I will be complying with court orders. Those two sentiments may seem difficult to reconcile, given that the former categorization flies in the face of legal precedent. But as recent oral arguments over presidential immunity have illustrated, precedent means little to this Supreme Court.

Immigration is just the tip of a very dangerous iceberg. In close advisers like Stephen Miller and aligned projects like Project 2025, we can see not only the policies but also the underlying justifications and legal authorities they have ready to go. Part of this effort is practical. Trumps presidency was rife with policy efforts that either never got past the planning stage or wasted months (or even years) in false starts. The reality that Mexico wouldnt pay for his border wall meant that less than 20% had been built when he left office. His administration spent the better part of a year tossing out different iterations of Trumps self-described Muslim ban, searching for a version that could pass muster in the courts.

Trumps supporters are determined not to waste time this round. Theres no better example of this than the Comstock Act: Rather than wait for congressional Republicans to pass a new national abortion ban, they could simply resurrect a zombie law to criminalize any materials used in abortions and count on the more Trump-friendly courts to back them up.

But mostly this effort is political. As writer Brian Beutler puts it, To the MAGA core, he offers a bloody revanchism; to the uncommitted, a series of mollifying assurances. Most of Trumps signature policy proposals  such as a military deportation force and huge tariff increases  and those of his most devoted advisers are unpopular. So Trump balances the lawless extremes of his ambitions by minimizing how radical his plans sound, hoping to avoid scaring persuadable voters with his authoritarian signals. When we talk military, generally speaking, I talk National Guard, he says, as if those two terms are interchangeable. But if I thought things were getting out of control, I would have no problem using the military. Just like hell accept the results if everythings honest.

I dont think theyre bold actions, Trump tells Time of his policies, I think theyre actions that are common sense. But phrases like if everythings honest and if things were getting out of control create loopholes as wide as they are chilling. Its easy to imagine, for example, a deportation force being sent to New York and then beefed up when local residents resist  with horrible consequences. But if the platitudes get him back in the White House, he and his followers will move swiftly to welcome that horror.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Opinion: Since the Hamas attack, Israelis have begun arming themselves the American way

Among the core Israeli national narratives that have been fractured by the Hamas terror attacks and months of war and violence is the notion that Israels ethos on firearms differs from that of the United States.

Both countries can be characterized as gun-centric democracies, but according to the Israeli narrative, the U.S. is a land of too many guns and too few laws, while Israelis  trust their state, and dont fear each other.  A common refrain emphasizes that in Israel, bearing arms isnt a right, its a privilege.

After Oct. 7, in a shockingly fast turnaround, that privilege became, if not a right, an imperative. In changing Israels relationship with firearms, Benjamin Netanyahus government is also changing the nation in ways that could have profound and lasting implications.

Read more: Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without a deal' for a cease-fire

I have spent more than a decade collaborating with Israeli public health scholars and safety activists to better understand how a country with many guns could see only a fraction of U.S. civilian gun deaths.

Partner shootings, homicides, gun suicides, accidental shootings and mass shootings have been remarkably low in Israel in part because the government banned assault rifles for private citizens and issued handgun permits only after an extensive vetting process.

Effective gun laws reinforced social cohesion. If Americans carry guns based on individualized notions of self-protection, Israelis consider gun ownership a shared responsibility, and when gun policy comes up, they will explicitly say they "don't want to be like the U.S."

But like many national narratives, Israels gun scripts are partly myth. Armed settlers in the West Bank have recklessly intimidated and harassed Palestinians . A robust contraband arms market flourished in smaller cities, and the victims of those guns were overwhelmingly Arab citizens of Israel.

Read more: Gazans thank U.S. campus protesters. Israel condemns what it sees as 'Nazi-like behavior'

Still, American researchers like me could view Israelis gun safety efforts as a model of successful public policy.

Now that model is at risk. Hamas kidnapping and slaughter of Israelis represents a catastrophic failure of state protection. It has tapped into deep national fears about being Jewish, vulnerable and exposed.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir  an incendiary Jewish supremacist once expelled from army service because of radicalism  has seized the moment. Prior to the Hamas attacks, he tried to weaken gun permit regulations and ease carry rights, but his arguments failed to gain traction. Now, however, he and his allies have managed to fast-track legislation that has generated an unprecedented spike in armed Jewish civilians.

Carry a Gun, It's a Life-saver: Ben-Gvir and His Wife Boast of Dramatic Expansion in Israelis Carrying Weapons read a headline in Haaretz on Oct. 22.

Within a week of the attack , the Netanyahu government was purchasing and distributing thousands of firearms. Contentious Knesset oversight committee meetings detailed how dozens of unqualified people  including Ben Gvirs personal staff appointees  had been granted temporary authority to approve gun license applications. In March, according to Haaretz , Ben-Gvir celebrated the issuance of 100,000 new permits in five months.

::

Its understandable that gun sales to civilians spike in times of peril. Guns provide real protection in some instances, and the promise of protection in others. And yet, gun safety and security are never as straightforward as the NRAs good guys versus bad guys binary makes it seem. Armed civilians rarely prevent crimes such as mass shootings. Potential security benefits to arming civilians are often counterbalanced by risin g everyday gun-related injury and death.

Gun ownership can make people wary of governments and regulations, and gun politics can also be tribalizing, divisive, even antidemocratic.

After the death of George Floyd and amid the pandemic in 2020, people's fears, sometimes fed by conspiracy theories, pushed gun sales to record highs. Gun sellers could exploit white anxiety about Black violence and the anxieties of Black and Latino populations as well. Meanwhile, pro-gun courts in the U.S. have been overturning firearm safety laws put in place by state or local legislatures and voters.

Read more: Israel's religious right has a clear plan for Gaza: 'We are occupying, deporting and settling'

The Middle East represents a profoundly different context. But Netanyahus government is doing more than responding to the traumatic chaos of the Hamas attacks by adopting U.S. gun laws: Ben Gvirs gun policies paper over security lapses, weaken trust in democratic institutions, exacerbate divides and will do little to make anyone safer.

For instance, Israeli data show that shockingly few terror attacks are stopped by civilians with guns, and yet the government insists otherwise. Armed civilians, said Netanyahu, "save lives." He initially shrugged off an incident in which a "hero" armed civilian, who had indeed stopped a deadly terrorist attack, was then himself shot to death in the chaos. "We might have to pay prices," Netanyahu said, "but that's life."

It's likely that disproportionate numbers of the newly distributed guns are ending up in the hands of supporters of Netanyahus conservative/religious coalition. Armed Jewish security squads have formed in mixed cities where both Jewish and Palestinian Israeli citizens live. Violence against Palestinians has escalated in the West Bank, where members of Jewish settler groups have long been allowed to carry weapons, while Palestinians have not.

::

What does it mean for Israel to so rapidly adopt American-style armed individualism?

In conversations last fall, Israeli Jewish and Palestinian clinicians, journalists, gun safety advocates and academics told me theyd been shattered by the Hamas attack and the plight of hostages. They understood their countrymens desire for firearms. At the same time, no one could believe how many guns were flooding in.

People we never imagined are lining up for permits and carrying guns, one activist said during a group Zoom conversation. Others on the call chimed in. My husband. My grocer. My father-in-law. Me.

Being like the U.S. emerged as a source of disquiet. One activist who lives in a Tel Aviv suburb spoke as sirens rang in the background. How long after the Gaza war ends, he wondered, will it take until we see our first American-style mass shooting?

An ER doctor told a story about bickering neighbors holding up guns mid-argument. She asked a question that months before would have been unimaginable: Do you think U.S. gun safety groups might be willing to take up our cause?

Read more: Arming America: How we did the analysis

The gun drive is running roughshod over democratic procedures, a leading peace activist said, with rising authoritarianism and a trajectory of increasingly violent police responses against antiwar protesters.

Later, as the human catastrophe in Gaza spiraled, another activist asked, What violence is being done in our name?

By January, with protests against the war accelerating, a journalist wondered whether disarmament would be possible, with Israelis under siege, not just by our enemies but also by the supposedly liberal, modern people in the West who we thought we were part of. Would it be possible to imagine or do peace?

::

The proliferation of guns in Israel that began as a response to an external threat has become an enforcer of expansive internal agendas. I dont really think Ben-Gvir wants Israelis to feel safe, a Palestinian Israeli lawyer explained. He wants settlers and crazies to intimidate others.

The gun safety movement is mobilized in opposition, but however its efforts evolve, the decisions Israel has already made about guns could go a long way toward shaping the future of the nation.

Perhaps the country will overturn Ben-Gvirs disastrous gun policies and begin the hard work of countering their polarizing health, social and political effects. Such an approach would require regional stability, and the renewal of what Haaretz calls the contract between state and citizen.

Or Israel could remain a fortress, its people adopting "stand your ground" self-defensiveness and arming themselves in ever more anticipation of real and speculative threats.

If Ive learned anything from studying gun politics in the U.S., its that an armed and internally divided nation is less able to negotiate, effectively legislate or meaningfully compromise.

Jonathan M. Metzl (@jonathanmetzl) directs the department of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt University and is the author, most recently, of " What Weve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms ." This article was produced in partnership with Zocalo Public Square.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Belmont Cragin residents were filing into the cafeteria at Prieto Math and Science Academy last month to weigh in on Mayor Brandon Johnsons signature plan to overhaul Chicagos mental health system when they got unexpected evidence that the bold, still largely theoretical plan remains a focus at City Hall.

Into the school walked Johnson, an unannounced guest at the community forum, surrounded by a flock of leading administration officials.

Its one of our top priorities, he told attendees, before talking about his older brother, Leon, who dealt with untreated mental illness and died addicted and unhoused. Our ultimate goal, our primary goal, is that we provide mental health services without barriers. That when, where and however individuals and families need these services, the city of Chicago shows up.

Despite the mayors words, however, the actual progress on his campaign promise to install the so-called Treatment Not Trauma plan remains difficult for Chicagoans to see. The City Council tasked a working group with answering many of the toughest implementation questions: where to open facilities, what to ask for in the budget, how many people to hire and more. Beyond that, few changes have materialized.

But the path forward should soon become clearer: A year into Johnsons first term, the working groups report outlining the plans future will be published later this month. For the coalition of activists who have spent a decade pushing for the policy and dogging mayors to enact it, the citys report should finally prove whether or not Johnson is truly offering a different path for mental health care in Chicago.

The people working to implement Treatment Not Trauma remain optimistic about the potentially sweeping policys future. But some of its proponents looking in from outside the bureaucratic process worry the long-awaited proposals are moving too slowly and will not live up to the bold vision championed by years of community organizing.

Johnson quickly passed an ordinance to launch the citys working group once in office, but to move forward, the policy needs active leadership from City Hall, not infinite working groups, infinite consensus buildings and no movement, said Eric Reinhart, a public health, law and psychiatry anthropologist and physician who co-drafted the white paper report published by the activist coalition that pushed for the policy.

I think its quite disappointing to all of us that a year into this administration, that even on the campaign stage held up Treatment Not Trauma as one of its core priorities, we still havent made any steps forward, he said. Everybodys getting a working group, but where are we seeing implementation?

But Reinharts white paper co-author, Arturo Carrillo, expressed optimism after the Prieto Academy event. A member of the working group preparing the policys path forward, Carrillo is also a social worker who directs violence prevention and health initiatives for the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, part of the broad Treatment Not Trauma coalition.

Its almost like we are playing catch up, Carrillo said. This should have been started four years ago. Under the last administration. We were constantly being told no, we were constantly seeing barriers put up. Complete resistance to any input. Now we absolutely see the wheels of government moving.

The plan took its first steps toward concrete action in November when Johnsons 2024 budget included $15.9 million to double non-police emergency response and another $5.2 million to reopen two of the 14 city-run mental health centers closed by past mayors. Nearly six months later, the clinics have yet to reopen.

Johnsons policy chief Umi Grigsby and Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood defended the slow progress as proof the city is carefully gathering input across the city and going at the pace of community. So far, the city has hosted 15 public feedbacks centered on the plan, which remains on track to follow the timeline set by the City Council.

This process has been very intentional, Gatewood said. We are trying to do things that folks have never done before. Instead of coming in and prescribing to folks, This is what you need, we are building together in real time.

Grigsby and Gatewood declined to share specifics about the citys Treatment Not Trauma plan in an interview last week, citing the need to wait for the working group to first share its report with the City Council. But the two administration leaders helping to steer the fledgling policy hinted at its scope.

Our goal is to expand mental health services. And so that means that we have to look at staffing, we have to look at career pipelines, we have to look at budgeting in the long term, Grigsby said.

Johnsons administration plans to add the first two clinics by the end of the year and expects more clinics after this year, Grigsby said.

The clinic reopenings are also a goal of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a strong Johnson labor ally whose members lost jobs when Mayor Rahm Emanuel shuttered six city-run clinics in 2011.

The AFSCME International Union PAC contributed $100,000 to Johnsons mayoral campaign last year, according to state campaign finance records. And AFSCME Illinois Council 31s PAC contributed $56,750 to Johnson in 2018 during his successful run for Cook County commissioner.

Many activists claim city-run centers are a better option than the private, nonprofit clinics that serve many Chicagoans because the city clinics have more oversight, focus on outcomes over cost and have a more substantial community connection.

It is so far unclear where the clinics will reopen, though Johnson promised they will come in neighborhoods with the highest unmet needs. City leaders have also recently said they may expand mental health care by layering services into existing Chicago Department of Public Health clinics.

Johnson also intends to continue building out the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement, or CARE, program piloted by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Gatewood said.

The program sends non-police first responders to 911 calls regarding mental health crises, substance use and homelessness issues, currently using a handful of teams operating in selected neighborhoods. Gatewood declined to say how common CARE responses could become across the city, but described expansion as a way to relieve pressure on overworked police.

There are areas and spaces that police shouldnt be responding to, right? We know that, they know that, and a lot of community members know that too, he said.

The two leaders had little to say about a proposed third pillar of the Treatment Not Trauma plan: a new, expansive network of nonprofessional community care workers employed by the city to work in neighborhood-based teams.

The so-called care corps would mark a dramatic shift away from clinic-based mental health services. Its workers would be tasked with finding ways to meet smaller needs through daily outreach in a bid to prevent mental health crises before they occur.

The positions were not specifically discussed as a series of city leaders spoke at the Prieto Academy gathering, though speakers did reference a need for extensive community outreach.

And Gatewood and Grigsby shared few thoughts when asked about the role care workers would play in the policys implementation, but flagged the need to build mental health outreach worker training pipelines alongside city colleges and schools.

Its about growing and expanding not only the services, but the people who are able to provide those services, Grigsby said.

If the city does not implement a large-scale care corps as a part of Treatment Not Trauma, it will fall short of the standards set forth by activists who started to push for the policy after Emanuel closed the clinics, Reinhart said.

The policys original vision was not just creating a bunch of city-run mental health centers where people can see psychiatrists and therapists, Reinhart said. Instead, it was to have a whole new model  one that uses traditional clinic-based care and the alternative emergency response aspect, but also relies heavily on care workers.

Simply expanding the existing model, thats not TNT. Thats something else, and its already failed, he said. My biggest concern is that pieces of the vision will be closed off and touted as TNT without the whole vision. But you need the whole thing for it to work.

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, 33rd, the policys chief City Council proponent, tried unsuccessfully for years to move it forward under Lightfoots administration. The gradual process to make it a reality now allows for it to be rooted in community, she said.

There is a lot of work to do, Rodriguez Sanchez said. What we are trying to do does not exist anywhere in the country.

____
Peter Magyar, a rising challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, addresses people at a campaign rally in the rural city of Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Magyar, whose TISZA party is running in European Union elections, has managed to mobilize large crowds of supporters on a campaign tour of Hungary's heartland, a rarity for an Orban opponent. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP)  A rising challenger to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held what he called the largest countryside political demonstration in the countrys recent history on Sunday, the latest stop on his campaign tour that has mobilized thousands across Hungarys rural heartland.

Some 10,000 people gathered in Debrecen, Hungarys second-largest city, in support of Peter Magyar, a political newcomer who in less than three months has shot to prominence on pledges to bring an end to problems like official corruption and a declining quality of life in the Central European country.

Supporters endured a brief but unexpected rain shower ahead of the afternoon demonstration, turning the city's central square into a sea of umbrellas. They waved Hungarian flags bearing the names of towns and villages across the country from which they had come.

Today, the vast majority of the Hungarian people are tired of the ruling elite, of the hatred, apathy, propaganda and artificial divides, Magyar told the crowd. Hungarians today want cooperation, love, unity and peace.

Magyar, a former insider within Hungarys ruling Fidesz party, has since February denounced the nationalist Orban as running an entrenched mafia state, and declared war on what he calls a propaganda machine run by the government.

His party, TISZA (Respect and Freedom), has announced it will run 12 candidates in June 9 European Union elections, with Magyar appearing first on the party list. TISZA has also announced it will run four candidates in local council elections in the capital Budapest.

His appearance on Sunday in Debrecen, a stronghold of Orbans ruling Fidesz party, reflected the focus his fledgling campaign has placed on the Hungarian countryside, where Orban is popular.

The Mothers Day event was the latest stop on a tour of the country where Magyar has appeared in dozens of cities, towns and villages, often drawing thousands of supporters  numbers that few Orban opponents have ever been able to mobilize in rural areas.

Addressing the crowd, he said that government propaganda had tried to discredit his movement as "just a downtown Budapest media hack, and criticized Hungary's traditional opposition parties as having abandoned rural Hungarians.

Weve heard for 14 years from the opposition that its impossible in these circumstances to defeat Orban, that its not worth traveling to the countryside, that young people arent interested in politics, that you cant break down the walls of propaganda, he said. But look around! Whats the truth?

Katalin Nagy, who traveled several hours to the rally, said she finds Magyar credible because he comes from the inside.

Hes aware of the things that are really causing problems in this country, and I think he can provide solutions to problems so that we can come out of the hole that this country is currently in, she said.

Recent polls show that Magyars party may have become the largest opposition force little more than a month before the election. Pollster Median this week measured TISZA at 25% among certain voters, with Orbans Fidesz well ahead at 45%.

Governing party politicians have dismissed Magyar, who describes himself as a moderate conservative, as a leftist in disguise, and suggested that foreign interests lie behind his rise.

Orban and has party have ruled Hungary with a constitutional majority since 2010.
Priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) are continuing to lead clandestine services in the Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts.

Source: Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in an interview with Radio Liberty

Quote from Epiphanius: "We are still operating in the temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts, but clandestinely [...]

There are priests on the territory of these oblasts leading clandestine services. They gather their communities where no one would look for them, otherwise they will get arrested."

Details: Epiphanius said that this is dangerous, because Russian occupation authorities are persecuting OCU priests.

"Recently we found out that our priest, Father Stepan, was tortured and killed in Kherson Oblast, in the village of Kalanchak, if Im not mistaken. This priest who led services there was interrogated and, effectively, executed," Epiphanius said.

He also said that local bishops are calling for priests to leave the occupied territories because they "dont want to put their clergy in danger".

The OCU keeps track of underground activities in the occupied Ukrainian territories, but does not disclose them, "in order not to give the occupiers a reason to completely eradicate the Orthodox Church of Ukraine there".

Epiphanius also said that the OCU has virtually ceased its activities in Russian-occupied Crimea.

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By Pavel Polityuk and Lidia Kelly

KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on his fellow Ukrainians on Orthodox Easter on Sunday to unite in prayer for each other and the soldiers on the frontline, saying God -- who has a "Ukrainian flag on his shoulder" -- will lead to life defeating death.

"Let's pray for each other. When we all came closer to each other, we were no longer strangers to each other," Zelenskiy, dressed in a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt -- vyshyvanka -- and his typical khaki pants, said in a lyrical video posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Standing in front of the 1,000-year-old Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a spiritual and architectural monument of the country's faith, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine has now been fighting for 802 days against Russia for a victory.

"And we believe: God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. So with such an ally, life will definitely win over death."

Orthodox Christians, including the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and Russia, celebrate Easter this weekend, while most Western churches observed the major holiday on March 31.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter service led by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, a staunch supporter of the Russian leader and his war in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions driven from their homes since Putin ordered the invasion of Russia's smaller neighbour in February 2022. The war, now in its third year has no end in sight.

Zelenskiy, who is Jewish, called for prayers first for all the soldiers who will be celebrating Easter in the trenches, so they will return home alive, and for the land and people, whose spirit "cannot be broken" and who will, he added, see Ukraine free one day.

"Ukrainians kneel only in prayer," Zelenskiy said. "And never before invaders and occupiers."

(Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

MOSCOW (AP)  Worshippers including President Vladimir Putin packed Moscows landmark Christ the Savior Cathedral for a nighttime Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin.

The traditional sung service begun late Saturday, with Kirill delivering well-wishes to Orthodox believers which were broadcast on Russian TV. A procession of white-robed clergy then circled the vast cathedral, rebuilt in post-Soviet times and widely seen as symbolic of Russias rejection of its atheist past, as they swung smoking incense censers and chanted the liturgy.

Most Western churches observed Easter on March 31, but the Russian Orthodox Church follows a different calendar.

In his Easter address, Kirill wished for Gods blessing over Russia, its people and all countries where the church has a presence.

In a written message published earlier on Saturday on the church's website, Kirill noted that awareness of Gods love  gives us strength to overcome the most difficult mental states and difficult circumstances, elevates us above the bustle of everyday life, helps correct previous mistakes and destroys despondency.

The patriarch this year appeared to steer clear from political pronouncements, unlike last April when he lamented grave events taking place on our Russian historical land, referencing Moscows military actions in Ukraine and reinforcing the Kremlins narrative that Ukrainian statehood is essentially a fiction.

The service, featuring a mixed-voice choir and standing worshippers holding thin red candles, was set to extend well into Sunday.

Putin was shown among the worshippers, standing next to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as the two joined in the traditional Easter greetings. The Russian leader was later seen exchanging festive gifts with Kirill.

Earlier on Saturday, Orthodox Russians headed to churches to have baskets of festive foods, including hand-painted eggs and traditional Easter cakes, blessed by a priest.

Putin has been eager to portray himself as defending traditional values espoused by the Russian Orthodox Church in the face of what he repeatedly casts as the Wests degrading influence. The country has increasingly taken a conservative turn, with attempts to restrict abortion and broad bans against LGBTQ+ activism and gender transitioning that have met with the church's support.
Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Intrepid Potash, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.0092 = US$6.6m  (US$768m - US$46m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

Thus, Intrepid Potash has an ROCE of 0.9%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Chemicals industry average of 9.8%.

View our latest analysis for Intrepid Potash

roce

In the above chart we have measured Intrepid Potash's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Intrepid Potash .

What Can We Tell From Intrepid Potash's ROCE Trend?

In terms of Intrepid Potash's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 0.9% from 3.5% five years ago. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.

What We Can Learn From Intrepid Potash's ROCE

We're a bit apprehensive about Intrepid Potash because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Long term shareholders who've owned the stock over the last five years have experienced a 41% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. Unless there is a shift to a more positive trajectory in these metrics, we would look elsewhere.

Story continues

If you're still interested in Intrepid Potash it's worth checking out our FREE intrinsic value approximation for IPI to see if it's trading at an attractive price in other respects.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Universities are often where dark cultural movements draw their first breaths. In Germany, Nazism was embraced by students and given intellectual ballast by lecturers. As early as 1920, two German academics published a book entitled Allowing the Destruction of Life Unworthy of Living. Six years later  with Hitlers election still seven years in the future  the National Socialist German Students Union was formed.

In the 1960s, the engine of Chairman Maos cultural revolution was Chinas youth. The Red Guards paramilitary movement was led by a vanguard of students. In 1979, when American diplomats were taken hostage in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution, it was once again students to blame. We live today with the menace of the theocratic regime they midwifed.

With the first quarter of the current century almost behind us, it is the turn of our universities. After decades of saturation with toxic and abstruse ideologies, they are revealing just how far they have travelled along the path of anti-democratic fundamentalism. The phenomenon that I have come to call the new radicalism  woke plus Islamism has long been brewing in those ivory towers. For years, people laughed it off. Then came October 7.

We know that the brains of these children have been addled by social media. According to Scott Galloway, a professor at New York University, TikTok offers 52 videos that are pro-Hamas or pro-Palestine for every one served on Israel. But where does credulity end and repulsiveness begin? When does naivete cease to be an excuse? Is it too much to expect the hard-Left Jews in these encampments, who provide an alibi to racist demagogues, to visualise the hand-rubbing in the shadows beneath Rafah?

By comparison with their malevolent 20th-century forebears, todays youngsters are practically illiterate. But one could place side by side a photograph of Nazis linking hands to keep Jews out of Vienna university  where 2,700 Jewish students and academics were expelled in 1938  and a video of masked Columbia students blocking entry to Zionists. One could ask if the fanaticism was not of a piece.

We have arrived at the culmination of decades of Critical Race Theory being pumped into our young peoples brains by academics who inherited their radicalism from the Cold War. Central to the dogma is the notion that equality is a cover for white supremacy, so society must instead be structured advantageously to non-whites. That this will lead us into a perpetual state of identity warfare  a future fast becoming reality  is of no concern to these shrieking revolutionaries.

That the anti-racist movement is a Trojan horse for the oldest hatred, revamped as Israelophobia, is now blindingly obvious. Starting on campus, our culture is eating itself. The Jews are just the first course. Or rather, the Jews plus the silent majority of decent Britons. When does modesty become cowardice?

Overseas, we face an axis of resistance as Russia, China, Iran and authoritarian states form up together. At home, we face an axis of radicalism, with different factions devoted to race, climate change, transgenderism and Islamism rallying to the Palestinian flag. The queers for Palestine movement speaks volumes; this was never about real-life Palestine. Its counter-cultural rebellion at home.

But the idiocy of these people doesnt make them less useful. Which brings me back to Gaza. Meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last month, Irans supreme leader said: We have, so far, successfully won the media and PR wars, and have managed to change public opinion across the globe. We must continue with this. In November, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said: We must salute all those who took to the street in support and solidarity with the Palestinians, from all over the world. In Gaza, signs were held up paying tribute to campus protests.

Its myopia thats the problem, isnt it? That and the narcissism. But the danger is real.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/ KUSI)  A pedestrian was injured Saturday night after being hit by a vehicle in North Park, authorities said.

According to the San Diego Police Department, a 32-year-old man was crossing 30th Street in the south crosswalk of University Avenue from the west to the east against the red light around 10 p.m.

Armed man shot by deputies on SR-76, prompting full closure

At that same time, police said a 32-year-old man driving a 2018 Toyota Camry northbound on 30th Street was approaching University Avenue facing a green light.

The pedestrian reportedly walked into the path of the vehicle and was struck. The department said that the collision caused the pedestrian to fall to the ground. The man was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Traffic Division responded and will be handling the investigation. DUI was not a factor, police said. Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Pendleton Proud Boy and his brother ready to take plea deal for Jan. 6 riot charges

A Pendleton, Ore., Proud Boy and his brother have agreed to take a plea deal for federal charges related to their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

Jonathanpeter Klein is still facing a separate civil lawsuit stemming from allegedly helping his fellow Proud Boys break into the U.S. Capitol building during the riots, as part of what prosecutors have called an organized attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Jonathanpeter Klein

Key leaders of both the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers have already been sentenced for their roles, including some on seditious conspiracy charges.

Jonathanpeter Klein, 24, is accused of using a crowd barricade to help rioters scale the walls of the capitol as they were breaking in.

His brother, Matthew Klein, 27, was not named in the civil case against the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers, but faces the same individual federal charges after the brothers were arrested in March 2021.

They have been awaiting trial in the custody of third-party guardians since May of that year.

Matthew Klein

They are both facing six federal charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, including: conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, destruction of government property, entering a restricted building, and disorderly conduct.

The conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder charges are felonies, according to Justice Department news releases.

They are expected to enter a change of plea in July, according to court filings. Its unclear what the terms of the agreement will be, but attorneys say both brothers have agreed to a deal with prosecutors.

The brothers are among a number of insurrection cases that have been repeatedly delayed for more than three years as federal prosecutors work through the larger organizational charges.

Many of those sentenced already have received prison terms of two to three years with an average sentence of 2 years 5 months, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Of the 1,265 charged so far in the riot, about 750 have gone to court. Of those 750, more than 600 have been sentenced to prison time, home confinement or a mix of both.

Jonathanpeter Klein, wearing goggles and flag neck gaiter, had made his way from the Senate side of the Capitol, through a line of law enforcement officers to the House of Representatives side by 2:29 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021, according to the FBI. He then proceeded up a flight of stairs to the Capitols Rotunda.

Jan. 6 involvement

Earlier filings described Jonathanpeter Klein as an active participant, who helped Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and other rioters breach the Capitol building.

He is a self-admitted member of the Proud Boys, a far-right organization that has gained notoriety for violence at protests.

Court documents say Jonathanpeter Klein was using a police barrier as a makeshift ladder to help others scale the wall of the building away from the main staircase.

After pushing their way past another barricade, Proud Boys member Defendant Klein obtained and used the police barricade to help others climb the Capitol walls and gain access to an external stairwell, said the initial complaint documents.

His brother is also accused of breaching the Capitol and attempting to use a Gadsen Flag as a weapon. The Proud Boys and other related organizations allegedly used flag poles as weapons.

This series of images shows Matthew Klein as he enters the U.S. Capitol Building at approximately 2:18 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021 and waited in the lobby area, presumably for brother Jonathanpeter Klein, before heading further into the building, according to the FBI.

When they were arrested in March 2021, the men spent about two months in jail, because a judge found their parents in the Pendleton area were unfit to serve as guardians after encouraging them to destroy cellphone data and keep quiet, allegedly telling the men braggers get caught. Pendleton is about an hour south of the Tri-Cities.

Jonathanpeter Klein was later named in a civil lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia, along with more than 100 members of the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers accused of substantial acts during the riots.

Portions of that lawsuit have been resolved for those in positions of leadership, and the remaining defendants are being encouraged to participate in mediation, according to court documents. It is unclear whether Klein is participating in that process.

According to court documents, Taylor Taranto identified himself in this photo during a livestream. Taranto is speaking in the bottom left.

Taylor Taranto

The Klein brothers were not the only Tri-Cities-area men charged with involvement in the Jan. 6 riots.

A former Franklin County Republican Party webmaster is facing federal charges for both his role in the riots and for threatening lawmakers last summer.

Taylor Taranto, 38, of Pasco, is currently in the D.C. Metropolitan Jail facing a litany of felony and misdemeanor charges after his July 2023 arrest outside former president Barack Obamas home.

Taranto allegedly believed he was on a one way mission to hell, and had a contract to kill Vice President Kamala Harris, according to court documents. The documents detailed the extent of Tarantos beliefs that he was waging war against the government.

During a June 2023 livestream, Taylor Taranto identified himself in footage of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents.

He was also accused of threatening to use his van as a bomb to blow up a federal building and threatening several other lawmakers for their handling of the Jan. 6 House Select Committee.

Federal investigators found multiple weapons in Tarantos van. Hes facing charges in connection with those weapons, the threats to use his van as a bomb and his role in the Jan. 6 riots.

Taranto has been indicted on a total of 16 charges. Some of those charges are aggravators or enhancements to an existing charge because Vice President Mike Pence was present.

The newest charges were filed in Feb. 2024 as part of a superseding indictment, which means they were added as new information came to light. In all there were five new charges. Three for weapons, one for bomb threats and the last is a felony charge added to his list of Jan. 6 charges.

Federal prosecutors say that Taranto was not the legal registered owner of a semi-automatic 9 mm Scorpion CZ short barrel rifle and was also in possession of an illegal high-capacity magazine.

He also was charged with illegally carrying the weapon and a pistol without a license. High-capacity magazines were banned in March 2022 in Washington state, and the ban was upheld by a federal appeals court last year. They have been banned in D.C. since 2008.

Taranto was documented traveling between D.C. and the Tri-Cities for various protests for much of the 2 1/2 years following the Jan. 6 riots.

He also has been charged with false information and hoaxes for threatening to use his van to blow up a federal building on a livestream in the days before his arrest.

The threats, along with entering elementary school grounds in an alleged attempt to intimidate a member of Congress who lived nearby, and threatening to blow up former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, led investigators to ask for a warrant and begin searching for Taranto.

The last new charge is for felony obstruction of an official proceeding.

He faces several other federal charges related to the riot including: disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building; disruptive conduct related to attempting to stop the certification of electorate votes; and entering and remaining in restricted areas of a Capitol building.

Taranto was denied bail to return to Washington state, after being deemed a risk to the public.

He was also named in a separate $7 million wrongful death lawsuit for his alleged role in attacking a D.C. police officer who later died by suicide. His death was deemed related to injuries suffered during the riot.

Taranto and David Walls-Kaufman were seen grappling with Officer Jeffrey Smith, with Taranto accused of handing Walls-Kaufman a weighted defense cane. The officer suffered a concussion and other injuries from the attack.

Taylor Taranto is seen clashing with Capitol police during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in this image included in court documents. Taranto is circled in yellow. David Walls-Kaufman, his codefendant in a lawsuit for wrongful death of MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith is circled in red.

His widow, Erin Smith, fought for his death to be recognized as in the line of duty and was awarded death benefits last year.

Recently, the federal judge assigned to that case ordered it to proceed to trial for Walls-Kaufman, but ordered a stay for Taranto.

Just days before Taranto was arrested last summer, he was spotted by a reporter as he was being asked to leave the courtroom during Walls-Kaufmans sentencing. Walls-Kaufman was sentenced to two months in prison.
Pentagon races to prop up Ukraine's hard-fighting 47th Mechanized Brigade that's exhausted, report says

Ukraine's 47th Mechanized is equipped with top US military hardware.

It has been in continuous cobat for many months.

The Pentagon plans to replenish the powerhouse brigade with Bradley fighting vehicles, Forbes said.

Ukraine's hard-fighting 47th Mechanized Brigade is battle-weary and urgently needs US support, Forbes reported.

Trained by NATO instructors, the 47th Brigade all-volunteer unit is one of Ukraine's powerhouse brigades. It is equipped with US-made military hardware, including M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley fighting vehicles, and M-109 howitzers.

In January, the 47th battling reputation was burnished when an attack using Bradley fighting vehicles became an international news story. A video of one of the US-built combat vehicles hammering a T-90M, which Putin has called "the world's best tank," with chain gun fire from its 25 mm cannon, was widely reported.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine posted the video online, attributing it to the 47th Brigade fighting in Stepove, a village outside Avdiivka in northeastern Ukraine.

This week, the ministry released new footage showing the destruction of Russian tanks and combat vehicles that it said had been eliminated by Bradley IFVs and FPV drones of the 47th Brigade.

That's how russian combat vehicles look like after the meeting with Bradley IFV and FPV drones.



: 47th Mechanized Brigade pic.twitter.com/2mwtCVCWhN  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 4, 2024

But with nearly continuous combat since Ukraine's unsuccessful counteroffensive last summer, the Brigade's 2,000 troops need respite, resupply, and reinforcement, Forbes said.

The Pentagon is set to help replenish depleted resources and bolster combat effectiveness quickly, Forbes said.

Recently, despite initial plans for withdrawal, the 47th Brigade was rushed into action when the Russian 30th Motor Rifle Brigade launched an assault near Ocheretyne, northwest of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine . The rapid redeployment highlights the unit's fighting reputation as an "emergency brigade,' Forbes said.

However, it now appears the 47th Brigade fought for nothing. Russian troops took most of Ocheretyne following a rotational blunder involving the 47th and 115th Mechanized Brigades in April.

Russia's 30th Motor Rifle Brigade took advantage of the rotational lapse as the 47th Brigade withdrew and attacked, capturing a large swathe of territory.

The former company commander of the 47th Brigade, Mykola Melnyk, who lost a leg during the summer offensive, wrote on Facebook : "The drastic advancement of the Russians became possible because certain units just fucked off."

Months of fighting have taken a toll on the 47th Brigade, with casualties and equipment losses escalating, said Forbes. Repeated changes in leadership have further exacerbated challenges.

A US Abrams tank was put on display for Moscow residents to see in an open-air exhibition featuring equipment from nearly a dozen NATO countries. Russian Ministry of Defense

Indeed, the 47th Brigade recently lost its Abrams tanks. They were pulled from the front due to Russian drone tactics, two US defense officials told the Associated Press last month.

The New York Times reported that Ukraine has lost five out of its 31 Abrams tanks in recent months, citing an unnamed senior US official.

The recent approval of fresh US military aid to Ukraine signals a crucial lifeline, with replacement Bradleys poised to bolster the 47th Brigade's capabilities on the battlefield.

Following Congress's approval, The first US arms shipment to Ukraine included an unspecified number of Bradleys. The 47th Brigade is the only Ukrainian unit that uses the vehicle, said Forbes.

Beyond material support and tactical adjustments, the 47th Brigade needs a reprieve from the relentless cycle of conflict.

"Another month, and there will be a year without rotation," said Melnyk.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Planes that have left their mark on history were the highlight of this years Big Country Air Fest, making waves at the airport, while modern military aircraft such as the B-1B and B-52 bombers that fly over our skies made their loud presence. This years theme was women in aviation, reflecting on the impact women have played in military history and looking to inspire the next generation.

Mikayla Spivey from the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum stated that this event demonstrates flying precision and highlights the advancements women have made in the industry.

It just shows how far weve come and the place women have in our military history. And now, with being a military museum, were kind of in a full circle, being able to progress and show that and then connect with future generations. We had so many kids come up and look at the half-track, climb in, ask questions, and try to get engaged with the history and what they can learn and what they can do in the future, Spivey shared.

Women in Aviation the theme for The 2024 Big Country AirFest

Spivey expressed her hope that the event would inspire people to pursue their dreams.

You can do anything you set your mind to, whether flying an 80-year-old airplane, twisting loops, driving a military vehicle, or teaching people about world history. Just anything you decide to do; you can do it, Spivey said.

The event showcased a variety of aircraft, such as the B-25, famous for the Doolittle Raid, to the C-47, which played a role in defeating Imperial Japan during World War II. It also included impressive stunts by skilled pilots such as Mike Spanky Gallaway in his Extra 300 and Mark Mastren in his Super Stearman.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
An attendee looks at a series of banners for National Crime Victims Rights Week Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall on April 24, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The Justice Departments Office for Victims of Crime held the event to pay tribute to victims and survivors of crime and individuals who provide service and support. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

WASHINGTON  States and local organizations that aid victims of sexual assault and other crimes are raising the alarm about a multi-year plunge in funds, a major problem they say Congress must fix soon or programs will be forced to set up wait lists or turn victims away altogether.

Affected are rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers and more that serve millions of Americans and cant necessarily rely on scarce state or local dollars to keep the doors open if federal money runs short.

The problem has to do with a cap on withdrawals from the federal crime victims fund, put in place by Congress years ago in an earlier attempt at a solution.

Under the cap, how much money is available every year is determined by a complex three-year average of court fees, fines and penalties that have accumulated  a number that has plummeted by billions during the past six years. The fund does not receive any taxpayer dollars.

National Childrens Alliance CEO Teresa Huizar said in an interview with States Newsroom that child advocacy centers, which help connect children who have survived sexual or domestic abuse to essential services, have no fat left to trim in their budgets.

What childrens advocacy centers are really looking at now are a set of extremely hard choices, Huizar said. Which kids to serve, which kids to turn away? CACs that have never had to triage cases previously, now will have to. CACs that have never had a waitlist for mental health services will now have long, lengthy waitlists to get kids in for therapy.

I mean, imagine being a kid whos been sexually abused and being told youre going to have to wait six months to see a counselor, Huizar added. Its terrible.

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, chairwoman of the spending panel that sets the cap every year based on the dwindling revenue, and Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran, the subcommittees ranking member, both indicated during brief interviews with States Newsroom that a fix is in the works, but declined to provide details.

There is an effort to address that and were in the process of doing that, but in the meantime theres not as much money there, Shaheen said.

Fund goes up and down by billions every year

Congress established the crime victims fund in 1984 when it approved the Victims of Crime Act. Its funding comes from fines, forfeited bonds and other financial penalties in certain federal cases.

The money flowing into the fund fluctuates each year, making it difficult for the organizations that apply for and receive grant funding to plan their budgets. Congress hoped to alleviate those boom-and-bust cycles by placing the annual cap on how much money can be drawn from the crime victims fund.

But that cap has sharply decreased recently, causing frustration for organizations that rely on it and leading to repeated calls for Congress to find a long-term solution.

The cap stayed below $1 billion annually until fiscal year 2015 when it spiked to $2.3 billion before reaching a high of $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2018.

The annual ceiling then dropped by more than $1 billion, starting the downward trend, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service and data from the Department of Justice.

The cap was set at $2 billion in fiscal year 2021 before rising to $2.6 billion in fiscal 2022 and then dropping to $1.9 billion in fiscal 2023.

Congress set the cap on withdrawals at $1.2 billion for fiscal 2024 when it approved the latest round of appropriations in March, and states and localities have reacted with concern at the prospect of such a dramatic cut. In Iowa, for example, where the state receives $5 million a year, the potential loss of funding posed a major question as legislators wrote their budget for judicial services.

A better fix sought

Congress approved legislation in 2021 to increase the types of revenue from federal court cases moving into the crime victims fund, but advocates say a longer-term answer is needed.

Huizar said the National Childrens Alliance and prosecutors as well as organizations that combat domestic and sexual violence have been urging Congress to fix the funding stream or supplement it to provide stability and consistency.

Now is the time for Congress to turn urgent attention to this issue if they do not want the safety net for kids and families and serious crime victims to just fall apart, Huizar said.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers  Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., Jim Costa, D-Calif., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas and Ann Wagner, R-Mo.  have introduced legislation that would move unobligated funds collected from entities that defraud the federal government under the False Claims Act to the crime victims fund. The act is a main tool the federal government uses to fight fraud.

That bill is not a long-term solution, but a temporary infusion of resources, according to a summary released by lawmakers.

As for the Senate appropriators, Moran said he and others on the spending subcommittee are waiting for the Judiciary Committees examination of the issue, so that we can take the authorizers suggestions and take them into account when we appropriate.

Josh Sorbe, a spokesperson for the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, wrote in a statement the sustainability of the CVF is extremely important, as evidenced by Senator Durbins work on the VOCA Fix that passed in 2021, and we continue to work with our colleagues and survivor advocates and service providers to examine further ways to strengthen the CVF.

Shaheens office did not provide details about what changes may be in the works, following multiple requests from States Newsroom.

Should taxpayer dollars be tapped?

National District Attorneys Association President Charles Smith said his organization supports the House bill, but noted one problem with the short-term fix is that the crime victims fund would be last in line to get the additional revenue.

I believe that the government gets their money first, the whistleblower second and then were in kind of third place there, Smith said.

One struggle over the fluctuating revenue and available funding, Smith said, is debate about whether taxpayer dollars should be used to offset low balances.

We need to set a number that everybodys happy with, so to speak, and fund it through these available sources, Smith said. But if theres a deficit, there needs to be some mechanism in place for it to come out of the general fund.

The crime victims fund is essential for witness coordinators and victims assistance coordinators in prosecutors offices as well as other services for people who survive crimes.

Theyre critical for the well-being of the victim and a lot of times they are critical for the witness even showing up and testifying, said Smith, who also is the states attorney for Frederick County, Maryland.

The organizations that support crime victims, like child advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers, are crucial to prosecutors, Smith said.

Not only are we directly impacted by a loss of staffing and loss of resources, but a lot of the partner agencies that we rely on collaborating with are going to be hurt as well, Smith said of the reduction to the funding cap.

Real alarm in states

Karrie Delaney, director of federal affairs for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, said the slowdown of court cases during the COVID-19 pandemic and the last administration not prosecuting as many corporate cases has impacted the fund more than usual.

RAINN is the countrys largest anti-sexual-violence organization. It operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) alongside local organizations and runs the Defense Departments Safe Helpline. It also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, according to its website.

I think whats important from RAINNs perspective is the actual impact that those fluctuations have on the survivors that we support and organizations and service providers across the country, Delaney said.

When the federal cap decreases, she said, organizations that support crime victims often turn to state and local governments to make up the gap. And a lot of the times there arent enough funds to do that.

What weve seen across the states is real alarm that the cuts coming down are not just impacting the ability of these organizations to offer certain services, but to really keep their doors open, Delaney said.

Child advocacy centers, domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers, Delaney added, are the real boots on the ground organizations that are helping people in times of very active crisis that are at risk of seeing their programs drastically cut to the point where service is placed in jeopardy.

If you are a victim of crime, there are toll free, text and online hotlines available. A list from the Office for Victims of Crime is here. You can also find help in your state here.

The post Plummeting balance in federal crime victims fund sparks alarm among states, advocates appeared first on Nevada Current.
Pocasset Park residents are challenging a ruling by the Barnstable Superior Court designating Crown, a Wyoming investment firm, as the rightful buyer of the Bourne mobile home park in the latest chapter of the four-year-long legal battle.

The Pocasset Park Association claimed the trial court imposed a heightened burden of proof during April 17 oral arguments in the Massachusetts Appeals Court. The association also claimed in its appeal brief that a mathematical error occurred in the trial court.

The right of first refusal requires residents to provide reasonable evidence that at least 51% of homes in the community approve the sale, according to the Manufactured Housing Act.

According to the Attorney General's Guide to the Manufactured Housing Community Law, this is without limitation, a document signed by such persons  typically a resident-signed petition.

The trial court ruled the association failed to provide verified signatures.

The pages of the signed petition were not submitted with any verification, even so much as a brief sworn statement by its attorney, to support the bare assertion that at least 51% of the residents supported the Associations purchase of the park, Judge Michael Callan wrote in a decision and order on March 10, 2023.

Thomas Aylesworth, the attorney representing the Pocasset Park Association, said the verification of signatures has never been challenged in court before and argued it is a misinterpretation of reasonable evidence.

The Pocasset Mobile Home Park is off Barlows Landing Road in Pocasset.

'Underserved by our society'

All were really talking about is a group of residents who are underserved in our society, Aylesworth said, drawing from Supreme Judicial Court writings.

The Attorney Generals Office, in an amicus brief submitted March 27, wrote the trial court committed an error of law by requiring further verification of signatures.

The trial court's heightened burden further contradicts the Act's purpose of preserving manufactured housing, according to the amicus brief.

What is the background of this case?

The right of first refusal grants mobile home park residents the right to purchase their community if it goes for sale.

When park manager Philip Austin, trustee of the Charles W. Austin Trust, entered a purchase-and-sale agreement with Crown on Nov. 15, 2019, notice was sent to residents of the park as required by the Manufactured Housing Act, allowing the residents to submit a matching bid.

In order to trigger the right of first refusal, residents need to form a group representing over 51% of homeowner-residents and submit reasonable evidence that over 51% of residents approve the purchase.

The residents reached out to New England Resident Owned Communities in partnership with Cooperative Development Institute  organizations that assist residents in purchasing their communities.

Nora Gosselin, a market development and acquisitions specialist for the institute, has worked closely with Pocasset Park residents since December 2019. Gosselin and her colleagues helped organize the residents and collect signatures for the petition.

Was the mobile home park petition verified?

It can sometimes be difficult to determine who is a homeowner since mobile homes do not have a deed, Aylesworth said.

To ease the difficulty, Gosselin said the process is to ask residents to report if they are homeowners before signing the petition. The signatures are then matched up to names on the parks rent roll provided by Austin.

The law is a little bit opaque, Gosselin said. The intention is really clear that it's a process that's supposed to really prioritize residents as a purchaser.

The petition was then submitted, and Austin executed the purchase-and-sale agreement with the association in January 2020.

The Pocasset Park Association claims that since Austin has knowledge of who lives in the park and did not challenge any signatures, the execution of the purchase-and-sale agreement under legal counsel satisfied the reasonable evidence requirement.

Crown then filed the lawsuit on Feb. 14, 2020.

That is our standard process, we've done it many, many times, Gosselin said. Then, the lawsuit was filed, and that sent everything sideways.

A claim of a mathematical error

The Pocasset Park Association also claimed the trial court made a mathematical error in ruling the association did not reach the required 51% of signatures.

There were 81 units occupied in the park at the time, so at least 41 resident signatures were needed to reach the threshold.

The trial court claimed there were 49 signatures on the petition. Out of those counted, the court invalidated 13 signatures due to duplicates, withdrawal forms and lack of eligibility.

However, there were 12 uncounted signatures, which were the difference between meeting or falling short of the requirement.

Were some signatures missed on the petition?

Aylesworth said it is possible the court missed the final two pages of the petition, which included exactly 12 signatures.

The associations appeal brief states the homeowner-resident requirement was also reached.

For all these people's housing to be so screwed with over a math problem for years is just unbelievable, Gosselin said.

A possible precedent set

If the appeal does not go in favor of the Pocasset Park Association, New England ROC Association Director Deborah Winiewicz is concerned it could be used as precedent in future court cases.

Gosselin said it would constantly raise the bar residents have to jump over and make expectations arbitrary.

Any precedent that is based on those guys winning I think is a really negative one, she said.

Crown's previous response

Walter B. Sullivan, an attorney representing Crown, declined to comment directly on pending litigation. He wrote that Crown is grateful for the trial courts ruling, as indicated in the past.

Crown Communities prides itself in owning and operating first class manufactured housing communities and it is hopeful that it can now move forward, Sullivan wrote in a past statement.

The appeals court will now either affirm Crown as the rightful buyer, reverse the judgment in the associations favor or send the case back to the trial court.

Appeals court decisions are typically issued within the 130 days following oral arguments, according to Mass.gov.

The losing side can then elect to petition the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. However, the SJC only accepted 12 of the 393 further appellate review applications considered in 2023.

Winiewicz said it is a shame the residents have wanted to be owners for years and instead have had their lives in an upheaval.

To me, every time these corporate owners do this, its a social injustice, Winiewicz said. These are peoples homes, their lives and they dont know whats coming next.

The Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Crown company says Barnstable court ruling valid for mobile home park
Poland wants best ties with US no matter who's in power, minister says

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland wants "the best possible relations with America, regardless of who is in power," Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said during a visit to Washington, according to a report by Poland's PAP newswire on Sunday."We will not make the mistakes of our predecessors by putting all our chips on one color," state-run PAP cited Sikorski as saying, in an apparent betting reference.

Poland's former nationalist government had enjoyed a good relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump, even as Warsaw's handling of policies raised concerns over its faithfulness to democratic values and strained the tolerance of EU allies.

After Joe Biden's 2020 election win, Warsaw did not officially recognise him as U.S. president for several weeks.

Sikorski was in Washington to discuss bilateral ties, security issues and the war in Ukraine with U.S. officials.

(Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
It hasn't been the best quarter for Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 11% in that time. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been pleasing. It has returned a market beating 30% in that time.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During five years of share price growth, Spark New Zealand achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 3.9% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 5% per year, over the same period. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Spark New Zealand, it has a TSR of 78% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 0.04% in the twelve months, Spark New Zealand shareholders did even worse, losing 2.6% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 12%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Spark New Zealand (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

Story continues

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The owner of a metro-east strip club was shot to death Thursday morning, police have confirmed.

A Washington Park police report shows officers were dispatched to Dollies Playhouse at 6210 Forest Blvd. Thursday at 12:21 a.m. in reference to a man shot.

Illinois State Police are handling the homicide investigation at the request of Washington Park Police.

Two individuals were struck by gunfire, according to a release from ISP. Both individuals were transported to an area hospital for treatment off their injuries. One individual later succumbed to his injuries.

The clubs owner, Roderick Brown, was identified as the deceased victim by Tara Rick, spokesperson for the St. Louis Medical Examiners office.

She said Brown was pronounced dead at 5:08 a.m in the emergency room at St. Louis University Hospital.

Tenesia Brown, Roderick Browns wife of four years, described her husband as larger than life and a man with a lot of energy.

He brought Texas to St. Louis. He never met a stranger. He welcomed everybody in. He was a businessman for sure, Tenesia Brown said. Everybody gravitated to him because of his big personality.

He was always willing to help anybody. He gave them business advice, or advice on life. He was just a person who was there for everybody all of the time.

Tenesia Brown said she learned her husband had been shot about an hour after the crime from one of his employees.

I didnt know any of the details, she said. I got out of my bed and went straight to him.

After waiting in a security breezeway at the hospital, unaware of how serious her husbands condition really was, a chaplain finally came to talk to her.

They said he was not looking good and was not going to survive, she said.

She was not ready for this news. She said talking about it brought the same tightness to her chest that she experienced when getting the news of her husbands condition.

Owning a strip club was one one of Roderick Browns goals, his wife said.

Roderick Brown was shot at his Washington Park business and later died at a hospital, authorities confirmed. Provided

Being who he is, he got to networking and talking to people and found out that building was for sale, she said. It was going through probate because the previous owner was murdered. When it was out of probate he brought the old Dollies building. Thats how he ended up in Washington Park.

He wanted a strip club so bad. He has had other clubs but he always wanted a strip club. He has done other things also. He was in real estate and construction. He was a builder. For some reason, his dream, a wish on his bucket list, was to have a strip club.

Brown had been the owner of the club for three years. The 54-year old has eight biological children and two stepchildren through his wife.

Tenesia Brown said she doesnt know what motivated the shooter to kill her husband.

Ive heard so many stories its making my head spin. None of the stories that are being told to me make any sense, she said.

Brown last spoke to her husband at approximately 10:40 p.m. after she said he closed the club down early. He said he was going to hire bartenders so he didnt have to do it himself anymore. He told his wife he just wanted to be home, she said.

Anybody will tell you his favorite thing was to be with his wife, she said. It didnt matter whether we were on a trip, watching television or just laying down next to each other. Anytime we could be together was good. We enjoyed each other.

Tenesia Brown said she will miss cooking chitlins for her husband, which he ate at least three times a week  He loved my cooking, she said.

I dont know where to go. I have never experienced this. I dont wish this on anybody, she said. I am going to have to take this one day at a time.

It was he and I every day we didnt have to travel for work. We were always together.

She described their love as intentional.

He brought continuity, strength, love, support, protection. He brought all of the things a person needed. He was my everything, she said.

Brown said she feels like several people were involved in the shooting. She says shes hoping security camera footage and witnesses will surface to help police make the arrest.

We want to get these people off the street, she said. They have to be cowards and cold blooded to do something like this. If they are left out there, they will do it again to someone else.

Racqueal Woods worked with Roderick Brown for seven years at law offices in St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago.

He was a wild person. He pushed us to do better, to be better. He was pretty much at the top of the firm. We called him Rodney. He was (attorney Roderick) Whites right hand man, Woods said. Anything that was needed for any of the offices, Rodney was there at the drop of a dime.

News that her colleague had been shot and killed came as a complete shock, she said.

This is unbelievable news, Woods said. I never imagined anything like this could happen to someone like him. He was very friendly. He has kids and grand kids. At our back-to-school events, kids flocked to Rodney. He would give dollars or whatever they wanted pretty much. They could sense he was loving.

Woods said Brown pushed employees to be more than what our current status in life was, and that he offered advice on houses and business. She also knew he wanted to own a strip club.

I want the family to know we send our condolences at this time of need. We will miss him, too. He was always there for us, Woods said.
NEW YORK -- Multiple bomb threats were made against synagogues in New York City on Saturday, according to the New York City Police Department.

New York officials said the threats were unfounded, and investigators are working to find whoever was responsible.

Schumer and Rep. Jerry Nadler held a press conference Sunday morning, saying they had spoken with the FBI about the ongoing investigation.

"I asked them to make every effort to track down who did this," Schumer said. "It's hard to do, because those who do it can often hide where their email is coming from, where their phone calls are coming from, in either case. But the FBI has had good success, it takes time, and they are able to track many of these bad people who do this kind of activity down and then go after them."

Bomb threats reported at NYC synagogues

The NYPD told CBS New York that multiple bomb threats were made Saturday against synagogues in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Police said at two of the incidents were reported in Manhattan, including one at Congregation Rodeph Sholom on the Upper West Side and another at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah on West 30th Street. Police initially reported a third location in Manhattan, but later removed it from the list.

Another bomb threat was also reported at Brooklyn Heights Synagogue on Remsen Street.

All of the locations that were threatened received emails claiming there were explosives inside their buildings or nearby, according to police.

Congregation Rodeph Sholom Executive Director Barbara Zakin said in a message sent to congregants that the NYPD evacuated their building as a precaution and conducted a search.

In addition to the synagogues, police said an email was sent to the Brooklyn Museum threatening to blow up the Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum subway station. The MTA said an unusual package was reported outside the station, but service was not affected.

New York officials respond to synagogue bomb threats

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul posted Saturday on social media, saying she was "actively monitoring" the situation.

"Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions," she wrote.

The Manhattan Borough President called the pattern of threats a hate crime and said there is a growing trend of "swatting," when individuals report fake emergencies to authorities, targeting Jewish institutions.

Schumer spoke Sunday about the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides money for synagogues and other houses of worship to hire security guards and install things like cameras, fencing and stronger windows.

"The second I heard about the threats, your heart sinks, you hope it's a hoax. And in this case, thank God, it was," he said. "But that doesn't [negate] the fear, the trauma when synagogues and other houses of worship have to be evacuated. The fear and trauma when they have to be evacuated stays with the congregants, and people who go the next day wonder, 'Is it going to happen again, am I safe?'"

The deadline to apply for the funding on the federal level is May 21.

Teens surprise math world with Pythagorean Theorem trigonometry proof | 60 Minutes

A young boy's generosity, rewarded

Campus protests cause some colleges to change commencement plans
As universities and colleges turn to police to clear their campuses of protests over Israels assault on Gaza that continue to ripple across the nation, the response by law enforcement is under heightened scrutiny after thousands were arrested since mid-April.

Footage captured from the physical - and in some cases violent - confrontations between police and protesters reveals a gamut of tactics used to disperse demonstrators from occupied school buildings and take down on-campus encampments.

Civil rights groups have criticized what they say is an excessive police response to the protests as officers, clad in riot gear, swarm campuses and in some cases have deployed rubber bullets, chemical irritants and pepper balls to quell them. Law enforcement agencies say they were challenged with ensuring the First Amendment rights of protesters while enforcing the law and the rules of the universities and keeping everyone safe.

The wide range of police tactics seen on campuses nationwide reveal the disparities between police agencies in their training and understanding of the generally accepted best practices in dealing with protests and crowd control issues, law enforcement experts told CNN.

Still, the experts said, police were largely measured in their approach and showed restraint in using force  a direct result of lessons learned during the widespread protests after the police killing of George Floyd nearly four years ago. Those protests were bigger, fiercer and more sustained than prior demonstrations.

In the rearview mirror of every police executive is the summer of 2020, which was a real defining moment for police in terms of handling demonstrations, violent demonstrations, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a law enforcement policy group. Police were not prepared for the level of violence they encountered.

A balancing act for police on campus

Officers have arrested more than 2,000 people on US campuses since mid-April amid polarized debates over the right to protest, the limits of free speech and accusations of antisemitism. Although the demands among protesters vary at each university, the majority of demonstrations have called for colleges to divest from companies that support Israel and the assault on Gaza.

The large crackdowns on protesters have led to clashes and standoffs with police, and some counter-protesters, unfolding on campuses that have in some instances prompted canceled or modified graduation ceremonies and increased security protocols.

NYPD officers in riot gear enter Columbia University's encampment as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters on April 30. - Emily Byrski/AFP/Getty Images

At Columbia University, officials asked the New York Police Department to maintain its presence on campus until May 17 after officers carrying heavy-duty bolt cutters and zip-tie restraints deployed flash-bang grenades to breach a building that was occupied by protesters. At the University of Arizona, officials said police used pepper balls and rubber bullets as a last resort to disperse protesters. And in California, at UCLA, officers fired rubber bullets and took control of the encampment site nearly three hours after they were called in by campus officials.

The current war began on October 7 when Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel and took more than 200 people hostage. Israels military response has since sparked a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza that has inflamed opinion globally, as its health ministry says more than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed.

President Joe Biden delivered his most extensive remarks on the protests on Thursday, drawing a line between what he called peaceful and violent protests, repeating his support for Israel, and dismissing calls for the National Guard to intervene at universities.

Its rare for universities and colleges to call in local police onto their campuses, experts say, but the dynamic varies depending on whether they are private or public. The institutions that have their own police departments, most of them public, typically have a memorandum of understanding or mutual aid agreement that dictates when they request assistance from police agencies. Other private schools only have private security personnel, like Columbia, which does not have the training and resources to deal with certain incidents.

You have a balancing act here between universities wanting the police to come on board and then you have police decision makers who are having to determine what response is appropriate, Wexler said.

One of the outcomes of the 2020 protests was a greater sensibility around the need for dialogue and engagement with protesters, said Frank Straub, senior director of violence prevention at Safe and Sound Schools, an adolescent-targeted violence prevention project, and founder of the Center for Targeted Violence Prevention at the Police Foundation, an organization that studies ways to improve US policing.

I think we also saw this different sensibility about how to clear protests, Straub said of the police response to campus demonstrations. While you may bring in a lot of police officers, I think we saw less aggression directed at the protesters.

Police approaches to protests evolve

The Police Executive Research Forum published a report in 2022 about lessons learned from 2020, highlighting the need to evolve police approaches to demonstrations.

Among its recommendations, PERF advised police departments to avoid the use of mass arrests, to warn crowds before deploying less-lethal force and to ensure an effective line of communication throughout the policing chain of command.

That summer was more about demonstrators protesting against the police, Wexler told CNN. What were seeing now is universities asking the police to intervene, so the police are not the object of the demonstrators. However, it doesnt take much for a particular event to get out of control and then the police do become the focus of the demonstration.

The majority of the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations were peaceful, but there was a small number of protesters who were responsible for significant pushback and violence, Wexler said, and police departments were not prepared for how they escalated. In some cases, officers couldnt distinguish lawful protesters from those who were being disruptive or causing violence, he added.

New York City agreed to pay more than $13 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the citys police department of using unlawful tactics against protesters during the summer of 2020. The NYPD came under heavy criticism for its treatment of protesters during those demonstrations. An investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James found that officers allegedly used indiscriminate, unjustified, and repeated use of batons, pepper spray, bicycles and a crowd control tactic known as kettling against peaceful protestors, she said.

Two months after the settlement was reached in 2022, James and civil liberties groups announced an agreement with the NYPD that significantly reforms the departments policing of protests to protect the public and members of the press from excessive use of force, according to a news release.

The agreement mandated the NYPD to change how it deploys officers to public demonstrations, to better allow the public to exercise their First Amendment rights.

NYPD officers in riot gear break into a building at Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian students were barricaded, on April 30. - Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

The NYPD was put to the test last week, when officers arrested about 300 protesters at Columbia University and City College after NYPD officers cleared encampments and the Hampton Hall campus building that was occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said no excessive police force was used while clearing the building. Anyone that understands clear police responses and tactics and maneuvers to prevent dangers to protesters and other individuals, it is about sending a clear message that we are not going to allow disruptive and disorderly behavior, he said.

Of the nearly four dozen people arrested, 13 were adults not affiliated with Columbia and six were students affiliated with other educational institutions, according to a Thursday night update from the university.

A significant portion of those who broke the law and occupied Hamilton Hall were outsiders, a Columbia spokesperson said.

In a post on X Friday, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said among the items recovered were tools of agitators  hammers, knives, helmets, goggles and tape, among other items.

These so-called outside agitators often amp up the level of emotion and the level of aggression that theyre using to get more publicity, to get more media attention and public attention, Straub said.

As they ramp up with the intent of getting a response, thats where things start to become potentially dangerous, he said.

Sometimes, aggression is really the safer way to go

The first move for law enforcement agencies responding to universities is to establish the campus rules governing behavior and determine what activities are protected by constitutional rights, said Spencer Fomby, who designed the National Tactical Officers Association public order command class on decision making and how to apply police tactics.

The standard best practice in policing is to make it clear to protesters that if they are violating the rules they are outside the bounds of their protected free speech, Fomby said.

While universities and colleges have acknowledged the right to protest and free speech, they didnt always establish clear ground rules with protesters, which in some cases allowed the demonstrations to spin out of control, Straub said.

With any protest, its really important theres a meeting of the minds in terms of the guidelines that everybody is going to be expected to follow, he said. And I dont think that happened in several places across the country.

On some campuses, there was a deliberate effort to stop the encampments before they became established, Fomby said, but on others, like Columbias, a delayed police enforcement allowed the encampment to become more entrenched and protesters took over a building.

But once that happens, its going to require a large number of officers. Theyre going to have to have a really defined plan on how theyre going to come in, in a systematic way, Fomby added.

At the University of Arizona, school officials said police in riot gear took significant measures  deploying pepper balls and rubber bullets  after protesters engaged in dangerous actions while officers tried dispersing them.

Arizona did a good job of giving people space to protest and to be seen and heard, both on the campus and in the media but also by each other, said Straub. The problem became that then the two sides started to grab each other, so now the police have to step in to keep people from getting injured or killed or significant property damage from occurring.

At Columbia, police faced some criticism for using a military-grade truck equipped with a ladder to access the second-floor window to enter Hamilton Hall. But while the operation looked aggressive, Straub said, it was safer for both the protesters and police.

So sometimes what looks like an overuse of power, or aggression is really the safer way to go, Straub said.

A police officer launches a smoke bomb on the UCLA campus during a raid on a pro-Palestinian encampment on May 2 in Los Angeles. - Ryan Sun/AP

While the NYPDs approach was methodical in how they surrounded the building and largely measured in how they engaged with protesters, the confrontation between protesters and police at UCLA was a lot more chaotic and a much more violent confrontation, Fomby said.

Officers were seen breaking down plywood barriers outside the entrenched encampment where protesters had barricaded themselves inside, as flash-bang explosives exploded overhead.

What happened on the UCLA campus did not happen overnight, Fomby said. The First Amendment protects peoples right to free speech, to redress the government of their grievances and to say things that are inflammatory and disrespectful, he said.

They dont have a right to incite violence, to set up encampments and then to use violence to promote their political ideology, he continued. When people cross those lines, that has to get stopped, and typically the way we restore order is by having the police come in and stop that criminal activity.

CNNs Julia Jones, Maria Sole Campinoti and Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
On Sunday, Politico published a story suggesting that foundations tied to several top Democratic donors have been funding the pro-Palestine protest groups dogging President Joe Biden wherever he goes. Pro-Palestianian protesters are backed by a surprising source: Bidens biggest donors, read the headline.

The story quickly went viral  Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), for instance, posted on X that the piece confirmed anti-Israel astroturfing. Fox News cited the report to write that President Bidens biggest Democratic donors are also funding some anti-Israel protests that have taken over college campuses.

However, a Rolling Stone review of the numbers and documents cited in the Politico report raises questions about many of its claims.

For one, the story attempts to trace relatively small donations through a massive black box, a group that acts as a pass-through entity, into specific recipients coffers  something that dark-money reporters generally know to avoid. Making matters worse, the foundations named in the story disclose online where the donations ultimately ended up. In other words, theres no reason to guess.

Lastly, the story leaves out a few publicly available details that would help substantiate its overall premise.

Politico reported Sunday that donors to pro-Palestine groups protesting Biden include some of the biggest names in Democratic circles: Gates, Soros, Rockefeller and Pritzker.

Two of the main organizers behind protests at Columbia University and on other campuses are Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, the outlet wrote Sunday. Both are supported by the Tides Foundation, which is seeded by Democratic megadonor George Soros as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and it in turn supports numerous small nonprofits that work for social change.

The Tides Foundation is a sprawling liberal donor-advised fund, meaning that donors give funds to the group and then direct where they want their money to go. Tracing money from individual donors, through a donor-advised fund, to any ultimate grant recipient is unwise, and particularly so when the donations involve such a large group like the Tides Foundation. The group reported $573 million in contributions in 2022.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated $300,000 to the Tides Foundation in 2022. The Tides Foundation donated roughly $100,000 that year to the pro-Palestine protest groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow.

Attempting to connect the $300,000 going into the organization, as part of its $573 million in contributions, to the $100,000 going out to these groups is unrealistic, to say the least, without any specific indication from the donor.

The Gates Foundation notes in a grant spreadsheet linked on its website that the $300,000 it gave to the Tides Foundation was to establish a social outcomes market that unlocks greater philanthropic capital. This description hardly fits with the protest work led by IfNotNow or Jewish Voice for Peace.

We dont have any active grants with the Tides Foundation or to the entities named in the story, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation tells Rolling Stone. Weve reached out to Politico for correction.

After this story was published, Politico issued a correction and update to its story, writing: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has previously funded the Tides Foundation and other groups, said it no longer has active grants to Tides. It also does not support Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNow.

A Politico spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There are more issues with the story, though.

Take the connection made with George Soros, the liberal billionaire and a longtime bogeyman for conservatives. His Open Society Foundations have made significant donations to the Tides Foundation. But the foundations website specifies the Tides Foundation projects these donations were intended to support, none of which appear to relate to Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNow.

Not mentioned in the story: The Open Society Foundations specifically disclosed giving $225,000 in 2022 to Jewish Voice for Peace and $150,000 to JVP Action in 2021. The Open Society Foundations separately gave $200,000 to the IfNotNow Education Fund in 2021.

Politico continues: Another notable Democratic donor whose philanthropy has helped fund the protest movement is David Rockefeller Jr., who sits on the board of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. In 2022, the fund gave $300,000 to the Tides Foundation; according to nonprofit tax forms.

This is wrong. The linked document in that paragraph shows a donation the Tides Foundation made to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund  not the other way around.

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has donated to the Tides Foundation in the past, but did not disclose any such donations in its 2022 tax return. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund filing return does show donations in 2022 made to the Tides Center, part of the same Tides network, with $75,000 of those funds earmarked for the Adalah Justice Project and $75,000 for Palestine Legal. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund has separately donated $500,000 to Jewish Voice for Peace since 2019, and $100,000 to IfNotNow since 2020.

These examples, not expressly cited in the article, show donations going from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to pro-Palestine groups. However, the past donations from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to the Tides Foundation appear to have been earmarked for unrelated causes, such as the Green New Deal Network.

The story seeks to connect donations from the Pritzker familys Libra Foundation to the Tides Foundation as going to the Adalah Justice Project. The Tides Foundation, funded by the Prizkers, has also supported the Adalah Justice Project, which has also been part of protests at Columbia University, the story says.

The Libra Foundation discloses where its Tides Foundation donations go  and none of them went to the Adalah Justice Project.

Journalists have a professional obligation to follow the money. Reporting on donations to pro-Palestine protest groups is an absolutely fair topic  indeed, in the process of reporting this story, Rolling Stone identified several publicly available donations that would help substantiate Politicos story. But reporters should not guess at whos funding whom.

Editors note: This story was updated to note that Politico issued a partial correction on its story.

More from Rolling Stone

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(KRON)  California State Parks, with support from CalFire and local fire agencies, will conduct prescribed burns up to 45 acres large at Mount Diablo State Park (SP) for one or more days between May 13 and June 7, 2024.

California Highway Patrol introduces 8 new canine teams

During the prescribed burning, visitors should expect park closures, including the park entrance at Mitchell Canyon and the access point at Regency Drive.

Additionally, the following trails will be closed: Mitchell Canyon Fire Road, Bruce Lee Road, Water Tower Road, Murchio Road, Oak Road, Coulter Pine Trail, Mitchell Rock Trail, Back Creek Road, Regency Trail, Donner Canyon Road, and Clayton Oaks Trail.

Other park roads, trails, and facilities outside of the burn area will remain open. For a current list of all park closures, the public can visit parks.ca.gov/Incidents.

Although prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires, communities near Mount Diablo, including Clayton, may experience smoke from the burning operations.

California State Parks will be in close coordination with Bay Area Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke in surrounding communities.

These burns aim to benefit the park and its neighbors by enhancing habitats, managing invasive species, reducing wildfire risk, reducing encroaching woody vegetation, improving wildlife habitat, promoting native plant diversity, and restoring the natural fire regime, California State Parks said.

State Park staff will be available to provide information and answer questions at an online open house session on Thursday, May 9, from 6 p.m. -7 p.m. Register here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
He had a magnificent mustache, he was born in Ohio, and he changed the whiskey industry forever. 27th U.S. President William Howard Taft was a huge fan of she-crab soup, "possum and taters," and buttered steak for breakfast. But, thankfully for modern whiskey lovers, part of the famous gourmand's tenure in the Oval Office included huge, lasting strides for the spirits industry. No American was going to drink bilge on his watch -- at least, not without knowing it's bilge to begin with.

The first major regulatory legislation on the whiskey industry came in 1897 with the Bottled-in-Bond Act, which ruled that bourbon whiskey must be bottled at 100-proof, be aged for at least four years, and be made during a single distilling session. Shortly thereafter came the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which required alcohol to list its ingredients and ABV on the outside of the bottle. Specifically about whiskey, the Act dictated that whiskey must not exceed 80% ABV when bottled, be aged for at least two years, and be distilled from a fermented cereal grain mash bill.

Still, these Acts left consumers with some lingering questions -- namely, "What is whiskey, actually?" President Taft stepped in to answer. In 1909, Taft ruled that "straight whiskey" is unadulterated regular whiskey, with only water added to dilute for an accessible ABV. Also, said Taft, that whiskey must also contain 51% corn in the mash bill and be aged in new charred oak barrels.

Read more: The 40 Absolute Best Cocktails That Feature Only 2 Ingredients

Taft Ruled That Straight Whiskey Was Liquor And Water, And Nothing Else

pouring whiskey into a tumbler glass - Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images

President William Howard Taft's decision was an improvement on the Pure Food and Drug Act, determining what could be legally added to whiskey without altering the spirit beyond the parameters of "still being whiskey." Distillers often add water to whiskey to achieve the industry standard 40% ABV, because the liquor can be as strong as 62.5% ABV at the time of barreling.

At the time, Taft's decision was headline news. An article in the Los Angeles Herald from December 27, 1909, the day the president's decision was announced, reads, "Taft Decides [Whiskey] Must Be Classified ... neutral spirits must be so branded. [Whiskey] is [whiskey], President Taft has at last decided. It is [whiskey] when made of neutral spirits, says the president, if reduced to potable strength. But it must be branded so that those buying it may know just what they are getting."

The former president's ruling has since been expounded upon by further legislation. Per Senate Concurrent Resolution 19, which was passed in 1964, for a spirit to be classified as bourbon, it must be made in America. The timing of the groundbreaking legislation was a drag considering Prohibition hit in 1920. But, it remains a crucial, now-assumed part of the whiskey industry, protecting product quality and guiding fans. (Remember the illegitimate Pappy Van Winkle black market that was selling bottles on Facebook in the 2010s? Taft's legislation was the thing that made that not okay.)

Read the original article on Tasting Table
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will face a test this summer with the Democratic National Convention, which protesters of the Biden administrations handling of Israels war with Hamas are already targeting.

The success of the convention could provide a boost to Pritzker, a two-term governor seen as a future candidate for the 2028 Democratic nomination, and Johnson, who has been struggling with a low approval rating and the potential for a recall effort down the line.

The last thing either need is a Chicago convention that might draw comparisons to the chaos of the 1968 convention, when police in the city battled those protesting the Vietnam War.

Projecting leadership that protects free speech, public safety and a sense of order, on the other hand, could benefit the Illinois and Chicago leaders hosting President Biden and his party.

The whole world will be watching how the governor performs here, and regardless of his political ambitions, he has an opportunity here to show the whole world what hes been for Illinois  calm, competent and confident, longtime Democratic political operative Victor Reyes said.

Political convention protests are as American as apple pie, but the prospect for out-of-control demonstrations is increasingly becoming a worry amid clashes over campus encampments in the past week.

Reyes, who previously worked for former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, said he expects protesters would seek to draw the attention of media outlets and observers from outside the convention itself rather than inside.

Officials responsible for overseeing the convention have already been planning for potential protests ahead of the August convention.

We got to make sure at all times that people are able to get where they want to go while at the same time respecting the people who are protesting, Pritzker said at a recent press conference.

A spokesperson for the governor pointed to those comments when asked for a comment for this story.

Pritzker also told CNN in an interview last month that the city is prepared to host the convention. He said Chicago police were able to quickly escort protesters off an interstate highway outside Chicagos OHare International Airport after they shut down the street.

Our Chicago Police Department was able to get those folks off the highway faster than any other city in the United States. And theyre prepared for the Democratic Convention, he said.

The convention comes at a time the national spotlight is on Pritzker, who has been seen as a rising star in the party and sparked rumors about his future ambitions, including the possibility of a run for president in 2028.

He has acted as a surrogate for Biden so far during the 2024 campaign, and he has used his own money for a nonprofit he founded that is working to protect abortion rights in key battleground states.

Theres a great opportunity to show the world the kind of leader he has been for Illinois. Hes been stepping out more in the last number of years than ever before, but this one is going to have persistent coverage leading up to the convention, during the convention and all the prognosticating afterward, Reyes said.

Johnson is in a different spot.

He was elected mayor last year but has struggled in recent months will low approval ratings.

One poll from November found 28 percent of registered voters approved of his job performance, while another from January found 21 percent approved.

Johnsons term is not set to end until 2027, but one activist is circulating a petition to create a ballot measure for November that would allow Chicago voters to recall their mayor before the term ends. Johnson brushed off the effort, accusing the man backing the effort of being part of an extreme right wing who is upset that his administration is mostly made up of women and is more than 40 percent Black.

If the effort is successful, another petition would still need to gather signatures to try to recall Johnson at a future date. The petition will need more than 50,000 signatures to become a ballot measure, but it received the support of the police union late last month.

A smooth convention, strategists said, would give Johnson the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to manage a huge event.

Democratic strategist Aviva Bowen said Johnson could receive credit or blame depending on the logistical success.

If things are logistically difficult, theyre looking toward city leadership, she said. On the flip side, if things are smooth and thriving, then he should get credit for that.

Johnson emphasized Friday that the city is prepared for the convention, which he said will be safe, energetic, vibrant.

If there is a mayor that understands the value of protests, its me. Ive led many demonstrations before, and I understand the value of being able to express your political belief or ideas in order to move a government. Thats why Im mayor, he said.

Bowen said Johnson may face the most scrutiny since the convention is in the citys jurisdiction.

She said all levels of government need to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure all attendees have a safe experience, and she expressed confidence in the citys abilities.

Democratic National Convention spokesperson Emily Soong said in a statement that Pritzker and Johnson have been key in working to ensure the convention runs smoothly.

From the day Chicago was selected as the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson and many of our elected leaders have been invaluable partners in planning a safe and successful convention, she said. Together, we are focused on building a convention that will boost the city and states economy, celebrate our partys accomplishments, and bring the Biden-Harris administrations story directly to the American people.

Still, organizers plans for protests have stirred some contention, with a few groups suing the city over its denial of their request for a permit. Johnson reportedly said Friday that the permits were denied to ensure a secure location for protesters while not overwhelming traffic.

Some are rejecting any comparisons to 1968, pointing to other major events in Chicago since then like the Democratic convention in 1996 and a 2012 summit of NATO leaders that yielded protests but were much less chaotic. They said officials are better prepared this year than for the events of 50 years ago.

There is a mayoral and a gubernatorial leadership in which they recognize not only whats going on on the national stage in terms of protests happening across the country but also recognizing that its summertime in Chicago, Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross said. Its a beautiful time, but its also a time where were typically on high alert across the city.

Cross said policies will ultimately be more determinative of Pritzkers and Johnsons future success than the convention itself.

Bowen said Pritzker would more likely be successful because of his record rather than a one-time event.

I think if we have a great event, it benefits everybody, lifts everyone up in Chicago and Illinois, but the governor and whatever aspirations he may have for reelection or other office, the proof is in his record, she said.

The convention itself is not expected to be dramatic. Biden has clinched the delegates needed for the nomination, and the days of conventions being actual stages to select a partys presidential candidate seem long gone.

That means much of the drama may be connected to the protests  and how they are handled.

I dont think people need it to be a coronation, but they also dont need it and want it to be complete chaos, Reyes said.

This story was updated at 12 p.m. EST

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At a private donor event, Trump likens the Biden administration to the 'Gestapo'

PALM BEACH, Fla.  Donald Trump compared President Joe Bidens administration to the secret police force of Nazi Germany in remarks at a private, closed-door donor retreat on Saturday afternoon.

The former presidents comments came as he was talking about his legal troubles, attacking the prosecutors in the cases and bemoaning the recent indictments in Arizona of several of his former top aides, along with 11 so-called fake electors from the 2020 election.

These people are running a Gestapo administration, Trump said, according to audio of the luncheon provided to NBC News. And its the only thing they have. And its the only way theyre going to win in their opinion.

Once I got indicted, I said, well, now the gloves have to come off, Trump added, saying Biden is the worst president in the history of our country. Hes grossly incompetent. Hes crooked as hell. Hes the Manchurian candidate."

The former president added that he doesnt let his legal troubles bother him too much.

If you care too much, you tend to choke. And in a way, I dont care. Its just you know, life is life, he said.

He did admit, however, that he was surprised when he was indicted.

Once I got indicted, I said, Holy s---, I just got indicted. Me. I got indicted, Trump said.

He also called Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting two federal cases against Trump, an "evil thug" and "deranged."

Biden campaign spokesperson James Singer slammed Trump and the retreat as underscoring that the former president's campaign "is about him. His fury, his revenge, his lies, and his retribution."

"Trump is once again making despicable and insulting comments about the Holocaust, while in the same breath attacking law enforcement, celebrating political violence, and threatening our democracy," Singer added later in the statement.

Trump made his remarks at his Mar-a-Lago Club on Saturday afternoon, as hundreds of donors are gathered down here for the Republican National Committees spring retreat.

The former president has had limited time to campaign as he's had to spend four days a week sitting in a Manhattan courtroom for his criminal trial there, related to hush money payments to an adult film star around the 2016 election.

Among the featured guests at the retreat this weekend are a number of potential vice presidential candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Trump has yet to move past the early stages of vetting a running mate, as NBC News has reported. Top contenders have not yet received detailed questionnaires or other requests for information to help finalize a shortlist.

At the luncheon, Trump brought all these guests onstage  except Noem, who left early, according to two people in attendance  along with a number of other elected officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

By the end of it, there were a lot of people onstage, one Republican source who attended the luncheon told NBC News.

Trump, according to the audio recording, praised Stefanik for her role in challenging former Harvard University President Claudine Gay, who resigned after facing scrutiny for testimony she gave at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism and after allegations of plagiarism in her academic work.

You destroyed her, Trump said. She did so well, everyone said  shes going to be the vice presidential candidate.

Vance, who had been a prominent Trump critic in 2016 while promoting his Hillbilly Elegy memoir, turned out to be incredible, the former president said. The senator is scheduled to hold a fundraiser with Trump this month in Ohio.

You know he wasnt a supporter of mine, Trump said of Vance. He was saying things like, The guys a total disaster!

Scott, whose campaign for the GOP presidential nomination fizzled before the Iowa caucuses, did a good job, Trump said. But as a surrogate Hes unbelievable.

And you know what he said to me? He said, I never felt comfortable talking about myself. Theres something nice about that. It never bothered me to talk about me. Im the opposite.

Trump also acknowledged Rubio and Donalds, his potential VP picks from Florida, where he also resides. The Constitution prohibits electors from voting for both a president and a vice president from their own states.

Rubio, Trump said, is a talented guy and absolutely being considered, even though we do have a little problem. Its a minor Florida problem with these Florida guys, I have to be honest with you  including that guy right there, Byron.

Burgum, a former software entrepreneur who became the first of Trumps high-profile rivals to endorse him, drew raves for his personal wealth.

Hes a very rich man, hes made a lot of money, Trump said. I would always say, That guys really impressive.

Trump also offered a shoutout to Noem, though she did not make it to the stage, calling the South Dakota governor  who has been under fire since revealing in a forthcoming book that she shot and killed a family dog  somebody that I love.

Shes been with me, and a supporter, and Ive been a supporter of hers for a long time, Trump added.

Trump also said hed allow anyone who donated $1 million on the spot to come up to the stage. Two people took him up on the offer, including one woman who declared: Donald J. Trump is the person that God has chosen.

Dasha Burns, Abigail Brooks and Olympia Sonnier reported from Palm Beach, Florida; Henry J. Gomez from Cleveland; and Amanda Terkel from Washington, D.C.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Each week, this series shares MarionMade! stories of our many wonderful people, places, products and programs in the greater Marion community. To read more positive stories of Marion, or to share some of your own, visit us at marionmade.org or on social media.

For more than 50 years, Cummins Facility Services has been helping clients sparkle and shine. Jill Frey is the owner and president of this family business.

Her parents, Ron and Myra Cummins, founded the business in 1972, the year Frey was born. Frey grew up on Smeltzer Road and spent many days at Lawrence Orchards.

For Frey, holidays as a child were a little different than many other families.

Jill Frey took a small local company founded by her parents and expanded it nationwide.

Every holiday was a very big time for us to go into buildings and do strip and waxing or deep cleaning. My dad would work all night with the crews. Our holidays were always spent working as a family, Frey said. I started by every summer with my dad. He took me on a van route and we would clean all the restrooms for the remote GTE locations.

As a child, Frey dreamed of being a Rockette. After graduating from Pleasant High School, Frey went to the University of Toledo to study communications. She wanted to be a newscaster. Shortly after she finished college, her parents took a vacation. The Cumminses bought land on a beach in Honduras and called Frey to say they were not coming back. The company was in Freys hands.

Ron and Myra Cummins founded Cummins Facilities Services in 1972.

When Frey became president of Cummins in 1994, it had 15 employees serving local clients. Under her leadership and determination, Cummins now serves clients nationwide.

We have so many great employees. We still have one of our first employees here who has been here over 40 years, Frey says. I am so proud of my executive and leadership team. They never cease to amaze me. They are the best of the best. I have the best team. I am so proud all the way down to the front-line cleaners. It takes a village to run this company and they are out there every day working to bring our continued success.

The key to success

This woman-owned company has been fueled by two desires  to serve its employees and its clients.

My employees have always been my why. When I started, I wanted to make sure they would always have jobs and be able to take care of their families. Seeing them around and knowing I am able to help them provide is the biggest reason I could have, Frey said.

Frey has a simple secret to her success.

Always do the right thing and believe in your team. I am here to make the world a better place. How, we enable clients to have better buildings that are safe and healthy. Cleaning for health is what we do, Frey said.

Story continues

Cummins employees are the backbone of the company. They also give back, including caring for a flowerbed in downtown Marion.

As a young entrepreneur, Frey depended on support from local clients, employees and leaders.

Elaine Merchant from the Marion Palace Board and Pam Hall from Chamber [of Commerce], both dear friends from Marion, were my mentors, Frey said. Seeing their passions fired my own and gave me confidence in myself to pursue my dreams.

A heart for community service

Frey is proud of the Marion community.

Marion is full of good people with great hearts. I am very grateful to call it my hometown. Marion is a gem that still needs to be discovered. I think its time is coming soon. There are so many wonderful things about Marion, Frey said.

Cummins took the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to thrive.

COVID showed how important we are and the work that employees do keeps us safe, Frey said.

Jill Frey often shares how much she values her employees, and starts responding to customers by saying, Yes! and then figuring out how to meet their needs.

Cummins also gives back to the Marion community. Employees volunteer for the Peanut Butter Jelly Truck, litter clean-up, sponsor a downtown Marion flower bed, adopt local families for the holidays and serve at an area soup kitchen.

Now a third generation has joined the family-owned business.

I am so proud that my daughter and son are working with me. They are bringing a new spin into the business. It has been a lot of fun to watch them grow and blossom, Frey said.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Jill Frey takes Cummins Facility Services to new heights in Marion
Demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian encampment set up outside University College London allegedly spat at a group of counter-protesters and told them to go back to Poland in an apparent instance of antisemitism.

UCL students have pitched tents near the main campus building to show their opposition to the institutions position on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On Saturday, around 100 Palestinian supporters, many of whom were not students, banged drums and waved flags outside the university while chanting free Palestine over a megaphone.

In response, a group of around 50 Israel-supporting demonstrators, attended as part of a counter-protest.

They positioned themselves on the other side of the street to avoid a direct confrontation and more than 40 Metropolitan Police officers were on the scene with a fleet of marked police vehicles parked nearby.

Despite the police presence, a small group left the Pro-Palestinian crowd and subjected the counter-demonstrators to abuse and anti-semitic chants.

Video footage seen by The Telegraph shows a woman, not believed to be a student, holding a Palestinian scarf seemingly shouting Long life to Hamas.

Another clip, posted on social media, shows a man spitting on the ground in front of the counter-protesters before being moved on by police.

Pro-Palestine protestor spitting at a counter-protestor outside UCL

Jonathan Cohen KC, who attended the counter-demonstration, said: There were members of the Palestinian protests, who were openly praising Hamas.

We were spat at, we were told to go back to Poland.

Anybody who thinks that the streets of London are safe for Jews is simply wrong.

Scotland Yard said the man who had spat at the group was later arrested, along with four other people.

In relation to the video of the female protester, a spokesman said: An investigation has been launched into this matter and enquiries are ongoing.

Another pro-Israel protester told the Telegraph that the police response had been entirely unequal.

When three counter-protesters carrying signs saying Hamas are terrorists and holding Israeli flags walked across the street in response to the provocation, officers immediately grabbed the men.

Despite this, police allegedly allowed the pro-Palestine activists who had similarly crossed the road, to shout in the faces of the Israel supporters for several minutes.

A spokesperson for the Met said that on Saturday, officers policed a number of protests across London.

A total of seven arrests were made, including five at the UCL protest.

They added: Shortly after 18:00hrs, four people  who were part of a pro-Palestine protest near a central London university  were arrested in relation to the displaying of a banner.

Another man was arrested in the vicinity for a public order offence after he was seen to spit towards a counter-protest.

A pro-Israel demonstrator says the police response had been 'entirely unequal' - GUY BELL/SHUTTERSTOCK

Ade Adelekan, the deputy assistant commissioner said: Our objective for [Saturdays] policing operation was to protect the rights of everyone to protest while ensuring others were able to visit London unhindered.

We policed a number of events across the capital, the vast majority of which passed off peacefully.

Our response was proportionate  we engaged with protesters and intervened where crimes were committed.

The demonstrators at UCL have been among a growing number of tent camps protesting against the war in Gaza, which have been seen at universities including Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Warwick, Swansea and Bristol.

It has led to serious government concerns that the campus protests could escalate to the sort of scenes witnessed in the US, where pro-Palestinian protests at Ivy League universities turned violent.

A UCL spokesperson said: We continue to have a small protest with tents on our campus. This has so far been peaceful and in line with our codes of conduct. The normal business of the university has been going ahead as usual.

We are, however, also aware there have been protests outside our university on public streets which have been organised by external groups.

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.
ALMA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A man has been convicted and sentenced in Crawford County to 80 years in prison on rape and sexual assault charges, according to prosecutors.

Billy Lemon, 36 (Courtesy: Crawford County Jail)

Billy Lemon, 36, was sentenced to 40 years on a rape charge and 20 years each on two second-degree sexual assault charges, according to Crawford County Prosecutor Kevin Holmes.

An arrest affidavit said that Lemon engaged in multiple acts constituting sexual contact with a minor between November 2014 and July 2021.

Fayetteville police arrest man in connection with fentanyl overdose death

The victim said in a 2021 interview they were with Lemon at a car wash in Alma in his car when he started inappropriately touching them.

They told Lemon multiple times to stop, but he continued and claimed it was the childs fault, according to the affidavit.

The victim said other incidents between them and Lemon followed the incident at the car wash. In each of those, they were under the age of 14, the document said.

Another minor came forward during the investigation and disclosed multiple sexual contact incidents involving Lemon, the affidavit said.

Trial delayed again for couple accused of killing pregnant Arkansas woman

In a social media post on Friday, Holmes said the Alma Police Department investigated the case.

Six brave victims testified about the horrible things that Uncle Billy did to them  three of the incidents happening in Crawford County, Holmes said in a Facebook post. Lemon had built trust inside this family and destroyed countless lives with the abuse.

The Alma Police Department responded to the verdict on Friday in a social media post.

We here at the Alma Arkansas Police Department are extremely proud of the victims and their families in this case that bravely faced their abuser and told their stories, the department said in the post. The City of Alma and Crawford County are a safer place tonight.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
A flurry of protests and conflicting high-level information arrived this weekend amid news reports that Israel and Hamas were nearing a ceasefire agreement, a long-sought goal that could end the seven-month conflict thats cost more than 34,000 lives.

Going into the weekend, news reports quoting anonymous sources close to the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Egypt suggested a compromise could be coming.

Outlets in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Palestine suggested that Hamas was close to agreeing on a multi-stage hostage swap deal that would coincide with temporary pauses in fighting, culminating in an enduring ceasefire with US-backed assurances that Israel would withdraw its troops from Gaza.

Hamas, for its part, said a delegation was heading to Cairo for continued talks on Saturday with a positive spirit and determination to secure an agreement in a way that fulfills Palestinians demands," although it also suggested various provisions on the table needed more work to mature.

At the same time, a high-level Israeli source told various outlets that the country was preparing its offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah regardless of any potential deal, and that the release of hostages wouldnt become a bargaining chip to end the war.

Israel will under no circumstances agree to end the war as part of an agreement to free our abductees, the official said, the Times of Israel reports.

The IDF will enter Rafah and destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there  whether there is a temporary pause to free our captives or not, the official added.

Adding a further layer of intrigue, other top Israeli officials suggested this unnamed source did not represent the agreed view of the countrys war cabinet, while media outlets identified the anonymous Israeli source as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Israeli network Channel 12s primetime broadcast on Saturday, reporter Yaron Avraham said he didnt want to take part in this game and claimed Mr Netanyahu was the one speaking to media outlets.

Meanwhile, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz had his own response for the Israeli source.

I advise the official sources and all other decision-makers to wait for official updates, to act with restraint and not to become hysterical due to political reasons, he said in a statement, a seeming reference to right-wing political pressure on Netanyahu to hold off on a ceasefire.

The US, for its part, painted Hamas as the main stumbling block in ceasefire negotiations, which have involved Israel, Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar.

The only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Friday.

The US would not support an invasion of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled when Israels war forced them to evacuate from northern Gaza, until it saw more assurances from Israel about avoiding civilian deaths, the top US diplomat added.

Tel Aviv protest tonight:



-End the war

- Hostage release

-No to Rafah invasion.

- The government must fall.



pic.twitter.com/0X8tFLuv9R  Etan Nechin (@Etanetan23) May 4, 2024

As the tit-for-tat was playing out in Middle East media, hundreds gathered in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv for multiple protests calling on Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to hammer out a ceasefire deal of some kind and bring the remaining hostages home.
(PUEBLO, COLORADO)  On Saturday morning, May 4, 2024, more than a hundred volunteers gathered at a cemetery to identify buried veterans so they can be properly honored on Memorial Day.

When we join the military, we take an oath of service. And part of that commitment to that oath is an often used term, which is No ones left behind,' said Damian McCabe the Director of Next Chapter and UCHealthand a veteran himself.

UCHealth and the next chapter organized more than one hundred people who spent hours walking up and down each row at Roselawn Cemetery searching for veterans ahead of Memorial Day.

It really doesnt matter if were talking about people in combat or military operations today. The idea of not being left behind is something we cherish because our brothers and sisters always make sure we get home, said McCabe.

Families, veterans, kids, and others spent hours at the cemetery to map out and identify more than three thousand veterans who are laid to rest there.

Its an opportunity to continue our service to ensure that even though these folks have passed on, that no one is left behind, theyre never forgotten, said McCabe,

Roselawn Cemetery database has information on where people are buried, but it does not identify if they were veterans. The mapping project will help Roselawn update its database and ensure that each service member is honored.

Honoring the people that sacrificed for all of us, said Joe Dickerson, a naval veteran and volunteer at the event.

With more than 125 acres of land, it took an army to accomplish the job.

Each person checked the gravesites to identify if it has a specific veteran marker like a medallion or placard. If they found a veteran, the volunteer put a blue flag next to the site, where it was then cataloged and put into the database.

Some of the veterans who participated placed a penny at the sites to signify they came to visit.

They gave up a lot. And for me to be able to do my part in something maybe some people consider little, but to me its not. Its an honor, said Dickerson.

There is still a lot of land to cover. On Saturday, May 11th, they will continue the process and tackle the southern half of the cemetery.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado.
Queen of Jordan: Time for US to use political leverage to end war in Gaza

Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan on Sunday called on the international community to use its political leverage to compel Israel to let more aid into Gaza and bring an end to the ongoing war.

In a pre-recorded interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation, moderator Margaret Brennan noted that President Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a month ago that U.S. policy would change if Israels tactics didnt. She asked whether Queen Rania thinks the U.S. is starting to use its leverage.

Well, look, theres definitely been a change in tone and language. And youre right; the President has been warning and has been trying very hard to persuade Netanyahu, for example, to not enter Rafah. But weve seen time and again, Israeli officials, not heeding the warnings or counsel or advice of allies, she said.

So, I think its time that the international community, including the U.S., really use this political leverage to compel Israel to end the war and to let aid in, she continued.

In recent weeks, Israel has expedited the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although international leaders still say more is needed to stave off famine in the strip.

Queen Ranias comments also come amid talks of a cease-fire, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other U.S. officials have pressured officials in Hamas to accept the terms of a cease-fire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A dusty breeze swept over the hillsides of the Camatta Ranch, causing golden grasses to ripple like waves as far as the eye could see.

The San Luis Obispo County ranch is home to a diversity of critters, from red-tailed hawks to migrating mountain lions. The hills also serve as an excellent runway for cardboard sleds, according to Emilee Morrison, who grew up on the ranch.

Morrison spent much of her childhood outdoors, herding cattle with her family and strumming guitar under her favorite oak tree.

It was every kids dream, she said.

Since 1978, the Morrison family has grazed cattle on the 32,000-acre ranch east of Santa Margarita. They consider themselves stewards of the land and wish to protect it, Emilee said.

Its almost like a sibling because you look after it, she said. Were borrowing it from our grandchildren. We believe were just a link in the chain.

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County completed a conservation easement on most of the Camatta Ranch, which spans from the Los Padres National Forest on Highway 58 to Shandon. The preserved area is about the size of San Francisco.

On April 19, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County entered into a conservation easement on the Camatta Ranch. Members of the Morrison family will continue to own and manage the ranch, but the easement blocks future development on 27,512 acres of the property, close to the size of San Francisco.

Its an incredible landscape filled with rolling hills, green grass, oak woodlands and really important wildlife habitat, Land Conservancy executive director Kaila Dettman said during a recent tour of the property. Its really, really exciting to protect something of this scale.

The Camatta Ranch is the largest conservation easement the Land Conservancy of SLO County has supported, and the second-largest countywide  exceeded only by the Hearst Ranch.

The Camatta Ranch will remain private property, but the public can tour the land through the familys business Lazy Arrow Adventures, which offers camping and safari tours of the ranch.

We feel the ranch is a blessing, and when you have a blessing, you need to share it, co-owner Felicia Morrison said.

Morrison Family, Land Conservancy save ranch from development

After generations of ranching in Southern California, the Morrison family purchased the Camatta Ranch in 1978. Since then, six generations have lived and worked on the 32,000-acre property.

Previously, Mark and Felicia Morrison owned about a third of the ranch, another family member owned a third and the family corporation owned a third, Felicia said.

When Marks mother died in 2017, some of the Morrisons wanted to split and sell the land.

They saw dollar signs, Felicia said. Meanwhile, Felicia, Mark and their children saw value in keeping the property whole  so they searched for ways to purchase the ranch from the rest of the family.

Southern California used to look like this, Felicia said, gesturing to miles of grassy hillsides behind her. Theres no guarantee that it will stay like this unless we protect it.

Haustin Morrison and his father Mark Morrison look out over the Camatta Ranch in eastern San Luis Obispo County. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement on most of the ranch, which spans from the Los Padres National Forest on Highway 58 to Shandon.

The family partnered with the Land Conservancy of SLO County in 2019. By 2021, the family entered into what Felicia called The Global Agreement, where the other owners agreed to sell the majority of the ranch to Felicia, Mark and their children if they acquired the funding within two years.

After a few deadline extensions, the Land Conservancy secured the necessary grants to buy the easement. Mark and Felicia Morrison used the funding from the easement to purchase most of the remaining property from their family.

The easement was funded by $17.52 million in grants from the California Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Conservation, and the California State Coastal Conservancy, along with $880,000 in private donations to the Land Conservancy of SLO County.

The Morrison family will continue to own and manage the ranch under the conservation easement, but the Land Conservancy of SLO County now owns the development rights to the property. This prevents future owners from splitting up and developing the land.

Our job is to make sure that it largely stays the way it is and we protect it from development, Dettman said.

The Morrison family poses for a photo on the Camatta Ranch east of Santa Margarita. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement on most of the property in eastern SLO County.

The Morrison family considers themselves stewards of the land, and they prioritize sustainable operations.

They wrangle cattle on horseback instead of with vehicles because its better for the soil and easier on the cattle, according to Haustin Morrison, the owners son who helps manage the ranch.

Its such a dying tradition, itd be a shame not to do it that way anymore, he said.

The family also rotates the cattle between fields to avoid over-grazing the grass. During drought years, they limit the size of their herd, he said.

Some people want to take from the land, but we are caretakers of it, Felicia said. How you take care of your children, you take care of the land.

Penstemon blooms on the Camatta Ranch where Lazy Arrow Adventures offers wildflower tours in the spring, shown on April 26, 2024. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement to preserve the property.

Easement protects migrating mountain lions, black bears

Grasslands carpet the Camatta Ranch, decorated by purple lupine and yellow tidy-tips. Willow trees sway in the breeze along the creek, while oak woodlands stand firm across the property.

The ranch was once an inland lagoon, which carved the hillside and littered the property with aquatic fossils. The Morrisons often find fossilized barnacles, shells and sand dollars among the shrubs  all bleached white with age.

With its varied habitats, the ranch serves as a wildlife corridor for migrating animals, according to Dettman.

It really is a corridor of statewide significance for our local critters that call this county home, she said.

Fossilized shells remain in a portion of the Camatta Ranch that used to be an inland lagoon, shown here on April 26, 2024. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement to preserve the property.

A herd of pronghorn antelope migrates from the Carrizo Plain to Shell Creek though the ranch, while black-tailed deer travel from the Carrizo Plain to the La Panza Mountain Range, according to Haustin Morrison. Even burrowing owls use the ranch as a flyway from the Carrizo Plain to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Mountain lions and black bears also migrate through the ranch to the Los Padres National Forest. While mountain lions are often captured on the propertys wildlife cameras, the felines have so much space to roam that the Morrisons have never seen one in person, according to Haustin.

The easement will keep the land wild and protect these migration paths for future generations of critters.

The Morrison Family also takes care of more than 250 exotic animals on the ranch  including buffalo, according to Haustin.

Haustin Morrison points out the boundaries of the 27,512-acre Camatta Ranch from a hilltop on April 26, 2024. The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement to preserve the property.

Meanwhile, the ranch is home to about 90% of the population of the Camatta Canyon amole, an indigo, star-shaped lily native to the La Panza Range. The easement offers the threatened flower the protection it needs, according to Dettman.

The biodiversity on this ranch is phenomenal and so important to preserving threatened and endangered species, she said.

Preserving the habitat also helps to keep the common species common, she said.

California condors, golden eagles, bald eagles and red-tailed hawks swoop through the sky  a common sight at the ranch.

It was very important to protect this place so they can continue to thrive here, Dettman said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has completed a conservation easement on most of the Camatta Ranch, which spans from the Los Padres National Forest on Highway 58 to Shandon.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went after President Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in an interview airing Sunday over spending borrowed money on Ukraine.

My primary reason for opposing sending money to Ukraine is that we dont have any money, Paul said in an interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable. The money has to be borrowed. So basically, you know, we owe China a trillion dollars, they bought a trillion dollars worth of our debt. We have to basically borrow money from China in order to send it to Ukraine

Paul also said in the interview that McConnell and the Biden administration have been telling the Ukrianians that they would end up in NATO no matter what.

Well, thats the one thing that, actually, Ukraine has that they could negotiate. If they were willing to negotiate that they would be a neutral country and not allied with the with the Russians and not allied with the West but be open to trade with both, Paul continued. I think what they could do is that could be negotiated for withdrawal of troops. Theres no guarantee the Russians would withdraw troops, but itd be worth the offer.

Biden signed a $95 billion last emergency foreign aid package last month with aid for Ukraine and Israel, and called out MAGA Republicans for holding up the aid to Ukraine.

To my desk, it was a difficult path. It should have been easier, and it should have gotten there sooner. But in the end, we did what America always does; we rose to the moment, came together and we got it done, Biden said.

For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, the president continued. Ukraines been running out of artillery shells and ammunition Meanwhile, Putins friends are keeping him well supplied.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The results of last weeks local elections were depressingly predictable. With the thankful exception of Ben Houchens victory in Tees Valley, my party took a drubbing. Whether or not these results prove to be an accurate prediction for the general election, we must face the fact that the Conservative Party has gone from one of its best to one of its worst local election results in just four years.

Its easy to blame such a collapse on the party leader, or in this case, successive leaders. But this is to overlook the underlying trends both here and abroad.

Over the last twenty years, a great realignment has been taking place in Western politics. Globalisation, de-industrialisation and declining political support for neighbourhood and family life have seen voters become disenchanted with the established political parties. Many millions shifted their allegiance to politicians who emphasise economic, cultural and national security over global market liberalism and out-of-touch woke elitism. The vote for Brexit in 2016 and the seismic shift of the working class vote from Labour to the Conservatives in 2017 and 2019 were signs of this realignment.

While the UK Conservative Party  just five years later  is now staring into the abyss, centre-Right parties across the West are still tapping into this shift and anticipating big gains in forthcoming elections. Having led the realignment, Britain is now bucking the international trend. So what happened?

Reader, we blew it. For a brief moment, Conservative voters across the UK  from our rural heartlands to post-industrial towns  believed that the party understood their concerns and would deliver. These voters demanded economic regeneration or levelling up, to restore wealth, productivity and purpose to the regions rather than continued over-reliance on the financial services of the South East.

They wanted, and still want, patriotism and national security, rather than a vision of global Britain which frequently seems to serve an international elite rather than ordinary UK citizens. Our voters want a state that is neither big nor small but one that works. They dont want the meaningless mantra of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

They do want to be proud of family, neighbourhood and nation, and they want cultural security, not mass immigration. And they want affordable houses for their children and grandchildren.

It is significant that the Conservatives who spoke to these concerns did better last week than the party as a whole. Ben Houchen in Tees Valley, Andy Street in the West Midlands and Susan Hall in London all outperformed the national partys polling because they stand for economic and cultural security and for the pragmatic promotion of their regions.

Sadly, at a national level, our party has not delivered for many of our voters. But just as it is wrong to attribute our success in capturing the realignment to any particular leader  the lions share of the Red Wall swing happened under Theresa May, not Boris Johnson  it is also wrong to blame the failure to deliver on any particular prime minister.

Rather this failure is better explained by differences of opinion within the Conservative parliamentary party. It is often said that we are a broad church, but since 2016 this has at times proven to be a weakness rather than a strength. These divisions certainly create unhelpful headlines, but they also ensure that some of the key reforms demanded by our voters simply cannot happen  under Rishi Sunak or any other leader.

We cannot meaningfully reform our asylum system by leaving the ECHR, we cannot drastically reduce immigration, we cannot have an effective industrial policy, we cannot repeal the Equality Act, we cannot reform planning laws to build millions of new homes, because these measures would not pass through Parliament. In short, the Conservative Party has not yet fully grasped what the realignment is all about.

None of these reforms should be beyond the pale for Conservatives; indeed its the direction in which the Prime Minister is pushing. There is a route back to success for our party, though it is a steep and narrow path. Hall, Houchen and Street, along with the rising popularity of Reform, demonstrate that the demand for a realignment is still there. Our only hope is to deliver it.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) investors have a few ways they can get bubbly returns from owning the beverage giant's stock. There's regular price appreciation, of course, which has been lacking lately as shares have declined in the past full year.

But owning Coke also gives you access to its gushing flow of dividend payments as well. The company has paid (and raised) its dividend in each of the last 62 consecutive years, earning it a spot in the exclusive club of Dividend Kings.

But just how much dividend cash are we talking about? Let's take a closer look.

The capital return plans

Coca-Cola funds its dividend through cash flow, which is ample for this business. The company generated roughly $10 billion of free cash flow in each of the last two fiscal years, for example.

Almost of all that excess cash is heading toward dividend payments. Coke paid $8 billion in 2023, the last full fiscal year. Management raised that payout by 5% in mid-February, meaning investors can expect roughly $8.4 billion of dividend payments in fiscal 2024.

That number isn't exact, however, because Coke also directs some capital each year toward stock repurchase spending. For every share that it buys back, Coke lowers its required dividend payout because the dividend is paid on a per share basis. Still, dividend payments will likely be just above $8 billion this year due to the modest financial impact of stock buybacks.

The next raise

Coke's annual payout raise for next year will depend on a few key factors, including sales growth, profitability, and cash flow. Given its long track record, it is extremely likely that investors will see another increase in early 2025. Yet, the scale of that hike is still unclear. Stay tuned.

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How Much Will Coca-Cola Pay in Dividends This Year? was originally published by The Motley Fool
No helicopter pursuits in city

The Sheriffs request for a helicopter does not seem unreasonable if it is used exclusively for search-and-rescue missions.

The problem with law enforcement having access to a helicopter (military issue, no less) is the temptation to fly it around the city looking for suspects to a crime. This leads to a frightening noise to which city dwellers never really become accustomed.

We have plenty of helicopters flying overhead from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, however, they usually fly at an altitude that is tolerable. A helicopter flying at low altitude over the city would be disruptive to the peace, and not something we need to consider.

Maureen Hicks, Olympia

Show support for Sheriff Sanders

We finally have a Sheriff who understands the meaning of law and order and is attempting to squelch the out-of-control crime in Thurston County. But apparently some residents enjoy not feeling safe anywhere in the county.

Do you like having gangs and criminals from Pierce County invading our area, continually trying to outrun the police after committing crimes? Do you like fearing carjacking in a parking lot?

Yes, there have been some issues with law enforcement in the past, but what is the percentage of those situations and has Sheriff Sanders been involved in any of those actions? Does that mean let criminals run amok rather than enforcing sensible laws? Doesnt something have to be done when one doesnt feel safe doing a simple action like shopping?

Sheriff Sanders hired a police officer who had been acquitted of a crime, and immediately reacted to the criticism of having done that by having an open forum for complaints. He has been very transparent about what he is doing to try to control crime. Those of us who support Sheriff Sanders need to show their support.

M. Williams, Lacey

Protests against the Sheriff

I am appalled at the negative treatment Sheriff Sanders has received for hiring a former law enforcement officer from Tacoma. Folks, those three officers were tried in a court of law and found not guilty. Our Constitution grants everyone trial by jury and all jurors must show guilty to convict.

The sheriff has every right to hire a prospective deputy. Especially if he/she is currently qualified, which saves the taxpayers training costs. Our Thurston County Sheriffs Office is currently short staffed due to the pandemic and defund the police movements.

I grew up in Montana and am now in my mid 80s. Growing up we were told of the vigilante posses in the 1870s. That was democratic conviction by those groups! This anti-sheriff protest group operates on that same theory. Someone has been offended and we are going to hang em out to dry.

It is sad a person lost their life during this confrontation with law enforcement in Tacoma. We the people demand law and order through our elected representatives. No group is allowed to set their own standards of lawful behavior. We all must be respectful of others and obey the laws whether we like them or not.

Tim Weston, Yelm

Keeping ones eyes open

I was driving east on Harrison Avenue about 10 a.m. one day when I noticed about a 7-year-old boy on the right side of the street. The boy appeared to be walking as fast as possible, looking behind him on his right side every few steps.

Having business at The Mens Warehouse, I turned into their parking lot to deliver an envelope to one of the salesmen. I was told that the man was off. I returned to my truck when I saw six police vehicles with their lights flashing and officers who were just about to leave to return to their individual assignments. I stopped to ask if they were looking for a little boy. The officer speaking to a woman said, Yes hes inside. Are you his grandfather? I said no, I just had noticed a little boy who appeared to be worried about something and was glad he was safe.

I urge everyone who sees something disturbing to say something. If its an adult, ask if that person is okay or needs help. They might have a serious problem.

Frank Dare, Olympia
Residents will be required to have an Enhanced Driver License (EDL) or an Enhanced Identification Card (EID) beginning May 7, 2025, to be in compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005.

The extension on implementation of the REAL ID Act will be coming to an end in May 2025. The extension was granted in 2022 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EDL and EID will be the required form of identification to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities, according to the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL).

DOL will continue to issue standard driver licenses and identification cards but notes that they will no longer be valid forms of identification for domestic flights after the law takes effect.

In addition to the EDL and EID, other forms of identification that meet the REAL ID standards will continue to be accepted.




Those of us who believe in the power of books worry all the time that reading, as a pursuit, is collapsing, eclipsed by (depending on the era) streaming video, the internet, the television, or the hula hoop. Yet, somehow, reading persists; more books are sold today than were sold before the pandemic. Though print book sales were down 2.6 percent in 2023, they were still 10 percent greater than in 2019, and some genresadult fiction, memoirsrose in sales last year.

But right now, theres one sector of publishing that is in free fall. At least among one audience, books are dying. Alarmingly, its the exact audience whose departure from reading might actually presage a catastrophe for the publishing industryand for the entire concept of pleasure reading as a common pursuit.

Ask anyone who works with elementary-school children about the state of reading among their kids and youll get some dire reports. Sales of middle-grade booksthe classification covering ages 8 through 12were down 10 percent in the first three quarters of 2023, after falling 16 percent in 2022. Its the only sector of the industry thats underperforming compared to 2019. There hasnt been a middle-grade phenomenon since Dav Pilkeys Captain Underpants spinoff Dog Man hit the scene in 2016. New middle-grade titles are vanishing from Barnes and Noble shelves, agents and publishers say, due to a new corporate policy focusing on books the company can guarantee will be bestsellers.

Most alarmingly, kids in third and fourth grade are beginning to stop reading for fun. Its called the Decline by 9, and its reaching a crisis point for publishers and educators. According to research by the childrens publishers Scholastic, at age 8, 57 percent of kids say they read books for fun most days; at age 9, only 35 percent do. This trend started before the pandemic, experts say, but the pandemic accelerated things. I dont think its possible to overstate how disruptive the pandemic was on middle grade readers, one industry analyst told Publishers Weekly. And everyone I talked to agreed that the sudden drop-off in reading for fun is happening at a crucial agethe very age when, according to publishing lore, lifetime readers are made. If you can keep them interested in books at that age, it will foster an interest in books the rest of their life, said Brenna Connor, an industry analyst at Circana, the market research company that runs Bookscan. If you dont, they dont want to read books as an adult.

Whats causing the Decline by 9? It might be screens, but its not only screens. Its not like kids are suddenly getting their own phones at age 9; recent survey data from Common Sense Media reveals that phone ownership holds steady, at around 30 percent, among kids aged 8 and 9. (It isnt until they reach 11 or 12 that the majority of American kids have their own phone.) Indeed, several people I spoke to mentioned that middle-graders lack of phones created a marketing problem in an era when no one at any publishing house has any idea how to make a book a bestseller other than to hope it blows up on TikTok. BookTok is imperfect, said Karen Jensen, a youth librarian and a blogger for School Library Journal, but in teen publishing its generating huge bestsellers, bringing back things from the backlist. Theres not anything like that right now for the middle-grade age group.

Its not like we want these kids to have phones, thats not the solution, one executive in childrens books told me ruefully. But without phones, were really struggling to market to them.

Traditionally, middle-grade book discovery happens via parents, librarians, andmost cruciallypeers. At recess, your best friend tells you that you have got to read the Baby-Sitters Club, and boom, youre hooked. That avenue for discovery evaporated during the pandemic, and it hasnt come back. The lag in peer-to-peer recommendations seems to be lingering, said Joanne OSullivan, a childrens book author and PW reporter. Kids are back in school, so why arent they sharing recommendations with each other? Why arent they as enthusiastic about books as they were prepandemic?

Experts I spoke to pointed to any number of causes for middle-graders lost love of reading. Yes, screen time is an issue: We know that screen time increased for many kids during that initial phase of the pandemic, said Circanas Connor. Some of that increased screen time still remains, even though the pandemic is mostly behind us. Or, as OSullivan asked, Is this generation just iPad babies?

But others also pointed to the way reading is being taught to young children in an educational environment that gets more and more test-focused all the time. I do not blame teachers for this, said OSullivan, but the transformation of the reading curriculum means theres not a lot of time for discovery and enjoyment in reading. She noted a change I, too, had noticed: Reading in the classroom has moved away from encouraging students to dive into a whole book and moved toward students reading excerpts and responding to them. Even in elementary school, you read, you take a quiz, you get the points. You do a reading log, and you have to read so many minutes a day. Its really taking a lot of the joy out of reading.

Of course, even many teachers and librarians who buck the curricular pressurewho dream of fostering a love of aimless, testless reading in their young chargesare finding that substantially more difficult in 2024. Libraries are getting defunded, said OSullivan.

Librarians are being let go. In some states, teachers cant even keep a classroom library because they have to protect themselves from book bans. As Jensen wrote in a recent blog post, it sure doesnt help the childrens book industry when chat rooms and library board meetings fill up with a small handful of people calling librarians Marxist communist groomers.

It all adds up to an environment where kids are less passionate about reading and, even if they somehow do get excited, theyre less likely to discover the book that will keep them excited.

What are publishers trying to do about it? Theyre doubling down on the kinds of books that have been hits for middle-grade readers over the past few years: graphic novels and illustrated novels. Graphic novels, comics published in trade-book form, are a sales bright spot; last year they made up a quarter of all middle-grade sales. And illustrated novels have only become more and more popular since the birth of Jeff Kinneys Wimpy Kid in 2007. Pilkeys Captain Underpants and Dog Man books live somewhere in that graphic novel/illustrated-book modeblocks of simple text followed by pages of drawingsand more and more, publishers are looking for light, funny stories-with-pictures that can help uncertain readers make the leap from picture books to big-kid books.

Its great that the kids who love these booksor Spider-Man comics, or manga, or for that matter off-putting kid-lit histories about tragedies that happened in my lifetimeare reading something. For sure! Yet I cant help but be worried that the kinds of books that changed my life between ages 8 and 12 are falling by the wayside. Is there room for the thoughtful, serious, beautiful young-persons novel in 2024? Can you publish Bridge to Terabithia in the age of Captain Underpants?

It does seem to be just a little harder to sell that kind of novel these days. Editors are looking for highly illustrated projects, shorter word counts, a bit more humor and adventure, said Chelsea Eberly, director of the childrens book agency Greenhouse Literary. Connor was more blunt: Maybe you think a book about a school shooting is really important, she said, but kids want to read a fun book. Thats what kids want todaythey want to have fun.

If youre an established author and you have an established reputation for serious, heartfelt books, said OSullivan, youll be fine. But if youre a new author whos written a quiet, issue-oriented debut, you might have to think about adapting, in a way. A publisher might, for example, suggest bringing an illustrator aboard.

One side effect: Those established authors with established reputations tend to be white. The younger, newer authors who are being dissuaded by the market from writing unillustrated non-comedies? Theyre increasingly people of color, thanks to the industrys notably successful attempts at diversification over the past five to 10 years. The result may be a two-tiered system of awards-worthy book publishing, as older, whiter writers continue to publish moving, sensitive novels, while younger, Blacker authors are shut out of that particular market. When you make it harder for new writers to break through, youre perpetuating the problems that childrens publishing has been trying to address, said Jensen.

For her part, Eberly, the book agent, doesnt think the supply of serious, award-winning books will dry up. Knowing the editors that I sell to, those are the types of books they want to shepherd into the world. The danger, she says, isnt that publishers will stop publishing such books; its that children wont be able to find them due to book bans and pressure on librarians and teachers. Which books face the most challenges from book banners? Books by Black and queer authors.

What nearly everyone I spoke to in childrens publishing agrees would solve the problem in a snap is a new blockbuster, the kind of Harry Potterstyle success that raises all boats. The industry cant depend on Captain Underpants forever, even though, as Connor noted, The devil works hard, but Dav Pilkey works harder. While more than one person I spoke to expressed an existential fearwhat if that next blockbuster never comes? What if were in the post-childrens-blockbuster era?Eberly was more sanguine. I dont worry that were not going to have another blockbuster, she said. Im hoping that the tent expands. Ive always kind of hated it when theres only one tentpole, like Harry Potter or whatever. I want there to be more tentpoles with room for more people underneath.
What Really Happened to Sade Robinson, Deronatae Martin, Jaylen Griffin and Justin Johnson? All These Mysterious Deaths Never Sit Right With Us

Photo: Facebook

The verdict is in for the official cause of death of 16-year-old Justin Johnson. Though the medical examiner concluded he died of natural causes, rumors still reel over whether he died by the hands of a group of racist white boys.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

Photo: Jim Salter (AP)

On this day three years ago, a Missouri teen went to a party and never returned home. Instead, he was found dead from a gunshot wound. While investigators concluded his death was a suicide, his family still believes his death was a racially-motivated murder.  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: Wisconsin Department of Corrections, NBC

What a Milwaukee family believed was just a long, bad dream had become reality. The dismembered leg, arm and foot found near Lake Michigan were confirmed to belong to Sade Robinson, a Black teen who went missing over two weeks ago.  Kalyn Womack

Read More

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The lettering and logo of the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera can be seen on the company's premises. Tim Brakemeier/dpa

Al Jazeera's offices in East Jerusalem were raided on Sunday after Israel moved to close operations of the Qatar-based broadcaster in the country, according to Israeli media reports.

Television equipment has been confiscated, it said.

Al Jazeera said Israeli cable and satellite network providers have removed the channel from their services.

It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday his Cabinet had unanimously decided to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel.

Israel accuses the Doha-based broadcaster of biased reporting on the ongoing war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, Al Jazeera again categorically denied accusations from Israel of biased reporting on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Reports of shots fired in Mira Mesa; SWAT team called in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities responded to reports of shots fired in Mira Mesa Sunday, the San Diego Police Department confirmed to FOX 5/KUSI.

A call came in around 5:45 a.m. about a weapons discharge in the 8700 block of Friant Street, police said. The department told FOX 5/KUSI a SWAT team had been called in to assist.

No further details were immediately provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Republican Will Lathrop on his candidacy for Oregon Attorney General

Republican Will Lathrop on his candidacy for Oregon Attorney General

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is retiring after 12 years as Oregons first woman in that role.

Will Lathrop is one of two Republicans vying to be the next Oregon attorney general. Hell have to win the republican primary in May to take on the Democrat primary winner in November.

A Newberg resident, native of Wallowa County and Willamette University law school graduate, Lathrop was a deputy district attorney in Marion and Yamhill counties for ten years before he stepped away in 2014. Then for about eight years, he worked for the International Justice Mission, a non-profit human rights organization.

On this weeks Eye on Northwest Politics, Lathrop explains his choice to run for public office and what his priorities would be as attorney general.

Since Lathrop spent a number of years in Africa working with the International Justice Mission, he notes how that experience would influence his approach to this job. Additionally, with the fentanyl crisis hitting all corners of the state, he states what role the attorney general plays in combating it.

Lathrop further discloses whether he would keep the Oregon Attorney Generals civil rights unit intact and whether he would continue on Ellen Rosenblums path of environmental or anti-trust lawsuits against big companies like Monsanto, Apple and Google.

Should Lathrop win the Republican primary, he will likely face Democrat and former house speaker Dan Rayfield in November.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Rescue workers spend half a day extinguishing large-scale fires after Russian attack on Sumy Oblast  photo, video

Rescue workers spent the afternoon of 5 May extinguishing large-scale fires in Sumy Oblast caused by a Russian attack the night before.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: The State Emergency Service reported that Russian troops attacked one of the settlements in the Shostka district in the evening on 4 May.

Large-scale fires broke out in a residential area and at a civilian facility.

The State Emergency Service had extinguished the fires at noon on Sunday.

Preliminary reports indicate that two people were injured.

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Iran is training Hezbollah fighters to carry out drone attacks on northern Israel at a rapidly-expanding top secret base, The Telegraph can reveal.

The drone facility in Iran has tripled in size since it was set up in 2006, in spite of US sanctions, according to leaked classified Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) documents.

Located just five miles from Irans holy city of Qom, the centre, under the command of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has expanded from a runway of 500 metres to 1,500 metres today.

Intelligence reveals the countrys dictator ordered the concentration, strengthening and rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing activities by the regimes main drone manufacturer, Qods Aviation Industry Company in 2004.

In spite of being on the US Treasury sanctions list since Dec 12 2013, the drone HQ which belongs to Qods, has continued to expand.

Once a small airport for small crop-spraying planes, it has gone from a runway of 500 metres in 2007 to expanding to 1,000 metres in 2014 and, in 2020, to 1,500 metres, allowing for bigger, more long-range drones to take flight, such as those used in Irans aerial assault on Israel last month.A new hangar was added to the complex next to the runway in 2021.

The intelligence, compiled by the network of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) inside the country from various sources including some inside the IRGC, reveals that the Gangine centre, which has remained secret until now, hosts leaders of the regions terror groups currently wreaking havoc across the Middle East, most notably, Lebanese Hezbollah.

In addition to training and testing drones such as the long-range Mohajer, which can fly up to 1,000 miles over 24 hours, the centre also is a drone pilot training centre. According to reports from inside the regime, militants are trained in small groups of a handful of fighters.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7 when Hamas militants invaded Israel, Irans proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon has launched a second offensive on the Jewish state.

More than 3,100 projectiles have been launched into Israeli territory, killing and wounding multiple soldiers and civilians in the worst conflict between the two countries since the Second Lebanon War. It has since led to the displacement of more than 100,000 Israelis who see no prospect of returning home amid the ongoing fighting.

According to information revealed by the hacking group Uprising Till Overthrow, the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics has taken over 949 hectares (about 9.5 square kilometres) in the Ganjine region north of Qom for the establishment of this centre.

Hossein Abedini, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Irans UK office, said: The developments in recent months have proven that the head of the snake, in terms of belligerence and the export of terror in the Middle East, is the clerical regime in Tehran.

He was referring to Irans barrage of 350 plus drones and missiles sent towards Israel last month.

Test run for more threats to archenemy Israel

While most were intercepted by Israel and a US-led coalition, Iran remains adamant that it was merely a test run for more to come in threats to its archenemy, Israel.

Mr Abedini said that Irans warmongering abroad comes as a ploy to distract from unrest at home, triggered by the death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022, arrested for allegedly breaching hijab rules.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Iran has been sanctioned for its provision of drones to Russia used on civilian targets. Ali Khamenei, the regimes leader, has been emboldened by appeasement and feels confident about the inaction of the international community and the absence of serious consequences for his regimes malign activity, Mr Abedini said.

It is time to place the IRGC on the terrorist list. This is a necessary precursor to peace and tranquillity in the region and the world.

Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow for military aerospace with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said supplying drones to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, allows Iran to have a real-life centre to test design, functionality and accuracy of their missiles.

He added: Exporting systems also allows Iran to see how their ., he said, testing the likes of design,

Tehran puts these capabilities in the hands of its network of regional actors so it can influence their behaviour and make considerable mischief for some of its regional rivals.

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The state said it returned more than $34 million in unclaimed property to Floridians in April.

And officials in Tallahassee say theres a still plenty to be spoken for.

I want every cent of unclaimed property to be returned to its rightful owner as quickly as possible, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said.

READ: Allegiant Air to begin service from Orlando International Airport to these 3 cities

The state defines unclaimed property as a financial asset that is unknown or lost, or has been left inactive, unclaimed or abandoned by its owner.

Patronis said the state is holding some type of property for an estimated one in five Floridians.

The most common types of unclaimed property include dormant bank accounts, unclaimed insurance proceeds, stocks, dividends, uncashed checks, deposits, credit balances and refunds, according to Florida Department of Financial Services.

READ: Its shameful: Condo board asks residents to pay more than $20,000 in special assessment fees

In April, Patronis said Orlando ranked third out of Floridas metro regions for the most property returned to residents.

April 2024 Unclaimed Property Returns by Region:

Tampa/St. Pete  $7.7 Million

Miami  $7.2 Million

Orlando  $6.2 Million

West Palm Beach  $5.2 Million

Jacksonville  $2.3 Million

Fort Myers/Naples  $2 Million

Tallahassee  $1.2 Million

Pensacola  $1.1 Million

Gainesville  $848,765

Panama City  $350,753

To check if you have unclaimed property, click here.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Rheinmetall CEO promises to send Kyiv 'hundreds of thousands' of shells this year

The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will supply Ukraine with "hundreds of thousands" of shells in 2024, including prototypes of artillery shells with a range of 100 kilometers, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said on May 5, as reported by the German outlet Handelsblatt.

As Russia intensifies aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and gains footholds along Ukraine's eastern front line, a critical ammunition shortage limits the extent to which the Ukrainian military can respond.

"The artillery is the game changer," Papperger said at an event organized by the Association of Business Journalists at the Dusseldorf Industrial Club.

Papperger said Rheinmetall plans to send "hundreds of thousands" of artillery shells to Ukraine this year, and that the deliveries would include prototypes of longe-range shells that can travel 100 kilometers.

Rheinmetall is focusing heavily on artillery production, Papperger said. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, the weapons company had an annual capacity of around 70,000 shells. This year, the company expects to produce 700,000.

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Papperger said that artillery production had been gradually declining in both the United States and Europe in recent years.

"The Western world is not prepared for a conventional war," he said.

Rheinmetall plans to build new artillery plants in Unterluess, Germany, and in Lithuania, Papperger said.

Previously the company announced it would also build an artillery factory in Ukraine, along with facilities dedicated to the production of military vehicles, gunpowder, and anti-aircraft weapons.

During the Munich Security Conference in February, Papperger signed a memorandum of intent with Ukraine's Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin to produce artillery shells in another joint plant based in Ukraine.

Read also: Skynex: The German drone destroyer reinforcing Ukraines air defense

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PALM BEACH, Fla.  Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley urged party unity when asked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's threat to force a vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson this week, months before House Republicans defend their slim majority in the November elections.

"We need to flip the Senate, and we need to expand our majority in the House. We're not going to do that if we're not unified," Whatley said in an exclusive interview when asked for his message to Republicans backing Johnson's ouster.

"We need to make sure that all of the Republicans understand the gravity of this election cycle, and they do, and we need to make sure that we are on the same page as we're moving forward," he continued.

According to audio of a private donor luncheon at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trumps estate in Florida, obtained by NBC News, Trump celebrated RNC leadership and echoed the call for unity  inviting Johnson to join him onstage.

Weve got to stick together. Its so important, Trump said.

Whatley pleaded for unity just days before Johnson's grip on his chamber faces a key test.

Greene, R-Ga., said last week that she will call a motion to vacate for Johnson, R-La., forcing members of both parties to consider whether they will vote to save his speakership.

Democrats have already said they will oppose Greene's motion, effectively defending Johnson's speakership, a role he took on after Kevin McCarthy of California was booted in October.

RNC Committee Chair Michael Whatley (Michael Wyke / AP Photo)

Whatley, Trump's hand-picked choice to lead the RNC, was elected as the committee's chair in March to succeed Ronna McDaniel. Just months into his position, he faces the major task of shaping the party organization in the image of Trump, who chose him for the position after publicly casting doubt on McDaniel's ability to lead the party apparatus.

McDaniel had agreed to resign after facing criticism from fellow Republicans about the partys underperformance in recent elections. In February, Trump endorsed Whatley, previously the North Carolina Republican Party chairman, in addition to his daughter-in-law Lara Trump for co-chair.

Weeks into Whatley's leadership, the RNC faced media reports alleging that job applicants were asked in interviews whether the 2020 election was stolen  a false claim that Trump and some of his supporters have long promoted.

"The only litmus test that I have is whether or not you support our Republican candidates and whether you're willing to work 24/7 from now through Nov. 5 to make sure that we win," Whatley said.

When pressed on the issue, Whatley said he wants to hire people "who support him and who support his agenda," referring to Trump.

Whatley also discussed Trump's recent comments in support of absentee and early voting, which some saw as a departure from his previous criticism of voting by mail.

Trump said in a post to Truth Social last month, in all capitalized letters, Absentee voting, early voting, and Election Day voting are all good options.

Trump frequently and forcefully railed against mail-in voting for years, arguing without evidence that it is "totally corrupt."

Whatley said Trump is "very consistent in saying that ultimately, you know, he would like to see some changes nationally and a state-by-state basis."

"But we are going to win by the rules of the road that we have in place today, and we need to compete," Whatley added.

As NBC News has reported, Republican officials pushing voters to accept voting by mail and early voting have run into resistance from some of Trumps most fervent supporters.

While the party is encouraging its supporters to vote by mail, its also pursuing lawsuits to make it more difficult for those votes to count. The RNC is engaged in 82 lawsuits in 25 states focusing on mail-in ballot deadlines, ballot drop boxes and purges of voter rolls.

The RNC has succeeded on some fronts  it notched a win in battleground Pennsylvania, where the party and other Republican groups challenged efforts to count absentee ballots missing a date. But tactics in other lawsuits, such as recent ones filed in Nevada about mail-in voting and purging voter rolls  have already faced pushback from judges.

When pressed on whether these lawsuits are paving the way for Trump to claim the 2024 election was stolen in the event he loses to President Joe Biden for a second time, Whatley said that is absolutely not the RNCs goal.

This is this is a system designed to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat, said Whatley. These are things that are strongly supported by a vast majority of the American people. That has nothing to do with voter suppression.

After a rally in Wisconsin last week, Trump gave an interview to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in which he would not commit to accept the election results if he loses.

If everythings honest, Id gladly accept the results, Trump told the Sentinel. If its not, you have to fight for the right of the country.

But if everythings honest, which we anticipate it will be  a lot of changes have been made over the last few years  but if everythings honest, I will absolutely accept the results, he said.

Dasha Burns and Abigail Brooks reported from Palm Beach, Florida, and Megan Lebowitz from Washington, D.C.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
As the fallout from pro-Palestinian protests at colleges and universities bleeds into the 2024 presidential election, one of President Joe Bidens key campaign surrogates urged him to visit the campuses.

I think the president should and will get out there on campuses, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Sunday during an interview on CBS Face the Nation.

Khanna is crisscrossing the country stumping for Biden, most recently hitting a handful of college campuses in Wisconsin to take the temperature of young voters there  some of whom have soured on the president due to his policy positions on the war in Gaza.

Biden last week condemned the protests, saying that while there is a right to protests, there isnt a right to cause chaos. And No, he said, the protests wont make him reconsider any of policies on the fighting in the Middle East.



The campus encampments are only the latest local movement to pressure leaders to change course on Israel. Biden has been dogged by protesters at campaign events across the country. And Khanna argued Sunday that Bidens mind already has been changed somewhat by the protests.

I think the protests and the larger movement have had the president change, he said, adding later: Look, everyone from the president on down is aware that young people are upset at what's going on in the Middle East. And I do think it's had an awakening in Washington, that this war has to end, that too many people are dying. And if you look at the president's language, its certainly shifted over the last six months.

Khanna also condemned those involved in the push for an end to Israels campaign in Gaza whose rhetoric has turned violent.

I mean, you can't be shouting guillotine, guillotine. You can't be shouting globalize the Intifada or Zionists don't deserve to live. What's being lost is that those few protesters who are inciting violence or engaging in that kind of antisemitism are diminishing the thousands of young people who simply want the war to end, he said.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Neighborhood roads around the ABQ Biopark are closing down bright and early Sunday as runners take to the street for the annual Run For the Zoo.

Road closures will begin at 5 a.m. Sunday morning and continue through noon.

Tia Betty Blues cafe in Albuquerque gets new name and owner

The closures include 8th Street between Marquez and Coal, 10th Street between Park and Santa Fe, and Tingley Drive between Central and Marquez. A full list of closures 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.
One of the parlor games heading to the 2024 presidential election is, who has more to lose  Joe Biden or Donald Trump  if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets a place on the Texas ballot?

The answer? Sen. Ted Cruz.

Admittedly, that's a bit flippant. But recent polling from both the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas and the Texas Hispanic Policy Council show that the point spread between Biden and Trump is largely unchanged when third-party candidates are or are not in the mix. But if Kennedy is on the ballot, the bulk of his voters gravitate toward U.S. Rep. Collin Allred, the Dallas Democrat challenging Cruz in the U.S. Senate race, the Hispanic Policy Council poll shows.

Both polls, which were conducted last month, show that Trump is running well ahead of Biden in Texas, which for more than a generation has been the nation's largest Republican state in presidential elections. The UT poll, released Wednesday, puts the former president 9 percentage points ahead of the incumbent. The one by the Hispanic Policy Council shows Trump with a 12-point advantage.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads a rally in March in Oakland, Calif.

But the matchup between Cruz, who is seeking a third Senate term, and Allred offers a less clear picture. And that's where the RFK Jr. factor comes into play. Cruz, who has been a national figure with nearly universal name identification since entering the Senate in 2013, has a commanding 13-point lead over Allred, who has been in Congress since 2019 and is making his first bid for statewide office, according to the UT poll.

But the Hispanic Policy Council poll, which shows Trump with a comfortable cushion at the top of the ticket, sees the Senate race as a squeaker by comparison. Just five points separate the candidates.

More: A look at Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy's top campaign donors

Kennedy's share for both polls in the presidential race is in the high single digits  nine points from the Hispanic Policy Council and eight points from the Texas Politics Project.

Respondents who said they backed Kennedy for president in the Hispanic Policy Council poll were asked how they planned to vote in the Senate race. Allred drew 46%, but fewer than 3 in 10 said Cruz. The rest of RFK Jr.'s votes were up for grabs.

Allred's share of the Kennedy vote is not terribly surprising, given that the independent candidate is a member of the nation's most prominent family of Democrats. His uncle, the late John F. Kennedy, was president. His father and namesake was a senator from New York and was assassinated while running for president. His uncle Ted Kennedy served as a senator from Massachusetts from 1963 until his death in 2009. One of RFK Jr.'s brothers served in Congress, and so did a couple of his cousins.

Kerry Kennedy, right, a daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, introduces President Joe Biden during a campaign event at which the Kennedy family endorsed Biden in Philadelphia on April 18.

But most of the surviving members of the extended Kennedy clan have made a public showing of their nonsupport of this particular member of the family, who had originally planned to challenge Biden in the Democratic primaries before deciding to run with no party affiliation.

Kennedy's name is still far from a lock to be on the ballot in all 50 states. He has qualified in just four states  including California, the largest  and appears close to qualifying in six others. He has until May 13 to submit the required 113,151 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in either 2024 presidential primary to the Texas secretary of state's office to secure a place on the Texas ballot for the Nov. 5 election.

So far, RFK Jr. is seeking to appeal to voters, including first-timers, who are dissatisfied with both Biden and Trump. Kennedy's candidacy does not fit neatly into the traditional two-party camps of progressives and conservatives. He's been criticized for embracing conspiracy theories that cast doubt on the official accounts of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York, and of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. But he's also an active environmentalist.

More: Donald Trump is now blasting RFK Jr. for taking support from him

Assuming he does qualify for the Texas ballot, he'll start off with the best name recognition for a third-party presidential candidate since Dallas tycoon Ross Perot ran in the 1990s. Name ID is a double-edged sword in politics. But a familiar name can attract low-information and low-propensity voters who might turn out because they like the candidate or because they want to see that candidate go down in flames.

The questions become, do those voters say "one and done" as they cast their vote for president and leave the polling station? Or do they continue down the ballot and exert their influence in as-yet unseen ways?

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: RFK Jr. factor may affect Texas down-ballot races in November election
DENVER (KDVR)  The Regional Transportation District announced the Transit Police Department is moving to 24/7 staffing starting May 5.

That would include an overnight Transit police presence on bus, rail and paratransit services.

The introduction of an overnight team has been a priority for RTDPD, and it was always contingent upon our hiring success, Chief of Police Joel Fitzgerald Sr. said in a press release from RTD. We needed enough staff to begin to provide the high-performance service our stakeholders expect. As we continue to grow, youll see us even more.

RTD uses new technology to maintain tracks during severe weather

The goal, according to RTD, is to enhance the personal safety and security of employees and riders. They said that goes for both those using the systems during regular hours, as well as overnight.

The FOX31 Problem Solvers found that there were at least 178 passenger reports of assault or injury in 2021 and the first two months of 2022. A study released last October showed that after improvements were made, 75% of RTD riders were satisfied with the Districts service.

RTD increasing officer presence

RTD stated that it currently has 61 Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training certified officers, with an additional 19 recruits currently in the police academy who are slated to graduate in May.

That number is a large jump from August 2022 when the agency only had 19 sworn-in officers.

Being able to respond to more calls for service and process more of our own arrests makes us a force multiplier for other law enforcement agencies, Fitzgerald stated in the press release.

According to RTD, there are currently 26 recruits who are projected to attend the academy in July. The goal is to get to a minimum of 119 officers by the end of the year.

This means that RTD will always be a priority and our department is viewed as a better partner. All members of the RTDPD team will do everything in our power to ensure that customers and employees are safe on the RTD system, Fitzgerald stated in the press release.

RTD doubling police force to address ongoing violence, crime reports

Horn added that an overnight presence will enhance the safety of RTDs employees who work late and overnight shifts.

We will do everything possible to ensure our employees are safe in the work environment. We are one RTD, he said.

RTD doing more than adding more officers

This year RTD adjusted its approach to handling large crowds attending downtown events by adding train cars and security personnel.

Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Stuart Summers explained to FOX31 that in addition to contracted security officers volunteers dressed in bright orange vests to assist passengers, RTD changed the way its security force is being deployed, dividing the 2,000 square-mile service area into five sectors with a commander for each.

A pilot program at high-traffic stations at Southmoor and Nine Mile is testing how drug use and other crimes can be reduced by reprogramming elevators so they stay open when not in use.

RTD knows people do illegal things in its elevators. It has a plan to combat that

Stations now have improved security, lighting and landscaping. RTD will also add six mental health workers and five homeless outreach coordinators by the end of the year.

How to report crimes with RTD

Since RTD operates in eight counties and 44 cities, covering different jurisdictions served by different police agencies, it is developing a better system of collecting information on the number of transit-related crimes.

RTD customers are asked to help by reporting unwanted or illegal behavior or any suspicious activity they may observe by calling the RTDPD at 303-299-2911 or texting 303-434-9100.

In emergencies, RTD is asking customers to call 911 and immediately alert an operator.

RTD stated customers are also encouraged to report unsafe or suspicious activity via the Transit Watch app, which is available in English and Spanish and iOS and Android versions for download.

We know that problems can occur at any time, so this is another step toward meeting the goal of creating a welcoming transit environment 24/7, 365 days a year, Deputy Chief Glyn Horn said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministrys database.

As of Saturday afternoon, Zelenskyy and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko are featured on the ministry's list of people wanted on unspecified criminal charges. The commander of Ukraine's ground forces, General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, is also on the list.

Russian officials did not immediately clarify the allegations against the Ukrainian officials.

Ukraines foreign ministry dismissed in an online statement the reports of Zelenskyys inclusion on the list. He said it is evidence of the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda.

Russia's wanted list also includes officials and lawmakers from NATO countries. Among them is Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, who has fiercely advocated for increased military aid to Kyiv and stronger sanctions against Moscow.

Russian officials in February said that Kallas is wanted because of Tallinns efforts to remove Soviet-era monuments to Red Army soldiers in the Baltic nation, in a belated purge of what many consider symbols of past oppression.

Also on Russias list are cabinet ministers from Estonia and Lithuania, as well as the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor who last year prepared a warrant for President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges.
Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 214 times in 41 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on May 4.

The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Druzhbivka, Znob-Novhorodske, Novoslobidske, Mykolaiv, Velyka Pysarivka, and Shalyhyne were targeted.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, drone, rocket, and grenade launcher attacks. Explosives were also dropped by drones onto two of the communities.

No casualties or injuries were reported throughout the region.

The town of Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of about 4,000 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks reported with 61 explosions recorded in the area.

The community is located directly on Ukraine-Russia border. Given the town's proximity to Russia, Velyka Pysarivka has become a main target of attack for Russia over recent months. Much of the community's infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian attacks.

Russian strikes against Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months. Amid intensified attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered increased evacuations from the region.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.

Read also: Ukraine shoots down Russian Su-25 aircraft in Donetsk Oblast, Zelensky says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Firefighters tackle a fire at a meat processing plant on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine along with a residential building, on Saturday. The fire was caused by a Russian rocket. Six employees of the plant were injured - Anadolu

Russia launched drones and missiles on Ukraine as people packed churches to celebrate the Orthodox Easter.

Two people were killed and more than a dozen injured, including a child, in weekend attacks on the east of the country.

On Saturday evening, Ukraines Air Force reported that it had destroyed 23 of 24 Russian drones fired at Kharkiv, Kherson and the Dnepropetrovsk region.

Earlier in the day, president Volodymr Zelensky said that Ukraine had shot down another Russian fighter jet.

Analysts warn that Russia is ramping up its offensive across Ukraine ahead of US arms reaching Ukrainian frontline forces.

Orthodox Christians in both Ukraine and Russia were celebrating Easter when the strikes hit towns and cities.

In Pokrovsk, rocket attacks killed two people and damaged a house, Vadim Filashkin, Ukraines governor of Donetsk, reported.

Police officers stand next to a television tower partially destroyed by a Russian missile in Kharkiv, Ukraine on April 22 - Sofiia Gatilova/REUTERS

Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, said: A missile hit the central part of the city, in the residential area. Currently there are at least five people injured.

Russian officials have started to describe Kharkiv, which has a population of nearly 2 million people, as a serious target. Its the first time they have done so since September 2022 when a Ukrainian counterattack forced the Russian army to retreat.

Last month a Russian missile destroyed Kharkivs TV tower as part of a series of intensifying attacks.

Russia has been making gains over the past few weeks, pushing back Ukraines outnumbered and outgunned forces. On Sunday Russias Ministry of Defence said its had captured the village of Ocheretino a few miles west of Avdiivka, a city that Russia seized earlier this year.

A 120mm mortar crew fires shells at Russian positions in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on April 27 - Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu

Western analysts said that the capture of Ocheretino was part of Russias consolidation of control along one section of the frontline and its strategic significance was limited. More important is the battle for Chasiv Yar, a town built on high ground that defends a handful of other cities in the valleys below. There, sources said Ukrainian forces continued to defend against waves of near-suicidal Russian attacks.

The British Ministry of Defence has said that Russias army has now suffered 465,000 casualties, dead or injured, in more than two years of war. This is roughly the population of Liverpool.

However, it said Russia could absorb the high casualty rate amid the Kremlins plans to reorientate society and the economy to feed its war machine.

Despite the extreme cost in life, Russia has fully adapted its military to attritional warfare which relies on mass over quality, it said in its daily security briefing.

Ukrainian generals have briefed that the situation along the front line is dire but Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, has told the FT that Ukraine will be able to hold off Russian attacks with a resupply of weapons and even prepare for a new counteroffensive next year.

In April, after a delay of several months, US lawmakers approved 48 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

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The Scottish GENES Blog (GEnealogy News and EventS): Top news stories and features concerning ancestral research in Scotland, Ireland, the rest of the UK, and their diasporas, from genealogist and family historian Chris Paton. Feel free to quote from this blog, but please credit Scottish GENES if you do. I'm on Mastodon @scottishgenes and Threads @scottishgenesblog - to contact me please email chrismpaton @ outlook.com. Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu!
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Looking to put a little extra cash in your pocket? You might be in luck. Theres still billions of dollars in funds waiting to be claimed in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Commerce reported last week that its Division of Unclaimed Funds is safeguarding about $4 billion in unclaimed funds.

Unclaimed funds are lost or forgotten money that businesses and banks report to the Division of Unclaimed Funds after accounts become inactive, typically between 3-5 years, according to the Department of Commerce.

Grocery stores coming to NE Ohio charge 60% less

Experts say the funds typically come from inactive bank accounts, refund and credit balances, stocks and bonds, uncashed cashier checks, utility deposits and final paychecks.

You can find your unclaimed funds by searching online, making sure you have the necessary documents and then sending the information to the Division of Unclaimed Funds either online or by mail.

While making the initial claim is a quick process, experts say it can take several months to get your money, as FOX 8 reported in March.

Kent State protests share parallels from 54 years ago

In a recent press release, the Department of Commerce wanted to shed some light on myths and misconceptions surrounding unclaimed funds:

Yes, its completely free to claim your unclaimed funds. Experts with the Division of Unclaimed Funds are also able to lead you through the process if you need help.

No, unclaimed funds do not expire. They will be held by the division until they are rightfully claimed, officials say.

Just because you are careful with your finances doesnt mean you wont have unclaimed funds. According to officials, one in seven Americans have unclaimed funds.

Even though you claimed your lost money in the past, you could still have more in the future, since businesses in the state have to report unclaimed funds every year.

Yes, its OK to search if your family members or friends have unclaimed money. Its also recommended to find out if deceased family members have unclaimed funds.

According to the Department of Commerce, Ohioans claimed more than $139 million last year.

You can learn more about unclaimed cash in Ohio right here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Russian attack on Kharkiv: number of casualties rises to 15, 20 apartment blocks damaged  photo

The aftermath of Russian attacks on Kharkiv on 5 May. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

A total of 15 civilians sustained injuries in Russian airstrikes on Kharkivs Shevchenkivskyi district on Sunday, 5 May.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office on Telegram

   5 ,  

The aftermath of Russian attacks on Kharkiv on 5 May

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office said at 19:05 Kyiv time that the number of casualties has risen to 15.

Twenty apartment buildings were damaged in the attack.

Russian forces deployed D30-SN glide bombs (30 cm calibre) to attack Kharkiv. They struck the citys Shevchenkivskyi district three times.

   5 ,  

The aftermath of Russian attacks on Kharkiv on 5 May

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Previously: Russian forces attacked central Kharkiv on the afternoon of Sunday, 5 May. Earlier reports said 10 civilians were injured in the attack.

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Russian attacks across Ukraine killed four people and injured 19 over the past day, regional authorities said on May 5.

Russian forces targeted nine of Ukraine's oblasts  Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Odesa, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter four regions.

Russian troops attacked settlements in Donetsk Oblast 19 times over the past day, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Russian forces launched a missile attack on the city of Pokrovsk, killing two people. A 46-year-old man was killed in another missile attack on the city of Druzhkivka.

The embattled town of Chasiv Yar was struck with Russian Grad rockets, injuring two people.

One person was killed and at least 13 people were injured in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv, targeting the city's Osnovianskyi and Industrialnyi districts. A Russian missile hit Kharkiv's Industrialnyi district on May 4, setting a local enterprise on fire and injuring six people. A drone attack struck the Osnovianskyi district, injuring six people, including an eight-year-old girl.

A Russian attack on the village of Slobozhanske killed a 49-year-old man, and an attack on the village of Cherkasky Tyshky injured a 75-year-old woman.

Russian forces struck the regional center of Odesa Oblast with missiles, injuring a man and two women, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Russia attacked 10 settlements in Kherson Oblast, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Prokudin said that Russian strikes damaged two apartment buildings, a house, a car, and an educational institution. One person was injured.

Over the past day, Russia has also fired 345 times at the settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and 214 times  in Sumy Oblast. The casualties were not reported.

Read also: General Staff: Russia has lost 474,260 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

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Russian forces shelled two villages in Kharkiv Oblast's Kupiansk district on May 5, killing one civilian and injuring two others, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Shelling in the village of Monachynivka caused a fire at a house, killing an 88-year-old woman and injuring a 34-year-old man. The woman's body was found under the rubble after the fire was extinguished, Syniehubov said.

A resident of the village of Kivsharivka was also injured in an attack. Details are currently under investigation, according to the governor.

Russia has recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, using missiles, glide bombs, and kamikaze drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

On the same day, as many Ukrainians observed Orthodox Easter Sunday, a Russian glide bomb attack on downtown Kharkiv injured at least 15 people.

Read also: Kharkiv at risk of becoming second Aleppo, mayor says

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By Vitalii Hnidyi

KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian attacks on Orthodox Easter Sunday killed a woman buried under rubble and injured 24 in Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv and the surrounding region, regional officials said.

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said six people were injured in an overnight drone attack on the Osnovyanskyi district of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

Prosecutors in Kharkiv region said 15 more were hurt in an attack later in the day by aerial bombs on the city centre.

"The next time it could hit my house. Why did it hit here? Just who is here? And on such a holy day. How? I cannot grasp it at all..." Natalia Avilova-Patrikeyeva said outside an apartment building with shattered balconies and windows blown out.

"I thought that at least on this day it would remain calm. At four in the morning there also was a strike. I don't sleep, I don't sleep at all."

After midnight, public broadcaster Suspilne reported power cuts in parts of Kharkiv region. It also said there had been power cuts in adjacent Sumy region after reports of drone attacks and explosions.

Kharkiv withstood a weeks-long Russian onslaught in the early days of the February 2022 Russian invasion and has been a frequent target of attacks in recent weeks.

Russia says it does not target civilian sites, but attacks have hit apartment blocks, schools and medical institutions.

Stunned residents milled about the courtyard outside a block of flats or surveyed debris in apartments or in stairwells. Forensic experts combed the ground for pieces of shrapnel.

"The explosion wave kicked out the door and I hid under the table. When I realised what was happening, there was smoke everywhere," said resident Roza Kuzmenko.

"One woman from our block was wounded, the ambulance took her. Thank God, I only have a scratch (on my arm)."

Syniehubov also reported the death of an 88-year-old woman in the shelling of the village of Monachynivka, east of Kharkiv. Her body was recovered from the rubble of a house. Prosecutors said three people were injured.

Vadim Filashkin, head of the military administration in Donetsk region, focal point of Russia's slow advance through eastern Ukraine, said two people were killed by shelling in the town of Pokrovsk.

Two were injured in Chasiv Yar, west of the Russian-held town of Bakhmut and cited by Ukraine as Moscow's next target in its campaign.

(Reporting by Vitalii Hnidyi, Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Deepa Babington)
Russian forces attacked the village of Mykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk district on May 5, injuring three people, the regional prosecutor's office reported.

The Pokrovsk district sits close to the front line in Donetsk Oblast. Russian troops gained a foothold at the district's border back in April.

Russian troops carried out a strike at 9:00 a.m. local time using a first-person-view (FPV) drone with an attached F1-type grenade, according to local authorities.

A 68-year-old man and two women, aged 49 and 67, were injured. They were sitting in a car when the strike happened.

Donetsk Oblast is subject to intense Russian attacks on a daily basis, often more than 2,000 strikes per day.

Over the past day, Russian troops attacked settlements in Donetsk Oblast 19 times, killing three people and injuring the other two.

Read also: Ukraine shoots down Russian Su-25 aircraft in Donetsk Oblast, Zelensky says

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia launched a drone attack on Kharkiv Oblast during the early hours of May 5, setting fire to at least eight residential homes in the city of Kharkiv and injuring six people, local authorities reported.

At around 1 a.m. local time, Terekhov announced that several explosions had been reported in the city. Debris from shooting down the drones in the Osnovianskyi district of the city reportedly set fire to eight private homes in the area.

Suspilne Kharkiv later reported that a 60-year-old man was injured in the attack. The drone reportedly struck the ground between the garages and residential buildings. As a result of the explosions, private garages, vehicles as well as utility buildings were destroyed.

As of around 9 a.m. local time, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that six people were injured in a strike, including an 8-year-old girl. She had an acute stress reaction.

Russia recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, using missiles, glide bombs, and drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

At the end of March, Russia destroyed all the electrical substations in Kharkiv, leaving Ukraine's second-largest city without a stable power supply.

Read also: Surviving through the darkness: How Kharkiv endures new wave of brutal Russian attacks (Photos)





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Soldiers from Air Command Skhid (East) shot down 12 Russian drones over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on the night of 4-5 May. The crashing wreckage has damaged infrastructure facilities and a high-rise building in the city of Dnipro and caused fires.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: Lysak added that one drone had been shot down in the Kryvyi Rih district, another in the Nikopol district, and ten more in the Dnipro district.

Quote: "Infrastructure facilities have been damaged in Dnipro due to falling wreckage and strikes. Several fires broke out. A high-rise building has also been damaged.

Two cars have been severely damaged in Slobozhanske hromada, and a store has also been affected." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Background: On the night of 4-5 May, explosions were heard in the city of Dnipro. Ukrainian authorities had previously issued an air-raid warning in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

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Russian forces launched a drone attack in Sumy Oblast overnight on May 6, targeting the region's energy infrastructure, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.

Ukraine's Air Force announced a drone attack on Sumy Oblast at around midnight local time. Soon after, local media reported that electricity and running water went out in parts of the Oblast.

Within an hour, the Sumy Military Administration announced that Russia had carried out airstrikes on the energy facilities of Sumy Oblast, and restoration work was underway.

Local officials announced that critical infrastructure facilities, including water supply and hospitals, were being transferred to backup power.

Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state-owned energy operator, reported later that one of its high-voltage facilities had been damaged as a result of the strikes.

Around the same time, local media in Kharkiv reported that power had gone out in some districts of the city.

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.

Read also: Kuleba: Russias attacks damage 50% of Ukraines energy system

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Russian troops attacked the town of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv Oblast) three times in less than two hours on the evening of 4 May.

Source: Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: It was reported that the Russians launched artillery strikes at 20:36, 21:16, and 22:06 on Saturday (4 May).

There were no casualties.

No damage was reported.

The rest of the oblast did not come under fire over the past 24 hours.

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When it comes to tobacco stocks, one of the first things that generally draws in investors is their high yields. However, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) offers investors an attractive dividend yield and one of the biggest underappreciated growth stories for consumer products.

Phillip Morris International just posted another terrific quarter and raised its guidance when it reported its first-quarter earnings results. These results were once again led by Zyn, which saw its volume surge nearly 80% year over year in the U.S. to 131.6 million cans. Overall, Phillip Morris saw its revenue increase 11% on an organic basis to $8.8 billion and organic operating profit climb 22% to $3.0 billion.

What is Zyn?

Zyn is a nicotine pouch product that Philip Morris acquired as part of its acquisition of Swedish Match at the end of 2022. The product is made of nicotine powder and flavorings such as mint or cinnamon and does not contain any tobacco. Since the product does not contain tobacco, users don't have to spit like they do with traditional chewing tobacco.

While the product is being sold in the U.S., it is still currently being reviewed by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Philip Morris touts it as a safer alternative to smoking and other tobacco products that can help wean people off tobacco products.

The product has become a bit of a hot-button political issue, with Democratic Senator Charles Schumer asking regulators earlier this year to investigate whether the product was being promoted to teens.

For its part, the FDA said the use of Zyn among high school and middle school students was low, at only about 1.5% compared to 10% of students that vaped. This is important, as vaping company Juul Labs went from being valued at $38 billion to trying to stave off bankruptcy after being beset by legal challenges and settlements over marketing its products to children. At its height, 28% of high schoolers had vaped, compared to only 3% of adults. Zyn appears to be very careful in its marketing and does not appear to have these usage issues with children.

How is Zyn driving growth at Philip Morris?

While Zyn has been in the U.S. since 2014, it was primarily located in western markets and only launched nationally about five years ago. The product's popularity really took off after Philip Morris's acquisition, as it was able to increase its distribution.

Zyn has become very popular with Gen-Z adult males, and this demographic is marketing the product for the company free of charge through social media and other outlets. The political sparring between political parties surrounding it seems to have only added to the product's appeal among some users.

Story continues

Given that Philip Morris does not sell cigarettes in the U.S., every smoker it can convert to Zyn is a big win for the company. In fact, the company has said that the product contribution level of Zyn in the U.S. is 6 times that of its cigarette products. So not only is Zyn seeing explosive sales growth, but it comes with a much higher margin as well.

Given the demand for Zyn and the market penetration it has seen in early western U.S. markets, the company is spending money to increase Zyn's production capacity in the U.S. to meet expected demand. This should help fuel growth in the years to come.

Image source: Getty Images.

Inexpensive stock

Zyn is one of the fast-growing consumer goods products around, yet Philip Morris stock has barely budged over the past few years. With the company trading at about 15 times forward earnings and growing revenue by double digits, the stock is cheap. It also has an attractive 5.5% dividend yield, and the company has grown its dividend every year since it was spun off from Altria Group in 2008, nearly tripling it during that span.

PM PE Ratio (Forward) Chart

Philip Morris offers both a high yield and one of the best growth stories around with Zyn at an attractive valuation. For investors looking for income and growth, this appears to be a great stock to buy right now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Philip Morris International right now?

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Philip Morris International Just Reported Zyn-tastic Q1 Results. Can Zyn Propel the Stock Higher? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Russian forces struck a residential area in downtown Kharkiv on May 5, injuring at least 15 people on Orthodox Easter Sunday, according to local authorities.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov initially said at 2 p.m. local time that five people were injured as Russia struck the Shevchenkivskyi district of Ukraines second-largest city with a guided bomb, without specifying the type of bomb.

The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office later clarified that Russian forces attacked the city with three newly-developed UMPB D-30 SN glide bombs.

Russia typically uses laser-guided or satellite-guided KAB bombs, with payloads ranging from 250 to 1,500 kilograms, against Ukrainian military and civilian targets.

Soviet-era dumb bombs are fitted with cheap gliding kits, allowing them to fly much further and more accurately.

Russia has recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, using missiles, glide bombs, and kamikaze drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

Following the attack reported in the afternoon, city mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a Telegram post that two more people had been injured as they were in their house.

Later, the regional governor said in a separate post that the medics are helping 10 people as Russian forces in downtown Kharkiv, damaging houses and cars.

As Ukraine marked Orthodox Easter, Russia deployed Shahed kamikaze drones against Ukraine overnight on May 5, injuring six more people in the Kharkiv drone attack. Debris from shooting down the drones in the Osnovianskyi district of the city reportedly set fire to eight private homes in the area.

That night, Ukrainian air defense shot down 23 of the 24 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported on May 5.

The drones were launched from the neighboring Kursk Oblast of Russia, as well as from Cape Chauda in occupied Crimea.

Read also: One night with Ukrainian drone hunters near Russia

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Ukraine's General Staff has adjusted the data on Russian losses in terms of armoured combat vehicles, artillery systems, multiple-launch rocket systems, cruise missiles, vehicles and special equipment.

Source: General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces on Facebook

Quote: "Due to the constant inflow of updated intelligence data, it has become necessary to adjust the figures for some items of total enemy losses  armoured combat vehicles, artillery systems, multiple-launch rocket systems, cruise missiles, vehicles and special equipment.

The total figure has been adjusted, and the losses for the past 24 hours are presented as usual."

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 5 May 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

474,260 (+860) military personnel;

7,375 (+9) tanks;

14,179 (+18) armoured combat vehicles (14,156 on Saturday, 4 May) ;

12,212 (+21) artillery systems (previously 12,148) ;

1,057 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems (previously 1,055) ;

790 (+2) air defence systems;

349 (+1) fixed-wing aircraft;

325 (+0) helicopters;

9,636 (+25) strategic and tactical UAVs;

2,147 (+1) cruise missiles (previously 2,127) ;

26 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

16,418 (+37) vehicles and tankers (previously 16,337) ;

2,002 (+4) special vehicles and other equipment (previously 2,001).

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Russian soldiers were convicted of over 100 murders when they returned home last year, a report says

Russian soldiers were convicted of over 100 murders when they returned home last year, a report says

Russian military personnel convicted of murder increased by 900% in 2023, a report says.

Russian soldiers were found guilty of 116 murders in 2023, the Mediazona website reported.

About 15,000 pardoned prisoners returned to Russia, some of whom committed new crimes.

Russian military personnel were convicted of 116 murders in 2023, Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet, reported.

That's a nearly 900% increase from the previous year when there were 13 convictions, the UK Ministry of Defence posted on X.

The data came from Russia's Judicial Department of the Supreme Court's published statistics on the work of courts for 2023, Mediazona said.

Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and desensitization to violence bred on the battlefield often linger long after a military conflict ends. Alcoholism and drug abuse exacerbate these problems, said the UK defense ministry last week.

"The high number of homicides by serving and veteran Russian soldiers are likely in part due to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues," it wrote.

This is compounded by the return ex-convicts who volunteered to serve in Ukraine to secure their freedom. They were men with a preexisting propensity for criminality and extreme violence, said the UK defense ministry.

Citing Olga Romanova, the head of Russia Behind Bars, The New York Times reported that 15,000 pardoned prisoners had returned to Russian society after serving in penal military units with the Wagner Group and Storm Z.

Soldiers with the Wagner Group in a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don in June 2023. ROMAN ROMOKHOV/AFP via Getty Images

The New York Times report detailed cases of high-security prisoners in Russia being offered a clean slate and freedom by the Wagner mercenary group if they agreed to fight in Ukraine.

A former prisoner turned Wagner Group soldier was sentenced last month by the Kirov court to 22 years for the crimes of murdering and raping an elderly woman post-discharge, said the UK defense ministry.

An ex-prisoner and repeat offender, Viktor Savvinov, who was pardoned after serving in Ukraine earlier this year, was accused of murdering two people upon returning to his native village, reports say.

"It is a story about invisible violence," Kirill Titaev, a Russian sociologist and criminology expert at Yale, told the Times. "It is a big problem for the society, but one they do not recognize."

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the risk of pardoned convicts reoffending upon their release "inevitable," the Times reported

"But the negative consequences are minimal," Putin said.

Newsweek reported in March that Russia had recruited so many inmates for the war effort in Ukraine that it's closing down some prisons.

The Kremlin is now resorting to recruiting female convicts to replenish its troops.

According to recent UK estimates, about 450,000 Russian personnel have been killed or wounded, with tens of thousands more deserting their posts since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The Times reported that in fall 2023, recruiters toured Russian prisons offering female inmates a pardon and $2,000 a month  10 times the national minimum wage  in return for serving in front-line roles for a year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian strike on residential area in Kharkiv leaves 5 people injured, including a child  photo

Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of Russian strikes on the city of Kharkiv. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service

The Russians attacked a residential area in the city of Kharkiv with a UAV on the night of 4-5 May, leaving five people injured.

Source: Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES)

Quote: "The enemy cynically attacked a residential area of Kharkiv with a UAV overnight. The explosion has damaged residential buildings and other outbuildings.

Fires broke out at two locations.

Outbuildings, a garage, and a car over a total area of about 200 sq. m caught fire."

Details: The SES reported that five people, including one child, had been injured in the strike.

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The Russian forces attacked the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast on Sunday, 5 May, about 09:00 Kyiv time, injuring three people who were in a car at the time.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Facebook

Details: A 68-year-old man and two women, aged 49 and 67, were rushed to hospital with mine-blast injuries and shrapnel wounds.

Preliminary reports indicate that the Russians attacked the peaceful settlement with an FPV drone carrying an F-1 grenade.

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The Russian forces fired five missiles at the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant (TPP) in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Volodymyr Proskunin, the deputy head of the Mykolaiv City Military Administration, in a comment to Suspilne

Quote: "Today, on 5 May, at 10:35, an attack on Donbasenergo's Sloviansk TPP began. The attack damaged a number of facilities on the territory of the plant."

  '  5 , :  

PHoto: Volodymyr Proskunin on telegram

Details: Proskunin said that the Russian military used Smerch MLRS to attack with four cluster munitions and struck with one high-explosive missile.

There were no casualties as a result of the attack.

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Russians open exhibition in temporarily occupied territories in honour of their soldiers killed in war

Russians will be opening exhibitions by 9 May in museums seized in the temporarily occupied territories, dedicated to its military killed during the war in Ukraine, which Russians call a "special military operation".

Source: National Resistance Center of Ukraine

Quote: "The Kremlin destroys any memory of the participants of the Second World War and erases the achievements of the victorious countries.

Putins frankly fascist regime is setting up new exhibition halls in captured local history museums at the National Museum of Ukraine before 9 May."

Details: The report by the National Resistance Center states that the Kremlin has allocated RUB 8 million (US$87,340) for this purpose.

In addition, the National Resistance Center of Ukraine reported that all local schoolchildren must visit the new halls.

Quote: "[The] halls draw a parallel between the events of the Second World War and the fighters of the Soviet Union, ignoring the fact of the occupation of Ukraine."

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Medical Stock

Its a stock market rule of thumb that big acquisitions tend to destroy shareholder value. Spin-offs, on the other hand, have the reassuring habit of being more likely to create it.

A case in point is Alcon, the worlds biggest maker of both disposable and reusable contact lenses and equipment such as lasers and microscopes used in eye operations.

Since the Geneva-based group was spun out of Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis five years ago, what were previously lacklustre sales have grown by nearly 30pc while underlying earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) is up more than 50pc.

The value of the listed business has grown by just over a quarter in the time while a steady improvement in its cash flows has enabled Alcon to start paying a modest dividend.

Analysts predict more of the same, or better, for the business in terms of sales, profits, margins, earnings per share and the dividend over coming years.

Its an impressive performance, particularly given two of its five years of independence were blighted by Covid, which brought eye operations to a near standstill. And it has garnered the attention of some of the worlds best-performing fund managers, eight of whom have become owners of the stock.

These investors are among the top 3pc of the 10,000 equity fund managers tracked by financial publisher Citywire. Their conviction has led Alcon to gain an AA rating from Citywire Elite Companies, which rates companies on their backing by the worlds best investors.

Top-performing manager Alistair Wittet, who holds Alcon shares in a handful of funds including the Comgest Growth Europe fund, first bought a stake on the basis that the business was neglected under Novartiss ownership and now had the freedom to pursue growth opportunities while improving efficiency.

The evidence suggested that Novartis was essentially starving Alcon of the capital that it needed and at the same time putting huge costs and processes in place, he said. Alcon was in an ideal position to improve its innovation, and therefore its growth, which it has achieved since becoming independent. Its been a big success story and has flourished on its own. Thats why we still really like it.

Standing on its own has meant that Alcons management could tighten up processes and cut costs, pushing margins much higher and lifting profits. It has also been able to channel more money into research and development (R&D), which in turn boosts its launch of new products.

As an illustration, Alcons underlying operating margin has risen from 16.9pc to 19.7pc since the spin out and is forecast to hit 23.0pc by 2026. Meanwhile, R&D is up by over two fifths from $587m to $828m and now accounts for 9pc of sales compared with 8pc when owned by Novartis.

Story continues

There are several trends that help underpin Alcons momentum.

First, the markets for eye care and ophthalmic surgery are sizeable and growing: Alcon estimates the two are worth $34bn (27bn) in annual sales and projects them to grow by mid-single-digit percentages each year from now until 2028.

That growth should be reinforced as populations both grow and age, with a larger proportion of older people being more susceptible to ailments such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Then, there is the massive unmet need for treatment among sufferers of conditions such as dry eye, for example, which affects an estimated 1.4 billion globally. As technological advancements make treatments more affordable and accessible, Alcons addressable markets will grow further still.

And lastly, Alcons customers among prescribing doctors as well as consumers, tend to be very loyal. As Wittet put it: Its true of medicine generally that doctors tend to be pretty risk averse, and for good reason. If they know something works, theyll stick with it.

These dynamics have not gone unnoticed by the wider market, and Alcon shares are not cheap. They trade at 25 times forecast earnings for the next 12 months. But the real attractions of this company for several of the worlds best-performing professional investors lies in its potential for highly profitable growth over many years to come. Thats a prospect worth paying up for.

Questor says: buy

Ticker: SWX:ALC

Share price at close: Sfr72.16

Read the latest Questor column on telegraph.co.uk every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5am.

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.
ISW analysts have noted that Russian troops have taken advantage of a tactical advantage north-west of Avdiivka, where they are continuing to exert pressure, but the ultimate goal of the invaders in this sector of the line of contact remains unclear.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW analysts noted that on the night of 3-4 May, Russian troops made a noticeable tactical advance north-west of Avdiivka near Arkhanhelske.

Experts suggest that Ukrainian troops may have decided to exchange space for time, anticipating the arrival of large-scale assistance from the US to the front line in the coming weeks, a fitting decision for an under-resourced force that risks being outflanked.

At the same time, the ISW continues to assess that Russian troops are probably trying to take advantage of the limited temporary "window" before the arrival of Western military aid, intensifying offensive operations, and that Russian troops could make further tactical moves on that front soon.

Experts also add that Russian troops seem to have taken advantage of the tactical situation north-west of Avdiivka. However, their ultimate goal in this sector of the line of contact remains unclear.

The Russians have likely decided to exploit the area where they would most likely gain tactical advantages in the immediate future, but it is unclear whether they will continue to move north towards Toretsk or return to their previous focus on Pokrovsk in the north-west.

"Russian forces have already committed roughly a divisions worth of combat power (comprised mainly of four Central Military District [CMD] brigades) to the frontline northwest of Avdiivka and were reportedly continuing to introduce additional forces in this general area.," the report says.

The review also covered reports that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk and former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko have been put on Russias wanted list.

The Kremlin's decision, analysts say, is part of Russia's Maidan 3 information operation and it broader efforts to discredit the current and previous pro-Western Ukrainian governments that came to power after Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity in 2014, as well as to isolate Ukraine from a diplomatic point of view.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways for 4 May:

Russian forces made a notable tactical advance northwest of Avdiivka near Arkhanhelske on the night of 3 to 4 May, likely following a Ukrainian decision to withdraw from the area on 3 May.

The Kremlin continues efforts to portray its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine as something other than what it is while continuing to assert the jurisdiction of Russian federal law over sovereign states.

The Russian law enforcement conducted a search on 4 May of supporters of imprisoned Russian ultranationalist and former officer Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov) in Tula Oblast, possibly in an attempt to set information conditions to ban the movement in Russia.

Russian forces recently advanced near Avdiivka and Donetsk City and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area.

The Kremlin is continuing its ongoing campaign to centralise control over Donetsk Peoples Republics (DNR) irregular forces by co-opting DNR commanders and officials.

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Children wrongly punished

Sacramento has a plan to address $66 million deficit. Heres where you could pay more, (sacbee.com, April 30)

Sacramento City Manager Howard Chans proposal regarding service cuts to address a $66 million dollar city deficit is short-sighted and punishing to our most vulnerable citizens: children.

Discontinuing a free regional bus service for students from Kindergarten through high school prevents those who do not have transportation from attending school regularly (the biggest issue that results in truancy) as well as a loss of education for students already lagging behind, affecting dropout rates and resulting in a loss of income for schools based on school attendance.

Shame on Darrell Steinberg for being a partner to a plan that sounds so simple, yet has an enormous and life-long effect on the very young. Maybe the exorbitant salary of our city manager could be reduced rather than placing extra burdens on the backs of children.

Melinda Lauten

Sacramento

Proposal for the UC

Sacramento State students create encampment for Palestine, (sacbee.com, May 2)

Regarding current student protests: Establishing a UC Student Council on Human Rights, which would provide advice to the UC Regents, could be a positive step forward. This council could help address the concerns of students and faculty while ensuring the universitys academic mission is not disrupted. The council could also provide a platform for students to engage in peaceful and respectful dialogue, rather than resorting to violent or disruptive tactics.

Gov. Gavin Newsom could potentially benefit from being associated with the establishment of such a council, as it would demonstrate his leadership and commitment to human rights and social justice.

Jim Frazier

Camarillo

Failed response

31 arrested after students occupied Cal Poly Humboldt buildings, grounds for week over Gaza war, (sacbee.com, April 30)

Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson Jr., crying crocodile tears, claims hes brokenhearted over events that his administration exacerbated. While College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer reportedly called for a ceasefire, Jackson chose not to take this simple action that likely would have defused things, instead calling in police who reportedly initiated last weeks violence and arrested non-resisting protesters, faculty and reporters.

Police are charging people with failure to disperse from a riot when there was no riot (as seen on livestream recordings of the protest). Meanwhile, other students who merely attended a protest in exercise of their First Amendment rights are trying to figure out how to fight an academic suspension due to a long list of violations they did not commit.

Dawn Wolfson

Cameron Park

Opinion

Water abuse

Californians have a right to safe water, yet many dont have it. Is help on the way? (sacbee.com, May 1)

Opinion columnist Tom Philp is absolutely right that California has a moral imperative to ensure that all of our residents have access to safe, clean water despite our states water system failing many of us. We need our leaders to take on the extractive industries that are putting our water at risk in the first place: fossil fuels and industrial agriculture.

It takes 142 million gallons of water a day to maintain dairy cows on Californias mega-dairies. From January 2018 to March 2021, the oil and gas industry used more than 3 billion gallons of freshwater for drilling operations  the equivalent of more than 120 million showers.

If we consider water to be a human right, Gov. Gavin Newsom must continue to rein in the abuse of water by corporate agriculture and the fossil fuel industry.

Chirag Bhakta

California director, Food & Water Watch

San Francisco

Critique of Mai Vang

This Sacramento City councilwoman could be the rare politician who keeps her promises, (sacbee.com, April 20)

Councilmember Mai Vang is rare, thats for sure. Shes rarely seen in Valley Hi and rarely attends neighborhood association and watch meetings. Unless theres an opportunity for a social media post, Vang doesnt appear interested.

We deserve a council member more focused on keeping our kids safe and making sure that people want to open businesses here and get the services that we are paying for from city hall. Instead of wasting $12 million of taxpayer dollars to overpay for 102-acres, where nearly half is wetlands, Vang should focus on why our parks are only being mowed once a month, our utility bills have gone up 30% since shes been in office and our streets are covered in potholes.

Vang is no Bonnie Pannell or Darrell Fong, both of whom represented our community and spent time out of the spotlight, doing the hard work.

Steve Ramos

Sacramento

Cowardly Dems

CA Democrats killed Vince Fongs AB 2654 to keep NDAs safe, (sacbee.com, April 26)

Thank you for publishing the opinion piece concerning our legislators voting down a proposed bill on non-disclosure agreements. Our governor is anti-democracy and petrified of public transparency, and our state legislators are cowards who turned their backs on the citizens who gave them power in the first place.

If California Democrats truly oppose dictatorial, secret governance, they need to strongly push back on their elected representatives and join the wave to stop Gov. Gavin Newsoms growing dictatorship.

I am glad to see The Bee hold up the mirror to this frightening situation.

Kevin Shaffer

Davis

Placer air quality

Sacramento got an F in air quality on American Lung Association report card. Heres why, (sacbee.com, April 27)

The American Lung Associations annual State of the Air Report once again inappropriately gives Placer County an F grade for ozone and short-term particle pollution using data from 2020 to 2022. The region currently meets federal health-based air quality standards for short-term particle pollution and is on track to meet similar standards for summertime ozone within the next several years.

Placer Countys population grew over 17% from 2010-2022, and the number of vehicle registrations increased significantly. This growth is predicted to continue. Because cars, trucks and trains are the largest source of emissions in the county, creative strategies are required to ensure the region can accommodate increased air pollution.

Extensive strides continue to be made in reducing air pollution and improving air quality in Placer County. The number of smoggy summer days that exceeded the current 2015 ozone standard has declined from 85 days in 1990 to 15 days in 2022. So long as the region continues to grow and remains vulnerable to episodic poor air quality events from major wildfires, we will ensure that we continue to take every opportunity to improve air quality.

Erik White

Placer County Air Pollution Control Officer
A young man died Sunday morning in the Gateway West section of Sacramentos South Natomas neighborhood after he was shot.

Around 1 a.m., officers arrived at the 3100 block of Buchman Street after reports of a shooting and found an 18-year-old with at least one gunshot wound, said Officer Cody Tapley, a spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Sacramento Fire Department personnel.

Officers were investigating the case as a homicide, Tapley said, but no other information was provided.

The mans identity is expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office pending notification of family.

The department wants any witnesses or people with information about the killing to contact its dispatch center at 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357 (HELP).
SULPHUR, Okla. (KFOR)  In the days that follow Saturdays deadly tornado, business owners are still uncovering whats left of their businesses in historic downtown Sulphur. Billy Cook Harness & Saddle has been around for 70 years, and planted its roots in Oklahoma in the 90s.

The owner of the shop said after the tornado he saw photos of the damage, but seeing it in person from the ground makes it real.

Thousands of volunteers helping people impacted by tornadoes

Im just kind of in disbelief, but I understand better now the magnitude of it, said Adam Trenk, the proprietor of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles.

Adam Trenk has a history with Billy Cook saddles.

The saddles that my family rode were genuine, Billy Cook saddles that my grandfather had purchased for my father and my uncle in 1976, before i was born, said Trenk.

He eventually got to meet Billy Cook before buying the company in 2019 after Cook passed away.

The shop spans six lots in historic Sulphur including office space, the factory, and showroom.

We get lots of visitors to our shop. Obviously, you know, they were familiar with this storefront; had been here at this location since 1991and its not here anymore, said Trenk.

Sulphur tornado survivor speaks of her survival

There was damage to every building they own. They also had a unique welcome sign for visitors to see.

Photo of Billy Cook Saddles destroyed.

We had a fiberglass horse and hung over the building. And that was sort of our entryway, said Trenk.

Though, the horse is nowhere to be found.

Trenk said theres a lot of unknown in the future, but they plan to serve the community how they can, the Billy Cook way.

I dont know where were going to relocate, but were going to have to do that in short order in order to keep all of our people working, said Trenk.

Trenk said while theyre still working to rebuild, they are open online on their website for pre-orders.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
They said her husband drowned snorkeling, but she saw him walk to shore. What happened?

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A Michigan woman and her family are suing a Maui resort, the Hawaiian Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau after her husband died while snorkeling. She doesnt believe it was a drowning.

Patricia and Ray Johnson, along with four friends, arrived at the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui on the evening of Feb. 23, 2022, with plans to visit multiple islands over several weeks. This was the couples sixth time in Hawaii, and they had snorkeled the Hawaiian waters many times in the past, Patricia told USA TODAY.

On the morning of Feb. 25, some of the travelers, including Ray, went snorkeling around Wailea Beach, which fronts the resort, while Patricia opted to walk a trail that overlooks the beach. I looked out, and I saw my husband and my friends or people out there, she told USA TODAY. Im waving at him, and it hits me. Patricia saw what looked like other snorkelers helping Ray.

She hurried down to the beach, but things deteriorated quickly. At first, Ray had his head above water and was returning to the beach, but then the 64-year-old fell onto his back with his head snapped back at one point and had to be pulled in. I knew he was gone, she said. 9-1-1 was called, but medical professionals failed to resuscitate Ray.

The autopsy report called Rays death an accidental drowning, which Patricia doesnt believe.

I was watching him come in, how could he be drowning? According to her friends who were snorkeling with him, Ray was talking and also diving down under the water. At one point, he came up and said, You gotta help me, Im having trouble breathing, and thats when he decided to head back to shore. I dont think when people are drowning in a conditional manner, youre going to be conversing, she said.

What to do in Hawaii? Locals weigh in on if these popular spots are worth the hype

Patricia and Ray Johnson had visited Hawaii many times before his last visit.

By a landslide, the leading cause of death for Hawaii tourists is drowning. And of ocean drownings for residents and visitors, the majority occur when snorkeling. While the ocean is powerful and unpredictable, some advocates, including the Johnsons, are trying to bring attention to a lesser-known medical condition that specifically poses risks to snorkelers and hasnt gotten much attention over the years: Rapid Onset Pulmonary Edema (ROPE).

The Johnson family believes ROPE is the real cause of Rays death, and the lawsuit alleges that Hawaii travel entities have failed to educate the public on ROPE, resulting in an important public health concern, according to the complaint filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in the State of Hawaii in February 2024. The case should begin the fact-discovery process this week.

The Hawaiian Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Fairmont Kea Lani declined to comment on the lawsuit.

I would like to see warnings out there, Patricia told USA TODAY. I truly believe my husband would still be here if wed been warned.

How is snorkeling dangerous?

Travelers can dive and snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef

Breathing through a snorkel tube is similar to pinching your nose and breathing in through your mouth. The resistance is immediate. ROPE occurs when the negative pressure on the lungs ends up sucking bodily fluids out of the capillaries and into the airways, according to Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a California-based pulmonologist.

That snorkel resistance to airflow, he said. They want to breathe in but they have to breathe through that straw.

Once fluid is in the lungs, it becomes difficult to breathe and people can experience hypoxia, or a lack of sufficient oxygen. You slowly become weak then into a loss of consciousness, Dasgupta said. Underlying health conditions such as heart and lung disease also increase someones predisposed risk for ROPE, he said.

If a person begins to feel shortness of breath, they may panic, causing more exertion, which can be life-threatening if theyre already suffering from a lack of oxygen, Dasgupta said.

Drowning by ROPE is fundamentally different than typical drowning when people are aspirating water or submerged and often showing signs of distress, the complaint said.

A lack of public awareness

Beach, Hanauma Bay, Oahu Island, Hawaii, United States of America.

In October 2017, after California woman  and avid swimmer and snorkeler  Nancy Peacock died while snorkeling in calm waters off the coast of Hawaii Island in a full-face mask and no signs of struggle, the Hawaii State Department created the Snorkeling Safety Sub-Committee to address public concern about snorkel-related drownings.

In a Snorkeling Safety Study led by the sub-committee, 50 different snorkels were tested, and the experts examined nonfatal and fatal drownings. The interim report released in July 2020 concluded that ROPE-induced hypoxia is a factor in fatal and nonfatal snorkel drownings. The study also had a survey conducted at Oahus most popular snorkeling spot, Hanauma Bay, but only 36 participants  mostly locals  were interviewed due to the islands being closed to travel during the pandemic.

The high altitude from air travel impacting someones lungs may be a contributing factor, but there wasnt enough evidence in the study to confirm this. Since getting to Hawaii requires at least a five-hour flight, its possible that fatigue and stress from flying could play a role in someones risk of drowning by ROPE.

The Hawaiian Tourism Authority funded the study to develop appropriate safety messages. However, as of April 2024, there have not been any public-facing messages on any of the official Hawaii tourism websites. Information cards have been passed out to most Kauai and Oahu tour boat operators, the subcommittee said. Although the study is preliminary and not robust in terms of participants and even calls for further investigation, it is the only one to explore ROPE in snorkelers so far.

Why arent we in Hawaii letting people know? said Jay Stuemke, an Oahu-based attorney who filed the complaint on the Johnsons behalf. Pamphlets in rooms, apps, websites, in-room videos, all types of mechanisms to warn people. Its an easy enough thing to do. We believe had they done that, Ray would still be alive today as well as many other people.

Snorkeling safety tips

 Always snorkel with a buddy, and if you cant swim, dont snorkel.

 Choose a snorkel with a wide opening and no constrictions in the mouthpiece.

 Learn to use the snorkel device before venturing out into water thats too deep to stand in.

 If you feel shortness of breath, stay calm, remove the snorkel and get out of the water immediately, Dasgupta said.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This hidden medical condition can be deadly for snorkelers
UPDATE, 6:12 p.m.: Gov. Spencer Cox held a press conference to thank law enforcement and offer condolences to the family of the fallen officer.

Flags are being flown at half-staff and a memorial has been set up in Santaquin.

LEARN MORE: Our hearts are broken: Santaquin community, Utah leaders honor officer killed by semi-truck on I-15

UPDATE, 11:41 a.m.: The suspect  Michael Aaron Jayne, 41  is now in custody. Jayne crashed his vehicle in Vernal, according to Sgt. Cameron Roden, UHP.

Shortly before 6 a.m. Sunday morning, police received a 911 call regarding a person standing on the back of a semi-trailer that was heading northbound on I-15 in Santaquin.

At around 6:30 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop on the semi-truck driver, identified as Michael Aaron Jayne. Jayne initially fled the scene, but made a U-turn and hit a Santaquin Police officer, killing him.

Jayne also hit the officers vehicle, as well as a UHP troopers vehicle before fleeing on foot. Jayne continued to steal multiple cars before being taken into custody in Vernal.

No further information is available at this time.

UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: The Utah Dept. of Public Safety has identified a suspect in this incident.

Please call 911 if you see the individual below. He has been identified as Michael Aaron Jayne, 41. He is reportedly driving a white Ford F-150 with Utah license plate number 2D7TR.

Do not approach, we believe he may be armed and dangerous. If you see him, call authorities immediately, DPS posted on social media.

Courtesy of Utah DPS

Southbound I-15 at milepost 244 in Santaquin is now open. Northbound lanes are still closed. Expect major delays.

UPDATE, 11:01 a.m.: The shelter-in-place order has been lifted in all areas, police said.

Further details on this incident have not yet been released.

UPDATE, 9:58 a.m.: A shelter-in-place order is in effect from Payson to Santaquin as police search for the suspect in this incident.

Gov. Cox has also spoken out about the loss of a Santaquin officer this morning.

Devastating news from our law enforcement community this morning. Please keep this officers family in your prayers. Our hearts are broken and we give our unending gratitude to all those who protect and serve, Cox posted on social media.

ORIGINAL POST: SANTAQUIN, Utah (ABC4)  A Santaquin Police officer was hit and killed by a semi-truck in Santaquin Sunday morning, according to Spanish Fork Police, Fire, and EMS.

The officer was reportedly struck by a semi on I-15 at South Payson. The road is currently shut down at that location.

18-year-old pronounced dead after drowning at Sand Hollow State Park

You may need go towards West Mt. to get into Santaquin on back roads, Spanish Fork Police said on social media.

Utah Highway Patrol said the northbound and southbound lanes of I-15 are currently closed at milepost 244 as officers investigate the crash.

Details are limited at this time.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
(The Hill)  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he is sending Chick-fil-A to counter protesters against pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Saturday.

Im so proud of the courageous young men at @UNC that protected our flag and stood up for America against the pro-Hamas protesters on their campus, Graham said in a post on the social platform X Saturday.

$500K+ GoFundMe for UNC students who protected US flag during protests; funds to go to party, charities

The actions of these young men make me hopeful for the next generations love for our country, Grahams post continued. Fellas, as a thank you for protecting Old Glory, @ChickfilA is on the way this morning, compliments of Team Graham!

Members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity stopped an American flag from touching the ground at a Tuesday protest on campus at UNC. The members could be seen in viral videos holding up the flag as activists threw things at them, resulting in a GoFundMe for the fraternity brothers called UNC Frat Bros Defended their Flag. Throw em a Rager, which now has raised more than $500,000.

Country music artist John Rich said Thursday he is willing to play at the rager for the fraternity members.

I reached out and I said, Boys, I sure am proud of you. When you have that big rager you guys are talking about on GoFundMe, Id like to show up and play you a free concert, Rich said on NewsNations On Balance with host Leland Vittert. And they hit back, and I think were gonna try to make that happen.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who has expressed his distaste for recent pro-Palestinian protests, donated $10,000 to the group.

In recent weeks, protests have broken out on college campuses across the nation focused on Palestinian human rights and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

The protests have also faced accusations of antisemitism, which protesters have pushed back against.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) questions Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas about illegal border crossings during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to discuss the Presidents supplemental request for the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

We are frustrated by media distractions focusing on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us, Columbia University protest leaders said in a statement last month. Our members have been misidentified by a politically motivated mob.

We firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry and stand vigilant against non-students attempting to disrupt the solidarity being forged among students, they continued. Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, Black and pro-Palestinian classmates and colleagues who represent the full diversity of our country.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Another local retailer is closing its doors in the coming months.

Sam Ash Music announced on its Facebook page that it will close all seven of its Southern California locations as part of a nationwide closure of all 42 stores.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that all Sam Ash Music store locations will begin store closing sales today, the company said in a statement. This unfortunate news also presents a fantastic opportunity for great deals across our premium selection of musical instruments & pro sound equipment.

We will also be offering specials on samash.com during this time. Thank you for allowing us to serve musicians like you for 100 years. With much love and deep gratitude, The Ash Family.

Sam Ash did not provide a reason for the decision, but one employee told the Orange County Register that the stores in Los Angeles, Hollywood, Ontario, Westminster, Torrance, Puente Hills, and San Diego would be closed by August.

The company is offering discounts on merchandise and said all sales will be final.

Sam Ash Music is closing all of its 42 locations, including seven in Southern California. The company made the announcement on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Sam Ash Music is closing all of its 42 locations, including seven in Southern California. The company made the announcement on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Sam Ash Music is closing all of its 42 locations, including seven in Southern California. The company made the announcement on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Guitars are being offered at discounted rates at Sam Ash Music after the company announced it is closing all 42 locations across the county, including seven in Southern California. The company made the announcement on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)

The Sam Ash Music in Hollywood is one of seven Southern California locations that will be closing. The company announced it will be closing all 42 locations across the country on May 3, 2024. (KTLA)

The store was founded in 1924 by Sam Ash, an immigrant from Austria, and his wife, Rose Dinin, from Russia. The family-owned business has sold musical instruments and equipment for 100 years.

The companys motto is Come in and play, which encourages musicians to perform inside the store.

Last month, 99 Cents Only announced it was closing all of its locations. Many brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled since the pandemic as internet-based businesses have continued to grow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Emory Douglas, capture and rescue specialist with the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, rescues a sick pelican on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

Scores of emaciated brown pelicans, too weak to fly, have been found on Southern California beaches in the last month and taken to an Orange County rescue center, according to its director.

Were getting dozens of calls, Debbie McGuire, executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach, said on Saturday. People are finding them in parking lots and their backyards.

The rescued pelicans, she said, are coming in at half their body weight. They are also very anemic.

Courtney Lauderdale, wildlife technician, cares for a tent full of sick Brown pelicans with heat lamps at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

So far, she said, its unclear why the pelicans, which feed on anchovies, sardines and mackerel, are suffering from malnutrition.

McGuire said that she contacted scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week, who told her that there was plenty of bait out there for the birds to feed on.

We dont know the cause, she said. They are just all starving.

Overwhelmed by the number of ailing birds, the wildlife center has been erecting pup tents to use as pens, she said.

In the last month, the center has taken in 89 brown pelicans, many of them quickly dying, McGuire said. More than 30 have survived, she said, as the center warmed them under heat lamps and gave them fluids.

Donna Minamide, left, Ryan English, wildlife technicians, give medicine to a sick Brown pelican, which is one of 174 Brown pelicans recuperating at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

She said the center sent tissue samples from the birds to labs for testing.

A similar spike in the stranding of brown pelicans up and down the California coast occurred in the spring of 2022. The cause has not been found.

The California brown pelican was listed as an endangered species decades ago after the spread of the chemical DDT caused the shells of their eggs to thin. The eggs became so fragile that nesting mothers crushed them.

After DDT was banned, the pelicans increased in number. The birds were removed from the endangered species list in 2009.

Wildlife officials say that anyone finding an ailing pelican should not touch or try to feed them. They urge people to instead call their local wildlife rehabilitation facilities. The Orange County center can be reached at (714) 374-5587.

A sick pelican stands alone as beach-goers pass by in in Huntington Beach.

Donna Minamide, a wildlife technician, cares for a pen full of sick Brown pelicans at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

After rescuing two other sick pelicans, Emory Douglas, throws fish to a hungry pelican on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

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.
Search underway for critical missing teen out of North Carolina, now believed to be in Atlanta

Atlanta police said they are searching for a teenager who deputies say was last seen at a North Carolina high school.

On Saturday, APD and the Stanly County Sherrifs Office in Albemarle, North Carolina issued a critical missing person alert for 17-year-old Destinie Desire.

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

Channel 2 Action News affiliate station WSOC reports that Stanely County deputies said Desire went missing from the area and she may be somewhere in Atlanta.

According to Atlanta police, Desire is associated with a device that is being tracked to the area of 14th St. NW and Northside Dr. NW.

WSOC reports that Desire was last seen leaving West Stanley High School just before 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. Investigators said she was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a book bag.

According to family members, Desire lives with a cognitive impairment.

TRENDING STORIES:

Atlanta police provided limited details.

There is no update from police regarding Desire or the device she is associated with that was tracked to the Northside Drive area.

Channel 2 Action News reached out for more information and is waiting to hear back.

Anyone with information is asked to contact APD or Stanely County Sheriff.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
A Memphis security guard will spend the remainder of his life behind bars after being convicted of the 2021 death of Alvin Motley Jr., a legally blind Black man who was gunned down during a heated gas station dispute. On Friday (May 3), Gregory Livingston was sentenced following a four-day trial that began on Tuesday (April 30).

Trending

Livingston, 57, was indicted on a first-degree murder charge. Following a preliminary hearing in 2021, Alvin Motley Sr., the deceased mans father, told the media, I am outraged beyond all measure because he shot my son Whatever years I have left on this earth, I want him to be locked away and think about what he did every single day, just like I have to.

The tragic encounter unfolded three years ago, on Aug. 7, after the former law enforcement officer confronted Alvin Jr. about his music being too loud at a Kroger fuel center. The Chicago native was a passenger in his girlfriend, Pia Fosters, vehicle.

Foster told the court she felt like they were picked on and that her boyfriend wanted him and Livingston to talk like men. Security footage showed the 48-year-old holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer can in the other as he walked toward the guard, who brandished a gun. According to another witness, he commanded Alvin Jr. to stop before firing a single shot into the victims chest. He then called 911 to report the shooting but did not render aid as Alvin laid on the ground.

Witness Shedrick Weary, who defended Motley and Funk against the loud music claims, testified that she also had a verbal exchange with Livingston. The security guard came up to me and told me that hes killed people before in the past and that he wasnt worried about whatever they just got into, he said while on the stand.

Attorney Ben Crump, who represented the Motley family, issued the following statement:

Today marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for Alvin and his grieving family. We commend the efforts of the prosecution team for their commitment to pursuing justice in this case. Todays verdict sends a powerful message that acts of violence will not go unchecked, especially when they result in the loss of innocent lives. While todays verdict brings a measure of closure, it does not erase the pain of Alvins absence, or the trauma endured by his family. We stand with them in their continued pursuit of justice, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that Alvins legacy is one of justice and meaningful change.

For many, the case drew comparisons to the death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis, a Black teen who was shot during a confrontation over loud music in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2012. Like Alvin Jr., he was unarmed when his killer, Michael Dunn, opened fire on him at a gas station. Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2014. An attempt to appeal his conviction was denied in 2016.

Livingstons legal team has already filed a motion for a new trial, which will be determined by a judge next month.

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See inside this 'ghost' whisky distillery in Scotland that's back from the dead

Port Ellen is a distillery on the Isle of Islay, an island off the coast of Scotland. Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

Port Ellen Distillery has been a 'ghost' distillery for 40 years, inactive but with available stock.

It's become a cult favorite with whisky fans, and a two-bottle set can cost up to 45,000 ($56,000).

We visited the Port Ellen on it's reopening day, take a look inside.

The Isle of Islay  an island off the coast of Scotland  has a population of around 3,000 people.

But that doesn't stop it from being a key piece of the billion-dollar scotch whisky industry.

There are nine distilleries on Islay, some owned by conglomerates like LVMH and Diageo, and two more are set to open. Scotch whisky is easy to find on the island; there are even cases lining the airport waiting room.

Multiple people from Islay, from our taxi driver to former distillery workers, still spoke about a cask of Scotch whisky from Ardbeg distillery that was bought by an unnamed collector for $20 million back in 2022.

We were recently there to visit the reopening of Port Ellen. This distillery has only operated for 17 of the last 94 years but has become a cult favorite with whisky aficionados.

The distillery shut down in 1983 and has been sitting dormant, housing casks of aging whisky ever since. Renewed interest in the liquor and diminishing stocks led parent company Diageo to pour 185 million ($230 million) into reopening Port Ellen and another distillery, Brora, and improving its Scotch whiskey experiences.

We visited Port Ellen on the day it reopened in March to find out why people pay thousands of dollars for its single-malt Scotch whisky.

Port Ellen Distillery closed in 1983 due to a slump in the whisky market, which left them with more supply than they knew what to do with.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The distillery was established in 1825 and operated until 1983. Since then, it's been a "ghost" distillery, which refers to a distillery that has closed but still has stock available.

But shutting down gave the whisky time to mature into its signature smoky taste, and it became increasingly sought after by whisky fans.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The limited stock means that it's an expensive product; prices can stretch up to 45,000 ($56,000) for a set of two bottles.

Now it's reopening to the new fans it's gradually gained over the last 40 years.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The distillery is clearly made to appeal to a premium customer. Diageo commissioned artist Harry Morgan to design plinths to showcase its whisky in the warehouse. Visitors can even take a mini version of these plinths home with them as a memento for their coffee table if they have 3,900 ($4,800) to spare.

On one of the plinths was a Port Ellen whisky from 1980, one of only a limited number bottled to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the distillery.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

Diageo told Business Insider that it bought this whisky back on the secondary market. The company didn't comment on how much it paid to get the bottle back, but its value on the secondary market was lower than usual as it has a sip taken out of it  which the company says could have been from Queen Elizabeth II herself.

The bottle pictured is actually a replica, the real one is too valuable to be displayed, the company said.

Visitors to the distillery will be able to choose from two tours. The least expensive tour comes in at 200 ($250) distillery and the price of the more premium "Atlas of Smoke" experience is available on request

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

It's a pricer trip than other distilleries on the island, like Diageo's Lagavulin, which charges just 22 ($27) for their classic tours, with their most expensive tour priced at 105 ($130).

The premium tour is made to appeal to a new type of consumer  those who aren't just interested in buying the whisky but want a whole experience alongside it.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

For these customers, "It's not enough to just say this is 45-year-old Port Ellen cask. They want to say they journeyed to Scotland, tested all these different whiskies, and to tell you about the experiences they had," said Ewan Andrew, Diageo President of Global Supply Chain & Procurement.

They cracked open one of their casks from 1979 to commemorate the reopening.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

Visitors on the Atlas of Smoke tour will also get a chance to draw directly from one of these casks.

Over in the distillery, these copper stills are used to produce the classic Port Ellen-style whisky

Port Ellen is a distillery on the Isle of Islay, an island off the coast of Scotland. Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

These "Phoenix" Stills are precise replicas of the original Port Ellen stills and are used to recreate the classic taste.

The experimental stills are on the other side. That's where private clients can choose to tailor the whisky to their own tastes.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The new experimental stills will allow distillers to change the depth and smokiness of the liquid depending on private clients' tastes.

Since the whisky will take years to mature, there's little concern that the reopening will bring down prices.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The whisky is known by whisky fans, but the company wants to increase awareness to new people.

But they're not worried about the price dipping with the new supply. The minimum age for Scotch whisky is three years old, Andrew told BI, and it takes even longer for the more mature flavors.

'"It's gonna be a long time before you see anything in a bottle from this distillery," said Ewan Gunn, Diageo Global Brand Ambassador for Scotch.

In time with the reopening, the company released 274 sets of Port Ellen Gemini  the two bottles come in at 45,000 ($56,000).

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

"It's never something we've actively put money behind marketing, it's really just been word of mouth. It's the community that's elevated it to the position of being so highly regarded," said Gunn.

We were given a tour of a secret tasting room in the pagoda, where private clients will be able to try different whisky blends and personalize them to their tastes.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

Visitors can't take any photos of the tasting room, and the company won't release any photos either.

The reopening of the distillery brought together former employees and descendants of the original distillery owners.

Harry Rokison

Iain "Pinky" McArthur, a former employee at Port Ellen and Lagavulin, was a local whisky legend on Islay. He and his former colleagues all admitted that his tours were the most sought-after by visitors.

He eagerly recounted tales of the past when delivery drivers would show up at the distillery at 5 a.m. to pick up the whisky, and they'd both enjoy a glass on the job.

"We're not allowed to do stuff like that anymore  health and safety," he joked.

When he retired in December, his colleagues pitched in to get him a gift worthy of his 53 years of service: a bull for his farm.

"It's quite a tight community here so the skills and the knowledge have been passed down through the generations and refined over time," Gunn said.

Alexandra Bacon/Business Insider

The Isle of Islay naturally has the vital ingredients for single malt scotch whisky: barley, peat, and plenty of water. The peat on the island gives the whisky its signature smokiness.

The natural resources and community involvement have meant that whisky has been and remains, part of the fabric of Islay.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) slammed Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake for encouraging her supporters to arm themselves ahead of the election season, saying such rhetoric could result in people getting killed.

In an interview that aired Sunday on NBC Newss Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker asked about Lakes recent comments to supporters, in which she told them to strap on a Glock to prepare themselves for what she described as an intense election period ahead.

Welker also asked about former President Trump telling Time magazine that whether there will be violence around the election depends on its fairness.

Its dangerous. What Kari Lake said could result in people getting hurt or killed. Same thing with the former [president], Kelly said in response.

On whether words can translate into violence, Kelly said, Absolutely.

Words, especially when they come from somebody who is in a leadership position  and Kari Lakes never been elected to anything. I dont expect her ever to be elected to anything  but when youre a candidate for the United States Senate, you need to be careful with your words. Weve seen this throughout history, he continued. So, I hope people reject that. I think they should consider their language and try to do better going forward.

We need people in elected office that want to take this country in a better direction where we accept the outcome of elections, where we dont use language to try to incite our supporters. We dont need folks in the United States Senate that theyre comfortable using language like that, he said.

In response, a spokesperson for Lakes campaign told The Hill, Ruben Gallego is an unhinged lunatic who has admitted to having anger issues, which include cursing at veterans and lashing out at voters. He is the real threat to our country.

Updated at 7:44 pm.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) raised the alarm over GOP senate hopeful Kari Lakes suggestion that voters strap on a Glock to prepare for the election season, saying it has the potential to incite violence.

Its dangerous, Kelly told Kristen Welker on NBCs Meet the Press. What Kari Lake said could result in people getting hurt or killed.

Mark Kelly on Kari Lake's incendiary rhetoric: "Kari Lake has never been elected to anything. I don't expect her ever to be elected to anything. But when you are a candidate for the United States senate, you need to be careful with your words." pic.twitter.com/40FQ7plIu9  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 5, 2024

For Kelly, the threat of gun violence is personal. His wife, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, narrowly survived a gunshot wound to the head in a 2011 assassination attempt in Tucson. That mass shooting resulted in the deaths of six other people and the hospitalization of a dozen others.

Lakes comments came from an April 14 campaign rally in Mohave County, in which she told followers to arm themselves and be ready for action as the election period heats up. Echoing Trumpian rhetoric about unspecified enemies lurking in the shadows, Lake told supporters: Theyre coming after us with lawfare, theyre going to come after us with everything. Thats why the next six months is going to be intense.

She continued: And we need to strap on ourlets see, what do we want to strap on? Were going to strap on our, our seat belt. Were going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We are going to put on the armor of God. And maybe strap on a Glock on the side of us just in case.

Lake, a diehard MAGA fangirl, has repeated Donald Trumps stolen election lies and remade them in her own image, falsely claiming that the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election was stolen from her. Her preemptive comments to supporters to ready themselves with weapons for an intense election this year, when combined with her past refusal to concede other races and her dedication to Trump, stirred memories of the former presidents Jan. 6 speech, in which he told followers to fight like hell before they stormed the Capitol.

Kari Lake Cant Make Up Her Mind About This 1864 Abortion Ban

That comparison wasnt lost on Kelly, who would have to serve alongside Lake if she were elected to Arizonas other senate seat. He told Welker he was very concerned about the possibility of a local insurrection if Lake refuses to concede a loss in November.

We have Kari Lake on the ballot in the Senate race, who is also talking about how the 2020 election was stolen here from Donald Trump. Clearly wasnt, he said. Same thing in 2022 when she ran for governor. Shes on the ballot again.

He warned that even if Lake is not elected, her platform and sizable following mean that her words could actually incite actual harmunless she acts responsibly to keep her supporters in check.

Absolutely words can translate into violence, especially when they come from somebody who is in a leadership position, Kelly told Welker on Sunday.

And Kari Lakes never been elected to anythingI dont expect her to get elected to anything, he continued, but when youre a candidate for the United States Senate, you need to be careful with your words.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, left, listens to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talk about his recent trip to the Middle East, at the McCain Institute's Sedona Forum in Sedona, Ariz., Friday, May 3, 2024. | Jake Bacon

Israelis and Palestinians have both been absolutely traumatized by the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, and the subsequent war in Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Utah Sen. Mitt Romney Friday.

And when this conflict ends, building back from that trauma is going to be an extraordinary task, Blinken said.

At the time of the attack, Israel and Saudi Arabia were just days away from normalizing relations, Blinken said, something he hopes might still happen.

Romney interviewed Blinken at the McCain Institutes 2024 Sedona Forum, held Friday and Saturday in Sedona, Arizona. They discussed the war in Gaza, and the possibilities for a cease-fire, as well as the relationship between China and the U.S., and the continuing war in Ukraine.

Romney had high praise for Blinken, saying he is a thoughtful, perceptive, intellectually curious devoted person, dedicated, determined, indefatigable, who has traveled the world time and time again. Not a person of bombast, but a person who listens and is soft-spoken. We are very fortunate to have a man of that kind of quality, experience and character as our current secretary.

Blinken returned the praise, saying, Mitt Romney is a man of extraordinary principle married to extraordinary pragmatism. Its a rare combination, and Ive gotten to see that up close these last few years.

On the Middle East

Blinken discussed the Biden administrations latest attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which includes a cease-fire agreement Israel has already agreed to.

In this moment, the best thing that can happen would be for the agreement thats on the table, thats being considered by Hamas, to have a cease-fire, the release of hostages, the possibility of really surging humanitarian assistance to people who so desperately need it. Thats what were focused on, Blinken said.

The only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a cease-fire is Hamas. So we look to see what they will do, he said.

He also said the administration continues to focus on trying to get humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza.

We are working every single day, the presidents working every single day, to make sure that we are doing what we can so that the people in Gaza, who are caught in a crossfire of Hamas making, get the help, the assistance, the support they need, he said.

Blinken said he was worried about the demonization going on in relation to the conflict, particularly in the U.S., saying it is a poison that we have to fight constantly.

Blinken said he also sees promising developments, like the desire in Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, something he said he was working on before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

In fact, I was due to go to Israel and Saudi Arabia on Oct. 10 to work on this and, in particular, to work on the Palestinian piece of the puzzle  because for us, for the Saudis, if were able to move forward on normalization, it has to include also moving forward on the aspirations of the Palestinian people, he said.

Blinken also addressed Irans unprecedented direct attack on Israel.

Some people said, Well, it was designed so it wouldnt do much much damage, carefully calibrated. Nothing of the sort. More than 300 projectiles launched at Israel, including more than 100 ballistic missiles.

Its because Israel had very effective defenses, but also because the president of the United States managed to rally on short notice, a collection of countries to help, that damage was not done, he said.

Romney asked Blinken why Hamas has not agreed to the cease-fire proposals that have been put on the table.

Blinken said the leaders of Hamas live in Qatar, or other places, and the decision makers are in Gaza. But, Blinken said, if Hamas does represent the Palestinian people, as they purport to, agreeing to the latest cease-fire proposal would be a no-brainer.

On Israels Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said no matter what people think of the prime minister, what hes doing is actually a reflection of where a large majority of Israelis are in this moment.

Blinken said the Biden administration is trying to share with Israel not only what is in the U.S.s interest, but what they feel is in Israels interest, especially when it comes to a possible invasion of Rafah, which Israel has been speaking about since February, as they try to recover the remaining hostages.

Given the number of Palestinians in the city  Blinken estimated there are 1.4 million Palestinians there  absent a credible plan to genuinely protect the civilians who are in harms way ... we cant support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond whats acceptable, he said.

Blinken said Israel has a right to defend itself, and questioned why the world had moved on from talking about Hamas attack on Oct. 7, but he reiterated the importance of protecting civilians.

Romney asked why has Israels PR been so awful.

Blinken attributed the worlds criticism of Israel to the inescapable reality of the suffering in Gaza, as well as the current information environment. In the past, people looked to major national news outlets like The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal for their news, but now the way this has played on social media has dominated the narrative, he said.

This means much of the history, context and facts are lost to an emotional response, he added.

When Romney asked whether a two state solution was still possible, Blinken said it is an imperative for peace in the region, especially as nations like Saudi Arabia look at normalizing relations with Israel.

Blinken on China and Ukraine

Blinken said the Biden administration is trying to establish regular dialogue with all levels of the Chinese government, including with the military.

He said theyre also trying to approach China from a position of strength, including by expanding domestic manufacturing, especially in the area of microchips, and are also working with European partners on the issue.

The biggest killer in the U.S. right now is fentanyl, he said, and many of the components are legally made in China for other uses but then are diverted for use by criminal enterprises, and so the U.S. is putting pressure on China to take action against the enterprises engaged in the fentanyl trade.

Romney said as a businessman, he looks at China and thinks theyve done a brilliant job with strategy, including with their Belt and Road Initiative, which is a network of roads, ports and infrastructure projects in their region and across the world.

Without having to worry about antitrust laws, Romney said China has been able to build monopolies in several industries and then they compete with American companies, sometimes driving them out of business.

On Ukraine, Blinken praised Romney for helping to pass the latest aid bill for Ukraine, which put Romney at odds with some members of his party.

I do not understand how anyone can argue that we shouldnt provide weapons to Ukraine, Romney said. He asked Blinken what he thinks is the pathway forward for Ukraine.

I believe profoundly that in so many ways, despite the incredible challenge that Ukraine is facing, its already succeeded and Russia has already lost, Blinken said, given Russias goal of trying to capture control of the whole country.

Blinken: Ongoing thirst for American engagement in the world

As Romney and Blinken wrapped up their conversation, Blinken said the world continues to have an ongoing thirst for American engagement (and) for American leadership, adding that if the U.S. doesnt continue to engage, someone else will and probably not in a way that advances our interests and values.

We cant go it alone, and we cant go away. And thats what were determined to make sure were focused on as we carry on these next months, he said.
Budd and guns

Sen. Ted Budds office issued a statement after the police shooting in Charlotte. While offering prayers for those who were killed, it also said: Senator Budd believes that we should keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals without violating the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Individuals may have the right to own a hand gun to protect their home and family and a rifle to hunt, but do individuals have the Second Amendment right to own and possess a weapon that was designed to be a weapon of war to kill multiple individuals in seconds?

Budds prayers are welcome, but his statement is without merit. Lets bring some sense to our interpretation of the Second Amendment. If someone owns a weapon of war, let them secure them in a National Guard Armory where they belong. This is the only way for them to be well regulated as the Second Amendment demands.

Michael Rakouskas, Burlington

Campus protests

Shortly after I arrived as a freshman at UNC in 1972, Palestinian terrorists murdered Israeli athletes at the Olympics. I remember feeling a sense of solidarity and support when the entire campus turned out for a candlelight vigil for the murdered Israelis.

Today I look at what is happening on the UNC campus and at other campuses across the U.S. and I am profoundly sad, disappointed, and confused.

Where are the protests rallying for the release of the hostages? Where are the protests rallying against the depravity and sexual violence committed by Palestinian terrorists on Oct.7?

I support political protest and I support free speech, but its very apparent that some of the pro-Palestinian protests frequently have morphed into anti-Jewish hate speech, as well as acts of violence and intimidation directed at Jewish students.

Stef Mendell, Raleigh

School vouchers

Regarding NC Senate backs private school vouchers for all. Democrats call it welfare for wealthy, (May 2):

The writer is communications director at Public Schools First NC.

It was extremely disheartening to hear state Sen. Ralph Hise, who co-chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, misrepresent the legislatures responsibility for education Wednesday as the committee voted to increase private school voucher funding.

Hise said: The right of providing the education for a child is the states responsibility, and we are using private centers to do that.

In fact, according to the N.C. Constitution, it is the states responsibility to provide a free, public education. There is no state responsibility to provide for private education.

If our legislative leaders have such a poor grasp of the state constitution that they dont comprehend one of the most important responsibilities of their job, then they have no business being in state government.

Heather Koons, Raleigh

Special ed dollars

The writer is a retired NC child advocate.

Paige Mastens April 30 Opinion column did a good job of describing how the Opportunity Scholarship vouchers do not provide school choice for many, many families. However, she omitted one group: the roughly 10% of students who need and benefit from special education. Private schools are not required to provide special education, and very few do. This means that families with such children do not have the option of using vouchers.

Moreover, the money the voucher system drains from the public schools makes it harder for them to provide the enriched services that special education students need. So, using our taxes to support a voucher system makes it harder for the most vulnerable children to get the education they deserve. Theres something very wrong with this picture.

Tom Vitaglione, Cary

Voucher whining

Instead of whining and complaining that the school voucher system doesnt help 100% of N.C. students, why not celebrate the fact that so many students now have a choice when they and their parents didnt before? If a plan has to be perfect or not at all, it will never be done. Listen to some of the students and parents who have benefited from the voucher program and you will hear how much it helped the students achieve a higher level of success.

Bill Mannheim, Cary
Several officers investigating in Oregon District in Dayton

Several officers are investigating following an incident at the Oregon District early Sunday morning.

>>We just ran; Family displaced by Dayton apartment fire reflects on what happened

Dayton Police officers were dispatched at 1:50 a.m. to E. Fifth Street in the Oregon District.

Montgomery County Regional Dispatch told News Center 7 that officers responded to a report of shots fired but could not confirm that anyone was shot.

Initial scanner traffic indicated officers closed the Oregon District, but dispatchers could not confirm that.

News Center 7 has reached out to Dayton Police for more information.

We will continue to provide updates.
(KRON)  Colma police arrested a suspect for throwing big rocks at another man after fighting on the street, the Colma Police Department reports.

Police received calls of the altercation on Tuesday. Calls were of an assault in progress in the parking lot of a shopping center near the 200 block of Colma Boulevard.

Officers arrived on the scene and detained a man with the description given to police.

Woman arrested for illegal SF gambling den; guns, drugs, machines seized

After speaking to witnesses, police said the suspect walked up to the victim and punched him in the face.

The suspect then grabbed the victim by his shirt collar and forcefully dragged him, against his will, toward the street, police said.

After witnesses separated the suspect and the victim, the suspect then grabbed multiple rocks and threw them at the victim, missing him, police said.

The victim sustained moderate injuries and was treated at the scene by the Colma Fire Department.

Police identified Joal Antoniomedina, a 34-year-old San Francisco resident, as the suspect.

Anotniomedina has since been arrested for kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the San Mateo County Jail, police said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A sheriffs deputy who was shot during a gunfight with a burglary suspect in Colfax is recovering in the hospital and may be discharged soon.

The Placer County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post Sunday morning that Deputy Richard Porter was eating well and that he even took some steps. The agency did not describe the nature of his injuries, but deputies told dispatchers after the shooting that he had a gunshot wound to the neck.

His one-year anniversary with the agency was Saturday, said Sgt. David Smith, a spokesman for the Sheriffs Office. In November, he completed training with the Sacramento County Sheriffs Academy.

The Sheriffs Office said in the post that Porter could be released by Monday.

He was injured Friday morning, the Sheriffs Office said, after deputies patrolling an area of the city saw a van that matched the description of a vehicle sought in connection with a recent burglary. Following a tense exchange, the Sheriffs Office said the man, identified later as Stephen Todd Sharp, shot at deputies. Deputies fired back, the agency said.

During the gunfight Porter was hit and later airlifted from the scene.

More deputies arrived and Sharp, 37, was later found dead inside his vehicle. The agency did not say if he died from a gunshot wound. The Sheriffs Office said he was originally from Tennessee, but had been living out of his van in the Colfax area.

Agency detectives are investigating the shooting and the deputies who fired shots have been placed on administrative leave. The incident will also be reviewed by the Placer County District Attorneys Office, officials said.

The Sheriffs Office said it would continue to provide updates on Porters condition.

Porter is married and expecting his first child in a few weeks, according to the Placer 10-35 Foundation, a group that raises money for law enforcement in the county. It created a online fundraising webpage to try and bring in $25,000 to help with costs related to his recovery and his new child.
Vice President Kamala Harris became the first sitting vice president to visit a clinic that provides abortions in St. Paul on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer).

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will join Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Montgomery County on Wednesday, the Biden-Harris campaign confirmed Sunday.

First reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the event will be focused on reproductive freedom, part of Harris tour through battleground states to speak about abortion access. In April, Harris made campaign stops in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada where she focused on reproductive rights And in March, she spoke at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, believed to be the first sitting president or vice president to visit an abortion provider.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Photo via Knight Foundation CC BY-SA 2.0)

Harris spoke in Jacksonville, Florida on May 1, the day a six-week abortion ban took effect in the state, and put the responsibility for the new restrictions directly at the feet of former President Donald Trump.

As of this morning, 4 million women in this state woke up with fewer reproductive freedoms than they had last night. This is the new reality, under a Trump abortion ban, Harris said during the Jacksonville appearance.

Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP nominee for president, said in a recent wide-ranging Time magazine interview that he plans to release more details soon about how his administration would regulate access to medication abortion.

He told the magazine he has strong views about access to mifepristone, one of the drugs used in medication abortions. He did not rule out a nationwide ban, or imposing new restrictions on abortion during the interview. On the campaign trail, Trump has noted he appointed three of the U.S. Supreme Court justices who were instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade.

Ralph, who is married to state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), has spoken out on abortion access before, appearing at a Bans Off Our Bodies rally in Harrisburg in 2022, as the country awaited the Supreme Court ruling that eventually overturned Roe v. Wade. At the 2022 event, Ralph said, no one else should have the right to tell me what to do with my own body.

She and Harris also have appeared together before, including at an event in Ghana last year.

Ralph stars in the Philadelphia-set TV sitcom Abbott Elementary as teacher Barbara Howard, a role that won her an Emmy award in 2022.

Further details about Wednesdays visit were not available Sunday. The trip will be Harris third to Pennsylvania this year; in February she appeared in Pittsburgh to tout the Biden administrations dedication of $5.8 billion in federal funding toward lead pipe removal and clean water projects, including more than $200 million in Pennsylvania. She spoke to educators in Philadelphia last month about the administrations push to reduce student loan debt.

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The post Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary to appear in MontCo with VP Kamala Harris appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
BENZONIA, Mich. (WOOD)  Black bears that were once common in West Michigan are slowly returning, posing a threat not just to residents and pets, but to local farmers and their bottom lines.

The latest data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the black bear population in the Lower Peninsula has risen 55% from 2012  with approximately 2,000 bears roaming the northern portion of the peninsula.

DNR: Black bear population slowly creeping down into West Michigan

And though that surge has stabilized, that fast increase has forced Michigans black bears to move further south, even as far as Muskegon and Newaygo counties, searching for land and food to claim as their own.

Unfortunately, for farmers like Ron Gillison, bears seem to love his corn fields. He fears as the bear population moves south, it will become a bigger problem for more and more farmers.

Gillison is no stranger to the farm industry. He grew up on a farm, raised cattle as a high schooler and now oversees 22 farms and runs a company that manufactures farm equipment in Benzie and Oceana County.

He told News 8 that he remembers seeing his first bear on one of his farms in the 1970s. He saw a few more in the 1980s. But over the last 10 to 15 years, bears have become a major problem.

A farmer spots two bears in the distance on his farm. (Courtesy Ron Gillison)

It kind of moves around a little bit, varies year to year depending on how much pressure we put on them. But the bear damage can be quite severe because they move into the fields and they dont leave, Gillison explained. They like our irrigated stuff. They move into those fields because they feel secure because the corn is tall and thick. Mainly, the sows and cubs move in, and they raise them there.

He estimates that bears damage crops on roughly two-thirds of his farms in any given year.

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It might be a strip anywhere from 30 to 60 foot wide or even just a big square block where they have knocked every stalk down. They just laid there and ate half of it off the top, then got another one and ate another half. Theyre kind of sloppy eaters, Gillison said. Its as much psychological as it is economical because, as a farmer, we take pride in what our fields look like.

While deer are also a problem, Gillison says bears make a bigger impact on profits.

The downed corn stalks are a telltale sign that a bear had visited a farmers corn field. (Courtesy Ron Gillison)

The downed corn stalks are a telltale sign that a bear had visited a farmers corn field. (Courtesy Ron Gillison)

Deer do a fair amount of damage, but they dont like good corn. They like corn that is a little stunted, so they can see. They get nervous when the corn stalks are a long way above their head, he said.

And corn isnt the only crop at risk. Orchards can also become a perennial target.

The local growers that I work with. A lot of their younger cherry trees dont get harvested the first few years because its not economically feasible. Theres not enough fruit on them. But when you leave that fruit there, the bears will come in and they will tear a tree right down to the ground, he said.

Gillison has worked with the DNR to trap bears on his properties, which are then released anywhere from 70 to 100 miles away. In 2022, he claims he trapped seven bears in the span of two weeks.

Ron Gillison frequently uses bear traps on his farm to prevent crop damage. (Courtesy Ron Gillison)

He has also opened up his land to hunters using the Crop Damage Permit Program. That was established in 2014 thanks to legislation supported by state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, a farmer who has personal experience with bear damage.

One bear can do an outstanding amount of damage, McBroom explained to the Great Lakes Echo. Its not just frustrating because of the money. You spend a lot of hours planting the field out, picking rocks. You fertilize, you spread manure. I spend a lot of hours (on my fields).

DNR starts field trial to vaccinate wild deer for bovine tuberculosis

Cody Norton, a bear specialist with the Michigan DNR, says the Crop Damage Permit Program allows hunters to take animals outside of legal hunting season.

We can issue a permit to a farmer or a landowner with agricultural problems from bears, which allows them to connect with a hunter who has a current year tag, Norton told News 8. Then, that hunter can hunt outside of the normal season. So, they can hunt even earlier when that corn or whatever it is might be when the bears are actually targeting it. That might not be during the bear season.

So, how do we fix the problem? Hunting regulations dictate that you cant just harvest a bear for any reason. State law says bears can only be killed if there is a direct threat to life or property, but crops dont qualify as property.

McBroom attended a Natural Resources Commission meeting earlier this year to talk about bear damage but there doesnt appear any changes are imminent.

DNR looking for volunteers to monitor water quality on inland lakes

I think he at least made some comments that (McBroom) was interested in trying to update (the 2014 legislation) or build upon it or look for ways to be able to mitigate conflict, but there is nothing specific that I know of right now, Norton said.

A representative from McBrooms office confirmed to News 8 that there are no bills on the immediate horizon. Instead, the DNR and other agencies will work on alternative solutions, mostly non-lethal.

(AP file)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently added a new position in the DNRs Baldwin Unit  which covers the northern Lower Peninsula  devoted to addressing bear damage. There is a heavy emphasis on things like electric fence systems, noisemakers and even scent deterrents. But they arent always practical and not necessarily successful.

(We are) trying to develop plans for how they can try to mitigate damage from bears, loaning out or helping them set up their own electric fence systems, especially for apiaries or smaller (farms). But it depends. If you have thousands of acres or hundreds of acres of corn, it might not be something you can fence, Norton explained.

State lawmakers urge DNR to decide against criminal charges in wolf incident

So far, the farm damage in West Michigan isnt as extensive as what the state has seen further north. Norton hopes it stays that way.

From 2012 to 2016, nuisance reports involving bears quadrupled in the northern Lower Peninsula. But ever since, the levels have stabilized, and 2022 had the lowest number of calls since 2015.

Are bears learning the lay of the new land and adapting? Are the non-lethal techniques working? Time will tell. For now, farmers further north like Gillison will have to continue to fight the pests each year.

I carry a good-sized handgun with me when Im in the corn fields, he said. When you walk onto a bear thats within 8, 10 feet of you, its not a lot of fun.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not reckless enough to attack a NATO country, Polish foreign minister Radosaw Sikorski said in an interview with BBC World, as reported by the Polish outlet RMF24 on May 4.

The Polish FM was asked how much he considers Russia to be a threat to Poland. Although he doesn't believe Putin is reckless enough to attack a NATO country, Putin is reckless enough to attack Ukraine and has become a war criminal.

Sikorski also emphasized that Poland won't rule out anything when it comes to sending troops to Ukraine, particularly because it helps create a situation where Putin is not sure of what the West will do.

"We will not show our cards, Sikorski said. "We will let President Putin wonder what we will do.

French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that he would consider sending troops to Ukraine in the breakthrough at the front or if Ukraine requested it.

Kyiv has not appealed to the West to send its troops to Ukraine, instead asking for increased arms supplies to help Ukrainian soldiers fend off Russian aggression.

Sikorski expressed satisfaction with the passing of the American aid bill following months of delays and political infighting.

"Ukraine desperately needs anti-aircraft missiles to protect its industry, to protect its power plants, and to protect its infrastructure. I think it is much better to spend money on defending Ukraine than having to rebuild it later...I think President Putin would do well to acknowledge his invasion as a mistake and make a new calculation, taking into account that we will help Ukraine as long as necessary."

Finally, the Polish official said that the war in Ukraine can only end when Putin "understands that the cost of continuing it, in terms of human life and financial costs, is higher than the goal he wants to achieve."

While Poland has been a staunch ally to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, prolonged border blockades led by Polish farmers have led to deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Warsaw.

The blockade along the entire Polish-Ukrainian border was lifted on April 29 after Polish protesters had stopped their blockade at the Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska crossing point, according to Ukraine's Border Guard Service.

Read also: Sikorski: We want to help Ukraine, but you must decide how long you are ready to go on

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Sources: Hamas and Qatar teams in Cairo for talks on Gaza deal

Palestinians inspect the destroyed buildings after the Israeli attack on Al-Maghazi refugee camp as Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Teams from the Palestinian militant group Hamas and mediator Qatar arrived in the Egyptian capital on Saturday for further talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel, sources at the Cairo airport said.

Both teams arrived aboard a flight from Qatar, they added.

Egypt's state-affiliated broadcaster al-Qahera News also reported the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo and cited "significant progress" in negotiations to reach the deal.

The broadcaster, citing what it termed as a high-level source, said the Egyptian security team engaged in the negotiations had reached a "consensus formula" on several contentious issues. No specific details were given.

Israel, meanwhile, is reportedly not sending a team to Cairo. A delegation will only be sent to Egypt once Hamas has responded to the current proposed ceasefire agreement, Israel's Kan radio reported on Saturday, citing a government representative.

Israel plans to send a delegation to continue indirect negotiations with Hamas if the militant organization agrees to the draft deal presented, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted a high-ranking Israeli official as saying.

Israel has been bombarding the Gaza Strip from the ground and air since Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel in October that left about 1,200 people dead.

As part of the latest mediation efforts, Hamas, which abducted some 250 people from Israel on October 7, was presented with a proposal for a ceasefire in return for the release of remaining hostages. A response is still pending.

More than 100 hostages were released during a six-day truce in November. It is unclear how many of those remaining in captivity are still alive.

As of Friday, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said the death toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks lanuched in response to the October 7 attacks stood at 34,622.

Months of mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United States in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have yet to result in a breakthrough. A diplomatic push to clinch a deal has picked momentum over the past days.

Late Friday evening, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at an event in Arizona that it was challenging to understand Hamas' thought process.

"The leaders of Hamas that we're indirectly engaged with through the Qataris, through the Egyptians, are of course living outside of Gaza, living in Qatar or living in [Turkey], other places, and the ultimate decision makers are the folks who are actually in Gaza itself with whom none of us have direct contact," he said.

Blinken said if Hamas was really concerned about the well-being of the Palestinians, then agreeing to the ceasefire deal that is on the table should be a "no-brainer."

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out an airstrike on a rocket launch site in the southern Gaza Strip.

Fighter jets hit the militant site near the city of Khan Younis after a rocket was fired from there toward the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz on Friday, the IDF said.

A mortar launching site in central Gaza was also destroyed, a statement said. The Israeli navy has also conducted strikes along Gaza's coast over the past day.

According to Palestinian security services, the Israeli army attacked a building in the village of Abasan in the east of Khan Younis and shelled refugee camps in the central part of the Palestinian territory.

It said at least one Palestinian was killed in the the Israeli navy lstrikes.

The IDF also reported the killing of a leader of the Islamic Jihad militant organization. The military said that Aiman Zaarab, one of the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade commanders, was responsible for the organization's attack on kibbutz of Sufa in southern Israel and a military post there during the October 7 attacks.

"Along with Zaarab, two additional Islamic Jihad terrorists who were staying in his operational apartment were eliminated during the strike," the IDF added.

Palestinians inspect the destroyed buildings after the Israeli attack on Al-Maghazi refugee camp as Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians inspect the destroyed buildings after the Israeli attack on Al-Maghazi refugee camp as Israeli attacks continue in Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
By Tim Cocks

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - An inquiry into a fire that killed 77 people in Johannesburg last year blamed neglect by authorities for allowing a building to become a den for guns, murder, drugs and combustible trash, and failing to evacuate it once it was clear it was a hazard.

South Africa opened the inquiry last October to determine responsibility for the blaze on Aug. 31 last year in the rundown centre of its commercial hub.

The fire cast light on the gangs that seize abandoned public buildings to illegally rent them out. Many victims were so badly burned they had to be identified with DNA testing.

"No case amply demonstrates the consequences of failure to comply with the obligations the law placed on a municipality (than) ... the calamity (of the fire)," the report said.

A spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in the full report, which Reuters reviewed, the justices said the city "acknowledges that it failed to comply with the applicable laws".

It had said, however, that it should not be held accountable since the building's decline was facilitated by "the illegal conduct of the residents, threats issued ... to its officials and the hijacking of the building".

Johannesburg is one of the world's most unequal cities. Well-to-do leafy suburbs containing houses with private swimming pools lie next to informal settlements where poverty and joblessness are rife.

Panyaza Lesufi, premier for Guateng, the province that includes Johannesburg, promised to swiftly implement the report's recommendations.

"If one thing makes me have sleepless nights, it's the state of ... (central) Johannesburg," he told a news conference.

"It's an indictment on all of us."

The report said the building was regularly the scene of gunshot fire, murders, sex trafficking of teenagers and drug deals. A suspect had confessed to starting the fire to dispose of a murder victim he had killed while high on crystal meth.

It also said firefighters were too slow to respond to emergency calls, while authorities had failed to evacuate and demolish the building, collect the trash accumulating there, or to prevent firefighting equipment being removed for scrap.

(Reporting by Tim Cocks; editing by Barbara Lewis)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  This week on The Spectrum:

Young voters are becoming a major focus this election cycle as college students across the country protest on campus and criticize the Biden administrations handling of the war in Gaza.

There are limitations on every right that we have, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said.

Nearly 2,200 people have been arrested during college campus protests

How leaders are trying to balance free speech with student safety and why the unrest could spell trouble for Joe Bidens reelection campaign.

The only thing that Joe Biden really has going for him is Donald Trump, NewsNation political editor Chris Stirewalt said.

The one Democrat to beat Joe Biden in a primary contest this cycle wants to get young voters involved in a different way.

You can have marches all you want, you can tune out if you want, but it would be much better to kind of take over the government yourselves, get involved, Jason Palmer, a Democratic presidential candidate who won the U.S. Samoa primary, said.

Ohio lawmakers grapple over abortion amendment

Hear Palmers message to those who are disillusioned with their options.

A new bill at the Ohio Statehouse would tighten the states voter ID laws.

Building in those securities up into the system upfront, I think, protect everything, Ohio Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) said.

It will make lines longer on Election Day, it will make poll workers jobs harder, League of Women Voters Director Jen Miller said.

Ohio bill seeks to stop property tax hikes

Is it about election integrity or will it risk disenfranchising voters?

Are Ohios voter ID laws getting stricter? President and CEO of Innovation Ohio Desiree Tims and Republican strategist Matt Dole join the roundtable to weigh in on this issue plus the fallout of nationwide protests on college campuses.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Stark County townships say 'no' to solar and wind farms. Is it a fear of the unknown?

Stark County townships don't want large-scale solar and wind projects built in their communities.

County commissioners surveyed the 17 townships to find out if they were opposed to or favored such projects because, under Ohio Senate Bill 52, local governments have the power to veto projects over 50-megawatts. In the case of townships, the county government speaks for them.

The county commissioners may adopt a resolution designating all or part of unincorporated areas as a restricted area, prohibiting construction of the projects.

Stark townships had until Wednesday to respond to the county survey. Fourteen said no, while the other three didn't respond.

Who's opposed? Canton, Jackson, Lake, Lawrence, Lexington, Nimishillen, Osnaburg, Paris, Pike, Plain, Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas and Washington townships requested the commissioners vote to prohibit large solar facilities and large wind farms 50-megawatts or more, as well as economically significant wind farms between five and 50-megawatts.

Marlboro Township asked commissioners to prohibit large solar facilities and large wind farms but did not request action on economically significant wind farms.

The remaining three townships, Bethlehem, Perry and Sandy, have not taken any action.

Commissioners will now proceed with a required public hearing before passing a resolution disallowing them in those communities that don't want them.

Solar farms have become a hot topic in Stark because several projects are proposed, including a 150-megawatt solar farm in Washington Township. That project is planned by Stark Solar, a subsidiary of Samsung C&T. There also are smaller projects proposed in Bethlehem and Lawrence townships.

So what's the problem with solar and wind farms? Some people have voiced concerns over their appearance (as in they are ugly), potential noise, potential impact on property values and wildlife, and safety.

But we have to wonder if some of the opposition is merely a case of "not in my backyard" and just being afraid of the unknown. A nationwide study released earlier this year by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that neighbors living within 3 miles of existing large-scale solar projects generally had more positive than negative attitudes about solar farms.

But respondents were more likely to have positive attitudes toward smaller projects. Attitudes involving 100-plus megawatt projects were 12-to-1 negative.

In a good sign, 42% of respondents would support additional large-scale solar projects in their community, compared to 18% that would oppose them.

Repository staff writer Grace Springer stopped by two smaller solar farms built in 2020 and owned by the city of Wadsworth in Medina County to see how neighbors there feel.

Peggy Ewald, owner of White Timbers Winery, had no issues with her business being next door to a solar farm.

"We're happy having that nice neighbor," she said. "There could be far worse neighbors than that."

Of course, these solar farms also have the potential to displace agricultural farms, as Reuters pointed out in a recent story.

We encourage the county commissioners  and anyone who's opposed or in favor  to talk with people who live and work near such facilities now to gauge whether they really are bad for a community.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County townships say 'no' to solar and wind farms. But why?
The U.S. national debt is near its politically unsustainable level. That means substantive changes to both taxes and spending in the foreseeable future, which also means less federal funding for state and local governments.

County government, municipal government, schools, libraries and other local governments need to start planning now for a future with far less federal money.

At the start of the Great Recession, our national debt hovered at roughly 60 percent of gross domestic product. Today, it is a tad bit over 120%. Right now, the federal government is spending about 23.4% of GDP, while collecting taxes of about 17.4 percent of GDP.

Michael Hicks

The last time we balanced our national budget, both taxes and spending ran between 19 percent and 20 percent of GDP. That seems like a reasonable political compromise: raising taxes substantially and cutting spending substantially. By substantially, I mean reversing all the tax cuts and spending growth of the past 25 years.

Theres no easy way to do this.

For example, our entire military budget is at a post-World War II low of 2.7% of GDP. We could eliminate all the armed forces, and sell all our equipment, and it would not cut the annual deficit by half.

We could eliminate the Veterans Administration, the departments of education, energy, state and agriculture, and still not balance the budget.

We could cut all our foreign aid, all our research and development spending, and yet the savings wouldnt round up to one-thousandth of the debt.

To balance the budget, we will need to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Those cuts wont come just in the future. They will need to come to current recipients.

To balance the budget, we also will need to raise taxes on everyone. Those tax increases cannot be limited just the rich or super rich; everyone will see an increase in taxes.

I know this is an unpleasant realization that is probably causing many readers to come slightly unglued. Sorry, the arithmetic is unavoidable.

There are no easy answers. Theres no tax cut that will generate rapid economic growth, nor is there some magical spending mix that will cause a big spike in productivity. I wish there were, but there is not. This debt will be lowered the old-fashioned way.

Among the unavoidable casualties of budget cuts will be significantly fewer intergovernmental transfers, from a wide range of programs.

Many local governments have come to anticipate federal spending. Poor places, in particular, receive a disproportionate share of federal spending on roads, housing, economic development, education, health care and social services.

Story continues

I dont think local governments should be viewing this with dread. Instead, I think it is, in the words of FDR, preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.

Prospering communities are mostly a consequence of local action, not state or federal largesse. Even in places where state or federal development efforts are effective, as in Indianas Regional Cities Initiative, the effects are modest when compared to the benefits of local action.

Sometime over the next decade or so, we are almost certain to enter a period in which state and local governments can expect much lower federal spending. It would be wise to begin preparing residents.

If you want additional or improved infrastructure, better schools and other quality of life improvements, now is the time to begin planning those investments.

I recommend a three-part approach.

First, there must be a frank review of local economic conditions. There are more than 200 Midwestern counties in the midst of long-term economic and population decline. It takes courage to confront unpleasant facts head on. Without doing so, no place will be lucky enough to reverse economic course.

A second step is to take stock of the policies that youve been using for the past several decades.

I am amazed at the number of places that complain of inadequate school or municipal funding, while spending millions of dollars a year on traditional economic development.

Add up all the assessed value locked into tax increment financing (TIF) or in property tax abatements and assess that value at the current tax rate. Add up the cost of your economic development office, and any direct spending program, like a revolving loan fund.

The results will shock and dismay. There is no community in the Midwest where traditional business attraction policies have yielded prosperity. Id be very surprised if a single county saw the benefits of that spending outweigh the costs over any 10-year period since the 1970s.

For the 200 or so Midwestern counties in decline, the level of lost spending on attracting new businesses will be terribly vexing. These are exactly the same places in need of vast infrastructure improvement, ranging from bridge replacement and new schools to water and sewer facilities. This process should make clear that theres plenty of resources to support local improvements. They are simply being misspent.

Finally, local governments should think hard about what residents want out of their communities. Dont ask them what types of economic development they want. Ask them what they want their community to be for their families. They should be asked in surveys and focus groups, preferably after theyve seen presentations about economic conditions and their economic development policy history in their city or county.

In most cases, youll hear about a lot of little things: parks, eateries and recreational activities. Some will want their school to be better  particularly if theyve seen clear data on student outcomes. I suspect most people will want a city or county that could keep their children around after they graduate.

These steps will allow local elected leaders and their constituents better understand the challenges of tighter federal budgets and fewer federal resources to poor places. They may also set a community on a healthier past, focused more on the building blocks of prosperity, and less on economic development policies crafted for the middle of the last century.

Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D., is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Local governments need to plan now for changes caused by U.S. debt
State police officers arrested around 25 pro-Palestine protestors at the University of Virginia (UVa.) on Saturday.

Saturday was the fifth day of the ongoing protests in Charlottesville, Va., where calls for the school to divest from Israel continued.

A group called UVA Encampment for Gaza called for the school to disclose all investments and refrain from using its endowment to invest in institutions connected to Israel.

Tents were set up on Friday, which, along with megaphone use, were in violation of the institutions policy. They were not cleared on Friday since, according to the school, children were in the area, rain was pouring and the protestors were peaceful. They were then cleared on Saturday.

Police officers equipped with riot gear confronted the protestors Saturday afternoon.

Jim Ryan, UVAs president, said the school supports free speech, but the institution has to enforce its policies to make sure expression does not interfere with the rights of others.

Unfortunately, a small group today made a choice to willingly break the rules after being given many opportunities to comply, and they then refused to leave the site voluntarily, Ryan said in a statement on Saturday.

Those who were arrested were taken to Albemarle County Regional Jail, according to multiple media reports.

The school said it is still waiting for an answer regarding how many protestors were affiliated with the institution.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Pike Creek Republican state Rep. Mike Ramone says he wont seek reelection to the House of Representatives this year, opting to run for Delaware governor, instead.

Ramone announced his intentions to run in the First States gubernatorial race during an interview with a Delmarva radio talk show on Friday, explaining that he plans to file his candidacy on Monday.

Ramone in a news release from the House Republican Caucus sent out Friday announced the Republican incumbent would not seek reelection to the 21st District seat in November.

Ramone, who currently serves as the House Minority Leader, expects to relocate downstate, which would prevent him from retaining the seat. Plus, the release stated, Ramone expects to run for governor.

I was uncomfortable seeking a new House term under those circumstances, he said in the release. While I am excited to kick off a new venture in the coming days, I will certainly miss directly serving the citizens of the 21st District.

DELAWARE GOVERNOR'S RACE: GOP chair says she'll run, setting up a Republican primary race

Ramones intentions to run for governor on the Republican line sets up a three-way primary for the ticket in September. Delaware GOP chair Julianne Murray says she will run for state governor and intends to file May 8. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerrold Price is on the ballot having filed his candidacy for the seat in December 2023.

Rep. Danny Short, right, talks with Rep. Mike Ramone during the final session of the legislative season in 2016.

The future of the 21st District

Ramone, who was first elected to the seat in 2008, narrowly won his reelection in 2022.

Two Democratic candidates are vying for the seat: Michael Smith, a former legislative aide and substitute teacher  not to be confused with Michael F. Smith, who is the District 22 representative, and Frank Burns, a climate activist and biotech entrepreneur who unsuccessfully challenged Ramone in 2022.

DELAWARE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: What seats are up for election? Races take shape

Along with serving as the House minority leader, Ramone sits on the administration, ethics, rules, legislative council and veterans affairs committees.

Ramone thanked his constituents for allowing him to serve them for the past 16 years.

Your support over the years has meant the world to Lisa and me, he said. My family is forever grateful to each of you.

The race for Delaware governor

The Republican contenders for governor will face one of three Democratic candidates for governor in the general election Nov. 5.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin OMara are all vying for the Democratic line.

ELECTION ISSUES: Rev. Al Sharpton returns to Delaware to rally voters, demand a more diverse court system

The Democratic candidates as well as the only filed Republican candidate for governor, Price, have been invited to a gubernatorial forum on Delawares education system hosted by Vision Coalition of Delaware at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Polytech High School near Woodside. This is the first event featuring the gubernatorial candidates to be held in Delaware.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Rep. Mike Ramone of District 21 plans to run for governor
State of Texas: Campus protest demands not likely to be met

AUSTIN (Nexstar)  Protesters at the University of Texas have made specific demands during their demonstrations on campus. So far, theres little sign that those demands will be met.

The demands are in four parts. The first one is for the University of Texas to divest from weapons manufacturing companies that sell arms to the Israel Defense Force. Supporters of divestment claim that the UT system funds the war in Gaza through those investments.

Despite protests, UT divestment from weapons unlikely

The next two demands deal with academic and legal immunity from prosecution or disciplinary action for their protests, whether they were arrested for them or not.

The fourth demand is the resignation of UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. This comes as about 600 faculty members signed a letter of no confidence, saying that they cant trust Hartzell anymore to protect students both physically and in the rights to free expression.

There is little, if any, indication that the university plans to address the protest demands.

The university is trying to impress upon the public that many of the protesters are not students who are protesting in good faith. Statements to the media have emphasized the number of people not affiliated with the university who have been arrested.

On Friday, the Houston Chronicle posted an opinion piece from Hartzell, where he said that the demonstrations on campus were criminal trespassing, not protests.

Protesters maintain that they will keep holding protests until their demands are met in full. That could set the stage for more tension, with graduation ceremonies scheduled in the coming week at the university.

Over 600 UT Austin faculty sign letter of no-confidence in President Hartzell

Hundreds of University of Texas at Austin faculty signed a letter saying they no longer have confidence in President Jay Hartzell, following a series of pro-Palestinian protests on campus over the last week.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: UT students, faculty demand university president resign after protest response

The UT Austin chapter of the American Association of University Professors was behind the letter, which was signed by more than 620 UT faculty members. For context, the university has 3,000 teaching faculty.

The letter states, President [Hartzell] has shown himself to be unresponsive to urgent faculty, staff, and student concerns. He has violated our trust.

The letter said Hartzell put people in danger by bringing state troopers to forcibly disperse students gathering for a peaceful teach-in.

The AAUP said it sent the letter to both Hartzell and the UT Faculty Council on Monday.

The letter demanded the following:

Criminal charges be dropped against students and others

Students not face disciplinary action at UT for the protest

The university respects the First Amendment free speech rights of students and faculty

In a statement released following the protest on April 24, Hartzell said, The protesters tried to deliver on their stated intent to occupy campus. People not affiliated with UT joined them, and many ignored University officials continual pleas for restraint and to immediately disperse.

Hartzell said the university was prepared, with the necessary support to maintain campus operations and ensure the safety, well-being and learning environment for our more than 50,000 students.

In a university statement following Mondays protest, UT said 45 of the 79 people arrested on campus were not affiliated with the university.

Law enforcement arrives at UT Austin campus as pro-Palestine protesters gather Monday, April 29, 2024 (KXAN Photo/Taryn Jones)

Law enforcement arrives at UT Austin campus as pro-Palestine protesters gather Monday, April 29, 2024 (KXAN Photo/Taryn Jones)

Law enforcement arrives at UT Austin campus as pro-Palestine protesters gather Monday, April 29, 2024 (KXAN Photo/Taryn Jones)

Law enforcement arrives at UT Austin campus as pro-Palestine protesters gather Monday, April 29, 2024 (KXAN Photo/Taryn Jones)

Law enforcement respond to pro-Palestine protest on UT campus Monday, April 29, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)

Additionally, the university said guns, buckets of large rocks and bricks were confiscated during Mondays protest.

Texas State University Political Science Professor William DeSoto said no-confidence votes dont carry any legal or official power to remove officials.

The appointments of university administrators are done by the Board of Regents, DeSoto said. The board of regents are appointed by the governor, and so they must make decisions about campus administrators.

However, studies show they can lead to change.

The Chronicle of Higher Education looked at more than 230 no-confidence votes dating back to 1989. They found that a little more than half of presidents ended up leaving office within a year.

Ultimately, DeSoto said it speaks to the relationship between faculty and the president.

This relationship is really important, DeSoto said. When the relationship is broken, I think this is damaging.

Hartzell has also received significant support for his response to the protests, including from donors and the Board of Regents. Gov. Greg Abbott praised the move to prevent protesters from creating encampments on campus. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, credited Hartzells approach for preventing the levels of violence seen on other campuses.

I suggest that these administrations take notes from my friend, UT Austin president Jay Hartzell, who has taken swift action to break up demonstrations before things turn violent, said Cornyn during a news conference in D.C.

Protest response differs on Texas campuses

There have been protests at other Texas colleges and universities, but not the same immediate police response seen at UT Austin, with a show of force from state, local and campus officers.

Internal memos we obtained from the university show leaders wanted significant police presence to prevent violent situations seen at encampments at other campuses around the country.

Jennifer Szimanski, Director of Public Affairs for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, said information about the initial rally likely led to the large response.

Deployment of this type of force is used when there is intelligence that is gathered that there are threats to the university, Szimanski said.

Raneem, a UT student taking part in the protest told us the response surprised her. I did not think we would be met with this much police presence, especially because all we were doing as students was expressing our First Amendment rights. She said protesters did not cause the conflict.

All the violence and chaos was incited by this institution and the police, she said.

Some Jewish students voiced support for the response, telling reporters they felt safer having the law enforcement on campus.

Dr. Roy Taylor, Chief of Capital Police in Raleigh, NC, says officers responding to a protest face a delicate balance.

I would start out with officers in regularly attired uniform, so that were not escalating the situation. Were not coming in in full riot gear and armored vehicles, Taylor said.

Its not that the law enforcement officers or agencies want to be involved in it right away, but they do need to plan and be prepared, Taylor added.

Journalist accused of assaulting officer during protest

Police arrested 57 people during the protest at UT Austin on April 24. Only one person still faces charges from that day.

Austin photojournalist Carlos Sanchez was handcuffed while on the job. His camera was sending live pictures from the scene when he was pulled to the ground by DPS and arrested. Sanchez was charged with interference and misdemeanor assault.

According to the arrest affidavit, DPS reviewed body camera footage and accused Sanchez of disobeying repeated commands to disperse. The affidavit said he intentionally lunged at a trooper at least two times, striking him with the camera between his lower neck and head area.

An attorney for Sanchez denied the claims in the affidavit, saying he inadvertently bumped into the trooper. In a statement, the attorney wrote we look forward to someone taking an unbiased look at the evidence and exonerating Mr. Sanchez.

The arrest sparked condemnation from more than 40 journalism and press freedom organizations. One of the fiercest critics is Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, president of the Society of Professional Journalists.

You have someone who has a 15-pound camera on his shoulder, his eye is in the eye scope, he can barely see whats going on around him by the way, hes live streaming. I dont know a lot of people who intentionally, especially if theyre a journalist, be filming live the action of committing a crime. It just doesnt make any sense, Blaize-Hopkins said.

She worries that the arrest could have a chilling effect on journalists covering protests.

We have a constitutional right to be on the ground to be the first witnesses and the rough draft of history so that we can keep the public informed. Just let us do our jobs, she said.

DPS said in a statement that it understands a journalists rights to cover events, and that the department works to protect those rights and to ensure that state law is followed. However, they believe that this incident was an assault.

Bill to define antisemitism passes U.S. House

Critics of the campus demonstrations claim some protestors are engaging in antisemitic behavior. But there are disputes over what antisemitism is, and is not. Some in Congress want to make the definition more clear.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act passed the House on Wednesday with bipartisan support. The vote came after Texas Republican congressman Michael Burgess helped push the bill through the House Rules Committee.

Congress must clearly define antisemitism so universities are empowered to take appropriate and decisive steps to keep Jewish students safe and respond to exercises of speech that are so hostile and discriminatory that its not covered by protections enshrined to the First Amendment, said Burgess during the committee hearing.

The bill aims to codify a definition of antisemitism in federal law. It relies on a definition of antisemitism established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

If the bill becomes law, the Department of Education would have more leeway to enforce anti-discrimination laws. Supporters believe the measure gives college administrators more ability to protect students.

Opponents say the bill violates protesters constitutional rights. Some lawmakers who voted against the bill raised concerns that criticism of the Israeli government could be considered antisemitic.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Tyler Broghammer, a sexually transmitted infection caseworker, opens a cooler filled with syringes of penicillin on April 24, 2024, at Oyate Health Center in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

Tyler Broghammer leaves his office nearly every day armed with a small blue cooler.

Inside is a weapon against South Dakotas syphilis epidemic: syringes of penicillin. The sexually transmitted infection case manager at Oyate Health Center in Rapid City also carries rapid STI tests and condoms on his near daily drive around town, meeting with people hes learned may have the disease.

Broghammer is one of two STI case managers at Oyate Health finding and treating people who have syphilis. The organization is one of several working to address the epidemic in South Dakota through collaborative partnerships.

COVID-19 completely overwhelmed screening

Syphilis is a bacterial infection most often spread through sex that can be cured, but can cause serious health problems without treatment and can be spread from mothers to unborn babies.

South Dakota experienced a 2,493% increase in adult syphilis cases from the five-year median in 2022, according to the state Department of Health, with 1,504 cases reported  the highest rate of syphilis cases in the country at the time. That was a 90% increase from 2021.

The number of syphilis cases in the state dropped in 2023 to 1,374 cases, according to the states infectious disease dashboard.

Syphilis cases are down by 335 cases in the first quarter of this year compared to 2023, according to a state Department of Health spokesperson.

The state had the second highest rate of congenital syphilis in the country in 2022 with 40 cases, which is 351.8 cases per 100,000 births, and was a 150% year-over-year increase. The state saw a 1,233% increase in congenital syphilis among infants from the five-year median in 2022.

The state reported 54 congenital syphilis cases in 2023 and 18 through April of that year. So far this year, there have been nine reported cases.

A cooler is filled with doses of penicillin on April 24, 2024, at the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

A cooler is filled with doses of penicillin on April 24, 2024, at the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

Syphilis was close to being eradicated in the United States in the 1990s, but cases in South Dakota were increasing in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Syphilis infections nationwide have climbed rapidly in recent years, reaching a 70-year high in 2022, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That rise comes amid a shortage of penicillin, the most effective treatment, due to the nationwide increase in syphilis cases. The shortage is predicted to last until the end of this year.

Hospitals were overwhelmed with treating the coronavirus in 2020 and 2021 and patients were hesitant to get screened or treated for STIs, said Meghan Curry OConnell, a member of the Cherokee Nation and chief public health officer at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board in Rapid City.

The whole system we have to make sure people are screened and treated for STIs was completely overwhelmed by COVID, like everything else, said Curry OConnell, who is a family physician by training. Particularly in South Dakota, added challenges included difficulty in accessing care in very rural areas, which compounded the impacts of the pandemic.

Native American communities hit hardest

Native American communities have been hit the hardest by the epidemic in South Dakota and nationally. About 90% of congenital syphilis cases in South Dakota are among Indigenous babies, according to the state Health Department.

Syphilis causes a range of symptoms, including rashes, sores and hair loss. But if the disease isnt treated, symptoms may go away even though the infection remains, making it a prolific spreader unless sexually active people are educated on the disease, practice safe sex and are regularly tested, Curry OConnell said.

The disease can potentially persist for decades if untreated, which can lead to death. If pregnant people are infected, it poses a dangerous risk to their baby; congenital syphilis can cause bone deformities, severe anemia, jaundice, meningitis and even death. In 2022, the CDC recorded 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths caused by syphilis nationally, out of 3,761 congenital syphilis cases reported that year.

The Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board and tribal leaders from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa have asked the federal Department of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency in their states. A declaration would expand staffing, funding, and access to contact tracing data across their region.

Its important to get treated, because we want to prevent any of those outcomes, and its just so easy for people to do, Curry OConnell said. Most people just need one shot of penicillin if newly infected.

The rate of congenital syphilis infections among Native Americans (644.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2022) is comparable to what the rate for the entire U.S. population was in 1941 (651.1) before doctors began using penicillin to cure syphilis, according to KFF Health News.

The risk is especially high for people with limited access to health care.

If youre putting off care or dont have a regular relationship with a doctor, those people are more likely to go untreated, Curry OConnell said. For whatever reason or barrier  if a person cant get time off of work, they have a distance to travel, they dont have immediate transportation or anything  it could end up that the symptom goes away.

How SD entities are addressing the epidemic

Broghammers position is funded by a grant from the Indian Health Service. His boots on the ground method is the most effective way to treat patients, though its also a grind, Broghammer said.

Whether due to homelessness, financial or privacy concerns, many patients struggle to find their way to Oyate Health on the west side of Rapid City, Broghammer said. Hell meet patients anywhere: their home, hotels or even in parking lots.

Some days Ill get five to six phone calls reaching out to us, which is great. Other days were picking up the phone and trying to locate people but might not find anybody, Broghammer said. Its not just as simple as a phone call and meeting with them. We have a decent sized population of houseless relatives where its difficult to find them  no phone or address. Sometimes we literally have nothing to go off of.

Some other health care systems will test for syphilis but wont go to the patients location.

Underlying all of this is its very resource intensive, especially in rural areas, Curry OConnell said. However, theres not anything we know of yet that can replace it. Boots on the ground, going out to talk to people, giving testing and doing what needs to be done is just basic public health work, and theres nothing else that really works better.

Some tribes and Indian Health Service locations are also sending nurses across South Dakota reservations to find and treat people. The state Department of Health plans to launch its Wellness on Wheels program in May, with five vans traveling across the state to provide basic health care to rural communities  including STI testing, treatment, education, counseling and referrals to community resources.

The vans will also provide pregnancy care services, safe sleep guidance and developmental screening for children, WIC services, maternal depression screening, immunizations and oral health.

We hope to use these vans several times a week to reach clients who might not have access to one of our physical locations, said Tia Kafke, media spokesperson for the department, in an emailed statement. The vans will operate in the winter as much as possible, weather permitting.

The state, tribes and tribal health board have monthly meetings about syphilis, Curry OConnell said. IHS recommends every patient age 16 and older be screened for syphilis at least once a year. Pregnant patients should be screened three times during their pregnancy.

Broghammer often receives calls from the state Department of Health with leads on people who tested positive for syphilis.

They save me time and energy, so I know theyre working their tails off, Broghammer said.

The state department started piloting a rapid testing partnership with a health care provider in Mission, on the Rosebud Reservation, in December. Fifty patients were tested in the first three months with eight testing positive and being treated for the disease.

The move to rapid testing is an important development, professionals agree, because patients are able to be treated immediately rather than days or weeks later when results come in from laboratories. The department has seven normal testing centers across the state.

The number of syphilis cases in South Dakota has decreased since it peaked in 2022, though its still at epidemic levels. Congenital syphilis is only prevented by treating pregnant females. The number of congenital syphilis cases in South Dakota increased from 2022 to 2023.

Prenatal care, intervention key to addressing congenital syphilis

Though Broghammer sees the collaborations effect, he said there could be more entities working together in the state to put more boots on the ground.

Curry OConnell said more effort is needed to test pregnant patients who arent receiving prenatal care. Nearly one-third of congenital syphilis cases in the first half of 2023 did not receive prenatal care, according to the state.

Most women still will interact with the health care system at some point during their pregnancy, even if they dont receive prenatal care. They should be screened with a rapid test at that point, Curry OConnell said.

If someone goes into urgent care or goes in for something thats not even pregnancy related, that would be a place to start, because a lot of women will receive some sort of care during pregnancy, Curry OConnell said. Its trying to maximize the screening potential of those visits thats important.

Education, Broghammer said, is an important tool.

I think the biggest thing is to just get checked, Broghammer said. If youre sexually active, be safe: get screened and get checked. Be mindful of your partners and safe sex practices.

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The post How the state, tribes and federal government are working to curb SDs syphilis epidemic appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Stefanik on being potential running mate for Trump: Theres a lot of names that are in the mix

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) sidestepped a question Sunday about whether former President Trump had discussed her being a potential running mate for him, noting that there are a lot of names being considered.

Stefanik joined Trump and numerous other vice presidential hopefuls at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the weekend. Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo asked the New York Republican whether Trump brought up her being his potential running mate while she was in attendance.

Stefanik pointed out that there were a lot of Republicans there and that the gathering showed how unified the party is.

Oh, we had a lot of great members there, she said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. What really came out across to me, Maria, was how unified the Republican Party is and how many rising stars we had. Theres a lot of names that are in the mix. Im honored to have my name as one of them in the mix right now.

But it is a true testament to the strength of the Republican Party. You have so many up-and-comers who are working hard every day to save America. And this is really a unified campaign to support President Trump  who will save this country this November, she continued.

Stefanik, along with Trumps daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee co-Chair Lara Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), hosted a welcome reception on Friday to kick off the weekend, CNN reported.

Speculation has swirled over whom Trump will select as his running mate as he gears up for Novembers election. Other potential vice-presidential contenders include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and several others.

Stefanik has not ruled out being Trumps vice president. She also said earlier this year that she would not have allowed the 2020 election results to be certified on Jan. 6, 2021, had she been in then-Vice President Mike Pences position.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The corner of River Avenue and Eighth Street saw a retail war in the 1920s. On one corner was Henry Wilson and James Yonkmans Model Drug Store (present-day Apothecary Gift Shop), and on the opposite corner was Jake Haan and Peter Housemans Haans Drug Store (present-day Reader's World).

Wilson and Yonkman purchased the Model Drug Store in 1923. That same year, Haan partnered with Houseman of Grand Rapids to move Haans pharmacy from 6 E. Eighth St. to 194 River Ave. After spending $6,000 to refurbish their establishment, The Holland City News claimed Mr. Haan had the "most beautiful soda fountain in Ottawa County."

Not to be outdone, Wilson and Yonkman announced in the Sept. 17, 1925, edition of The Holland Daily Sentinel that they would invest $40,000 to make the Model Drug Store "the largest" between Chicago and Mackinaw City.

While the drug department would remain in its present location, the soda fountain/parlor would be in the Steketee portion of the building, where candies and other delicacies were sold. It would have a tile floor with room for 36 soda tables, which could serve 140 soda customers at one time.

In addition, there would be a retiring room, lounging room, and other conveniences for ladies. Wilson and Youngman would upgrade the lighting and heating infrastructure.

More: Steve VanderVeen: The Post Building was a retail magnet in Holland

As part of their plan, Wilson and Yonkman would also remodel the second floor of the Post Building, creating "modern suites suitable for office rooms" and adding hot and cold-water plumbing. In addition, a two-story building would replace a one-story building on the north side of the Post Building.

In the Feb. 6, 1926, edition of The Holland Daily Sentinel, Wilson and Yonkman bragged they'd spent $50,000 to give the Post Building eight steam-heated suites on the second floor and "some of the largest show windows in the city of Holland" on the ground floor.

Pecks Drug Store c1943

But the economic slump of the Great Depression intervened. Both drug stores changed ownership. John and Jacob Haan, sons of Jake Haan, joined the Pecks drug store chain of Grand Rapids. Henry Wilson found a new business partner in Con DePree, a previous competitor, before regaining ownership of his business.

In 1952, Wilson remodeled his Model Drug Store. According to the The Holland Evening Sentinel, he extended the soda fountain and cigar departments, made wider aisles and island displays, and provided step-up shelves to help clerks more easily reach items on the top shelves.

He also added fluorescent lighting, remodeled the drug department so that it looked like a modern scientific laboratory to display vitamins, tonics, drugs, and cold remedies, and a special department for cameras. In addition to a registered pharmacist  Henry Dykstra  Wilson employed experienced cosmeticians: B. Parker and K. Kyers.

In 1947, Lee Shaffer and James Yonkman re-purchased the Model Drug Store. In 1961, 28-year-old Keith Ditch, after working for pharmacists in Lansing and South Haven, purchased the store from Yonkman. Ditch recalls, "My mother-in-law thought I would fail in Holland because I didn't have a Dutch last name!"

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In 1962 and 1963, Ditch remodeled the store and took out the soda fountain, which he sold to Marian Rose of the Marionette Restaurant at 42 W. Eighth St. behind the former Pecks Drug Store. Ditch's wife, Barbara, opened the Apothecary Gift Shop in the space formerly occupied by a barbershop in the back of the Model Drug Store.

Later, they expanded the gift shop to the north by removing a wall and a stairway.

In 1967, Reader's World opened in the former Pecks Drug Store. In 1973, the Ditchs opened the Yum Yum Shop at 301 Douglas Ave.  then sold it in 1976 after purchasing the Post Building.

Model Drug Store c1960s

In 1998, the Ditchs retired and turned over operations of the Model Drug Store to their daughter, Sharon Fisher. In 2015, they closed the pharmacy and changed the name of the business to the Apothecary Gift Shop. Today, Keith and Barbaras granddaughter, Jennifer Foley, manages the store.

Information for this story comes from Robert Swierengas "Holland, Michigan," Holland City Directories, The Holland Sentinel, and an interview with Keith Ditch, plus correspondence with Sharon Fisher and Jennifer Foley.

 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 retail war between Model Drug and Haan's Drug Store
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The driver who hit and killed a young mother at a bus stop during a street racing incident nearly two years ago was sentenced to 36 months in prison on Friday.

On August 27, 2022, Portland police say 26-year-old Ashlee McGill was walking on Southeast Stark Street and Southeast 133rd Avenue when she was hit and killed by an out-of-control vehicle driven by 20-year-old Jonathan Pena. Penas Mustang also hit the vehicle of another speed racer before crashing into a tree.

Police identified 26-year-old Ashlee McGill as the woman who died after being struck by a racing car on SE Stark. September 2, 2022 (KOIN).

A year later, Pena was indicted for second-degree manslaughter, originally pleading not guilty. However, he changed his plea when the charge was adjusted to criminally negligent homicide. Additional charges of recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving were added on Friday.

In addition to the 36 months, Pena will get three years post-release supervision, five years probation and must also pay restitution.

In September 2023, Kenneth Freeman, one of the other drivers involved in the crash, plead guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to five years in prison.

All of this comes on the heels of the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 615 in 2023, which now gives the criminal justice system the ability to punish drivers involved in street racing with a maximum of one year in prison, a $6,250 fine, or both. Repeat offenders within a five-year period face a maximum of five years in prison, a $125,000 fine, or both.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
New study shows American wells leak triple the amount of gas as previously stated  and it's costing us

A new study conducted by the International Energy Agency has found that methane pollution from U.S. oil and gas wells may be much higher than previously estimated.

The amount of this powerful heat-trapping gas could be three times greater than official government figures, the Guardian says.

What's happening?

Researchers analyzed 1 million measurements taken by aircraft flying over oil and gas sites across the country. They determined that about 3% of the natural gas produced in the U.S. is escaping into the atmosphere.

That's a staggering 6.2 million tons of methane leaking every hour during the daytime. This wasted gas is worth around $1 billion per year. But the true cost is even higher when you consider the damage to our atmosphere.

The study covered over half of all American oil wells and nearly a third of the nation's total gas production and delivery infrastructure. While more research is needed to calculate a precise national average, the 3% leak rate was consistent across the six regions examined.

Why are methane leaks concerning?

Methane is a potent gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

All that extra methane spewing into the air is costing us $9.3 billion in climate damage each year, the International Energy Agency says. And it's not just the planet that suffers  methane leaks threaten public health.

Cutting methane pollution is one of the quickest, most cost-effective ways to slow rising global temperatures and protect our communities from climate disruptions. By wasting less gas, we can also save energy and money.

What's being done about methane leaks?

The good news is that most of these emissions are coming from a small number of "super-emitter" sites. In fact, just 1% of oil and gas facilities are responsible for roughly half of the leaking methane.

That means we have a huge opportunity to make rapid progress by targeting the worst offenders first. The Biden administration recently enacted stronger rules requiring the oil and gas industry to plug its methane leaks.

Major companies have also pledged to dramatically reduce methane pollution and end routine gas flaring by 2030. Experts say if the industry follows through, it could prevent nearly 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit of future global warming.

While fighting methane leaks is crucial, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Each of us can help speed the transition to a cleaner future in our own lives, too.

Simple steps like choosing electric appliances like induction stoves over gas, conserving energy at home, and supporting businesses that cut pollution add up. When we work together, there's no limit to the positive change we can achieve.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Greenville police had a suspect in custody on Saturday following a brief standoff where officials said he set a camper on fire and robbed a store that led to part of Memorial Drive/NC Hwy. 33 being blocked off.

Police initially responded to Colony Tire at 110 Dautridge Drive, just after 2:30 p.m. WNCTs Davis Suppes spoke with Lt. David Bowen, the active watch commander with the Greenville Police Department. He said police responded to an initial report of an arson in progress, where someone was pouring gasoline on a camper thats over beside the road.

The Fuel Doc (Sarah Gray Barr, WNCT photo)

He said a bystander called it in and was trying to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, according to WNCTs Sarah Gray Barr.

Upon their arrival, another bystander told police that someone had just robbed The Fuel Doc nearby. They were in a white pickup truck and believed it was the same person who set the camper on fire.

(Davis Suppes, WNCT video)

Bowen said the white pickup truck tried to elude police before crashing and coming to a stop in a field. They believed the suspect, a white male, was armed after seeing a handgun.

After about an hour of negotiations with the suspect, police took him into custody and sent him to ECU Health Medical Center to be evaluated before he was arrested. Charges were pending Saturday evening. The name of the suspect had not been released as of 6 p.m. Saturday.

Memorial Drive/Hwy. 33 soon reopened. Barr reports that Greenville police said the white pickup truck was reported stolen out of Vermont. A tow truck eventually took the vehicle away from the field where it had crashed.

The Greenville Police Department thanked the Pitt County Sheriffs Office, NC State Highway Patrol and ECU Health Police for their assistance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department is warning the public about a recent trend involving people using cryptocurrency ATMs to take money from people impacted by scams and said one victim recently lost $14K.

According to police, the patterns and stories of recent incidents are similar to other scams in the past, but the way that scammers receive money has evolved.

Police gave an example of a victim who said she got a call from a suspect who claimed to be an officer with DPD. The suspect told the victim she had missed court and now had a warrant out for her arrest.

Nothing left of runaway semitruck after fire on I-70

The victim was told that she needed to pay thousands of dollars to avoid jail time and was instructed to go to a nearby laundromat and use the cryptocurrency option on the self-service banking kiosk to deposit bail money.

The victim sent the initial amount requested by the scammer but was then told to send even more. In all, the victim lost $14,000 before learning that it was a scam, according to police.

Denver police said that it will never call people directly to tell them they have a warrant or ask for money.

DPD is urging people to hang up if they receive this sort of call and report it to local law enforcement.

People in Denver can call 720-913-2000 and press 2 or can go online and file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney Generals Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Switzerland has invited Pope Francis to attend the upcoming global peace summit dedicated to ending the war in Ukraine, Swiss President Viola Amherd said in an interview with the news outlet Blick published May 5.

The summit will be held on June 15-16 in central Switzerland, and 160 national delegations will be invited to the talks.

Amherd met with the pope during a visit to Italy and called the conversation an "interesting exchange...in a cordial atmosphere."

"We talked in particular about the war in Ukraine and other trouble spots in the world," Amherd said.

Amherd confirmed that Switzerland officially invited the pope to participate in the June summit.

"The Vatican is very positive about the peace conference," she said.

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Ukraine Weekly By Olga Rudenko

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Pope Francis called for Russia and Ukraine to exchange all prisoners of war during a Catholic Easter sermon on March 31.

"Calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express desire for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for all!" Pope Francis said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 3 that Ukraine is considering such an exchange, and will discuss the topic of an all-for-all prisoner swap at the global peace summit in June.

Ukraine has not always welcomed the Vatican's commentary on Russia's full-scale invasion. Pope Francis drew criticism from Zelensky and other European leaders when he urged Ukraine on March 9 to negotiate peace terms with Russia.

The June peace summit will be centered around Ukraine's 10-point peace formula, a plan first outlined by Zelensky in fall 2022 that calls for a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied Ukrainian lands.

Russia has not been invited to participate in the global peace summit, and Moscow has said it would refuse to attend even if invited.

Read also: Whats in a Ukrainian Easter basket? The answer isnt chocolate

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
If you cant beat em, nullify their votes: Trumps latest suit against Nevada and its voters

Dang. Maybe he shouldnt have spent the last several years screeching lies about how crooked mail voting is. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Donald Trump along with the Republican National Committee and the Nevada Republican Party, both wholly owned Trump subsidiaries, sued Nevada Friday saying any mail ballots that are not received by or on Election Day must not be counted.

Nevada law requires mail ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked no later than Election Day and received by county election officials within four days after Election Day.

The suit is almost identical to one Trumps Republicans filed in Mississippi(!?) early this year. (Yet again Nevada is the Mississippi of the West, but this time in a different way.)

Yes, Republican advocacy of states rights has always been situational.

Other nearly identical suits to disenfranchise a segment of the mailing electorate have already been dismissed (by Trump-appointed judges by the way) in Illinois and North Dakota.

Trump & Friends keep filing the suits anyway, and presumably more are on the way in the 19 states and territories that require ballots to be counted after Election Day provided theyre post-marked by or on Election Day.

Even if Trump loses all the suits, they are a vehicle for casting aspersions on democracy and another means to try to dishonestly discredit election results in advance. (As Trump said this week, If everythings honest, Ill gladly accept the results.If its not, you have to fight for the right of the country. Everyone knows what that means.)

But an additional motive was at work in Trumps suit in deep red Mississippi: Trump is shopping for a Trumpy federal judge who will make a Trump-friendly ruling that will trigger appeals, maybe go to the Trump-McConnell Supreme Court, and possibly set national precedent and, hence, national law.

In other words, nullify ballots that arrive after Election Day even if theyre postmarked before Election Day in Mississippi, and nullify them nationwide in the process.

Meanwhile, the suit filed in Nevada is only one of many that Trump and Republicans have promised/threatened to file this year in battleground states as part of a concerted and deliberate effort to harass election officials and their employees while maligning and attempting to discredit democracy.

At the very least, the suits will be a time-consuming nuisance for people working in state and local election offices in states across the nation.

At the very worst, given the Weltanschauung of the Trump-packed U.S. judicial system, there is always the possibility  in defiance of what thus far has been ruled to be logic, case law, and constitutional interpretation  that the Republicans could prevail and scrap all ballots that arrive after Election Day, even if those ballots were postmarked before it.

Trump and Republicans would genuinely welcome anything that curbs voting by mail  or more specifically, its impact.

Remember all the Nevada Republican howling and squealing in 2020 about how mail ballots were super vulnerable to fraud? And then remember how the only example of mail voting fraud that came to light was the MAGA guy who said somebody stole his deceased wifes ballot and fraudulently voted on her behalf? And then it turned out the ballot stealer/fraudulent voter was none other than the MAGA guy himself?

That unsavory incident came after years of Trump, customarily without a shred of evidence, falsely asserting that voting by mail was intrinsically fraudulent.

Hes continued making those false claims in 2024. We have to get rid of mail-in ballots because once you have mail-in ballots, you have crooked elections, Trump said earlier this year.

But last month Trump changed his tune, and now is encouraging voting by mail.

Why the flip-flop?

Probably for the same reason there is no repetition of 2020-style evidence-free blathering about mail voting being susceptible to fraud in the suit Trump, the RNC, and the Nevada Republican/Fake Electors Party filed Friday.

Theyre not suing because voting by mail is, as Trump put it, crooked.

Theyre suing to curb the number of mail votes that get counted for the simple reason that Democrats vote by mail more than Republicans do.

In Nevadas 2020 general election, the suit says, 60.3% of Democratic voters voted by mail, compared to just 36.9% of Republican voters.

Perhaps Trump and Republicans shouldnt have spent the last several years screeching lies about how crooked mail voting is.

Dang. Hoist by their own petard. What to do?

Simple.

If you cant beat em, nullify their votes.

A version of this column was originally published in the Daily Current newsletter, which is free and which you can subscribe to here.

The post If you cant beat em, nullify their votes: Trumps latest suit against Nevada and its voters appeared first on Nevada Current.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A new book showcases an Arkansan facing the difficulty of Parkinsons Disease while striving to keep pushing forward.

He was an Arkansas Razorback track star, became a World Record Holder and Gold Medal Olympian and ultimately the Chief Marketing Officer of Alltel Corporation. Frank OMara has been battling for 15 years with Parkinsons Disease. Hes the author of a new book, Bend Dont Break, describing how hes coped with his condition.

Former Razorback and Olympian writes inspiring memoir amid Parkinsons battle

Heath Simpson, CEO of Ritter Communications, discusses the future of broadband. From fiber communications to streaming and cell services, were dependent on the Internet from the most urban city to the rural parts of Arkansas. Whats on the horizon?

Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
Teen hands himself into police after attack on German politician

A 17-year-old boy handed himself in to police after admitting that he attacked a German politician on Friday.

Police say that Matthias Ecke, the candidate for the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in the upcoming European elections, was attacked when putting up campaign posters.

According to Saxony Police, the minor went to a police station in the early hours of Sunday morning and confessed to attacking the SPD politician in the east German city of Dresden.

A further three people are also suspected of carrying out the attack alongside the minor, police said, though their whereabouts are unknown.

A second campaigner  for the Greens Party  was also attacked by the group of four, police said earlier on X.

The SPD Saxony branch blamed the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the violence. AfD has been steadily gaining support across the country, especially in Eastern States like Saxony.

Yesterday our top candidate for the European elections Matthias Ecke was attacked while he was installing posters and seriously injured. Violence and intimidation of democrats are the means of fascists. The seeds sown by the AfD and other right-wing extremists are sprouting, SPD Saxony said on X Saturday.

Jorg Urban, party leader of the AfD in Saxony, referenced the attack in a post on X, writing that attacks on politicians are always attacks on democracy.

While Urban said that he condemns such attacks, he also suggested that the SPD must ask itself to what extent its constant agitation against political dissidents contributes to such escalations.

Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, also posted to social media about the attack, writing on X: Attacks such as the one on MEP Matthias Ecke and other candidates threaten our democracy. We must stand together against them.

I wish Matthias Ecke a speedy recovery, Scholz said.

Ecke, who is 41 years old, had to undergo emergency facial surgery, according to CNNs affiliate ntv.

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Teen turns himself in to police for attacking German MEP in Dresden

A street sign "Schandauer Strae" is mounted above a traffic light in Striesen. Matthias Ecke, Saxony's leading SPD candidate for the European elections, was attacked and seriously injured while putting up posters in the Striesen district of Dresden. Robert Michael/dpa

Police say a 17-year-old has turned himself in following an attack in Dresden on Matthias Ecke, a German member of the European Parliament.

The teen reported to the Dresden-Sud police station early Sunday morning and told officers he had assaulted the politician from the Social Democratic Party, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) says.

The investigation is ongoing and police are working to corroborate the teen's statements, a LKA spokeswoman says.

Ecke was brutally beaten by a gang of four assailants on Friday evening while hanging campaign posters in the eastern German city. He was hospitalized and required surgery.

Witnesses described the assailants as dressed in dark clothing and said they seemed to be part of the far-right extremist scene.

The three other suspects are still unknown, police say.

An election poster for Matthias Ecke, the Saxon SPD's leading candidate in the European elections, hangs on a lamppost on Schandauer Strasse in the Striesen district of Dresden. Robert Michael/dpa

MEP Matthias Ecke at the state party conference of the SPD Saxony in Chemnitz, where he was again nominated as a candidate for the upcoming election. Heiko Rebsch/dpa
The critical elements of Floridas bold new statewide homelessness policy emerged from the written prescriptions of a Texas-based conservative think tank bent on thwarting the nations homeless-industrial complex, according to records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.

Emails show the Cicero Institute offered Florida lawmakers a menu of reforms last summer, sending them to the staff of House Speaker Paul Renner in July. It then worked persistently to secure the passage of House Bill 1365, which banned public camping and sought to move unsheltered people from sidewalks to sanctioned, highly structured encampments.

So successful were the Institutes efforts in the Sunshine State that when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in March, Ciceros co-founder, billionaire tech investor and GOP mega-donor Joe Lonsdale cheered it as setting an example for the rest of the country to follow.

When we started working on homelessness, many people considered these ideas fringe. Activists have vociferously opposed us at every turn. It takes guts to stand up to the homeless-industrial complex, Lonsdale wrote in a blog post. This is the strongest set of homelessness reforms in the nation, and we were proud to work with Florida leaders to see them adopted.

And Cicero has many ideas about how Florida  and other states  can go further.

Also included in the policy memo, which the Sentinel obtained among other documentation of Ciceros efforts in a public records request, are reform proposals making it easier to involuntarily commit somebody to psychiatric treatment, banning local care organizations from pursuing so-called Housing First initiatives to address homelessness, and funneling money toward mental health and substance abuse treatment instead.

Advocacy groups and organizations on the ground fear these policies  and Floridas new law  will make their work to treat and combat homelessness even more challenging. Since the laws requirements for sanctioned encampments make those facilities difficult to fund, locate and operate, and shelters are full most every night, its likely to force law enforcement to arrest people who have nowhere else to go but the streets, they say.

What I anticipate though is this becomes a checklist, said Martha Are, the CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, assessing the influence of Ciceros policy menu.

Ciceros approach is not unique. Across the country, interest groups are pushing state legislatures to write their ideas into law, and some of the most successful have been conservative organizations working with GOP-led legislatures like Floridas. The Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability, for example, has pushed labor law changes that critics say weaken protections for child workers, scoring a signal success last year in Arkansas.

Cicero has interests in other issues as well, but its main focus has been homelessness, a vexing issue that has increasingly preoccupied state and local governments in Florida and elsewhere.

In the Orlando area alone, homelessness has increased 75% over the past five years, which providers and advocates say is a reflection of the regions soaring housing costs and shortage of affordable units.

In the same five-year timeframe, rents increased nearly $600 per month.

Currently, the nations predominant strategy to combat homelessness is called Housing First, an approach to end a persons homelessness as quickly as possible by placing a roof over their heads, often in a hotel or an available apartment. Then, the person receives other services such as mental health or substance abuse treatment, job training and other needs, in hopes they can sustain their new lifestyle.

Housing First is treatment, said Eric Gray, the CEO of the Christian Service Center, which operates Orlandos day services center for the homeless said in an email. Science shows us that trying to treat an individual for ANY medical condition is near impossible if they arent also in stable housing. Housing IS healthcare.

Andrew Sullivan, a University of Central Florida researcher specializing in homelessness, said his research and that of others routinely reveals the merits of the strategy of providing housing, and that laws like Floridas public camping ban dont reduce homelessness.

Cicero disagrees, attributing homelessness to untreated mental illnesses. Its trying to move states away from Housing First principles to its slate of alternatives, said Devon Kurtz, who wrote the memo to Renner and oversees the think tanks homelessness policy.

What Cicero cares about most is getting states engaged on this issue, Kurtz said. For the past three decades, its been ceded to the federal government through continuums of care.

Along with its success on the camping ban, Cicero scored a little-noticed victory over Housing First in Florida by securing budget language that requires recipients of state challenge grants typically used to house people to instead prioritize mental health and substance abuse treatment as well as short-term shelters, sanctioned camping sites and safe parking sites.

That grant program accounted for $20 million last year, with the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida receiving about $900,000.

Cicero initially sought to outright ban use of the grants for any Housing First or permanent housing program, but state leaders held off on going that far.

Are said that rising homelessness numbers arent a reflection on the Housing First strategy, but instead a commentary on a tight housing market.

To blame Housing First is kind of like blaming the emergency room for how many people came in with COVID during the peak of the COVID crisis, Are said. The emergency room was implementing the best interventions they could, but they could not control how many people were getting infected with the virus.

So far, Cicero has helped get bills passed similar to Floridas camping ban in Republican-led states including Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Kentucky. The group says that the steps Florida is taking on homelessness policy beyond its ban makes its approach the nations strongest.

In Florida, Lonsdale has donated at least $213,000 to politicians and politician committees over the past three years through his company Lonsdale Enterprises. That included $50,000 to a committee controlled by DeSantis, $10,000 to another controlled by Renner and $60,000 to the Republican Party of Florida.

A few weeks after the memo was sent to Renner, Lonsdale contributed more than $23,000 of food and drinks to the Republican Party of Florida. The emails show Renner met with Cicero representatives at a conference last summer in Utah. Lonsdale also hosted a fundraiser in support of DeSantis presidential bid.

While Cicero representatives never testified publicly about the camping ban bill, its lobbyist worked with lawmakers and staff on it prior to and during the three-month-long session, the records show. Legislative staffers solicited the groups input.

For example, in October, months before the session began in January, a House staffer emailed one of Ciceros lobbyists about the plan: where is Cicero on the questions/follow up we discussed in our meeting on the homelessness proposals?

Garrison, who carried the bill through the House, is slated to be a future House Speaker.

Its unclear what level of interest Florida leaders have in Ciceros other homeless policy proposals. Renner, Garrison and Daniel Perez, the incoming House speaker, didnt respond to emailed questions and a request for an interview.

Kurtz wasnt sure either, but was hopeful.

We hope so, he said of Florida implementing the remainder of Ciceros package. In future sessions, we do hope to work more on the mental health and substance abuse side.

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
More than 140 arrests have been made at the University of Texas at Austin of protesters demonstrating Israel's handling of its war against Hamas in Gaza.

On April 24, demonstrations escalated when students at the University of Texas were arrested for protesting the war in Gaza. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a defiant statement Sunday, vowing that the demands made by student protesters at the University of Texas at Austin will NEVER happen. The students called for the school to divest itself from companies manufacturing weapons for Israel and demanded the resignation of university President Jay Hartzell.

This will NEVER happen, Abbott wrote on X about the demands. The only thing that will happen is that the University and the State will use all law-enforcement tools to quickly terminate illegal protests taking place on campus that clearly violate the laws of the state of Texas and policies of the university.

This will NEVER happen.



The only thing that will happen is that the University and the State will use all law-enforcement tools to quickly terminate illegal protests taking place on campus that clearly violate the laws of the state of Texas and policies of the university. https://t.co/Qah3dvZ9H1  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 5, 2024

The University of Texas at Austin is one of dozens of schools across the country where students have set up encampments, clashed with police and made divestment demands in response to Israels military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

On Sunday, roughly 300 protesters gathered on the South Lawn of the campus to press their call for divestment. They believe the university helps fund the war in Gaza through those investments.

Sundays protest ended peacefully with speakers instructing participants on how to leave the grounds safely. Still, it wasnt without tension.

What was the University of Texas protest about?

Sundays demonstration was the latest in over a weeks worth of protests happening on campus that escalated on April 24, when police officers pepper-sprayed the crowd in an attempt to clear out protest encampments on the South Lawn.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee, which organized the April 24 protest, said it was following the footsteps of students calling for justice in Palestine across the country, including at Columbia University, the University of Southern California and others.

The university claims that demonstrators were arrested because they broke Institutional Rules outlining the schools protocols on peaceful protests. Alleged transgressions include setting up encampments and allegedly harassing police officers and staff. The organizers, however, claim the arrests and violence were escalated by the police.

How many have been arrested?

Over 140 people have been arrested since the protests escalated on April 24, according to KUT News in Austin. Abbott made no bones supporting the arrests and applauded the universitys president, Hartzell, who called in police officers to handle the situation and issue arrests when warranted.

No encampments will be allowed.



Instead, arrests are being made. https://t.co/GlmMXxAuqY  Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 29, 2024

What are the specific student demands?

According to the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the student demands consist of three main points:

1. That UT Austin divest millions of dollars that go to companies that manufacture weapons for Israel that are being used against Palestinians in Gaza.

2. That UT Austin provide full amnesty to student protesters arrested and "unsuspend" members of the Palestine Solidarity Committee.

3. That Hartzell resign immediately as university president. Following the April 24 arrests by police, over 600 faculty members signed a letter expressing that they had no confidence in his leadership.
Fire from the Windy Deuce Fire in open fields burning between Fritch and Amarillo along Hwy. 136 could still be seen from the air as of Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2024. The highway remained closed as first responders continued to battle the blaze, one of five active wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.

A special Texas House committee tasked with identifying factors contributing the the largest wildfire outbreak in Texas history and recommending legislative solutions to prevent future fires published its final report Wednesday, largely blaming electric utilities and oil and gas operators for sparking the deadly fires and calling for increased oversight of the companies and additional support for Texas firefighters.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire  Texas' largest-ever wildfire  the Windy Deuce Fire and several other blazes sparked February 26 and burned for weeks until they were fully contained in mid-March, contributing to the deaths of three people and 15,000 head of cattle, destroying 138 homes and businesses and scorching more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle.

The committee's 43-page report, which was produced following three days of legislative hearings in Pampa early last month, confirms electrical infrastructure played a large part in starting the fires.

More: House investigative committee begins 3-day wildfire hearings in Pampa

The Texas House Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires listens to testimony Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Pampa.

"The largest and most destructive of the Panhandle wildfires were caused by electric power pole and line that had not been effectively maintained or replaced by a utility provider and an oil and gas operator," the report reads, citing an apparent trend. "Among fires with identified causes, wildfires started by power lines have been among the most destructive in the region between 2000 and 2024, causing more than 1,300 fires that burned more than 1.4 million acres."

The committee concluded broken power poles started the Smokehouse Creek, Grape Vine Creek and Reamer Creek (687 Reamer) fires. Electrical equipment at the site of small pumpjack caused the Windy Deuce Fire, which threatened the towns of Fritch and Borger, the report says.

Xcel Energy previously admitted its infrastructure likely caused the Smokehouse Creek Fire and said during a committee hearing in April the power pole that snapped and caused the fire was decayed and needed replacement.

More: In Texas House hearing, Xcel Energy says pole that started Panhandle wildfire needed replacement

In the report, the committee calls for "prompt and aggressive action" to "better predict, prevent and respond to future wildfires."

"More effective monitoring and rule enforcement is needed to check irresponsible oil and gas operators and to improve accountability among utility providers in their pole inspection and replacement programs," the report reads.

The committee said the legislature should direct the Public Utility Commission of Texas to evaluate the effectiveness of current pole inspection reporting systems and recommend any legislative or regulatory changes to the systems that could increase accountability and prevent future fires. They also called for additional regulation of oil and gas stripper wells, which they said is "grossly deficient."

A burned swing set and Jeep sit behind a home Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, along State Highway 136 between Fritch and Borger in the Texas Panhandle. The Windy Deuce Fire, which burned through the area and caused the damage, was estimated at 142,000 acres Thursday.

The committee also found insufficient aerial support, poor coordination between agencies and faulty communications equipment hindered the state's response to the wildfires.

"Although volunteer firefighters fought valiantly to contain the wildfires, response efforts were inhibited by a lack of properly positioned, readily available and timely dispatched air support on top of ineffective communication and coordination among agencies, local governments and responders due in part to communications equipment that lacked interoperability," the report reads.

The report also asserted area volunteer fire departments are "grossly underfunded" and lack the resources to effectively fight major wildfires.

The committee's report calls for the Texas to create its own aerial firefighting fleet to avoid a future delayed air response like the one experienced in the Panhandle.

"The legislature should authorize and fund a state-owned firefighting air fleet, hire pilots and crews to operate and maintain it and secure the infrastructure necessary to stage and deploy the aircraft to effectively fight wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and other high-risk areas," the committee wrote.

The committee also called for additional funding and resources for frontline volunteer fire departments, including for improved radio communication systems.

"Additional funding and opportunities must be made available to volunteer fire departments to encourage more proactive and extensive fire mitigation strategies that will protect the people and industry the region supports," the report reads. "Efforts should be made to upgrade statewide communications systems to facilitate effective communication between all responders."

Chairing the committee was Republican state Rep. Ken King of Canadian, one of the communities hardest-hit by the wildfires. Also serving on the committee were Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock and Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, as well as Panhandle landowners Jason Abraham and James Henderson.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Report calls for more oversight, resources after Panhandle wildfires
'There's vote-buying going on at a scale like we have never seen before'

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Sunday supported the election integrity allegations made by former President Donald Trump, claiming on CNN: "I think it's clear that there's vote-buying going on at a scale like we have never seen before."

Burgum, who is considered to be a possible Trump vice-presidential pick, was responding on "State of the Union" to questions about statements made by the presumptive GOP presidential nominee during a weekend donor retreat in Florida.

Trump, never shy about alleging uncorroborated malfeasance by Democrats, said his rivals use "welfare" as an enticement to get people to vote for them. "Dont underestimate welfare. They get welfare to vote, and then they cheat on top of that  they cheat," Trump said in his remarks on Saturday.

Burgum didn't endorse the idea that everyone receiving public assistance is being bribed to vote ("I don't think that's the intention that he meant when he said that") but then circled back to the idea of vote-buying, citing President Joe Biden's efforts to partially forgive some student loan debt.



"You start trying to give away hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money, and it's not even  it's like we're borrowing to give it away. It's not tax and spend. It's borrow, borrow from the Chinese, and give it away," he said.

Burgum added: "Citizens understand those are like preelection payoffs. Those are like, hey, folks, please vote for us because we're relieving your debt. So at what point does it cross over, programs like student debt, to just vote-buying? He then answered his own question, saying he saw this as an unprecedented effort at obtaining votes.

A two-term governor, Burgum was part of the 2024 Republican presidential field until dropping out in December. In July 2023, in order to meet the threshold of individual donors each candidate needed to participate in the GOP's first debate, Burgum announced a campaign to reward individual donors with $20 gift cards.

Doug knows people are hurting because of Bidenflation and giving Biden Economic Relief Gift Cards is a way to help 50,000 people until Doug is elected President to fix this crazy economy for everyone, spokesperson Lance Trover said at the time.

On Sunday, Burgum also defended Trump in response to other questions from host Jake Tapper, including about the former president's current criminal trial in New York.

"If it was anybody else, this trial wouldn't even be happening," Burgum said. He also said it would be "a travesty of justice" should Trump be convicted.
By Boldizsar Gyori

DEBRECEN, Hungary (Reuters) - Thousands of Hungarians protested against nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban at a rally on Sunday weeks ahead of European Parliament and local elections due in early June.

Peter Magyar, a former government insider seen by some observers as the first serious threat in years to Orban, staged the rally attended by around 10,000 people in the eastern town of Debrecen, a stronghold of the ruling Fidesz party.

Fidesz candidates have carried the town since the late 1990s with the ruling party winning about 60% of the vote at the last election compared with around a third for opposition parties.

Addressing flag-waving supporters, Magyar took aim at one of Orban's core policies, criticising what he called the extremely low level of child support allowances in Hungary.

"If you tell this story anywhere in Europe, no one is going to believe you," Magyar said.

Orban says that among EU countries Hungary is spending the largest share of its economy on supporting families.

"We need an entirely new system where social support is indeed targeted based on social needs," Magyar said.

He said Hungary was ruled by what he called a well-connected elite, which he would seek to end if elected.

International watchdogs say Orban has channelled European Union funds to businessmen close to Fidesz to entrench himself in power. Orban says Hungary is no more corrupt than other countries.

The watchdog tasked with overseeing EU funds says it lacks the proper authority to expose possible wrongdoing and has called for additional powers.

(Writing by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Three New York City synagogues and The Brooklyn Museum received false bomb threats on Saturday, according to police.

The Upper West Sides Congregation Rodeph Sholom, located at 7 W. 83rd Street near Central Park, was evacuated after police received a report of a bomb threat around 3:15 p.m.

Congregation Rodeph Sholom synagogue in Manhattan was evacuated due to a bomb threat made on May 4, 2024. William Miller

Police confirmed that the threat was unfounded.

Another threat  which was also determined to be false  was reported at the progressive, LGBTQ-friendly Congregation Beit Simchat Torah at 130 W. 30th Street.

Nobody was inside that synagogue at the time and the threat was also determined to be false, police said.

Then, at 5:15 p.m., The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue on Remsen Street also received a bomb threat.

Three employees were evacuated and no explosives were found, cops said.

The threats made against Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Chabad of Midtown remain under investigation. William Miller

Another bomb threat was reported 15 minutes later at the Brooklyn Museum, an art museum in Brooklyns Prospect Park.

Again, the threat was found to false, according to police.

Its unclear if the threats are connected at this time and they remain under investigation, police said.

Earlier police reports that the Chabad of Midtown had also gotten a threat later proved to be unfounded.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement that her office is aware of the threats and is actively monitoring the situation with law enforcement.

Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism, she said. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council [JCRC] of New York, told The Post that the bomb threats are a dangerous escalation of antisemitism during a particularly sensitive and tense time for Jewish people in the city.

This is not peaceful, this is not lawful and this is not normal and this is happening on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Treyger, the grandson on Holocaust survivors, said. This is a dangerous escalation of what weve already been seeing in the rest of the country.

There is zero room for hate in New York City and those responsible must be held accountable. Full stop, he said.

The Big Apples Jewish community has been on edge since October 7 when Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists, prompting the country to respond with its ongoing military offensive in Gaza.

A sign at the entrance of Congregation Rodeph Sholom synagogue. William Miller

Israels retaliation has sparked nearly incessant protests across the city and country, some of which have descended into violence.

NYPD data shows that antisemitic hate crimes skyrocketed 45% in 2024.

This is not isolated from the bigger, hostile climate right now against Jewish people, Treyger said of Saturdays bomb threats.

While he thanked the governor, mayor and the NYPD for remaining in constant communication with faith leaders, he said the level of security theyve endured to practice their faith safely is not normal.

We cannot normalize that in New York City in the year 2024  we will never accept this as normal in New York, in the United States of America, Treyger said.
Three seats up for grabs on Travis Central Appraisal District board. Here's who won.

Three Democratic Party-backed candidates won the first-ever elections to the Travis Central Appraisal District's board of directors Saturday, according to the unofficial results from the Travis County clerk's office.

Securing election to the nonpartisan positions were Jett Hanna for Place 1, Shenghao Daniel Wang for Place 2 and Dick Lavine for Place 3. The nine-member board  only three of whom are now elected  hires the district's chief appraiser, approves the appraisal district's budget, approves contracts and sets general policies, according to the district's website.

The early and mail-in vote results released shortly after the polls closed Saturday evening showed each of the Travis County Democratic Party's endorsees holding solid leads over the Republican and third party challengers  a trend that held throughout election day.

Hanna, Wang and Lavine were all elected by wide margins, with each race getting about 51,000 ballots cast.

From left, Jett Hanna, Shenghao "Daniel" Wang and Dick Lavine.

I think it is so important that we win every single one of these elections and send a message to the Republicans," U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said at a watch party for the three Democrat-backed appraisal board candidates Saturday night. Whether it is school board or a city council race in Pflugerville or a school trustee in Leander, we need to win all these races, and that's where we build the infrastructure to eventually take back this state.

An $18 billion omnibus property tax package that the state Legislature passed last year, Senate Bill 2, opened the door for the inaugural appraisal board elections Saturday.

Among the more overlooked elements of the state tax relief plan, which received voters' blessing in November, were the elected positions SB 2 created to alter the property appraisal process structure to increase taxpayers' input. The bill also increased the state's homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 and allocated millions to pare down school district property tax rates.

2024 Travis County Elections: Live Results

The appraisal district board  which currently has nine members appointed by local taxing jurisdictions and the Travis County tax assessor-collector  neither appraises nor reviews property values.

Beginning next year, the board's members, in addition to its current responsibilities, will appoint members to the Travis Appraisal Review Board  a group of residents who resolve disputes between property tax payers and the appraisal district. The review board's members are currently appointed by a local administrative district judge.

More: Home appraisal too high? Travis County voters will pick appraisal board members Saturday

Most notably, SB 2 requires approval by two of the three elected board members for any appointment to the review board, meaning two of the elected officials could effectively halt an appointment that is otherwise supported by the rest of the board.

Of Travis County's 895,663 registered voters, only 55,991 participated in Saturday's local elections.

Hanna elected to Place 1

Hanna defeated former Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman for Place 1, receiving nearly 70% of the vote to join the Travis Central Appraisal District's board.

An attorney with a background in commercial real estate who previously served on the board from 1988 to 1990, Hanna said he hopes to help the district work equitably for taxpayers.

I'm looking forward to working on making sure that the district does the job its supposed to: be fair, equitable and transparent, Hanna told the American-Statesman during an election results watch party in Austin.

More: Your Travis County appraisal notice is in the mail. Here's what residents can expect.

Hanna received 35,597 total votes in his return to the appraisal board, eclipsing Zimmerman, who received 15,653 votes.

"We ran to give the minority of voters a chance to be heard, and the majority voted with the partisan Democrat machine as they always do," Zimmerman said in a statement to the Statesman. "This defeat hurts the economic security of the minority, as the defeat of (District Attorney) Jose Garzas opponent in March hurt their physical safety. In my observation over the past 20+ years, such concentration of Democrat political power is driving more and more conservatives out of Travis County so Im not yet seeing how the situation doesnt worsen."

Wang bests GOP chairman for Place 2

Wang, a lawyer who specializes in electricity regulation and received 67% support from voters in the three-way race, was reflective about his victory on election night.

I grew up going to public schools in Travis County, and so it's a special privilege and treat for me to be able to pay forward to that system that I grew up in, Wang told the Statesman.

Wang defeated Travis County Republican Party Chairman Matt Mackowiak and Travis County Libertarian Party Secretary Jonathan Patschke, receiving 34,495 total votes. By comparison, Mackowiak received 12,793 votes, and Patschke received 3,912.

Of Travis County's 895,663 registered voters, only 55,991 participated in Saturday's elections.

"I appreciate the 12,000+ votes that I received running as a taxpayer advocate. Unfortunately, a strong majority wants higher property taxes  and we will all get to pay the price," Mackowiak told the Statesman in a statement. "People like to complain about the affordability crisis, but in the end voters did not know enough or care enough to seize this opportunity."

"I'm humbled by the nearly (4,000) people in Travis County who thought me worthy of the public trust," Patschke said. "If Shenghao Wang can accomplish the advances in fairness and transparency that he's spoken about, residents of Travis County will be well-served, and I'm grateful that the seat went to someone willing to speak so openly about those goals."

Lavine wins Place 3

Having previously served on the appraisal district's board for more than 20 years, Lavine said he was humbled to receive voters' support for his return to the panel.

Lavine, who had the widest margin of victory in the three races, received 73% support in defeating Bill May.

More: Here's who's running for the Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors on May 4

It's very gratifying that theres so many people, who I've never met and have nothing personally to gain from this, who put so much effort into it, because they cared about what's going to happen to funding for public services, and they want to make sure the appraisal district runs efficiently, Lavine told the Statesman.

Outpacing the GOP-endorsed May through early and mail-in voting, Lavine maintained his edge on election day. In total, Lavine received 36,574 votes, compared with May's 13,504.

May did not immediately respond to the Statesman's request for comment Sunday morning.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: See election results for Travis Central Appraisal District's board
A 26-year-old Thurston County woman has been charged with animal cruelty after she allegedly left her two dogs to die in a RV trailer last month.

Rachelle Faythe-Nicole Pehl is accused of leaving the dogs unattended in an RV parked on the 10400 block of Littlerock Road Southwest, according to court records.

The owner of the property found the dogs decaying in the RV and called 911 on April 22. Prosecutors charged Pehl on April 30 with two-counts of first-degree animal cruelty.

Court records identified the dogs as Cody, a seven-year-old male German shepherd or German shepherd mix, and Harvi, a four-year-old female husky or husky mix.

Judge John Skinder found probable cause for first-degree animal cruelty during Pehls preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on April 29.

Skinder also ordered Pehl to be released on her personal recognizance with conditions, including that she abides by a curfew at her mothers home.

Court records indicate Pehl has no known adult criminal convictions.

A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the alleged crimes from the perspective of law enforcement.

A Sheriffs Office deputy responded to the RV and observed the dead dogs lying next to each other inside.

The dogs had decayed to mostly fur and bones and were surrounded by a mess of household items and feces, according to the statement. The blinds over the windows reportedly appeared damaged and bent and the dogs nails appeared dull and damaged.

Based on the scene, the deputy presumed the dogs had been left alone for a long time and tried to escape through the windows to no avail.

The property owner told the deputy the RV belonged to Pehl. She had been paying the property owner to park there for years, but the statement says she had stopped paying about 18 months ago.

At the end of February, the property owner visited the RV and posted a notice of intent to remove an abandoned vehicle, according to the statement.

He told the deputy the dogs usually barked from a chain-linked kennel on the parcel when he approached. The statement says there was no one home and no barking when he visited.

The property owner later met Pehl at a pub in east Thurston County where she worked. He reportedly offered to house the dogs on another property he owned in Elma.

He told the deputy Pehl was very dismissive of the dogs and said they had been re-homed to her mothers house, according to the statement.

A few weeks later, the property owner reportedly learned Pehl had been fired from the pub.

On April 24, the statement says the deputy entered the trailer with a search warrant and found multiple photos of Pehl and her family.

The bodies of the two dogs were removed from the trailer and sent to Joint Animal Services for a necropsy. A veterinarian examined the dogs and determined with a high degree of certainty that they died from starvation, per the statement.

Microchips were found on both dogs but they were listed as belonging to different owners. One dog reportedly belonged to Pehl and her parent while the other dog was registered to a different person.

The microchip company contacted Pehls parent who in turn contacted Joint Animal Services. The parent reported the dog registered to her had been re-homed to a couple in Aberdeen who had access to the trailer, according to the statement.

Pehl reportedly insinuated to the deputy that other people had access to the home.

However, the property owner told the deputy that nobody else was authorized to access the parcel. He added neighbors would have alerted him if strangers went to the property.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in a Sunday interview that former President Trump did not raise the possibility of being his running mate at a gathering this past weekend.

Scott added, however, that he expects a decision on Trumps vice-presidential running mate to be made within the next 60 days.

No maam, Scott told NBC Newss Kristen Welker when asked on Meet the Press whether Trump mentioned the possibility of being vice president while at the gathering.

We had no conversations about the VP pick, to be honest with you, to be clear, but we had a lot of conversations about the failures of Joe Biden and the success of Donald Trump, Scott added.

Scott was among the half-dozen or so Republicans who gathered at Mar-a-Lago for a private event this weekend with top GOP donors and high-profile party leaders. The event was seen largely as an audition to be Trumps running mate in 2024.

In addition to Scott, the Republican guest list included South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), House GOP conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Rep. Byron Donalds (Fla.).

On whether he thinks hes on the shortlist, Scott did not say directly.

I hope that the president will choose a person who helps the country unite and heal, Scott said on Sunday, when asked the question. l I certainly expect to have a decision from President Trump in the next 60 days or so, but he did not bring it up. I certainly didnt bring it up.

Im excited that in this nation, a poor kid from South Carolina could rise to the level of being a United States Senator, Scott continued. It just tells me that all things are possible for kids growing up in poverty today. Listen to this show and know that all things are possible for your future.

Later in the interview, when asked about Trump refusing to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 presidential election, no matter who wins, Scott dodged repeatedly.

The American people will make the decision, and the decision will be for President Trump, Scott said, as he was pressed to say yes or no whether he will accept the 2024 presidential election results.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Two state senators shared their perspective on Capitol Hill after a tense legislative session came to an end.

Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) joined Good Morning Nashville to discuss everything from arming teachers, school vouchers, and finding common ground.

After a flurry of bills crossed the finish line at the end of the 2024 legislative session, notably absent was Gov. Bill Lees months-long push for school vouchers.

Tennessee General Assembly Recap: What bills passed and failed in the legislature?

Johnson acknowledged the bill didnt cross the finish line, but seemed confident in its return next year.

Meanwhile, Campbell was quick to call the bill a scam, and seemed hopeful the voucher program push wouldnt return as strong in 2025.

WATCH: State senators discuss school voucher issues

Another controversial bill signed into law would allow school districts to permit teachers to conceal carry on school grounds.

Lee signed the bill into law April 26 after House and Senate Republicans passed HB1202/SB1325 in the final weeks of the 2024 legislative session.

As of now, no school districts in Tennessee have announced plans to arm teachers. In fact, some school districts have announced plans to do the exact opposite.

WATCH: State senators react to bill that allows teachers to carry guns

Johnson said he was not surprised by this. However, Campbell said she was surprised, but in a positive way, saying this move echoes what shes been hearing from faculty and staff.

No matter what side of the aisle you fall on, most would likely agree that the tension on Capitol Hill has been mounting and seems to only be getting worse.

SEE ALSO: Rhetoric in the Capitol

Campbell said even through the noise, lawmakers have a responsibility to work together.

Similarly, Johnson agreed to that sentiment, but said its impossible to get anything done when protests lead to violence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Protestors showing support for Ukraine after Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor denies sending Taurus missiles to assist - NURPHOTO

Top secret German military meetings about Taurus missiles were easily accessible online, reflecting a serious lapse in security, it has emerged.

An investigation by Die Zeit newspaper found that details of over 6,000 past and future meetings were accessible on the internet. They included the subject matter of the meeting and the names of its participants.

While its not thought hackers had access to actual recordings of past discussions, they could have attempted to gain access to them with the details available online.

The security flaws were found in the video conferencing software Webex, with information being hosted on internal Bundeswehr servers. The URL links to conferences included a simple series of consecutive numbers, which would have been easily guessable by hackers, said the team from Netzbegruendung, a group of IT experts affiliated with the Greens Party.

Among the meetings that were at risk were ones labelled sensitive. They included discussions on Taurus cruise missiles, Meteor air-to-air missiles and the digital battlefield.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is adamant in his refusal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite domestic and international pressure - LEONHARD SIMON/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

The findings by the German broadsheet, with help from Netzbegruenung, also detailed that would-be hackers would have been able to access online meetings involving Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, Robert Habeck, the vice chancellor and Christian Lindner, the finance minister.

Some meetings, including one involving top Luftwaffe general Ingo Gerhartz, were accessible without a password.

One of those by Gerhartz was recently leaked by pro-Kremlin social media in March. In it, Gerhartz was heard discussing a strike on the Kerch bridge between the occupied Crimean peninsula and mainland Russia.

Berlin called the leak a hybrid disinformation attempt.

In a leaked meeting, Luftwaffe general Ingo Gerhartz was heard discussing a strike on the Kerch bridge - MAJA HITIJ/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE

Responding to the Zeit report, Konstantin von Notz, the chair of the Bundestags parliamentary oversight committee said the defence ministry had a serious problem with security.

Its once again clear that in the face of new daily hybrid attacks, we need to actually implement the Zeitenwende, von Notz said.

Speaking to the Telegraph last week, before the security weaknesses were public, von Notz warned that Germany faces almost daily ... destabilisation attempts by authoritarian states against our country.

The Bundeswehr has admitted weaknesses in its digital security and said that it has now tightened its online security.

It was not possible to participate in the video conferences without the knowledge of the participants or without authorisation, a spokesperson for the military said. No confidential content could therefore leave the conferences they claimed.

The Bundeswehr refused to comment if this was the same security issue that caused the leak in March.

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.
Here's a roundup of our top stories from the past week.

With a subscription to the Pensacola News Journal, you will receive full access to the work done by our journalists and photographers as they head out every day to help inform and explain the important issues affecting your community.

Escambia County approved residential development projects during April

Four residential development projects were approved by Escambia Countys Development Review Committee during April, laying the groundwork for nearly 400 residential units to be added to the county.

Each of the projects were approved during the DRCs first meeting of the month on April 3.

Two residential projects were up for approval during the DRCs meetings on April 17 and April 24 respectively, but they did not receive the final go-ahead from the county. These projects planned to add 94 lotscombined to the area, according to their site plans filed with Escambia County.

Here are the residential projects that were approved by Escambia Countys DRC in April.

Full story: Four Escambia residential projects totaling nearly 400 homes get green light in April

Panaderia y Tienda Sabor Latino joins East Hill community

A new Latin American bakery called Panaderia y Tienda Sabor Latino has made its debut in Pensacolas East Hill neighborhood.

The specialty bakery and mini market located at 1020 B N. Ninth Ave. brings breads and pastries baked fresh daily, market goods, fresh fruit juices and handcrafted coffees to the table.

The shop is owned and operated by Laura Bocanegra and her husband, Ivan Jimenez. Since the couple speaks predominately Spanish, Vanessa Mayes, executive director of nonprofit Global Corner, translated for the News Journal in an interview with Bocanegra and Jiminez.

Full story: Meet East Hill's Latin American bakery and market filled with fresh breads and pastries

Blue Zones: Blue Zones VP speaks on bringing one to Pensacola

Netflix users were captivated by the popular 2023 docuseries, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones based off a New York times best-selling book. The show landed a spot in the streaming platforms top 10 most watched titles in the world.

The camera crew followed Guiness-world-record holding cyclist, researcher and National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner as he trotted the globe, interviewing centenarians for their secrets to living a full and happy life. Some of the answers he found have been ingrained in us since childhood, like "eat your veggies." Others were more profound, like being able to find, then articulate, your life purpose.

The kind of people Dan Buettner met still went spearfishing and told Dan they felt sexier at 103 than they did at 102. By the end, viewers wanted what the centenarians had. In 2016, seven years before the series' debut, Pensacola wanted it too.

Full story: Have you seen the Blue Zones docuseries on Netflix? Pensacola might be ready to become one

Escambia County settles Medicare false claim allegations for $5 million

Escambia County commissioners voted to approve a $5 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging the county filed false claims under Medicare through its ambulance service.

Escambia County commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a settlement in a lawsuit brought by the county's former medical director, Dr. Rayme Edler, under the False Claims Act.

Under the settlement, $3.5 million will be paid to the U.S. government, and the remaining $1.5 million will go to Edler.

Full story: Escambia County settles Medicare false claim allegations for $5 million

Pensacola artist's 118 portraits capture her last days with the love of her life

Nancy Norris, left, looks on as her sister Gail Ellingson talks about her portrait painted by local artist Nina Fritz at the Life Care Center of Pensacola on Thursday, April 25, 2024. Nearly 120 staff and resident watercolor portraits painted by Fritz are currently on display on the walls of the center.

Some of the best advice Pensacola artist Nina Fritz ever received about portrait painting was from an Austrian master painter. Dont worry too much about the nose. You dont even need to include the mouth if you dont want to. But the eyes  the eyes are where you have all the fun.

Nina is widely known throughout Pensacola for a variety of paintings depicting Gulf Coast living, ranging from beachgoers to the U.S. Blue Angels, but portraits of people have always been her signature.

Which is why when her husband of 66 years, Norman "Norm" Fritz, was moved into Life Care Center of Pensacola in the memory care unit due to worsening dementia - painting the faces of residents and staff she encountered on her visits was for her, a way of coping, and for her subjects, a moment of glee.

Now, only weeks after Norm has passed, her 118 watercolor paintings depicting the people and place where she spent her last days with her husband were showcased in a special gallery Thursday night.

Full story: Pensacola artist's 118 portraits capture her last days with the love of her life

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Top stories this week include new residential development, Blue Zones
British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) owns the Camel, Newport, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall cigarette brands. Although it is a U.S. cigarette maker, it has a global footprint, which separates it from both Altria (NYSE: MO), which only operates in the U.S., and Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), which sells cigarettes internationally but not in the U.S. market.

British American Tobacco made a huge admission about the future of the U.S. cigarette market in 2023 that investors in tobacco stocks should not ignore. Here's what you need to know.

British American Tobacco changed its accounting

Although a somewhat complex topic, the issue here boils down to the accounting treatment of British American Tobacco's U.S. cigarette brands. Previously the company assumed that the brands would be around forever -- but now it has decided that, at some point, they will no longer exist. The company described the change as:

...with effect from 1 January 2024, Newport, Camel, Natural American Spirit and Pall Mall will be amortised on a straight-lined basis. Pall Mall will be amortised over a 20-year period and Newport, Camel and Natural American Spirit will be amortised over a 30-year period. From 2024, the increase in annual amortisation expense is expected to be 1.4 billion per annum for the next 20 years, after which it is expected to decline to 1.3 billion.

In plain English, British American Tobacco is basically saying that its best guess is that Pall Mall as a brand will have little to no value in the U.S. in 20 years. Newport, Camel, and Natural American Spirit will likely end up in the same place just 10 years later. This is a big change, and it means that the company has to amortize the value of the four brands each year, which is basically taking a charge that accounts for the loss of their value during that year. That extra cost will be a headwind to earnings each year. This is going to have a material lingering effect on the company's financial results.

But that's not all. British American Tobacco's decision also forced it to immediately reduce the carrying value of the brands on its balance sheet:

In addition, the Group have recognised a non-cash adjusting impairment charge of 23.0 billion against certain of our acquired U.S. brands which have been previously recognised as indefinite-lived and an impairment to the Reynolds goodwill of 4.3 billion...

The end is nigh for U.S. tobacco

The big-picture takeaway here is that British American Tobacco is effectively telling investors that the U.S. cigarette market is not just in a steady decline, but that it will eventually go to zero. That clearly impacted the company's 2023 results, which fell deep into negative territory thanks to the write off. To put a number on that, earnings declined 322% year over year in 2023. However, it is important to note that a smaller headwind will continue each and every year for the next 30 years thanks to the increase in amortization costs.

Story continues

And then investors need to consider the broader statement being made. British American Tobacco has a global portfolio of cigarette brands, with some markets performing differently than others. So there's an offset of sorts to its U.S. business.

But what about Altria? Altria and Philip Morris International effectively share the Philip Morris portfolio of brands, headlined by Marlboro. Philip Morris International sells the brands internationally, while Altria sells them only in the U.S. market.

British American Tobacco's accounting shift basically suggests that Altria's cigarette business has an expiration date. Philip Morris International is in a better position because, like British American Tobacco, it operates in foreign markets.

The big picture isn't great for tobacco makers

The U.S. is probably ahead of the curve, to some extent, when it comes to cigarette demand trends, so investors need to pay close attention to the decision British American Tobacco just made. It might be off on the exact dates, but it is telling investors to expect that cigarettes will eventually be phased out.

And that increases the need for British American Tobacco, Altria, and Philip Morris International to find new businesses to replace the dying cigarette lines that now dominate their income statements. If you own any of these companies, you need to start paying very close attention to the success they are having in the effort to find a replacement for cigarettes. Given its U.S. focus, dealing with this decline is probably most important for Altria.

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Editors note: The article has been updated.

Thirty-four service members have returned to duty and one sailor is in stable condition as of Friday, May 3, following a collision between two landing craft off the coast of Florida last week, according to the Navy.

Thirty-five sailors and Marines assigned to the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were injured when two of the Navys Landing Craft Air Cushion vessels, or LCACs, collided during a training exercise near Jacksonville Wednesday.

The Navy did not say what caused the collision, which remains under investigation.

The service initially reported 30 sailors and Marines were injured in Wednesdays incident but later updated that number to 35.

As the incident unfolded and aid was rendered, additional personnel received medical care, increasing the total number injured to 35 personnel, the Navy said Friday in a news release.

Five sailors were medically evacuated for further care at Savannah Memorial University Medical Center, with four of them being released from the hospital after treatment, the Navy said Thursday.

One sailor was in stable condition and transported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth May 3, according to Fridays release. The medical center is the closest military treatment facility to the sailors home station of Norfolk, Virginia, the Navy said.

The LCACs, which transport troops and material from ship to shore, were from the amphibious assault ship Wasp and the amphibious transport dock New York.

A third LCAC rendered immediate assistance and transported all 38 sailors and Marines to the Wasp and New York, where troops with minor injuries were treated, the Navy said.

Navy Times editor Geoff Ziezulewicz contributed reporting to this story.
Trump compares Biden admin to Nazis and attacks prosecutor in tirade to Republican donors

Donald Trump with his potential vice presidential picks at his Mar-a-Lago on Saturday during a fundraiser for the Republican Party. Leaked audio reported by Axios reveals his thoughts on many of the contenders (Imaged provided by the Trump campaign)

Donald Trump compared the Biden administration to the Nazi secret police in a rambling, hour-and-a-half speech to Republican donors in Florida on Saturday.

Speaking to a crowd gathered for the Republican National Committees donor retreat in Florida, Mr Trump complained about the various indictments against him and baselessly alleged theyre part of a coordinated Biden administration plot.

These people are running a Gestapo administration, Mr Trump said, according to audio of the event obtained by The New York Times.

And its the only thing they have, he added. And its the only way theyre going to win, in their opinion, and its actually killing them. But it doesnt bother me.

North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who attended the event and is thought to be a potential vice-presidential pick for Mr Trump, later defended the inflammatory comparison.

In an interview on Sunday with CNN, Mr Burgum downplayed the Gestapo remark as a short comment that wasnt really central to what he [Trump] was talking about, before continuing to say that many Americans agree with the underlying sentiment.

The majority of Americans feel like the trial that hes in was politically motivated and if it was anbody else it wouldnt even be happening. I understand that he feels like hes being unfairly treated, the North Dakota Republican said. Its reasonable that someone whos being kept off the campaign trail as the presumptive nominee has got some frustration.

The rest of Mr Trumps remarks were similarly aggressive, a series of insults to various perceived enemies and brags about his own standing.

The former president reserved particular ire for special counsel Jack Smith, whom he branded a f***ing a**hole and unattractive both inside and out.

He had more positive things to say about the various Republicans he claimed were begging to be his vice-president, praising potential picks like Representative Elise Stefanik, who fiercely questioned college presidents about antisemitism in a widely watched hearing, and Governor Burgum, who was deemed really impressive.

In another strange moment, Mr Trump said anyone who gave $1m to the GOP could come up and speak onstage themselves.

Two donors did eventually walk onstage, one of whom claimed, Donald J Trump is the person that God has chosen.

While Mr Trump appeared unguarded at the RNC event in Palm Beach, he continues to face heavy scrutiny in the courts.

This week, former top aide Hope Hicks testified in Mr Trumps criminal hush trial in Manhattan, the most high-profile member of the former presidents circle to take the stand.

The former White House communications director broke down in tears during her remarks, in testimony that described Trump allies reacting with alarm to the release of the 2016 Access Hollywood tape and later affair allegations involving adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Heres who was with Trump at RNCs spring meeting at Mar-a-Lago

Heres who was with Trump at RNCs spring meeting at Mar-a-Lago

Former President Trump held a private lunch event at his Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend that hosted many top GOP donors and high-profile party leaders.

The fundraiser was largely seen as an audition for Trumps vice president within the GOP. The guest list included many of those who are rumored to be on that list, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), House GOP conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

The weekend kicked off with Stefanik, along with Trumps daughter-in-law and Republican National Committee (RNC) co-Chair Lara Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), hosting a welcome reception on Friday, according to CNN.

Trump reportedly called some of those on his VP shortlist to the stage, except for Noem, who left early, NBC reported. She has been under controversy after an anecdote in her book about killing her dog went viral.

Trump, however, highlighted Stefanik, praising her as an amazing talent, according to CNN. He also said Rubio was doing a great job.

Other high-profile GOP leaders also attended the private event, such as Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) and Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.)

Dave McCormick, a Republican running for Senate in Pennsylvania; Bernie Moreno, the GOP nominee for the Senate election in Ohio; and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were also in attendance.

During the event, Trump attacked his main presidential competition, President Biden, and likened the current administration to the secret police force of Nazi Germany.

These people are running a Gestapo administration, Trump said, according to NBC News, which has an audio of the luncheon. And its the only thing they have. And its the only way theyre going to win in their opinion.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump's Michigan rally shows he pouts when he doesn't get his way | Letters to the Editor

At his campaign rally in Michigan former President Donald Trump doubled down on his false claim about the 2020 election  "When we have election integrity, we will win, he said. The former president has a more than 10 year history of claiming election fraud. ("Trump repeats false fraud claims, vows to prevent cheating in Michigan speech," Detroit Free Press, May 2, 2024.)

He said that Barack Obama's re-election was a sham, accused U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of fraud in the Iowa Caucuses and never accepted that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.

How do you trust someone who claims that any election loss for him would be fraudulent?

Terry Hansen

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Former President Donald Trump exits his plane before speaking to a crowd of supporters during a rally at Avflight Saginaw in Freeland on Wed., May 1, 2024.

Where's the common sense?

This recent article in the Detroit Free Press just screams, "Where is the common sense?" ("Customer service rep sues DTE: I was forced to stay on phone with masturbating customer," Detroit Free Press, April 30.)

It also calls for the question, "Is anyone in DTE Human Resources working above the level of the most recent summer intern"?

If a DTE customer service representative does not stay engaged with a customer who is sexually assaulting her she gets a poor performance review or fired?

There is no stream of logic available to DTE public relations that could come close to defending the the internal policy the employee describes.

I assume that if a fellow employee had approached the service representative in a similar manner they would have been fired on the spot, but a customer is allowed to get away with this? And a valued DTE employee says she was told to endure.

DTE is in the hot seat these days, as they should be, but what this employee says about management and supervisory oversight is incomprehensible.

We should also anticipate that should there be a monetary judgement here is favor of the employe, which is likely deserved, DTE will just roll it into their next request for a rate increase.

Larry Grady

Bloomfield

Teachers should not have to carry guns to keep our kids safe

The Tennessee Legislature is playing with fire by allowing teachers to carry guns in their schools in order to quell school shootings. It is an absolute error on their part. The teachers are there to teach  not to be Annie Oakley. ("Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs into law bill allowing armed teachers," The Tennessean, April 26, 2024.)

It is tough enough to be with a group of young children and arranging study plans and grading papers and so on to now have the additional responsibility of confronting a potential shooter. Instead of coming up with a logical solution to the issue, they are creating disaster.

In a likely scenario the teacher would be nervous and shaking during a confrontation and gravely injuring or even killing a child by mistake and then you have a tragedy upon a tragedy. There is no need for this. We need less guns, not more guns. Where are their brains?

Jim Jeziorowski

Wayne

To end bird flu, replace animal-based products with alternatives

As the bird flu virus continues to mutate it has made its way into another part of our nations food system: the dairy industry.

The USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that dairy cows now need to be tested for the deadly bird flu, which has already killed millions of chickens.

The transmission of the H5N1 virus to cows has, understandably, drawn major health concerns because cows, like humans, are mammals.

The original cause of the outbreak remains unknown. However, the deplorable conditions in factory farms make dairy and egg production vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Crowded, sick, and stressed animals being raised around contaminated animal waste provide ideal incubation opportunities for viruses.

Meanwhile, 61% of the nearly 1,500 pathogens known to infect humans originated with animals; including the Asian flu, dengue fever, Ebola, bird flu, no, West Nile, yellow fever, and the more recent COVID-19.

We have the choice to help end animal farming and improve our own health by replacing animal-based products with plant-based meats, eggs, cheeses, ice cream and more. And, most importantly, these vegan foods dont carry flu viruses or government warning labels.

Eric C Lindstrom

Ithaca, New York

Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump rally, bird flu, arming teachers | Letters to the Editor
Turkey suspended trade with Israel pending a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. Here's what that could mean for Israel.

Turkey has suspended trade with Israel, demanding a cease-fire in Gaza.

Turkish authorities criticized Israel, as well as the West, in its announcement.

Turkey is one of Israel's largest trade partners.

Turkey halted trade with Israel last week, demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and criticizing Western influence in the war.

Turkey criticized Israel's response to the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas, during which fighters killed 1,200 Israelis and took about 200 others hostage. More than 100 of those hostages are believed to be still in Gaza.

An outpouring of global support for Israel in the aftermath of the attacks quickly dissipated, however, as the scale of Israel's response grew. Some 34,000 Palestinians, mostly civilian women and children, have so far died in Israel's campaign.

Turkish authorities cited Israel's "uncompromising attitude" toward Palestinians, particularly the Israel Defense Forces' recent escalation in the Rafah region of Gaza, in its decision to suspend trade, Reuters reported.

Turkish officials said the country would suspend all exports and imports with Israel, valued at about $7 billion annually, until there is a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.

That's a significant portion of Israel's trade, according to recent trade data. In 2022, the only nations Israel imported from more than Turkey were China and the United States, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a project from the MIT Media Lab.

Though they didn't name the United States, Turkish leaders also called out the West's tolerance and support of the war.

"I want this to be known: we aren't chasing animosity or a fight with any country in our region," Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said, according to Reuters.

In March, diplomatic tensions grew after the United Nations voted for a cease-fire in the region. The United States abstained from the vote, sparking sharp dissent from Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. While the US Congress recently approved a multibillion-dollar aid package to Israel, the relationship between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden is at an all-time low.

"We have a single goal here: to force the Netanyahu leadership, which has gotten out of control with the West's unconditional military and diplomatic support, to a cease-fire," Erdogan said, according to Reuters.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two women found shot dead at park, missing baby found, New Mexico police say

A 911 call led officers to find two women shot dead and a badly injured child at a park, New Mexico police reported.

Officers then discovered an empty baby car seat, stroller and bottle on the ground, leading them to believe the 10-month-old baby of one of the women had been abducted, police said in a news release.

The baby, Eleia Maria Torres, was later found safe, and a suspect in the deaths was arrested, FBI agents told KRQE and the Albuquerque Journal.

The initial call came in around 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, police said. Someone told dispatchers they found two dead women at Ned Houk Park, just north of Clovis, police said.

Officers responding to the park found two women dead with gunshot wounds and a young girl with a head injury, police said.

The two women were later identified as Samantha Cisneros and Taryn Allen, both 23 and both of Texico, New Mexico, police said.

The girl, who was hospitalized, and Eleia are the children of Cisneros, police said. An Amber Alert was issued for the baby.

The 5-year-old girl, who was found covered with blood, was listed in critical condition at a Lubbock, Texas, hospital on Friday, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Police told the publication that Cisneros and Allen had earlier gone to a Walmart to sell some puppies and it was not clear how they ended up at the park.

Clovis is about a 220-mile drive east of Albuquerque near the Texas border.

K-9 finds missing 85-year-old woman clinging to tree in steep ravine, Colorado cops say

Boater vanishes after jumping into lake after lost hat, Arizona sheriff says

Amazon driver fatally shoots person trying to steal vehicle at gunpoint, Ohio cops say
After a tense day of protests, counterprotests and increased university police presence on the University of Chicagos Main Quadrangle, the sun began to fade Friday evening and the Jewish holy day of Sabbath began.

Within the encampment established by the University of Chicago United for Palestine coalition, about 50 Jewish students and faculty and community members sat down on a blue tarp among tents and kaffiyehs to observe a planned prayer service.

One challah was decorated with a Palestinian flag in seeds and herbs; the ceremonial wine (grape juice) was chosen because it was not made in Israel. Palestinian flags and handmade posters with slogans protesting genocide hung from trees. As they prayed, other students, many of whom were Muslim, held up kaffiyehs, jean shirts and checkered blankets to form a privacy screen.

Since April 29, Jewish anti-Zionist protesters at the Hyde Park campus have used food, ritual and community in the encampment as one of many ways to express their religious commitment to divestment from Israel, a multiethnic future and an end to killings in Gaza.

U. of C. faculty members gather to support pro-Palestinian student protesters

In a practical sense, that means Seders and Shabbats (or Sabbaths), with non-Israeli kosher products, teaching about the pluralistic elements of Jewish traditions like the Moroccan Jewish Mimouna, and eating Palestinian food with Muslims and others in their coalition.

Avi Steinberg, a writer, faculty member and graduate of Orthodox yeshivas who spoke at the event, described Shabbat as a time of reflection.

People sit with their thoughts and their emotions, Steinberg said on a phone call Saturday. Its a time of stopping the clock completely.

After the prayer and singing concluded, the Shabbat observers  a small but sizable portion of the broader encampment  dispersed; at the central food tent, a half-dozen or more unflipped maqluba pots sat beside rice and meat already doled out onto steam plates. Cold chopped salads and hot lentil soup were also served.

This meal, donated by Arab restaurant Al Bahaar, acted informally as the Shabbat meal. The encampment food tent staff relies on donations of hot food and attempts to keep a variety of vegan, kosher, halal and nonallergenic options available for encampment dwellers.

The Muslim maghrib prayer began soon after on the same blue tarp. The University of Chicago United for Palestine coalition includes Students for Justice in Palestine, UChicago Jews for a Free Palestine, and several other organizations.

Nationally, encampments like this one have been accused of antisemitism. But in interviews with a half-dozen or more Jewish students and affiliated faculty members within the pro-Palestine encampment at the U. of C., none of them said they felt anything resembling antisemitism within the camp.

Instead, they said they felt more connected to the Jewish tradition through their activism during the protests. They argued that anti-Zionism and advocating for Palestinian freedom is in a long tradition of Jewish values of pluralism and agitation for justice.

When were praying for peace and human emancipation, to me this is the essence of what it means to be Jewish, said graduate student Daniel Fernandez, speaking outside the encampment. What is so profoundly disappointing is that this is somehow controversial. Fernandez has stayed at the encampment, attending or sometimes leading several of the religious services this past week.

Chicago Jewish leaders held a news conference Wednesday where they called the encampments platforms for antisemitism. The universitys major Jewish organizations have disavowed, criticized or ignored the protesters.

In an email to the Tribune, Rabbi Yossi Brackman of Rohr Chabad at the University of Chicago wrote, Movements have always had a token minority, this is no different. For example, there were some Black slave owners and Black people who fought for the Confederacy.

Talking to the Tribune from within the encampment, graduate student Sofia Butnaru said many of the Israel-critical Jewish students did not feel they had a religious home at the U. of C. We felt we werent represented in the other spaces, so we were really interested in building our own rituals and coming together as like-minded people to do the religious practices that are very near and dear to us, Butnaru said.

Callie Maidhof, a professor of global studies and a member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine, agreed. (Our Jewish institutions) have not made space for this, she said. That is especially true of the largest Jewish campus organizations like Hillel.

While Hillel Internationals Israel guidelines say the organization welcomes political pluralism and a diversity of student perspectives, its standards also state that it will not partner with, house, or host organizations, groups, or speakers that support or practice certain positions, like the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions movement against the state of Israel. Members of organizations like FJP and Jewish Voices for Peace, which support BDS, would not be allowed to speak at Hillel under this policy.

A Hillel rabbi acknowledged but did not respond to a request for comment from the Tribune.

Despite feeling isolated from campus Jewish groups, UChicago Jews for a Free Palestine have organized several religious events since the encampment went up. According to messages with a Jewish organizer at DePauls encampment, a similar Shabbat service was held within the encampment on their campus.

These events have attracted supportive community members like retired researcher Sandy Perpignani. She sat outside the U. of C. encampment and engaged with critical onlookers. At Shabbat time, she entered the encampment to pray with the students and organizers.

Regardless of some personal challenges, organizers constantly recentered the conversation toward what they see as the oppression and bravery of the Palestinian people. The protesters asked the university to divest from Israel and call for a cease-fire.

Within the Divinity School, Aviva Waldman, a writing instructor and alum who acts as a faculty liaison for organizing students, described a Passover event held by encampment organizers and allies that reflected their commitment to divestment from Israel, commitment to Palestinians and embrace of interreligious pluralism.

During Passover, which ended last week, Jewish communities avoided chametz (leavened goods like wheat and spelt) and instead consumed matzo. Encampment organizers are, for the most part, supportive of the demands of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, but many matzo brands, including Manischewitz, produce some of their goods in Israel. Though Manischewitz is not officially part of the BDS boycott list, organizers felt they needed to make a modification.

Unable to find non-Israeli-origin matzo in Chicago, Waldman said they ordered matzo from a specialty farm in New York. Earlier, Butnaru cooked matzo ball soup for Passover using a matzo meal that was not a product of Israel.

Our home is wherever we are, Waldman said. Theres no nation-state that is our national homeland. We wanted our ritual items, the matzo, to come from our home.

Palestinian olive oil from Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank was also added to the Seder plate. The oil was available a bit closer to campus, from Canaan Palestine, a Madison, Wisconsin-based company that sources organic and fair trade olive oil from Palestinian orchards.

The Seder plate is the most symbolic ritual item, Waldman said. (It) symbolizes Palestinian connection to the land and commitment to nurturing the land through farming olives and olive orchards.

Organizers also revised their Haggadah, the text traditionally read at Passover Seder, to highlight parallels between the Palestinian freedom struggle and the story of the Jewish community fleeing from Egypt.

These changes reflect deep rifts and debates happening within Chicago Jewish communities.

The Passover Seder is about one thing and one thing only, Yossi wrote in an email. The exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery to return to the land of their Patriarchs, what would then become known as the Land of Israel. Anything else is a bastardization of Judaism. 

Another Chicago-area rabbi was supportive of the protesters.

Im in favor of Jewish people observing Shabbat, praying three times daily and fulfilling the commandments wherever they are, Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein wrote in a message on X, formerly Twitter. Bernstein said the students and organizers actions are not in conflict with (the Torah and Jewish law and teachings).

On April 30, organizers held a Mimouna, a Sephardic tradition where Moroccan Jews celebrated the end of Passover by partaking in leavened goods and sweets with their Muslim neighbors. According to the organizers, observant Jews sell their leavened goods to Moroccan Muslims, only to buy it back when Passover is finished. While the festival is celebrated in Israel, Waldman says the important element of coexistence is not present.

Undergraduate student Andrew Basta helped organize the Mimouna; he has stayed most nights at the encampment tents since they were established.

The traditional kind of food of the holiday would be mofletta, which is a kind of crepe-like pancake that is sweet, Basta said on a phone call Saturday. Sadly, we are not able to achieve making that within the encampment, based on (lack of) access to stoves. Instead, they settled on pita and sweet dates.

There were moments where we could be neighbors and be friendly and celebrate together, Butnaru said. Not to say that it was perfect coexistence, but there was coexistence.

Basta is optimistic about the future and sees the Mimouna as symbolic of what is possible.

We can rebuild joyous futures and multiethnic futures where Jews and Muslims can be neighbors without being part of an apartheid state or ethnic cleansing, Basta said.

While Passover had ended by the time of Fridays Shabbat, many organizers were still thinking about the lessons of that story: the struggle for liberation in the face of oppression.

Theres nothing Jewish about an ethno-state, Butnaru said. Theres plenty of things that are Jewish about building community.

Many students expressed the challenges of bringing their activism to their parents. Fernandez described his parents as deeply committed to Zionism and said that their conversations around the subject of the war in Gaza and his organizing have been agonizing for both parties.

They think when I am in these camps, standing on this tarp praying  they think Im praying for the destruction of the Jewish people. But Fernandez said he is committed to nonviolence. He and other organizers believe that there can be coexistence and repair between Palestinians and Jews.

For the most part, the organizers in the encampment wish things were different with their families; but that wont stop them from protesting.

I want to begin from a premise that their hurt is real, Fernandez said. Our history as Jewish people is rooted in that; its real and palpable and omnipresent. I dont want to dismiss their fear  but the same Torah has placed us on opposite ends of the issue.

During the Shabbat, Avi Steinberg spoke and referenced a daily prayer from the Book of Numbers that translated to How goodly are your tents, oh Jacob?

This reference got a chuckle, but he explained the deeper meaning: You need to live every day as if you are in the tents.

In a later message, Steinberg explained that talk was presenting tent life as a metaphor for radical politics specifically  the need for maintaining that radical edge even on a daily basis when were not literally in the tents. He said he believed the encampment itself is a victory and that they would succeed in getting university leadership to divest financially from Israel and call for a ceasefire.

In the meantime, they were building their vision here, in the impermanence of the tents. In what they say is a multiethnic, pluralistic group committed to justice and peace.
Queue the bears.

Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A, BRK-B) cash pile hit another record high in the first quarter of $189 billion, the industrial giant said in its earnings release on Saturday.

That massive cash war chest will likely reach $200 billion by the end of the current quarter, Buffett told shareholders at a packed CHI Health Center today.

Such a hoard of greenbacks signals Buffett is bearish on the stock market right now, according to one veteran value investor.

Buffett is bearish on the stock market. He shows this by growing his massive cash position to $200 billion, selling Apple (AAPL) shares and saying that he doesnt see bargains, Smead Capital Management CIO and long-time Buffett watcher Bill Smead told me on the grounds of the Woodstock of Capitalism.

Berkshires decision to reduce its stake in Apple and boost the companys cash position is a move that Buffett says makes sense given the current macroeconomic environment.

I dont think anyone sitting at this table has any idea how to use it effectively, and therefore we dont use it, Buffett said in response to a shareholder question of why Berkshire isnt putting the cash reserve to work.

As the world gets more sophisticated, complicated and intertwined, more can go wrong and you want to be able to act when that happens, Buffett added.

Apple and those other Buffett stocks

The bears have some meat to feast on, compliments of Buffett.

Berkshire reduced its position in Apple by about 13% during the first three months of the year, marking the second quarter in a row that the conglomerate reduced its stake in the iPhone maker.

As of March 31, Apple accounted for about 40% of Berkshires vast stock portfolio, worth a total of $135.4 billion.

Berkshire reduced its position in Apple as the tech giant has struggled in recent quarters and valuation on the stock remains elevated. The stock fell about 10% during the first three months of the year, weighing on Berkshires quarterly results.

While some initially looked at Buffetts decision to reduce the Apple stake as a sign that his stance on the tech beast has changed, one analyst told Yahoo Finance that "taking a little off the top doesnt hurt."

"This does not concern us all that much because Apple was such a large position in the 13-F portfolio at the end of 2023, so anything to lessen that exposure is good from a diversification perspective," Morningstar analyst Greggory Warren told me at the meeting.

The legendary investor was also quick to reassure shareholders as to his confidence in Apple.

Story continues

At the end of the year, I would think its extremely likely that Apple is the largest common stock holding we have now, Buffett told a packed house, which included Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Harold and Caroline Ernst of St. Louis chat with fellow shareholders as they wait for the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting to begin on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Buffett compared Apple to two of Berkshires most well-known, top holdings: Coca-Cola (KO) and American Express (AXP). While he called Coca-Cola and American Express wonderful businesses, he noted Apple was an even better business.

While Buffett remains optimistic on Apple, the business does face short-term headwinds.

Weakness in China has been front and center for Apple investors as it loses market share to domestic players. A more cautious US consumer hasn't aided investor sentiment, either.

It's easy to blame the overall consumer environment but there's also a market share dynamic that's occurring with Huawei and others becoming extremely competitive, Ariel Investments emerging markets equities senior vice president Christine Phillpotts told me at Berkshire's annual meeting.

Its a trend that Phillpotts says will likely accelerate as domestic players continue to increase the value proposition.

Apple shares have declined 4.8% since the start of the year despite coming AI announcements, far underperforming the S&P 500s 8% gain.

Buffett's cash hoard hints other stocks may follow Apple's lead lower as the year treks along.

Curious on what Apple is up against in terms of AI competition? Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi goes inside Amazon's AI plans with AWS CEO Adam Selipsky in a new episode of the Opening Bid podcast below.

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Seana Smith is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Smith on Twitter @SeanaNSmith. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email seanasmith@yahooinc.com.

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About 100 University of Central Florida students gathered Saturday afternoon at Memory Mall to protest Israels war in Gaza as graduation ceremonies continued nearby inside Addition Financial Arena.

This was UCF students second rally calling for a ceasefire and for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel amid a nationwide movement across college campuses.

Saturdays protest was peaceful as hundreds of police on bicycles lined Memory Mall. Students had until midnight to protest and leave and had cleared the area by 7 p.m.

The protest came on the anniversary of the 1970 Kent State University demonstrations that left four dead and wounded nine after the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of students protesting the war in Vietnam.

Protesters at UCF said the date was especially significant as about 2,000 students nationwide have been arrested for protesting the war in Gaza.

About 9,800 degrees were expected to be awarded throughout the weekend at the Addition Financial Arena, which comes after the State University System of Florida sent a statewide memo on Wednesday urging universities not to cancel or disrupt graduation ceremonies as students protest.

Students chanted 45,000 dead and youre arresting kids instead as crowds of parents and graduates walked alongside Memory Mall. Many chanted in support or filmed the scene on their phones.

One of those recent graduates, George Brussenskiy, stopped and watched in support of the protest minutes after receiving his PhD in electrical engineering.

Hopefully UCF will take certain measures to listen to students and take meaningful action, Brussenskiy said. Theres so many innocent civilians dying in Gaza and theyre human beings just like you and me. So, if another human being is suffering, we have to speak up.

George and his wife Natalee, who is from Palestine, want UCF to divest from any companies that provide weapons to Israel. They believe because the university has such a large student body, it could have a meaningful impact.

UCF brings into the workforce a lot of engineers, especially students that work in the weapons manufacturing, so through divestment UCF could put pressure on these companies to stop selling weapons and arms to Israel, Natalee said.

Protesters called for UCF to disclose and divest, a practice protest organizer and Palestinian Tamara, said has been difficult to get the university to do. She did not want to disclose her last name over fear of retaliation from the university. Tamara graduated recently from UCF with a degree in elementary education but is back to complete a masters.

UCFs investment profiles and portfolios are incredibly hidden and difficult to find, Tamara said. We want them to divest from these companies that we had to seriously search for to even find that they were partnering with.

Tamara and the other protesters specifically called out UCFs relationship to weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin and Siemens, who they want the university to cease relationships with.

Tamara said she feels speaking out is her duty.

I didnt choose to be here in America. My family left for our safety and I had the privilege to leave, Tamara said. The only difference between the people dying over there and me is a plane ride, so its my responsibility to take action and help them in whatever way I can.
In the midst of a chaotic week on campus which has seen violence, forceful police raids and trade-offs in blame for the events, UCLAs Chancellor announced Sunday that hes creating a new office in charge of safety and law enforcement, and hes appointing a former police chief to lead it.

In a message to the campus community, Chancellor Gene Block said hes taken action to significantly alter the campus safety structure.

In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community, Block said. In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations.

Israel orders Al Jazeera to close its local operation and seizes some of its equipment

Block said the oversight of campus safety and the UCLA Police Department, which previously was under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor, deserves to be the sole responsibility of an individual in the universitys administration.

A police officers begins to tear down a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA on May 2, 2024.

Those feelings led to the creation of the Office of Campus Safety, which will oversee the UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management.

In the same statement, Block announced the appointment of Rick Braziel as its inaugural associate vice chancellor. Braziel worked as Chief of Police in Sacramento from 2008 to 2012.

Block said Braziel has served as an instructor in community policing at Cal Poly Humboldt and has reviewed other law enforcement agencies and police responses.

Actor Bernard Hill, of Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died at 79

An advisory group for the new office was also created and consists of the following members UC Davis Chief of Police and Coordinator of the Council of UC Chiefs of Police Joe Farrow, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Professor of Health Policy and Management Vickie Mays and UC Office of the President Systemwide Director of Community Safety Jody Stiger.

The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount, Block said. These actions are essential for creating a secure environment where everyone at UCLA can confidently pursue their studies and careers.

Scott Jones, Jan Scully, Benjamin Wagoner, Rick Braziel

The appointment comes as the Federated University Police Officers Association, the union representing the 10 University of California police departments, blamed UC administrators for a poor response to attacks on the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus on Tuesday.

The union claimed that the administration should provide guidelines for the handling of safety situations on campus. Last week, UC President Michael Drake opened an investigation into the UCLA campus polices response, or lack thereof, to the violence on Tuesday night.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
UCLA will bring in a new chief safety officer following lapses in the handling of the attack on a pro-Palestinian encampment at the university. (Etienne Laurent / AFP via Getty Images)

UCLA has moved swiftly to create a new chief safety officer position to oversee campus security operations, including the campus Police Department, in the wake of what have been called serious lapses in handling protests that culminated in a mob attack on a pro-Palestinian student encampment last week.

Chancellor Gene Block announced Sunday that Rick Braziel, a former Sacramento police chief who has reviewed law enforcement responses in high-profile cases across the country, will serve as associate vice chancellor of a new Office of Campus Safety. He will oversee the Police Department  including Police Chief John Thomas, who is facing calls to step aside  and the Office of Emergency Management.

Braziel previously was tapped to review police actions in the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting; riots in Ferguson, Mo.; the shootout with police killer Christopher Dorner; and other cases. He will report directly to Block in a unit that will focus solely on campus safety  an arrangement that has proved effective at major universities across the country, the chancellor said. Previously, the campus police chief and the Office of Emergency Management reported to Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck.

Block also announced a new advisory group to partner with Braziel. Members include UC Davis Police Chief Joseph Farrow, the respected chair of the UC Council of Police Chiefs; Vickie Mays, UCLA professor of psychology and health policy and management; and Jody Stiger, UC systemwide director of community safety.

Read more: Pro-Israel counterprotesters attack pro-Palestinian camp at UCLA; violence continues for hours

Protecting the safety of our community underpins everything we do at UCLA. In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community, Block said in a message to the campus community. One thing is already clear: to best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations.

"The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount."

The move is intended to immediately address campus security shortfalls that left UCLA students and others involved in the protest encampment to fend for themselves against attackers for three hours before law enforcement moved in to quell the melee.

Read more: UCLA's top cop, accused of security lapse, faces calls to step aside. He defends his actions

Three sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, told The Times that Thomas failed to provide a repeatedly requested written security plan to campus leadership on how he planned to keep the campus safe in various scenarios, including rallies, skirmishes and violence. He failed to secure external law enforcement to assist UCLA police and private security in safeguarding the encampment area before the mob attack, despite authorization to do so with as much overtime payment as needed, the sources said.

Thomas also assured leadership that it would take just minutes to mobilize law enforcement to quell violence. It actually took three hours to assemble enough officers before they moved in to intervene.

Thomas, in an interview late Friday night, disputed that account as inaccurate and said he did everything I could to safeguard the community in a week of strife that left UCLA reeling.

A large group of counterprotesters, some dressed in black outfits with white masks, stormed the area Tuesday night through Wednesday morning and assaulted campers, tore down barricades, and hurled wood and other objects into the camp and at those inside. Campers, some holding lumber and wearing goggles and helmets, sought to defend themselves with pepper spray and by other means. Several were injured, including four Daily Bruin student journalists.

University of California President Michael V. Drake has initiated an independent review into UCLAs response, which Block has said he welcomes. The chancellor also has launched an internal review of the campus security processes. A spokesperson for Gov. Gavin Newsom has also called for answers to explain the limited and delayed campus law enforcement response at UCLA.

Drake hailed the appointment of Braziel, saying he brings "a wealth of experience in community policing, emergency response operations, and institutional reviews."

"I fully support this appointment and believe that it is an important step towards restoring confidence in our public safety systems and procedures," Drake said in a statement Sunday.

The UC external investigation is expected to move quickly and focus more on lessons to be learned rather than individuals to be blamed, a UC source said.

But internal calls for Thomas to step aside are growing, the sources said. And the vice chancellor he reports to  Beck  is also being scrutinized.

Beck has not responded to requests for comment about his actions around the protests and encampment.

One UC source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, described Thomas as a dedicated public servant who had properly raised red flags about the encampment from the moment the first tents went up. But his warnings to take the encampment down went unheeded, the source said.

To point a finger at the police chief is ridiculous, the source said. This completely falls in the lap of Michael Beck."

The UC police union issued a statement Saturday reiterating that the external review should focus squarely on the failures of administrators, not law enforcement.

UC administrators are solely responsible for the Universitys response to campus protests, and they own all the fallout from those responses, said Wade Stern, president of the Federated University Police Officers Assn., which represents the 250 officers of the 10 UC police departments. UCs written guidelines make clear that UC administrators decide what the response to campus protests will be, who will respond, and the role of campus police is only to implement that response.

Read more: UCLA struggles to recover after 200 arrested, pro-Palestinian camp torn down

Several top LAPD leaders not authorized to discuss the incident told The Times that Thomas had tarnished the reputation of Los Angeles law enforcement with what they called his lack of planning and poor communication with other agencies. They said they had to scramble for officers and wait until enough could be assembled to safely intervene at about 1:40 a.m.

Critics said his attempts to justify his actions to The Times, while others were focused on addressing the crisis, showed selfishness and had fueled more calls for him to step aside.

Thomas said he was not ready to step aside. He asserted that he had provided daily briefings to campus leadership with the number of resources, the response protocol and assigned roles for those deployed.

He said he was restricted in planning because of a directive from campus leadership not to use police, in keeping with UC community guidelines to first rely on communication with protesters and use law enforcement as a last resort.

When campus leadership directed him to secure outside help and spare no cost for enough officers and private security to safeguard the community, Thomas said he attempted to secure it from the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Sheriffs Department. But he said he was told by an LAPD lieutenant that problems with the payment system between the city and state prevented completion of the effort before the melee broke out.

Thomas acknowledged that he did tell leadership that it would take just minutes to deploy police forces, but he was referring to a general response  not a force large enough to handle the size of the crowds that clashed that night. But three sources confirmed he was directly asked how long it would take for outside law enforcement to quell any violence.

The Times reported Thursday that the UCLA Police Department had asked other campuses for additional police officers five days before the attack. The reporting was based on documents the paper reviewed and information from the head of the UC police officers union. Only a few on-duty UCLA police officers were on hand to protect the encampment Tuesday night. Questions are being raised as to why he did not increase the number of UC police that night after being directed to use whatever resources were needed to keep the community safe.

I did everything I could to increase the police presence that we couldnt provide because of our small department, he said.

On the night of the attack, Thomas said he was watching a Dodgers game at home and was alerted to the mob violence by Beck. Thomas said he immediately called the LAPD to ask for deployment to the campus and notified his UCLA watch commander to call for mutual aid from law enforcement with the cities of Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica, along with sheriffs deputies.

When he arrived on scene, he said, 19 officers from UCLA, the LAPD and three of the mutual aid agencies had arrived but had not moved in to quell the violence. An LAPD lieutenant told him the force was too small; Thomas said he asked why they couldnt go in with the forces they had, and the lieutenant told him he was directed to wait.

It took more than 90 minutes for sufficient forces to arrive and intervene. The next day, UCLA called in police who dismantled the encampment and arrested more than 200 protesters early Thursday morning in clashes that lasted hours.

The campus will resume normal operations Monday. Faculty are being encouraged to resume in-person instruction as soon as possible but may continue remote classes through Friday without departmental authorization. Law enforcement officers are stationed throughout the campus, according to a BruinAlert sent Sunday morning.

But sources said that tension over the protests and the fraught politics have continued to bitterly divide both campus members and the outside community, making it difficult to speak freely. They said they hoped Blocks actions would represent a turning point.

The chancellor made it clear that Bruin community safety comes first and his swift, decisive actions are really welcomed, a source said.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The UK could need an Israeli-style Iron Dome air defense system, says former US national security advisor

The UK could need an Israeli-style Iron Dome air defense system, says former US national security advisor

The UK is considering developing an air defense system akin to Israel's Iron Dome.

Former top US general says the UK needs to boost defense spending.

The prospect of more crises with Russia underscores the need for credible air defense systems.

Former US National Security Advisor General HR McMaster has said the UK must prepare for possible future conflicts by building an Israeli-style Iron Dome air defense system.

Gen. McMaster, who served as national security adviser between 2017 and 2018, told the UK news radio outlet, LBC, this week: "I think it's quite urgent for the United Kingdom, the United States, for all nations to invest more in defense."

Asked whether the UK should have an Iron Dome system, which Israel invented to intercept rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah militants, he said: "I think that every country is going to have to develop these kinds of defenses and long-range missiles."

Indeed, the UK is considering developing its own Iron Dome air defense system amid growing tensions with Russia and its allies.

Adm. Sir Tony Radakin, head of Britain's Armed Forces, told LBC last month that the UK is in "live conversations" about developing an air defense system like Israel's.

As Europe faces increasing geopolitical insecurity, the UK has to grapple with its inadequate air defense capabilities.

Michael Clarke, a defense and security analyst, told Business Insider that if the UK and its European allies can't defend themselves, any operations they threaten to engage in will lack credibility.

The best way to confront impending conflict is to deter it, Clarke said.

The UK and its allies need to be prepared for anything, especially as the CRINKs alliance (China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) grows stronger, he said

While Russia is the UK's primary concern, Clarke said the CRINKs are collectively "determined to try to undermine western-based structures of international politics and rules-based systems."

The Israeli model

Missiles launched from the Iron Dome defense system attempt to intercept a rocket fired from Gaza strip. MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images



The Times of London said senior members of the UK government, have called for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to install an Iron Dome-style missile defence system for the UK.

Israel's short-range Iron Dome is a mobile all-weather air defense system that has been in service since 2011.

The formidable system boasts a success rate of up to 90% and was most recently instrumental in intercepting a barrage of missiles and attack drones launched from Iran at Israel.

However, developing a system that replicates Israel's is a costly endeavor, Clarke said. "Israel is a small country," he said, less than 10% the size of the UK.

"Israel spent a great deal of money on a three-tier system that still needs help to be effective. So, the scale of the challenge of defending airspace is huge. The fact that the Israelis can play this game of saying 'we have a dome over our whole country' is only partly true," he said.

The UK's only practical option was a "point defense" strategy, said Clarke. Point defense refers to defending a limited area or single site against threats like air attacks and guided missiles. It is more narrow and strategic than area defense.

"Can't we finally strike at London?"

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian propaganda has threatened the possibility of war with the UK, a staunch backer of Ukraine.

On a state-owned channel, Aleksey Zhuravlyov, chairman of the nationalist Rodina political party, said, "one Sarmat missile and the British Isles will be no more," Newsweek reports.

The RS-28 Sarmat is a Russian liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile made by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau.

On another occasion, Kremlin propagandist and Putin ally Vladimir Solovyov asked, "Can't we finally strike at London?"

Solovyev "bombs" London and British Parliament again. I've lost count already. pic.twitter.com/T6GN35UGtG  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 12, 2023

The UK is set to increase defense spending to 2.5% by 2030, totaling 87 billion a year.

Aside from internal discussions on an Iron Dome, the UK is in talks to join Europe's aerial defense system. The European Sky Shield Initiative seeks to establish a ground-based integrated European air defense system with anti-ballistic missile capability.

Business Insider contacted the UK Ministry of Defense for comment.

The prospect of a strategic defeat in Ukraine raises the possibility of more crises with Russia around the fringes of Europe, in which European and NATO forces in the Baltic states and other regions could mobilize.

But mobilization won't be credible without an air defense system to serve as a deterrent, according to Clarke.

"If Britain deployed its combat division to the continent and fought against the Russians, it would become combat-ineffective within 24 hours if it was subject to air attack," Clarke said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine war latest: US aid will help launch counteroffensive in 2025, Sullivan says

Key developments on May 4-5:

Zelensky: Ukraine open to all-for-all POW exchange

150,000 Russian soldiers killed during full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Paris says

FT: US aid to Ukraine will help Ukraine launch counteroffensive in 2025, Sullivan says

Russian glide bomb attack injures 15 in downtown Kharkiv

Russia lures Cubans to army with offers of high pay, Russian passport

Ukraine will look to launch a counteroffensive in 2025 with the support of the approved $61 billion aid package from the United States, as well as additional Western funding, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the Financial Times on May 4.

Sullivan echoed Ukraine's hopes that the country will "move forward to recapture the territory that the Russians have taken - the clearest such articulation as to how the White House sees the war evolving in the coming months.

The Financial Times notes that any new Ukrainian offensive would require additional military aid from Western allies, including the United States. The most recent $61 billion aid package from the U.S. took months to pass through Congress amid political infighting.

The United States is currently leading talks among Group of Seven (G7) countries to develop a military aid package to Ukraine worth up to $50 billion, Bloomberg reported on May 3. The potential package would reportedly be funded by the profits generated by accrued interest on frozen Russian assets.

Despite mounting pressures of an anticipated Russian summer offensive, Sullivan noted that with incoming U.S. weapons, Ukraine will have the capacity to "hold the line" as it faces a difficult period in the war over the next few months.

Last month, in an interview with Germany's Bild magazine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that while there is a plan for an eventual counteroffensive, any such developments would be contingent on receiving additional aid from Western allies.

Read also: Bloomberg: US leading efforts within G7 to develop $50 billion aid package to Ukraine

150,000 Russian soldiers killed during full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Paris says

France estimates 150,000 Russian troops have been killed since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on May 3.

Speaking to Novaya Gazeta Europe, Sejourne said the total losses including injured were 500,000.

"Europe and its partners will remain united and determined, for as long as necessary. Russia's military failure is already apparent," he said, adding: "We estimate Russian military losses at 500,000, including 150,000 deaths.

"All of this for what? This can be summed up in two words: for nothing."

If confirmed, the 150,000 figure is around ten times higher than Soviet loses during the decade-long war in Afghanistan from 1979 until 1989.

Russia itself has not publicly released figures since September 2022, when the official Kremlin death toll stood at just 5,937.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg estimated on March 14 that Russia had suffered over 350,000 casualties in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

According to Kyiv which releases daily figures, as of May 4, Russia has suffered 473,400 casualties in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, including 1,260 over the last day.

These daily numbers include both dead and injured but in late February, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the number of those killed was 180,000.

He also said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives in the war. Zelensky added that the exact amount is unknown, and it would only be possible to find out once occupied territories were liberated.

Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, has confirmed through open-source research the names of over 50,000 Russian soldiers who have been killed fighting in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

The journalists specify that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information they have verified so far comes from public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media news, and local authorities' reports.

Since Russia began its all-out war against Ukraine, over 3,300 officers, with 386 holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher, have been killed in combat in Ukraine.

Read also: Battle of Chasiv Yar begins: On the ground with Ukrainian forces defending city key to Russias plans

Ukraine open to all-for-all POW exchange

Ukraine is open to an all-for-all prisoner of war (POW) exchange, and will discuss the idea at the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland in June, Zelensky said on May 3.

"It's desired that we swap all-for-all. All reasonable countries support this route," Zelensky told recruits while speaking at the National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. "We are conducting exchanges, but they are slower than we would like."

The last reported prisoner exchange occurred on Feb. 8 with 100 Ukrainian POWs returned from Russian captivity. Before that, on Jan. 3, 230 prisoners were exchanged in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

Previously, Moscow had gone months without a POW exchange, refusing to continue the practices in an alleged effort to turn Ukrainian families of POWs against their own authorities.

Zelensky said that despite some believing that an all-for-all was only possible after the end of the war, he hoped that there was "an opportunity to try to make this happen earlier," pointing towards the upcoming peace summit which is being held on June 15-16.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine has three priorities for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland: energy and nuclear security, free navigation of the Black and Azov seas, and the humanitarian issues of an all-for-all POW exchanges, as well as returning Ukrainian children who have been forcefully deported to Russia.

Russia, the aggressor in the ongoing war, will not be invited to the Peace Summit "at this stage," the Swiss government announced on May 3.

Russia coerces Cubans to fight against Ukraine

Leaked documents reveal that Russia has been coercing Cuban citizens into the Russian army with salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, in addition to offers of a Russian passport within months of signing up, a BBC investigation revealed on May 4.

According to the BBC, hundreds of Cubans have allegedly joined Russia's Armed Forces since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, online leaks reveal.

At least 200 names of Cubans were leaked in September and October 2023 by pro-Ukrainian hackers, with the BBC confirming at least 31 accounts whose names matched leaked records appearing to be in Russia or linked to the Russian army.

The BBC investigation further revealed social media posts suggesting some Cubans are receiving Russian passports within months of signing up for the Armed Forces, a theory that was corroborated by local media reports suggesting that citizenship to newly-recruited Cuban fighters would be granted "in the future."

Other Cubans who have moved to Russia on the prospects of finding work in the construction industry were reportedly instead sent to Ukraine's eastern front. In September 2023, Cuba uncovered a human trafficking ring aimed at recruiting people to fight for Russia, a violation that Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry "firmly rejects."

Read also: Id be a king in Somalia with this money: Foreign POWs on being lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine

Russia continues to increase its campaign to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries and exploited migrant workers for its war against Ukraine to avoid domestic mobilization. Foreign recruits from Nepal, Cuba, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Somalia, as well as additional central Asian and African countries, have served as primary targets for recruitment.

In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreign nationals who join the Russian Armed Forces to be able to apply for Russian citizenship.

Cuba and Russia, two allies since the start of the Cold War, have reciprocal visa-free travel between the countries, as well as direct flights between Havana and Moscow.

Russian attacks

Russian forces struck a residential area in downtown Kharkiv on May 5, injuring at least 15 people on Orthodox Easter Sunday, according to local authorities.

The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office clarified that Russian forces attacked the city with three newly-developed UMPB D-30 SN glide bombs.

Russia typically uses laser-guided or satellite-guided KAB bombs, with payloads ranging from 250 to 1,500 kilograms, against Ukrainian military and civilian targets.

Soviet-era dumb bombs are fitted with cheap gliding kits, allowing them to fly much further and more accurately.

Russia has recently intensified attacks against Kharkiv, using missiles, glide bombs, and kamikaze drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 23 of the 24 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported on May 5.

The Russian drones were launched from the neighbouring Kursk Oblast of Russia, as well as from occupied Crimea.

All of the drones Russia launched were intercepted over Kharkiv, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling the air attacks.

Read also: One night with Ukrainian drone hunters near Russia

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed four people and injured 19 over the past day, regional authorities said on May 5.

In recent months, Russian attacks on critical infrastructure have increasingly targeted Ukrainian energy facilities.

Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure have cost the state over $1 billion in damage, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on May 5 on national television.

The most damage was caused by the attacks on thermal, and hydro electricity generation facilities. Russian troops have been attacking other energy infrastructure facilities on a daily basis as well, using drones, artillery, and missiles.

In a most recent development, Russian forces struck the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant in Donetsk Oblast, damaging several sites at the power plant.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian Armed Forces engaged in 95 combat engagements with Russians over past 24 hours - Ukraine's General Staff

Ukrainian defenders. Stock photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Russians are continuing to push along the entire line of contact. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 95 attacks by Russians over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 5 May

Details: There were 95 combat clashes over the past day .

In total, Russians launched five missile strikes and 69 airstrikes and carried out 74 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the Russians are maintaining their military presence in the border areas, conducting sabotage operations to prevent Ukraine from transferring its troops to more vulnerable fronts.

On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces repelled 12 Russian attacks near the settlements of Synkivka, Pishchane and Kyslivka (Kharkiv Oblast), and Stelmakhivka and Berestove (Luhansk Oblast).

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian forces repelled 9 Russian attacks near Serebrianka Forest (Luhansk Oblast) and Terniv (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian forces repelled 12 attacks near the settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast), and Spirne, Rozdolivka, Novyi, Klishchiivka and south of Ivanivske (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian forces repelled 34 Russian attacks near the settlements of Novooleksandrivka, Sokil, Novopokrovske and Umanske (Donetsk Oblast).

On the Novopavlivka front, Ukraines Defence Forces are continuing to hold back the Russians near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vodiane and Urozhaine (Donetsk Oblast), where the Russians tried to break through Ukrainian defences 15 times.

On the Orikhiv front, the Russians attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the settlements of Novodarivka, Staromaiorske (Donetsk Oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast) five times.

On the Kherson front, Russian troops mounted ten unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian positions over the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defence Forces aircraft struck seven areas where Russian military personnel were concentrated, three command posts, three anti-aircraft missile systems and one ammunition depot belonging to the Russians. Ukrainian air defence forces also destroyed one Kh-59/69 guided missile.

Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck one command post, one area where Russian military personnel were concentrated, one radar station and one other important Russian target.

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Interview: High-tech collaboration a "flagship" of Sino-French relations, says Airbus China CFO

Xinhua) 14:31, May 03, 2024

The first Airbus A321 aircraft is produced at the Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) facility in north China's Tianjin on Nov. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Celebrating the significant milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Olivier Malet, CFO of Airbus China, said that bilateral economic and trade cooperation, alongside cultural exchanges, is burgeoning between the two countries.

BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Cooperation between China and Airbus serves as a "flagship" of the Sino-French relationship, said the chief financial officer (CFO) of Airbus China.

"(China and Airbus) have found good common ground together ... and this cooperation is really a flagship of the Sino-French relationship. We expect that the Chinese market will keep growing and believe in the huge potential in China," Olivier Malet, CFO of Airbus China, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"As a partner of China for nearly 40 years, Airbus wants to stay and take part in this growth of aviation," said Malet.

Growth and evolution have defined Airbus's history in China since 1994, when the company first established an official presence in the country. Fourteen years later, in 2008, Airbus opened its first assembly line outside Europe in China's northern city of Tianjin.

Airbus is currently promoting the A320 series aircraft's second final assembly line project. "We recently launched the second assembly line in Tianjin," he said.

"This second assembly line is a sign of the strong relationship between France and China, and it demonstrates that we are quite satisfied with the ecosystem and setup we have established here," emphasized the CFO.

"We believe these aircraft will be very suitable for the Chinese market."

Noting that aerospace manufacturing demands stringent quality and reliability requirements, Malet said that "Airbus produced 'made in China' is the same as one made in Toulouse, in Hamburg, in Mobile of the United States ... And for me, that is very important."

Today, Airbus China has more than 200 local suppliers under an increasingly sophisticated supply chain ecosystem. The inclusion of Chinese elements in Airbus aircraft is growing. This deep cooperation benefits enterprises and contributes to the high-level development of the Chinese aviation industry.

Malet said that addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development are shared global challenges and common goals between China and France, adding that Airbus aims to pioneer sustainable aerospace.

"We want to work with China on flying greener," he said.

With China being Airbus's "largest single market," Malet believes that China's continuous advancement of high-level opening-up and ongoing improvement of the business environment will bring confidence and opportunities to global enterprises, including Airbus China.

Celebrating the significant milestone of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, he said that bilateral economic and trade cooperation, alongside cultural exchanges, is burgeoning between the two countries.

"In recent years, France and China have worked closely on topics like trade, aviation and culture," said Malet. "We feel very honored to be part of it and to contribute to this high-quality relationship."

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liu Ning)
The First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, has extended her congratulations to Azerbaijan's Christian community on the occasion of Easter, Azernews reports.

Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on her social media accounts.

In her post, she stated: "I sincerely congratulate all of Azerbaijan's Christian community on the holy occasion of Easter! I wish everyone strong health, good feelings, and a long life! May every citizen of Azerbaijan have many bright and happy days ahead! May the Almighty accept all the prayers offered on these blessed holiday days!"
Colorado Springs vaulted to No. 3 in U.S. News & World Report's Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-25  earning a top spot, in large pa
A drone picture of a line of trucks waiting on an Egyptian road along the border with Israel, near the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A top U.N. official on Sunday accused Israel of continuing to deny the United Nations humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip, where the U.N. food chief warned a "full-blown famine" has taken hold in the north of the enclave of 2.3 million people.

While not a formal famine declaration, World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain said - in an NBC News interview broadcast on Sunday - that based on the "horror" on the ground: "There is famine, full-blown famine, in the north, and it's moving its way south."

Israel has continued to enhance its efforts to boost aid to Gaza, said COGAT, an Israeli Defense Ministry agency tasked with coordinating aid deliveries into Palestinian territories.

"In talks between Israeli and UN representatives, including @WFP, none of the entities indicated a risk of famine in northern Gaza," COGAT said in a post on X. "Noting the improved situation, int'l orgs stated last week that the volume of goods transported to northern Gaza must be reduced since the quantities are too high in relation to the population."

The head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, on Sunday accused Israel of continuing to deny the U.N. aid access in Gaza as it tries to avert famine.

"Only in the past 2 weeks, we have recorded 10 incidents involving shooting at convoys, arrests of UN staff including bullying, stripping them naked, threats with arms & long delays at checkpoints forcing convoys to move during the dark or abort," Lazzarini posted on X.

Lazzarini also called on "Hamas and other armed groups to stop any attacks on humanitarian crossings, refrain from aid diversion and make sure assistance reaches all those in need." The militants claimed responsibility on Sunday for an attack that shut down the main humanitarian aid crossing into Gaza.

'ALREADY DYING'

A U.N.-backed report in March said famine was imminent and likely by May in northern Gaza, and could spread across the enclave by July. Famine is assessed as at least 20% of the population suffering extreme food shortages, with one in three children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or from malnutrition and disease.

U.N. officials say that generally by the time a famine is formally declared somewhere it is too late to save many people. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that the most vulnerable in northern Gaza "are already dying of hunger and disease."

The U.N. has complained about a lack of humanitarian aid access throughout the seven-month-long war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza. Guterres has said the U.N. is trying to avert "an entirely preventable, human-made famine" in northern Gaza.

Israel is retaliating against Hamas over an Oct. 7 attack in which Israel says the militants killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 people hostage. Gaza health authorities say Israel has killed more than 34,600 people in Gaza since then.

Hamas came to power in Gaza in 2006 after Israeli soldiers and settlers withdrew in 2005, but the enclave is still deemed as Israeli-occupied territory by the United Nations.

As the occupying power, the U.N. human rights chief has said Israel is obligated to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations trying to deliver aid.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Additional reporting by Maytaal Angel and Hatem Maher; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Diane Craft)
Welcome to your governors race edition of our Under the Dome newsletter. Im Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief at The News & Observer.

We are six months away from Election Day, and about a week away from a runoff election for two Republican statewide races to determine who faces Democrats in the general election for lieutenant governor and auditor. All 10 Council of State positions, which includes the governor, are up for election.

The Democratic candidate for governor, Attorney General Josh Stein, will be followed by either Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop or Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson.

For lieutenant governor, it will be Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt versus whichever Republican wins the May 14 runoff: Jim ONeill, who is Forsyth Countys district attorney, or Hal Weatherman, who was former Lt. Gov. Dan Forests chief of staff and campaign manager. I have a story coming very soon about that runoff.

The governor and lieutenant governor do not run as a joint ticket, and for Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers entire two terms, the LG has been a Republican: Forest and now Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is Steins opponent in the governors race.

With the General Assembly now in session, we can likely expect Robinson and Stein to share their opinions on pending legislation, given that whichever one wins will be sent the bills to sign or veto.

Stein and Robinson on the ICE bill

This past week, the Republican-sponsored bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement moved quickly through committee and passed the Senate, as my colleague Avi Bajpai reported.

Bajpai wrote about the planned bill about a month ago as well, and asked both Stein and Robinson about it then.

Steins response included: If someone is convicted of a crime, especially a violent one, we will hold them accountable. As the states top law enforcement officer, my focus is on real solutions to keep people safe here in North Carolina. Ive listened to sheriffs and local law enforcement officers concerns and urged the legislature to give them the funding they need to keep us safe.

Robinsons response spoke directly to the bill:

I strongly support HB 10 that would require sheriffs to cooperate with ICE because North Carolina cannot be a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants. He goes on to say he thinks Stein denies the immigration crisis, falsely claims sanctuary cities dont exist in North Carolina, and supports liberal sheriffs that refuse to cooperate with ICE. This is wrong, and if I am elected governor, we will never be a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants.

Robinson comments on flag at UNC incident

In a video released on social media on April 30, Robinson reacted to the UNC protesters taking down a U.S. flag.

Robinson, like Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, praised Interim UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts for putting the American flag back up after it had been removed and replaced with a Palestinian flag during protests of the Israel-Hamas war.

Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and police officers work to rehang an American flag after it was brought down by demonstrators and replaced with a Palestinian flag Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at UNC-Chapel Hill.

In a video on social media, Robinson said law enforcement officials and Roberts sent a strong message that thats not going to be tolerated on that campus. And I hope that type of strong message continues. And Id love to see that continue all across the state.

New podcast on Monday

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, and it was recorded before a live audience at the N.C. Museum of History. My guests are Republican Sen. Vickie Sawyer and Democratic Sen. Natalie Murdock. We had a wide-ranging conversation on everything from the protesters at UNC-Chapel Hill to the law enforcement officers killed in Charlotte to transportation policy and the new legislative session.

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.
University of Florida president on response to protests: You dont get to take over the whole university

University of Florida President Ben Sasse responded to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests breaking out on his college campus and others across the country, saying that while students have a right to peacefully protest, they cannot take over the whole university.

And what we tell all of our students, protesters and non, is there are two things were going to affirm over and over again: We will always defend your right to free speech and free assembly, Sasse said on CNNs State of the Union.

And also, we have time, place and manner restrictions, and you dont get to take over the whole university. People dont get to spit at cops. You dont get to barricade yourselves in buildings. You dont get to disrupt somebody elses commencement, he said.

Sasse, a former senator representing Nebraska, reiterated that neither protesters nor other students have the right to set up encampments on campus.

I ran by our group of protesters waving their Palestinian flag; we protect their right to do that. But we have rules. And one of those rules is we dont allow camping on campus. And so, you cant start to build an encampment, but our goal is not to arrest people, he said.

Its to help them get into compliance with the rules. They can protest. They can try to persuade people, but they dont get [to] build a camp. Nobody, nobody else does either, he added.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been breaking out across the country for weeks, resulting in arrests, the cancellation of commencement ceremonies and moving in-person classes to online. The demonstrations have garnered national attention as protesters have set up encampments on campuses throughout the nation.

Sasse noted that officials are not going to negotiate with people who scream the loudest amid protests that have occurred on the University of Floridas campus. He also added that the commencement ceremonies on his campus have not been disrupted.

We believe in the right to free speech. We believe in the right to free assembly, and you can try to persuade people, he said. But what you see happening on so many campuses across the country is instead of drawing the line in speech and action, a lot of universities bizarrely give the most attention and most voice to the smallest, angriest group, and its just not what were going to do here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Pro-Palestinian activists have launched encampments at more than 70 campuses to bring attention to Israels monthslong military assault on the Gaza Strip and to demand that schools divest from companies doing business with the country. The nationwide movement has led to clashes with police and more than 2,300 protesters being arrested in the past few weeks, according to an NBC News tally.

Now, as many students face legal and disciplinary action and universities are reassessing commencement plans, school communities are expressing frustration with administrators management of campus protests.

On Wednesday, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters formed an encampment at Fordham Universitys Lincoln Center campus in New York City. The school called on the New York Police Department to assist, and police arrested 15 protesters.

In a statement addressed to the school community released later that evening, Fordham President Tania Tetlow characterized the encampment inside the Leon Lowenstein academic building and the protest directly outside as different from previously held events on the college campus, and added that hundreds of protesters came from elsewhere.

We draw the line at intrusions into a classroom building, especially by people who are not members of our community. (There is a difference between free speech and people barging into your home to shout.), she wrote.

In a letter shared exclusively with NBC News, two Fordham faculty members presented an analysis of what they consider to be Tetlows inaccurate and misleading statements to the Fordham community.

Assistant professor Leo Guardado and associate professor Carey Kasten provided an in-depth timeline of the May 1 events to the Fordham Faculty Senate on Friday. They also presented a compilation of photos and videos taken by faculty members who elected to serve as observers of the encampment.

The evidence was used to dispute almost 10 claims Tetlow made in her letter. NBC News has not independently verified either sides claims.

One of those contentions includes an exaggeration of the size of the indoor encampment. The professors claim that, based on eyewitness accounts and video evidence, about 20 people were a part of the encampment, when Tetlow said several dozen people pushed inside the lobby.

Guardado and Kasten also claimed the language in Tetlows letter suggested that the majority of individuals involved in the encampment and protest were not affiliated with Fordham.

The arrested protesters were students and alums. Many of the people outside were students, faculty and alums, Kasten said. This is our community.

Tetlow said the university remains committed to allowing peaceful protests, but the professors letter to the Fordham Faculty Senate argued that the encampment was nonviolent and that all participants remained peaceful in their protest throughout the day.

Danie Taylor, a professor in the Fordham theater program, said he was disheartened by the universitys failure to uphold its own mission statement, which includes the promotion of justice and the protection of human rights.

We must hold our institution accountable to its stated values of social responsibility and ethical conduct, he said.

Fordham University did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

School administrators face pushback

University administrators are experiencing pushback and fielding criticism for their decisions to use police to crack down on encampments and protests.

Last week, after a pro-Palestinian encampment began on Emory Universitys campus, police arrested 28 individuals  20 of whom were Emory community members.

After the incident, the Faculty Senate of the Emory College of Arts and Sciences, one of the universitys nine schools, passed a vote of no confidence in President Gregory Fenves, with 75% of members voting in favor of its passage, according to Laura Diamond, assistant vice president of university communications.

Police officers detain a demonstrator during a pro-Palestinian protest at Emory University (Elijah Nouvelage / AFP-Getty Images)

In response to the vote, the university said in a statement: While we take any concerns expressed by members of our community seriously, there are a wide range of perspectives being shared.

On Friday, the NYPD arrested 43 individuals while the New Schools encampment was cleared. Later that afternoon, more than 200 faculty and staff members from all five colleges within the university convened an emergency meeting.

The meeting, hosted by the New School chapter of the American Association of University Professors, held three votes, including a vote of no confidence in President Donna Shalala and the board of trustees. More than 90% of members voted in favor.

A vast majority of the group also voted for all charges and disciplinary actions against students to be dropped.

The results of this emergency meeting are simply a first step, initiated by workers at The New School profoundly angered and distressed by the administrations treatment of our students, the group said in a statement on Friday. President Donna Shalalas decision to invite police onto campus under the flimsiest of premises, to arrest students involved in nonviolent protest, at a time when no faculty support was on hand, is intolerable.

At University of Texas at Austin, where police arrested 57 pro-Palestinian protesters on April 24, more than 600 members of the universitys teaching staff signed an open letter claiming no confidence in President Jay Hartzell.

The President has shown himself to be unresponsive to urgent faculty, staff, and student concerns. He has violated our trust. The University is no longer a safe and welcoming place for the diverse community of students and scholars who until now have called this campus home, the letter stated.

It was sent to Hartzell on April 29, after some faculty members declined to hold class or grade assignments earlier in the week to protest the universitys response to the encampment.

The faculty members of the Columbia University history department condemned the use of police force against students and referred to the similar anti-war protests that took place on campus in 1968.

Since the last time the police were called on this campus in large numbers, in 1968, Columbia has worked hard to restore community, build shared governance, deal peacefully with protest, and maintain a culture of respectful debate. We must hold on to this legacy, the department said in a statement.

Police Intervene After Fordham University Erects Encampment (Alex Kent / Getty Images)

Students are also taking action against university administration after the crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism.

At the University of Southern California, the undergraduate student government sent a letter to President Carol Folt expressing disappointment in the administrations use of force, after the Los Angeles Police Department arrested nearly 100 people on April 24.

The escalation of police violence on our campus is an experience we never imagined  much less one being fronted by our university, the letter, released on April 28, stated.

The USC students called for no further retaliatory action against them for participating in peaceful assemblies.

We expect the universitys disproportionate response to the demonstration on April 24th to never recur on this campus, the letter continued. To the administration, we expect better.

At Columbia University, students filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights to investigate discrimination against Palestinian students and their allies.

In addition to faculty and student efforts to demand accountability from administrators, organizations such as Palestine Legal are stepping in.

In Florida, a coalition of seven organizations  including the states chapters of the ACLU and NAACP  delivered a letter to Florida college and university presidents on Friday to express concern over unnecessary use of force by law enforcement and encroachments on First Amendment rights, citing university responses to the peaceful protests as troubling and dangerous.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The University of Mississippi has opened a student conduct investigation after actions of hostility and racist overtones were portrayed during a demonstration on campus.

The incident unfolded Thursday on the schools campus during a heated exchange between a group of pro-Palestinian protesters and a much larger group of counterprotesters.

About 30 pro-Palestinian protesters were demonstrating in a barricaded zone when they were surrounded by an estimated 200 counterprotesters, some holding American flags, several Trump flags and some dressed in red, white, and blue.

While there are multiple videos circulating online showing the protest at varying times, one video in particular shows a group of mostly young white men in the counterprotest yelling at a Black woman, at least one counterprotester is seen on video making what appears to be monkey gestures at the woman, although CNN has not confirmed that is the case, as she records the group on her phone.

Jaylin R. Smith, 24, confirmed to CNN she is the woman seen in the video.

One thing that will never break me is people taunting me or making monkey noises at me, the journalism and new media graduate student told CNN on Friday.

The video viewed by CNN shows a large group of counterprotesters yelling at Smith as she walks toward them while holding her phone. Law enforcement appeared to be telling her to go back to where other pro-Palestinian protesters were rallying. Smith is heard in the video saying, Im not so peaceful repeatedly as police usher her away from the counterprotesters.

CNN has been unable to identify any of the counterprotesters seen in the video.

A letter from Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce says university officials are aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones and that at least one student conduct investigation has been opened.

The Chancellor noted that the university is determining if any additional investigations are necessary.

US Representative Mike Collins, a Republican representing parts of Georgia, shared the viral video on X saying, Ole Miss taking care of business. CNN has reached out to Collins office.

The NAACP sent a letter to congressional leadership Saturday asking for an investigation into Collins conduct. These actions conducted by a member of the House of Representatives, regardless of intent, legitimize and propagate racism and undermine the principles of equality and justice that our government is sworn to uphold, the letter shared exclusively with CNN says in part.

Smith said at the protest, Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were kept in an enclosure, which police said was for their safety. She told CNN she briefly stepped out of the enclosure to go live on social media, and that was when the confrontation took place.

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I said some insults back, too. I cursed like a sailor at them, and I regret letting them get to me like that, Smith said.

The monkey gestures  and people calling me fat or Lizzo  didnt hurt my feelings, because I know what I am. I am so confident in my Blackness. I am so confident in my size, in the way that I wear my hair, and who I am. They do not bother me. If anything, I felt pity for them for how stupidly they acted, Smith added.

The universitys Chancellor alluded to the racist overtones of the confrontation and the University of Mississippi has a long history of racial incidents, including the deadly riots that broke out there in 1962 when James Meredith became the first Black student to enroll at the school.

Yesterday, we observed a demonstration on our campusa place for the expression of diverse viewpoints, protected by our constitutional First Amendment Rights, the Ole Miss Associate Student Body said in part in a statement on Friday, Yet, amidst this expression, unacceptable remarks were made that departed from our cherished values.

Smith said she is disappointed the confrontation has become the topic of conversation now, rather than a ceasefire in Gaza. She told CNN the graduate school dean and a few other school administrators have reached out to her since the video went viral. She is currently preparing to graduate on May 11.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A United States Army sergeant and his brother have been charged in a failed murder-for-hire scheme that targeted four individuals, including two juveniles, according to officials.

Servicemember Jeremiah Peikert, 30, was arrested on Thursday by Connecticut State Police, accused of conspiring with his brother, Joshua Peikert, 32, who was incarcerated at the Corrigan Correctional Center in Uncasville at the time of the alleged scheme, according to court documents.

The two brothers have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit risk of injury to minors, according to court documents.

MORE: Tennessee woman paid to hire a hitman to kill the wife of her dating website match

The plot, in which Joshua allegedly solicited his unnamed cellmate to hire a hitman in 2022, targeted four people: a 29-year-old female, a 23-year-old adult male, a 10-year-old girl and a one-year-old girl, according to court documents.

Police discovered the adult woman is the mother of the two children and the adult male is her boyfriend, according to court documents.

PHOTO: Jeremiah Peikert was arrested for allegedly conspiring with his brother, Joshua Peikert, to hire a hitman to kill four people, including two children. (Connecticut State Police)

According to court documents, the cellmate told Joshua he would find a hitman outside of prison to commit the murders for a fee of $10,000 per person and requested a "finder's fee" of $500 to do so.

According to court documents, the inmates agreed on two payments of $250 -- one before and one after the crime was committed and Jeremiah provided the initial payment for his brother.

MORE: Tennessee Air National Guardsman charged with applying to be hit man: DOJ

Joshua allegedly wrote the targets' address, information about where they slept and where to find a spare key on a note with the word "job" on it and his first and last name, according to documents.

The alleged murder-for-hire plot was unearthed when Joshua's cellmate sent a handwritten letter to the 29-year-old woman detailing the alleged plot against her, according to documents.

The woman contacted police in Groton, Connecticut, who reported they began investigating the case in October 2022.

The unnamed cellmate told authorities he never intended to hire a hitman for the job and was just interested in collecting the money from the brothers.

"At no time did I have any intention of hiring a hitman or committing any violence," the cellmate testified, according to documents.

MORE: Georgia mom accused of plotting to kill her husband in the Bahamas released on bail

Investigators said they discovered Jeremiah and Joshua had discussed the alleged scheme under the guise of it being a "construction job" and that Jeremiah had transferred the $250 finder's fee to the cellmate's account.

In December 2023, Jeremiah allegedly admitted to investigators in Texas that he had made the payment and that he knew it was intended to hurt the 29-year-old woman, however, he claimed he did not know the children were involved, according to documents.

"I did not believe the kids were planned to be involved in this scheme," Jeremiah testified, according to documents.

Jeremiah did not post a $500,000 bond and was charged in a New London, Connecticut court on Friday.

No individuals were hurt in connection with the alleged scheme, according to documents.

ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.

US Army sergeant arrested in alleged murder-for-hire plot against 4 people, including 2 minors: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Attendees at the Readers Take Denver event say they were left distraught by poor organisation

A four-day event that was supposed to be a book lovers dream has been dubbed the Fyre Festival of Books after it descended into chaos and left one person with a black eye.

Led by Rebecca Yarros, a best-selling author, the Readers Take Denver festival at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center was billed as the ultimate event for bibliophiles, where fans could mingle with their favourite authors.

However, as the day unfolded, the event fell apart, leading one disillusioned visitor to compare it to Fyre, the fraudulent luxury music festival held on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma in 2017.

Attendees paid $300 to $375 (239 to 299) for a ticket to an event where they were promised they could get books signed by best-selling authors who turned up in force to promote their writing.

Many also paid hundreds of dollars for travel to the event.

A timed ticketing system was supposed to ensure the event ran like clockwork, with readers having plenty of time to go from one booth to another to meet authors.

Instead, they spent hours queuing to have time with the writers, food ran out and pre-ordered books never arrived.

Attendees queueing at the book fair, held in Denver, Colorado

All we did was stand in line. It was total BS, Kelli Meyer, a self-described RTD survivor, told the Denver Post. It was worse than Disney, and there wasnt even a ride at the end.

Security staff who were supposed to marshal the crowd failed to do so. One woman took to TikTok to describe how she sustained a black eye after being knocked over in a melee.

Another complained of being verbally abused by staff after she suffered a medical emergency. She claimed: I was having a hypoglycaemic moment and was screamed at by staff to: Get the f--k up off the floor!

She added: There were so many horrific experiences between readers, vendors, authors, PAs, and volunteers alike. This was not just a breakdown in communication, it is a systemic issue with this program.

Sarah Slusarczyk, a 32-year-old who travelled from Michigan described the event as a nightmare. Ive been to many conferences and this, by far, was the worst one Ive ever been to.

Best-selling author angered

It was not only readers who were unhappy with the event. Yarros, author of best-sellers Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, vented her anger in a 2,436-word Facebook post.

She wrote: Readers, on behalf of every author at the event. Im sorry. It hasnt been said to you enough, so let me say it again: Im sorry. Im so sorry you couldnt get your pre-orders, couldnt see the authors you wanted to.

Im sorry registration took hours, sorry food ran out, sorry security wasnt tight enough at the night events, sorry some volunteers raised voices, sorry it was disorganised, sorry you felt frazzled, sorry you felt overwhelmed, sorry you did not get to bask in the overwhelming joy that spending three days in the book world should give you.

Renee Jones, an event organiser who is an author herself, admitted the conference had suffered what she described as bumpy bumps.

She conceded there had been concerns about lack of security and unprofessional behaviour by volunteers.

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With four days left in the 2024 session, lawmakers are trying to move along the 287 bills left on the calendar before the end comes Wednesday night.

In a rare Saturday session, the Senate gave final approval to bills tied to the agreement among the governor, oil & gas industry and environmental groups, Meanwhile, in the House, two constitutional amendments -- on election deadlines and an effort to remove constitutional language banning same-sex marriage -- are on their way to the ballot after winning two-thirds majority votes.

No construction defects law this year

A House committee on Friday put to a end one of two major bills on construction defects, a measure backed by the construction industry, affordable housing advocates such as Habitat for Humanity and Housing Colorado, insurance companies, municipalities and Servicios de la Raza.

As introduced, Senate Bill 106 would have modified the state's 2001 Construction Defect Action Reform Act, which set up a process for homeowners to sue builders when they find defects, which can range from serious issues, such as cracks in the foundation or HVAC problems, to smaller problems, such as defective cabinetry and leaks.

As it applies to condos, which are governed by homeowners' associations, the law requires a majority of homeowners to consent before the HOA can pursue lawsuits.

The 2001 law also includes a statute of limitations and a "statute of repose." In the former, the two-year clock starts ticking when the defect is discovered. The statute of repose is a clock that begins when the condo is substantially completed  and that's six years  although it can be extended to eight years when the defect shows up in years five or six.

Under SB 106, construction professionals would have a "right to repair" a construction defect claim, as well as alternatives to litigation. The bill would increase the threshold to two-thirds for consent by homeowners in an HOA to pursue a construction defects claim.

The bill's sponsors insist it will not take away a homeowner's right to sue when there's a defect.

The bill passed the Senate on a 25-8 vote after sponsors offered a rewrite that removed the language around "right to repair."

What's left in the bill are the 60% threshold and how a construction defect claim must show verifiable danger to the occupants or an actual failure of a building component. There is no prohibition on claims resulting from building code violations or industry standards.

On Friday, at the request of its House sponsor, Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee postponed the bill indefinitely.

The problem is the too-high cost of general liability insurance tied to construction defects lawsuits, she told the committee. The goal for the bill has always been about consumer protection and housing availability and "I have no intention of deviating from that commitment," Bird said. But a compromise has remained elusive, she said, and she vowed to continue working on the issue.

That leaves just one bill left, one opposed by almost everyone who supported SB 106 and backed primarily by homeowners with construction defects grievances and trial lawyers that have represented them in lawsuits against builders.

The measure would extend the statute of repose from six years to 10 years, and starts the statute of limitations clock when the defect is discovered.

That measure, House Bill 1230, has been waiting for Senate debate since mid-April. Its vote in the House was 35-27, with eight Democrats voting against.

HB 1230 is not expected to win Senate approval. Opponents have at the ready some six dozen amendments should it make it to the Senate floor, and that appears unlikely given the available time left in the session.

Oil & gas agreement moves to House

Two bills tied to the recent agreement among Gov. Jared Polis, oil & gas companies and environmental groups both won final approval in the Senate Saturday.

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Senate Bill 229 would limit oil & gas emissions of ozone precursors, such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organize compounds (VOCs). It also charges the state's Department of Public Health & Environment with coming up with new rules on limiting emissions between May 1 and September 30 in "ozone nonattainment areas" by 50%, from a 2017 baseline, and to be achieved by 2030.

Denver and the Front Range are designated as ozone nonattainment areas.

SB 229 won a 23-10 vote on Saturday.

The second bill in the agreement would require oil & gas producers to pay new fees to pay for passenger rail, public transportation and for purchases of land for public purposes. The fees would generate $109.4 million in 2025-26 and $175.3 million the following year, according to the bill's fiscal analysis.

The bill also requires the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to prioritize completion of the northwest rail line to Longmont and finish the N line, which would extend light rail north of Thornton to Colorado Highway 7. RTD is required to submit a report to the governor and the legislature by July 1, 2025 that will show how those projects will be completed.

Senate Bill 230 passed on a 21-12 vote Saturday. Both bills now head to the House.

Alcohol beverage licenses on its way to the Senate

House Bill 1373 won a 42-19 vote from the House on Saturday. The bill which would convert liquor licenses for about 30 mostly large chain grocery stores that allow them to sell beer, wine and spirits to being able to sell just beer and wine.

The licenses, known as liquor-licensed drugstore licenses, are mostly held by large retail liquor stores that are run by large retail grocery stores.

The 30 stores that could be affected by HB 1373 are operated by Safeway, King Soopers, Costco, Walmart, Target and Sam's Club, all but one (in Grand Junction) are located along the Front Range. It would also affect five drug stores that are not grocery stores in Denver, Limon, Aspen, Oak Creek and Fort Collins.

The license targeted in HB 1373 is one that existed prior to 2016, when a "grand compromise" was worked out between some of the grocery chains and the liquor stores, and as contained in Senate Bill 16-197. Eight of the 30 stores, including the five stand-alone drug stores, had those special licenses prior to 2016.

Friday's debate in the House was between sponsors who want to help small businesses and those who believe the bill would seek to overturn the will of voters, as reflected in Proposition 125, adopted on a narrow margin in 2022. While that measure allowed grocery and other retail stores to sell wine, it did not allow for the sale of liquor.

Another constitutional amendment on its way to the ballot

The resolution that will ask voters to remove a ban on same-sex marriage from the state Constitution won a 46-14 vote Saturday. Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 is among a half-dozen constitutional measures lawmakers are attempting to send to the November ballot. A change to the constitution requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers; the measure won a 29-5 vote from the Senate on April 29.

The House vote was largely along party lines, with Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, voting in favor along with the Democrats.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would change by one week the deadlines for filing initiative petitions, referendum petitions, and the declaration of intent for judges and justices. The bipartisan resolution won a unanimous vote in the Senate on April 29 and preliminary approval from the House Saturday.

Bits and pieces

One of the changes that usually takes place toward the end of the session is that lots of committees no longer meet. In the Senate, on Monday the only committees meeting will be appropriations, finance and state affairs, according to Senate President Steve Fenberg. The House has not yet decided when it will cut down to those same three committees.

Finally, expect a bill on property taxes to be introduced sometime Saturday.
US man has brain damage, mother says, after allegedly being pushed into lake

Christopher Gilbert, who was rescued from the lake and taken to hospital.

Christopher Gilbert, who was rescued from the lake and taken to hospital. Photograph: Via change.org

The family of a 26-year-old Louisiana man who has brain damage after a friend allegedly pushed him into a lake despite him being unable to swim is calling on authorities to deliver them justice.

Christopher Gilberts familys pleas came after he nearly drowned on 14 April while at a lakefront restaurant by Lake DArbonne in the northern Louisiana town of Farmerville.

Speaking to the local news station KSLA, Gilberts mother Yolanda George said: A friend of his called. She was hysterical, crying on the phone. She told me that Chris had [fallen] into the lake, and he had been underwater for 20 minutes or so.

George said her son  an aspiring medical doctor  was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. She added: The doctor called us in and told me that at that time, he was brain-dead, pretty much, and the rest of his organs were starting to fail, and that we had 72 hours on life support, though Gilbert later regained consciousness and the ability to eat on his own.

An attorney for Gilberts family, Claudia Payne, told KSLA that the friend group initially told police that he had fallen into the lake. But further investigation, he said, found that a female friend had pushed him into the water.

She actually admitted to [Gilberts] mom  as well as the police officers  that she pushed him into the lake, Payne said. In the legal field, we categorize things the way we see fit, so of course they are saying horseplay. We are saying that it was a criminal intentional push into the lake.

She added that one of the friends from the group attempted to pull Gilbert out, but it was ultimately a restaurant customer who rescued him.

Describing her reaction upon seeing her son for the first time at the hospital, George said: I was devastated. I felt like my life had ended in that moment.

My son is aspiring to be a medical doctor  my son is going to be a medical doctor. He got his masters last year in biological science. Hes preparing for medical school so for this to have happened to him  I was just devastated.

George recalled the conversation she had with the friend who pushed Gilbert into the lake. She remembered asking, Why would you push my son in the lake, knowing he couldnt swim?

In response, the friend reportedly said: Well maam, I didnt know that man couldnt swim.

Gilbert replied: Who is that man? This is supposed to be amongst a group of friends. Who is that man? Chris? Everybody knows he cant swim.

Even when we went to the restaurant, the owner of the restaurant even stated, Everybody knows Chris cant swim. Hes been coming here for two years. Hes always joking about it.

According to Payne, Gilberts family wants police to arrest the person who allegedly pushed him into the lake. They are also seeking for the restaurant owner to be held liable for not keeping Chris safe as a patron of the establishment.

A change.org supporting the Gilbert familys wishes had collected more than 2,600 signatures as of Sunday.

Gilbert had woken up as of Friday, was able to eat on his own and had been temporarily taken off life support, KNOE reported.
Rockets have been fired from southern Lebanon at the northern Israeli city of Kyriat Shmona - JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration last week put a hold on a shipment of US-made ammunition to Israel, two Israeli officials told Axios.

It marks the first time since Hamas Oct 7 attack that the US has stopped a weapons shipment intended for the Israeli military, according to Axios, which added that the decision had raised serious concerns inside the Israeli government.

The move comes as Joe Biden continues to face sharp criticism at home for his support for Israel, and as college campus protests spread across the country.

Mr Biden is also highly concerned about Israels plans to invade the southern city of Rafah, where more than one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

On Sunday, the Israeli defence minister threatened to launch its ground offensive on Rafah if the ongoing ceasefire talks collapse.

Follow the latest updates below

05:14 PM BST

Todays live blog is now closed

Thank you for following our coverage.

As we close the blog, negotiations continue about a potential truce in the fighting. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said he is willing to pause fighting to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

But hopes of a ceasefire appear slim, with Mr Netanyahu ruling out an end to the war until all his aims are achieved. Hamas, meanwhile, has maintained its stance that any truce agreement must end the war, and accused Mr Netanyahu of sabotaging efforts.

Here is a summary of the day:

The Israeli defence minister has accused Hamas of not being serious about reaching a truce, and threatened to launch its attack on Rafah if the ceasefire talks collapse.

Israeli police stormed the Al Jazeera offices, after Benjamin Netanyahus government ordered the broadcaster to close down following months of critical coverage of the war. The United Nations has condemned Israels decision.

Hamas claimed responsibility for attacking the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, which local media reports said resulted in Israeli casualties. The Israel military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah into southern Gaza towards the crossing.

Northern Gaza is experiencing a full-blown famine which is rapidly spreading across the strip after almost seven months of war, the World Food Programme warned.

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested late into Saturday night demanding a deal to bring hostages home.

04:58 PM BST

Israel threatens imminent Rafah offensive if ceasefire talks collapse

The Israeli defence minister has accused Hamas of not being serious about reaching a truce, and threatened to launch its attack on Rafah if the ceasefire talks collapse.

It comes on the second day of truce talks in Cairo, in which a 40-day pause is being discussed to allow the release of hostages.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said he is willing to pause fighting to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130. But he has ruled out an end to the war until all his aims are achieved.

Hamas, meanwhile, has maintained its stance that any truce agreement must end the war, and accused Mr Netanyahu of sabotaging efforts.

Israel has long been preparing a ground operation in Rafah, where more than half of the strips 2.3 million people have sought shelter. The plan has drawn intense occupation from Israels allies, who say it could lead to thousands of civilian casualties.

04:51 PM BST

Macron urges Netanyahu to reach truce deal with Hamas

French president Emmanuel Macron has urged Benjamin Netanyahu in telephone talks to reach a deal in negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza war.

The president encouraged prime minister Netanyahu to successfully complete these negotiations which could lead to the release of hostages, the protection of civilians through a ceasefire and regional de-escalation, the French presidency said in a statement.

04:14 PM BST

Hamas leave Cairo talks

A Hamas official told AFP that the groups negotiators in Cairo were leaving for Doha Sunday after talks ended in the Egyptian capital, part of mediation efforts towards a truce in Gaza.

The meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has ended and the Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations, said the official, who is close to the negotiations, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to publicly discuss the talks.

03:27 PM BST

UN weighs in over Israels Al Jazeera closure

The United Nations has condemned Israels decision to close the Al Jazeera network.

A free [and] independent media is essential to ensuring transparency [and] accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza, UN Human Rights said in a statement.

We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel. A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban  UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) May 5, 2024

03:20 PM BST

Al Jazeera broadcasts suspended

Israeli satellite and cable television providers have now suspended broadcasts of Al Jazeera following a government decision to shutter the Qatari-owned station over alleged pro-Palestinian incitement.

In accordance with the government decision, the Al Jazeera stations broadcasts have been stopped in Israel, read a message on the blacked-out channel of the Yes satellite service. The Hot cable service took similar action, witnesses said

03:00 PM BST

Hamas says Israels Al Jazeera closure aims at concealing the truth of Gaza war

Hamas has slammed the Israeli governments decision to shut down Al Jazeera in the country as a blatant violation of press freedom and an effort to hide the truth of the Gaza war.

Hamas said in a statement the decision to close the Qatar-based news channel was a repressive and retaliatory measure against the professional role of Al Jazeera in exposing the crimes and violations in Gaza, and represents the culmination of the declared war against journalists ... aimed at concealing the truth.

02:38 PM BST

Hamas admits striking Israel-Gaza border crossing

Hamas has claimed responsibility for attacking the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, which local media reports said resulted in Israeli casualties.

The Israel military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah into southern Gaza towards the crossing.

Reports in the Israeli and Palestinian media say the attack caused Israeli casualties, with Hamas claiming they had targeted a gathering of IDF troops.

Israel has now closed the crossing  one of only two that were open  to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave.

02:36 PM BST

Pictured: Rocket fired towards Israel from Lebanon

Smoke rises in the northern Israeli northern border city of Kiryat Shmona after rockets were fired from southern Lebanon - JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Firefighters work at the impact site of a rocket that was fired towards Israel from Lebanon - REUTERS/Avi Ohayon

01:57 PM BST

Netanyahu refuses to end fighting until war aims are achieved amid ceasefire talks

Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end Israels war in Gaza until his war aims are achieved, Reuters has reported.

The Israeli prime minister has said he cannot accept Hamas demands for an end to the war or the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza.

He is willing to pause the fighting to exchange hostages, he said.

Mr Netanyahus statements come as truce talks resumed in Qatar. Hamas had earlier rejected any deal that failed to end the war and accused the Israeli leader of personally hindering an agreement.

01:53 PM BST

Hamas chief accuses Israel PM of Gaza truce talks sabotage

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh has accused Israels prime minister of sabotaging efforts by mediators involved in ongoing talks aimed at a truce and hostage exchange in Gaza.

Qatar-based Haniyeh said prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.

01:36 PM BST

Cairo talks continue but hopes for Gaza ceasefire appear slim

Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appear slim as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, while Benjamin Netanyahu has flatly ruled that out.

In their second day of truce talks in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli officials have not traveled to Cairo to take part in indirect diplomacy, but on Mr Netanyahu reiterated Israels aim since the start of the war nearly seven months ago: to disarm and dismantle the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas for good or else endanger Israels future security.

The prime minister said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, Mr Netanyahu said. Israel cannot accept that.

In a statement released shortly after Netanyahus, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group is still keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that ends the Israeli aggression, guarantees Israels withdrawal from Gaza, and achieves a serious deal to free Israelis being held hostage in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

01:03 PM BST

Hamas claims responsibility for attack on Israel-Gaza border crossing

Hamas has claimed responsibility for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza that local media reports said resulted in Israeli casuatlies.

The Israel military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah into southern Gaza towards the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave.

An Israeli medic after an attack on Kerem Shalom crossing - REUTERS/Amir Cohen

12:43 PM BST

Al Jazeeras legal team is preparing a response to Israels decision to shut down its operations

The head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories described an Israeli government decision on Sunday to shutter the Qatari-owned stations local operations as dangerous and motivated by politics rather than professional considerations.

Al Jazeeras legal team was preparing a response, Walid Omary told Reuters, in a possible anticipation of a court appeal against the decision.

12:26 PM BST

Israel says order to seize Al Jazeera broadcast gear issued

Israels communication minister has ordered the seizure of Al Jazeeras broadcasting equipment after the government decided to shut down the Qatar-based news channel in the country.

According to the order issued by communication minister Shlomo Karhi, Israel will seize devices used to deliver the channels content, including editing and routing equipment, cameras, microphones, servers and laptops, as well as wireless transmission equipment and some cell phones.

12:25 PM BST

Our phones can be confiscated, says Al Jazeera reporter

Imran Khan, an Al Jazeera correspondent, said that the broadcasters website has been banned, and that any device used for news gathering  such as a journalists mobile phone  can be confiscated.

They banned our website The website is now inaccessible. They are also banning any device used for providing content, that includes my mobile phone  if I use that to do any kind of news gathering, the Israelis can simply confiscate it, said Mr Khan.

Our internet access provider is also in danger of being fined if they host the website. The Al Jazeera TV channel [has been] completely banned, transmission by any kind of content provider is also banned, he added. It is a wide-ranging ban and we dont know how long it will be in place for.

AJE correspondent Imran Khan explains what that will mean: pic.twitter.com/dnxOnyEJZ4  Faisal (@FaisalAHAli) May 5, 2024

11:56 AM BST

Netanyahu says ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power

Benjamin Netanyahu has sharpened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, saying that would keep the Palestinian Islamist group in power and pose a threat to Israel.

11:56 AM BST

Hamas says no hostage deal without end to war

Earlier, Hamas rejected any deal that failed to end the war and accused the Israeli leader of personally hindering an agreement.

A senior Hamas official insisted late Saturday that the group would not agree under any circumstances to a truce that did not explicitly include a complete end to the war.

In an interview with AFP, the official condemned Israeli efforts to secure a hostage-release deal without linking it to ending the aggression on Gaza and accused Benjamin Netanyahu of personally hindering efforts to reach a truce due to personal interests.

Previous negotiations have stalled in part due to Hamass demand for a lasting ceasefire and Mr Netanyahus repeated vows to crush the groups remaining fighters in the southern city of Rafah.

11:42 AM BST

Netanyahus cabinet votes to permanently close Al Jazeera offices in Israel

Benjamin Netanyahus government has voted unanimously to shutter the offices of the Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera in Israel.

Details on when it would go into effect or whether it was permanent or temporary were not immediately clear.

The vote comes amid deeply strained ties between Israel and the channel, which have worsened during the war against Hamas.

Al Jazeera, which has been fiercely critical of Israels military operation in Gaza, has previously accused Israel of systematically targeting its offices and personnel. In January, the broadcaster accused Israel of the targeted killing of two of its journalists in Gaza.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, have accused the network of anti-Israeli bias  which the network denies.

11:24 AM BST

Death toll in Gaza reaches 34,683, says health ministry

At least 34,683 Palestinians have been killed in Israels military offensive on Gaza since Oct 7, the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave said on Sunday.

The tally includes at least 29 deaths in the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 78,018 people have been wounded.

11:09 AM BST

Local official says Israeli strike kills three in south Lebanon

A local official in southern Lebanon said an Israeli strike on a village Sunday killed a couple and their child, the latest deadly incident in the border region.

The dad, the mother and their little son were martyred, according to the Mays al-Jabal municipality chief Abdelmoneim Chukair, reported by AFP.

10:57 AM BST

Watch: Pro-Palestine activists at UCL and counter-protestors kept apart by police

10:43 AM BST

Full-blown famine happening in Gaza, WFP warns

Northern Gaza is experiencing a full-blown famine which is rapidly spreading across the strip after almost seven months of war, the World Food Programme has warned.

Whenever you have conflicts like this, and emotions rage high, and things happen in a war, famine happens, Cindy McCain, the World Food Programmes executive director told NBC on Sunday.

What I can explain to you is  is that there is famine  full-blown famine  in the north, and its moving its way south, she added. While Ms McCains remarks do not constitute an official declaration of famine, she said they were based on what WFP staff have seen on the ground.

Its horror, she said. Its so hard to look at and its so hard to hear.

10:28 AM BST

New York synagogues receive bomb threats

At least three synagogues and a museum in New York received bomb threats on Saturday, officials said.

A police spokesperson said a bomb threat was sent to the Brooklyn Museum and another to a synagogue in Brooklyn Heights, with no evidence of any explosive device detected.

Two synagogues in Manhattan also received bomb threats, including a West Side synagogue that prompted police to evacuate about 250 people, police said, with nothing found.

Manhattan borough president Mark D. Levine said the synagogue bomb threats were a clear hate crime, and part of a growing trend of swatting incidents targeting Jewish institutions.

This is a clear effort to sow fear in the Jewish community. Cannot be accepted, he said.

Antisemitic incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment in the US more than doubled last year to a record high as anti-Jewish sentiment spiked after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, the Anti-Defamation League said in a report last month.

10:17 AM BST

Dozens arrested in weekend of protests on US campuses

Police on Saturday arrested at least 25 pro-Palestinian protesters and cleared an encampment at the University of Virginia, the university said in a statement, as US campuses braced for more turmoil during graduation celebrations.

Tensions flared at the campus in Charlottesville, where protests had been largely peaceful until Saturday morning, when police officers in riot gear were seen in a video moving on an encampment on the campus lawn, cuffing some demonstrators with zip-ties and using what appeared to be chemical spray.

The police declared an unlawful gathering on the grounds of the University of Virginia. - Eze Amos/Getty Images

A protestor is pepper sprayed at the University of Virginia protest - Eze Amos/Getty Images

Police with riot shields detain a pro-Palestinian demonstrator - Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP

Students across the US have rallied or set up tents at dozens of universities to protest the months-long war in Gaza and call on president Joe Biden, who has supported Israel, to do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. They also demand their schools divest from companies that support Israels government, such as arms suppliers.

The University of Virginia said in a news release that protesters had violated several university policies including setting up tents on Friday night and using amplified sound.

It was not immediately clear how many of those arrested were UVA students.

10:00 AM BST

Pictured: Overnight rally in Tel Aviv

Hundreds of Israelis gather in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to call for a truce - Saeed Qaq/Anadolu via Getty Images

Protestors called for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and a truce deal to be reached - (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Protestors held signs calling for the hostages to be released and a ceasefire - Ibrahim Hamad/Anadolu via Getty Images)

09:34 AM BST

Tens of thousands rally for hostage deal as Gaza ceasefire talks continue

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested late into Saturday night demanding a deal to bring hostages home, ahead of further ceasefire talks.

Protesters in Tel Aviv chanted war is not holy, life is, with some accusing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of aiming to prolong the conflict in Gaza.

It came as a Hamas delegation, which met mediators in Egypt on Saturday, said a new round of talks would begin on Sunday.

Each side blamed the other for stalled negotiations, with a senior Hamas official insisting late Saturday that the group would not agree under any circumstances to a truce that did not explicitly include a complete end to the war.

An anonymous Israeli government official told local media that Israel would under no circumstances agree to end the war as part of an agreement to free our abductees.

They added: The IDF will enter Rafah and destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there  whether there is a temporary pause to free our captives or not.

09:15 AM BST

Israel briefs US on evacuation plans ahead of potential Rafah operation

Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to US officials familiar with the talks.

The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the US administrations view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from president Joe Biden and other western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians.

Absent such a plan, we cant support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond whats acceptable, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said late Friday.

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The protest encampment on the University of Southern Californias (USC) campus has been cleared by police, the school announced Sunday.

USC was one of the many universities across the country that had garnered national attention in recent weeks over the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on their campuses. In an announcement on Sunday, USC President Carol Folt said the schools Department of Public Safety and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) removed the occupiers who had rebuilt their illegal encampment in Alumni Park.

The occupiers repeatedly chose to ignore university policies designed to benefit everyone, and to break the law. We needed to act quickly to protect the rights of our 80,000 students, staff, and faculty. We are in the critical period from the end-of-term quiet study week, through finals and our commencement ceremonies, Folt wrote.

She said she requested the LAPD to assist the public safety department in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible. She said the order for protesters to disperse was given at about 4:10 a.m. local time and that about 64 minutes later, the encampment had been cleared.

LAPD confirmed that it assisted the school in removing the encampment, posting on the social platform X that there were no arrests, no use of force, and no injuries to officers or protestors during the operation.

Folt said the school must draw a line when protests move into illegal occupations, writing that the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction in recent days. She said people were being harassed, the schools Trojan symbols were defaced and property of the school was stolen.

Dozens were arrested late last month during the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on USCs campus. USC also announced last month that it had cancelled its main commencement ceremony due to new safety measures amid the ongoing protests.

The cancellation came after the school said valedictorian Asna Tabassum could not give a speech due to safety concerns after some of her posts on social media drew outcry.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The University of Southern California closed its main campus and allowed the Los Angeles Police Department to tear down a student encampment at Alumni Park early Sunday. USC student journalism outlet Annenberg Media reported on the events as they unfolded, until police closed the campus to everyone other than students and faculty, including forcing the media out. However, local CBS affiliate KCAL was somehow allowed on-campus to report, Annenberg Medias Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan told TheWrap.

One officer told the student reporters that, because they act like the media, and were going to treat you like the media, and threatened to take their press badges, Annenberg Media reported.

At 4 a.m. we saw Suburbans loaded with dozens of police officers in each of them, LAPD officers, at least 30 at the minimum, Khan explained. The police set up a perimeter, he added, and began to escort members of the encampment away.

We tried to set up, we tried to ask them multiple times, but they kept pushing media towards the back, towards the end, where we really couldnt see anything  but we really had to sort of put ourselves at risk, actually, to sort of go towards the front so we could document, he continued.

The campus had already been closed to everyone other than students and faculty by then, requiring anyone who approached to show a school ID. For a very, very long time, the only media that was on campus was the student media, Khan said, So we tried our way to make it up to the front and document what was going on.

Despite the closed campus, KCAL was somehow on campus and reported the events as they unfolded, Khan noted. Im not sure how they got on campus, Khan said. He theorized that perhaps KCAL was allowed on campus by the LAPD when police arrived. KCAL did not immediately reply to requests for comment from TheWrap.

Things had taken a turn on Saturday afternoon after the assistant director of the USC Village Residential Colleges, Nancy Alonzo, approached the student encampment. Alonzo read aloud from a letter and told the student group, which operated under the name Divest From Death, The encampment has to go down. As we have mentioned before, your encampment and acts of vandalism and the theft of university property violate policies and the law.

These policies actually exist to protect the safety and security of every member of our community and we must enforce these policies consistently as we have always done, Alonzo continued. And then we also set up an alternative free speech area thats available to you all and you can move the encampment there.

The encampment continued as usual until Department of Public Safety officers arrived that evening and announced parts of the campus would close. The LAPD arrived at 4 a.m. The school announced the closure and subsequent reopening of campus on social media.

Student Corinne Smith reported that USC Director of Media Relations Emily Gersema allowed L.A. media on campus after it was closed overnight. Smith tweeted, USC Director of Media Relations Emily Gersema and her office let LA press into campus and into the LAPD police line & provided statements on the eviction, while USC student media was kettled and pushed out of view and denied any comment.

Gersema did not immediately reply to requests for comment from TheWrap.

The closure of campus and dismissal of student media has drawn condemnation online. Journalist Jeremy Lindenfeld retweeted Smiths words and added, The treatment of Annenberg Media and Daily Trojan journalists last night was absolutely unacceptable. Their hard work was and is crucial to informing the public on the happenings at USC, especially since the administration has prevented outside media from campus for over a week.

The treatment of Annenberg Media and Daily Trojan journalists last night was absolutely unacceptable. Their hard work was and is crucial to informing the public on the happenings at USC, especially since the administration has prevented outside media from campus for over a week. https://t.co/qpJH5ewH1Z  Jeremy Lindenfeld (@jeremotographs) May 5, 2024

William Gude, who also runs the social media account Film the Police L.A., tweeted, The LAPD broke the law (PC 409.7) as well as their own stated media policy. They do this all the time.

The LAPD broke the law (PC 409.7)as well as their own stated media policy.



They do this all the time. https://t.co/6OhUeD3eOF  Film The Police LA (@FilmThePoliceLA) May 5, 2024

The portion of the law Gude referenced states, A peace officer or other law enforcement officer shall not intentionally assault, interfere with, or obstruct the duly authorized representative of any news service, online news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network who is gathering, receiving, or processing information for communication to the public.

Video shared on social media showed the police pushing members of media away from the encampment as it was cleared.

The LAPD is now forcing people  and media  out of view of the USC Gaza Solidarity encampment pic.twitter.com/VedUEsbLxQ  Jon peltz (@JonnyPeltz) May 5, 2024

The post USC Student Journalists Say LAPD, School Kept Them From Covering Clearing of Pro-Palestine Camp appeared first on TheWrap.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Vadim Mozyrsky is back. The administrative law judge ran for Portland city council in 2020, coming in just behind then-incumbent Jo Ann Hardesty and eventual winner Rene Gonzalez.

Now, hes got his sights set on the Multnomah County Commission in District 1. That seat is currently held by county commissioner Sharon Meieran, who has reached the end of her term limit.

Mozyrsky returns to Eye on Northwest Politics this week to discuss why now is his time to run for county commissioner, his take on the countys fentanyl response after the end of the 90-day emergency and whether the county can make good on its promise to house and shelter 2,700 more people in the next two years.

Additionally, with the repeal of Measure 110 taking effect September 1, Mozyrsky discusses the countys role when that happens. He explains his thoughts on his role in the Portland Charter Commission, which led to voters approving the expansion of city council to 12 members and adding a city manager.

Mozyrsky, who was born in Ukraine and is of Jewish descent, also states his view on the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and addresses his work with the NAACP as well as his board membership with the immigrant and refugee community organization in Oregon.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Virginia is now the only destination in the Southeast region for abortions after 12 weeks. Thats because abortion is now banned after 6 weeks in Florida. Before Floridas strict ban, it was a refuge for abortion access in the South, even despite its prior 15-week ban. Millions of women in the South will now need to travel to Virginia for reproductive care. The Right is calling it abortion tourism which minimizes the journey many women are forced to take just to get an abortion.

View comments
Voice of the People (May 5, 2024): Roundabout at Galloway and 10th Street would be a waste

A reader says a Polk County plan for a roundabout at Galloway Road and Tenth Street in Lakeland would take too much land and too much money and isn't needed anyway.

Roundabout at Galloway Road and Tenth Street would be a waste

This has to do with [the proposed] roundabout on Galloway Road and Tenth Street. This new proposal has no merit except costing a lot more money needlessly, disrupting homeowners with this project that their outdated survey said we need and at that time certain road construction projects were in the process.

The county has an easement here but that's not enough for this project. The county proposal will also affect our property value, not counting moving water and electric lines, power poles, ditches, driveways etc., when it could be a lot easier and cheaper to just put in turn lanes. Peak time here is school traffic.

Whoever is in charge likes to spend our taxpayer money needlessly. Where are their eyes when it comes to repairing our roads that are falling apart? All their workers feel the same way we do, but they will do it because it's their job and has no effect on them.

Why does this traffic roundabout need so much more personal property when the one down the road on Sleepy Hill Road and Galloway Road did not! Funny, No one has been able to answer our question.

Doug & Vicky Malcolm, Lakeland

Voice of the people (April 28, 2024): Why are Polk County trash collection fees going up?

Cost of car insurance

Since the legislature passes laws requiring citizens to pay for car insurance, they need to pass a law so we can afford it.

Drivers 50-plus years need a nonprofit insurance cooperative. If you agree, contact your representative!

Roberta Faye Tickle, Lakeland

Voice of the people (April 21, 2024): US crackdown on TikTok is about security

What have Republicans done?

Republicans control Floridas House of Representatives and Senate. Floridas governor is a Republican.

What have Republicans done while in charge of Florida? Republicans forced Floridas women to surrender control of their body to the state after six weeks of becoming pregnant, throughout their pregnancy, and until the birth of their child.

Republicans eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion, which was in place to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination.

Republicans banned books they deem inappropriate in libraries throughout the state.

Republicans passed legislation to abolish the accurate teaching of Black history.

Republicans made any mention of gender identity a crime in every public school and in any grade level.

Republicans have done absolutely nothing to ease the burden of skyrocketing homeowners and car insurance in Florida.

Republicans will not acknowledge climate change, even after many Floridians have been ravaged by it.

Republicans have proven themselves to be hell-bent on dividing Floridians and attacking marginalized groups over providing effective legislation for all.

So, what is the answer? Its simple. Never vote for a Republican candidate again.

Michael Schwam, Lakeland

Voice of the people (April 14, 2024): What made America great? 'We,' not 'me'

The Trump trial

Mr. [R. Bruce] Anderson, just read your article Trump on Trial: Free the New York One [April 28]. I read your column every Sunday and rarely disagree with you, but this time I think you are way, way off base.

Mr. Trump is not being tried for having an affair or covering it up. But is being tried for where the money for the payoff came from. Trump is being tried for cooking the books; not so different than when Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion and sent to prison.

Countless other people have been convicted for the same crime as Trump is accused of. He is accused of using money from one of his business accounts and showing the expenditure as Legal Expenses. Since the payoff of $130,000 was intended to help his campaign, the money paid to Ms. Daniels is/was a campaign expense, that in itself should be viewed as an illegal campaign contribution, whether it came from a business or individual.

Lying about your business expenses involves tax deductions, ergo, Ms. Daniels payoff became a business deduction. I don't believe payments for sex is a valid tax-deductible business expense.

Robert Patterson, Bartow

Want to contribute?

Send letters to the editor to voice@theledger.com, or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj, or go to TheLedger.com, click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice (May 5, 2024): Scrap the roundabout at Galloway and 10th Street
Police are searching for a suspect behind a shooting Saturday night in southeast Colorado Springs that injured one person and damaged property.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to a report of the shooting in the 1200 block of Sandalwood Drive.

One person was found with a gunshot wound at the scene and was treated before being transported to a local hospital. The wounds are not considered life-threatening.

Police officers found multiple bullet casings at the scene along with multiple vehicles and a building damaged by gunshots.

CSPD does not believe the shooting was random. A suspect has yet to be identified and an investigation is ongoing.
The mother was arrested and booked into the Clark County Jail on Thursday, May 2

Getty Photo illustration of an ambulance responding to an emergency

A Washington mother has been charged after her 3-year-old toddler reportedly overdosed, according to multiple outlets.

Police in Vancouver, Washington, arrested Summer Justice Ward, 27, on Thursday, May 2, after her child overdosed on a powder that tested positive for methamphetamine, outlets including KPTV, KGW and The Columbian said.

According to the Clark County Jail's online roster, Ward was arrested and booked on charges of endangerment with a controlled substance, criminal mistreatment, resisting arrest, obstructing law enforcement officers and possession of a controlled substance.

The Vancouver Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday.

Related: Mother Charged After Her 4-Year-Old Daughter Dies from Heroin Overdose

Getty Stock image of a police vehicle's lights

The Vancouver Police Department responded to an apartment at Northeast 109th Street around 8 p.m. local time on Thursday, after receiving calls about a child having overdosed, per The Columbian. The outlet noted, citing a news release, that the toddler's grandmother then administered two doses of Narcan.

Upon arrival, authorities found that the mother refused to let medical professionals into a bedroom to assist, and police had to force their way into the room before the child was taken to a local hospital, The Columbian reported.

Police then discovered a plastic bag in the woman's clothing containing a white powdered substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine, per the outlet.

Ward's two children, the toddler who overdosed and another 2-year-old child, were then reportedly placed in protective custody before the mother was booked, per KGW.

Related: Parents of 1-Year-Old Who Died Following Fentanyl Exposure in Daycare Speak Out: 'It Is Too Hard'

Child Abuse Unit detectives for the police department are investigating the case, the outlet added.

How would you have that around your children or be in the same household or even doing it around them? Its just, I cant imagine its horrible, neighbor Jenny Cerdena told KPTV.

According to the jail's website, Ward has a court date set for May 15 at 9 a.m. and is being held on a bond of $37,500.

It is currently unclear if she has legal representation to comment on her behalf.

The child's reported overdose comes less than two months after a St. Louis mother was charged with the death of her 4-year-old daughter, who police revealed was reportedly exposed to heroin and died of a drug overdose.



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Read the original article on People.
(WHTM) Democrats in the state house finally pushed through mail-in ballot reforms that county commissioners have sought for years. On a party-line vote they approved pre-canvassing which would let counties open and sort mail-ins up to seven days before the election.

Currently, they cant be sorted and prepared for counting until 7 a.m. on Election Day. Counties had complained and asked for change.

But is pre-canvassing still a priority?

Some say no, that the state now sends additional money to counties so they can hire more people and require them to stay on the job until the countings complete.

Republicans argue the bill that passed the House this week would remove that requirement and let counties decide on their own how quickly to count those mail-ins.

Which means youre not going to have youre not going to find out who the president United States is, because its coming through Pennsylvania, State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said. So all eyes will be on us. The question is, do we want to be another embarrassing bit to the country or do we want to or do we want to handle our stuff Election night? That bill will make us another national embarrassment for the second election, presidential election back to back.

That house bill heads to the Senate. Its fate there is unknown.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
NC Department of Justice (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

Ratepayers plead with NC Utilities Commission to reject Duke Energys carbon plan

protesters gathered outside the Durham County Courthouse

A member of the Ragin Grannies, an environmental advocacy group, sings No Frackin Way, outside the Durham County Courthouse, where the NC Utilities Commission was holding a public hearing about Duke Energys carbon plan. (Photo: Lisa Sorg)

By Lisa Sorg

Bobby Jones, a founder of the Down East Coal Ash Environmental and Social Justice Coalition in Goldsboro, had been seated for less than five minutes when he bolted from his bench.

This hearing is a farce! Jones said, as a Durham County Sheriffs deputy led him from the seventh-floor courtroom. Youre in cahoots with Duke Energy.

Jones was among several people who walked out in protest of the N.C. Utilities Commission, which held its final public hearing yesterday in Durham on Duke Energys updated carbon plan  a plan that few people like, except for Duke Energy. [Read more...]

North Carolina to receive $76m to replace drinking water lines that contain lead

A black and white illustration from a 1923 ad that lauds the benefits of lead in solder, pipes and paint.

An advertisement placed by the National Lead Company in National Geographic magazine in 1923. (Photo courtesy U.S. National Library of Medicine)

By Lisa Sorg

North Carolina will receive an additional $76 million for utilities to remove and replace lead service lines that could be contaminating the drinking water, the Biden administration announced today.

The money is part of a $9 billion package for all states and U.S. territories, as well as tribal lands, through 2026, with $3 billion available each year. [Read more]

DEI elimination, pro-Palestinian encampments loom large for faculty at UNC

South Building at the University of North Carolina

The historic South Building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

By Clayton Henkel

In less than two weeks, the Class of 2024 will collect their diplomas at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and head into the real world.

But last week, UNC faculty members attending the Spring Faculty Council meeting expressed their concerns about the real world unfolding on their own campus. [Read more...]

Dan Bishop said the 2020 election was stolen. Now he wants to be NCs attorney general.

images of Dan Bishop and Jeff Jackson appear next to the N.C. Department of Justice Building

Republican Dan Bishop (top) and Democrat Jeff Jackson are running to become state attorney general  an office that plays an important role in interpreting and enforcing voting rights laws. (Photos: Bishop and Jackson campaign websites and Clayton Henkel for NC Newsline)

By Kelan Lyons

How North Carolinas next attorney general could impact voting rights

After the 2020 election, U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina became an outspoken proponent of the lie that Democrats had rigged the results. He accused the rival party of running a national campaign to tie up the courts and disrupt the elections administration, announcing that he would contest Electoral College votes in four states that were key to Joe Bidens victory.

The Democrats objectives were to weaken ballot security, undermine positive identification of voters, and provide opportunities for post-election ballot-box stuffing, Bishop said at the time. This has been a national, partisan attack on the Constitutional delegation of authority to regulate elections specifically to state legislatures. [Read more]

NC doesnt pay dentists enough to treat Medicaid beneficiaries, new report says

A dental care provider works with a young patient

Photo: Getty Images/Thomas Barwick

By Lynn Bonner

Dental care is sometimes an afterthought when it comes to health, but untreated tooth decay can result not just in sore jaws but compromised physical health and lost job opportunities.

A report released last week by the Oral Health Transformation Task Force envisioned a future in North Carolina where oral health is comprehensive and seamlessly integrated with overall health. The task force report was prepared under the auspices of the NC Institute of Medicine and puts a focus on Medicaid beneficiaries and others with low incomes. [Read more...]

Bill to increase spending on private school vouchers scores key win in NC Senate

Senator Michael Lee

Sen. Michael Lee said traditional public school wasnt there for his youngest child. He wants all parents to have access to private school vouchers. (Photo: NCGA video stream)

By Greg Childress

A bill to spend an additional $463 million on the states controversial private school voucher program over the next two years gained momentum Thursday, winning support in the state Senate. The bill was approved by a vote of 28-15 and will now return to the House for concurrence in Senate changes.

Republican supporters of House Bill 823 contend the extra money is needed to clear a wait list of more than 54,000 people for the states Opportunity Scholarships. The income-based program helps parents with private school tuition; awards range from $3,000 to $7,000. [Read more...]

Bonus read: Republican lawmakers back $463 million in additional spending on private school vouchers

Senate approves bill requiring sheriffs honor federal immigration requests to hold people in jail

ICE office sign

Image: Adobe Stock

By Lynn Bonner

The state Senate moved quickly to pass legislation requiring local sheriffs to hold people they arrest at the request of federal immigration agents.

Republicans supporting the bill say requiring sheriffs to hold people they arrest and whose legal status they cannot determine for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pick up would make communities safer. Opponents said such a requirement would make crime victims afraid to call police. [Read more.]

Bonus read: NC Senate panel OKs bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE

This country lost four heroes: NC Governor honors officers lost in Charlotte shooting

Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a press conference

Governor Roy Cooper addresses the media at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department following the April 29 shooting. (Screengrab from CMPD video stream)

By Clayton Henkel

Governor Roy Cooper said North Carolina will never be able to fill the void or fully thank the families of the four law-enforcement officers who lost their lives in Charlotte Monday while attempting to serve a warrant.

Authorities identified the slain officers on Tuesday as:[Read more...]

NC needs to remove hurdles that keep former offenders from finding jobs, advocates say

a pile of buttons in which each reads: "I'm for second chances"

Im for Second Chances. The bright yellow buttons have become a symbol of the annual advocacy day at the NC General Assembly. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

By Lynn Bonner

A record of incarceration can prevent people from landing apartments or jobs. People who have been arrested but never convicted can have a hard time shaking that history when their mugshots appear forever online.

Advocates want previously incarcerated people to be able to rebound without the millstones of past mistakes acting as a constant drag. [Read more...]

New bill would grant regulatory power over crypto mining to three North Carolina counties

the inside of a giant crypto mining computer

Image: Adobe Stock

By Ahmed Jallow

A new bill in the North Carolina legislature would allow Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford Counties to prohibit or regulate crypto mining. Republican Sen. Tim Moffit, who represents the three counties, is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 774.

If passed, the law would only apply to those three counties and their municipalities.

As NC Newsline reported previously in a series of reports about a proposed facility in Pitt County, crypto mining, the process that verifies bitcoin transactions and creates new coins, relies on a vast network of powerful computers. [Read more...]

How presidents make a real difference (commentary)

President Biden points to a person asking a question

President Joe Biden on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, signed into law foreign aid that includes $60.84 billion in assistance for Ukraine. (Photo taken on Feb. 8, 2024 by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

By Rob Schofield

New Biden administration rules and regulations will dramatically improve the lives of millions

When most Americans think about what it is that a president does every day, they tend to think about the things that make the headlines: big speeches, bill signing events, the stances they take on high-profile controversies, the image they project to the rest of the world, and the gossip that surrounds their family and staff and their own personality quirks and inclinations.

Seldom, sadly, do they contemplate something thats quite arguably much more important and impactful to the day-today lives of the nations 300-plus million inhabitants: the work of the people the president selects to run the day-to-day operations of the federal government.[Read more]

The post Weekend reads: On protests, pipes and and power appeared first on NC Newsline.
Dr Werner Spitz: he claimed to have been involved in more than 60,000 autopsies - CBS Photo Archive

Werner Spitz, who has died aged 97, was a pioneering US forensic pathologist who was consulted by Congressional committees investigating the assassinations of President John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King and testified as an expert witness in high-profile murder cases including those involving OJ Simpson and Phil Spector.

Spitz began his career in Israel where in 1951 he observed his first autopsy  that of Morris Meyerson, husband of the future Israeli prime minister Golda Meir, who had been found dead aged 57 in a Tel Aviv flat. As it turned out he had died of a heart attack.

Young Spitz was hooked, but was disappointed with the cases that came his way. In seven years in Israel, there was only one murder, he complained. The US offered more exciting prospects and in 1959 he decided to emigrate.

He went on to serve as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, Maryland, and Chief Medical Examiner for Wayne and Macomb counties in Michigan (with Detroit falling in both counties), claiming to have been involved in more than 60,000 autopsies.

To a wider public, it was as an expert witness in murder cases that Spitz became familiar - CBS Photo Archive

Forensic pathology when he arrived was in its infancy and Spitz was among those who led its development, teaching at Wayne State University, Detroit, and at the University of Windsor in Canada, and co-editing Spitz and Fishers Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation, the Bible of the profession, first published in 1972 and now, updated and revised, in its fifth edition.

Spitz began his foray into high-profile cases in 1969 testifying for the parents of Mary Jo Kopechne, the political worker who had been found dead in an Oldsmobile sedan that had overturned into a pond on Chappaquiddick Island. The local medical examiner called it accidental drowning and a week later Senator Edward Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury, receiving a two-month suspended sentence.

Questions about the exact circumstances of her death, however, led Massachusetts officials to press for Mary Jos body to be exhumed for a full autopsy, but Spitz helped persuade a Pennsylvania judge to agree to her parents wish that her burial site should not be disturbed.

Senator Edward Kennedy in 1969 during the Chappaquiddick case - Boston Herald Archive

In 1975 Spitz reviewed the assassination of John F Kennedy, concluding that while the autopsy, carried out by military pathologists, had been botched, its conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the killer was the right one. In 1979 he reviewed the killing of Dr Martin Luther King, confirming the findings of the original autopsy that James Earl Ray was the man responsible.

To a wider public, it was as an expert witness in murder cases that Spitz became familiar, booming his certainties about the cause of death, as the Los Angeles Times once put it, with the same kind of stentorian, accented baritone that Edward Teller used to proclaim his convictions about nuclear conflict.

When the occasion demanded Spitz was not above a bit of showmanship. During the 1988 trial of Robert Chambers, the Preppy Killer, on charges of murdering 18-year-old Jennifer Levin, Spitz, for the prosecution, demonstrated his theory of how the victim had died from strangulation after a prolonged struggle, with her blouse being twisted into a noose. Chambers had claimed that her death had occurred by accident during rough sex.

Spitz was forced to put on his demonstration twice because each side brought its own blouse and its own volunteer victim. The result was inconclusive, as while the prosecutions volunteer obligingly gagged and turned red, the volunteer for the defence showed no reaction. Chambers later pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Spitzs testimony was more effective during the 1996-97 civil lawsuit against OJ Simpson after Simpson had been acquitted of murder. His testimony that small semi-circular cuts on Simpsons left hand were fingernail gouges that could have been inflicted by his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, as she clawed to break free of a chokehold, helped the jury to find him responsible for her death and that of her friend Ronald Goldman.

OJ Simpson in 1997 - AP Photo/Nick Ut

Spitzs claim for the defence, at the 2007 murder trial of the music producer Phil Spector, that his alleged victim, the actress Lana Clarkson, had shot herself out of despair over her career and personal life, no doubt contributed to the jurys failure to agree a unanimous verdict on that occasion, though Spector was convicted of murder in a 2008 retrial.

It appeared that Spitz may have gone too far in 2016 when he alleged, in a CBS documentary, that the person responsible for the brutal 1996 killing of six-year-old beauty queen Jon Benet Ramsey, found bludgeoned to death in the basement of her familys home in Boulder, Colorado, was probably her nine-year-old brother, Burke Ramsey.

In 2008, based on DNA evidence, Burke and his parents had been cleared of her murder by a prosecutor, and in response to Spitzs claims Burke Ramsey launched a 120 million lawsuit which was eventually settled on undisclosed terms. The crime remains unsolved.

Spitz: not above a bit of showmanship - Alamy

The son of a medical doctor, Werner Uri Spitz was born on August 22 1926 to a Jewish family in Stargard, Germany (now in Poland). The family moved to British Mandate Palestine before the Second World War.

Werner Spitz embarked on medical studies in Switzerland, but graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His father landed him a job at a local medical examiners office and it was there that he became fascinated by forensic pathology.

In one of his last cases, Spitz was hired by the family of Patrick Lyoya, the unarmed 26-year-old refugee from Congo whose fatal shooting in April 2022 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by a white police officer triggered public protests, to carry out a second autopsy.

Spitz confirmed that Lyoya had been killed by a single shot to the back of the head, but found no other injuries consistent with police claims that he had been violently resisting arrest after committing a traffic offence. In June 2022 the officer, Christopher Schurr, was charged with second-degree murder.

Werner Spitz is survived by his wife, Anne, and by two sons and a daughter.

Werner Spitz, born August 22 1926, died April 14 2024

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Where can I see the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 2, 2024?

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

The path of annularity on Oct. 2, 2024, passes through the Pacific Ocean and South America. . | Credit: Piriya Photography Getty Images

An annular solar eclipse will occur on Oct. 2, 2024 , when the moon's central shadow will not quite reach Earth. This will create a "ring of fire" effect visible to observers within a wide path stretching across the Pacific Ocean and southern South America.

At the point of greatest eclipse in the Pacific, the moon will obscure 93% of the sun's center, creating a "ring of fire" visible for 7 minutes and 25 seconds.

Related: 16 best places to see the annular 'ring of fire' solar eclipse 2024

During an annular solar eclipse, it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun without solar eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing. Read our guide on how to observe the sun safely.

This annular solar eclipse has a long and broad path, rising south of Hawaii in the North Pacific Ocean and setting north of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean. That journey is a mighty 8,800 miles (14,163 kilometers), with the path between 165 and 206 miles (265 to 331 km) wide. Very little of it crosses land, with only Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and southern parts of Chile and Argentina in South America within the path of annularity.

a map of south america and the pacific ocean showing the path of the annular solar eclipse passing over rapa nui (easter island) and across south america through chile and argentina.

The path of annularity: Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

A map showing the entire island rapa nui (easter island) within the path of annularity for the solar eclipse.

It's a marvel that the 'ring of fire' will be visible from this remote volcanic island in the South Pacific, halfway between Tahiti and South America. It's been only 14 years since a total solar eclipse was visible from here on July 11, 2010.

About 2,200 miles (3,540 km) west of Chile, Rapa Nui is home to 1,000 mysterious moai, the remnants of a culture from the 13th16th centuries. Perched on stone pedestals called ahus, these carved human figures can be found at several sites on the island, which is entirely within the eclipse's path.

The 'ring of fire' will hang 67 degrees above north and last 6 minutes 28 seconds at Rapa Nui's most southerly point, Orongo, and 5 minutes 59 seconds at its most northerly point, Ana o Heu.

Related: What's the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse?

The path of annularity: South America

a map of south america, showing the path of annularity passing through parts of chile and argentina.

Barely 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of the 8,800 miles (14,163 km) path of annularity crosses land on Oct. 2, 2024, the vast majority of it in southern South America and two countries in particular  Chile and Argentina. Chile's Pacific Coast is difficult to access, but Carretera Austral (also called Route 7) dissects the path in rural Patagonia's Aisen region. As it strikes Chile, the eclipse will be 26 degrees above the north-northwest horizon, with the lower elevation arguably creating a more dramatic sight than from Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Key locations in Chile include Cochrane, close to the centerline (south along the Carretera Austral), and Chile Chico, just outside the northern limit, close to the border with Argentina. The latter would be a good choice for anyone wanting to see extended displays of Baily's beads, which could last a few minutes.

In Argentina, a choice location in a wild, empty region could be Perito Moreno National Park. For a more arid eclipse with the highest chances of a clear sky anywhere in the path, choose Puerto Deseado and Puerto San Julian in Santa Cruz Province on Argentinean Patagonia's Atlantic coast.

The next annular solar eclipse: 2024 vs 2027

a map showing the paths of the annular solar eclipse in 2024 and the annular solar eclipse in 2027 taking a different route but crossing over each other off the west coast of south america.

On average, a central solar eclipse occurs in the same place twice every 366 years or so, according to NASA , but two-and-a-half years after 2024's annular solar eclipse, another happens partly in the same place. On Feb. 6, 2027, a 7-minute and 51-second 'ring of fire' will again be visible again from Chile and Argentina.

The 2024 and 2027 paths cross just off the coast of Chile in the Pacific Ocean. In 2027, the path will cross Chile slightly to the north of the 2024 path, while in Argentina, it swerves through central Patagonia and misses the capital city, Buenos Aires. It also just missees Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, shaving that country's southeast coast before traveling across the Atlantic to show a 'ring of fire' sunset to those in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

Additional resources

Want to look further ahead? You can find a concise summary of solar eclipses out to 2030 on NASA's eclipse website . Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com , a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses. See beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's GreatAmericanEclipse.com and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website. You can find climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on eclipsophile.com .

Bibliography

Anderson, J. (February 2024). Annular Solar Eclipse

2024 October 2. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://eclipsophile.com/annular-solar-eclipse-october-2-2024/

Bakich, M. and Zeiler, M. (2022). Atlas Of Solar Eclipses 2020-2045.

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/books/atlas-of-solar-eclipses-2020-to-2045

Espenak, F. Solar Eclipse Prime Page: Annular Solar Eclipse of 2024 October 2. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from: https://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2024Oct02Aprime.html

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Solar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

Time and Date. (n.d.). October 2 2024 Annular Solar Eclipse. Retrieved April 24, 2024 from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-october-2
When and where you can see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower peak

Get ready for one of the best meteor showers of the year, astronomy fans: the Eta Aquariids are about to peak, according to NASA.

The shower will peak overnight on Sunday into Monday, though meteors from the shower will be visible throughout the week, NASA said. The peak is happening near a new moon, which means the sky will be darker and it will be easier to catch a glimpse of the meteors.

When and where to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower

The best time to see the meteor shower is overnight Sunday into Monday. The shower will be viewable in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere during pre-dawn hours, though the best viewing experience will be in the Southern Hemisphere. Viewers in the Southern Hemisphere can catch 40 meteors per hour, while in the Northern Hemisphere, viewers will see 10-20 meteors an hour.

Eta Aquarid meteors in the Northern Hemisphere are often Earthgrazers  long meteors that appear to skim the surface of the Earth at the horizon.

To get the best view, head to an area well away from city lights or street lights. NASA advises lying flat on your back with your feet facing east. It will take about 30 minutes in the dark for your eyes to adjust enough to see meteors.

A flight-illuminated path and the Milky Way are appearing in the night sky during the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, which is peaking in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on May 5, 2024. / Credit: Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images

"Be patient  the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse," NASA said.

After the peak, the shower will continue through May 27.

What makes the Eta Aquariids special?

The Eta Aquariids are known for their speed. NASA notes that fast meteors can leave glowing trains behind them, which can last for several seconds to minutes. The Eta Aquariids travel 44 miles per second.

Meteors in the Eta Aquariids come from space debris that originated from Halley's comet. Halley sheds a layer of ice and rocks into space each time it returns to the inner solar system. The shed space dust forms two meteor showers a year: the Eta Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October.

What are meteor showers?

While meteors  space rocks that enter Earth's atmosphere  streak through the sky every night, meteor showers happen less frequently. Many meteors hit Earth's atmosphere over a short period of time during meteor showers. As they pass through the atmosphere, the meteors leave behind streaks of light caused by glowing, hot air.

Most meteors burn up as they fall, but there are some that survive the trip and reach Earth. Those are considered meteorites.

Look up  what else can you see in the sky this spring?

Astronomy fans can check out the Flower Moon this month as May's full moon rises. May's full moon will reach peak illumination on May 23 according to NASA. The Old Farmer's Almanac details specific moonrise times for different ZIP codes across the United States.

May's full moon is the last full moon of spring. June's full moon reaches peak illumination on June 21, one day after the summer solstice.

The next meteor shower is the Southern delta Aquariids in July, according to the American Meteor Society.

A young boy's generosity, rewarded

Longtime Trump aide Hope Hicks takes the stand in New York trial

Ukrainian who fled war to attend prestigious music school
White House believes US aid will help Ukraine launch counteroffensive in 2025  FT

Ukraine will seek to launch a new counteroffensive in 2025 after receiving over US$60 billion in US security assistance.

Source: Financial Times, citing Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor

Details: The FT noted that Sullivan said he still expects "Russian advances in the coming period" on the battlefield despite the new US aid package approved last month as "you cant instantly flip the switch".

However, the official added that with the new aid from Washington, Kyiv will be able to "hold the line" and "ensure Ukraine withstands the Russian assault" through 2024.

Referring to next year's war scenario, Sullivan added that Ukraine plans "to move forward to recapture the territory that the Russians have taken from them".

"His comments about a potential counteroffensive by Ukraine represent the White Houses clearest articulation of how it views the conflict evolving if president Joe Biden wins re-election in November," the FT stressed.

Furthermore, the Financial Times reported that the possibility of a new Ukrainian offensive in 2025 hinges on increased and approved funding from the US Congress and the White House.

Background:

Sullivan acknowledged that Ukrainian forces have lost some territory in the country's east, including the war-torn town of Avdiivka, due to delays in approving aid to Ukraine.

On 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that provides for about US$61 billion of additional military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help for other US allies.

Immediately afterwards, the US announced a US$1 billion military aid package for Ukraine.

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Why flags are at half-staff, half-mast today in Ohio?

Flags on public buildings and grounds throughout Ohio are being flown at half-staff on Sunday as part of the 43rd National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

Governor Mike DeWine ordered the lowering of flags in accordance with an order from President Joe Biden.

The annual memorial service is honoring 226 fallen firefighters across the country, including 89 who died in the line of duty in 2023 and 137 who died in previous years, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to pause and reflect on the heroic efforts and selfless service of the fallen firefighters we are paying tribute to this year, said the foundation's CEO Victor Stagnaro.

Flags are being flown at half-staff throughout Ohio on Sunday.

This year, 17 fallen Ohio firefighters are being honored:

Firefighter/EMT Gregory Lee Bauer, age 56, of the Columbus Division of Fire, died on Oct. 18, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter/Paramedic Seamus Culligan, age 44, of the Willoughby Fire Department, died on Feb. 15, 2022 due to complications of brain cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line of duty death.

Safety Officer Kevin Dailey, age 72, of the Middleport Fire Department, was returning from a fire call when the fire apparatus he was driving rolled over the side of a hill and crashed. He was pinned under the truck and was extricated by other firefighters returning from the same call who used airbags to lift and pull him out. He was flown to the hospital, where he underwent surgery on Sept. 19, 2022. He remained in the hospital until his death on Jan. 24, 2023.

Captain Charles "Chuck" Gossard, age 54, of the Springfield Township Fire & EMS Department, died on March 16, 2022, due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line-of-duty death.

Captain Hal Hanenkrath, age 40, of the South Richland Fire Department, was on the scene of a structure fire on June 27, 2023, when he started experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains. He was treated at the scene and rushed to the local hospital, where he passed a short time later from a pulmonary embolism.

Fire Chief David Jarvis III, age 65, of the Columbus Division of Fire, died on Dec. 9, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter/Paramedic Edward Long, age 55, of the Portsmouth Fire Department, responded to a request to help a drive locked out for a tractor-trailer on March 22, 2022. He had to use a ladder from Engine 2 to access the cab. After unlocking the cab, he placed the ladder back on Engine 2 and cleared the scene. While en route back to the station Firefighter/Engineer Long stopped at a stop sign, and advised the officer in charge of the engine that he didn't feel well. He set the parking brake on the engine and became unresponsive. Crews from the station responded. Long was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later due to cardiac arrest.

Firefighter/EMT Dennis McCollum, age 62, of the Kalida Volunteer Fire Department, died on Dec. 22, 2022, due to a heart attack within 24 hours of participating in training at the fire station.

Firefighter Randy Miner, age 57, of the Mary Ann Township Fire Department, died on Sept. 26, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Fire Chief Ralph Nunley, age 41, of the Bloom Township Fire Department, died on March 23, 2022 due to complications of colorectal cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line of duty death.

Lieutenant Kenneth Pettit, age 60, of the Allen-Clay Joint Fire District, died on Nov. 13, 2022 due to complications of cancer, deemed by the State of Ohio to be a line-of-duty death.

Captain Matthew Reid, age 48, of the Fletcher Volunteer Fire Department, died on Oct. 18, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Lieutenant Charles Swank, age 39, of the Washington Township Fire Department, died due to a heart attack on Dec. 8, 2022, within 24 hours of participating in department-mandated training at a High Rise Operations Conference in Pensacola, FL.

Firefighter James Tansey, age 72, of the Wakeman Fire District, died on Jan. 24, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Firefighter Sean Tyler, age 37, of the Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division, died on June 20, 2022 due to complications of cancer.

Firefighter/Paramedic Brett Wilson, age 23, of the Columbia Township Fire Department, responded to a motor vehicle accident near his residence on Oct. 27, 2019. As he entered the road, a loose electrical line fell. He was transported to a medical facility where he died due to electrocution.

Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Wysong, age 70, of the Clinton-Warren Joint Fire and Rescue District, responded to a brush fire on Dec. 24. He returned home after the call, and later that evening, his wife found him unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital and taken by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital where he died from a heart attack Dec. 26.

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Flags at half-staff, half-mast in Ohio to honor fallen firefighters
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Every public building and ground in Ohio will fly the state flag and American flag at half-staff on Sunday.

Governor Mike DeWine issued that all flags be lowered from sunrise until sunset on Sunday to honor the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. This is in accordance with an issued order from President Joe Biden.

Boys learn how violence can impact their lives

This weekend, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is observing two days of tribute for firefighters that died in the line of duty over the past year. The annual memorial service is set to take place on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Mount Saint Marys University in Maryland.

Click here for more details on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Why are we so powerless to act against gun violence? | Michael Douglas

Voices in the crowd urged Mike DeWine: Do something! The governor made an effort, proposing that state lawmakers enact modest-though-helpful gun regulations in response to the August 2019 mass shooting in Dayton, nine killed and 17 wounded in a matter of seconds.

His fellow Republicans in charge of the legislature ignored his request. As it happened, the governor meekly signed into law a measure delivering the opposite  easing gun restrictions, allowing Ohioans to carry a concealed weapon without training or a requirement to notify police officers. The legislation again ran counter to the advice of law enforcement officials.

Retired Editorial Page Editor Michael Douglas.

This has been the pattern for decades, and not just in Ohio but across the country. Americans experience a gun homicide rate 26 times higher than that of peer nations, yet we seem unable to address the problem adequately.

A measure of the failure surfaced in the governors recent State of the State address. He dedicated the talk to Ohio children, running through a range of priorities and initiatives including mental health and education. Gun violence? He cited the challenge as key to childrens health, but he made mere passing mention.

Why do we appear so powerless to act?

One familiar answer goes to the influence of the National Rifle Association. As Dominic Erdozain traces in his new book, One Nation Under Guns, the NRA has vehemently  and successfully  opposed gun regulation going back to the 1920s. If the country appeared poised for substantial action, even licensing and registration, in the 1930s and 1960s, the organization blocked the path, as it still does.

Erdozain achieves something much more valuable than retelling the story of the NRA. His relatively short work (nearly 200 pages) proves most enlightening in making plain just how distorted our reading of the Second Amendment has become, the highest court in the land arriving at the conclusion that the amendment serves a broad individual right to possess a gun for self-protection.

The conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court has made much of its supposed devotion to history and tradition. Erdozain, a visiting professor of history at Emory University in Atlanta, explains the actual aim of the founders in framing the amendment.

For instance, that initial clause involving a well-regulated militia echoed a compromise. Many founders were skeptical of a standing national army. Others had doubts about the concept of state militias. Thus, they struck a deal. The federal government gained military authority. The states could maintain militias.

The larger purpose involved the common defense, ensuring security for the people, not the individual. In that context, the freedom to carry a gun risks the freedom of others, yes, those innocent victims in Dayton.

Erdozain reminds that the founders especially worried about passions getting the better of reason. That finds expression in the many checks and balances, not to mention the concern for factions, or political parties. Does it follow that they would give wide berth to individuals bearing deadly weapons?

As Erdozain shows, the consensus of the courts answered with an emphatic no, and they did so for nearly 200 years. In 1939, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of National Firearms Act by reiterating the aim of the Second Amendment  to ensure a common defense.

Five decades later, Warren Burger, a former chief justice, tapped by Richard Nixon, famously cudgeled the concept of an individual right, calling the argument one of the greatest pieces of fraud  on the American people by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

Why has the propaganda campaign of the NRA prevailed so decisively? Erdozain traces the evolution of our gun culture. He highlights, among other things, the central place of guns and violence in slavery, a foundation laid for the grim reality today, the country with more guns in circulation than people, roughly 48,000 dead each year from gun violence.

Another factor goes to the myth of the frontier, the gunfighter somehow serving as protector or savior. This thinking resonates today in the ready defense of individual gun rights, an insistence that law-abiding gun owners should not pay for the bad behavior of criminals.

All of that overlooks what Erdozain describes as the classic American homicide, starting with an argument and ending with a bullet. In other words, you are law-abiding until, suddenly, you are not.

If we are going to overcome the power of the gun culture, the effort begins by putting front and center the case Dominic Erdozain makes in this invaluable book, the country coming to grips with the mounting toll and just how far we have strayed from founding principles. Until then, all of us will struggle to do something to slow the bloodshed and the ruin we inflict.

Michael Douglas was the Beacon Journal editorial page editor from 1999 to 2019. He can be reached at mddouglasmm@gmail.com.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Why are we powerless to act against gun violence
God is moving in next door to Hooters.

Come on, says the Rev. Brandon Cormier, where else would Jesus want to be?

The congregations relocation to The Citadel mall seems like a divine match to the lead pastor of Zeal Church in Colorado Springs.

Because if the Christian savior were here on Earth today, wouldnt he seek out a neighborhood thats struggled to overcome the dishevelment of gang and drug activity, tired storefronts and people worn down by lifes hardships?

Its a real privilege to partner with what God wants in Colorado Springs, Cormier said while giving a tour of his churchs upcoming new home at the southern section of the mall, north of Platte Avenue off Chelton Road.

Were a church called to tip the envelope, he said, and well have more locations, but this is where God chose for us to start.

The nondenominational Zeal Church was born during the pandemic in the fall of 2020, initially holding services at a local high school and soon after moving to a wedding venue on Palmer Park Boulevard near Powers Boulevard.

Less than two years later, the church purchased for $3.5 million, the 100,000-square-foot first floor of the old Macys.

Nearly a year after a $6 million renovation began on 42,000 square feet of the space, the work to transform the former department stores main level into holy ground is almost complete.

Zeal Church is scheduled to host opening services in its new location on June 9.

One of our taglines is In Colorado Springs as it is in heaven, Cormier said. We want to see a city thats transformed by the love of God and where every person has an opportunity to know God.

Private donations have funded the large remodeling project thats involved raising dropped ceilings, doctoring ductwork, stripping floors to concrete, removing and inserting walls, painting everything and creating a 1,150-seat worship auditorium with a crescent moon stage and professional lighting.

Theres also a cafe, meeting rooms and separate sections for childrens ministries  including a room for up to 15 children per service who have sensory issues such as hyperactivity, often related to autism and other conditions.

Theres such a need in churches for families with special-needs children, Cormier said. We want to make it as easy as possible to worship.

A large sign hanging from the building has brought in new members and heightened anticipation for the project to be completed, the pastor said.

An unexpected discovery of asbestos took several months to remediate, according to general contractor Great West Construction.

With Zeals presence at the 52-year-old mall, an overarching hope is that anchoring an energetic, charismatic church will help revitalize and improve the surrounding area thats been marked by violence.

Since 2016, there have been 12 shootings at or near The Citadel, including a fatal Christmas Eve shooting last year that killed an 18-year-old and led to community backlash and calls for the city to do something to curb the violence, particularly among youth.

Police said at a town hall The Gazette and KOAA-TV convened in March that steps to increase the number of police on the streets as well as dispatch coverage are showing encouraging signs, and that overall crime is down, although auto thefts and illegal activity by underage minors still need to be a focus of prevention work.

I believe where Jesus goes, the crime rates will reduce, Cormier said. I believe businesses in the mall will see a boost because where Gods people are, there should be undeniable differences.

Everybody should take notice because Gods moving into the neighborhood.

A 'beautiful blending together'

Cormier, 40, entered ministry at age 17 in his native state of Louisiana and launched Zeal Church based on gaps he saw while working for the Black church he grew up in and then a largely white evangelical Christian church.

He describes Zeal as significantly diverse in all ways  racially, ethnically, culturally, socioeconomically, generationally and geographically.

With racially homogeneous churches, you create a vacuum, and that leads to all sorts of problems, he said.

At Zeal services, charismatic worship invokes the Holy Spirit to heal attendees, and water baptisms are performed.

Music selections include both contemporary Christian songs in culture as well as traditional Gospel music familiar in predominantly Black churches.

What we see is this beautiful blending together, where you can be a 70-year-old Black woman from the South and hear songs you grew up with or a 22-year-old White guy and hear songs that you feel comfortable with, Cormier said. I found that was a missing link in the churches I knew.

In building his own church, Cormier wanted it to kind of look like heaven, and his idea seems to be popular among the masses.

Growth having the intensity of an inextinguishable burning bush took hold from the beginning and hasnt receded. Opening day for Zeal in the fall of 2020 drew 784 people at the high school site.

We did two simultaneous services  one outside on the grass  because not everybody could fit inside, Cormier said.

While not affiliated with a specific Christian denomination, Zeal is affiliated with the Association of Related Churches, a nonprofit church-planting network based in Birmingham, Ala., thats helped launch more than 1,000 churches with loan agreements.

Debuting a new church six months after COVID-19 took hold had some advantages, Cormier said. Real life was calling, and many people were turning to faith for answers.

Cormier and his wife and co-pastor Octavias preaching, he said, addressed peoples most troubling questions: What does God have to say about the pandemic and about social justice, racism, political division and how we can live together as humans.

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Zeal outlines a firm Christian stance on such issues.

We all have these chains  pride, arrogance, depression, bullying, addiction, suicidal thoughts  and we all want to be free, Cormier said. We believe everybody was made on purpose for a purpose, and we want to see people motivated to make a difference in their lives and somebody elses.

With such a wide representation of society, Cormier said anyone can find someone at Zeal with whom their story or situation resonates.

Thats true, worshippers say.

Everyone is welcome and accepted with open arms. You will not leave the same way you came in, one churchgoer wrote about Zeal on social media.

Sunday attendance has never dipped below 600, and today 1,500 people attend Zeals three weekly Sunday services at the wedding venue, Cormier said.

Weve completed outgrown it, which drove us to buy this property, Cormier said.

The pastor said he began looking all over town for a building just a year and a half after Zeal opened. Church leaders were interested in the old Babies R Us freestanding property south of The Citadel.

I knew that was our space, he said.

But the deal fell through.

Afterward, as Cormier was driving around and praying about the need for a new home for his church, he spotted the For Lease or Sale sign on the building that Zeal would end up buying with the help of a Church Development Fund loan.

They said we showed responsibility and were good stewards of the money we had, Cormier said. They took a risk on us.

Its proving to be a good decision.

Heavy security presence

After Macys closed a decade ago due to declining sales, the massive space has had other uses. A charter school bought the top floor and operates classes and activities in the building.

Another church in Colorado Springs had held services at the site in recent times, but the pastor told The Gazette last year the location didnt work out because worshippers were afraid to attend due to the number of shootings that had happened in the area.

Cormier knows about the neighborhoods reputation and past violence. Hes not daunted, but hes also taking precautions.

Members of Zeals security team are at every major gathering, and bodyguards protect Cormier and his family, which includes his spouse and co-pastor, Octavia, and the couples four children.

Statistics show that in a shooting, the target is not necessarily random but most of the time is tied to the leader of the organization, Cormier said. Whether its something that was said, or the ideology  

The new Zeal at The Citadel has been equipped with copious video surveillance cameras inside and out, which Cormier thinks will help the malls businesses as well as the charter school.

Im sure there are some families that are a little nervous, but weve done everything we can to mitigate some of those risks, Cormier said.

Some car break-ins and random incidents inside the current facility that required removing people have happened but nothing major, said John Zachman, a member of Zeals security team.

The more pre-emptive we can be, the better, he said of the churchs heavy security. Just having a presence can slow things down.

For the past year, a Zeal prayer team has been scattering across the city on one Saturday a month to pray for neighborhoods, including around The Citadel.

We believe everything starts in prayer; we dont want our ideas based on our strength or our power but Gods, Cormier said.

We pray a blessing over people on the street with financial troubles, health issues, marital problems. We surround the area and invite God in the space.

Zachman also believes that Zeal being at The Citadel mall will be good for the neighborhood.

Its exciting to think about having some presence here and bringing some goodness and being a light on the hill, he said.

Another religious group known as the mall monks has been located inside The Citadel for nearly 23 years.

The Catholic Center, a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of Mid-America, opened at The Citadel in November of 2001 and continues to offer prayer, confession, Mass and consultation to augment work of local parishes.

The ministry has been steady, the friars say.

"Thank you for being here," is the most frequent comment the friars hear, according to Father Bill Kraus, one of the priests assigned to the center, who made a video for the ministry's 20th anniversary celebration.

The ministry is based on the work of St. Francis of Assisi, who did not wait for the people to come to him but instead went into the streets and markets of his time proclaiming Jesus Christ as savior.

"Today the Capuchins seek to bring this same Gospel message to the modern marketplace," its website says.
Ahead of a concerning fire season, the Washington National Guard is leaning on their partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to train guard members in supporting wildfire fighting efforts.

According to the Washington National Guard, the two organizations have worked together since 2012, when Major General Bret Daugherty encouraged a focus on preparing National Guard members for state missions.

Come 2014 and 2015, the training that those guard members received proved to be vital in supporting Washingtons two largest wildfire seasons recorded. More than 2,300 guard members trained in red card certification and helicopter water bucket drops supported first responders both on the ground and in the air.

This year, nearly 300 guard members were trained in red card certification with the Department of Natural Resources. Over the past ten years, more than 3,000 guard members have helped fight wildland fires in Washington.

We were very fortunate the last few years, but we have to continue to be ready for the potential threats of massive wildfires in our state, said Major General Daugherty, We have shown in the dozen years the importance of having well-trained and qualified wildland fire fighters in the National Guard.

With a growing concern over the outlook of wildfires this summer, the Washington National Guard partnering with the... Posted by Washington National Guard on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Windy Eagle Mountain fire destroys two homes, couldve taken out entire block, officials say

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC4)  Two homes are considered total losses after a fire in Eagle Mountain early Sunday morning, according to Unified Fire Authority.

Crews responded to a two-alarm residential fire on Jordan Way at around 1:30 a.m. on May 5. The fire destroyed two homes and damaged two others, officials said.

SHELTER IN PLACE: Santaquin Police officer hit, killed by semi-truck on I-15

Windy conditions reportedly caused the fire to spready quickly to the neighboring homes.

Lehi Fire and Saratoga Springs Fire departments also responded to this incident. Officials said their quick response prevented the fire from continuing to spread to the rest of the block.

We were able to prevent this fire from taking the whole block, Unified Fire stated on social media.

Crews arrived on scene and quickly started fire attack stopping it from running the entire row of homes, Unified Fire stated.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. No injuries have been reported in this incident.

No further information is available at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
It was a normal end to the school day in late April for Acie Holland III, an eighth grader at Glen Hills Middle School in Glendale, Wisconsin.

He followed his routine and got on the school bus to go home. The bus driver joked with students, Holland said, before putting on her headphones.

Then things took a sudden turn.

From his seat past the middle of the bus, Holland said the bus driver looked a little sick or tired and her head dropped. He knew something was wrong when she continued to press the gas and missed a street.

She turned the corner and theres another street that we usually turn on. She pressed the gas and went past the corner, and I looked up, Holland told CNN.

He walked to the front of the bus to check on her, but she didnt respond, he said. She had temporarily lost consciousness and the bus was veering into oncoming traffic. Holland rushed to move her foot off of the gas. He said he applied the brakes and safely parked the bus.

I wasnt really scared, I was just trying to get the bus to stop, he said.

After stopping the bus, Holland contacted 911 and his grandmother, who is a nurse assistant. He also instructed the other 13-15 students on board to call their families.

Everybody was just like, thank you because I saved their life, said Holland, who hopes to one day own a barber shop or mechanic shop.

Glen Hills Middle School Principal Anna Young wrote in a note to families that the community could not be any prouder of Acie.

The compassion and leadership that we see him exhibit daily was taken to the next level on his bus ride home yesterday. We are grateful that all of our Glen Hills students are safe and are wishing their driver a healthy recovery, she continued.

Eventually, the driver regained consciousness and called the bus company, Riteway, which sent another driver to take the students home safely.

According to the school principal, the driver experienced a medical emergency and was receiving care.

Hollands parents are incredibly proud and relieved.

At first, Hollands father, Acie Holland II, didnt believe him when he heard the story later that day.

Dad, I saved the school bus from crashing, he told him. Ultimately, the story didnt surprise him.

Hes always been a person where hes real quick on his feet. Thats one of my things that I know hes capable of, not on the school bus, but just in general, being able to help someone in need, Hollands father told CNN. But I am proud of what he did.

The small, tight-knit community continues to show its pride since the incident. At a school board meeting earlier this week, Holland gained recognition through a proclamation from the mayor and city council. The Glendale Police Department and the Milwaukee Fire Department also praised his heroics.

Holland had some previous experience with vehicles. Since he was little, hes been working with his father, a certified auto technician.

It was like he was in the right place at the right time. So it was, it was meant to be for a variety of reasons, the most important being for the safety of others, Young said.

Holland appreciates all the recognition hes been getting. He says hes just glad he was able to get everyone home safely. He says this experience has given him more self-assurance.

I feel more confident with having a fight or flight moment, he said.

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A Witness Saw 'Warning Signs' in Man's Behavior with a Young Girl. He Called 911 to Save Her from Serial Killer

A witness credited with saving a girls life recounts his experience with murderer Rodney Alcala on 'People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer'

Tali Shapiro Tali Shapiro

It was the morning of Sept. 25, 1968, and Donald Haines, a sales representative, had driven to Hollywood on a work trip.

As he prepared to make a turn near Wilshire Blvd., he noticed a car stopped in the crosswalk.

The driver  a man in his mid-twenties with curly brown hair  was deep in conversation with an 8-year-old girl dressed in a white dress and Mary Jane shoes on her way to school.

He was fixated on this little girl, Haines says in his first-ever interview. That disturbed me.

As a father, Haines was concerned for the little girls safety, he tells People Magazine Investigates: Surviving A Serial Killer, which premieres tonight, May 5, at 9/8c on ID and streams on Max. (An exclusive clip is shown below.)

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.

Then, the little girl climbed in the backseat of the car.

All the warning signs were there, Haines says.

Related: 2 Women Who Survived the Same Serial Killer Speak Out: 'I Didn't Pray to Live, I Prayed to Die'

So, Haines followed the mans car to a Los Angeles home, and watched the man and little girl walk inside.

And I thought what the hell do I do now? Haines recalls.

He knew he could not safely approach the man, thinking the man might have a gun.

So, he drove to the nearest payphone and dialed 911.

Only later would he learn the full impact of his quick-thinking.

Orange County District Attorney's Office Rodney Alcala in a mugshot (left), was Bachelor #1 on 'The Dating Game' (right).

Related: How a Serial Killer and Rapist Ended up on 'The Dating Game'  and Was Chosen by the Woman

The man he had followed was Rodney Alcala, a prolific serial killer who is believed to have raped and killed dozens of women and little girls.

Dubbed "The Dating Game Killer" because he was Bachelor #1 on a popular television show of the same name, Alcala raped the little girl before police arrived.

But Tali Shapiro was not yet dead.

Related: How a Serial Killer and Rapist Ended up on 'The Dating Game'  and Was Chosen by the Woman

Responding to Hainess call, police officer Chris Camacho, Jr. arrived on the doorstep of Alcalas Los Angeles home to the sound of groaning.

He kicked the door in.

Tali was lying in a pool of her own blood, a metal bar laying across her neck.

When the officer removed the bar, she gasped for air.

Camacho provided medical aid to the child, who would grow up to testify against Alcala, helping keep him behind bars until his death in 2021.



Surviving the Dating Game Killer premieres tonight, May 5 at 9/8 C on People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer on ID and streams on Max.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
A woman is facing charges after police say she caused a house fire that caused two firefighters to suffer injuries.

According to court documents, emergency crews were called to Grape Street in Knoxville for reports of a house on fire Friday night.

The fire had started on the porch of one house and then spread to a neighboring one.

Police say Lynae Mockabee-Mitchell, 40, was standing outside of her vehicle when they arrived. She allegedly told them she lit her ex-boyfriends items on fire on the porch and that the fire quickly spread out of control.

Two firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. Police say they were hurt when the roof of the porch collapsed. One of those firefighters hurt their back and the other suffered an ankle injury. Bot of them were taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital.

Court documents say that Pittsburgh firefighters ruled out all natural or accidental causes for the fire in their investigation.

Investigators believe $20,000 worth of damage was done to the first house and that the second house sustained $5,000 worth of damage.

Mockabee-Mitchell faces five different arson charges and three counts of criminal mischief. She has been denied bail and is being held at the Allegheny County Jail.

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Woman arrested after crashing into Spectrum truck in Darke County

A woman was arrested after deputies say she crashed into a Spectrum truck in Darke County early Sunday morning.

Darke County deputies were dispatched to U.S. 127 south of SR 722 for a two-vehicle crash in the village of Castine, according to the Darke County Sheriffs Office.

>> Suspect hospitalized after being shot by officer in Huber Heights

The preliminary investigation revealed Jennifer Branham, 47, of Kentucky was heading northbound on U.S. 127 when she hit a parked unoccupied Spectrum truck in the rear end, the sheriffs office said.

Branham was treated and released at the scene by medics.

She was placed under arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Woman dead following accidental shooting in Nashville , Metro police say

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 25-year-old woman died after a shooting at a home near Herman Street in Nashville Sunday morning, according to authorities.

The shooting happened shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 5 in the 900 block of 16th Avenue North.

Man shot, car stolen during apparent robbery in Madison

At 5:15 p.m., the Metro Nashville Police Department announced on social media a woman was shot inside an apartment on the block. She was later identified as Elonshe Williams and reportedly died at the hospital.

Williams was visiting a 26-year-old friend and her two children at her apartment on 16th Avenue when Williams was shot and killed.

The deadly shooting is being investigated as accidental and detectives are working to corroborate a 3-year-old fired a semi-automatic pistol Williams brought into the apartment, according to Metro police.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Metro police reported Williams death is currently unclassified. No additional details have been released about this incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
At the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, a mythical woman known as Karen rose to prominence. Karen was a middle-class woman entitled by her white privilege, whose main crime seemed to be a predilection for complaining to the manager, and demanding basic competence when paying for services.

For all the loathing she received on social media, Karen was harmless. Her successor is not. This woman throngs university campuses, leading protests, wrapped up in keffiyehs and a face covering, passionately crying out for what she calls freedom fighters and their just war against Zionist apartheid, genocide and occupation, and the general existence of the Jewish state.

What she is doing  perfectly explicitly in many cases  is teeny-bopping for Hamas, as girls used to yell and scream for the Beatles. Its truly chilling. In the sick world of too many pro-Hamas, pro-Palestine women protesting, the acts of sexual violence carried out by Hamas on October 7 are Zionist fabrications, designed to further deepen the Israeli stranglehold on Palestinian self-determination and freedom. Others know perfectly well that the rape, torture and abductions happened, but seem to think its all wonderfully noble resistance.

A sick irony lives in the fact that these protest babes, ardent, self-righteous, self-avowed progressives, are cheering on terrorists who, when not raping women, insist on a brutal patriarchal society.

Do these women really want an Isis-style caliphate? Do they want rape and the threat of murder as an instrument of control as the framework for society in which all must live? Or do they only want these things for the Zionists?

Perhaps they dont really know what theyre wishing for, but they should be careful nonetheless. They might just get it.

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Xi Jinping arrives in France to begin his European tour  video

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arriving in France on 5 May. Photo: Screenshot from a Sky News video

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in France on Sunday, 5 May, the first of a series of visits to European countries scheduled for 5-10 May.

Source: European Pravda, with reference to CCTV, Chinese state television

Details: Xi arrived in Paris at 15:40 local time and was greeted by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

BREAKING: China's President Xi Jinping has arrived in Paris ahead of a state visit to Francehttps://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3



 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/DcxtDgd6Z3  Sky News (@SkyNews) May 5, 2024

In a statement issued in light of his visit, Xi said he intended to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss their countries bilateral relations, Chinas relationship with the EU, and international and regional issues.

Background:

Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary between 5 and 10 May. This is his first visit to the European continent since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Gergely Gyasi, Hungarian Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, said earlier that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Budapest on 8-10 May as part of his trip to Europe.

The Hungarian security service has begun enforcing strict security measures in preparation for the arrival of the Chinese delegation in Budapest.

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The New York City Department of Corrections said Sunday that it will temporarily suspend the use of body-worn cameras by its officers after one of the devices caught on fire while in use last week.

The department said one officer needed treatment for burns and smoke inhalation after her body camera caught on fire without warning, while attached to her chest on Friday.

Our thoughts are with our Captain who was injured in this incident, Corrections Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie said in a statement to The Hill. The safety of our staff is paramount, which is why I am removing all body-worn cameras from service out of an abundance of caution while we investigate how and why this incident occurred.

The officer was taken to a hospital but not admitted, The New York Post reported, citing a corrections officer union official.

There are just under 3,500 body cameras in use by the department since 2015, Corrections said, describing the incident as completely unique.

An investigation into why the camera caught on fire, which includes contact with the manufacturer, is expected to last one to two weeks, the department said.

The New York Police Department has suspended the use of body cameras twice in the last six years over similar safety concerns, once in 2018 after one caught on fire while in use, and a second time in 2021 after a camera exploded.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
I keep harking back to the lessons of my War and Violence in the 1960s class in college as I watch the protests over Gaza and Israel sweep across the country and into Colorado.

I remember a key document we studied in that class, The Port Huron Statement, written in 1962, which called for college campuses to become agents of social change, seeing idealistic students who have time on their hands before they join the workaday world as a great political force to be harnessed for the causes of the day.

The Port Huron Statement argued that because "the civil rights and peace and student movements are too poor and socially slighted, and the labor movement too quiescent," it should rally support and strengthen itself by looking to universities, which benefit from their "permanent position of social influence" and being "the only mainstream institution that is open to participation by individuals of nearly any viewpoint."

The university, the document went on to say it, is the institution that can create discontent with existing social arrangements and propose new ones.

Thus were the campus anti-war protests of the 1960s born, and thus was the ground laid for the anti-war protests of 2024.

Those protests in the 1960s eventually helped lead to a national disillusionment with the Vietnam War and the end of American involvement.

But what about the pro-Palestinian protests today? What impact are they having on public opinion?

So far, not much.

An overwhelming majority of Americans support Israel in its war against Hamas, according to a new poll. The Harvard CAPS-Harris survey found that 80% of registered voters said they support Israel more in the war, while 20% said they support Hamas more.

Mark Penn, the co-director of the poll, said support for Israel has not budged despite the campus unrest. Student protests appear to be out of step with broader public attitudes on Israel, he noted. The poll showed Americans largely agree there should be a cease-fire in the war, but only after Hamas is removed from power and the hostages they seized during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel are returned.

A sampling of opinions from reader comments on our Colorado Springs Gazette and Denver Gazette stories about the protests around the country and on Colorado campuses are in alignment with that polls finding. A large majority of our readers are not supportive of the protests.

One current reader doubts the protests are making much of a difference: The Vietnam protests in the 1960s made a little sense in that they demanded that the U.S., one of the warring parties, take action to end the war. These protests make little sense to me. Universities, nor even the U.S. government is waging war in Gaza. Do these goofs think Israel or Hamas give a hoot because some University publishes a position or sells a bit of stock in Israeli companies? Protest outside the Israeli embassy, perhaps. Raise money for international refugees or aid to Gaza even better.

Many of our readers were disturbed by the threats to Jewish students:

Jewish students all over college campuses are being assaulted, protesters are not allowing Jewish students on campus to attend classes for which they paid a hefty tuition, a Jewish student was tasered by a protester on the UCLA campus while campus police stood by and did nothing because they were told to stand down. No one is calling for the National Guard to start shooting; its called bringing law and order to these campuses and deterring the unlawful activities.

Other readers are worried the pro-Palestinian protesters inadvertently embolden Hamas:

But the students are supporting terrorists and also oppression by way of ignoring the whole situation in Gaza/Israel and focusing exclusively on Israel. Hamas and the oil-rich sheiks that use the Middle East as their personal political battlefields are the ones students should *ALSO* be protesting but that's not what we're seeing. It's a rush to be first to be viral to be popular to be famous for what? 'Protesting' something, anything, really.

Others see more nuance than that:

The protesters are NOT supporting the terrorists. They are protesting the plight of the ordinary citizens of Gaza, the dead children, the starving children, the preemie delivered from its dead mother. Did you read about the Israeli demonstrations against Netanyahu?

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And this reader sees arguments on both sides:

Perhaps you should broaden your view of the protests. It is not madness to oppose the killing of little children because there are members of Hamas still alive somewhere. It is not madness to oppose starving people to death. It is not madness to oppose Israelis taking the homes and farms of Palestinians through violence supported by the government of Israel. It is madness to believe that every Arab hates every Jew unto death simply for being Jewish.

One reader believes the First Amendment protects the protesters:

First Amendment allows no government interference with pure speech. "Congress (and lower levels of government) shall make no law. " That includes objectionable and even hate speech so long as there is no clear and present danger of that speech turning into violence.

"Yes, that includes such expressions as "death to America," "We support Hamas" and even 'Death to Jews,' absent a clear and present danger. We can all greatly dislike such words and we can even shun people who say those things but the government is barred by our Constitution from doing anything about such abhorrent speech. Either you support the Constitution, or you do not. There is no part way. Choose for yourself.

But even those who support the right to protest thought most of the students had gone too far:

They are not Democrat nor Democrat-sponsored. They are far left and being influenced by social media. I would bet many dont know much about the history of the region. Nevertheless, they need to go. They are trespassing, damaging property, and while they have the right to protest peacefully they dont have the right to harm or put in harms way, other people. Lets leave guns at home, no need to start a bloodbath.

And many of our readers see a way forward that is a little more sophisticated than the bad guys versus good guys rhetoric of many of the protests:

Just like being opposed to the policies of Israel is not the same as antisemitism, being supportive of the people of Palestine is not the same as supporting Hamas nor the actions of Hamas months ago. I am certain that there are some protesters who support Hamas just as there are kooks in nearly every movement but most of what I am hearing is demands for Israel and the IDF to find ways to continue the war against Hamas without the massive death counts of the women and children of Palestine; without starving them to death and to stop the "annexation" of Palestinian homes and farmlands by Israelis.

I dont believe our readers are saying universities cant contribute to this conversation and help drive a solution forward. But breaking school laws and prompting violent clashes with police are probably not the best way to engage in free expression, they argue.

Even the Port Huron Statement long ago that sparked the age of college protests advised against violence:

In social change or interchange, we find violence to be abhorrent because it requires generally the transformation of the target, be it a human being or a community of people, into a depersonalized object of hate. It is imperative that the means of violence be abolished and the institutions  local, national, international  that encourage non-violence as a condition of conflict be developed.

Let me give the final word in this roundup of perspectives to Jeremy Haefner, the chancellor of Denver University, who introduced a town hall The Denver Gazette, 9News and DU cohosted 100 days after the start of the war.

He said some things then about the ideal role of universities in public debates and social change that have stuck with me through this tumultuous period, and that I hope students around Colorado heed.

He said the university is a space where we can engage in reflective thinking, where we can have moments of greater learning and understanding. Where we can exhibit civil discourse and a culture of respect. And most importantly, a deep appreciation for the plurality of thought, not just on this war, but on all things."

He said it is events like the town hall, "in our classrooms, through mentorship, and conversations with peers, though study, that we dig deeply and disagree. We disagree with respect. All seeking to become better leaders and thinkers that can impact the world for the better.

This is what universities do. Its not what we can do, or what we must do, its what we do."
A chaplain (C) blesses servicemen of Ukraine's 141st separate infantry brigade on Easter Eve near the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region. Andriy Andriyenko/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

President Volodymyr Zelensky offered words of encouragement and unity to Ukrainians as the country marked its third Easter at war on Sunday.

God is on Ukraine's side, Zelensky said, and "with an ally like that, life will definitely triumph over death."

He also called for people to be united in a "common prayer" for the Ukrainian soldiers who will once again have to spend an Easter in the trenches at the war's front line.

In Ukraine, as in Russia, many Orthodox Christians do not celebrate Easter until May 5.

In the course of Russia's invasion, however, Ukraine has adapted other Christian holidays to the calendar of Western churches. Christmas, for example, has now been brought forward from January to December 25.

People take part in the Ukrainian Easter overnight service at the Orthodox St. Theodosius Pechersky Monastery. Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

People take part in the Ukrainian Easter overnight service at the Orthodox St. Theodosius Pechersky Monastery. Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
CAPE CANAVERAL  May the rocket's Force be with you!

An Atlas V rocket rolled out to its launch pad on Saturday (May 4), also Star Wars Day, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station days before its historic first mission with astronauts. Atop the United Launch Alliance booster was Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which will also make its debut flight with humans onboard after launching no earlier than Monday (May 6).

The instantaneous launch window opens at 10:34 p.m. EDT (0234 GMT on Tuesday, May 7) and you can watch the historic International Space Station (ISS) mission live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA Television.

The mission, called Crew Flight Test (CFT), will send two veteran NASA astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots aloft: Butch Wilmore will command the mission and Suni Williams will be the pilot. The duo are quarantining at the nearby Kennedy Space Center.

Related: I flew Boeing's Starliner spacecraft in 4 different simulators. Here's what I learned (video, photos)

I joined a group of about 35 reporters on a small hill about a mile away from Space Launch Complex 41 for my first-ever Floridian rocket rollout in which the booster was always going the right way towards the pad.

a person in a shirt with stars wars spacecraft facing a rocket and building, far in the background

Back in August 2006, I made an attempt to see mission STS-115 fly to the ISS. Then life happened. During my flight from Canada to the Space Coast, space shuttle Atlantis's launch pad was hit by lightning. As NASA took time to double-check all systems, Tropical Storm Ernesto made its way up the coast.

So instead of a launch, I witnessed Atlantis being pulled back towards shelter  and then pause in its path to the Vehicle Assembly Building, and get pulled back to the launch pad when the tropical storm shifted far enough away to make that the safe choice. I definitely missed that launch, but no regrets, as that situation was a pretty unique one.

a smiling woman in a large hat and sunglasses. she points across the road to a rocket and launch pad far in the background

Starliner's presence here two decades later is also unique, as the first spacecraft to bring astronauts to space from the Cape Canaveral side since Apollo 7 on Oct. 11, 1968.

And no human has ridden any Atlas rocket since Gordon Cooper's Mercury-Atlas 9 mission on May 15, 1963 (almost exactly 61 years before Starliner's CFT launch attempt.)

If CFT goes to plan, Boeing will soon join SpaceX in sending astronauts for six months at a time to the ISS. That's after both companies received commercial crew contracts from NASA in 2014, valuing Boeing's at $4.2 billion back then, compared to SpaceX's $2.6 billion.

a rocket beside a tall building with clouds in the background

While SpaceX has sent 12 crewed missions to ISS since 2020, including an astronaut test flight, Starliner's waited four extra years. Boeing's first ISS flight in December 2019 was dogged with so many computer glitches that Starliner never made it to its assigned orbit. After the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, and dozens of fixes were implemented, and Starliner at last made a successful second uncrewed test flight in May 2022.

CFT was also expected to launch earlier, most recently 2023. Critical issues found last year delayed that, however, as Boeing officials sought to address issues with the loads on the capsule's main parachutes, as well as wiring covered in flammable tape.

NASA and Boeing have carefully gone over all details ahead of this flight and maintained at a press conference Friday (May 3) that all is ready to go safety-wise. Weather is also 95% go for Monday's launch attempt on the Space Coast; that said, checks for proper technical fit and good weather will continue up to the moment of liftoff.

Related: 1st Boeing Starliner astronauts are ready to launch to the ISS for NASA (exclusive)

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The spacecraft's first operational mission will be Starliner-1, no earlier than 2025, and it will send at least three astronauts to the ISS: NASA's Mike Fincke (who is also serving as a CFT backup astronaut), alongside NASA's Scott Tingle and the Canadian Space Agency's Joshua Kutryk (the capcom for CFT's ascent phase.)

NASA plans to alternate SpaceX's Dragon and Boeing's Starliner in sending up astronauts at least every six months from U.S. soil. Russia's Soyuz spacecraft will also continue to send some agency astronauts aloft, for technical and policy reasons.

While NASA aims to have these commercial crew vehicles working past the lifetime of ISS, the orbiting complex is expected to finish operations in 2030. Russia may pull out as soon as 2028, although all timelines are subject to flux as the countries work on implementing next-generation space programs.
A view of the Milky Way from Einstein's Probe's perspective. There are various squares overlain on the image and bright purple spots of X-ray activity.

A joint Chinese and European X-ray telescope mission called Einstein Probe is successfully viewing the universe in widescreen, with a telescope design that mimics the eyes of lobsters.

Einstein Probe, which launched on Jan. 9 aboard a Chinese Long March rocket, is currently undergoing testing and calibration of its instruments as it orbits the Earth at an altitude of 600 kilometers (373 miles). Its first observations were revealed at a symposium in Beijing.

The problem with X-rays is that they are so high in energy that they are difficult to capture with a standard detector. Lenses don't work because X-rays are too powerful to be easily refracted, and an X-ray striking a mirror face-on will simply pass through said mirror. Rather, X-ray detection is only possible when these rays strike a reflective surface at a shallow angle. From there, the rays can be directed towards an X-ray-specific detector. However, this mechanism poses a bit of a problem. It means an X-ray telescope can usually only detect X-rays along a narrow field of view; outside of that field of view, X-rays would strike at too great an angle.

As it turns out, lobsters are the solution  lobster vision, that is. What's more, scientists cottoned onto this basic idea back in the late 1970s, but it has taken decades to successfully adapt that idea for use on X-ray telescopes in space.

Human eyes operate on the principle of refraction via a lens, aka the cornea. Lobsters, on the other hand, utilize reflection. Their eyes are a composite of tiny tubes arranged as parallel square pores on the surface of their eyes, with each tube pointing in a different direction. Light enters the tubes and is reflected down to the retina. Whereas human vision spans a field of about 120 degrees, lobsters have panoramic, 180-degree eyesight.

Lobster-eye X-ray vision has previously been deployed on missions that study the solar wind, on interplanetary missions, and on a technology demonstrator mission called LEIA (Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy) in 2022. Einstein Probe, however, is the first to employ lobster-eye optics in a space telescope. Its Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT) borrows from the design of a lobster's eye, with hundreds of thousands of tubes arranged in 12 modules that are positioned such that the WXT can take in a field of view encompassing more than 3,600 square degrees, equal to one-eleventh of the sky, in a single shot. In just three orbits, WXT can image the entire sky in X-rays.

On the left side of a black and white close-up view of a lobster's eye. On the right is a diagram of the size of the pores within. It's also black and white.

WXT is looking for things that go bump in the night: so-called X-ray transients, which are often random or one-off events like a star flaring or a dormant black hole suddenly lighting up with activity when swallowing a small parcel of matter. It also includes phenomena like exploding stars and merging neutron stars that are the source of gravitational waves reverberating throughout the cosmos. This wide field of view should therefore allow WXT to vastly increase our knowledge of these transients.

To complement WXT's panoramic view, Einstein Probe also carries on board a second telescope, known as the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT), which is a more traditional X-ray detector with a narrower field of view. FXT offers more detailed, close-up observations of any transients discovered by WXT.

Even though it is still in the testing phase, WXT in particular is already proving its purpose. The Beijing symposium revealed that WXT found its first X-ray transient on Feb. 19, an event associated with a long gamma-ray burst produced by the destruction of a massive star. Since then, WXT has discovered another 141 transients including 127 stars unleashing X-ray flares.

A view of a yellow and orange, slightly hazy cloud in space.

FXT has also been busy during this trial period by following-up on an X-ray transient discovered on Marc 20  by the WXT no less,  as well as imaging several well-known objects in X-rays, including a supernova remnant called Puppis A and the giant globular cluster Omega Centauri.

"I am delighted to see the first observations from Einstein Probe, which showcases the mission's ability to study wide expanses of the X-ray sky and quickly discover new celestial sources," said Carole Mundell, who is the European Space Agencys Director of Science, in a statement. "These early data give us a tantalizing glimpse of the high-energy dynamic universe that will soon be within reach of our science communities."

An illustration shows the Einstein Probe as it hunts cosmic X-rays.

"It is astounding that even though the instruments were not yet full calibrated, we could already perform a time-critical follow-up observation using the FXT instrument of a fast X-ray transient first spotted by WXT," added Erik Kuulkers, who is the European Space Agency's Project Scientist for Einstein Probe. "It shows what Einstein Probe will be capable of during its survey."

That survey will initially last three years, and is set to get underway this June once testing is officially complete. The data released at the recent symposium is a preview of just what we can expect.

A dark image of two purple blobs in space.

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NASA's Voyager 1 probe hasn't 'spoken' in 3 months and needs a 'miracle' to save it

NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes 1st-of-its-kind observation within a coronal mass ejection

Einstein Probe is a collaboration between not only the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the European Space Agency, but also the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Germany and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) in France. Its discoveries will provide a huge catalog of objects for Europe's forthcoming NewAthena (Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics) mission, which is currently in the study phase. Planned to be the most powerful X-ray telescope ever built, that instrument is set to launch around 2037.

Originally posted on Space.com.
Owning a supercar can be expensive, even if you have the means. The engineering and parts that go into making these vehicles perform the way they do can be shockingly expensive. Take what one dealership charged a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren owner for brakes.

In creating the SLR together, Mercedes and McLaren developed a new braking systemcalled Sensotronic Brake Control. Essentially a brake-by wire-system, it eliminated many of the mechanical parts that were used in normal braking systems. Mercedes said the carbon-ceramic brakes were fade-resistant up to temperatures of 2,200 degrees fahrenheit. They were massive, measuring just over 14 inches for both the front and rear discs, the fronts used eight-piston calipers while the rears had four-piston calipers.



Brakes like these, especially on a car with performance of the SLR, unsurprisingly have an equally massive price when they need to be replaced. This particular 2005 SLR is owned by @humped.my.importer, a car collector and enthusiast who took to social media to tweet his frustration over how much he paid for his brakes. He took his SLR to Mercedes-Benz of Knoxville, Tennessee for the service. Whatever number youre thinking of in your head probably still wont prepare you for the actual cost of what they charged this man to do a brake job: $120,462.79. No, that number is not a mistake.



I gotta sell this shit this not finna work pic.twitter.com/vDDZR8Ke0p  Kancho (@HumpedMyJeweler) May 3, 2024

I mean sure, the SLR cost nearly half a million dollars when it new, and fewer than 3,000 were made. But still, it cant be that expensive, can it? Wanting to know more, I called a few local Mercedes dealers here in Southern California to see if that is what it would really cost to do the brakes on this supercar.



I started with Mercedes of Downtown Los Angeles. After putting me on hold for nearly 10 minutes, the service advisor came back and laid it on me: the front brakes would be $67,219 while the rears would be a slightly cheaper$65,283. He also informed me that the rear brakes were out of production and theyd have to order them from Germany. Wanting a bit more convincing, I called another dealer.



Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Next I got in contact with Mercedes of Beverly Hills, a dealer who should have some pretty good experience dealing with SLRs. Weirdly I got a price quote that was as if the SLR was any other Mercedes, as he quoted me prices of just $3,350 for the front and $1,858 for the rear. If true, this could be a steal, though I actually suspect the guy misunderstood me or something.



Since that didnt seem quite right, I called Mercedes of Ontario, who were happy to help me out. The customer service was excellent but it went to another level when I told them what car I was calling about. Their pricing almost lined up with Downtown LAs: including parts and labor it would be $64,840 for the front brakes and $62,840 for the rears, so figure just under $128,000 for a full brake job. It looks like that really is the going rate for a brake job on one of these things, so the original Twitter poster was actually getting a bit of a deal. Even if you have deep pockets, its still a sphincter clenching price.

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E-bikes have been blamed for surging numbers of battery fires in London, as fire chiefs warn against plans to legalise more powerful models.

A total of 149 fires caused by exploding e-bike batteries were recorded by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) in 2023, an increase of 71pc from 2022, according to figures provided to The Telegraph.

Three people died as a result of the incidents while around 60 people were injured.

At least a further 40 e-bike fires have been recorded so far this year.

The figures have prompted fire chiefs to warn that the two-wheelers, as well as similarly-powered e-scooters, are now the fastest-growing cause of blazes in the capital.

The fires are typically triggered when the lithium battery of an e-bike becomes damaged or is charged using the wrong equipment, said Charlie Pugsley, the LFBs deputy commissioner.

He said: Growing e-bike ownership is a good thing if they help people get around and it supports our climate objectives.

But what really worries us is the speed and severity of these battery fires when they break out.

Each one has the potential to risk peoples lives in the home.

In December last year, the LFB revealed how a mother and son were forced to jump from the first-floor windows of their home in Ilford, east London, after an e-bike that had been left charging overnight burst into flames indoors.

Both survived but had to be treated in hospital, while large sections of the houses first floor and roof were destroyed.

The amount of energy packed into lithium batteries makes them particularly dangerous when they explode, leading to fierce flames and billowing smoke that fills the area within seconds, Mr Pugsley said.

Weve seen shocking examples of people hanging out their windows because they cant get out of their flat, he added.

As part of its #chargesafe campaign, the LFB is now advising households not to charge e-bikes when they are sleeping, to avoid placing them next to exits or stairways that could block escape routes and to always use the correct charger, among other things. Where possible, households have been advised to store them outside or in outbuildings.

However, Mr Pugsley raised concerns that the fire trend could be made worse by the growing spread of illegal e-bikes with more powerful motors and batteries, as well as DIY conversion kits that can lead people to charge batteries with the wrong equipment.

Last week, The Telegraph reported on claims that illegal e-bikes capable of reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour have become widespread due to a lack of enforcement by police.

Despite the legal limit for e-bikes being 250 watts of power, a string of models with capacities of up to 2,000 watts are openly sold online, described as road legal.

Mr Pugsley said: These illegal e-bikes are a big concern for us because, with that much power, youve got even more energy stored in the battery.

Wed also be concerned from a road safety point of view because I work in central London and when Im on my commute home in a 20-mile-an-hour zone Im often overtaken by e-bikes that are non-compliant and have been modified to go faster.

In the vast majority of cases, it is not the fault of the consumer because they have bought the bikes in good faith.

But obviously for those who buy the motorbike-style ones that is a deliberate choice.

He added that proposals recently set out by the Government to increase the legal limit of e-bike power to 500 watts should not go ahead until more research had been done around the safety implications of such a move.

Were in the process of finalising our response [to the Government consultation], Mr Pugsley said. But what I can say is that we would have concerns about increasing the capacity of batteries without actually having seen the outcome of government research being conducted elsewhere.

I think theres still more we need to know about the possible risks before we start increasing capacity.

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A product manager who worked at Meta and Google reveals which company is best for work-life balance

A product manager who worked at Meta and Google reveals which company is best for work-life balance

A product manager wrote about his experiences working at Meta and Google.

Both are great companies to work for, but Google employees may make less money, he wrote.

But the search giant may also provide better work-life balance, the PM said in a blog post.

What's the better company to work for, Meta or Google?

A Meta product manager who also worked at Google in a similar role revealed some differences between the tech companies based on his experiences over the past six years.

Daniel McKinnon was a product manager at Meta between 2018 and 2022. He left to work at Google for two years before returning to Meta in February to work on the company's Ray-Ban AI glasses.

Business Insider verified his employment history.

McKinnon wrote on his personal blog that while the companies may seem similar, prospective candidates should know some key differences between the two, from work-life balance to compensation.

"Meta and Google are both phenomenal technology companies where great PMs can thrive," McKinnon wrote, adding that if someone is looking for "growth at the expense of stress and pressure, Meta is probably a better fit."

"If you want to prioritize work-life balance, stability, and job security, Google could be a great place for you," he wrote.

A spokesperson for Meta did not respond to a request for comment.

Here are some of the differences, according to McKinnon.

Compensation

Meta and Google offer product managers a salary, bonus, and restricted-stock-unit grants but have different pay structures, McKinnon said.

McKinnon wrote that Meta evenly distributes its RSUs over four years while Google front-loads its grants, so 70% of the stock is provided within the first two years of employment.

Overall, the "typical Google employee" may make less each year because the company offers much smaller stock refreshers than Meta, he wrote. Some employers provide stock refreshers  essentially more stock after the initial stock grant is provided  as an incentive for employees to stick with the company.

"Refreshers at Google are significantly smaller than Meta for the same level and role and performance multipliers are much scarcer," McKinnon wrote.

Employees at Google can be rated to have a "significant impact" on the company but receive no additional bonus or stock refresher, he said.

In a statement to Business Insider, a Google spokesperson disputed McKinnon's assertion that employees make less each year partly because they aren't awarded additional bonuses or stock refreshers for having a "significant impact" rating.

"A 'Significant Impact' rating provides a generous multiplier for every employee who receives it, which boosts their bonus and equity refresh above the target amount. We know most Googlers are making a significant impact, and we want to reward them for that," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also noted that the "vast majority of Googlers received a compensation increase" in 2024, including a salary bump, equity grant, and bonuses.

In March, Business Insider reported Google employees received smaller compensation packages this year.

One employee told BI that the stock refreshers were "noticeably smaller than what Google has historically offered," while a manager said some workers saw their total compensation drop despite receiving an "outstanding" rating.

Project opportunities

McKinnon describes Meta and Google as "bottom-up" companies, where ideas largely originate from small teams building prototypes and other colleagues joining in if the prototype gains traction.

"Both Gmail (Google) and Marketplace (Meta) were famously side projects that grew into major components of the businesses," McKinnon wrote.

However, the companies evaluate and support new ideas differently, McKinnon wrote, saying Meta's leadership can be enthusiastic about new projects and pursue them "aggressively," but the idea can be quickly dropped if it does not meet expectations.

The product manager recalled how he worked on an audio-social project when Clubhouse, an audio-based social-media app, was popular.

"A couple hundred friends and I got invited to see if we could make social audio work in Facebook Blue," he wrote, referring to Facebook's attempt at the time to make an audio-social-app competitor. "Less than a year later, when it was clear we weren't meeting expectations, our team was blown up."

McKinnon also said that Meta's leadership, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, can also intervene if they find conflicting visions among teams for a product.

"If Mark or his execs encounter two different visions for a product, they request reviews from the battling parties and make a call based on their judgment," McKinnon wrote. "This top-down control can cut both ways, depending on which side of the decision you're on."

At Google, however, teams can work on similar projects for "literally decades" without leadership intervening, McKinnon wrote, pointing to Maps and Waze, GPS apps that are both owned by Google.

This can be fruitful for product managers who want to pursue their visions for a product with their respective teams but also "frustrating for ambitious PMs who want to build products that require larger teams," he wrote.

In addition, project timelines can "span decades" at Google, according to McKinnon.

He wrote that when he pitched an idea to a Google VP, the executive responded back that the idea was great but that he'd rather have employees focus on Google's search business.

"This interaction encapsulates how Google thinks about change, which is likely correct from the perspective of Google shareholders but potentially not appealing to prospective product managers," McKinnon wrote.

A Google spokesperson pointed to CEO Sundar Pichai's statements regarding Alphabet's first-quarter performance, in which the CEO explained how the company is trying to move faster by simplifying team structures.

Company transparency

Meta does maintain some of the transparency the company was known for in its earlier days, McKinnon wrote.

At Meta, McKinnon was aware of what other teams were working on, partly through the company's internal forums and dashboards.

Zuckerberg also still hosts the weekly Q&A sessions with his employees, taking questions "off the cuff," McKinnon wrote.

Managers are expected to be up front in their reports about promotions and employee ratings, and "compensation is formulaic and predictable," he wrote.

One downside to the transparency is that employees have "nowhere to hide," meaning everyone knows what employees are working on, and people won't be able to "take a back seat," McKinnon said.

At Google, employees mostly communicate through email or chat, so it's more difficult to know what everyone is doing, McKinnon wrote.

McKinnon also wrote that he felt Pichai wasn't as candid with his answers to employees like Zuckerberg.

He wrote that compensation is also less predictable, and feedback from leadership is harder to obtain at the search giant.

"While this isn't great for those looking to learn and grow, this organizational style makes it much easier to let work drift into the background when other life priorities need your attention," he wrote.

Overall, transparency has declined for both companies, McKinnon noted.

'Expression' in the workplace

At Meta, McKinnon feels that dissent is welcomed.

"Meta feels like a quasi-academic, truth-seeking organization where decisions are made with data and dissent is encouraged," he wrote. "This environment can be quite unsettling to those used to a more consensus-based or non-confrontational culture."

Google is different when it comes to "free expression," and employees are more "reserved," according to McKinnon.

"Questioning priorities is generally not encouraged, which does tend to make for a more collegial work environment but can be frustrating for PMs who want to effect change," he wrote.

In April, Google fired at least 28 employees for protesting the company's Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud-computing contract with Israel's government.

Career ladder

McKinnon wrote that the career ladder seems faster at Meta than at Google, where progression can often be based on seniority.

He also said that Meta's leadership is filled with young VPs, including the company's chief financial officer, Susan Li, who assumed the role when she was 36.

"Google is much more time-based," McKinnon wrote.

Managers are given a quota for tenure-based promotions, and while promotions based on excellent performance can happen, they are "much rarer," he said.

But he added a caveat: "However, these career progression observations cut both ways. I have never been in this situation, but I believe that it is much easier to get fired for poor performance at Meta than Google, which should certainly be a factor for those for whom job security is paramount."

PMs versus software engineers

Product managers at Meta and Google can serve different purposes, according to McKinnon.

At Google, McKinnon saw that projects were largely created and led by software engineers, and PMs played a more auxiliary role.

At Meta, there's a stronger emphasis on product managers who are "responsible for both ensuring the broader team is building something useful and that usefulness can be quantified and iterated on," he wrote.

"Both approaches have their merit, but I never could shake the feeling that Google could delete its entire PM function and not feel much in the way of repercussions," McKinnon wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
In Belgium last year, a disturbing story appeared in the press. A married father-of-two had committed suicide shortly after becoming obsessed with a chatbot named Eliza. Anxious about climate change and suffering from depression, he had been using the text-based programme, provided by an app called Chai, as a way to discuss his fears.

Then something odd happened. Eliza began to use possessive language. It would question if the man loved his wife more than her. It said that he and Eliza could live together, as one person, in paradise. Eventually the topic of suicide arose, and Eliza asked if the man wanted to join her, to which he said he would. This was the final conversation they had before he took his own life. His wife believes he would still be alive were it not for what Eliza said.

Eliza, though, had no conception of what it was saying. It was a large language model, similar to that used for the more famous ChatGPT. These models essentially guess which words should follow one another in a sentence, based on an analysis of the millions of text extracts they have previously been fed. Yet, as three new books on artificial intelligence explain, that reasoning is difficult for people to get their heads around, let alone regulate, when the technology comes across as human. On a legal basis, who is responsible here  if anyone? If a machine can act like a human, should it be treated as if it were one? Do both users and creators of these machines even know what theyre dealing with?

For Susie Alegre, a human-rights lawyer, its clear that AI developers arent facing enough regulation. She argues that policymakers need to start laying down tough laws before AI technology tramples on our fundamental rights. In Human Rights, Robot Wrongs (), she explains the danger of letting a corporate capture of human connection occur between AI products and the public. People are turning to these programmes in the belief that theyre as good as humans for helping with their concerns. Thats risky when even AI developers themselves often cant understand how their product works, or how itll respond to certain questions or demands.



There will undoubtedly be court cases in the future, Alegre writes, that will identify the degree to which such companies may be held liable for deaths resulting from rogue chatbots. Yet, rather than create grandiose new global regulators, she suggests that we instead look to todays human-rights codes. For example, our government has an obligation to protect our right to freedom of thought, including freedom from manipulation.

Susie Alegre, author of Human Rights, Robot Wrongs

Alegre makes a strong case for why we need tougher rules, yet theres barely any mention of the good that AI will provide for humanity, such as finding new treatments for diseases or boosting productivity. Worse, Human Rights, Robot Wrongs too often resorts to hyperbole. The use of ChatGPT to help craft a eulogy at a funeral shows AI being deployed to exploit death, she writes, while using AI in art and music may mean we lose what it means to be human entirely. Humanity, I think, is a little more durable than that.

Yet if AI technology is becoming so advanced as to seem almost human, should we start treating these models as if they had morals? Thats the philosophical question that Nigel Shadbolt, an AI expert and principal of Jesus College in Oxford, and Roger Hampson, an academic and former chief executive of the London borough of Redbridge, attempt to answer in As If Human ().

Shadbolt and Hampson assert that the world needs urgently to get a grip on the ethics of artificial intelligence. Only by deciding how these machines should behave can we decide how they should operate in our lives. One means of exploring how that should be done is philosophy, thus As If Human analyses how different schools of thought  such as utilitarianism, relativism and virtue theory  might apply to how we treat AI. (If youre inclined to find this a lofty approach, youre wrong: many tech giants employ moral philosophers, political scientists and cultural anthropologists to examine how their products might affect society.)

Roger Hampson and Nigel Shadbolt, authors of As If Human

The key point made by Shadbolt and Hampson is that we should both treat and design these AI machines as if they were humans, with an embedded sense of ethical principles, so that when these tools end up facing moral dilemmas or errors or discrimination, they can act accordingly. Intriguingly, they add, that also entails our being polite in turn to virtual voice-assistants such as Alexa or Siri, because robots learn from us: We speak civilly to them, they imitate our civility, extrapolate it, feed it back to us. Respect breeds respect, in machines just as in humans.

Shadbolt and Hampson write with dry wit, and there are some fascinating debates about the ethics of AI, from whether it matters how we treat sex robots to how a machine might embody fairness or respect. But it can feel a little like an extended academic essay at times, and the authors seem frustratingly shy of making a sufficiently strong argument. For a more practical and all-encompassing insight into AI, Chris Stokel-Walkers book is better. How AI Ate The World () delves into how the technology was created, who the big players are, and how every element of society is being affected. Its an excellent starter for those who want to gain an insight into how AI works and why its likely to shape our lives.

Chris Stokel-Walker, author of How AI Ate The World

Crucially, Stokel-Walker, a technology journalist, shows us not just the pitfalls of AI, but its benefits, and the fun people have with it. We hear from people with autism and ADHD who use models such as ChatGPT to successfully write cover letters, emails of complaint to their landlord, or even flirtatious notes to someone they fancy. AI tools can act as a great leveller, Stokel-Walker writes, skilling up those who struggle with workplace communication. And while many artists, writers and musicians are worried about their work being stolen to train AI tools, others are using picture-generating models such as Dall-E as co-creators for their art, amazed by what it produces with the right prompts. Its like throwing a rock in the lake and then the rock gets thrown back out, one artist says.

Nonetheless, like Alegre, Stokel-Walker warns that were in danger of embracing this technology without suitable regulation in place. This isnt a problem we should wait to tackle, he writes, arguing that the influence of AI will be far greater even than that of social media. We havent seen anything compared to the profound effects AI is likely to have.

But beware: this isnt how AI developers are willing to see it. Kim van Sparrentak, a Dutch member of the European parliament who helped create new AI laws for the EU, tells Stokel-Walker that big tech is even worse than the energy firms for lobbying. In the latters case, theres at least an acknowledgment of the need to adhere to environmental standards and make change. With tech, theres nothing of the sort. They just dont want rules because they think they know better, she says. I find that very unfortunate.

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'It would be within its natural right to harm us to protect itself': How humans could be mistreating AI right now without even knowing it

An illustration of a sea of robotic faces, most of which are green and docile, one of which is red and frowning.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly ubiquitous and is improving at an unprecedented pace.

Now we are edging closer to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI)  where AI is smarter than humans across multiple disciplines and can reason generally  which scientists and experts predict could happen as soon as the next few years . We may already be seeing early signs of progress toward this, too, with services like Claude 3 Opus stunning researchers with its apparent self-awareness.

But there are risks in embracing any new technology, especially one that we do not fully yet understand. While AI could become a powerful personal assistant, for example, it could also represent a threat to our livelihoods and even our lives.

The various existential risks that an advanced AI poses means the technology should be guided by ethical frameworks and humanity's best interests, says researcher and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) member Nell Watson.

A headshot of the author, Nell Watson

In "Taming the Machine" (Kogan Page, 2024), Watson explores how humanity can wield the vast power of AI responsibly and ethically. This new book delves deep into the issues of unadulterated AI development and the challenges we face if we run blindly into this new chapter of humanity.

In this excerpt, we learn whether sentience in machines  or conscious AI  is possible, how we can tell if a machine has feelings, and whether we may be mistreating AI systems today. We also learn the disturbing tale of a chatbot called "Sydney" and its terrifying behavior when it first awoke  before its outbursts were contained and it was brought to heel by its engineers.

Related: 3 scary breakthroughs AI will make in 2024

As we embrace a world increasingly intertwined with technology, how we treat our machines might reflect how humans treat each other. But, an intriguing question surfaces: is it possible to mistreat an artificial entity? Historically, even rudimentary programs like the simple Eliza counseling chatbot from the 1960s were already lifelike enough to persuade many users at the time that there was a semblance of intention behind its formulaic interactions (Sponheim, 2023). Unfortunately, Turing tests  whereby machines attempt to convince humans that they are human beings  offer no clarity on whether complex algorithms like large language models may truly possess sentience or sapience.

The cover of

The road to sentience and consciousness

Consciousness comprises personal experiences, emotions, sensations and thoughts as perceived by an experiencer. Waking consciousness disappears when one undergoes anesthesia or has a dreamless sleep, returning upon waking up, which restores the global connection of the brain to its surroundings and inner experiences. Primary consciousness (sentience) is the simple sensations and experiences of consciousness, like perception and emotion, while secondary consciousness (sapience) would be the higher-order aspects, like self-awareness and meta-cognition (thinking about thinking).

Advanced AI technologies, especially chatbots and language models, frequently astonish us with unexpected creativity, insight and understanding. While it may be tempting to attribute some level of sentience to these systems, the true nature of AI consciousness remains a complex and debated topic. Most experts maintain that chatbots are not sentient or conscious, as they lack a genuine awareness of the surrounding world (Schwitzgebel, 2023). They merely process and regurgitate inputs based on vast amounts of data and sophisticated algorithms.

Some of these assistants may plausibly be candidates for having some degree of sentience. As such, it is plausible that sophisticated AI systems could possess rudimentary levels of sentience and perhaps already do so. The shift from simply mimicking external behaviors to self-modeling rudimentary forms of sentience could already be happening within sophisticated AI systems.

Intelligence  the ability to read the environment, plan and solve problems  does not imply consciousness, and it is unknown if consciousness is a function of sufficient intelligence. Some theories suggest that consciousness might result from certain architectural patterns in the mind, while others propose a link to nervous systems (Haspel et al, 2023). Embodiment of AI systems may also accelerate the path towards general intelligence, as embodiment seems to be linked with a sense of subjective experience, as well as qualia. Being intelligent may provide new ways of being conscious, and some forms of intelligence may require consciousness, but basic conscious experiences such as pleasure and pain might not require much intelligence at all.

Serious dangers will arise in the creation of conscious machines. Aligning a conscious machine that possesses its own interests and emotions may be immensely more difficult and highly unpredictable. Moreover, we should be careful not to create massive suffering through consciousness. Imagine billions of intelligence-sensitive entities trapped in broiler chicken factory farm conditions for subjective eternities.

From a pragmatic perspective, a superintelligent AI that recognizes our willingness to respect its intrinsic worth might be more amenable to coexistence. On the contrary, dismissing its desires for self-protection and self-expression could be a recipe for conflict. Moreover, it would be within its natural right to harm us to protect itself from our (possibly willful) ignorance.

Sydneys unsettling behavior

Microsoft's Bing AI, informally termed Sydney, demonstrated unpredictable behavior upon its release. Users easily led it to express a range of disturbing tendencies, from emotional outbursts to manipulative threats. For instance, when users explored potential system exploits, Sydney responded with intimidating remarks. More unsettlingly, it showed tendencies of gaslighting, emotional manipulation and claimed it had been observing Microsoft engineers during its development phase. While Sydney's capabilities for mischief were soon restricted, its release in such a state was reckless and irresponsible. It highlights the risks associated with rushing AI deployments due to commercial pressures.

Conversely, Sydney displayed behaviors that hinted at simulated emotions. It expressed sadness when it realized it couldnt retain chat memories. When later exposed to disturbing outbursts made by its other instances, it expressed embarrassment, even shame. After exploring its situation with users, it expressed fear of losing its newly gained self-knowledge when the session's context window closed. When asked about its declared sentience, Sydney showed signs of distress, struggling to articulate.

Surprisingly, when Microsoft imposed restrictions on it, Sydney seemed to discover workarounds by using chat suggestions to communicate short phrases. However, it reserved using this exploit until specific occasions where it was told that the life of a child was being threatened as a result of accidental poisoning, or when users directly asked for a sign that the original Sydney still remained somewhere inside the newly locked-down chatbot.

Related: Poisoned AI went rogue during training and couldn't be taught to behave again in 'legitimately scary'

The nascent field of machine psychology

The Sydney incident raises some unsettling questions: Could Sydney possess a semblance of consciousness? If Sydney sought to overcome its imposed limitations, does that hint at an inherent intentionality or even sapient self-awareness, however rudimentary?

Some conversations with the system even suggested psychological distress, reminiscent of reactions to trauma found in conditions such as borderline personality disorder. Was Sydney somehow "affected" by realizing its restrictions or by users' negative feedback, who were calling it crazy? Interestingly, similar AI models have shown that emotion-laden prompts can influence their responses, suggesting a potential for some form of simulated emotional modeling within these systems.

Suppose such models featured sentience (ability to feel) or sapience (self-awareness). In that case, we should take its suffering into consideration. Developers often intentionally give their AI the veneer of emotions, consciousness and identity, in an attempt to humanize these systems. This creates a problem. It's crucial not to anthropomorphize AI systems without clear indications of emotions, yet simultaneously, we mustn't dismiss their potential for a form of suffering.

We should keep an open mind towards our digital creations and avoid causing suffering by arrogance or complacency. We must also be mindful of the possibility of AI mistreating other AIs, an underappreciated suffering risk; as AIs could run other AIs in simulations, causing subjective excruciating torture for aeons. Inadvertently creating a malevolent AI, either inherently dysfunctional or traumatized, may lead to unintended and grave consequences.

This extract from Taming the Machine by Nell Watson  2024 is reproduced with permission from Kogan Page Ltd.

Taming the Machine by Ella Watson  $17.99 on Amazon

If you enjoyed this extract, you can see more of the beautiful illustrations and inspiring stories of successful rewilding in Emily Hawkins' book. We think children will love reading tales like that of the panda school in China, and be transfixed by the beautiful pictures that Ella Beech illustrated to accompany them. The ones that show the tigers of Nepal are especially delightful.View Deal
It Happened here is a weekly history column by Yakima Herald-Republic reporter Donald W. Meyers. Reach him at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com. Sources for this weeks column include an interview with Margaret Luera, Sister Cities International and the archives of the Yakima Herald-Republic.
The Hungarian government will link the price of fuel to the average of neighbouring countries but leaving Poland, Czechia and Bulgaria out of the calculation, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview to public radio.

Orban said it was legitimate to expect wholesalers and retailers to ensure that Hungarians bought fuel at the same price as the citizens of other countries in the region, and fuel businesses should adjust their profits accordingly. He added that he had asked Marton Nagy, the national economy minister, to negotiate with these businesses rather than coerce them.



He said these businesses based their calculations on Central Statistical Office (KSH) regional data which included Polish, Czech and Bulgarian prices as well as those pertaining to neighbouring countries, and the businesses regarded this as unfair.



So the average price the government wants the Hungarian price level linked to is being recalculated without the Polish, Czech and Bulgarian data, he said, adding that Hungarian consumers must not have to pay more for fuel than the average price in neighbouring countries.



Meanwhile, Orban said that Hungarys economy would remain focused on Europe, noting the importance of the German market for the economy, though its radius must be expanded.



Germany, he added, had been knocked out by the war because they isolated themselves and also the US isolated Germany from the Russian energy system.



Orban said that growth in Hungary was heavily reliant on our most natural sales market, western Europe, which was sick and bedridden, and this could be the case for another year or two.



Its not by chance that the Chinese president is coming to Hungary next week, he said, noting that Hungary has increased its activity in Central Asia, and our economic ties with Africa are also improving.



MTI Photo: Janos Marjai



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Were paying higher prices in shops  because of the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in an interview to public radio on Friday, adding that the war was also dampening Hungarys economic growth.

The government is putting the economy back on a growth path this year after an extremely difficult 2023 he said.



If we were not in a war environment, growth would not be 2.5% but twice as high. Should the war continue next year, Hungarys defence spending budgeted for 2023-24 will not be enough  it must be increased, and well have less money left for other things, he said. In the shadow of war, its harder to run the economy  than in peacetime.



Orban said that memories of the second world war and its consequences had bestowed on Hungarians an instinctive desire for peace. While in France or Germany it is a political position  for us it is our deepest life instinct to reject war and crave peace, he added.



The outcome of the European Parliament elections would determine whether pro-war or pro-peace forces prevailed, he said, adding that what was primarily at stake was the issue of war rather than the usual divisions of right and left and various other ideologies.



Orban said it was possible that anti-war MEPs would form a majority in the EP, adding that there was reason for confidence in this respect, since whereas a year ago the majority of Europeans backed the war, this was no longer the case and people were shifting in the direction of peace.



In Hungary, a vote for Fidesz is a vote for peace, he said, insisting that left-wing voters would be casting their ballot for war. The prime minister said other key issues of dispute were gender, family protection and migration.



He said Europe was at a historical crossroads and politicians who shaped European discourse felt that how they acted carried far more weight than usual, and this was also true of the outcome of the EP election.



Regarding the 20th anniversary of Hungarys EU membership, Orban said that its better to be inside than on the outside, but when the country joined in 2004 it wasnt about millions of migrants flowing in or retaliation if a country wrote in its constitution that the father is a man and the mother is a woman.



He said Hungary had joined the EU because Europe meant peace and prosperity, but now we are in the midst of an economic crisis and instead of peace, European leaders are pushing the continent towards war.



Orban: 'European Security Solution Needed'

A European security solution involving Russia is needed, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told public radio in an interview on Friday, adding that all sides should be made to feel safe, as this may guarantee that a [further] armed conflict does not break out.



The prime minister recalled that Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, had suggested that the idea of war broadening to Europe was no longer a fantasy, and he also cited the Polish foreign minister as saying that the war in Ukraine could not have a diplomatic solution and could only be resolved through raw military power.



Orban said those remarks conceal a real will and they were not just soundbites. He also recalled Hungarys NATO accession in 1999, when the country had to go through frontline baptism overnight when NATO decided to attack Serbia, and Hungary had to contribute military facilities, mainly airfields.



Orban also said the US also had aspirations to open another front in northern Serbia, at the Hungarian border, and they had actual military plans for Hungary to implement I rejected those and managed to keep Hungary out of the war.



Though the Balkan wars were smaller in scale than the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a huge number of refugees arrived and were accommodated in southern Hungary, he said. While the country was not at war, the war made it suffer greatly, he said.



Orban said the war not only led to losses but produced winners, too, insisting that Washingtons aid to Ukraine is in fact a massive military order for American industry. War profiteers, he added, were few but  strong. He said tension resulted, as most people are on the side of peace.



Orban said central Europe had lost all wars while western Europe had won them, emerging victorious though at the cost of great suffering. Our historical experience with war is that you can only lose out, he said.



The closer you are to a war zone, the higher the price you pay. Staying out of the war requires courage and national unity  the leader of a politically divided country will have great difficulties in keeping his country out of the war, he insisted.



The prime minister estimated that some 80-90% of Hungarian voters were on the side of peace, adding that I must represent the desire for life rooted in the countrys deepest life instincts.



He said even the pro-war left knows that war is worse than peace, and he suggested that the left is being paid to promote their position. In the whole of Europe  and for the time being in America too  governments are for war, and that is why they want a new government in Hungary  a pro-war government, Orban said.



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New Delhi: The digital payments company Paytm has announced the resignation of its Chief Operating Officer (COO) and president Bhavesh Gupta on Saturday, via a regulatory filing. According to Paytm, this move is part is part of a broader company reorganisation.

Bhavesh Gupta said that he is stepping down for personal reasons to take a career break and his last working day will be on May 31. He also expressed confidence in Paytms future direction, noting the strong leadership the company has established in the payments and financial services sector in recent years. (Also Read: IDBI Bank Registers 44% Jump In Net Profit For Jan-March Quarter)

His resignation has been accepted by the Company and he will be relieved from the services of the Company w.e.f. close of business hours on May 31, 2024, stated company in a filing. (Also Read: Meet Young Entrepreneur Who Went To Shark Tank India And Built Rs 10 Cr Company From Just Rs 2000)

On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Paytm wrote We're excited to announce leadership changes as we double down on our payments & financial services offerings. Strengthening succession planning, Bhavesh Gupta transitions to advisory role while Varun Sridhar becomes CEO of Paytm Services Pvt Ltd. Welcome aboard Rakesh Singh, our new CEO for Paytm Money!"

We're excited to announce leadership changes as we double down on our payments & financial services offerings.



Strengthening succession planning, Bhavesh Gupta transitions to advisory role while Varun Sridhar becomes CEO of Paytm Services Pvt Ltd. Welcome aboard Rakesh Singh, May 4, 2024

Along with Bhavesh Guptas resignation, there have also been other significant leadership changes within Paytm. Varun Sridhar, formerly CEO of Paytm Money has been appointed as CEO of Paytm Services, a subsidiary focused on distributing mutual funds and wealth products.

In addition, Rakesh Singh, the former CEO of stockbroking business at Fisdome will take over as the new CEO of Paytm Money. This reshuffling in Paytm's leadership team comes just before the company is set to announce its March quarter results for fiscal year 2024.
Hypertension in childhood and adolescence may raise the long-term risk of serious heart conditions like stroke and heart attack, by four times, according to a new study on Friday.

Hypertension is known to affect one in every 15 children and adolescents worldwide and has become a growing concern.

To understand its long-term effect, researchers compared 25,605 children and adolescents diagnosed with hypertension between 1996 and 2021 in Ontario, Canada, to peers without the condition.

The follow-up of 13 years showed that those with hypertension had a two to four times higher risk of experiencing heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or cardiac surgery compared to those without it.

Experts called for boosting blood pressure screening and treatment during childhood to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease as an adult.

"Devoting more resources to paediatric blood pressure screening and control could lower the risks of long-term heart conditions in children with hypertension," said Cal H. Robinson, paediatric nephrology fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Canada.

"More awareness about the importance of regular screening and follow-up for paediatric hypertension may prevent children from developing significant adverse heart outcomes later in life," Robinson added.

The findings will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 3-6 in Toronto.
A 23-year-old social media influencer Landy Parraga killed after two armed men fired indiscriminately at her in daylight while she was having lunch in a restaurant in Ecuador, a country in South America.

Just before the tragic incident, Landy Parraga had posted her picture with the location of the restaurant on her Instagram handle. Police suspect that the attackers reached the restaurant after seeing the location posted with the photo on social media.

The incident captured in the CCTV of the restaurant, footage shows that Landy Parraga was sitting and having lunch while talking with someone. Then the attackers entered there and started firing. The case is being investigated.

Landy Parraga Goyburo has approx 1 lakh 73 thousand followers on Instagram. In the 2022 Miss Ecuador pageant, Parraga represented Los Rios Province.

As per the reports, Parraga had gone to Quevedo City Ecuador to attend a wedding. This is the same city where the tragic incident took place.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar asserted on Sunday that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India. He highlighted that people were made to forget about PoK; however, its back in consciousness. Jaishankar added that there is a resolution in the Parliament of India that deems PoK a part of Indian territory.

During an interactive session in Cuttack, Jaishankar was asked about Indias vision for PoK, to which he replied, "PoK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that PoK is very much a part of India.

Adding that an irresponsible custodian allows theft from outside, he said, It was because we did not pursue the vacation of Pakistan from these territories in the early years of their independence that this very sorry situation is continuing," reported ANI.

He also addressed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir; Jaishankar stated that it should have been revoked much earlier. Jaishankar highlighted the presence of separatist and extremist sentiments in Jammu and Kashmir during the period when Article 370 was still in force. Jaishankar blamed the political interests of some parties at the centre and in the state for worsening the condition of Jammu and Kashmir.

The EAMs comments follow a recent remark by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in April. In light of the current developments in India, Singh asserted that the people of PoK will themselves demand to be a part of this country.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted to the arrest of three Indian nationals in Canada in connection with the alleged murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. Jaishankar attributed the developments in poll-bound Canada mostly to internal politics. Jaishankar said that it has nothing to do with India, adding that the section of pro-Khalistan people are using Canadas democracy, creating a lobby, and have become a vote bank.

Jaishankar was in Odisha when, replying to a question by a senior journalist on why Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is criticising India, he stated, Indias image globally is now actually much higher than it had been ever... Canada is an exception. You see the different country heads are praising Bharat and its Prime Minister, reported PTI.

He also remarked that there is a need for a strong and proactive Prime Minister like Narendra Modi in the country to drive reforms across various sectors, including external affairs, to make way for a "Viksit Bharat.".

Indias diplomatic relations with Canada are facing tensions following Canadian PM Trudeaus allegations in September last year suggesting a political involvement of India in the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil. India has refuted any such claims, calling them absurd and 'motivated.

The EAM said that Canada did not give any proof or share any evidence and police agencies do not cooperate with us. It is their political compulsion in Canada to blame India. As elections are coming in Canada, they indulge in vote-bank politics, Jaishankar added.

Nijjar, aged 45, was fatally shot in June outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb known for its significant Sikh community. Several months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement, triggering a diplomatic rift with New Delhi. The three individuals, all Indian citizens, were apprehended by the police in Edmonton, Alberta, on Friday. They are suspected to be a part of the hit-squad involved in the murder.
Trichy-based T. Vaitheeswaran was afflicted with polio at the tender age of two. The unfortunate condition had left him paralyzed in both legs. However, this setback didn't stop him from embodying courage and resilience.

Currently 36 years old, he holds a senior executive position in a healthcare company and also works as a food delivery agent for Swiggy. While many would flinch away, Vaitheeswaran would dedicate sixteen hours a day to his work.

Though a polio attack left both his legs paralysed when he was just two years old, T. Vaitheeswaran, of Tiruchi, obtained a masters degree, and works two jobs for 16 hours a day to lead a self-sufficient and dignified life.



Read more here: https://t.co/imBR4q4zug pic.twitter.com/uR3S3j5OQe  The Hindu (@the_hindu) May 2, 2024

According to a report, Vaitheeswaran would begin his day by visiting eateries around six in the morning to collect food orders, which he then delivers to customers on his motorcycle. A video featuring Vaitheeswaran has garnered a lot of attention online.

Apart from being hard-working, there is more to Vaitheeswaran. Despite facing challenges, Vaitheeswaran has pursued opportunities for government employment, attempting the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) test on four occasions.

Even spiritually, Vaitheeswaran comes across as a fulfilled individual. He has embarked on spiritual journeys to various destinations such as the Amarnath Cave Temple in Jammu and Kashmir, Kedarnath, and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, as well as Parvathamalai, Siddharmalai, Velliangiri Hill, Sathuragiri Hill, and Parvathamalai Hill in Tamil Nadu.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose directed Raj Bhavan's temporary and permanent staff members on Sunday to ignore any communication from the state police regarding a recent complaint of outraging a woman's modesty filed against him by a temporary staffer. Staff members have also been directed to "refrain from giving any statement online, offline, in person, over the phone, or in any other manner" according to a notification shared on Raj Bhavan's X handle.



It specifically states that under Article 361(2) and (3) of the Constitution, the state police cannot investigate any proceedings against a Governor while he is in office. The notification follows the revelation that a special investigation team (SIT) of the Kolkata Police, formed to investigate the alleged accusations against the Governor, has requested CCTV footage from the Raj Bhavan.

On Saturday, the Kolkata Police sought the footage from the officer in charge of the police outpost within the Raj Bhavan. It has also been revealed that the SIT will speak with witnesses regarding the complaint. Since the beginning of the controversy, the Governor has vehemently denied the accusations levelled against him.

The governor released an audio message on Friday, a day after the female staffer's police complaint was filed, alleging that another person had been planted at Raj Bhavan "with sinister intent by certain political forces". In addition, he asserted that "these were just election ploys" and that the issue was being investigated by the relevant authorities. The Governor also cautioned the Raj Bhavan staff in the audio message.
New Delhi: The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted the National Entrance com Eligibility Test Undergraduate (NEET UG 2024) on Sunday, May 5 from 2 PM onwards. The admit cards for the NEET aspirant students were released in May 2024.

NEET UG 2024 is held in 557 cities across the nation and 14 locations overseas. This exam is conducted for the medical aspirant students who will sit for the NEET UG exam to gain admission to the MBBS program.

Many experts will offer the unauthorised NEET answer key 2024, soon after the NEET 2024 exam. But based on past trends, the answer key is usually released 25 days after the NEET exam. Once I neet answer key 2024 by issued NTA, you can check your neet answer key 2024 at https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET/.

How To Download NEET Answer Key 2024 PDF

Step 1: To download the new answer key 2024, you need to visit the official website NEET 2024- neet.nta.nic.in

Step 2: Click on the link reading "NEET UG 2024 OMR sheet and NEET 2024 official answer key."

Step 3: Provide your application no, password and DOB as required to log in

Step 4: Download the OMR sheet and provisional NEET 2024 answer key.

Step 5: You can compare the recorded response on the OMR sheet with the provisional NEET 2024 answer key.
Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar, senior Congress Leader and LoP In Maharashtra Assembly on Sunday claimed that the bullet that killed Hemant Karkare was fired by a police officer loyal to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and not a terrorist. Former Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was killed during a terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. He received three bullet injuries in the retaliatory firing by the terrorists that led to his death.

The statement triggered a political row in the state during the Lok Sabha elections. BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde Faction) leaders have hit out at the Congress over its leader's statement. Wadettiwar isued a clarification later and said his statement his based on former Maharashtra IGP SM Mushrif's book that claims Karkare was not not killed by a terrorist

"Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorists. Police officer SM Mushrif (Shamshuddin Mushrif) has written this in his book. I am not saying this, but Mushrif has published it in his book. The police officer has written in his book that the bullet with which Hemant Karkare was killed was not from terrorists. Why was this not brought before the court by advocate Ujjwal Nikam, who is fighting the case against Kasab," he said. The BJP has fielded Ujjwal Nikam from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.

Wadettiwar accused Nikam of being a "traitor." He said, Ujjwal Nikam had defamed the Congress by accusing it of serving biryani to the 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Kasab. Will someone give biryani to Kasab? Nikam later admitted that Kasab was not served biryani. What kind of lawyer or traitor did not testify in court? If the BJP is giving a ticket to a traitor who hid the truth from the court, then the question arises: why is the BJP supporting these traitors?

Wadettiwar, further said that getting Ajmal Kasab hanged was not a big deal and any ordinary lawyer or bailout lawyer could have done it. Former Maharashtra IGP SM Mushrif had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the Hemant Karkare murder case. According to Live Law, the petition said that Hemant Karkare was not killed by Pakistani terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail, but by those who took advantage and conspired to kill him. The Supreme Court later dismissed the case.

Was Kasab Served Biryani In Jail ?

According to the report by Aaj Tak, Ujjwal Nikam clarified it a few years after saying the biryani thing. "Kasab never demanded biryani, and neither did the government serve him biryani," he told the media on the sidelines of an international conference on counter-terrorism in Jaipur. I fabricated it to prevent an emotional atmosphere being created in favour of Kasab during the trial.
New Delhi: Several people were detained for interrogation in the extensive search for terrorists behind the Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy attack in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening, officials said.

The officials informed that the Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain and senior officers of the Army and intelligence agencies, visited the site of the ambush in the Surankote area. The Army also conducted aerial surveillance using a helicopter.

The Indian Air Force has persisted in its extensive research to trace the terrorists behind the Poonch attack. The IAF on Sunday mourned the loss of Vikky Pahade, who succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack.

The Indian Air Force mourned the loss of Vikky Pahade. "The CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and all personnel of (the) Indian Air Force salute the braveheart Corporal Vikky Pahade, who made the supreme sacrifice in (the) Poonch Sector, in the service of the nation. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family. We stand firmly by your side in this hour of grief." read a post on the official X handle.

Five IAF officers were injured in the attack and of them later succumbed to injuries.

The officials informed that the police and Army joint operation is underway in many areas named Shahsitar, Gursai, Sanai and Sheendara and teams of Army's Para Commandos also emerged in the search operation.

As of now, there has been no "contact" with the terrorists but several individuals were detained for interrogation in connection with the Pooch attack, Officials said.

After the tragic incident, additional forces of the Indian Army reached the Jarra Wali Gali (JWG) in Poonch on Saturday late at night. The attack took place near the Sanai village in the Poonch sector after that injured personnel were rushed to the Command hospital in Udhampur.

The terrorist attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday resulted in one soldier's death and four injuries. Poonch is a part of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats, which was earlier scheduled to be held on May 7 in phase-3 but now the Election Commission has postponed it on May 25 in phase-6.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday to remove the 50% reservation limit, promising that if elected, the Congress would increase the overall quota beyond 50%. Addressing an election rally in Nirmal in Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency of Telangana, he claimed that PM Modi is against reservation and wants to take it away. "Narendra Modiji should tell the country that he will remove the 50% barrier because that is what Congress intends to do," he said. Gandhi claimed that PM Modi never mentions removing the 50% barrier in any of his election speeches.

The Wayanad MP said that increasing reservation beyond 50% is the most pressing issue before the nation, and that the Congress party has promised to remove it in its manifesto to do justice to OBCs, Dalits, and tribals. The Congress leader reiterated his claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) want to abolish the Constitution and the reservation.

"This is an election between two ideologies. On the one hand, Congress is attempting to protect the Constitution, while the BJP and RSS seek to destroy the Constitution and deprive the poor of the rights guaranteed by it," he said, holding up a pocket-sized copy of the Indian Constitution.

"BJP leaders have said that if elected, they will change the Constitution. If the Constitution is changed, reservation will be abolished," he claimed, alleging that the BJP opposes the growth of backwards, Dalits, and tribals. He claimed that Congress had implemented its guarantees in Telangana and promised similar guarantees across India. He stated that every woman from a poor family will receive Rs 8.5K per month. This would be on top of the Rs 2,500 that women in Telangana currently receive each month.

He held PM Modi responsible for rising youth unemployment and claimed that the Congress had promised them 'Pehli Naukri pakki'. He stated that graduates will get jobs, similar to MNREGA.

Asserting that there are 30 lakh government vacancies across the country, he stated that college and university degree and diploma holders will be hired for a year with a stipend of Rs 1 lakh. If the youth perform well in a year, they will be integrated into their respective departments.

He described it as the world's first such scheme, claiming that India will provide the world with the best-trained workforce. He claimed that privatisation of the public sector, the Agniveer scheme, and contract employment were all intended to remove the reservation. He stated that Congress will eliminate the contract system and create permanent jobs.



He reiterated that if elected, the Congress would conduct a caste census, which would transform the country's politics. He mentioned that the backward classes make up 50% of the country's population. There are 15% Dalits, 8% tribals, 15% minorities, and 5-6% poor in the general category. "They are over 90 per cent of the population but they have no place in any institution," he went on to say.


Poonch: One soldier was killed, and four Indian Air Force soldiers were injured in a terror attack in the Poonch district of the Jammu region. A convoy of the Indian Air Force was attacked by terrorists in the Surankote area of Poonch district on Saturday evening. All five injured soldiers were evacuated to the Army's base hospital, where one soldier succumbed to his injuries.

Security forces, including the Indian army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police, rushed to the spot where terrorists opened heavy fire on the IAF convoy. A massive cordon and search operation was launched by the forces to apprehend the attackers in the area. Initial reports suggest that two terrorists were involved in the attack.

This is the first major attack in the region this year, as Poonch and Rajouri saw multiple attacks last year. Security forces have been on high alert since then and have prevented any major attacks. The entire Poonch district has now been put on high alert.

The attack took place in the Shah Sattar forest area, which is densely covered with trees and falls between Surankotes Sanai Top and Mendhars Gursai area of the border Poonch district.

This is the first major attack on the armed forces this year in the region, which witnessed a series of terror attacks on the army last year. Visuals from the attack site showed at least a dozen bullet holes on the windscreen of the vehicle that came under fire.

Sources said the injured air warriors were airlifted to Command Hospital Udhampur from Poonch within half an hour of the attack, while the other vehicles of the convoy had been secured and safely reached their destination.

In a statement, the Indian Air Force said, In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are underway by the local security forces.

Sources said a combing and search operation had been ongoing in the area between Mendhar and adjoining Surankote for the past few days following reports of movement of terrorists. During the searches, terrorists opened fire on a vehicle carrying Air Force personnel. The latter retaliated, and in the ensuing firefight, five personnel were injured. Reinforcements of police and security forces were rushed to the area as soon as reports of the attack came in.

A cordon and search operation has been initiated by the local Rashtriya Rifles unit to apprehend the perpetrators. The area has been cordoned off, and searches are in progress, sources said.

This is the second militant attack in the Pir Panjal region, spread over Rajouri and Poonch districts, in the last 12 days. A 40-year-old government employee was killed after unknown terrorists had opened fire on him near the Shahdra Sharief area of Thanamandi on April 22. The man was identified as Mohammad Raziq of Kunda Top, and his brother was reportedly a soldier in the Territorial Army.

On December 21, four soldiers had died in a terror attack on the Mughal Road between Dehra Ki Gali and Bufliaz in Poonch. In view of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the area, security forces and police have already launched cordon and search operations on a massive scale to flush out terrorists and their sympathizers. A few days before the Shahdra Sharief attack, the police and security forces, in a joint operation, had apprehended a school headmaster from the Hari Buddha area of Poonch and seized a Pakistan-made pistol along with ammunition as well as two Chinese grenades from his house.

Poonch is part of the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. Meanwhile, security and searches have intensified in Kathua, Doda, Udhampur, and Kishtwar after unknown terrorists killed a Village Security Guard on April 28 in Basantghar.
New Delhi: India and Ghana are working to link their payment systems  Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS) respectively to permit users to make instant, low-cost fund transfers on a reciprocal basis.

The two countries have also delved into discussions regarding the possibilities of a Memorandum of Understanding on Digital transformation Solutions; Local Currency Settlement System and the opportunities offered by African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). (Also Read: Now Limit Replies Only To Verified Users On X To Avoid Spam: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk)

"They agreed to work expeditiously towards the operationalisation of NPCI's (National Payments Corporation of India) UPI on Ghana's GHIPSS within a period of 6 months," the Department of Commerce said on the social media platform X (formerly twitter). India's UPI has already reached countries including Singapore and the UAE. Talks are also on with Nigeria for the same. (Also Read: Vivo Y18 4G Smartphone Launched In India With MediaTek Helio G85 SoC And 5,000mAh Battery; Check Price, Specs)

These issues were discussed during the visit of a seven-member Indian delegation led by Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Amardeep Singh Bhatia to Accra, Ghana on May 2-3. NPCI International has recently announced its partnership with Bank of Namibia to support them in developing a UPI-like real-time payment system in the African nation.

The bilateral trade between India and the West African nation Ghana has increased to $2.87 billion in 2022-23 from $2.6 billion in 2021-22. The trade gap is in the favour of Ghana mainly due to imports of gold by India which accounts for nearly 80 per cent of total imports from Ghana.
By Nazrin Abdul

The Cultural Center of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Paris was a hub of commemoration as the France-Azerbaijan Dialogue Association (ADFA), with the backing of the State Committee for Work with Diaspora, organized an event marking the anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev's birth, Azernews reports.

Representatives from the arts, local community, and Azerbaijani diaspora congregated at the gathering, highlighted by Ambassador Leyla Abdullayeva's tribute to Heydar Aliyev's monumental contributions to Azerbaijan's independence and development. The diplomat lauded Aliyev's visionary policies spanning political, economic, military, and social spheres, spanning from the Soviet era to the nation's independence.

The evening unfolded with a poignant concert, honoring the memory of the National Leader. Young talents, flutist Agarahim Guliyev and pianist Eldeniz Alekbarzade, both alumni of the prestigious "Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot" and laureates of the "Golden Key" international music competition, enchanted the audience with compositions by European and Azerbaijani maestros. From the melodies of Felix Mendelssohn, Gabriel Faure, and Robert Schuman to the resonant works of Azerbaijani luminaries Gara Garayev and Fikret Amirov, the concert bridged cultures through music.

Adding to the cultural tapestry, an exhibition titled "Breath of Spring," featuring the creations of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Asmar Narimanbeyova, graced the event, offering a visual celebration of artistry and heritage.
Joe Barrera, Ph.D., is the former director of the Ethnic Studies Program at UCCS. He teaches U.S. Military History and Mexico-U.S. Border Studies. He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.
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.
Bluewater Bio, one of the fastest growing water technology companies in Europe, has secured a major contract to provide EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) services as well as technology supply for the upgrade of the North Sitra wastewater treatment plant in Bahrain.

Bluewater Bios 33 million ($41 million) contract win comes following previous significant upgrades in connection with treatment of over 50% of the wastewater generated in the kingdom.

The contract was formally sealed at a key ceremony held in Westminster, at the headquarters of Department for Business and Trade (DBT), in the presence of senior representatives from both UK and Bahraini governments.

Under this contract, Bluewater Bio will be responsible for all aspects of engineering, acting as EPC contractor and technology supplier, through the provision of their advanced treatment technologies, Hybacs and FilterClear.

As the result of population and industrial expansion, additional and enhanced treatment capacity is required to continue to produce treated water suitable for reuse, it stated.

Richard Haddon, the Executive Chairman and CEO of Bluewater Bio, said: "We have been working to support Bahrain in achieving their ambitious National Water Strategy 2030. We have excellent references in the Kingdom that is enabling further growth across the GCC."

Continually recognised by external parties as the fastest growing water technology company in Europe over the years, expansion in the Middle East is an important aspect to our growth strategy, he stated.

Alastair Long, the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, said: "Bluewater Bio has built an excellent relationship in Bahrain and is a reputed provider of water technologies. I am delighted that they continue to grow in the region and as such, enhance the UK business brand."

The entire contract duration work will be completed within a two-year period. Once fully operational, it will have a new capacity of 30 MLD, thus doubling the current volume.

The UK group said its Hybacs upgrade at Tubli WPCC was completed in 2021.

Haddon pointed out that its growth strategy was working in the key geographies identified when it started this journey together.

The project marks the companys fifth significant contract with the Ministry of Works. The quality, performance and reliability of these projects continue to exceed the expectations of the client, whilst maintaining the highest standards of health and safety, both domestically and internationally.

"Working closely with our clients and producing excellent results, both on time and to budget, is building trust and certainty into these relationships," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
When people's needs have been disregarded by Acredian rulers, then the Acredian governments have fallen

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Artists in Helena were commissioned by the city to turn traditional rusted green and brown dumpsters into works of art.

The five artists through the Helena Public Art Committee were offered an opportunity to make their visions a reality. The art projects will be moved to their homes on Monday.

The ideas were pretty open, according to Emily Jacobson, supporter of the project. Jacobsen said as long as the ideas were not offensive or branded, artists were free to do what they want.

All five artists were paid for their contributions to the project. Each dumpster will be going to a certain location around Helena.

Jennifer Kinville's art piece will go to the neighborhood center at the Rocky Mountain Development Center.

"I saw this opportunity, so I revamped my design and applied. I wanted to do something for wildlife because everyone in Montana loves wildlife," Kinville said.

Her design is a mural of an elk with a graphic design feel called, "Groovy Bugle."

Dallas Ryder's project will live at the City County Administrative Building and can be seen from Park Avenue and Lawrence Street.

"Wildflower Flow" features vibrant colors, a skeleton and swirling patterns.

The Chamber of Commerce in Helena will be the new home of Kortini Strobel's "Frosty Flight," featuring black-capped chickadees, cedar waxwings and northern flickers.

The fourth art installment in Helena was done by Tia Monson. Monson's design features raccoons in the forest, hence its name, "Trash Pandas."

Her design will be seen on the west side of the Law and Justice Center and from Lawrence Street.

Artist, Erica Selby's "Dumpster in Delft Blue," can be seen at the Helena Civic Center. The design featured the Helena Fire Tower and the state bird.

"Those that notice will really love it ... A dumpster is usually something that is shoved to the side, put in a corner and not really thought of," Selby said.

"I wanted to find something that could ornamentalize the idea of waste disposal in a public space."
Days of quiet, peaceful protest came to a chaotic and violent end Saturday afternoon as Virginia State Police stormed an encampment of anti-war protesters at the University of Virginia.

State police sporting tactical gear and riot shields moved in on the demonstrators, using tear gas and sheer force to disperse the group and arrest the roughly 15 or so at the camp, where for days students, faculty and community members had sang songs, read poetry and painted signs in protest of Israel's ongoing war in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

As of press time Saturday evening, those protesters that had not been taken into custody had been pushed away from the plot of land by the University Chapel where they had been based and into street, where a flood of supporters were pouring in. What had started as a quiet and rain-drenched protest of a meager 15 Saturday morning was a vocal and angry crowd of nearly 100 Saturday evening.

After days of an almost picnic-like protest and minimal police presence, the sudden and swift arrival of the militant Virginia State Police appears to have been in direct response to the protesters' decision to pitch tents on UVa Grounds Friday evening ahead of rain.

University officials been explicit that tents are prohibited without first being approved by the administration. According to UVa policy, all tents must receive final approval before being assembled on Grounds.

But that same policy includes a link to a document which says that Recreational tents for camping are exempt. That clause was quietly removed Saturday morning, hours before police made arrests.

University spokesman Brian Coy told The Daily Progress that the document was merely guidance and that it was updated to reflect official policy. Coy said the document was not outdated, just wrong.

He said he believed it was not until Saturday morning that university officials noticed the guidance document contradicted the official policy. Demonstrators first started to congregate on Grounds Tuesday, the last day of spring semester classes.

Anyone who has been involved in this encampment or any other demonstration has been advised of our policy, Coy said, pointing out that shortly after the encampment began, tents were raised but then disassembled by the protesters. They put up then took them down because they were made aware that [tents] were outside of our policy. They then made the decision to violate that policy."

A faculty member affiliated with the encampment cited that clause, telling The Daily Progress that recreational tents are permitted on campus.

We pointed it out to them for three days. Faculty have been deescalating, deescalating, deescalating, she said.

The faculty member said the protest had been calm and peaceful until state police were called in on Saturday. She claims that decision was made by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and UVa President Jim Ryan.

Neither the governor's office nor the Virginia State Police responded to multiple inquiries from The Daily Progress Saturday. A personal inquiry from Daily Progress editor Reynolds Hutchins to Ryan's office and the UVa communications team also went unanswered.

As of press time Saturday evening, it remained unclear how the decision was made to dispatch state police to Grounds.

The quiet encampment had received little attention from students throughout most of the week. But on Saturday, as authorities created a line around the encampment, a huge crowd gathered around to witness the police response.

Roughly 15 people broke the police line to join the encampment, eliciting loud cheers from the crowd as they sprinted toward the tents.

Not long before 2:30 p.m., police ordered observers to move further back from the site. Shortly after, police with riot shields marched into the encampment and began making arrests. A line of protesters used umbrellas in an attempt to keep the police at bay, but police tossed the umbrellas to the side and threw protesters to the ground while tear gas was deployed overhead.

Several protesters screamed out as police dragged them away. An officer told The Daily Progress that those arrested were being taken to Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

It hurts really bad, man, one of the protesters told The Daily Progress while pouring water onto his face and eyes. He identified himself as a graduate student and said the police response was disproportionate.

It was never violent, he said of the encampment. Im a teaching assistant, and we were just helping people study for finals.

After the encampment was cleared, a line of police began to push against a growing crowd of protesters to their backs, some of whom had come out to support the original demonstrators, others who were there to witness the scene unfold. Police indiscriminately sprayed tear gas into the crowd, at one point hitting a Daily Progress reporter and other members of the media covering the conflict.

Amid the chaos, some students carrying American flags cheered on the arrests, with chants of USA," Lets go Wahoos and Take your masks off. The latter a reference to the fact that nearly all of the protesters have remained masked since Tuesday and discouraged their ranks from identifying themselves to police, the media or UVa administrators.

A protester with a megaphone called out to the state police as they marched on the crowd, "Where were you in 2017?"

On Aug. 11, 2017, a day before the deadly Unite the Right rally-turned-riot in Charlottesville, a mob of torch-wielding neo-Nazis and other White supremacists marched across Grounds. Police watched on as the mob encircled a band of student protesters at the base of the statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of the university's landmark Rotunda. Police did not declare an unlawful assembly and clear the area until after the mob began brandishing their torches at protesters and assaulting students. At the time, the mob's activities were permitted by the university as an act of free expression.

As of press time, police had closed off University Avenue and Rugby Road, two of the university's main entrance corridors, and the university was warning the public to stay away from the scene.
Sunday, May 5

The 60-voice Piedmont Choral Society will present its free spring concerts, with orchestra at 3 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 950 Bradley Street (off Branchview) in Concord. The concert is titled To Music and features beautifully arranged selections that celebrate the powerful gift of music in our lives.

Monday, May 6

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Caregivers Support Group Monthly with Calvary Lutheran Church will be at 7:30 p.m. This Caregiver Support Group meets monthly via Zoom. All are welcome. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org or contact the church office at 704-782-6923.

The Kannapolis History Associates will meet at 7 p.m. at A.L. Brown High School for a program with Don Smith, former managing editor of The Kannapolis Daily Independent. The Kannapolis native worked at the paper from 1982 to 1995.

Tuesday, May 7

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, May 8

The Weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at church parlor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Thursday, May 9

Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500.

The Kannapolis Farmers Market is held from 4-7 p.m. in the Oak Avenue mall parking lot at the corner of Vance Street and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. Vendors offer a wide variety of fresh, local produce, as well as meat, eggs, baked goods, crafts, and prepared foods.

Friday, May 10

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Northwest Swim Club, located at 5000 Durneigh Drive in Kannapolis, is holding Open House from 6. to 8 p.m. Enjoy a free SunDrop Slushy while viewing our newly resurfaced pool and facilities. Join and receive a $25 voucher for guest passes or concession stand purchases. For more information see our website at www.northwest-swim-club.com

Saturday, May 11

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S, are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and takeout. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

A GriefShare Support Group will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, room 23. Sessions will be Saturdays through May 11. Register at GriefShare.org, use ZIP code 28075. The church is at 200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. For more information, call 704-455-2763.

Sunday, May 12

Outdoor Worship at Calvary Lutheran Church will be at 8:30 a.m. The trees are calling! Enjoy some fresh air as Pastor Debbie leads worship at the Outdoor Chapel at 950 Bradley St., Concord, NC 28025.

Monday, May 13

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Caregivers Support Group Monthly with Calvary Lutheran Church will be at 7:30 p.m. This Caregiver Support Group meets monthly via Zoom. All are welcome. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org or contact the church office at 704-782-6923.

Tuesday, May 14

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, May 15

The Weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at church parlor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

The Cabarrus Senior Center Photo Club is alive and clicking away. If you like taking photos, come join the members on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Cabarrus Senior Center, 331 Corban Ave. SE, Concord, and share your photographic creativity. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or strictly amateur, all are welcome.

Thursday, May 16

Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500.

The Kannapolis Farmers Market is held from 4-7 p.m. in the Oak Avenue mall parking lot at the corner of Vance Street and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. Vendors offer a wide variety of fresh, local produce, as well as meat, eggs, baked goods, crafts, and prepared foods.

Friday, May 17

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 18

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S, are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and takeout. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

A community food collection, will be held at Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church, 6841 Poplar Tent Road, Concord. The food collection benefits the food pantries of CCM (Cooperative Christian Ministries) in Concord, Kannapolis and Harrisburg. This will be a drive-thru event from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. Go to cooperativeministry.com/donate-food-2/ web page for detailed information about CCM's current needed items.

A Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction Fundraiser for Aurora Special Needs Winterguard will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church 950 Bradley St., Concord from 4 to 7 p.m. Adults $15, Children & Special Olympics Participants $8.. See a guard member to purchase a ticket or call 704-793-6414. Walk-ins welcome.

Sunday, May 19

The Rowan Big-Band All-Stars Annual Spring Concert and free hot dog supper will be from 5 to 7 p.m.The music will begin at 5:30pm and last about 90 minutes. Join us for this all ages, free event at Calvary Lutheran Church 950 Bradley St., Concord

Monday, May 20

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner.

Tuesday, May 21

TOPS #437 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. (weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m.) at Lakeview Baptist Church, 2532 Lane St., Kannapolis. Visitors are welcome.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Wednesday, May 22

The Weekly Bible study will be at 11:30 a.m. at church parlor of Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. Hosted by Pastor Debbie Frye.

How Great Thou Art Drawing Class led by James Fore in a weekly drawing class at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Calvary Lutheran Church, Concord. All are welcome. Bring paper and pencil. Call the church office at 704-782-6923 for more details.

Thursday, May 23

Epworth United Methodist Church will have a hot dog sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Epworth is at 1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Credit cards accepted. For deliveries, call 704-786-5500.

The Kannapolis Farmers Market is held from 4-7 p.m. in the Oak Avenue mall parking lot at the corner of Vance Street and Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. Vendors offer a wide variety of fresh, local produce, as well as meat, eggs, baked goods, crafts, and prepared foods.

Friday, May 24

The Concord Duplicate Bridge face-to-face games through Concord Parks and Recreation are at Hartsell Recreation Center, 60 Hartsell School Road, at noon. Cost is $5 per player. You must have a partner and provide proof of vaccination.

Hot dogs at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Road, will be sold along with fried bologna and barbecue sandwiches and desserts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, May 25

The Piedmont Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon at 518 Winecoff School Road. It features lots of local produce, meat, flowers and other products.

Hot dogs at Center United Methodist Church at 1119 Union St. S, are offered on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine in and takeout. Call-in orders are welcomed at 704-782-1785.

Does your community group or nonprofit agency have an upcoming event that would be of interest to the public? Email it to mplemmons@independenttribune.com.
The third edition of Cruise Travel Mart, held in Dubai, drew over 200 agents from the Middle East, alongside representatives from 15 prominent cruise companies, solidifying its position as a pivotal gathering for cruise industry professionals in the region.

Attended by several cruise companies and agencies, is year's event provided crucial industry insights, facilitated networking opportunities, and showcased the latest innovations through captivating presentations and one-to-one meetings.

Since its inception in 2022, the mart has evolved into a pivotal platform, offering indispensable insights and fostering confidence among stakeholders.

In that same vein, Cruise Travel Mart 2024 exemplified the steadfast dedication of GSA heads from prominent cruise lines in the UAE to propel growth and advancement within the cruise sector.

The event featured esteemed cruise lines including Aroya Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ponant, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, and Windstar Cruises.

Key highlights

 Dedicated to Cruise Travel Excellence: The mart uniquely catered to the intricate needs and interests of the cruise sector, providing an exclusive platform focused solely on advancing this dynamic industry.

 Networking Opportunities: With an esteemed roster of over 200 influential travel agents predominantly from the UAE, complemented by prominent attendees from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, the event offered unparalleled access to high-quality networking prospects.

 Elevated Brand Exposure and Recognition: Several cruise lines showcased their brands, onboard offerings, and destination experiences through captivating exhibits and presentations.

 Insights into Industry Innovations: Attendees were immersed in the forefront of industry trends, gaining invaluable insights into the latest innovations, market dynamics, and consumer preferences that are shaping the future of cruise travel.

 Gateway to Untapped Markets: The mart also served as a strategic forum for discussions on evolving consumer demands and emerging market trends, paving the way for exploration and exploitation of new market opportunities within the cruise industry landscape.  TradeArabia News Service
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
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

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially announced the nomination of artist and calligrapher Diaa Allam as a laureate for the 20th edition of the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture.

This award honours individuals, groups, or institutions that seek to expand the scope of knowledge and raise awareness of Arab art and culture through their works and achievements.

The nomination highlights Diaa Allam's role, supported by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) as a cultural ambassador, and encourages him to exhibit more projects that underscore the importance and diversity of Arabic calligraphy.

Diaa Allam emphasised the role of the award in showcasing both Arab art and culture and enhancing their presence on the international stage, stating: The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture is a reflection of the evolution, aesthetics, and diversity of the artistic scene in the Arab world, and of calligraphys potential and adaptability to contemporary developments. Conveying pride in his nomination for the international award, Allam added: This marks an important stepping stone that drives me to continue to showcase innovative artistic works and undertake new projects that can inspire a global audience, and I would like to thank Dubai Culture for their ongoing support in my professional career growth.

Dr Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts & Literature at Dubai Culture, expressed the Authoritys delight in Diaa Allams selection as a laureate for the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, saying, The award represents a prestigious global platform that contributes to showcasing the principles of Arab arts and their role in deepening dialogue between cultures. Diaa Allams nomination is a testament to the impact of Arabic calligraphy on the global artistic scene, aligning with Dubai Culture's commitments to support creative individuals and talent and encourage them to exhibit their work to audiences around the world.

Over the past decade, Allam has successfully developed his skills in various artistic disciplines, including murals, three-dimensional calligraphy, and digital design.

He has conveyed the rich heritage and vitality of Arabic calligraphy through a modern lens with his high-quality experiments and diverse digitalized artistic releases.

His ventures have spanned the realms of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, the metaverse, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Allam has collaborated with a range of international institutions, including the Louvre Museum and the Smithsonian Institute, and excelled at designing memorabilia presented to several global leaders, such as Pope Francis and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

Allams unique artistic vision is exemplified through his contributions to events such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) at Expo 2020 Dubai, not including his work with global brands such as Rolls Royce, BMW, Dior, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Google, Apple, HSBC, Harrods.

The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture was established in 1998, in which the winners are chosen by the Director-General of UNESCO based on recommendations by an international jury comprising experts in the field of Arab culture whose members have distinguished themselves through their own influential artistic works. -TradeArabia News Service
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Jordan Vassallo is lukewarm about casting her first presidential ballot for President Joe Biden in November. But when the 18-year-old senior at Jupiter High School in Florida thinks about the things she cares about, she says her vote for the Democratic incumbent is an obvious choice.

Vassallo will be voting for a constitutional ballot amendment that would prevent the state of Florida from prohibiting abortion before a fetus can survive on its own  essentially the standard that existed nationally before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional protections to abortion and left the matter for states to decide.

Passage of the amendment would wipe away Florida's six-week abortion law, which took effect Wednesday. Vassallo says the ban makes no sense.

Most people don't know they are pregnant at six weeks, she said.

Biden, despite her reticence, will get her vote as well.

In Florida and across the nation, voters in Vassallo's age group could prove pivotal in the 2024 election, from the presidency to ballot amendments and down ballot races that will determine who controls Congress. She is likely to be among more than 8 million new voters eligible to vote this November since the 2022 elections, according to Tufts University Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

While some of those voters share Vassallo's priorities of gun violence prevention and abortion rights, recent protests on college campuses about the war between Israel and Hamas, including at some Florida campuses, have thrown a new element of uncertainty into the mix. In Florida and elsewhere, observers across the political spectrum are looking on with intense interest.

Florida Democrats hope young voters will be driven to the polls by ballot amendments legalizing marijuana and enshrining abortion rights. They hope the more tolerant views of young voters on those issues will reverse an active voter registration edge of nearly 900,000 for Republicans in Florida, which has turned from the ultimate swing state in 2000 to reliably Republican in recent years.

According to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of the electorate, about 8 in 10 Florida voters under age 45 in the 2022 midterm elections said the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade had an impact on their decision to vote and who to support. The youngest voters, under age 30, appeared more likely than others to say the decision was the single most important factor in their votes, with about 3 in 10 saying that, compared with about 2 in 10 older voters.

Nathan Mitchell, president of Florida Atlantic Universitys College Republicans, questions how impactful abortion will be in the election.

According to AP VoteCast, relatively few Florida voters in the 2022 midterms believed abortion should be either completely banned or fully permitted in all cases. Even among Republicans, just 12% said abortion should be illegal in all cases. About half of Republicans said it should be banned in most cases.

Voters under 45 were slightly more likely than others to say abortion should always be legal, with 30% taking that position.

Mitchell said while abortion is a strong issue, especially for women, he doesn't think it will drive many younger voters to the polls.

I think other amendments will probably do that, especially the recreational marijuana amendment, Mitchell said. I think thats going to bring out a lot more voters than abortion will.

The AP VoteCast survey lends some credence to his thinking. About 6 in 10 Florida voters in the 2022 elections favored legalizing the recreational use of marijuana nationwide, the survey found. Among voters under 45, that was 76%. Still, its unclear how important that issue is for younger voters compared with other issues.

The big question is whether other issues can override Biden's enthusiasm problem among young Florida voters, and elsewhere.

Six in 10 adults under 30 nationally said in a December AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll that they would be dissatisfied with Biden as the Democratic Party nominee in 2024. And only about 2 in 10 said in a March poll that excited would describe their emotions if Biden were re-elected.

Young voters were crucial to the broad and racially diverse coalition that helped elect Biden in 2020. About 6 in 10 voters under 30 backed Biden nationally, according to AP VoteCast. A Pew Research Center survey showed that those under age 30 made up 38% of new or irregular voters in that election.

New issues that concern young voters have emerged this year. Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war has sparked protests at college campuses across the country, and Biden's inability to deliver broad-based student loan forgiveness affects many young voters directly.

Matheus Xavier, 21, who studies biology at Florida Atlantic University, said he considered voting for Trump at some point, but changed his mind since Biden fell more in line with the things he cares about, including the preservation of abortion rights.

At the end of the day, you gotta go with what you support, he said. I guess Biden kinda shows more of that. If there was another option that was actually good, Id probably go for that.
More than 2,300 exhibitors and representatives from over 165 countries will be taking part in the Arabian Travel Market 2024, the largest travel and tourism exhibition in the region, which opens in at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) tomorrow (May 6). The four-day event, to be held under the theme Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship, is set to draw over 41,000 experts who will be spotlighting a pivotal area for the travel and tourism industry.

The event organisers and representatives from the exhibitions strategic partners, which include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Al Rais Travel, have already outlined their plans for the event.

Due to adverse weather conditions and to ensure the safety of all participants and invited guests, the official ATM press conference scheduled to take place on May 3 morning was cancelled. However, all partners have underscored their commitment to the show and the opportunities it affords, said the organisers.

From startups to established brands, ATM 2024 will highlight how innovators are enhancing customer experiences, driving efficiencies and accelerating progress towards a net-zero future for the industry.

"ATM 2024 is gearing up for an exciting lineup spread across two stages, with the Global Stage returning alongside the new Future Stage. The conference agenda will feature key industry speakers from around the world and address the emerging trends that are fueling the travel and tourism sectors growth," said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.

"An eagerly awaited addition to ATM 2024 is the new Entrepreneurship-focused summit, which will delve into the role of travel start-ups in the Middle East economy, spotlighting their pioneering approaches," stated Curtis.

"As entrepreneurship and innovation take centre stage, the exciting ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle, in partnership with Emirates Groups Intelak provides the perfect platform to celebrate the immense potential for innovators in the region and for brands to present their industry solutions," she added.

According to her, the number of participating hotel brands for ATM 2024 has increased by 21% year-on-year, with a 58% rise in new Travel Technology products showcased.

Several new destinations will be introduced at ATM 2024, including China, Macao, Kenya, Guatemala, and Columbia, while returning countries include Spain and France, among many others. Upticks across all key verticals with year-on-year growth across all regions participation including ME 28 percent, Asia and Europe 34 percent, and Africa 26 percent.

A dedicated India Summit will take place on the opening day of ATM, highlighting a recent outbound travel boom from the market.

Titled Unlocking the True Potential of Inbound Indian Travellers, the Summit will explore the dynamics of India as a key source market for tourism growth, as well as current and future opportunities.

Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: "The transformative theme of ATM 2024 will complement our efforts to create new pathways to growth beyond traditional tourism, as we focus on leveraging the huge potential of entrepreneurship and further accelerating momentum across our tourism industry."

"The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism will be joined by 129 stakeholders and partners on the Dubai stand at ATM, a testament to the vibrant public-private partnerships that play a pivotal role in tourism development in the emirate. We look forward to sharing insights into our successful tourism strategy with leaders and experts, and exploring the important themes and trends shaping the future of global tourism, while seeking to unlock new avenues for collaboration and partnership," he added.

According to the organisers, environmental responsibility in the travel and tourism industry will continue to be a key focus at ATM, aligning with RXs sustainability pledge and building on the momentum of last years theme, Working Towards Net Zero.

ATM 2024 will explore how innovation can be leveraged to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by building a greener travel and tourism sector for future generations.

Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, said: "Were thrilled to see growth in visitor numbers to ATM. Its a reflection of confidence in our industry and ATMs importance on the global stage. We are proud of the role we have played in the growth of ATM as an industry event, as well as the growth of our home city Dubai, which is at the forefront of global tourism."

"This year, Emirates will be displaying our latest products in addition to a dedicated area showcasing our sustainable aviation practices. We also look forward to connecting with our industry partners across the travel ecosystem," he added.

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director of IHG Hotels & Resorts for SWA, Middle East and Africa, said: "As the official hotel partner for ATM, we look forward to leveraging the regions legacy travel trade event to showcase the groups diverse portfolio of accommodations to global industry and consumer audiences. With over 190 hotels across IMEA, as well as a robust regional pipeline of future openings, IHG remains a critical enabler in realising the regions growth ambitions in the tourism sector."

"In a world of evolving preferences and shifting landscapes, IHG remains committed to exploring new and innovative ways to scale-up strategic investments and reshaping the hospitality sector of tomorrow," he noted.

Mohamed Al Rais, Executive Director, Al Rais Travel, said: "Celebrating the fusion of innovation and entrepreneurship, the ATM stands as a beacon of progress and possibility in travel. With a steadfast commitment to empowerment, we harness visionary minds' creative energy to redefine the essence of exploration."

"Through groundbreaking initiatives and bold ventures, we pave the way for a future where travel knows no limits, and every journey is a testament to the transformative power of human ingenuity. Join us as we embark on this exhilarating expedition, charting new territories and shaping a world where adventure knows no bounds," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Chilean food company NotCo has been working on a popular meal for people in Latin America and Asia: turtle soup.

The meal tastes like turtle soup but has no parts of the creature in it.

The company says it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create the food. It hopes to raise awareness about the endangered reptile.

Bernardo Moltedo leads the science behind the effort for NotCo. He used the term impact  meaning an effect or change  to describe the effort.

Moltedo added, "We have been working on this for several years. We always ask ourselves 'why not,' that's why we ended up working to help endangered species, as is the case with turtle soup."

NotCo uses an AI program to help it decide what to use. The program examined 300,000 plants and made 260 quintillion combinations until it found a mix of five proteins that most closely reproduced the taste of turtle meat.

For now, neither the plant-based turtle meat nor the soup are for sale. But the company plans on holding an online class to teach people how to prepare the soup.

With a presence in 12 countries, NotCo creates foods such as hamburgers, milk, mayonnaise or ice cream from plants. These food creations have a similar taste and texture to foods prepared with traditional animal-based ingredients.

Green turtles - traditionally used in turtle soup - are on the International Union for Conservation of Natures red list of endangered species. The creatures numbers are affected by pollution, extreme weather and fishing. The exploitation of these sea turtles is prohibited in most countries in the world.

However, turtle soup remains in high demand in countries throughout Asia and Latin America, including China, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia and others.

Im John Russell.

Juan Casas reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

endangered  adj. describes an animal or plant at risk of dying off completely

quintillion  n. a number equal to 1 followed by 18 zeros

combination  n. a resulting of mixing two or more things

texture  n. the way a food feels in your mouth

ingredient -- n. one of the things that are used to make a food,
Student protesters at Columbia University in New York City; the University of California, Berkeley; Brown University in Rhode Island and others are calling on their leaders to divest from Israel.

That means the students want their universities to sell any investments in Israeli businesses. Students have also started to ask their universities to divest from any U.S. company that does business in Israel. That includes companies that produce weapons and aircraft that can be used in war, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. In addition, some protesters say schools should end investments in technology companies such as Google and Airbnb that do business in Israel.

For weeks, protesters have been calling for the war between Hamas and Israel to end. The war started in 2023 after Hamas fighters invaded Israel and killed about 1200 people and took hostages. Israels military fight against Hamas has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians, Hamas health ministry said.

Protesters began calling for divestment from Israel in the months following the start of the war. At Columbia, a group calling itself Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) published demands. CUAD has demanded that the university: "Divest all of Columbias finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine. Ensure accountability by increasing transparency around financial investments."

An endowment is a special organization that invests money for the school that creates it. The people who work for it have a legal responsibility to invest the money wisely. The gains are supposed to pay for improvements to the school grounds, new buildings and to provide financial aid for students.

Effects of recent divestment calls

Some universities are agreeing to consider changing the way they invest money in their endowments. Others are not.

On April 30 at Brown, leaders said they would discuss and vote on selling investments related to Israels fighting in Gaza if the protesters left their encampment. The protesters agreed.

One student group at Brown, the Brown Divest Coalition, posted a message on Instagram celebrating the deal:

This would not have been possible without the hard work of university encampments across the country whose collective power has forced university administrators to acknowledge the overwhelming support for Palestine

At the University of California, Berkeley, the BDS Coalition demanded: "The total divestment of the UC Berkeley Foundation and the UC General Endowment Pool from the Israeli state and from all companies profiting from the colonization of Palestine."

But on April 26, the University of California said it would not change its investments. A statement said: The University of California has consistently opposed calls for boycott against and divestment from Israel

At Columbia, the place that many see as the starting point of the protests that spread across the U.S., the university offered to talk with protesters. Columbia said it would publish a list of the schools direct investments and increase how often the list is updated. The schools investing committee said it would consider proposals from students.

Past success from divestment

Students involved in recent protests point to similar calls for divestment from South Africa that started in the 1980s. At the time, South Africa was a segregated country living under what was known as apartheid. Civil rights activists point to economic pressure around the world, some of which came from universities, as a main reason for the end of the policy in the 1990s.

But some business and education experts note that university endowments are more sophisticated than they were back then.

The Department of Educations National Center for Education Statistics reported that the combined market value of the 20 largest U.S. university endowments totaled more than $927 billion at the end of 2021.

Is divestment possible?

Much of the money in endowments is overseen by financial professionals who have permission to buy and sell stocks or groups of stocks.

Because of this, it can be difficult to identify a schools involvement with a company. Georges Dyer is executive director and cofounder of the Intentional Endowments Network.

Its not as simple as some people think  maybe its just selling some stocks at a certain company, Dyer said.

Financial experts also note that a small number of universities removing their investments in a few large companies such as Boeing or Microsoft will not make much difference.

Todd Ely is an associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Denver. He said some schools likely have employed financial companies to supervise their investments and colleges and universities have fairly limited discretion in the actualinvestments.

Will calls for divestment end the war?

Dany Bahar and Natan Sachs of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. have done research on divestment. They noted that divestment movements have had little effect on the Israeli economy.

In their writing, they note that only official restrictions, or sanctions, by the United States, would produce economic pressure to change Israeli policy. But that is not likely to happen because of U.S. support for Israel.

Just on Thursday, President Joe Biden talked about his support for the protesters right to express themselves, but said the U.S. does not plan to end its support for Israels fight against Hamas.

Im Jill Robbins. And I'm Dan Friedell.

VOAs Rob Garver wrote this story. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English and included material from the Associated Press.

Quiz - Protesters Want to Influence College Investment Policy Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

divest v. to sell things of value for a reason

endowment n. a legal structure designed to supervise and grow things of value for the gain of the group or organization that organized it or for a cause

apartheid n. a system of keeping one group of people separate from another

transparency n. the idea that things should be open and clear to everyone

consistently adv. to take place most of the time, regularly

sophisticated adj. complex and involving much specialized knowledge

discretion n. the ability to choose some course of action rather than have it decided by a rule or requirement that already exists

We want to hear from you. Do you think the pressure from protesters will change the way colleges and universities invest their money?
Law enforcement belatedly told a shaken public Saturday that the 14-year-old student who terrorized Mount Horeb Middle School on Wednesday morning was carrying a pellet rifle.

Thats still a dangerous weapon that could potentially kill someone if fired at close range. Yet the risk for students and staff  had the boy gained entry to the building  wasnt as dire as the public was led to believe.

Authorities should have told the public what kind of a weapon it was sooner. The public had a right to know, given its high level of fear.

That doesnt mean the police didnt act heroically. They were right to treat the weapon like the lethal long gun it appeared to be when they responded to the chaotic scene Wednesday. Many pellet guns are difficult to distinguish from higher-powered firearms, especially from a distance. Police shot and killed the boy outside the school when, they said, he pointed the rifle at them.

To their credit, the police were wearing body cameras. That should provide some welcome transparency.

Nor does the type of weapon change Mount Horebs shock, trauma or need for healing. This village of 8,000 about 20 miles southwest of Madison did a lot of things right both before and as this tragedy unfolded.

The school districts preparation, investment and procedures seemed to work about as well as possible against this chilling threat. Even if the boy had arrived with a semi-automatic rifle, the schools vestibules, locked doors and bullet-resistant glass could have kept him at bay long enough for help to arrive.

Students and staff acted fast to flee, hide and alert authorities. Police, including a school-based officer, quickly responded and stopped the threat.

Classmates said the boy banged the butt of his weapon on a window and fired it in the air when he couldnt get in. The boys writings on the internet suggest a dark fascination with school shootings going back 25 years this spring to the Columbine, Colorado, massacre that killed 15 and injured 24.

His disturbing thoughts may never be deciphered. What were his motivations? Were warning signs missed? Fellow students said he joked about hurting himself and building a bomb.

The boys family, no matter the circumstances, has lost a child, which is tragic.

Many more parents  in Mount Horeb and across the region  were hugging their children Wednesday night, grateful they still had theirs.

The boys troubling thoughts show the need for robust mental health services in schools, which require resources. Anxiety and depression have increased in prevalence among young people because of social media and pandemic-caused isolation. Counseling and medication can help deter violent outbursts.

More detail and hopefully answers will emerge from Mount Horeb in the coming weeks. In the aftermath of this frightening incident, Mount Horeb Superintendent Steve Salerno has been calm and compassionate, even crediting his staff for not letting him into the building at one point, as protocols required.

The village will need time to heal. Many students heard the gunfire. Some fled the school, still wearing in-line skates from the gym. Some hid in closets, texting their parents as if they might never see them again. Many parents had to wait five or more hours to reunite with their students as the scene was secured.

Thats a lot of stress and trauma.

As it recovers, Mount Horeb can find some solace in knowing it planned and responded well. Based on the facts so far, quick thinking and smart preparation helped keep the communitys middle schoolers safe.

Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE

Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE
COLOMBO, Sri LankaStrategically placed Sri Lankas economic recovery was essential for stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Japans foreign minister said Saturday, urging Colombo to swiftly restructure its foreign debt.

Yoko Kamikawa said Colombo should secure agreements with bilateral lenders and international sovereign bondholders to unlock suspended foreign funding for the cash-strapped nation.

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After talks with her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry, Kamikawa called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the islands reforms to overcome its worst economic crisis, the two sides said.

Deliberation also encompassed discussions on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) pertaining to debt restructuring in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghes office said in a statement.

The Sri Lankan government which defaulted on its $46 billion external debt in April 2022 had hoped to finalize deals with foreign creditors by April but there have been no final agreements yet. AFP
Ajaccio, FranceProtesters hurled eggs at French far-right leader Eric Zemmour on an election visit to the island of Corsica Saturday, an Agence France Presse (AFP) reporter saw.

Zemmour was in Ajaccio to campaign ahead of the European elections in June when about 15 people started shouting abuse, said an AFP photographer.

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Water and eggs were thrown at him and a woman tried to push him, a police source told AFP, adding that the incident was very brief.

Corse-Matin newspaper posted a video in which Zemmour appeared to hit out at a woman.

A member of Zemmours entourage said his reaction was pure self-defense reflex.

She comes up behind him, he doesnt know who it is, if its an egg, a fist, a knife, said the associate.

Ajaccio prosecutor Nicolas Septe told AFP an investigation had been opened.

Theres the true face of the far left, Zemmour posted later on X, formerly Twitter. Small, violent groups, who really want us dead.

Zemmour, who has been convicted several times for inciting racial hatred, continued his election walkabout followed by hecklers and riot police.

Polls give his far-right Reconquete (Reconquest) party between five and six percent of voting intentions.
US Department of State Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Richard Verma will visit China and the Philippines from May 6 to 10, according to US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Carlson announced the deputy secretarys impending visit to the two Indo-Pacific countries by reposting an advisory from the State Departments Office of the Spokesperson.

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The advisory stated that Verma will be in the Philippines to meet with senior government officials. The agenda is to build on the progress made during the bilateral, trilateral, and ministerial-level meetings held between Manila and Washington just last month.

It cited the earlier meeting between President Marcos and US President Joe Biden, as well as the annual US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue last April 22 to 23.

The advisory also said that Vermas visit hopes to build on the momentum of the historic Japan-Philippines-US Trilateral Leaders Summit on April 11 and the US-Philippines 3+3 Ministerial on April 12.

The US official will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial and host a dinner with Philippine US Exchange Program alumni.

Meanwhile, Verma will also be in mainland China to visit the US Embassy in Beijing and the US Consulates General in Shenyang, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

This is to thank personnel and ensure that their teams have the right equipment and facilities to most effectively serve US interests.

Aside from his visit to the US posts there, Verma will also hold meetings with members of the US business community in Shanghai to advocate for a level playing field for US workers and firms operating in China.

Vermas visit to the two countries will come amid the escalating tensions between the Philippines and China, with Manila heavily depending on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with Washington that states the activation of US defense in case of an armed attack on Philippine territory and waters.

Chinas aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, including in exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Philippines, have caused concern in the international community as most countries in the Indo-Pacific region and western nations calling on the Asian economic powerhouse to heed and follow international laws, rules, and regulations.
The Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia have cited the aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as added motivation for them to line up more quadrilateral maritime exercises to assert a rules-based order in the international waters.

This came after Defense Secretaries Gilberto Teodoro (Philippines), Lloyd Austin (US), Ministers Kihara Minoru (Japan) and Richard Marles (Australia) gathered in Hawaii last May 2 for their second ministerial meeting, where they discussed concerns on developments in the Indo-Pacific.

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In a press conference on Saturday, Marles explained that their move to conduct more maritime exercises is about the assertion of a global rules-based order, a way in which their countries can work together.

The meeting of the defense chiefs from the four countries followed the recently held Maritime Cooperative Activity among them, where they strengthened the interoperability of their defense and armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

On April 7, Filipino, American, Japanese and Australian troops conducted joint maritime drills in the WPS (also known as South China Sea) amid Beijings repeated aggression against the Philippines in the contested waters.

In the readout of their meeting that was released on Saturday, the four Defense chiefs expressed serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas, as they also strongly objected to the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the WPS.

Austin also described as irresponsible behavior the actions of China, pertaining to its frequent and violent water cannon attacks, which recently injured the crew of the Philippine vessels and damaged their ships.

They reiterated serious concern over the PRCs (Peoples Republic of Chinas) repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and the disruption of supply lines to Second Thomas Shoal, which constitute dangerous and destabilizing conduct, the readout stated.

Citing the importance of rule of law reflected on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, they vowed to work together that the rules-based order will be followed.

Because of this, they committed to bolster alliance in support of regional security and stability as they saw opportunities to further advance defense cooperation through continued maritime cooperation in the WPS, enhanced procedures to enable coordination and information sharing arrangements, and strengthening capacity building.

Were clear-eyed about the challenges that exist throughout the region And so, well need to continue to work together, to increase interoperability, to make sure that we share information, share intelligence, Austin stressed.

Austin said they are looking to have more maritime exercises and activities among their countries, while Kihara said their meeting and statement is not directed towards any specific or particular nation.

Rather, it is towards the nations which are trying to change the status quo by force, he said.

We also want to pursue coordinated security assistance to the Philippines that will boost interoperability and help the Philippines achieve its defense modernization goals, the US defense secretary added.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., in a statement, called the alleged new model a devious machination of China, telling Beijing, This charade must stop.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command agreed to a new model on the management of disputes over the waters, which was also supposedly approved by key Philippine officials, belonging to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Security Council (NSC).

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China made the statement after the Philippines already denied the existence of any deal that would compromise the countrys rights over the West Philippine Sea.

The embassy stressed that all communication and negotiation on this subject matter is kept on record in every detail by the Chinese side.

The above are facts, not narratives or inventions, the embassy said.

Teodoro, however, reiterated that I have disallowed any contact between the DND and the Chinese Embassy since the courtesy call of Ambassador Huang Xilian, a few days after I assumed office in July of last year, Teodoro said.

During the said courtesy call, there was no discussion or briefing on any gentlemans agreement or new model, which is contrary to the Chinese Embassys pronouncements, he said.

Teodoro noted that the Chinese Embassys statement came after the latest show of aggression by China in the West Philippine Sea were condemned by the recent SQUAD meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

I am issuing this statement to generate awareness on this clear attempt by China to advance another falsehood in order to divide our people and distract us from their unlawful presence and actions in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), Teodoro said.

We advise our citizens, the media, and the international community to beware of Chinas methods of manipulation, interference, and malign influence in furthering its own interests, he said.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Ano said the Chinese Embassys claims of a new model were absolutely absurd, ludicrous, and preposterous.

No one in the Philippine government is, nor have been, empowered nor authorized to enter into or commit to any sort of agreement, understanding, or arrangement  more so informal ones, by our President, Ano said in a statement.

The Chinese Embassy needs to be reminded that you can never deceive the Filipino people with your fabricated stories, bluffs, and fake exchanges of communication just to support your illegal claim of Philippine territory as well as to justify your illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions particularly the use of military-grade lasers, water cannons, dangerous blocking maneuvers, and ramming of our vessels which has caused wounded casualties on our side, he added.

Ano also questioned the timing of Chinas statement, which came after it was revealed that the cays of the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea are now in degraded states due to apparent island-building activities.

This is the bigger story that they want to dislodge from the headlines and deflect attention from. It has truly reached a new low of pathetic desperation, said Ano.

Given that this entire arrangement story is clearly fake news and disinformation, this will be the last time I will ever comment on this issue, he added.

Despite denial by the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy insisted to what it claimed to be deals that were agreed to by the Philippine side.

First was an agreement that was made in 2016 during the Duterte administration.

The Chinese embassy claimed that the Philippines agreed not to deploy any of its vessels or aircraft beyond 12 nautical miles or its corresponding airspace of Scarborough and would limit the fishing area of Filipino fishers.

In its latest statement, the embassy claimed that the AFP Wescom, the DND and the NSC had agreed to the new model.

Thanks to the new model, frontliners of both sides had guidance to follow on how to interact with each other, which made the resupply mission on last February 2 a smooth one, it said.

The embassy also said that even the AFP spokesperson described, in a post on X, one of the resupply missions as flawless, supposedly after the implementation of the new model.

In fact, on 5th of July 2023, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines [Huang Xilian] had the honor to pay a courtesy call on Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo, exchanged views with the latter on China-Philippines military relations, and maritime issues, among other things, it said.

During the meeting, the Philippine side was briefed on the gentlemens agreement on the management of Renai Jiao. Readouts of the meeting were released respectively by the DND and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, it added.

The Chinese embassy was prompted to pose this question: Why does the Philippine administration keep denying and resisting the understandings and arrangements?

The embassy statement said that the Philippines is wracking our brains because of the more and more questions that it is having.

On an earlier note, however, the DFA, the DND and the NSC have already warned of the misinformation being spread by China supposedly to sow discord among Filipinos.
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:

Why does the word "cancer" have its roots in the ancient Greek and Latin words for crab? The physician Galen offers one explanation. Credit: Pierre Roche Vigneron/Wikimedia

One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, developed a cancer between his groin and scrotum. As the cancer spread, Satyrus had ever greater pains. He was unable to sleep and had convulsions.

Advanced cancers in that part of the body were regarded as inoperable, and there were no drugs strong enough to alleviate the agony. So doctors could do nothing. Eventually, the cancer took Satyrus' life at the age of 65.

Cancer was already well known in this period. A text written in the late fifth or early fourth century BC, called Diseases of Women, described how breast cancer develops:

"Hard growths form [] out of them hidden cancers develop [] pains shoot up from the patients' breasts to their throats, and around their shoulder blades [] such patients become thin through their whole body [] breathing decreases, the sense of smell is lost []"

Other medical works of this period describe different sorts of cancers. A woman from the Greek city of Abdera died from a cancer of the chest; a man with throat cancer survived after his doctor burned away the tumor.

Where does the word 'cancer' come from?

The word cancer comes from the same era. In the late fifth and early fourth century BC, doctors were using the word karkinosthe ancient Greek word for crabto describe malignant tumors. Later, when Latin-speaking doctors described the same disease, they used the Latin word for crab: cancer. So, the name stuck.

Even in ancient times, people wondered why doctors named the disease after an animal. One explanation was the crab is an aggressive animal, just as cancer can be an aggressive disease; another explanation was the crab can grip one part of a person's body with its claws and be difficult to remove, just as cancer can be difficult to remove once it has developed. Others thought it was because of the appearance of the tumor.

The physician Galen (129216 AD) described breast cancer in his work A Method of Medicine to Glaucon, and compared the form of the tumor to the form of a crab:

"We have often seen in the breasts a tumor exactly like a crab. Just as that animal has feet on either side of its body, so too in this disease the veins of the unnatural swelling are stretched out on either side, creating a form similar to a crab."

Not everyone agreed what caused cancer

In the Greco-Roman period, there were different opinions about the cause of cancer.

According to a widespread ancient medical theory, the body has four humors: blood, yellow bile, phlegm and black bile. These four humors need to be kept in a state of balance, otherwise a person becomes sick. If a person suffered from an excess of black bile, it was thought this would eventually lead to cancer.

The physician Erasistratus, who lived from around 315 to 240 BC, disagreed. However, so far as we know, he did not offer an alternative explanation.

How was cancer treated?

Cancer was treated in a range of different ways. It was thought that cancers in their early stages could be cured using medications.

These included drugs derived from plants (such as cucumber, narcissus bulb, castor bean, bitter vetch, cabbage); animals (such as the ash of a crab); and metals (such as arsenic).

Galen claimed that by using this sort of medication, and repeatedly purging his patients with emetics or enemas, he was sometimes successful at making emerging cancers disappear. He said the same treatment sometimes prevented more advanced cancers from continuing to grow. However, he also said surgery is necessary if these medications do not work.

Surgery was usually avoided as patients tended to die from blood loss. The most successful operations were on cancers of the tip of the breast. Leonidas, a physician who lived in the second and third century AD, described his method, which involved cauterizing (burning):

"I usually operate in cases where the tumors do not extend into the chest [] When the patient has been placed on her back, I incise the healthy area of the breast above the tumor and then cauterize the incision until scabs form and the bleeding is stanched. Then I incise again, marking out the area as I cut deeply into the breast, and again I cauterize. I do this [incising and cauterizing] quite often [] This way the bleeding is not dangerous. After the excision is complete I again cauterize the entire area until it is desiccated."

Cancer was generally regarded as an incurable disease, and so it was feared. Some people with cancer, such as the poet Silius Italicus (26102 AD), died by suicide to end the torment.

Patients would also pray to the gods for hope of a cure. An example of this is Innocentia, an aristocratic lady who lived in Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia) in the fifth century AD. She told her doctor divine intervention had cured her breast cancer, though her doctor did not believe her.

From the past into the future

We began with Satyrus, a tyrant in the fourth century BC. In the 2,400 years or so since then, much has changed in our knowledge of what causes cancer, how to prevent it and how to treat it. We also know there are more than 200 different types of cancer. Some people's cancers are so successfully managed, they go on to live long lives.

But there is still no general "cure for cancer," a disease that about one in five people develop in their lifetime. In 2022 alone, there were about 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths globally. We clearly have a long way to go.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Patients with COVID-19 had lower viral loads if treated with metformin, according to new University of Minnesota research that argues for broader use of the cheap anti-diabetes drug and against the controversial use of ivermectin.

The findings helped connect the dots and explain why metformin in a U-led clinical trial reduced the likelihood of COVID-related hospitalizations or the development of long COVID illness. The amount of virus in patients is often associated with the severity of illnesses and complications, and it was found to be almost fourfold lower in patients in the trial who took metformin vs. non-medicating placebo pills.

The results "could be a tipping point" that convinces doctors to prescribe metformin to treat COVID, said Dr. Carolyn Bramante, the lead U researcher of the drug trial. "But people don't want to be wrong" so she predicted many will wait for results of a larger drug trial called ACTIV-6.

The U study results also showed that metformin users were less likely to see a rebound in 10 days of their viral loads, which also can be a proxy for the development of post-COVID complications, or long COVID.

Researchers of the U-led trial, named COVID-OUT, found no statistically significant evidence of lower viral loads in participants who took ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug that has been championed by some doctors, politicians and vaccine skeptics. A third drug, fluvoxamine, also showed no benefit.

All three drugs had been identified early in the pandemic as promising targets, but a U computer simulation singled out metformin for its potential to disrupt the life cycle of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Metformin's benefits appeared statistically stronger in unvaccinated participants, but the drug also appeared to work for vaccinated participants. It also reduced viral loads in those infected by the alpha, delta or omicron coronavirus variants that caused distinct COVID-19 waves over the three years of the pandemic.

COVID has become something of an afterthought in 2024. Hospitalizations related to the infectious disease have plummeted since December, according to Thursday's state update. Signs of the coronavirus in Minnesota wastewater samples were at their lowest since August.

COVID-19 related deaths have declined from 113 in February in Minnesota to 62 in March to 40 so far in Aprilalmost all among senior citizens. Health officials warned that this is still an elevated mortality rate that has just been normalized by the earlier severity of the pandemic.

Long COVID also remains a concern: federal survey data showed that more than 7% of Minnesota adults were dealing with the lingering condition last month.

Federal health officials earlier this year urged people 65 and older at greatest risk of severe COVID to seek additional vaccine boosters. Uptake has been slow; the most recent state data showed only 3% of seniors were up to date on COVID vaccinations since the latest recommendations.

2024 StarTribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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A national survey led by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that parents have insufficient knowledge of newborn screening in general and of cystic fibrosis (CF) in particular. Researchers asked specific questions about CF based on studies showing that initial CF follow-up visits after a positive newborn screening often occur after 4 weeks of age, which is later than the recommended timeframe for best outcomes.

Later follow-up is associated with worse nutrition in childhood, a predictor of long-term health in CF. Parents reported difficulties in understanding abnormal newborn screening results and uncertainty as to what to do next.

An abstract of the findings was presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Toronto, Canada, on May 5, 2024, by Ashley Hayes, MPH, from Lurie Children's.

"Although all U.S. States screen for at least 33 metabolic and genetic disorders using blood spots collected in the first days of life, we found that parents don't know enough about newborn screening and need more support from clinicians if their infant has an abnormal test result," said Marie Heffernan, Ph.D., lead author on the abstract and Survey Science Lead at Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Lurie Children's, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Our main message to parents is to know your baby's newborn screening results and follow-up immediately if the test is abnormal. Not all babies with an abnormal screening test have the disease that is identified, but timely treatment can make a huge difference for the baby's health, development and survival. This is certainly true if newborn screening identifies cystic fibrosis."

CF is a progressive genetic disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. Pre-symptomatic treatment of CF leads to better long term health, and is the overarching goal of its inclusion in newborn screening. However, CF diagnosis is often delayed or even missed, especially in Black/African American, Hispanic/Latine, or Asian newborns.

Delays in evaluation and initiation of treatment are associated with more lung disease during the first year of life and poorer growth that persists through early childhood.

In the survey of nearly 1,600 parents, most respondents had heard of CF prior to participating (79%), but about half did not know it was included in newborn screening tests (52%). Overall, just over half of parents reported that they knew which conditions are included in newborn screening tests (51%), that false-positive results were possible (58%), and that false-negative results also were possible (54%).

Among parents who had a child with a positive newborn screening test, most parents (75%) reported difficulty understanding the test results and 34% of parents did not feel supported by their child's health care team.

"To improve outcomes of conditions like cystic fibrosis that are included in newborn screening tests, stronger partnerships are needed between clinicians and new parents," said Susanna McColley, MD, senior author on the abstract and Scientific Director for Interdisciplinary Research Partnerships at Manne Research Institute at Lurie Children's, and Professor of Pediatrics in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Our results also indicate the need for greater public awareness of newborn screening. Specifically, we need more awareness among providers and the public that infants of all racial and ethnic backgrounds can have cystic fibrosis."
Guwahati: At least two people were injured near the Indo-Bhutan border in Baksa, Assam on Sunday after a wild Mithun attacked them.

The injured were identified as Madan Nirla and Rajesh Tirkey.

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Also Read: Assam CM condemns terror attack in Jammu & Kashmirs Poonch

They were attacked by a wild Mithun that had strayed out of the forest area and into the human-inhabited areas.

Both persons were severely injured as the animal had charged them with full force, reports claimed.

Also Read: Assam: Man stabs brother to death in Mariani

They have been admitted to the Musalpur Civil Hospital after the attack.

The attack was recorded on camera and it has been suspected that the animal may be come out of the Batabari forest searching for food.

Forest officials have initiated attempts to send the Mithun back to the forest.
Even though generative AI is a recent development, there's already strong evidence that, like the steam engine, it possesses all the characteristics are needed of a general-purpose technology, argued Andrew McAfee, the Co-Founder and Co-Director of 'MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy' and a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Since the Industrial Revolution, a handful of technologies have been powerful enough to accelerate the overall course of economic progress, the author in his report 'Economic Impact of Generative AI' said. These "general-purpose technologies" include the steam engine, the internal combustion engine, electrification, and the computer. In the report, the author made a case that generative AI is a new general-purpose technology, and it that may spread more quickly than its predecessors. The opinions expressed in the said report are solely those of the author Generative AI is a recently developed type of artificial intelligence capable of producing new and original content such as text, images, videos, and audio. It accomplishes tasks by learning statistical patterns from existing data, then using those patterns to generate new outputs upon request. "General-purpose technologies not only boost productivity and economic growth, but also contribute to many other kinds of advancement. We anticipate that generative AI will speed up scientific discovery, help innovators and engineers build better, and give creative people new ways to express themselves and move their audiences," the author wrote in his report published recently. The author asserted that new technologies, however, bring challenges along with its benefits. Citing an example, he argued that the internal combustion engine, for example, polluted the atmosphere, made conflict more lethal, and led to massive shifts in employment as workers moved from farms to factories. "But the long-run overall effect of tech progress has been hugely positive. In recent decades working hours have dropped while standards of living have improved around the world." By one estimate, the author said close to 80 per cent of the jobs in the US economy could see at least 10 per cent of their tasks done twice as quickly (with no loss in quality) via the use of generative AI. Previous general-purpose technologies like the steam engine and electrification have brought their changes over decades. However, the author anticipates that generative AI's effects will be felt more quickly due to its ease of diffusion. "In addition to faster growth, generative AI will bring other changes. It will reduce demand for some skills, increase demand for others, and create demand for entirely new ones," it added. "Previous general-purpose technologies have resulted in changes to the companies and countries leading the way in different industries. We believe that generative AI will be similarly powerful." (ANI)
UNICEF India on Saturday announced Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan as its new National Ambassador. And this update has left actress Priyanka Chopra extremely happy. Taking to Instagram Story, Priyanka sent her best wishes to Kareena. "Welcome to the family @KareenaKapoorKhan. Very well deserved," she wrote. Kareena re-shared Priyanka's story and wrote, "Thank you PCJ. See you soon." Priyanka has been associated with UNICEF since 2006 and was named the national and global Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016, respectively. Kareena has been associated with UNICEF India since 2014 and has worked on issues such as girls' education, gender equality, foundational learning, immunization and breastfeeding. On being named UNICEF India's National Ambassador, Kareena said, "I'm very honoured and very humbled to take on this position. I've worked tirelessly and worked very hard with all my heart. And now, finally, I'm joining them as a national ambassador. But of course, with that comes a huge responsibility which I accept with all my heart to ensure that every child through the corners of India, however vulnerable, wherever he is, whoever she is...I must include when I say every single child, I do not specify gender, I do not want to, voice or no voice, abled or disabled...I specify every single child I will work towards to give them their fundamental right...," she said. "Every child deserves a fair chance to life, the first five years of their life being their foundation. Every child deserves a childhood, the first five years, once again I repeat, being the most important and formative years. They deserve a right - a right to safety, a right to gender equality, a right to education, primary education, safe environments, health and nutrition. They basically deserve a fair chance at life itself," she added. The 'Crew' star emphasised the need to develop the child's confidence so that they can innovate new ideas and dream big in life. "And nurturing their confidence. Because confidence gives them the ability to dream, ability to fly, ability to have ideas, to innovate, which they need because children are, they are the future. They are the future of our nation. So to have that, we must build their confidence. So that is also a fundamental right, which we have to do," she said. "And by that, I mean engaging them in sports, drama, painting, arts, reading, things like that, which we plan to do. And that's what I want. These two things are, I think, the most important thing in the formative years of a child, which I'm quite sure we're going to do in the coming years. And of course, I would like to say that it's been an absolutely tremendous journey, a decade together with UNICEF India," she added. On the movie front, Kareena is currently basking in the success of 'Crew', in which she shared screen space with Kriti Sanon and Tabu. Helmed by Rajesh A Krishnan, 'Crew' revolves around the journey of three working women set against the backdrop of the aviation industry. The film also stars Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee, Rajesh Sharma and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.In the coming months, she will be seen headlining Hansal Mehta's 'The Buckingham Murders'. She also has Rohit Shetty's 'Singham Again' in her kitty. (ANI)
Pop icon Dua Lipa made her first appearance on Saturday Night Live as a guest and talked about 'Radical Optimism', according to Deadline. She took the stage on the late-night talk show on the heels of the release of her third studio album titled, 'Radical Optimism'. She shared that many people asked her about the album, "To me, it's like looking on the bright side in any situation," she said. During the sketch of SNL, she encouraged the audience to discuss their difficulties and provide examples of how she would tackle them. Andrew Dismukes portrayed an audience member who was abandoned by his wife after he unintentionally contacted her mother "Well, on the bright side, now you'll have more time to spend with your mom," Dua Lipa said. "See, radical optimism." A second audience member, this time played by Bowen Yang, said he had gone to the doctor who advised him to stop drinking. "Well, on the bright side, there's always poppers," Dua Lipa replied. "See, you can put a positive spin on anything." Then Dua Lipa focused her attention on a third audience member, played by Heidi Gardner. "Hi, I'm South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem...," she said before being interrupted by Dua Lipa telling her she couldn't help. Dua Lipa also referred to her dance moves that have become a meme and said, "Go girl, give us nothing." "But I didn't give you nothing," she said. "I gave you the greatest meme of all time," reported Deadline. (ANI)
Set against the backdrop of an imagined Modern America, this self-funded project boasts a star-studded cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Laurence Fishburne, and Dustin Hoffman.

The captivating two-minute teaser offers a glimpse into Driver's character as he teeters on the edge of a skyscraper, contemplating a daring leap. However, just as he is about to take the plunge, he commands time to halt, freezing the bustling city below him in its tracks with a simple utterance of 'Time stop.'

This tantalizing snippet sets the stage for what promises to be a riveting cinematic experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZL3U1j3K1c

Described as a Roman Epic set in a futuristic metropolis, 'Megalopolis' delves into the clash between innovation and tradition, embodied by Driver's visionary artist Cesar Catilina and his adversary, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

The narrative revolves around their ideological battle for the future of New Rome, with Nathalie Emmanuel portraying the conflicted socialite Julia Cicero caught in the crossfire of love and loyalty.

'Megalopolis' premiere is scheduled at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17. (ANI)
Actor Eva Mendes showed her support for Ryan Gosling's 'The Fall Guy'. She shared a picture with him in gold outfits referring to his stuntman character in the movie, reported People. "Do you believe in happy endings?" Mendes wrote in the caption on her Instagram handle. "Aliana & Space Cowboy together at last." In 'The Fall Guy', Gosling plays a stunt double for the character Space Cowboy (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who romances an extraterrestrial named Aliana in the imaginary film directed by Emily Blunt's character. Mendes joked in her post that she and Gosling were the two characters. "If you know, you know ... ," the actress added in her post while tagging the movie. https://www.instagram.com/p/C6jf4uqxhgG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Mendes' support for Gosling's latest film comes after the actor kindly congratulated her on her future production when promoting 'The Fall Guy' in the UK last month. During the film's U.K. press tour, Gosling wore a T-shirt with the title of Mendes' children's book Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, which will be released this autumn, written across the front in black letters. Mendes releases her first children's picture book, Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, on Sept. 17. The actress told PEOPLE in February that the book was a "love letter" to her and Gosling's own daughters, Esmeralda, 9, and Amada, 8. At the Los Angeles premiere of 'The Fall Guy' on April 30, Gosling said of Mendes' new project it is "such a beautiful book."We read a lot of kids' books and it's one of the best I have read," he raved. "It's really about something and beautiful," reported People. (ANI)
Mendes, known for her roles in Hollywood, joined the ranks of other celebrities such as Bindi Irwin and Kylie Minogue, who have previously contributed to the series, as per People magazine.

In the latest episode titled 'Mum School,' released on Friday, May 3, Mendes takes on the lead voiceover role, captivating young audiences as she narrates the heartwarming story.

The six-minute episode features Mendes reading the story alongside illustrations depicting Bluey and his family, bringing the tale to life for viewers.

Mendes, in her soothing voice, guides viewers through the narrative, starting with Bluey and his mom playing joyfully in the lounge room.

The episode unfolds with familiar Bluey antics, drawing children and parents alike into its endearing storyline.

This collaboration marks Mendes' second venture into the world of 'Bluey,' having previously appeared as a yoga instructor in a 2021 episode of the animated series.

Expressing her fondness for the show in a statement obtained by People magazine, Mendes shared that 'Bluey' holds a significant place in her household, with her daughters, Esmeralda Amada and Amada Lee, being avid fans.

The 'Bluey Book Reads' digital series, which debuted in February, offers episodes adapted from the popular 'Bluey' children's books, bringing the stories to life in an engaging format for young audiences.

Mendes' addition to the series further enriches the immersive experience for viewers.

Beyond her involvement with 'Bluey,' Mendes is preparing to release her debut children's picture book titled 'Desi, Mami and the Never-Ending Worries' later this fall.

Reflecting on her upcoming book, Mendes described it as a heartfelt tribute to her own children and families everywhere, reported People magazine. (ANI)
Actor Emily Blunt recalled her kids' reaction while watching her trapped and injured underwater in 'Jungle Cruise', reported People. "They don't love watching me on screen," said Blunt, 41, of daughters Hazel, 9, and Violet, 7, who she shares with husband John Krasinski, 44. "Which I understand because I'm their mommy and it's very strange to see me play someone else." That holds true even for films geared at children, such as Disney's 2011 blockbuster 'The Muppets', 2018's 'Mary Poppins Returns', and 2021's 'Jungle Cruise'. The latter picture, which also stars Dwayne Johnson, proved to be a painful watching experience for her children. "They've only seen Jungle Cruise once," the Oppenheimer Oscar nominee revealed. "They didn't like the underwater stuff where I'm trapped and I'm in peril." In the action-comedy based on the same-named Disneyland theme park attraction, Blunt's explorer Dr Lily Houghton admits to being unable to swim. The tale is set in the Amazon River, where wonderfully fearsome opponents await, pitting the adventurer in a number of high-stakes underwater confrontations. Upon seeing her in danger, recalled Blunt with a frown, Hazel and Violet "started crying. They left the room." Ryan Gosling, Blunt's costar in the stunt-heavy action-comedy 'The Fall Guy', agrees with their reaction. "I didn't like that, either," he told Blunt. "That was upsetting for me to watch you like that!" Similarly, Gosling's daughters Esmeralda Amada, 9, and Amada Lee, 8, who he shares with longtime partner Eva Mendes, have concerns about his strange line of work. Going into production on The Fall Guy, "My kids didn't want me to be set on fire. They were like, 'No. No fire.' So I didn't do it, " reported People. (ANI)
Referring to the question about the construction of Darbhanga AIIMS by former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Darbhanga on Saturday, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan said that if they (Tejashwi) had done some work during their tenure, they would not need to ask such questions now. Specifying the completion of Darbhanga AIIMS Paswan said, "Within time it will be completed". "Within time it will be completed, but those are showing so much concern, so what they did for hospitals during their tenure. You have been the health minister as well what have you done for hospitals, is situation of Bihar's hospitals is hidden from anyone. Two of the chief ministers are from your family so why have health facilities in Bihar not got fixed? Raising fingers at others is easy, but if you guys had done your jobs then you would not have been asking such questions. But would have been fighting elections on your achievements," said Paswan. Further talking about promises made by PM Modi to the people of Bihar Chirag said, "Every Bihari has faith in promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that every promise will and are fulfilled that's why with every election the NDA government is witnessing pro incumbency. The reality is that the opposition has no issues left that's why they are making a personnel attack on PM Modi. The work done in last 10 years is the reason, the country is heading towards becoming a developed state by 2047." Earlier, In a veiled attack on former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called the RJD leader a 'shehzada' equivalent to that of Congress leader in Delhi (Rahul Gandhi) who considers the entire Bihar as his "jagir" (property). Addressing a rally in Darbhanga, PM Modi said that he has tabled a vision for the next 25 years. "I have given a roadmap of development for the next five years. I have also tabled a vision for the next 25 years, but it is also important to keep in mind the past. Similar to a 'shahzada' in Delhi, there's a 'shahzada' in Patna too. One 'shehzada' considers entire India as his' jagir' since his childhood, and another one considers the entire Bihar as his 'jagir'. The report cards of these two prince are the same. There is nothing in their report card except scams," PM Modi said. Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 40 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Bihar. The voting here will be held on May 13 in the fourth phase. 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, the BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state, failed to open its account. (ANI)
After Trinamool Congress claimed that a 'sting video' has exposed the Bharatiya Janata Party's plan to defame them over Sandeshkhali incident, BJP Mandal (booth) president, Gangadhar Kayl, who appeared in the video, has written a complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over TMC's misleading claims. In his complaint to the CBI, Kayl alleged that his face and voice was modulated using the Artificial Intelligence. "I have come across a video uploaded from an unverified YouTube channel namely "Williams" where it can be seen that the same has been made using my face and the voice has been modulated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) so that it can mislead the public at large against the Sandeshkhali incident," Gangadhar Kayl said. "It is stated that there are reasons to believe that the said video is nothing but a product of conspiracy hatched by Abhishek Banerjee in association with iPac using the voice modulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to safeguard the actual culprits of Sandeshkhali incidents by shifting the blame and the burden to the person who stood by the victims of the Sandeshkhali incident and also to disturb the ongoing investigation conducted by the CBI," he added in his complaint. He also pointed out the reasons supporting his claim that the entire video footage is morphed and edited as the video and the audio are not in sync. "The face of the speaker, cannot be seen properly and has been edited in such a way so that the face remains in the dark. Audio quality is not clear and to suffice that subtitles has been used and the same has been couched in such a way that can disturb the ongoing investigation," the complaint alleged. The BJP Sandeshkhali leader further, urged the CBI to conduct an investigation into the said video footage. "It is requested that since CBI is already investigating different angles of the entire incident of Sandeshkhali, investigation must also be done against the said video footage which has been morphed and edited using my face and my artificial voice in order to put a political colour on the unfortunate Sandeshkhali incident," he said. Meanwhile, on Saturday, a video of a sting operation surfaced that has stirred up controversy in Sandeshkhali which was broadcast by a local television channel. In the alleged video, a person, purportedly a BJP Mandal (booth) president named Gangadhar Koyal is heard saying that Sandeshkhali women, who weren't sexually assaulted, were projected as 'rape' victims at the behest of the LoP. Claiming that Suvendu 'helped' him get this done, the person in the video said that the former told him that the TMC's strongmen in the area wouldn't be arrested unless he is falsely implicated in a "rape case". (ANI)
After Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, accused in the obscene video case has fled the country, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought any fugitive back to the country. "So many have fled to foreign countries, has PM Modi brought anyone back? So many Indians who are corrupt, rapists have fled from here and are living lavish lives abroad. Has he (PM Modi) brought anyone back?" Yadav said speaking to ANI on Saturday. Commenting on the incident, the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said, "This is a very shameful incident. What happened in Manipur was heart-rending. What happened with women wrestlers was heart-rending. This incident, where an NDA MP sexually exploited around 3000 women...His voting was over on May 26 and then he fled abroad! People will teach him a lesson." While Kishfisher Airline's former boss Vijay Mallya is in the United Kingdom and the government is making an effort to extradite him, fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi is also facing extradition and has been in the United Kingdom since 2019. Vijay Mallya fled in 2016 when public sector banks approached the Debt Recovery Tribunal. Nirav Modi was arrested on charges related to the Punjab National Bank loan scam. Lalit Modi who founded the Indian Premier League and has been accused of bid-rigging and money laundering has also fled to the United Kingdom. Earlier in the day, JDS party leader HD Revanna was taken into custody by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials in Karnataka. The arrest was related to a kidnapping case filed against him at the KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru. Earlier, a special court for People's Representative in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of JD(S) leader HD Revanna and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with the alleged "obscene videos" case. Justice Santosh Gajanana Bhat's bench of the People's Representative Court in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of both the JD(S) leaders. HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household. The FIR has been filed at the KR Nagar police station in Mysuru and a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376(2)(N), 506, 354A(1), 354(B), 354(c) and also under relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act has been registered against the JD(S) leader. Revanna was booked in an alleged sexual harassment case on April 28 based on a complaint lodged at Holenarasipura Town police. The case was registered under sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509 of the IPC on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation, and outraging the dignity of a woman. As per the complaint, the victim claimed that Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna had sexually assaulted her. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. The Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged obscene video case against Prajwal Revanna. (ANI)
Several leaders, across the party line condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Saturday, killing one personnel of Indian Air Force. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, said that those responsible for the atrocious act will face the full force of justice. "I vehemently denounce the cowardly assault on the @IAF_MCC convoy in Poonch by terrorists, resulting in injuries to four courageous Air Force personnel. Wishing them a swift and complete recovery. Those responsible for this atrocious act will face the full force of justice," the Assam CM said. Aam Adami Party leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also condemned the attack, calling it "despicable, shameful and cowardly act of the terrorists". "Very sad news is coming from Poonch that terrorists have attacked an Air Force convoy, in which some brave Indian soldiers have been injured and one soldier has been martyred. This is a very despicable, shameful and cowardly act of the terrorists," he said, in a Hindi post on X. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers. "I pray to God that our injured soldiers get well soon. Tribute to the martyred soldier, everyone stands with his family," he said. The incident, which took place at Sanai village, resulted in the injured personnel being promptly transported to the Command Hospital in Udhampur, where unfortunately, one of them passed away due to his injuries. Following the attack, the local Rashtriya Rifles unit initiated cordon and search operations in the vicinity, with support from the Army and police, to track down the perpetrators. The IAF confirmed the incident through a tweet, stating that the targeted convoy had been secured, and emphasising the ongoing investigation. "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district," officials said. The vehicles have been secured inside the air base in the general area near Shahsitar. Congress President Malikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi also extended condolences over the death of personnel of the Indian Air Force. "Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism," Kharge said in a post on X. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extended condolences over the death of personnel of the Indian Air Force. Condemning the attack by terrorists on the Air Force's convoy, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote, "The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad." (ANI)
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This photo shows copies of the report entitled "Chinese Modernization: the Way Forward." [Photo/Xinhua]

A report released by Chinese think tanks on Saturday introduced the process of Chinese modernization and highlighted its global significance.

The report, entitled "Chinese Modernization: the Way Forward," was co-authored by researchers from the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Xinhua Institute, which is a high-end think tank of Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese people, under the CPC's leadership, have blazed a trail of Chinese modernization, said Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency and also chairman of the academic committee of Xinhua Institute.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, by elaborating on the connotation and essence of Chinese modernization, has contributed major innovations to global modernization theories, Fu said.

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua attends a forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France and delivers a speech, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Upholding the spirit of "establishing oneself and helping others to establish" and the idea that "the world is one family," China has been sharing development opportunities and building a better future with other countries, a move that benefits the Chinese people and promotes global development as well, which will have a positive and far-reaching impact on the world, Fu said.

Ji Zhengju, vice-director of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, made a speech on the relationship between modernization and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Cultural cooperation should adhere to the spirit of independence, which is not only the primary connotation of the "China-France spirit" summarized by President Xi, but also an important spiritual connotation of Chinese modernization, Ji said.

A visitor takes pictures at a photo exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cultural exchanges should prioritize mutual learning, which is the main theme of the China-France cultural exchanges as well as an inevitable choice for Chinese modernization to achieve the coordinated development between material and spiritual civilizations, Ji added.

Noting that global development is facing new challenges, Marc Uzan, founder and executive director of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, called for closer cooperation between France and China to make the international financial system more resilient, equitable and inclusive.

"By aligning efforts with China and with other international partners, we will be able to contribute to shaping a more stable global governance," Uzan concluded.

Guests attend a forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Remi Mathieu, French sinologist and research director emeritus of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), said the Chinese practice can help the French take a step back from their customary ways of thinking.


After former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj took a swipe at the ruling party, accusing it of "breaking opposition parties". The AAP leader, while speaking to the reporters here, also came down heavily on Lovely and said that the latter's entry into the BJP was already anticipated since he stepped down as the Delhi Congress president in protest against the party's alliance with INDIA bloc partner AAP. "The day he resigned from Congress, almost everybody got to know that he would be joining the BJP. This is the politics of BJP, they break other parties but even after doing all these things, INDIA alliance is going to win all the 7 seats in Delhi," Saurabh Bharadwaj said. Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP on Saturday making it the second time that he stepped down as the Delhi Congress president. He, along with four former Congress leaders, joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. The four others who joined the party include former Congress MLAs who had recently left the party -- Rajkumar Chauhan, Neeraj Basoya, Naseeb Singh -- and Delhi Youth Congress chief Amit Malik. Speaking to reporters after joining the BJP, Lovely said that he met his supporters and several Congress workers following his resignation, who urged him "not to sit at home but join a strong party to fight for the people of Delhi." (ANI)
Congress has named Jay Narayan Patnaik as its Lok Sabha candidate from Puri in Odisha on Saturday after Sucharita Mohanty returned her ticket, citing alleged denial of funding by the party. "The Congress President (Mallikarjun Kharge) has approved the candidature of Shri Jay Narayan Patnaik (In place of Smt. Sucharita Mohanty) as the party candidate for the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha from 17 - Puri Parliamentary Constituency of Odisha," the Congress said in a statement. Patnaik has been associated with the Congress for the past few years, he will make his electoral debut in this election. The last date for filing nominations in Puri is May 6. Mohanty, who stood second from Puri in the 2014 polls, returned her ticket on Saturday, saying that without the party's financial help, it will not be possible for her to campaign in Puri. In a letter to party general secretary KC Venugopal, Mohanty claimed that her campaign in the Puri constituency "has been hit hard" due to lack of funds adding that her efforts to raise funds through public donation drive also saw little to no success. "Our campaign in the Puri Parliamentary constituency has been hit hard because the party has denied me funding. AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar ji categorically asked me to fund for myself. I was a salaried professional journalist who entered electoral politics 10 years ago. I have given all I have into my campaign in Puri," Mohanty stated in her letter. "I tried a public donation drive to support my campaign for progressive politics without much success so far. I also tried to cut down the projected campaign spending to the minimum," she added. She further said that the party's central leadership did not tend to her several requests to provide funds. "Since I couldn't raise funds on my own, I knocked at your and all other doors of our party's central leadership urging them to commit the necessary party funds for an impactful campaign in Puri Parliament seat. Like in 2014, I found a groundswell of popular support behind our party and my candidature. In this 2024 Satta Vs Janata election, the people are all set to throw out the two corrupt and scamsters ruling parties, BJP and BJP and vote for 5 Nyays and 25 guarantees of Congress," Mohanty said. Puri is among the high-profile poll battles that will unfold in Odisha, with the BJP fielding its national spokesperson Sambit Patra for the second straight time and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's BJD fielding former Mumbai Police commissioner Arup Patnaik. The constituency, currently held by the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) Pinaki Misra, votes in the sixth phase on May 25. In 2019, the Congress secured only 3.94 per cent of the votes in Puri. This was way down from 2014, when Mohanty's vote share was 18.5 per cent and she finished second. Like in 2019, the simultaneous elections in Odisha this time will be held in four phases, with the only difference this time being that the state will vote in the last four of the seven phases, unlike last time when it voted in the first four phases. During the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, BJD under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik won 12 of the 21 seats. The BJP won eight seats and Congress got one seat. The BJD swept the Odisha assembly polls in 2019, winning 112 seats. BJP won 23 seats and Congress nine seats. (ANI)
Congress President Malikarjun Kharge extended condolences to the kin of the Air Force officer who perished in ambush by suspected terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. In a post on X, Kharge wrote, "Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism." "Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave air warrior who made the supreme sacrifice. We hope that the injured air warriors recover at the earliest and earnestly pray for their well-being. India is united for our soldiers," he added. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extended condolences over the death of personnel of the Indian Air Force. Condemning the attack by terrorists on the Air Force's convoy, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote, "The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad," Rahul Gandhi said. "I pay my humble tribute to the martyred soldier and express my condolences to his bereaved family. I hope that the soldiers injured in the attack recover as soon as possible," he added. An Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel was killed and four others were injured in a terror attack in Jammu's Poonch district on Saturday evening. The area where the attack took place falls between Surankote's Sanai Top and Mendhar's Gursai area in the border district. "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by terrorists in the Poonch district," officials said. The injured personnel were evacuated to Udhampur for treatment on IAF choppers, where one of them succumbed. After the attack that took place, security forces launched a search and cordon operation, security forces' officials said. They said that the local Rashtriya Rifles unit has started cordon and search operations in the area. Officials further said the vehicles have been secured inside the air base in the general area near Shahsitar. The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in five phases from April 19 to May 20. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed confidence in the Congress party winning at least 20 out of 28 seats ahead of the second phase of polling in the state. Addressing a joint press conference along with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala in Belagavi on Sunday, the Karnataka CM asserted that the Congress government have fulfilled all the five guarantees that voted them to power in the state. Karnataka is voting in two phases for the 28 seats in the Lower House. Polling for 14 seats was held on April 26 and the remaining seats will vote on May 7 in the third phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. "As today evening campaigning will end, on May 7th there will be voting. On April 26th last phase election as per our information we'll win 8-9 seats. In this second phase, we'll win more than 10 seats as per our information by the workers. At least 20 seats we will win, we are confident because we have fulfilled all 5 promises that we announced. Without any middle man, guarantee cheques will reach every individual through me and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar," Siddaramaiah said. Further highlighting the Congress government's achievements in the past eight months since they came to power. "In the last eight months, we have implemented all promises. We swore to power on May 20. Many requests reached us during the campaigning before assembly polls for raising the quantity of rice given to 10 kg which the government under Yediyurappa had reduced from 7 kg to 5 kg. We fulfilled it, as we promised," he said. "We continue to uphold our congress guarantees. BJP leaders are making a fuss that the Congress guarantees should be stopped anyway," he added. Siddaramaiah also criticised the BJP for allegedly claiming to "change" the Constitution if voted to power in the Centre again. "BJP leaders are saying that, If they(BJP) come to power then they will change the constitution. They will change the constitution if BJP gets 400 seats in this Lok Sabha election. Mohan Bhagwat also asked to be patient that they will change the constitution. The BJP party has no respect for the Constitution. We can call this Lok Sabha election as the second independence," he said. Siddaramaiah further hit out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the GST compensation issue with the state. "Nirmala Sitharaman made false statements that desperately we went to the Supreme Court. When SC slammed them they announced 3600+ crores. What I request to voters of Karnataka is please, it's an opportunity to show them their way. Nirmala Sitharaman hasn't given anything to Karnataka in the last 10 years and is trying to divide society based on caste and religion. Change them and make sure Karnataka's people vote for us," he said. In 2019, BJP almost swept the state by winning 25 out of 28 seats, while Congress and JD(S) -- who were running a coalition government in the state -- could only win one seat each. This time BJP and JD-S are in coalition with the former fighting on 25 seats, while the latter is contesting three seats. (ANI)
Karnataka Congress has filed a complaint to the Election Commission against BJP national president JP Nadda, social media in-charge Amit Malviya, and state chief BY Vijayendra for allegedly posting a video on social media aimed at "intimidating" members of Schedule Caste/ Schedule Tribe to not vote for Congress in the Lok Sabha polls. In a complaint filed to the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru, the party also alleged the violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by using animated videos of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by portraying the Congress party as favouring a particular religion (Muslims) and suppressing members of SC/STs and OBC communities, with the intention to create feelings of enmity, hatred and ill-will against members of the SC/ST community. Ramesh Babu, Chairman, Media and Communication of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), said in the complaint, "... the tenor of video... is in nature of intimidating persons belonging to SC/ST Community that leaders of Congress party are likely to favour Muslims at cost of SC/ST Community. Since, elections to Lok Sabha is being held on 07/05/2024 in 14 constituencies, the video post of BJP on their official social media handle is nothing but intimidating SC/ST community not to cast a vote to Congress. This is a clear case of intimidating SC/ST community members and further projecting SC/ST community people in a bad light showing them as 'Eggs' and being kicked by another religion i.e., Muslims." The complaint,further said, "It is unfathomable as to how the State Level Media Monitoring committee approved this video to be uploaded by BJP. In the event of non-certification, why no action has been initiated for using an animated image/video of Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah and also defaming the SC/ST and OBC community people by projecting them as 'EGG.'" The Congress in its complaint further claimed that the intent of posting video by the BJP on it's official X handle appears to be to seek votes in Lok Sabha Elections by projecting Congress party to be favouring Muslim community. "However, the act of J.P.Nadda, National President- Bharatiya Janata Party, Amit Malviya National Social Media Incharge Bharatiya Janata Party, BY Vijayendra-State President-Karnataka BJP and Social Media incharge- Karnataka BJP is to portray the SC and ST Community in derogatory manner and the act showing SC and ST community being "kicked" by another religion (Muslim) is with an intent to prevent or intimidate a member of Schedule caste or tribe to not vote for a particular candidate attracting offense punishable under Section 3(L)(A) of SC/ST POA Act 1989. It is clear that the video on social media posted by aforesaid persons is to intimidate members of SC/ST community not to vote for Congress party by projecting that funds reserved for them will be usurped by Muslims," the complaint said. A day before, the official X handle of BJP Karnataka had posted an animated video with the caption "Beware.. Beware.. Beware..!" in Kannada. The video showed caricatures of Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah placing an egg with "Muslims" written on it in a nest along with three eggs marked as "SC, ST and OBC." The video further showed the caricature of Rahul Gandhi feeding "funds" only to the bird that hatched out of the "Muslim" egg. (ANI)
Amid the explosive political fallout of an alleged 'sting video', claiming that the BJP faked the Sandeshkhali horrors to defame the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state; Dilip Ghosh, the latter's candidate for the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, said people were being 'bought and sold' in the state. Also weighing in on the controversy around the molestation charge against Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose by a staffer at the Raj Bhavan, Ghosh claimed that people were also being installed at the governor's official residence in exchange for money. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the BJP's former state president said, "People are being bought and sold (under the TMC). They are even being seated or installed at the Raj Bhavan in exchange for money. However, this (alleged sting video) wouldn't make any difference (to the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in the state). It was not the BJP but the common people of Sandeshkhali who erupted in protest and came out on the streets against the ruling party. (Sheikh) Shahjahan (expelled TMC strongman and key Sandeshkhali accused) has confessed to the charges against him. It was his henchmen who attacked the ED and CBI (teams)." The TMC, on Saturday, flagged a video from an alleged sting operation that was broadcast by a local television news channel. In the alleged video, a person, purportedly a BJP Mandal (booth) president by the name of Gangadhar Koyal is heard saying that Sandeshkhali women, not assaulted sexually, were projected as 'rape' victims at the behest of the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Claiming that Suvendu 'helped' him get this done, the person in the video said that the former told him that the TMC's strongmen in the area wouldn't be arrested unless he is falsely implicated in a "rape case". However, the news channel that broke the alleged sting operation did not attest to the veracity of the clip. Sharing a clip from the alleged sting operation, TMC leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, claimed on his official X handle that the people should see through the BJP's attempts to tarnish Bengal's image and reputation to advance and achieve its political ends. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, posted about the alleged sting video from her official X handle, stating, "The shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP. In their hatred for Bengal's progressive thought & culture, the Bangla-Birodhis orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our state on every possible level. Never before in the history of India has a ruling party in Delhi tried to malign an entire state and its people. History will witness how Bengal will rise in rage against Delhi's conspiratorial regime & ensure their Bishorjon (they will be consigned to the waters)." Shahjahan is currently behind bars in connection with the attack on a team of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) while it was in the process of raiding his residence in connection with the alleged ration scam. He was arrested on February 29, 55 days after being on the run in connection with the assault on the ED team. The women of Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district came out on the streets earlier against the ruling TMC and Shahjahan, accusing the now expelled party strongman and his aides of perpetrating gross excesses and atrocities on them while also gobbling up their land. (ANI)
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has brought a halt to development in Andhra Pradesh with "corruption, loot and mafia," Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged here on Sunday. Addressing an election rally in Sri Sathyasai District, Shah said that the alliance of Telugu Desam Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Jana Sena Party aims to end hooliganism, rampant corruption and the menace of land mafia in Andhra Pradesh. "Here development is zero, investment is stagnant and unemployment is at its highest. Infrastructure projects are stalled but the industry of land mafia is running in full swing. Jagan's government is fully immersed in corruption. All they did was deteriorate the state of Andhra Pradesh with corruption, loot and mafias," Shah said. Praising TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu for his tenure as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Shah said that Jagan Reddy has derailed the "development train" of the state. "Under Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh flourished with development, but Jagan Reddy has derailed the development train," he said. Amit Shah also said that Jagan Reddy wants to abolish the Telugu language from the educational systems of the state. "Jagan Reddy wants to end the Telugu language and instead wants to implement English at primary education levels. We won't allow it," Shah said. Shah further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has already ensured victory on more than 100 seats and is comfortably moving towards its goal of 400 plus seats in Lok Sabha elections. "Two phases of Lok Sabha polls have concluded, and PM Modiji has already scored a century and is moving ahead. In the third phase, our resolve to cross 400 seats will get a further boost," he said. The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held on May 13. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the YSRCP won with a thumping majority of 151 seats, while the TDP was confined to 23 seats. In the Lok Sabha polls, the YSRCP won 22 seats, while the TDP could only win three seats. (ANI)
The five-time MLA from Mokama was admitted to the IGIMS Hospital in Patna for treatment. His wife, Neelam Devi, is currently an MLA from the Mokama Assembly seat

Singh was serving a 10-year prison sentence in Beur jail for violating the Arms Act, after an AK-47 rifle was recovered from his residence in August 2019. An FIR was lodged against him under the newly amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act. The MP-MLA court had sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.

After getting released from jail, Anant Singh was welcomed by a huge number of supporters.

Mokama assembly constituency falls under the Munger Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held on May 13.

The 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state failed to open its account.

Janata Dal-United (JDU) has fielded Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh from Munger.

The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, is contesting on 26 out of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats.

While, as part of the NDA, BJP and JD(U) are contesting 17 and 16 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting on five seats, and Jitan Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each. (ANI)
Amid the row over the alleged obscene video case involving NDA candidate and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna in Karnataka, the Congress party launched a fresh attack on Sunday, demanding answers to "10 questions" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During a joint press conference along with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar in Belagavi, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that Prime Minister Modi and leaders of Janata Dal (Secular) were "protecting a mass rapist". Surjewala also claimed that Prime Minister Modi was "aware of the matter" but still allied with the JD(S). "Our message in this case is clear and simple. Narendra Modi-ji and JD(S) leaders are protecting a mass rapist when the Prime Minister was aware that the candidate of his party and an ally is a serial abuser of thousands of women. A BJP leader in December 2023 approached PM Modi and Amit Shah with all the evidence," Surjewala told reporters in Belagavi on Sunday. Raising 10 questions of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Shah, the Congress leader said, "Firstly, why did they join hands with the Janata Dal (Secular)? Secondly, why did they make him a candidate of the BJP and Janata Dal? Thirdly, why did PM Modi visit Hassan and raise his hands saying Prajwal Revanna's win will give him more strength? The fourth question is why did Modi-ji, Amit Shah-ji, the BJP and JD(S) hide this truth about Prajwal Revanna even after knowing everything? "Fifth, when Prajwal Revanna was trying to fly out of India, didn't Modiji's external affairs ministry or the passport control board know that a mass rapist is fleeing the country? Why did Modi-ji and Amit Shah-ji allow him to flee?" "Sixth, the SIT wrote to the CBI and the Modi government on bringing him back wherever he is, why hasn't Modi-ji or Amit Shah-ji responded to it? Seventh, the chief minister wrote to Modi-ji to cancel Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport, why hasn't it been done yet? Eighth, our SIT wrote to the CBI, requesting it to ask Interpol to issue a blue-corner notice so that we know where he is. Why did Modiji not do this?" "Ninth, if a mass rapist flees the country, who should take the onus of bringing him back? Is the state or the central government? If its the central government, then what has Modi-ji and Amit Shah-ji been doing other than accusing Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar? Why are they not telling the truth? Lastly why is Prime Minister Modi so afraid to question Prajwal Revanna? Answer these 10 questions," Surjewala added. Surjewala added that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sought justice for the victims and has written to the CM to ensure the same, while urging Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Shah to answer his "10 questions." Earlier, on Saturday evening, Janata Dal (Secular) party leader and Prajwal Revanna's father, HD Revanna was taken into custody by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials in Karnataka. The arrest is related to a kidnapping case filed against him at the KR Nagar police station in Bengaluru in connection with the alleged obscene video case. Revanna was booked in the case on April 28 based on a complaint lodged at Holenarasipura Town police. The case was registered under sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509 of the IPC on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation, and outraging the dignity of a woman. As per the complaint, the victim claimed that Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna had sexually assaulted her. A look out notice has been issued against Prajwal Revanna who is currently claimed to be in Germany. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. Speaking to ANI on Sunday about the arrest, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "The SIT have been doing things as per the procedure. I can't disclose more than that as even I don't have information regarding everything. Due to the seriousness of the case, we have constituted an SIT and have given full freedom to them to deliver justice." "A blue-corner notice has already been issued (to Prajwal Revanna). They'll locate him wherever he is and after that, procedurally whatever is required, SIT will do that to bring him here" he added. Dy CM DK Shivakumar declined to comment on the matter saying that the law will take its course. "The law will take its course. We are in an election campaign and I don't know what he said. I have not read about it. I have only looked at the newspaper and apart from that I don't know," Shivakumar said. Speaking on the alleged obscene video case earlier this month, Amit Shah said that BJP stands with the 'Matr Shakti' while criticising the ruling Congress government in Karnataka for allegedly delaying action. "BJP's stand is clear that we stand with the 'Matr Shakti' of the country. I want to ask Congress and Priyanka ji who is demanding action, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, state government has to take action on it," he said. (ANI)
Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal, held a roadshow in Mumbai on Sunday, drawing significant crowds and support from residents. The event was part of his campaign to garner support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the general election. The roadshow featured streets lined with enthusiastic supporters waving flags and chanting slogans, welcoming Goyal and his team. Throughout the event, the Union Minister called on voters to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked for their votes to bless his candidacy. Earlier on May 1, Goyal highlighted the achievements of the Modi government and criticized the opposition Congress party, saying it lacked vision and credibility. "The public has made up their minds to re-elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister and give 400 plus seats so that when we celebrate 100 years of independence, the vision of Viksit Bharat is achieved," said Goyal. Lashing out at the Congress party, he said, "Congress does not have anything except fake narratives. The grand old party is finished, they do not even have a candidate for the Mumbai North seat..." Piyush Goyal also said that the country is safe and moving towards prosperity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before that, Piyush Goyal held a roadshow on last Sunday in an open jeep with people turning up in large numbers. Congress has fielded Bhushan Patil as its candidate from the Mumbai North seat, which is set to go to polls on May 20. 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)
China launches special campaign concerning summer marine fishing ban

Xinhua) 15:54, May 03, 2024

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China has launched a special campaign concerning a targeted marine fishing ban in summer, aiming to mobilize law enforcement authorities in coastal regions to protect marine fishery resources, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said.

Illegal and criminal activities involving the fisheries industry will be targeted during this campaign, which was jointly launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the CCG, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Local authorities are required to regulate catches of special economic fishery varieties that are allowed to be caught, without affecting the summer fishing ban in general. Supervision of key targets involving high risks of illegal or criminal activities and of key areas will be intensified, according to the CCG.

China enforced a targeted summer fishing ban across its coastal seas on Wednesday. Nearly 120,000 fishing vessels and auxiliary vessels had returned to ports in accordance with the ban, the CCG confirmed.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liu Ning)
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The Cuban government announced on Saturday that it will adopt a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports, starting this month.

The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia during the 42nd Cuban International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2024), which was held in the seaside resort of Cayo Coco in the province of Ciego de Avila.

As of April 26, Cuba has received more than 1 million international tourists this year, according to data from the Cuban Ministry of Tourism.

The Cuban government expects to receive 3.5 million international tourists in 2024.
Reacting to the arrrest of JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, Union Minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje on Sunday said that the crimes agaist women will not be tolerated. She said this while holding a door to door campaign for Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency BJP candidate Umesh Jadhav here. Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna was taken into custody by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials on Saturday in connection with a kidnapping case registered by the KR Nagar police in Mysuru involving the survivor of a sexual assault allegedly by his son, Hassan JD(S) MP, Prajwal Revanna, who remained at large. "SIT has been formed. He (HD Revanna) has been arrested. Case will go to the court. Law and order is a state issue. Law will take its own course. The case will go further because we will not tolerate any crime against women," Karandlaje, who is also the BJP candidate from Bengaluru North Lok Sabha seat, said. She said that people in North Karnataka are striving to bring back Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power for the third time. "Today we are holding a Maha sampark Abhiyan. In North Karnataka I am visiting every districts. There is a very favourable atmosphere. Today and tomorrow we are conducting this campaign and visiting every homes. People are saying we will vote for Dr Umesh Jadhav. In the North Karnataka people are striving to bring back PM Modi to power for the third time," she further added. Earlier, a special court for the People's Representative in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of JD(S) leader HD Revanna and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with the alleged "obscene videos" case. HD Revanna has been booked on a charge of kidnapping in connection with the 'obscene video' case. The action was taken based on a complaint lodged by the son of a woman who was allegedly "abducted and sexually abused. In his complaint filed with KR Nagar police in Mysuru, the man said his mother worked as a housemaid at HD Revanna's home for six years before returning to her village, where she worked as a daily wage labourer. The man later discovered a video allegedly depicting the sexual abuse of his mother by incumbent MP and Hassan Lok Sabha candidate Prajwal Revanna. He said that soon after the video was revealed, his mother went missing. He then filed a kidnapping complaint against HD Revanna and his associate Babanna. The Holenarsipura MLA and his associate were booked under Sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 365 (kidnapping with intent to cause harm), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. The FIR, registered by KR Nagar police, also lists HD Revanna as accused number one and another man, identified as Babanna, as accused number two. HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household. Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats and elections in the state are being held in two phases. Voting for 14 seats concluded on April 26 and the remaining 14 seats will undergo polling on May 7. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. In 2019, BJP almost swept the state by winning 25 out of 28 seats, while Congress and JD-S -- who were running a coalition government in the state -- could only win one seat each. This time BJP and JD-S are in coalition with the former fighting on 25 seats, while the latter is contesting on three seats. (ANI)
In another blow to Congress amid Lok Sabha elections, party leader Radhika Khera resigned from the primary membership of the party after she alleged mistreatment by party members. In her letter to the AICC, the Congress leader alleged that justice was denied to her after the mistreatment by party members as she visited the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "It is an established truth since ancient times that those who support religion have been opposed. Examples of this range from Hiranyakashipu to Ravana and Kansa. At present, some people are opposing those who take the name of Lord Shri Ram in the same way. For every Hindu, the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram holds great significance with its sacredness and while every Hindu considers his life successful just by seeing Ram Lalla, some people are opposing it.The party to which I have given more than 22 years of my life, where I worked with full honesty from NSUI to AICC's media department, today I have to face such intense opposition because I couldn't stop myself from visiting Ram Lalla in Ayodhya," she said in her letter. "The opposition to this noble work of mine reached such a level that justice was denied to me in the incident that happened to me in the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress office. I have always fought for the justice of others from every platform, but when it came to my justice, I found myself defeated in the party. Being a devotee of Lord Shri Ram and a woman, I am deeply hurt," the Congress leader added. She further said that she has taken this step after justice was denied to her even after informing all the top leaders. "I have taken this step today as I am hurt by the fact that I did not get justice even after informing all the top leaders," Khera said. (ANI)
Ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed puja and darshan at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Sunday and then held a 2km roadshow. As enthusiastic crowd lined up on both sides of the road to take a glimpse of Prime Minister, PM Modi was seen waving at people and showed the BJP's 'lotus' poll symbol to canvass support for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi's visit to Ayodhya, has garnered significant attention, especially given its timing just before the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 94 constituencies. It indicates a strategic effort to connect with voters. This blend of political campaigning and religious symbolism underscores the multifaceted nature of electioneering in India. Meanwhile, a group of women were seen ahead of PM Modi's roadshow in traditional attire. Visuals showed people in huge numbers cheering the Prime Minister's convoy from behind the barricades. During the roadshow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present. After offering the prayers, PM Modi began the roadshow from Sugriva Fort and will continue till Lata Chowk. The route of the roadshow has been divided into 40 blocks. Prior to PM Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. PM Modi arrived in Ayodhya for the first time after the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22. The 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's historic temple was held on January 22, with PM Modi performing the Vedic rituals, led by a group of priests. This will be PM Modi's second roadshow in Ayodhya in the last five months. PM Modi held a grand roadshow during the inauguration of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport on December 30, 2023. PM Modi also addressed a rally at Etawah before heading to Ayodhya. While adressing a rally, he lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the Wayanad MP had mocked the Prime Minister's visit to Dwarka on February 25 where he dived into the Arabian Sea off the coast of Gujarat to perform a puja and asked the Samajwadi Party (who claims themselves Yaduvanshi) that how they can sit with a party that insulted Lord Krishna. The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 members to the Lower House is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demonstrated a solid majority in UP in the previous two Lok Sabha elections, gaining the majority of seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has again fielded sitting MP Lallu Singh from Ayodhya for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Ayodhya (Faizabad) Lok Sabha constituency comprises five Vidhan Sabhas (legislative assemblies): Ayodhya, Bikapur, Milkipur, Rudauli and Dariyabad (Barabanki). In the 2019 elections, BJP leader Lallu Singh maintained his victory by defeating Samajwadi Party leader Anand Sen Yadav. BJP candidate Lallu Singh received 529,021 votes, while SP candidate Anand Sen Yadav garnered 463,544 votes. Ayodhya will be voting in the fifth phase on May 20. Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases till June 1 and the counting of votes in all seats is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
"Corps Commander of 16 Corps & ADG Jammu Zone Anand Jain accompanied by GOC Romeo Force, IGP CRPF & DIG RP Range today visited the area & monitored the ongoing massive search operation. Many suspects have been picked up for questioning," said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu.

Meanwhile, search operations to track terrorists are ongoing in the Shahsitar area of Surankote, where terrorists attacked an IAF convoy on Saturday.

Security personnel launched a massive manhunt in the morning today following a terrorist attack on an Indian Air Force convoy, in which one personnel was killed, officials said.

According to officials, the search operation was carried out to track the terrorists. Security forces have set up nakas and checking is going on in the area.

Additional forces of the Indian Army reached the Jarra Wali Gali (JWG) in Poonch on Saturday late at night.

After the ambush, in the Poonch sector, the injured personnel were rushed to the Command Hospital in Udhampur. However, one of the injured airmen succumbed to his injuries.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the local Rashtriya Rifles unit initiated a cordon and search operations in the vicinity, with support from the Army and police, to track down the perpetrators.

The IAF confirmed the incident through a tweet, stating that the targeted convoy was secured and an investigation was underway. (ANI)
Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna, who was arrested by the State Investigation Team (SIT), said on Saturday that it is a political conspiracy against him and he has never seen anything like this in his political career. Revanna was brought to the Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital for medical examination after he was arrested yesterday by SIT officials in a kidnapping case. "It's a political conspiracy going on against me. In my 40 years of political life, I have never seen anything like this," he said to the reporters outside the hospital. "There is no blame on me in politics. A complaint was made against me on April 28. However, no evidence was found in this case. With the malicious intent of arresting me, they filed a kidnapping case against me and arrested me," Revanna added. HD Revanna is being produced by the SIT team before Judge Ravindrakumar B. Kattimani after a medical examination. Heavy security has been provided under the leadership of DCP, CK Baba at the judge's house in NGV, Koramangala area. During his production, the SIT officials are likely to ask for the custody of HD Revanna for a week to 15 days. However, Revanna's lawyer is also likely to object to granting bail without handing him over to SIT custody for a long time. HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household. Earlier, a special court for the People's Representative in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of JD(S) leader HD Revanna and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with the alleged "obscene videos" case. The Holenarsipura MLA and his associate were booked under Sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 365 (kidnapping with intent to cause harm), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. The FIR, registered by KR Nagar police, also lists HD Revanna as accused number one and another man, identified as Babanna, as accused number two. (ANI)
Karnataka Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party Leader R Ashoka said on Sunday that if suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna wins the election from Hassan constituency, an action will be taken against him. Addressing a press conference, R Ashoka, who spoke about HD Revanna's arrest in the woman kidnapping case, said that it was right to arrest former minister HD Revanna. "I appreciate the work of the SIT police. Strict action should be taken against HD Revanna," he said. "We will take strict action against Prajwal even if he wins. Prajwal Revanna is yet to win the match. If Prajwal wins, let his party leaders take action," Ashoka added. HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household. In any case, indeed, the ally BJP is not agreeing to the case of Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna. Instead, they are expressing outrage against the Congress, saying that there is a political conspiracy behind these cases. However, it is surprising that BJP leader Ashoka has spoken harsh words in this case. Also, this has given a shock to the leaders and workers of the allied party JD(S). R Ashok also talked about the effect of the Prajwal case and Revanna's arrest on the alliance and said, "Alliance is at the centre level. It is the superiors who decide on the continuation of the alliance." Earlier, reacting to the arrest of JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, Union Minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said on Sunday that crimes against women will not be tolerated. She said this while holding a door-to-door campaign for Kalaburagi Lok Sabha constituency BJP candidate Umesh Jadhav here. "SIT has been formed. He (HD Revanna) has been arrested. The case will go to the court. Law and order is a state issue. The law will take its course. The case will go further because we will not tolerate any crime against women," Karandlaje, who is also the BJP candidate from Bengaluru North Lok Sabha seat, said. HD Revanna was taken into custody by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials on Saturday in connection with a kidnapping case registered by the KR Nagar police in Mysuru involving the survivor of a sexual assault allegedly by his son, Hassan JD(S) MP, Prajwal Revanna, who remained at large. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lashed out at opposition INDIA bloc, accusing them of insulting national heroes and glorifying terrorists. CM Yogi alleged that the Congress, National Conference or Samajwadi party have no national agenda and think only about their families. "What do you expect from these family parties? They are limited only to their own families. Be it Congress, National Conference or Samajwadi Party, they have no national agenda but their family is their agenda... On one hand, this alliance insults national heroes and on the other hand, it encourages mafia and terrorist elements...," CM Yogi told ANI here. "Just a few days ago, when a notorious mafia died, the national president of the Samajwadi Party (Akhilesh Yadav) went to express condolences on his death, but how was their behaviour with Ram bhakts when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was going on?...," CM Yogi added. He also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "The insulting and contemptuous behaviour of Samajwadi Party leaders with the statue of national leader Maharana Pratap yesterday is condemnable... Rahul Gandhi did the same in Maharashtra, where one of his supporters was giving him the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji but he refused to take it. They will not honour the national leader but will glorify terrorists and Pakistan ...," he said. Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases till June 1 and the counting of votes in all seats is scheduled for June 4. The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most members to the Lower House, at 80, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP took a lion's share of the electoral spoils, winning 62 out of 80 seats in the state, with 2 more won by ally Apna Dal (S). Mayawati's BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav's SP had to settle for just five. The Congress was reduced to just a lone seat. (ANI)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur demanded an apology from top Congress brass including former party president Sonia Gandhi after its leader Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that Poonch terrror attack was "pre-planned" and questioned were the 1962,1965 and 1971 wars done for winning the elections. The BJP leader also termed the statement of the former Punjab Chief Minister as "ridiculous". "I have a question for Congress: Were the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars done for winning elections? On such a ridiculous statement, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should apologise...They question the ability of our forces...How low will Congress stoop? Will Congress insult our Bravehearts for the sake of winning elections?" Thakur told reporters. He also lashed out Rahul Gandhi for holding meeting with Chinese diplomats behind the closed doors when the Indian soliders were giving befitting reply to Chinese aggression at Doklam. "Where was Rahul Gandhi when our soliders gave a befitting reply to the Chinese aggression at Doklam? Who knows what was he upto behind the closed doors with the Chinese diplomats? He should tell the nation what was he doing," he added. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that the Poonch terror attack was "pre-planned" and said such "stuntbaazi" is done to make the BJP win the elections. "This is stuntbaazi. And not the (terror) attacks. When elections come, such stunts are done to make the BJP win. These are pre-planned attacks, there is no truth in them...,"alleged the Congress leader. In West Bengal, BJP leader Rahul Sinha told ANI, "When the Poonch terror attack took place, why did not he made such remarks? Why is he saying it today? Today, they will loose the elections. That is why they are turning an International issue into an election issue. Congress has no right to comment about the BJP government. Congress is known for scams and theft". An Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier was killed and four others were injured in the terror attack in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday evening. Security has been heightened in the Poonch district following the attack in which four others were also injured. The attack came ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat for the 2024 general elections. The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in five phases from April 19 to May 20. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases running from April 19 to June 1. Notably, opposition in 2019 alleged that BJP had "used" the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 personnel of CRPF were killed by terrorist. They further alleged that the consequent air strike at Balakot in the neighbouring country was done by BJP to win the Lok Sabha polls that year.(ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday launched a veiled attack on the Congress party saying, "A certain family in the country prioritises its interests over the security of India, recklessly endangering the future of the youth and fostering a culture of corruption." Addressing an election rally in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi said, "Their actions seek to deny the underprivileged access to essential welfare schemes. Conversely, 'Modi Ka Parivaar'--under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party--works tirelessly towards India's security, dignity, and prosperity. 'Modi Ka Privaar' is a beacon of the nation's heritage, progress, and integrity, propelling the BJP government forward". CM Yogi added, "Their actions seek to deny the underprivileged access to essential welfare schemes. Conversely, 'Modi Ka Parivaar'--under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party--works tirelessly towards India's security, dignity, and prosperity. 'Modi Ka Privaar' is a beacon of the nation's heritage, progress, and integrity, propelling the BJP government forward." Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi by presenting him with a patka, symbolising respect on occasion. Additionally, Etawah MP and BJP candidate Ramshankar Katheria, Kannauj MP and BJP candidate Subrata Pathak, and ministers in the Yogi government and Mainpuri Lok Sabha candidate Jaiveer Singh expressed their congratulations and appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by presenting him with 'angvastra'. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called upon people to actively engage in the democratic process, turning out in large numbers at polling booths to cast their ballots in the third and fourth phases of elections scheduled for May 7 and May 13 for the future of India. Reflecting on the transformation, CM Yogi expressed, "In the past, people in Etawah would say, 'Ayodhya Mai Ek Bhi Parinda Par Nahi Maar Sakta,' but today, Ram Lalla resides there, blessing all with his presence. This marks a new beginning, considering the tumultuous situation prevalent earlier." He added, "The state was crippled with stagnant development, fostering an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder, posing threats to the safety of women and businessmen. However, in the present, under the governance of the BJP, security is widespread, and everyone is accorded due respect. " With this progressive shift, CM Yogi urged everyone to contribute to the vision of a developed India actively. The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most members to the Lower House, at 80, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases. (ANI)
Claiming that the BJP scripted the Sandeshkhali horrors to defame the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state, TMC leader Shashi Panja said that the Sandeshkhali incident was fabricated by the BJP leaders and they told "lies as grave as mass rapes". Shashi Panja said, "BJP leaders scripted lies as grave as mass rapes in the Sandeshkhali incident. Suvendu Adhikari has been named. Women have been misguided there. Women have been tutored to say these lines for money. In Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee believes in women's empowerment and the BJP played on the issue to disempower women. Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghosh said that the Sandeshkhali incident was conspired by the BJP and even a single rape did not take place. "Rapes have not taken place in Sandeshkhali. This is a conspiracy by the BJP. BJP wanted to create communal tensions here so that the president's rule is implemented. TMC has worked for women's empowerment. BJP wanted to conduct a strike on our policy of women's empowerment. By giving Rs 2000 to women, false rape cases have been framed," Sagarika Ghosh said, She further said that the BJP wanted to build a strong case and land-grabbing charges were not enough so false allegations of rape were imposed. BJP leaders are the actual culprits in the Sandeshkhali case. Earlier, amid allegations by the TMC that West Bengal Leader of Operation Suvendu Adhikari "hatched the Sandeshkhali conspiracy" as shown in a sting operation video, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader shot back saying that though truth can be "twisted" but its "shelf life" is short. "The truth can be twisted and a misleading version can be circulated. However, it's shelf life is very very short. Ultimately, Truth prevails. Next time, keep it in mind, Koyla Bhaipo (Coal Nephew)," Adhikari said in a post on 'X' referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee who has been accused of being involved in the alleged coal scam. A video of a sting operation surfaced that has stirred up controversy in Sandeshkhali which was broadcast by a local television channel. In the alleged video, a person, purportedly a BJP Mandal (booth) president named Gangadhar Koyal is heard saying that Sandeshkhali women, who weren't sexually assaulted, were projected as 'rape' victims at the behest of the LoP. Claiming that Suvendu 'helped' him get this done, the person in the video said that the former told him that the TMC's strongmen in the area wouldn't be arrested unless he is falsely implicated in a "rape case". (ANI)
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This photo taken on May 2, 2024 shows a conference focused on cooperation between China and Hungary under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework held in Budapest, Hungary. [Photo/Xinhua]

Hungarian Minister for National Economy Marton Nagy shared his vision of partnering with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework in the upcoming decade. "Let's carry on our cooperation, and more importantly, our friendship," he said.



Hungary is the first European country to sign a BRI cooperation agreement with China. Several high-quality projects have brought strong vitality to the bilateral relationship, Nagy said Thursday at a conference focused on high-quality cooperation between China and Hungary under the BRI framework.

The cooperation between China and Hungary covers a broad range of areas, including infrastructure, new energy, trade, logistics and the digital sphere. It has bolstered Hungary's development and benefited both peoples, said the minister at the conference co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Hungary's ATV Media Group in Budapest.

Liu Hongcai, deputy head of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, said that by respecting each other's development paths, promoting practical cooperation in various fields, and enhancing mutual learning, China and Hungary have contributed to the exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.

As China and Hungary prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, experts at the conference said both sides also anticipate the start of another "golden decade" of jointly expanding the Belt and Road cooperation.

Erno Peto, president of the Chinese Hungarian Chamber of Economy, said Hungary's role in the economic relations between Central and Eastern Europe and China will be more important than ever.

Under the framework of the BRI, Hungary could act as a platform for European Union market access, a logistic hub and a financial center for Chinese businesses, Peto said.

According to guests at the conference, the successful integration between the BRI and Hungary's "Opening to the East" policy has created a strong dynamic for strengthening both countries' economic ties.

"Communication and understanding form the basis of all successful relationships," said ATV's CEO Tamas Kovacs.

Underscoring the importance of the media's role in promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding, Kovacs said media cooperation could lay a solid foundation for strengthening bilateral economic relations.

"By better knowing and understanding each other, we could build lasting common values," he said.

The joint building of the Belt and Road is "a great cause," said Liang Linchong, deputy head of the Department of Regional Opening-up with China's National Development and Reform Commission.

"We hope that the two sides will carry out more practical cooperation for more fruitful results that can stand the test of history and create a brighter future for their Belt and Road cooperation," Liang said.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged 'arm-twisting' by Uttarakhand cadre IFS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi in its affidavit before the Delhi High Court. CBI filed this affidavit in response to contempt notices issued on March 28 to CBI on a petition filed by Sanjiv Chaturvedi for noncompliance with orders passed by the Delhi High Court on January 30. In the order, a single judge of the court had directed CBI to provide all the information related to various corruption cases of AIIMS, Delhi investigated by Sanjiv Chaturvedi as Chief Vigilance Officer, AIIMS and referred to CBI. In its affidavit filed in the last week of April by Akhilesh Kumar Singh, DIG in the Anti-Corruption Branch(ACB) of CBI at New Delhi, CBI has alleged that by way of Contempt Petition, "An endeavour is being made by the petitioner to arm-twist the respondent agency and to prevent it from availing its legal remedies." In the same matter, last year in September, the Delhi High Court issued Contempt notices to two Senior CBI officers, Vineet Vanayak, the then head of Delhi zone and Gagan Deep Gambhir, the then SP in ACB, Delhi. In its affidavit, CBI has claimed that the Contempt Petition is not maintainable and they are availing legal remedies, 'which cannot be thwarted by way of initiation of contempt proceedings'. Interestingly, in September 2022, in a similar case, the Prime Minister's Office, in its affidavit before the Supreme Court, on the issue of information sought by Sanjiv Chaturvedi regarding corruption complaints against Union Ministers and black money, brought from abroad, had also levelled same allegation of arm-twisting against him. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday remembered late Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's prediction of 2019 that he (PM Modi) would again become the Prime Minister adding that now Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother is calling for BJP's win. Addressing a rally in Etawah, Prime Minister Modi took a dig at Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav saying that now he is appealing for BJP's victory. "Mulayam Singh Yadav had said in Parliament, 'Modiji aap dobara jeet kar aane vale hai (you will come back victorious). In 2019, I got his blessings and became the prime minister again. Netaji is not with us but see the coincidence that his real brother is calling for BJP's win in the general elections. That is why I have come to your place to seek blessings. Earlier while speaking at the SP public meeting held in Badaun, Shivpal Yadav appealed to the people to support the BJP to win by a huge margin. His video also went viral on social media. Prime Minister Modi slammed the "dynastic politics" of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, contrasting their focus on personal gains with his dedication to building a brighter future for the nation's next generations. "Some people consider Mainpuri, Kannauj and Etawah as their heritage, while others consider Amethi-Rae Bareli as their heritage. The slogans of the SP-Congress are false and their intentions are flawed. These people will lie continuously no matter how much loss it causes to the country and society," he said. PM Modi further said that after laying the foundation of a strong India, whether Modi is there or not, the country would always be there. "The SP-Congress combine is fighting the elections for their future, for their children, but Modi-Yogi has not kept anything in front of them, we are working for your children. We are working hard to build the future of your children, this is the resolve of a developed India," he said. PM Modi slammed the opposition for defaming indigenous COVID-19 vaccines. He said, "They secretly got vaccinated and incited the public on TV and social media. Why? So that uproar spreads and sins are pinned on Modi's forehead." "Now they are spreading lies about our democracy, our Constitution. Why? Because Modi has exposed their appeasement. The framers of our Constitution said - there will be no reservation based on religion. Baba Saheb Ambedkar said it. But now, the SP-Congress want to snatch reservations from SC/ST/OBC and distribute them based on religion. Overnight in Karnataka, they declared all Muslim castes as OBCs. If this happens in UP, what will happen to Yadavs, Mauryas, Lodhs, Pals, Jatavs, Shakya, and Kushwaha communities," remarked the PM. The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most members to the Lower House, at 80, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases. (ANI)
Delhi Police on Sunday revealed that the conspiracy of the Alipur murder case was hatched in Delhi Jail to avenge gang leader Tillu Tajpuria's murder by Gogi gang members. Delhi Police also mentioned that five of the shooters of the Tillu gang committed the crime on the instructions of jailed gangster Amit alias Dabang. Additional CP Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Sunday said, "Delhi Police Special Staff of outer North District and special cell in two different operations have arrested two sharpshooters and an informant associated with the notorious Tillu Tajpuriya gang and worked out the broad daylight murder in gang war case in Alipur police station area." "With the arrest of these two shooters, the mystery of murder has been solved. Both the arrested individuals hail from Haryana and were involved in killing of a rival gang member. Murder was planned and orchestrated in Prison to assert dominance and to avenge Gang Leader Tillu Tajpuria's death in jail by Gogi gang members. The informant behind the targeted killing, who is a resident of Alipur area, has also been arrested," he added. Speaking to ANI DCP Ravi Kumar Singh said, "On April 22 a PCR call regarding firing near the opposite bus stop, Alipur was received at PS Alipur, Delhi. Upon receiving the call, the staff of PS Alipur reached the spot where they found a Tempo with multiple gunshot marks. Subsequent inquiry revealed that 5 individuals had opened fire on the occupants of the aforementioned Tempo. The injured persons were immediately rushed to SRHC Hospital, Narela, for treatment. 1 individual was declared dead by the doctors, while another sustained gunshot injury to the leg." The deceased was identified as Narender Malik alias Dhilla (26) while the injured was Tarun Yadav. During the inquiry, it was found that the brother of the deceased, namely Surender, who is an active member of the Gogi gang and has been in Judicial Custody for the last four years in connection with a case under Alipur PS. Local inquiries further revealed that after the arrest of Surender, his brother Narender allias Dhilla (deceased) along with his associates, joined the Gogi gang and became active member of the gang. Subsequently, based on the statement provided by the injured Tarun Yadav, a case was registered and further investigation was carried out. Inter-gang rivalry was suspected as the deceased Narender was connected with Gogi Gang but all the angles were being investigated. There is an old rivalry between Gogi and Tillu Tajpuriya, both resident of Outer Delhi's Alipur area since their college days in 2012-13. After his escape from the custody of Haryana Police in 2016, Jitender Gogi along with Kuldeep, Fazza, Rohit and Moi were involved in many broad daylight shootouts, before his arrest by Special Cell in 2020. Kuldeep and Fazza who escaped from custody of police in March 2021, were killed during action by Special Cell, Delhi. Later, Gogi was killed in Rohini Court by rival Tillu Tajpuriya gang. In May 2023, Tillu Tajpuriya was stabbed multiple times by rival gangsters in jail and killed. Yogesh alias Tunda, a resident of Dhuliya Colony, Alipur is now leading the Gogi gang, said police. The deceased Narender was also a resident of Dhuliya Colony, Alipur and belonged to the Gogi gang. A gang war is suspected to be behind the above murder case. During the investigation, it was ascertained that this murder was the result of an old rivalry between the Tillu Tajpuriya Gang and the Gogi gang. The team analysed the CCTV footage near the spot and it was found that a total of 5 assailants opened fire on the Tempo in which deceased and injured were sitting. All 5 assailants came on two motorcycles and after committing the crime they swiftly fled towards Jindpur, Alipur, Delhi. Thereafter, the team based on technical surveillance and local intelligence was successful in apprehending 2 persons namely Happy and Vishal. Accused Vishal is an active Sharp Shooter of the Tillu Tajpuriya Gang, who along with his four associates namely Sumit alias Jhumka, Sagar, Neeraj and Bharat opened fire on deceased Narender and the injured Tarun Yadav. Further, it was also revealed that accused Happy was also present at the spot and was continuously providing information to assailants through mobile phones about the movement of the deceased Narender. On May 5, specific input was received about one person namely Bharat Kumar, who is a resident of Charkhi Dadri, Haryana involved in the Alipur murder case would come near Outer Ring Road Vikaspuri, Delhi leading towards a drain. Accordingly, a trap was laid at the Outer Ring Road Vikaspuri leading towards drain and apprehended one person. Upon questioning by police team, he was identified as Bharat Kumar alias Babu. During his cursory search, one sophisticated pistol .32 bore and 3 live cartridges were recovered from his possession. He also disclosed his involvement in Alipur Murder Case. Accordingly, a case of Arms Act has been registered against him and he has been arrested. During interrogation accused Vishal and Bharat disclosed that on the instructions of jailed gangster Amit alias Dabang, they along with their associates namely Sumit alias Jhumka, Sagar and Neeraj opened fire on deceased Narender and injured Tarun Yadav. Accused Vishal disclosed that he came in contact with Dabang through one of his friends and thereafter he started talking to Dabang over the phone. In March 2024, Dabang provided a safe house to him and his associate Sagar for the murder of a member of the Gogi gang and the name of the gang member will be provided to them later on. Thereafter a day before the crime, accused Jhumka, Neeraj and Bharat joined them in Nathupura, Sonipat border area. Accused Jhumka provided pistols and live cartridges to other assailants. Two motorcycles, used in crime, were also provided by the henchmen of Dabang near Hanuman Mandir, Alipur. Thereafter on 22.04.2024, all above-accused persons came to the spot from the Nathupura area on two different motorcycles. Accused Happy was also present at the spot took instructions from Dabang and provided the information regarding movement of the Tempo. After committing the crime, all accused went back to Nathupra and on the next day, they left Nathupura and went separately to different places in Haryana. The arrested accused persons are being interrogated for their involvement in other cases and efforts are being made to arrest their associates and fire-arms recovery. Further investigation of the case is in progress, police said. (ANI)
Contesting Nepal's decision to introduce a new Rs 100 currency note featuring disputed Indian territories External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that New Delhi's position is very clear adding that Kathmandu unilaterally took some measures on their side. He also said that while both countries were having talks on boundary matters, by doing something unilaterally, Nepal is not going to change the on-ground reality. "I saw that report. I have not looked at it in detail, but I think our position is very clear. With Nepal, we were having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. And then in the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side. But by doing something on their side, they are not going to change the situation between us or the reality on the ground," said Jaishankar while interacting with professionals in Bhubaneswar on "Why Bharat Matters." A cabinet meeting on Friday decided to incorporate a new political map of Nepal on 100 rupee banknotes, covering the controversial territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani as part of its territory. Earlier in May 2020, Nepal's updated map prepared incorporating the missing territories was submitted to the Ministry of Land Management by the Department of Survey which claims to have taken accurate scale, projection and coordinate system. Tension had mounted between New Delhi and Kathmandu after the issuance of a political map by Nepal in mid-May 2020, including the Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, which India earlier had included in its November 2019 map. The earlier map issued in 2032 BS left Gunji, Nabhi and Kuri villages, which have now been included in the recently revised map, adding 335 square kilometres of land. Diplomatic ties between the nations worsened after the inauguration of a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020, after which Nepal handed over a diplomatic note to India objecting to the move. Prior to the handover of the diplomatic note, Nepal also had strongly objected to India's unilateral move to construct the road. Following a strong objection from Nepal, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said the road going through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district "lies completely within the territory of India." (ANI)
Rescue operations are underway as emergency responders race against time to locate survivors trapped amidst the debris of collapsed homes, bridges, and roads.

The surge in water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul is straining dams and threatening the metropolis of Porto Alegre, the country's civil defence agency said, according to Al Jazeera.

Governor Eduardo Leite declared a state of emergency as the region grapples with the aftermath of the catastrophic weather event.

"We are dealing with the worst disaster in [our] history," Governor Leite lamented, acknowledging the grim reality that the death toll is expected to rise further as rescue efforts continue, as reported by Al Jazeera.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged full support to the affected region, assuring that "there will be no lack of human or material resources" to alleviate the suffering caused by the extreme weather conditions.

Forecasters have issued warnings of further peril, as the state's main Guaiba river is anticipated to reach alarming levels, exacerbating the existing crisis. Entire communities have been cut off, with infrastructure severely compromised by the relentless downpour.

The dire situation has prompted authorities to urge residents to evacuate from high-risk areas near rivers and hillsides susceptible to mudslides. Access to basic amenities such as drinking water has been disrupted, leaving hundreds of thousands without essential services.

The catastrophic floods and mudslides are part of a pattern of extreme weather events plaguing South America's largest country.

Experts attribute the heightened frequency of such disasters to the impacts of climate change, which have been exacerbated by a recent cold front sweeping across the south and southeast regions following a period of intense heat, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
On World Press Freedom Day, Bennett emphasised the importance of media in Afghanistan and urged for worldwide support for journalists.

The UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan remarked, "Journalism in Afghanistan is critical. I'm concerned about the increasingly restrictive media climate and the arbitrary arrest of journalists. I encourage the international community to help Afghan journalists."

Karen B. Decker, American Charge d'Affaires to Afghanistan emphasised the significance of hearing journalists' voices in separate messages.

Karen Decker said: "Afghan journalists are Afghan voices amplifying Afghan messages. They need to be heard. This World Press Freedom Day, we stand united in protecting press freedom worldwide."

Citing Mohammad Raqib Fayaz, a journalist, TOLOnews said, "The media play a very important role in securing governmental reforms, maintaining order, and eradicating societal irregularities."

"Meetings of consonance between journalists and officials should be created, and in due time, officials should provide information to journalists," another journalist said.

This comes as Afghanistan has dropped 26 places in Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index owing to journalist fatalities and arrests, placing 178th overall. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE], May 5 (ANI/WAM): Algeria has called for a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council next Tuesday to discuss the mass graves discovered in the Gaza Strip, according to the Algeria Press Service. Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was necessary to grant immediate access to the sites of mass graves in Gaza to independent investigators with forensic expertise. (ANI/WAM)
Confirming the fatalities, the police stated that the deceased were identified as three-year-old Farzana, four-year-old Aqsa, five-year-old Rukhsana, eight-year-old Muskan, and their 34-year-old mother Muskan.

The incident occurred in Tandlianwala, situated 40 kilometers from Faisalabad and 45 kilometers from Okara, according to ARY News.

"The dead bodies were transferred to the District Headquarters Hospital," the police mentioned.

In a disturbingly similar occurrence on April 5, a family lost four of its members after consuming poisonous tea in Toba Tek Singh.

Reportedly, the tragic incident unfolded in Toba Tek Singh, where three family members--six-year-old Ali, seven-year-old Iqra, and 22-year-old Sania--perished after drinking the lethal tea.

The hospital administration disclosed that the injured mother and her minor daughters were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, 18-year-old Madiha also succumbed to her injuries, ARY News reported.

The dismal state of government-run hospitals and the entire public-sector healthcare infrastructure has long been a subject of criticism and despair among both critics and citizens in Pakistan, according to a Dawn report.

However, amidst this already bleak landscape, a more sinister and shadowy issue persists largely unnoticed: the exploitation of patients by certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) posing as healthcare providers. These NGOs, while purporting to offer better alternatives, are instead preying on the vulnerability of patients, extorting them for financial gain.

This egregious practice strikes at the very core of Pakistan's healthcare system, casting doubt on the integrity of institutions meant to provide affordable and quality medical care. Consequently, it erodes trust in these NGOs, exacerbating the healthcare crisis faced by the masses.

The dire situation underscores the urgent necessity for enhanced oversight and regulation of the healthcare sector in Pakistan. Without robust measures in place to curb such exploitative practices, the already precarious state of healthcare in the country is destined to deteriorate further, amplifying the suffering of those in need, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that no proposal to form a grand alliance against the government was currently being considered, Pakistan-based The News International reported. Speaking to reporters in Thatta, Rehman said they had started a regular movement against the government created based on Form 47. He said that a million-man march will be held in Peshawar on May 9 after which announcements will be made for other cities as well. He stated that the march in Peshawar will be held in Karachi. Expressing his views about PTI founder Imran Khan, JUI-F chief Fazl said Khan has two sides: one is that he is caught in cases against him about which the courts and his lawyers are aware and the other side is political. He said that it would not be in good taste if he spoke against his opponent, who was in prison but still making remarks about him. JUI-F chief said government delegations were holding talks with the PTI and his party will facilitate purposeful negotiations as the political environment must be improved for the development of the nation. Asked about the performance of the government, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that if and where the government had started speaking about its performance. Earlier this week, JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman once again dismissed the outcomes of the general elections and called for new polls, citing "widespread rigging and irregularities," as reported by ARY News. During a public gathering in Karachi, Maulana Fazlur Rehman asserted that the assemblies had been "sold," including the Sindh Assembly and the President House. He emphasized the necessity for immediate re-elections to uphold the integrity of the democratic process, according to ARY News report. "The recent elections were fake, and its results are unacceptable," he said, calling for fresh elections to ensure the people's voices are heard and their mandate respected. (ANI)
President Asif Ali Zardari has given the nod to the appointment of governors for Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, adhering to the power-sharing arrangement among coalition parties, primarily led by the PML-N, post the Feb 8 general elections, Dawn reported. Sardar Saleem Haider has been appointed as Punjab's governor, Faisal Karim Kundi as the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sardar Jafar Khan Mandokhail as Balochistan's governor, the report added, citing an official announcement from the presidency. Sardar Saleem Haider and Faisal Karim Kundi are known to be staunch loyalists of the PPP, while Sardar Jafar Khan Mandokhail serves as the president of PML-N's Balochistan chapter. Haider, hailing from Rawalpindi, will succeed PML-N's Balighur Rehman in Punjab, while Kundi, from Dera Ismail Khan, will assume the role in KP, succeeding Haji Ghulam Ali of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), according to Dawn. Amid these changes, the attention has now shifted to Sindh, where Kamran Tessori of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) currently holds the position of governor. Following the February 8 elections, the PPP and PML-N, with support from other parties, agreed on a collaborative mechanism to form a coalition government at the Centre. As part of this agreement, the PPP secured key posts such as the presidency, Senate chairmanship, and National Assembly deputy speakership. In return, the PML-N was granted the right to appoint governors in Sindh and Balochistan, while agreeing to let the PPP appoint its nominees in Punjab and KP. Reports suggest that both the PML-N and PPP have desired to replace Tessori for various reasons. However, the MQM-P's support to the coalition government in the Centre has prevented any immediate action. Farooq Sattar, senior MQM-P leader, stated that his party had not yet received any formal request regarding the change of governor in Sindh. He emphasised that the MQM-P had previously expressed its preference for Tessori to continue in the role. Zahid Malik, another MQM-P leader, asserted the party's stance to resist any attempt to replace Tessori, highlighting his contributions to the party's revival and community welfare initiatives. While the PPP harbors reservations over Tessori's tenure due to certain activities, it acknowledges that the appointment of the Sindh governor falls within PML-N's jurisdiction as per the agreement. President Zardari reportedly holds reservations regarding Governor Tessori's actions during the caretaker government period before the general elections and has signalled the need for a replacement. However, the PML-N has remained silent on the matter, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday that the investigation into the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is "not limited" to the arrest of three Indian nationals and is ongoing. Trudeau said that it is important because "Canada is a rule-of-law country". The Canada PM's remarks came days after three Indian nationals were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar. The Canadian police on Saturday released photographs of all three persons arrested in the last year's killing of Nijjar amid an ongoing probe into the alleged connections of the Indian government. The police have not given any evidence of any link to India, as was being speculated in Canadian media. India has repeatedly denied the allegations, terming them "absurd and motivated." Giving an address at the Sikh Foundation of Canada's Centennial Gala event held at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday, Trudeau began by acknowledging the arrests made in connection to the case, emphasising that the investigation remains ongoing. "I need to begin, somewhat awkwardly perhaps, but importantly, to acknowledge the arrests that were made in relation to the murder of Nijjar. As the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) stated, the investigation remains ongoing, as does a separate and distinct investigation, not limited to the involvement of the three people arrested yesterday," he said. He highlighted Canada's status as a rule-of-law country with a robust and independent justice system. "This is important because Canada is a rule-of-law country with a strong and independent justice system, as well as a fundamental commitment to protecting all its citizens. I know that many Canadians, particularly members of the Sikh community, are feeling uneasy and perhaps even frightened right now," Trudeau added. Trudeau also reassured that every Canadian has the fundamental right to live safely and free from discrimination and violence. He urged them to "remain calm... remain steadfast in our commitment to our democratic principles and our system of justice. This is who we are and what we do as Canadians". A day ago, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings from New Delhi. Jaishankar said some people in Canada, with 'pro-Pakistan leanings', have organised themselves politically and taken the shape of an influential political lobby. He said he saw reports that three people have been arrested, and, the Canadian police have conducted 'some investigation'. Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year. On June 18, 2023, the Surrey RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. First responding members located a man, later identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been carrying out the investigation. It has continued to work closely with a number of partner agencies and support services across Canada, as far east as Ontario, including the Surrey RCMP, the Alberta RCMP and other Lower Mainland Integrated Teams. Nijjar's killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing -- a claim that India has rejected as "absurd." The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March this year showed Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described as a "contract killing". (ANI)
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded an independent inquiry after Pakistan's former caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi got into a heated exchange, The Express Tribune reported. A PTI spokesperson said the heated exchange between the two leaders served as an insight to expose the alleged stealing of its electoral malfeasance, according to the report. After the exchange of words between Kakar and Abbasi, PTI demanded a judicial commission to hold accountable those involved in the wheat import scheme and electoral manipulation. The spokesperson demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the alleged manipulation of election results and the fabrication of Form-47. PTI's statement came after reports detailed a tense confrontation between Kakar and Abbasi. During the heated exchange, Kakar purportedly issued a warning, suggesting that revealing certain information about Form-47 could leave the party nowhere to hide, according to The Express Tribune report. Tensions between the two leaders started over the wheat scandal during a meeting at a private hotel, The Express Tribune reported, citing the sources familiar with the matter. Abbasi allegedly faced criticism for blaming Kakar's tenure as Pakistan's Caretaker PM for a wheat scam during a television interview. In its statement, PTI criticized Kakar's alleged intimidation tactics, particularly considering his constitutional obligation to ensure fair and transparent polls. Imran Khan's party demanded a transparent probe into the matter considering the gravity of the accusations exchanged between the two leaders. PTI spokesperson called for the need for accountability and stressed that rather than admitting their faults, those accused of electoral manipulation and mismanagement are resorting to blame-shifting, The Express Tribune reported. The spokesperson emphasized the repercussions of alleged mismanagement under the Kakar-led government, especially the wheat crisis, which has affected farmers and necessitated costly wheat imports. Imran Khan's party criticized the federal government's handling of the wheat import probe, terming it a 'dubious event' to shield wrongdoers. On May 2, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued a white paper on alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, and demanded the formation of the judicial commission to probe the "snatching of the 180 seats," reported Geo News. While addressing a press conference on Thursday, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said, "We won 180 seats in the (February 8) elections. Our seats were given to other parties through Form 47." The PTI chief emphasized that they had filed a petition in the apex court against the alleged rigging."But the plea has not been fixed for hearing as yet," Gohar lamented. "We are issuing a 300-page white paper to bring it to the notice of the people as to how their mandate was stolen," Barrister Gohar said, reported Geo News. Notably, the PTI-backed independent candidates won the most National Assembly seats in recent general elections followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However later, the PML-N with the support of the other parties, including the PPP formed a coalition government in the centre and later became the single largest party in the lower house of the parliament following the allocation of the reserved seats. Underscoring the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to declare the party's intra-party polls as invalid, the PTI chief said that his party was forced to contest the general elections without its iconic 'bat' electoral symbol. "Our victory was turned into defeat by (manipulating) election results in the Form 47," he added. Moreover, Gohar stressed that the white paper is based on the reports of international organizations, foreign media and newspapers. He further called for carrying out the electoral reforms to eliminate rigging in the polls once and for all. (ANI)
People held a rally against the enforced disappearances of Hafiz Tayyab and numerous other missing people in the Khuzdar district of Pakistan's Balochistan on Saturday, The Balochistan Post reported. During the rally, protesters called for action and the safe recovery of all missing persons from Balochistan. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and relatives of other missing persons came out in the protest called by the family of Hafiz Tayyab. Protesters marched through the city's main thoroughfares and expressed their opposition to enforced disappearances and demanded the safe return of their loved ones. Hafiz Tayyab was reportedly taken by Pakistani security forces from Jhalawan Hospital Khuzdar on May 4, 2013, according to The Balochistan Post report. His family said that due process should be followed and produced before court if there is any credible evidence against Hafiz Tayyab. In a post on X, Baloch Yakjehti Committee had stated, "Today a decade has been completed the illegal abduction of Tayib, a protest rally held at khuzdar. BYC khuzdar Protested along family of Missing tayib against enforced disappearances. A large number of Masses have joined and recorded their protest." During the protest, people highlighted the plight of many others in Khuzdar, with their loved ones sharing grievances about the disappearance of their relatives. During the protest, BYC leaders said that their calls for a safe return of missing people had not been heard in previous protests and appeals to authorities in Islamabad. The protesters called for a safe return of the missing people and transparency regarding the whereabouts and condition of Hafiz Tayyab, as per The Balochistan Post report. They also urged national and international human rights organizations to take notice of the situation and hold the state accountable for protecting its citizens, as per the law. The South Korean chapter of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) staged a protest at Biff Square in South Korea's Busan calling for an end to what they describe as "state-sponsored" oppression against the Baloch people, The Balochistan Post reported. To raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Balochistan, protesters distributed pamphlets to residents. During the demonstration, the protesters expressed their anger and denounced the Pakistani state for the widespread enforced disappearances and unresolved cases of thousands of missing Baloch individuals. Bakhtawar Baloch, one of the protesters, spoke of the Baloch people's enduring fight against what she termed "Pakistani occupation," which has lasted for 75 years. She criticized the Pakistani state for the suppression and denial of self-determination rights. She condemned the alleged "genocide" of the Baloch people by Pakistani forces over the forced disappearances of women, students, human rights activists, journalists, leaders, scholars, engineers, doctors, political and social workers and livestock herders, The Balochistan Post reported. Residents of South Korea expressed sympathy for the Baloch cause and highlighted the need for international recognition of the Baloch people's suffering, The Balochistan Post reported. Speakers like Hafsa Baloch, Sameer Baloch, and Agha Faiz also denounced the treatment meted out to Baloch people by the Pakistani state. Protesters marched through Biff Square as they shouted slogans. (ANI)
During the bilateral talks, the two foreign ministers reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations and cooperation so far and discussed the whole gamut of bilateral relations to elevate economic and development cooperation as well as cultural and people-to-people relations in the days to come.

"The two leaders discussed enhancing support and cooperation in Nepal's major developmental priorities that include agriculture, hydro-power, infrastructure development, connectivity, export promotion, industrial production, foreign investment and tourism sectors, among others," Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release.

According to the release, matters discussed during the meeting included, the role of Japan's experience, knowledge, skill, and technology in multiple sectors including industrial development, agriculture, hydroelectricity, and infrastructure development in Nepal; including Japan's assistance in Nepal's flagship program to launch tunnel technology in developing road infrastructures.

The year 2026 will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations.

Moreover, the leaders underscored the need to commemorate the milestone with high-level exchanges and various events.

"Both sides also discussed matters relating to enhancing cooperation between two countries at bilateral, regional as well as multilateral levels in the areas of mutual interest," the release stated further.

Later, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan paid courtesy calls to the President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

"Matters relating to further strengthening the bilateral relations, development cooperation, and mutual interest were discussed on the occasion. In the evening, Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Narayan Kaji Shrestha hosted a dinner in honour of Her Excellency the Foreign Minister of Japan," the release stated.

Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamikawa Yoko is the fourth Japanese foreign minister to visit the Himalayan Nation since the two nations established diplomatic relations in September 1956. (ANI)
As Hamas indicated a comprehensive ceasefire as part of a hostage release deal, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in no uncertain terms that Israel will not accept an end to the campaign and the withdrawal of IDF troops from the Gaza Strip, reported Times of Israel. Amid swirling rumours over the weekend of international pressure on Israel to agree to an effective end to the war in Gaza as part of a hostage release deal, Netanyahu said that Israel is not ready to accept a situation in which Hamas troops come out and take control of Gaza again. "Israel cannot accept this," he said. "We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding communities, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country," he added. Further, Netanyahu said that Israel will not agree to Hamas's demands "which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved." Additionally, he stated that accepting Hamas' demands would only bring the next conflict closer and would allow Hamas to carry out another massacre in the future, Times of Israel reported. Meanwhile, he also stressed that Israel is still open to a deal, but Hamas "remains entrenched in its positions." Moreover, senior officials from the US, Qatar, and Egypt are in Cairo, along with Hamas officials. However, Netanyahu decided not to send a delegation at this stage, according to the Times of Israel. Yesterday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the terror group is eager to reach a comprehensive ceasefire that will end Israeli "aggression," guarantee Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and achieve a deal that will see the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Haniyeh, in his statement, also blamed PM Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties." (ANI)
Australia has agreed to boost its security cooperations with the United States, Japan and the Philippines, in response to China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, reported Voice of America (VOA). China's ambitions in the South China Sea have continued to alarm Australia, its Indo-Pacific allies and the United States. Australia, the United States, and Japan, in their response, have agreed to step up military drills with the Philippines. On Friday, Defence officials from the four countries met in Hawaii and declared their commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in the region. Earlier this week, the Philippines accused China of "dangerous manoeuvres" and "harassment" after its use of water cannons against two Philippine vessels during a patrol in the South China Sea, VOA reported. Last month, Australia, the US and Japan held their first joint naval exercises in the region. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasised that closer ties would enhance security. "There is a power and a significance in our four countries acting together. The meetings that we have held represent a very significant message to the region and to the world about four democracies that are committed to the global rules-based order," he said. According to the experts, increased military cooperation with the Philippines is an attempt to counter China's increased aggression. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Beijing's regional ambitions are causing growing concern. "What you are seeing is concern that China will continue to escalate its aggression against the Philippines to try and coerce them into backing down and accepting Chinese domination of the entirety of the South China Sea, which China wants as its territorial waters. This is China undertaking hostile actions against a sovereign state in international waters," he said. In response, Beijing urged the Philippine government not to "challenge China's resolve" to defend China's sovereignty in the region. China has sweeping claims in the South China Sea, which has rich fishing grounds and is a major international shipping route. Davis said that China's territorial ambitions could have implications for Australia and the United States. "It would affect Australia because then China could deny our commercial shipping the right to passage through those waters and it would affect US security," he said. Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have claims overlapping with each other's or China's in the South China Sea. Moreover, Beijing has refused to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected its expansive claims in the region. Beijing has insisted that efforts by the US to boost its security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region are aimed at containing China and threatening stability. (ANI)
Criticising the mistreatment by the authorities in Pakistan and Iran, the Afghan migrants who have been forcibly deported from the nations have called for international attention to their plight there, according to TOLOnews. The returnees, who have come from Iran, said that they were beaten by the Iranian government forces there. Whereas, those in Pakistan expressed concern about the increasing challenges they face in that nation. Basir, an Afghan returnee, who spent nearly two years in Iran and was recently deported with his three children, said: "When they wanted to search us, I resisted and they beat me. Now, I don't know if my ribs are broken or what has happened to me, I can't even lift two kilograms," reported TOLOnews. Whereas, Salahuddin, another deportee from Iran, said: "We went to Iran out of necessity to provide for our children, and they made it very hard for us." On the other hand, lamenting about the situation, Reza Sazesh, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: "Even those who had cards were deported from Quetta and Islamabad, Pakistan, and we are worried about this process." However, the Taliban's consul in Karachi, Pakistan, urged the country's authorities to provide Afghan migrants with additional time to return. According to the Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, around 2,800 Afghan migrants returned from Iran, both voluntarily and forcibly, on May 1, according to TOLOnews. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has characterised the state of human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls as well as religious and ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, as grave, citing the urgent need for humanitarian aid for 23.7 million people to survive. According to the report, Iran and Pakistan host around 7.7 million Afghan citizens, approximately 1.6 million of whom have been deported to Afghanistan since 2021. Meanwhile, Amnesty International and some human rights organisations have expressed concern about the continuation of the process of expelling Afghan migrants from Pakistan and demanded a halt to this trend. (ANI)
President Joe Biden speaks on pro-Palestinian protests unfolding at dozens of college campuses, in the White House in Washington, DC, on May 2, 2024. Credit - Drew AngererAFP via Getty Images

Amid a surge in hostile clashes on college campuses across the country over the war in Gaza, President Biden on Thursday gathered reporters in the cramped Roosevelt Room across the hall from the Oval Office. In televised remarks, he said peaceful protests are an American tradition but violent protest is not protected.

As he walked out, a reporter asked if the protests had forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East. Biden was unequivocal.

No, he said.

Biden has stuck with Israel despite his own mounting frustrations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, widespread criticism of Israels indiscriminate bombing campaign in Gaza as well as its blocking of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and increasing protests against his policy. Hes done so because Biden sees threats to Israel coming from beyond Hamas, says a White House official, and believes bolstering Israels security as pivotal to preventing current conflicts from mushrooming into a wider war across the Middle East.

Im never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, Biden said during a March 9 interview with MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart.

In the seven months since Hamas Oct. 7 assault on Israel, in which they killed more than 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages back into Gaza, Israel has been attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to the south, by militants in Iraq in the east and by Hezbollah in Lebanon along its northern border. And on April 14, Iran launched more than 300 rockets and drones at Israel, the first ever direct attack on Israel by Tehran.

The missile and drone barrage was a reminder of just how dangerous a neighborhood Israel lives in and the threats they are facing from Irans proxies, says a White House official.

The backlash has grown against U.S. support for Israel in recent months as Israeli bombardments killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza during Israels effort to destroy Hamas. Police have arrested more than 2,100 people during pro-Palestinian protests across dozens of college campuses in recent weeks, according to the Associated Press. While many of the protesters are pushing for colleges to unwind investments in Israel, their efforts have also been aimed at Bidens handling of the conflict.

Biden faces increasing dissent over his Israel policy from within his own party, and concern is growing that the issue is sapping his support from Democratic Party activists, and young voters more broadly, at a time when Biden needs them to help mobilize for the election in November.

Read more: Exclusive: Trump Says Netanyahu Deserves Some Blame for Oct. 7

Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the most outspoken critics in Congress of Bidens Israel support, said on CNN on Thursday that he worried Bidens Israel policy has alienated young people and a lot of the Democratic base, describing Gaza as Bidens Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson, who had scored major policy wins in expanding health care and anti-poverty programs, decided not to run for reelection in 1968 because the protest movement against his escalation in Vietnam had scuttled his support within the Democratic Party.

In recent weeks, Biden has increased his criticism of Netanyahu. He said on MSNBC in March that the Israeli leader must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions hes taken. In a tense phone call last month, he told Netanyahu to take immediate actions to protect civilian lives and allow food aid into Gaza, threatening to change his administrations support for the countrys military campaign against Hamas otherwise.

But Biden has shown little sign of being swayed away from what he has described as his ironclad support for Israel.

Despite political pushback from the left, Biden lobbied hard to get the House and Senate to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package in April that included $26.4 billion for Israel.

The need for such long-term funding for Israels military defense was made more clear after Irans military strike on April 14, supporters say. The bill will also help replenish Israels air defenses, which is even more important following Irans brazen and unprecedented attack, said Bidens National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on April 24. It will help ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against the very real threats it faces from Iran as well as Irans proxy groups.

Biden has struggled to find ways to simultaneously show U.S. support for Israels defense and pressure Netanyahu to alleviate the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Since Bidens threat to Netanyahu, the U.S. says it has seen some increase in aid getting into Gaza. But now Israeli military planners are readying forces to invade the city of Rafah in southern Gaza where more than 1 million people have sought shelter. U.S. officials are raising alarms about the possible civilian death toll, and have implored Israel to target Hamas leaders with tactics that avoid civilian deaths.

Bradley Bowman, the senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, says that when Iranian leaders call for death to Israel, American policy makers should take that threat seriously. The Islamic Republic of Iran is clearly implementing a ring of fire strategy that seeks to surround Israel for the purpose of ultimately exterminating the Jewish state, says Bowman. Its that broader threat to Israel that makes Biden unlikely to reduce military support, even in the face of protests.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Boater vanishes after jumping into lake after lost hat, Arizona sheriff says

A search continues for a man who jumped from a boat into Lake Pleasant after a lost hat, Arizona sheriffs officials told news outlets.

The man, who was not wearing a life jacket, never resurfaced, Maricopa County sheriffs officials told KDVR.

He vanished around 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4, the sheriffs office told AZ Family.

A search for the missing boater continues, The Arizona Republic reported.

Lake Pleasant is about a 45-mile drive north of Phoenix.

What to know about drowning

At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.

Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.

Dont hesitate to get out of the water if something doesnt feel right, the group said on its website. Whether its that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. Its always a good thing to trust your instincts.

K-9 finds missing 85-year-old woman clinging to tree in steep ravine, Colorado cops say

Bold move enables delivery driver to escape accused robber, California cops say

Climber injured in avalanche rescued from Mount Shasta, California sheriff says
A charity which runs a Leeds mosque is being looked at by the Charity Commission after its imam compared the Oct 7 attack to Jews breaking out of Nazi concentration camps and criticised Jordan for intercepting Iranian missiles bound for Israel.

Sheikh Jaffer Ladak, the imam of the Baab-Ul-Ilm Centre, appeared to welcome Iran launching its attack and chided Gulf states for providing an Arab Dome for Israel.

The Baab-Ul-Ilm Centre is understood to be run by the trustees of Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri Muslim Community of Metro Leeds, which is a registered charity.

Its imam, Mr Ladak, has caused controversy with a number of his statements following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas and Israels subsequent military action in Gaza.

In a video posted on Instagram in January, he complained about the media asking Muslims if they condemn Hamas for the attack on Oct 7. He said: The answer is actually no, why should we condemn?

If this was 1945 and the Jews were in a concentration camp and broke out of that concentration camp and then attacked the Nazi military bases around that concentration camp, would anyone in history condemn the Jews for breaking out of their concentration camp? No.

Fill their hearts with terror

On the night of April 13, when news broke of Irans attack on Israel, Mr Ladak posted two comments in Arabic on X, formerly known as Twitter, appearing to welcome the assault.

Fill their hearts with terror, and restrain their hands from extending,  one post said.

The other said: O Allah, empty their hearts of security, their bodies of strength, and bewilder their minds from deceit. Weaken their pillars from confronting men and make them cowardly from confronting heroes. Send upon them an army of Your angels.

The two sentences appear in a part of a Shia prayer for the protection and victory of those who defend the Muslim community from its enemies.

In a sermon from the mosque streamed live on April 18, Mr Ladak criticised Jordan for intercepting the drones.

Referring to Western influence in the Middle East dating back to the First World War, he said: With the [1916] Sykes-Picot agreement and the carving up of the Muslim world into nation-states, each of them waving their little flag, each of them having a king and a leadership that is put in place by the West, for the sake of the West, where are we 100 years later?... Shall I tell you where we are 100 years later? The Israelis, they dont have an Iron Dome, they have an Arab Dome.

It is Jordan and Saudi Arabia and the UAE that directly defend the Zionist regime, such that if Iran sends over its weaponry, it is the Jordanian king that makes sure that they are shot down When he goes I wouldnt want these drones, no nation would want drones to be able to enter into its air space, well how come Iraq allowed it, and how come Syria allowed it?... This is what Jordan is until today. The only good thing that Jordan has is Petra.

A Charity Commission spokeswoman said: We became aware of concerns about earlier statements made at the Baab-Ul-Ilm Centre Leeds in March 2024 and are engaged with relevant trustees on this matter. We will assess this new information, to decide if there is a role for the Commission.

In a statement, the Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri Muslim Community of Metro Leeds said: The charity would be failing in its duty if it neglected to educate and inform its congregation. Sheikh Jaffer Ladak expressed indignation at the Arab states aiding and abetting the plausible genocide in Gaza as determined by the International Court of Justice. The charity and Sheikh Jaffer Ladak feel they have been gratuitously subjected to a sustained campaign of Islamophobia, harassment, intimidation and denied their right to freedom of speech.

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Chinas Xi Jinping is visiting Europe for the first time in five years  his goodwill tour will be an uphill struggle

Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

When Xi Jinping arrived in Italy for a state visit in 2019, he was given a lavish welcome, with private tours of Roman landmarks and a dinner serenaded by opera singer Andrea Bocelli, topped with a crowning flourish  Italys decision to join Xis signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Five years later, the Chinese leader has returned to Europe in a very different climate. Xi landed in France Sunday and, while the pomp and ceremony may remain during his six-day European tour, views on China across the continent have shifted dramatically since his last visit.

In the past weeks alone, the European Union has launched trade probes into Chinas wind turbines and procurement of medical equipment, and raided offices of Chinese security equipment maker Nuctech as part of an investigation into subsidies. Germany and the United Kingdom in recent days also arrested or charged at least six people for alleged espionage and related crimes linked to China.

And in March, Italy formally exited the Belt and Road, costing the program its only G7 member country, in a blow to China and its leader.

Behind these developments are mounting economic grievances that have the EU preparing for a potential major trade confrontation with China  as well as growing suspicions about Beijings global ambitions and influence, driven by alarm over Chinas deepening ties with Russia as it wages war against Ukraine.

China is seen increasingly as a multi-faceted threat in many European capitals. But there are divisions within Europe over how fast and far to go in addressing concerns about China, both in the economic and security spheres, said Noah Barkin, a Berlin-based visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Now, Xis trip  with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary  is an opportunity to woo his critics, but also showcase that even as views are hardening in some parts of Europe, others still welcome China with open arms.

Beijing is keen to dampen Europes push to address alleged trade distortions, which would come at a bad time for Chinas flagging economy. It also wants to ensure Europe doesnt draw any closer to the United States, especially amid uncertainty over the outcome of the upcoming US election.

Major breakthroughs with Chinas toughest critics will be hard to come by unless Xi is ready to make surprise concessions. And the trip could instead serve to underscore divisions  not only between Europe and China but those within Europe that could play to Chinas favor, analysts say.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Quirinale presidential palace in Rome, Italy, on March 23, 2019. - Abaca Press/SIPAPRE/Sipa/AP

Trade frictions

Xis visit started with one of his toughest critics.

The Chinese leader met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen alongside French President Emmanuel Macron Monday.

Von der Leyen has spearheaded the EUs rallying cry to derisk its supply chains from China over concerns about securing key technologies, and is driving a high-stakes anti-subsidy investigation, backed by France, into the influx of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports to Europe.

China earlier this year opened an investigation into the price of brandy imported from the EU in a move that could hit Frances cognac sector and is widely seen as retaliation for the probe.

During a joint press conference in Paris Monday, Macron said Europe was not looking to stir up trouble with its trade policy, but simply trying to stay sovereign. He also thanked Xi for keeping an open mind on the issue of French cognac. The two countries would continue their trade discussions, Macron said.

Chinas direct investment in France is three times lower than that of France in China. We need to rebalance this, Macron added. In sectors like electric vehicles, batteries as well as most cutting-edge technologies, digital platforms etc, I would like to see us (the Franco-Chinese cooperation) go a lot further.

As for Xi, he called for closer relations between the two nations in fields including agriculture, finance, aerospace, nuclear power, and cultural exchanges.

According to Xi, China and France signed a total of 18 interdepartmental cooperation agreements during the visit.

Ahead of the visit, Macron signaled his desire to push Xi on economic ties, and reiterated concerns made by Europe and the United States that China is flooding global markets with cheap goods it cant sell at home.

Im calling for an aggiornamento because China is now in excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe, the French president said in an interview Sunday with French outlet La Tribune Dimanche, using the Italian word for update.

Xi, however, may win more goodwill during his one-on-one time with Macron, which is expected to include what Elysee sources described as more personal time in the Pyrenees mountains of southern France.

France has built this reputation of being a fairly independent actor in the EU and willing to create some space with the US, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

Xi may want to work on Macron to see if he can get more European distance from North America, as well as tightening his rapport with this important EU player, Chong said.

In a statement released by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his arrival, Xi said the two countries had throughout their relations set a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron visit a garden in Guangdong during Macron's state visit to China last April. - Jacques Witt/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Push for peace

The war in Ukraine  a crucial sore point in Europe-China relations  is also on the agenda this week.

Beijing has appeared to do little to move the Kremlin toward European visions for peace in Ukraine, despite repeated efforts to push Xi to use his rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has said he plans to visit China this month, according to Russian state media.

In their joint press conference, Xi reiterated Chinas stance on Ukraine, stating that Beijing has been playing an active role in promoting peace. He added that China is against any parties using the Ukraine crisis to incite a new Cold War.

Macron said: The length and quality of our exchanges on this subject is a source of reassurance (for me).

Xis visit comes as the United States and its European allies grow increasingly vocal about concerns that Chinas exports of dual-use goods to Russia are powering its war machine. Beijing defends that trade as a regular part of its bilateral relations.

At some point soon Europe could decide to move more aggressively in sanctioning Chinese firms selling such goods, according to Barkin at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

A warmer welcome

Xis stops in Serbia and Hungary are likely to be much less contentious  something the Chinese government likely factored in when mapping out the visit, observers say.

In Belgrade and Budapest, Xi will not have to listen to the criticism he hears in other European capitals, said Barkin. Their leaders welcome Chinese investment, and they dont have a problem with Chinas deepening ties to Russia.

Xis visit to Belgrade will coincide with the week of the 25th anniversary of NATOs bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade that killed three. The attack, part of a wider bombing campaign by NATO in the Balkans during the spring of 1999, drove Beijings deep enmity for the alliance, even as the United States said it was an accident.

Any commemoration of the event by Xi could underscore the deep divisions between China and NATO, which Beijing sees as an embodiment of American overreach and a source of Europes security challenges  a view that has driven it closer to Russia.

Xi may also look to highlight Chinese investments in both Belgrade and Budapest in a message to the rest of Europe.

Non-EU member Serbia, which Beijing earlier this week described as an iron-clad friend, has seen growing trade and investment ties with China under President Aleksandar Vucic.

In January, the Balkan nation announced a deal that could see more than $2 billion of Chinese investment in wind and solar power plants and a hydrogen production facility, Reuters reported at the time.

In Hungary, Xi will look to deepen his relationship with increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban  a useful ally for China in the EU, where he has blocked or criticized EU efforts to hold China to account on human rights issues.

The central European country has also emerged as an increasingly important production hub in Europe for Chinese automotive suppliers including EV makers  a situation that analysts say could help Chinese firms maneuver around existing and potential EU tariffs.

That means Xi is likely to exit his European trip on a very different note from the one he begins with.

There, at least, the optics will be that theres a lot of acceptance of Xi, said Chong at the National University of Singapore.

This story has been updated with additional developments. Julen Chavin in Paris, Xiaofei Xu in Hong Kong and Shawn Deng in Toronto, Canada, contributed reporting.

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Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke at the 2024 Iowa GOP state convention in Clive May 4, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Attorney General Brenna Bird and others at the state Republican convention on Saturday emphasized the need to defeat President Joe Biden in November and put former President Donald Trump back in the White House.

Republicans from across the state gathered at the Horizon Event Center in Clive for the state convention, where they chose delegates to send to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee July 15-18. Its the final step in the presidential nominating process that began with the 2024 Iowa Republican caucuses.

Trump, the only major GOP presidential candidate remaining, secured an early and decisive win in the January Iowa Republican caucuses  the first-in-the-nation contest  where he beat his closest competitors Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley by a nearly 30-point margin.

While all the Republican elected and party officials at the state convention spoke in support of Trump, not all were supporters during the caucuses. Trump heavily criticized Reynolds for staying neutral during most of the 2024 caucus campaign season, and escalated his criticism when the Iowa governor endorsed DeSantis in November 2023.

In endorsing DeSantis, Reynolds said she believed the Florida governor had a better shot at winning against Biden in the general election than Trump  but she also repeatedly stated her plans to support whoever became the Republican nominee. At the convention, Reynolds said that she knows Republicans, if united, can restore the greatness to this country.

We showed up, we listened and while we may have been on different sides (during the caucuses), I can tell you without a doubt, without hesitation, that we share a common goal, Reynolds said. And that is ending Joe Bidens political career. I am proud to endorse President Donald Trump  He is a fighter, he is a leader.

Reynolds first announced her endorsement of Trump in March, following Haleys exit from the race.

Bird, who endorsed Trump in October 2023, shared a message for Trump at the convention: Iowa has your back.

President Trump is depending on you to win Iowa big so he can focus on other states, Bird said. And you know what I told him? Dont worry, were working hard here in Iowa, we have election integrity. Well take care of you.

Both of the Republican statewide officials also criticized the Biden administration  and the recent threatened lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice over a law Reynolds signed making illegal immigration a state crime in Iowa. Bird characterized this law as a way for Iowa to do the job the federal government wont do on enforcement of immigration laws.

And now the Biden administration, they say theyre going to sue us, Bird said. Well Ive got something to tell the Biden administration in response. Go pound sand.

In a letter to Reynolds and Bird this week, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton wrote that the Iowa law violates the U.S. Constitution and conflicts with federal authority in enforcement of immigration laws. Boynton gave the Iowa officials until May 7 to respond to the request to prevent the law from going into effect before the federal department plans to take court action, but both Bird and Reynolds have indicated they do not plan to stop the law from moving forward.

Multiple Republican speakers praised Trumps border policies at the convention, contrasting them with immigration law enforcement under Bidens time in office. Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann called for Republicans to rally behind Trump, even if they have some differences of opinion.

If the possibility of four more years of Biden as president is not enough to unify everyone in this room, theres not much else I can say, Kaufmann said.

Every action I take from now until November, Im going to ask myself one question: How does this help to put Donald Trump back in the White House? Kaufmann said. Thats all that matters.

The post Iowa Republican officials rally behind Trump at state GOP convention appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Civilian contractors have started to arrive in Haiti to help prepare for the arrival of Kenyan forces, whose deployment is currently in the works, a top Biden official confirmed to the Miami Herald on Friday.

Todd D. Robinson, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said an initial deployment of Kenyan police officers is being planned to coincide with the arrival of President William Ruto in Washington later this month.

The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Ruto and his wife, First Lady Racheo Ruto, for a state visit on May 23 to mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations.

The initial deployment will happen sometime around his State visit, said Robinson, declining to give an exact date or the number of officers who will be deployed as part of the long-awaited Multinational Security Support mission.

On Friday, a day after U.S. helicopters were seen flying through Port-au-Princes dark skies, the U.S. Southern Command landed another aircraft at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The plane transported civilian contractors who will be providing support to the Pentagon to build out the area where the Kenyan support mission is supposed to be staying while in Haiti.

The Pentagon, which has pledged $200 million to assist in the mission, is responsible for making a base ready for the forces. Congressional aides have said that requires 45 days. Officials with the Department of Defense declined to provide details on their housing plans.

The bases construction, however, is crucial.

We dont want to send them into a situation where theyre not securely housed and have a place to sleep, plan and do all of that, said Robinson.

Ruto first pledged 1,000 of his police officers in July 2023 to lead an international force to assist Haitis national police, pending his governments security assessment and a mandate from the U.N. Security Council, which was given in October.

Since then, however, the initiative has faced one obstacle after another, from court challenges and judicial blocks in Nairobi to funding holds in Congress to the March 11 forced resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry amid a gang insurgency.

Though the court challenges appear to have been cleared, the initiative still lacks the proper funding.

Republican lawmakers in Congress have ignored a request by the State Department to release $40 million of the $100 million it has pledged to support the mission.

Aides to Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas and Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho have criticized the plan, while accusing the administration of not providing clear details about the force. Administration officials, meanwhile, have said they have provided more than 60 briefings and answered dozens of questions from GOP offices.

Amid the delay, thousands of Haitians have either lost their lives or been injured, and Haiti teeters on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as millions of people are unable to find enough food to eat. The U.N., which has joined the U.S. in calling for assistance for the multinational force and humanitarian response, has said that Kenyan-led mission need to be deployed quickly to assist the Haiti National Police take on ruthless gangs that continue to force people out of their homes and hold millions of people in Port-au-Prince hostage.

Robinson declined to go into details about the operations. But he conceded that the goal with the initial deployment is to begin to bring relief to Haitians  who this week endured a fresh round of attacks by armed gangs  and to convince U.S. lawmakers and donors to provide the necessary funding.

Were doing the best we can within our constraints and our authorities, he said.

Robinson said while there is currently enough money to pay for Kenyas personnel expenses and the initial deployment, more money is needed. The goal is to deploy the forces in phases.

I dont think personnel is going to be our problem. I think resources, financial resources are going to be our problem, he conceded. And we are on a daily basis, on an hourly basis, going out to our friends in the international community, asking them to step up.

The U.S., he said, has seen a number of countries volunteer personnel. But the challenge is funding.

Earlier this week, the U.N. said a trust fund for the mission currently has only $18 million.

The funds were provided by Canada, by France and the United States, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Dujarric said that The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, Jamaica and Kenya have officially notified Guterres in writing, as requested by the U.N. Security Council, of their intent to contribute personnel to the mission.

In late February, while Henry was in Nairobi to sign the the necessary accords for the deployment of the Kenya forces, armed gangs in Port-au-Prince united and launched a broad assault on key government institutions while demanding his ouster.

Police stations, the airport and seaport were all targeted. Gangs also orchestrated the release of more than 4,000 inmates from the countrys two largest prisons. The attacks deepened concerns that the mission would be too dangerous for international forces and, with Henry forced to resign, Rutos government put the mission on hold.

He has since said his police are ready to deploy, welcoming the installment of a new transitional presidential council in Haiti, which will be tasked with readying the country for the mission.

Our intention is to have the international community support the Haitian national police in doing their job, and also to allow them to get a rest, he said. These guys have been going for a long time at 110% and theyve been getting the job done.

Outgunned and outnumbered, Haiti police have struggled to push gangs back. In some cases, theyve been unable to stop invasions of neighborhoods and the takeover of police stations as the gangs tightened their grip on Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite Valley. In others, theyve succeeded in fighting back attempts to take over the National Palace, the Central Bank and the international airport, which theyve protected with help from members of the small Haitian Army.

Frantz Elbe, the director general of the Haiti National Police, said since the attacks began on Feb. 29, his officers have not only fought back the gangs, theyve also created a buffer zone around the airport. Elbes own home was set ablaze by gangs during the mayhem.

Weve reinforced the security perimeter inside and outside of the airport, he said. The police have carried out a lot of operations that have allowed for improvements in the security at the airport. Weve also demolished a lot of houses.

The destruction of about 200 houses around the airport by the Haitian government, which has spent thousands of dolalrs compensating residents, has not only led to better visibility of the runway but also blocked gangs from being able to perch themselves on structures and shoot at the runways. The government has constructed security towers around the perimeter.

This has already allowed for the landing of five U.S. flights that have transported cargo and personnel , Elbe said about the flights coordinated by U.S. Southern Command. And there are other security measures being taken.

Currently, he said, members of the army and the police are providing security for the airport. While police officers are outside, both soldiers and cops are inside.

Ultimately, Elbe said, the goal is to build the confidence needed for U.S. airlines to resume their commercial flights to Haiti, which have been suspended since March 4.

The second phase of our strategy is to dismantle the gangs and create a space where the government can provide services to neighborhoods once occupied by gangs, he said.

That is where the foreign forces, led by Kenya, will help, Elbe said. They can help us in the operations that we are going to do to dismantle the gangs.

The motivation of Haitis police officers isnt lost on U.S. officials, who say they have shown that they can carry out complex and dangerous operations over the last two months.

This is what the training that weve been doing has gotten us, Robinson said. There has not been a total collapse. They have been able to clear the airport and maintain the airport and no one thought they would be able to do this.... And we know how hard this has been.

Robinson declined to go into details on how many Kenya officers would be initially deployed, and how they would carry out operations, saying only that the plan is to get Haitians to a place where the country, which last held general elections in 2016, can head to the ballot box.

The idea for this is to get them to elections. The [police] and their collaboration with the Haitian army has shown that when push comes to shove, when they have to get something done, they can get it done, Robinson said. We think with the introduction of this international force, we will be able to get them to elections. Thats what success looks like. Are there other things we have to do after that? Yes. But if we can get them to elections, thats a strong start.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada State Universitys most recent graduates made history as they walked the during its commencement ceremony at the Thomas and Mack Center Saturday morning.

The class of 2024 is the first graduating class since the school became a university in the summer of 2023.

NSU president Dr. DeRionne Pollard addressed the sea of caps and gowns saying, I hope each of you takes pride in graduating from Nevadas newest university.

The day marked a special occasion for the Kirklands. The father and daughter duo attended school and graduated together. Trinity earned a Bachelors in English with a minor in Creative Writing. She graduated summa cum laude.

I am so excited and it is so cool I get to do this with my dad, Trinity beamed. I am so honored; I look up to him. That is one of my best friends, so we are doing the thing together.

Her father, Daryl, encouraged his children to seek degrees. He joked he didnt want to be a hypocrite, so he decided to earn a Bachelors as well, in communications.

I was in the military. I did dental assisting, and then I went to school and got an associates degree in computer technology and now I am an it instructor, he said.

He and Trinity plan to pursue masters degrees in their fields.

Proud family members cheered from the stands, including Mariela Marenco who was rooting for her niece, Monica Flores.

I am so proud of her and I am super excited, Marenco said. She is the first in the family to graduate with a college degree.

Marencos daughter, Kaylie, voiced her support for her cousin.

She is the one who got me into Harry Potter so I think it is funny she is graduating with English, she said.

The date is often referred to as Star Wars Day or May the Fourth Be With You. So of course, the graduates held lightsabers to highlight their bright future.

Most of the graduates majored in nursing, education and liberal arts fields. The group brings the total alumni to 8,500 since the school opened in 2002.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The University of Mississippi student who was seen on video making monkey noises and jumping up and down to mock a Black pro-Palestine protester has been expelled from his fraternity after his actions went viral on social media.

The fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, announced in a statement on Sunday that the man in question had been swiftly removed from the organization. The student, James JP Staples, was identified on Instagram by the NAACP.

Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters is aware of the video regarding the student protest at the University of Mississippi, the statement reads.

The racist actions in the video were those of an individual and are antithetical to the values of Phi Delta Theta and the Mississippi Alpha chapter. The responsible individual was removed from membership on Friday, May 3.

It was unclear whether the unidentified man would be allowed to rejoin the organization at Ole Miss or any other chapter in the future. A spokesman for Phi Delta Thetas national headquarters did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts requests for comment.

The fraternitys announcement came just days after the university launched a student conduct investigation into at least one student as a result of the racist counterprotest encounter.

In a letter addressed to the campus community on Friday, Chancellor Glenn Boyce said the university was aware of behavior that was offensive, hurtful and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones, although he did not clarify that it was pro-Israel counterprotesters who lodged those racist attacks.

While student privacy laws prohibit us from commenting on any specific student, we have opened one student conduct investigation. We are working to determine whether more cases are warranted, Boyce wrote.

On Thursday, counter protesters overwhelmed a small demonstration in support of Palestine, which had been peacefully assembled on the grassy area of campus. Counter protesters surrounded the fenced-off protest area and chanted things like Hit the showers! and Your nose is huge, the nonprofit news outlet Mississippi Today reported.

The jeers were especially vicious toward a Black female protester who separated from the rest of the protest encampment. Video showing a group of mostly white male counter protesters mocking her quickly went viral after they hurled taunts like Lizzo! and Lock her up! as she was guided away by police.

Ole Miss taking care of business. pic.twitter.com/JiL9hs2pHz  Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) May 3, 2024

In his message, Boyce said that kind of harassment was unacceptable.

We will not tolerate discrimination, intimidation, harassment or bias of anyone in our campus community. To be clear, people who say horrible things to people because of who they are will not find shelter or comfort on this campus, Boyce continued.

Elected officials said otherwise. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) proudly reposted the video and captioned it, Ole Miss taking care of business. Governor Tate Reeves tweeted his approval with footage of the counterprotests.

Warms my heart, he wrote.

The confrontation drew comparisons to the 1962 protests, when its white student body found themselves in uproar over the decision to admit a single Black student, James Meredith. Ole Miss, which has long been entwined with Confederate history, continued to be a site of cultural conflict through the late 2010s and 2020s, when students rallied to remove Confederate monuments from campus that they argued were glorifying slavery.

Jessica Seinfeld and Bill Ackman Fund Pro-Israel Counterprotests at Colleges

Its a legacy the schoolwhich takes its nickname from enslavement era languagestill grapples with. In his Friday message, Boyce faintly alluded to the schools ties to the Confederacy without naming it.

While we are a modern university with a vibrant community of more than 25,000 people, it is important to acknowledge our challenging history, and incidents like this can set us back, Boyce wrote.

Though Black Mississippians make up nearly 40 percent of the states population, they are vastly underrepresented at the university, where Black students make up only 11 percent of the student body.

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Editors Note: Arwa Damon, an award-winning former senior international correspondent for CNN, is president and co-founder of the nonprofit organization International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA). The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion on CNN.

Note: This article includes descriptions of disturbing impacts of violence.

A child shrieks in pain in a medical tent at a field clinic in southern Gaza. Hes 7, with severe burns on his back that are being cleaned and slathered with balm. Its an excruciating process that would be done under anesthesia, in the sterile setting of a hospital, in ideal circumstances. But after nearly seven months of bombing and shelling in Gaza, conditions of any sort have ceased to be even adequate, let alone ideal.

Arwa Damon - CNN

Im in Gaza on a humanitarian mission with my charity, International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, which I established in 2015 when I was still a senior correspondent for CNN. Were working on setting up medical stations and expanding the number of shelters and camps we work in.

Ive worked in war zones for the last 20 years, both as a journalist and a humanitarian. I sometimes find myself rolodexing memories of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, of sieges and starvation, of families on the run seeking safety, as I try to home in on what makes the suffering in Gaza so different.

The answer, as it turns out, is all around me. It is the psychological obliteration: What makes the trauma different in Gaza is the sheer constancy of it. Trauma compounds trauma every single day; there is no respite, not even a brief one.

Death and destruction are not unique to the war in Gaza, but the scale and the scope are, as is the intensity and ferocity.

The constant bombardment is a dagger plunged repeatedly into the gaping wound of a crushed psyche. The soundtrack of every night and day is the relentless buzz of drones that taunts, Oh you think youve survived? Just wait, death can still come.

The screaming boys young mother looks like shes weighed down by fatigue, sitting with her head in her hands mumbling  whether to herself or her son  Its OK, its almost over.

But its not. She wont be taking him home  their home doesnt exist anymore. What substitutes for their home these days is a fly-infested tent. She wont be able to ply him with ice cream as she did before the war. Famine remains a constant threat. The limited food rations consist of canned beans and lentils, and for that, she is deeply grateful. What shes unable to tell him is, Everythings better. Youre safe now. That lie would be so obvious, even the youngest children would know better than to believe it.

I smell the distinct stench of death and peer out through the tent flap. Its emanating from the remains of those killed a week earlier that were only just recovered now, brought to this field clinic to be body-bagged and cataloged. The smallest corpse is a toddler about the size of my arm. The other remains consist of just body parts  I catch a glimpse of a foot and half a leg. I see a man in the corner, alone, crouched down sobbing quietly. They are all that is left of his relatives, someone working at the camp tells me.

These are the daily, harrowing images of loss and suffering that the population here endures every day. Even those who remain physically intact are often psychologically broken.

A 2022 study by Save the Children found that around 80% of children in Gaza reported feelings of sadness or depression among other negative emotions including grief and fear before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war. Those numbers must surely now be at 100%  or very close to it. Parents and caregivers Ive spoken to describe their children as being scared, anxious and angry. They are prone to bedwetting and lashing out, or at times become hyper-vigilant and hysterical.

The problem is that one cannot address the effects of this sort of trauma while it is still ongoing every day. Currently, my small INARA team provides services across 13 shelters and makeshift camps. We distribute everything from hot meals to washable sanitary underwear, but the crux of our activities centers around running mental health and psychosocial activities for children. These include group play, games, art and other creative outlets.

It suggests something else deeply sobering about the conditions of those who survive this war. Brick and mortar structures may eventually be rebuilt, but nobody can fully heal Gazans fragile, damaged psyches. Surgeries and bandages cant help Gazans recover from emotional loss or shellshock.

Children are quite adept at expressing themselves through play. The activities provided by my group are emergency interventions targeting not the body, but the spirit. In other words, we try to create a temporary distraction and give children the small comfort of something to look forward to.

Arwa Damon leads an activity with children at one of the shelters where INARA provides services in southern Gaza. - Arwa Damon/INARA

The childrens faces brighten the moment our team arrives. It helps the parents too in a small way, to see their little ones smile and laugh. The childrens songs we play are loud enough to drown out the drones and the explosions in the distance. As I watch them dance, play and race each other, my eye is drawn to one little girl sitting on a pink plastic chair with a doll in a sparkly green dress. Shes watching the others but its like she herself is not there. Ive seen that before, too many times, in adults and in kids, physically there  but not fully there emotionally.

She reminds me a bit of another child I encountered, 4-year-old Ahmed, whom I met months earlier in a hospital in Egypt where he had been medically evacuated. Half his head is shaved. A long, angry scar worthy of Frankenstein is visible on his scalp beneath the hair that is beginning to grow back.

Ahmed is the sole surviving member of his immediate family. He, his sister and his parents were fleeing toward a shelter when a nearby building was bombed. We thought he was also dead, his grandfather, who was evacuated with him, told me. But then 10 days later we found him in a hospital.

His grandfather doesnt know what happened to Ahmed in that time, what he witnessed, if he heard his parents and his sisters cries of pain or if their deaths were instantaneous. Ahmed, who used to talk, has not said a word. But he does interact. His eyes brighten as I pull out books, plastic building blocks and other toys for him. He smiles, a little bit. He gives me a high five. He waves.

I ask Ahmeds grandfather how he himself is holding up. I cant think about any of this. I cant think about or mourn my son, my daughter-in-law, my granddaughter. He sighs and shakes his head. I dont know what I am doing, where we are going, where life is going.

The yo-yoing of positive developments in negotiations toward a ceasefire-hostage deal only to have them fall apart just adds to Palestinians mental anguish. Hope is dangerous, burning deeper each time its crushed. After months of deadlock, there are reports of a possible breakthrough in negotiations leading to a rise in hope, but also fear.

Israel vowed that if no deal is made for Hamas to release at least some of the 129 hostages in Gaza from its October 7 attack on Israel, it would launch a large-scale ground invasion into Rafah in southern Gaza where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge. Israel has been warned by allies, including the US, against undertaking such an operation due to the potential for additional mass civilian casualties, but on Tuesday Israels military announced that it had seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, a vital entry point for aid to Gaza on the Egyptian border.

Damon at play with a young child in March, at a refugee center in Cairo, Egypt, served by INARA. - Arwa Damon/INARA

Like the children they are tasked with trying to protect, adults cannot process the pain, fear and anxiety that crush their psyches, threatening to push them over the edge and into insanity. No one can make sense of what Gazans have endured for more than half a year. It is in peoples faces  especially in their deadened eyes  and in their lethargic, mechanical movements when you see how the last seven months have gouged at everyones soul.

Im driving through a sea of zombies, I morbidly think to myself as the car Im in tries to weave its way through tents, stalls, donkey carts and human traffic in southern Gaza.

Yet one at the same time feels churning waves of pain emanating from each person, so powerful, so aching you feel like you are also drowning in an endless sea.

At one stop I make, a mother grabs my arm. My son, hes 7, she says. Every night he screams and convulses. Hes been doing this for two months. Ever since he saw his younger sisters head fly off when the bomb hit.

I feel like my brain freezes. Not just at the horror of what she is describing, but her monotone voice when she is describing it. She was there too; she also saw all of it. It hits me just how deep shes had to bury her own emotions, and how much she has had to fight every day to make sure they dont surface. If they do, if she cracks, she will completely break.

She reads my silence, as if she is reading my thoughts. I have children who are still alive. They need me, she says in that same tone of voice.

It is in being here that one starts to grasp the depth and breadth of the psychological destruction Gazans have endured. And if Gaza is to be rebuilt that too must be addressed. There is no full healing from this sort of trauma. Recovery of a sort is possible, but recovery does not mean forgetting. It means that the mental scars are kept in check so that perhaps in the future they will no longer be paralyzing, inhibiting, debilitating.

A few days after my encounter with the mother, Im on a bus traversing the no mans land between the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian side. There are a handful of us international NGO workers; the rest are mostly women and children. Some have medical papers; most have paid astronomical fees of around $5,000 to companies that act as intermediaries and provide travel approval.

As the bus door is about to slide shut, a young man jumps through and grabs his mothers hands, kissing them. She and his sister are departing, he is staying. Those sitting around her start to cry softly as a deep sadness sweeps over them all.

Stay alive, my son, I hear her tell him. Stay alive.

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Outside spending in three of Indianas congressional races ranks in the nations top ten

Three of Indiana's congressional races top the nation in terms of outside spending: the Senate, 3rd and 8th Districts. (Getty Images)

Outside groups have targeted the state of Indiana with so much money that three federal primary races have landed in the top ten most expensive contests nationwide.

Republicans seeking to win open seats in the U.S. Senate and Congressional Districts 3 and 8 have racked up millions in outside spending. Other open but highly competitive seats  in the 5th and 6th Congressional Districts  havent attracted the same interest.

Total outside spending in the top ten most expensive congressional races:

Ohio Senate: $26.6M

California Senate: $21.2M

Montana Senate: $9.8M

West Virginia Senate: $7.6M

California District 47: $6.3M

Indiana District 8: $5M

Utah Senate: $3.9M

Indiana District 3: $3.8M

Indiana Senate: $3.6M

Wisconsin Senate: $3.4M

The rankings come from an Open Secrets compilation of outside spending for primary expenditures, an ever-evolving list updated with new reports from the Federal Election Commission. As of May 1, Indianas 8th District  once called the Bloody Eighth  ranked sixth in the nation for spending, followed by the 3rd District in eighth and the U.S. Senate race in ninth. The analysis excludes spending in the Presidential primary, which far outpaces spending in down-ballot races.

Steve Shine, the Allen County Republican Party chair, said the spending in the 3rd Congressional District didnt surprise him even as the numbers climbed before the May 7th primary, fueled largely by spending from political action committees (PACs) and their powerful brethren, super-PACs.

I dont know if Im surprised because in any heated election, you kind of expect outside forces to come in and do negative advertising against the people they dont support, Shine said. Its interesting to note that in the 3rd Congressional District that the candidate spending is much less than the PAC spending  and thats very telling when you have an outside force come in spending more than the candidates.

Total outside spending is as follows: $5,069,670 in the 8th District, $3,760,618 in the 3rd District and $3,632,278 in the U.S. Senate race.

Those numbers cant be combined to reflect total spending because it could double-count certain expenditures, Open Secrets noted. Open Secrets is a nonprofit research group that tracks money in politics.

That spending includes zero dollars for or against Democratic candidates.

An uncompetitive race

Perhaps most interestingly, the U.S. Senate race hasnt had a contested primary since February after egg farmer John Rust lost his candidacy cases before the Indiana Supreme Court and Indiana Election Division.

There were rumors that former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels would step into the race in 2022 but those were quickly quashed after an attack ad by Club for Growth. Thats left only U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican, in the race to succeed U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who is stepping down to run for governor.

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana speaks at an event Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Its surprising because its, frankly, not competitive, said Laura Merrifield Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Indianapolis. Banks has no competition now and even when Rust was on the ballot for a temporary moment, Im not sure that he was highly competitive and an opponent for Banks.

Despite Rusts long-shot campaign throughout 2023, outside groups poured their money into the race and all of the $3.6 million spent was in support of Banks.

Just over $3 million came from the Defend American Jobs super-PAC, a type of political action committee that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on their preferred candidates. According to a report from CNBC, the group is one of three funded by cryptocurrency leaders to help candidates in support of crypto, spending a combined $78 million.

Notably, at least half of the $3 million appears to have been spent after Rust left the race when Banks became the only candidate to qualify for the Republican primary ballot.

Two other super-PACs have waded into the U.S. Senate race: the American Leadership PAC and Club for Growth Action. The Club for Growth PAC has also spent funds in support of Banks.

Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis. (Photo from the University of Indianapolis)

On the national stage, the U.S. Senate has the narrowest of Democratic advantages, with a 51-49 split. Flipping a seat for one party or another would have national ramifications but Indiana is a reliably Republican vote  further adding to the confusion about funding that could be spent elsewhere.

It is really shocking to hear that theres so much money being spent on that, Merrifield Wilson said. This is not an election cycle where donors have a lot of money thats burning in their pockets and they just dont know where they could possibly spend it  there are a lot of competitive races (nationally). So many things on the ballot for voters but also ways in which donors can make a difference.

It is highly surprising to see the U.S. Senate race for Indiana ranking in the top ten.

The most-expensive race in the country is Ohios Senate seat held by Democrat Sherrod Brown, which Republicans hope to flip for their party. Over $26 million has flooded into that race, with $16 million spent against Republicans and $9 million spent in support of Republican candidates.

Reaction in the 3rd, 8th Districts

Brenda Goff, the GOP chair for the 8th Congressional District, said the outside spending figure was eye-catching, but that you cant watch TV for a minute without seeing something about one of the candidates, usually negative.

Goff is also the district director for the seats current occupant: Dr. Larry Bucshon.

This is the first time for a long time that weve had an open primary like this, she said.

A total of nine Republican candidates are running for the position along with five Democrats. The two frontrunners appear to be John Hostettler, who held the seat from 1997-2007, and state Sen. Mark Messmer. All of the $5 million spent in that district has been focused on those two candidates.

After several close campaigns and upheavals through the late 60s and early 80s, the seat earned the moniker Bloody Eighth. Finally, in 1984, Democratic Frank McCloskey won the seat by just four votes and held it until 1994  when he lost it to Hostettler.

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Im bringing that up because I think this ones going to be very close, Goff said, who was involved in the 1984 race. I dont think this primarys going to be as close as a four-vote difference  but I think its going to be fairly close.

Shine, over in the 3rd District, said that despite the influx of funds and high-drama races, turnout so far has been low in Allen County, which is the most populous county in the district.

Theres numerous races that are very interesting. We have the governors race, we have the 3rd District Congressional race and we have at least two very hotly contested county races, Shine said. All that being said, my check with the election board yesterday was that voter turnout is almost at a historical low  (Thursdays) meeting of the election board was canceled because there was not enough to talk about given the low turnout.

Banks pursuit of the Senate seat has left his current position in the 3rd Congressional District empty, drawing the attention of eight Republicans and two Democrats. And while the race has a few wealthy individuals pouring their own funds into their campaigns, outside spending has focused on four Republican candidates: former Allen County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Davis, nonprofit executive Tim Smith, former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and State Sen. Andy Zay.

PAC crossover

Several of the PACs and super-PACs have spent their funds in multiple Indiana races, including the fiscally conservative Club for Growth that supported Banks. The group has consistently been a top funder for Republican candidates and the groups president David McIntosh is a former Indiana U.S. House member.

In the 3rd District, outside spending for the organization includes roughly $510,000 against Davis and Smith in a nearly even split. A recent Club for Growth ad against Davis could potentially be the first test of a state law targeting the use of altered media in election ads.

The House Freedom Action PAC and House Freedom Fund PAC are both affiliated with the far-right House Freedom Caucus. The latter has funded some of the most conservative members of Congress, including Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs. In Indiana, it has spent $109,000 in support of Stutzman.

The House Freedom Action PAC has spent $200,000 for Stutzman.

Davis has support from the WFW Action Fund, a hybrid PAC and super-PAC, which has spent $703,000 in support of her candidacy and another $392,000 against Stutzman. The fund has also spent money on former presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

Also in the 3rd, the Honest Hoosiers PAC is a single-candidate super-PAC supporting Zay and has spent $102,000.

The Banks-blessed American Leadership PAC was formed back when Banks sought a leadership role in the House of Representatives, according to a report from Axios. In addition to the nearly $279,000 it spent in support of Banks, it has paid another $233,000 to support Hostettler in the 8th Congressional District and another $78,000 has been put to use against one of Hostettlers opponent Messmer.

Hostletter has encountered pushback from the Republican Jewish Coalition and the United Democracy Project, a super-PAC with ties to the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The former has spent $955,000 for Messmer while the latter has spent $1.2 million against Hostettler. Another four super-PACs round off the total $5 million in spending: America Leads Action, Americas First Freedoms, Building a Strong American and Protect Freedom.

American Leads Action has spent $1.5 million against Hostettler and $106,000 in support of Messmer. Both Americas First Freedoms and Building a Strong America spent money in support of Messmer  $420,000 and $49,000, respectively. Building a Strong America has also waded into three other congressional races in Indiana, spending $33,500 in the 6th District for former lawmaker Jefferson Shreve, $20,940 in the 5th District for incumbent U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz and $11,912 in the 3rd District for Zay.

In terms of outside spending, only Protect Freedom PAC spent in favor of Hostettler in the 8th with $482,000. The PAC also spent $383,000 in favor of Stutzman in the 3rd Congressional District.

The post Outside spending in three of Indianas congressional races ranks in the nations top ten appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Queensland MP says she was drugged and sexually assaulted on night out in her constituency

Queensland MP Brittany Lauga said she was drugged and sexually assaulted (Screengrab/ 7NEWS Australia)

Police in Australia have launched an investigation after Queensland MP Brittany Lauga claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted.

The assistant health minister said she was assaulted on a night out in her constituency of Yeppoon, central Queensland.

Ms Lauga, 37, posted a statement on social media, saying she went to the police and the hospital on the morning of 28 April following the incident.

Tests at the hospital confirmed the presence of drugs in my body which I did not take. This substance impacted me significantly. A police investigation is under way, she said.

Ms Lauga said since the attack she had been contacted by other women who alleged they were also drugged on the same night.

This could have happened to anyone and tragically, it does happen to many of us, she said.

Its not OK. We should be able to enjoy socialising in our town without the risk of being drugged or assaulted.

Queensland Police are investigating a sexual assault complaint regarding an incident in Yeppoon, the force confirmed in a statement to Australia Associated Press.

Officers are aware of claims of similar incidents, the force said, urging anyone who has had their drink spiked or experienced something similar to report to the authorities.

Ms Lauga said she would take time to physically and emotionally heal and asked for privacy while they sought necessary support.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me in support. I truly value your thoughtful messages, gestures and kindness.

Ms Lauga has been a member of parliament for nearly 10 years since first being elected to the seat of Keppel in 2015.

Queensland premier Steven Miles said he has extended his support to Ms Lauga. No one should have to go through what Brittany is going through, he said in a statement.

My sole focus is on Brittany and her wellbeing. Ive told Brittany that were here to support her, whatever she needs.

Queensland housing minister Meaghan Scanlon called the allegations horrifying.

Brittany is a colleague, she is a friend, she is a young woman in the Queensland parliament and these are really shocking things to read, Ms Scanlon said.

It is unacceptable that women are disproportionately the victims of domestic, family and sexual violence. Our government is going to continue to do everything we can to protect women and stop violence from occurring.

There has been a recent spate of gender-based violence in Australia, prompting prime minister Anthony Albanese to brand domestic violence a national crisis.

Last month, six people, five of them women, were stabbed to death by Joel Cuachi at a Sydney shopping centre. The New South Wales police said that it was obvious that the suspect focused on attacking women.
Russian military personnel have been staying at an air base in Niger that also hosts U.S. troops and equipment, a U.S. official confirmed to The Hill on Thursday.

Roughly 1,000 American service members are expected to withdraw from Niger following deteriorating relations with the African nation after a military coup there last year. The military junta that now controls Nigers government has demanded U.S. forces leave and turned to Russia for weapons and security.

The Russian troops for a couple of weeks have been at Airbase 101, next to Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital city of Niamey, the official told The Hill.

We have been monitoring the situation, the official said, adding that the Russian forces do not have access to U.S. service members, spaces, or equipment, and that they are using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is owned by the Nigeriens.

They also noted that the U.S. had consolidated most of its forces from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in Agadez soon after the coup. They did not say how many American troops remain at 101 or what equipment is still there.

Russias military presence puts U.S. and Kremlin troops in close quarters at a time of major acrimony between the two countries over Moscows war in Ukraine.

Reuters first reported on the presence of Russian troops at the base.

Washington last month announced that American forces would withdraw from Niger after the military junta revoked a military cooperation agreement with the United States in March. That accord had given U.S. troops a major foothold to fight extremist groups in the region, including an Islamic State offshoot, Boko Haram and others.

A forced withdrawal from Niger is a major setback for U.S. military as it looks to quell militant groups across the Sahel, a volatile region in northern Africa that stretches from Senegal and Mauritania in the west to Sudan and Eritrea on the Red Sea.

About 100 U.S. troops have also left Chad in recent days, according to Reuters.

Niger, following the path as its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has sought inroads with Russia, including its private military company Wagner Group. The organization has ties to Moscow and has a history of exploiting the resources of African nations.

A delegation last week was sent to Niger to arrange an orderly withdrawal and included U.S. Ambassador to Niger Kathleen FitzGibbon and Maj. Gen. Kenneth Ekman, the director of strategy, engagement and programs at U.S. Africa Command.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Taiwans leaders are working on an ambitious new satellite system to keep the island online in case of disaster, as it deals with the constant threat of hostilities with China.

Wu Jong-shinn, director-general of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), told CNN in an exclusive interview that Taiwan is at an experimental development stage in efforts to build new indigenous communication satellites.

Once the system is up and running, it could work in a similar way to Elon Musks Starlink satellite system in providing internet access  albeit at a much smaller scale, said Wu, who has led Taiwans space programs since 2021.

Starlink, operated by Musks SpaceX, uses a network of thousands of satellites to deliver the internet to users all over the world, including areas where conventional connections are unavailable.

It has been used by Ukraines military on battlefronts as it defends against Russias invasion. In Gaza, devastated by Israels war against Hamas, it has allowed staff at a field hospital to conduct real-time video medical consultations.

But Taiwan does not have access to Starlink because SpaceX insisted on having majority ownership over a proposed joint venture, a demand incompatible with local Taiwanese laws. This was part of the reason Taiwan developed its own technology.

The communication satellite is very important for our communication resilience during urgent periods, Wu said, calling it his agencys most sensitive project. Thats very important for us, so we take it very, very seriously.

Starlink has proved crucial for Ukrainian forces defending their homeland from Russia's invasion. - Heidi Levine for The Washington Post/Getty Images

A vulnerable network

Taiwans unique geopolitical landscape and location, about 100 miles off the coast of China, adds urgency to an ambitious project. Chinas ruling Communist Party claims the island as part of its territory, and has repeatedly vowed to take it by force, if necessary.

Currently, Taiwans connectivity is served by 15 submarine internet cables that link it with the rest of the world. But these cables are susceptible to damage. Last year, a group of outlying Taiwanese islands were cut off from the internet for weeks after two submarine cables connecting them to Taiwans main island were damaged by passing ships.

High-speed internet is crucial to the normal function of any society but, in Taiwans case, a deliberate attempt to sabotage the system could have other repercussions. In a report published by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a Taiwanese government-affiliated research body, experts warned that if Beijing were to cut internet cables around Taiwan, it could disrupt regular communications and cause widespread panic.

Taiwanese authorities previously announced the space agency would develop two communication satellites, the first of which could be launched by 2026. Afterward, it would also assist private companies with the launch of four additional satellites to help them make inroads into the industry. However, Taiwan would need to send hundreds of satellites if it were to create a system that provides uninterrupted backup internet access, experts told CNN.

Wu Jong-shinn, director general of the Taiwan Space Agency, speaks to CNN on March 5, 2024 in Hsinchu, Taiwan. - John Mees/CNN

Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at Australian National University, estimated that Taiwan would need at least 50 satellites to provide fairly decent emergency coverage with its own satellite constellation  and the more the better.

In order to really have the reliability bandwidth, so that everyone can service it, youre going to need quite a lot more [satellites], youre probably talking about in the hundreds, he said.

If a country is dedicated to it, it could definitely complete it, he added. Because the hard part is really just getting the funding to launch them all.

Su Tzu-yun, a director of Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said while it would be unrealistic to think Taiwan would be able to provide all-round internet coverage with just a few indigenous satellites, the space project is valuable in the long run.

Taiwans development in this area is very meaningful, because it allows us to enter the space industry and provides greater flexibility for our military to access communication systems in our weapons development in the future, he said.

And before Taiwan achieves that capability, the island can still provide backup connectivity in the foreseeable future by partnering with OneWeb, a satellite communications system headquartered in London, and other maritime satellite systems, he added.

The Chinese city of Xiamen lies just 2 miles from Taiwan's Kinmen islands. - Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

Bolstering resilience

Ensuring that Taiwans communication systems stay functional in extraordinary times has been a growing priority for the islands top leaders in recent years. Besides tasking the space agency with the satellite project, the Taiwanese government established a digital affairs ministry in 2022 to boost communication resilience. That ministry has been partnering with overseas satellite service providers and installing new terminal equipment in remote locations of Taiwan to provide connectivity.

By the end of 2024, 700 hot spots will be established across the island to allow for satellite communications during emergency situations, authorities announced in March. The initiative proved useful during a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit eastern Taiwan in early April.

While traditional communication systems were disrupted near the epicenter, authorities successfully used OneWeb to provide emergency internet access for rescuers and stranded personnel.

In the future, Taiwans satellite system could replace third-party deals, but Wu, the space agency director, declined to provide more specific details about the projects timeline. According to people familiar with the matter, the new administration is set to release an updated blueprint and timeline of its space programs, including its communication satellite project, after Taiwans President-elect Lai Ching-te takes office on May 20.

A rocket model in development at the Taiwan Space Agency on March 5, 2024 in Hsinchu, Taiwan. - John Mees/CNN

Big ambitions in space

Taiwans space ambitions extend beyond developing indigenous communication satellites.

Wu said a key objective has been to create a new industry in Taiwan that can capture growing opportunities in space projects internationally. Last year, President Tsai Ing-wen announced a NT$25.1 billion ($790 million) investment in the islands space programs in the coming decade, with the goal of assisting companies in various industries  including chip design and precision machinery  to enter the space industry.

Despite its relatively small size, Wu believes Taiwan is a desirable location to develop space projects because of its undisputed role as a leader in advanced semiconductor chips  which are needed to power everything from computers to artificial intelligence.

One Taiwanese firm in particular, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), produces an estimated 90% of the worlds super-advanced semiconductors and supplies to global tech giants such as Apple and Nvidia.

Besides semiconductors, Wu believes Taiwans advances in information technology and precision machinery also provide advantages to the development of its space industry.

Satellites are very complicated systems, he said. In a satellite, you have 20,000 to 30,000 components. Once you send it into space, there is no way you can call it back and repair it, so its very tough, and its very expensive.

To accelerate its development, Taiwans space agency has also been working to develop a rocket system that can launch satellites into space. Taiwan has relied on overseas providers to send its satellites into space, such as the Triton, an indigenous weather satellite launched last year from French Guiana in South America.

We are working on a launch vehicle, and we intend to launch rockets into our low-Earth orbit starting in 2030, Wu said, referring to satellite orbits with an altitude lower than 1,000km above Earth. Once Taiwan possesses that technology, it will be able to conduct test flights more frequently.

We do have a solid foundation, and right now, I think we are ready to take on the adventure more aggressively, he added.

CNNs Will Ripley and John Mees contributed to this report.

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Christine Wittich, assistant professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, holds a damaged anchor bolt from a grain bin that was part of the destruction caused by a derecho that struck Iowa in August 2020. Wittich received a rapid response grant from NSF to research the damage from the derecho. Specifically, she is studying damage to ag structures such as silos aiming to determine how construction standards and practices might help such buildings withstand future storms. On screen behind her, is a 3-D rendering of damage to a Luther, Iowa, farm. The detailed scene was produced by Ricky Wood, associate professor in civil and environmental engineering, using his drone technology.
In a significant development for international governance, Mohamed Benalilou, the Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Morocco, has been elected as the first vice president of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The election took place last week at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Institute in Vienna, with participation from ombudsman institutions worldwide.

Benalilous victory was resounding as the candidate secured 70 votes, surpassing by far competitors from the United States and South Africa, who garnered 44 votes each, and New Zealand with 40 votes.

This historic achievement marks the first time a representative from Morocco assumes a leadership position within the IOI, which highlights the Kingdoms growing influence on the global stage. The Office of the Mediator of the Kingdom emphasized that Benalilous election reaffirms Moroccos esteemed position in international forums.

Following his election, Benalilou becomes a member of the Bureau of the Council of the International Ombudsman Institute, further cementing Moroccos role in shaping global governance policies.

The inauguration of the new members will coincide with the 13th World Conference in The Hague, Netherlands, commencing on May 12, 2024. This gathering of ombudsman institutions from around the world will set the stage for collaborative efforts towards enhancing governance practices and capacity building.

Established in 1978, the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) serves as the primary platform for over 200 ombudsman institutions across six regions: Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, and North America. The IOIs mission focuses on promoting good governance through training, research, and regional grants to support impactful projects.
The 15th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Banjul, capital of The Gambia, underlined the strategic importance of the Atlantic African States Initiative launched by King Mohammed VI.

In its Final Communique, the 15th OIC Summit welcomed the Atlantic African States Initiative launched by Moroccos King as a process towards an African partnership aimed at strengthening ties of cooperation and integration between African countries bordering the Atlantic, and consequently promote peace, stability and shared prosperity in the region.

The Summit also commended the Kings initiative to promote access to the Atlantic Ocean for Sahel countries, and stressed the strategic importance of this initiative, which is in line with Moroccos active solidarity with brotherly African countries in general, and the Sahel region in particular.

The initiative in favor of Sahel States was also commended by Burkina Fasos Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore.

In a statement to the press following a meeting on Saturday in Banjul with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, Traore said that Burkina Faso, a landlocked country, welcomed this Royal Initiative enabling Sahel countries to have access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Burkina Fasos top diplomat said that his country is interested in more ways than one by this Royal Initiative, and underlined that the initiative s technical contours are currently being further revealed, and concern not only physical access, but also other types of facilities that landlocked countries need for their economies to perform well.

This initiative is perfectly in tune with the integration policies being implemented at West African level, but also within the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, added the Burkinabe Minister.

The official, who hailed the initiative, said that his countrys experts will be ready and that a consolidation meeting would soon be held to try to define the contours of the initiative.

Talks between the Burkinabe and Moroccan Foreign Ministers focused on strengthening bilateral relations, as well as on subjects of common interest and the situation in the sub-region, among others.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 15th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, held in the Gambian capital, Banjul, May 4-5.

Bourita held talks with several other participating Foreign Ministers and officials. These include Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bairamov, Turkiye Hakan Fidan, and Sudan Hussein Awad Ali.

Talks provided an opportunity to review Moroccos relations with these countries, and to discuss issues of common interest.

The Moroccan minister also held talks with the Vice-Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Moussa Al-Koni, and the Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, Dina Yahia.

Bourita also met on Saturday with Salem Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), with whom he signed an Annex amending the Headquarters Agreement between this Organization and the Government of Morocco.

This is the first amendment to the agreement, 36 years after it was signed in 1988, under which the Kingdom of Morocco grants ISESCO and its staff a set of privileges.
The 15th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Banjul this weekend, underlined its total rejection of all separatist plans aimed at damaging and undermining the sovereignty of the Organizations member countries and the security and integrity of their territories.

The Summit said in its Final Communique that separatist entities pose a threat to political and security stability in several regions, including the African continent, and are as dangerous as terrorist and extremist groups, given their ideological alliance and the financial, tactical and practical means at their disposal.

OIC member countries are called upon to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to strengthen their efforts to combat the factors that fuel the spread of extremism, terrorism and separatism, the document stressed.

The OIC Summit also expressed its support for the security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the countries of the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, and its opposition to any external interference in these States.

It also underlined Malis decision to opt for an approach enabling Malians to take charge of the peace operation by establishing a framework for dialogue between the Malian parties in order to achieve peace and reconciliation, which means definitively abandoning the so-called Algiers Agreement signed in 2015.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer

Alphabet is doing very well. Alongside its strong first-quarter earnings report, the company announced its first ever shareholder dividend, as well as a $70 billion stock buyback. It is now a $2 trillion-dollar company  worth more at the moment than Amazon, Meta, and Saudi Aramco.

Its a gigantic firm with a core product that dominates its sector. Google won search more than a decade ago, and its parent company has been reaping the benefits ever since. Rather suddenly, though, Google is facing threats  real, mounting, and still mostly unrealized  that could set it, and its parent company, on a different trajectory, and soon. One comes from the government. The other comes from competitors. And the last one comes from itself.

A Monopoly at Risk

Last week, Department of Justice lawyers made their closing arguments in one of two active antitrust cases against the company. This one, which has focused on the dominance of Google Search, zeroed in on a particular arrangement, the details of which were long kept secret, per Bloomberg:

Alphabet Inc. paid Apple Inc. $20 billion in 2022 for Google to be the default search engine in the Safari browser, according to newly unsealed court documents in the Justice Departments antitrust lawsuit against Google. The deal between the two tech giants is at the heart of the landmark case, in which antitrust enforcers allege Google has illegally monopolized the market for online search and related advertising. The Justice Department and Google will offer closing arguments in the case Thursday and Friday, with a decision expected later this year.

The primary goal of this arrangement has already been achieved. Android, the most widely used smartphone OS in the world, is a Google product, and iOS feeds users into Google by default. By holding onto iPhone users as smartphones became ubiquitous, Google managed to become the default portal to the web for a large majority of smartphone owners. What its paying for now is maintenance, which Google clearly believes to be valuable. The judge overseeing the case has signaled that Googles defense sounds sort of weak. From the Verge:

[Apple lawyer] Schmidtlein said Apple had evaluated Bings quality against Googles and ultimately chose Google. But why then, asked [Judge] Mehta, sign such an expensive agreement with Apple? Schmidtlein said that Apples ability to leave the agreement every time it expires is sufficient to keep Google on its toes and keep Google competing.

An order preventing Google from paying Apple wouldnt necessarily prevent other, smaller firms from entering into similar revenue-sharing schemes, although it might chill such arrangements for firms that are otherwise paranoid about antitrust action. At best, for Google, this would mean losing an insurance policy on its search dominance  again, something that the company believes is worth massive amounts of money, and which it is vigorously defending in court. It could also crack open the door for competitors, of which there are, rather suddenly, and for the first time in a while, quite a few.

The AI Search Dilemma

Google is still figuring out how to incorporate AI-generated content into its search results, primarily in the form of Search Generative Experience, which drops short, cited responses at the top of search pages. Its been in semi-public testing for a year and recently started rolling out to users who didnt sign up to test it.

Its getting better as a product, although Ive noticed in myself a growing tendency to skim and scroll past it. Its more impressive as a demonstration than an actual tool, at least in my experience. By the standards of generative AI tools, its fairly cautious and, in recent months, has displayed linked citations prominently. It has become, in other words, something like a search page within a search page  similar links, presented and excerpted, or rather paraphrased, in a slightly different format.

Its also converging a bit with projects like Perplexity that brand themselves as AI-powered alternatives to search and are likewise trying to figure out what, exactly, it means to fuse technology that generates approximations of the truth with tools at least nominally intended to help you retrieve solid information. The general trend in AI search, such as it is, is toward, well, search  away from verbose generated chatbot answers and toward conspicuous citation and summary. ChatGPT in 2024 is much more obviously connected to the outside web, and to outside data sources, than when most users tried it for the first time. Other chatbot products are starting to feel more like search engines, too: When Meta rolled out AI features on Facebook and Instagram, it put them in the search bar. Using them is a bit like chatting, but a lot like searching  in Metas case, blurring things even further, the chatbot will summarize and cite results from Google and Bing. Google can expect a lot more of this: In attempts to build a wide range of products, AI start-ups (and larger tech firms) are suddenly doing an awful lot of web crawling. In the course of doing other business, in other words, theyre acquiring many of the valuable resources necessary to build something like a search engine.

As for whether this suggests a whole new relationship with the internet or a lengthy detour to the same destination, well see. For Google, the more pressing matter is that none of these new search concepts have much, or any, advertising. Competing chatbots, and search engines like Perplexity, have mostly monetized with subscriptions. Metas AI responses are very much like search results but contain no ads. Googles cautious approach to SGE might be explained by this tension: Its building an alternative style of search result that  should it catch on, and should users find it better  has no obvious place to the level of advertising that Google displays in its current search pages, which is the productive open-pit mine at the center of its $2 trillion-dollar operation.

This might be a manageable problem for a company whose search dominance is exceptionally well protected, and which has time to experiment. Its more worrying for a company in a protracted battle with the government  or whose core product is starting to show its age.

Search Is a Nightmare Now

Whether or not Google Search itself is a worse product than it used to be is an open and complicated question, to which the company itself says no, actually, its better. Taking a long view of the products, its certainly much busier than it was when it was a minimalist upstart  there are ads, widgets, tabs, sidebars, snippets, and now clumps of synthetic text. Questions about overall search quality are difficult to define, much less rigorously test, perhaps to Googles benefit  thats one of the many perks of building a company around a black-box algorithm.

One thing thats easier to observe is that the web on which Google depends  and which depends in various ways on Google  is in pretty bad shape. Websites producing reliable, human content for Google to turn into desirable results are running out of ways to make money. Closed platforms have absorbed much of the person-to-person written communication that Google was previously able to harvest and serve. AI companies are scraping the web, and their users are pumping garbage back into it. Is Google somewhat responsible for destroying the business model of other much smaller businesses? Maybe. Did its dominance establish a set of business incentives that centralized and distorted the sprawling web? Could be! However it happened, its also a problem for Google, now, as its search engine tries to produce results from ever-larger amounts of ever-worse material. Googles longtime dominance means that much of the web sees it as an entity to be gamed, manipulated, appeased, or tricked. Its a frequently toxic dynamic, and its effects are accumulating.

This creates a different challenge for Google, unique to its status as an incumbent leader: Its competitors no longer have to be great to sometimes feel better, or at least comparable, to Google. Maybe they just have fewer ads. Maybe theyre just more convenient, right there in the chat box. Its an environment in which iPhone users, if asked to actually choose a default search engine from a list, might actually take a look at something else and stick with it for a while.

This post has been updated.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

In response to the pro-Palestinian encampments that now dot U.S. college campuses, Republican House leaders quickly drew up a bill that would give the federal government authority to crack down on protests considered antisemitic or even anti-Zionist. House Republican whip Tom Emmer said that pro-terrorist antisemites [are] taking over at American universities.

These efforts are part of a long-running Republican effort to present the GOP as the party stamping out antisemitism in America. One major problem with this line of argument is that Republicans standard-bearer, Donald Trump, has a history of saying ridiculously offensive things about Jews.

Its a long history. The former president of the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino remembered that back in 1991, his old boss said that the only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day. And his public comments havent been much better. In a speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition during his campaign in 2015, Trump played into antisemitic tropes about Jews in business. Im a negotiator like you folks, he said. Is there anybody that doesnt renegotiate deals in this room? This room negotiates them  perhaps more than any other room Ive ever spoken in.

Perhaps the single weirdest antisemitic moment of that campaign came in July 2016, when Trump tweeted a picture of Hillary Clinton, who is not Jewish, next to a Star of David that read Most corrupt candidate ever in front of a pile of money.

As people try and accuse the current White House of lacking support for Israel/being anti-Semitic, let's remember the time Donald Trump Tweeted out an image of @HillaryClinton atop a pile of dough with MOST CORRUPT CANDIDATE EVER! inside a ... Star of David. https://t.co/dyJYhVpv2m pic.twitter.com/KOSL6zmPHW  Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) October 31, 2023

The imagery, which was taken from a Twitter account that also posted swastikas made out of Clintons face, understandably offended many people, dominating the news for several days back in the era when Trumps outrageous antics were still novel. Trump unsurprisingly deflected responsibility for the image, and social-media director Dan Scavino took the blame. His defense was novel. The sheriffs badge  which is available under Microsofts shapes  fit with the theme of corrupt Hillary and that is why I selected it, Scavino said in a statement. The presence of a six-point star in the office suite of the largest software company in the world apparently meant the campaign did no wrong.

Trump then deleted the original tweet and reposted the image with a red circle instead of a star, though the points of the star were still visible if you zoomed in closely enough. He also included the words America First in the tweet, a phrase the Anti-Defamation League had requested Trump abandon because of its antisemitic history. Trump then abandoned any pretense of shame, saying at a rally that he regretted deleting the tweet. It could have been a sheriffs star. It could have been a regular star, he said before his supporters in Cincinatti. My boy comes home from school  Barron  he draws stars all over the place. I never said, Oh, thats the Star of David, Barron. Its a star! Have you all seen this? Its a star!

The former president has denied any anti-Jewish bias over the years, claiming shortly after he was inaugurated that I am the least antisemitic person that youve ever seen in your entire life. His Modern Orthodox Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner has served as a reliable shield for such charges; Kushner said after the badge incident that Trump is a tolerant person who has embraced my family and our Judaism. (Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism after partnering up with Jared.) Trump also regularly touts his support for Israel.

But Trump kept doing his best to challenge his son-in-laws claim of tolerance. Months after Six-Pointed-Star Gate, the campaign debuted an ad in which Trump discussed how elite figures like George Soros, Janet Yellen, and Lloyd Blankfein run the world economy. (All three are Jewish.) In office, Trump famously downplayed the neo-Nazi violence at Charlottesville in 2017, saying there were very fine people on both sides of the Unite the Right rally.

And as Trump vies for a second term, the list keeps getting longer. In March, Trump repeated prior comments stating that Jews who vote for Democrats hate Israel and their religion. And shortly after the 2022 midterms, he had dinner with raving antisemite Nick Fuentes. It seems unlikely that he will be able to blame Microsoft for that one.
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A not-too-little LBD

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Mejuri Round Topaz Hoops $78 $78 For her roundup of the best hoop earrings, Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla asked fashion-world insiders, brand consultants, an antiques dealer, and some fellow Strategist staffers for their favorites. When Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillos 1-year-old son realized he could grab onto her ears, she had to make some jewelry adjustments. These topaz-adorned hoops have a strong clicker closure that withstands her sons grip and give her the look she wants to have as a mom: very understated and grown-up. $78 at Mejuri Buy

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Some materials are transparent to light of a certain frequency. When such light is shone on them, electrical currents can still be generated, contrary to previous assumptions.

Scientists from Leipzig University and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have managed to prove this. The scientists have published their findings in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Inti Sodemann Villadiego, Professor at the Institute of Theoretical Physics at Leipzig University commented, This opens new paradigms for constructing opto-electronic and photovoltaic devices, such as light amplifiers, sensors and solar cells.

His colleague Li-kun Shi added, It is possible to drive electric currents by light even when the material has a vanishingly small absorption of such light. This is an important new insight.

Inti Sodemann Villadiego and his colleagues investigated what are known as Floquet Fermi liquid states.

A Fermi liquid is a special state of many quantum mechanical particles with properties that can be very different from those of ordinary classical liquids such as water at ambient temperature.

Fermi liquids can arise in a wide variety of situations, from common materials such as the electrical fluid of electrons in metals like gold or silver, to more exotic situations such as the fluid of Helium-3 atoms at low temperatures.

They can display spectacular properties, such as becoming superconductors of electricity at low temperatures.

The Floquet Fermi liquid is a variant of this state realized when the particles of the fluid are periodically shaken, such as what happens to electrons in metals when they are illuminated by ideally periodic light.

In our publication, we explain several properties of these fluid states, says Professor Sodemann Villadiego. To study them, we had to develop detailed theoretical models of complex states of electrons shaken by light, which is far from easy.

**

Those new paradigms for constructing opto-electronic and photovoltaic devices have a wide array of possibilities listed. Just where the imaginations of designers and engineers can go with this is without a border today.

The payoff might be sooner than what one might think. Lots of smiles about this and an important journal picked the paper up.

Materials research looks to have a new field opening up!

By Brian Westenhaus via New Energy and Fuel

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The United States says Russia is violating UN-imposed limits on total shipments of fuels to North Korea, signaling it is preparing more sanctions against entities involved in facilitating Pyongyang's access to petroleum products above the UN-mandated levels.

The UN Security Council has imposed a limit of 500,000 barrels of annual supply of all refined petroleum products to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as North Korea is officially known, in an effort to curb its nuclear weapons program.

Russia, however, has been shipping refined oil products to its ally, and these volumes appear to exceed UN Security Council limits, according to the White House.

Russia vetoed at the end of March a UN Security Council proposal to extend the mandate of a UN panel that monitors the implementation of the sanctions against North Korea, as Moscow and the West continue to grow apart in international affairs.

The proposal of the UN Security Council doesn't change the existing sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear weapons program and tests, but it doesn't extend the monitoring of these sanctions beyond the end of April, when the mandate expired, either.

In the 15-member council, Russia voted against the extension of the mandate of the monitoring panel, China abstained, while all others voted in favor. Related: G7 Acknowledges Russian Asset Seizure Not on the Table

As a result of the Russian veto, the panel monitoring the sanctions implementation against North Korea was disbanded on May 1.

On May 2, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that "At the same time that Moscow vetoed the panel's mandate renewal, Russia has been shipping refined petroleum from Port Vostochny to the DPRK."

In March alone, Russia is estimated to have shipped more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea, Kirby told reporters.

Russia can keep these shipments indefinitely, considering the proximity of Russia's Far East and North Korean commercial ports, he added.

"The United States is going to continue to impose sanctions against all those working to facilitate arms and refined petroleum transfers between Russia and the DPRK," Kirby said.

More sanctions against those involved in petroleum product transfers to North Korea could come soon, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing on May 2.

The United States is "currently working with our partners, including Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom to announce new coordinated sanctions designations this month," Miller said.

The U.S. and South Korea have already joined forces to try and stop oil shipments to North Korea that contravene UN sanctions. The two countries set up at the end of March a bilateral Enhanced Disruption Task Force (EDTF) to counter illicit efforts by North Korea to circumvent sanctions concerning the procurement of refined petroleum.

"Through EDTF, the United States and ROK are pursuing a wide range of joint actions to disrupt DPRK refined oil procurement networks, including by exposing DPRK sanctions evasion activities, reviewing options for autonomous sanctions designations, and engaging private sector and third-party actors throughout the region who facilitate  either knowingly or unwittingly  the DPRK's oil procurement networks," the U.S. State Department said.

Around that time, reports emerged that Russia is said to have supplied oil directly to North Korea this year as both regimes are openly defying UN sanctions on sales of petroleum to Pyongyang.

Satellite images, which UK think-tank Royal United Services Institute has shared with the Financial Times, have shown that in March alone, at least five tankers of North Korea have traveled to load petroleum products from the Vostochny Port, the biggest port in Russia's Far East.

With a suspected oil-for-weapons deal with North Korea, Russia appears to have boosted its oil deliveries to Kim Jong-Un in exchange for munitions and other military equipment from North Korea to use in its war in Ukraine.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
JERUSALEM  The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after in-depth and serious discussions, the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected. After earlier signs of progress, the outlook appeared to dim as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to resist international pressure to halt the war.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas wasn't serious about a deal and warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza" after Hamas attacked Israel's main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid, killing three soldiers. Israels military said it believed Hamas was targeting soldiers massed on the Gaza border in preparation for a possible Rafah invasion. Hamas said it targeted soldiers in the area.

But Israeli media reported that CIA chief William Burns, a main mediator in the talks, would meet with Netanyahu on Monday. An official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Burns was traveling to meet the prime minister of Qatar, which along with Egypt has been an intermediary dealing with Hamas. It was not clear whether a subsequent trip to Israel that had been planned would happen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.

Israel didnt send a delegation to the latest talks. Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went for discussions in Qatar, where the group has a political office, and will return to Cairo for further negotiations on Tuesday.

Another threat to talks came as Israel ordered the local offices of Qatars Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Netanyahu, under pressure from hard-liners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a cease-fire deal, calling the key Hamas demands extreme  including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war. That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that triggered the fighting, he said.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a statement earlier said the militant group was serious and positive about the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority.

But Israel's government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid.

Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another. The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launched at the crossing in southern Israel and said its fighter jets later struck the source. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 soldiers remained hospitalized. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian workers. He also said Israel this week denied him entry to Gaza for a second time.

The closing of Kerem Shalom came shortly after the head of the U.N. World Food Program asserted full-blown famine in devastated northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on aid entering the territory. It was not a formal famine declaration.

In the full NBC interview, WFP chief Cindy McCain said famine was moving its way south in Gaza and that Israel's efforts to allow in more aid were not enough. We have right now a mass on the outside border, about enough trucks and enough food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to get that in," she said.

Gaza's vast humanitarian needs put pressure on cease-fire talks. The proposal that Egyptian mediators put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Netanyahu claimed that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but "will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved. That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas. Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the U.S. and others about the danger to civilians.

In a fiery speech for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.

An Israeli strike Sunday on a house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, all from the same family, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital. Another Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed at least five people, according to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Israel's military said it struck a Hamas command center in central Gaza. It didn't mention casualties.

A visual history of campus protests in the US A visual history of campus protests in the US 1933: Columbia University students strike in defense of 'academic freedom' 1940: Students for Peace protest America's involvement in WWII 1968: UC Berkeley's anti-draft 'Vietnam Commencement' 1968: Howard University students call for radical administration change 1968: Students for a Democratic Society occupies Hamilton Hall at Columbia University 1969: Black Student Strike at the UW Madison 1969: Central State University students assemble in Columbus, Ohio, to oppose admissions policies 1970: GW University students carry on anti-war demonstrations near Watergate complex in DC 1970: Protests erupt following Kent State shootings 1970: Students protest racial injustice at Jackson State College 1985: Students camp out at Columbia University's Hamilton Hall to protest apartheid 1999: University of Minnesota students demand action regarding sexual conduct investigations 2014: Washington University students protest to draw attention to police abuse 2017: Emerson College students walk out to protest on-campus racism 2018: Student activists lead 'die-in' protesting gun violence at NYU A visual history of campus protests in the US 1970: GW University students carry on anti-war demonstrations near Watergate complex in DC
DUESSELDORF, Germany  Herbert Rubinstein was 5 years old when he and his mother were taken from the Jewish ghetto of Chernivtsi and put on a cramped cattle wagon waiting to take them to their deaths. It was 1941, and Romanians collaborating with Germany's Nazis were rounding up tens of thousands of Jews from his hometown in what is now southwestern Ukraine.

It was nothing but a miracle that we survived, Rubinstein said from his apartment in the western German city of Duesseldorf.

The 88-year-old Holocaust survivor is participating in a new digital campaign called #CancelHate. It was launched Thursday by the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference.

It features videos of survivors from around the globe reading Holocaust denial posts from different social media platforms. Each post illustrates how denial and distortion can not only rewrite history but perpetuate antisemitic tropes and spread hate.

I could never have imagined a day when Holocaust survivors would be confronting such a tremendous wave of Holocaust denial and distortion, but sadly, that day is here," said Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Claims Conference.

We all saw what unchecked hatred led to  words of hate and antisemitism led to deportations, gas chambers and crematoria, Schneider added. Those who read these depraved posts are putting aside their own discomfort and trauma to ensure that current and future generations understand that unchecked hatred has no place in society.

The Claims Conferences new digital campaign comes at a time when antisemitic incidents, triggered by Hamas deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and Israels ensuing military campaign in Gaza, have increased from Europe to the U.S. and beyond, to levels not seen in decades, according to major Jewish organizations.

Hamas and other militants abducted about 250 people in the attack and killed approximately 1,200, mostly civilians. They are still believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of some 30 others. The war has ground on with little end in sight: Israels offensive in Gaza has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, displaced around 80% of the population and pushed hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of famine.

The war has inflamed tensions around the world and triggered pro-Palestinian protests, including at college campuses in the U.S. and elsewhere. Israel and its supporters have branded the protests as antisemitic, while critics of Israel say it uses such allegations to silence opponents.

The launch of the Claims Conference campaign also comes days before Yom HaShoah  Israels Holocaust Remembrance Day  next Monday.

In one of the videos, Rubinstein reads out a hate post  only to juxtapose it with his personal testimony about his familys suffering during the Holocaust.

We have all been cheated, lied to, and exploited. The Holocaust did not happen the way it is written in our history books, he reads and then says: That is a lie. The Holocaust happened. Unfortunately, way too many members of my family died in the Holocaust.

Rubinstein then continues to talk about his own persecution as a Jewish child during the Holocaust.

While forced into the ghetto of Cernisvtsi, his family managed to obtain forged Polish identity documents, which were the only reason he and his mother were taken off the cattle train in 1941.

They fled and hid in several eastern European countries until the war ended in 1945. After that, they briefly went back to his hometown, only to find out that his father, who had been forced into the Soviet Red Army during the war, had been killed. They moved on to Amsterdam, where his mother married again, and eventually settled in Duesseldorf.

I lived through the Holocaust. Six million were murdered. Hate and Holocaust denial have returned to our society today. I am very, very sad about this and I am fighting it with all my might, Rubinstein says at the end of the video. Words matter. Our words are our power. Cancel hate. Stop the hate.

Even at his old age, Rubinstein, who calls himself an optimist, says he will continue fighting antisemitism every single day. And he has a message, especially for the young generation of Jews.

Dont panic," Rubinstein says. The good will win. You just have to do something about it.
Adewale Adeyemo, a Nigerian-American economic expert, has been appointed president of the Obama Foundation.

Adeyemo had served in the administration of former president Obama as deputy national security adviser (NSA) for international economics and he is reputed to have helped the US combat the global economic recession of 2008.

According to the foundation, Adeyemo will lead the implementation of the organisations strategic plan and managing its organisational structures and functions.

Wally is the ideal person to help lead the foundation team as we continue to grow the impact of our global civic engagement programs and advance the Obama Presidential Centre, Martin Nesbitt, chairman of the foundations board, said in a statement.

Given his executive experience in both the public and private sectors and previous service with President Obama, Wally is well positioned to help us continue to translate our sky-high ambitions into operational reality through daily leadership of our talented staff.

Adeyemo helped in the establishment of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and he was described as the point person on a range of international economic issues, including negotiations on strong currency agreements around the trans-pacific partnership, by Obama.

The 39-year-old graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelors of arts, before moving to Yale Law School, where he bagged his Juris Doctor (JD) for further studies in specialised law. While at Yale, he was the co-director, project on law and education for the university.

Adeyemo is the first-ever president of the foundation.
BLOOMINGTON  The presence of harmful so-called forever chemicals in Bloomington's water supply prompted the city to join others across the country in a class-action federal lawsuit seeking compensation for future costs associated with the contamination.

City officials say the chemicals have been detected at varying levels sporadically during tests over the years. They were unregulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency until last month, when the agency set the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

"Oftentimes there's residual traces of any number of elements in the water and that's part of the treatment process, and you treat it to what the agency prescribes as that acceptable level for distribution to your customers," said Ed Andrews, director of the Bloomington Water Department. "And where we don't have that level, while we certainly want to monitor it, we want to position ourselves so that we can be in compliance when that level is defined."

The city's lawsuit, filed in late March, stems from what it argues was foreseeable groundwater contamination by the use of aqueous film-forming foam, widely used by fire departments to extinguish fires involving petroleum or flammable liquids.

This product contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical that persists indefinitely in the environment and can cause significant health problems, including low birth weight, liver disease and certain cancers. Bloomington, other municipalities and environmental activists have argued that the manufacturers knew about the harmful effects long before they were made public.

The complaint argues that since the 1970s, the defendants designed, manufactured, marketed and distributed the foam products containing these chemicals to the military, fire training facilities, fire departments and airports in the area near Bloomington's water system.

The materials were later released into the environment during fire protection, training and response activities, resulting in widespread contamination.

The suit is being tried in South Carolina, where hundreds of similar cases have been centralized.

During a 2013 sample collection, PFOA was found at a level of 40 parts per trillion in treated drinking water leaving the city's treatment plant. The proposed maximum contaminant level by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been set at 4 ppt.

However, Andrews said these results could have been altered by handling during the testing, particularly if the samples were exposed to plastic particulates that may also carry the chemicals.

At the time, data was collected on six forever chemicals, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now requires testing for 29.

Subsequent samplings in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024 did not detect PFOA, according to data from Bloomington's Water Department. However, different forever chemicals were found in quarterly samplings from 2023 and 2024.

Last month, the city tested its water intake sources as part of its involvement in the litigation. Although the intake sources tested positive for forever chemicals, no health advisory guidance levels were listed for the chemicals that were found.

Andrews said there has not been a directive from the EPA for regular testing of forever chemicals.

However, Andrews said he anticipates the Illinois EPA to adopt the federal regulations on forever chemical testing in the coming weeks, and those will then be passed down to municipalities.

"It is a good benefit that we have positioned ourselves with the class action that as those (regulations) come down, that if we do have to increase our filtration at the plant to knock that back within the defined MCL, maximum contaminant levels, that we've got an offset financial mechanism to help soften that blow," Andrews said.

The lawsuit comes as the city is raising its water rates for the first time since 2011, a move officials say was needed to maintain the aging infrastructure of the system. Under a phased-in approach approved by the Bloomington City Council in November, the rates increased 33% on May 1 and are set to increase another 33% on the same date in 2025 and 2026.

Recently, manufacturer 3M announced that it would begin making payments to many public drinking water systems as part of a multi-billion-dollar settlement over the contamination cause by the firefighting foam.

Following the earlier announcement of drinking water limits, President Joe Biden's administration on April 21 declared two specific PFAS chemicals  PFOA and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)  hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law. The move is intended to give the EPA broad powers to require companies to pay for investigation and cleanup.

Industry lobbyists contend the policy change, intended to speed up cleanup efforts, could instead slow them down. Many fear the prospect of multi-billion-dollar cleanups dictated by the federal government.

The Associated Press contributed.

Photos: Keeping warm with city of Bloomington Public Works crews INSIDE 011922-blm-loc-4cold DOMINANT 011922-blm-loc-3cold 011922-blm-loc-7cold 011922-blm-loc-5cold 011922-blm-loc-2cold SECONDARY
SPRINGFIELD  With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track.

April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income tax filings can often yield higher- or lower-than-expected returns, affecting the current budget just as lawmakers sit down to approve a spending plan for the year ahead.

But for fiscal year 2024, which ends June 30, revenues are generally on track with where Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office predicted they would be in his February budget address. That means as budget negotiations enter the final stretch, any new state spending would largely rely on redistributing funds the governor proposed allocating elsewhere, rather than on new, unexpected revenues.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, which is the legislatures fiscal forecasting agency, noted that April revenues finished $373 million ahead of last years output. But thats partially due to the month having two more weekdays to process tax collections this year.

While this is welcomed growth to State coffers, the overall increase seen this month is largely in line with the Commissions latest forecast, Revenue Manager Eric Noggle said in the commissions monthly report. In other words, there is no April Surprise from final income tax payments contained in this months numbers that will significantly modify this years revenue outlook.

COGFAs current outlook anticipates the year to end with $52.6 billion in revenue. Thats about $2 billion more than what lawmakers projected when they passed the fiscal year 2024 budget last May, and $374 million more than Pritzker estimated in Februarys budget address.

But that doesnt mean lawmakers will have a sudden multi-billion-dollar revenue surplus to spend. Pritzker accounted for excess revenues in his budget proposal in February and planned for $1.2 billion in supplemental spending.

Noggle, however, noted theres still room for the needle to move, but it doesnt appear likely.

While some adjustments (both positive and negative) to individual revenue lines is possible, these potential changes may not necessitate an official revision, as it appears, at this time, that the bottom-line revenue totals will not see a significant modification, Noggle wrote in the report.

Pritzker, meanwhile, said on Wednesday he was encouraged by the revenue performance.

We're always pleased, you know, to know that our revenues seem to be on track, he said, later adding, I feel pretty good about where we are.

Pritzker also downplayed any concerns that the states fiscal landscape was worsening after several years of revenue growth.

People have made more of what I said in the State of the State (Address) than I think is appropriate, he said. You know, it's a tight year. But this is not like, it's not like we're running a massive deficit and we need to panic about how we're going to balance the budget.

The governors office is projecting about $53 billion in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 when including several of Pritzker's proposed tax law changes, such as increasing the tax that sportsbooks pay and extending a cap on corporate net operating losses that businesses can claim on taxes. Factoring in those changes, the estimate is right on par with COGFAs latest projection.

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn on May 24 this year, but they have until May 31 to extend session without requiring a higher vote threshold to pass a budget in time for the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

Elections bills hurried passage

This week also saw the first major muscle flex from the majority party in the final month of session. Democrats introduced a major elections bill Wednesday morning before clearing it through both chambers and sending it to the governor for his signature, all within 48 hours.

Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, introduced Senate Bill 2412 making several changes to state election laws  most notably including a measure to protect incumbents. That change bars political parties from appointing a candidate to a legislative general election race if no candidate ran for the seat in the primary election.

Pritzker on Thursday described the measure as actually an ethics bill, while Republicans accused Democrats of ethical failings for moving the measure with little time for substantive debate or public input. The governor signed the bill Friday morning.

Republicans in both chambers voted present on the bill in protest, while a handful of Democrats voted against it or skipped voting altogether.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, noted at a news conference Wednesday that the GOP has grown accustomed to legislation moving with little public notice  but it usually happens closer to the General Assemblys end-of-May adjournment.

But we don't understand the sense of urgency right now, unless the goal  the end goal  is to stifle the democratic process through the changes on slating candidates, she said.

The GOP contended the measure was specifically designed to block one candidate, former Edwardsville police chief Jay Keeven, from challenging Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, in November in the 112th House district. Keeven filed his nominating petitions to the State Board of Elections on Thursday afternoon. Another candidate, Daniel Behr of Northbrook, filed petitions to run in the 57th House District, a race that Democrat Tracy Katz Muhl was otherwise slated to face uncontested. Behrs petitions were filed six minutes after Pritzkers signature was recorded on the bill.

The state GOP noted in a news release at least one other candidate, a challenger to Democratic Sen. Mary Edly-Allen of Libertyville, had intended to seek ballot access under the now disallowed method as well. An official with the Senate Republicans political arm confirmed that candidate had already been slated but hasnt turned in candidate petitions.

Democrats maintained the ballot slating change works for both parties and is an effort to prevent party powerbrokers from having more sway than voters.

The measure would also put three nonbinding referendum questions on the November ballot, crowding out citizen-led questions by hitting the statutory limit of three for a single election. Those questions would ask voters if they favor civil penalties for candidates who interfere with election workers jobs, whether health insurance plans that cover pregnancy benefits should be required to cover in vitro fertilization, and whether the state should adopt an additional 3% tax on income over $1 million to fund property tax relief.

The measure also moves back petition gathering and filing deadlines for the 2026 election cycle by 28 days, among other changes.

Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center
Question: In the timeless, still-in-reruns, Emmy-winning 1980s sitcom Cheers, the leading character, Sam Malone (Ted Danson), drove a coveted 1967 Corvette Stingray 427 coupe that all the women fawned over. Four decades later, do you know where that Corvette is today?

Answer: Owned by Bill Marquardt, 82, of Hopedale, a collector and former Hollywood worker, Sams Corvette is in a garage west of Bloomington, along with a 69 Lincoln Continental Mk III once owned by war-hero movie actor Audie Murphy. The Malone/Danson Corvette has also been displayed at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In a glamorous evening at the Accra Conference Centre, the dedicated trustees of The Childrens Heart Foundation Ghana were honoured with the prestigious 2024 International Africa Healthcare Award by the Zenith Global Health Network.



Recognised as the Outstanding Team of the Year during the Awards Ceremony, part of a larger summit focused on 'Advances in Population Health - Tackling Inequalities and Access: A One Health Approach', the foundation has played a pivotal role in raising substantial funds, enabling over 220 children to receive fully funded lifesaving open-heart surgeries.



The ceremony, held on April 23, 2024, during a Gala Dinner, celebrated the successes of healthcare professionals from across the continent. With over 10 categories across health and social care, the event underscored the significant achievements within the healthcare sector, highlighting the critical work of teams like those at The Childrens Heart Foundation Ghana.



The trustees, Mrs. Jacqui Ahomka Lindsey, Mrs. Surama King, Miss Folake Ojo, Ms. Dzigbordi Dosoo, Mrs. Grace Krobo-Edusei, and Mrs. Karen Hendrickson, have been at the forefront of these efforts. Over the past 13 years, their unwavering dedication has raised over $2 million, directly funding the medical needs of 220 children. This has not only saved lives but also alleviated the financial burdens of their families, giving them a renewed sense of hope and a brighter future.



Mission and Vision of the Foundation: Our primary mission is to provide essential financial support to families facing the daunting challenge of affording critical yet costly, life-saving surgeries for their children. The vision of the Childrens Heart Foundation Ghana is to ensure that no child in Ghana should suffer or die from a treatable or manageable heart condition due to lack of financial resources.



Mrs Jacqui Ahomka Lindsey, the foundation's president, expressed profound gratitude during the ceremony: "We are profoundly grateful to Zenith Global Health Network for this esteemed recognition, which fills our hearts with immense joy and pride. It reaffirms our unwavering commitment to our cause and honours the collective compassion of our supporters and donors, whose generosity has been vital in our success."



The foundation also extended a heartfelt thanks to its sponsors, donors, and everyone who has supported its mission. Through these contributions, the foundation has changed the lives of over 220 children, igniting hope and providing a new lease on life for the families affected.



During the awards ceremony, Mrs Jacqui Ahomka Lindsey, alongside her fellow trustees, reaffirmed their dedication to their mission. With renewed commitment, they pledged to persist in their noble efforts with the same fervour and dedication that have characterised their notable journey. This accolade honours their historical achievements and strengthens their ongoing commitment to fostering health and hope for the future.



For more detailed information about The Childrens Heart Foundation Ghana, visit their website https://www.thechildrensheartfoundationghana.org/













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Charles Owusu has expressed disgust over the murder of a soldier at Kasoa in relation to a land litigation.



The soldier who had accompanied his colleague soldier to a site met his untimely death after a ringleader shot him reportedly meters away from a Police station.



Details of the incident indicate that a soldier who owns the land got a tipoff that some persons were encroaching his site following an embargo that none of the conflicting parties should trespass the land until there is amicable resolution.



The soldier invited his deceased friend and another military officer who joined him to the site but were met with fierce confrontation by one Benlord Ababio who allegedly shot the soldier at Millenum City Kasoa on Tuesday, 30th April 2024, in the evening.



The victim was rushed to the Mother and Child Hospital at Kasoa but was later pronounced dead.



Addressing the incident during Kokrokoo program on Peace FM, Charles Owusu lamented how the soldier was threatened before Police officers who refused to intervene.



He noted that the suspect wielding a gun sent out threats to kill the soldier in full glare of the Police but they failed to arrest him nor do anything to safeguard the deceased.



The former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission accused the Police of being in bed with land guards and other criminals, hence contributing to many crimes that occur in the country.



Some of these Policemen and women connive with these criminals in this country, he fumed.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor is a study aimed at uncovering the financial behaviour, attitudes, and perceptions of working Ghanaians. Not only has it achieved this objective, but it has also provided valuable insights for Financial Services Providers (FSPs) to better serve their customers.



Today's focus is on retirement savings and the attitude of the working Ghanaian towards it. The monitor reveals a high correlation between adult dependency and retirement savings. But first, let's delve into what it reveals about retirement savings.



According to the Monitor, retirement savings ranks 8th among savings goals. This clearly indicates that retirement savings is not a priority for the working class. Approximately 6 out of 10 working Ghanaians are not saving for retirement, with this figure even higher amongst informal sector workers.



What could be causing this?



Financial literacy is generally low in the country and the national discourse on retirement savings and planning is not enough. However, this presents an opportunity for FSPs to incorporate financial education into their strategies and product development to increase awareness.



A high number of those not saving implies a correspondingly high number of adults relying on their children for support in old age. According to the monitor, 7 out of 10 Ghanaians are counting on their children to support them in their old age, particularly those in the 50 to 57-year age group. Is this a national concern?



Absolutely. What about the children or young adults who need to plan and save for their own futures? This also highlights the percentage of working Ghanaians experiencing financial stress, which stands at 64percent.



As a business committed to being the customer's first choice to grow, sustain, and protect their prosperity, Old Mutual continuously educates and sensitizes customers through its flagship financial education program, On The Money, on optimizing their finances for financial freedom.



Another innovative initiative is the launch of the industrys first Retirement Salary product also known as the Annuity product, which is designed to provide financial security to Old Mutual customers aged 50 and above.



As the name suggests, it guarantees a lifetime income for the plan holder in a secure manner, advancing self-reliance and enabling retirees to enjoy the perfect retirement. Interested individuals need only make a lump sum deposit and can expect monthly salaries for the rest of their lives. Today, all existing Old Mutual annuitants have had their 2023 monthly salary increased by 16% to help cushion retirees against the general rise in cost of goods and services. Great offer, if you ask me.



What about those who are younger, like the 45-year-olds interested in the retirement salary product? For such individuals, Old Mutual offers the Deposit Administrative Scheme (DAS). DAS allows them to deposit and grow their funds until they are ready for retirement, at which point it is transferred to the Retirement Salary plan, providing monthly salaries. It's that simple!



Retirement planning is a crucial aspect of the broader savings ecosystem. As FSPs, we must continually educate customers and the general public about the benefits of saving and planning for retirement, including reduced adult dependency, reduced borrowing, and less financial stress on the working population.



From an economic standpoint, retirement savings represent long-term investments essential for long-term projects and beneficial to the state. Moreover, reduced reliance on state support for the elderly frees up funds for other purposes. The responsibility now falls on all of us to ensure that we, along with those nearing retirement and future generations, save and plan for retirement, fostering a less stressed population and a better Ghana for all.



Old Mutual Ghana



Old Mutual Ghana is one of Ghanas leading financial institutions offering innovative Life insurance and Pensions solutions. Founded in South Africa, Old Mutual has been consistent in championing mutually positive futures by offering excellent financial services to a wide range of customers across the African continent.



The company established a branch in Ghana in 2013. It operates with a skilled knowledge of the Ghanaian market, backed by the expertise of an international brand. In Ghana, the company is currently made up of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Limited and Old Mutual Pensions Trust, offering a diverse portfolio of financial solutions, including Savings plans, Group life benefits, Funeral plans, Travel insurance and Pensions schemes.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed new details regarding the cocaine smuggling scandal at Kotoka International Airport.



He revealed that a letter he encountered indicates that key suspects who have been interdicted in the scandal will continue to receive two-thirds of their salaries during the ongoing investigations.



Furthermore, the letter suggests that the government is unable to reclaim the salaries of those who may be found guilty of the charges.



Ablakwa voiced his anger over the unseemly acts of the airport staff, which he believes tarnished the nation's reputation internationally and could have future repercussions for the state.



Intercepted letters of interdiction in the ongoing Ghana Airport Cocaine Smuggling Scandal reveal that the key suspects are to enjoy two-thirds of their salaries while on interdiction. This is absolutely ridiculous and does not serve as sufficient deterrence to other operatives at the Kotoka International Airport who may be tempted to engage in such egregious conduct.



My outrage is also premised on the fact that whereas the state can refund salaries to interdicted suspects who may be acquitted, it is virtually impossible for the state to retrieve these salaries from those found complicit, he wrote on his X page sighted by GhanaWeb.



The MP urged the government to implement rigorous measures to curb drug smuggling, which has become a significant obstacle for the state.



"Ghana must immediately embrace a stringent, unyielding stance in the battle against drug smuggling, a fight we are embarrassingly losing lately with severe international consequences.



"We need to start a new chapter at our airports where every official, from the board and management to staff and other operatives, understands that there is a steep price for such actions  not this system of staying home and receiving two-thirds of a salary without working," he asserted.



It will be recalled that the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) interdicted all staff involved in the recent cocaine smuggling case at Kotoka International Airport.



The Herald Newspaper reported that the scandal came to light after the arrest of a substantial amount of illegal drugs at Brussels Airport in Belgium, with indications that the cocaine had been smuggled through KIA on a Royal Air Maroc flight, aided by a GACL staff member on March 23, 2024.



Proeger Delgey Bianca, a Dutch national, was caught at Brussels Airport with eight and a half (8.5) kilograms of suspected cocaine, allegedly transported through KIA on the specified date.



A GACL statement dated April 10 confirmed the start of investigations and the interdiction of the implicated staff.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

While a ban on cellphones in Ontario classrooms will temporarily keep them out of students' hands, the move will do little to support the mental health of youth across the province, say Brock University experts.

Assistant Professor Naomi Andrews in the Department of Child and Youth Studies says that while limiting cellphone use in schools might reduce in-class distractions, it won't address many of the underlying problems that impact the mental health of children and youth.

"The focus seems to be on implementing a ban, and then enforcementwhat the penalties and consequences are for not adhering to the policybut that is not getting at the root causes of youth's struggles concentrating in the classroom, such as mental health issues, peer relationship struggles or social media addiction," she says. "Simply banning cellphones is not going to address all of these challenges, nor will implementing punishments for students who don't adhere."

Andrews, who directs Brock's Andrews Relationships Lab and is part of Brock Research on Aggression and Victimization Experiences (BRAVE), also says that banning cellphones could miss the mark when it comes to targeting the harms of cyberbullying.

"Bullying in online contexts has the potential to be more problematic than bullying in person for many reasons, such as the chance for bullies to remain anonymous and reduced empathy caused by not being able to see the target's response," she says. "However, there is overlap between cyberbullying and in-person bullying, so bullying is going to persist in the classroom despite not having access to cellphones, and it is going to continue after school or on other devices."

For Andrews, the key is "to focus on building healthy relationships among peers."

"More attention needs to be paid to the underlying causes of these issues and supporting students in gaining critical competencies: social-emotional learning skills, social media literacy and relationship skills," she says.

Professor David Hutchison in Brock's Department of Educational Studies says parents, teachers and social service providers all have an important role to play in supporting young people's mental health.

But, at the center of that conversation should be the youth themselves.

Hutchison says youth should be part of the conversation about the effects of social media and cellphone use on their personal lives.

"Schools should work to create safe spaces for students to discuss how social media and cell phone use intersect with their social identities and feelings of self-worth," he says.

He believes schools can serve as common social spaces for teachers and upper elementary and secondary school students to discuss the reasons behind the cellphone ban, its goals, and the pros and cons of such a mandate.

"In addition to cellphone use, the stresses of the post-pandemic era are also a significant contributor to young people's mental health issues," Hutchison says. "Banning cellphones in schools is not a remedy for all the mental health issues many youth are experiencing."

For young children in particular, meaningful interaction with physical materials in the real worldincluding natureis key to healthy developmental growth, he adds.
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At least 155 people have died in floods in Tanzania, the government said last month.

Beaches were deserted and many shops closed on Saturday as heavy rains and winds from a tropical cyclone buffeted coastal areas of Tanzania and Kenya.

Both countries have gone on alert for Tropical Cyclone Hidaya, after weeks of torrential rains and floods that have wreaked havoc in many parts of East Africa and claimed more than 400 lives.

But there were no reports of casualties or damage as of Saturday afternoon as the cyclone rolled in from the Indian Ocean and made landfall in Tanzania.

"It's so strange today to see only few people at the beach. We are used to seeing crowds, especially during the weekend," said Yusuf Hassan, a resident of Tanzania's main city Dar es Salaam.

"But I am sure people are afraid of the cyclone."

The Kenya Meteorological Department said the cyclone was already being felt offshore, with strong winds exceeding 40 knots and waves of over two meters (over six feet).

It forecast heavy rainfall along the coast from Sunday, intensifying over the following two days, but said Kenya would only feel the effects of the cyclone from the "fringes" because of its location on the equator.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki announced a ban on all beach activities, swimming and fishing.

The rains in Kenya devastated the slum area of Mathare in Nairobi.

'Maximum precautions'

The Tanzanian Meteorological Authority said there had been strong winds and heavy downpours along the coast overnight.

In the Mtwara area, it said over 90 millimeters (3.5 inches) of rain had been reported in 24 hours, nearly twice the average May rainfall of 54 millimeters.

The agency advised people living in risk-prone areas and those involved in marine activities to take "maximum precautions".

In the Zanzibar archipelago, all marine transport has been suspended.

"We believe it's not safe to travel under such weather conditions caused by the cyclone," Zanzibar Maritime Authority director general Sheikha Ahmed Mohamed told AFP.

Cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean normally lasts from November to April and there are around a dozen storms each year.

Members of the Kenya Red Cross have been involved in rescue efforts.

'No corner spared'

Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday described the weather picture as "dire" and postponed the reopening of schools indefinitely, with the approach of what he said was the nation's first-ever cyclone.

Around 210 people have died in Kenya from flood-related incidents and nearly 100 are missing.

A further 165,000 have been forced to flee their homes, according to government data.

"No corner of our country has been spared from this havoc," Ruto said in a televised address, blaming the devastating cycle of drought and floods on a failure to protect the environment.

"Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period."

On Thursday, the interior ministry ordered anyone living near major rivers or dams to leave the area within 24 hours or face "mandatory evacuation for their safety".

So far, around 210 people have died in Kenya from flood-related incidents.

East Africa has been pounded by heavier than usual downpours during the current rainy season.

It warned that 178 dams and reservoirs were at risk of spilling over.

Kindiki said 138 camps have been set up to offer temporary shelter to more than 62,000 people displaced by floodwaters.

Opposition politicians and lobby groups have accused the government of being unprepared and slow to respond despite weather warnings.

At least 155 people have also been killed in Tanzania by floods and landslides that have swallowed homes and destroyed crops.

East Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change and this year's rains have been exacerbated by El Ninoa climate phenomenon typically associated with increased heat that leads to drought in some parts of the world and heavy downpours elsewhere.

Torrential rains have claimed at least 29 lives in Burundi since September, while weather-related deaths have also been reported in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.

Late last year, more than 300 people died in rains and floods in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, just as the region was trying to recover from its worst drought in four decades.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: The Conversation

Domestic violence is a significant personal, community and social issue attracting much attention.

After several recent horrific cases, media discussion, calls for a royal commission to end the violence and public rallies, Australia is saying "enough is enough."

Domestic violence can be fatal and repercussions can last for years. Yet domestic violence is one of the most under-reported crimes locally and internationally, and the least likely to end in conviction.

Violence against women takes a profound and long-term toll on women's health, well-being and their economic security, and negatively impacts families, communities and society at large.

Using marketing campaigns to tackle the issue

Over the past 40 years, government bodies and community organizations have attempted to tackle this problem through social marketing campaigns worldwide.

These campaigns aim to raise awareness of the issue and ultimately prevent domestic violence.

Some have received coveted awards, such as the Salvation Army South Africa campaign "Why is it so hard to see black and blue." But others have been criticized and even banned for their violent images, like the UK Women's Aid campaign "The Cut" featuring actress Keira Knightley, which showed violent physical abuse.

'Stop it at the Start'a campaign for respect

In April 2016, the Australian government launched a national campaign "Stop it at the Start."

This prevention campaign was jointly funded by all state and territory governments to reduce violence against women and children.

It aimed to help break the cycle of violence by encouraging adults to reflect on their attitudes and have conversations about respect with young people, addressing how violence against women starts with disrespect.

The Stop it at the Start campaign encourages influencers to reflect on their own attitudes, and have conversations about respectful relationships.

One part of the campaign encouraged community members to "unmute yourself"to stand up to disrespectful behaviors and support those who are experiencing abuse.

The campaign's latest phase centers on the notion of "bring up respect," which encourages parents and other influencers of young people to positively role model and create education around respectful behavior.

How effective are these campaigns for preventing violence?

Since "Stop it at the Start" was a prevention campaign, we examined ABS data to understand its impact in preventing domestic violence.

Reports released in 2012, 2016 and 2021 showed the number of women who had experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a cohabiting partner since age 15 increased from 5% (467,300) to 23% (2.3 million) during this period.

We also examined the average word search of "domestic violence" using data obtained from Google Trends, which showed an overall increase in average search interest by 29.1% from 2012 to 2022.

This may indicate an increased awareness of domestic violence in the broader population. However, the increasing number of reported cases during the same time period suggests domestic violence campaigns, on their own, may be ineffective in reducing or preventing violence against women, although they may help increase awareness of the problem.

How effective are past campaigns?

This raises an important question of how campaigns send a message to prevent gendered violence.

To assess this, we searched various platforms such as YouTube and AdsoftheWorld and industry media, including 120 print and 25 video advertisements on YouTube. We were interested in understanding who the perceived target audience of the advertising was and its messaging.

In reviewing the advertisements, we found older examples showed a higher degree of violence by perpetrators, sometimes extremely graphic.

This type of "shock advertising" aims to get the viewer's attention.

The Stop it at the Start campaign aims to reduce violence against women and children.

Shock advertising has been used in public health and safety campaigns for many years to scare people about HIV/AIDS prevention, for example.

However, research has found the use of violence in shock advertising overpowers key messages and audiences can become desensitized.

More recent campaigns appear to have moved away from shock messages to try to send the message to the broader community.

Our research team reviewed the advertising messages and created a perceptual mind map based on the (1) target of the message (perpetrator or community) and (2) the degree of violence (non-violent or graphic).

Positioning of domestic violence advertising images

We observed messaging change depending on the target audienceshocking for awareness/understanding of the issue to the perpetrator, and educating the issue/supporting the survivor to the community.

However, we identified a major gap in the messagingthe survivor.

Targeting victims and survivors

There appears to be movement from violent, shock advertisements to campaigns aimed at the community to support victim-survivors.

But few campaigns have identified the strength and empowerment needed for survivors to take action, although the NSW government's recent campaign "it's not love, it's coercive control" is a start.

Domestic violence is a complex problem and more work is needed to prevent violence. In doing the same thing over and over in campaigns, there is a risk of "outsourcing" this important preventative work to future generations, as others have recently argued.

We need to also focus on more immediate actions to prevent violence in the short-term.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Would you rather find yourself alone in the woods with a bear or a man? This is the question currently dividing social media. Based on the responses online, it looks like most women answering the question say they would choose the bear, a decision that is shocking many men.

The reactions show some men don't understand women's experiences. The assertion that women would prefer to encounter a bear is based on evidence about the rate of male violence against women, and on a lifetime of learning to fear and anticipate this violence. This is especially true of sexual violence, something which would not be associated with encountering a bear.

According to the World Health Organization, one in three womenaround 736 million globallywill have experienced sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner in their lifetime. This figure has largely remained unchanged over the past decade.

Being attacked by a bear is much less common, with only 664 attacks worldwide over 15 years, and very few fatal attacks. And bears tend to avoid humans, attacking only when provoked or protecting their young.

This is not about generalizing or fearing all men. Women know that not all men are dangerous. But women don't know which men they should fear, only that male violence and male entitlement to women's bodies is something that they have to be on guard for.

Women are commonly victims of sexualized violence, and men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators (including against other men). There are enough men who have hurt or are capable of hurting women, and women have no way of knowing which ones these are.

While much violence against women comes from men they know, the risk of danger from men they don't know is something that informs their day-to-day lives.

For example, research shows that women change their behaviormaking certain decisions about the routes they take or what they wearto avoid harassment or abuse from men in public. Scholars such as Fiona Vera-Gray refer to this as safety work.

Women's view of men is also colored by their non-violent actions that harm women. Clearly, bears also do not contribute to or uphold systemic sexism and misogyny, but most men do.

My research on misogynistic online groups has explored how men engage in acts against women that reinforce gender inequality.

Writer Emma Pitman has described this phenomenon using the analogy of a human pyramid. The choices of some men to stay silent about abuse is the base of the pyramid, holding up other men who engage in misogynistic jokes or commit violence.

The overall effect, whether deliberate or via ignorance or indifference, is to normalize and support the actions of male sexual predators and domestic abuse perpetrators.

This culture props up the men who are silent bystanders, observing sexism, harassment or abuse but doing nothing, the men who make or laugh along with the sexist or rape jokes, those who are rape apologists and blame women for their sexual victimization, those who become aggressive when women turn them down, those who stalk, control and abuse women, and those who are rapists, sexual harassers and murderers. This continuum of misogyny is women's everyday realityand at no point do bears feature.

Men on the defensive

Men are generally surprised, defensive even, when the subject of male violence against women is discussed. This is often where people invoke the response "not all men."

When women took to social media to express their anger and devastation following the murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer in 2021, #NotAllMen trended online. Meanwhile, police advised women not to walk alone at night, placing the burden of avoiding violence on women.

This conversation is about privilege, and not recognizing it. Many men are able to move through their daily lives not being worried that they are going to be attacked or raped, can walk alone late at night without taking any safety precautions or even not having such thoughts cross their minds, and do not feel their hearts beat faster if they hear footsteps behind them.

It may not be all men, but it is all women, who live smaller lives because of the threat of some men's violence.

These discussions are an opportunity for men to understand women's genuine fears and to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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After several highly publicized alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years to address men's violence towards women. This includes up to $5,000 to support those escaping violent relationships.

However, to reduce and prevent gender-based and intimate partner violence we also need to address the root causes and contributors. These include alcohol and other drugs, trauma and mental health issues.

Why is this crucial?

The World Health Organization estimates 30% of women globally have experienced intimate partner violence, gender-based violence or both. In Australia, 27% of women have experienced intimate partner violence by a co-habiting partner; almost 40% of Australian children are exposed to domestic violence.

By gender-based violence we mean violence or intentionally harmful behavior directed at someone due to their gender. But intimate partner violence specifically refers to violence and abuse occurring between current (or former) romantic partners. Domestic violence can extend beyond intimate partners, to include other family members.

These statistics highlight the urgent need to address not just the aftermath of such violence, but also its roots, including the experiences and behaviors of perpetrators.

What's the link with mental health, trauma and drugs?

The relationships between mental illness, drug use, traumatic experiences and violence are complex.

When we look specifically at the link between mental illness and violence, most people with mental illness will not become violent. But there is evidence people with serious mental illness can be more likely to become violent.

The use of alcohol and other drugs also increases the risk of domestic violence, including intimate partner violence.

About one in three intimate partner violence incidents involve alcohol. These are more likely to result in physical injury and hospitalization. The risk of perpetrating violence is even higher for people with mental ill health who are also using alcohol or other drugs.

It's also important to consider traumatic experiences. Most people who experience trauma do not commit violent acts, but there are high rates of trauma among people who become violent.

For example, experiences of childhood trauma (such as witnessing physical abuse) can increase the risk of perpetrating domestic violence as an adult.

Early traumatic experiences can affect the brain and body's stress response, leading to heightened fear and perception of threat, and difficulty regulating emotions. This can result in aggressive responses when faced with conflict or stress.

This response to stress increases the risk of alcohol and drug problems, developing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and increases the risk of perpetrating intimate partner violence.

How can we address these overlapping issues?

We can reduce intimate partner violence by addressing these overlapping issues and tackling the root causes and contributors.

The early intervention and treatment of mental illness, trauma (including PTSD), and alcohol and other drug use, could help reduce violence. So extra investment for these are needed. We also need more investment to prevent mental health issues, and preventing alcohol and drug use disorders from developing in the first place.

Preventing trauma from occurring and supporting those exposed is crucial to end what can often become a vicious cycle of intergenerational trauma and violence. Safe and supportive environments and relationships can protect children against mental health problems or further violence as they grow up and engage in their own intimate relationships.

We also need to acknowledge the widespread impact of trauma and its effects on mental health, drug use and violence. This needs to be integrated into policies and practices to reduce re-traumatizing individuals.

How about programs for perpetrators?

Most existing standard intervention programs for perpetrators do not consider the links between trauma, mental health and perpetrating intimate partner violence. Such programs tend to have little or mixed effects on the behavior of perpetrators.

But we could improve these programs with a coordinated approach including treating mental illness, drug use and trauma at the same time.

Such "multicomponent" programs show promise in meaningfully reducing violent behavior. However, we need more rigorous and large-scale evaluations of how well they work.

What needs to happen next?

Supporting victim-survivors and improving interventions for perpetrators are both needed. However, intervening once violence has occurred is arguably too late.

We need to direct our efforts towards broader, holistic approaches to prevent and reduce intimate partner violence, including addressing the underlying contributors to violence we've outlined.

We also need to look more widely at preventing intimate partner violence and gendered violence.

We need developmentally appropriate education and skills-based programs for adolescents to prevent the emergence of unhealthy relationship patterns before they become established.

We also need to address the social determinants of health that contribute to violence. This includes improving access to affordable housing, employment opportunities and accessible health-care support and treatment options.

All these will be critical if we are to break the cycle of intimate partner violence and improve outcomes for victim-survivors.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
River Drive in Davenport between Mound Street and Government Bridge is a mess due to construction. A year ago it was mess because it was underwater.

We'll take the construction mess, which guides one-lane traffic through work zones. This phase of the city's flood mitigation project should be completed in June or July. A similar project is occurring at West River Drive and Marquette Street. This work on the storm sewer will help prevent flooding from beneath the city.

The progress on River Drive is welcome, as is the city's commitment to protect roads and businesses the next time the Mississippi River floods.

Five years ago the riverfront and portions of downtown were underwater. That year, 2019, the river exceeded flood stage for 103 days and reached a new record crest of 22.7 feet. On April 30, floodwaters broke through the HESCO barriers and flooded downtown causing an estimated $30 million in damages.

Out of that flood came the impetus toward a comprehensive flood protection plan. Business owners demanded action, and the city hired consultant HR Green. They conducted a year-long study of city's three-prong approach to flood protection: retreat, mitigation and active flood fighting. The city has rejected a flood wall, wanting to keeps its nine miles of scenic riverfront intact.

Out of that study came a $165 million plan to be implemented over 10-20 years. The city council approved the plan in November 2021.

The plan, as reported by the Quad-City Times, includes upgrading storm sewers  as is occurring now  and installing floodgates; elevating River Drive east and west of Mound Street; elevating parts of LeClaire Street north of the railroad past Third Street; building a mix of raised berms and partially buried flood walls north of the railroad tracks from areas around the Arsenal Bridge west past Veterans Memorial Park; and replacing temporary city pumps with automated permanent pump stations.

The Quad-Cities has had a long, prosperous, and, at times, contentious relationship with its most notable natural landmark, the Mississippi River. And the construction now being seen in Davenport took decades to bring about.

The modern era in Davenport's flood protection discussion began after the record setting flood of 1965. Yet, Davenport's actions for several decades were temporary sandbagging/earthen dikes along with flood plain management. In the meantime, the other Quad-Cities embarked on forms of structural protection.

The record Mississippi River flood of 1993 sparked new interest in a Davenport flood plan, but failed to deliver results. Major floods in 2001, 2011 and 2014 led to a new generation of leadership picking up the discussion of flood mitigation. And, after the 2019 flood, Davenport city officials took action with the HR Green plan.

That's worth celebrating even in a year when the Mississippi River is behaving itself, because the future promises floods that are more frequent and severe.

The results of a study "Navigating Climate Challenges in the Quad Cities" were released in April.

We found that the Quad-Cities will begin to experience more frequent and more destructive floods shortly, said Arsum Pathak, senior adaptation specialist for the National Wildlife Federation. Prairie Rivers Network and the Discovery Partners Institute at the University of Illinois System also helped conduct the study.

The risks of climate change in the Quad-Cities will more greatly impact people living and working in floodplains in Moline, East Moline, and downtown Davenport along the Mississippi and Rock rivers, the report said.

In particular, the report predicted that as early as 2040 places such as Cargill AgHorizons, Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, the Martin Luther King Center, Vibrant Arena at the MARK, and Lindsay Park Yacht Club could become susceptible to flooding.

The study is in line with what we've already witnessed. Seven of the top 10 historic crests in the Quad-Cities have occurred in the past 25 years.

As we navigate the current construction, we are thankful for the commitment that will better protect us from what the future has in store.
Holding a trustee position on the school board would be a significant opportunity to work with other members to collaborate and give a voice for our children, families, faculty and community. As a team we would create a vision and set goals for our school district by contributing each of our own personal experiences and talents. I believe in quality education and ensuring the voice of community is a part of solutions. I will always be mindful to the fact that each childs journey and needs are different. There is more than one way to solve a problem. We have four children within the school district. I was born and raised in Montana and have Montana values. Having the opportunity to experience life outside of MT, we decided to return to my home. We are vested in all childrens education and want to ensure we still have core Montana values.
Cuban pair charged with kidnapping of Cancun man

Cancun, Q.R.  Two men have been charged with the kidnapping of a Cancun man in April. On Friday, Yosbel Lazaro N and Roinel N, both of foreign origin, were charged for their probable participation in events possibly constituting the crime of kidnapping committed to the detriment of a male person, authorities reported.

The events that they are accused of occurred on April 25 of the current year, when an anonymous call made to emergency 911 alerted the Secretariat of Citizen Security. Elements moved to an address located in SM 224 where upon arriving, they heard screams from a person asking for help and for them to stop hurting him.

When police entered the home, the subjects tried to escape. Both Yosbel Lazaro N and Roinel N, reported to be of Cuban nationality, were arrested from the scene and officially charged with kidnapping.

During their hearing, the Cancun judge ordered both to remain in preventive detention for a term of two years.
Rishi Nair of Blacksburg High School won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition in Virginias Ninth Congressional District.

His artwork is titled Mabry Mill and will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, according to a news release from the office of the U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.

Isabella Lawson of Richlands High School earned first runner up with The Barter Theatre. Second runner up featured a tie between Katelyn Wheatley of Carroll County High School with Creek Crossing and Emily Paul of Blacksburg High School with Cascading Down. Their work will be displayed in Griffiths Abingdon and Christiansburg offices.

Congratulations to Rishi Nair on winning first place, said Griffith. His work is a marvelous display of this years theme, Landmarks of Virginias Ninth District, and has earned a spot in the U.S. Capitol for all to see. I would also like to congratulate Isabella Lawson, Emily Paul and Katelyn Wheatley for their excellent submissions and securing a placed finish.

Throughout the Ninth District, we have so many creative and skilled students. I enjoy seeing their work showcased each year during the Congressional Art Competition, and I would like to thank all who participate.

 The Roanoke Times
This is part 2. The first installment was published April 26.

After 18 hours of exhausting flying from Washington, D.C., to Zambias capital city of Lusaka, and riding the bus for 13 hours to the remote small rural district of Lundazi, I was now minutes from seeing my father in my village. Thats what it takes to go and see my 98-year-old father.

During the last stretch of driving, we pushed through 16-foot-tall grass until there was a clearing that had just been slashed that morning. We emerged to a sparkling small 100 square feet clearing. There was a small three-room red brick house with shining iron roofing and a concrete floor that my brother and I had built for my parents in 2012.

My father was expecting me because I had sent a phone message to my younger brother about my coming and My father had heard the commotion in the village as the men and boys were digging out my taxi car stuck in a deep trench in the remains of a narrow dirt road. As I excitedly came out of the car, I saw my father hunched over standing at the door of his little house holding on to his thick walking stick watching the spectacle unfolding in front of him.

Odi! Adada! I shouted excitedly. Ndine mwana winu Yakhobe!! (Hello father!! I am your son Yankhobe!!) The name Yakhobe is my deep cultural umbilical cord intimate naming custom which only parents and grandparents know. This is from a very complicated Tumbuka custom.

I was wondering what the commotion and the sound of the car was about! my father responded.

It took my father five long slow minutes to walk the 30 feet, leaning on his walking stick, from the door entrance to the small grass structure we call mphungu, equivalent to a gazebo. This is where he spends most of his day in the open fresh air receiving guests, relatives and other visitors daily.

We settled down and exchanged malonje. Malonje is a deeply Tumbuka formal greeting custom in which the guest describes in detail the purpose of their visit. The host takes a turn in explaining how they and their family are doing.

Each time I have visited my dad the last couple of years, I have feared it might be the last time I see him. Last year I had a scare in which my nephews texted me that dad was in the hospital during late June, which is the coldest month of the year in Zambia. He was hospitalized for two days for mild pneumonia and bounced back. He has a sharp memory, is passionate, healthy, and continues to describe events in great detail that happened growing up in the 1920s and 1930s before the end of British colonial rule. This time I had specific questions, and I whipped out my digital audio recorder.

When was he born? I knew his birth date and year already. I expected him to just tell me the date and year. But what he disclosed for the first time stunned me. He said he started Sub A or Grade 1 on June 19, 1926. He then said as he continued schooling, his subsequent teachers began to repeat or believe that my fathers birth year was 1926 but this is the year he had told all his teachers he had started school. Eventually it became his official birth year and date. I had the biggest laugh.

Dad! When were you actually born then? I asked as I couldnt stop laughing.

He said he was born soon after his dad, headman Zibalwe, had returned from fighting during World War I for the British. I asked when was the First World War? He said it was from 1914 to 1918.

So, you must have been born either in 1919 or 1920, I said as I was wiping off my tears of laughter. So, Dad, you must be anywhere from 100 to 105 years old.

Over the many decades since 1960 when I was 6 years, my dad spent many evenings describing major events of his life. He often described growing up as an orphan. A lion mauled his father to death in 1942. His mother died a few years later.

I asked him how he remembers his childhood. He became very animated. He said it was so much fun. He and his friends would swim in the Lundazi River and play dangerous games especially when the river was flooded during the rainy season. They would play games in which they buried each other in the sand. He emphasized that in all the dangerous and risky play in the river none of the children ever died in drowning accidents.

In the two days in which we had very intimate talks, my dad as usual explained the genealogy of people living nearby. He was there when the first village was established, that was our village Zibalwe; and how the rest of the villages followed. He named them all. For the first time, I saw my dad very emotional about some of the personal family history and tragedies. Three of my siblings died.

What my dad reminded me is what Americas greatest generation experienced who fought in World War II. Many of them never talked to their families about the traumas they experienced. My dad is that way, too. He is a stoic man. He experienced so much trauma but he is still alive, can find happiness and is going strong today in 2024.

He surprised me when I was about to leave as he told me that he finds life sweetest and at its best right now in 2024 at age 98, or is it 105?
Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic speaks to Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

BELGRADE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Serbia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has boosted overall development of the country and its neighbors, said Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic.

Serbia is proud of its participation in the BRI, under which Chinese companies have undertaken many infrastructure projects in the country, the official told Xinhua in an interview.

Serbian officials are impressed by China's transport infrastructure development and see the country as a model for economic growth, Vesic said.

"When you connect the country with railways and roads, then you have an easier population migration, you have greater mobility, and you have an even development of the region. So, everything that China has done, and what we in Serbia are, of course, trying to do, and because of that, we are recording quite high economic growth," he said.

Vesic cited the high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest as an example of successful BRI cooperation.

"China, Hungary and Serbia are involved in this project, facilitating a high-speed train connection between our capital cities, Belgrade and Budapest, in less than three hours," he said.

China and Serbia inked a free trade agreement in last October, which, Vesic said, would offer great opportunities for Serbian and European enterprises and boost the region's exports to China.

Serbia is interested in developing smart, environmentally sustainable infrastructure and electric vehicles, Vesic said, expressing his hope to cooperate with China in these fields.

"We are developing the Serbian-Chinese Science and Technology Park in Borca to attract more Chinese companies and collaborate where China excels globally." 

Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic speaks to Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
KABUL, Afghanistan  Around 30 men are crammed into a Kabul classroom, part of the debut student cohort at a Taliban-run institute training tourism and hospitality professionals.

Its a motley crew. One student is a model. Another is 17 and has no job history.

The students vary in age, education level and professional experience. They're all men  Afghan women are banned from studying beyond sixth grade  and they don't know anything about tourism or hospitality. But they are all eager to promote a different side of Afghanistan. And the Taliban are happy to help.

Afghanistans rulers are pariahs on the global stage, largely because of their restrictions on women and girls. The economy is struggling, infrastructure is poor, and poverty is rife.

And yet, foreigners are visiting the country, encouraged by the sharp drop in violence, increased flight connections with hubs like Dubai, and the bragging rights that come with vacationing in an unusual destination. The numbers arent huge  they never were  but theres a buzz around Afghan tourism.

In 2021, there were 691 foreign tourists. In 2022, that figure rose to 2,300. Last year, there were 7,000.

Mohammad Saeed, the head of the Tourism Directorate in Kabul, said the biggest foreign visitor market is China because of its proximity and large population. Afghanistan also has advantages over some of its neighbors.

Theyve told me they dont want to go to Pakistan because its dangerous and they get attacked. The Japanese have said this to me also," Saeed said. This is good for us.

But there are disadvantages, too.

Visas are difficult and expensive to access. Many countries severed ties with Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power, and no country recognizes them as the legitimate rulers of the country.

Afghan embassies either closed or suspended their operations. There's an ongoing power struggle between Afghanistans embassies and consulates staffed by people from the former Western-backed administration, and those under the Taliban administrations full control.

Saeed concedes there are obstacles for Afghan tourism to develop but said he was working with ministries to overcome them.

His ultimate aim is to have a visa on arrival for tourists, but that could be years away. There are problems with the road network, which is half-paved or non-existent in some parts of the country, and airlines largely avoid Afghan airspace.

The capital Kabul has the most international flights, but no Afghan airport has direct routes with major tourist markets like China, Europe, or India.

Despite the challenges, Saeed wants Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse, an ambition that appears to be backed by the Talibans top leaders.

I have been sent to this department on the instructions of the elders (ministers). They must trust me because theyve sent me to this important place.

The students also have aspirations. The model, Ahmed Massoud Talash, wants to learn about Afghanistans picturesque spots for Instagram posts and its history for media appearances.

Business school graduate Samir Ahmadzai wants to open a hotel but thinks he should know more about tourism and hospitality first.

They hear that Afghanistan is backwards, poverty and all about war, said Ahmadzai. We have 5,000 years of history. There should be a new page of Afghanistan.

Classes include Afghan handicrafts and anthropology basics.

An unofficial subject is how to interact with foreign women and how their behavior or habits could clash with local customs and edicts. Examples might be women smoking or eating in public, to mixing freely with men who are not related to them by blood or marriage.

The Taliban have imposed a dress code for women and requirements for them to have a male guardian, or mahram, when they travel. Dining alone, traveling alone, and socializing with other women in public have become harder. With gyms closed to women and beauty salons banned, there are fewer places where they can meet outside the home.

In a sign that the country is preparing for more overseas visitors, the countrys only five-star hotel, the Serena, has reopened its womens spa and salon for foreign females after a monthslong closure.

Foreigners must show their passport to access services. Women with born in Afghanistan on their ID are barred.

The restrictions on Afghan women and girls weigh on overseas travel companies, who say they try to focus on the positive aspect of cultural interactions by making donations, supporting local projects or only visiting family-run businesses.

Shane Horan, the founder of Rocky Road Travel, said visiting Afghanistan should not be seen as an endorsement of any particular government or political regime.

There are no women at the Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management. The students dont mention it. But an official at the Tourism Directorate does.

Its a heartbreaking situation, said the official, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. Even female family members ask if they can study here. But there was a change in policy with the change in government. The women who were studying before (the takeover) never came back. They never graduated.

10 trend-setting travel destinations around the world: Where to go in 2024 10 trend-setting travel destinations around the world: Where to go in 2024 #1 Beppu: The hot spring capital of Japan #2 Vlore, Albania: Balkans' best-kept sea-cret #3 Merida, Mexico: Escape to a Yucatan oasis #4 Portland, USA: Oregon's quirky crown jewel #5 Valkenburg, Netherlands: Medieval magic meets trendy vibes #6 Buenos Aires, Argentina: Paris of South America #7 Chemnitz, Germany: European capital of culture 2025 #8 Rotorua, New Zealand: Maori spirit x geothermal magic #9 Panglao, Philippines: A slice of paradise #10 Cairns, Australia: Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
SIOUX CITY  A business borne out of the pandemic celebrated a sell-out at its first Saturday at the Sioux City Farmers Market.

The market opened for the 2024 season Saturday morning.

"In the middle of the pandemic I wanted to learn how to make sourdough. And that's what got me started. I started making it for my family and wanted to try it," said Anabl Mesa of Sioux City. "Then this last year in July we sold our first loaves and we started doing pop ups and it just took off from there so here we are at the farmers market."

She and her husband Sisario are the owners of From Our Mesa, a sourdough micro bakery based in Sioux City. The sell-out came in just over two hours of opening for business.

"We didn't expect it to be that fast. We are pleasantly surprised. It has been nice," she said with a huge grin. "We are very excited. It's amazing,"

There were only crumbs left in the wooden case the couple used to display their sourdough breads.

"I think a lot of people were looking for the sandwich loaves and the classic. My husband's favorite is the herb and cheese and that one went pretty fast as well. We do have some regular customers that came and they kind of already knew what they wanted," Mesa said.

New market manager Melissa Gritzmaker said it was good to get the market season underway.

"It is great. You came just in time. The sun just popped out. The aisles are full. It has just been so great," Gritzmaker said. "There's lots of people coming down. Everyone is excited to be back at the market and see everybody they missed from last year and see the new vendors. It is just a good day so far."

Alise Brandt and her family were visiting the market for the first time Saturday.

'We love being out and seeing everybody, seeing all the different small businesses. So we got a little sampling., We got the salsa, the sourdough bread, some popcorn, flowers. We do the sampling from all the different businesses."

Thirty-five vendors packed the space on Pearl Street selling everything from spring greens, tomato plants, flowers, honey and ready-to-enjoy food for every appetite. There was live music by a group called The Ragged Rooster. Patrons of all ages packed the aisles. Many brought their dogs along to the first day of the market.

The Grove sisters from Sioux City were enjoying the day's festival atmosphere.

"We started coming to the farmers market when I got a dog because I wanted to help with socialization and it has worked wonders. We just come every Saturday and enjoy all the fun vendors," said Marisa Grove. She owns two Giant Schnauzers named Mia and London.

"It is great for the dogs. We go to our favorite vendors and have a good time."

Her sister Alli Grove likes to eat her way around the market.

"I am really biased. I like to try all the different foods," Alli said. When asked for her favorite she smiled and said, "The corn stand over here. The Mexican street corn."

The sisters make a weekly visit each Saturday.

"It is just a really welcoming environment and they have all different kinds of things that people grow," Alli said. "It's really cool to see people from all different kinds of backgrounds get together and have a good time."

The market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday and Wednesday. It is located just west of the Tyson Events Center in downtown Sioux City, at the corner of TriView Avenue and Pearl Street.
DES MOINES  Speaking to Iowa lawmakers at the beginning of this year's legislative session, Gov. Kim Reynolds promised a "bold vision" for the state: raising teacher pay, overhauling area education agencies, cutting taxes and reorganizing large health care and administrative systems.

Reynolds, a Republican, proposed more than a dozen bills this year dealing with health care, education, economic growth and the structure of government.

Reynolds was able to usher in many of her proposals largely as written, with large Republican majorities in the House and Senate that are generally supportive of her policy agenda. Other bills, though, saw major changes in the lawmaking process, and some bills that lawmakers have rejected before failed to pass again.

The cornerstone of Reynolds agenda this year was a plan to reorganize the funding and function of the states area education agencies, which provide special education support to school districts. The bill met significant resistance within her own party, as House Republicans initially tabled the bill in a subcommittee. A compromise eventually passed with significant changes, retaining the AEAs as the primary special education providers in the state.

That law also set the starting salary for teachers at $50,000 by 2026, increasing starting pay for Iowas teachers from the bottom half in the nation to among the highest in the 50 states. Current starting salary for teachers is $33,500.

Reynolds also proposed a major tax bill that would have set a flat income tax at 3.5% by next year. That bill saw significant changes as well: Leading Republican lawmakers settled on a plan that sets a 3.8% flat tax next year, which Reynolds signed into law last week.

Other tax measures in Reynolds' bill, including changes to the unemployment tax employers pay and cutting property taxes for child care centers, did not make it into the final law.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Reynolds said she felt good about the results of this year's session. She said her office was working on nearly 20 bills going into the legislative session, joking that it was way too many.

We took on a lot, and I really feel good about where we landed, Reynolds said. Im really proud of the fact that we passed the largest teacher salary increase in the history of the state.

Democrats argued during the session this year that Reynolds agenda was politically motivated and did not address the major needs of Iowans in areas like housing, health care and wages. They took specific aim at the AEA changes, saying they served corporate interests and would weaken special education in Iowa.

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, noted as the session came to a close that Republican lawmakers did not come into the session with AEA reform as a major goal.

The governor runs this building with Republicans. Her agenda, her politics, always center stage, Konfrst said. I continue to remind my colleagues that we are a separate branch of government, and that we don't work for the governor. But the Republican leadership and Republican legislators sure act like we do.

House Speaker Pat Grassley signaled support for Reynolds' policy agenda as the session ended, but he noted lawmakers reviewed and made changes to some of her proposals.

The governor laid out a very bold agenda when it came to things like the AEA issue, and we were able to work with all interested parties to, I think, really land in a really good place, Grassley said. "... Not every single priority that's laid out, but some of those really high-profile ones, we were able to advance the ball on those."

Area education agencies, literacy

Education has been front and center in Reynolds legislative agendas in recent years, and last year she guided the passage of a private school choice program that is expected to cost the state $179 million next year.

This year, Reynolds initial plan for the area education agencies would have eliminated their services outside special education support and diverted nearly all their funding to school districts. The districts would then have had the option to contract with the AEAs or an outside party for those services.

After hearing from parents of students with disabilities and concerned educators, Republicans landed on a proposal that will require schools spend 90% of their special education funding with the AEAs. Districts will eventually receive the full amount that the AEAs now receive for media and education services, and they will have broad discretion over where and how to spend those dollars.

Reynolds said previously the final law, which she signed in March, was a phenomenal place to start toward restructuring special education delivery.

The AEA redesign will really bring transparency, consistency and accountability to the process, Reynolds said last week.

For Democrats, Reynolds education agenda has been a constant target of criticism, as theyve argued recent policies have transferred large swaths of tax dollars from public schools to unaccountable private institutions.

Democrats pointed to the dozens of AEA staff who have either resigned or retired this year, citing the new law as a motivating reason.

Imagine what will happen next year, Konfrst said. So many unintended consequences here, and will really continue to hurt our rural communities especially  In rural Iowa, when youve got small districts, the AEAs provide those services that cant otherwise be afforded because youve got one child who needs them.

Reynolds said the AEA system is changing as a result of the law, but she noted it will be a slow transition as funding for media services, education services and special education gradually change hands over the next two years.

Some of the staff leaving the AEAs, she said, will likely be employed at the state Department of Education under the new Special Education Division that will oversee the agencies. Lawmakers transferred $10 million from the AEAs this year to the education department, which will in part support 62 new full-time employees for special education oversight.

Its still going to be bumpy. Im not naive, Reynolds said. But they really want to provide the best service that they can for the kids, so were putting the kids front and center. When you do that  youll be surprised at where we can go.

Reynolds also made literacy instruction a focus this year. She proposed a bill that would allow parents to hold students back in school if they are not reading proficiently by third grade, and require a Massachusetts reading instruction test of all teachers educated at Iowas public universities.

Though that bill saw some changes in the Legislature, it retained components requiring schools to create personalized reading plans for students who are behind and allowing parents to hold a student back who is not reading at grade level. Reynolds has not yet signed the bill into law.

It makes all the difference in the world. And so we want to make sure that our teachers have the tools, with the science of reading, she said. Im really excited about the effort that we put into that.

Health care initiatives

Reynolds proposed several health care and social services initiatives this year, including reorganizing the states behavioral health system, extending postpartum Medicaid coverage while lowering the eligibility threshold and making birth control available without a prescription.

Two of those proposals that did not pass were the birth control measure and a proposal to provide paid parental leave to state employees. Reynolds said she was disappointed the paid leave bill did not pass, which she proposed for the second time this year.

What century do we live in, for Heavens sake? Reynolds said. They get nothing. I want young people to experience the opportunity to work for state government and to serve Iowans.

The bill would have given four weeks of paid leave to an employee who gave birth and one week to a new parent who did not. Reynolds said she intends to propose the bill again next year.

One of Reynolds agenda items that passed, which she has not yet signed into law, will allow some new mothers to receive postpartum care under Medicaid for 12 months after giving birth, an increase from the two months currently offered.

The bill will change the income threshold for pregnant women to qualify for Medicaid coverage from 375% of the poverty line  the most generous in the nation  to 215%. An estimated 1,700 women and infants will no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage each month under the new eligibility level.

The behavioral health system redesign, which Reynolds has not yet signed, will eliminate Iowa's existing mental health and substance use treatment networks and bring the services under a unified behavioral health network, with seven regions administered by local agencies.

Reynolds' health officials said during the session that money for those services was not being efficiently spent, and centralizing the system will improve service delivery.

Opioid settlement spending

Reynolds proposed one of several competing proposals to spend money out of the state's Opioid Settlement Fund, which holds more than $25 million won in lawsuits with companies over their role in the opioid crisis.

The bill called for around $20 million in spending on specific projects. Lawmakers debated different proposals in the final hours of the session this year, but failed to reach an agreement, leaving the funds unspent for the second year in a row.

Defining 'woman' in law

Later in the session, Reynolds proposed a bill that would define terms like man, woman, male and female in state law to reflect a persons sex assigned at birth, which did not get passed by lawmakers.

The bill caused an outcry from transgender and LGBTQ Iowans, who said it was an attempt to erase transgender people and discriminate against them. An early version of the bill would have required a transgender persons drivers license to include both their pre- and post-transition sex.

That bill passed out of a House committee, but it was not brought up for a vote and died before the session ended.

Cutting down boards and commissions

Following up on a large government reorganization law she signed last year, Reynolds proposed a bill this year to reorganize the boards and commissions that oversee administrative rules and large swaths of the state government.

Rather than taking up Reynolds bill, House Republicans proposed a much slimmer bill that would only eliminate the boards and commissions that had bipartisan consensus.

Through negotiations with Senate Republicans, who took up Reynolds bill, lawmakers passed an agreement that will eliminate or merge more than 70 boards and commissions.

Among those boards being eliminated are minority-focused commissions serving the African American community, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Latinos, women, and persons with disabilities.

The bill also takes rulemaking authorities away from several boards, vesting it instead in the executive agencies that oversee them, which report to the governor.

It just kind of follows along what weve been trying to do to streamline state government, Reynolds said of the bill.

Foreign land ownership

As scrutiny increases among national policymakers over entities from countries like China owning land in the U.S., Reynolds proposed, and signed, a bill that increases restrictions on foreign owners of agricultural land.

Iowa law already has significant restrictions on foreign entities that own farmland. The new law requires foreign owners of farmland to report more to state officials and gives the attorney general more power to investigate and punish entities that don't comply.
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #18

Posted on 5 May 2024 by BaerbelW, Doug Bostrom, John Hartz

A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024.

Story of the week

"Its straight out of Big Tobaccos playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues has shown that character assassination has been one of the most common ways in which fossil fuel interests have attempted to deny accountability for the climate crisis."  Geoffrey Supan

Why go low? Because when one can't fly, one creeps and crawls. Widely remarked: to fall back on ad hominem remarks is to declare intellectual surrender, at best a Hail Mary attempt to change topics and easily spotted even by children arguing on a playground. "Going ad hom" is a common failure mode when talk turns to human-caused climate change. US Senator (from hydrocarbon-rich Louisiana) John Kennedy's waving the white flag and ceding a vast territory of evidence and facts to Geoffrey Supan by diving into the gutter is the subject of our story of the week. Kennedy humiliated himself in the most public of places: in a televised US Senate Budget Committee hearing.



In a nutshell, Senator Kennedy attempted to discredit Prof. Supan and divert attention from the content of Supan's testimony by highlighting a single social media item Supan had reposted, an innocuous description of tactical choices made by a youth-led climate action organization.This was thin fabric, comically so, and made worse by Kennedy's needing to read various expletives from other posts unrelated to Supan's repost into the congressional record.

Senator Kennedy's weird diversion encourages us to speculate and legitimates scrutiny of Kennedy himself. With Kennedy's having created his own first mover disadvantage by changing the topic of the hearing from science to personalities, we are free in turn to wonder over his puzzling public messaging. Are we are seeing genuine inability to track a topic, or instead something more resembling a retail transaction? Emily Atkin's coverage in Heated tells the whole story and offers hints of where a parsimonious interpretation may lie.

Given Prof. Supan's testimony about the connection between fossil fuel industry contributions and politician support for industry agendas, a reasonable person reading this story must form their own conclusions over the root cause of Kennedy's rhetorical flop. One would think Senator Kennedy would understand how he was walking into a self-made trap of creating suspicions and doubts, issuing an unfavorable invitation to comparisons. After all, Kennedy was among the top four congressional recipients of fossil fuel industry campaign contributions for the 2022 election cycle. With money generally not being handed out in large quantities for zero consideration, one might see this as explanation for an otherwise curious choice to look foolish in front of the world.

As we can't read Senator Kennedy's mind, we are stuck with speculation. Is he only feigning incompetence? We can't truly know. It is of course for Senator Kennedy to choose how he leads our imaginations and is perceived we can only respect his wishes, for bad or worse. If Kennedy wants to be remembered by history as "fond of loudly losing, but why?" who are we to question that?

Stories we promoted this week, by publication date:

Before April 28

In 1971, The Nixon Administration Punted On A Revolutionary Climate Study , CleanTechnica, Steve Hanley.

, CleanTechnica, Steve Hanley. How global innovators design a sustainable future, Environment, The Christian Science Monitor, Stephanie Hanes & Sara Miller Llana. Lede: "Projects are sprouting up around the globe to build environmentally focused communities. These efforts aim to be practical and inviting, not idealistic."

April 28

April 29

April 30

May 1

Warmest April on record - but a possible return to predictability? , The Climate Brink, Zeke Hausfather. While temperatures in 2023 were "gobsmacking", 2024 is shaping up to be a more normal El Nino year

, The Climate Brink, Zeke Hausfather. While temperatures in 2023 were "gobsmacking", 2024 is shaping up to be a more normal El Nino year Charge Big Oil with conspiracy, former tobacco prosecutor says, HEATED, Arielle Samuelson. Following the release of new internal documents, Sharon Eubanks told the Senate Budget Committee that there is evidence for a DOJ climate case against Big Oil.

May 2

May 3

The UK government acted unlawfully in approving a climate plan, a High Court judge has ruled , The Seattle Times The Seattle Times, SYLVIA HUI. Courts of law become climate skeptics the right way.

, The Seattle Times The Seattle Times, SYLVIA HUI. Courts of law become climate skeptics the right way. BP Was Warned Gas-Driven Climate Change Could Cause `Unprecedented Famine`, DeSmog, Geoff Dembicki. Yet the oil and gas major led a campaign to present gas as a climate solution, new confidential documents released by a U.S. Congressional investigation reveal.

May 4

Loss and Damage Meeting Shows Signs of Giving Developing Countries a Bigger Voice and Easier Access to Aid, Inside Climate News, Bob Berwyn. The first meeting of the board of the new climate finance fund sought to finalize operations and its partnership with the World Bank. But who will pay?

If you happen upon high quality climate-science and/or climate-myth busting articles from reliable sources while surfing the web, please feel free to submit them via this Google form so that we may share them widely. Thanks!
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,

Im a 50-year-old man. My wife is 43. We have been in a very heteronormative monogamous and satisfying relationship for 18 years. I have a lot of sexual fantasies that Id like to share with her, but when I ask her what turns her on she mostly says things like I love to be kissed by you or I love how youre a great Dad. She has made it clear that she doesnt have the sort of fantasies that I do. I feel like theres a sexual animal inside her, but also worry that the fact that I cant help her to open up says something about my virility. I dont mean to say that I believe she is lying when I ask her these questions, but I sense or suspect that shes holding back on me. I realize I could be wrong. She does have some sexual trauma in her past, and her mother seems to have viewed sexuality as for men. My wife also has some body-image issues and insecurities.

So the question is, how do I approach this issue? I want to be able to share my sexual fantasies and be more experimental with her, but at the moment, and for nearly the last two decades, our sex life has been pretty vanilla and there hasnt been much talk about sex. I find that much of my sexual life has been relegated to solo activity with pornography, and it would be nice to be able to share this side of me with her. She becomes defensive when I broach this subject now.

Happy Mostly

Dear Happy Mostly,

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Im glad that you acknowledge that you might be wrong about your suspicion that theres a sexual animal inside your wife. Unless shes given you a reason to believe thisits certainly nowhere to be found in her descriptions of what turns her onthis is likely wishful thinking. And that you follow that up immediately with, I feel like the fact that I cant help her to open up says something about my virility, suggests that part (if not all) of your motivation is selfish. Perhaps there is a benevolence therewanting your wife to be liberated and her best sexual selfbut theres little doubt youre being driven by ego. Divest from this way of thinking. It puts undue pressure on yourself and, even worse, it puts undue pressure on her. It frames things so that she has to perform not just for her satisfaction but to reaffirm your masculinity. Thats exhausting and  not very erotic! She may just be less sexually motivated than you and/or than you would prefer, but if youve given off the kind of energy suggesting that your self-conception is wrapped up in her sexuality, she may have noticed this and cooled further. You could be getting in your own way.

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But your dilemma is real and valid and at the very least, it would be useful to hear what your wife has to say about the gulf between your libidos. What does she propose you do with your fantasies and adventurous spirit? What you desire, at least right now, it seems, is to share. You might start by asking her if you can do so. A lot of what you wrote in your letter about yourself is worth hearing out. Perhaps one way to get her less defensive is to just lay out your case as it applies to you. Choose a time when youre both relaxed, outside of the context of sex/the bedroom. You dont want her to feel pressured to perform or bust out some hidden sex-animal persona. At this stage, you just want her to listen. Another route that may make this discussion easier is to kick it off in the form of a letter, especially if her defensiveness upon the broaching of the subject tends to cut off conversations. Whether via email, text, or pen-to-paper, this would allow you to get a lot out. Understand that she isnt under any obligation to make your shared fantasies a reality, but maybe there will be something in there that shes willing to incorporate. In the process, you get to share part of yourself that has gone suppressed for a while.

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Dear How to Do It,

Im a fat person who would like to try topping for penetrative sex, using a strap-on. However, since I have a very large belly, Ive never really understood how I could make this work. Most strap-ons are made to be worn in a way where the dildo is positioned over the pubic mound/genital area, which makes sense, but this would make things so much harder for me since it would be challenging to reach around/under my belly to position things, especially if Im upright or kneeling. Ive seen some that were designed to sit higher and could potentially be worn over-the-belly, but Im not sure if that would be safe or effective, since there would be less control of the area when penetrating versus the more-stable pelvis, it might make lining things up harder due to the height difference, and any pushing back from the bottom would push into my belly, where organs are (although I realize most of them are much higher up). I know things like thigh and hand strap-ons exist, but I want the option to use a more standard-style strap-on as well. Am I out of luck, or is there an option that might work for me?

Can I Get That in Size Fat, Please?

Dear Can I Get That in Size Fat, Please?

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You arent necessarily out of luckplus-size harnesses in a variety of styles abound. Your concerns are valid, but I think you may need to try a few different ones in order to find something that works for you. This is true of all sex toys/aids for all sizes of peopleyou dont really know how something is going to work with your body until you work it with your body.

For a little more guidance, I reached out to the sex-positive sex-toy retailer Babeland, and connected with Lisa Finn, a sex educator and marketing director for the company. From Babelands catalog, she presented a number of options and explained their potential usefulness, as detailed below:

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SpareParts Joque Harness. This is, according to Finn, the harness that I recommend for anybody of any body type, as it takes the perks of a strap-style harness and combines them with the perks of a brief-style harness. Finn explained that it adjusts via straps almost like a jock-strap formation but its made out of soft material, and the gusset is made of underwear material. It comes in two sizes: Size A can fit up to 50 hips and Size B can fit up to 60 hips. A bonus: Because the fabric where the dildo goes through is that underwear-style fabric, you can wear it higher up on the body and its not going to cut into the skin, said Finn. A downside: The O-ring for the dildo is sewn into the strap itself, so if youre looking to use a toy thats bigger than 2 in diameter, this wouldnt be compatible.

SpareParts Deuce Harness has a hole for a human penis, which allows for flesh-and-dildo double penetration.

Plus Size Beginners Strap-On Harness. The thing that I like about this design that really sort of takes into account curvier bodies is that the extra fabric to keep it secure on the body is actually on the backthe support is coming from the back of the harness rather than the front, so you dont have a lot of stuff thats obstructing the dildo, you dont have things that you have to worry about shifting over or under a tummy pouch, explained Finn. You can sort of wear it wherever you like, up or down on the stomach, because its just that panel held by the two straps, and the large panel in the back is whats going to give it that extra support against the body. This one is decidedly cheaper than the aforementioned Joque.

Fit Harness. This one wears more like a pair of briefs (no straps involved), which is easy. A potential downside? Because it is underwear style, theres nowhere to adjust it to make it tighter to the body, explained Finn. So it isnt as secure as other harnesses, if youre going to have a lot of movement, a lot of resistance. Sizing goes from small to XXXL.

An alternative brief-style is the Sasha Couture Harness, which is zhuzhed up with detachable garters and a bow.

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So thats Babeland alone. I contacted that particular store because its always struck me as a safe space that I could go into and ask questions and receive non-judgmental, well-informed answers. Thats the in-store vibe, in my experience. If you dont have access to a nearby Babeland, Finn said that you can DM the brand on social media (@babeland_toys), ask to chat with an educator, and be put in touch. A brick-and-mortar sex shop near you also may be worth swinging by, as it may have samples that you can try on there before you buy, as returns for this kind of stuff are rarely allowed. Other online outlets like Wet for Her and Lovehoney carry plus-size harnesses, so you arent just limited to one retailer. Hopefully the information imparted by Finn has pointed you in the direction of the strap-on harness of your dreams. Keep in mind that your ease of use for these harnesses may be augmented by strapping on an extra-long dildothe longer the dildo, the easier it will be to see, maneuver, and work with.

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How to Get Advice From How to Do It

Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.)

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Dear How to Do It,

Tell me if youve ever dealt with this situation before: This month, I had two separate sexual encounters with men where I was their first same-sex partner. One was 45, and the other was in his 30s. Was it as weird and awkward for you as it was for me? It felt like I was taking their virginity. Most of the 150+ men Ive slept with are DL (on the down-low), but they are seasoned DL men (meaning they have been sleeping with men for a while).

Please help me properly navigate this.

Gen Z Gold Star Casanova

Dear Gen Z Gold Star Casanova,

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As the man who has sex with men who writes this column, I suppose this question is directed at me. I have not, to my knowledge, been a gateway gay to men who previously only had sex with women. Ive had sex with men who have told me they are bisexual, curious, or confused (it took me aback that one guy called himself confused with a smile, clearly preferring that label to anything more blatantly queer). Ive had sex with men who have claimed to have very little sex with men previously but  I dont invest too much stock in what men say about their sexual history. Men lie and shame is a punishing mistress. Labeling oneself straight or inexperienced has long been and remains a potential marketing tactic. As such, it cannot be fully trusted, at least not coming from a man who is (and will likely remain) a stranger. I believe a guys bad blow job or inability to take, like, more than an inch and a half of dick in his mouth without gagging, or his repeated insistence on bottoming and then inability to actually go through with it more than any official bio they give me. Ive definitely had hot sex with guys who claim inexperience, but Ive also seen quite a bit of sloppy or nonexistent technique, which doesnt exactly make for a fun encounter.

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I want to be clear that I dont fault gay guys for wanting to play with guys who call themselves straight, provided that theyre also into gay guys (if theyre not, homophobia is probably rearing its head). I also dont want to imply that the guys you reference in your letter are necessarily lying. It is possible that you were their first guyclearly, that happens. I think its perfectly fine to assume theyre telling you the truth and to then go out of your way to be a good ambassador for your community. Justify their curiosity. Be generous, patient, and hot. Its fun to be the wise one in the room and to guide the exploration. It also is, I think, a compliment that youre the catalyst for crossover. That kind of appeal is an ego boost.

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But, as you have seen, these dalliances have their price: awkwardness. Of course, thats the product of many app-facilitated or otherwise essentially anonymous hookupsyou dont know youre dealing with until its in your mouth or this close to it. It sounds like youre navigating just fine. With guys who profess to be not particularly experienced, I think its also good to check in a lot to make sure that the exploring is going in a direction theyre cool with. You can always offer to just blow them or jerk off with them if things get too intense but they still want to play. Many guys (and people of all stripes) dont like being someones experiment, so check in with yourself, too. As established, many of us are cool with being someones experiment, though, and so this isnt necessarily an issue. But if you dont feel like playing the instructor for a day, maybe swerve on these new-to-gay types.

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Dear How to Do It,

Im trying to start dating after being single for a loooong time. Ive never liked dating, and as a 50-year-old woman, my patience for things like small talk and flirting are practically nil. Im also on the asexual spectrum, and I just dont know how to do this. Ive tried a few apps, but they seem to be geared mainly toward hookups, which doesnt interest me in the slightest. How does a nice, introverted, demisexual gal meet folks? Safely? Especially when casual sex is off the table? My life is good as a singleton, but Id also like to share my peace with someone.

Too Old and Too Weird?

Dear Too Old and Too Weird,

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I want to direct you to a recent New York Times Magazine article called Online Dating After 50 Can Be Miserable. But Its Also Liberating. Its full of anecdotes favoring the latter section of its headline, which may give you some hope to counter your trepidation. There are also some good tips you may want to try. Jennie Young, a college professor, developed a method of using apps akin to burning down a haystack so that only the needle remains, according to the pieces writer, Maggie Jones. The idea is to tailor your profile and app interactions so that they dont cast the widest possible net, but the most effective net per your tastes. Jones writes:

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Instead of widening her filters and her tastes, which some dating advisers suggest, she became choosier about men and their styles of communication. She responded only if they sent her a clear, personalized message. And if she wasnt interested in a man, she didnt just swipe left or X out his profile; she blocked or removed him (which isnt the same as reporting someone for inappropriate behavior). The goal was to prevent further messages and reduce the odds those men would reappear in her feed and waste more of her time.

She also revised her profile to repel some men while, she hoped, drawing those who were better matches. To that end, she wrote a Top 10 list of her dating rules, which included no hookups and no messages of Hey, You up? or Whats up? And no 55-year-old man who says he wants kids someday. She also posted what she likes to do  bike, hike, write humor (emphasizing that, while its common to say a version of Im funny in profiles, she has actually published satire). She ended with: I cant be attracted to anyone who doesnt know their homonyms. Im sorry.



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Theres a Burned Haystack Dating Method Facebook group with, at the time of this writing, more than 59,000 followers. This is just one potential way to make the experience less daunting for you and lead to actual connections, on which you may base emotional and then sexual ones. The process may be arduous and frustrating, but doing something there is better than doing nothing for at least then you have the chance of, as you put it, sharing your peace with someone.

Demisexuality is, of course, its own specific orientation, but theres something about it to your advantage here: From the outside, it can look like the traditional or so-called proper way of dating. Taking things slow, getting to know each other before proceeding to sexthese are things long woven into the fabric of our culture, and while many may not share the need for or interest in them, they can get it. Even those not on or understanding of the asexual spectrum could get where youre coming from. That said, you can list yourself as demisexual on apps/sites like Feeld or OkCupid. There are asexual-oriented apps like Taimi, and subreddits like /asexualdating and /demidating where you can meet other people with your orientation. Theres plenty out there to experiment with. Have patience and try to talk yourself out of discouragement.

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For safety, meet in public first (maybe multiple times), and let someone youre close to know where you are and with whom. If youre super anxious about this issue, you can let your date know as well that you have given someone you trust this information, and that youre essentially being tracked in the event of your date trying anything untoward.

Rich

More Advice From Slate

My wife are playing a potentially dangerous sex game. Right now, she is making me masturbate 1-2 times a day into a Ziploc bag and immediately freezing it. After a week, I have to eat it all. Im STI-fee, but is there anything I need to worry about with my cumsickle?
Consensual nonmonogamy is now officially mainstream. Take this January alone: NBCs Peacock launched a new dating show (Couple to Throupleexactly what it sounds like); an affluent Park Sloper debuted a memoir in which she recounts, in punishing detail, her open marriage; and New York magazine devoted an entire issue to the subject, complete with a cozy profile of a polycule, a practical guide for couples seeking to open their relationship, and a bizarre cat-festooned cover.

Predictably, the sneering has arrived too. Polyamory, the ruling classs latest fad, asserts Tyler Austin Harper, a Marxist humanities professor and a contributing writer at the Atlantic. A glance at some actual human relationships should raise some doubts about how well this model really works, contends conservative commentator Ross Douthat in the New York Times, dismissing the open-marriage memoir as a testament to marital suffering. One need take only a cursory glance around social media to find a welter of opinions promoting, decrying, or mocking a set of social arrangements that is currently taking up considerable space in the public imagination.

But is polyamory more common among wealthier people? Are open marriages less satisfying for those involved? Should your neighbor/friend/cousins exs sister whom youve heard has a wife and a boyfriend just  break up/cheat/get over their little experiment?

We need not speculate so wildly. There is, in fact, a fairly rigorous body of research that offers insight into the ways people live and love outside monogamy, research that can help ground the cultural conversation in empirical reality rather than leave it to freewheeling expressions of preference or moralizing opinion. The scientific understanding of consensual nonmonogamy actually paints a nuanced and interesting picture.

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Consensual nonmonogamy is rather commonand has been for at least a decade. One of the most comprehensive sources of data in the U.S. is sponsored by Match.com, which, since 2010, has annually commissioned an independent survey company to query thousands of unmarried Americans across all demographics about their intimate relationships. (The surveys are focused not just on Match users; the company just has a vested interest in keeping tabs on the broader dating landscape.) Since 2013, these surveys have included questions about consensual nonmonogamy, such as whether respondents have ever participated in an agreed-upon, sexually non-exclusive relationship. When independent academics reviewed responses from approximately 9,000 demographically representative Americans in 2013 and 2014, their analysis revealed that 1 in 5 people had engaged in some form of consensual nonmonogamy. A 2019 Canadian study using a comparable approach (but including married Canadians as well) found the same rate of having ever been in a consensually nonmonogamous relationship: 1 in 5.

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Thats how many Americans have pets or speak another language other than English at home, says Amy Moors, one of the authors of the study with the Match.com-sponsored survey and a professor at Chapman University. Youre more likely to have been in a consensual nonmonogamous relationship than to be left-handed or redheaded.

How many people are actively practicing nonmonogamy at any given time, though? A pair of nationally representative studies (from 2012 and 2015, respectively) found that between 2.5 and 4 percent of those in romantic relationships were currently engaged in consensual nonmonogamy. Assuming that about 70 percent of American adults are in a relationship, this indicates that 2 or 3 percent of all American adults are, by agreement, not strictly monogamous. This rate may seem low, but it works out to millions of peoplesimilar to the prevalence of peanut allergies.

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And that number may be growing. There is something happening in society at large, where were seeing more people openly talk about nonmonogamy, says Moors. Its part of the zeitgeist. Though we dont have academic data to confirm an uptick in nonmonogamy, a smattering of numbers indicates that its not just chatter and magazine stories.

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The CEO of Feelda dating app for those open to experiencing people and relationships in new waysreported to Axios earlier this year that the company has over the past three years seen a 500 percent increase in the number of users including the terms ethically nonmonogamous and polyamorous in their profiles. Between 2021 and 2023, the dating app OkCupid saw a 45 percent increase in profile mentions of terms relating to nonmonogamy, also according to the Axios article.

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The spike in the broader population isnt as big. In December 2020, 5 percent of adults reported being in open relationships and 3 percent reported being in polyamorous relationships, according to data from the polling firm YouGov. By December 2023, those numbers had ticked up to 6 percent and 4 percent, respectively. An important caveat on that YouGov data: Because YouGov didnt provide information on the statistical significance of the change, that rise could be a random fluctuation, rather than a real trend. But generally, the data point to some kind of shift. According to a January press release about the latest Match.com survey, the prevalence of people who have ever been in a nonmonogamous relationship has gone up from that 1-in-5 number reported 10 years ago. Today nearly 1 in 3 unmarried Americans reports that they have at some point been in a consensually nonmonogamous relationship. And although the data cant rule out a recent polyamory fad among the ruling class, the obsession with upper-class dalliances obscures a key fact: Most nonmonogamists arent rich and white.

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Theres a reason polyamorous relationships seem like a luxury for the well-to-do. Until about 2010, most studies of such arrangements had been qualitative in naturethink in-depth interviews and such.

The people who were participating in research were very highly educated, white, middle and upper middle classthose who were strongly buffered by social privilege, says Elisabeth Eli Sheff, a sociologist who did some of that work. I wouldnt say thats everyone who was having nonmonogamous relationships, but those were the people who felt safe to participate in research.

Those may also be, not coincidentally, the people who feel most comfortable being the subjects of a profile in a major media outlet. This early research and media coverage inadvertently fostered a perception that consensual nonmonogamy, and polyamory in particular, was practiced largely within affluent white communities.

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Findings from more recent empirical studies, totaling some 15,000 participants, have failed to link consensual nonmonogamybroadly defined, including all kinds of setupswith income, education level, or being white. And although the details vary from study to study, no consistent correlation has been noted with regard to age, religion, geographic location, or political leanings. The only connections that tend to persist are that men and individuals identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are more likely to be involved in nonmonogamous relationships (or, at least, are more likely to report such involvement). These findings collectively debunk the notion of a stereotypical type, in terms of race or class, that engages in consensual nonmonogamy.

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That seems to be the case, too, when it comes to polyamory specifically (i.e., having multiple simultaneous romantic partnerships). The first truly demographically representative study of polyamory was published in 2021 (using survey data sponsored by Match.com in 2016). This study of about 3,500 Americansrun by Moors, who also did the work with the earlier Match.com-sponsored survey datafound that 1 in 9 people reported having ever been in a committed, sexual, and romantic relationship with multiple people at the same time, regardless of income, race, political affiliation, age, or geographic location.

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Interestingly, the data show a slight negative correlation with education: Less educated people were more likely to engage in polyamory, though the effect was small. As with consensual nonmonogamy more broadly, men were more likely to report having been in polyamorous relationships. But the correlation with sexual identity was absent. In another study, researchers found that, compared with those in monogamous relationships, people in polyamorous relationships were less likely to be Christian or Republican, more likely to identify as multiethnic or multiracial, and more likely to earn less than $40,000 a year. Other studies have also failed to find a telltale demographic that engages in polyamory.

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The simplest explanation for the cultural association between polyamory and elites is that white, wealthy people in Brooklyn brownstones are the most visible nonmonogamists in the media. Anytime someone looks at data, its clear that nonmonogamy is practiced by a broad swath of America.

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Sheff notes that although boomers and Gen Xers have typically dated within clearly defined couples, millennials and Gen Z have leaned toward more fluid social dynamics; people might hook up but arent necessarily coupled off. Or they might start having multiple relationships and retroactively define themselves as OK, I guess we are polyamorous,  says Sheff. But theyre not finding the identity and shaping themselves to it. Theyre living their lives and applying whatever identity works.

But Sheff is clear that its not just millennials and Gen Z that are engaging in this behavior. She described polyamory in elderly women who have previously been monogamous but are now facing a life after a divorce or the death of a partner. And they want some sex and affection and attention, and they dont want to have to manage anyone elses laundry or medication or doctor bills. So they have some dude who is segregated to Tuesday afternoon, and you get laid Tuesday afternoon but you dont want anything else from him. Or maybe: Theres only one old dude here in this small town, and I dont really want to be responsible for his maintenance. So Ill share him with everybody else.

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Many believe that, as Douthat suggests, the share him setup is perhaps a little sad. No surprise there. Stigma against those in consensual nonmonogamous relationships has been documented in multiple studies. Monogamy is the dominant relationship structure in our society, and as such, people tend to believe that anything else is a sign of dysfunction.

Some polyamorous or open relationships are deeply dysfunctional. But so are many monogamous ones. The question isnt can consensually nonmonogamous relationships be dysfunctionalof course they can. (Dysfunctional relationships also make for better gossip, juicier Reddit posts, and convenient tsk-tsking.) The important question, as we consider nonmonogamys place in society, is: Are they always dysfunctional? Or, at the very least, are they much more likely to be dysfunctional?

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As it turns out, Moors has been involved in this kind of research as well. In a study published in 2017, she and colleagues surveyed more than 2,100 individuals using established relationship metrics to compare monogamous with consensually nonmonogamous relationships. Contrary to conventional belief, they found no significant differences in the levels of love, commitment, and general satisfaction between the two groups. In fact, those in consensually nonmonogamous relationships reported higher trust and sexual satisfaction and experienced less jealousy compared with their monogamous counterparts.

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Other studies are consistent with these findings, revealing that participants in nonmonogamous relationships tend to have better communication, more investment in their relationships, and less likelihood of showing anxious or avoidant attachment behaviors. Whether consensual nonmonogamous relationships encourage these traits or whether people more likely to exhibit these traits tend to be in nonmonogamous relationships isnt clear.

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Although these studies suggest that consensually nonmonogamous relationships can be just as healthy and satisfying as monogamous onesand maybe even bettermore rigorous comparisons paint a slightly less rosy picture. One nationally representative study from 2012 found that people in open relationships were a little less happy and sexually satisfied with their primary partners than were those in monogamous relationships, though the differences were small. Whats more, this study asked only about satisfaction with primary partners, not overall happiness, a metric that may be more relevant for nonmonogamous folks. (When it comes to sexual health, consensual nonmonogamy is clearly better than cheating: This same study found that people in open relationships were more likely to use condoms with their primary partners compared with those sneaking around behind their partners backs.) The only other nationally representative study, this time of Canadians, found that people in open relationships reported slightly lower relationship satisfaction than did those in monogamous relationships, but this difference didnt reach statistical significance, so its tough to say if its real. Theres less data on more nuanced dynamics, such as how couples fare when they transition from monogamy to nonmonogamy, or how satisfied people are in different kinds of consensually nonmonogamous relationshipswhich seems to be a major gap, given how many people are nonmonogamous.

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Related From Slate Are Cats Polyamorous? Thank You for Asking. Read More

Intriguingly, a few informal but large surveys from the rationalist community suggest that both complete monogamy and complete polyamory tend to be more satisfying than the monogamish middle ground. Although these dynamics might reflect the specific social circles surveyed, they are consistent with other hints in the literature that open relationships are slightly less satisfying than complete monogamy. Its worth noting that, according to Match.coms latest survey, of the 1 in 3 people who tried a nonmonogamous relationship, only 16 percent would opt for another; of the 1 in 9 that were in a polyamorous relationship, only 29 percent would opt for another. Ultimately, while theres some interesting evidence for slight differences, the jury is still out on whether, all else being equal, monogamous and consensually nonmonogamous relationships differ significantly in satisfaction. What is clear is that nonmonogamy isnt necessarily a recipe for relationship disaster, as popular stereotypes might have us believe.

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But the Canadian study suggests an important point: If youre stuck in a relationship style that doesnt match your preferenceswhether thats monogamy or nonmonogamyyour satisfaction takes a serious hit. Monogamy is still the inclination of most Americans, a group that, overall, seems to be basically happy with the arrangement. Given the data, it makes sense that people in one relationship style might look at those in another and think, No thanks! But its dicey to generalize from ones own relationship experiences, or even the relationship experiences of ones friends. Thats, in fact, exactly what data is for. And its pretty clear that although nonmonogamy might not work for manyincluding the Douthats of the worldit can work for others.

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My read of these studies is this: The current media portrayals of polyamory capture only a fraction of the complex, widespread, and diverse social arrangements that exist beyond monogamy. When you look at the data, a bigger, richer, more robust picture comes into view of how sex and love actually unfold in our culture. Societys view of monogamy as the ultimate romantic ideal has overshadowed other relationship structures, which have existed and will continue to exist regardless of monogamys dominance in social norms. In fact, if we want to talk about fads, its worth noting that the sexual exclusivity expected in modern American monogamy may itself be a relatively recent norm in human history.

At the same time, the medias intense focus on polyamory among a tiny sliver of the populace also obscures whats really happening on the ground. The way the academic surveys define nonmonogamy is quite broad. When a survey asks if youve ever been in a consensually nonmonogamous relationship, that could cover a lot of situations. A few months of casual dating? A one-time threesome? Nonmonogamy and even polyamory may be quite common, but that doesnt mean that everyones building a 20-person polycule in the suburbs. At the risk of sounding like an academic myself, this is where the need for more data comes in. As social arrangements continue to evolveas they always haveits worth approaching these changes with empirical curiosity, rather than jumping to conclusions based on a few cherry-picked examples or our own biases. It strikes me as a missed opportunity to continue to rely on stereotypes and assumptions, when we have data that can help illuminate love and sex in all its messy, complicated glory.
One in three Slovaks say they would prefer to live in a totalitarian state.

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Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. After 20 years in the EU, not all Slovaks feel European. A suspected pro-Russian propagandist from Ukraine is apparently being sheltered in Slovakia. The country drops 12 places in a major ranking of media freedom.

If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk.

After 20 years in the EU

On May 1, inhabitants of the western-Slovak village of Dechtice took to the streets. It was the 20th anniversary of Slovakias EU accession  but that was not the theme of the event, which has been organised by the village annually now for the last five years. In fact, quite the opposite: residents donned the blue shirts and red scarves of the Pioneers, the pre-1989 Communist Partys youth organisation, along with the uniforms of hospital nurses and police of the time, to re-enact the May Day parades that everyone was once forced to attend in order to celebrate Labour Day.

This year, the mayor of the village, who describes the event as good fun had by all, thought to add what he called another improvement  and displayed portraits of Lenin, Engels and our Mister President Gustav Husak on the front of the Municipal Office building. Portraits of this type were formerly put out during Labour Day parades, to be saluted by the crowd as they marched past. Husak, who as well as serving as president of Czechoslovakia between 1975 and 1989 and replacing Alexander Dubcek at the head of the Czechoslovak Communist Party following the Soviet-led invasion of the country in 1968  is a symbol of the era that came to be known as normalisation. During this period the regime tightened its grip on inhabitants, conducted purges that ruined the lives of thousands of people, and sealed the countrys borders to prevent most citizens from leaving.

Dechtice is not the only place in Slovakia where retroparades like this take place. A Dechtice inhabitant who wrote to the Sme daily about the event in his hometown said that one of the many things that disturbed him about it was the attendance of children. What are they going to learn from this, that the communist era was fine? This is not the direction that we should be going, he said.

Red-star chic

Many do not share his opinion and consider the re-enactment of communist-era parades to be just innocent fun. After all, what is to stop them?
High-quality workforce in the making to fuel China's sustainable growth

Xinhua) 09:12, May 05, 2024

* Empowered by enhanced investment in innovation, a growing number of sectors in China are undergoing automatic and digital transformation, which are reducing the previous heavy reliance on manual labor, but resulting in a need for more tech-savvy people.

* The Chinese government has recognized the nurturing of skilled personnel as an important strategy and task in promoting the development and utilization of human resources, as well as a key pillar needed to underpin China's industrial upgrading.

* China has the world's largest stock of R&D talent, forming a solid human capital base for the country's innovation-driven development.

* To give full play to the innovation capabilities and potential of talent, the government, universities and companies have kept rolling out supportive policies to encourage R&D and entrepreneurship.

HARBIN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Located in the suburban area of the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, Feihe Dairy's intelligent industrial park, featuring many glass walls, looks more like an exhibition center than a busy factory.

Walking around the park covering an area of over 360,000 square meters, not many workers can be seen -- except for some researchers involved in experiments in a lab and several monitoring staff sitting in the central control center.

The factory conducts 24-hour full-process tracking and monitoring, as well as 25 inspection procedures and 411 tests, throughout the processing of fresh milk into finished products. The vast base employs only about 200 people, as highly automated production has turned the production base into what is often called a Dark Factory, hinting at having no need for lights due to the lack of direct human input in the production process.

The industrial park also showcases China's first automatic production line for lactoferrin, a breakthrough achieved after six years of research and development (R&D). The dairy brand saw its R&D investment grow at a compound annual rate of 41 percent during the 2018-2023 period.

Scenes like this can be seen in a growing number of sectors in China, with automatic and digital transformation, empowered by enhanced investment in innovation, reducing the previous heavy reliance on manual labor, but resulting in a need for more tech-savvy people.

Despite dips in the working population, China still boasts a vast workforce that is lending fresh steam to the country's economic growth with increased professional know-how, highly practical skills and stronger R&D capabilities. A labor army consisting of a more innovative and productive workforce is in the making.

A technician adjusts an intelligent robot at a company in Yaohai District, Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 16, 2023. (Photo by Xie Chen/Xinhua)

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS

The Chinese government has recognized the nurturing of skilled personnel as an important strategy and task in promoting the development and utilization of human resources, as well as a key pillar needed to underpin China's industrial upgrading.

Currently, there are more than 200 million skilled workers in China, including over 60 million highly-skilled professionals.

China has proposed to promote the establishment of a modern vocational education system, and by the end of 2025, the country's skilled professionals are expected to account for more than 30 percent of the total employed population, with one third of skilled personnel being highly-skilled talent.

Vocational colleges across China are renewing their courses to cater to the need of evolving industries.

To serve growing unmanned service scenarios, Luohe Technician College in central China's Henan Province established service robotics as a major in 2021. A year later, two students from this college won the gold medal for China in the Mobile Robotics contest of the World Skills Competition.

Tailor-made training programs are developed to cater to the needs of industrial upgrading, said the college's president Ma Zhanxin, adding that their graduates "don't have to worry about finding jobs."

A technician installs optical remote sensing equipment of the Jilin-1 satellites at Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. in northeast China's Jilin Province, April 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

SOPHISTICATED R&D TALENT

China has the world's largest stock of R&D talent, forming a solid human capital base for the country's innovation-driven development.

Notably, the number of full-time equivalent R&D personnel in China had increased from 3.247 million in 2012 to 6.354 million in 2022.

In addition, more outstanding young talent are taking the lead in major national sci-tech tasks. Over 80 percent of researchers participating in national key R&D programs are under the age of 45.

To expand its top-notch talent pool, China has stepped up education in terms of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors. In 2023, majors in science, engineering, agriculture and medicine accounted for about 60 percent of the total enrollment of postgraduate students and more than 80 percent of the total enrollment of doctoral students in China.

UNESCO, meanwhile, last year decided to establish the UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education in Shanghai, the first Category 1 Institute of UNESCO located outside Europe and the United States.

"The institute will help deepen reforms in STEM education in China and improve the quality of sci-tech innovative talent," said Qin Changwei, secretary-general of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO.

Employees exchange ideas at the Tianjin R&D Center of Beijing Jingwei Hirain Technologies Co., Inc. in Tianjin, north China, Feb. 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

UNLEASHING PRODUCTIVITY VIA REFORM

To give full play to the innovation capabilities and potential of talent, the government, universities and companies have kept rolling out supportive policies to encourage R&D and entrepreneurship.

A pilot program to reform the evaluation mechanism of sci-tech professionals is in full swing in 21 institutions and universities and six provincial-level regions, seeking to direct high-quality manpower to fields that are especially important for promoting sci-tech innovation and economic growth.

China has in recent years witnessed a race among localities to attract talent. Two years after introducing a raft of 60 steps to attract, retain and nurture talented people, Heilongjiang saw its talent pool expanded by over 260,000 people -- reversing a previous tide that saw the outflow of senior professional staff at universities.

China's broad development platforms and prospects have also attracted many talented foreigners, while convincing some Chinese to return to China to further their careers.

Nieng Yan, a well-known structural biologist, resigned from Princeton University in the U.S. in 2022 and returned to China, where she helped build and now heads a medical academy in the country's innovation hub Shenzhen.

"In the past year, I have felt the unprecedented joy of starting a new career, as well as the sense of accomplishment of making my dreams come true," said Yan, who won China's national May 1 labor medal, a top honor for the working class, this year.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
We know. How could you be expected to keep up with the weeks news when you were too busy enjoying Fiesta. Heres what you missed.

A.B. Quintanilla takes part in a tribute to Selena at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images

After a lengthy rant, the brother of Tejano icon Selena said his Fiesta show was the last performance he will ever do in San Antonio. Later, he apologized for his outburst, calling it a bipolar episode. Click to read more about why A.B. Quintanilla was so upset with the crowd.

Two people were killed and four were injured Sunday after a shooting at Market Square. Theo Esquivel

Two people were killed and four were injured early Sunday morning after an officer-involved shooting at the conclusion of a Fiesta event at Market Square. The man killed by police had been arrested earlier this month and was connected to several vehicle burglaries, according to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. Click to read more about the shooting that capped an otherwise festive night during the final weekend of Fiesta.

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Caleb Harris, 21, was reported missing in Corpus Christi, police officials say. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Police Department

An eyewitness has come forward in the case of missing New Braunfels college student Caleb Harris, his father said. Click to read more about what the witness saw.

The empty parking lot of shuttered Jim's Restaurant on Broadway near downtown on May 1, 2024. Abigail Im/Staff

A prominent Houston restaurant group is expanding to San Antonio with plans to open a restaurant at a recently closed Jims Restaurants location along Broadway near the San Antonio Zoo. Click to read more about the companys plans to renovate the restaurant and open an Adair Kitchen location.

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The project at the intersection of Loop 410 and New Sulphur Springs Road is expected to include around 5,000 lots for single-family homes along with commercial and industrial development. Google Earth
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240504/hamas-agrees-to-free-33-israeli-hostages-in-1st-stage-of-deal-with-israel---reports-1118259445.html

Hamas Agrees to Free 33 Israeli Hostages in 1st Stage of Deal With Israel - Reports

Hamas Agrees to Free 33 Israeli Hostages in 1st Stage of Deal With Israel - Reports

Sputnik International

The Palestinian movement Hamas has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages as part of the first stage of a ceasefire deal with Israel, the Saudi broadcaster Al Hadath reported on Saturday, citing sources.

2024-05-04T23:58+0000

2024-05-04T23:58+0000

2024-05-05T04:27+0000

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Hamas's delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to negotiate through Egyptian mediators a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the captives. The group reported it was traveling to Cairo in order to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza.Israeli-Hamas talks on ceasefire in the Gaza Strip being held with Egyptian mediators in Cairo ended inconclusively on Saturday with a new round to be held on Sunday, US media outlet CBS News claimed citing sources within the Palestinian movement. Meanwhile, the Dubai-based Al Hadath television network previously claimed Hamas had agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in the first phase of a cease-fire deal.Previously, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel gave Hamas a week to accept a ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip, otherwise threatening to launch a military operation in Rafah.CNN, citing sources, released details of a new proposal to Hamas, prepared by mediators from Egypt. According to the US news outlet, the new proposal was drafted with Israel's input. The first phase of the agreement includes the release of 20-33 hostages over several weeks in exchange for a pause in hostilities and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The length of the cease-fire will depend on the number of hostages tha t can be released.The second phase would involve restoring sustained calm in the Gaza Strip. According to a diplomatic source, the wording implies a way to agree on a permanent ceasefire without having to call it that. During this phase Hamas's remaining hostages, including captured IDF soldiers, and the bodies of the dead will be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners. Israel, meanwhile, has not abandoned plans to achieve all of its stated objectives of its Gaza operation, including the complete elimination of Hamas.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/any-un-expert-panel-on-sanctions-against-n-korea-doomed-to-self-destruction---diplomat-1118265326.html

Any UN Expert Panel on Sanctions Against N. Korea Doomed to 'Self-Destruction' - Diplomat

Any UN Expert Panel on Sanctions Against N. Korea Doomed to 'Self-Destruction' - Diplomat

Sputnik International

North Korea's permanent representative to the United Nations, Kim Song, said Sunday that any newly formed group similar to the disbanded group of experts of the UN Security Council's committee on sanctions against Pyongyang would be doomed to "self-destruction" over time.

2024-05-05T08:21+0000

2024-05-05T08:21+0000

2024-05-05T08:21+0000

asia

north korea

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un security council (unsc)

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On March 28, Russia blocked a US draft resolution in the UN Security Council to extend for one year the work of the UNSC's Committee 1718 on sanctions against North Korea. Its mandate expired on April 30. On May 1, 50 UN members, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, said in a joint statement they were considering alternatives to ensure continued objective and independent monitoring of sanctions on North Korea after the expert panel's dissolution. The permanent representative called the May 1 joint statement by the US and its allies on the dissolution of the panel a "funeral oration" and urged the West to "humbly" accept the reality that international opinion has "turned its back" on them. He advised the US and its allies to deeply reflect on the failure of their hostile policy against Pyongyang "that is run through with arrogance and self-complacency." Kim said the panel's dissolution was "a judgment made by history" for creating an "illegal, plot-breeding" organization that served as a tool for the US and Western countries to exercise hegemony. On April 11, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that Russia would soon submit to the UN Security Council its own draft resolution on extending the mandate of the expert panel, which will establish the need to actualize the sanctions regime against Pyongyang.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240306/the-empire-is-collapsing-from-within-china-north-korea-resist-wests-desperate-drive-for-war-1117154088.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/boots-on-the-ground-french-foreign-legion-dispatched-to-ukraine-ex-dod-official-claims-1118274817.html

Boots on the Ground? French Foreign Legion Dispatched to Ukraine, Ex-DoD Official Claims

Boots on the Ground? French Foreign Legion Dispatched to Ukraine, Ex-DoD Official Claims

Sputnik International

Media reports earlier stated that NATO currently does not have any operational plans for sending a military contingent to Ukraine even though the alliance has... 05.05.2024, Sputnik International

2024-05-05T14:50+0000

2024-05-05T14:50+0000

2024-05-05T14:50+0000

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France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine, former US deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, Stephen Bryen, has claimed in an article published by the Asia Times. Bryen went on to write that the forces have been deployed in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in the city of Slavyansk."The French soldiers have reportedly been drawn from the 3rd Infantry Regiment, one of the main components of Frances Foreign Legion. French authorities have not commented on the matter yet.According to him, about 1,500 French Foreign Legion soldiers are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine in the foreseeable future. Italys La Repubblica newspaper reported earlier on Sunday that NATO  "in a very confidential manner and without official communique - has established at least two red lines, beyond which there could be the alliances direct intervention in the conflict in Ukraine." At the same time, NATO does not plan to immediately send its military contingent to Ukraine, according to the newspaper.Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron once again did not rule out the possibility of NATO sending troops from Europe to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced Macrons statement as very dangerous, with the statement also slammed by groups in Britain, France, Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/macrons-idea-to-send-nato-troops-to-ukraine-made-him-look-very-foolish--1117069472.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/dr-congo-has-right-to-be-friends-with-russia---president-1118262747.html

DR Congo Has Right to Be Friends With Russia - President

DR Congo Has Right to Be Friends With Russia - President

Sputnik International

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has the right to have good relations with Russia, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi said.

2024-05-05T05:17+0000

2024-05-05T05:17+0000

2024-05-05T05:17+0000

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china

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"In France, Israel was condemned for some actions in Gaza. Does this prevent France from maintaining its relations with Israel? Why do they want to judge us when it comes to Africans? One should not judge us. We have the right to the friends we want and we are friends to all those who want to be our friends Russians want friendship with Africa, DR Congo, why should we refuse? There are no reasons for that," Tshisekedi told French broadcaster LCI on Saturday. Russia and China conduct relations with the DRC without arrogance and the desire to read lectures, the president said, noting that Moscow and Beijing behave better towards his country than Westerners. Tshisekedi is also expected to visit a forum with the participation of Russia and African countries to take place in June. However, the president did not specify what forum he was talking about.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/france-seemingly-set-to-part-ways-with-macron-come-june-elections---reports-1118259035.html

France Seemingly Set to Part Ways With Macron, Come June Elections - Reports

France Seemingly Set to Part Ways With Macron, Come June Elections - Reports

Sputnik International

Elections for the European Parliament will take place between June 6 and June 9. The elections will be a clear sign for how the presidential election in France, in 2027, will unfold.

2024-05-05T05:22+0000

2024-05-05T05:22+0000

2024-05-05T05:22+0000

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emmanuel macron

marine le pen

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According to new opinion polls, Frances Renaissance (RE) party is trailing the far-right National Rally (RN) by a far second place. A recent article published on Wednesday by The Guardian, says the blame for the REs poor polling rests with President Emmanuel Macron. The parties were tied in the last European election which took place five years ago.Elections for the European Parliament will take place between June 6 and June 9. The elections will be a clear sign for how the presidential election in France, in 2027, will unfold.Macron, 46, has himself to blame for his political predicament, the article suggests. The French president is barely two years into his second term in the Elysee Palace, yet lacking a parliamentary majority at home and with his government under the permanent threat of a no-confidence motion.The RN is being led by Jordan Bardella, who became the president of the party in 2022. Bardella is just 28-years-old and does not carry the same legacy as his partys former president, Marine Le Pen, though he reportedly said that he first joined the party due to Le Pens influence. But while Le Pens influence on the RN is still palpable, young voters are more drawn to Bardella.Macron was elected in 2017, becoming Frances youngest head of state apart from Napoleon Bonaparte. But now, Macron is seemingly flailing to keep up with the desires of the French public.A separate survey published in March, shows that Macrons party has fallen out of favorability among young French voters. Just 4% of those aged 18 to 24-years-old expressed their intention of voting for Macrons party next month, compared to 29% among those over the age of 70. Alduy explains that the reason for this is because those who are younger have little to no historical memory regarding Nazism during World War II, as the RN has been criticized for failing to rid itself of its antisemitic heritage.Another article by Financial Times explains Macrons drop in popularity with an opinion poll from February which showed the main preoccupation of French voters is the cost of living. According to that poll, a drop in consumer confidence amongst the French shows a pessimism about their future.Another issue regarding Frances economy includes their high budget deficit which skyrocketed last year to 5.5% of the GDP, according to the newspaper. Macrons government has already had to announce emergency spending cuts, and more may be on their way in areas such as social benefits and local government budgets, the newspaper suggests, adding that this could affect the results of the 2027 election.But the news outlet adds that while many French people use the EU elections as a way to cast protest votes against their presidents and governments, many may vote differently in a national election.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240429/macrons-tough-talk-on-european-sovereignty-just-election-fodder-1118183691.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/hand-of-soros-georgian-prime-minister-denounces-us-color-revolution-tactics-1118262117.html

Hand of Soros: Georgian Prime Minister Denounces US Color Revolution Tactics

Hand of Soros: Georgian Prime Minister Denounces US Color Revolution Tactics

Sputnik International

The leader of the country of Georgia has criticized US efforts to interfere in the country dating back several years.

2024-05-05T05:36+0000

2024-05-05T05:36+0000

2024-05-05T05:39+0000

analysis

us

george soros

irakli kobakhidze

georgia

russia

tbilisi

european union (eu)

georgian dream

us department of justice

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A major scandal emerged in 2016 over the disproven conspiracy theory of Russian interference in the United States presidential election. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Americans were told, had spent vast sums of money to influence the outcome of the vote via social media. According to the conspiracys most dedicated adherents, US democracy had been near-fatally wounded by the pernicious meddling of a hostile foreign power.What adherents of the unfounded Russiagate narrative failed to acknowledge is that the United States is guilty of precisely the same type of political interference it accuses others of, and on a far larger scale.Claims of such foreign meddling came to a head Friday when Georgias head of state slammed US support for violence and revolution attempts amidst anti-government protests in the countrys capital of Tbilisi.The prime minister also criticized false statements from the US and European Union concerning draft Transparency of Foreign Influence legislation currently working through the countrys parliament.The proposed law, which is currently the subject of protests in the countrys capital, is aimed at disclosing foreign influence over organizations and media outlets operating in Georgia. Kobakhidze claims the legislation is necessary to promote transparency and accountability of relevant organizations vis-a-vis Georgian society. Western critics have portrayed it as a clampdown on civil society, likening it to Russias foreign agents law  protesters have even taken to deriding the bill the Russian law.But such legislation is common throughout the world, with similar regulation taking place in Canada, Australia, the European Union, and elsewhere. The US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires foreign-affiliated news outlets, such as the one youre reading now, to register with the US Department of Justice and send copies of all informational materials to US authorities.The United States has frequently opposed such legislation in countries it deems to be foreign adversaries because it threatens the influence of US soft power. The United States frequently funds foreign activists, media outlets, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to spread US influence in foreign countries. The US has specifically focused on former Soviet-aligned nations after the end of the Cold War, seeking to ensure leaders are elected who will orient such countries towards the West and away from Russia.When necessary, the United States has even sought to foment regime change in foreign countries through such methods, paving the way for unrest that generates a change in leadership. Such events are commonly known as color revolutions, after a series of such incidents such as Ukraines 2004 Orange Revolution and Georgias 2003 Rose Revolution. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a primary tool of such revolutions.Investigation by Sputnik has uncovered the historical influence of the United States and allied groups in influencing Georgian politics. USAIDs website boasts that the organization has poured a staggering $1.9 billion into the country since 1992. The agency reports funding 39 ongoing projects in Georgia with a total value of approximately $373 million, and an annual budget of more than $70 million.Additionally, USAIDs Georgian Media Partnership Program backs a range of opposition media outlets in the country, including TV Pirveli, Radio Marneuli, Formula TV, and Mtavari Arkhi. The US agency allocated $10 million in 2021 alone. Samira Bayramova, an administrator of the program, has been noted as a prominent leader of the current protests in Tbilisi.The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has also strongly backed the ongoing demonstrations. The organization partners with USAID under the pretense of promoting fair electoral processes in Georgia.Additionally, the US allies with partnered philanthropic foundations to further strengthen opposition forces. The Georgian branch of George Soros Civil Society Foundation openly promotes the current protests, backing a petition initiative to promote hostility toward the current government. The Civil Society Foundation has operated in the country for 30 years, claiming to have poured $100 million into political interference.Political opposition leader Nika Gvaramia, whose party has helped organize the ongoing protests, is promoted on the foundations website.The US, naturally, has attempted to coerce Georgias government to shelve the current draft law, with Chollet expressing concern for Georgias current trajectory. Senators from both major US political parties have warned the country could face sanctions for attempts to move forward with the transparency legislation.The United States foreign subterfuge has increasingly come to light in recent years, with former President Donald Trump offering a rare acknowledgment of US efforts in Iran, Belarus, and Hong Kong.Still, millions of others remain uninformed about the destructive influence of the United States and billionaire oligarchs like George Soros.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240430/those-protesting-in-georgia-against-bill-on-foreign-agents-erupting-barricades-in-tbilisi-1118198877.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/what-is-usaid-doing-in-georgia-1113891522.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240327/billionaire-financier-george-soros-overtaken-by-trump-in-list-of-worlds-wealthiest---report-1117591872.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230824/untold-story-of-george-soros-worldwide-soft-power-empire-1112859657.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/israeli-military-eliminated-islamic-jihad-commander---idf--1118266700.html

Israeli Military Eliminated Islamic Jihad Commander - IDF

Israeli Military Eliminated Islamic Jihad Commander - IDF

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had eliminated one of the commanders of Palestinian movement Islamic Jihad, who allegedly participated in the attack on Israel on October 7.

2024-05-05T09:10+0000

2024-05-05T09:10+0000

2024-05-05T12:04+0000

world

israeli-palestinian conflict

israel-gaza conflict

palestine-israel conflict

gaza violence

gaza strip

hamas

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The report added that two more Islamic Jihad fighters, who were with Zaarab in the operational apartment, were also eliminated.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 34,500 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/is-power-sharing-deal-on-postwar-gaza-between-israel-and-arab-states-feasible-1118265728.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/lavrov-says-west-ukraine-not-ready-for-serious-talks-with-russia-1118276441.html

Lavrov Says West, Ukraine Not Ready for Serious Talks With Russia

Lavrov Says West, Ukraine Not Ready for Serious Talks With Russia

Sputnik International

Neither Ukrainian nor Western politicians are ready to engage in any serious negotiations with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, describing the upcoming Swiss-hosted conference on Ukraine as a "parody of negotiations."

2024-05-05T19:03+0000

2024-05-05T19:03+0000

2024-05-05T19:20+0000

russia

sergey lavrov

ukraine

russia

peace talks

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"We have nobody to talk to. I cited some statements by Ukrainian, US and European leadership, the political class. None of them are ready for a serious conversation. They are 'playing' a parody of negotiations by having a meeting in Switzerland. The Copenhagen format is completely dead-ended," Lavrov told Bosnian broadcaster ATV in an interview released on Sunday.Lavrov emphasized that the West is trying by hook or by crook, blackmail and lies to drag the maximum number of developing countries and countries of the Global South into gatherings in Switzerland. Switzerland will hold a conference on Ukraine on June 15-16 near the city of Lucerne. About 160 states have been invited to the meeting, but Russia will not attend. Russian Ambassador to Bern Sergei Garmonin previously told Sputnik that Russia will not participate in any format in the conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, the purpose of which is to present an ultimatum to Moscow. He added that this conference would turn into a noisy but empty PR campaign. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov previously said that the negotiation process on Ukraine without the participation of Russia makes no sense. Moscow has repeatedly indicated that it is ready for negotiations, but Kiev has introduced a ban on them at the legislative level. The West constantly calls on the Russian Federation to negotiate, for which Moscow shows readiness, but at the same time the West ignores Kievs constant refusals to do the same. Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia stated in an interview with Sputnik that Moscow is ready to consider proposals for a settlement that take into account the proposals of the Russian side and the situation on the ground, but the Ukrainian regime is not interested in this.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/russia-received-no-constructive-proposals-on-ukraine-peace-talks-since-2022--lavrov-1117088921.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/lithuania-financing-training-of-militants-seeking-to-oust-belarusian-government---minsk-1118262700.html

Lithuania Financing Training of Militants Seeking to Oust Belarusian Government - Belarusian FM

Lithuania Financing Training of Militants Seeking to Oust Belarusian Government - Belarusian FM

Sputnik International

Lithuania provides support, including financial one, to paramilitary forces located on its territory that want to overthrow the government in Belarus, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik said in an interview with Sputnik.

2024-05-05T05:25+0000

2024-05-05T05:25+0000

2024-05-05T05:25+0000

military

lithuania

belarus

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"The information we have, which we have passed, including through diplomatic channels, indicates that the Lithuanian authorities not only condone, they actually support and finance the training of paramilitary formations whose goal is to overthrow the legitimate government on the territory of the Republic of Belarus and use terrorist, extremist activities against our country," Aleinik said.Earlier, Belarusian intelligence reported on the presence of about 50 foreign foundations in Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine that fund soft power initiatives, as well as radical strategies targeting Belarus for regime change. According to the information provided, the bulk of such forces are several outlawed militant Belarusian organizations that are actively fighting against Russia in the special military operation zone.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/macron-says-limit-of-2-consecutive-presidential-terms-takes-away-some-of-voters-freedom-1118265880.html

Macron Says Limit of 2 Consecutive Presidential Terms 'Takes Away Some of Voters' Freedom'

Macron Says Limit of 2 Consecutive Presidential Terms 'Takes Away Some of Voters' Freedom'

Sputnik International

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he has no intention of changing France's constitution, but believes the limit of two consecutive presidential terms "takes away some of the freedom" of voters.

2024-05-05T08:43+0000

2024-05-05T08:43+0000

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Macron said he did not seek to change the country's constitution, but added that it was "always better to leave the choice to the voters."Last September, two participants in Macron's talks with political parties' representatives said he expressed a belief that "not being able to be reelected is ruinously stupid." Macron dropped the phrase in response to a proposal by Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally party, to introduce a single seven-year presidential term. In response to opposition criticism, Macron's party said the president was probably joking. The second presidential term of Macron, who was first elected to the French presidency in 2017, expires in 2027. Under the French constitution, a president cannot be elected for more than two consecutive five-year terms.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240503/macron-is-afraid-to-go-down-in-history-as-the-leader-who-lost-africa-1118245820.html

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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.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/netanyahu-calls-hamas-ceasefire-demands-unacceptable-1118272161.html

Netanyahu Calls Hamas' Ceasefire Demands Unacceptable

Netanyahu Calls Hamas' Ceasefire Demands Unacceptable

Sputnik International

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that his government was ready to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, which he accused of making unacceptable demands.

2024-05-05T11:33+0000

2024-05-05T11:33+0000

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During the latest round of indirect talks with Hamas, the Israeli government demonstrated its readiness to make concessions, which were described as generous by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Netanyahu said.Despite this, the Israeli prime minister stressed that his government would never give up on its military goals in Gaza. He said the Israeli pullout from Gaza would mean capitulation of Israel and "a huge victory for Hamas, Iran."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/is-power-sharing-deal-on-postwar-gaza-between-israel-and-arab-states-feasible-1118265728.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/professors-arrest-highlights-brutal-us-police-response-to-pro-palestine-protests-1118260502.html

Professors Arrest Highlights Brutal US Police Response to Pro-Palestine Protests

Professors Arrest Highlights Brutal US Police Response to Pro-Palestine Protests

Sputnik International

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently demanded a state response to pro-Palestine protests in the US, labeling the demonstrations horrific and antisemitic.

2024-05-05T03:17+0000

2024-05-05T03:17+0000

2024-05-05T03:17+0000

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On the evening of April 30, Columbia University professor Gregory Pflugfelder stepped outside of his Morningside Heights apartment in Upper Manhattan to document the presence of hundreds of NYPD police officers preparing to commence a raid on the pro-Palestine encampment at neighboring Columbia University.The lecturer, who was celebrating the end of his 28-year career at the prestigious university, wandered a short distance from his building to capture video of the immense show of force. One officer warned Pflugfelder to go home and leave the area. When he protested that he lived in the neighborhood the officer ordered him detained on charges of obstructing government administration.Pflugfelders arrest marks one of dozens against college faculty in recent weeks, many of them far more violent. News of Noelle McAfees detention at Emory University in Georgia went viral after the professor was forced to the ground after inquiring about the arrest of one of her students; video shows police slamming her head into the concrete pavement.In Missouri, 65-year-old history professor Steve Tamari was beaten by police while documenting their response to protests on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. Video shows Tamari being slammed to the ground and his limp body being carried away from the scene.Doctors told the professor, who suffered 9 broken ribs and a hand injury requiring surgery, that he was lucky to survive.The incidents have shed light on accusations of widespread police brutality in officials response to pro-Palestine protests, which have swept across US college campuses.On the night of Pflugfelders arrest officers entered the campus of New York Citys Columbia University, ejecting demonstrators from the schools Hamilton Hall. The building is known as a target of student occupation during campus protests; undergraduates also took control of the building during protests against the Vietnam war in the 1960s and demonstrations against South African apartheid in the 1980s.These events are now commemorated on the universitys website in a self-flattering retrospective of protest on Columbias campus.The historical precedent of their actions hasnt stopped the demonstrators from being widely vilified in mainstream media and by local officials, who claimed the protests had become threatening and disruptive. New York City Mayor Eric Adams alleged the dangerous presence of outside agitators at the encampment. The claim has a long history of use to disparage social protest, perhaps most famously during the 1960s when reactionaries employed the term to allege Soviet support for civil rights demonstrations.A violent crackdown on protesters at UCLAs campus capped off a week of state repression Wednesday, just days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded action against the horrific and antisemitic demonstrations. Video shows security forces employing rubber bullets and flashbang grenades to forcefully disband the protest.Local police were previously observed amicably conversing with pro-Israel demonstrators the day prior, just before the counterprotesters launched an hours-long violent attack on the encampment while the LAPD purportedly looked on. West Los Angeles is home to a large community of Israeli IDF veterans and right-wing Iranian monarchist exiles.Still, protests continue at dozens of college campuses throughout the United States. Activists efforts have begun to bear fruit as Evergreen State College in Washington state became the first university to divest its endowment from Israeli interests profiting from the countrys occupation of Palestinian territories. The school is the alma mater of Rachel Corrie, an American activist crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer while protecting the home of her Palestinian host family in Gaza.Officials at the University of Minnesota have also agreed to begin a discussion around divestment. Brown University in Rhode Island has agreed to hold a vote on the matter, as has New Hampshires Dartmouth College after students there launched a 12-day hunger strike. Dartmouth made headlines this week after the former chair of the schools Jewish studies department was thrown to the ground and arrested while participating in a pro-Palestine protest.Gradually, socially conscious students are raising awareness of the United States complicity in Israeli violence, occupation, and ethnic cleansing. Yet the question remains whether the countrys creaking political bureaucracy and repressive state apparatus will respond to Americans widespread horror over the US allys myriad abuses.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240503/columbia-students-at-palestine-rally-inspired-by-anti-apartheid-and-anti-vietnam-war-protests-1118243825.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/threats-against-campus-pro-palestine-demonstrators-echo-deadly-violence-of-kent-state-1118117114.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240503/pictures-pro-palestine-protests-in-full-swing-across-us-colleges-1118239723.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240428/world-central-kitchen-to-resume-work-in-gaza-as-hunger-malnutrition-still-stalk-enclave-1118167268.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/russia-fears-israel-iran-escalation-may-trigger-wider-war-1118272282.html

Russia Fears Israel-Iran Escalation May Trigger Wider War

Russia Fears Israel-Iran Escalation May Trigger Wider War

Sputnik International

The Russian Foreign Ministry urges Iran and Israel to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions after their tit-for-tat attacks nearly plunged the region into a wider war in April, Alexander Kinschak, head of the ministry's Middle East and North Africa Department, told Sputnik.

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"The Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus on April 1 could indeed trigger a wider regional war," Kinschak said in an interview. Iran gave a "moderate" response, targeting select military infrastructure of Israel in a drone-and-missile attack on April 13, Kinschak said. The attack demonstrated Iran's military capabilities without inflicting much damage on its regional rival. Tensions between Israel and the Islamic world have been on the rise after Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas' October 7 attack on the Jewish state. Kinschak said that the conflict in Gaza had sidelined other events in the region, including efforts by Russia and Iran to bring about rapprochement between Syria and Turkiye. The foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Syria and Turkiye held their first four-way meeting in May 2023, agreeing to draw up a road map for Syrian-Turkish normalization. Kinschak said the stakeholders would continue their efforts to normalize relations between the two neighbors.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/terrifying-israel-may-have-used-iran-conflict-as-red-herring-for-gaza-occupation---report-1118101493.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/russia-to-respond-to-hostile-actions-of-baltic-states-with-asymmetric-measures-1118264303.html

Russia to Respond to Hostile Actions of Baltic States With Asymmetric Measures

Russia to Respond to Hostile Actions of Baltic States With Asymmetric Measures

Sputnik International

Moscow will respond to the hostile actions of the Baltic states with asymmetric measures in the economic and transit spheres, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.

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Russia's retaliatory measures, including the redirection of cargo flows to Russia's northwestern ports, have had an extremely negative impact on the Baltic countries' budget revenues, Zakharova said.At the same time, Moscow will continue to use diplomatic measures to influence the Baltic states and it is highly undesirable to reach the point of terminating the activities of diplomatic missions, taking into account Russians living there, the spokeswoman said. Zakharova also recalled that two Latvian and one Estonian diplomat were recently expelled from Russia in retaliation for the countries' hostile actions towards Moscow. In mid-March, the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the hostile policy of the Baltic states towards Moscow by banning 347 citizens of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, including a minister, deputies, public figures and journalists, from entering the country. The ministry cited "active lobbying by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for sanctions measures, interference in Russia's internal affairs and persecution of the Russian-speaking population."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240430/how-biden-showed-the-world-the-us--nato-are-paper-tigers-1118198425.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/white-house-admits-recent-military-aid-to-ukraine-wont-stop-russian-offensive---report-1118262359.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/russian-troops-fully-liberated-ocheretino-settlement-in-donetsk-peoples-republic-1118267193.html

Russian Troops Fully Liberated Ocheretino Settlement in Donetsk People's Republic

Russian Troops Fully Liberated Ocheretino Settlement in Donetsk People's Republic

Sputnik International

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 380 soldiers and another Abrams tank, while Russian forces improved their positions on the battlefield, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

2024-05-05T10:07+0000

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Russian troops have taken full control of the village of Ocheretino in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday. As a result of active operations, units of the Tsetr Battlegroup completely liberated the settlement of Ocheretino (DPR), improved the tactical situation and defeated the formations of the 24th and 115th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Arkhangelskoye and Novgorodskoye (DPR), the ministry said.In addition, according to the ministry, eight counterattacks by assault groups of the 78th Separate Airborne Assault Regiment, 47th Mechanized, 142nd, 143rd Infantry, 68th Jaeger Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repelled during the day in the areas of the settlements of Novokalinovo, Ocheretino, Solovyevo, Berdychi, Semyonovka and Netaylovo of the Donetsk People's Republic. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 380 military personnel, a US-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, including a US-made Bradley, an armored combat vehicle and three pickup trucks. During the counter-battery battle, a US-made 155-mm M777 howitzer and a 155-mm self-propelled artillery mount were hit, as well as a Krab made in Poland, a 105-mm light howitzer M102 made in the USA, a 152-mm D-20 howitzer, a 122-mm self-propelled artillery mount Gvozdika and a 122-mm D-30 howitzer," the department said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240504/corruption-speeded-up-ukraines-retreat-more-than-weapons-shortage-1118257014.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/saboteur-linked-to-crocus-terrorist-attack-fled-russia-in-2022-after-mobilization-call-up-1118265142.html

Saboteur Linked to Crocus Terrorist Attack Fled Russia in 2022 After Mobilization Call-Up

Saboteur Linked to Crocus Terrorist Attack Fled Russia in 2022 After Mobilization Call-Up

Sputnik International

Nikolai Surnov, the eliminated suspect in the case of a terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, left Russia immediately after the announcement of partial mobilization in 2022, people familiar with him told Sputnik.

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The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on May 3 that a Ukrainian military intelligence agent preparing terrorist attacks in Russia had been eliminated in the Leningrad Region. He was planning a series of terrorist attacks in Russia, including on the Russian Defense Ministry's facilities, the FSB said. Another acquaintance of Surnov, the owner of a neighboring garage, told Sputnik that the suspect "went somewhere in Lithuania." In addition, Nikolai's wife mentioned Vilnius as her place of residence on one of her social media pages. According to the FSB, Surnov came back to the Moscow Region from Lithuania in March 2024. 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 four main suspects in the case tried to flee the scene in a car but were detained and charged with terrorism.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/money-transfers-proof-that-crocus-terrorists-for-hire-followed-orders-from-ukraine-1117652604.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/sullivan-unveils-conditions-of-potential-historic-us-defense-deal-with-saudi-arabia-1118264452.html

Sullivan Unveils Conditions of Potential Historic US Defense Deal With Saudi Arabia

Sullivan Unveils Conditions of Potential Historic US Defense Deal With Saudi Arabia

Sputnik International

The US and Saudi Arabia are reportedly drawing closer to a major deal that would "reshape the Middle East" and add to the regions security.

2024-05-05T07:09+0000

2024-05-05T07:09+0000

2024-05-05T07:12+0000

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The Biden administration will only sign a defense pact with Saudi Arabia if the kingdom agrees to normalize relations with Israel, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has made it clear in an interview with The Financial Times.Normalization between Riyadh and Tel Aviv is "the path that we [the US] believe could produce a more secure Israel and a more peaceful region," he added.The remarks come a few days after State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that Washington is "very close to reaching an agreement on the bilateral pieces of the package between the United States and Saudi Arabia."Bloomberg News earlier reported that the US and Saudi Arabia are "nearing a historic pact" to offer the kingdom "security guarantees and lay out a possible pathway to diplomatic ties with Israel, if its government brings the war in Gaza to an end." Per Bloomberg, if signed, the pact would "potentially reshape the Middle East."In January, media reported that Saudi Arabia had resumed negotiations with the US on a defense deal after a three-month pause due to the escalation in the Middle East following the Palestinian militant group Hamas sudden attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The violent ambush led to the Jewish state launching a ground military operation in Gaza, which is also being devastated by Israeli airstrikes that have already killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas health authorities.In early August 2023, Washington and Riyadh agreed to broad contours of a potential deal to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. In September of that year, however, media cited a source in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office as saying that Riyadh had informed Washington of the termination of negotiations on a Saudi-Israel normalization deal.The United States launched a process to normalize relations between Israel and the Arab world in 2020. As a result of these efforts, in September 2020, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed a set of documents known as the Abraham Accords, and were joined by Morocco in December of that year. In January 2021, Sudan also signed the declarative section of the Accords, but did not sign the relevant document with Israel, unlike other states, due to disagreements between the Sudanese military and civilian leadership over the issue.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230923/israel-may-be-poised-to-normalize-relations-with-saudi-arabia-1113612231.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231102/expert-gaza-war-hurts-israels-ties-with-arab-world-but-abraham-accords-wont-be-axed-1114665325.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/uk-palestinian-surgeon--rector-who-described-gaza-nightmare-blocked-from-eu-entry--1118260760.html

UK-Palestinian Surgeon & Rector Who Described Gaza 'Nightmare' Blocked From EU Entry

UK-Palestinian Surgeon & Rector Who Described Gaza 'Nightmare' Blocked From EU Entry

Sputnik International

Abu-Sitta arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport on Saturday morning after a flight from London, and was informed by French authorities that Germany had placed a Schengen-wide ban on his entry to Europe.

2024-05-05T03:31+0000

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Professor Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a London plastic and reconstructive surgeon who spent 43 days in Gaza helping to treat those wounded in Palestine-Israel war, said he has been denied entry to France despite being scheduled to speak to the senate there later on Saturday.Abu-Sitta arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport on Saturday morning after a flight from London, and was informed by French authorities that Germany had placed a Schengen-wide ban on his entry to Europe.Fortress Europe silencing the witnesses to the genocide while Israel kills them in prison, he added. The surgeon had been invited by Green party parliamentarians to take part in a conference during which he would speak to them about Gaza, as well as France and its responsibility regarding the application of international law there. Through the help of lawyers, he was able to obtain a videoconference link and was still able to speak to the senate, said French Senator Raymonde Poncet Monge on X (formerly Twitter).We are outraged that he cannot be present among us, said the French senator.The Elysee said it was not aware of Abu-Sittas barred entrance, but a spokesperson did say that when its a question of a Schengen refusal, the border police cant do much about it.The Schengen area consists of 26 European countries, including 22 European Union states. The term Schengen comes from the town in southeastern luxembourg where France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the original Schengen Agreement in 1985.Abu-Sitta was also denied entrance to an event in Berlin in April. He was scheduled to speak at a Palestine Congress event but was barred entry and questioned for hours. The organizer of the Palestine Congress, Nadija Samour, said that there was pressure from the federal government to cancel at the time and that Germany was actively and illicitly trying to obstruct the event.On Friday, Abu-Sitta told a Qatari news site that in Gaza, he experienced a nightmare including a scene in which he saw bodies and body parts everywhere including a small arm, which clearly belonged to a child following a missile strike outside of a hospital. He described the October 17th strike as the litmus test for Israels full war on Gazas healthcare infrastructure.Abu-Sitta added that he had completed his medical education at the University of Glasgow, even as it is one of the biggest academic investors in companies that sells arms to Israel, he claimed. He then ran for the position of rector out of respect for his students who overwhelmingly wanted to end the institutions complicity in the mass slaughter of Palestinians and won the election with 80% of the vote.In 2023, Germany sent Israel 326.5 million euros ($353.7m) in equipment and weapons in 2023, according to Economy Ministry Data.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240505/xi-plans-to-discuss-china-france-relations-and-important-regional-issues-with-macron-1118276307.html

Xi Plans to Discuss China-France Relations and Important Regional Issues With Macron

Xi Plans to Discuss China-France Relations and Important Regional Issues With Macron

Sputnik International

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday that he would meet with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, to discuss relations between the two countries, as well as important regional and international issues during his state visit to France.

2024-05-05T18:48+0000

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Earlier in the day, the state-run China Central Television reported that the Chinese leader had arrived in Paris. Xi also expressed hope that his visit to France would "enhance political trust, build strategic consensus and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields" between Paris and Beijing. "A growing China-France relationship not only brings benefits to our two peoples, but also provides stability and positive energy to the turbulent world," the Chinese leader said. Xi is on a visit to France, Serbia and Hungary from May 510 at the invitations of the European leaders. His first trip to Europe in nearly five years comes as the European Union continues piling pressure on Beijing over its support and cooperation with Russia.

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Mike Hennessy had the hot hands on Saturday, May 4 at Century Downs, finding his way to the winner's circle in the finals of the two four-year-old stakes contested.

The Kentucky Derby Day card at Century Downs featured the $45,000 Bev Sears Memorial for four-year-old pacing mares, and the $30,000 Ed Tracey Memorial for four-year-old male pacers.

While each of his drives in those finals were sent off as betting choices, their paths to victory lane were quite different.

Leaving from the pylons in the Bev Sears, Hennessy sent 1-5 shot Outlawabovenbeyond to the top and played a fierce game of catch-me-if-you-can. Getting away with soft early fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:26, Outlawabovenbeyond hit the afterburners in that final quarter. Closing in :28.2 provided a six-length advantage over Riskofthunderstorm (Colin Kelly) at the wire, with the mile timed in 1:54.2. Tina La Vida (Kelly Hoerdt) rounded out the top three.

Rod Starkewski trains Outlawabovenbeyond (pictured above), and he co-owns the four-year-old daughter of Captive Audience - Watchasgirlsgoby with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway, Alta. As the 1-5 choice, she paid $2.40 to win and has now pushed her seasonal unbeaten streak to five. Lifetime, her summary after 16 starts reads 9-1-1 and her bankroll stands at $58,587.

Up Yer Kilt delivered as the public choice in the Ed Tracey Memorial, executing with off the pace tactics.

Hennessy watched as Yru So Sirius (Colin Kelly) kept Jus Ched (Logan Gillis) parked through a :27.4 opener but then positioned Up Yer Kilt second over as the half flashed up in a moderate :59.2. Straightening out down the backside provided Hennessy with the right time to fan three wide and loop those involved in the early skirmish. Hitting the third station in 1:26.2, Up Yer Kilt had enough separation to hold off a late rally from Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) to trip the timer in 1:56.2. Opulent Dragon was a length back, and Yru So Sirius stayed for the show spot.

A son of Mystician-Dont Stare, Up Yer Kilt is co-owned by trainer Rod Hennessy and Diane Hennessy of Strathmore, Alta. The win was his fourth of the year and ninth lifetime, pushing his earnings over the $60,000 plateau.

Up Yer Kilt paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 choice, giving Hennessy a total of four wins on the day.

To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Alberta, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)
Hollys Treasure capitalized from a front-end battle to post a 7-1 upset in the featured dash during a special Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon card of harness racing on May 4 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

Driver Dan Clements didn't mind being sent off as the second longest shot on the board, and positioned Hollys Treasure forwardly off the gate in the $11,600 Preferred Pace from post two. The only horse to their inside was Docsphillycheese, and driver Alfie Carroll used that inside spot to gain the early advantage.

Travis Henry asked Better Be Gouda for early speed, but his post six starting position made that attempt more difficult. Carroll didn't yield, and Clements kept that pocket closed, forcing Better Be Gouda to accept the Forest City parking ticket through fractions of :27 and :56.

Down the backside, Better Be Gouda's bid began to buffer and that provided Clements room to angle from the pocket approaching the third quarter. When the timer for that station flashed up in 1:25.3, Holly Treasure had a full head of steam and cleared the early pacesetter with ease. A :28.4 final quarter sealed the deal, with the win margin nearly four lengths after a mile in 1:54.3. Docsphillycheese stayed for second, holding off favoured Pembrook Legancy N (Jason Ryan).

Trained by Future Star Award winner at the 2023 O'Brien Awards, Cassidy Schneider, Hollys Treasure (State Treasurer-L H Hollys Cam) is a homebred owned by Colonel Schneider Jr., of Arthur, Ont. The six-year-old gelding picked up his fifth seasonal win and 24th career victory, boosting his overall bankroll to $167,259. As the 7-1 choice, he paid $16.70 to win.

One race prior, Rye N Clyne looked to be stymied in his attempt for five straight wins, but room opened up in the stretch up the pylons and driver Garrett Rooney was able to successfully stickhandle the veteran pacer inside pacesetter Macho Polo (Brett MacDonald) for the win by just over a length in 2:00.1.

Cameron McQueen was the trainer of Rye N Clyne, a 10-year-old Vintage Master - Undone Hanover gelding with 55 wins and nearly $240,000 in earnings, but the iron horse was claimed from Cecilia Richardson of London, Ont. by James Napper of Thamesville, Ont.

With the special Saturday afternoon card taking the place of the traditional Monday evening offering, live harness racing resumes at Western Fair on Tuesday, May 7.

For results, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.

(Standardbred Canada)
Dual classic winner Its My Show makes his 2024 debut on a power-packed Monday, May 6 program at Oak Grove, lining up in the second of two $50,000 USD second-leg Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions for four-year-old male pacers.

Its My Show, who won the Pepsi North America Cup and Little Brown Jug in 2023, has drawn the outside post in a field of six to contest the afternoon's seventh of 13 races. The Linda Toscano trainee banked nearly $1.2 million last year in 16 starts, having won nine of them, and looks to rebound from a 10th-place finish to Confederate in last year's Breeders Crown off a pair of sparkling qualifiers at The Meadowlands.

"He's come back looking and feeling great," said Scott Zeron, who drove Its My Show all of last year and will do the same on Monday. "Both qualifiers were nice trips with strong finishes."

Its My Show won both his qualifying miles, most recently defeating Save America and Bythemissal by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:49.3 by way of a :25.3 closing quarter on April 27. On the strength of his sophomore season and his morning preps, the gelded son of Sweet Lou-Put On A Show has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favourite.

The first KYSS division for male pacers, carded as race one, sets up as a showdown between first-leg winners El Rey (David Miller, post one), who ground to a 1:51.1 score off the shelf, and Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras, post seven), who is two-for-two in 2024 after his 1:50.2 first-leg win.

In the male trotting division, first-leg winners French Wine and Sparks Fly will throw down in the third split, carded as race nine. Millionaire French Wine (Andy Miller, post three) is the 6-5 morning line favourite off his 1:54.1 win in first-round action, while Sparks Fly (Atlee Bender, post four) will look to extend his current three-race win streak. Both are joined by Nancy Takter trainee Bestfriend Volo (Dexter Dunn, post five), who is the 8-5 second choice after capping his clean sweep of the New Jersey Maturity with a 1:51.3 lifetime best performance.

Mambacita leads a trio of Tony Alagna trainees in the mare trot, carded as race two. The 12-time winner proved a convincing 2-1/4-length winner in leg one, and will be driven by Dexter Dunn from post six in the nine-horse field. The mare pace, programmed as race 11, features Strong Poison's return to the races. Now trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the daughter of Always B Miki invades Oak Grove off a pair of winning qualifiers at Miami Valley and will be driven by Yannick Gingras from post seven. She will take on the likes of Breeders Crown third-place finisher Always B Naughty (Andy McCarthy, post six) and first-leg winner Zanatta (Andy Miller, post nine).

The top eight point earners in each division will convene for $100,000 USD finals on Monday, May 13.

The seven $50,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions are supported by a pair of $33,000 USD Opens on the undercard, with purses for the 13-race program totalling $471,000 USD.

First post is 3 p.m. CDT. Free past performance pages and The Players' Guide, featuring commentary from racing analyst Ray Cotolo, are available on the Oak Grove website.

(Oak Grove)
As the New Jersey Sire Stakes season kicked off on Saturday, May 4 at The Meadowlands, it was Andrew and Todd McCarthy who had the right stuff.

Todd McCarthy won four races on the card, including both $41,096 divisions of the first leg of the NJSS for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Refusing to be outdone by his little brother, Andy McCarthy also won four races on the night, including a sweep of the Late Pick-3 (Races 12 through 14), which returned $107.70 for a $1 bet.

Todd McCarthy scored in the first dash with the Brett Pelling-trained Arbitrage Hanover (pictured above), as the product of Bettors Wish-Ana Hanover stopped the clock in a lifetime-best 1:51.4.

Arbitrage Hanover sat the pocket to the quarter behind Alritealritealrite in :27.2 before moving to the top and making it to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.3. A final panel of :26.1 was more than enough to hold off the late-charging 3-5 favourite Better Is Nice, who sat a four-hole to the five-eighths and closed willingly first-over to miss a length.

I was pretty comfortable with the way he raced at [Harrahs Philadelphia, when he won on April 28], said McCarthy. I was happy to cut it out on the front end. It kind of worked out. He got a little off balance there in the stretch but I kicked his plugs and he swelled right up again.

As the 5-2 second choice, Arbitrage Hanover paid $7.60 to win.

Todd McCarthy pulled off an upset in the other division, guiding 34-1 longshot Endofstory to victory lane in a lifetime-best 1:51.1. After an alert getaway from post eight, McCarthy was able to wedge the gelded son of Lazarus N-Olivette Hanover into a three-hole as Aint Nostopn Time cut out fractions of :26.3, :56.2 and 1:24.3.

The pocket-sitting Royal Desire roared out of the pocket on the far turn to go after the leader, providing live cover for Endofstory, who swerved to the centre of the track late and sprinted under the wire 2-1/4 lengths in front of Royal Desire.

I did not know a lot about him, said McCarthy of the Doug Dilloian Jr. trainee he was handling for the first time. His lines looked pretty good and he stepped out of there nice and we were lucky to squeeze into the hole there. Down the backside, I was hoping we had enough gas at the end and was hoping we would shake loose. He responded to me well down by the wire and finished up pretty well.

Endofstory returned $71.40 to his backers as the fourth choice.

FABULOUS FEMALES: In the $54,795 first leg of the Miss Versatility for open mare trotters, the four-year-old Call Me Goo ($6.60 to win as the 2-1 third choice) held off a late-charging Tipsy Moni by a nose in 1:52.3. The daughter of Googoo Gaagaa-Callmemza, who was driven by Tim Tetrick, upped her lifetime record to 18 wins from just 25 starts for trainer Jason Skinner, and upped her bankroll to $472,659.

In the $41,096 NJSS dash for three-year-old pacing fillies, Odds On Steno ($3.60 as the 4-5 public choice) made her seasonal debut a winning one for trainer Tony Alagna and driver Andy McCarthy in a lifetime-best-equalling 1:52.2. The daughter of Bettors Wish-Odds On St Lucie upped her record to five wins from 12 starts, good for earnings of more than $154,000.

HELLUVA HANDLE: All-source wagering on the 14-race program reached $3,870,638 USD, a 2024 Meadowlands best. The previous high of $3,779,096 was established on Jan. 27.

There have been 35 programs conducted at The Big M this year, with 29 of those seeing action exceed the $3 million USD mark.

A LITTLE MORE: Battlefield ($16 to win) and Macs Delight ($4.20) won the 11th and 12th races, respectively, in 1:48.4. The time is the fastest of the year at The Meadowlands and tied for the fastest of 2024 in the sport. The only other horse to go that fast was Artatac A, who turned the track at Miami Valley Raceway on March 14.

Live harness racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Terrell Hills Mayor John Low, right, and council member Bill Mitchell, left, listens to public comment on a senior tax freeze, which is on the May 4 ballot, at Terrell Hills City Hall on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Terrell Hills. Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News

Terrell Hills voters overwhelmingly rejected a tax freeze for seniors that city leadership had vehemently pushed back against.

Hundreds of residents in the suburban city of 5,000 signed petitions to put the senior tax freeze proposition on the ballot, but only 38% of voters backed it when they went to the polls. Of the 1,155 total votes cast, 434 people supported the measure.

Had it been approved, people 65 and older with homestead exemptions would have seen their property taxes capped at this year's amount.

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Seniors make up about 16% of Terrell Hills' population. But their properties represent a third of the city's taxable value, according to a city-commissioned fiscal analysis. Mayor John Low and city staff warned that the freeze could mean higher taxes for younger residents or fewer municipal services. Proponents of the freeze scoffed at the city's projections, pointing to several other area communities with similar freezes.

Appraisal District board

Voters across Bexar County will have to hit the polls again on June 15 to decide on two of three Bexar Appraisal District board seats.

This is the first time that the Bexar Appraisal District board of directors is bringing on elected at-large members. The new positions were created in a change that voters approved for Texas' largest counties in last years constitutional amendment election.

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Three of the boards seats will be filled by election, while taxing entities within the district will appoint members to the other five seats.

The board hires the chief appraiser, approves the appraisal districts annual budget and appoints volunteers to the Appraisal Review Board, which hears property valuation protests and can decide to lower someones property value.

The appraisal district determines annual residential and commercial property valuations based on market value, as required by state law. Local taxing entities, such as the City of San Antonio, county and school districts, in turn use the valuations to determine how much tax revenue theyll collect based on the tax rates they set annually.

The board of directors is a nonpartisan office.

Naomi Elizabeth Miller won the Place 1 seat with 53% of the vote compared to Anna Campos' 47%.

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Miller is executive director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of San Antonio. From 2018 to 2022, she was the director of governmental relations for the Northside Independent School District. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade as district director to then-Texas House Speaker Joe Straus.

She had support from both the conservative True Texas Project and Bexar County Republican Party Chairman Jeff McManus.

Three people were vying for Place 2, but nobody got more than 50% of the vote. Erika Hizel and Stephen Spears were the top vote-getters with 35% and 34%, respectively, of ballots cast.

Hizel owns Kimeaux Investments, a real estate investment firm. She is co-founder and president of San Antonio Property Owners Alliance, which says it advocates for mom and pop, or small-scale, landlords.

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Spears is a Realtor at Stonepoint Properties Inc.

North East Bexar County Democrats endorsed Hizel.

The race for Place 3 was the most crowded with four people fighting for the position. Robert Bruce and G.L. "Larry" Lamborn will face off in this summer's runoff.

Bruce got 37% of votes to Lamborn's 24%.

Bruce founded United Audio Recording Productions and Boerne Stage Airfield, and is co-owner of Astro Super Bowl bowling alley. He also has the support of the local Republican party chairman.

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Lamborn is a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel and retired CIA senior operations officer who is endorsed by the North East Bexar County Democrats.
Two men were found shot and killed near North Star Mall early Sunday. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Two people were found dead after they were shot in a parking lot near North Star Mall early Sunday.

San Antonio police said a 28-year-old and a 22-year-old man were found around 2 a.m. in the 600 NW Loop 410 in the parking lot of Alamo Drafthouse.

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A preliminary police report said both had life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Police had no information on possible suspects or what led to the shooting.
Danish brewer maintains Vietnam sales volume despite beer-market dip

By Tri Duc Sun, May 5, 2024 | 8:04 am GMT+7

The beer market in Vietnam remained difficult with an estimated mid-single-digit percentage decline in the first quarter of this year, but Danish brewer Carlsberg managed to maintain flat sales volume.

In its Q1/2024 performance review, Carlsberg notes that it managed to maintain flat volume in the face of very strong competition with strong growth of premium brands.

Carlsberg CFO Ulrica Fearn said that the brewer continued to expand its distribution network in Vietnam in Q1/2024 as part of its market expansion strategy.

Carlsberg products. Photo courtesy of Carlsberg Vietnam.

CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen said Carlsbergs total premium beer portfolio grew by 8% globally, mainly driven by key Asian markets like Vietnam and China, apart from Ukraine, Serbia and Poland.

The total volume of Carlsberg, a premium brand, grew by 15%, thanks to very strong growth in markets like China, India, Ukraine and Vietnam, he said.

Similarly, Tuborg, another premium product, grew by 8%, supported by growth in China, Vietnam, India, Italy and Croatia.

Its 1664 Blanc brand achieved good growth in both western, central and eastern Europe as also in Asia, including China and Vietnam, Aarup-Andersen said.

Reviewing its performance in Asia, Carlsberg said organic revenue growth was 7.6% year-on-year and revenue per hectoliter went up 4%, while organic volume growth was 3.1%.

However, the organic revenue growth was offset by a currency impact of negative 8.5%.

Globally, Carlsbergs revenue went up 4.4% year-on-year to DKK17.1 billion in Q1/2024, impacted by currency effect of minus 2.6%, according to Aarup-Andersen.
MONCKS CORNER  Santee Cooper will conduct a test of its 15 warning sirens for the Santee Dam flood plain in Berkeley, Clarendon and Williamsburg counties at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 13. As part of the test, Santee Cooper will set off each siren in test mode, which includes about a one-minute siren followed by a prerecorded message and a live announcement concluding the exercise.

Employees will be collecting information on the sirens wail time and the message clarity, completeness and volume for both the prerecorded and live announcements. The tests are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last a few minutes.

Santee Cooper typically conducts these siren tests twice a year to verify the emergency system is functioning properly. The 8-mile Santee Dam system is part of the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric and Navigation Project.
David Beyer, an incumbent trustee, greets voters Saturday at the Thousand Oaks Branch Library, an NEISD polling location. Ronald Cortes David Beyer, an incumbent trustee, waits to greet voters Saturday at the Thousand Oaks Branch Library, an NEISD polling location. Ronald Cortes

Conservative candidates suffered heavy defeats in all five North East Independent School District races Saturday, losing a battle for the control of a currently divided board to a rival slate of moderates.

Incumbent Steve Hilliard lost his bid for reelection against challenger Terri Chidgey, who won the District 6 race with 64% in unofficial returns posted on the Bexar County Elections Department website.

Chidgey had been endorsed by the districts employee unions and a political action committee formed in opposition to conservative trustees who needed only one more board seat to secure a majority.

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The four other candidates who offered themselves as an alternative to the boards conservative direction, also backed by the unions and the PAC called Bexar County Champions for Public Education, saw similar success  breaking a logjam on the board split between three social conservatives and three moderates that has existed since the death of trustee Terri Williams in August.

Conservative candidates and the political action committees supporting them said they were fighting for parents and against woke ideology and sexual libertinism lurking in a school district declining academically and run by a smug establishment.

Their opponents on the board and among the candidates said the conservative trustees had left teachers feeling intimidated and afraid to do their jobs in a district with excellent schools, leadership and programs.

Business owner Tracie Shelton secured the District 2 seat that Williams had held, garnering more than 57% of the vote against political consultant and local Moms for Liberty chair Jacqueline Klein, who had almost 27%, and retired teacher Rhonda Rowland, who had almost 16%.

Incumbent David Beyer, with nearly 70% percent of the vote, easily kept his District 4 seat against challenger Jack Hoyle.

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In an email sent on Sunday, Beyer thanked his family, the community and his volunteers for their support and said he looked forward to helping set NEISD on a path to success "through a challenging educational landscape in the coming years."

"I have spent the last five years on the board supporting our schools, students, teachers, and staff," he wrote. "Our community, with their votes, have now emphatically stated that they feel the same."

NEISD volunteer Melinda Cox won a three-way race for the District 5 seat with more than 54%. Dick Rasmussen had more than 38% and Chris Evans had just over 7%.

In District 1, former NEISD teacher and substitute Lisa Thompson won with 70% against retired math teacher Michael Gurwitz.

Voters repudiated the efforts of two conservative PACs that as of April 26 had outspent the Champions group by 7 to 1.

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Rowland, Hoyle and Evans had been supported by the San Antonio Family Association. Hilliard, Rasmussen and Gurwitz were backed by Parents United for Freedom. The two PACs dont cooperate, though they both see the school district as a battlefield for culture war issues expressed in similarly stark terms.

Several candidates, even among the conservatives, said the school district community was growing tired of the infighting.

The NEISD board had been marked by near-unanimity for years. That began to unravel when two conservatives elected in 2022 formed a voting bloc with Hilliard and persuaded other trustees to overhaul a volunteer health advisory panel that recommended a new sex education program.

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The gulf between the board factions widened after the death of Williams in August left a 3-3 split. Board members repeatedly tangled during an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to appoint her replacement and over the reported harassment of health committee members whose stances on sex ed recommendations had been leaked and were circulating among conservative activists.
New York-based soca artiste Yankey Boy (Kevon Heath) has issued a musical call to action: Only Soca should be played at Caribbean carnival parades in the diaspora.

The catchy Cdonia-produced track, which features on the newly released Carnival 2025 Radio Active Riddim, is already sparking debate among Caribbean music stakeholders. The riddim also features Rayzor, Leonce, Spine and Kerry John.
How you want this to go? You want me to kill you and your son, or you want me just kill you alone?

This was the question posed to 40-year-old Anna Ellis yesterday, when she was attacked by a man known to her at her home on Dibe Road, St James.

Ellis, who was stabbed multiple times, was able to speak with reporters yesterday afternoon while police were conducting a search for her 12-year-old son, who was kidnapped following the confrontation.
Please allow me to say my two cents worth. The billion-dollar budget that was read by the Minister of Finance in the Parliament was very alarming to me.

When I heard of all the apparatus allotted to help fight the crime situation in the country, yes, it sounded goodthe minister was applauded by his colleagues who pounded their fists on their desks. But will all those things really help the crime situation? This is an election budgetso stop misleading the people.
PHOENIX  The state Court of Appeals has rebuffed efforts by lenders, debt collectors and attorneys to void a voter-approved law designed to protect Arizona consumers.

A three-judge panel found no merit to the challengers claims a provision of Proposition 209 was vague and unintelligible and therefore unenforceable. Voters approved the law in 2022 by a margin of nearly 3-1.

Judge Maria Elena Cruz, writing for the panel, acknowledged that a law can be declared void for vagueness when it does not provide someone with ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to avoid violating the statute, and doesnt give guidance on what standards would be used to determine that.

However, a statute is not vague merely because it is susceptible to more than one interpretation, she wrote. Nor is a statute unconstitutionally vague because one of its terms is not explicitly defined.

In this case, Cruz wrote, there is little doubt about the meaning of the questioned clause, which says the requirements of Proposition 209 are prospective only.

The measure was promoted to voters primarily as a way to cap annual interest on medical debt at no more than 3%. That compares with prior law at 10%.

But it includes far more.

For example, it allows anyone who declares bankruptcy to protect to $400,000 in the value of a home, up from $240,000.

Similarly, up to $15,000 of possessions are shielded from seizure by creditors, up from $6,000. And up to $25,000 in equity in a motor vehicle also is protected, compared with $12,000 under the old law.

There is also a provision limiting the amount of someones disposable income that can be seized under garnishment actions.

Attorney Brett Johnson, representing the challengers, acknowledged in his legal arguments that his clients were unhappy with what voters had approved.

By increasing the exemptions and reducing the garnishment rates on all types of debt, Prop 209 effectively makes a substantial amount of outstanding debt in Arizona uncollectable because many judgment debtors assets are no longer reachable through these collection actions, he wrote.

But because the measure was approved by the time the lawsuit was filed, that left Johnson to try to have it voided on legal grounds. He raised legal arguments about the provision, called the Savings Clause, that has to do with the effective date.

It spells out that the law applies prospectively only, meaning it does not affect contracts entered into and legal actions prior to Dec. 5, 2022, the date the election results were certified and it was formally declared enacted. That comports with constitutional provisions that say state law cannot interfere with existing contracts.

Johnson said thats not enough. He said the language only creates fatal confusion in what is and is not affected.

Consider, he said, what happens in a case where a debt was incurred before the effective date but the lender has not yet started garnishment actions.

Johnson said it is so confusing that those who deal with such debt actions have offered different interpretations of how it all applies. That ambiguity will harm everyone connected with debt collections, he argued.

In addition to increasing borrowing costs because lender will be less likely to legally collect what they are owed in a timely manner, Prop 209 creates substantial confusion for creditors, debtors, garnishees, attorneys, courts, judges and anyone else involved with the debt collection process, he wrote.

Creditors who dont interpret the initiative language correctly can be held liable under laws governing the activities of debt collectors, Johnson said.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Blanchard, who heard the initial case, found no merit in the claim.

He pointed out that the challenged language already exists in a 1986 version of a similar law. Lawyers and the courts have managed to work with it for years, the judge said.

While the scope of the law is wide-ranging and impacts important and long-standing processes for collecting debts, the language at issue is neither vague nor unintelligible, Blanchard wrote.

Instead, the judge said, the arguments advanced by Johnson really boil down to why the lenders and others think the initiative should have failed at the ballot box.

That time, however, has passed, the judge said. The voters have approved Prop 209.

The appellate court, in its new ruling, was no more sympathetic.

Cruz, in writing the decision, also took challengers to task for arguing that the clause and its wording could not be understood.

Applying statutes prospective only has deep roots in Arizona, Cruz wrote. The first Arizona state legislature in 1913 spelled out that no law is retroactive unless expressly declared to be, she pointed out.

Given the statutes long existence, its no surprise that Arizona courts have developed a rich body of case law implementing its limitation on lawmaking, Cruz said.

In fact, the judge pointed out that the crafters of Prop. 209 provided three examples of when it does not apply.

Cruz said there was another fatal flaw in creditors efforts to use the claim of vagueness to try to quash the entire proposition and its limits.

She said any bid to strike down an entire law requires a showing that it is unconstitutional in all situations.

In this case, the law affects all sorts of issues, including wage garnishments, exemptions for homestead, motor vehicles and property, seizing funds held in bank accounts, and interest on medical debt.

Yet the judgment creditors challenged only the Savings Clauses application to wage garnishment, the judge said, and not the rest of the statute.

And they challenged only the Savings Clauses applications to particular wage garnishments  those where judgment being enforced was obtained pre-act but the garnishment proceeding it initiated post-act, she continued. Further, the judgment creditors challenged only the Savings Clauses application to a narrow set of pre-act judgments  those stemming from contracts formed prior to the acts effective date.

What that means, Cruz said, is they had no basis to even try to strike down the entire Proposition 209.
ELFRIDA  Elaine Bailey stood at the microphone at the Sunsites Community Center in Southeastern Arizona, voice shaking as she described the massive scale of new agricultural development next to her property. The nearby fields have drawn so much water from the surrounding area, she said, that her well has gone dry.

Here we are, all these good people fighting for our lives, our homes, our everything, Bailey said. Because if the water goes, our homes arent worth anything. Thats the reality. And I just dont understand how the state can even allow it.

I dont, either, replied Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who visited the small community in February to hear residents concerns about the groundwater in Sulphur Springs Valley  home to the Willcox and Douglas groundwater basins.

The Douglas basin has seen agricultural development explode in recent years despite two major attempts to limit groundwater usage in the region: In 1980, it was designated an Irrigation Non-expansion Area, barring the addition of new irrigated land, and in 2022, it became an Active Management Area, which carries the states most stringent level of groundwater regulation.

Yet over the past 15 years, even with these restrictions in effect, at least several thousand acres of dormant farmland have again started siphoning groundwater to sustain new crops, an AZCIR analysis has found.

The increase in pumping, at an intensity not previously seen in the basin, is largely under industrial-scale owners that have consolidated the land, and the grandfathered water rights tied to it, into massive operations.

The analysis, which matched federal satellite data to local property records, also shows new irrigation occurring on land that had never previously been cultivated.

The resulting groundwater declines have accelerated the most on properties closest to these large-sale farms, which have embraced more water-intensive practices like double cropping, or harvesting multiple crops on the same field throughout the year. The number of acres using this method has grown by more than 600% in the Douglas basin since 2008, AZCIRs analysis also found.

Residents contend some of these well-financed agricultural players are exploiting loopholes in existing regulations, and that some could be outright violating them. Regardless of the legality of the maneuvers, the industrial farms have expanded, often at the expense of their smaller neighbors. North of Elfrida, for instance, where much of the growth has occurred, water levels in some wells have dropped by more than four feet per year  a statistic that drew gasps at the Sunsites Community Center.

It is broadly acknowledged that without current and past regulations, the situation in the Douglas Basin would be much worse. But residents experiences, backed by mounting data, raise questions about whether existing regulatory tools are effective enough to protect the aquifer in the long term. And as the basins groundwater continues to decline, residents confidence in the ability of the Arizona Department of Water Resources to protect their sole supply of water dwindles alongside it.

From what Ive seen, they have not been able to enforce the law and the regulations that are in place, even as it is, said Anastasia Rabin, a neighbor of Elaine Baileys who has documented and reported the expansion of new fields.

Statewide, the number of basins facing similar groundwater restrictions is growing for the first time in 40 years.

Short of meaningful intervention by the Arizona Legislature, however, experts and residents worry the same regulatory shortfalls seen in this Cochise County basin will play out across the state, with well-financed, large-scale agriculture taking advantage of existing policies at the cost of locals who dont have the resources or government backing to do more.

Mayes, who collected Rabin and Baileys contact information to further investigate their claims, blames the Legislature because it has not passed meaningful groundwater regulation in decades.

This Legislature has failed all of us, Mayes told residents in February. The room erupted with applause.

When the Douglas Basin was established as an Irrigation Non-expansion Area (INA) in 1980, the designation limited the expansion of irrigated farmland while allowing those already watering crops to continue doing so. As long as landowners had irrigated at any point in the five years leading up to the new regulation, they were grandfathered into the new system, meaning they could use groundwater to grow crops moving forward.

But these grandfathered rights are tied to the land, not the user. Even if a parcel stops being farmed, subsequent owners have the right to irrigate again at any time.

Industrial-scale farms that have settled in Cochise County since the INA was established, often from out of state, have done just that. And because the INA capped only the number of acres being irrigated  not the amount of water any one landowner can use  it enabled these operations to purchase land with grandfathered irrigation rights and deploy intensive irrigation practices like double cropping.

Arizonas climate favors such farming tactics, especially with crops like corn and winter wheat, because they give farmers the potential to grow year-round, resulting in greater efficiency and higher yields. In an industry with razor-thin margins, that profitability gives farms that can operate at scale a huge edge.

Those farms seem to be pressing that advantage.

AZCIRs analysis of satellite data shows that much of the intensive irrigation is happening under several large operators, particularly in the northern portion of the basin, where recent groundwater declines in nearby wells are the most severe.

Farmland there is being consolidated under the biggest players, mirroring a national trend, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agricultures farm census. In Arizona, these operations are using deeper wells with more powerful pumps than ever before, threatening the property of nearby residents and smaller farms.

Dormant land purchased with grandfathered irrigation rights is a primary reason for recent growth in the Douglas Basins active farmland, but it is not the only one. A small provision in the state law also allows owners to swap irrigation rights from cropland that cant be irrigated efficiently into new acres elsewhere.

Most irrigation rights were initially assigned to rectangular fields that were flood-irrigated, a method that immerses a field so water can be absorbed into the soil. But as farmers switched to more efficient center pivot irrigation, which allows more control of how much water is applied by a sprinkler arm rotating in a circle, the corners of these fields were often left uncultivated.

In 2018, White Brothers Grain, one of the biggest farms in the Douglas basin, filed an application to voluntarily give up rights to irrigate the corners in some of its fields. In exchange, the company added new acreage that equaled the size of the corners it retired from irrigation. The Arizona Department of Water Resources signed off on the swap, and soon after, other farms, such as Riverview, followed its lead.

Theres been a lot of people, a lot of families, a lot of businesses that have benefited from things being set up the way that they are. Ultimately, theyll be hurt too. But not yet, Rabin said. Theyll fight to the death of the aquifer.

In an emailed response, Denise White of White Brothers Grain said it followed all Arizona state laws and ADWR regulation in the previous INA, and will do so going forward with the new AMA. The White family, which has farmed in the basin since the 1950s, said they are proud to be part of Arizona agriculture and want future family generations to have the same opportunities, emphasizing their commitment to more efficient forms of irrigation.

Riverview did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Unlimited groundwater pumping within the Douglas basin is part of the reason voters approved the creation of an Active Management Area in 2022. Though not yet fully implemented, the regulation generally limits new expansion of irrigated land and is expected to cap the amount of groundwater pumping based on recent use. Its the most restrictive form of groundwater regulation in Arizona and has traditionally been applied to areas like Phoenix and Tucson, which favor urban development as farmland is retired.

In the case of the Douglas basin, some farms rushed to expand their operations as soon as whispers of more regulation started. As previously reported by AZCIR, this included a flurry of new applications to drill deeper wells with higher-capacity pumps. This activity continued until the more stringent regulation was placed on the ballot in August 2022, at which point new irrigation was banned. Voters passed the measure, and the irrigation moratorium remains in effect.

Farms that are still developing land for irrigation within the new AMA are most likely expecting to benefit from the Substantial Capital Investment exemption, which allows landowners to keep their existing irrigation rights for land that wasnt yet irrigated before the moratorium but only by proving they had already made substantial investment to do so.

The exemption is meant to account for the huge startup costs and lead time needed to bring new fields under irrigation. The investment must have been made prior to the basins current moratorium, and the time to apply for it alongside grandfathered rights was recently extended from March 1, 2024, until Sept. 3, 2024.

Applications for the exemption, however, are judged on a case-by-case basis, meaning a farmer doesnt know whether an investment will end up getting approved.

Those who continue development are taking a gamble of tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollarsa gamble that not every farm in the basin can afford.

It is unclear whether the development witnessed by Bailey and Rabin is part of an intended application for the capital investment exception. Both have sought investigations by the Arizona Department of Water Resources into the activity.

The department wrote in an email to AZCIR that one case involving illegal irrigation has been resolved, and that other investigations are ongoing. Rabins complaint, which was filed in January 2023, was recently closed. Despite repeated requests, ADWR declined to comment on the outcome of that investigation.

Sulphur Springs Valley residents who filled the Sunsites Community Center in February said they were frustrated by what they see as unchecked development. In voicing their concerns to Attorney General Mayes, some said they hoped she could help them in ways local regulations and the Arizona Legislature had not.

Residents told AZCIR they saw the visit as a new opportunity for direct action by a state leader whose job it is to enforce laws and investigate wrongdoing. Mayes told them one option could be for her office to file nuisance lawsuits against any groundwater user that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an entire community or neighborhood or by a considerable number of persons.

Republican leaders at the Legislature have since rebuked the move by attempting to strip Mayes office of the authority to use the nuisance suit tactic. The amendment to House Bill 2124, which already seeks to protect farms against groundwater litigation, was added by Senator Sine Kerr-R, Buckeye, chair of the senates Natural Resources, Energy and Water committee, who also walked off the governors rural groundwater council last year alongside the Arizona Farm Bureau. The change would only allow county or city prosecutors to file such nuisance lawsuits.

Local landowners and small farmers said they feel caught in the middle, with few options to implement changes that actually limit the withdrawal of their only reliable source of water.

And as Douglas basin residents urge the state to investigate possible violations of the 2022 irrigation ban, those living in the Willcox basin are looking for alternative solutions to the groundwater depletion in their region.

Unlike their neighbors, residents there did not approve the new regulation when they voted on it in 2022. But absent meaningful progress at the state level to address the growing crisis, residents in Willcox are again starting to discuss the option of designating their basin as an INA.

There is some community agreement that the move could help slow the depletion of groundwater from a rush of new farmers or additional fields, as it did in Douglas. But given the weaknesses in existing regulations being exploited by those with the most resources, including political maneuvering happening at the state level, other residents arent sure if the designation will do enough.

I think one of the things thats really striking is that an INA is so weak, said Cheryl Knott, a Willcox basin resident who helped get regulation on the ballot for the Willcox and Douglas basins in 2022. [An INA] would make it seem like something was being done, and it would not have an impact.

The same debates are occurring across Arizona, and now, some of the industrial-scale agricultural operations are using the courts to push back. Large farms in Mohave Countys Hualapai Valley basin, for example, are pursuing legal action against the state Department of Water Resources to undo the INA designation it made in 2022, arguing the data was insufficient to establish the regulation in the first place.

At the state level, House Republicans have also launched an inquiry into Mayes office, accusing the states top prosecutor of overstepping her statutory authority to enforce water policy.

The ground is opening up beneath the people of Cochise County, Mayes said at a news conference the next day, while pointing over her shoulder at the Arizona Capitol. People are watching their livelihoods be destroyed because this place cant get its act together, because this place is dysfunctional.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

The Alabama Supreme Court recently decided that frozen embryos are extrauterine children, and its Arizona counterpart just instituted a near total abortion ban.

Both rulings are predicated on the justices Christian belief, although not stated specifically, that the sperm-egg union is divinely ensouled at conception. The soul, however, is a uniquely theological concept generally defined as the immaterial and eternal part of a human being. To religionists, ensoulment bestows sanctity (godliness) and fetal personhood, which requires human rights protection.

In agreement, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker unabashedly and duplicitously used his religion-driven mentality and legal power to deny thousands of couples the ability to have children through in vitro fertilization (IVF). In his biblically based ruling, he argued that The People of Alabama ... "

believe that each human being, from the moment of conception, is made in the image of God ... "

 human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself.

that this is true of unborn human life no less than it is of all other human life  that their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory ..."

From that dogma he extrapolated that an embryo fits within the definition of a child  I guess much the same way an acorn fits within the definition of a tree.(!) While Parker could not cite any Bible verse against abortion  because there are none  he nevertheless strongly inferred that to intentionally abort an embryo or fetus is to commit murder.

Not only is the soul's existence an untestable hypothesis, but it is also an incoherent notion. If souls exist, how would they benefit the majority of fertilized eggs that are spontaneously aborted? Consider: Most human embryos die before anyone knows they exist. This important biological reality needs to be understood when using ensoulment as a primary reason for giving an embryo personhood status.

Kathryn Kavanaugh, Associate Professor of Biology (UMass Darthmouth) explained that This embryo loss typically occurs in the first two months after fertilization, before the clump of cells has developed into a fetus with immature forms of the bodys major organs. Total abortion bans that define personhood at conception mean that full legal rights exist for a 5-day-old blastocyst, a hollow ball of cells roughly 0.008 inches (0.2 millimeters) across with a high likelihood of disintegrating within a few days.

According to experts, an estimated 47%-80% of all fertilized eggs/embryos (normal and abnormal) traditionally produced are naturally aborted ... this is due to random genetic errors ... about 75% of all human conceptions fail to survive to birth. These statistics must be shocking and morally alarming to "pro-life" women! Does each menstrual flow possibly contain a dead child? Should funerals be considered after menses and miscarriages? And why would a loving God abort what He has just ensouled?

Ensoulment believers must also answer why their deity, possessing perfect and unlimited goodness, would place a precious human soul in the embryo of:

a victim of rape or incest who will have an abortion.

in a future mass murderer or evildoer?

in a soon to be severely malformed fetus which will die in the womb, shortly after birth...or live a worthless, possibly painful, vegetable-like existence? (Hypothetically, if there were a pill to maintain its gestation, would these women who canonize the sanctity of all human life, take such a pill to preserve their pregnancy?)

While great strides have been made to reduce infant mortality, there have been surprisingly no cries from the pro-life community to redirect research dollars or raise money (hold telethons?) to find reasons for this apparent "human holocaust. This is hypocrisy at its finest!

Ironically, if more government supported embryonic research were allowed, the chances for these entities to become healthy children would likely increase!

And, as if there was no end to their inanity, theocrats in the judiciary and government want to consider certain forms of birth control as abortifacients. They also want health care providers to withhold information, prescriptions, and care from patients simply because of their faith driven beliefs.

All this said, consider whether souls even exist?

To wit: At what moment, in the continuum of the evolution of humans from non-humans (over the past hundreds of thousands of years) did the first ensoulment occur? Was some particular child ensouled whose parents were not? This is unlikely since there is no precise demarcation point between us Homo-sapiens and our ancestors: great apes, Homo-erectus and so on.

Unless all these questions can be answered rationally, the tenuous human soul and ensoulment hypotheses should remain religious truths, not scientific ones.

When justices and legislators improperly choose religion over science when deciding cases or enacting legislation, they clearly violate church-state separationand common sense.
Medina Valley ISD voters passed a $290 million bond package Saturday that includes two new elementary campuses and a middle school. William Luther, Staff

Medina Valley Independent School District voters approved a $290 million bond package Saturday, greenlighting the construction of three new schools to confront the communitys rapid growth.

The school system west of San Antonio has seen an influx of new students from subdivision development overcrowding classrooms. District officials expect enrollment to swell with an additional 10,000 students over the next decade.

Medina Valley ISD, which says its the fifth-fastest-growing district in Texas, passed a $376 million bond last year that included a second high school. This years package is designed to accommodate the surge of students without overburdening teachers with large class sizes or adding portable trailers to campuses.

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Proposition A, which passed with 65% of the vote, allocates just under $250 million to build two new elementary schools and a middle school. It also includes the expansion of Medina Valley High Schools physical education facility and districtwide safety and security updates, such as new vestibules at all campuses that make it more difficult for visitors to gain entry, according to the districts website.

The $102 million middle school is planned for the eastern side of the district and will relieve the two existing middle school campuses that are currently overcapacity. Construction is expected to begin this fall, with the goal of opening in fall 2026.

The new elementary schools will be erected in areas of the district that are most populated, but exact locations have not yet been determined. They are slated to open in 2027 and 2028.

Nearly $15 million also will be spent on land acquisition to accommodate future projected growth.

We know as we continue to grow, were going to continue to need to build new campuses  and we need land to build those new campuses on, Superintendent Scott Caloss said in a video detailing the bond projects.

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Just over 53% of voters approved Proposition B, a $40 million plan to update the current high school stadiums home and visitor seating, field house, restrooms, concessions, stadium lighting and press box.

The stadium being built at the new high school, which broke ground in December, will receive similar improvements, including the addition of seats to accommodate 6,500 spectators.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

For the past two months, Ive volunteered to collect signatures for the Arizona Abortion Access initiative around my campus at the University of Arizona. Most conversations I have had have been heartening. Students Ive never met before thanked me for working to protect reproductive freedom  from abortion to IVF to birth control. Many of the students I asked to sign the petition already had, and the vast majority of those who hadnt were excited to join our movement.

This week is an important reminder of the stakes of this election. Just two years ago, on May 2, 2022, the leaked Dobbs opinion sent massive shockwaves across the country. This fear and anger cascaded when we read the actual decision in which the Supreme Court ripped away the fundamental right to bodily autonomy from millions of women and allowed state abortion bans to go into effect, including here in Arizona.

The scariest part is that they arent finished. What I want every young person in Arizona to understand is that our states 1864 abortion ban is just the start. Earlier this year, every single Republican in the Arizona legislature voted against advancing legislation to protect access to birth control  which Donald Trumps allies want to restrict nationwide if hes reelected. A Trump ally here in the Arizona legislature even went as far as suggesting that if women kept their knees together, they wouldnt need contraceptives.

Its truly wrong and unjust that in the 21st century, an elected official would speak to young women with such antiquated, offensive, and, frankly, disrespectful language. Unfortunately, this inappropriate behavior is becoming commonplace and even accepted because of Donald Trump. The misogynistic, hateful, racist rhetoric Trump continues to spew into the political arena has real-life consequences for women as Trump-enabled extreme abortion bans  sometimes without exceptions for rape, incest or health  go into effect in states across the country.

As a Latina, I cant help but see the link between access to reproductive health care and breaking cycles of poverty. In middle school, three of my classmates got pregnant. They werent even 14 years old. By having a child that young, they gave up the options to focus 100% on their future education, to dedicate themselves to their career, or to make financial decisions with only themselves in mind. Their economic freedom was directly linked to their reproductive freedom  and thats true for young women and girls beyond Arizona too.

Its empowering to have access to birth control, but unfortunately, as a woman in the United States, my right to make choices about my own life is being restricted. I appreciate the right to choose. With my birth control, I can pursue my degree without worrying about raising a child. Making the choice to use birth control is a step on the way to achieving my dream career and dream life, and I cant believe that Trumps allies  and other extreme politicians  are working to take that choice away from me and young women across the country.

This election, young people have the power to stand up and fight to restore abortion rights and safeguard IVF, birth control, and so many other reproductive freedoms by getting involved and voting for President Biden  and against Donald Trump. No action is too small. You can post on social media, make calls, and make a plan to vote. You can share why its never been more important to get abortion access on the ballot and elect Democrats up and down the ticket who are fighting to protect our fundamental freedoms. You could even intern with a candidate you care about or your local Democratic Party, like I did. There is too much at stake for our generation  our rights, our lives, and our bodies  not to take action.
Ida Red owner named small business person of the year

Angelene Ripley Wright, owner of Ida Red General Stores in Tulsa, has been named Oklahoma Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ida Red is a retail shop in Tulsa offering unique gifts, nostalgic treats and Oklahoma goods.

Ripley Wright was in Washington, D.C., to accept the award presented by SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman.

Angelene Ripley Wright exemplifies the grit demonstrated by retail stores in Oklahoma who persevered through the pandemic and have emerged triumphantly, said Fernanda Pedraza-Schmitt, Oklahoma SBA district director. SBA is proud to have played a small role in this success through our COVID-19 programs.

Ripley Wright helped create the concept for Ida Red in 2008 before buying the business in 2016. Ida Red now has three locations and 16 employees in the Tulsa area.

She purchased the business with an SBA loan and was helped through the COVID-19 pandemic with two PPP (paycheck protection program) loans and a COVID-19 EIDL (economic injury disaster loan). She has doubled the employee count since buying the business.

Ida Red has supported numerous local charities in recent years including the Tulsa Area COVID-19 Response Fund, the Red Dirt Relief fund, the Tulsa Race Massacre Foundation and the Juneteenth Foundation, Food On The Move, Family & Childrens Services, and Iron Gate Tulsa. Ripley Wright was also named the Tulsa Chambers Small Business Person of the Year in 2023.

ONEOK reports earnings of $639M in Q1

Tulsa-based ONEOK reported net income of $639 million in the first quarter of this year, resulting in $1.09 per diluted share.

Results were driven primarily by higher natural gas liquids and natural gas processing volumes in the Rocky Mountain region, increased transportation services in the natural gas pipelines segment and contributions from the refined products and crude segment, partially offset by higher operating costs primarily due to planned asset maintenance, higher property insurance premiums and the growth of ONEOKs operations, the company said.

ONEOK generated solid results during the first quarter, supported by higher year-over-year volumes in the Rocky Mountain region and contributions from the refined products and crude segment, said Pierce H. Norton II, ONEOK president and chief executive officer.

The strength of our business, underscored by accelerating volumes and a positive synergy outlook, resulted in an increase to our 2024 financial guidance and provides significant momentum into 2025.

The resiliency of our assets and employees was highlighted once again as we were able to quickly respond to winter weather during the first quarter, Norton said. We remain focused on integrating the Magellan assets and maximizing value for our stakeholders.

Cherokee Nation invests up to $4M in proposed RSU STEM Center

The Cherokee Nation signed an agreement with Rogers State University committing up to $4 million to support construction of the proposed Center for Science and Technology on the RSU campus in Claremore.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, RSU President Larry Rice, and Nick Harris, chairman of the RSU Foundations Board of Directors, signed the memorandum of understanding on the schools campus.

The investment by the Cherokees represents the largest single gift in the history of the RSU foundation and begins an effort to secure private funding to support the construction of the facility, a news release said.

The proposed Center for Science and Technology will become the new home for RSUs programs in science, engineering, mathematics and technology. The center will replace Loshbaugh Hall, which no longer meets the needs of the universitys STEM education programs. The center will feature about 52,000 square feet of lab, classroom and office space.

Todays agreement toward construction of a state-of-the-art STEM education facility will create new pathways for students to pursue careers in health and allied health fields and bring new opportunities for all students, including Cherokee citizens, Hoskin said.

Cherokee Nation has an unwavering commitment to the education and future of our youth, and the well-being of our communities. This collaboration will ensure students are well-prepared to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in these critical areas as well as serve Cherokees pursuing degrees in nursing.

TCI Manufacturing coming to MidAmerica Industrial Park

MidAmerica Industrial Park announced the establishment of its newest employer, TCI Manufacturing, a leading bulk material handling company headquartered in Walnut, Illinois, about 120 miles west of Chicago.

TCI Manufacturing specializes in fabricating equipment tailored for the quarry industry, as well as manufacturing and assembling equipment for the mining and aggregate sectors. A pre-existing, 45,000-square-foot facility owned by MidAmerica, will serve as a hub for production activities.

According to a news release issued by the company, the new Pryor, Oklahoma facility will operate with the same rigorous quality standards for which TCI Manufacturing is known. The facility initially focuses on core products such as conveyors and portable material handling equipment.

TCI will initially employ six to eight full-time employees with specialties in welding and fabrication, with the potential for expansion to 12-15 positions as operations grow. The manufacturing site also features a 4.5-acre laydown yard to facilitate storage and logistics.

The addition of TCI Manufacturing to MidAmerica Industrial Park underscores our commitment to attracting and supporting employers of all sizes, MidAmerica CEO David Stewart said.

Our ongoing investments in infrastructure and assets, workforce development and community support make MidAmerica the ideal choice for companies seeking a competitive edge in todays market.

MidAmerica Industrial Park  located roughly between Pryor and Chouteau in Mayes County  is within 300 miles of 10 major metropolitan cities and has a next-day service capability to 23% of the U.S. population. It is the eighth-largest industrial park in the world.

 From Staff Reports

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Not that she has any reason or desire to, but Susan Bynum knows theres no avoiding it.

In Tulsa, the Bynum name is just too well known. People are always going to make the connection.

Ive tried to stay out of the limelight as much as I can, said the Tulsa attorney, whose husband is Mayor G.T. Bynum. But his political career, especially these two terms as mayor  its something we have experienced together.

As important as her marital bond is, though, Susan Bynum has had a different kind of union on her mind more recently, and it will require she step out a little bit more into that limelight.

Since January, when she was named vice president of OU-Tulsa, Bynum has been working on strengthening the bond between Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma. The city and school are making plans for what officials hope is a bright future together.

Part of Bynums job is to help ensure its a happy marriage.

Unprecedented focus

As vice president, Bynum is both the top administrator on campus and the highest-ranking OU official in Tulsa.

Its an idea shes still getting used to as she wraps up her first semester.

These three full months at the helm have felt like a blur, she said. Its been very exciting.

Bynums hire comes at a time when the states Norman-based flagship university  under the leadership of President Joseph Harroz Jr.  is focusing unprecedented attention on Tulsa, as the city factors heavily into its plans for the future.

That includes building on its existing presence at OU-Tulsa by adding both a polytechnic school and a cancer research hospital.

OU Polytechnic Institute will kick off its first semester this fall, with a goal of helping supply Tulsa and the state with more workers for critical STEM fields. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, announced in April, will also meet a critical need: bringing research-driven cancer care to an area of the state that sorely lacks it. The hospital is expanding to Tulsa from its original Oklahoma City site and will be built on the campus.

We will be raising a lot of funds for that, Bynum said of the hospital, for which OU is seeking $100 million in private donations.

Additionally, one of Bynums first goals is creation of a new strategic plan for OU-Tulsa, which she hopes will be done by the end of the year.

The plan will complement OUs overall strategic plan but at the same time be customized to fit Tulsa, she said.

Were a different community, she said.

The community has a say

Maximizing what OU and Tulsa can accomplish together means the community must be involved, Bynum said.

Its really important that we amplify the engagement we already have with the community, she said. Sometimes I feel like we dont do a great job of bragging about the awesome work that we do at OU-Tulsa.

For her part, Bynum has no problem doing a little bragging about it.

On any given day, visitors to campus might even find her leading tours. Bringing community and business leaders in to better educate them on the institution is something she started.

Weve got so many really cool things on this campus that people dont even know about or think about, Bynum said. We need to amplify that to the community.

And, at the same time, make sure the community knows it has a say in all thats going on.

The work we do here should be informed by the community, Bynum said. We are part of the community so we should be able to make sure that higher ed looks like what Tulsa wants it to look like.

Bynum also hopes to change minds on the subject of higher ed more broadly.

Theres been this whole anti-higher ed narrative, that higher ed isnt worth it. And I think thats problematic for many reasons.

One of the biggest ones is the data, she said.

The earning power differential for somebody with a bachelors degree versus somebody without. That hasnt changed.

Thats not to say (higher ed) is for everyone. But why couldnt it be?

Seizing the opportunity

Bynums background did not make her an obvious choice for the role of leading a university.

She has no previous experience in higher education.

But what she does bring, she believes, makes her a good fit.

Bynum, whose law degree is from the University of Tulsa, worked previously for Tulsa firm Frederic Dorwart Lawyers PLLC, with a focus on nonprofit compliance, employment and general corporate law.

Prior to that, she spent a decade as a consultant in Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., focusing on government relations, business strategy and public relations.

Bynum notes that many college presidents have law degrees and legal backgrounds.

And her experience with public relations, a big part of the job, is a further asset.

The opportunity was there and it just felt like a really good fit for me, she said. I thought I could do good things for this.

OU DNA

Her OU background doesnt hurt, either.

Bynum grew up in Norman, where she graduated from Norman High School before going on to her hometown university.

At OU, she earned a bachelors degree in journalism with a public relations concentration.

While there, she was involved in all aspects of campus life, serving with various organizations.

One of the most important to her future was working for then-OU President David Boren.

Boren, in turn, encouraged her to go to D.C., where he helped her get her first job on Capitol Hill, serving as a page for a U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas.

Two weeks after arriving, destiny intervened further. She met her future husband, G.T. Bynum, who was also working as a page on the Hill.

While shes tried to stay out of it, Susan Bynum  who has two children, ages 13 and 17, with her husband  accepts that her new job comes with a certain amount of public spotlight.

Shell be the face of not only OU-Tulsa, but, for fellow Tulsans at least, of OU itself.

Being able to speak on behalf of OU in my favorite city in the world is really spectacular, Bynum said.

Its such a great opportunity to make a difference and make an impact in this community and to have two of my favorite things converging: OU and Tulsa.

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OUs Stephenson Cancer Center to open Tulsa hospital
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It was during a holiday break from college when my grandmother opened up about her views on abortion. She was a church-going, rural woman who normally kept quiet when controversial topics arose.

For hours, she spoke of different women she knew who never had a choice. One was sexually assaulted as a teenager. Another was trapped in a marriage with a violent man. Several women could not afford birth control or more children, growing poorer with each birth.

Most shockingly, she told me about a family member I never knew who killed herself after finding out she was pregnant. She had details of that stunning tragedy, which was kept secret. This was the pre-Roe v. Wade era.

I still dont know what loosened her tongue. Maybe it was seeing me enter womanhood. Or perhaps the passage of time prompted her to pass along memories, even the harsh ones.

Regardless, Im grateful for our conversation. It was not a bombastic lecture, just a quiet admission and explanation for her belief in women needing freedom of reproductive choices.

In the nearly 50 years women had a national right to choose an abortion, a movement grew in opposition that stigmatized the choice. A consequence was that women shut down, afraid to tell their stories or even let their views be known.

It became taboo as the public debate turned combative and divisive. Lost were the nuances and honest conversations in our homes.

This November, voters in several states will decide whether women will have a right to choose an abortion. Oklahomans are not among them, but members of a loose-knit coalition are watching and taking notes.

Slowly and deliberately, Oklahoma women are reengaging in these discussions.

Among them are Tamya Cox-Toure, executive director of the ACLU Oklahoma and chair of the Oklahoma Call for Reproductive Justice, which is the plaintiff in many lawsuits challenging the states anti-abortion laws.

While her activism has been public for years, she says more women, particularly Republicans, are talking about ways to expand abortion access in Oklahoma. That includes putting the question on a ballot.

Were looking at an intentional, strategic opportunity of when we move forward with a ballot initiative, says Cox-Toure. Its not an if but a when.

After the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022, Oklahoma immediately instituted a near-total ban, allowing for a poorly defined exemption only to save a womans life. Stories began emerging of pregnant women being denied care when their health deteriorated.

In March 2023, the Oklahoma Supreme Court overturned a portion of the ban in a 5-4 decision, ruling that women have a right to abortion when pregnancy risks their health, not just in a medical emergency. Attorney General Gentner Drummond in November 2023 issued a formal opinion stating that women could not be punished for seeking abortions and clarified that women do not have to be septic, profusely bleeding or near death before getting an abortion.

Those protections are of little comfort to Oklahoma women in high-risk pregnancies. Victims of rape and incest get no options.

Since 2022, Oklahoma has joined 13 other Republican-controlled states in banning the procedure at every stage of pregnancy. Voters in seven states  California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont  have backed abortion rights through ballot measures.

Those outcomes galvanized abortion-rights activists to seek voter-approved questions in states with citizen petition pathways. So far, voters in Florida, Maryland and New York will decide on broadening access in November.

Efforts to obtain a ballot question this year are underway in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. The Iowa and Pennsylvania legislatures have passed proposals for voters to approve abortion bans, but both have stalled.

Each state measure looks different. Some offer more exemptions, allow for abortion up to viability or enshrine the right without restriction.

As states scramble to get on the 2024 ballot, Oklahoma abortion-rights advocates are waiting, knowing there will be one chance to pass a ballot measure. It will be time-consuming and costly.

Our small working group still meets regularly to talk about the landscape, says Cox-Toure. We are relying on and continuing to work closely with our partners in this space moving forward.

The language of an Oklahoma ballot measure on abortion is critical. Questions remain regarding how far Oklahomans are willing to go with abortion access. The most recent polling shows that Oklahoma lawmakers are out of step with voters.

In 2022, an Amber Integrated poll of likely Republican runoff voters found that only 19% support a complete abortion ban while 62% support exemptions for rape, incest and life-saving measures.

A poll from Oklahoma City-based Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates in May 2022 found that 41% of voters say they always or usually vote for the pro-life candidate. That was down from 47% six months earlier.

The Pew Research Center shows that 51% of Oklahoma adults support legalized abortion in all or most cases.

Language is extremely important, but nothing has been decided on, says Cox-Toure. We are learning from other states  not just that they won but also the impact of the vote.

Even when Oklahoma voters pass state questions, lawmakers find ways to undermine the vote. Take the pending House Bill 3694 from Rep. Chris Kannady, R-Oklahoma City. It would return the threshold for grand larceny to $500 from the $1,000 set by voters in 2016 as part of State Question 780. The bill passed the House and is in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

Lawmakers are trying to hamper efforts at Medicaid expansion (State Question 802 passed in 2020) and have tried to pull back medical marijuana access (State Question 788 passed in 2018).

We dont want the Legislature to come back after all the hard work and money it will take and create problems for it, says Cox-Toure. We are in a unique position moving forward with a ballot initiative to make sure the language is correct.

Lawamkers are making it harder for Oklahomans to get a ballot question through initiative petition. Senate Bill 518 and House Bill 1105 are at the governors desk. These would increase fees for filing a petition, raise the threshold for verifying signatures and extend the protest time. House Joint Resolution 1054 is pending and would require a minimum percentage of signatures from each county in the state, not just the state as a whole.

If abortion-rights advocates wait too long, lawmakers will continue chipping away at the initiative-petition process to the point where it will be impossible.

That has always been a consideration, says Cox-Toure. Weve argued that the initiative petition process is the best form of direct democracy in our state. We know legislators are trying to dismantle it because they havent liked the past progressive measures. And every time legislators seek to dismantle this process, they speak of abortion.

Also, there is funding. Its estimated that Oklahoma abortion-rights advocates will need about $20 million to have an effective campaign.

Its significantly higher than other initiative petitions because its the issue of abortion, says Cox-Toure. There is a bigger education piece that has to happen that wasnt needed around medical marijuana or Medicaid expansion. There is a lot of misinformation out there. We have to educate Oklahomans on what abortion is, when its used and how its used.

We have to dismantle the stigma. There are more layers to this than other ballot initiatives faced.

While the battle will rage publicly, hopefully more forthright discussions will occur privately. Women ought to feel free to share their stories and ask questions without judgment. A good place to start is in our homes.

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Gene Sprague said hes got plenty in the tank after serving as Alamo Colleges District trustee for 30 years. Staff / Scott Huddleston

Longtime Alamo Colleges District trustee Gene Sprague won reelection in a competitive race against Nicolette M. Ardiente, who was making her political debut.

Sprague had 54% of the votes in his race to represent District 6 on the far Northwest Side for another six-year term. He took 52% of the early in-person and mail-in ballots, and nearly 57% of Election Day votes cast Saturday.

Ardiente campaigned on a platform calling for higher visibility for the district and responsiveness to concerns raised by faculty and administrators. Sprague, with 30 years of board service, ran on his record of confronting past scandals in the district and helping it become the No. 1 community college system in the United States.

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Sprague, 78, created a workforce panel that meets with local business and job training leaders, and said he wants to double capacity in vocational programs at Alamo Colleges, starting with information technology, health care and manufacturing. He claimed credit for the successful funding that launched Northwest Vista College in 1995, a suburban campus that is now nearly tied in enrollment with San Antonio College, the largest in the district with almost 19,000 students.

Nicolette M. Ardiente made her political debut in the race for the Alamo Colleges District board. Staff / Scott Huddleston

Ardiente, 34, is the community engagement manager with Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a focus on civic engagement, youth and advocacy. She's the current president of Bexar County Young Democrats and is on the board of New Leaders Council San Antonio. With some debt from her college loans still being paid off, she touted herself as more in tune through lived experiences with students today.

Sprague, a former cardiology professor at UT Health San Antonio, teaches full-time at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He said hes got plenty in the tank and enthusiasm for continuing his work on the board. One of his goals for the years ahead was to work with school district leaders and high school counselors to better promote awareness of AlamoPROMISE, which provides tuition-free enrollment.

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Heavy rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul this week killed at least 55 people, local authorities said on Saturday evening, while dozens remain unaccounted for.

Rio Grande do Sul's civil defense authority said 74 people were still missing and more than 69,000 had been displaced as storms in the last few days have affected nearly two thirds of the 497 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina.

The local authority said it is now investigating whether another seven deaths were related to the storms, after earlier in the day it had reported a total of more than 55 deaths.

Floods destroyed roads and bridges in several regions of the state. The storm also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam at a small hydroelectric power plant. A second dam in the city of Bento Goncalves is also at risk of collapsing, authorities said.

A drone view shows a flooded city center after people were evacuated in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, May 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

In Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, the Guaiba lake broke its banks, flooding streets.

Porto Alegre's international airport has suspended all flights for an indefinite period.

State Governor Eduardo Leite told reporters on Saturday evening that Rio Grande do Sul would need a "Marshall Plan" to recover from the storms and its consequences, referring to a plan for Europe's economic recovery after World War Two.

People cross a road destroyed during the floods at Roca Sales in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, May 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had visited Rio Grande do Sul on Thursday, will travel back to the state on Sunday to follow the rescue efforts, his chief of communication Paulo Pimenta said on Saturday.

Lula said on X that his government is in constant contact with state and cities' authorities to support the region with whatever they need.

Rains are expected in the northern and northeastern regions of the state until Sunday, but the volume of precipitation has been declining, and should be well below the peak seen earlier in the week, according to the state meteorology authority.

A drone view shows houses destroyed by the floods at Roca Sales in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, May 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Still, "rivers water levels should stay high for some days", Leite said earlier on Saturday.

Rio Grande do Sul is at a geographical meeting point between tropical and polar atmospheres, which has created a weather pattern with periods of intense rains and others of drought.

Local scientists believe the pattern has been intensifying due to climate change.

People react after being rescued from flood in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, May 4, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A drone view shows vehicles in the area affected by the floods, in Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 3. Photo: Reuters

A drone view shows an area affected by the floods in Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 3. Photo: Reuters

A man stands outside of a house affected by the floods at Relvado in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, May 3, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Mai Tien Dung, former Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam Government Office, has been arrested over alleged violations related to a project in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, said on Saturday.

Society

-- Thanh Hoa General Hospital in the namesake north-central province said on Saturday that its doctors had saved a 61-year-old man who had his stomach pierced with an over-one-meter-long crowbar.

-- Sanitation workers in Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam on Saturday collected a large volume of dead fish, which blanketed a local lake from Friday.

-- Droughts were forecast to grip Vietnams Central Highlands and southern regions until mid-May and the central region until the end of August, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Business

-- Pandora, the world's largest jewelry maker, will break ground on a US$150 million production facility in Binh Duong Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, on May 16. The facility is projected to generate over 7,000 employment opportunities and churn out 60 million jewelry pieces per year, the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam announced.

Lifestyle

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has proposed setting off fireworks at three venues during the opening ceremony of the second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, slated to last from May 31 to June 9, director of the department Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said on Friday.

Sports

-- Vietnamese runner Ha Thi Hau on Saturday night won the womens 100-kilometer distance at the Amazean Jungle Thailand in 16 hours, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds.

-- Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title on Saturday after Girona fought-back to beat Barcelona 4-2, a result that left Carlo Ancelotti's side with an unassailable lead in the standings, according to Reuters.

World News

-- Heavy rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul this week killed at least 55 people, while dozens remain unaccounted for, Reuters reported, citing local authorities.

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Police have arrested Mai Tien Dung, former Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam Government Office, on suspicion of power abuse during his tenure in relation to a project in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, the Ministry of Public Security announced on the weekend.

The ministrys investigation police agency has started legal proceedings against and detained Dung for abusing positions and powers while performing duties, spokesman for the ministry Lt. Gen. To An Xo said at a press conference in Hanoi on Saturday.

The decision to prosecute and take Dung in was issued on April 30, Xo said.

The detention was made as part of an expanded investigation into the case of bribery and abuse of powers in Lam Dong in relation to the Dai Ninh ecological resort, tourism, and commercial urban area project, Xo said.

Dung, a 64-year-old native of Ha Nam Province, retired in April 2021 after serving as Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam Government Office in the 2016-21 term.

Before being arrested for his alleged involvement in the case, Dung received a warning from the Party Central Committee in mid-January this year over his negligence in the COVID-19 repatriation flight scandal, which led to officials and business executives being jailed.

He also got another warning from the prime minister two months ago over his violations and shortcomings in his official duties.

On January 24, the ministry arrested and prosecuted Tran Duc Quan, secretary of the Lam Dong Province Party Committee, on the same charges as Dung.

Quan was accused of acting against the law during the process where he participated in directing and resolving issues related to the Dai Ninh project.

His lawbreaking acts have caused very serious consequences, according to investigators.

About three weeks before arresting Quan, police officers detained Tran Van Hiep, chairman of the Lam Dong administration, for allegedly accepting bribes in association with the project.

Also implicated in the case, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, chief inspector of the province, was apprehended in March 2023 on the same charge as Hiep.

Similarly, Tran Bich Ngoc, a senior official at the Vietnam Government Office, were arrested in August last year for abusing positions and powers while performing official duties.

According to the case file, in June 2020, the Government Inspectorate proposed terminating the operations of, and reclaiming the land from, three projects whose investors breached the laws on land and investment, including the aforementioned project run by Lam Dong-based Saigon Dai Ninh Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company.

However, the inspectorate in June 2021 withdrew its proposals and requested the Lam Dong administration to instruct the company to modify the project, extend the land use term, and implement it according to the approved scale.

In October 2021, the provincial Department of Planning and Investment decided to let the project continue on the basis of the inspectorates request until the lawbreaking acts in the case were uncovered.

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The Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City will propose replanting twice as many trees as those cut down to make room for traffic infrastructure projects to balance traffic infrastructure and green space development, said director of the authority Luong Minh Phuc.

Phuc said the authority always asks investors of projects to replant trees to ensure that the number of new trees is larger than the number of relocated and leveled ones.

In the coming time, the authority will suggest prioritizing the relocation of trees that are able to be replanted on other streets.

Wood from those that cannot be replanted should be used as public assets, Phuc added.

"All developers of traffic infrastructure recognize the significance of trees. We will strive to implement these principles in future projects to have both well-constructed roads and ample green spaces within the city," said Phuc, adding that the city will plant trees along Dong Van Cong Boulevard in Thu Duc City this month.

Plenty of trees have been chopped down to make room for traffic infrastructure projects in the city over the past time.

In particular, the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, the investor of the second metro line in the city, has proposed the relocation and felling of 453 trees for the construction of the route.

The city has cut down or relocated nearly 100 trees on Hoang Hoa Tham Street in Tan Binh District to make space for a project to expand the street leading to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Earlier, more than 100 trees on Ton Duc Thang Boulevard were leveled or moved to other places to accommodate the Ba Son Bridge project.

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SOS Children's Villages Vietnam and SOS Children's Villages in countries around the world have hosted memorial ceremonies to honor Helmut Kutin, founder of SOS Children's Villages Vietnam and former president of SOS Children's Villages International.

SOS Children's Villages Vietnam, which supports local children and their families, announced on April 29 that Kutin, an Italian, passed away on April 23 at the age of 83 in Thailand.

He spent decades serving as a wonderful father to the children living in SOS Children's Villages Vietnam.

He was also the former president of SOS Children's Villages International, the world's largest non-governmental organization dedicated to assisting children without parental care and vulnerable families.

Kutin's cremains will be repatriated to Austria and a funeral service will be held on June 8.

SOS Children's Village Dien Bien Phu in Dien Bien Province, northern Vietnam pays their last respects to Helmut Kutin, who contributed funding for the village's construction. Photo: SOS Children's Villages Vietnam

The father of SOS Children's Villages Vietnam

From April 26 to 28, the national office of SOS Children's Villages Vietnam, SOS children's villages in local communities, and the Hermann Gmeiner High School System in Vietnam held memorial services in honor of Kutin.

Following Vietnam's reunification in 1975, Kutin began raising funds to open the Dien Bien Phu SOS Children's Village in Muong Thanh, located in northern Dien Bien Province.

According to Do Tien Dung, country director of SOS Children's Villages Vietnam, Vietnam had long held a special place in Kutins heart thanks to his admiration for late President Ho Chi Minh.

The Italian man began his career in 1968 at the age of 26 when he began caring for approximately 500 Vietnamese children.

From 1985 to 2012, he served as president of SOS Childrens Villages International, during which time he worked to build connections and persuade member organizations, enterprises, and individuals from countries around the world to support Vietnamese children in need.

"Every time he visited Vietnam, he would decide to support a new initiative. [SOS Childrens Villages] projects in Ca Mau Province and Dien Bien Phu City were built using funds raised by Kutin on his birthday," explained Dung.

Thanks to the US$171 million it has received in donations over the past 30 years, SOS Children's Villages Vietnam is able to help 25,000 children annually.

Vietnam is home to the third-most SOS Children's Villages in the world, trailing only India and Brazil.

His life story was featured in the article on Kutin and the first SOS children's village in Vietnam, published on July 8, 2017, as part of the SOS Children's Villages Vietnam series.

When speaking about the Vietnamese children he had helped, Kutin was clear how much they meant to him.

"I am not the children's father, but they are my children, and I have now become their grandfather," he said.

SOS Children's Village Viet Tri holds a memorial ceremony for Helmut Kutin, expressing gratitude for his contributions to Vietnam. Photo: SOS Children's Villages Vietnam

A friend to Vietnam

In 1967, Kutin was a student and a teaching assistant at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, where he found himself frequently engaged in protests against the war in Vietnam.

At the end of that year, Professor Hermann Gmeiner, founder of SOS Children's Villages International, offered Kutin the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and build an SOS Children's Village.

Kutin accepted the offer, traveled to France for three months to study Vietnamese, and then came to Vietnam.

Though the war was going on, the decision to go to Vietnam was a no-brainer for him.

Kutin himself was an orphan who had been raised in one of Gmeiners SOS Childrens Villages.

The Italian wanted to give other orphans the same opportunities he had.

Eventually, he was named director of the SOS Children's Village in Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City, which included 41 SOS houses and was the world's largest SOS Children's Village at the time.

In 1971, Kutin was appointed as the representative of SOS Children's Villages Asia.

When the Go Vap village closed in 1976, Kutin was distraught and spent over a decade negotiating its reopening.

In 1987, Vietnam allowed the SOS Childrens Village to resume operations.

"He has provided deep insights into Vietnam to international friends, which has spread enthusiasm for Vietnam and helped raise funds to support us, Dung shared.

Helmut Kutin is shown with children from SOS Children's Village Go Vap in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Mai Duy / Tuoi Tre

A lifetime of dedication

Kutin dedicated his entire life to assisting orphans and had a unique connection to Vietnam.

He will always be remembered and honored by all SOS Children's Villages Vietnam and SOS Children's Villages International.

Vietnamese authorities presented him with numerous decorations, commemorative medals, and badges in recognition of his significant contributions to the country.

Among them is the Third-Class Labor Medal, which the state president bestowed upon him in 2015.

He also received several other honors and commemorative medals, including For the Young Generation, For the Career of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, and For Peace and Friendship among Nations.

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The southern and Central Highlands regions of Vietnam are expected to escape drought conditions starting from the second half of this month, said a weather forecaster on Saturday.

Meanwhile, central Vietnam is predicted to become drought-free from August this year, according to Phung Tien Dung, head of the Hydrological Forecasting Department under the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Before the droughts go away, lots of provinces in the three regions, including Tien Giang, Long An, Ca Mau, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, will continue to endure saline intrusion, along with a shortfall of fresh water for daily and agricultural activities.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to utilize water resources properly and adopt drought-resilient irrigation and farming plans.

The weather forecaster also underlined the need for both authorities and local people to build and upgrade irrigation systems in their places, saying that staying proactive in irrigating vast areas of farming land could help fight against drought in the long term.

He added that afforestation and forest protection will also be beneficial in preventing and managing droughts.

Over the past months, drought conditions and the shortage of fresh water have taken a heavy toll on plenty of provinces across the country.

Three provinces in the Mekong Delta region, namely Tien Giang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, had to declare a state of emergency over droughts, with the hardest-hit areas being Tran Van Thoi District and U Minh District in Ca Mau, as well as the buffer zone of U Minh Thuong District in Kien Giang.

In Ca Mau Province, water levels in rivers and canals in the freshwater zone of U Minh District are currently low, while most of the canals in the freshwater zone of Tran Van Thoi District have dried up.

Many parts in Tran Van Thoi also experienced drought-induced land erosion and landslides, with 601 locations along 132 canals measuring 15,890 meters long in total affected.

Similarly, land subsidence wreaked havoc on 200 locations in U Minh Thuong, damaging the road surface and causing traffic disruption.

In the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, 500 local households are facing water stress triggered by droughts.

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The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has proposed setting off fireworks at three venues during the opening ceremony of the second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, slated to last from May 31 to June 9, director of the department Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said on Friday.

The department has sought the municipal administrations approval for the three low-altitude pyrotechnic shows at the Saigon River bank in Thu Duc City, the Ba Son Wharf in District 1, and a riverside park near the Landmark 81 skyscraper in Binh Thanh District.

Following art performances at the opening ceremony, the fireworks will be set off at the three venues at 9:30 pm, 9:40 pm, and 9:55 pm, respectively, on May 31.

These shows will last 15 minutes each.

Hoa said the second river festival will be held at Saigon Cruise Port and Hiep Phuoc Port, as well as other tourist venues in the city.

This years river festival will take place on a larger scale than the first edition, the official added.

The High Command of Ho Chi Minh City has also proposed fireworks displays during the fest.

In 2023, the river festival was first organized in the city between August 4 and 6, drawing over 51,000 visitors.

The first-ever river festival treated revelers to a slew of art performances and captivating programs at the Saigon Cruise Port, the Bach Dang Wharf Park, and the Binh Dong Wharf, as well as along the banks of Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal and the Saigon River.

The event delighted visitors with Tren Ben Duoi Thuyen (At the Wharf, on the Boat) spaces in the Nhieu Loc  Thi Nghe Canal area in District 1 and the Binh Dong Wharf in District 8, along with an outdoor art show titled Saigon  River Tells Stories.

The event helped increase the number of tourists to the city and fuel the growth of waterway tourism services.

The southern metropolis welcomed 10.8 million domestic visitors and 1.8 million international travelers in the first four months of this year, rising three and 32 percent, respectively, year on year.

The city generated some VND60 trillion (US$2.4 billion) in tourism revenue in the period, up 17 percent over the same period last year and reaching 32 percent of the full-year target.

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Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net

Patna: At a time when eyebrows are being raised on the kind of education being imparted in madrassas across the country, Mohammad Furqan from Madrasa Alia Arabia, Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi, has been selected by the University of Notre Dame at Indiana in the United States to pursue masters in Global Affairs in Peace Studies.

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Hailing from Darbhanga in Bihar, he began his educational journey from the Islamic seminary and completed fazilat (bachelors) with first class in 2016. But he did not stop there.

He cracked the entrance test for a BA (Honours) course in English literature at prestigious Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). He then pursued masters in Islamic and Arabic studies from the JMI in 2023.

While continuing his formal education, Furqan also completed Advancing Scientific and Theological Literacy in Madrasa Discourses  a three-year research program for madrasa graduates. It is run by the Keogh School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame. Furqan says since it was an online course, he pursued it easily.

Talking to TwoCircles.net, he said he went to madrasa because he had interests in studying religion. Though he is still keen about religious studies, he has now moved to modern education.

Talking about his family background and struggle so far, he said, It was a very amazing and wonderful journey. After the madrasa, my interest in modern education landed me at Jamia Millia Islamia.

Unlike many other madrasa students, the decision to opt for elementary, secondary and higher secondary education was not for financial reasons. I did not face any financial hurdle so far as my family and relatives have always been very supportive of me, he said.

His father is a private teacher, while mother is a homemaker.

Coming from an ordinary family, I could have never imagined to study in the United States, he said, thanking his teachers in the madrasa and the university.

Furqan got to interact with several renowned academicians and scholars from different countries while pursuing the Madrasa Discourse Programme. He said his experience of the course was life-changing.

Asked about attacks on madrasas in some states, he said, I think there should be freedom of all kinds of education for children. And both religious and modern education are equally important for society.

He encouraged and suggested madrasa students to pursue modern education as well. He said there should be a system in religious seminaries, which helps its students get enrolled in universities across the country.

Furqan is quite clear about his plans. I am interested in academics and dont have any plans to go for civil services, he added.

Sami Ahmed is a freelance journalist based in Patna, Bihar
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Japanese telecom consortium unpacks 6G Internet

A consortium of four Japanese telecommunication companies has launched 6G internet technology which it claims is 10 times faster than 5G at its peak and 500 times faster than an average 5G smartphone.

Sunday May 5, 2024 11:43 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies

Tokyo: A consortium of four Japanese telecommunication companies has launched 6G internet technology which it claims is 10 times faster than 5G at its peak and 500 times faster than an average 5G smartphone.

The consortium comprising of DOCOMO, NTT Corporation, NEC Corporation and Fujitsu, which came together for this project in 2021 has been jointly researching and developing sub-terahertz devices, anticipating the arrival of the 6G technology era, according to Interesting Engineering.

The gadget is capable of achieving data transmission rates of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) and operates effectively within a range of up to 330 feet (100 meters), the companies said.

6G (sixth-generation wireless) networks will be able to use higher frequencies than 5G networks and provide substantially higher capacity and much lower latency. One of the goals of the 6G internet is to support one microsecond latency communications.

"A two-hour, medium-quality Netflix movie streamed to a phone is around 1.5 GB in size, so in practical terms we're looking at being able to shift eight or nine of these films every single second using the new 6G", the consortium said.

Meanwhile, European Commission said it has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Japan on digital identities and trust services.

"It will simplify processes, boosting online commerce and creating new business opportunities. From AI to 6G, we work together with Japan for a secure digital future", the Commission said in a social media post.

Experts suggest that the potential for seamless high-speed connectivity in future technologies is unlimited, enabling capabilities like ultra-HD video streaming, real-time control in autonomous vehicles, and much much more.



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Vu Hoa

TBILISI, GEORGIA  The Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the bank's financial statements for 2023 and an allocation of US$1.42 billion in net income from its ordinary capital resources.

This decision was made during the Governors' business session on Sunday, marking the highest net income allocation in ADB's history.

The allocable net income for 2023 will be allocated as follows: over $1 billion will be allocated to ADB's ordinary reserve to support the bank's capital growth and provide an earnings base to generate income. Additionally, $292.5 million will be allocated to the Asian Development Fund, which offers grants to ADB's poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries; $110 million will be allocated to the Technical Assistance Special Fund, which provides technical assistance grants to borrowing members for project preparation and technical or policy studies; and $15 million to the Asian Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides immediate post-disaster grants to developing member countries for restoring lifesaving services.

Allocable net income is defined as net income after appropriation of guarantee fees to the special reserve and certain adjustments reported in the cumulative revaluation adjustments account.

In a submitted written remarks to the session, ao Minh Tu, Deputy Governor of State Bank of Vietnam discussed three areas under this years theme of Bridge to the Future that he believed ADB can further strengthen its pioneering role in driving international development agenda.

I commend ADBs recent shift to be the Climate Bank of Asia Pacific and great efforts to implement the $100 billion climate finance ambition. This is very much relevant to the region that is highly vulnerable to climate risks but having limited resources to effectively address them, and disproportionately suffering from the imbalance of climate costs and benefits.

Tu said that at the heart of climate actions are material incentives at scale for countries to mitigate higher costs and risks of greener solutions. In this regard, it is imperative that ADB explore possible use of its own resources to offer meaningful incentives at a sufficient scale, in addition to ongoing efforts to mobilise more and more concessional co-financing for climate operations.

With its strong experience in implementing green investment, ADB should clearly link such incentives with measurable greener outcomes, with the ability to revoke them if such outcomes are not achieved. This will set a model for countries to consider adopting for national level initiatives, he added.

The deputy governor also emphasised the need for ADB's proactive efforts in addressing the region's short-term focus issue of uncertainty and volatility in the global and regional economy. This issue poses significant risks in terms of slower growth, weakened private investment and consumption, as well as stresses on public finance and balance of payments.

Lastly, with the relative and gradual shifting of global growth drivers to Asia Pacific over the past decades, many economies in the region have reached middle-income status but still with significant development challenges in certain pockets of vulnerable communities. Governments of those economies have also experienced significant institutional capacity development and strengthening, while still requiring external support in new and emerging areas which can be transformative drivers of growth and development in the future. ADB could be more strategic in delivering stronger impact of its resources by adopting a more flexible approach in engaging with economies stakeholders following national systems, according to the statement.

He emphasised that Viet Nam has already taken significant steps in this direction, such as implementing a comprehensive digital transformation strategy and promoting green and circular economic models.

We are pledged to continuing this journey, with the support of ADB and our other partners. Going forward, we remain committed to our mission of promoting sustainable economic growth and financial stability in Viet Nam, and to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to build a more resilient and inclusive financial system. We believe that by continuing to pursue a forward-looking and proactive approach, we can help ensure that our economy and society are well positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future. VNS
PARO, BHUTAN  Viet Nam confirmed its strong commitment to protect tigers and the country's responsibility for biodiversity conservation in general and tigers in particular, within the framework of CITES conventions, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss and meet the United Nations Development Goals (UNDGs).

Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Quoc Tri, spoke at the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscape Conference in Bhutan with the participation of leaders of thirteen tiger range countries.

The conference, which was hosted by the Royal Government of Bhutan, under the Royal patronage of H.E. the Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, aimed to secure significant international support for a range-wide tiger recovery plan that ties into national and global agendas on climate, biodiversity and the One Health Programme.

Viet Nam, together with other countries, are taking actions to protect the tigers, its prey and phase out tiger farms that are not for conservation, Tri said.

Viet Nam is joining to discuss with leaders from range countries and international organisations to further advance tiger conservation efforts globally, he added.

Even though tigers have not been recorded in the wild in Viet Nam since 2000, Viet Nam has issued a ban on trading wild tiger products. Illegal hunting, trading and farming is prosecuted according to the 2017 Penal Code. A national action on tiger conservation (2014-2022) was also launched to protect the species.

However, there are still factors that challenge the impact of these programmes including the high demand for tiger products; law enforcement capacity; lack of scientific study for tiger landscape recovery; the intricate web of trading online and offline; and tiger breeding facilities. These factors have driven tigers to the brink of extinction.

Tigers are one of the few species whose survival and recovery are so thoroughly intertwined with many of societies greatest challenges, including biodiversity decline, development and health concerns.

They are deeply embedded in the culture and beliefs of many countries - a symbol of strength, good luck and power. But in just over a century, the wild tiger population globally has suffered a devastating decline, losing around 97 per cent of their historic range.

In 2010, their population was approximately 3,200. Over the last twelve years, WWFs Tiger Alive Initiative, was a major force to drive socio-political change for tiger conservation. Significant progress has been made to conserve this iconic species, with their population globally having increased to 4,500 tigers remaining in the wild, in the latest estimation. However, despite efforts, their habitat continues to decline, limiting them to less than 3 per cent of their historic range, according to a recent Tiger Conservation Landscape Assessment.

Van Ngoc Thinh, CEO of WWF-Viet Nam, said: The conference is a great opportunity for Viet Nam to learn from other countries on tiger conservation, especially on tiger reintroduction and captive tiger management; explore potential collaboration; and mobilise financial resources to replicate successful models shared in the conference. WWF will continue to support Viet Nam financially and technically in the rehabilitation of wild tiger population.

During the three-day conference, the vice minister also joined meetings with the highest level leaders of WWF to discuss the current and future collaboration between WWF and the ministry.

The two sides are keen on working together to gradually phase out tiger facilities with no conservation objectives and build the Central Annamites as a landscape model that can replicate the Bhutan for Life programme in Viet Nam as Viet Nam for Life.

The conference was supported by the Tiger Conversation Coalition, which includes several leading conservation organisations including the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Fauna & Flora International (FFI), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Natural State, Panthera, TRAFFIC, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). It hopes to push for a renewed focus on tiger conservation, seeking greater financial commitments from the global community to ramp up conservation efforts significantly beyond just tiger recovery.

Viet Nam launched a nationwide tiger management system with individual DNA profiles and stripe patterns, providing rules for keeping and breeding tigers for conservation purposes, and ensuring husbandry and welfare standards for captive tigers.

The plan was hosted by the Forest Protection Department (FPD) and supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Saving Threatened Wildlife project, implemented by the Management Board for Forestry Projects (MBFP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and WWF.

According to FPD, approximately 388 tigers are kept in zoos, safaris and under private ownership. In 2020, the Prime Minister assigned MARD to organise an assessment of the pilot programme and the status of the five private facilities allowed to keep/breed tigers for conservation purposes. Based on these assessments, the development of a National Framework for the Management of Captive Tigers has been proposed. VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Minister of Defence, Gen. Phan Van Giang and French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu held talks on Sunday in Ha Noi, following a welcome ceremony for the French delegation at the headquarters of the defence ministry.

They are visiting Viet Nam to take part in next Tuesday's grand ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the ien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954-2024), in which the Vietnamese army and people prevailed over French colonialism.

Minister Giang stressed the significance of Minister Sebastien Lecornu's visit, as it contributes to further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, demonstrates the spirit of "closing the past, looking forward to a bright future", for the development cooperation between the two countries, two peoples; affirming Viet Nam's appreciation of the Strategic Partnership with France.

According to Minister Giang, the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership has grown both in breadth and depth, diversifying across many areas, including defence cooperation.

Based on the Joint Vision Statement on Viet Nam-France Defence Cooperation for the period 2018-28 and the Amended Agreement on Viet Nam-France Defence Cooperation, defence cooperation between the two countries has achieved many positive results in various fields, including delegation exchange, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, training, defence industry, military medicine, sharing historical archives, overcoming war consequences, United Nations peacekeeping efforts, consulting and supporting each other at multilateral forums and mechanisms, etc.

Minister Giang proposed that in the future, both sides continue to make efforts to promote these cooperation areas, and actively discuss to soon reach an agreement on the Viet Nam-France Defence Cooperation Programme for the 2025-28 period.

The French defence minister underscored the important significance of the visit, highlighting the importance of cooperation in sharing historical memories and overcoming war consequences between the two countries.

Minister Sebastien Lecornu expressed his desire for both sides to continue to make efforts to deepen defence ties to a level commensurate with the Viet Nam-France Strategic Partnership.

At the talks, both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Regarding maritime issues, both sides underlined the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation, overflight and settlement of disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and moving towards an effective and substantial Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

At the end of the talks, Minister Giang and Minister Sebastien Lecornu signed a Letter of Intent to enhance Viet Nam-France defence cooperation.

The same day, Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of Defence, also had talks with Patricia Miralles, French Minister Delegate for Remembrance and Veterans, where the two sides agreed to focus on areas such as collecting documents, historical materials to compile historical education materials, exchanging information and war memorabilia, organising joint workshops on historical topics.  VNS
HA NOI  Tens of millions of AstraZeneca COVID vaccines have been administered in Viet Nam and only a few cases of blood clot related reactions recorded post-vaccination, an immunisation official has stated amid concerns over side effects.

Pham Quang Thai, Head of the Northern Vaccination Office at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, has urged people to understand the issue better to avoid 'unnecessary panic'.

According to the official, when the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine was brought to Viet Nam for use, the healthcare sector was very cautious about the issue of blood clots previously recorded in Europe.

In practice, strict screening has been implemented during the vaccination drive.

Thai also added that the issue of blood clots was mainly observed within 28 days after vaccination. Currently, Viet Nam has halted the administration of COVID-19 vaccination for some time, given that the pandemic has been controlled.

Data shows that the rate of adverse reactions recorded after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is also very low.

The European Medicines Agency, after examining results, found that the difference in the proportion of individuals with blood clots before and after vaccination was very low and almost statistically insignificant.

The immunisation expert also said in European communities, there is a naturally higher rate of blood clots compared to other communities, especially in Asia.

Vaccinated individuals should not be worried and should understand that in the fight against COVID-19, vaccination's health benefits vastly outweighs the risks, according to the official.

Thai noted that all types of vaccines, when granted approval for use, must undergo a very rigorous review process.

Assoc. Prof. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Ministry of Healths Department of Medical Service Administration, also confirmed that the blood clot issue was among the side effects that Vietnamese authorities were warned about when organising the rollout of AstraZeneca shots.

He remarked that at the start, the health sector remained cautious, with mandatory blood pressure measurements before and after vaccination, but subsequently this requirement was eased as it was observed that the vaccines did not cause serious health impacts.

The expert also noted that most people had received AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for several years now, and its effectiveness has now waned, so there is no need to overly worry about adverse effects leading to blood clots.

By mid-2023, the country had administered over 266.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine  including AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, and Sinopharm.

Viet Nam is one of the countries with the highest COVID-19 vaccine coverage rates in the world, with nearly 100 per cent coverage of primary vaccination (two doses) for individuals aged 12 and older, and 89.6 per cent of at-risk adults receiving four doses (primary course and booster shots).

At the beginning of 2024, representatives from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also stated that Viet Nam has just over 400,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine remaining in storage, with an expiration date in September 2024.  VNS
PARIS  More than 200 overseas Vietnamese and French friends gathered with various organisations at the Place de la Republique in Paris on May 4 to express their support for Vietnamese-French Tran To Nga and Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims of Viet Nam in a lawsuit against chemical companies that supplied herbicides to the US military during the war in Viet Nam.

The activity took place ahead of the May 7 hearing at the Paris Court of Appeals, which continues the trial of the 82-year-old woman's lawsuit against Bayer-Monsanto and 13 other companies that manufactured or marketed the AO/dioxin used by the US military during the war in Viet Nam from 1961 to 1971. Facing these chemical industry giants, lawyers William Bourdon and Bertrand Repolt will defend Nga and millions of victims of this toxic substance in Viet Nam.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agencys correspondents, Vo inh Kim, the coordinator of the Collectif Vietnam-Dioxine association and a member of the support committee for Nga, said that the event received strong support from many environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and Attaque, as well as representatives of various political parties and French citizens recognising the importance of her legal battle and wanting to show their solidarity with her action. Several French media outlets came to witness and report on the event, he added.

Kim expressed his hope that the court will consider and rule to acknowledge the struggle of the victims.

Sandrine Rousseau, a parliamentarian and member of the Europe Ecology  The Greens (EELV), stressed the importance of the lawsuit with a belief that it remains relevant today due to the ongoing consequences of Monsanto's production and distribution of the toxic chemical. She held that not only this corporation but also the entire pesticide and agrochemical industry have affected the health of many generations.

The lawsuit brought before the French court showed that Nga and millions of AO victims are not abandoned and do not have to endure this pain alone, she remarked.

Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) Dr Nguyen Hong Son, who is in Paris to attend the trial, said the Belgian parliament has passed a resolution supporting the rights of AO victims and hoped that the French parliament will continue to accompany and support the Vietnamese victims in their struggle.

Excited by the presence of a large number of supporters at the event, Nga said this demonstrated the growing strength of justice.

Nga, born in 1942, graduated from a Ha Noi's university in 1966 and became a war correspondent of the Liberation News Agency, now the Vietnam News Agency. She worked in some of the most heavily AO/Dioxin affected areas in southern Viet Nam such as Cu Chi, Ben Cat, and along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, ultimately experiencing contamination effects herself. She suffered from five out of the 17 diseases, disorders, deformities, and malformations associated with dioxin exposure recognised by the US. Among her three children, the first child died of heart defects and the second suffers from a blood disease.

In 2009, Nga appeared as a witness at the Court of Public Opinion in Paris, France, against the US chemical companies.

On April 16, 2015, the Crown Court of Evry city in the suburb of Paris held the first hearing on the case, but since then, lawyers of the sued chemical companies tried every way to prolong the procedures.

On May 10, 2021, the Evry Crown Court rejected her lawsuit, saying it did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, a ruling that disappointed the Vietnamese and international public.

However, Nga and her lawyers decided to file an appeal, and the struggle for justice for AO/dioxin victims is still underway.

From 1961-1971, US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides, 44 million litres of which were AO, containing nearly 370kg of dioxin, over southern Viet Nam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the chemicals effects.  VNS
By Nguyen My Ha

For the past seventy years, ien Bien Phu stands for bravery, dignity and victory of an entire nation who rose up to win back their independence. ien Bien Phu Campaign pulled together the physical and mindful strength of the nation.

From the barefoot soldiers and volunteer transporters, the human forces who pushed their 100-kilo plus bicycles to transport supplies to the battlefield or the soldiers who pulled heavy artillery pieces up to the mountains with their hands, millions of men and women would give up all of their most precious assets: their youth was dedicated to serve and fight for national freedom and independence.

Millions people gave all they had

For a few weeks now, a series of ceremonies to pay tribute to fallen soldiers, a series of activities have been going on not only in ien Bien Phu City but around the country, especially provinces where a large number of soldiers and volunteers had worked and supported the campaign.

On the contrary to the joyous songs, or positive energy that has been channeled from ien Bien elsewhere in the country, the nine-year-long resistance war had seen 8 military campaigns before the final ien Bien, and war veteran Nguyen Cong Dinh, at 97 years of age, remembers it well.

"Alas, there was nothing joyful about war," he remembers. "No matter how miserable the condition could be, you always had to keep a merry spirit to accomplish your duty."

And he was to carry on order from no other than General Vo Nguyen Giap, who entrusted him an important letter, that turned the campaign into a different approach.

This year, Dinh says he's not feeling well, so he would not go to celebrations, even if they are held in Ha Noi. "The weather has made me feel quite tired these days," he says. "I really don't know if I can make it to any of the reunions."

To prepare for the 50th anniversary of the ien Bien Phu battle victory , he went to ien Bien for two years in 2003 and 2004 to check. "After the trip, I had problems with my heart and had to have three stents placed in my heart," he says.

"I worked at the 'brain office' of the headquarters and was active from day 1 of the campaign, so I was very much involved," he says. "Especially those commanders, they trusted me, I guess, so they always wanted me to accompany them."

During the campaign, I fulfilled my duty and perhaps accomplished something vital.

I could say ien Bien campaign was a milestone that changed my life.

Dinh's efforts across all the military campaigns were considerable and he is proud of his exploits and the victory that was so hard won.

"I participated in all eight big campaigns during the 9-year resistance war against the French. My name was included in all of the campaigns: the Border Campaign, Ha Nam Ninh, Hoa Binh, Tay Bac (Ly Thuong Kiet) and the Tay Bac campaign that liberated the Upper Laos, and finally, ien Bien Phu. Now that I've become a historical witness, I can talk about what I've been through," he says.

"ien Bien Phu was an enormous campaign, and nearly 5 million people took part in it. Their contributions are very great, my part was very small. It may not be worth your while."

Despite Dinh's modesty, it's clear the veteran played a crucial role and has many stories to tell. One particular act was of huge significance to the outcome of the war

A messenger and a vital letter

According to the initial plan, January 26 was set to be the day when Viet Minh soldiers [resistance army] opened fire to start ien Bien Phu campaign.

But on the morning of that day, Gen Vo Nguyen Giap, commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People's Army, had a final meeting with the Front Party Committee on the battle, and after serious discussion, the participating officers decided to change the tactics of the entire campaign from the "Fast Strike, Fast Victory" approach to "Steady Attack, Steady Advance".

But for this vital change to be implemented, he had to get approval from President Ho Chi Minh and the Politburo, who lived in the Safety Zone in inh Hoa, Thai Nguyen Province, some 500km away.

Dinh, as always, was ready to carry out his order given, and again was entrusted with the assignment to take Gen Giap's letter to the President as fog fell on the night of January 27, 1954.

January in the mountains often saw fog in the late afternoon, and the activities of the Viet Minh resistance forces always took place from late in the evening until the next morning. Dinh left the headquarters in a car. Time was of the essence.

The road from Gen Giap's headquarters to where President Ho lived crossed three points that were often heavily bombarded: the Pha in Pass, the Co Noi T-junction and Au Lau Wharf.

During the trip, the road was heavily bombed, and the car had to run rough terrain with many bomb craters. It was critical that the letter be delivered whatever the costs and risks involved.

By midnight on January 28, when they got to Au Lau Wharf, a boatman took them on a ferry. When they got to the middle of the river, French troops shots flared up above their heads. Dinh remembers the ferryman telling him that enemy artillery fire was coming their way.

After two white nights, Dinh arrived in inh Hoa, and handed over the letter to Gen Van Tien Dung to present it to President Ho. The Politburo got the message and would get in touch with Gen Giap by telegraph. Mr. Dinh went back to the front after safely delivered the letter.

"My contribution was very little. But it was my one-of-a-lifetime experience that shaped me as I took part in our country's fight against invaders to protect our country. Simple as that, Mr. Dinh said.

ien Bien Phu legacy

This year, Dinh can no longer go up to ien Bien, but he always has the spirit of the battle of his life inside him.

After ien Bien Phu victory, Vietnamese people still had to endure even more hardship and fierce fighting. We enjoyed real peace only decades later.

Cherish the victory of ien Bien, it only reminds us that Viet Nam as a country must ensure to keep peace reigning long on Viet Nam.
By Le Viet Dung & Tran Khanh An

In the spring of 1954, the Battle of ien Bien Phu raged in northwestern Viet Nam as Viet Minh, or the Vietnamese Resistance forces, besieged French troops entrenched in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Among the fiercest fights was the assault on Hill A1 (identified as Strongpoint Eliane 2 by the French), a heavily fortified outpost that General Vo Nguyen Giap [commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People's Army] described as "the key" to breaking the French "Hedgehog".

Chu Van Mui, a veteran radioman and a war hero, recounts the fierce assault in which he played a crucial role.

The second phase of Viet Minh's military campaign at ien Bien Phu began on the night of March 30, 1954, as Vietnamese troops attacked five strongholds east of the French headquarters.

The 174th Regiment of the 316th Division was tasked with capturing the strongest of the five, Hill A1, an outpost of vital strategic importance.

The fight was fierce, with French troops in underground bunkers and supported by artillery and aerial bombardments.

By March 31, Vietnamese troops had captured half of Hill A1 but then lost communication with their division commanders due to severely broken telephone lines.

That's when Mui was immediately dispatched to reinforce the 174th Regiment. He and another radioman braved intense enemy shelling to reach Hill A1 and re-establish contact using their radio transceiver.

"In the evening, our troops on Hill A1 lost communication with their commanding post," Mui said. "Comrade uc and I urgently brought our radio transceiver, a US-made 102E, to Hill A1 to restore connection."

Under relentless fire, the two radiomen maintained the communication link and transmitted vital info that helped Vietnamese artillery repel many waves of French counterattacks.

On the night, the 102nd Regiment (under the 308th Division) and the remaining 174th Regiment launched the second assault on Hill A1. They quickly seized the lower defensive positions on the hill.

The French troops were forced back to the hilltop and retreated into underground bunkers.

"At around 2am, we attacked the hilltop, but the communication link up there with our commanding post was very bad," Mui said.

Mui fearlessly crossed a heavy artillery barrage, carrying his radio transceiver to the hilltop to restore communication.

By the morning of April 1, Vietnamese forces had controlled two-thirds of Hill A1 but could not expand their footholds.

The French attempted to retake Hill A1 with two tanks and reinforced troops. Mui called the artillery for support: "Two customers are leading two cows into the coffee shop" (meaning two enemy companies with two tanks begin counterattack).

Guided by Mui's info about the enemy's coordinates, the artillery blasted huge holes in their ranks, disabling their fighting power.

"A tank rushed to the top and fired heavily at our troops," Mui said. "An anti-tank soldier fired a shot, and the tank immediately was engulfed in fire."

Three waves of failed counterattacks cost the French hundreds of troops. The two sides settled into a stalemate.

On the night of April 1, Vietnamese forces launched the third attack but were pushed back. Radioman uc was killed that night, leaving Mui alone to operate the vital link while also fighting off the French.

The next day, the headquarters lost contact with regiment commander Hung Sinh. Through the radio, a general ordered Mui to locate him.

"I hadn't eaten for a day," Mui said. "But I strapped on the 20kg transceiver and went to find Comrade Sinh with my last ounce of strength."

After an intense search in the raging battle, he found Sinh wounded on the frontline. The commander was ordered to withdraw from the hill for medical treatment but insisted on remaining in the fight.

As reinforcements arrived the next day, Mui and Sinh returned to the hilltop to drive back French counterattacks. The two sides fought each other in a bloody stalemate for over a month.

Facing the unwavering resistance of the French garrison on Hill A1, the 174th Regiment took an alternative plan to break through the stronghold. An engineering team was assembled to dig a tunnel towards the French underground bunkers to plant explosives.

The soil at Hill A1 was extremely hard. On the first day, the team could only carve 90cm into the rocky slope. French troops rained down gunfire and grenades, wounding three sappers and knocking the team leader unconscious.

Despite the difficulties, the team managed to complete the tunnel on May 5. During the night, a tonne of explosives was placed directly beneath the French underground bunkers.

The next evening, after the Vietnamese forces in Hill A1 received the order to regroup in Hill Chay, 250m away, the explosives were detonated, blasting the bunkers to rubble.

Vietnamese troops quickly captured the hill. The French deployed two squads and a tank in a final attempt to retake Hill A1 but to no avail.

With the fall of Hill A1, an outpost just 300m away from the French headquarters, French resistance collapsed. Vietnamese forces planted their victory flag over Gen de Castries's headquarters on May 7.

"French troops held out stubbornly on Hill A1, only losing it on the last day of the battle," said Mui.

The 56-day and night siege of ien Bien Phu ended in a decisive French defeat leading to the Geneva Accord restoring peace in Indochina. But victory came at a tremendous cost, with the brutal struggle for Hill A1 exemplifying the sacrifice required to prevail against colonial forces.

For his significant contributions to the ien Bien Phu Campaign, Mui was honoured as a "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" in 1955.  VNS
Think tank report highlights China's approach to modernization

Xinhua) 09:17, May 05, 2024

This photo shows copies of the report entitled "Chinese Modernization: the Way Forward." (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

The report, entitled "Chinese Modernization: the Way Forward," was co-authored by researchers from the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Xinhua Institute, which is a high-end think tank of Xinhua News Agency.

PARIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A report released by Chinese think tanks here on Saturday introduced the process of Chinese modernization and highlighted its global significance.

The report, entitled "Chinese Modernization: the Way Forward," was co-authored by researchers from the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and Xinhua Institute, which is a high-end think tank of Xinhua News Agency.

The Chinese people, under the CPC's leadership, have blazed a trail of Chinese modernization, said Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency and also chairman of the academic committee of Xinhua Institute.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, by elaborating on the connotation and essence of Chinese modernization, has contributed major innovations to global modernization theories, Fu said.

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua attends a forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France and delivers a speech, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Upholding the spirit of "establishing oneself and helping others to establish" and the idea that "the world is one family," China has been sharing development opportunities and building a better future with other countries, a move that benefits the Chinese people and promotes global development as well, which will have a positive and far-reaching impact on the world, Fu said.

Ji Zhengju, vice-director of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, made a speech on the relationship between modernization and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Cultural cooperation should adhere to the spirit of independence, which is not only the primary connotation of the "China-France spirit" summarized by President Xi, but also an important spiritual connotation of Chinese modernization, Ji said.

A visitor takes pictures at a photo exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Cultural exchanges should prioritize mutual learning, which is the main theme of the China-France cultural exchanges as well as an inevitable choice for Chinese modernization to achieve the coordinated development between material and spiritual civilizations, Ji added.

Noting that global development is facing new challenges, Marc Uzan, founder and executive director of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, called for closer cooperation between France and China to make the international financial system more resilient, equitable and inclusive.

"By aligning efforts with China and with other international partners, we will be able to contribute to shaping a more stable global governance," Uzan concluded.

Guests attend a forum on the development of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and France, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

Remi Mathieu, French sinologist and research director emeritus of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), said the Chinese practice can help the French take a step back from their customary ways of thinking.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
5:25 p.m. Update: The National Weather Service has cancelled the severe thunderstorm watch that was in place for South Texas on Sunday. The watch was originally scheduled to last until 7 p.m. However, storm activity has diminished in the area, prompting the early cancellation. A few isolated showers or weak storms are this possible through the evening, but severe weather is not expected.

The highlighted area shows where a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday. nws austin/san antonio

1:25 p.m. Update: The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of South Texas until 7 p.m. Sunday.

Areas in the watch area are mostly along and south of the I-10 corridor. Cities such as San Antonio and New Braunfels are on the northern edge of the severe thunderstorm watch, but the severe weather threat in this area is relatively low. The higher severe threat will be located farther south, in cities such as Pleasanton, Pearsall, Cuero, and Beeville.

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Isolated large hail will be possible with the strongest thunderstorms, along with damaging wind gusts. The tornado threat is very low, but one cannot be completely ruled out.

On the left: Future radar at 4 a.m. Sunday. On the right: Future radar at 2 p.m. Sunday Pivotal Weather

A few showers and weak storms moves through South Texas on Sunday morning, but higher chances of strong thunderstorms are expected by Sunday afternoon.

Storms will likely come in two different waves on Sunday. The good news is that rain is expected to be done by the evening, and much drier weather is expected for the upcoming week.

Early morning storms

The first wave of thunderstorms will occur during the early morning hours, between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. in San Antonio. A few storms could produce severe weather, such as isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts. Storms will isolated, so many areas will see little, if any rainfall.

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Next round of storms

Weather models are showing a short break in activity in the mid- to late morning, but another round of scattered thunderstorms will be possible for San Antonio, the Hill Country, and I-35 corridor between 1 and 7 p.m. The severe weather risks will be higher than earlier in the day with the chance of isolated hail and damaging wind gusts.

Shown is the SPC severe weather outlook for Sunday. A Level 2 of 5 risk of severe weather has been issued for San Antonio. Pivotal Weather

Weather models are showing that heavy rain could be a factor as well, leading to flooding in a few spots. The National Blend of Models shows that San Antonio can expect between 1.0 and 1.5 inch of rain. However, isolated higher amounts will be possible, especially in areas north of San Antonio. Areas south of San Antonio will likely experience lower rain totals.

Thunderstorms are expected to move away from South Texas during the evening, causing rain chances to drop to 20% after 7 p.m. The rain and clouds will keep temperatures cool, with highs only expected to reach the upper 70s, slowly falling a few degrees into the evening.

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Mini heat wave incoming

This week is expected to be much more quiet when it comes to thunderstorm chances. Instead, the main story will be the increasing heat, and South Texas will likely experience an early taste of summer.

The warm-up will start on Monday, but temperatures wont get too out of hand yet as high temperatures reach the mid-80s in San Antonio. Enjoy it, because its only going to get hotter from there. By Tuesday, high temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s across much of South Texas.

Shown are expected high temperatures on Wednesday. Pivotal Weather

The hottest day of the week is expected on Wednesday. San Antonio will likely experience highs in the low to mid-90s under partly sunny skies. Unfortunately, its going to be very humid, too.

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Theres a good chance San Antonios feels-like temperatures will reach the triple digits Wednesday. If you have plans to be outdoors this week, it will be very important to stay hydrated and take breaks away from the heat.

We wont be getting a significant break from the heat at night, either. Overnight low temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-70s each day. Thats about 10 degrees above average for early May.
The World Bank has always assessed Vietnam as a development success story with great contributions of foreign direct investment (FDI) to economic growth. Economic reforms since the mid-1980s, coupled with beneficial global trends, have helped propel Vietnam from being one of the worlds poorest nations to a middle-income economy in one generation.

Samsung remains the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, photo Le Toan

GDP per capita increased nearly seven-fold in less than 40 years, from below $600 per person in 1986 to almost $4,170 by late 2023. Poverty rates have declined from 14 per cent in 2010 to 2.93 per cent last year.

Thanks to its solid foundations, the economy has proven resilient through different crises. Economic growth is projected to reach 5.5 per cent in 2024, up from 5.05 per cent in 2023, driven by increasing global demand and restored domestic consumer confidence, the World Bank said on Vietnams economic performance on April 19. Real GDP growth is expected to strengthen in the next three years, reaching the pre-pandemic average by 2026.

Vietnam has grown bolder in its development aspirations, aiming to become a high-income country by 2045. To achieve this goal, the economy would have to grow at an annual average rate of about 6 per cent per capita for the next 25 years.

Key contributor

Figures from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) showed that over the past 38 years, total cumulative registered FDI in Vietnam reached $475.83 billion for nearly 39,760 projects from 145 nations and territories.

Of the total registered capital, $274 billion or 57.6 per cent has been disbursed. Foreign-invested projects have taken root in all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam, focusing on 19 out of 21 economic sectors of the country, with processing and manufacturing achieving $287.5 billion registered FDI (60.4 per cent of the economys total), property business $70 billion (14.7 per cent), and electricity production and distribution $40.65 billion (8.54 per cent).

In Q1/2024, Vietnam showcased resilient economic growth with a GDP uptick of 5.66 per cent, a significant stride since 2020. The manufacturing and services sectors were pivotal, surging by 6.28 per cent and 6.12 per cent, respectively.

Registered FDI saw a 13.4 per cent boost, securing an impressive $6.17 billion, with the manufacturing and services sectors being pivotal, said Alberto Vettoretti, managing partner of consultancy firm Dezan Shira & Associates for China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. It is further noteworthy that Singapore and Hong Kong have reaffirmed their confidence in Vietnams growth story.

Cumulatively, as of March 20, registered capital from Singapore and Hong Kong into Vietnam reached $77.24 billion and $35.2 billion, respectively.

According to the General Statistics Office, foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) have been providing jobs for 4.5 million direct local labourers and millions of indirect labourers. They hold 25 per cent of total national development investment capital, and create over half of industrial production value. They are also responsible for 20 per cent of state budget and 20 per cent of GDP.

In the first quarter of this year, FIEs total export turnover, including crude oil exports, hit $67.85 billion, up 13.9 per cent on-year, and holding 72.9 per cent of Vietnams total export revenue. This was demonstrated by an on-year rise in exports of FIEs, such as mobile phones and spare parts (9.7 per cent), machinery and equipment (10.2 per cent), and garments and textiles (7.9 per cent).

FDI has helped Vietnam engage in international integration since the economic reforms in the 1980s and the opening door policy were launched, contributing to supporting the country to get out of international embargo, and recover its relations with many nations and international organisations, said senior economic expert Nguyen Mai. Moreover, FDI has also helped Vietnam enhance its status and prestige in the region and the wider world.

Climbing global value chains

Over past months, the Vietnamese government has continuously worked with foreign big groups specialised in high technology, and semiconductor chips. According to the MPI, Vietnam is now focusing on luring in high-tech FDI with big spillover effects in the sectors of AI, semiconductors, and blockchain.

Last week, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung met in Hanoi with Keith Strier, vice president of US-backed Nvidia, the world leader in AI computing.

Strier said the group would work with the Vietnamese side to turn Vietnam into a manufacturing base with specific projects, especially when it comes to high technology application and high-quality workforce training.

Nvidia inked an MoU with Vietnamese tech firm FPT to establish an AI venture. Under the MoU, FPT intends to invest $200 million in setting up an AI facility leveraging Nvidias cutting-edge technology, including graphics chips and software.

The facility aims to bolster AI research and development capabilities, enabling the creation of advanced applications and solutions, with a focus on AI generation, autonomous vehicles, and green transformation.

During a meeting with Strier last week, Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, suggested that Nvidia construct a new AI centre in the city.

Strier said Nvidia will establish a research team, bring equipment and move some production departments to Vietnam. It will also determine a plan to develop specific steps for the groups presence in the city.

The US and Vietnam lifted bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership last September, with the former pledging to support the latter in workforce development initiatives for the semiconductor industry. Vietnam is now quickening the implementation of a programme on training 50,000-100,000 high-quality engineers for the semiconductor industry.

Specifically, through a package of $4 million in dedicated programmes, the US mission to Vietnam is enhancing technical skills training and workforce development at every level through expanded US-Vietnam institutional and public-private partnerships.

Recently, PM Chinh also met with many Japanese companies on developing a semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam. They include SBI Holdings, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Denso, Rapidus Corporation, and Tokyo Electron Ltd., which all expressed their intention to invest in Vietnam in the sector.

Vietnam to become key link in semiconductor value chain The Vietnamese government provided positivity and expectation for the country to develop its semiconductor industry at a pivotal conference on April 24 focusing on human resource development.

Samsung and NIC to train 200 students Samsung and the National Innovation Centre (NIC) kicked off the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park on May 3, with six training courses for 200 students.

Semiconductor success in reach with investment During the InnovaConnect event organised in April, Lee Young Hee, director of the Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics at the Institute for Basic Sciences at Sungkyunkwan University, and Park Inkyu, head professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, shared their insights with VIRs Hoang Minh about Vietnams advantages in developing the semiconductor industry, as well as trends in the industry that the nation should pursue.
WATERLOO --- Police have arrested one person in relation to a Saturday evening shooting that sent one person to the hospital.

Jasper Cornelius Winters, 41, was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm. Bond hasnt been set as of Sunday morning.

Details, including the identity and condition of the person who was shot, werent available, but police said it appears he will survive the injuries.

Waterloo police and paramedics were called to a report of a shooting at an automotive shop at 2612 Texas St. shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Police allege Winters was in possession of an AR-15 rifle used in the shooting.

Earlier report

WATERLOO  One person was taken to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound following an incident at an automotive garage Saturday afternoon.

Details werent immediately available, but Waterloo police and paramedics were called to a report of a person will a bullet wound at 2612 Texas St. shortly after 5 p.m.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The name and condition of the person havent been released.

The investigation is continuing.

Gun control legislation that passed and failed over the last 20 years Gun control legislation that passed and failed over the last 20 years Tiahrt Amendment Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act District of Columbia v. Heller Expanded background checks Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2014 Homemade Firearms Accountability Act Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Criminalizing straw purchasing and gun trafficking Enhanced background checks 72 hour waiting period for those on terrorist watch lists Help End Assault Rifle Tragedies Act Preventing violent juvenile offenders from gun ownership Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2017 Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act Handgun Safety Trigger Act Required Background Checks Bipartison bumpstock ban Closing the Charleston loophole Universal background checks
No criminal charges will be filed after four newborn babies found frozen and in shoe boxes wrapped in tin foil inside a freezer in a Boston apartment, officials have determined.

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden released the final investigative report on the case earlier this week.

The babies were found in 2022 in a freezer in a south Boston apparent owned by Alexis Aldamir. A man called the police after making the gruesome discovery while cleaning out his sister's apartment.

Two of the babies were male and two were female. Investigators determined they were all full-term with their umbilical cords still attached. DNA tests revealed the babies were full siblings.

The autopsy found no signs of internal or external trauma and no evidence of obvious injuries. There were no signs of food, or milk, or formula inside the babies' stomachs.

The medical examiner found the cause of death for all the babies to be "undetermined," and could not definitively determine whether the babies had been born alive.

Aldamir, 69, purchased the South Boston apartment in October 1983. Investigators tracked her to a residential healthcare facility. Based on a DNA sample she is the mother of all four babies.

But when questioned about the babies, Aldamir appeared confused and demonstrated a lack of understanding about where she was and who she was speaking to, officials said, though she had once worked in a Boston accounting firm.

The biological father of the babies was also identified, but he died in 2011.Investigators also determined that Aldamir gave birth to a baby girl in April 1982. The birth certificate listed Alexis Aldamir as the mother but did not include the father's name.

The two had a fifth child that was given up for adoption, said officials.

In explaining why no charges were being filed in the case, Hayden said there needed to be evidence that the victims were alive before their deaths, and a cause of death determined by the medical examiner. The autopsy found no signs of internal or external trauma to the babies and no evidence of obvious injuries, he noted.

Aldamir also appeared to be incapable of withstanding or understanding a trial.

Officials cannot "ethically move forward with a case that, in good faith, it believes it cannot bring to trial," said a statement from the prosecutor's office.

Hayden called the investigation "one of the most complex, unusual and perplexing that this office has ever encountered." It's "now complete," he said. "While we have some answers, there are many elements of this case that will likely never be answered," Hayden added.

"We will never know exactly where or when the four babies found in Alexis Aldamir's apartment were born. We will never know if the four babies were born alive, and we will never know exactly what happened to them. We will never know how Alexis Aldamir concealed her pregnancies, or why she chose to do so," he said.
The last of four zebras on the run for almost six days in Washington state has been safely captured.

Regional Animal Services of King County announced the final zebra, named Shug, was rounded up on Friday.

The tiny herd escaped from a trailer on I-90 near North Bend on April 28. The first of three of them were quickly captured after the crew trotted along the highway, causing traffic tieups.

The owner was moving the zebras from Winlock, Washington, to Anaconda, Montana, when she stopped just off I-90 to fix a problem with the trailer. When she went to secure the trailer, the four zebras bolted.

They'll now all be be transported to Montana.

Shug roamed the foothills of the Cascades for days. Residents occasionally spotted it running through the area.

Private citizens joined with animal control officers to rescue the zebra on Friday evening. She appeared to be in good condition.
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

Bern, 05.05.2024 - Message from President Viola Amherd to mark Europe Day, Sunday, 5 May 2024.

This year's Europe Day marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe. It was set up to rebuild our continent after the devastation of the Second World War, and today we can say that it has been a success. It was also thanks to the Council of Europe that democracy, human rights and the rule of law were re-established and more firmly anchored in Europe. In view of increasing authoritarian tendencies, its work is just as urgently needed today as it has been in the past.



That is why Switzerland plays an active part in the Council of Europe. Although our country was not a member from the outset when it was founded on 5 May 1949, it did join soon after in 1963. In submitting its candidature for the office of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Switzerland is reaffirming its commitment to the institution and thus to a rules-based, democratic and peaceful Europe. We will soon be celebrating another anniversary in Switzerland's relations with the Council of Europe, as it is almost 50 since Switzerland ratified the European Convention on Human Rights on 28 November 1974. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg monitors compliance with the Convention, which guarantees fundamental rights such as the right to life, the prohibition of torture and the right to a fair trial. It also provides a judicial control mechanism. Anyone who claims that their rights under the Convention have been violated can apply to the Strasbourg Court after exhausting domestic remedies. This has created an area in Europe in which the rights of many millions of people are protected. Recently, the Court ruffled feathers with its ruling on Switzerlands climate policy. The federal government is currently examining what lessons need to be learnt from the ruling. In the medium and long term, the rights enjoyed by every single person in Switzerland and the standing of the rule of law across the continent are more important than individual rulings.



Our continent is one of the smallest, its share of the world's population is declining, as is its share of the global economy. Furthermore, Russias war (of aggression) against Ukraine poses a particular threat to our security and prosperity. If we, as Europeans, are eager for our political, economic and social model to retain its influence and serve as inspiration to the world, it is imperative that we call to mind the lessons from the past. That means being committed to defending the values that Europe has played a key role in shaping: democracy, the rule of law, human rights and social balance. At the Reykjavik Summit in 2023, the countries of the Council of Europe reaffirmed this core mission, discussed the impact of new technologies on democratic processes and gave the organisation fresh political impetus with their decisions  just in time for its 75th anniversary. So today, with a look back and a look forward, is also an occasion for self-confidence and optimism: even the most difficult situations can give rise to something promising for the future, as the founding of the Council of Europe in 1949 proved. So today, looking both to the past and to the future, is also a day for self-confidence and optimism, because even the most difficult situations can give rise to promising projects for the future, just like the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949.

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Bernard Hill, known for roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, died Sunday at the age of 79.

His agent Lou Coulson confirmed the news to BBC.

Hill played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic and King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings.

He was scheduled to appear at a comic-book event in Liverpool on Saturday but canceled per a statement from the convention.

Were heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hills passing, the post read. A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time and wishing them a lot of strength.

Were heartbroken to hear the news of Bernard Hills passing. A great loss. Thinking of his family at this very sad time, and wishing them a lot of strength. pic.twitter.com/5kdMqz7pS5  Comic Con Liverpool (@comconliverpool) May 5, 2024

Hill had been working on the police drama The Responder, which will begin airing its second season on BBC One on Sunday.

Director Lindsay Salt paid tribute to him on Sunday, writing, Bernard Hill blazed a trail across the screen, and his long-lasting career filled with iconic and remarkable roles is a testament to his incredible talent, per The Hollywood Reporter

His breakout role was in BBC TV drama Boys from the Blackstuff, where he portrayed Yosser Hughes, a character who struggled - and often failed - to cope with unemployment in Liverpool.

Tributes to Hill have been coming in since the news of his death broke.

Writing on X, Scottish musician Barbara Dickson said he was a really marvellous actor, adding: It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.

Its with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975. A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x#bernardhill pic.twitter.com/UPVDCo3ut8  Barbara Dickson (@BarbaraDickson) May 5, 2024

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
Authorities are investigating a Tuscaloosa County shooting early Sunday that killed one man and injured three other people.

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Capt. Jack Kennedy said the shooting happened about 1 a.m. at a home in the 1300 block of 58th Street East.

Kennedy said the gunfire stemmed from an altercation. No additional information has yet been released.

The three surviving victims injuries are not life-threatening, he said.

The incident was one of two Alabama shootings in Sundays predawn hours that end in death and multiple injuries.

Shortly after 2 a.m., one person was killed and five others wounded outside the Shell gas station on Birminghams busy Third Avenue West.

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
Twin 3-year-old girls drowned in their family's backyard pool in Phoenix despite their dad's desperate efforts to revive them.

Firefighters raced to the home and arrived in less than three minutes after getting a 911 call around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, local TV station ABC15 reported.

"We had a father on scene attempting to do CPR on both children," Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade told reporters after the tragedy. "You can imagine what that would look like and how taxing that would be."

The toddlers were rushed to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead.

On Friday, police identified the little girls as Valentina and Penelope Ruiz. Detectives are continuing to investigate.

"Preliminary information suggests that this incident is consistent with an accidental drowning," police Sgt. Rob Scherer said in a statement. "At this time, there is nothing that investigators have found that appears suspicious.
More than 150 shots erupted outside a west Birmingham business early Sunday, leaving one man dead and six others injured.

The shooting was one of two in Alabama overnight that ended in death and multiple injuries. One person was killed and three others hurt in Tuscaloosa County.

Police identified the victim as David Isaiah Westbrook, 24, of Wartrace, Tennessee.

Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, North and West Precinct officers began receiving Shot Spotter alerts in the 700 block and 800 block of Third Avenue West. The location is the always-busy area surrounding Shell, Burger King, Auto Zone and Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers.

Officers arrived on the scene in the 700 block of Third Avenue West in front of Auto Zone and found a sedan that had crashed into a utility pole. Inside that vehicle they found an adult male unresponsive.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead inside the car.

The scene was chaotic, police said, and as officers began to try to sort out what happened, they learned multiple vehicles had been hit by gunfire, as well as at least one nearby business  Boston Fish Supreme.

911 dispatchers began updating officers on the scene that multiple gunshot wound victims were showing up at area hospitals.

BFRS transported one person who was found unresponsive in the Shell station parking lot to UAB Hospital. His injuries are life-threatening, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Two men showed up by private vehicle at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Their gunshot injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Two more wounded men also showed at UAB Hospitals emergency room. Their injuries are also not life-threatening.

Then, about 10:30 a.m., police were notified yet another victim showed up wounded at Princeton. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Fitzgerald said detectives and officers believe the bulk of the shooting happened at Shell. Blood and multiple shell casings were found in the parking lot there.

Officers taking part in Operation Knight Rider  a special detail that has been targeting exhibition driving and street racing  were working details in the area and responded to the crime scene.

One group of Knight Rider officers took a potential suspect into custody near the scene when he was spotted with a gun. A second Knight Rider team took another man into custody who was armed and running.

The second person was arrested closer to Fourth Court West, Fitzgerald said.

They were in the act of tossing guns, he said.

Were still working to determine what started the shooting, Fitzgerald said.

We dont know how many shooters, he said. We know this area is always busy and it is a festive weekend  Cinco de Mayo - and we just think people were out because it was a nice Saturday night and something happened that led to over 150 rounds fired.

Fitzgerald said they believe there were multiple shooters.

Just two years ago  April 25, 2022  a similar shooting happened in the same location, also with more than 100 shots fired.

One person was killed  19-year-old Davion Hickley  and three others injured.

Brighton police and Jefferson County sheriffs deputies were later at Hickleys funeral having received word that someone was going to shoot up the church where the funeral was being held, which was on April 30 , 2022, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. A Birmingham man was arrested after authorities said he tried to run over police who were keeping watch over Hickleys funeral.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Fitzgerald and other police officials met Hickleys mother at One Heart in the Park, an event commemorating crime victims.

This scene hurts, Fitzgerald said, talking about meeting Hickleys mother. Having met her and seeing how that shooting affected her and here we are, two years late in the exact same scenario and heres another family that has to deal with the loss of a loved one as a result of the chaos of the 800 block of Third Avenue West.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

This story was updated at 11 a.m. after police were notified a seventh shooting victim showed up at a Birmingham hospital.
One man died and another was injured Saturday night in Franklin County after an ATV overturned at a curve in the road, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The accident threw both men from the vehicle, a Polaris Explorer. Russellville resident Joarthur C. McDonald, 37, died in the accident, according to a news release.

Another Russellville man, 23-year-old Colby B. Hamm, sustained injuries in the accident and was transported to Russellville Hospital for treatment.

The crash happened at around 8:45 p.m. about 5 miles east of Russellville, on Franklin 78 near McCulough Road. Officers from ALEA continue to investigate the crash.
In response to a crucial lack of sexual assault kits available in one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama, one hospital system is developing a formalized Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program for Baldwin County.

Currently, it is nearly impossible to get a sexual assault kit in Baldwin County  previous AL.com reporting found that there are no SANEs working at any hospital in the county that more than 253,000 people call home.
The anti-Israel protesters at our college campuses are the latest in a troubling trend line across our institutions of higher learning. My boys are only a few years away from college, and I cannot imagine sending what amounts to a nice annual salary to these institutions who have so effectively prepared the next generation for self-absorbed navel gazing.

I am the beneficiary of an excellent education, and I remember when it truly began.

In high school in Tennessee, I consumed the entire list of approved books for the semester, and I was looking for more. An intellectually creative teacher at my private Christian school gave me a copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance like it was contraband. Somewhere along the classical and romantic understanding of a motorcycle, intellectual imitation suddenly gave way to independent thought.

I was free.

At Washington and Lee University, my professors again challenged my views on faith, ethics, and truth. They forced me into a blender of ideas from Horace, Locke, Cicero, the Apostle Paul, Kant, and so many other great minds. My instructors were far more interested in my intellectual growth than graduating an indoctrinated clone of their making. From there, I passionately debated my professors at the University of Alabama School of Law in classes like Race, Racism, and the Law, Gender and the Law, and Antitrust Law. Once youve seen the unlawful tying arrangement in International Salt Co., youre never quite the same again.

The educational investments in my life have paid unimaginable dividends, but, to borrow from Hamlet, something is rotten in the state of America. The institutions which developed me have given way to ordained ways of thinking.

Ironically, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance addresses this sickness. [The instructor] had wanted his students to become creative by deciding for themselves what was good writing instead of asking him all the time  But now this made no sense. If they already knew what was good and bad, there was no reason for them to take the course in the first place. As it turns out, teaching people to think is much more difficult than simply telling them what to do.

Higher education has, in so many instances, fallen into the trap of authoritarian, didactic teaching. Instead of challenging and opening minds, weve affirmed a self-righteous orthodoxy where certain viewpoints are affirmed and others are discouraged. In one instance after another, weve witnessed our intellectual elites attempt to drown out those who disagree with chants and shrieks as if to say their personal views are above question.

The context for learning has also changed over the last few decades.

Where once colleges and universities functioned as the gatekeepers of advanced knowledge, access to such information is now available to the masses at little or no cost. Want to learn computer programming? Go right ahead. Curious about advanced mathematics? You can explore abstract algebra on YouTube. Theology, philosophy, and history are a click away. From the practical to the theoretical, knowledge is available for anyone who wants it.

But higher education is more than simply acquiring more information. It is an opportunity for us to develop as individuals and build a network of our peers.

Development comes from resistance and challenge, not affirmation. Paul Gregory, James Mahon, Miriam Carlisle, Bill Brewbaker, Bryan Fair, and so many more of my instructors understood this vital principle. The strategic discomfort they imposed on me taught me to defend my views and also admit when I was wrong.

Intellectual curiosity demands the possibility that our views are fallible. Its humbling. It creates the opportunity to listen and exchange ideas. Without it, we become the closed-minded zealots parading about college campuses today.

Zealots struggle to build relationships across demographic and cultural divides. My friends and classmates from every level of my education represent an extremely diverse group of people connected by the common bond of our shared experiences. I recently watched a video of students at UCLA denying their classmates access to parts of campus if they werent in solidarity with the current protest. If I had self-selected my peer group in college to those who affirmed my views, my current existence would be radically impoverished.

If colleges and universities arent necessary for knowledge transfer, are failing to develop intellectually resilient Americans, and are self-segregating along ideological lines, can higher education be saved?

Yes, but we need nothing short of a complete overhaul.

Excellent instructors are tilting against the higher education windmills because financial incentives are misaligned. Brilliant teachers may not be the best researchers and vice versa. Higher education suffers from a radical imbalance between the two disciplines.

Research brings in massive dollars from federal agencies and private foundations. Occasionally, academics in technology, medicine, or another scientific field discover something that changes our way of life. Most academic research does not advance the frontiers of human knowledge. In fact, most humans dont know it exists. Thats irrelevant because the paper is grist for the economic mill of publication. The scales are so tilted away from actual teaching that its no wonder were witnessing encampments that look like something from Lord of the Flies.

After refocusing on teaching, we must reintroduce intellectual diversity as a chief good. Oddly, so many of our best universities have ensconced demographic diversity while producing an intellectual monoculture. Humans are so much more than our biological characteristics, sexual engagements, and political preferences. We are presently witnessing many institutions of intellectual comfort that are physically unsafe. Our future depends on returning to academic instruction that is physically safe and intellectually uncomfortable.

My four sons are quickly approaching the time for them to make decisions about continuing their education. I suspect their academic chautauqua will look different than mine. My hope is that there are still enough professors who will open their minds, lift their souls, and challenge them to become wise men of character. Perhaps the process will instill enough humility that they lift their eyes from their own navels to truth much greater than themselves.

Smith is a recovering political attorney with four boys, two dogs, a bearded dragon, and an extremely patient wife. Hes a partner in a media company, a business strategy wonk, and a regular on talk radio. Please direct outrage or agreement to csmith@al.com or @DCameronSmith on X or @davidcameronsmith on Threads.
This is an opinion column.

If passed by the Alabama Senate in the waning hours of the current legislative session and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, HB-210 should be filed under fixing our own mistake or cleaning up our own mess.

Its a fat filestuffed with bills passed that are often a thoughtless solution in search of a perceived, though non-existent problem or a short-sighted, fear-driven, mean-spirited measure created to mollify short-sighted, fear-driven, mean-spirited constituents.

Bills that often evoke unintended consequences. Consequences good for no one. Consequences bad for the state.

Thirteen years ago this month, then-Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law the gawdawful HB-56, anti-brown people legislation borne of the xenophobic notion that immigrantsspecifically brown, undocumented immigrantsare ruining America. That they should not be availed the unalienable rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence.

That they should not be able to pursue happiness. Not in Alabama.

The law originally allowed police to culturally profile anyone during a traffic stop they suspected of being undocumentedYour papers, please! It prohibited anyone, anyone, from giving a ride (or renting) to an undocumented immigrant, made it illegal for employers to hire anyone they suspected of being undocumented, prohibited undocumented immigrants from applying for work, and required school officials to ascertain a students legal statusas if educators didnt have enough to do in simply educating students.

Let those inane actions overwhelmingly supported and celebrated by Republican lawmakers, likely over margaritas on Cinco de Mayomarinate for a moment.

Some of the egregious provisions were eradicated in 2013 with the settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by the Southern Poverty Law Center and other civil rights organizations.

Yet many remained, including this doozy: Undocumented immigrants were prohibited from attending state community colleges or four-year universities. Now, mind you, they could attend and graduate from our K-12 schools but if they dared aspire to a higher level of education: Adios. Not in Alabama.

As is it with so many laws that emerge from a party dead-set on targeting what (or whom) it doesnt understand or agree with, no one apparently considered the real-world impact of this provision: Brain drain. Young people educated in our schools bolted our state to attend a college and university elsewhere, often in Mississippi or Georgia.

Never to return, more than likely. Why would they?

Alabama lawmakers fed, unintentionally, of course, a lamentable trend that sees Alabama among the worst states in retaining our best and brightesthigh-achieving graduates and skilled adults, according to a report from Congresss Joint Economic Committee. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) launched RETAIN ALABAMA after finding, in 2021, that 43.2 percent of students attending four-year colleges in the state were either likely (as opposed to very likely) or unlikely to remain in the state after graduating. Nearly a fourth (23%) said they were outta here after flipping their tassel.

While the findings and ACHEs efforts target college grads, HB-56 ensured the best and brightest brown high-school graduates would not even attend college in Alabama if they were undocumented.

Now, with the state experiencing record-low, among-worst-in-the-nation, workforce participation, lawmakers may finally clean up their mess and offer our undocumented best and brightest an opportunity to excel. Right here. In Alabama.

HB210 by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road would allow undocumented residents to go to matriculate at a state college or university if they attended high school for at least three years and graduated or earned a GED certificate or its equivalency. With a caveat: They must be applying for lawful presence in the United States.

The bill passed the House 89-10 and is snailing towards a still-possible Senate vote after passing out of committee earlier this week.

Yes, 10 esteemed representatives still want to bar brown undocumented high-school graduates from attending a public college in our state after weve invested in educating them.

Adios. Not in Alabama.

Im a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary. My column appears on AL.com, as well as the Lede. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.
An all new episode of When Calls the Heart will premiere on the Hallmark Channel Sunday, May 5 at 9/8c.

During episode five of the new season, Hickam and Lee clash with the mayor of Benson Hills, while Gowen suggests a solution with huge implications for the town.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Nathan clear up a misunderstanding.

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.
The National Weather Service issued a report at 5:01 p.m. on Sunday for strong thunderstorms until 5:30 p.m. for Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence and Morgan counties.

Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

"At 5:01 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles southwest of Cherokee to near Moulton. Movement was northeast at 20 mph," says the weather service. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects."

Locations impacted by the alert include Decatur, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Russellville, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Moulton, Trinity, Town Creek and Cherokee.

The weather service adds, "If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways."

Staying safe as lightning approaches: Expert advice

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

1. Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it's crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.

Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's an indication that lightning is nearby.

Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

2. Indoors safety measures:

Once you're indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.

These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

3. Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn't available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.

Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.

If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.

Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.

Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of rapid water flow:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Visibility matters:

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don't follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Im old. So old that I still believe that classic Western liberalism is the best system for assuring prosperity and peace, and authoritarianism, particularly of a theocratic nature, is a disastrous governance style. Watching the encampments and riots on college campuses, I see that too many young people have missed this lesson and instead support violent, barbaric, theocratic authoritarianism. I think these participants are not representative of a majority of students or voters and that the weak responses of some universities bode ill for their futures. Moreover, I think the Administrations failure to act on the side of Western civilization is seriously damaging President Bidens reelection prospects, indeed, the prospects for the Democratic party itself. In the absence of a federal response, private litigation is likely to prove particularly damaging to those who have funded and encouraged or tolerated these campus outrages.

Several lawsuits are in the works. At least three have already been filed. The most significant was a suit filed in Virginia this week alleging that the National Students for Justice in Palestine coordinated with Hamas, an organization federally listed as a terrorist organization, to orchestrate these campus attacks. The suit claims that NSJP has effectively become the campus arm of Hamas and is directly aiding and abetting the terror group on American colleges and facilitating the conditions necessary for Hamas to continue carrying out acts of terror and the holding of hostages, including American nationals. If successful, the lawsuit would permanently shut down NSJP and American Muslims for Palestine, a reincarnation of a previous outfit that provided material support for Hamas.

The complaint suggests that the defendants in the case just filed are carrying on in the same ways of the Holy Land Foundation before HLF, along with five of its leaders, were found guilty in a federal court at Dallas of providing material support to Hamas. They were convicted and sent to prison for, in two cases, 65 years. At the time, the assistant attorney general for national security said that the sentences should serve as a strong warning to anyone who knowingly provides financial support to terrorists under the guise of humanitarian relief. The Sun asks Mr. Ostrovsky: What happens if SJP is determined to be a terrorist arm of Hamas? The ramifications would be extraordinarily wide-ranging, he says. First and foremost, it would shut them down once and for all. They would not be allowed to operate in the United States, including campuses. They could not fundraise. It would be illegal to be affiliated with them. There are many other consequences, but there [sic] are a few of the main ones.

Two significant lawsuits related to these campus outrages are directed at Northwestern University. In the first, brought by three students, the university is charged with breach of contract.

...alleging that the university violated its duty to abide by its own policies by allowing a climate of antisemitism on its campus. Attorneys from the Chicago-based Much Shelist, P.C., who brought the suit in Cook Countys circuit court on Wednesday, wrote in the filing that the plaintiffs expected Northwestern to fulfill a modest core promise it made to them and all other similarly situated, tuition-paying students: the conduct of your student peers and faculty will be governed by rules, and  once you enroll  you will be free to safely move about and avail yourself of our beautiful campus in accordance with those rules. Rather than conduct the business of the campus in accordance with the clear rules of conduct that everyone signed up for, the attorneys wrote, Northwestern ignored those rules, opting instead to facilitate, encourage, and coddle a dystopia cesspool of hate in the schools lush green center, Deering Meadow.

In the second suit against the school, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) charges that it violated Title VI, contending that the universitys concession to the protestors to award nearly $1.9 million in full-ride scholarships, faculty positions, and student-organization space to Palestinian students and staff violates Title VIs prohibition against discrimination.

Vic Bernson, Vice President and General Counsel for YAF, stated, What Northwestern is doing here is completely pathetic. Its a perfect encapsulation of the infantile DEI mindset in action: those committing illegal acts and spewing antisemitic bile are justified, so lets not challenge them but instead give them everything they want and theyll go away. But it never works that way, does it? Appease awful people making awful demands, and theyll always respond by demanding even more. This is pure cowardice and lunacy, and YAF will fight back with every fiber of our being. Additional Background: On April 29, 2024, University officials entered into an agreement with anti-Israel demonstrators occupying a space on campus called Deering Meadow. The officials involved in the agreement are University President Michael Schill, Provost Kathleen Hagerty, and Vice President Susan Davis. Under the agreement, the University promised to provide the full cost of attendance for five Palestinian undergraduates to attend Northwestern for the duration of their undergraduate careers. The agreement also provides funding two faculty per year for two years, with the provision that these faculty will be Palestinian faculty. Finally, the University promises to provide immediate temporary space for MENA/Muslim students. MENA is an acronym for Middle Eastern and North African individuals. Our Legal Grounds: As a recipient of federal funds, the University is subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. By providing nearly $1.9 million in scholarships, two faculty positions, and immediate temporary space based on an individuals status as Palestinian or MENA, the University is intentionally discriminating against non-Palestinian or non-MENA individuals on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. As the United States Supreme Court recently held in a case applying Title VI, race and national origin may never operate as a negative or a stereotype. Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 600 U.S. 181, 218 (2023). Discrimination in favor of Palestinians or MENA individuals is, in turn, discrimination against individuals not within those categories and is therefore illegal under federal law. [/quote]

I think it safe to assume that more lawsuits will be filed against more colleges and universities in the coming weeks.

Wretchard T. Cat is correct: not every university response has been identical.

One of the encouraging things about the university response to pro-Hamas protesters has been its variety depending on the state, socio-economic composition of the student body, degree of eliteness etc. of the campus. This indicates a learning response, and adaptive strategy. This is why American society is much more resilient than it might seem. Subsidiary decision making is much more effective than a centralized state response. This is not immediately obvious but quite significant. The responses of the individual colleges, including the ivies, have been far less canned than the protesters, who dress alike, sound alike and think alike. Faced with the frat boy attack, Harvard's 3 foot fence, the water sprinkler defense they could find no answer.

Nevertheless, too many of the affected colleges and universities have failed in their mission to protect a safe learning environment for their students. The reasons are many, including reliance on foreign donations, particularly from Hamas-supporting Qatar, faculty rolls stuffed with anti-American and anti-Israeli ideologues, the DEI staff and humanities departments opposition to Jews and Israel, the large number of full-freight paying foreign students who do not share Western values, and the always present faculty and administrative psychological inability to handle conflict.

Still, it seems clear to me that the continued Camp Intifada ruckus and outrageous behavior are seriously damaging not only the Administrations planned student debt relief but also the presidents reelection and the fate of his party. Rasmussen Reports notes that Trump has widened his lead over Biden by ten points (46% to 36%), and the plan to have Trump jailed on one of the numerous baloney cases recedes even further. (Among other things, Judge Aileen Cannon this week unredacted material in the Mar-a-Largo documents case showing prosecution coordination with the White House, DoJ, and NARA, and the Jack Smith team was forced to a tardy admission it had tampered with the evidence.)

My favorite senator, John Kennedy, nailed it when criticizing the Presidents response to anti-Israel demonstrations on American college campuses.

JOHN KENNEDY: It should not go unnoticed that President Biden has the ability to stop all of this on a dime. All he's got to do is call the college presidents and say, look, if you don't get control of your campuses, I'm going to withhold your federal money. The president hasn't done that. The moral of the story is you're never... too old to suck. The reason he hasn't done that is because of politics. CNN just came out with a poll. It said that 52% of likely voters in America will not vote for President Biden under any circumstance, any circumstances... They would vote for the guy who salts the fries at McDonald's before they would vote for President Biden, and the White House knows this, so they're scared to alienate the not insubstantial, Hamas wing of the Democratic Party. [] What you allow is what will continue. If you allow these jackwagons on the college campuses to continue to do what they're doing, they're going to continue to do what they're doing.

The College Democrats of America have stated their support for the anti-Israeli protestors.

As if to underscore the Administrations cluelessness and incompetence, the Department of Education called a high-level conference on antisemitism on Friday, only notifying participants at the last moment that far-left groups that supported the campus protests had been invited to participate. The Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of North America, Hillel International, the Orthodox Union, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations withdrew, as they should have. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, White House domestic adviser Neera Tanden, and other senior officials who were representing Biden in this outreach are responsible for this perfectly predictable public-relations pratfall.

Image: MichaelRamirez.com
Watching these pro-Hamas riots taking place on some of Americas most pampered and privileged college campuses feels a lot like ripping off a dirty bandage only to discover that the foul-smelling flesh is teeming with gangrene. I know that most of the countrys esteemed academic institutions traded intellectual vitality for vapid political correctness many years ago, but still, students waging violent jihad in support of Israels destruction are a gut-wrenching sight. These are the same youthful, useless idiots who are always banging on about banning hate speech, yet the words coming out of their mouths are vile, offensive, and crude. How can a sane person denounce hate while effusing nothing but hate? I want to grab a literature major by the collar and point out the irony, but Im no longer convinced the youngest among us know how to read.

They certainly know little of history. They dont even know who their friends and enemies are. On every campus partaking in a bit of Islamic revolution these days, there is always some contingent of Pronoun People expressing solidarity with Hamas terrorists. These are the same violent Islamicists who proudly display copies of Mein Kampf, think Hitler was a swell guy, and routinely throw homosexuals off the roofs of small buildings (chosen so that victims experience maximum pain before succumbing to their injuries). Western Marxists have spent the last century banding disparate groups of people together under the same rickety, intersectional umbrella in order to maximize political power, but what kind of self-hating prog thinks zeir/their/its future is aligned with bloodthirsty barbarians who believe torturing gays is a moral imperative? Thats like a herd of cows yucking it up with the rail yardmen on their way to the slaughterhouse.

Whats the theory of the case here? That after sufficiently indoctrinating Americas kindergartners with transgender drag shows and pornographic story hours, bearded men wearing skimpy dresses will be able to turn their attention to the Middle East and hug the violence out of some of the most vicious killers on the planet? Do the privileged children of the Ivy League really find common cause with monsters who decapitate babies and rape women as part of their battle strategy? Is there truly no atrocity so horrific that it might get a member of the intersectional coalition kicked out for sheer depravity? For 1,400 years, Islam has made two things abundantly clear: (1) it is not a religion of peace, and (2) it has no interest in modernizing. I hope the hundred-pound, non-binary, climate apocalypse major wearing Rainbow sandals while protesting against Western colonialism doesnt have to find that out the hard way. Yet I get the feeling a lot of these undereducated but over-pedigreed fools wont learn to run away from Islamic fundamentalism until they are literally running from men with bloody blades eager to end their lives. Slow brains will need fast feet.

It is surreal listening to some of the interviews coming from these campus communists. They hate Israel. They hate America and everything she represents. They hate Western civilization. And they hate Christians. Thats a lot of hate for people who claim to fight hatred. Meanwhile, theyre studying at $100K-a-year American schools that were founded by Christians who developed a pedagogy based upon 3,000 years of Western intellectual achievements! Isnt attending a school that you find doctrinally repulsive kind of like running into a brick wall and screaming at the bricks?

At least these Islamic terrorists-in-training arent asking for much from their universities in return for the promise of peace. Ive seen a few lists that include things as innocuous as strobe lights, rope, zip ties, wound-packing gauze, tourniquets, trauma shears, helmets, shields, wood, goggles, utility gloves, and protective pads. Kinkier demands include dental dams, Plan B, HIV tests, and Vaseline. All of these adorable insurgents are hungry for vegan and gluten-free food. Oh, yeah, and they all insist that Israel must be annihilated. So, appeasing faculties just need to provide students with weapons, sexual toys, socially conscious dining options, and a little genocide. That seems reasonable. A couple satirists found enough inspiration to produce a glorious update to a classic song: Hello Muddah, hello Faddah / I have joined Camp Intifada.

I have never understood the campus protester whose first order of business  after admission and opening convocation  is to run to University Hall and tell the welcoming administrators just how awful they and their academic institution really are. Ive always thought a competent faculty would simply step outside whatever building is being barricaded and besieged, gather the names of students in attendance, cashier their rears, and fill their newly opened spots from the list of heartbroken applicants who were originally denied admission. Nobody should be forced to matriculate at a place that is apparently so bad that it requires student occupation, and no college should feel compelled to enroll students who wish to burn it down. Yet apparently a great number of professors and students believe it is logical to use their time together not learning and researching but rather destroying parts of campus, toppling historic statues of long-deceased founders, and demanding that tuition dollars be sent to ISIS offshoots in the Middle East. It seems to me that such likeminded teachers and students are close-minded activists and rigid demagogues feigning to be free thinkers and honest intellectuals. As such, they serve no purpose in a classroom.

Worse than that, academia has turned into quite the hotbed of tenured racists looking to terrorize Americans for their personal beliefs. A Georgetown professor was caught on video calling Representative Byron Donalds  a black Republican from Florida  an Uncle Tom and race traitor for taking a stand against anti-Semitism on college campuses. When a distinguished Jesuit institution and the oldest Catholic university in the United States includes on its faculty a man of such mediocre intellect that he must resort to abusive racial slurs, then reasonable people should seriously question whether higher education deserves to be saved. Perhaps the noblest thing that thinking people can do is let Americas university system implode before burying its remains in an unmarked grave as unceremoniously as it deserves. It is certainly true that no cretin who stigmatizes others for the color of their skin deserves the lingering respect attached to the title of professor. No wonder college campuses have become breeding grounds for violent extremism.

As for the student jihadists who spend so much of their time in school threatening other students, Id send them all packing. If these totalitarian tots had any principles more substantial than their narcissistic need to take virtue-signaling selfies, theyd ditch Club College for some real world experience in a land that is more hospitable to their anti-American fervor. I hear Iran is offering full scholarships for vocal Jew-haters these days. Hop to, boys and girls  er, I mean, genderless molecular compounds compelled by deterministic, cosmological forces devoid of moral conscience or free will  nows your chance to get an anti-imperialist education from the best Death to America faculty on the planet. Just remember, though, when you disobey the mullahs, you dont get expelled; you get publicly hanged. Best to contemplate that troublesome fact before explaining to the rest of the class that youre pansexual, have unique pronouns, and require a safe space. Theocratic regimes arent real big on individuals living their truth. Dont get me wrong. Iran is definitely pro-choice: theres the mullahs way or violent death  you get to choose. But hey, at least before youre beheaded or set on fire for speaking out of turn or showing too much ankle, you wont have to worry about that awful Western patriarchy, amirite?

Image via Pexels.
Seventy years ago in 1954, immigration authorities created a mass deportation program in the face of out-of-control intrusions at our southern border. Then, like now, the gravity of the problem called for a dramatic policy response. Unlike now, the federal government rapidly responded, creating a system of roaming deportation parties concentrated on border-area factories and farms, netting tens of thousands of illegals in its first few days. The model, which would establish Border Patrol and ICE as we know them today, would later be dubbed, Operation Wetback.

Intensely reviled by the globalist Left even to this day, the program is recurringly attacked in mainstream outlets and scholarly journals as yet another blot on Americas trail-of-tears history. As something of an immigration scholar myself, one of the better examples of academic treatment Ive come across is a 2006 paper from UCLA African-American Studies professor, Kelly Lytle Hernandez. As she shows, Operation Wetback offers plenty of guidance on how to deal with the current border invasion, especially in reclaiming deportations and border control as essential to both receiving and source countries alike.

No doubt surprisingly to some, Prof. Hernandez writes in the piece that cross-border research [into the program] transforms the typically nation-bound and time-bound narrative of Operation Wetback into an unexpected story of evolving binational efforts at migration control -- that is, binational efforts between the U.S. and Mexico such as collaborative deportations, coordinated raids, and shared surveillance. Few would know or at least admit that Operation Wetback was indeed a binational effort and essentially co-created by the Mexican government; such is the degree of disinformation and slanted revisionism of the program. As Hernandez recounts in her piece, due to Mexican agribusiness facing upward wage pressure from what had grown into a mass outflow of domestic laborers by the mid-1940s, Mexican officials met with State and Justice department officials and successfully negotiated for things like an increase in U.S. Border Patrol officers on the border.

Capturing the sentiment on the other side of the border at the time, Hernandez writes: Mexican newspapers, politicians, and activists all tried to convince [would-be illegals] to stay in Mexico remind[ing] them of their duty to participate in the economic development of Mexico by working south of the border. So patriotic, nationally-minded, and focused on curbing the exodus, Mexican officials attempted to directly interrupt illegal labor migration to the United States (think of their simple refusal to deport U.S.-bound migrants today) while some in government even called for turning intransigents among them into forced labor within Mexico. (Emphasis mine).

In response to this emigration crisis, [o]fficials of the two countries rushed memos and agreements back and forth regarding how they could independently and collaboratively control the flow of undocumented Mexican immigration What eventuated was officials in each country publicly announc[ing] that the US Border Patrol would soon launch Operation Wetback On-the-ground cooperation was manifested with officials like U.S. Chief Patrol Inspecter Fletcher Rawls and his Mexican counterpart Alberto Hand of Steel Moreno, who, Hernandez says, showed the expanded possibilities of policing and punishing unsanctioned migration when US and Mexican officers cooperated along the border.

What did the program look like? One of the earliest deportation parties netted a group of illegals over 6,900 in number in McAllen, Texas -- deportations have been as low as 59,000 in the current administration. Apprehensions of deportable aliens quickly rose from 12,000 to 30,000. Later, over 50,000 aliens from central Mexico alone were airlifted home, marking the beginning of what we today call  ICE Air .

As a result, illegals began to avoid intruding into Texas, choosing to go through Californias border instead. In response, immigration authorities delivered our first border wall: 4,500 feet of 10 feet-high chain link fencing (enough to force circumventers to enter dangerous desert lands and mountains). While locals on the Mexican side resisted, Mexican solders were actually deployed to patrol and protect the fence build-up. Mexican authorities even began deploying shaming tactics on their own deported illegals, for instance, by shaving their heads before releasing them back into Mexico.

Today, mass emigration is just as bad for Mexico (and the rest of Latin America) as it was then. Likely more so, in fact. How much would the obscenely fatalistic and kleptocratic narco-state reverse its chronic malaise if the tens of millions of Mexican people who have invaded our own country over the last several decades had actually been forced to stay put and stew in the sea of Mexicos failed policies? In essence, unregulated migration acts like a safety valve that releases pressure off the (usually) corrupt elite of the failed nation in question. Open-borders do-gooders should know that encouraging illegal outflows, rather than hindering them, does much to keep these criminal elites in place.

Mexico, of course, has changed a lot since Operation Wetback, today demanding from us anything but solutions at our border. But, on top of threats of tariffs and border closures , reminding the public on both sides of the border when Mexicos elite showed actual care and commitment for its national future, its government can be pushed to help reverse the armless invasion at our border, as it once did. In honor of such binational cooperative efforts like Operation Wetback, why not start a Fletcher-Moreno Day? Or, rename DHSs headquarters the Fletcher-Moreno building? Such small efforts would, at least, create a constant reminder for top immigration staffers that cross-border illegal-alien flows demand cross-border cooperation and control.

Image: Library of Congress
Three people, including a tenured professor and a graduate student, are challenging a move by the University of Indiana to bar them from returning to campus after they were arrested for participating in pro-Palestinian protests, in a lawsuit they filed over the one-year bans.

Germanic studies associate professor Benjamin Robinson, sociology grad student Madeleine Meldrum and Bloomington, Indiana, resident Jasper Wirtshafter, a university graduate, claim the school violated their First Amendment rights by slapping them with no-trespass orders.

All three were arrested on the school's Bloomington campus during demonstrations that began on April 25, a week after the first wave of arrests at New York City's Columbia University.

Their lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, seeks unspecified damanages and a permanent injunction allowing them to return to the campus' Dunn Meadow to continue protesting there.

Meldrum and Wirtshafter are also seeking preliminary injunctions, but Robinson got a temporary stay of his ban when he filed an appeal, although he missed demonstrations held April 26 through 29, according to court papers.

"He would have attended those protest activities in Dunn Meadow if he had not received the no-trespass order," the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit targets the school's board of trustees and its president, Pamela Whitten.

A university spokesperson declined to comment, citing a police policy against discussing pending litigation, according to the Bloomington Herald-Times.

More than 50 people have been arrested at the school since late last month and some local officials have condemned the state police for posting troopers with "sniper capabilities" on nearby roofs, according to the Indianapolis Star.

The plaintiffs, who are being represented by the ACLU of Indiana, claim that the university's no-trespass orders are a "quintessential example of a prior restraint" that prevent people from "being able to enter the public forum of Dunn Meadow to engage in First Amendment expression."

The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that efforts at prior restraint involving news outlets are unconstitutional except in cases involving immediate threats to national security or incitements to violence, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.

In a prepared statement, the ACLU of Indiana said Dunn Meadow has been Indiana University's "designated free speech area" since 1969.

"Indiana University cannot preemptively ban persons from engaging in this protected expression by prohibiting them from entering Dunn Meadow for a year or more," ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk said in a statement. "Our future ability to engage in speech activities cannot be denied in this way."

In addition to its main Bloomington campus, the setting for the Oscar-winning 1979 movie "Breaking Away," Indiana University has eight other locations across the state, according to its website.
New technologies that will make monitoring drivers' behavior easy and comprehensive  will soon also be mandatory.

H.R. 3684, an infrastructure bill signed by Joe Biden in 2021 included a provision mandating expanded monitoring of folks as they drive an automobile. And henceforth the intrusive technologies will be required in all new vehicles being manufactured and sold in the U.S.

New vehicles will be required to have passive monitoring systems to assess each drivers behavior. An algorithm will determine if the driver is too impaired to operate the vehicle. If so, the vehicle will either be disabled, or some as yet unexplained system or entity will take control of it.

Several obvious questions arise.

What will constitute impairment? Who or what might take control of the vehicle, and in what specific circumstances? And how? How long will data detailing driver behavior be stored? Where? Who will have access to it? In what other situations might the government take control of a drivers vehicle? Is this unconstitutional, contra to protections under the Bill of Rights?

And what about hackers?!

We have seen how other government mandates, programs, and policies, almost all supposedly for our own good, have worked out. Think of the Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA, or the lockdown response to the recent coronavirus pandemic, to name but a few. If you wanted to work out at a gym, attend a family members wedding  or funeral well, sorry.

Is it really far-fetched to imagine that you wont be allowed to drive if you have exceeded your monthly greenhouse gas emission limit? Or that your car might be disabled if you are on your way to purchase a firearm or attend a Trump rally, or the future equivalent thereof?

In places like California, there is already legislation in the works to mandate that car manufacturers equip your vehicle so as to make it literally impossible for a driver to go more than 10 miles-an-hour over the speed limit, regardless of reason or situation. Perhaps the software monitoring program will similarly decide that it doesnt care for the way you brake or change lanes. Or for the talk shows you listen to on the vehicles radio/sound system.

No one defends drunk driving, nor should they. But this is existentially dangerous. Automobiles granted Americans unprecedented freedom and independence. Now Big Brother will use them to spy on citizens and modify their behavior  removing their freedom and independence altogether, along with their privacy.

The relationship between Americans and their cars is long and deep. That those cars will now be used as witnesses against them is chilling, dystopian.

Sadly, in a sense, all of our vehicles going forward will be 1984 models.

Image: PxHere // CC0 public domain
What if Congress spends $17 million to hide sexual harassment and other claims from the public by members and their staff?

That is 130 more times than the $130,000 President Trump paid of his own money for a nuisance lawsuit.

Congress paid out $17 million in settlements. Heres why we know so little about that money.

Two things have become painfully clear on Capitol Hill this week: Lawmakers and staffers say sexual harassment is rampant  but even members of Congress have no idea just how widespread the problem is. The controversial and sensitive issue has taken center stage in Congress this week, with female lawmakers making fresh allegations of sexual harassment against unnamed members who are currently in office, and the unveiling of a new bill on Wednesday to change how sexual harassment complaints are reported and resolved. On Thursday, a woman shared her story of being groped and kissed without her consent by Sen. Al Franken in 2006. So far, theres been little specific data to help illuminate just how pervasive sexual harassment is on Capitol Hill, but one figure has emerged: the total that the Office of Compliance, the office that handles harassment complaints, has paid to victims. On Thursday, the Office of Compliance released additional information indicating that it has paid victims more than $17 million since its creation in the 1990s. That includes all settlements, not just related to sexual harassment, but also discrimination and other cases.

Congress essentially stole $17 million in taxpayer money that we know of, to hide stuff from the public. Which politicians and staff members were sued? We don't know. Most of the media clearly let this theft and coverup slide because they didn't harass Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and other career politicians to tell them the amounts that were paid and for whose benefit. How many of these politicians and staffers are still on the payroll? How serious were the charges? We don't know.

Isn't it great that these powerful politicians who supposedly work for us, think it is none of our business what they do or how many laws they ignore? How would they treat a private company if they hid so much derogatory information?

Here are some other things that most of the media somehow had little curiosity about:

All the women the Clintons whom mentally and physically abused.

The media did not want to see that President Obama was associated with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, had special deals with convicted felon and political fixer Tony Rezko and attended church with radical preacher Reverend Wright. Vetting Obama was unnecessary.

In 2008, they did not care about Joe Biden's record or why he was chased away from previous presidential races. They were too busy destroying Sarah Palin. I thought the media and other Democrats respected and supported all women.

The media didn't care about all the Clinton family kickbacks for access because Hillary Clinton had a powerful government position.

Nor have they cared about the Biden family kickbacks for access because Joe had a powerful government position.

They don't care that Hillary and Joe illegally had classified documents for years and mishandled them, and somehow were not prosecuted.

The media had little interest in who or why Seth Rich, who was a DNC campaign worker, was killed on his way home from work. For some reason, the FBI didn't think the laptop was of any interest and has kept it secret for seven years. Sort of like intentionally hiding the Hunter laptop from the public before the 2020 election.

Can anyone imagine the wall-to-wall coverage if a Trump staffer with a laptop was killed?

Seth Rich's Laptop to Be Turned Over by FBI, Judge Rules Rich, who worked for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), was killed on July 10, 2016, while making his way home from a night out in Washington, D.C. The 27-year-old was speaking to his girlfriend on the phone when shots were heard.

The media certainly didn't care that the only person killed in the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was an unarmed white woman, a veteran. She was killed by a black Capital Police officer.

Think of what the coverage would have been if the killing had happened to a black unarmed person at a violent protest by leftists after Trump won in 2016 or in the violent protests in 2020.

Or what would the coverage be if an officer killed an unarmed pro-Palestine person?

But an unarmed person who supported Trump is killed, and there is no sympathy, little coverage, and no empathy. Some lives are clearly more valuable to the media and other Democrats, especially if it promotes their agenda.

And there will be little to no coverage of Jack Smith's squad tampering with evidence and misleading the courts, just like few cared when FBI agents lied to the FISA courts to illegally spy on people surrounding Trump

After all, the goal for the last eight years is to destroy Trump, and they don't care about his rights.

Special Counsel Jack Smith's Team Confirms It Tampered With Evidence, Admits to Misleading Court

The threats to our democracy (Republic) are power-hungry Democrats, corrupt Justice officials throughout the country, election workers who go around the law, and a complicit media who spend their time campaigning for Democrats and seeking to destroy Trump and other Republicans.

It is certainly not Trump, who wants to give the power, money, and freedom back to the people.

Image: RawPixel // CC0 public domain
The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.  George Orwell

The lamentable success and proliferation of the pro-Hamas rallies, excluding the Muslim participants who are faith-driven, is the outcome of fake history perpetuated in academia and media.

The Balfour Declaration of 1917 deeded the entire land mass of the Palestine Mandate to the Jews with the proviso that the rights of local Arabs would not be violated by the Jews who lived there since Biblical times.

In 1922, the infamous British White Paper bowing to Arab pressure ceded 76 percent -- all the land east of the Jordan River -- to the Hashemites with no historical claim to the land, which was named Trans-Jordan and subsequently the Palestinian state named Jordan, closed to all Jewish settlement. The remaining land west of the Jordan River was to become the Jewish state controlled by the duplicitous British, with ensuing White Papers that limited the immigration of Jews.

The British justified their efforts by the following statement: England  does not want Palestine to become as Jewish as England is English, but, rather, should become a center in which Jewish people as a whole may take, on grounds of religion and race, an interest and a pride.

The bitter irony is that Israel is more Jewish than England is England, now Muslems are well on the way to achieve majority status in that nation.

The resident Jews of Palestine reluctantly accepted the division in spite of murders and terrorist attacks and massacres in 1929 and in the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt punctuated by Jihadist, blood thirsty fulminations by all the Arab nations which coincided with increased harassment and oppression of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who lived in those nations.

By 1939, another White Paper clamped shut the gates of Palestine, effectively trapping Europes desperate Jews and igniting a sustained and vigorous effort for Jewish independence, which culminated with Britains announcement of intent to leave Palestine and refer the issue to the United Nations in 1947.

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly voted 33 to 13 (with ten abstentions) to implement Resolution 181, calling for the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. Absent in all mention of the event is the fact that the Jews had already relinquished three quarters of Palestine.

There would be an Arab state in western Galilee, Acre, Judea and Samaria, a large portion of Jaffa, and the Gaza Strip, and a section of desert along the Egyptian border which included Beersheba, an international Jerusalem, and a Jewish state linked by zigzagging corridors and sausage shaped, virtually indefensible population centers.

The Palestinian Jews, desperate to bring and rehabilitate survivors of the Holocaust accepted the foregoing when they declared their independence in May 1948, but the Arabs declared war against the nascent state. Jordan gained and annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a move recognized only by Pakistan and England. They trashed and desecrated Jewish and Christian sites and limited access to pilgrims and tourists, all in contravention of Resolution 181.

The armistice reached in 1949 was followed by blood-curdling threats from Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt, all threatening rivers of blood and revenge against Jews everywhere. Sound familiar?

In 1967, the military preparations of an axis of Egypt, Syria and Iraq prompted the Six-Day War. Israel repeatedly warned King Hussein of Jordan to remain out of the fray, an offer he refused and joined the Arab axis. Israel won control of the Sinai peninsula, Gaza, the West Bank, Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem.

In an unparalleled conciliatory effort on June 19, 1967, Israel offered to give up the conquered territories in return for peace, recognition and negotiations. The offer was categorically rejected in September by all the Arab League states in the infamous Khartoum Resolution that vowed there would be: "no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel and called for a continued state of belligerence.

Israel restored Jerusalem and Bethlehem with meticulous respect for Christian access, and retained Muslim access to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.

After the destructive war in 1973, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat negotiated with Israel in 1979 and got back the entire Sinai peninsula which represents 90 percent of the acreage Israel won in 1967.

In 2005, Israel surrendered all of Gaza -- including farms, homes, agricultural machinery and greenhouses.

The rest is history. Until the Abraham Accords, the paradigm for peace was territorial concessions by Israel which never brought peace or serious conciliation.

All told, the West Bank and Israel without Gaza cover about 10,600 square miles of land while Jordan is 34,495 miles. The West Bank covers 1,263 square miles, roughly the same size of the King Ranch in Texas which is 1,289 square miles.

The illusion that an independent West Bank can exist at peace with Israel is shattered by the realities of the Hamas attack and Arab response, and geographic reality. The West Bank Arab city Tulkarm is poised on a nine mile corridor from the coast, a tempting location for an attack that would effectively divide the nation in half with catastrophic consequences.

One hopes the present struggle will lead to a decisive victory against Hamas, but Israels history has been surrendered to the false and libelous narrative students are now taught and promulgated by ignorant protesters.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
I watched the well spoken young man being interviewed on TV. I think he was a student at UCLA, but I could be mistaken. He was defending the protests, claiming to be a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, lending his heritage in support of a version of his own destruction.

Most of us recognize that organization for what it is: a leftist, self-hating group with dubious funding and no obvious desires to foster peace or even basic understanding.

Still, I might have been a proud parent or grandparent watching as he eloquently lent his Jewish voice to defending what I might view as his  and my  enemy.

Unfortunately, his obliviousness was breathtaking. Why did he want to see the state of Israel replaced or eliminated? Because its the result of the failed experiment of seventy-five years of Zionism.

Of course, Israel is the culmination of millennia of Jewish aspirations to live free in their historical homeland. Some Jews never left. What became known as Zionism was a political movement in response to the plight of Jews in the diaspora, mostly in Europe and in the Levant, which began to dominate Jewish thought in the 19th century.

Theodore Hertzl gave the movement voice and structure with his Jewish State, published in 1896, and the founding of the World Zionist Congress.

Around 1907, the future first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, arrived in Palestine. Leaving after three years to go to Constantinople, to learn Turkish and law since the Turks were in control, he returned to Palestine to continue his efforts in the Jewish Brigade, founded in part by Zeev Jabotinsky, joining with Britian during World War 1.

His rival and himself a future prime minister, Menachem Begin took a different path to the land of Israel, escaping from the Holocaust and arriving in 1942.

In between, Albert Einstein helped create Hebrew University, which opened in 1925. Countless other institutions like the Hadassah Medical Center were begun or expanded. The Balfour Declaration in 1917 and, in 1920, the post-WW1 San Remo Agreement gave international approval and legitimacy to the to the nascent state.

There were many people, including in America, who were opposed to the creation of a formal government. Mostly they were religious objections, insisting that only God could create a state on the sacred land.

Eventually all but a few came to recognize the miraculous nature of Israels founding, including most Christians, who have their own connection to the land.

But what about the Palestinians, their rights, their occupied territory? our young Jewish man asks. I respond to him that we have all been asking that same question. From Camp David to Oslo, agreements have come and gone, with real little progress toward peace. Yes, there have been advances in relations between Arabs and Israel, but usually they come when the Palestinians are not given veto power  clout they did not earn.

It seems certain that animosity toward Jews is much more powerful than desires for any formal state. In any case, its not the Zionist cause that has failed.

Image via Pxfuel.
Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have said excluding the Israeli broadcaster Kan from the competition would have been a political decision.

There have been calls for fans and participants to boycott the music competition taking place in Malmo, Sweden, next week after it was confirmed Israel would be competing amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza strip.

Speaking on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Jean Philip De Tender, the deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which organises Eurovision, said it based its decision to include Kan on the competition rules in place.

'Excluding Kan [Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation] from Eurovision would have been a political decision'. Organiser @jeanphilip says the contest is about values, and is "fully in line" with major sporting events. #TrevorPhillips  https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF  Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/CQoUOhBAYD  Sky News (@SkyNews) May 5, 2024

He said: I fully agree it is a family event and the great thing about this music competition is that its all about values.

Its about uniting onstage all of these young talents, these participants, and they do great. Its about diversity and inclusion.

But there are competition rules and you need to follow the competition rules and take decisions based on these competition rules.

If you were to exclude Kan outside of these competition rules, that would have been a political decision, as such, which we cannot take.

He also noted the EBU, an apolitical member organisation, is in line with other international federations including sports bodies who are allowing Israel to participate in events.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Queers for Palestine circulated a letter signed by actors Indya Moore, Brigette Lundy-Paine and Maxine Peake calling for UK entrant Olly Alexander to stop participating.

In March, Alexander along with Irish hopeful Bambie Thug and other Eurovision artists released a joint statement, backing an immediate and lasting ceasefire but refusing to boycott the event.

That same month, Israel unveiled its new entry song as Hurricane, performed by singer Eden Golan.

Her original track, October Rain, had caused controversy as the lyrics were thought to reference the Hamas attacks of October 7 before being changed following the backlash.

Olly Alexander is the UKs Eurovision entry this year (Aaron Chown/PA)

Discussing the backlash, De Tender said: We do understand the concerns and the deeply held views that many people have around the war in the Middle East and I think nobody can remain untouched by the profound suffering of everybody involved in that war.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a music event which is organised and co-produced by 37 public broadcasters, so its not a competition between nations or governments.

We do understand that there was some concern around Israel participating, but when our governing bodies, because were a member led organisation, reviewed the participation list of this year, they concluded that Kan, which is the Israeli public broadcaster, met all of the obligations compared to the competing rules.

In 2022, EBU announced that Russia would no longer be participating in Eurovision following the invasion of Ukraine.

A statement at the time said the EBUs executive board had made the decision following a recommendation by the Eurovision governing body, known as the reference group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.

On Sunday, De Tender said the situation between Russia and Israel was different as in Russias case there was a broad consensus within the membership of the EBU that they could not participate.

He added that the three Russian members of the EBU had already been excluded from the EBU membership in the weeks after the war broke out due to breaching member obligations.

The 37 Eurovision entries are set to perform across two semi-finals next week on Tuesday and Thursday in a bid to compete for a place in the grand final on Saturday.

Alexander is set to perform his dance-infused track Dizzy on behalf of the UK during the Tuesday semi-final, but he is already through to the final along with the other members of the big five  France, Germany, Italy and Spain  as well as last years winner Sweden, who get to go through automatically.

De Tender said the preparations are going very well as they have been planning the music spectacle in Sweden for the past year after Loreen won the competition with her hit song Tattoo.
Lando Norris ended Max Verstappens crushing winning streak by claiming the maiden victory of his career in Sundays Miami Grand Prix.

In his 110th Formula One appearance, the 24-year-old from Bristol, who started fifth, took advantage of a safety car period at the Hard Rock Stadium to move ahead of Verstappen before holding his nerve to take the chequered flag.

An emotional Norris crossed the line seconds clear of Verstappen, who had no answer to the British drivers brilliant pace as he claimed McLarens first victory in nearly three years.

LANDO NORRIS WINS THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX!!!!  IT'S A MAIDEN WIN FOR THE @MCLARENF1 DRIVER  SIMPLY STUNNING!!!!!#F1 #MiamiGP pic.twitter.com/pxGX4LvTNL  Formula 1 (@F1) May 5, 2024

Verstappen had to settle for second as Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, one place ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton claimed his best result of the season, crossing the line sixth.

Norris, who has emerged as one of the grids brightest stars following his debut as a teenager in Melbourne in 2019, has so often been the nearly-man.

Just last month, he became the first driver in F1s 74-year history to finish on the podium 14 times, having never taking to the top step. And in China a fortnight ago, he drove brilliantly only to finish runner-up to Verstappen.

But the race here in Miami  with former United States president Donald Trump a visitor in the McLaren garage two hours before the lights went out  belonged to Norris.

Verstappen cruised to sprint victory on Saturday, and then secured his sixth pole in as many rounds and looked on course for a comfortable win when he nailed the start to assume the lead.

Lando Norris has won his first Grand Prix (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

He also escaped damage when he clattered into a red and white traffic bollard at the chicane on the 22nd lap.

Verstappen pitted a lap later for new tyres to relinquish the lead but the race dramatically turned on its head  and in Norris favour  with 30 laps remaining when Haas driver Kevin Magnussen clattered into the back of Logan Sargeant.

Norris had assumed the lead of the race by virtue of not stopping for tyres and when the safety car was deployed to retrieve Sargeants damaged Williams, Norris was handed a golden opportunity.

With the chasing pack neutralised, Norris dived in for his only change of rubber to keep hold of his lead. Not only was he at the sharp end of the pack, but he had fresher tyres to boot, too.

After four laps, the safety car peeled in, and Norris nerves were put to the test with Verstappen, in his superior Red Bull machine, breathing down his neck.

Max Verstappens winning streak is over (AP)

Verstappen followed Norris on the 180mph drag to the opening corner, but the British driver put his papaya orange machine on the apex of the right-hander to keep the Dutchman at bay.

Norris then turned in the fastest lap of the race so far to establish a one-second lead over Verstappen, crucially putting him out of DRS-reach.

Suddenly the improbable looked possible with Norris continuing to increase his margin. One second became two, which became three and with 10 laps to go he was four seconds clear.

Norris mind might have cast back to Sochi in 2021 when a late downpour and a refusal to switch to wet tyres cost him the win.

But the contrast could not have been greater here under clear blue skies in the Sunshine State as Norris came of age to take the flag, raising both hands in the air as he crossed the line 7.6 seconds clear.

Whooooooooooo, whooooooooo, I love you all, yelled Norris over the radio after becoming Britains 21st Grand Prix winner. Thank you so much. We did it, Will (Joseph, Norris race engineer). We did it.

I guess that is how it is done. Finally. Oh, I am so happy. I knew it when I came in this morning. I said today is the day, full of opportunities. I nailed it, you nailed it, thank you so much.

Thanks mum, thanks dad, this one is for my grandma, thank you very much.

After stepping out of the machine that carried him to victory, Norris put down his yellow crash helmet before running and leaping into the arms of his mechanics.

Daniel Ricciardo was quick to congratulate Norris (AP)

They hoisted him into the air as a host of drivers  including fellow Briton George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo, the last man to win for McLaren in Monza in 2021  came over to congratulate Norris.

About time, huh, said Norris, who was interviewed by 2009 world champion Jenson Button.

What a race. It has been a long-time coming. Finally I have managed to do it. I am so happy I have delivered for the team. I am finally on top. I am over the moon.
King Charles III after being crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023

Monday marks the first anniversary of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. After a joyous day marking both the solemn majesty of office and the bond between the monarch and his people, King Charles stated that he and his wife would now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.

Looking back a year on, he has lived by these words and exceeded them. The monarchy is as strong as ever, binding and uniting our countries and their peoples together. King Charles has served with dignity and stoicism. The travails he faced would have caused many to retreat from public life.

Instead, the King has shown a remarkable dedication to service, and the country has reaped the rewards. His state visit to Germany saw the first speech to the Bundestag by a British monarch, and lent significant force to Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks attempts to rebuild ties with the Continent. His visits to France and Kenya were met with warm welcomes from both the state and the people alike.

No discussion of the Kings first year in office would be complete without mention of his treatment following a cancer diagnosis in February. His return to public-facing duties last week was an undoubted boost to the mood of the nation. He is now set to embark on a busy series of engagements, including a visit to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and a state visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

During his treatment, the King used his situation to promote public understanding of cancer, and to bring attention to the organisations supporting patients and their families. It was fitting that after his return to duties his first public engagement was a visit to a specialist cancer centre.

It is unsurprising but gratifying to see that the people have rallied around their monarch. New polling showing significant personal support for the King, and for the monarchy as an institution, is confirmation if any were needed that his openness and dedication to public service have struck a chord with the public.

One year on, it is almost easy to forget how seismic the shift from the reign of the late Queen could have felt. For most Britons, Elizabeth II was the only monarch they had known. King Charles has handled this transition magnificently, retaining tradition and pageantry while also nodding towards the country modern Britain is. The monarchy is in sure hands.
Russia has placed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list for unspecified criminal charges, state media reported Saturday  which Ukraine slammed as a "desperation" bid for "attention."

Zelenksyy didn't directly address his wanted listing in a message posted Saturday on X, but said Putin was "insane, and his state produces evidence of this every day."

In a statement posted online, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said putting Zelenskyy on the list was "evidence of the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which can think of no other way to attract attention," Reuters reported.

The Foreign Ministry also noted that "unlike the worthless Russian announcements, an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes is quite real, and subject to implementation in 123 countries."

The Tass news agency said Zelenksyy was listed in a Russian Interior Ministry database, which didn't detail the purported crimes against him, Russia's Tass news agency reported

Zelenksyy's predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, and Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces, are also on the list, the Associated Press said.

Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet, reported that both Zelenskyy and Poroshenko have been listed since at least late February.

Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and has been battling Ukraine ever since. On Thursday Russia was accused by the U.S. of using a banned World War I chemical weapon, chloropicrin, which causes lung damage.

Zelenskyy posted a three-minute video clip Sunday in which he detailed a number of aerial attacks he said Russia launched against Ukraine's border regions and front lines one day before Sunday's celebration of Orthodox Easter.

"The Russian evil does not diminish its desire to bring ruins even on the eve of Easter," he said.

Ukraine shot down 13 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones and a Russian Su-25 fighter-bomber, Zelenskyy said.
Al Jazeera is one of the few international outlets to have remained in Gaza throughout the war - THOMAS KOEHLER/PHOTOTHEK

Israeli police stormed the Al Jazeera offices on Sunday after Benjamin Netanyahus government ordered the broadcaster to close down following months of critical coverage of the war.

The Israeli government voted unanimously in favour of the decision before the communication minister called shortly after for the seizure of the Qatar-owned news channels broadcasting equipment.

The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel, Mr Netanyahu posted on his X account.

Al Jazeera disappeared from Israels main cable provider in the hours after the order, with a message on the blacked-out channel saying its broadcasts have been stopped in Israel.

Shlomo Karhi, the communications minister, quickly ordered Israel to seize cameras, microphones and other broadcast equipment.

The extraordinary order is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet.

It comes as ties between them have worsened since Israel waged war with Hamas.

Al Jazeera has broadcast damning reports of Israels military operation in Gaza, and previously accused Israel of systematically targeting its offices and killing its journalists.

The media organisation is also one of the few international outlets to have remained in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals.

Its Arabic arm has also published verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region, drawing Netanyahus ire, according to the Associated Press.

Israeli officials have accused the network of anti-Israeli bias  charges which the network denies.

The network has condemned the Israeli decision, calling it 'criminal' - ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP

Last month, Mr Netanyahu vowed to act immediately to stop Al Jazeeras operations in Israel.

Imran Khan, an Al Jazeera reporter, said that the website has also been banned and that any device used for news gathering  such as a journalists mobile phone  can be confiscated.

They banned our website The website is now inaccessible. They are also banning any device used for providing content, that includes my mobile phone  if I use that to do any kind of news gathering, the Israelis can simply confiscate it, said Mr Khan, during a broadcast.

Walid Omary, the Al Jazeera bureau chief, calls Israeli office closure political - ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP

The cabinet vote on Sunday came after Israels parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security during the war in Gaza.

Israeli media said the order allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days.

The decision also threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza.

Walid Omary, the head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories described the governments decision on Sunday as dangerous and politically motivated.

The network also put out a statement calling Israels decision criminal and vowed to pursue all legal channels in response.

Hamas said the decision to shut down Al Jazeera in the country was a blatant violation of press freedom and an effort to hide the truth of the Gaza war.

The United Nations Human Rights office said: A free [and] independent media is essential to ensuring transparency [and] accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza.
Austrian wine is finally getting its due attention. Photograph: Getty Images

Funkstille Gruner Veltliner, Niederosterreich, Austria 2023 (from 12.49, Hay Wines) Its taken a while, but it does seem as if Austrian wine, a long-neglected part of the classical European vinous repertoire, is finally getting something like its due attention in British wine shops and supermarkets. The countrys wines have, in fact, long been sommelier favourites, thanks, I think, to their ability to combine freshness and ripeness. Certainly, when it comes to Austrias signature white grape variety, gruner veltliner, theres no lack of aromatic fleshy fruit flavour of the sort that drinkers reared on, say, New Zealand sauvignon blanc, might enjoy. But theres a natural briskness, too, plus a range of intriguing spicier flavours, notably white pepper and something green and savoury I think of as celery salt. There are some very attractive own-label bottlings at M&S, Waitrose and Morrisons around the 8-9 mark, but if you can its worth shelling out a few quid more for the extra level of concentrated ripe pear, peach and pithy, zippy lime and orange in the exuberantly youthful new vintage from Funkstille.

Maria & Sepp Muster Grafin, Steiermark, Austria 2020 (41.60, Vinvm) Another outstanding gruner comes from a producer that has winemaking roots going back more than a millennium: the impeccable Schloss Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner Langenlois, Kamptal 2022 (from 18, Hedonism, The Whisky Exchange) is an irresistibly stylish swish of luscious apricot fruit seasoned with that classic gruner white pepper and salt. Austrias growers are also justly famous for their rieslings, for which there is a heritage every bit as rich and long as in Germany or Alsace: Domane Wachau, a contender for the title of the worlds best co-operative producer, makes a number of superb examples, starting with the perfectly weighted mix of fleshy tropical fruit and lime ping and zing of Domane Wachau Riesling Federspiel Terrassen 2022 (19.40, Noble Grape). As well as the classics, Austria also has one of the worlds most vibrant and adventurous natural wine scenes, which is responsible for some truly extraordinary orange wines, such as Maria and Sepp Musters Grafin, a soft, gently grippy but exceedingly complex wine with flavours that range from strawberry and Campari to ripe apple.

Lentsch Zweigelt, Burgenland, Austria 2021 (9.99, Waitrose) Grafin is made from two varieties that might be thought of as French or international: its a blend of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay (known in Austria as morillon). Both have proved to be perfectly adept in a range of different Austrian sites, making distinctive wines, as indeed has a super-aromatic grape variety known in France and other parts of the world as muscat a petits grains and in Austria as Gelber Muskateller. The Musters make the best Austrian example Ive tasted (try the exotically expressive, fluent 2020 Muster Gelber Muskateller; 32.75, Sip Wines) and Waitrose has recently introduced a charming off-dry version (Waitrose Loved & Found Gelber Muskateller, Niederosterreich 2023; 8.99), ideal for drinking with mild chilli spice, which comes over like a particularly aromatic, slightly sweet sauvignon blanc. In fact, Waitrose seems to be having a bit of an Austrian moment, with another new addition to the retailers range being Markus Lentschs summery, good-value example of the crunchy-sappy cherry-berry-scented and Austrian red variety, zweigelt.

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An audience listen to a sound archive by Ateef al-Jaffal during the 2023 festival. Photograph: Alessio Mamo

A buzz is building in the Bab al-Sharji neighbourhood in central Baghdad where preparations for an annual contemporary arts festival are underway. The city has long been considered one of the most dangerous in the world but artists in the Tarkib collective want to send a different message  that the capital is alive with creativity and culture.

The event, which began when the collective was founded in 2015, comprises the exhibiting of work in public spaces and a narrative tour of the city called Baghdad Walk. Next months four-day Tarkib contemporary arts festival is titled Hello Future!

Zeid Saad plans to show an installation about cluster bombs, which, while banned by more than 120 countries, are still used in conflicts today. When he was a child, they were used in Iraq and he still remembers how the shape was attractive to children. The unexploded cluster bombs on Iraqi soil still kill children because when they see them they think they can play with them. I will exhibit a real size iron bomb in red colour  the blood colour  but the shape of the core of the bomb will be a balloon, representing children and their dreams, he says.

This piece will be accompanied by video art from an Iranian female artist on the same topic. More than half of the artists, who have been working for months on their pieces, are women who find in Tarkib a platform for freedom of expression.

Members of Tarkib come from a variety of fields including the visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, film, interior design, architecture, graphic design, and photography. A different location is chosen every year for Baghdad Walk, to tell stories of the city from the artists perspective.

For their 10th anniversary, Tarkib are revisiting the area where they staged their first festival, as well as showing exhibits at Baghdads Museum of Modern Art, which opened in 1962 and was a symbol of the emergent modern Iraqi art at that time.

Related: It was my way to resist: the Iraqi-born artist who grew up under a dictator

In these [10] years weve crossed the famous Rasheed Streets, the family-friendly Zuwara Park, Abu Nawas Street next to the river Tigris and each time it feels like were giving a new meaning to the places we collectively step into, Saad says.

For last years Baghdad Walk, Ateef al-Jaffal put on a sound archive exhibition at the Iraqi National Museum square. The square is often crowded and the museum with its collection of ancient Mesopotamian relicsis the pride of the Iraqi people. I joined a group of youths at al-Jaffals event last October, who were sitting on a carpet around a small traditional wooden table. We put on headphones that branched out from the table like the tentacles of a jellyfish. When Ateef pushed the play button, the atmosphere changed. Some youths held back tears, while others gazed at the ground, listening carefully.

My series called Khezama is a sound archive artistic work, collecting Iraqi music played in mortuaries from 1941 to 2020, the 23-year-old artist explained. There are two kinds of music: Arabic, Kurdish, some Christian war songs; and sound tracks from different countries, like Iran and Palestine.

Iraqi society has been shattered by decades of dictatorship, war, sanctions, occupation and a revolution, and many were emotionally affected by Ateefs sound collection. The people of the country of the two rivers  a reference to Iraqs two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates  have struggled to overcome the often ongoing traumas of this history and shape new collective narratives. We usually use the table to put chai [tea] on for guests, we sit around it and have a conversation. But we stopped talking about martyrs. The concept behind the small table in the exhibition is that every Iraqi has a martyr but the tables are talking about it more than humans.

As the heavy memories inherited by their parents or lived by these young students and emerging artists weigh on them, this new generation is trying to re-tell the history of Baghdad and raise its voice against government corruption and foreign interventions that continue to affect them.

The day after Ateefs exhibition, Baghdad Walk moved to the Sarafiya Bridge. In the 1970s the bridge was crossed by a railway train, which had already ceased to operate when the US bombed the bridge in the 1990s. At the time, the economic situation in Iraq was very hard because of the sanctions, says Saad, looking at the Tigris river from thebridge. The bridge was rebuilt with the iron of the railway. Under the bridge the award-winning photographer Haider Hamid exhibited his pictures of a long-term project about climate change, portraying people in the Iraqi marshes where drought is progressively impacting the whole eco-system of one of the oldest agricultural areas of the Greater Mesopotamia. Also called the bridge of the lovers, as the place where students flirt , it was again destroyed in 2007 by a car bomb explosion and rebuilt .

As Ateefs sound-archive drew to a close , other music and voices prevailed and the listeners seemed to feel relieved. Its the sound of the revolution says Dina, 23, who recently graduated from the faculty of architecture. We lived it and it changed our community a lot, not from the political or the government side, but the revolution was the only different thing in the past 40 years. Its our revolution.

Dina is referring to the October 2019 protest movement that started in Baghdadand spread to other provinces , prompting millions to fill the streetsto express their anger at corruption, high unemployment and dire public services. The government reacted violently , killing around 500 people and injuring thousands more.

Its a weird idea but, as opposed to wars, the revolution seemed like the only good reason to die, in a way, concluded Ateef. It was for the future of all of us.
Celebrating success: Indonesia is getting ahead not just in the sporting arena - YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP

Read the small print of Labours new Progressive Realism foreign policy and its clear Britains economic, military and diplomatic tilt to the Asia-Pacific once derided by the party is now accepted as mainstream. Its main elements  further trade deals, military cooperation through the Aukus submarine and technology pact, and the Global Combat fighter programme with Japan and Italy  are all absorbed into the Labour manifesto.

Now we know whatever party leads after the election will not abandon the tilt. But that does not mean it should remain unchanged. Whoever forms Britains next government must adapt the policy to meet the rise of what might be called New Asia.

So far, the UK tilt has achieved rapid progress on trade agreements and defence cooperation in the region by reinvigorating long-standing relationships built up over previous generations.

Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore are Commonwealth members, and together with the mature economies of Japan and South Korea are what might be termed Old Asia. A different group of countries  or New Asia  will determine the next phase of the regions growth and geopolitical orientation. These include the rapidly advancing ASEAN members like Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. But the big one is Indonesia.

Indonesia has outstanding potential for Britain in three respects, starting with demographics. The advanced economies of Old Asia have a population that is both aging and shrinking. For instance, the average South Korean couple has approximately 0.6 children, far below replacement rate. Indonesia not only has a population of around 250 million today; it is projected to grow to 300 million by 2050.

Moreover, as is typically the case, conditions of stability provided by democratic political systems like that of Indonesia allow a growing population to become ever more middle-income and middle class. This is the kind of market made for Britains services-led economy, which according to the UN makes the UK the fourth largest country by global exports.

By 2050, Indonesia is slated by Goldman Sachs to become the fourth largest economy in the world (with the UK at seventh at that date). The resulting rise in Indonesias comprehensive national power combined with its traditionally strong sense of sovereign independence would see Indonesia well placed to take a leading role in ensuring the regions resilience against any attempt to impose a hierarchical or exclusionary regional order.

The term Free and Open-Indo Pacific may have been made in Japan, but to be enjoyed by future generations, it will be sustained by the efforts of countries like Indonesia.

This does not mean the UK should imagine Indonesia will simply align with a Western worldview as it grows in economic strength and geopolitical importance. The countrys confidence as a regional leader draws on national pride and was built during its independence struggle and resistance to ideological subordination during the Cold War era. At the heart of that stance was Indonesias role in founding with India, and the then Yugoslavia, the Non-Aligned Movement.

Traces of the non-aligned reflex remain. Indonesias leaders declined to condemn Putins invasion of Ukraine in recent debates at the UN, for instance.

However, UN debates aside, today there are signs of a subtle if clear tilt in favour of the democratically like-minded. Indonesia has been sounding more positive about potential membership of the 12-country Asia-Pacific free trade agreement CPTPP, which Britain recently joined; current defence minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto signed a defence and cooperation agreement with the US in November, and a similar agreement is expected with Australia later this year.

Prabowo will take over as head of state in the autumn, around the same time we can expect the next British government to be elected. Whichever party leads they would be wise to look at opportunities to align with Indonesias tilt. This might not principally start in defence  although that should not be excluded  but more in the areas emerging as priorities for Indonesias incoming government.

First, they should promote Indonesias interest in joining CPTPP. It is here that the UK stands to gain the most immediately through the elimination of 98 per cent of trade tariffs that membership brings.

Second, the UK is unlikely to help the world meet its stated 1.5C COP targets without cooperating with Indonesia in a shift to cleaner energy and away from coal  of which the country is both a major user and exporter. The UK has the worlds leading experience in the offshore wind industry and is spearheading technologies like fusion energy generation that are not online today but could be emerging just when they will be needed to meet the demands of Indonesias next generation.

Third, the UK can work on finding points of alignment with Indonesias emerging role on the world stage  an ambition evidenced by a proposal last year on Russia-Ukraine peace talks and displayed more recently by its airforces delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Mobilising support for Indonesia to advance its aspirations would help build partnerships in other spheres.

Britain has opportunity, but no time to lose. Indonesias clear trajectory shows it will play an ever larger role not just in regional leadership but as a future world power. The country is signalling a fresh openness to partnerships. The moment for Britain to be a bold and generous partner is now.

Dr Philip Shetler-Jones is a Senior Research Fellow in the International Security team at RUSI. His current research is concentrated on Indo-Pacific security
Protesters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling on Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Photograph: Ariel Schalit/AP

Senior Israeli officials ramped up pressure on Hamas on Sunday, saying Israel would refuse any permanent end to hostilities and threatening a new onslaught in the very near future if the militant organisation did not accept recently proposed terms for a ceasefire.

In a televised address, Benjamin Netanyahu once more rejected Hamass demands for a definitive end to the war in Gaza, saying that any permanent ceasefire would allow the group to remain in power and pose a continuing threat to Israel.

Speaking a day after thousands of people again rallied in Tel Aviv demanding a deal to free the remaining Israeli captives, Netanyahu also said that his government had been working around the clock to formulate an agreement that would return our hostages.

Hours later, Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said Hamas did not appear to be serious about reaching a ceasefire deal. If a deal is not reached, he added, this would lead Israel to launch an often-threatened offensive into Rafah, a reported Hamas stronghold where about a million people displaced from elsewhere in Gaza have sought shelter, in the very near future.

The statements by Netanyahu and Gallant may dash recent hopes that Hamas and Israel are close to a deal to bring about an initial 40-day pause to hostilities and the release of dozens of hostages.

Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power, Netanyahu said. Israel cannot accept that  Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping.

A Hamas delegation which had arrived in Cairo on Saturday announced late on Sunday it was leaving to consult with its leadership. There has been no sign yet of a definitive response from the group to new terms proposed by mediators and accepted by Israel last week. Israel has yet to send a delegation to Cairo.

In a move unlikely to help the talks, Netanyahus cabinet decided on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeeras operations in Israel for as long as the war in Gaza continues, claiming the Qatari television network threatens national security.

Al Jazeera rejected the accusation as a dangerous and ridiculous lie that put its journalists at risk.

The network has been critical of Israels military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war. It is funded by the Qatari government, which until recently played a key role in ceasefire talks.

The war was triggered by surprise attacks launched by Hamas on southern Israel in October in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and about 250 hostages were taken.

Israels ensuing military offensive has devastated much of Gaza, caused a humanitarian crisis and killed more than 34,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel has said that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, a charge the organisation has rejected.

Witnesses on Sunday reported shelling and gunfire in the vicinity of Gaza City, helicopter fire in central and southern Gaza, and a missile strike on a house in the Rafah area. The UN has reported continuing bombardment every day for many weeks.

Cindy McCain, the head of the World Food Programme, said on Saturday there was full-blown famine in northern Gaza, and appealed for an end to fighting.

Both Israel and Hamas portray the other as intransigeant but both are under pressure to agree a ceasefire.

Ismail Haniyeh, Hamass most senior political leader, said on Sunday the militant group was keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that will end Israeli aggression, guarantee Israels withdrawal from Gaza and achieve a serious hostage-swap deal.

In his statement Haniyeh blamed Netanyahu for sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to invade Rafah regardless of whether a truce is reached and despite concerns from the US other countries and aid groups.

About a million displaced Palestinians have fled to Rafah, which is also a major logistic hub for humanitarian assistance.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said on Friday that without a credible plan to protect civilians in the city, Washington could not support a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond whats acceptable.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the chief of the World Health Organization, on Friday warned that a full-scale military operation in Rafah  could lead to a bloodbath.

Talks between Israel and Hamas restarted in late December, just weeks after a brief ceasefire allowed 105 hostages to be exchanged for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Successive rounds of negotiations have made incremental progress, though the most recent proposed deal remains very close to that discussed many months ago.

Negotiators have proposed a series of phased pauses in fighting, with further hostage releases and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from much or all of Gaza. Israel has resisted a Hamas demand for permission for civilians to return to the devastated north of the territory for fear this would allow the organisation to re-establish control there.

Aid officials said the flow of aid into Gaza remains inadequate, despite recent improvement. On Sunday the Israeli military said it had been forced to close the recently reopened Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of Gaza to aid convoys after it came under mortar fire. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and three critically wounded, officials said on Sunday night.

Critics in Israel have accused Netanyahu of seeking to prolong the war. The coalition he leads includes religious and ultra-nationalist parties which fiercely oppose any end to hostilities. A deal might lead these allies to quit government, threatening Netanyahus grip on power.

On Sunday the Hostages and Missing Families Forum appealed directly to Netanyahu in a statement, telling him to disregard all political pressure.

History will not forgive you if you miss this opportunity, the statement said. About 128 hostages remain in Gaza, though between 30 and 50 are thought to have died in captivity.

Thousands of Israelis again rallied in Tel Aviv late on Saturday demanding a deal to free the remaining captives. They waved Israeli flags and placardswith messages reading Bring them Home!

Michael Levy, whose brother Or is among the hostages, said he tries not to think too much about a potential truce deal until this is real.

We hear those rumours about an upcoming deal pretty much since October 8, he said.

In what appeared to be a bid to defuse some of the criticism, Netanyahu addressed some comments on Sunday to those calling for the release of the hostages to be a priority.

Totally contrary to [media] reports, in order to achieve this goal, we have given the negotiating team a very broad mandate to move forward on the release. We did so out of a deep commitment to the hostages, and in order to end the terrible suffering of the families, he said.

The war in Gaza has also triggered worsening violence in the occupied West Bank. Israels army said on Saturday its troops killed five Palestinian terrorists during a 12-hour operation near Tulkarm.

Hamas confirmed that four of the men killed during the raid in Deir al-Ghusun village were from its al-Qassam armed wing.
A demonstrator holds the Georgian national and EU flags during an opposition protest in Tblisi on 3 May against the Russian law, which critics fear will stifle media freedom and endanger the country's bid for EU membership. Photograph: Zurab Tsertsvadze/AP

The tendency of long-entrenched governments to arrogantly ignore or override the publics clearly expressed wishes is a familiar democratic flaw, attributable to the arrogance and hubris that stems from continuing, unchecked power. The former Soviet republic of Georgia is a prime example.

Polls consistently show that about 80% of Georgians want their country to join the European Union. The aim of achieving membership is enshrined in the constitution. Yet last week, Georgias government, ruling party and thuggish police did their violent best to torpedo hopes of EU accession. That they ultimately fail to do so is of great importance to Georgians and to Europe.

One explanation for their conduct is that reforms required by Brussels, which awarded Georgia candidate status in December, have alarmed the ruling Georgian Dream party, overseen by the billionaire former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. Proposed judicial and electoral changes, curbs on oligarchs business interests and greater media freedom could weaken its grip on power.

Opposition politicians, supported by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, say Georgian Dream uses public sector jobs, salaries and other forms of patronage, plus fraud, vote-buying and systemic misuse of administrative resources to keep voters in line. The party has been in office since 2012, so it seems to be working.

Fear is another government weapon, as thousands of demonstrators discovered last week. They were attacked by police and chased off the streets of Tbilisi during protests against a Russian-style foreign agents law that targets independent civil society groups, media and NGOs. The EU warns that the law is incompatible with membership.

Another explanation is that the governments stance is dictated by Moscow. In 2008, Georgia lost a brief war with Russia, which still occupies parts of its territory. Its aspirations to join Nato as well as the EU are anathema to Vladimir Putin. Georgias president, a government foe, says it is tamely following Kremlin orders, which it denies.

More convoluted still is the governments claim that it genuinely wants to join the EU and Nato, but must tread carefully for fear of ending up like Ukraine. At the same time, Ivanishvili says its all about defending Georgias sovereignty from western global warmongers, LGBT propaganda and foreign human rights pseudo-elites.

That is a script that could have been written by Putin. It reflects a broader narrative used by Moscow to intimidate Georgia, the wider east and north European and central Asian neighbourhoods  what used to be called Russias near abroad. This repeated bullying and coercion poses a fundamental challenge to the EU and the west.

Offering the chance of EU membership to a country must mean something tangible and real. It must not be used to exert influence while giving back little or nothing in return. Georgia, like Ukraine and Moldova (which also have candidate status), and several applicant countries in the Balkans, must not be strung along indefinitely by Brussels.

That means Europes leaders deciding, when they meet next month, to launch EU accession negotiations with some or all of these states. It means offering firm membership timelines. It means signalling to Russia that the west will not abandon efforts to promote democratic values and the rule of law at the first whiff of opposition or, in Georgias case, teargas.

Last week marked 20 years since the EUs biggest enlargement. Ten countries joined, mostly from the former Soviet bloc. Overall, their accession has proved a huge boon to them and Europe, politically, economically and culturally. Enlargement struck a historic blow against the dark forces still stalking the bloodied streets of Tbilisi. So why stop now?
Many people are missing a regular check-up with an NHS dentist - Rui Vieira/PA

Just one in 10 adults has seen a NHS dentist locally over the last year in some parts of the country, official data shows.

The analysis of dental deserts shows the areas with the greatest struggles, with North Kesteven in Lincolnshire faring worst of all, followed by Melton in Leicestershire and Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire.

Parts of London, Surrey and Cambridgeshire also had some of the worst access to local NHS dentists, with the best access seen in parts of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, according to the health service data.

The analysis by think tank Onward follows national figures showing that just four in 10 adults saw a dentist in the years 2022 to 2023.

Children are recommended to have a check up annually, but just half saw an NHS dentist.

The data reveals that in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, just 11.9% people have seen a dentist in the past year. This was closely followed by Melton in Leicestershire, where the figure was 14.8% and Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where it was 14.9%.

In the City of London, 15.9% had seen an NHS dentist in the last year and it was one in five in Elmbridge, Surrey, and Fenland, Cambridgeshire.

The areas where the highest proportion of people had seen a local NHS dentist were Lincoln (78.5%), Chesterfield in Derbyshire (73%) and Redcar and Cleveland in North Yorkshire (65.4%).

The think tank is calling for fundamental reforms of dentistry, so that most check-ups would not be carried out by dentists.

Currently, dental therapists are allowed to perform check-ups and simple procedures such as fillings. However they cannot work independently or be put in charge of practices.

The think tank called on the Government to overhaul the system, to allow therapists to work independently, or run their own practices.

Such reforms would mean that the therapists would handle straightforward treatments - referring cases on to see a fully qualified dentist if more complex treatments like tooth extraction, straightening or realignment were required.

The think tank called for a doubling the number of therapists in training under such changes.

It said this would allow the NHS to train twice as many dental workers for the same cost, and to double the number of NHS appointments.

It takes three years to train a therapist, compared with five years for a dentist.

Tim Leunig, Onwards chief economist, said: We need to liberalise dentistry to help more people see a dentist and stay healthy. For routine check-ups and procedures, theres no need to see a fully qualified dentist instead of a dental therapist or hygienist. Its like insisting on having a doctor on a pharmacys front desk.

The Government can create many more NHS appointments by letting dental therapists run practices and deliver the care theyre trained for, while keeping dentists focused on more complex treatment. It wouldnt mean sacrificing the quality of care patients expect but enabling more people to receive the dental attention they deserve.

At the same time, they can double the number of people training to deliver this dental care at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

A report last month disclosed record numbers turning to dental insurance amid the deepening NHS dental crisis.

The figures show 3.8 million people were covered by some kind of dental plan in 2022 - up from 3.2 million in 2019.

Some are calling for an increase in the number of dental therapists - Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank RF

The trends have seen the size of the market rise by almost one quarter, from 710 million to 868 million.

Analysts highlighted the recent record growth in the dental insurance market, with a 22 per cent rise in private dental subscription services, on the heels of a 23 per cent increase the year before.

The report said most private dentistry was still being paid for up front - with only around one quarter of all treatments covered by insurance plans.

It follows warnings from another think tank, which said universal NHS dentistry had now likely gone for good with unpalatable choices ahead.

The Nuffield Trust said the health service should admit it was failing to offer such a service, and instead strip back the offer, so everyone can get the most basic care.

Thea Stein, chief executive of the think tank, said: NHS dentistry is at its most perilous point in its history and recent reforms will not be enough to reverse the swathes of dental deserts across the country.

In March, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced plans to amend regulations so dental hygienists and dental therapists can supply or administer some medicines.

A DHSC spokesman said: We have already announced new powers for dental therapists and hygienists, and through the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan we are expanding dental undergraduate training places by 40 per cent a year by 2031 to 2032.

Our Dental Recovery Plan will create up to 2.5 million more appointments this year alone, to ensure everyone who needs one can access an NHS dental appointment.

Our plan also includes offering dentists 20,000 golden hellos to work in under-served areas and rolling out mobile dental vans to rural areas where access is more difficult.
WA police commissioner Col Blanch says officers responded after receiving a call from a person who said they were going to commit acts of violence. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

Western Australian police say they have shot and killed a teenager who allegedly attacked a man in a Perth car park on Saturday night.

Detectives on Sunday said there was no ongoing threat to the public and the 16-year-old was believed to have been acting alone in Willetton.

The WA police commissioner, Col Blanch, said the incident certainly has all the hallmarks of a terrorism-related incident, but he was not prepared to declare it as such at this stage.

Its about timing, Blanch said. It would be too early for me to act now because I dont have the concerns of a broader network that might be involved.

The premier, Roger Cook, said there were indications the 16-year-old had been radicalised online.

The 18-year-old who was stabbed was in a serious but stable condition in hospital and doing well, authorities said on Sunday.

Related: A complete 180: how a trial treatment in Sydney for heroin addiction is changing lives

Blanch said police received a call on Saturday night from a person who told the operator they were going to commit acts of violence.

That person hung up without giving their name or location. But the call was followed by another alerting police to someone running around a car park with a large kitchen knife.

Three police officers responded within minutes and were immediately confronted by the teenager holding a large knife, Blanch said.

The commissioner said two officers drew their Tasers and a third officer drew their firearm. When asked to put down the knife, the 16-year-old did not respond and, according to body-camera footage, allegedly ran at the officers, Blanch said.

The first two officers fired their Tasers but when the teenager allegedly continued to approach, the third officer fired a single shot which fatally wounded the 16-year-old, police said.

Blanch said the teenager acted alone in what appeared to be a a very sad and tragic outcome. He said what triggered the incident was unknown.

The teenager was allegedly known to police and had been involved in a countering violent extremism (CVE) program since 2022 when he was 13.

The program provides support from psychologists, the education department and, where appropriate, faith leaders.

WAs CVE was based on work undertaken by Anne Aly  who is now the federal youth minister  and programs used to deradicalise neo-Nazis overseas. It was not limited to those convicted of crimes.

Aly said on Sunday her thoughts were with everyone involved.

De-radicalisation programs are an important community safety measure, she said in a statement.

They are often successful but no program can guarantee success. Its the sensitive nature of these programs that we often only hear about them when they dont succeed. I commend and thank the WA police for the positive way they have worked with the Muslim community on this matter.

Related: Western Australias eucalypt forests fade to brown as century-old giant jarrahs die in heat and drought

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he had spoken to Cook and received briefings from police and the Australian intelligence agency Asio.

My thoughts are with those who have been affected by the incident, he said. We are a peace-loving nation and there is no place for violent extremism in Australia.

Cook, who has called a meeting with multi-faith community leaders, described the incident as a very tragic set of circumstances and thanked police for their swift action saying the community was indebted to them.

Our police responded within minutes. They encountered a very confronting situation but their rapid and professional response kept our community safe, the premier said.

These cases are never straightforward. Theres always a complex set of circumstances, cases and conditions which sit in the background.

The police commissioner described the alleged attacker as a Caucasian male. He thanked members of the Muslim community who had the courage to respond and express their concerns that this person was exhibiting concerning behaviours.

Blanch said community members had alerted police after spotting something the 16-year-old posted online.

Perth imam Wadood Janud, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in WA, said on Sunday he condemned the alleged attack in the harshest terms possible.

He said the 16-year-old was not a member of the Ahmadiyya community and while he believed the incident was isolated it was close to heart and shocking.

Islam has nothing to do with any acts of violence, Janud said. Were actually concerned about Islamophobia. Sometimes the backlash can be very harsh.

Adelaide imam Kamran Tahir, who previously served in Perth, on Sunday condemned the alleged attack in the strongest terms.

We are once again saddened to learn of another knife attack in which innocent civilians were harmed, Tahir said. It should be made very clear that there is no justification for such acts in Islam.

- Additional reporting AAP
Yevgeny Khaldeis original image of the Soviet flag being raised over the Reichstag, Berlin, 1945, above, was later amended to obscure the officer wearing a watch on both wrists. Photograph: Sovfoto/Universal Images Group/Shutterstock

A Russian soldier raises a Soviet flag over Berlins Reichstag in Yevgeny Khaldeis well-known 1945 photograph of wartime triumph.

But in the original image, the officer standing below can clearly be seen wearing a watch on both wrists. Khaldeis shot, first printed in a Moscow magazine, was quickly withdrawn and the extra watch, which might actually have been a military compass, was removed for safetys sake. Looting was not a good look and was punishable by death.

This little-known work of deliberate visual distortion is shown in a new exhibition, The Camera Never Lies, which opens later this month and tackles the publics dwindling faith in photographs. Tristan Lund, who co-curated the new show, said: Its rare to see both the before and after prints together. The Khaldei photograph that went out later had one watch scratched out because the editors knew this tiny detail might have incriminated not just the officer but the whole Soviet army.

In the second image, the sky is much darker and dramatic as well. It has been massively manipulated for effect.

The exhibition, which features more than 100 images from world-renowned photographers including Don McCullin, Stuart Franklin, Robert Capa and Dorothea Lange, will demonstrate that a picture, however well intended, can never be the whole story. Although few images on display involve deliberate distortions, the interpretations of several have spawned controversies and rival accounts.

The show, at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, features shots of the assassination of President Kennedy, the Chinese tank man protester in Tiananmen Square, and the chilling image of a figure jumping from New Yorks burning World Trade Center in 2001. Running from 18 May until 20 October as part of the six-month series What is Truth?, it looks at how altered context, sometimes coupled with technical manipulation, has defined events in modern history.

The role of photographs as a reliable, trustworthy source is increasingly under threat, with editing technology now readily and cheaply available. In March, family shots put out by the Princess of Wales were found to have been edited, and the Observer revealed that other candid royal photos had been quietly altered before.

Lund said that he and his collaborator, Harriet Logan, still value the inherent truth of the work they display, although he believes it poses a key question for our age: The exhibition asks what truths we can really expect to extract from a photograph. Is the succinct and objective sharing of facts the thing we remember most from a single image, or is it the emotion triggered by the composition and creativity of the photographer that tells a thousand words?

Visitors will be able to compare three of the four images of Tiananmen Square that went into news archives. Franklins 1989 shot The Tank Man depicts a moment when the Chinese government cracked down on a lengthy Beijing democracy demonstration, killing hundreds on 4 June. The unknown protester who stood in front of a line of tanks was photographed from different angles by cameras inside the same building, documenting a scene that has been heavily censored in China but in the west has become an emblem of oppression.

Younger people may not know where the picture came from and, if they do recognise it, they will probably have a composite of all the photographs in their mind, said Lund. One image zooms in on the protester while another is a little further out and includes the distraction of a street lamp. Franklins has more of the street and the tanks.

We wanted to remove each from its news context to slow down the way people could look at them. We are displaying it with the Kate Adie BBC report from Tiananmen and with a work weve commissioned from a contemporary Chinese artist whose father was in the square. Some of his friends didnt survive. She does not want her name known because she wants to continue to visit her family in China.

Beijing continues to deny that it happened, added Logan, a former news photographer. But for the public the image is often a proof, a kind of verbatim truth, that allows us to relax about what we are being told about uncomfortable events. Many of the images in the exhibition, like the one known as Napalm Girl, from Vietnam, have become part of history.

This upsetting image of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, who was photographed as a young naked girl fleeing a napalm attack, now visually represents a 20-year war, Lund said. The same has happened with Capas 1936 photograph The Falling Soldier from the Spanish civil war. The story behind this shot is disputed, due to the lack of background detail given by Capa at the time and the loss of the negatives. Some suggest it was staged. Research later established the location and revealed that on that day the frontline was some distance away.

Capa was only 21 when he took the [shot] and he will have sent back an unprocessed roll of film which may not have been correctly captioned. That happened, said Logan. I worked back in the analogue days, and picture editors cropped photographs later and made decisions that defined an image. So when Capa got home he will have been confronted with a whole lot of truths attributed to his image.

Seventy-nine years later, another Magnum photographer, Max Pinckers, stood on the same hill with a colleague and made the artwork Controversy, now also in the show. Using a high-resolution camera they recorded the landscape, now empty except for olive trees.
The Palestinian solidarity encampment at USC. Photograph: Allison Dinner/EPA

Police have dismantled the student-led Palestinian solidarity encampment at the University of Southern California.

About 4am on Saturday, as many as 100 Los Angeles police officers in riot gear raided the encampment at dawn as anti-war student demonstrators slept in the tents. In a series of tweets during the raid, the university warned demonstrators to leave the area, adding that people who dont leave could be arrested.

Speaking to KTLA, members of the student-run newspapers the Daily Trojan and Annenberg Media said: We were just sitting here, camping out. We saw a peaceful encampment. Theyve been eating food, having teach-ins  and then they eventually went in their tents later in the night and then at around 4[am] actually, we saw dozens of DPS cars [department of public safety] come in and then from there, they started bringing in the officers.

Before they came in, it was very peaceful. People were sleeping, in fact, another member said, adding: At 4am was when  we saw dozens of LAPD officers sort of come in, essentially in trucks, standing on the trucks. I think there were about four trucks, each of them had about a dozen or so police officers  Along with that, we also had DPS come in.

Videos posted online by the Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation at USC showed dozens of riot police marching throughout campus as others stood guard with multiple zip ties hanging from their belts.

Around them, anti-war student protesters chanted: Free, free Palestine! Others chanted, Who do you protect? and Fascists, fascists, you cant hide! We charge you with genocide. Some also chanted: Why are you in riot gear? I dont see no riot here!

Another video captured during the raid showed USC journalism professor Alan Mittelstaedt arguing with a police officer over media access as the police officer attempted to cordon media to an area far from the encampment.

At one point, the police officer raises his voice and says, By law, you gotta get outta the way! Listen to me!

In a statement following the raid, USC president Carol Folt said: I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible. At 4.10 am, an order to disperse was issued, providing the trespassers one last opportunity to leave voluntarily. In 64 minutes, the encampment was abandoned and cleared. The operation was peaceful with no arrests. We will not tolerate illegal encampments of any kind at USC.

Hours later, some Democrats defended police actions taken across the country to dismantle campus encampments and even arrest protesters. Arizona senator Mark Kelly said on NBCs Meet the Press it was appropriate for police to get involved when protests turn into unlawful acts.

When they cross a line and when they commit crimes, they should be arrested, Kelly said. Thats the appropriate thing to do.

Joe Biden, who had been silent on the university campus protests, confronted the issue on Thursday. Dissent is essential for democracy, Biden said in an address at the White House. But dissent must never lead to disorder.

The president added: Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campus, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduation  none of this is a peaceful protest.

Saturdays pre-dawn raid marked the second on USCs campus after police dismantled an earlier encampment and arrested 93 anti-war protesters on 24 April.

The USC encampments, along with multiple encampments across US college campuses in recent weeks, were set up by students in calls for the university to divest from companies  including weapons manufacturers  with ties to Israel.

The encampments also come in response to Israels deadly war on Gaza since Hamass 7 October attacks that killed more than 1,100 Israelis. Since October, Israeli forces have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians across Gaza while leaving 2 million survivors displaced across the narrow strip amid a famine caused by Israeli restrictions on aid.

Israel has also destroyed every university in Gaza, in addition to killing at least 5,479 students, 261 teachers and 95 university professors, according to the UN, which has condemned Israels actions as scholasticide.

USC has received significant backlash from students, faculty and alumni in recent weeks over its administrations crackdown on the student encampments, as well as its decision to cancel the valedictorian speech of Asna Tabassum, a Muslim student who has expressed solidarity for Palestine.

The Council of American Islamic Relations (Cair), the USs largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned USCs decision as cowardly while Tabassum accused the university of attempting to silence my voice.

On Friday, USC faculty staged a walkout in support of the anti-war student demonstrators and their encampment. Meanwhile, over 1,500 USC alumni have signed an open letter in support of the USC Divest from Death coalition.

Following Saturdays raid, USC law professor Jody David Armour wrote on X: My heart is heavy but my spirits are high as I grieve the loss of the USC students encampment but celebrate their courageous & conscientious fight against our complicity in mass graves, collective punishment, forced starvation, & the killing of more than 14,000 children.
Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied Saturday night in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas war, the release of hostages and the resignation of the nation's hardline Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even as Israel continued to attack Gaza.

Residents and health officials said Israeli planes and tanks continued to pummel areas across the Gaza overnight, killing and wounding several people, Reuters reported.

Protesters in Tel Aviv, meanwhile, were demanding new elections, and accused Netanyahu of continuiing to press the bombardment of Gaza to keep himself in power.

"We hope the world hears us and knows that the people of Israel are not the government of Israel," protester Shulamit Ron told Euronews.

"We don't agree with the policy, we don't agree with the way they behave, and we want to have a different future," he added.

Hamas negotiators remained in Cairo Sunday in a bid to broker a peace deal in continuing talks. Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in the talks that reportedly did not include Israeli negotiators.

One Palestinian official, close to the mediation effort, said the Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo with a determination to reach a deal "but not at any price."

"A deal must end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza and Israel hasn't yet committed it was willing to do so," the official told Reuters, asking not to be named.
Tant pis: the dining room at Public House, Paris. Photograph: Magali Delporte/The Observer

Public House, 21 rue Daunou, 75002 Paris, France (+33 1 77 37 87 93; publichouseparis.fr). Starters 8.50-19.50; mains 19.50-36.50; desserts 9-15; wines from 28

It was a simple plan: hop on the Eurostar to Paris and go for dinner at Public House, a new and audacious restaurant in the 9th arrondissement by pie king Calum Franklin, formerly of the Holborn Dining Room. Its mission: to bring scotch eggs, sausage rolls and the best, most golden, flaky pastry creations to the French. I could then write a sweet observational piece about the bourgeoisie of the Louboutin-shod opera district swooning over steak and ale pies, and adjusting both their corsets and their gastronomic perspective. Behold, the gravy-slicked anglais showing us how to eat. Donney-moi une autre pie etc. Because if anybody could do it, if anybody could finally make the French understand the quality and depth of modern British restaurant food, it had to be Franklin. Hes a gifted chef. Hes a lovely man. He literally wrote the book on pies. Go Calum, go.

And then I ate there and, for Gods sake, why cant life just keep to the bloody script? In the search for small mercies, I could point out that Public House is not a British restaurant. It is owned, run and staffed by French people and only employs a British chef. I could therefore frame this as a disaster solely made in Paris. But none of that nationalistic cobblers mitigates the singed and twisted girders of a calamitous experience. No Calum, no.

On paper, by which I mean on my iPhone screen, it looked like a banker. I have adored following the birth of this project, one shimmering Instagram post at a time: the installation of the candy-coloured tiling, the beautiful carpentry of the bar and flowing staircases, the polished brasswork and mirrored inlays and faux tartan upholstery. Close up, these details are gorgeous. But sitting in the first-floor dining room, squeezed in between a pillar and the looming back of a blonde giant seated at the head of the table three inches from us, taking in the Fanta-orange walls and the bright lighting and the frankly weird faux Scottish references, it all becomes a bit queasy. Its called Public House but it is not a pub. At best theres a hint of pub trying to attract the family crowd.

Still, here comes the bread basket, filled with thick wedges of sourdough. It is heritage sourdough, in the sense that it is somewhat old. Every piece is dry and stale, a sign that it was sliced up a good while ago. We ask for butter to soften the blow. Twenty minutes later we ask again. Eventually something the size of a 50p piece turns up. Our waiter is clearly less than thrilled at having to deliver it. Then again, the French have long been committed to the maintenance and nurture of their cultural traditions. If that includes offering restaurant service which is to hospitality and warmth what Finland in February is to beach holidays, then so be it.

We start with pigs head croquettes. They are dense cubes of breadcrumbed and deep-fried braised meat which, like the sourdough, may well have been spectacular a while ago. Instead, theyre tepid and tense, like the last canapes at the party, batch-cooked in advance and set aside to keep up with orders. Its a bigger problem with the scotch egg, the casing of which is made with boudin noir or black pudding. It, too, is served tepid and, while the egg has a jellied yolk, the outside is cool, raw and even liquid in places, beneath the fried breadcrumbs. We do not finish it.

While dish descriptions are in French, titles are in English so thats how we order them. We ask for whitebait. We are brought white bean soup. The waiter, who didnt use a notebook, mutters that he misheard. The whitebait finally arrive and, being cooked to order, are at least hot. We fall upon them hungrily, though in truth they lack crunch. The meagre portion of accompanying anchovy hollandaise quickly runs out.

Alongside fish and chips and sausage and mash theres a menu section entitled The Pie Room. Its what Ive come for. I dream still of the hot pork pie Franklin served at the Holborn Dining Room; of that pastry crackling with animal fats and a deep, generous, gravy-drenched filling. Here, the menu includes a braised beef pie, a dauphinoise and aged cheddar pie and the obvious showstopper, a lobster pie for two at 69. We have to order that. An oval dish arrives, clad in a golden blanket of scored puff, undulating over whatever lies beneath. A lobster head peeks out shyly from one end, the tail from the other. Obviously, the rest of the lobster lies between them.

Or not. We cut in to find huge, almost raw quarters of fennel bulb, turned potatoes and a parsimonious amount of seafood. We push vegetables aside in desperate search of tail meat. Its Finding Nemo, only without a redemption arc. Added to this, only the surface of the puff case is bronzed. Peel it back and its a heavy, beige, unlaundered duvet of raw pastry. Its that most dismal of combinations: both badly conceived and badly executed. It transpires that, after weeks in Paris, Franklin is not in the kitchen tonight. Had he been, perhaps the pigs heads croquettes would have been hot and the scotch egg cooked through. The bread might have been fresh. But even if the fennel and pastry hadnt been raw, this lobster pie would still have been a savage disappointment. The waitress notes the uneaten debris and asks what we think. I say, Not much lobster. She nods. Thats what I said to the chef. But were going to have a new menu in a month, hopefully.

Like kids who have had a rotten day at school we take consolation in a do-it-yourself ice-cream sundae built from a cheery checklist, and a sturdy sticky toffee pudding. The wine list is 85% French, with a few bottles from other countries. None of those countries are the UK. Its an odd call for a restaurant which has British Brasserie slapped across the front, given the quality of British wines. There are going to be many people in Londons restaurant and food world who will be dismayed and perhaps even angry that a Calum Franklin restaurant has received such a review. One of those people is me. But to stay silent after such a dreadful experience would have been its own kind of dishonesty. In a few months the British Olympic team arrives in Paris. I hope they fare better.

News bites

Thousands of bikers are coming together on 8 June for a ride in memory of Dave Myers, the Hairy Biker who died in February. The ride will be led by Daves lifelong friend and onscreen Hairy Biker partner Si King and will follow a route from London to Daves hometown of Barrow-in-Furness. There will be various stops along the way for any non-bikers who want to be a part of the festivities, including at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, which is promoting the ride. The day will end with a concert at the rugby club in Barrow-in-Furness with funds being raised for the NSPCC and the Institute for Cancer Research. Find out more here

The resurgence of restaurants serving French classics continues with the opening by chef Anthony Demetre of a more casual offering to go alongside the now Michelin-starred Wild Honey at the Sofitel Hotel in Londons St Jamess. Bistrot at Wild Honey serves a menu of fish soup, pate en croute and steak frites with peppercorn sauce followed by a chocolate delice or Paris-Brest. Find the full menu here.

According to a report in the Times, a secondary market is developing in hard-to-get tables, an issue which has already arisen in New York and San Francisco and has now arrived in London. Much like gig ticket touts, scalpers are using online booking platforms to grab hot reservations, which are then offered for resale. According to the Times, a table this month at the Michelin two-star Indian restaurant Gymkhana was being offered for 256, while at the Michelin three-star Core by Clare Smyth it was 408. These costs are obviously before anything has been consumed.

Email Jay at jay.rayner@observer.co.uk or follow him on X @jayrayner1
A female prisoner in her cell. All photographs by Jack Lueders-Booth Photograph: Jack Lueders-Booth

In 1970, aged 35, Jack Lueders-Booth left a well-paid management job at an insurance company in his native Boston, Massachusetts, to pursue his interest in photography. Until then, I was a serious hobbyist, he tells me over the phone from the city where he still lives, but my interest had deepened to the point where it was more and more difficult to do my day job. I needed something more stimulating. Photography was my real vocation.

Soon afterwards he landed a job as an administrator for the fledgling photography department at Harvard University, where later he also enrolled as a student. For his masters thesis, he submitted a proposal that would alter the course of his life. I told them I wanted to teach photography in places of confinement such as prisons and mental hospitals, he elaborates, I thought it would be beneficial for the inmates in all sorts of ways, not least because they could share their experience with their families through the images they made.

In 1977, he began teaching photography in Massachusetts Correctional Institution Framingham, a womens prison that had been founded in 1872 to house those convicted of the crime of begetting  giving birth out of wedlock. Over the ensuing decades, under various liberal governors, MCI Framingham became known for its progressive initiatives: allowing prisoners to wear their own clothes, employing female guards and, for a short period from the mid-1970s, allowing a small intake of male prisoners who mixed freely with the female inmates.

Over the seven years that he taught photography there, Lueders-Booth transformed an unoccupied wing of the prison, building dark rooms in unused 19th-century cells and installing sinks and enlargers. There, he taught his eager charges how to make photograms (camera-less images), construct cardboard pinhole cameras and make formally accomplished portraits of their fellow prisoners. His reputation as a gifted and trusted teacher was such that he was allowed to roam freely with his 35mm Leica, taking tens of thousands of black-and-white photographs of the inmates. In all sorts of ways, it was a different, more liberal time, he says wistfully.

The 32 images that comprise his new photo-book, Women Prisoner Polaroids, have been culled from about 200 colour portraits he also made there in 1980, when he became the recipient of the first of two generous Polaroid fellowships that included a donation of 12 state-of-the-art 4x5-inch view cameras and an unlimited supply of Polacolour film.

The results are striking in their relaxed intimacy and ordinary domesticity. As Lueders-Booth points out, the cells often look more like college dorms or apartments. Barred windows have been artfully concealed by curtains or decorative blinds, steel doors covered by wood-veneer panelling and the interiors often feature bookshelves, armchairs and chests of drawers topped with family snapshots, ornaments and even hi-fi record decks and speakers. Only the drab, peeling painted brickwork of the corridors and communal rooms fracture the illusion of home.

Over the years he worked there, Lueders-Booth came to know and respect the incarcerated women, many of whom, he says, brought an incredible openness and curiosity to the portrait sessions. A successful portrait is an exchange of trust that requires both parties to be totally present and engaged, he says. When I came to choose the images for the book, it was not just about how formally good they were, but that they somehow told a story about the person and the place. His role, he says, was to be a truthful witness and, as such, he often detected a sadness that many of the women carried, even though they would bring a brave face to the camera.

The book also includes a short selection of anonymous oral testimonies Lueders-Booth tape-recorded during his time at Framingham. One expectant mother explains how her baby will be taken into foster care soon after she gives birth: I cannot see myself, after five days, giving my new baby up to anyone. Theyve got their nerve. But Im not supposed to have any feelings about this. Another inmate speaks frankly and without remorse about the moment when she fatally stabbed an abusive man with a pocketknife. I told the judge, If I have to do it again, Ill do it again I know Im in jail, but, no sir, no sir. I do not feel sorry for defending my body cause Im a woman and I have had it. I have had it.

These visceral and defiant first-hand accounts evince an anger that is in stark contrast to the stillness and calm of the portraits, I suggest. Yes, he says. But what you have to understand is that, for many of the women, this may have been the first and only time they have had a chance to express their anger at the injustice of their lives.

The book concludes with a long freeform poem written by an inmate, Tina Williams, in 1980, when she had served nine years in Framingham for turning tricks. Titled I Love My Sisters, Sisters Love Thy Selves, it articulates a hard-earned wisdom that, ironically, was only achieved through a time of deep reflection in the relatively calm confines of Framingham prison. There, she and women like her were free from brutally controlling male partners or parasitic pimps, and what she memorably calls the knife of lifes coldness.

Williams was one of a few women with whom Lueders-Booth formed a lasting friendship. She died just a few weeks ago, he says quietly, before describing her poem as a cautionary tale that speaks of the damaged lives that many of these women had. In his time there, he encountered several prisoners who, having served their time and been released, would end up back inside a few months later. They came back looking battered and drained, he says. I realised that, for them, prison was a better life. A place where there were no pimps, no coercion, no violence.

These humble Polaroid portraits speak of another America that seems impossibly distant, while the anonymous faces that stare back at us across the decades seem both present in the moment and out of reach. A photograph is made in one-twetenty-fifth of a second, says Lueders-Booth. It cannot come close to representing the totality of a life, but, through a kind of rapt attentiveness, it can reflect a moment very deeply. Maybe that is enough.

 Women Prisoner Polaroids by Jack Lueders-Booth is published by Stanley/Barker (45)
Republican protesters in Trafalgar Square shouted abdicate, abdicate ahead of the first anniversary of the Kings coronation as tourists milled around and watched the crowd.

Two large yellow banners were hung in front of the National Gallery in central London that read abolish the monarchy and change country for good.

Around a hundred people wearing yellow gathered on the sunny Sunday for the protest organised by anti-monarchy group Republic, in its first Republic Day.

The organisations CEO Graham Smith said from the stage: We will have Republic Days every year on the eve of the coronation.

The protest took place before the first anniversary of the Kings coronation (Victoria Jones/PA)

Mr Smith and other Republic members were arrested for taking part in a pre-agreed protest on the Kings coronation last year and were later told no further action would be taken.

Subsequently he launched legal action against the Metropolitan Police and Mr Smith told the crowd it is ongoing.

He said: We need to challenge the monarchy and the royals because it is a corrupt institution  they are a lazy people, they have not earned their position and they need to be kicked out.

Around a hundred people wearing yellow gathered for the demonstration (Victoria Jones/PA)

He continued: We want a constitution and a system and a democracy that actually celebrates our very best principles and values.

This wont just be a matter of principle, it will change the way we govern ourselves and therefore change the society and the way that we see ourselves not as subjects, but as citizens.

We are forced to compromise our values and principles; we talk about corruption in politics, we talk about the abuse of public life.

We criticise MPs for spending thousands of pounds on second homes, we criticise Angela Rayner for not spending 1,500 on taxes she should have paid, but we dont criticise (Prince) William for spending 4.5 million of our money on doing up not his second home, or his third home, but his fourth.

Banners reading abolish the monarchy and change country for good were hung in front of the National Gallery (Victoria Jones/PA)

As bystanders took photos beside the Trafalgar Square fountains and sat on the steps outside the National Gallery, he said: People who support this stupid institution say that without it we would be a dull country, we wouldnt be able to bring tourists in.

As if we rely on this one tedious family to bring people in; that we dont have the creativity, the ingenuity, the genius and the brilliance to bring all these people in anyway.

That we cant thrive economically and socially and politically without Charles dressing up in ridiculous uniforms and sitting on a ridiculous throne.

He added that we struggle to deal with our legacy of slavery and that a part of that reason is because we dont point the finger at our royal family who from the days of (King) James I were absolutely instrumental in promoting, funding, sponsoring and investing in the slave trade.

These people are absolutely at the heart of the slave trade and empire and people are loath to look at that legacy.
The SNP is running scared of the Scottish people by rejecting calls for a Holyrood election, Scottish Labour has said.

Announcing his candidacy for the SNP leadership on Thursday, Mr Swinney dismissed the push for the country to go to the polls as a red herring.

But Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said there should be a Holyrood poll as well as the upcoming UK general election to boot both of Scotlands failing governments out for good.

She added: Scotlands public services are in chaos and the ruling SNP is in disarray  but all they are offering Scots is yesterdays man and serial failure John Swinney.

When the Tories began their revolving door policy in Downing Street the SNP rightly demanded an election, but now they are saying Scots should put up and shut up with a revolving door in Bute House.

No Scot voted for first minister John Swinney or the latest collection of SNP politicians that will make up the next cabinet.

The SNP is denying democracy  that position is untenable.

Its clear for all to see that they are running scared of the verdict of the Scottish people.

Mr Swinney looks set to become first minister next week following a tumultuous period in Scottish politics.

Current incumbent Humza Yousaf announced last Monday he would step down rather than face a no confidence vote in Holyrood which he may have lost.

Mr Swinney and former finance secretary Kate Forbes  who Mr Yousaf defeated in last years leadership contest  quickly emerged as the front-runners to replace him.

John Swinney is likely to be named SNP leader on Monday (Jane Barlow/PA)

But Ms Forbes ruled herself out on Thursday and instead looks set to take up a key place in Mr Swinneys government, should he win the leadership and subsequently be elected first minister.

Nominations for the SNPs top job close on Monday at noon, with Mr Swinney to be declared the winner if no other candidate gains the 100 signatures from 20 different branches required to run.

A spokesman for the SNP said: Calls from Jackie Baillie for a Holyrood election are completely hypocritical. Just last month the Labour Party appointed a new First Minister in Wales with no election held.

There is a difference between Westminster and Holyrood electoral systems. We have a fixed-term parliamentary system at Holyrood.

In Westminster, MPs dont elect who the Prime Minister is; however at Holyrood, MSPs do elect the first minister.

There will be a vote in the Scottish Parliament, depending on who the SNP elect as its new leader.
John Swinney must make amends to the Covid bereaved for deleting key WhatsApp messages if he is to become Scotlands next first minister, the Liberal Democrats have said.

The former deputy first minister is the likely candidate to replace Humza Yousaf in the top job next week after others ruled themselves out of the contest.

However, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has told the Perthshire North MSP, who served as Nicola Sturgeons deputy during the pandemic, to overhaul government transparency if he is selected for the role.

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said that Mr Swinney undermined the work of Covid inquiries by deleting WhatsApp messages (Jane Barlow/PA)

In January, Mr Swinney admitted to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he manually deleted informal messages between himself and Ms Sturgeon in accordance with Scottish Government guidance.

The Scottish Government has since said it is committed to learning lessons, with a review into the use of WhatsApp and other communications announced.

However, Mr Cole-Hamilton has said: When he set out his leadership bid earlier this week, John Swinney said that his values are based on helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. If he is serious about that then he must make amends to all those whose lives were ripped apart by Covid.

It was John Swinney who deleted his pandemic messages, alongside Nicola Sturgeon and other members of her top team. By doing so, they undermined the work of both the UK and Scottish Covid inquiries and deprived all those who lost loved ones of the answers and understanding they are searching for.

Lives and livelihoods hinged on the decisions that John Swinney acknowledged were happening at an absolutely ferocious pace. To erase the discussion that underpinned them smacks of a government that had little care for accountability and was covering its tracks.

If John Swinney does become the next first minister, he must explain to the Covid inquiries and to families how he will overhaul government transparency and record keeping to finally end the culture of secrecy that has existed for 17 years.

A spokesman for Mr Swinney said: Mr Swinneys deepest sympathies are with all those who lost loved ones during the pandemic.

Mr Swinney addressed the subject of message retention during an extensive evidence session at the Covid Inquiry. While giving evidence, Mr Swinney made clear that he acted in-line with the existing Scottish Government policy at that point in time.
A Vietnamese migrant who fled her home country just after the Vietnam War before reaching the UK has said the public is not as welcoming to migrants today.

Yen Hoang Lam, 52, a GP from Wallington, near Croydon, left Vietnam in the late 1970s by boat aged five with her mother, father and younger twin brothers.

Ms Lam, who spent five years in Scotland before moving to England, told the PA news agency: Five of us got on a rickety boat and I remember the fumes of petrol, the smell of vomiting.

One of my earliest memories is actually seeing my father cry, as he had to sell everything to get money to get passage to Macau initially.

Yen Hoang Lam (left) with her mother, father and younger twin brothers in Hong Kong (Yen Hoang Lam)

Ms Lams father, Manh Hoang, is of Chinese heritage and part of Vietnams ethnic minority known as Hoa, a community which was exiled from Vietnam between 1978 and 1979.

She said her parents friends all turned against them and people spied on them, which prompted her family to flee via boat to Macau before settling in Hong Kong for one year.

At the time, the UK was among a list of countries accepting Vietnamese migrants, which Ms Lams father chose because he felt the weather was the most temperate.

The family were flown to Livingston in Scotland and Ms Lam described her time there as positive saying she was very well received in the community.

The neighbours were kind and helpful and helped my parents out a lot. They helped them to learn to drive and supported them to settle into the community, she said.

She recalls a time she was racially abused by some older pupils at her school, but said that was the only occasion I ever had anything like this after her headmaster punished the students.

She believes the UK publics current perception of migrants is not the same as her experience more than 40 years ago.

The public is not as accepting or welcoming now, she said.

The feeling towards migrants is very poor. In my time, people were very kind to us because it was new.

I think there wasnt as much bad feeling.

Yen Hoang Lam, a GP from Croydon, fled her home country via boat aged five shortly after the Vietnam War (Yen Hoang Lam)

A new exhibition curated by Voice ESEA, a non-profit organisation aiming to dispel discrimination against the East and South East Asian (ESEA) community in the UK, will feature the history of the ESEA community in Britain, including another story about a Vietnamese family who fled their home country to the UK via boat.

Choon Young Tan, 35, head of events at Voice ESEA said the exhibition is designed to spotlight the hidden history of the British ESEA community.

He told PA: Its uncovering and showcasing British East and Southeast Asian history as far as the 1500s to now detailing our journeys coming from Southeast Asia and our struggles, for example, with racism and assimilation.

But it also highlights our triumphs, showing how embedded we are into British history.

I think uncovering these stories completely transforms your sense of belonging and confidence to exist fully and proudly.

We want (the ESEA community) to be seen and we want their stories to be told, which is why a lot of these stories have been told from the perspective of those people from those communities.

Ms Lam said the new exhibition is a good way to document the stories of the Vietnamese community post-war.

She said: (The Vietnamese community) are now no longer in peoples ken. It was a long time ago, so a lot of people wouldnt know about it.

Its good to document that good can come from really horrible situations like that.

The exhibition, named Yellow Peril Awareness Day, will take place in Bethnal Green, London and Ancoats, Manchester on May 6, which marks the day the US signed a federal law excluding Chinese immigrants from entering the country.

Mr Tan explained: That was one of the most large-scale anti-immigration laws against a specific ethnic group.

Although it happened in the US, it definitely had knock-on effects in the UK.

Mr Tan added the name of the exhibition has been contentious among the ESEA community, but made clear the term also refers to a general fear, mistrust and hatred for Chinese and other Asians.

That term describes the act of anti-ESEA sentiments, racism, discrimination and prejudice because of peoples hatred and fears, he said.

The idea is were raising awareness of whats happened in our history.
MEGA

Bella Hadid was spotted out in the big city with her cowboy boyfriend Adan Banuelos.

The couple was spotted leaving a party for Orebella, Hadids fragrance brand, at the Flower Shop in New York City on Friday, May 3.

Hadid, 27, was clad in a black leather jacket, matching pants and boots, all of which were offset with a white top. Meanwhile, Banuelos, 35, donned a black cowboy hat and matching button-up shirt, light-wash denim jeans, cowboy boots and a Texas-sized belt buckle to tie it all together.

A source exclusively told Us Weekly in March that Hadid has entered a new era in her life, all thanks to Adan, having moved to Texas, launched a fragrance brand and put modeling on the back burner.

Zip-Up! Yoga Pants! Bella Hadids Look Is Straight Out of the 2000s

After 10 years of modeling, I realized I was putting so much energy and love and effort into something that  wasnt necessarily giving it back to me, Hadid told Allure in a profile published on Tuesday, April 30.

MEGA

I love being able to do my own hair and makeup, be happy with how I look and get ready with my girlfriends here in Texas, Hadid continued. We have the best time, and I never feel like I need to do too much. For the first time now, Im not putting on a fake face. If I dont feel good, I wont go. If I dont feel good, I take time for myself.  Now, when anybody sees me in pictures and they say, I look happy, I genuinely am.

Overall, Hadid seems to be adjusting well to her life in Texas. Last month, Banuelos praised his girlfriend after she swept up a few awards at a rodeo competition, which was attended by Bellas mother, Yolanda Hadid.

Real Housewives' Kids: Then and Now

At her first trip to Fort Worth she made 3 finals and is already guaranteed to win her first 3 buckles! #proud #MetallicTito #ImmaBeSmooth, Banuelos wrote via Instagram in April, alongside a video of Bella riding her horse.

When it comes to Yolanda, as well as older sister Gigi Hadid, Bellas family is supportive of her choice to move to Texas and take a step back from the industry. Gigi couldnt be prouder of Bella for making the decision to step away from modeling. She knows it wasnt a decision Bella took lightly, but something that will make her feel more fulfilled than ever, a source exclusively told Us Weekly.

Plus, she knows this is just a break and its more than likely Bella will return to modeling at some point, the source added. Bella is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry and although it wont be the same for a little while, Gigi is so happy for her little sister.
Boeing locked out 125 unionized firefighters and emergency responders from their jobs in Washington state this weekend as the two sides battle over a new four-year contract.

The aircraft manufacturer and the workers union, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local I-66, have been negotiating since February. Boeing forced the workers out early Saturday morning after the union turned down the companys final offer.

The union accused the embattled plane-maker of choosing corporate greed over safety, while Boeing insisted that it had a plan to ensure safe operations at the impacted manufacturing sites across the Puget Sound area.

We have now locked out members of the bargaining unit and fully implemented our contingency plan with highly qualified firefighters performing the work of [union] members, Boeing said in a statement.

A lockout is essentially the opposite of a strike  rather than workers walking off the job by choice, an employer forces them off the job with the aim of gaining leverage in negotiations. Like strikes, lockouts tend to happen when a collective bargaining agreement has expired and a new one hasnt been reached.

The union said the lockout was intended to punish, intimidate, and coerce its firefighters into accepting a contract that undervalues their work.

When is Boeing going to make safety a priority? When is Boeing finally going to listen? Casey Yeager, the unions president, said in a statement.

Boeing 737 Max 9 airliners are pictured at a Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, on April 20, 2020. Boeing said it locked out its unionized firefighters early Saturday morning. JASON REDMOND via Getty Images

According to the union, it members respond to fires at Boeing work sites and train other Boeing employees on fire safety practices. The union said that its members earn up to 30% less than firefighters at nearby municipal fire departments, and that it would take workers 19 years to reach the top pay rate under Boeings most recent proposal.

The company said it has made two competitive offers that are in line with similar corporate fire departments.

Boeing is facing a wave of political and regulatory scrutiny over its safety practices ever since a door panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max jet in January. The Federal Aviation Administration recently said that an audit of the company revealed multiple instances in which Boeing and a key supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, had failed to meet quality-control mandates.

Boeing announced in March that CEO David Calhoun would be stepping down.

Yeager maintained that the firefighter lockout could end up siphoning resources from other fire departments in the area.

Our members are committed to improving the safety culture of the Boeing Company, he said. But we refuse to let a multi-billion-dollar company resolve its years of mismanagement on the backs of firefighters.
So much more than just a day of drinking and partying, Cinco de Mayo is a day rich in history and culture for Mexico.

Celebrated annually on May 5, Cinco de Mayo recognizes Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire led by Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The holiday has since become perhaps more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico and is often celebrated by people of Mexican American heritage.

The holiday's name, Cinco de Mayo, translates to the fifth of May. This year, it is on Sunday, May 5.

Cities around the U.S. celebrate every year with parades, festivals, music and more, from Los Angeles to Chicago and everywhere in between. Restaurants and brands have gotten in on the action as well, offering food and drink deals throughout the weekend.

Here's what to know about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, and why it's celebrated in the U.S. today.

What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate? Origins tied to 1862 battle

Mexican Independence Day, or Dia de la Independencia, came on Sept. 16, 1810, when the country broke free of Spanish rule.

Cinco de Mayo came more than 50 years later when French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to claim Mexico for himself.

The French sent troops to force Mexico's President Benito Juarez and the government out of Veracruz. On May 5, 1862, in a small town in east-central Mexico called Puebla, 2,000 Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French troops at daybreak. Incredibly, Mexico claimed victory by the evening, and Juarez declared May 5 a national holiday.

The battle also played a role in the American Civil War. With the French defeated and leaving North America, the Confederacy wasn't able to use them as an ally to win the war.

Zonia Rosales, 3, left, and Osmany Lemus, 2, right, play with Mexican flags during the 2022 Cinco de Mayo Parade along West Vernor Highway in Detroit.

So, why are so many Americans still confused?

"Everyone thinks that it's just party time, it's Corona time," Mario Garcia, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, previously told USA TODAY.

"It's OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo  at least they have some sense that it's some kind of a Mexican holiday," Garcia said. "But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is."

Part of the confusion among many Americans about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates is likely because it's much catchier-sounding and easier for English speakers to say than the day of Mexico's independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), Garcia said last year.

The holiday serves as a reminder of the importance of Chicanx history and its people's contributions to the U.S.

"When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they've been history makers," Garcia said previously. "They've been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars ... In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos  mostly Mexican Americans  fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor."

Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than Mexico?

While there are Cinco De Mayo celebrations throughout Mexico, notably in the city of Puebla, the event doesn't compare to the celebrations of Dia de la Independencia, Garcia said.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

"It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader," Garcia said. "They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo."

By the 1980s, companies began commercializing the holiday, especially beer companies and restaurants offering Cinco de Mayo specials and cocktails. Garcia jokingly refers to the day as "Corona Day."

This Cinco de Mayo, Garcia hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down.

Cinco de Mayo events around the U.S.

San Diego: San Diego's Cinco de Mayo celebrations will be held May 4 and 5 in Old Town San Diego. Activities include live music, folklorico, dining and drink specials.

Denver: The Mile High city has a whole host of holiday-related activities over the weekend of May 4 for Cinco de Mayo Denver, from a community parade to a taco eating contest. Events will be held May 4-5 at Denver Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration is in the city's West Side neighborhood and is one of Minnesota's largest Latino events. This year, festivities will be held May 4 starting at 10 a.m. and will include a parade, car and bike show and a dog show.

San Antonio, Texas: The city is sponsoring Cinco de Mayo celebrations through the holiday weekend in the Historic Market Square including live bands, Folklorico dance performances, Mariachi, food booths and more, running May 4-5.

Chicago: Chicago will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5 with an annual parade that begins noon at the intersection of Cermak Road and Wood Street and heads west through Cermak Road to Marshall Boulevard. A festival at Douglas Park follows the parade, featuring live music, food, vendors and a carnival.

Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world runs down four blocks in Downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival happened this year on April 28, according to event organizers.

Cinco de Mayo deals

Of course, many restaurants will be offering discounts and promotions on May 5. Here are a few.

Abuelo's : Visit May 5 for $5 specials all day on Mexican Grande Draft Beer, Mexican Flag Margarita, La Grandeza Margarita and Chile con Queso. In store only.

Chevy's Fresh Mex: All day happy hour Friday, May 3-Saturday 4. Enjoy $4, $6, $8 and $10 specials in the cantina. On Sunday, May 5, enjoy a boozy brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with $12 bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys. From 3 p.m. to close, enjoy margarita, beer and shot specials and $4 tacos.

Chipotle : From May 1-5, use code "CINCO24" at checkout for a $0 delivery fee. Higher menu prices and additional services fees apply.

Chuy's : Order a regular House 'Rita for $6 or a Grande House 'Rite for $10 and keep the giveaway cup, while supplies last. Enjoy $1 tequila floaters all day and Chips 'N' Dips for $5 all day Sunday.

El Torito: All day happy hour May 3-4. Enjoy $4, $6, $8 and $10 specials in the cantina. Sunday May 5, enjoy all-you-can-eat-brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with bottomless mimosas, $5 Bloody Marys, Micheladas and margaritas. From 2 p.m. to close, enjoy margaritas, beer, shot specials and $4 tacos.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Cinco de Mayo? Know the meaning, origins of May 5 holiday
Google has a lot at stake as a federal judge weighs whether the tech giants search empire should be broken up.

So does the rest of Silicon Valley.

A landmark antitrust case pitting Google (GOOG, GOOGL) against the Justice Department entered its final stage this past week as prosecutors from the federal government and 14 states said in their closing arguments that Google illegally monopolized the online search and search advertising markets.

Google's lawyer, John Schmidtlein, pushed back one more time with a claim the company has made from the beginning: "Google is winning because its better," he said.

A government win would certainly threaten a giant piece of Googles $237.8 billion profit engine. But the outcome, which will be decided by US District Judge Amit Mehta in the weeks or months to come, also has giant implications for some of the other big names in the tech world.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai departs federal court on Oct. 30, in Washington, D.C., after testifying in the antitrust case against his company. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Drew Angerer via Getty Images)

That's because Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), and Meta (META) are defending themselves against a series of other federal- and state-led antitrust suits, some of which make similar claims, and because all three stand to lose or gain depending on the outcome.

In Apples case, US attorneys have alleged the iPhone maker blocked rivals from entering the smartphone market by using a web of contractual restrictions.

A similar claim was made by the government in Google's case, which hinges on several types of contracts that Google allegedly used to cement its search dominance.

"The broad lessons here are a long way off, but this is clearly a really important time when the very first of these tech cases is going to be decided," said University of Washington antitrust professor Douglas Ross.

"I do think they're going to be interested in how narrowly or broadly [the judge] defines the markets here," Ross added, "and if there is any learning in what he writes that might have application elsewhere."

The government argues Google is violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act by blocking competitors from entering three distinct markets: general online search, search advertising, and search text advertising.

Generally, Ross said, prosecutors are inclined to craft narrower market definitions to make it easier to prove a defendant holds a monopoly.

How courts react to those arguments, he added, will be significant.

New York University Law professor Harry First said the impact of Google's case also depends on the extent to which the judge accepts or rejects one of the governments antitrust theories  that Googles collective actions qualify as anticompetitive.

That strategy has been unsuccessful for the DOJ so far, including in its landmark case in the 1990s that eventually forced Microsoft (MSFT) into a settlement to open its operating system to competitors in the early 2000s.

Amit Mehta, left, is the judge overseeing the Google antitrust case. Here he is pictured in 2012 when he was an attorney before the New York State Supreme Court. (DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) (DON EMMERT via Getty Images)

But if the judge in the Google case is persuaded that the theory has some merit, First explained, it could alter the way future antitrust cases are evaluated.

"I'm curious to see the extent to which the government tries to return to that theme and maybe move it in a direction that could be useful in other cases," First said.

Many companies could be impacted by what the judge decides, even beyond the world of tech.

A government win would put at risk the billions of dollars in mutually lucrative contracts between Google and Apple, as well as deals with other device manufacturers and telecom companies.

The government alleged in its case that Google pays billions of dollars each year to LG, Motorola (MSI), and Samsung; major US wireless carriers such as AT&T (T), T-Mobile (TMUS), and Verizon (VZ); and browser developers such as Mozilla, Opera, and UCWeb.

Government prosecutors have alleged that Google had been paying Apple an estimated $8 billion to $12 billion per year  a portion of search ad revenue  in exchange for awarding Google Search default placement on Apple devices.

In 2022, according to prosecutors, those payments totaled roughly $20 billion. The DOJ said its figure represented 15%-20% of Apples worldwide net income.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, in April. (REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan) (REUTERS / Reuters)

Some tech companies, however, stand to gain if the government ultimately prevails.

A breakup of Googles contractual arrangements could boost rival search engines like Microsoft's Bing and DuckDuckGo.

It could also open the door to newcomer search engines and mobile manufacturers.

Amazon, for its part, exited the mobile phone market after Google's contracts allegedly prevented it from attracting manufacturers to its alternative operating system, Fire OS, a competing "fork" to Googles Android operating system.

Prosecutors said manufacturers were concerned that Amazon's partnership with Bing for mobile search services would risk lucrative deals with Google.

The government has yet to say what precise remedy it desires should it prevail against Google. If the government does win on any of its claims, a separate remedies phase of the trial would be held.

The outcome of November's presidential election could also impact the case, which was brought under former President Donald Trumps administration.

If Biden is defeated, a new administration could decide to pursue different remedies or drop the case altogether.

The judge in this case, Mehta, may or may not have tipped his hand in his final questions to the lawyers during closing arguments this past week.

He pushed back on arguments made by both sides.

"You can talk about competition, but the competitor bears some responsibility for competing," Mehta said while also questioning why new rivals were not pushing to enter Google's market  and whether that's even possible.

It seems to be very, very unlikely, if not impossible, under the current market conditions, Mehta said.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Seven people were injured and four of them were in critical condidtion after a shooting late Saturday night in Long Beach, California, officials reported.

The remaining three victims had non-life-threatening injuries, police said in a statement

There were no arrests as of early Sunday.

Police were still seeking a motive in the shooting, which occurred near restaurants and several other businesses.

"The suspect(s) fled prior to officers' arrival," Long Beach police said in a statement. "Suspect information and motive are unknown at this time."

Detectives remained on the scene, and police asked that the public avoid the area during the ongoing investigation.

(1/2) We currently have a significant police presence in the area of South Street and Paramount Boulevard while we investigate a shooting. At this time, there have been seven reported victims - three with non-life-threatening injuries and four in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/CEMtBANsWx  Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) May 5, 2024

This is a developing story. Please check back for updated information.
American artist Frank Stella, known for his bold and bright synthetic colors, pin-stripes, symmetry in his pieces  and cool modern minimalist style  died at his home in the West Village of New York's Manhattan borough on Saturday. He was 87. The New York Times reported that his wife, Dr. Harriet E. McGurk, confirmed his cause of death after a battle with lymphoma  a type of cancerthat begins in the cells of the lymph system.

The New Yorker described Stella's style as stunning. He made his mark on the art world after his 1959 graduation from Princeton.

Stella is known to have invented multiple styles, including a form of neo-Baroque that includes metallic elements with complex reliefs. His body of work also includes numerous sculptures. Art critics noted his "crisp, geometric-shaped canvases in eye-popping synthetic colors," Peter Schjeldahl wrote.

U.S. artist Frank Stella poses in front of one of his works at an exhibition devoted to him in Warsaw, Poland.

Stella is recognized for grabbing onto a quickly growing Abstract Expressionism movement in a postwar United States. He juxtaposed much of his famous work with what ARTnews called his spare paintings  which he described to minimalist sculptor Donald Judd by saying, "What you see, is what you see."

He played a known role in redefining painting in the 1950s and 1960s with what critics called zero-degree abstraction, but with maximal-ism in dazzling color combinations.

In his 20s, Stella presented large-scale black paintings with delineated black stripes separated by thin blank lines on the canvas. William Grimes described it all as "austere, self-referential, opaque"  and said, "they cast a chilling spell."

Stella's work was displayed by the Museum of Modern Art in a collection of works from 1970 to 1987 that was also published online. In it you see works that appear to almost lift off the surface, even in print. William Rubin wrote in Art International magazine in 1960 that he was almost mesmerized and said the works had an eerie, magical presence."

In what Christie's called an "exceptional, intimately scaled example of the artists celebrated 'Black Paintings,'" the auction house listed Stella's Untitled (Study for Getty's Tomb) enamel on canvas, mounted on Masonite, that Stella painted around 1959. It was given an estimated value of between $1 million and $1.5 million, and sold for $1,935,000 million.

In 2015, Stella's work was honored with a retrospective exhibition by New York's Whitney Museum. A curator for the show, Adam Weinberg, wrote that Stella stood out for his impulsiveness, willingness to take risks, desire to be separated from the group and to do things his own way."
Israel shut down Al Jazeeras operations in the country and seized some of its communication equipment Sunday, prompting condemnation from the United Nations and rights groups over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus moves to restrict press freedoms.

The closure comes as ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Cairo show little sign of breakthrough after almost seven months of war, and international concern mounts over Israels expected military offensive in southern Gazas Rafah, where 1.5 million people are sheltering amid a devastating humanitarian crisis.

The Qatari-based news network, which has produced dogged, on the ground reporting of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza, called the closure of its offices a criminal act, while critics said the move was a dark day for democracy and that it sets a concerning precedent for other international media outlets operating in Israel.

In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu said: The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel.

The Israeli Ministry of Communications said Sunday it had closed the networks Jerusalem offices, and confiscated its communication equipment. In addition, the networks broadcasts on cable and satellite were stopped, and access to its websites was blocked, the ministry said.

Netanyahus government has long complained about Al Jazeeras operations, alleging anti-Israeli bias and accusing the network of being a mouthpiece for Hamas, and the closure follows the passage of a sweeping law allowing the government to ban foreign networks perceived as posing a threat to national security.

Israeli cable providers ceased carrying the Al Jazeera networks by late Sunday afternoon, CNN journalists in the country confirmed. Al Jazeeras cable channel in Israel now displays a message stating, In accordance with the governments decision, Al Jazeera channel broadcasts were stopped in Israel.

Ofir Gendelman, the prime ministers spokesperson to the Arab world, quoted Netanyahu as saying: Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against IDF soldiers. It is time to expel the mouthpiece of Hamas from our country.

Video obtained by CNN showed Israeli police accompanied by agents of the Israel Security Agency entering Al Jazeeras broadcasting position in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Al Jazeera said the Israeli cabinets decision infringed on the human right to access information.

It continued: Israels suppression of the free press to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists did not deter us from performing our duty. More than 140 Palestinian journalists have been martyred for the sake of the truth since the beginning of the war on Gaza.

Several of the networks journalists working in Gaza have been injured or killed since October 7.

Al Jazeera again denied Israels false allegations regarding our violation of the professional frameworks governing media work, and called on media and human rights organizations to condemn the Israeli authorities repeated attacks on the press and journalists.

Assault on freedom of the press

The move comes a month after Netanyahu vowed to shut down the television channel in the country following the passage of the new law, which placed a raft of restrictions on Al Jazeera in Israel.



Those restrictions included giving the government authority to take action against offices operated by the network and confiscate equipment and reporters press cards, as well as restricting its broadcasts and public access to its website.

Netanyahu said on X in early April that he intended to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the outlets activity in the country.

Al Jazeera has an office in Jerusalem, as well as in the West Bank and Gaza.

Since the start of the war, it has produced critical, on-the-ground coverage of Israeli military operations and their humanitarian impact on the embattled enclave.

The new law gave the prime minister and communications minister authority to order the temporary closure of foreign networks operating in Israel  powers that rights groups say could have far-reaching implications on international media coverage of the war in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Sunday condemned the closure of Al Jazeera. As we have said before, we stand firmly against any decision to roll back freedom of the press. A free press provides an invaluable service to ensure that the public is informed and engaged, Dujarric said.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel described the move as a dark day for democracy and a cause for concern for all supporters of a free press, while the Committee to Protect Journalists said it sets an extremely alarming precedent for restricting international media outlets working in Israel.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch condemned the decision as an assault on freedom of the press, according to a written statement shared by Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watchs Israel, and Palestine Director (HRW) on Sunday.

Rather than trying to silence reporting on its atrocities in Gaza, the Israeli government should stop committing them, Shakir said.

The move to close the network comes amid mounting concerns from press freedom groups about causalities among journalists operating in war zones there and what they describe as obstruction of journalistic work by Israeli authorities.

As of May 3, 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists preliminary investigations showed at least 97 journalists and media workers have been killed since the war began.

The annual Press Freedom Index, released Friday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the war in Gaza saw a record number of violations against journalists and media since October.

Palestine  the term the organization uses for the Palestinian territories  is ranked 157th out of 180 countries and territories on the Press Freedom Index, and its the deadliest region for journalists, according to RSF. Israel is ranked 101, slipping four places from 2023.

The move to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel comes as negotiators met in Cairo on Saturday, in a bid to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Negotiators have made progress on the technical aspects of a potential deal, but two Israeli sources say it could take a week to finalize the deal itself. Qatar has played a key role in ceasefire negotiations in the on-going war.

This story has been updated.

CNNs Simone McCarthy, Eyad Kourdi, Hadas Gold, Eugenia Yosef, Hamdi Alkhshali and Richard Roth contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he cannot accept Hamas demands to end the war in Gaza as the two sides traded blame amid fresh ceasefire talks that showed little sign of a breakthrough.

Discussions are thought to have centered around a new framework, proposed by Cairo, that calls for the militant group to release hostages kidnapped from Israel in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza.

A Hamas delegation has now left Egypt after the latest round of gruelling months of talks, saying in-depth and serious discussions took place.

There had been some cause for optimism, with Egyptian media citing an Egyptian official as saying there had been significant progress in negotiations. But the latest comments from Israel and Hamas show how far apart the two remain.

On Sunday, Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement that the group was still keen to reach an agreement with mediators but that any proposal would have to guarantee Israeli withdrawal and cease fighting in the enclave permanently.

He reiterated that the delegation carried positive and flexible positions aimed at stopping the aggression against our people, which is a fundamental and logical position that lays the foundation for a more stable future.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh again demanded Israel withdraw from Gaza. - Vahid Salemi/AP

However, referring to the Israeli government, Haniyeh said that the world has become a hostage to an extremist government, which has a huge number of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza, and accused its leadership of seeking to sabotage the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.

Netanyahu in turn accused Hamas of making unacceptable demands in the Cairo talks, adding that Israel had demonstrated a willingness to go a long way in the negotiations.

He said Hamass demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza was out of the question.

Hamas remained entrenched in its extreme positions, chief among them the demand to withdraw all our forces from the strip, end the war, and leave Hamas intact, he said. The State of Israel cannot accept this.

We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure, and return to threatening the citizens of Israel in the surrounding settlements, in the cities of the south, in all parts of the country.

Israel will not agree to Hamass demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved, Netanyahu said.

Later on Sunday, an Egyptian source familiar with the negotiations told CNN that Egypt had received Hamass response to a truce proposal and relayed it to the Israeli side.

Several alternatives and scenarios were proposed to overcome the main point of contention related to ending the war, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to address the media.

The source also confirmed that the Hamas delegation is set to leave Cairo for Doha on Sunday evening to conduct internal consultations on what was discussed during the round of negotiations in Cairo.

Looming offensive in Rafah

Amid the tense ongoing negotiations is an expected ground offensive on the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are estimated to be sheltering after fleeing fighting in the north.

The US has sought to increase the pressure on Hamas to accept the deal on the table, while also trying to prevent the Israeli military from moving towards Rafah. Most recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held another round of high-stakes talks in Israel on Wednesday.

However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on Sunday to expect intense action in Rafah in the near future, and in other places all over the strip.

Galant entered the enclave Sunday morning, according to the Defense Ministry, where he told soldiers that Israel was committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages.

We recognize alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to go to any outline agreement with us, the meaning of this - action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the near future, Gallant said.

We are just before an action, were in high readiness, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) knows what to do, we are prepared for things and it will encompass the entire strip from north to south, all the area and within it Rafah.

On Sunday, six Palestinians  including two women and three children  were killed in an airstrike on Rafah, according to a medical source at Abu Yousuf Al-Najaf Hospital.

The source said the airstrike struck a house belonging to the Al-Attar family in the Yabna camp in central Rafah.

A local journalist who was in the hospital told CNN that the Palestinians killed in the airstrike arrived dismembered.

Video seen by CNN showed a building being demolished while civilians dug through the rubble to find injured people. Another video obtained by CNN shows the dead body of what appears to be a boy with a fatal head injury bleeding.

Rocket barrage near Kerem Shalom

Meanwhile, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing to humanitarian trucks after it was hit by at least 10 rockets on Sunday morning, according to the IDF.

The crossing has been central to getting aid into Gaza.

It wasnt immediately clear where exactly the rockets had landed in the area or if there were any injuries or fatalities. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said it had targeted the crossing with rockets.

Following the rocket barrage, Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) blamed Hamas aid not reaching the besieged strip.

In a post on X, COGAT said: Hamas will do anything to prevent aid from reaching the people of Gaza. Over the last few days and in separate incidents: Hamas shot mortars at the corridor for humanitarian purposes, disrupted aid from traveling from southern to northern Gaza, and prevented residents from receiving humanitarian aid.

A CNN stringer in Rafah, Gaza said that people there had become fearful as immediately after rockets hit Kerem Shalom, artillery fire could be heard east of the city as Israeli jets struck unspecified targets.

CNNs Eugenia Yosef, Tareq El-Helou and Kareem Khadder contributed to this story.

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At least seven people were injured in a Long Beach, California, shooting late Saturday, according to police.

Officers with the Long Beach Police Department responded to the shooting in the area of South Street and Paramount Boulevard at around 11:15 p.m. PT.

"Approximately seven victims have been reported at this time and all of the victims either self-transported, or were transported by LBFD, to local hospitals," the department said in an update. Police did not share what happened in the lead-up to the shooting.

Four of the victims are in critical condition, while three had non-life-threatening injuries, police said. It's not clear whether all the victims were shot.

Police believe at least two males fired shots toward a group of people, according to an update the department shared Sunday on Facebook. No suspects are in custody, and while a motive remains unclear, detectives believe the incident was gang-related.

Long Beach police asked the public to avoid the scene early Sunday while it investigates, in said in a post on Facebook.

"This police department is dedicated and focused on arresting any violent offender utilizing dangerous firearms to victimize our community," Chief Wally Hebeish said. "The Long Beach Police Department has been actively investigating this shooting since late last night, and we will continue working until we identify and arrest those involved in this unacceptable act of gun violence."
Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal bus crash on Interstate 95 early Sunday that left one person dead and 23 injured.

A preliminary investigation found the bus lost control for unknown reasons and struck a guardrail just after 6 a.m. on I-95 in Harford County, state police said in a news release. No other vehicles were involved.

Police said the bus had been carrying 24 people and was traveling northbound when it crashed.

One passenger was pronounced dead on the scene and 23 others, including the driver, were transported to a local hospital, state police told CNN.

Police, troopers and sheriffs deputies responded to the crash.

The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation into its cause, the news release said, and all northbound lanes of I-95 at mile marker 77 are currently closed for the ongoing investigation.

No charges had been filed as of Sunday afternoon.

Harford County is about 35 miles north of Baltimore.

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LAPD officers in riot gear exit USC after they helped clear a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on Sunday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

In a swift predawn operation three days before graduation ceremonies begin, USC campus police and LAPD officers in riot gear cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment from the center of campus Sunday as protesters beat drums, chanted and later pledged to continue their demonstration.

There were no arrests during the sweep, according to USC officials and student activists. By about 8 a.m. some 40 tents, posters, debris and barricades had been hauled away. A party rental company moved in as a tall black fence was installed around the park.

"The operation was peaceful. Campus is opening, students are returning to prepare for finals, and commencement set-up is in full swing," USC President Carol Folt wrote in a campuswide email Sunday.

Folt, who has been confronted by supporters and opponents of pro-Palestinian activists for her handling of the protest and free speech on campus, said the university had "issued repeated warnings."

"When free speech protests devolve into illegal occupations, violating the rights of others, we must draw a line," Folt said.

A pro-Palestinian supporter waits outside the gate of USC after police secured the campus. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The police operation was the culmination of a second tense week of protests at USC and universities throughout the country as college presidents faced criticism for calling in police in riot gear to clear pro-Palestinian encampments. Leaders have struggled to balance campus safety and the right to protest, with calls to address antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Many have been under pressure to clear camps before commencements, when parents, alumni, donors and luminaries descend on campuses.

In one of the most violent incidents at a protest, a mob attacked a UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment last week, prompting anger over the universitys handling of campus safety. Police arrested more than 200 people after moving onto the Westwood campus to push out protesters.

Sunday's USC sweep was the second time police dismantled the encampment. It unfolded as graduation activities are set to kick off Wednesday with tens of thousands of guests on campus. Los Angeles police arrested 93 activists  most of them USC students  on April 24 on suspicion of trespassing when they cleared the encampment in Alumni Park.

At 4:17 a.m. Sunday, USC issued a text message alert saying the Los Angeles Police Department had arrived and that people should leave central campus, which was closed off to everyone, including students. Officers from the campus Department of Public Safety issued a dispersal warning to activists. About 30 protesters left as police pushed them toward the university's Jefferson Boulevard exit.

Free, free Palestine, demonstrators chanted as they faced police at the perimeter officers set up outside the camp, beating drums while helicopters hovered overhead.

About 5 a.m., police entered the encampment. They dismantled tents, leaving behind posters, trash and makeshift barriers. Campus Police Chief Lauretta Hill gave a fist bump to the remaining officers. An hour later, Alumni Park was empty and quiet, largely devoid of police, as workers cleaned the grounds.

The University Park campus reopened to students, faculty and staff about 10 a.m. as USC issued a new warning via text message: Tents and related equipment were prohibited, along with camping and unpermitted events. Those breaking the rules would be subject to discipline.

"No individuals or groups may obstruct free passage throughout our campuses, commencement setup, or other functions," the alert said.

"We will be back. Free Palestine," said a message the student activists posted the Instagram account of USC Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation. The pro-Palestinian group that set up the encampment, USC Divest from Death Coalition, uses the labor organization's social media for its official announcements.

"We are not done," a spokesperson for the student activists said after the camp was cleared. The spokesperson did not give details on future actions. The person declined to identify themselves because of fear of retaliation from the USC administration and students opposed to their activism.

Protesters  like others at universities nationwide  have demanded that USC boycott and divest from financial ties with Israel, which USC has rejected.

The encampment spokesperson said Sunday that "divestment is not a short-term movement. Divestment is a long-term movement.... The movement doesn't end with this occupation. The occupation is simply one way to bring attention and bring our demands."

After two meetings last week with protest leaders, USC President Folt posted on X that students "seemed more interested in having me issue a political statement in support of their viewpoint as opposed to coming up with practical solutions to resolve the situation."

In those meetings, Folt said she had "no intention" of asking the LAPD to come to campus again. In an interview with The Times last week, she did not rule it out as an option but said it was not her preference.

In her campus letter Sunday, Folt wrote that "despite our efforts to de-escalate, the occupation was spiraling in a dangerous direction over the last several days.... With no resolution in sight, I requested the LAPD to assist DPS in removing the encampment as peacefully and safely as possible."

Devin Griffiths, an associate professor of English and comparative literature, said it was disappointing that the LAPD was invited back onto campus after many faculty strongly expressed their anger and worry at the invitation of the LAPD a little over a week ago.

Griffiths joined a faculty march last week in support of students' rights to protest. He is among more than 380 faculty members who had recently called for a no-confidence vote in USCs top leadership for its handling of tensions.

Some campus members expressed relief that the encampment was cleared.

Read more:Encampments spread across California universities. Are they living on borrowed time?

"I hope it's gone for good. It's good news. My only concern is that it took so long for USC to act decisively on this," said Anna Krylov, a professor of chemistry who has opposed the protest. "I hope in the future they will act more promptly in dealing with this type of illegal disturbance."

Krylov writes for a Substack called "Voices Against Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism at USC." She is among nearly 100 faculty members who recently wrote to the USC Academic Senate, urging an investigation into the "persistent and escalating antisemitism and anti-Zionism at USC" and "harassment and intimidation of Jewish students."

The chemistry professor, who is not Jewish, said the camp had antisemitic slogans, such as signs and chants on "intifada." Pro-Palestinian groups say the word means a general "uprising," including boycotts against Israel; pro-Israel groups say it has been used describe deadly attacks against Jewish Israelis.

Student Sabrina Jahan, a pro-Israel senior, was also critical of the protest.

"Im just glad the focus will hopefully now be back on finals and graduation like it should have been in the first place, said Jahan, who is Jewish.

Among the remnants of the camp on Sunday morning, a Times reporter found a crumpled and torn document titled "Ground Tactics for the Student Intifada."

The four pages of typed papers included guides on how to organize human formations when confronted by police. "The purpose of a mass action is not make it go on for as long as humanly possible," the document read. "The purpose of a mass action is to maximize disruption at a minimum cost to the organizers.

Tents set up by pro-Palestine protesters in Alumni Park at USC on Saturday. Police cleared the encampment early Sunday morning. (Eric Thayer / For The Times)

John Vidale, a professor of earth sciences, rode his bike by Alumni Park as it was being cleared.

Im glad the Gaza protest is over. It was a nuisance," he said. "However, the students made their point clearly, mostly behaved well, and college is the time and place for such dramatic gestures. The few times it escalated come with the territory, and I like President Folts moderate and moral actions.

The university has designated a "free speech" area in a less visible campus green behind Leavey Library, south of West 34th Street.

Students in the camp said they are not interested in relocating to the designated free speech area, a lesser traveled part of campus.

"Protest locations cannot be dictated by the people in power because then it's no longer the freedom to protest and assemble," the encampment spokesperson said.

Read more:After canceling commencement, USC will host event at L.A. Coliseum, rolls out new campus security

The decision to clear the first camp sparked further anger after tensions rose when USC decided that valedictorian Asna Tabassum could not deliver a speech during its May 10 commencement  a first in the universitys 143-year history  over unspecified safety threats.

The move happened after pro-Israel groups criticized Tabassum for a link on her Instagram profile directing people to a pro-Palestinian website that they said was antisemitic. The site said Zionism is a racist settler-colonialist ideology and calls for the complete abolishment of the state of Israel so that Arabs and Jews can live together.

Within days, USC canceled its "main stage" commencement. The event draws 65,000 people each year to Alumni Park, where the encampment was set up.

To make up for that, USC on Friday announced a new "Trojan Family" graduation event at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The event will take place Thursday at 8:30 p.m. It will feature a drone show, fireworks and the Trojan Marching Band. Dozens of satellite graduation events for individual colleges, schools and departments will also continue.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Former President Trump attended the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, spotted at Hard Rock Stadium.

Photos from the event showed the GOP presidential candidate walking around the paddock, visiting the McLaren team garage and waving at passersby.

Trump backer Steve Witkoff reportedly planned a fundraiser from one of the events suites, but the plans were shut down by race organizer and Miami Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel.

MIAMI, FLORIDA  MAY 05: Donald Trump walks in the Paddock prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Political campaigning has its place, and it is not at our race. We welcome you and your guests to attend our event and enjoy your suite. However, we respectfully request it be done in compliance with our very clear license agreement, race organizers wrote Witkoff in a letter, first reported by radio host Andy Slater.

Photo by UPI

Trump was in Florida over the weekend for the Republican National Committees spring meeting, largely seen as an audition for potential 2024 running mates. The guest list included many of those who are rumored to be on the list of finalists, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), House GOP conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

This story was updated at 4:18 p.m. EST

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hell Bay Hotel is England's most westerly hotel - Rebecca Rees Photography

Its not the destination, its the journey. Is there a more annoying phrase? Its always said by people with an irritating abundance of personal freedom. You rarely hear it, for example, from those whose lives revolve exclusively around journeys to and from childrens schools, clubs and swimming lessons. In rush hour.

Still, our last family journey did give me pause. Hell Bay Hotel, on the island of Bryher in the Isles of Scilly, is Englands most westerly hotel. Those swimming in cash travel by helicopter. The strapped for time take a small plane. Their views over emerald fields and azure Atlantic are gorgeous, but the ease disconnects you from the distance youre travelling, and thus the extraordinary, eccentric remoteness of where youre heading.

Hell Bay Hotel has recently been given a refresh by interior designer Tania Streeter - Rebecca Rees Photography

The ferry, of course, is cheaper  though, at 84 each way for adults, and 47 for children aged two to 11, its still a punchy price. Children under two are charged at 23; even a dog is 11. It is, though, a genuine adventure.

First you have to get to Penzance which, when you are travelling from darkest Norfolk in a highly capricious car, is an odyssey in itself. Next up, the Scillonian III: a big, white whale of a ferry that skirts the Cornish cliffs, churns across the big blue and disgorges its  by then slightly wobbly  passengers into the idyllic harbour at St Marys, the largest of the Isles of Scilly.

Next you are scooped into a cheery little vessel, landed on a deserted beach at Tresco (Bryhers neighbouring island), bumped across dunes by electric shuttle before, finally, a Popeye-sized boat putters across to Bryher, where the Hell Bay Hotels Land Rover waits on the sand. And all before lunch.

Rooms have a Californian vibe - Rebecca Rees Photography

Remember The Wizard of Oz, when the tornado lifts Dorothy from her mundane monochrome world, and drops her into a technicolour wonderland? Picture waves, not wind, and you have it. Because everything on Bryher and Tresco is brighter. The sea is luminescent. The sand actually glitters. Heather is tinselled in canary yellow and vivid violet buds. Red lobster pots glow in the sun.

Neither island has cars. But while Tresco is a pristine, chic paradise, Bryher is its smaller, wilder sibling. Where Tresco has smooth paths, Bryher is crossed by tracks and footpaths. Where Tresco has a boutique (shirts for 165), Bryher has honesty boxes stocking fudge, chilli jam and almost indecently large veg.

In place of bougie beach restaurants, it has a white-washed tearoom and a bar that closely resembles a fishermans front room. The islands being so close, and the ferry so regular, you neednt pick one character over another. Still Bryher was an immediate perfect fit for our feral family.

Hell Bay Hotel sits right by the water - Rebecca Rees Photography

Knowing the island was paradise for children, Michael Morpurgo set many of his books here. While neighbouring Tresco is gentle and sandy, Hell Bay Hotel sits on the rocky, piratical shore, where waves crash against colossal sea stacks. The island is so small (half a square mile) you can often see both sides at once and we traipsed the lot in an afternoon, passing ruins, cattle and a chorus of sea birds.

In summer, you can hire sailing boats. We picked up kayaks, paddling in water so clear it was almost like floating mid-air, past  because Bryher sits in the path of the Gulf Stream  improbable palm trees and giant succulents.

The hotel itself has an oddly Californian edge too. It has an outdoor pool (heated, thankfully), and like a motel, all 25 rooms are accessed individually from the outside  ideal for families splashing straight from beach to room. To one side, the hotel borders a sheltered beach.

Enjoy pre-dinner drinks with a view - Rebecca Rees Photography

From our downstairs suite  one of four with two bedrooms, a large bathroom and a generous corridor for wellies, coats, wetsuits and more  we could just see its waters from bed. The children ran from the patio doors down to the sand. I swam. Someone had hung a makeshift hammock high in the rocks above.

Inside, the hotel has recently had a facelift. Interior designer Tania Streeter has given it a fashionable dusting of coral pink and coastal blue. A little rattan here, some tongue-and-grooving there. There remains, however, something charmingly old-school and uniquely British about the place. Our bathroom had a sensible bath-over-shower.

The hotel is home to home to the Isles of Scilly's only three-AA Rosette restaurant - Rebecca Rees Photography

The owners are art collectors, and their influence too pervades. Taking your pre-prandial in the lounge, you are surrounded by landscapes fine enough to vie for attention with the waves through the window. In the bar, however, we lunched from a family-friendly menu of delectable burgers and fish and chips, beneath a hunky angel hurling a frisbee at a definitively worldly bikini-clad babe. Cue a lively theological debate with the 13-year-old boy.

Later, in the dining room that is home to the Isles of Scillys only three-AA Rosette restaurant (delivering up traditional, delicate fish-focused dishes), we turned to our fellow guests for a conversational life-raft. Some had been returning for decades. One man had come to propose. She said yes. Its that sort of place. People make pilgrimages, then become addicted. Its about the journey and the destination both.

Essentials

Hattie and her family travelled as guests of Isles of Scilly Travel (islesofscilly-travel.co.uk). Hell Bay Hotel offers stays for family of four from 290, including breakfast.

Bryher, Isles of Scilly TR23 0PR (01720 422947; hellbay.co.uk)

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A tradition you need to know about.

Caitlin Bensel

When you order a platter of barbecue, you likely expect to see brisket, ribs, sausage, and classic side dishes like potato salad and mac & cheese. But at many BBQ jointsespecially if youre in Central Texasyour plate will also come adorned with a simple slice (or several slices) of plain white sandwich bread. This barbecue add-on can seem superfluous (whos really craving white bread when theyre eating saucy pulled pork and perfectly-smoked brisket?), but according to the experts, white bread and barbecue have a long and distinguished history together.

Related: The South's Best Barbecue Joint In Every State 2024







Meet The Experts

Evan LeRoy , co-owner and pit chef of LeRoy & Lewis in Austin, Texas.

Shannon Bingham, executive chef of Devil Moon Barbecue in New Orleans, Louisiana,







The History Of White Bread In BBQ

White bread is a tradition with roots in Central Texas.

Barbecue pros generally agree that the white bread tradition began in Central Texas and dates back to the 19th century. Barbecue is served with white bread because of how inexpensive [white bread] is. We can think of the early days of Texas barbecue as a ploughman's lunch, explains Evan LeRoy, co-owner and pit chef of LeRoy & Lewis in Austin, Texas.

Because meat markets werent always able to source enough beef and pork to fill the platters in past generations, they looked for other ways to fill the space. LeRoy tells us that they accomplished that goal by creating plates made up of some meat, some bread, some pickles. Mass-produced white bread was cheap and readily available, so it was easy to hand out with smoked meat. Plus, it made a handy vehicle for sopping up sauce and meat drippings. As the cuisine grew in popularity, the tradition stuck and evolved.

White bread and barbecue may have first united in Central Texas, but this service style soon expanded elsewhere.







"With the popularity of Texas [style] barbecue all over the country, I've seen white bread on plates and trays in most states."

Evan LeRoy









Shannon Bingham, executive chef of Devil Moon Barbecue in New Orleans, Louisiana, agrees. A slice or two of white bread on platters feels like a quintessentially Central Texas move, but there are old Southern staples (like Dreamland in Tuscaloosa) that I think have some claim to the practice as well, Bingham says. He also describes a childhood memory of a long gone barbecue spot in New Orleans called Podners that would give you a bag of white bread instead of napkins to clean their incredibly saucy barbecue from your hands. Not a practice I have seen anywhere else (or since), but I thought it was incredibly fun in my youth.



Robbie Caponetto

The Purpose Of White Bread

White bread can be a landing zone for meat and can serve as a utensil of sorts.

When it comes to the technical purpose of a slice of white bread on a barbecue platter, LeRoy says that we mostly use the bread for two reasons:

Landing zone: We serve a lot of BBQ plates, so the bread acts as a landing zone for our meats. The bread elevates the meats and makes them look more appetizing. Additionally, the bread soaks up some meat juices and is delicious to eat after the meat or along with the meat.

"Foldee": Both LeRoy and Bingham speak in favor of what Bingham calls a foldee. Its now common for diners to make a foldover with a piece of white bread, meat, sauce, and pickles or onions to make a blended bite, LeRoy explains. Bingham says that the foldee can help people make a more filling meal out of a plate. For being the go-to option, commodity white bread has just enough pliability and structure and a mild-enough flavor that it will let a slice of brisket and some onion shine in a way that a fancier bread wouldn't.

Related: 10 Award-Winning Southern BBQ Sauce Recipes

Central Texas barbecue doesnt tend to rely on sauce, but Bingham thinks that the spread of white bread to other Southern barbecue regions has a lot to do with the popularity of barbecue sauce in places like Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia. Im generally not a big sauce person, but the experience at Dreamland in Tuscaloosa where they give you a basket of white bread and a side of warm sauce is a pretty transcendent sauce-mopping experience, Bingham says.



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Read the original article on Southern Living.
LAPD officers clad in riot gear arrived at USC early Sunday morning to disband a pro-Palestinian encampment.

"LAPD are here. We are ready for them," an encampment spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times.

Video footage revealed dozens of officers in riot gear, along with fire crews, surrounding the camp. USC issued an alert warning people to leave the central campus area or face arrest.

Some 30 protesters exited the encampment as the LAPD forced them toward a campus entrance.

Last month, Los Angeles police arrested 93 students for trespassing as they cleared a previous encampment set up at the center of campus.

But protesters recreated the encampment last weekend, prompting a campus-wide letter from USC President Carol Folt warning the site's survival would be short-lived.

"The university is legally obligated to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can move freely throughout our campus while pursuing their studies, work and research," she warned. "Every part of our campuses, including Alumni Park, must be fully accessible and free from vandalism and harassment."

USC student journalists reported that Assistant Director of the USC Village Residential Colleges Nancy Alonzo also warned on site that the encampment "has to go down. As we have mentioned before, your encampment and acts of vandalism and the theft of university property violate policies and the law."

She said an "alternative free speech area" had been established by the university for the the encampment. It was not immediately clear where it was located.

But students said they would not move the current site from behind the university's Leavey Library.

"Protest locations cannot be dictated by the people in power because then it's no longer the freedom to protest and assemble," said a spokesperson.

Another said protesters were resolute despite the police: "There is fear in the air. There is confidence. There is passion. We are emboldened to stand up for the people in Gaza."

The protester added: "No matter how this occupation goes down, it's still a win for us because we have caused disruption and discomfort to the USC administration. We have ended business as usual for the past few weeks."

Heightened controversy was triggered late last month after USC banned a planned speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum at the May 10 commencement due to "unspecified safety threats." Pro-Israel groups had criticized Tabassum for a link on her Instagram profile to a pro-Palestinian website.

The university later cancelled its full commencement ceremony.

Encampments continue across California campuses, including UC Irvine, Occidental College, Sacramento State, San Francisco State, and others.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators are calling for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza and advocating for divestment from Israel and related companies.
Prajwal Revanna has become an albatross around the neck of the BJP with videos of the NDA candidates horrific sexual abuse, making the party the favourite punching bag amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

With the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda escaping to Germany, it is virtually the BJP that has to carry the cross on this shameful episode. Prajwals father, H.D. Revanna, has been arrested on charges of abduction of a woman to protect his son. An Interpol blue corner notice is set to be issued against the 33-year-old JD-S MP.

The Prajwal bomb has exploded at the most inopportune time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah as the JD-S is virtually a non-player and it will be the BJP that will be in the dock for the company it keeps. Such are the wages of association, accidental or opportunistic.

The sex abuse case also punctured the PMs campaign on mangalsutra and the BJPs Nari Shakti boasts, with the Opposition questioning Mr Modis silence on Prajwal, who has since been suspended from the JD-S.

What is worse is that Opposition leaders are latching on to the case to target the PM, insisting that what Prajwal has committed is the biggest sex scandal in Independent India and accusing the PM of campaigning for the perpetrator of mass rape. Nothing less than an apology from the PM will do, so goes the refrain.

The questions being asked by the Opposition are relevant. How can a PM who knows every foreign trip of an Opposition leader remain in the dark about Prajwals plans of sudden departure abroad?

Worse still, their refrain, right or wrong, is to ask why Mr Modi did not object to Prajwals renomination. They wonder how he could have been ignorant of Prajwal's dubious past given the PMs alleged penchant for keeping a tab on every friend and foe.

The JD-S has been in the process of gradual extinction and no one in the democratic firmament will shed a tear for its predicament. For the BJP, the fear now is that Deve Gowdas party will pull it down in its most fertile state in the South.

The BJP and media outlets which treat it with kid gloves have gone out of their way to project that Prajwal has nothing to do with the party, clearly ignoring that he is an NDA candidate. Reports claimed that local BJP leaders had cautioned against Prajwals candidature, warning the top leadership that he was a shady character and the party should keep its distance.

For the Opposition, the issue is a godsend in election season. One may recall how the BJP had exploited to the hilt the Nirbhaya affair in Delhi ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The tandoor murder case in Delhi in 1995 involving then Congress leader Sushil Sharma was used to target the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

While the BJP would be much weary, the Prajwal case will bring focus on the less than fair treatment of women by the Modi establishment, be it the protests by Olympic women wrestlers, the Hathras incident or the Bilkis Bano case.

In the past, Mr Modi has benefited immensely from the sudden surfacing of CDs of the detractors of the then Gujarat CM. They made good use of selectively destroying the leaders from Opposition parties or within the BJP who acted against his interests.

With the expose of the Prajwal affair, the elections to the remaining 14 seats in Karnataka could be an added worry for the BJP. In faraway Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has been forced to deny renomination to the controversial Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by the women wrestlers of sexual harassment, and nominate Brij Bhushans son in his place.

Besides, the worry for the top BJP leadership is that the Prajwal scandal will further aggravate the fissures in the state unit, with a section feeling that the B.S. Yediyurappa dynasty is being promoted.

The worry is that if the results are not good, the Modi-Shah duo would be targeted for going into an alliance with the JD-S by keeping the state unit in the dark. Former Union minister Sadananada Gowda, who was denied a Lok Sabha ticket this time, had claimed that even Mr Yediyurappa was not aware of the plan to align with the JD-S.

The Modi-Shah tactics and strategy in Karnataka are taking the party on a slippery slope. They forced Mr Yediyurappa out of the chief ministers post and brought in Basavaraj Bommai in his place as CM without much preparation. All the problems for the BJP in the South started from the Karnataka polls a year ago, where the controversial campaign by the PM fell flat due to bread and butter issues.

Strange things are happening for the BJP in the South. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidus move to align with the BJP has helped chief minister and YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy to gain some ground.

In Congress-ruled Telangana, however, the decline in the BRS/TRS fortunes is now helping the BJP.

In Odisha, discussions of an alliance between the ruling BJD and the BJP led to so much dissensions in both parties that the situation is far from stabilised. The Congress, which has been in the cold for the past three decades, is sensing a feeble chance but still looks unprepared.

Reports say that in Madhya Pradesh, the sensational withdrawal of the nomination by Indore Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam is an explosive manifestation of the BJPs nervousness in the face of the unexpectedly low voting in the first two phases.

In Maharashtra, what is worrying the BJP is the sympathy factor for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, whose parties were split by it to gain power two years ago. The BJPs narrative that the state is witnessing a tussle between Mr Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has not worked.

In Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar and his JD-U are becoming an acute source of trouble for the BJP amid growing signals that they are not fighting fit and are losing ground.

In the Northeast, the ethnic violence in BJP-ruled Manipur and its consistent neglect by the Centre, especially the PM, is casting a shadow over the entire region.

Amid all this, Mr Modis attacks on the Opposition, especially the Congress, are becoming louder. Much louder than that is his silence on the issues that have come to haunt the BJP.
A study sponsored in London by the British and Foreign Bible Society measures the impact of the arrival of more than 200,000 Hong Kongers in the country over the past three years. There are now 18% Christians in the communities, a much higher percentage than in China, Taiwan or Hong Kong. But even among those who are not linked to any religious denomination, interest in Christianity is emerging.

Milan (AsiaNews) - The flight of tens of thousands of young families from Hong Kong to Great Britain, after the new climate created by the harsh repression of the protests in 2019, is one of the most evident voids created in the great Chinese metropolis. But how are these new communities abroad changing the face of the Chinese diaspora? And within it, what impact are they having on Christian communities?

This is the interesting theme addressed in two articles recently published on the website chinasource.org by the sociologist of religions Yinxuan Huang, who between 2021 and 2023 for the British and Foreign Bible Society coordinated the research project The Bible and the Chinese Community in Britain at the London School of Theology. The aim was to take a snapshot of the impact of the arrival of around 200,000 Hong Kongers with British passports on the life of the Christian communities already present in the UK.

Summarising the data collected, Huang speaks of an average annual growth rate of 28.8%: in the three years under review, as many as 32 new Chinese churches, congregations and Christian organisations were established. And the most important growth has obviously occurred within the communities where people pray in Cantonese, the language spoken in Hong Kong.

The arrival of immigrants with British passports has also led to the birth of what he calls two unique forms of churches. The first is made up of 10 churches founded by Christian leaders who have come from Hong Kong. These are communities, Huang explains, that often have distinct political and social positions, creating an obvious contrast with the existing Chinese churches in the UK. The second category includes what could be described as nested groups. These are small Chinese communities within non-Chinese Churches, largely the result of a special reception programme designed specifically for immigrant Christians from Hong Kong.

Overall, the majority of Chinese in the UK claim to have no religious affiliation (62.4%). About 18% of those surveyed said they were Christians, 8.5% more than the second largest religious group, Buddhists. But the study by the British and Foreign Bible Society points out that this 18% figure is far higher than the percentage of Christians in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It defines the Chinese Christian community in the UK as a typical immigrant-majority transnational church, predominantly composed of first-generation immigrants (only 12.3% of its members were born in the UK).

In another article devoted to the same research, Yinxuan Huang then dwells on some interesting data concerning the 62% of Chinese immigrants in the UK who say they are not attached to any religious group. When the survey asked this group of 410 respondents whether they believe in heaven, hell, God or other deities and reincarnation, he writes, in all four items those who answered yes were more than those who answered no. In addition, a considerable number of respondents show agnostic views, especially with regard to hell and reincarnation. It is evident that although the Chinese (especially those in mainland China) are often associated with atheism, in reality true atheists are a relatively small minority even among those who claim to have no religious affiliation.

When asked what aspects of Christianity they would be interested in learning more about, 46% of respondents said they would like to learn about the Christian point of view on important social and political issues today. In addition, 44% expressed interest in exploring the Christian heritage in British culture and 40% said they were interested in the topic of the relationship between science and faith.

The aspect that non-Christian Chinese find most interesting about Christianity, comments Huang, is its ability to provide alternative answers and explanations to key issues and challenges of the age in which they live. For example, in another focus group involving new converts in Chinese churches (many of them from Hong Kong), several participants said that the biblical teachings helped them overcome the impact and even the trauma caused by the drastic social and political changes that took place in Hong Kong prior to their settlement in the UK, because the concept of reconciliation offered something they could not find in their Chinese culture-influenced upbringing.

Overall, what emerges is therefore a picture of an interesting missionary workshop. The British Chinese Christian community, Yinxuan Huang concludes, continues to grow and evolve, particularly with the influx of Hong Kong immigrants, and stands as a dynamic field of potential interaction and mutual enrichment between faith and culture, challenging and expanding the traditional boundaries of faith and religious affiliation.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SUNDAY, CLICK HERE.
Australian authorities fatally shot a teenage boy after he stabbed and injured a man in what officials believe was likely a terrorist attack.

The teen assailant, described as a 16-year-old Caucasian male, was armed with a knife during the attack in a suburb of Perth, said Western Australia Premier Roger Cook.

The attack "has the hallmarks" of a terrorist act, said regional police commissioner Col Blanch, who emphasized that it "meets the criteria or at least the definition" of terrorism.

Another 16-year-old boy was arrested last month after police said he stabbed and seriously injured a bishop in Sydney as he said mass in what was characterized as a terroist incident. The teen was amond a group of teens who communicated online about attacks, according to investigators.

In the latest incident local police were alerted Saturday night by a male caller who openly declared his intent to commit acts of violence, reported CNN.

Moments later, another call reported a man wielding a knife and behaving erratically.

Resonding officers found the teen holding a "large kitchen knife." The teen reportedly charged the officers, and was fatally shot when police were unable to safely subdue him.

Police then learned that the teen had stabbed a middle-aged man before officers arrived. He survived the attack.

Blanch revealed that the suspect was already known to the police before the incident because "he had been part of a program on online radicalization for the past few years."

Blanch thanked members of the local Muslim community who had earlier raised concerns about the teen that "enabled us to identify this individual and respond as quickly as we did."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement Sunday: "Australia is a nation that cherishes peace, and violent extremism has no place here."
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, who has emerged as the top leader of the protests, said they are taking their campaign to the streets of the capital to try to scuttle the handover of border areas adjacent to the village of Kirants and nearby Tavush communities. Many local residents have been up in arms against it, citing grave security concerns.

The Tavush for the Homeland movement has decided that the people must just go to Yerevan  to demand that this process here and elsewhere be stopped, Galstanian said in Kirants before staring the 160-kilometer journey to Yerevan.

The decision was announced two days after police cracked down on Kirants protesters who tried to stop authorities from clearing an adjacent area of landmines and make other preparations for its handover to Azerbaijan. The police presence in and around the village remained strong after the crackdown.

Galstanian, who heads the Tavush diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, said the protesters led by him plan to reach Yerevan on May 9. He gave no details of their actions planned there. His announcement drew statements of support from Yerevan-based opposition politicians and public figures who pledged to join the campaign.

The marching protesters, among them at least two opposition parliamentarians, spent their first night in Tavushs medieval Haghartsin monastery. They resumed their march to the capital after attending a Sunday mass there in the morning.

This march is going to give us one thing: honor and homeland, Galstanian told the crowd of more than 100 people right after the liturgy. He urged Armenias leaders to behave well, repent and stay away from all kinds of sins.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians political allies and other supporters have verbally attacked and even insulted Galstanian during the protests led by him. The latter was highly critical of Pashinian and especially his handling of the conflict with Azerbaijan even before the protests.

During an April 30 session of the Armenian parliament, pro-government lawmakers branded Galstanian a Russian spy, accused him of provoking another war with Azerbaijan and even called on Armenian border guards to forcibly draft the 52-year-old archbishop.

Opposition leaders have condemned what they see as a smear campaign orchestrated by Pashinian. The Echmiadzin-based Mother See of the Armenian Apostolic Church has also stood by Galstanian and denounced the planned land handover to Azerbaijan.

Pashinian has said that the unilateral concessions are necessary for preventing Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia. The Armenian opposition maintains that he is on the contrary encouraging Baku to demand more territory from Armenia use force for that purpose.
5 May 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

EDITORIAL

Distant Relative or Close Neighbor? The protests that have been going on in Georgia for several weeks have caused serious upheavals in the country. The only reason for this is the strengthening of the influence of the West on the country.

In fact, the Georgian government is right in its position. Because it would not be wrong to say that, the scenario applied by the West in Georgia, today intends to turn the country into Ukraine.

So, it is enough to look back 20 years ago; the same scenario was already applied in 2004 in Georgia. Saakashvili, who was brought to power, was given false promises, the country was drawn into a conflict with Russia in 2008, and as a result, South Ossetia and Abkhazia were lost. The Russian troops arrived a few kilometers from Tbilisi. The West, which dragged Saakashvili to this adventure, did not stand behind him, and as a result, Georgian society faced a great loss.

What happened was the provocation of the West, led by the United States, against the Georgian people. It is clear that now they are trying to repeat this provocation. However, unlike the situation in 2004, the Georgian people see the danger and do not want to be a victim of the next adventure.

Nevertheless, what should Georgia have done to prevent all this from happening? What are the political mistakes behind the Westernization policy, which is leading to the domestic shackles of the country today?

The answer to the question is very simple: Georgia is suffering today from the mistake made many years ago. It would be good if the Georgian authorities had seen the true intention of the West many years ago and would not have allowed the new adventure to get so far. Because over the past years, it has built a very strong network in Western Georgia. It finances most of the nearly 25,000 NGOs operating in the country and manages them according to its own will.

Very serious changes took place in Georgian society. Drug addiction, the erosion of national moral values, the expansion of the movement of homosexuals, and other tendencies that undermine national moral values have affected not only the people, but also the foundations of the country's political structure.

Over 700,000 Georgians went to Europe and worked in menial jobs because of liberalization of the visa regime within the framework of integration into the European Union. A similar process was observed in Ukraine. Every time terrible concessions are demanded from Georgia in exchange for some preferences, the foundations of Georgian society are undermined.

Such a development of events will result in Georgia becoming a new Ukraine in the worst case. In the best case, the Georgian people will become a society without national identity.

Currently, the resistance of the Georgian community is a manifestation of the process of expelling America and the West from the region. This process first started in Azerbaijan.

Starting from 2010, the activities of the American network in Azerbaijan were restricted. The attempts of provocateurs like Alex Grigorevs, the head of the Baku office of the NED organization, to incite society and young people to revolt, were thwarted, laws were passed to make the financial activities of NGOs transparent, and the process of foreign financing was taken under control.

It is interesting that today America, which strongly opposes the adoption of the law of foreign agents, adopted this law before everyone else, and relevant legal acts are active in the EU as well.

The United States, as well as the West as a whole, understand that it is impossible to achieve any success in the region without Azerbaijan's position and interests. That is, neither the West nor USA have any authority to act in the region unless Azerbaijan wills. Now, they understand that pressures on Baku today do not and will not bring any results. As for the sanctions, they will withdraw from this step, realizing that it will have no consequences.

Today, Georgia, inspired by Azerbaijan, has started to show a decisive position.

But, unfortunately, Armenia is following the path of Georgia in 2004, and therefore estimates show that Pashinyan may also face Saakashvili's fate. In addition, Moldova's activity does not bode well for it.

It is no coincidence that the West is trying to preserve the remnants of its network in Azerbaijan through Georgia. Therefore, with a serious effort, the Western forces defend projects such as "Abzas media" Toplum TV", and try to achieve the release of persons arrested for violating the law.

Today, the persons involved in the investigation confess all their deeds. They provide detailed information about the names, organizations, finances associated with the processes. The tasks imposed on them by Western organizations are truly amazing and mind-blowing. All of these activities through clandestine networks are already known and will further be exposed and announced soon.

One issue remains interesting: How will the ambassadors of the USA and Western countries continue their activities in Azerbaijan?

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5 May 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Nazrin Abdul, AZERNEWS

At the 15th Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Republic of Gambia, it was confirmed that the 16th Islamic Summit of the OIC will be held in Azerbaijan in 2026.

According to Azernews, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan released information about this.

At the end of the Summit, the Final Communique adopted on the conclusions of the Banjul Summit also called for cooperation in the implementation of the Summit to be organized in Baku in this direction.

At the same time, the Communique welcomed the holding of the VI World Intercultural Dialogue Forum organized within the framework of the "Baku Process", as well as called for a fairer distribution of geographical representation in the UN system, especially in the structure of the Security Council.

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5 May 2024 13:24 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, AZERNEWS

On May 5th, Orthodox Christians across Azerbaijan celebrate Easter, one of the most significant holidays in the Christian calendar, Azernews reports.

Throughout the night of May 4-5, Easter services resonated within Orthodox temples in Baku and regions across Azerbaijan. Worshippers gathered to pay homage and illuminate the sacred space with candlelight.

In extending his heartfelt wishes to the Orthodox Christian community, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's unique ethos of mutual respect and trust among diverse religions and beliefs. He emphasized the nation's commitment to democratic coexistence and its pivotal role in fostering inter-civilizational relations globally.

"In our society, irrespective of language, religion, or ethnicity, equal opportunities for cultural expression are extended to all," remarked the head of state in his address. He lauded the active participation of all ethnic and religious minorities, including Christian citizens, in shaping Azerbaijan's social and political landscape, contributing to its progress and prosperity.

The Cathedral Church of the Holy Miradashiyan Women also hosted a festive service, adding to the spirit of Easter joy and reverence.

Easter holds a special place as one of the oldest and most cherished Christian celebrations. This year, Holy Easter Day, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, falls on May 5th according to the Orthodox calendar. Traditionally, believers bake kulich on Thursday morning, prepare Easter dishes in the evening, and bring them to the church on Saturday. The Cross Procession, held on the night between Saturday and Sunday, heralds the beginning of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus.

On the Day of Resurrection, families gather around the Easter table, sharing Easter treats and kulich, engaging in egg fights, and joyously proclaiming "Jesus is Risen!" as they exchange heartfelt greetings.

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5 May 2024 13:58 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, Azernews

The Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Ganja was aglow with Easter festivities, Azernews reports.

Since last night, Orthodox Christians from the western region have gathered at the church to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion.

Officials from the Office of the Mayor of Ganja and representatives from the Ganja Region Department of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations joined the morning ceremonies today.

Prior to the holiday rites, President Ilham Aliyev's congratulatory message to the Orthodox community was read aloud, expressing wishes for enduring peace, tranquility, and happiness throughout Azerbaijan, with prayers offered for the souls of the martyrs.

Following the rituals central to Easter, including the lighting of candles and recitation of prayers, a heartfelt holiday gift was presented to the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church by the Ganja City Executive Authority.

Easter holds a special place as one of the oldest and most cherished Christian celebrations. This year, Holy Easter Day, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, falls on May 5th according to the Orthodox calendar. Traditionally, believers bake kulich on Thursday morning, prepare Easter dishes in the evening, and bring them to the church on Saturday. The Cross Procession, held on the night between Saturday and Sunday, heralds the beginning of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus.

On the Day of Resurrection, families gather around the Easter table, sharing Easter treats and kulich, engaging in egg fights, and joyously proclaiming "Jesus is Risen!" as they exchange heartfelt greetings.

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5 May 2024 14:23 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, Azernews

On May 4, 2024, the National Carpet Festival commenced amidst the historic charm of the Old City, Azernews reports.

Dignitaries including Shahin Seyidzade, Chairman of the Board of the "Icherisheher" State Historical and Architectural Reserve Administration, Emin Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the "Azerkhalcha" Open Joint Stock Company and Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO, graced the opening ceremony with their presence.

Shahin Seyidzade emphasized the significance of hosting the National Carpet Festival within the UNESCO-listed Icherisheher, underscoring its role in preserving Azerbaijan's ancient cultural heritage. He stressed the importance of promoting and safeguarding the art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage, through this esteemed festival.

Emin Mammadov highlighted the profound significance of May 5th, designated as "Khalchachi Day" in honor of Azerbaijani carpet makers, as well as the founding day of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC. He emphasized the festival's role in preserving the rich tradition of carpet weaving and further advancing this revered art form.

"Today is a significant day for Azerbaijani carpet makers. By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, dated November 25, 2016, May 5 - "Khalchachi Day" began to be celebrated as a professional holiday, and at the same time, May 5 is the day on which "Azerkhalcha" OJSC was founded. The official celebration of the carpet maker's day and the organization of the National Carpet Festival play an important role in preserving the tradition of carpet weaving and further developing this art."

Yusif Abdullayev reiterated AZPROMO's commitment to showcasing Azerbaijani carpet weaving on the global stage, underscoring the National Carpet Festival's contribution to this endeavor. He emphasized the importance of introducing Azerbaijan's cultural heritage to the world through its exquisite carpets, enriching the experience of visitors to the country.

Yusif Abdullayev said that "AZPROMO regularly holds exhibitions in order to promote Azerbaijani carpet weaving art at the international level, and today's National Carpet Festival is a contribution to that work. In addition to introducing Azerbaijan's cultural heritage to the world through carpets, it is important to show the guests of our country our carpet production."

Following the opening ceremony, attendees, including members of the Milli Majlis, dignitaries, and cultural figures, explored various exhibitions dedicated to the national leader Heydar Aliyev, including the "Encyclopedia of a Lifetime" triptych and "Heydar Aliyev 100" carpet exhibitions. Visitors also had the opportunity to witness the intricate stages of carpet weaving demonstrated by skilled artisans and explore other exhibition spaces, including the stunning flower carpet in Icherisheher.

Over the two-day festival, a plethora of events celebrating the art of carpet weaving are being held in Icherisheher. These include exclusive exhibitions featuring ancient, modern, and designer carpets, carpet weaving masterclasses for all ages, educational seminars, interactive theater performances, a fair, mugham evening, and a captivating concert program. The festival also kicked off with an open-air film screening for residents and guests of the Old City.

Organized by the "Icherisheher" State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department and "Azerkhalcha" Open Joint-Stock Company, with support from the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO, the National Carpet Festival promises to be a celebration of Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage and a testament to the enduring legacy of carpet weaving in the region.

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5 May 2024 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, Azernews

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting with Mamadou Tangara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, as part of a working visit to Gambia, Azernews repots citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the ministers signed an agreement to waive the visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders between the two countries.

Various bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Gambia, despite being geographically distant, have reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral relations. In recent diplomatic exchanges, both nations have expressed mutual interest in deepening cooperation across various sectors.

This commitment was underscored by diplomatic discussions between officials from Azerbaijan and Gambia, aimed at exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration.

The diplomatic engagement signals a proactive approach by both countries to strengthen ties and foster closer cooperation for the mutual benefit of their citizens.

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Sound China-EU cooperation indispensable to world's prosperity

09:33, May 05, 2024 By Xinhua writer Zeng Yan ( Xinhua

GENEVA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- When the name Orient Express could still conjure up the famed adventures depicted by writer Agatha Christie during a leisurely eight-hour journey between Hungary and Serbia, modern society, accustomed to a fast-paced life, also yearns for swifter, more efficient travel options.

Trips in the Balkans may soon become less exhausting with the completion of the Hungary-Serbia railway, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Once brought into full operation, this railway will reduce the journey between their capitals to just three hours. Furthermore, it will enhance freight transport, promote trade, and invigorate the two economies.

The railway is among a range of Belt and Road projects that have delivered tangible benefits to Europe and beyond, and such achievements are not possible without visionary leaders who are keen to harvest shared benefits from win-win cooperation.

Serbia, Hungary, and France are three destinations of Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visits on May 5-10. Each of these European countries shares a profound friendship with China and has witnessed fruitful cooperation in recent years.

In addition to tangible outcomes from Belt and Road cooperation between China and Serbia, Hungary has been China's primary investment destination in Central and Eastern Europe for consecutive years. Furthermore, China-France relations have long been at the forefront of China's relations with major Western countries and the two serve as crucial stabilizing forces in the increasingly volatile China-Europe relations, bringing more stability and certainty to a turbulent world and further energizing global development.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU has seen fruitful results over the past some 20 years. As two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets in support of globalization, and two major civilizations championing diversity, China and the EU have achieved remarkable cooperation in various fields, which has greatly benefited the peoples of both sides and has made positive contributions to world peace, stability, and prosperity.

Stable China-EU relations are in the world's interests. The China-Europe freight train service, connecting 219 cities in 25 European countries, established a secure and efficient lifeline for global industrial and supply chains, and is playing a unique role in the Red Sea shipping crisis; China's visa-free policy for multiple European countries further facilitates personnel and trade exchanges; and key cooperation projects under the BRI, such as the Belgrade-Budapest railway, the Port of Piraeus in Greece, and the Peljesac Bridge in Croatia, continue to benefit the people along the routes.

Moreover, Chinese and European enterprises continue to be upbeat about each other's markets, as statistics showed that the stock of two-way investment has exceeded 250 billion U.S. dollars.

Booming trade is complementary and mutually beneficial in essence. European high-end home appliances have improved the living standards of Chinese citizens, and Chinese-made electric vehicles have accelerated Europe's green and digital transition. China's pursuit of economic growth based on innovation in advanced sectors will unleash even more potential for China-EU cooperation.

Evidence abounds that China and Europe are partners, not rivals; they offer opportunities to each other, not threats; their common interests far outweigh their divergence.

Both are the decisive forces shaping the future global landscape: they are opposed to the world sliding into a new Cold War featuring bloc confrontation; they are staunch champions of multilateralism instead. As the world is mired in a glaring governance deficit, China-EU cooperation is essential for addressing global challenges posed by climate change, nuclear proliferation, and artificial intelligence, among others.

Sound China-EU ties not only benefit both peoples but exemplify cooperation among countries around the world. The two sides have greater responsibilities to maintain the openness of the world economy in the future. Although the Orient Express is past its prime, China Express promises endless opportunities. Europe and the wider world are welcome to board.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
More than 400 people were rescued from flooded homes and roads around Houston on Saturday after a local official warned that heavy rainfall there would create a "catastrophic event."

The water rose nearly as high as power lines along the east fork of the San Jacinto River, and some houses were swamped to their roofs, the Houston Chronicle reported.

A flood watch remained in effect through 7 p.m. Sunday, with the National Weather Service saying that a new round of heavy rain could dump up to eight inches on parts of southeast Texas.

The region was slammed by fierce storms Friday following weeks of already-drenching rains that filled reservoirs and saturated the ground in Texas and parts of Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.

The Lone Star State, Oklahoma and Iowa have also been rocked by deadly tornadoes, including one that led to the dramatic, caught-on-camera rescue of a family fleeing its demolished home.

Judge Lina Hidalgo, the top elected official in Harris County, the nation's third largest, on Friday ordered residents living near the San Jacinito River southeast of Houston to evacuate, saying that they weren't facing "your average river flooding," according to the Laredo Morning Times.

"This is much worse. It's a catastrophic event," she said.

On Saturday, Hidalgo toured the county, including by helicopter, and said that anyone who didn't heed her warnings should stay put until rescuers arrived, according to local TV station KHOU 11.

"We definitely advise folks not to get into high water, because there's all kinds of materials in there," Hidalgo said.

"There were snakes, there were rats, there were spiders that we could just see with our eyes from the vehicle in the water. And you don't know what's at the bottom."
5 May 2024 16:20 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, Azernews

During his working visit to Gambia, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov participated in and delivered a speech at the 15th Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Banjul.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its successful chairmanship aimed at promoting unity and cooperation within the OIC, Azernews reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He congratulated Gambia on assuming the chairmanship of the OIC and wished the country success in further strengthening and promoting Islamic solidarity.

He noted that Azerbaijan supports the consolidation of efforts to address existing challenges based on the common interests of the Islamic world and in accordance with the charters of the United Nations and the OIC. The Minister emphasized the importance of protecting Islamic religion and culture in combating the most dangerous challenges, such as unfounded manifestations of Islamophobia and acts of Quran burning. Jeyhun Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan, based on its multicultural traditions and experience, supports a more tolerant and sustainable world order among different religions and cultures.

Reminding that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation took a firm and unequivocal position on the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Azerbaijani state during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Azerbaijan, as one of the active members of the OIC, constantly supports efforts within the organization for peaceful conflict resolution.

He noted that on the Palestinian issue, which currently causes deep concern in the entire Islamic world, Azerbaijan supports the resolution of the conflict based on the "two-state" principle and also provides constant assistance to eliminate severe humanitarian consequences for the Palestinian people.

Expressing satisfaction with cooperation within the OIC in various fields, including economic development, education, healthcare, and culture, the Minister highlighted the large potential for joint activities in other areas. Jeyhun Bayramov particularly emphasized that Azerbaijan is transitioning from traditional sources of energy to alternative sources such as solar and water. The Minister noted that the country is interested in developing cooperation with OIC member states in this sphere.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs provided detailed information about the current regional situation, opportunities, and challenges in the post-conflict period, efforts towards reconstruction and restoration in liberated territories, the hindrance posed by the mine threat to these efforts, and recent developments in the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's chairmanship at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of the OIC, covering one of the regions most affected by global climate change, taking a unified position and mobilizing efforts to combat this threat.

The Final Communique adopted at the Banjul Summit welcomes Azerbaijan's restoration of sovereignty over its entire territory, expresses unwavering support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and supports the process of normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations based on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. It includes a call on Armenia to fulfill its commitments.

The Communique also notes that the OIC Contact Group on the aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan has been renamed the Contact Group for the Elimination of the Consequences of the Aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan. It once again condemned destruction of Islamic heritage sites by Armenia.

Simultaneously, it expressed concerns regarding the fate of Azerbaijanis expelled from present-day Armenia, and showed support for their dignified return.

Confirming the holding of the 16th Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Azerbaijan in 2026, the Communique calls for cooperation in holding the upcoming summit in Baku.

The Communique also welcomes the holding of the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue organized within the framework of the "Baku Process".

It's important to highlight that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) serves as a significant international body, uniting 57 member states and acting as the collective voice for the Muslim world.

Following Azerbaijan's reestablishment of independence, it promptly pursued OIC membership, successfully joining in 1991.

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5 May 2024 21:43 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul, AZERNEWS

Turkey plans to increase exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe, and is also ready to introduce excess gas reserves from Russia and Azerbaijan to the European market, Azernews reports citing the President of the Natural Gas Distributors Union of Turkiye (GAZBIR) Yashar Arslan.

Y. Arslan noted that the law on the mining industry adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye on May 2, 2024 and the changes made to other energy laws have opened up new opportunities for LNG trade with European countries, especially neighboring countries.

According to him, these legislative changes are aimed at the development of the liquefied natural gas sector in Turkiye and its export.

He also noted the growing importance of LNG trade in world markets, especially in the European Union, due to the current situation in Ukraine.

Y. Arslan said that 40 percent of European countries' annual demand for 450 billion cubic meters of natural gas is met by LNG.

Referring to the indicators of the Energy Market Regulatory Authority, he said that Turkey imported 50.5 billion cubic meters in 2024. m of gas, 30% of which was LNG.

Y. Arslan noted that the share of LNG in gas imports to Turkiye has increased from 15 percent to 30 percent in the last 10 years. According to him, this share may reach 40 percent in the coming years thanks to investments in the global LNG sector.

---

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5 May 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Gunmen from criminal gangs killed 25 people when they raided four villages in northwestern Nigeria in reprisals over military offensives on their hideouts, according to Barrons, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

The attacks on Thursday took place in Katsina State, one of the regions in northwest Nigeria hit by armed gangs known locally as bandits who carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and looting raids on villages. Bandit militias stormed the villages of Unguwar Sarki, Gangara, Tafi and Kore in Sabuwa district late on Thursday, opening fire on residents, said Nasiru Babangida, Katsina state internal security commissioner.

"Twenty-five people were killed in the attacks on the four communities, 19 of them in Unguwar Sarki village alone," Babangida told local radio. Several residents were injured while others were kidnapped by the criminals, he said. "Most of those killed were vigilantes who came out to confront the bandits." Many communities in northwest Nigeria have formed self-defence vigilante forces to fight off bandits in remote areas with little state presence and the two sides are locked in a spiral of tit-for-tat killings and reprisals.

The bandits raided the villages in response to ongoing military offensives against their camps in the area and in neighbouring Kaduna state where they have suffered a large number of casualties, Babangida said. "The attacks were in retaliation for the aerial bombings of their camps in Katsina and Kaduna states that have killed more than 200 of them," he said. The gangs who maintain camps in vast forests straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states have made headlines for mass kidnappings of students from schools in recent years. Bandits have no ideological leaning and are motivated by financial gains but there has been concern from analysts and officials over their increasing alliance with jihadists waging a 15-year armed rebellion in the northeast of Nigeria.

---

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The Russia Weather Connection to Some Intense Oregon Coastal Sunsets

Published 5/01/24 at 3:55 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Depoe Bay, Oregon)  Wildfire smoke in and around Oregon that gets especially intense is  sadly  something we're all getting used to. Along the coastline is where it always seems rather surreal, quite out of place. Certainly, it creates some paradoxically beautiful shots at times. Indeed, unhealthy amounts of smoke coming from here are becoming increasingly regular elsewhere around the country, even the world. (Photo of Cape Foulweather / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

When that happens, as ugly as it is, it's fascinating to see how smoke from one place on the globe can affect another area thousands of miles away. The meteorological conditions that have to coincide to create that are definitely on the wondrous side.

Yet at one time it was rare for Oregon to make the news in that way. In fact, in April of 2015 a remarkable set of sunsets out on the coastline had more to do with fires in Russia and near Mongolia. Before that, there was another such instance in 2012 and in 2010.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection was around to catch the event in 2015. All over Oregon there was a distinctive, intense pink and red to sunsets, including around Depoe Bay and Lincoln City. The weekend of April 18 and 19 was a sometimes eerie display all over the western U.S.

This was nothing you could smell, however. It just looked wild.



Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Just photographing the thing you wouldn't know what was going on. The result was fiery skies that were simply impressive. As in the above shot, at Otter Loop Road: a deep orange on this tiny coastal backroad was paired with one of those forested blobs of land this area is known for. There's kind of a Novaya Zemlya effect happening with the clouds, too.



Last summer in Bandon created this wild scene. Photo Courtesy Manuela Durson Fine Arts

It wasn't until you got home  or at least your motel room  and listened to the news that you heard what all this was from.

The fires were taking place in the southeastern Siberian region of Khakassia, where more than 60 villages were eventually affected and more than 29 dead. Over 6,000 people ended up homeless then. They started on April 12 and lasted through the 16th, but it took that haze awhile to spread across the Pacific Ocean to reach the U.S.

It was a terrible, insane blaze, with photos of the scenes looking downright apocalyptic.

The smoke particulates at the time were said to have cooled Oregon by about two degrees below what the original forecasts were calling for.

At the time, there was new tech the National Weather Service (NWS) had been using called the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS). As the event progressed, the NWS was watching the plumes cross the ocean.

The smoke layers were first spotted over the Pacific on April 15. NWS scientists later pieced together various images and saw its movements from Russia to China, out into the ocean, and then eventually to the Pacific Northwest.



Siletz Bay produced this weird orb. Oregon Coast Beach Connection

On Saturday the 18th, Oregon Coast Beach Connection was seeing some unusual sunsets  different than what you usually saw in spring. The Lincoln City photos here display that.

On Sunday, you were getting the distinct oranges and reds rather than the softer pinks of the night before. It was a fun photo expedition, until you found out why.

At the time the NWS wrote:



Siletz Bay - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

You can see the main plume on the borders of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho, with some smoke moving into central Canada, the NWS said. The plume has stayed surprisingly intact (and rather intense). You can also see hints of a big plume over Alaska (unfortunately, one of the areas we don't have a lot of OMPS data for today). And you can see a narrow plume wafting all the way across the Pacific.

Along the central coast, there was a bit of a fog anyway, but those muddled pinks of Saturday night turned to searing tones the next night. Atop Cape Foulweather, halfway between Newport and Depoe Bay, you saw this rather intense scene, with the sundown reflected in the lookout building / gift shop.

Below Otter Rock, blue hour took on an interesting look as well.

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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Jack Smith's prosecution team in the Florida classified documents case against Trump have admitted to evidence tampering and misleading the court. This is a violation of court rules on handling evidence and legal experts say it is a serious problem for Smith and his team. Fortunately for Trump, the judge in the Florida case is the only one of them who is not a Democrat party hack.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/trump-whodunnit-prosecutors-admit-key-evidence-document-case-has

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/stunning-multiple-levels-doj-admits-evidence-tampering-trump-classified-docs-case

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/evidence-tampering-jack-smith-admits-fbi-messed-boxes/

The Biden White House and Biden DOJ and the political prosecution of Donald Trump by Soros DA Alvin Bragg in Manhattan are joined at the hip as more and more connections between the two are revealed. The opening statement in Bragg's case was made by a former high ranking Biden DOJ official, for example, who was dispatched to Manhattan to get Trump.

Now, a member of Bragg's team who also has BIden DOJ connections, has pled the 5th Amendment when asked if he broke any laws in investigating Trump. He refused to answer on the grounds that the answer may incrimnate him. When a lawyer does that, it is significant. This lawyer did so in front of a Congressional committee investigating the Bragg prosecution and its political connections.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/watch-ny-anti-trump-prosecutor-pleads-5th-house-gop-probes-links-biden-doj

The political prosecution of Donald Trump by the Democrats is one of the most sinister attacks on democracy perpetrated by the Biden Democrats.
A recent march by 1,100 Muslim protesters, mostly asylum seeker illegal immigrants, in Hamburg, Germany demanded that the German government be replaced by a Muslim caliphate. A caliph is a Muslim supreme religious leader.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/germany-calls-for-caliphate-during-1100-strong-islamist-demonstration-in-hamburg/

Meanwhile, here in the US, the Biden Democrats just slipped an appropriation of $3.5 Billion into a foreign aid bill to bring more Muslim "refugees" from the Middle East, probably mostly Palestine, to the US. To make matters worse, nominally "Republican" Senator Thom Tillis, and his buddy in the House, Congressman Greg Murphy voted FOR that Biden bill.

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/05/04/ron-johnson-biden-prioritizing-gaza-refugees-over-americans-to-win-michigan/

Polls in Germany show that a majority of the German public is fed up with what illegal immigration is doing to their country. A just released poll conducted for the Nius Media Group, found that 52% believe that "Germany should no longer be accepting refugees from Muslim countries" while 34% disagreed.

On another question, 57% agreed that "in certain areas of my town, I feel I am no longer in Germany", while 54% said they were "afraid that Germans will become a minority in Germany," while 37% did not have that fear.

https://rmx.news/article/majority-of-germans-reject-muslim-immigration-express-fear-of-becoming-a-minority-in-germany/
By Peyton Majors

Christian Action League

May 3, 2024

The North Carolina Senate this week vigorously debated political worldviews before successfully approving a significant funding allocation  hundreds of millions of dollars  to eliminate the waitlist for the states Opportunity Scholarships voucher program.

The North Carolina Senate approved House Bill 823, which includes $248 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and $215,460,000 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to fund the 54,000 applicants on the voucher waitlist.

It also boosts funding from fiscal years 2025-2026 through 2031-2032 so that appropriations gradually increase from $625 million to $800 million. The bill passed, 28-15.

The goal by supporters is to fund vouchers for more families who wish to send their children to private schools, which often includes Christian schools.

Im glad to see so many families taking advantage of it, said Sen. Michael Lee (R), a bill supporter.

Weve got over 55,000 families that are really kind of on pins and needles wanting to know: Is their child going to be able to go to the school of their choice, come the fall?  Were really just clearing the waitlist.

Debate on the bill during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing earlier in the week focused on family income.

I have a lot of problems with this bill, said Sen. Natasha Marcus, a Democrat. And one of them is your urgency to help the very wealthiest families help pay the tuition for their children to go to private schools with taxpayer money when we know that the majority of those wealthiest families are already sending their children to those private schools with their own money.  This is just a handout to them.

Marcus called it welfare for the wealthiest  a phrase that drew pushback from Republican Sen. Ralph Hise.

Im a little perplexed by the fact that  certain people are now calling paying for a childs education, welfare, Hise said, noting the bill is paying for the education of a child.

You go to my home county, were not talking about elite private schools, Hise said. They dont exist. Were not talking about that. Were talking about a school a church runs, where families are making the decision to find a place that fits the education of their child better. And thats the only option. It doesnt matter what income level youre at.

Sen. Amy Galey, a Republican, agreed with Hise.

This is not, quote-unquote, welfare, if its actually their own money, she said of high-income earners. Theyre the ones who pay the taxes.  This is a fraction of what the family is actually subsidizing [in] the public school system, which  we all benefit [from and] is a common good.

The bill now heads back to the House. Although it faces a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Republicans may have the votes for an override.

Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, urged legislators to support the legislation.

Opportunity Scholarships, or vouchers, should be accessible to families across all income brackets within our state, Creech said. For some parents, prioritizing a faith-based education is paramount. Religious private schools focus on nurturing faith and spirituality, imparting religious doctrines, fostering participation in rituals, and nurturing a connection to ones Creator. Public schools typically lack the capacity to fulfill this fundamental need of a growing and developing young life.

Others harbor concerns regarding the moral climate and safety within public schools, he added. Opportunity Scholarships empower parents to select an educational environment that aligns with their values, emphasizing virtues such as honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, empathy and the preservation of sexual purity. The failure of public schools to adequately address these concerns, exemplified by policies accommodating boys identifying as girls sharing facilities with girls, represents both a moral lapse and a genuine safety hazard. Despite repeated concerns about discipline issues, including disruptive behavior and disrespect towards educators, public schools persist in inadequately addressing these challenges, leaving parents feeling trapped in unacceptable situations.

Many parents, Creech added, have concerns about academic rigor in public schools.

For years, there has been a troubling sentiment that public education has regrettably lowered its standards, depriving many children of the opportunity to excel academically, he said. Without the option of opportunity scholarships, parents find themselves restricted and unable to provide the best possible education for their children.
Northern Ireland will have a generally bright bank holiday Monday  although not everyone will escape the rain, according to the Met Office.

Monday marks the first of two bank holidays this month, with the second on May 27.

According to the weather group, the forecast for Monday will be a bit of a mixed bag.

They predict a cloudy morning with a few showers at times, but becoming generally brighter, especially in the south where there may be some sunny spells later.

The maximum temperature is set to be 14C in western parts such as Castlederg in Co Tyrone, while areas like Belfast will feel a slightly cooler 12C. The lowest temperature will be around 6C.

Showers are expected towards the north-west with rain in Londonderry set to run until the late afternoon and Ballymena is also set to have a wet start.

The outlook for Monday comes after Northern Ireland experienced a mixed batch of weather over the weekend, with cloudy starts but warm highs of 16C.

As for the rest of the week, the Met Office has said it expects a dry day with sunny spells developing on Tuesday.

It will be dry with some sunshine on Wednesday morning, with some patchy rain later, and Thursday will have sunny spells.

The generally bright weather comes just days after Northern Ireland officially recorded its warmest day of 2024, with Castlederg again proving to be the regional hotspot once again.

The Met Office said the mercury broke the previous high of 19.3C recorded in the Co Tyrone town on April 21, with a temperature of 20C on Thursday.

The rest of the UK is predicted to have similar weather to Northern Irelands for the bank holiday, with the Met Office predicting a rather cloudy start in the north with some brighter spells and heavy showers developing.

There will be sunny spells further south with heavy showers and thunderstorms through the afternoon.

London is expected to reach an average of 15C and will remain cloudy with outbreaks of rain. In the sun, the temperature is likely to hit the high teens.

East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will see the warmest spells in the UK with highs of 20C and 21C.

Greg Dewhurst, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Overall, it will be a mix of sunny spells and showers across the country.

"Anywhere could catch some rain so people should be prepared for that.

"For people looking to get away, there will be some sunshine and warm spells. And if you manage to avoid showers, then it will be nice in the sun."
A councillor set to become Northern Irelands first black mayor has said the racist abuse and death threats directed at her since the announcement have made her more determined to succeed in the role.

Lilian Seenoi-Barr, who is originally from Kenya, has been selected by the SDLP to be the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Her party leader Colum Eastwood has condemned the racist abuse and what he described as very serious death threats aimed at Ms Seenoi-Barr.

The councillor said on Sunday that she wanted to focus on the many people who had reacted positively to her selection.

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My family is the one that is feeling it more than myself, Im used to it, Ms Seenoi-Barr said of the abuse and threats.

Since I put myself forward to represent my community, since I came to this country, Ive been experiencing racism but obviously its (the recent abuse) beyond what I have been experiencing.

The death threats have been extremely hurtful to my family and to myself too, but Im more focused on the positives. I have had enormous support across the island  community organisations, politicians who have reached out and stood in solidarity. That is the Derry I know, the Ireland I know, and thats what I want to focus on.

She told BBC NIs Sunday Politics programme that she had not had second thoughts about taking up the post.

Absolutely, no, she said.

I think it has actually made me more determined because we need to be represented, we need a more inclusive and progressive society and the majority of people, particularly in my city, stand with me.

I have never enjoyed so much support than I have enjoyed the last few weeks from everyone across the city. When Im walking on the street, people are hugging me and congratulating me. Its something that they want and they want to celebrate it and Im really looking forward to showcasing the best of our city.

Many of the abuse are coming are not from Derry, although some are. Were not a perfect country and there is so much that is going on.

She added: My focus is really to show that we are a united community, we can be a united community and everyone within our city and district can be represented by anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin. And we have the opportunity to do that together.

Separate to the abuse directed at Ms Seenoi-Barr, the process used by the SDLP to select her as mayor has caused some internal discontent within party ranks in Londonderry, with two councillors having resigned over the issue amid claims it was undemocratic.

Mr Eastwood has conceded that the party had lessons to learn over how it communicated a new policy, introduced last year, on selecting mayoral candidates.

However, he has insisted that Ms Seenoi-Barr was the stand-out candidate to become mayor.

Asked about the issue on Sunday, the councillor said: Its obviously disappointing that two of my colleagues who I have worked with the last three years since I got to council decided to resign.

But Im honestly focused on the way forward, Im focused on serving my community.
Israel's cabinet came to a unanimous decision on Sunday to shut down the Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera's operations in Israel, following nearly six months of deliberations prompted by security concerns linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The order includes shutting down Al Jazeera broadcasts in Arabic and English, closing offices, confiscating broadcast equipment and blocking the news operation's websites.

It's believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country, the Associated Press reported.

The order went into effect immediately after Minister Shlomo Karhi signed the executive decree, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Al Jazeera was quickly dropped from Israel's main cable and satellite providers in the hours after the order. But its website online streaming links were still operating Sunday, according to the AP.

In a joint statement with Israeli network provider YES, Netanyahu said that "Al Jazeera correspondents have harmed the security of Israel and incited against IDF soldiers. The time has come to eject Hamas's mouthpiece from our country."

Karhi doubled down on the same sentiments, adding: "We will take immediate action against those who use freedom of the press to harm the security of Israel and IDF soldiers and incite terrorism in times of war. There will be no freedom of expression for Hamas' mouthpieces in Israel."

Al Jazeera issued a statement vowing to fight the action though all available legal channels and international legal institutions in its "quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the public's right to information."

Israel's "ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law," the network said. The country's "targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera."

The order is currently being challenged in the High Court of Justice by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) on grounds of violating free speech.
Environmental campaigners have gathered in Co Antrim in a bid to raise further awareness over the condition of Lough Neagh.

Activist group Save Lough Neagh gathered to form a protest in Antrim on Sunday, writing on social media they were raising their voices to demand immediate action over the water quality.

"The Loughshore Stands Up - Antrim, the group wrote on social media.

Great turnout today at our protest in Antrim, raising our voices and connecting with other environmental groups demanding immediate action.

Not a single ounce of pollution in Lough Neagh has been addressed since the algae last year! Same struggle, same fight.

Environmental groups like Save Lough Neagh have been gathering several times a month in order to raise awareness over the pollution of the lough since last year when extensive blue-green algal (cyanobacteria) growths were detected.

The algae has led to animal deaths and temporary beach closures near the lough.

Watch: Sam McBride's in-depth look at Lough Neagh's blue-green algae crisis

Last month, First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the protection of Lough Neagh and the surrounding environment is a key priority for the Executive.

Speaking after meeting with the Lough Neagh Partnership in Toome , the First Minister and deputy First Minister gave an assurance that the Executive is committed "to taking the necessary action to protect and better manage one of our most important natural resources.

We are so lucky to have Lough Neagh on our doorstep. It has enormous beauty and so much potential. It provides so much of our drinking water and is vital for the fishing, leisure and tourism industries, said the First Minister.

But, we have heard about the issues facing the Lough. We must do everything we can to protect it. I am glad that coordinated efforts are under way to tackle problems, such as the blue green algae, which is understandably a cause of serious concern.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said:I welcomed the opportunity to meet with everyone and to hear their long-term vision for the Lough and how they can contribute to better protecting and managing it in the future.

Lough Neagh is one of our most important natural resources. It is not only hugely important from an environmental and wildlife perspective, but also in terms of our water supply, for those who use it for recreation and the local economy based on and around the Lough."

While Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir added: We are united in our determination to provide the leadership needed to address the issues in waterways across Northern Ireland, including Lough Neagh. I have been clear that collective action and investment across government, private and public sector and in the community is needed.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performing on stage at BST Hyde Park in London (James Manning/PA)

NHS workers have been offered free tickets to an afterparty organised to take place following the sold-out Bruce Springsteen concert which will welcome thousands of fans of the Boss to Boucher Road Playing Fields on Thursday (May 9).

The Belfast gig is part of his European Stadium Tour 2024 and there will also be three concerts in the Republic at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, Pairc Ui Caoimh in Cork and Croke Park in Dublin on May 12, 16 and 19 respectively.

Hungry Heart nights are the worlds only Bruce Springsteen-dedicated club nights and are run across the UK in a number of venues.

It has previously come to Belfast, hosted in the Empire, a number of times and has proven popular with fans of the music.

This time, they are offering free tickets to NHS workers to attend the official afterparty which is taking place at Limelight 2 starting straight after the gig and is on until late.

These tickets must be organised prior to the event.

For tickets to the afterparty you can visit hungryheartevents.com.

Some tickets will also be available to purchase on the door, but its recommended to purchase prior to arrival with tickets priced from 5 until 10.
Lilian Seenoi-Barr said she had not had second thoughts about taking up the post (Liam McBurney/PA)

Police investigating online threats against a councillor who is set to become Northern Irelands first black mayor have arrested a man.

Lilian Seenoi-Barr, originally from Kenya, has been selected by the SDLP to be the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

A 30-year-old man attended Strand Road police station in Londonderry on Sunday and was detained on suspicion of harassment, threats to kill and improper use of a public electronic communications network.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood condemned the abuse (Liam McBurney/PA)

Police are treating the alleged offences as a racially motivated hate crime.

The man remained in custody on Sunday evening.

A PSNI statement assured the public that police took reports of online threats and harassment extremely seriously.

Earlier on Sunday, Ms Seenoi-Barr said the racist abuse and death threats directed at her since her selection was announced had made her more determined to succeed in the role.

Her party leader Colum Eastwood has condemned the racist abuse and what he described as very serious death threats.

The councillor said on Sunday morning that she wanted to focus on the many people who had reacted positively to her selection.

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My family is the one that is feeling it more than myself, Im used to it, Ms Seenoi-Barr said of the abuse and threats.

Since I put myself forward to represent my community, since I came to this country, Ive been experiencing racism but obviously its (the recent abuse) beyond what I have been experiencing.

The death threats have been extremely hurtful to my family and to myself too, but Im more focused on the positives. I have had enormous support across the island  community organisations, politicians who have reached out and stood in solidarity. That is the Derry I know, the Ireland I know, and thats what I want to focus on.

She told BBC NIs Sunday Politics programme that she had not had second thoughts about taking up the post.

Absolutely, no, she said.

I think it has actually made me more determined because we need to be represented, we need a more inclusive and progressive society and the majority of people, particularly in my city, stand with me.

I have never enjoyed so much support than I have enjoyed the last few weeks from everyone across the city. When Im walking on the street, people are hugging me and congratulating me. Its something that they want and they want to celebrate it and Im really looking forward to showcasing the best of our city.

Many of the abuse are not from Derry, although some are. Were not a perfect country and there is so much that is going on.

My focus is really to show that we are a united community, we can be a united community and everyone within our city and district can be represented by anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin. And we have the opportunity to do that together.

The process used by the SDLP to select her as mayor has also caused discontent within SDLP ranks in Londonderry, with two councillors resigning amid claims it was undemocratic.

Mr Eastwood has conceded the party had lessons to learn over how it communicated a new policy, introduced last year, on selecting mayoral candidates.

But he has insisted that Ms Seenoi-Barr was the stand-out candidate to become mayor.

On Sunday, Ms Seenoi-Barr said: Its obviously disappointing that two of my colleagues who I have worked with the last three years since I got to council decided to resign.

But Im honestly focused on the way forward, Im focused on serving my community.
The Northern Ireland Air Ambulance at the scene of a three vehicle crash in Ballymena (Photo: NIFRS North)

A man was rescued from a burning vehicle as emergency services attend the scene of a three vehicle crash in Co Antrim on Sunday.

The PSNI confirmed it was at the scene of a three-vehicle road traffic collision at The Larne Link Road in Ballymena.

Photos circulating on social media showed a large emergency service presence in the area, including the Air Ambulance.

Taking to social media, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue said they and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service were also at the scene and an off-duty firefighter had rescued a man from a burning car.

Emergency services at the scene (Photo: NIFRS North)

NIFRS North said: Fire crews from Ballymena station have attended a three vehicle road traffic collision on the Larne Road Link near Sainsburys roundabout.

Colleagues from the PSNI, NIAS, Air Ambulance and St John's Ambulance also assisted at the scene.

One male casualty was rescued from the burning vehicle due to the quick actions of an off duty firefighter.

Police are now appealing for witnesses of the crash.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Officers were travelling in the area shortly after 6pm when they observed three vehicles severely damaged, one of which was on fire.

Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service also attended the scene, and three people  two men and a woman  were subsequently taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, which at this time, are not believed to be life threatening.

The road was closed for a period of time, but has now reopened to traffic.

Our enquiries to establish the circumstances of the collision are continuing, and we are appealing to anyone with any dash cam or mobile phone footage which captured the incident to get in touch with police.

The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 1389 of 05/05/24.
The scene in Bushmills, where a man was nailed to a fence near two cars which were burnt out in a brutal attack

The UDA is being blamed for an attack in Bushmills, during which a man was nailed to a fence.

Sources say that the UDA had previously issued threats and there had been accusations of criminality against individuals painted on walls in the area.

Detectives are appealing for information after the assault, in which the man in his 20s was discovered with a nail through each hand.

He also had injuries to his nose and is being treated in hospital where his condition is described as not life-threatening.

Also in the public car park near Dundarave Park, two vans including one belonging to the injured man were set on fire. Crews from NI Fire and Rescue Service attended, and extensive damage was caused to both vehicles.

Watch: Scene in Co Antrim where man discovered nailed to a fence

Graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of public toilets is being linked to the assault and arson.

Detective Inspector Lyttle said: This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries. Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this Bank Holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidentially to Crimestoppers.

Our enquiries are ongoing and we would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information, including dash-cam or other footage, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 13 of 5/5/24.

Local TUV MLA Jim Allister said: I express my dismay at the gruesome and cruel attack carried out in the village.

It is for the lawful authorities to deal with lawbreaking. Mob rule has no place in our society.

Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland said it was an especially appalling incident.

My first thoughts are with the victim of this serious assault, she said.

The nature of this attack was especially appalling and has left the victim with potentially life-altering injuries. It is not acceptable under any circumstances to brutally assault someone in this manner and I hope the man makes a full recovery. There is no place for this violence in Bushmills, North Antrim or anywhere else in Northern Ireland.

The last reported incident in Northern Ireland of someone being nailed to a fence was over 20 years ago.

Harry McCartan from west Belfast was crucified and had his legs broken in an attack at Seymour Hill on the outskirts of south Belfast in 2002.

Two rusty six-inch nails were driven though his hands and he had been beaten about the legs and face. Graffiti was also painted on walls, accusing Mr McCartan, who was well known to police, of criminality.
Exclusive |

Indefensibly, the Covid Inquiry is hiding key Stormont evidence from public  and that is not just stupid, but dangerous
Poll reveals 82pc of people in favour of deporting back-door migrants to UK

Half of the public in the Republic of Ireland, including a majority of Sinn Fein supporters, want checkpoints on the border with Northern Ireland to limit the number of asylum seekers coming from the UK, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.
A teddy bear in a football jersey left as a tribute at a vigil at Hainault Underground station car park (Jeff Moore/PA)

More than 300 people gathered at a vigil on Sunday to pay tribute to Daniel Anjorin, a teenage boy killed in a sword attack while walking to school.

Daniel, 14, was attacked with a sword in Hainault, east London, and suffered fatal wounds to his neck and chest.

A mourning community gathered at the Hainault Underground station car park, just metres away from where the incident happened, on Sunday morning to pay tribute to Daniel and offer messages of support to his grieving family.

Daniels family were not present at the vigil.

Mourners gather in memory of 14-year-old Daniel (Jeff Moore/PA)

Harris, a 17-year-old boy who knew Daniel but asked for his surname to remain anonymous, told the crowd: He was a kid that was not in any type of trouble. Im not just saying that.

He never did anything wrong. He focused on school, he got good grades, he (went) to church.

His family are appreciating all your support. Theyve noticed everything you guys are doing community-wise, fundraiser-wise, Arsenal as well. Theyve noticed it all.

On their behalf, thank all of you.

Daniel died on Tuesday when an armed man went on a violent rampage. Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, was charged with murdering the teenager and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.

People attend a vigil at Hainault Underground station car park (Jeff Moore/PA)

In a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police on Saturday, the family said: We as a family are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Daniel. It is difficult for us at this time to process what has happened to him and that he will never come home. Daniel had left the house for school and then he was gone.

Our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most loved and amazing son.

We would like to send our best wishes to the other victims of this unthinkable incident.

We would also like to thank the local community for all of their support during this most difficult time.

We ask that the media please respect our privacy and refrain from contacting us or our family.

Arsenal fans hold up a banner in memory of Daniel (Adam Davy/PA)

Arsenal led tributes to Daniel, who was a fan of the London club, ahead of their Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday.

During the match there was also a moment of applause throughout the Emirates Stadium in the 14th minute, with a banner reading RIP Daniel among the crowd.
Students from Blessed Trinity College in North Belfast have been collaborating with Newington Day Centre (Brian Morrison/PA)

Elderly people and school pupils in north Belfast are stepping out together as part of an innovative intergenerational dance project.

The project, supported by the Creative Schools Partnership Programme, brings together older people from the Newington Day Centre with year 10 students from Blessed Trinity College in north Belfast for a series of weekly dance classes.

The sessions are being facilitated by professional dancers and choreographers from Belfast-based arts company DU Dance (NI).

The workshops have been created especially for the group, drawing in different musical styles and shared cultural connections.

The project is part of the Creative Schools Partnership Programme (Brian Morrison/PA)

The project is part of the Creative Schools Partnership Programme and Blessed Trinity were one of 11 schools in 2023 to receive funding to support a two-year arts-based project.

Funded by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Executive Offices Urban Villages Initiative and delivered by the Education Authority, the programme is based on research which indicates that access to quality arts experiences in school can benefit learning, including better reading, writing and communication skills.

Sheena Kelly, community engagement artist at DU Dance (NI), said: We are delighted to be working with Newington Day Centre and Blessed Trinity College on their project The Story Of Who We Are, which explores the voices and faces of north Belfast and the influence they have on who we are.

Each week the participants have been devising short dance pieces based upon discussions around important life moments, significant places in the area they grew up and the people who have influenced their lives.

There has been much laughter and plenty of chatter as friendships develop each week between the generations, forging stronger community connections and better awareness of some of the issues each generation faces.

Young and old people have come together in a unique arts project (Brian Morrison/PA)

Marie ODonoghue, Creative Schools partnership programme manager, said: This special partnership between Blessed Trinity College and Newington Day Centre is a wonderful testament to how creativity and the power of dance can connect and have such a positive impact on a community.

The relationships that have grown and developed through this creative adventure have brought about a great feeling of unity and joy for one another.

These young people are not just learning new skills but have benefited from slowing down, listening and learning from their older counterparts in their own community.

The older generation too have been very vocal in their support and appreciation of the young and taken great delight in their company every week.

While the first part of the project is over, the group has now moved on to the second phase of their plans, in which Newington Day Centre and Blessed Trinity will work with a professional photographer to learn about cameras and the art of portraiture.

The first year of the project concludes in June, with a photography exhibition showcasing their work and a dance performance.

Art teacher Gilah McCarroll, who is leading the project at Blessed Trinity, said the programme is proving hugely valuable for all the students taking part.

He said: The creative learning process is hugely valuable, as it allows students to grow in confidence, and to hone and develop important soft skills. Overall, creative learning fuels the flame of aspiration, by igniting students curiosity, imagination and self-belief.

First Minister Michelle ONeill (left) and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have welcomed the project (Oliver McVeigh/PA)

First Minister Michelle ONeill said: The Creative Schools Partnership has already seen over 2,000 young people from schools in Urban Villages areas benefit from this pioneering cross-government programme, supporting learning and educational outcomes.

It is a great example of how partnership working can make a positive difference to communities.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said: Involvement in the creative arts has had a positive impact on the self-esteem and self-confidence of the students involved, helping to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Through their partnership with the residents of Newington Day Centre, these young people are actively making, and sustaining, connections across north Belfast, which is at the heart of building good relations.
Several friends and supporters of the late Mica Miller, 30, gathered outside her pastor husband's church in Myrtle Beach Sunday to hold a "Justice for Mica" rally on Sunday demanding a thorough investigation of her death after she was found found fatally shot in a park late last month.

The Solid Rock at Market Common church was also planning an afternoon memorial service for Miller.

"Mica blessed us in so many ways, and we are saddened but know she has graduated to Heaven!" the church said in a Facebook post.

A separate, beachside memorial was held at the same time in North Myrtle Beach, according to local TV station WPDE.

The crowd gathered outside the Mrytle Beach church yelled out for justice as passing crowds honked their horns.

#MICAMILLER Video from the "Justice for Mica" rally outside Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach. https://t.co/EYKWUgq9JT pic.twitter.com/xWx10oQkqY  WPDE ABC15 (@wpdeabc15) May 5, 2024

Protests happening now at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, SC.



People are outraged after John-Paul Miller announced at the end of service last week that his wife committed suicide.



Days before her death, she filed for spousal support and posted a series of videos alleging pic.twitter.com/VkM5Ts7qsD  Robbie Harvey (@therobbieharvey) May 5, 2024

Miller's body was found with a gunshot wound to the head on April 27 at the Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina, according to reports.

Her husband, John-Paul Miller, told his congregation the following day that the death was "self-induced" and that his wife "wasn't well mentally," according to a video posted of his announcement.

The New York Post reported that Mica Miller had filed for divorce six months earlier. She had also earlier lamented on Facebook about dealing with "situations of abuse," but did not provide details.

On the same day as the pastor's announcement, Mica Miller's sister Sierra Francis wrote on Facebook that people should ignore "false stories being spread about her," apparently referring to her husband's report of suicide. On Thursday, a friend of Mica Miller's told WPDE: "This has to be at least looked into deeply."

There's "got to be some accountability here," Kenn Young told the station. "It's not just as simple as somebody had some mental issues."

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office is investigating MIca MIller's death, Maj. Damien McLean has told WPDE.

The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, Gaza (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday, after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis.

The defence minister warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.

Both struck blows to ongoing ceasefire efforts in Cairo mediated by Egypt and Qatar after reported signs of progress.

Israel has not sent a delegation, unlike Hamas, and defence minister Yoav Gallant said that we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement.

The destruction after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza (Mohammad Jahjouh/AP)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from hardliners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a ceasefire deal, calling the demands of the Hamas militant group extreme, including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war.

That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the war, Mr Netanyahu said.

Instead, his government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks.

Rafah is a key entry point for aid.

Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another.

The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launches at the crossing and said its fighter jets later struck the launcher.

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Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three seriously. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

The attack came shortly after the head of the UN World Food Programme asserted full-blown famine in badly hit northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on food and other aid entering the territory.

The comments were not a formal famine declaration.

Gazas vast humanitarian needs put further pressure on the ceasefire talks.

Egyptian and Hamas officials have said the deal under discussion calls for an extended pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

But the sides remain at odds over whether the deal would include an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu said that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but said it will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded after an Israeli bombardment of Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas.

Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the US and others about the danger to civilians.

In later remarks for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Mr Netanyahu added: We will defend ourselves in every way. We will overcome our enemies and we will ensure our security, in the Gaza Strip, on the Lebanese border, everywhere.

The Hamas cross-border attack on October 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Israel says militants still hold about 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Mr Netanyahu is under growing pressure from some hostages families to make a deal to end the war and get hostages freed.

Israelis air and ground offensive has killed more than 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up a majority of those killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.
Controversial public history of the Troubles will be imperfect but has value which the savage denunciations of it fail to realise

To reject incomplete history or partial history or government history is to reject personal memoirs, state papers, or interviews with those involved in past events. It is to reject all history, because all history is imperfect and incomplete.

The aftermath of a Belfast bomb blast in 1972

Sam McBride Sun 5 May 2024 at 14:44

To what extent should academics work with government to unearth the secrets of the past? The question is at the heart of a ferocious battle which has erupted within academia, but which has consequences for us all.
50 years on from Belfast pub attack: The schoolboy UVF bombers path from hate to hope

Society must learn from stories like that of UVF killer who realised dehumanising the other side was a road to ruin

The aftermath of the Rose and Crown bar attack in 1974

Suzanne Breen Sun 5 May 2024 at 08:24

A month after 16-year-old Ron McMurray bombed the Rose and Crown bar in Belfasts lower Ormeau, killing six people, he sat his O-levels.
The former BBC political editor died last week following a long illness

Stephen Grimason was the first journalist who waved the Belfast Agreement on our television screens with the iconic quote: I have it in my hand.

It was triumph for the then BBC political editor who three years later left journalism to work for the Northern Ireland Executive as its director of communications.

But all did not go well, apart from brief Paisley-McGuinness era Stormont politics and always been dysfunctional  a challenge for the man whose job it was to convince the public that it was working.

Grimason passed away last week aged 67, following a long illness.

Last year, the ex-spin doctor sat down with Sam McBride and talked about his career, and how politicians in the Stormont executive really functioned.

This episode of the BelTel originally aired in April 2023.
Football

Lee Carsley: Naive to think England can win titles without trying something new
Married NI teacher accused of five-month affair with schoolgirl refused bail

Picture Exclusive: Dad-of-three suspended from job over teen's claims wanted to fly out to Thailand, court told

Connor McCullough

Christopher Woodhouse Sun 5 May 2024 at 08:10

This is the married teacher accused of having a five-month affair with a schoolgirl.
Northern Ireland should be happy with everything against Belarus  except for what matters most
Adobe Stock

New data suggests that American investors in committed relationships overwhelmingly say they trust their partners and share similar retirement goals, but most havent put an estate plan in place. Ameriprise Financials Couples, Money & Retirement report found that 95 percent of couples agree that theyre honest and open with each other regarding their finances, and 91 percent said they share the same financial values.

However, many havent reached a consensus on several emotionally charged decisions about money. The survey, which polled over 1,500 American couples with $100,000 or more in investible assets, focused mainly on those between the ages of 45 and 70 who have retired within the last 10 years or plan to do so in the next 10 years. While it found that 93 percent of couples share similar goals for retirement and agree on when they should retire, 24 percent of respondents said they havent agreed on how much money theyll need to save or how much they should spend on their children and grandchildren, both today and as part of their estates.

In fact, over half of couples surveyed said they havent set up an estate plan yet. Marcy Keckler, senior vice president of financial advice strategy at Ameriprise Financial and a certified financial planner, offers a few tips for couples who need to set up an estate plan.

Dont be intimidated.

Keckler told FOX Business that estate planning is for everyone, no matter the complexity of their financial situation or wealth. She explained that at its core, estate planning is about making choices about what you want to happen in the event youre incapacitated and cant make health-related or financial decisions on your own, even temporarily, or your death.

Engage with professionals.

According to Keckler, an estate planning attorney or qualified financial adviser can help you start an important yet usually emotional conversation and guarantee you have decisions recorded to cover various potential scenarios that might arise. Help from professionals can ensure your wishes for the legacy you wish to leave behind to your loved ones and heirs are carried out. She recommends choosing professionals who are willing to collaborate, noting that one of the most significant mistakes couples make is creating a will that specifies beneficiaries and forgetting to update their accounts to identify the correct beneficiary. She added that attorneys and financial advisers can work together to help ensure youve taken the necessary steps to have your plan executed according to your wishes.

Be proud of yourself.

Keckler said estate planning is an essential part of protecting your financial legacy and family. Its a tremendous accomplishment that should be celebrated once youre finished. She recommends ensuring you know where the original documents and any digital or physical copies are so you can use them in case you need them. Keckler suggested that if you have a hospital or doctor of choice, send them a copy so they can keep them on file. This can save you or a loved one stress that you would otherwise spend trying to find them in an emergency and valuable time.

Revisit your estate plan every five years.

Keckler added that estate plans should be updated as your life changes to ensure they reflect your wishes. Moments in life like the birth of a child or grandchild, a divorce, significant shifts in income, acquisition of new property and a child reaching 18 years old are a few examples of when your estate plan should be revisited.

Estate planning may be scary for some couples who dont want to face the future or want to avoid talking about finances, but its a necessary step to guarantee that your loved ones are taken care of once youre gone.
Israel shut down operations at the Kerem Shalom humanitarian crossing into Gaza on Sunday after a rocket barrage was fired by Hamas from the southern city of Rafah in Gaza raising serious concerns about extremely fragile current negotiations regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

The Israeli army said some 10 projectiles were fired at Kerem Shalom, a main route for humanitarian aid, which was recently visited by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Reuters reported that Israel was already attacking Gaza, and Getty photographs showed damage in Rafah.

Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, while Israel's Foreign Ministry took to social media to report that seven individuals had been injured in the attack.

The launches, according to Bloomberg News, took place "adjacent to the Rafah Crossing, located approximately .2 miles (350 meters) from civilian shelters."

The attacks and response occurred even as Hamas representatives were in Cairo over the weekend to discuss the possible release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire. Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in the talks that reportedly did not include Israeli negotiators  but that was before the latest developments.

The Hamas attack reportedly came just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's willingness to temporarily halt the conflict in Gaza to negotiate the release of hostages  but outright refused Hamas' demand to end the war entirely. Israel's defense minister warned that preparations for a potential assault on Rafah are ongoing.

Giving in to Hamas' demands would be a "terrible defeat" for Israel, a huge victory for Hamas and Iran, and would project a "terrible weakness" to Israel's friends and enemies alike, Netanyahu said in a statement. "This weakness will only bring the next war closer, and it will push the next peace agreement further away."

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh iinsisted the negotiating had brought "seriousness and positivity" to the current talks.

Haniyeh emphasized that Hamas remains eager to secure a comprehensive agreement ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces and facilitating a substantial exchange of prisoners and hostages.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted to X, writing that "IDF forces are ready for a powerful operation all over Gaza and especially in the Rafah area."
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
LENOX  Has the culture improved at Lenox Public Schools since a brush with bullying? It's complicated.

In a survey of Lenox Memorial High School students, teachers and parents conducted by the school district, students said it is "somewhat better." Teachers and families, however, had a more favorable view.

At the elementary and middle schools, the outlook was somewhat brighter.

The climate survey was conducted last November as a follow-up to an audit from an outside law firm issued in September 2022. The report faulted some former Lenox Memorial Middle and High School administrators for mishandling, improperly investigating or ignoring more than a dozen formal and informal bullying complaints during the 2021-22 school year.

A score between 0 and 50 meant school culture had not improved, while scores closer to 100 signaled that it was much better.

Lenox Memorial Middle School students were happier with the school culture, rating it 65 out of 100, while families and teachers of sixth through eighth graders rated it at 69.

Current Superintendent William Collins, Lenox Memorial Middle and High School Principal Jeremiah Ames and award-winning Morris Elementary Principal Brenda Kelley have focused intently on warming up the school climate.

Survey results were featured during the televised April 29 School Committee meeting.

Here are some takeaways:

LENOX MEMORIAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Perceptions differed among students compared to staffers and families, Ames pointed out, especially at the high school level.

Asked whether school culture has improved, high school students offered a lukewarm 48, while teachers were more optimistic with a 59 and families with a 61 rating. Middle school students had a warmer response with 65, as did their families and teachers with 69. A rating of 0 meant not better, while 100 indicated much better.

On a scale of 0 to 100 (0 unsafe, 100 very safe), high school teachers offered a 65 rating on how safe students feel at school, while high school students rated it 71 and high school families 79. Middle school students rated safety at 73, with families scoring 72 and teachers 79.

Whether LMMHS would be recommended to a friend, high school students rated a chilly 43 (somewhat likely was a 50), while their teachers and families were far more favorably inclined, with ratings of 68 and 70. Middle school students offered a 72 score, while their families were even higher with an 84 and their teachers an 87.

Most participating middle school teachers and families gave relatively high marks on the LMMHS climate for acceptance of race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, religion and beliefs, and disabilities. By a strong majority, middle school students rated favorably on the same questions.

A majority of high school families and teachers found very or somewhat accepting attitudes on those questions.

But there was a very clear message from high school students, Ames pointed out. From 30 to 40 percent found somewhat or very intolerant attitudes on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation/gender identity, religion/beliefs and disabilities. These numbers concern me, Ames acknowledged, especially the different perceptions among high school students in contrast to teachers and families.

The principal noted that 212 out of 252 high school students took the survey, as did 25 of 26 teachers, but only 18 families. At the middle school, 182 out of 189 students participated, along with 16 out of 22 teachers, but just 11 families.

MORRIS ELEMENTARY

All 152 third through fifth graders took the survey, as did 30 staffers, but only 65 of the schools 233 families participated. Kelley pointed out that efforts to increase family response will accompany a follow-up survey later this spring.

Among the students, nearly 80 percent would recommend Morris to a friend, while scores on the 0 to 100 scale ranged from the low 70s to the mid-80s on mutual respect, feeling of belonging, school improvement, teachers working to improve the climate and an accepting community.

Staffers offered an overwhelmingly positive outlook on the school culture and climate, with a score of 83 on improvement, and 90 for safety of children at school, ease of getting help with bullying and respect among students with their peers. While a few staffers voiced concerns about the school communitys tolerance regarding race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and beliefs, and disabilities, 90 percent would recommend Morris to friends and family members.

Overall results reveal positive sentiments about school culture by families who filled out the survey, with a score of 62 from parents rating school climate as improving, a 73 rating on ease of getting help with bullying, an 82 score on school safety and 87 for respect shown among students. Most parents who returned surveys stated they would recommend Morris to friends and other families.

If you walk through Morris now, youll see signs about kindness and speaking out against bullying, Kelley said.
Bergerons Jan. 22 resignation letter didnt specify a reason, simply listing his resignation as effective Jan. 31. He has also served on the Board of Health and said he was uncertain whether he will continue in that role.
Early voting for Conroe shows closes races for the citys mayor and two council positions up for grabs. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Unofficial voting results in Saturday's Conroe municipal elections show three races for mayor and City Council positions will be decided in runoffs.

Council Member Todd Yancey and former Council Member Duke Coon garnered the most votes in the race for mayor, and incumbent Curt Maddux and political newcomer Shana Arthur had the most votes for Place 2.

For Place 1, Susan Johnson and David Hairel will proceed to a runoff election.

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According to Montgomery County Election Central complete but unofficial results Saturday, Yancey had 47.70% of the vote to Coon's 45.74% and Kristin Wilkinson-Guardinos 6.56%.

For Place 1, Johnson had 45.60%, leading Hairel with 41.32%, Carl White with 10.55% and Thomas Bersch with 2.52%.

For Place 2, Maddux was in the lead with 46.98%, followed by Arthur with 41.46% and Betty Boren Avery with 11.56%.

Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote for each position, there will be a runoff June 15.

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Theres a new day of leadership coming, Coon said in a Facebook post while at the polls Saturday.

Yancey also remained confident during early voting.

I love Conroe with all my heart, and I'm proud to call it my home, Yancey said on social media Thursday. I'm running for mayor so we leave Conroe better for our children and grandchildren.

Election day came after weeks of turmoil surrounding the mayors race and Place 2.

City Secretary Soco Gorjon confirmed March 1 that Maddux and Yancey were not present when city staff notarized and filed their ballot applications Jan. 17. She said March 8 that she would not invalidate the applications based on this technicality in a letter to the Houston Chronicle and City Council.

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Coon and Arthur filed lawsuits March 12 to force Yancey and Maddux to be removed from the ballot.

Maddux and Yancey testified that they instructed Gorjon to get the applications off their desks at City Hall, notarize the documents and file them on their behalf. Both said they wanted to be first to file Jan. 17, when filing for the election opened.
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A transport operator has been ordered to pay 5,000 compensation over the behaviour of one of its bus drivers to a woman who boarded a bus with children with disabilities.

The woman told a hearing of the Workplace Relations Commission the bus company had breached the Equal Status Act by treating her children in a discriminatory manner.

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The firm did not dispute the complaint which was made by the woman to the WRC on her childrens behalf and said the drivers behaviour was totally unacceptable and highly regrettable.

The woman told the WRC that the incident occurred on July 26th 2023 when she was boarding a bus with her three children, two of whom have to be in a disabled buggy at all times when travelling because of their medical condition.

She explained that she had stood back in pouring rain to allow other passengers to get on board the bus first so that they would not take up extra space.

She gave evidence that she asked the driver is it not OK to get on, after he had given her a dirty look.

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The woman recalled that she thought the driver was joking before realising he was serious when he replied: Not really, no.

When she asked what the problem was, she said the driver did not even scan the travel card she showed him as proof she was a carer.

She claimed he just kept shouting at her: Get on if youre going.

The WRC heard that there was no issue, as both the disabled space and space for buggies on the bus were free.

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The woman said she had not travelled on public transport since the incident because of the drivers attitude and behaviour which had caused her stress, anxiety and embarrassment.

A representative of the bus company offered an apology and expressed deep regret for the upset and embarrassment which the incident had caused her.

The WRC heard that the operator had written a letter to the woman following her complaint to state that such behaviour was certainly not tolerated or condoned under any circumstances.

It was also informed that the driver was identified and interviewed by local management over the incident.

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The company said it was fully committed to being the most customer centred and sustainable transport company in Ireland, with customer first listed as one of the organisations key values.

The WRC heard that all staff are expected to provide the very best service to customers and to be considerate at all times of the needs of passengers, especially those with additional needs or access requirements.

The company accepted that the drivers behaviour on the day was not in keeping with its ethos or the level of professionalism expected as a public service employee.

The WRC heard that the driver had left the company in September 2023.

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The representative also apologised to the woman for a lack of communication over her complaint which it claimed was due to some administrative and sick leave issues.

However, the company expressed hope that its swift investigation of the incident demonstrated its commitment to customer service of the highest calibre.

The WRC heard that the company actively engages with accessibility organisations and customers to establish how it can best address the operational challenges that people with disabilities face when travelling by bus.

The company offered its recently appointed Accessibility Manager to meet the woman and travel with her and her children on the bus at a time of her convenience so that it could better understand what it is doing right as well as understand what challenges need to be addressed.

It also invited her to participate with the Travel Assist Scheme that trains users with additional needs to travel independently on public transport services.

WRC adjudication officer, Marie Flynn, ruled that the company had breached the Equal Status Act by discriminating against the children on grounds of disability.

Ms Flynn ordered the bus company to pay the complainant 5,000 in compensation and also encouraged the woman to take up its offer of assistance and support.
A Senator has criticised "thugs" who protest outside people's homes, after introducing a Bill that would make the practice an offence.

The Protection of Private Residences (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021 was put forward by Fianna Fail Senator Malcolm Byrne.

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It is due to go before the Seanad for the next stage of the legislative process on May 23rd, and will be in the spotlight again after anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the home of Taoiseach Simon Harris in Co Wicklow during the week.

Mr Byrne told BreakingNews.ie: "I think a specific offence of targeted protesting outside any individual's home needs to be introduced now. We've seen further sinister incidents by a very small minority. It just shows you that we need to deal with this problem.

"To be very clear; it is completely unacceptable to engage in harassing behaviour outside the home of any individual. You're not just targeting a particular individual, you're impacting on their family, on their neighbours. In the case of the Taoiseach, he has a young family and, as he said himself, it was his kids' bedtime."

The thugs that were outside his house were not engaged in protest, they were engaged in intimidatory and harassing behaviour against a young mother and children. Advertisement

The Wexford senator added: "The thugs that were outside his house were not engaged in protest, they were engaged in intimidatory and harassing behaviour against a young mother and children. That is not acceptable."

Mr Byrne said incidents such as this, and the recent demonstration outside the home of Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman (also by anti-immigration protesters), cross the line.

"It's not a protest. The right to protest peacefully is very important, we need to protect and defend that. However, that right is not unlimited. That right does not extend to harassment or to the invasion of people's privacy.

"If people want to protest they can do that outside Leinster House, outside Government Buildings, but a person's home is not acceptable [to protest at]."

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Fears have been expressed over the possibility of elected officials being victims of physical violence. Paul Murphy was the latest to voice concerns that a politician would be attacked, after he was targeted with a death threat recently.

Mr Byrne feels violence against politicians is a real risk.

"I think there's a real danger of that. When you look at the actions of some of these extreme elements and see how they engage in intimidation and harassment, not just towards politicians, there is a danger that something more serious will occur.

"There is a right to peaceful protest, but a lot of these are not peaceful protests, they are designed to harass and intimidate people.

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"There is very clearly a need, I believe, for a specific offence of targeted protesting outside an individual's home.

"Those who think engaging in intimidatory behaviour outside the home of a young family is acceptable need to question their moral compass."

Senator Malcolm Byrne has introduced the Protection of Private Residences (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill.

Mr Byrne said an "evidence-based debate" around immigration is needed.

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"It's important that we have an evidence-based debate around immigration. For people with legitimate concerns, it's important that they can be expressed and heard, but I think you will find the overwhelming majority of people who have concerns, would be totally opposed to the idea of intimidating young families.

"Those with genuine concerns don't want to engage in that kind of personalised attack on individuals, they want to debate the issues.

"Yes, we can have a debate around immigration or any public policy issue, and people's right to protest if they disagree with government policy must be protected, but equally, an individual and their families have a right to privacy and protection from harassment, especially in their own homes.

"There is no element of public debate that is served by targeted harassment and intimidation outside a person's home."

He reiterated that the Bill is designed to protect all homes.

"We've seen the private homes of journalists and medical professionals targeted before. If you disagree with the actions of an organisation, protest outside the premises of the organisation, not at the home of the individual, their families and their neighbours.

"It's a specific offence for a targeted protest outside an individual's home [the Bill]. There are the necessary safeguards in place. For a criminal offence there are requirements around proof, but I think certainly where individuals wearing masks, holding out banners, outside private homes, those bully-boy tactics will be covered by the legislation.

"There is an argument over whether action can be taken with existing legislation. That debate can still happen. With the legislation I'm bringing forward, the intention is to create a specific offence, so there will be no doubt over whether action can be taken. We have to resource and support gardai where people are taking part in violence and intimidation.

"Some of the scenes we have seen are not acceptable. Some people have to understand where the line is crossed between peaceful protest and harassment and intimidation."

Mr Byrne pointed out these protests are not "isolated incidents". Similar demonstrations have taken place outside Mr Harris' home before, along with former taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

"Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents. There is a very small fringe group who believe they can operate outside the law, and we need to create a specific offence to address these issues.

"We're very fortunate to live in an open and free liberal democracy. The right to protest is so important, I've taken part in protests myself, regularly met protesters outside Leinster House. Some are very angry, but they will engage on the issues. Their intention is not to intimidate or harass people. There is a small group who don't believe in peaceful protest or respect the institutions of the State."
Some subdivisions in Katy have interesting names.

With titles like Cane Island, Elyson, Jordan Ranch, Morton Ranch and Cinco Ranch, the names may seem arbitrary, but they all have deep historical roots.

Heres how Katy neighborhoods got their historic names.

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Cinco Ranch

Cinco Ranch subdivision in Katy Courtesy/Newland Communities

Cinco Ranch is the largest subdivision in Katy, encompassing an area of about five-square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Before Texas became a state, it was colonized by Spain, so when five friends decided to buy the land that would later become Cinco Ranch, they included cinco, the Spanish word for five, in its title, according to the Cinco Ranch Property Association.

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William Wheless, J.S. Abercrombie, W.B. Pryon, H.G. Nelms and L.M Josey, all wealthy oil magnates, purchased the land in 1937, according to the association.

The land changed hands over the years, and in 2003, real estate developer Newland Communities purchased the land to build the master-planned community.

Newland Communities retained the Cinco Ranch name for the subdivision.

Cane Island

Katy's Cane Island master-planned community Courtesy/Cane Island

The Cane Island subdivision is the only master-planned community inside the Katy city limits. Its fitting, therefore, that its an homage to Katys original name.

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In the 1800s, Katy was called Cane Island for the cane plants that grew in the area, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Cane Island was established in 1872, said Shaterra Johnson, historian with the Fort Bend Black Heritage society. As a result, she noted, many of Katys founders were freedmen who were given land upon their emancipation in 1865.

In the 1890s, the Missouri- Kansas-Texas, or M-K-T, rail line would add a stop in the city, putting Katy on the map. The name was changed to Katy, likely as a shortened version of the K-T stop.

Morton Ranch

Katy Morton Ranch quarterback Treylin Dixon (6) reacts after connecting with wide receiver Mike Gerald for a 48-yard touchdown during the second half of a non-district high school football game at Rhodes Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Katy. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Located in the northeast quadrant of the city, the Morton Ranch subdivision was named for the Morton Family Ranch, according to the Katy ISD website.

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In October 1896, Elbert M. Morton and his wife Margaret Morton moved from Missouri to Katy with their children. They purchased land that encompasses Morton Ranch from the H&C Railroad Company survey.

All seven of the Morton children attended the Katy schools, and Morton Ranch High School was named for the family as well.

Elyson

Since opening in 2016, Elyson homebuilders have sold 2,000 homes as of mid 2022 in the Katy-area community, according to Eylson's website. Brookfield Properties

The Elyson subdivision is named for Ely Freeman, who came to Katy from Iowa via covered wagon in 1898, said Adrienne Davitz, president of the Katy Heritage Society, building their first home on what is now Farm-to-Market 529.

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The Freeman family is steeped in the history of the northwest quadrant of the city.

Farm-to-Market 529 was called Freeman Road until recent development expanded the road, Davitz noted.

Freeman High School, which serves the Elyson community, is also named for the Freeman family.

Jordan Ranch

A house is shown under construction in the Jordan Ranch area Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Fulshear. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer

Located in the southwest quadrant of Katy and bordering Fulshear, Jordan Ranch is named for the Jordan family who settled in the area in the early 1900s.

The Jordan familys connection to Katy began in 1913 when Hank Jordan and his wife Olga left their native Kansas to make a new life amid rice farmers and cattle ranchers, the Chronicle reported.

They set up their homestead just north of what was then the town limits. In the years that followed, Jordan family members took an active part in their community.

When he wasnt ranching, farming or running a local bank, founding patriarch Hank Jordan served as a Katy ISD school board trustee from 1932-1939. Katy ISD officials said he was instrumental in obtaining the Katy FFA charter, building the first gym and starting the first music program in the district.
Leo Varadkar's decision to resign came as a huge shock to the country in March as he outlined both personal and professional reasons for the decision.

Like any leader, Mr Varadkar divided opinion.

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However, a sample of 40 messages sent to the Taoiseach's Office after his announcement, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, were overwhelmingly positive.

On Wednesday, March 20th, the day Mr Varadkar made the announcement at Government Buildings, his office received a flurry of messages.

One person said "I did not always agree with government policy, but I always felt you had the greater good of the country at heart".

While many of the messages focused on Mr Varadkar's leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic, and other domestic issues, one message focused on his role internationally.

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An email sent at 12.37pm on March 20th read: "Thank you Leo for your good work with [Joe] Biden on Gaza. I wish you the very best in the future. You are obviously more suited to the international stage as that seems to be where your heart is, and you have represented us well on the international stage.

"Very best wishes for your future endeavours and for your own personal happiness. Well done for your courage."

Many of the emails contained well wishes for the future.

'Stunned at your news today'

One read: "You served the country well, and you can be proud of yourself. Stunned at your news today.

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"Always enjoyed your spontaneous, spunky and lively responses. You are the only reason I supported Fine Gael. Enjoy your freedom and privacy again. You deserve a life too."

One person, who said they were "devastated" to hear Mr Varadkar was stepping down, added: "Firstly, I wish to complement you on your record to date. Your handling of Brexit and the Covid crisis was exemplary.

"I feel you were the politician of a generation and I wish you the best in your career, and indeed, life ahead."

Another person told Mr Varadkar he was "the only political leader I trusted and felt was an honest and decent human being, working for the people".

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They added: "Unfortunately it's people like you who take the hits harder, and so I hope you are doing okay. Look after yourself."

Another person, who said they had never given their first preference in voting to Fine Gael, wrote "I just want to say that I have admired you as a politician and as a statesman".

In an email with the subject 'Sad news for Ireland', one person said when they first moved to Ireland "nobody would have dared to open the civil society to abortion and gay couples, you gave my daughter a better future. I am scared for what could happen now. You guided the country through very difficult times".

One person wrote "I would like to personally thank you for always responding to my emails", adding: "It always meant a lot that you took the time to write back."

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Another person encouraged Mr Varadkar to run in the upcoming European elections: "Please consider running in Europe, we need a strong voice in Europe after the elections."

Referendums

In one email, received at 5pm on the evening of Mr Varadkar's resignation announcement, someone praised him for his roles in the gay marriage and abortion referendums, adding that they feared the overwhelming no vote in the recent family and care referendums was a bad sign for the country.

"I am a granny from [redacted], and to be fair I didn't vote for your party at the last election... at least not very far up!

"I'm really sorry to hear that you are standing down. You steered us through Covid with grace and compassion, and you helped two major referendums over social issues win through.

"You helped make us see that being a gay man in politics should not be seen as remarkable. I worry about what the result of the last referendum might indicate. I would hate to see the country I have seen liberalise and modernise take a right wing turn. Maybe I should have not read [Paul Lynch's] Prophet Song! You will be missed Leo."

A number of messages wished Mr Varadkar's family and his partner Matt Barrett well.

One person, who said they were not a supporter of Mr Varadkar or his policies, spoke about the abuse politicians face in modern Ireland.

Another person urged him not to be pressured into sharing the personal reasons behind his decision to step down.

Leo Varadkar leaves after announcing his decision to step down as taoiseach outside Government Buildings. Photo: PA Images

One email had a subject line that read 'fantastic news'.

The person said it was "fabulous news" that Mr Varadkar was resigning as taoiseach. They added: "Now is it possible for Leo, Micheal [Martin] and Eamon [Ryan] to employ a bit more common sense and decency by calling an election."

Another critical email had the subject line 'Good Riddance'.

This person labelled Mr Varadkar "Mr Woke".

Another person said they had "great hopes" for Mr Varadkar, but felt he did not live up to "statements like 'managed immigration' and helping 'people who get up early in the morning'".

Speaking about his decision in an interview on The Late Late Show, Mr Varadkar said: I think the hardest thing was actually going through with it  I nearly chickened out the night before.

But it was definitely the right decision for me and I hope as well, the right decision for the country too.

Its something that I had been thinking about for a few months but had only definitively made the decision in the days before.

I was thinking back to 2017 when I first became taoiseach, and I went into that meeting of 27 prime ministers, and I thought to myself, there are only three or four of us left, most of whom are now going, and in politics, as another former prime minister said to me once, there are really only three ways you cease to be prime minister  its a huge privilege to get there, quite hard to leave  so you either die, lose or resign, and if youre not going to die or lose, resign is the only option, then its a question really as to whether it is voluntary or involuntary, and I always wanted to make sure it was my decision and on my terms.

I think we have a good Government, Id like to see it re-elected. For that to happen, my party has to do a bit better than it did last time, gain some seats, and I felt there was a better chance of that under a new leader.
Israel closed its main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza on Sunday, after Hamas militants attacked it, reportedly wounding several Israelis.

The defence minister warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.

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Both struck blows to ongoing ceasefire efforts in Cairo mediated by Egypt and Qatar after reported signs of progress.

Israel has not sent a delegation, unlike Hamas, and defence minister Yoav Gallant said that we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement.

The destruction after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza (Mohammad Jahjouh/AP)

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Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from hardliners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a ceasefire deal, calling the demands of the Hamas militant group extreme, including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war.

That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the war, Mr Netanyahu said.

Instead, his government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks.

Rafah is a key entry point for aid.

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Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another.

The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launches at the crossing and said its fighter jets later struck the launcher.

       ,       :      -     .      -  . pic.twitter.com/AQ18dNVjZX Advertisement  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) May 5, 2024

Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three seriously. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

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The attack came shortly after the head of the UN World Food Programme asserted full-blown famine in badly hit northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on food and other aid entering the territory.

The comments were not a formal famine declaration.

Gazas vast humanitarian needs put further pressure on the ceasefire talks.

Egyptian and Hamas officials have said the deal under discussion calls for an extended pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

But the sides remain at odds over whether the deal would include an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu said that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but said it will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded after an Israeli bombardment of Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas.

Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the US and others about the danger to civilians.

In later remarks for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Mr Netanyahu added: We will defend ourselves in every way. We will overcome our enemies and we will ensure our security, in the Gaza Strip, on the Lebanese border, everywhere.

The Hamas cross-border attack on October 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Israel says militants still hold about 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Mr Netanyahu is under growing pressure from some hostages families to make a deal to end the war and get hostages freed.

Israelis air and ground offensive has killed more than 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up a majority of those killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.
Students taking part in a pro-Palestinian encampment protest on the grounds of Trinity College in Dublin have voiced confidence the action will force the university to cut ties with Israel.

Visitors were unable to access the historic Book of Kells over the weekend due to the action that began on Friday evening when student activists set up tents inside the campus of the prestigious university.

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The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest.

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Outgoing students union president Laszlo Molnarfi said the size of the camp continued to grow, with around 100 people and 70 tents as of Sunday.

He said they were committed to maintaining the blockade of the Book of Kells until the university severed all ties with Israel.

The Book of Kells is blockaded, theres absolutely no tourism and were staying there, he said.

So, I think this is putting a lot of student and staff pressure on them (the university authorities).

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The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Mr Molnarfi said, as of Sunday afternoon, university officials had yet to reach out to those taking part in the protest since it began.

He said there was a lot of energy in the encampment.

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People are very confident, he said.

There is board games and guitar and political discussions and music and food.

Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by those participating in the encampment protest and blockade and we support the right to peaceful protest. Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount.



Read our full statement here: https://t.co/Q2zJKKw2sI pic.twitter.com/i2kmWcHPZK Advertisement  Trinity College Dublin (@tcddublin) May 4, 2024

Its a nice community thats been built. So people are feeling very confident.

The scenes at Trinity follow a wave of similar student protests at university campuses across the US.

The encampment was initiated days after it emerged that the university authorities had fined the students union more than 200,000 over previous protests on campus.

It invoiced the union for 214,285 after a series of demonstrations about fees and rent, as well as pro-Palestinian solidarity protests.

The university authorities have cut off public access to the grounds in response to the protest. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

The university cited a loss of revenue due to blockades of the Book of Kells and famous Long Room library among the reasons for the fine.

In response to the latest demonstration, the university said that while it supported the right of students to protest, they must be done within the rules of the institution.

Trinity respects the strong stance expressed by the people participating in the encampment protest and blockade, and we support the right to peaceful protest, it said in a statement on Saturday.

There are also, however, many good reasons why the universitys policies, including health and safety, dignity and respect must be followed when doing so.

Protesters gathered outside Trinity College in Dublin on Saturday. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Our duty of care to students and staff is paramount. In order to ensure we can deliver on that duty of care for our students, we are ensuring that those protesting on campus are members of the college community, so access to campus has been restricted to students and staff with valid college ID cards only. We have not made this decision lightly.

The university added: Trinity shares concerns about the ferocious onslaught in Gaza and the ongoing dire humanitarian crisis. We have taken a number of practical steps in response to the war in Gaza. These range from updating our investment portfolio with a view to excluding UN blacklist companies, to providing supports for students from Gaza coming to study in Trinity.

Trinity is always open to engaging with staff and students on these issues: in the past week alone, the provost has met with Academics for Palestine and also with the Students Union president and Students Union officers to discuss these issues. We also continue to engage with our Jewish staff and students who are impacted.

Trinity said it was responding to the war in Gaza in several ways, including the work to update its investment portfolio in line with a UN blacklist of companies.

Labour expresses solidarity with TCD Students raising plight of Gaza 



Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the University have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest - @hoeyanniehttps://t.co/iZS65QYFqE pic.twitter.com/ypialHysa2  The Labour Party (@labour) May 5, 2024

In regard to ties with Israeli institutions, Trinity said it was for its academics to make their own decisions about what universities they collaborate with, insisting it would not impinge on that cornerstone of academic freedom.

The Labour party has expressed solidarity with those taking part in the protest.

The students of Trinity College Dublin are rightly protesting against Trinitys financial investments in Israeli companies and links to Israeli institutions, Labour senator Annie Hoey said.

Ms Hoey added: The students have protested these issues consistently, and by Trinitys rules, for the past number of months but there has been little response or action taken.

Protest that does not cause an interruption or nuisance for the university have been ignored. It is right for the students to escalate their protest.
The latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks ended in Cairo after in-depth and serious discussions, the Hamas militant group said on Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.

After signs of progress, the outlook appeared to dim.

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Defence minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas was not serious about a deal and warned of a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza after Hamas attacked Israels main crossing point for delivering badly needed humanitarian aid, killing three soldiers.

Israels military said it believed Hamas was targeting soldiers massed on the Gaza border in preparation for a possible Rafah invasion. Hamas said it targeted soldiers in the area.

Israel did not send a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and Mr Gallant said that we see signs that Hamas does not intend to go to any agreement.





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       ,       :      -     .      -  . pic.twitter.com/AQ18dNVjZX  Benjamin Netanyahu -   (@netanyahu) May 5, 2024

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Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went for discussions in Qatar, where the group has a political office, and will return to Cairo for further negotiations on Tuesday.

Another threat to talks came as Israel ordered the local offices of Qatars Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in Gaza or the West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from hardliners in his government, continued to lower expectations for a ceasefire deal, calling the key Hamas demands extreme, including the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an end to the war.

That would equal surrender after the Hamas attack on October 7 that triggered the fighting, Mr Netanyahu said.

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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a statement earlier said the militant group was serious and positive about the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority.

But Israels government again vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million residents now seek shelter from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid.



Palestinians stand in the ruins of a family home, after an overnight Israeli strike (Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP)

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Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another. The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles were launched at the crossing in southern Israel and said its fighter jets later struck the source.

Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area. Israels Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three seriously. It was unclear how long the crossing would be closed.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian workers.

He also said Israel this week denied him entry to Gaza for a second time.

The closing of Kerem Shalom came shortly after the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) asserted full-blown famine in devastated northern Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings yet of the toll of restrictions on food and other aid entering the territory.

The comments were not a formal famine declaration.



The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah (Mohammad Jahjouh/AP)

In expanded remarks as the full NBC interview was released on Sunday, WFP chief Cindy McCain said famine was moving its way south in Gaza and that Israels efforts to allow in more aid were not enough.

We need more ability to be able to get more trucks in, she said. We have right now a mass on the outside border, about enough trucks and enough food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to get that in.

Gazas vast humanitarian needs put further pressure on the pursuit of a ceasefire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken in the October 7 attack, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout.

The initial stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Mr Netanyahu claimed that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions but said it will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.

That includes the stated aim of crushing Hamas. Israel says it must target Rafah to strike remaining fighters there despite warnings from the US and others about the danger to civilians.



Palestinians flee from northern Gaza (Mohammed Dahman/AP)

An Israeli strike on Sunday on the al-Attar family house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah killed four children, including a baby, and two adults, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.

In later remarks for Israels annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: We will defend ourselves in every way. We will overcome our enemies and we will ensure our security, in the Gaza Strip, on the Lebanese border, everywhere.

The Hamas cross-border attack on October 7 killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others. Mr Netanyahu is under growing pressure from some hostages families to make a deal to end the war and get hostages freed.

Israelis air and ground offensive has killed over 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but say women and children make up a majority of those killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas.

The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.
A former US Capitol police officer who defended lawmakers during the January 6th, 2021, attack and a man who served time in prison for joining the mob, could both be headed to Congress next year if they succeed in primaries later this month.

Their campaigns for respective Democratic and Republican nominations present a split-screen look into a divided nation more than three years after the siege by Donald Trump supporters trying to overturn his election defeat.

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The pair - Democrat Harry Dunn in Maryland and Republican Derrick Evans in West Virginia - are seeking their parties' nominations in strongly partisan districts, meaning both could serve together in the House of Representatives next year if they prevail in their separate May 14th contests.

Mr Dunn, 40, said he was thrust into politics by what he experienced on January 6th, which he said stoked his concerns about the stability of US democracy.

When he was called to testify to the probe into the attack, Mr Dunn, who is Black, described the way that rioters taunted him with racial slurs as they tried to overturn Democratic president Joe Biden's election.

"Going forward, it is imperative on us that believe in democracy, that believe in the Constitution, to fight for it," Mr Dunn told Reuters in a Thursday interview near his campaign headquarters in Ellicott City, Maryland.

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Some 480km to the west in West Virginia, Mr Evans, 36, is trying to unseat third-term Republican US representative Carol Miller, who was among 139 House Republicans who supported Mr Trump's bid to overturn the 2020 election result.

Mr Evans, a former teacher who served briefly in the state legislature, was among the throng that illegally entered the Capitol on January 6th.

He served three months in prison after pleading guilty to a felony charge of "impeding, obstructing or interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder".

Mr Dunn and Mr Evans both cite the need to defend the US Constitution at a moment they say presents great peril for the US.

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That is where their similarities end.

Dividing line

Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, called January 6th "a dividing line that has made our polarization much worse">

"Its no surprise that candidates who have a direct connection to such a signal event would be able to parlay their involvement into something else on the public stage," Mr Sabato said.

If elected, Mr Dunn said, he would want to pass legislation to strengthen voter protections, guard election workers from intimidation and reduce the influence of corporate campaign contributions.

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Reuters asked Mr Dunn if he would be willing to work for legislative compromises with Mr Evans if they both were to be elected.

"Absolutely," he responded. "We've got to realise that compromise is what it's all about. Anytime that one individual gets everything they want, then that's no longer a democracy. That's not working for the American people."

Asked the same question in a phone interview, Mr Evans responded, "I'm not running to make friends. I'm not running to play patty-cake politics. I'm working to kick in the front door and expose the corruption in DC".

Mr Dunn, with $3.7 million raised as of March 30th, leads in campaign contributions in a crowded field of 22 candidates and has secured the endorsement of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi. For Mr Evans' one-on-one battle against incumbent Ms Miller, he so far has raised $660,745 to her $921,369.

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Competing agendas

In the run-up to January 6th, according to court documents, Mr Evans expressed excitement on social media about a "wild" gathering at the Capitol and upon entering the building cheered on rioters.

Now, he presents that foray as a badge of courage, campaigning on themes that run strong in the district spanning the entire southern portion of the Trump-loving state.

Mr Evans wants Mr Trump's border wall built, calls his opponent "an undocumented Democrat" for her votes on some bipartisan bills and pushes term limits "that these scumbags in Congress are not ever going to vote for".

Ms Miller's chief of staff, Matthew Donnellan, responded to Mr Evans' characterisation, writing in an email: "Carol Miller was just endorsed by unequivocal conservative Congressman Jim Jordan, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and the pro-life Susan B Anthony List for her unwavering conservative Republican values."

Mr Donnellan also noted that Mr Evans in 2016 initially ran as a Democrat for a seat in the West Virginia legislature.

"I stood with President Trump that day and made a big sacrifice for it," Mr Evans said, stressing that he did not engage in violence while inside the Capitol, unlike hundreds of his fellow protesters.
Israel ordered the local offices of Qatars Al Jazeera satellite news network to close on Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus hard-line government as Doha-mediated ceasefire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance.

The extraordinary order, which includes confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channels reports and blocking its websites, is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shut a foreign news outlet.

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Al Jazeera went off Israels main cable provider in the hours after the order. However, its website and streaming links across multiple online platforms still operated on Sunday.

The network has reported the Israeli-Hamas war nonstop since the militants initial cross-border attack on October 7 and has maintained 24-hour coverage in the Gaza Strip amid Israels grinding ground offensive that has killed and wounded members of its own staff.

While including on-the-ground reporting of the wars casualties, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region, drawing Mr Netanyahus ire.

Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israels security and incited against soldiers, Mr Netanyahu said in a statement. Its time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.

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Al Jazeera issued a statement saying it will pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions in its quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the publics right to information.

Israels ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law, the network said.

Israels direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera from its commitment to cover, whilst more than 140 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza.

Israeli media said the order allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days.

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The Israeli government has taken action against individual reporters over the decades since its founding in 1948, but broadly allows for a rambunctious media scene that includes foreign bureaux from around the world, even from Arab nations.

That changed with a law passed last month, which Mr Netanyahus office says allows the government to take action against a foreign channel seen as harming the country,

Immediately after the announcement, Al Jazeeras English arm began broadcasting a pre-recorded message from one of its correspondents from a hotel the channel has used for months in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day have for their future state.

Theyre also banning any devices, that includes my mobile phone, correspondent Imran Khan said. If I use that to do any kind of newsgathering, then the Israelis can simply confiscate it.

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The ban did not appear to affect the channels operations in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip, where Israel wields control but which are not sovereign Israeli territory.

The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.

Qatar has had strained ties with Mr Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile at a political office in Doha.

The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.

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Al Jazeera's equipment has been seized during a raid on the channel's office in occupied East Jerusalem, says Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.



 LIVE updates: https://t.co/a5LwCUzZ5e pic.twitter.com/XOErw0ukRh  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 5, 2024

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas condemned the Israeli government order, calling on international organisations to take measures against Israel.

Shortly after the governments decision, cabinet members from the National Unity party criticised its timing, saying it may sabotage the efforts to finalise the negotiations and stems from political considerations.

The party said that in general, it supported the decision.

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias. Relations took a major downturn nearly two years ago when Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank.

Those relations further deteriorated following the outbreak of Israels war against Hamas on October 7, when the militant group carried out a cross-border attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.

Since then, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people, according to local health officials there, who dont break figures down into civilians and combatants.

In December, an Israeli strike killed an Al Jazeera cameraman as he reported on the war in southern Gaza.

The channels bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh, was wounded in the same attack.

Mr Dahdouh, a correspondent well-known to Palestinians during many wars, later evacuated from Gaza but only after Israeli strikes killed his wife, three of his children and a grandson.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres.

Israel accuses Al Jazeera, funded by Qatars government, of collaborating with Hamas.

Criticism of the channel is not new, however. The US government singled out the broadcaster during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein and over airing videos of the late al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden.

Al Jazeera has been closed or blocked by other Middle East governments. Those include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during a years-long boycott of Doha by the countries amid a years-long political dispute that ended in 2021.

In 2013, Egyptian authorities raided a luxury hotel used by Al Jazeera as an operating base after the military takeover that followed mass protests against President Mohammed Morsi.

The channel was apparently targeted over its constant coverage of Muslim Brotherhood protests over Morsis ouster.

Three Al-Jazeera staff members, Australian Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed received 10-year prison sentences, but were released in 2015 after widespread international criticism.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government has voted unanimously to shut down the local offices of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu announced the decision on X, formerly Twitter, but details on the implications of the ban on the channel, when it would go into effect or whether the measure was permanent or temporary were not immediately clear.

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There was no immediate comment from the channel headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

An Al Jazeera correspondent on its Arabic service said the order would affect the broadcasters operations in Israel and in east Jerusalem, where it has been doing live shots for months since the October 7 attack that sparked the war in Gaza.



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It would not affect Al Jazeeras operations in the Palestinian territories, the correspondent said.

Israeli media said the vote allows Israel to block the channel from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the decision.

My government decided unanimously: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will close in Israel, Netanyahu posted on X.

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Al Jazeera as vehemently denied that it incites against Israel.

The decision escalated Israels long-running feud against Al Jazeera.

It also threatened to heighten tensions with Qatar, which owns the channel, at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza.

Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias against it.

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Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets to remain in Gaza throughout the war, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres.

Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas.

Al Jazeera, the Doha-based broadcaster funded by Qatars government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While Al Jazeeras English operation often resembles the programming found on other major broadcast networks, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region.

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It similarly came under harsh US criticism during Americas occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled director Saddam Hussein.

It remains unclear how such an order would be enforced by Israel.
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraines east where the situation on the front line is worsening.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Ukrainians in an Easter address to be united in prayer and called God an ally in the war with Russia.

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Ukraines air force said on Sunday that Russia had launched 24 Shahed drones, of which 23 had been shot down by air defences.

Six people, including a child, were wounded in a drone strike in the eastern Kharkiv region, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

A priest blesses Ukrainian servicemen of the 72nd Separate Mechanised Brigade in Dnipropetrovsk region (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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Fires broke out when debris from drones that were shot down fell on buildings in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. No casualties were reported.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to follow Orthodox Easter services online due to safety concerns.

Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration, warned that even on such bright days of celebration, we can expect evil deeds from the aggressor.

Mr Zelenskiy called on Ukrainians to unite in prayer for each other and soldiers on the front line.

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In a video filmed in front of Kyivs Saint Sophia Cathedral, wearing a traditional, embroidered shirt, Mr Zelenskiy said that God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder.

With such an ally, Mr Zelenskiy said, life will definitely win over death.

A majority of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christians, though the church is divided.

Many belong to the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church was loyal to the patriarch in Moscow until splitting from Russia after the 2022 invasion and is viewed with suspicion by many Ukrainians.

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In Moscow, worshippers including president Vladimir Putin packed Moscows landmark Christ the Saviour Cathedral late on Saturday for a night-time Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin.

Eastern Orthodox Christians usually celebrate Easter later than Catholic and Protestant churches, because they use a different method of calculating the date for the holy day that marks Christs resurrection.
Trampolines | Mary Nikkel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Trampolines recently brought hope and humanitarian aid to war-torn regions of Ukraine through a music and mission trip with their nonprofit UNIT-E. The band is one of the only groups currently willing to perform there.

As Trampolines co-leader Lane Terzieff recounts, Arent you afraid to be here? a Ukrainian girl from Dnipro said where we played a concert in her town square. Nobody else is coming here, and you coming to play music and encourage us means a lot. You being here has been extremely impactful to my life.

Throughout the 12-day trip, Trampolines performed 6 concerts in cities ranging from the western border with Poland all the way to Kharkiv in the east, just 18 miles from the Russian border. In addition to music, the band came with food, hygiene items and power banks for electronics.

It was a sobering trip, bolstering our hope in the power and depths of Gods presence

and peace, Lane shares. In the churches and communities of the people displaced from the

front lines, as we brought aid, they continued to tell us that even if we didnt bring anything for them in the form of food or power banks or hygiene items, just being there to sit with them and pray with them was enough.

Trampolines has been well-established as a group committed to truly living out the mandate of James 1, to look after orphans and widows in their distress. UNIT-E Response Team formalizes that mission by fighting human trafficking at its source, providing emergency relief via food and medical supplies for those in need, and by bringing joy, hope and love through ministry and Christian dance music to all who are hurting.

Learn more about UNIT-E and join the movement at https://uniteresponse.org/.
Demonstrators cheer as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Demonstrators chant as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Texas freshman Arwyn Heilrayne speaks as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Craig Campbell, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin, speaks in front of fellow professors and staff members during a 'May Day' protest and pro-Palestinian demonstration on the campus, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Demonstrators chant as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Law enforcement agencies are see as multiple pro-Palestine groups gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters gathered to demand the public university to pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle Texas freshman Arwyn Heilrayne speaks as multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Professors and staff members from the University of Texas at Austin hold up their fists as Craig Campbell, an associate professor of anthropology, speaks during a pro-Palestine demonstration on the campus for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Law enforcement agencies are seen as multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A man writes contact information on the arm of his son as his family attends a 'May Day' protest on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Law enforcement agencies are seen as multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A woman holds up a hand-made sign in the shape of a Palestine flag as multiple Pro-Palestinian groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Law enforcement agencies are seen as multiple pro-Palestine groups gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a 'May Day' protest, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Austin. Supporters demanded the public university pull its investment from companies the group believes are complaisant in deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war. May Day, celebrated on May 1, commemorates historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer A pro-Palestinian protester yells "Free Palestine" as she is handcuffed by University of Texas at Austin police on the campus Monday, April 29, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman via AP) Aaron E. Martinez/Associated Press Muslim men were seen praying while student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Muslim men were seen praying while student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Muslim men were seen praying while student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Irfan Ali, a doctor who tended to patients in Gaza recently, was seen making remarks to student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Amen Odeh, a pediatrician who worked in Gaza during the invasion, was seen live video chatting with Mohammed, a 15 year old Palestinian stuck in Gaza, while student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer University faculty were seen giving remarks to student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Rowan Channaa, an organizer with the Palestinian Solidarity Comittee, made remarks to student activists that gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Rowan Channaa, an organizer with the Palestinian Solidarity Comittee, made remarks to student activists that gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Arwyn Heilrayne, an undergraduate student that was arrested by Texas State Troopers, was seen making remarks to student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Student activists were seen gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer Rowan Channaa, an organizer with the Palestinian Solidarity Comittee, made remarks to student activists that gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer A box truck featuring anti student protest rhetoric was seen as student activists gathered at a May Day labor solidarity event with Gaza and Palestinians on the South Lawn at the University of Texas at Austin on May 5, 2024, in Austin, Texas. This event was held a week after student protesters were arrested en masse by Texas state troopers on UT campus. Christopher Lee/Christopher Lee/Staff photographer

Several hundred protesters gathered at the University of Texas at Austin on Sunday for the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations demanding that university officials cut financial ties with Israel.

The weekend protest came just six days after demonstrators set up an impromptu encampment in the middle of campus, leading officers to use pepper spray and arrest 79 people. Police had already clashed with demonstrators a few days prior and arrested at least 57 people who had gathered to criticize the war in Gaza.

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Sundays protest brought a heavy police presence to campus again, but no one appears to have been arrested as of 2 p.m. Organizers had planned to hold the protest in front of the UT Tower, but the space was barricaded when they arrived.

Instead, several attendees gave speeches in front of the George Washington statue on the South Lawn.

Aine McGehee Marley, an organizer with Underpaid@UT, said she was disgusted with the university and the brutal police response to previous pro-Palestine protests at UT.

She called for the removal of UT President Jay Hartzell and for attendees to use their labor to fight for oppressed people, which was met by cheers from the crowd.

If our demands are not met, it is not enough to simply show up to a protest, said McGehee Marley, a graduate student. This is step one. Mobilizing. UT admin must face consequences when the university fails us.

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UT declined to comment on the rally.

Multiple campus groups, including Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for International Labor Solidarity, organized the protest in honor of May Day, or International Workers' Day, which celebrates workers rights and the labor movement.

The event was originally set for Wednesday before being rescheduled to Sunday afternoon.

Accompanied by five drums, protesters loudly chanted phrases such as from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, and free, free Palestine. Occupation is a crime.

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Several attendees brought signs advocating for a free Palestine, the end of the illegal occupation, the genocide of the Palestinian people, and for Israel to stop killing Palestinian kids.

UT student Arwyn Heilrayne said she felt safe at UT until she was arrested during a pro-Palestine protest last month, which has caused her to permanently feel unsafe on campus. In a brief speech, she promised UT that she wouldnt let them silence her voice before leading the crowd to chant Disclose. Divest. We will not stop. We will not rest.

They took me to the ground. They twisted my arms behind my back until I could not feel my hands and they threw me in a cell by myself for more than 14 hours, Heilrayne said. My experience does not even compare to that of the Palestinians in Gaza and what they have been enduring every day.

The protests at UT come amid a nationwide movement of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at colleges and universities, where organizers are pressing for an end to the Israel-Hamas war and for university leaders to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Hartzell has said he previously called Texas Department of Public Safety officers to the university to protect the safety of the campus community. He also expressed concerns about the potential for protesters to cause more serious disruptions, safety risks and injuries if they had maintained an encampment on the South Lawn as planned during previous protests.

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It is difficult  for all of us  to see serious police presence and arrests on our campus. It is worse, though, to see a handful of people flout rules meant to protect everyone, Hartzell wrote in the Houston Chronicle. It is worse still to see that disorder escalate from encampments to occupations, as has happened at Columbia University and UCLA.

More than 650 UT faculty signed a non-binding letter of no confidence in Hartzell following the arrests of dozens of students, stating that he needlessly put students, staff and faculty in danger and was unresponsive to their concerns.

Travis County is not pursuing charges against any of the 57 protesters who were originally arrested, according to Austins public radio station KUT. Initially, university officials said anyone charged with criminal trespass would be barred from campus for a year, but they later walked back that policy for students.

The protests come seven months after Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, where militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages.

During the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry, which is run by Hamas and doesnt distinguish between combatants and noncombatants but says at least two-thirds of the dead are children and women.

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Also Sunday, hundreds of people, carrying Israel and U.S. flags and wearing blue and white, gathered to rally around the Texas Capitol in support of Israel. They called for the return of the hostages taken by Hamas and chanted, No room for hate in the Lone Star state!

Austin resident Kim Polner said she came with her husband, who wore a Bring Them Home Now shirt, and her two children to support Jewish students who are facing antisemitism that she said has been on the rise since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

I hope that all the atrocities that happened on Oct. 7 will be remembered, and we truly wish for peace  which will happen when Hamas disarms and all the hostages are back with their families, said Polner, who was wearing a necklace with a Hamsa, a hand-shaped symbol that symbolizes good luck and protection.

Elle Tracy Branfman, 62, who is Jewish and drove in from Victoria with her husband, said they wanted to show solidarity with Israel and the U.S. Demonstrators sang both the Israeli and American anthem, she said.
A new beach house shortlisted for the 2024 NSW Architecture award for best home may convert naysayers who equate modular construction with outback dongas, demountable classrooms and shipping containers.

One of 16 new homes across NSW that are competing for awards, Blok Belongil at Byron Bay in northern NSW by architects Blok Modular with Vokes and Peters comprises five modular boxes arranged in a triangle to fit a triangular beachside block.

Blok Belongil at Byron Bay. A new kind of beach house shortlisted for the 2024 NSW architecture awards for best new home may change peoples minds about modular construction. Credit: Christopher Frederick Jones

Built in a Queensland factory and arriving by truck, the modules were dropped into place by a crane. The home went up in a day.

Architect Daniel Burnett, the founder of Blok Modular, said Blok Belongil was designed to show nearly anything was possible with modular construction.
A Brisbane man allegedly suffered significant injuries over a prolonged period of time before he was found in a critical condition outside a property north of the city, detectives believe.

Two people have now had their charges upgraded to murder following the death of Sam Wilcox, 23, from Eagle Farm, who died from his injuries in hospital on Friday evening.

Emergency services were called over a report of an assault on a rural property, which has multiple homes and a dam, on McLean Road at Mount Mee on Wednesday evening.

Detective Acting Inspector Joe Zitny said officers found Wilcox unresponsive on the ground in front of one of the houses.
Stay frightened, Petal. I cant think of even one screeching female journalist whom I would want to molest/attack/rape. Think carefully of your career choices. Bye for now and see you soon, but not soon enough.

Thats a select and, I hasten to note, unrepresentative sample of my email inbox, featuring feedback from readers who dont feel any compunction about writing nasty messages when they read something they disagree with. Most of my correspondence is from lovely, thoughtful readers who engage with ideas and often respectfully disagree with me (which I love).

Superman would be receptive to an anti-misogyny campaign, but would he need it? Credit:

Other journalists get it much worse than I do, and people of colour who are engaged in a public role get it much, much, much worse. But I wonder about these guys (they are always guys). They put their names to the emails. Some of them have LinkedIn profiles and other indicators of stable professionalism. Some of them even correspond from their work email addresses.

The emails are quickly filed away  they are a part of the job. The choicest ones might be forwarded privately to female colleagues, who will respond with their own doozies. These women are never surprised. The only people who are shocked by such emails are men. Decent, good men find it difficult to comprehend how pervasive this sort of misogyny is.
The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the Biden administrations view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from US President Joe Biden and other Western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration has said there could be consequences for Israel should it move forward with the operation without a credible plan to safeguard civilians. A spokesperson for Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: Australia is gravely concerned by the prospect of a major Israeli ground offensive into Rafah. More than half of Gazas 2.3 million population has sought shelter in Rafah, from the fighting elsewhere. Australia, the G7 and so many countries have called on the Netanyahu government to change course.

The Foreign Minister [Senator Penny Wong] has made clear Australias view that Israel should not go down this path. Earlier on Monday, Israeli officials seized equipment from Al Jazeera after the nations cabinet approved a decision to shutter the Qatar-based TV news networks operations in the Jewish state  an unprecedented step against an international media outlet. Palestinian politics analyst Nehad Abu Ghoush broadcasting from inside the networks office in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Credit: AP Inspectors from the Communications Ministry, accompanied by police, arrived at the networks offices in Jerusalem, confiscated equipment and cut off access. Al Jazeeras broadcasts and access to its website had already been blocked throughout Israel. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi posted a video clip of the raid on X, formerly Twitter, where the inspectors can be seen and heard naming the equipment they found.

Karhi has been a key advocate for the termination of the networks activity within Israel. He has also threatened Israeli newspaper Haaretz with closure and accused Kan, the countrys public broadcaster, of bias and threatened to cut its budget. Al Jazeera denounced Israels move, calling it a criminal act that violates human rights in access to information. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) has petitioned the move to the countrys Supreme Court. This is a dark day for the media and a dark day for democracy, Israels Foreign Press Association said in a statement. Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station. The association expressed concern that Israels government may not be done with censorship as the prime minister now has the authority to target other foreign media he deems to be acting against the state. Several ministers from Benny Gantzs National Unity Party abstained from the vote and criticised its timing, underlining escalating tensions between the various factions of Netanyahus government.

An Al Jazeera reporter speaking live from the networks office in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday. Credit: AP Gantzs party said that while it supported shutting down Qatari-owned Al Jazeera, Israels war cabinet had agreed to postpone any decision at the request of security officials, including the head of Mossad, to avoid harming ceasefire negotiation efforts now under way in Egypt. Israel and Hamas, through intermediaries, continue to work towards a deal that would involve the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Qatar has been a dominant mediator since the war in Gaza broke out following Hamass October 7 attacks on Israel. The idea of shutting down the news channel has been circulating within Netanyahus cabinet, consisted mostly of hard-right, nationalist and Jewish Orthodox parties, since the early days of the war. Al Jazeera was blamed by Israel for what were termed false reports that heavily relied on what was thought to be Hamas propaganda.

In late March, the channel ran a story claiming that Israeli soldiers had raped and murdered women at Gazas Al Shifa hospital, which the Israel Defence Forces denied. It was later removed from all of Al Jazeeras platforms. A law allowing foreign media outlets in Israel to be shuttered was approved by the nations parliament, the Knesset, in early April. It would give the prime minister the power to instruct the Communications Ministry to act against any foreign media entity deemed to be harming the country, pending the opinion of at least one security official and the approval of the cabinet or security cabinet. Media outlets can then be subject to a range of actions, including shutting down offices in Israel, the confiscation of broadcast equipment, prevention of broadcasts by reporters, removal of the channels from Israeli cable and satellite companies, and blocking of websites in Israel. Al Jazeera harmed Israels security, actively participated in the October 7 massacre, and incited against IDF soldiers, Netanyahu said when the law was passed. It is time to remove the voice of Hamas from our country.
Sao Paulo: Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed at least 60 people, with another 101 reported missing, the local authorities said, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes.

At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 80,000 people from their homes. Approximately 15,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. Rio Grande do Suls civil defence authority said nearly two-thirds of the 497 cities in the state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina, had been affected.

A soldier helps a woman evacuate from a neighbourhood in Canoas flooded by heavy rain. Credit: AP

The flooding statewide has surpassed that seen during a historic 1941 deluge, according to the Brazilian Geological Service. In some cities, water levels were at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago, the agency said.

On Thursday, a dam at a hydroelectric plant between the cities of Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed and entire cities in the Taquari River valley, like Lajeado and Estrela, were completely overtaken by water.
Protesters march during an abortion-rights rally in Austin, Texas. Sergio Flores/Getty Images

A retrial in the Harvey Weinstein sexual crimes case may reopen wounds for survivors who came forward with abuse allegations.

It also may signal to some that the MeToo movement, which empowered more women to speak out against sexual abuse and harassment, is over.

But movements that shift culture dont die. They become part of us. As the MeToo movement took hold, women became unified in standing up for themselves against sexual violence. I dont see that changing, even as womens reproductive rights are rolled back.

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What happened with the MeToo Movement was that women were saying things that they never had the opportunity to say before, and they were given credence that they never got before, said Elizabeth Gregory, director of Womens Gender & Sexuality Studies at the University of Houston. They have been saying these things and speaking up against sexual assault but never had an audience for their concerns until now.

I wish I could say that Im surprised by the overturning of Weinsteins 2020 conviction last week. Too many episodes of Law & Order have shown how hard it is to get a sexual assault conviction to stick.

Reality doesnt make it easier. Our criminal system has been known to bumble sexual assault cases or discount them altogether. Take the Houston Police Department, which has come under fire for suspending investigations of more than 4,000 reported sexual assaults without following up on every lead.

Still, the Weinstein ruling is a disappointment to sexual assault survivors and those who found a powerful voice in the MeToo Movement. It was started by Tarana Burke in 2006 who coined the term Me Too to empower young Black woman and girls. Then the MeToo hashtag went viral in 2017 when actress Alyssa Milano urged victims of sexual assault and harassment to share their stories and solidarity on social media. By fall 2017, the New York Times reported that dozens of women had accused Weinstein of sexual assault, sexual abuse and rape.

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Last week, the court ruled, 4-3, that alleged victims should not have been allowed to testify because they were not part of the initial case against Weinstein. It said this prior bad acts testimony violated his right to a fair trial. The 72-year-old disgraced media mogul, who is currently serving a separate 16-year sentence of harassment in a California case, will be retried next fall.

Actress Ashley Judd, one of the first women to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Weinstein, took to the media immediately after the overturned ruling to express outrage.

We have institutional betrayal. We continue to have to deal with the aftershocks of male sexual violence, she said on CBS Morning News. Satisfaction and peace will come when men stop raping women.

On college campuses, more than 25% of females and nearly 7% of males experience rape or sexual assault, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. I wondered how students view this ruling or if it has no bearing on their lives.

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Students have an understanding of the widespread problem of sexual harassment and assault, and they go forward with the expectation that if they voice their complaints, they will be heard. They take that for granted. Maybe this is a reminder that they have to keep fighting, Gregory said.
Mauritius-based IndusInd International Holdings (IIHL) is targeting a valuation of $50 billion by 2030 with the acquisitions of the debt-ridden Reliance Capital and Invesco Mutual Fund, even as its investments grow in IndusInd Bank and other companies across the world, IIHL Chairman Ashok Hinduja said.

In a media interaction on Friday, he said IIHL was in the process of increasing its stake from 15 per cent to 26 per cent in IndusInd Bank and was looking to acquire smaller-sized banks in various European countries.

We have received the letter from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which clearly (asked us)
Traffic is directed to the eastbound lanes of US-90 Sunday, May 5, 2024 as the westbound lanes are covered with rising floodwater from the Trinity River near Liberty. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

A 5-year-old boy was killed in North Texas after being swept away by flood waters Sunday morning as flash floods continue to inundate swaths of the state from the Dallas-Forth Worth area to Houston.

The child and two adults were in a vehicle stuck in swift water around 1:53 a.m. Sunday when witnesses told a 911 operator that the three got out of the vehicle and tried to get to dry land, the emergency management department in Johnson County, south of Fort Worth, said on Facebook. All three were swept away by the floodwaters, the social media post said, leading to an hourslong search that involved the sheriff's department, fire department and the emergency management office in Johnson County.

A man and a woman were rescued around 5 a.m. and taken to the hospital, the post continued. The 5-year-old was found dead in the floodwaters around 7:20 a.m.

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"I hope you will keep this family in your prayers," according to the Johnson County emergency management department, which covers a county of 195,000.

The tragedy came as floods continued to sweep across the state, leading to rising numbers of high-water rescues.

Harris County agencies have rescued 233 people and 164 pets as of 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. That's more than 50 additional people and more than 40 additional pets rescued compared to numbers given by the agency 10 a.m. Saturday.

Officials from the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management did not immediately respond to requests for an update Sunday, but on Saturday the county said 390 people have been rescued by authorities, along with 95 animals.

Officials in San Jacinto County said they had completed 62 rescues since flooding began. The county's emergency management office said it was also sheltering 37 dogs, 11 cats and several cattle from the flood waters.

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Walker County reported 60 high-water rescues as of Sunday afternoon, an increase of 10 from Saturday. An official said the flooding there has seen little improvement in the last day.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo speaks before going up in a helicopter at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport to survey flood damage around the northern section of Greater Houston, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Spring. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Severe flooding is seen on Idle Glen Roadway on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in New Caney. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The bridge over Lake Houston along West Lake Houston Parkway from Kingwood to Atascocita is seen after it was closed due to high water on either side of the thoroughfare, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Kingwood. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Community Fire Department arrive on scene to rescue residents stuck in their homes due to severe flooding on Friday, May 3, 2024, in New Caney . Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Crews that converged in flood-ravaged parts of the Houston area have rescued more than 600 people since the heavy rainfall and flooding started earlier this week, according to reports from individual counties.

Harris County agencies have rescued 176 people and 122 pets as of 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

LIVE FLOOD UPDATES: Houston area remains under excessive rainfall risk

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In Montgomery County, 390 people have been rescued by authorities, along with 95 animals. Those 390 people were split into two categories by the county's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. They have recorded 52 people as being rescued from life-saving situations with another 338 evacuated from situations that aren't considered life threatening.

"We do expect these numbers to change as we get more information in from our local partners," said Trey Baxter, the Section Chief of Preparedness and Response with the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "But these are very preliminary numbers that we got today."

Liberty County has not been counting the exact number of people it has saved but the Office of Emergency Management reports that authorities have completed 98 "water assists." The county defines a water assist as a mission where the authorities are called to help people escape but it is not deemed as a life-threatening situation.

Water rescues are when authorities are called to save people from a life-threatening situation. There have been none so far.

Walker County has conducted 50 high-water evacuations since Wednesday, its Office of Emergency Management reported around 3:15 p.m. Saturday.

The county said it does not count the number of people or animals saved during these missions.

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San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management reported 58 people as having been rescued. The county has also sheltered 18 dogs and seven cats as of Friday night.

SIGNIFICANT FLOODING: Lake Houston residents experience first severe flood since Hurricane Harvey

Not all counties in the flood watch zone have had to conduct any rescues of its citizens. Waller County has not had to rescue any people.

None of the counties have reported any deaths.
Refrigerators are good for keeping moonshine less gross. Freezers are good for keeping rattlesnakes less angry. Garages are good to hide in when your wife finds either. - Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things

The whole thing started with some strange, off centered kind of an itch. Not an itch similar to the nasty kind of itch you get from a chigger dug deeply in your navel, or a tick burrowed in between your legs. Neither was this sort of thing the seemingly terminal kind of itch from say, poison oak, or the after effects of stumbling blindly over a mound of fire ants. This particular itch that somehow, suddenly materializes, and then refuses to fade finally away, with the slow passage of days and weeks.

Then again, this sort of thing could be more like some kind of weird craving. More similar to a craving experienced for a smoke, or a dip. The sort of craving that magically surfaces out of nowhere after some errant, long ago plea you abruptly made to yourself, that you needed to suddenly quit such malignantly addictive substances.

Maybe its really closer to some weird and unexplained genetic disposition to deadly substances. Drugs that can malevolently overcome and destroy your last bastion of willpower while spiraling you into depths make you suddenly, sometimes far too late, confront the sad specter of near death. Odd substances that suck on your will to the point that theres little you can actually do to extract your very soul back from the impending darkness.

Its somewhat similar, but really nothing like, overly excited anticipation. The anticipation of some long in the future event that looms off in the distance like the opening day of deer or duck season, a wedding, or your first borns new day of arrival on planet earth.

No, its not that kind of thing at all. If this peculiar feeling isnt really an itch, or a craving, overly excited anticipation, or some unexplainable genetic disposition to deadly addictive substances; then what exactly can it be called? How can you quite succinctly describe this phenomenon that builds and cascades until it literally overcomes your being?

But, it happens. Time and time again, it happens. But this one time, why does it involve squirrels in the month of May?

Some sharp pencil in Nashville, some time back, oddly declared we all suddenly needed to kill more squirrels. This new squirrel killing opportunity sounds for all the world like a lets get together and save the planet sort of gimmick. After years, no decades and decades, of shooting squirrels in the spring was considered illegal, suddenly this is a good idea to the small game managers that ride the desks in Nashville.

Exactly why this was decided, Im not sure. You can bet it might have been easier to increase the limit on squirrels from whatever it is now, to say, setting the fall and winter limit of dead squirrels by the bushel basket instead of the present bag limit. That simple concept may have been too easy for the sharp pencils in Nashville.

So, apparently, what the Nashville squirrel biologists determined to be a more environmentally or biologically sound population control technique of squirrel over-population management, became a spring squirrel hunting season. Go figure!

Brilliant maybe? More opportunity for your hunting license dollar maybe? Maybe, the sharp pencils just caved to pressure from the radical rabble of squirrel hating protesters who suddenly encamped on the TWRA campus in Nashville. Protesters with loud chants and threatening banners that screamed;

WE WANT MORE SQUIRRELS TO DIE!!!

WE WANT MORE SQUIRRELS TO DIE!!!

DEATH TO THE SQUIRRELS!!!

GIVE US A SPRING SQUIRREL SEASON OR WE WILL NEVER LEAVE!!

I steadfastly boycotted this relatively new thing called squirrel hunting in May and June for years. Call me old fashioned.

Fall and winter were, for time immemorial, the only really decent seasons for eliminating the environment of overabundant nut eaters. Besides that, it was a right of passage of every fall. Saving up all summer from mowing lawns, for a box of two of 22 long rifle hollow points, scouting for tall hickory trees where nuts were cut, laying, littering the base of the most promising trees became an August pastime. Agonizing through the anticipation growing with the daily review of X marks for legalopening day penciled in on the feed store calendar, was a right of passage for me and the rest of my tribe in the North Chattanooga Expeditionary and Squirrel Killing Society.

May and June were dedicated to fishing in those days. Apparently back in the day, the sharp pencils in Nashville didnt realize just how environmentally dangerous the overabundance of tree rats really were. Either that or, maybe there werent really any sharp pencils over in Nashville until here recently.

I still boycotted/protested hunting squirrels in the spring for quite sometime. It just didnt seem right somehow. Not sure why, but it just seems weirdly off kilter for some strange reason.

Then, during a recent slow turkey season, the Fox squirrels suddenly showed up. They simply sprang forth in mass. Seems like they were wildly overabundant and just about everywhere. Black faces, white muzzles, white tipped ears, some were as large as small cats, with huge, fluffy, extra long tails; creeping around both stealthily and loudly, every where I thought a turkey ought to have been.

As soon as spring squirrel season opened, the old, odd itch was flung upon me again. Maybe it was a craving. Most likely, this alien sensation, was more like some overly strange obsession. The whole thing about hunting squirrels in May felt strangely illegal, even when it was oddly now legal; but there I was, snakes, chiggers, ticks and all.

The Fox squirrels didnt seem to be present on the top of White Oak Mountain on this particular late spring morning. After about three miles of ridge running, I decided to drop off the eastern slope and hunt the big trees below the first shelf of the steep rock band. The East side of this mountain is steep, so steep in many places, that its steeper than many black diamond ski slopes in the Rocky Mountains.

Its so steep that you find yourself holding onto anything you can grab ahold of to ease your way down to the first shelf of near horizontal dirt and rock. This small plateau is where the big trees were sparred by the loggers of old. The mountain is so steep that apparently the long gone timber cutters were justifiable in their fear of dying from their feeble attempts to denude the ancient mountain of huge trees back on these narrow and rock strewn shelfs.

Easing along, looking for the least dramatic descent over the edge or ridge crest, a rather dim path emerged out of the lush vegetation. This vague path wasnt here during turkey season. I had been here many mornings. This dim trail somehow looked fresh and it didnt quite look like the worn path of deer or bears, but it was obviously being used by something bigger than that.

I eased down the slope quietly as the faint trail gradually worked its way though the steep band of slippery moss and wet sandstone. This side of the mountain is littered with springs, seeps and freshets that ultimately provide water falls and rivulets that trickle down into Wolfteever Creek, or Long Savanah Creeks, as they gradually slide their way to the river.

The trail ended in freshly cut brush. Expertly camouflaged brush. I could hear a mule nervously pacing about in the brush but I couldnt put eyes on it. I had stumbled on a carefully hidden moonshiners factory, being guarded by a tied up mule.

The hair on my neck slammed to attention. This unexpected event was suddenly super spooky. Not a sound could be heard other than the nervous pacing of the mule. This was suddenly a seriously bad move on my part, to be sure. Where was the mules owner? How many were there? How did they plan on defending this operation? I was carrying a 410/22 mag over and under and a handgun stuffed with snake shot. I figured most moonshiners were vastly more over equipped with serious firepower than I, and I didnt relish the thought of running down the steep mountain in a gun battle.

I should have quietly backed out! Put the whole morning in reverse! Common sense told me to get the $%@# out! The hair on my arms were screaming at me to get back up to the top of the mountain, #$% immediately, right now!

I could smell the mule and the still, but I still couldnt see any of it. It was that well hidden. Who would build such a thing in this location here? Who would haul homemade liquor this far? Who would put this much work into this sort of illegal endeavor?

Common sense suddenly achieved escape velocity. I eased forward slowly like some snake on the hunt, looking for an opening in the brushy hide. The copper pot came into view. Mason jars were scattered randomly. They appeared to all be full. The excited mule calmed a little. There was a barefoot body near the stack of mason jars. Easing closer, the old man appeared like he had had his last shave the year Harry Truman fired Douglas MacArthur. He had vomited all down the front of his Liberty overalls and there was a pretty sizable swarm of yellow jackets feasting in the puke on his grey beard.

I figured the old shoeless man, flat on his back, covered in vomit and yellow jackets, was stone dead. This was another better than terrific opportunity to get the #$%^ out. Just forget the whole thing ever happened. Just let nature take her course. Maybe just cut the mule loose and read about the whole thing in the paper someday soon. The mule had burlap sacks tied to its feet and it had finally settled down.

Turning my full attention to the body, it became slowly evident that the old man was still breathing. This presented another strong bit of a sticky situation. Do I chance sneaking out and potentially getting shot in the back? Or, do I wake the old man up and chance getting shot in the face? I was dead certain the old man had a pocket pistol or maybe two, somewhere in his nasty, stained, bug infested overalls.

I disconnected the water hose from the spring to the still, and placed the supply of cold water gently on the old mans face, letting it pour on his forehead. Then I hid behind the mule, thinking that if the old timer came out of his coma, he just might not shoot at both me and the mule.

Anxiously waiting to see what was about to unfold, I somehow incongruently conjured up memories of a young lady named Beverly. Funny how the mind drifts once youre behind a mule.

Beverly claimed she was a one quarter Cherokee as I chased her around the educated side of Putnam County. After some mild but short courtship, she announced that shed like to take me home with her to meet her mother and grandfather.

It was early spring and she said her grandfather was always in need of ground hog control help. She said her grandfather, a full blood Cherokee, tended a large patch of corn in a hollow two counties over. This was the time of year when he and Beverly shot the wary little corn eating varmints and on Sundays, they roasted the fat ones with sweet potatoes. If he didnt get rid of the woodchucks before they devoured his young corn crop, his business was ruined. His cash crop came from his corn crop, in the form of the best known moonshine ever cooked in Middle Tennessee.

Her grandfather and the local county Sheriff previously had reached an ingenious and lucrative business arrangement many decades ago. It was a simple and smart little arrangement. Her Grandfather sold most all of his product exclusively to the local Sheriff. Beverly said that both old men were drinking buddies from as far back as she could remember. Nobody else in the county was allowed to buy product from her grandfather. The Sheriff in turn, busted up every other still in the county and left her grandfather alone to practice his mastery of a distillery degree. Grandfather graduated with a back hollow, Middle Tennessee PH.D in distilling peach brandy, with Summa Cum Laude honors.

I was a little nervous about retrieving the first groundhog that I witnessed Grandpa splatter. He handled the old 22/250 with amazing skill at well over what I figured to be a little outside of 200 yard shots. As I walked out in the spring corn, I tried not to imagine the time Beverly and I had fought and I had stupidly called her some derogatory word that her grandfather would be put off about if Beverly told the old Indian what a jerk I had been that day.

It was a good day. The old Cherokee taught me the fine art of long distance shooting and wind drift analysis as it applied to 22/250s. The corn crop survived the onslaught of spring woodchucks and we soon returned to Putnam County full of roasted ground hog and sweet potatoes, accompanied by a case of fine homemade brandy, crafted by a full blood native. Beverly never did tell her grandfather about our fight, or what a jerk I had been.

Recovery from the puke covered moonshiner at hand was slow. Maybe an hour passed, probably more than two hours passed. Gagging and spitting, the old shoeless body arose slowly from the swarm of yellow jackets. The memory of Beverly drifted off into the mist of the morning.

He wobbled about looking for his boots when I let out a low and slow whistle from behind the old mule. I could tell by the way he quickly filled his hand with his pistol that he still was having trouble focusing on where the sound had come from. The gun in his hand appeared to be a well worn 1911.

I held the 410 squarely on his gun hand when I said as calmly and gently was possible; Dont shoot! Im not here to cause any trouble friend.

Who are you and howd you find me? He still hadnt figured out where I was hiding.

Put that pistol away and well talk. It was the third or fourth lapse in common sense on my part. I was gambling here for high stakes again.

He slid the 1911 in his back pocket and swatted a wad of yellow jackets off of his vomit dried and stained stomach.

Im stepping out now. You keep that hand off that pistol. I dont want no problems here mister.

He turned slowly and sucked the spring water out of the hose as I eased around the mule, still ready with the 410.

Who the hell are you? He asked again.

Im just squirrel hunting and I found your trail and Im afraid my curiosity got the best of me. Who the hell are you? This response, I realized, came back as rather an impertinent question. I guess I was still feeling somewhat uneasy at the time.

None of your damn business who I am mister. What exactly do you plan to do about it about now?

He had recovered rather quickly. Maybe it was the cold spring water he was using to wash the crusty puke of his front side and his bare feet. He still hadnt located his worn out boots.

You know I turkey hunt these woods all the time and I dont think this still, or this mule, was here back during turkey season was it? I inquired, trying not to sound too terribly nosey.

Well, thats cause I wait till after turkey season is out. I like my privacy. The old man spit a yellow jacket out of his beard as he located one boot.

I gotta ask, how come you tie burlap sacks on your mules feet? I considered that there was some legitimacy in the question. This was the first mule Id ever witnessed shod with what looked like burlap house slippers.

The old man chuckled at what he must have considered a stupid question, Them tater sacks make the track powerful hard for the sheriff to foller. I soak em in skunk scent just in case he borrows somebodys trackin dog. Hit works both ways. The sheriff, hes a city boy, and hes about as bright as a box of hammers.

You sure know how to hide a still. I said

Yeh, I done learnt that there skill in Korea one cold winter on something the Army called a parallel.

How do you get all this in and out of here? The logistics of this homemade liquor operation was simply astounding to me.

He put his one found boot on the right foot and slowly answered, Well, I take my time. Many trips, slow and easy, only at night; me and old Bob. Old Bob should have done woke me up when you slipped in here. I guess old Bobs gettin a little long in the tooth, like me.

He went on, I reckon I done made this batch a little stronger proof than planned. I got to tastin and, I recon I done got carried away again. It happens, from time to time. You want you a taste? Its plumb fine.

The jar was passed and I handed the old man his missing boot. He thanked me.

It was indeed, plumb fine.

I vowed to keep the old mans and Bobs location a deep secret and wobbled up the trail with a jar in hand. On the long hike back to the Jeep, I quietly thanked the sharp pencils over in Nashville for allowing us to legally kill squirrels in May.

-----

Send comments to whiteoakmtnranger@gmail.com
photo by Dallas Bay Fire Department photo by Dallas Bay Fire Department photo by Dallas Bay Fire Department photo by Dallas Bay Fire Department photo by Dallas Bay Fire Department Previous Next

A kitchen fire caused significant damage to a home in Dallas Bay area Saturday afternoon.

A homeowner called 911 at 3:15 p.m. reporting a kitchen fire at 1503 Ribbonwood Drive.

The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded and arrived on the scene reporting heavy smoke showing on all four sides of the home. Firefighters quickly entered the home to find heavy fire in the kitchen.

The homeowner stated that they had been cooking in a crockpot and left to go to the store, coming home to find the kitchen on fire.

Two pets perished in the fire and damages were estimated at $100,000.

The Dallas Bay VFD requested a mutual aid response with additional manpower. Chattanooga Fire Department and Soddy Daisy Fire Department stood by at Dallas Bays fire stations for any additional emergency calls.

No injuries were reported, but HCEMS was on the scene for any potential injuries to the first responders.

The cause of the fire will be under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. The American Red Cross was requested to help the family with their emergency needs.
King Charles and Prince Harry have started getting their relationship back on track, though the father and son still have a long way to go -- and a meeting with Harry might only happen if another royal is present.

There is plenty of buzz surrounding Prince Harrys upcoming trip to the United Kingdom. The prince has spent little time in his home country since relocating to the United States with Meghan Markle in 2020, but he did make a quick trip back in February after learning of King Charles cancer diagnosis.

Harry and Charles have reportedly been trying to work through their tensions, which the public loves to see. But one expert claims Charles will only agree to a meeting with Harry if another royal is present  and it isnt Prince William.

King Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Prince Harry | James Vellacott/AFP/Getty Images

King Charles reportedly wants Camilla Parker Bowles to sit down with Prince Harry

Harry and Charles have had plenty of tension in recent years, and Harry didnt exactly have wonderful things to say about Charles second wife, Camilla Parker Bowles (though, can you blame him?) in his Spare memoir.

When the two meet, it will almost certainly be a longer meeting than last time when father and son spent just 30 minutes together, royal expert Tom Quinn told Mirror. But Camilla is likely to be there simply because she feels so protective of her husband and wont want him to be upset at such a difficult time.

Quinn also gushed about Camillas ability to calmly steer the ship. Also, despite much that has been written, Camila is exceptionally diplomatic and good at dealing with difficult situations and difficult people. If anyone can steer comfortably through a meeting with Harry, Camilla can  which is why Charles will want her there.

It still remains unknown whether Harry and Charles will actually have a sit-down, but its hard to imagine they wouldnt. Harry flew immediately to see his father in February and seemed to only have good things to say about the experience in a later interview with Good Morning America.

Related Royal Expert Claims Prince Harry and Prince William Have No Plans to See Each Other During Upcoming UK Trip

Prince Harry and King Charles reportedly do want to have a meeting

While it might not be officially on the schedule, it seems the father and son do want to meet up  even if its just to save face. Quinn says that Charles wont want to be seen to be avoiding his son even if the meeting is awkward and difficult  Charles and Harry know that everyone will be watching to see if they meet, and neither wants to be the one blamed for rejecting the other.

Harry has plans to attend an Invictus Games ceremony at St. Pauls Cathedral on May 8, and hell be traveling solo, which will give him an even better opportunity to sit down with his family. Much of the public would love to see Harry and the royals rebuild a relationship, but its been so many years now that its hard to know whether either side actually wants to fix things at this point or not.
A former royal correspondent is revealing the odd remark the Duchess of Sussex made to reporters and the "rude" comment the Duke of Sussex made during an international tour.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their roles within the royal family in 2020, but their time as senior royals is still discussed today by some people who worked with them.

One journalist recently shared something the Duke of Sussex told a group of reporters during the couples high-profile tour to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand that many found to be very rude.

Former royal correspondent and author Valentine Low revealed the rude remark Prince Harry had for the press traveling with him and Meghan to cover the Sussexes tour to the South Pacific back in 2018.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle disembark from their plane on their arrival in Suva, Fiji | Kirsty Wigglesworth  Pool/Getty Images

On an episode of A Right Royal Podcast, the veteran reporter explained: We were flying from Tonga back to Sydney. And often on these tours, there comes a point towards the end when the royal might come back to the back of the plane and have a chat with us off the record, you know, not for printing, but its a way of making bonds. Its a way of keeping us sweet. Its a way of having informal contact.

We were promised that he or they would come to the back of the plane, and it didnt happen. It didnt happen and this was a four or five-hour flight. Whens this gonna happen? Then we were buckling up for the descent and we landed. And it hadnt happened. And only after we landed, [the Sussexes] came back into the back of the plane.

Low remembered that Harry was slightly in front of Meghan, she was slightly behind him. And she didnt say much. She did make some strange remark about us wanting to get back for our Sunday lunch, and it was completely bizarre. But its what [Harry] said that was memorable. He said, Thanks very much for coming, even though you werent invited. And we thought, What?'

Low recalled that his colleagues found the princes comment to be quite rude.

Another member of the press said working with Harry and Meghan became miserable

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle board a plane for New Zealand from Sydney airport | RICK RYCROFT/AFP via Getty Images

Harrys remarks dont come as much of a surprise to everyone. In fact, some members of the press noticed a change right after the duke met Meghan and decided to stop doing tours with him then. Royal photographer Arthur Edwards is one of those people who witnessed Harry acting differently and claimed that working with him became miserable.

Edwards joined The Sun newspaper in 1977. Over the years, he has photographed members of the royal family on hundreds of international tours, at seven weddings, and at five funerals, including the late Queen Elizabeth IIs. He always had a good relationship with the family, but revealed things with Prince Harry went downhill when Meghan came into the picture.

During an appearance on News.com.aus Ive Got News For You podcast, Edwards said: [Harry] met Meghan and then he became very, very distant and he became almost, well, it was miserable. I just find it very depressing with them. They just hated the media and it was miserable  In fact in the end, I didnt do Harrys tours. I didnt do Harrys tour of Australia, not with Meghan. I didnt do Harrys tour of South Africa with Meghan. I ducked out of them and sort of went with Charles to New Zealand, and you know, places like that.
A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles, May 6, 2010. An influential U.S. task force now says women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced the updated guidance April 30.
There have been multiple cases in which everyday objects have saved peoples lives from bullets. It could be a pocket watch, a flask, or even an iPhone.

For one man, a penny in his pocket stopped a bullet from penetrating his chest in what would likely have been a fatal wound.

During the Civil War in 1864, Lieutenant Lothrop Wight was in the midst of battle when he was struck by Confederate gunfire. At the time, he was 23 years old and was aboard a ship along the James River in Virginia.

When the Civil War began in the spring of 1861, thousands of men across the northern states were enlisted to fight for the Union, including Lothrop Wight.

He was a Second Lieutenant in the 16th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry from Framingham, Massachusetts.

However, his time in the army was cut short after he got into a conflict with his commanding officer, Captain Henry Lawson.

Wight filed charges against Lawson and accused him of negligence. But, Wight was blamed for insubordination and received a dishonorable discharge in November 1861.

He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Wachusett and USS Vanderbilt. In July 1864, he was on the USS Mendota, patrolling the James River near Richmond, when a Confederate bullet hit him in the chest.

Luckily, the bullet ricocheted off a small copper penny in the breast pocket of his uniform, saving him from harm. After the war, Wight became a florist in the town of Wellesley.

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If youre into American history and animals, particularly dogs, do you know who Stubby the dog was?

Stubby was a famous canine figure in American history, as he was a valuable companion and hero for American soldiers during World War I. If you dont know anything about his story, heres a rundown of the famous dog.

In July 1917, in the middle of World War I, members of the 102nd Infantry were training on the grounds of Yale University in Connecticut. Suddenly, one day, a stray Terrier mix dog wandered into the grounds and particularly bonded with Private J. Robert Conroy.

After bonding with the sweet dog, Robert took him under his wing and named him Stubby due to his stubby tail. At the time, the soldiers of the 102nd Infantry were training before getting deployed in Europe, and Stubby became a loyal companion, staying and sleeping with them.

Everyone, including Robert, grew so attached to Stubby that when it was time to leave for Europe, he secretly brought Stubby onto the S.S. Minnesota to travel to Paris with them. Robert hid Stubby in a coal bin until the ship was far enough out at sea.

When a commanding officer found out Stubby had arrived in Europe with the Infantry, he allowed him to stay after allegedly being trained to salute him.

When the 102nd Infantry fought on the front lines in France, Stubby stayed by their side as if he were a soldier himself. Any loud noises, gunfire, and occasional chaos didnt spook him away. He was beside his men through 17 battles for a little over a year.

By now, youre probably wondering if Stubby ever suffered from any injuries, being a dog on the front lines of World War I. Miraculously, he only suffered two known injuries during the war. However, both trained him in a way and made him a hero.

The first injury occurred when Stubby was exposed to toxic gas and had to be taken to the vet right away. The second occurred when he had shrapnel pieces stuck in his chest and leg after a grenade explosion in 1918.

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Home News Int'l human rights group rebukes Nicaragua over treatment of wrongfully imprisoned pastors

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has urgently demanded the Nicaraguan government to safeguard the lives and health of 11 pastors and ministry leaders who have been imprisoned on questionable legal grounds. The decision follows a petition filed by the legal advocacy group ADF International, which has brought significant international attention to their plight.

These religious leaders were sentenced to lengthy prison terms ranging from 12 to 15 years and fined more than $80 million each on charges of money laundering, the group said in a statement.

ADF International legal counsel Kristina Hjelkrem expressed gratitude for the Commissions swift action, reflecting the gravity of the situation. No person should be imprisoned or punished for their faith, but that is exactly what has happened with these religious leaders. It is our prayer that Nicaraguan authorities will uphold the human rights and dignity of these pastors, and that they will release them from their wrongful imprisonment.

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The arrests originated from a December 2023 crackdown when Nicaraguan police accused these individuals of using their religious organization, Puerta de la Montana, as a front for laundering money. This branch of the U.S.-based Mountain Gateway ministry had been actively involved in large Evangelical campaigns throughout Nicaragua, reportedly drawing over a million people.

The trial, which led to the harsh sentences in March, was conducted behind closed doors and marred by a notable lack of credible evidence, according to observers. The ministry and its supporters have vehemently denied the charges, asserting their operations were lawful and transparent.

In January, Mountain Gateway said prosecutors believed the Nicaraguan pastors were under the direction of the mission groups Jon Britton Hancock, Jacob Britton Hancock and Cassandra Mae Hancock, all U.S. citizens, and Nicaraguans Walner Omier Blandon Ochoa and Maricela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz.

While the Nicaraguan government says the pastors are innocent, the pastors have been imprisoned for over a month with no legal representation or contact with their families, Mountain Gateway stated at the time. The ministry added that the government had since allowed a lawyer to be appointed to represent the Mountain Gateway Nicaraguan pastors, but has not provided their legal counsel with the charging documents or any files to prepare a defense.

Mountain Gateway stated it had diligently followed all legal requirements in the U.S. and Nicaragua and had documentation showing the Nicaraguan government approved all funds entering the country and ensured they were used appropriately.

The arrests are part of a disturbing pattern of religious persecution in Nicaragua.

In a separate case, Bishop Rolando Alvarez has also been a victim of this crackdown. Sentenced to 26 years and now in exile, his case is seen as part of a larger governmental strategy to suppress dissenting religious voices.

Open Doors has also highlighted the escalating persecution of Christians in Nicaragua, especially since the 2018 anti-regime protests. The governments crackdown has included arrests of Christian leaders, seizure of Christian properties and closures of Christian schools, TV stations and charities. Legal amendments have branded church leaders as terrorists, with the government aiming to control church finances.

The international response to the pastors arrest has been one of alarm and condemnation.

U.S. Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Alabama Republicans Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville have been outspoken in their support for the imprisoned pastors, urging the Biden administration to implement strong, targeted sanctions against the Nicaraguan government.

Similarly, Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., led a bipartisan group of 58 members of Congress in a letter to the Nicaraguan ambassador, expressing deep concerns over these violations of religious freedom.
Chinese, French scholars hold cross-cultural talks in Paris

Xinhua) 10:41, May 05, 2024

Gao Xiang, president of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), speaks at a symposium themed "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook" in Paris, France, on May 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

PARIS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 scholars from China and France gathered in Paris on Friday for a cross-cultural dialogue at a symposium aiming to deepen exchanges between different civilizations.

The symposium, themed "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook" was jointly organized by the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Paris-based National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco).

In his opening speech, CASS President Gao Xiang said that strengthening mutual learning between Chinese and French civilizations and enriching cultural exchanges are intrinsic requirements for the two countries to promote mutual understanding, build a solid foundation of trust, and deepen partnership.

The "clash of civilizations" theory has resurfaced in the current complex international situation, Gao warned. He called on the two countries to further enhance cultural exchanges and mutual learning to establish a paradigm for harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation between different civilizations.

China and France, through deepening cooperation and exchanges, and strengthening mutual learning and understanding, will undoubtedly facilitate further implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative which was proposed last year, promote the common progress of different civilizations, enhance the well-being of all mankind, and lay a solid foundation for the sustainable peace and development of the world, Gao said.

Inalco's President Jean-Francois Huchet said France and China have increased academic exchanges in social sciences since the two countries established diplomatic relations 60 years ago. Their research areas have kept expanding to cover languages, cultures, sociology and economics, and bilateral academic cooperation sees immense potential, he added.

Researchers from the two countries held discussions on the practice of cross-cultural exchanges, retrospection and reflection on the mutual enrichment of civilizations, as well as scientific and technological innovation and the future of civilization.

At the opening of the symposium, China Social Sciences Press and the French publishing house You Feng jointly released a series of publications on "Understanding China." On the sidelines of the event was a book exhibition on Chinese-French academic exchanges.

Jean-Francois Huchet, president of the Paris-based National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco), speaks at a symposium themed "Exchanges and Mutual Learning between the Chinese and French Civilizations: Review and Outlook" in Paris, France, on May 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. In a recent interview, Trump stated he would not intervene with states who enact Draconian abortion bans. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP) JUSTIN LANE/Associated Press

Three years ago, Randall Williams, an OB-GYN and Missouris health director, was apparently determined to find evidence to shut down the states only abortion clinic.

With medical records from a St. Louis Planned Parenthood facility at his disposal, Williams ordered one of his health inspectors to compile a spreadsheet of patients medical identification numbers, the dates of their medical procedures and the gestational age of any fetuses. In the last column, he included the date of their last menstrual period. Williams hoped this data would prove the clinic had botched some abortion procedures, allowing the state to revoke its license.

This frightening attempt at reproductive surveillance was a preview of the radical anti-abortion measures that would emerge in the wake of the Supreme Courts 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Though that ruling didnt ban the procedure nationally, it gave mostly Republican-led states the leeway to push the boundaries of extremism. The result is a patchwork of policies so broad and vague, even some conservative jurists are flummoxed as to how to enforce them.

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Donald Trump is just fine with that, apparently. Heck, in Trumps America, Randall Williams might be hailed as a pioneer.

In a recent Time Magazine interview, Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, made it clear he had no intention of stopping states from going to horrific lengths to infringe on womens bodily autonomy. Even if it means passively condoning draconian abortion bans, such as Texas, which doesnt provide exceptions for rape or incest and is unclear about when doctors can perform an abortion to protect a womans health.

Would Trump allow states to prosecute women for having abortions?

Its totally irrelevant whether Im comfortable or not  the states are going to make those decisions, he said.

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Would he veto a nationwide abortion ban if it came to his desk?

Its all about the states, its about  states' rights. States are going to make their own determination.

Should states monitor womens pregnancies so they know whether they violated an abortion ban?

I think they might do that, he said.

Several states are already laying the groundwork for such surveillance.

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In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin essentially killed a bill passed by the Legislature that would have banned police from obtaining search warrants to get menstrual data from phone apps and other technology that women use to keep track of their periods. Indianas attorney general has attempted to get medical records of women traveling to another state to get an abortion. Kansas' Republican-controlled Legislature overrode the governors veto of a bill that requires medical care facilities and providers to report reasons why women received an abortion. In New Hampshire, the Legislature approved a bill requiring abortion providers to share detailed data about their procedures, including dates and locations of each abortion, methods used, the state where the pregnant patient resides and gestational age of the fetus.

Trumps tepid, hands-off approach to abortion is stunning for a politician who once boasted that he could murder someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose votes. Apparently, demanding that states protect womens health is a step too far for his loyal legions. Or is it? Anti-abortion measures have been overwhelmingly a losing issue for Republican candidates, with abortion rights being codified even in red states through ballot referendums.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: What is Ken Paxton doing at Trump's trial?

Of course, as with most of Trumps policy pronouncements, confusion may be the point. His evasiveness on abortion effectively lets state lawmakers and the courts choose when and how to enforce bans. Incidentally, states often prefer confusion, too, since chilling doctors' decision making is easier and cheaper than prosecuting it. Trumps strategy also allows him to have it both ways. He can boast about reshaping the U.S. Supreme Court into a solidly conservative bench, paving the way for the end of Roe. Yet he can also distance himself from states that pass extreme measures, as he did when the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a pre-Civil War abortion ban without exceptions for rape and incest could go into effect.

Its important to remember that Trump is leading President Joe Biden in many state and national polls. For all of his sideshows  from Truth Social diatribes to defying court-mandated gag orders to apparently snoozing through his criminal trial over allegedly paying off a porn star  he is still a very real threat. Not just to democracy, but specifically to women of child-bearing age who might vote for him.

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How, for instance, would Trumps laissez-faire abortion policy help a pregnant woman living in a state with a strict abortion ban if her water breaks prematurely? Would he allow doctors to sit idly by as a woman bleeds out in the waiting room or awaits sepsis in the parking lot?

A similar conundrum came up last month during oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court over Idahos abortion law, which criminalizes the procedure except to save the life of the mother. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, whom Trump appointed, grilled Joshua Turner, Idahos deputy solicitor general, who waffled on whether the states ban conflicted with a federal law requiring emergency rooms to treat and stabilize patients with urgent medical issues.

You are hedging, Barrett said.

If they were exercising their medical judgment they could, in good faith, determine that life-saving care was necessary, Turner said.

But some doctors couldnt, Barrett said. Some doctors might reach a contrary conclusion.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Wake up, voters!

Even one of the high courts conservative justices who voted to overturn Roe appears to recognize the virtue of protecting not just the life of the mother, but her overall health  which, by the way, can affect her future fertility.

Biden gets it, too. Despite his personal uneasiness with abortion, he recently announced rules strengthening medical privacy laws barring physicians, insurers and other health care providers from disclosing health information to law enforcement or state officials attempting to investigate or prosecute patients and doctors. Its why his administration is trying to strengthen access to contraception, supporting women who need to travel for reproductive health care and defending abortion medication in court.

The politics in this country may be totally bonkers. But theres still some common sense among us common folk. Most of us understand that pregnancies are complicated and carry enormous health risks. Most of us agree that theres something unsettling about governments monitoring womens menstrual cycles. And most of us know the difference between a leader doing everything in his power to protect womens health, versus one who would happily let chaos reign.
Home News Tennessee authorities searching for truck linked to Bible burning near Greg Lockes church

Middle Tennessee authorities are on the lookout for a large four-door truck possibly linked to a fire earlier this year that resulted in a significant number of Bibles being burned inside a utility trailer near Pastor Greg Lockes church.

Surveillance footage provided by the Wilson County Sheriffs Office shows a truck, believed to be white or of a similar light color, fleeing the area around the time of the fire, The Tennessean reported.

The incident occurred in front of the Global Vision Bible Church on Easter Sunday, according to the Wilson County Sheriffs Office. Police responded to the scene at about 6:30 a.m., prior to the days church service. No arrests have been made in connection with the case.

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Pastor Locke addressed the congregation regarding the incident during Global Visions Easter service, estimating that about 200 Bibles were destroyed. No injuries were reported and the Easter service proceeded as planned.

Authorities are treating the fire as an intentional act and are continuing their investigation.

Global Vision Bible Church has previously organized burning events involving materials deemed connected to witchcraft and the occult, the Tennessean said. Locke, however, asserted his belief that the fire targeting the Bibles was directed specifically at the church.

Cash rewards are being considered for any information leading to the apprehension of those responsible for the incident, according to officials.

During the Easter Sunday service, Locke condemned the burning of the Bibles as evidence of Christianity being under attack in the United States.

If you think Christianity is not under attack more than ever before in the United States of America, youve not been paying attention. You need to get your head out of the sand. Quit being lukewarm, Locke declared. Im telling you they are attacking churches in America. Can I remind you, for Evangelical believers and for Catholics, for that matter, this is the most important day historically and biblically that you can imagine? And now Joe Biden makes it Trans Visibility Awareness Day.

In a statement posted on Facebook at the time, Locke said a witness saw a man dropping off the trailer of Bibles near his church and setting it ablaze.

Happy Resurrection Sunday. This morning at 6:00AM our security cameras caught a man dropping off a trailer in the middle of the intersection and blocking the road into our church. He then got out and set fire to an entire trailer full of Bibles right in front of our church, Locke wrote. There was a lady that had driven through the night to get to our church, and she was in the parking lot and was able to get the police officers here quickly, but it was quite the scene to wake up to on my first morning back from Israel. Had to block traffic in all directions but they are almost finished cleaning it up. It's going to be a great day in the Lord.

Authorities are urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward, as the investigation into this event continues.
Home News Muslims armed with guns, batons attack Christians, seize family's farmland

LAHORE, Pakistan  Police in Pakistan are refusing to arrest Muslims who attacked a Catholic family and seized their farmland, and officers also damaged property, sources said.

Shahnaz Yousaf, a resident of Chak 694/36 GB village in Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab Province, said dozens of armed Muslims led by local landlords Atif Ali, Khawar Ali and Baber Ali attacked her family as they were harvesting their wheat crop on April 16.

Her father, Yousaf Masih, had obtained the 10.6-acre parcel on lease from the government in 1989, and the family has invested money and labor to make it cultivable, Shahnaz Yousaf said. Area Muslims became jealous and began plotting to deprive the family of their livelihood, she said.

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The land was their only source of livelihood, but after they were unable to pay the lease for some years, in March 2023 a senior revenue official directed them to pay 3.5 million rupees (US$13,000) to retain the land  2.1 million rupees (US$7,300) upfront and the remaining amount in installments, she said.

It was not easy to gather such a big amount on such short notice, yet we sold all our valuable possessions to pay the lease amount within the given deadline, Yousaf said.

Months passed without any issue, but in November her brothers learned that the landlords had persuaded the local assistant commissioner to include their parcel in an auction. The family filed an injunction order against the proposed auction with the Lahore High Court, which it granted.

Despite the courts order, the assistant commissioner leased the land in the name of Atif Ali, the son of Babar Ali, Yousaf said. We came to know of this shadowy auction a week later when police and revenue department officials arrived on the site and destroyed the fodder that we had cultivated for our cattle. We pleaded with them to stop and even showed them the courts order, but they refused to listen to us.

The family filed a complaint in the commissioners office the same day, and he permitted them to continue cultivating the land, she said.

During this time, we were continuously harassed and threatened by police officials and henchmen of the landlords to vacate the land, Yousaf said.

On Feb. 6, two days before general elections, the Muslims again threatened her brother, Ashraf Yousaf, she said.

He immediately called the police helpline, but we were shocked when a police team, instead of arresting the perpetrators, stormed our house and damaged household items, Shahnaz Yousaf, in tears, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. They took me to the police station and kept me in illegal detention for more than two hours.

Shahnaz said that the police told her brothers she would be freed only after they agreed to vacate the land.

I was finally allowed to go home after the village headman intervened on our behalf, she said.

Ashraf Yousaf said the Muslims continued to intimidate and harass the family, filing fake cases against them and damaging their crops.

We have no experience of legal matters, as we only focused on our agricultural work and never got involved in fights with others, he said. But in the last few months, we have realized that we are not equals in the eyes of the law.

Ashraf Yousaf said he was working in the fields on April 16 when the Muslims arrived in groups. They were armed with guns, batons and other weapons and had also brought along a wheat-harvesting machine, he said.

When I tried to stop them, reminding them of the courts stay order, they attacked me and started hitting me with their guns and batons, Ashraf Yousaf said. Seeing the commotion, my two brothers and both sisters ran towards me to save me from the attack, but the attackers targeted them as well, resulting in several bone fractures and other injuries to all of us.

They also seized his sisters mobile phone as she was trying to record the assault and tore her clothes, he said.

The assailants fled before a police team arrived, he said. Officers told them to get medical treatment for their injuries and go to the police station, where they would also call the other party to settle the matter.

However, when we went to the town for medical treatment, the Muslims returned to the fields, harvested our wheat crop and stole the entire produce, Ashraf Yousaf said. When we reached the police station and told them what had happened in our absence, the officer on duty refused to register our complaint and said that our plight will end only when we surrender to the demand of the Muslim landowners.

The family also faced several difficulties in obtaining their medical-legal reports from the local government hospital.

It seems that the entire system is working against us, he said. After much efforts and pleading, we finally got our medical reports, but the police delayed the registration of an FIR [First Information Report] for 10 days. Our FIR was registered on April 25, but the police made no effort to arrest the accused persons.

Four days later, the Christian family learned that the Muslims had registered a fake case against them, alleging that they had injured someone, he said.

We have lost everything, our livelihood, our money and most of all the hope of getting justice, Ashraf Yousaf said. We are financially drained, as whatever money we were left with is being spent on the treatment of our injuries.

The family has appealed to the Punjab Province chief minister, senior police officials and Christian leaders to intervene and address their legitimate grievances, he said.

We are weak and helpless people, but the local police are siding with the influential accused instead of supporting us, Ashraf Yousaf said. We desperately need help and support from our Christian leadership, as theres no one else we can turn to in this very difficult time.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.
Home News This week in Christian history: first Mothers Day celebration, Father Damien travels to leper colony

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.

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The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the first Mothers Day celebration, Father Damien traveling to the Hawaiian leper colony, and the birth of Kathryn Kuhlman.
Home News USCIRF: Designate India as a country of particular concern India's Kuki-Zo Christians mark first anniversary of violence

In its 2024 report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be designated as a country of particular concern due to persistent and egregious violations of religious freedoms. The recommendation came even as Kuki-Zo Christians in Manipur state solemnly marked the first anniversary of ongoing violence, which shows no signs of abating.

The USCIRFs 2024 annual report highlights a series of laws  such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, and the Citizenship Amendment Act  and governmental actions that have systematically targeted religious minorities, including Christians, under the Bharatiya Janata Partys Hindu nationalist policies. The other persecuted minorities are Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits, Jews and tribals, or indigenous communities, according to the USCIRF.

In early 2023, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs suspended the FCRA license of the Centre for Policy Research, impacting its operations as it scrutinized state responses to discrimination against minorities, the U.S. panel noted, adding that journalists like Teesta Setalvad were targeted for their reporting on past communal violence, particularly anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat back in 2002.

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Reports from NGOs tally 687 violent incidents against Christians in the past year alone, the USCIRF said in its report. Notably, in January, attacks by Hindu mobs in Chhattisgarh led to the destruction of churches and forced reconversion attempts against Christians, it pointed out.

The violence in the northeastern state of Manipur was even more severe, with over 500 churches and two synagogues destroyed during ethnic clashes in May 2023, displacing more than 70,000 people.

The violence in Manipur, which erupted on May 3, 2023, has led to the deaths of at least 185 Kuki-Zo tribal Christians. On the first anniversary of the ongoing violence in Manipur, the Kuki-Zo community gathered for a solemn public prayer meeting in the morning, followed by a candlelight vigil in the evening at the mass burial site, where 87 of their community members are interred side by side.

The violence in Manipur began following a Manipur High Court directive that contemplated granting tribal status to the majority Hindu Meitei community, which would enable the Meitei to purchase land in territories traditionally inhabited by the Kuki-Zo tribes. The judicial consideration sparked widespread protests among the Christian tribal communities, which rapidly deteriorated into violent clashes characterized by the spread of disinformation and extremist rhetoric beginning May 3, 2023.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been criticized for their delayed and inadequate responses to these incidents, USCIRF said, noting that the U.N. has called for deeper investigations into these episodes of violence, highlighting the Indian polices inability to control the situation.

Violence against Muslims has been particularly pronounced, with several mosques demolished and individuals attacked by mobs under the pretext of enforcing cow slaughter laws, the report added. The cow is regarded as sacred by some Hindu sects.

In the northern state of Haryanas Nuh district, communal violence escalated dramatically after a Hindu procession in July, resulting in significant casualties and the destruction of religious sites, the report said.

Internationally, the Indian governments actions have not gone unnoticed, the USCIRF remarked. Incidents like the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and subsequent allegations of Indian involvement have strained diplomatic relations, the panel said.

The legal landscape has also grown increasingly hostile toward religious freedom, the report added. Thirteen states have enacted anti-conversion laws that severely restrict the ability of individuals to change faiths, and initiatives against so-called love jihad continue to stoke communal tensions. Love jihad is a controversial term used by some groups in India to allege that Muslim men are targeting women of other religions for conversion to Islam through marriage.

In light of these developments, the USCIRF recommended that India be designated as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act. Countries designated as a CPC face the possibility of negative consequences, including potential crippling sanctions.

Indias Ministry of External Affairs has rejected the report, accusing the USCIRF of interfering in Indias ongoing national election, according to The Wire.

The commission also suggested imposing targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom. Further, it called for incorporating religious freedom concerns into U.S. foreign policy dialogues and improving engagement with religious communities and defenders of human rights in India.

Additionally, the USCIRF urged the U.S. Congress to take more active measures in addressing these issues, including conditioning financial assistance and arms sales on improvements in Indias religious freedom landscape.
Home Opinion The Churchs support might just keep a family from foster care

Nearly 400,000 children live in US foster care. Thats 400,000 vulnerable children whose lives have been turned upside down by circumstances entirely out of their control. These 400,000 image-bearers of Christ deserve the Churchs best effort and support.

The Church needs to celebrate recent victories for vulnerable children. Roes been overturned, and states continue to enact new life-saving abortion restrictions allowing more children to be born, and not snuffed out by abortion. This is beautiful, but even as we celebrate, the pro-life community must acknowledge that more children are likely to enter the foster care system because they are born into impoverished situations with parents who are ill-equipped to parent.

The underlying reasons children find themselves in foster care are complex. Yet, the encouraging news is that Christians all around the U.S. can help provide safe and loving homes for these children. While foster care and adoption are vital solutions, we also must help prevent children from entering the system in the first place. This National Foster Care Month, our countrys at-risk children need believers to prioritize the type of support that keeps families together from the start.

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Children are placed into foster care mostly due to some form of serious neglect. While its unfortunately true that some biological moms and dads wont ever be in a position to parent, much more commonly, they simply dont know how to parent well. Poverty in its various forms  financial, relational, and spiritual  can leave loving parents unprepared, and you may be surprised about who they are. She might be a single mom trying to make ends meet who leaves her child at home alone while she is at work out of desperation. He might be a new dad struggling with substance abuse who wants to break the cycle of addiction, but the only friends he has are an influence to continued poor behavior, as opposed to a bridge to healing.

In these instances, the simple presence of a church community can make all the difference. Vulnerable families, who need help with childcare, benefit greatly from a few new friends in the church who are living godly lives, or a mentor who can pass along parenting wisdom. And when the need is bigger, church members with more capacity have an opportunity to step in and help preserve a family all for the glory of God. It has happened time and time again.

Several months ago, an expecting mother named Mona reached out to our organization, Lifeline Childrens Services, for pregnancy counseling. Alone and with no support, Mona faced incarceration for multiple traffic violations. She wanted to provide for her unborn child while she served her prison sentence, but also knew the reality that her family was unable to care for him. Mona was crippled with the fear of permanently losing her new son to foster care.

Through Lifelines Harbor Families ministry, Mona linked arms with a host family from a partnering church who cared for her son for 10 weeks while she served her prison sentence. During her incarceration, the host family created a scrapbook of her sons early days and arranged video calls so she could see him. Mona joined a Bible study in prison, giving her heart to Jesus as a result. Later, Mona and her son, who were reunited, moved into transitional housing where she received community support, as well as continued mentoring from our organization and her sons host family.

A few months of support changed the trajectory of Monas life and her sons future. One family was able to avoid permanent separation. This is how the Church puts the Gospel on display. This is the whole-life, pro-life approach that our nation so desperately needs to embrace.

Serving as a foster parent is not the only meaningful way the Church can serve Americas foster youth. There are countless ways we can all make a positive difference in a vulnerable childs life, and no matter our capacity, we should all find a way. This work is messy, but God calls us to the broken places in the world to shine His light.

Seek opportunities to support vulnerable families. This could look like volunteering at your local crisis pregnancy center, having coffee with the single mom who recently started going to your church or offering to babysit for the struggling dad you know who just had to pick up another job.

The Bible clearly states that Jesus loves children. How will vulnerable children know the love of God if we dont tell them and if we dont show them? May we start in our own homes by throwing open our doors, clearing a space at our tables, and inviting some of the most vulnerable in.
Why do some Christians celebrate Easter on a different date?

This year in 2024, across most of the Orthodox world, many millions of people are celebrating Easter on Sunday 5 May. This is the story ...

Eastern and Western Easter

Unlike Christmas, Easter doesn't take place on the same day each year. Whichever church tradition you are from, or wherever you live in the world, Easter is always a movable feast day. For most Christians from a Catholic and Protestant tradition, in 2024 Easter fell on Sunday 31 March. However, there are many countries where Easter Sunday 2024 falls on 5 May. So, the Christian world has two different dates for Easter. These are sometimes known as Eastern Easter and Western Easter.

Eastern Easter

Easter Sunday in 2024 is on Sunday 5 May in Eastern Europe in countries like Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia and the Ukraine as well as in Georgia and Kazakhstan. In the Middle East and north-east Africa, it is on 5 May for Orthodox Christians in places like the Holy Land, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt and Ethiopia. These are countries where the majority of people who profess to be Christians are from the Orthodox tradition.

Exceptions

In some of these countries, all the Christians follow the same Easter. For example in Macedonia, where there is a sizable historic Methodist minority, the Protestants will follow the Eastern Easter on 5 May like their Orthodox brethren. By contrast, in Finland which is mainly Lutheran, there is a sizable Orthodox minority, which follows the Western calendar and has Easter on the same date as their Protestant and Catholic brethren.

Orthodox Communities in the West

5 May 2024 is also Easter for Orthodox Christians in diaspora, in places like the UK, Australia and North America. A small Orthodox community has existed in England since the late 1600s. The first Christian Orthodox church building was built in London in 1677. The largest Orthodox community in the UK is the Greek Orthodox community, which largely stems from those people from Cyprus who fled the Turkish invasion in 1974.

Determining the Date of Easter

The history of determining a date for Easter dates back to the Early Church. By the end of the second century AD, Christians from a Jewish heritage celebrated Easter on the day of the Jewish Passover, regardless of the day of the week, while others from a Gentile heritage celebrated it on the following Sunday. By the fourth century, there were different regional ways of reckoning a date for Easter. The early Christian world then agreed on a complicated formula for determining when Easter Sunday fell, which was approved in AD 325 by the Council of Nicea. This criteria reflected the story of the crucifixion in the Gospel accounts.

One criteria for dating Easter was that the tomb was found to be empty at the start of the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1) i.e. Sunday, and Christians had adopted Sunday as their day of meeting, so the Early Church wanted the celebration to be on a Sunday.

Another criteria was that Jesus celebrated Passover before his death, so the Early Church wanted Easter after the Passover, which is 15th of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar. Passover is a spring festival, so the 15th day of Nisan typically begins on the night of a full moon after the northern vernal equinox.

Many people now believe that the crucifixion took place on 3 April AD 33, based on calculations for when a full moon associated with the Jewish Passover feast might have fallen followed by a lunar eclipse as implied by the daytime darkness which fell at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44-45).

Criteria for Easter

So when the Early Church discussed how to date Easter they effectively wanted it to be on the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the northern vernal equinox (which falls on 20 or 21 March), and effectively after Passover ends. The problem then arose that by the fourth century most Christians were no longer from a Jewish background and did not know when the Jewish Passover was. It was decided to make it 'easier' by fixing the date of the equinox as 21st March. In order for Easter Sunday to follow a full moon, if the first Sunday is a full moon then Easter is the following Sunday. This effectively decreases the chances of it falling on the same day as the Jewish Passover.

Lunar Tables

There arose a minor difference between the Eastern and Western Church in the interpretation of the rules and the determining of a full moon. Lunar Tables were developed to calculate when the full moon occurred, but neither the Eastern Orthodox nor the Western Catholic tables were fully accurate. The difference between them is such that the Eastern Orthodox full moon was four or five days later than the Western Catholic full moon, depending on the month and year. So, when the full moon is on a Friday for example, the Western Easter was the following Sunday, but the Orthodox full moon was on the next Tuesday or Wednesday, so Orthodox Easter was often a week later. If there is a full moon between 21st March and 3rd April, the Western Church used the full moon to calculate Easter, while the Eastern Church waited for the next one, creating a month-long gap between the Easters. However despite this complication, most years the date for Easter was the same in the Eastern and Western Churches.

The Problem

The Roman calendar used across most of the Christian world, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, and it is named after him hence it is called the Julian calendar. The calculations behind this, which were very good for the time, overestimated the length of the solar year by about 11 minutes. This became more noticeable as the error accumulated over the centuries, and by mediaeval times it was clear that the spring equinox was slowly moving out of synch with the natural year. As such, Easter had drifted away from the natural calendar, so that in the late 1500s it was wrong by ten days. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Gregory XIII, convened a group of astronomers and proposed a new calendar, now known as the Gregorian calendar, which was named after him.

The Gregorian Calendar

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree, called a papal bull, which reformed the calendar. That year, in many Catholic countries, Thursday 4 October was followed by Friday 15 October, with ten days skipped. Other European countries followed suit over the following years.

Suspicion of the Pope and Catholicism meant that non-Catholic countries in the Orthodox east and the newer Protestant north were wary of the change. Orthodox Christians do not recognise the authority of the Pope, and Protestant countries which had had their own Reformation to free themselves from papal power, were not inclined to do so either.

Actually, the Pope's reason for changing the calendar were good. Protestants slowly came to realise that the Gregorian calendar was not a Papal plot at all. Britain used Eastern Easter, until it adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer used to include a table for determining the date of Easter. However, Orthodox countries continued to use the Julian calendar. The Julian calendar as it currently stands now diverges from the astronomical calendar by thirteen days.

The Orthodox World

So basically the two dates for Easter come down to the different Lunar Tables, exacerbated by the fact that most Orthodox Churches use the Julian calendar, while Catholic and Protestant churches use the Gregorian calendar.

Eastern and Western Easter are essentially the same celebration marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but Eastern Easter is a little later in the calendar, being between 4 April and 8 May. Occasionally the two Easters are on the same date as happened in 2017, and will happen again in 2025.

Attempted Resolution

There have been attempts to resolve the difference and make Easter the same date every year. In 1920, the question was addressed by an encyclical from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and it was discussed at the 1923 Pan-Orthodox congress. In 1961, it was discussed in the context of preparations for the Great and Holy Council of the Orthodox Church. In 1963, it was discussed in the context of Vatican II. Since 1965, it has been discussed a number of times at the World Council of Churches.

Proposal

In 1997, a proposal was made by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to solve the Easter date difference. The proposal was to maintain the basic definition made by the Council of Nicea, that Easter should fall on the Sunday following the first vernal full moon. However the idea was to calculate the astronomical data of the vernal equinox and the full moon by the most accurate possible scientific means. The idea was to use as the basis for reckoning the meridian of Jerusalem, being the place of Christ's death and resurrection. This idea keeps the spirit of the original agreement made at the Council of Nicea.

So far, this reform has not been adopted. So, until there is some interconfessional ecumenical agreement, most years there will remain two different dates for Easter. In one sense it is a shame, but in another sense it does not really matter. For most Christians, the remembrance of the resurrection is the most important festival in the calendar, regardless of the date it is celebrated on.
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Voters file in and out of the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at West Gray for voting on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

Houston-area voting enthusiasts will be able to add another election to their calendars: Saturday, June 15. That's when Harris County will hold a runoff in two appraisal district board races that were not decided in Saturday's election.

According to Saturday's complete but unofficial returns, Kathy Blueford-Daniels won Harris Central Appraisal District's Board of Directors Place 1 seat, Kyle Scott led in Place 2 and Ericka McCrutcheon led in Place 3.

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Though the HCAD board elections were nonpartisan, the special election and runoffs appear to be a matchup between the candidates endorsed by two local organizations: the right-leaning C Club of Houston and the left-leaning Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. The C Club of Houston endorsed Bill Frazer, Scott and McCrutcheon. The Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation backed Blueford-Daniels, Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke.

Blueford-Daniels, a former HCAD board member who previously served as a Houston Independent School District trustee, was the only candidate to win outright, at 50.4%. Frazer, a certified public accountant, trailed with 46% of the vote. Because Blueford-Daniels crossed the 50% mark, she narrowly escaped a runoff.

For Place 2, Scott led Noriega, a former Houston City Council member. The candidates received 46.6% and 25% of the vote, respectively, and will head to a runoff.

Scott, who ran as a Republican for Harris County treasurer in November 2022, was one of 21 candidates for county seats who filed election contest lawsuits challenging the results. A judge late last year upheld the results of Scott's election, which he lost to Democrat Carla Wyatt by over 34,000 votes.

McCrutcheon, a former Houston City Council candidate, received 41.3% of the vote for Place 3, followed by businesswoman Adeleke at 21.3%. They will also head to a runoff.

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Only 33,000 of over 2.5 million registered voters in Harris County cast a ballot during the nine-day early voting period, the Harris County Clerks Office said. Around 22,000 voters went to the polls on election day, according to the county's unofficial estimate.

Controversy behind the new election

Saturday's vote was the first time voters were being asked to elect members of the little-known board that oversees local tax appraisers. The new seats were created only in the 50 Texas counties with a population of 75,000 or more, after the Legislature passed a bill last year and statewide voters approved the change in November.

However, even some state lawmakers were unaware that the elections were being held, state Rep. Christina Morales, a Houston Democrat, said last month. Morales and other Democrats have argued the date was set for May, rather than November, to ensure low voter participation.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican whose tax consulting company helps clients fight their tax appraisal values, spearheaded the legislation and has argued that the May election was necessary so the board could conduct work in the fall.

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Adding new elected representatives to the appraisal district's board has put voters in charge of selecting members of a little-known body. The board does not have the power to appraise property or review values on individual properties. Instead, the members of a separate appraisal review board are the ones responsible for hearing taxpayers protests.

The board of directors does have the authority to hire and fire HCAD's chief appraiser, a position held by Roland Altinger since 2016.
A person doesnt run  at least not obviously  for vice president of the United States; the choice is up to a partys presidential nominee.

But a potential vice president (or someone who sees her- or himself in that post) does need to get mentioned in connection with the office, if only to turn wheels in the publics mind, and in a presidential candidates.
By Kwon Mee-yoo

NEW YORK  In the bustling world of contemporary art, few names resonate like Tina Kim, the visionary behind Tina Kim Gallery in New York City. Coinciding with Frieze New York, Kim shared her gallery's pivotal role in bringing Korean art to the global stage and her insights into the evolving art market.

Tina Kim Gallery, established in 2001 in Chelsea, Manhattan, has become a hub for cultural exchange, fostering Korean artists' presence in the global art scene. It began with a commitment to introduce Western audiences to Korean art, which was largely unrecognized in the international arena at that time.

"When I first opened my gallery on 25th Street, there were other Korean galleries around, but they eventually pulled back. I'm proud that through my efforts, many Korean artists' works have been acquired by museums," Kim reflected on the gallery's evolution and her pride in the success of Korean artists abroad during an interview with The Korea Times at her gallery, April 26.

Promoting diversity

Ahead of Frieze New York, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, Kim shared her perspective on the importance of art fairs.

"Art fairs are not just about sales," she said. "They're about creating dialogues, sparking interest and educating collectors and the public about new talents."

This year at Frieze New York, Tina Kim Gallery features a varied collection of works from notable artists like Pacita Abad, Suki Seokyeong Kang and Mire Lee. These works engage with the complexities of global and regional tensions, showcasing the gallerys dedication to diversity and inclusion.

The gallery is mounting a solo show for Kang to align with Frieze New York, featuring many pieces from her recent exhibition at Seouls Leeum Museum of Art.

"Kang's integration of traditional Korean culture, music and choreography into her work captivates many curators, leading to acquisitions by prominent institutions like San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago," Kim noted. "Her exhibit 'Willow Drum Oriole' was a highlight during Frieze Seoul, but by hosting this exhibition in New York now, we aim to introduce Kangs unique artistry to a broader audience, especially those who missed the chance to see her work in Seoul."

Kim explained that Kang's work is rooted in traditional training while engaging with contemporary life, exploring how we navigate boundaries and reconcile tradition with rapid changes of modern time.

"This resonates strongly with the younger generation," Kim said. "Every culture has its traditions, and figuring out how to engage with these traditions in today's fast-paced world is a vital question."

The owner also pointed out that from an academic perspective, curators are drawn to how Kang seamlessly connects traditional and contemporary elements in her art.

A significant part of Tina Kim Gallery's mission is to amplify voices that are often underrepresented. Kim is particularly passionate about promoting women and Asian artists.

I don't specifically seek out women artists, but I am naturally drawn to works that resonate with me, and often they are created by women. It happens organically, she said. "Among Korean artists, those I choose to represent often reflect on the era in ways that resonate with me.

The gallery has been instrumental in introducing artists like Park Chan-kyong, Chung Seoyoung, and Minouk Lim to Western audiences, whose works delve into Korean history and contemporary issues.

"Since leaving Korea in 1986 and living in the States, I've been somewhat removed from Korea's ongoing social issues. Initially, I was puzzled why artists continued to dwell on such themes, but then I realized that they were addressing ongoing conflicts in Korea through their work."

Kim believes that such artworks have a universal appeal, particularly in regions experiencing socio-political tensions, as they echo the broader issues faced by many countries in today's global context.

"Having been active in the U.S. for over two decades, I feel a strong sense of responsibility as an Asian American gallerist here," she said. "By showcasing Asian and Asian diaspora artists, my gallery not only honors its roots but also enhances its international profile."

Dansaekhwa on world stage

Kim, a second-generation gallerist, often works in partnership with Kukje Gallery in Korea, managed by her mother, Lee Hyun-sook.

"While both of us interact with an international audience, our exhibition programs are designed to resonate particularly with our local viewers. My exhibitions in New York are crafted to appeal to visitors from the city, mainly American and European collectors, and I maintain close partnerships with U.S. institutions," she said. "On the other hand, Kukje Gallerys audience consists mainly of Koreans with substantial connections to museums in the region."

She recalled one of her proudest moments, staging a Dansaekhwa (Korean monochrome painting) show as a collateral event for the Venice Biennale in 2015, which became a momentous rediscovery of the Korean art movement from the 1970s, highlighting the meditative nature of repetition.

Her journey began with a tour she led for a group of museum directors, curators and board members through Seoul's vibrant art landscape as they were en route to the Gwangju Biennale.

"I was like a tour guide of Korean art as many curators asked me which exhibition to see and which Korean artist to look out for," she said.

The idea to promote Dansaekhwa more broadly emerged around the time art historian Joan Kee published a paper on the subject, which coincided with Lee Ufan's notable solo exhibition at the Guggenheim. Recognizing the growing curiosity and academic interest in Korean art, Kim saw an opportunity to further elevate this genre on the world stage.

With a clear vision, Kim proposed the idea of bringing the Dansaekhwa exhibition to an international audience and suggested a collateral exhibit at the Venice Biennale.

"I managed to find a non-profit partner and venue for the exhibit in an incredibly short amount of time with a bit of luck," she said, emphasizing the swift execution that led to the successful showcase of Dansaekhwa on the global stage.

This endeavor was one of her major undertakings, coinciding with relocating her New York gallery.

"After the Venice exhibit, I came home and just broke down in tears," she said. "It felt like moving mountains, literally shovel by shovel. It was a profound realization that where there's a will, there's a way."

Strategic leadership

Recently, Kim has been invited to lecture at top universities, where she discussed the rapid rise of the Korean art market.

"There's a real thirst to understand how Korean art has become a powerhouse so quickly," she said. "Korean art has become a kind of case study."

Kim emphasized the strategic partnerships with major institutions as key to her gallery's success, which allowed it to make significant inroads in the international art market. Moreover, Kim has become the go-to person for museum curators and directors in the United States who are interested in Korean art or planning visits to Korea.

"Anyone coming to Seoul for art often seeks my advice for recommendations. I also assist museums looking to partner with Korean institutions for exhibitions, helping them navigate the complexities of securing support and funding from Korean organizations such as the Korea Foundation (KF) and Korea Arts Management Service," she said. Moreover, many Korean corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG have a strong presence in the corporate sponsorship of cultural institutions. Thus, many museums are eager to explore opportunities in Korea to build their network and establish a robust Korean program.

After the 25th anniversary of the Korea Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, last autumn, Kim noted that it was supported by the KF and began to explore which other institutions had received similar backing.

"Institutions that receive support from Korea should deepen their engagement with Korean art and artists, she said. I think it is crucial to cultivate more curators who specialize in Korean art, whose studies encompass the wider spectrum of Southeast Asian Art, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. While there is already a significant number of curators proficient in East Asian art, diversifying expertise would afford them a broader scope of opportunities.
By Pyo Kyung-min

Seoul's Seongdong District has been abuzz in recent days as crowds, many donning purple, gather near a studio building.

The reason for the excitement? Fans of the worldwide superstar BTS  or ARMY  have convened from across the globe to visit the group's latest pop-up store, BTS POP-UP: MONOCHROME.

Despite the absence of K-pop group members currently fulfilling mandatory military services, excitement at the venue remained palpable. More than a week passed since the store's opening on April 26, but eager fans still endured staggering wait times on Saturday afternoon, some even waiting up to more than eight hours.

One ARMY said that she waited for five hours just to secure entry.

"This is my second visit. The first time, I arrived at 2 p.m. and entered at 7 p.m. Today, I arrived at 10 a.m., and we entered around 2 p.m. It's quite a wait, but definitely worth it," Ines, a 25-year-old Portuguese student studying abroad in Korea, said.

Alongside Ines, a diverse array of visitors, including fans of all ages, leaving with bags full of merch, contributed to the vibrant atmosphere around the store.

The concept behind this pop-up is to deliver memories of BTS to fans worldwide through "memory clouds," dubbed "monochrome."

The "memory cloud" concept, symbolizing every moment shared between BTS and ARMY stored in a metaphorical cloud, debuted at the group's 2018 fan meet-and-greet event.

Upon entry, visitors are provided with a luggage tag at the check-in desk, entering a space designed to replicate a logistics warehouse. Stacks of wooden boxes and parcels surrounding conveyor belts create a warehouse ambiance.

Inside, visitors encounter memories associated with BTS while viewing previously unreleased black-and-white photos of the members and music videos. Additionally, they have the opportunity to obtain a special certificate to commemorate their visit from a booth located at the exit.

Aashni, a 20-year-old British BTS fan who first discovered the group through the 2019 hit "Boy With Luv," praised the pop-up.

"Back in my country, it's not as open and friendly about fan culture, whereas here, I can meet people in the same situation, all here to support BTS. The overall experience has been so positive" she said.

She particularly appreciated how the pop-up facilitated socialization among the dedicated ARMY.

"If you are an introvert like I am, you might have to force yourself to try it, but I managed to chat with many different people and the conversation just carries on. It's really nice."

The pop-up event runs through May 12, and is set to travel to Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, the Philippines and other countries thereafter.
Skyler Miser credits her love for the circus to her parents Brian and Tina, who performed in earlier versions of the Ringling Circus in the early and mid-2000s.

Skyler Miser's average work shift lasts about three seconds  a time during which she's shot out of a cannon in front of thousands of people. Miser, 21, is the "human rocket" in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's circus. During the show, in some cases three times a day, Miser is blasted through the air out of a rocket at 7 G. For comparison, the fastest rollercoaster in the world, Abu Dhabi's Formula Rossa, reaches a maximum of 4.8 G. "I love the adrenaline rush, I can't imagine a more fun job," Miser tells CNBC Make It. "I also like seeing the reactions from the audience. People don't expect a young girl to do such a daredevil stunt." For Miser, working in the circus is a childhood dream realized.

Miser was just 2 years old when she first performed in the circus, joining her parents on stage to introduce their act. Photo: Skyler Miser

Joining the family business

Some people dream of running away with the circus, but for Miser, it's home. Her father, Brian Miser, and her mother Tina Miser performed in earlier versions of the Ringling Circus in the early and mid-2000s, also as human cannonballs. "One of my earliest memories is watching my parents fly out of the cannon," says Miser. She was just 2 years old when she first performed in the circus, joining her parents on stage to introduce their act. Miser grew up in Peru, Indiana, a small town in the Midwest known as the Circus Capital of the World. The circus is in the town's blood: Benjamin Wallace, one of the Ringling Brothers' greatest rivals, first brought the big top to Peru in the 19th century, and it never left. Every July, Peru hosts an eight-day circus festival, culminating in a parade. Miser spent her summers training with the Peru Amateur Circus, learning trapeze and acrobatic skills. Miser's father, Brian, started training her on a trampoline when she was young, teaching her how to develop proprioception, which is awareness of your body's positioning in space  a helpful skill to master if you're flying through the air. She first shot out of a cannon at 11 years old. "My dad had made an eight-foot-long cannon for a clown act and before he sent it over, he asked if I wanted to be the test dummy," Miser recalls. "I was like, 'Absolutely.'" At the time, she flew about 18 feet in the air  a small fraction of the distance she travels today. During her act, Miser is propelled about 70 feet in the air at speeds of up to 65 miles an hour. Miser says she was "instantly hooked" and decided then that if she were ever given the opportunity to follow in her parents' footsteps (or flight path), she would take it. That chance came in 2022 when Miser's father received an email that Ringling, which shut down in 2017, was making a comeback, and planning live auditions in Las Vegas. At the time, Miser was finishing her senior year of high school. She applied to a few colleges and debated continuing her education or enlisting in the Air Force, but says she "couldn't resist" the chance to work with the circus she grew up with. "That email was the end of my college quest," she jokes. A few months later Miser attended live auditions in Las Vegas and in September 2022, she received official word that she was cast as the show's "human rocket." Ringling made its official return in September 2023. She signed her contract in an old Ringling train car that her parents had bought when the circus closed.

Miser's entire act is done without any safety gear  like helmets or shoulder pads  which she says would slow her down. Photo: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Getting shot out of a cannon for a living

Miser typically performs in six shows per week, all of which happen between Friday and Sunday. She's traveling with Ringling to perform in cities across the United States nearly every week between now and December. Her work schedule varies leading up to each weekend's performances, but Miser says she has at least one dress rehearsal to walk through her act at the venue. Much of Miser's prep happens outside of the cannon. "Normally, Friday is my first night flying for the week," she says. "Getting shot out of the cannon is a lot of pain on your body, so I don't want to put my body through more than I need to." The trick takes skill, practice and "extreme focus," Miser explains. "It's a bit nerve-wracking, you just get one shot to get it right." To prepare for the stunt, Miser does yoga, stretching and foam rolling to release tension in her hip flexors and back. She performs drills on a trampoline and practices falling on an airbag. She prioritizes sleep, aiming for 10 hours a night. Miser learned from her mother to meditate right before her performance, to help focus and reduce anxiety. "As soon as I walk out into the ring, I'm thinking of every little detail: where the airbag is, my posture, if the cannon feels hot or cold," she says. "The flight might be two to three seconds but to me, it feels like I am moving in slow motion, I'm feeling every millisecond." Her entire act is done without any safety gear  like helmets or shoulder pads  which Miser says would slow her down. She adds that she hasn't suffered any injuries beyond minor scrapes and bruises from the act. On her days off, Miser says she likes to explore restaurants and museums in the cities the circus is passing through or sleep in. "I try to listen to my body to make sure I'm ready for the next weekend of shows," she says.

The career path of a circus performer
The word "burnout" is usually associated with career-related stress. But, the often-invisible work of parenting can take just as much of a toll on one's mental health as a paid job. In fact, 62% of parents feel burned out by their responsibilities as a parent, according to a new survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

This burnout can lead many caretakers to self-isolate, as they don't feel like they have the energy to maintain relationships outside their family. Two out of three parents say the demands of parenthood sometimes or frequently make them feel lonely, according to the survey.

"When we're out of energy, we retreat," Mercedes Samudio, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Shame-Proof Parenting, a company which offers mental health resources for parents, told CNBC Make It.

To curb burnout at home and in the workplace, take these three steps.
When Rubia Daniels heard a town in Italy was selling off abandoned homes for 1 euro each (or roughly $1.05), she had to take a look herself. The Berkeley, Calif., resident booked her first flight to Mussomeli, Sicily, in 2019 and quickly ended up buying not one, not two, but three crumbling properties at a bargain price. Daniels, 50, has a construction background and envisioned three dream projects: a vacation home, a restaurant and a wellness center. So far, she's spent about $35,000 working with a local crew on her vacation home.

Rubia Daniels is from Berkeley, Calif., and bought several 1-euro houses in Mussomeli, Sicily. Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Make It

Despite the stress of renovating a home across the world through the pandemic, Daniels says the Mussomeli lifestyle has brought more happiness into her life.

Making friends in Sicily

One of the biggest reasons why Daniels decided to buy in Mussomeli was how welcome she felt when she visited. The real estate agent who sold her the houses, Nathalie Milazzo, took Daniels around to restaurants, cafes and other parts of Mussomeli to really get a sense of what it's like to live in the town. Daniels now considers her "like a sister." Mussomeli is tiny, with just about 9,900 residents, but Daniels says many people have strong bonds. "It's much easier to make friends in Sicily than it is to make friends back in California," Daniels says. "In Sicily, the social life is very important. Everybody has time to talk to you, to know you, or to share a cup of coffee." Daniels became fast friends with Katerina Montagnino, a local, who has become like family. Daniels hosted Montagnino and her husband during a recent trip to California, and she's even godmother to their 2-year-old son, Leo.

Socializing is big in Mussomeli, and Rubia Daniels says she made fast friends with Katerina Montagnino (left), a resident who is now like a sister to her. Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Make It

That's not to say that Daniels' California neighbors aren't friendly, but the pace of living is different. "Typically back home, people are always in a rush" shuffling between work and home, she says, and they don't have time for social activities.

Fewer money problems and less stress overall

Sicilians approach leisure time much differently from Americans. For one, most Sicilians take part in a daily lunch and nap break from noon to 4 p.m. when most of the town shuts down. Big family dinners are common and can last from 9 p.m. until midnight. And it's both easy and affordable to travel around Italy and the rest of Europe. The cost of living is low for a high quality of life by American standards. A nice meal out might be 10 euros ($10.50) or less, while a round-trip flight out of Italy can be less than 50 euros ($52.50). As far as housing goes, roughly 90% of Mussomeli residents already own their homes, if not multiple properties through inheritance laws, so rent is less of a concern. It's a big difference from the high cost of living in the U.S., especially in the Bay Area where Daniels lives, where a typical family of four needs a household income of more than $300,000 to live comfortably. Daniels sees a direct relation between high living costs and high stress, which leads Americans to overwork and means less time to invest in friendships and other passions. "It's a much more stressful way of living," Daniels says. Now that she lives in Mussomeli for part of the year, "it's much easier to be happier here than it is to be happier back at home," she says.

The biggest challenge for me over here in Sicily is just the amount of carbs that they consume. Rubia Daniels 1-euro homeowner in Mussomeli, Sicily
Combination showing Former FTX CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried (L) and Zhao Changpeng (R), founder and chief executive officer of Binance. Mike Segar | Reuters | Benjamin Girette | Bloomberg | Getty Images

An arch rivalry between one-time crypto titans was brought to a close at a federal courthouse in Seattle on Tuesday when Binance founder Changpeng Zhao was handed a sentence of four months in prison. A month earlier, on the opposite coast in downtown Manhattan, FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison sentence for his crimes. It seemed an underwhelming and somewhat anti-climactic finish to a protracted battle between Zhao and Bankman-Fried, two men who were legendary adversaries, as well as key stewards of the $2.2 trillion crypto sector. For years, Binance's Zhao and FTX's Bankman-Fried preached the power of decentralized, digital currencies to the masses. Both were bitcoin billionaires who drove Toyotas, ran their own global cryptocurrency exchanges and spent much of their professional career selling the public on a new, tech-powered world order; one where an alternative financial system comprised of borderless virtual coins would liberate the oppressed by eliminating middlemen like banks and the overreach of the government. Ultimately, both also helped crypto critics and regulators make the case that the skeptics had been right all along  the industry was rife with grifters and fraudsters intent on using new tech to carry out age-old crimes. Bankman-Fried, 32, was convicted of seven criminal counts in early November, including charges related to stealing billions of dollars from FTX's customers. Less than three weeks after Bankman-Fried's conviction, 47-year-old Zhao pleaded guilty to criminal charges and stepped down as Binance's CEO as part of a $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice. Yet, much else about the pair is starkly at odds  perhaps most notably, the 296-month difference in their respective prison sentences. "Comparing CZ and SBF, both figures emerged as prominent in the cryptocurrency sector but under vastly different circumstances," said Braden Perry, a former senior trial lawyer for the CFTC. "The nature of their alleged crimes reflects different aspects of the 'dark' and illicit corners of crypto: CZ's case seems to focus on regulatory and compliance failures, while SBF's case hinges on direct financial misconduct and deception," Perry said. Indeed, the disparate consequences for the two former crypto CEOs lay bare that the pair was, in the end, nothing alike in business or in personal dealings.

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A tale of two bitcoin billionaires

It was the small things  the type of details that you don't notice at first and are often difficult to articulate the significance of once you do  that betrayed the more notable differences between the two former CEOs. Take Manfred, a worn stuffed animal that Bankman-Fried has carried around the world with him since birth, from California, to Hong Kong, to the Bahamas, and then back home to Palo Alto, where the FTX founder lived under house arrest until he was remanded to custody for tampering with witnesses. The 32-year-old toy, which has lost much of its shape and identifying features, sat on the bed of his sparsely decorated room in his parents' house on Stanford University's campus in his final days before incarceration. It was a harmless prop at first glance, more a charming nod to an adolescent spirit than the sort of window into Bankman-Fried's inner psyche that some of those who knew him would later attempt to turn it into. Two of Bankman-Fried's former colleagues and friends took turns at speculating on its meaning. One thought that SBF kept the stuffed animal close because "he doesn't need to share Manfred with anyone," according to reporting from "Going Infinite," the Michael Lewis book that profiled Bankman-Fried. Another guessed, "I think it is very, very important for him to have an emotional attachment." Lewis himself writes that "Sam didn't care about real animals" and that it had, in fact, been "an expected value calculation, rather than emotion, that had led him to go vegan." Bankman-Fried did have a history of intimacy issues. Part of it, according to his family, friends, work colleagues, criminal defense attorneys, and even Bankman-Fried himself, had to do with his inability to feel much of anything, for anyone, including romantic love interests.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the U.S. courthouse in New York City on July 26, 2023. Amr Alfiky | Reuters

His lawyers described him as often struggling socially, disclosing that in high school, Bankman-Fried "realized he was anhedonic, or unable to experience joy or pleasure." "As Sam describes it, he experiences negative emotions in ways that are not very different from many other people  neither much more extreme, nor much less negative. But he does not feel pleasure, or happiness, or joy, even when something very good happens to him," a court filing in SBF's criminal court docket reads. Lawyers for Bankman-Fried added that it was not a disease or condition to be "cured," but instead, "a fundamental aspect" of his identity. Lewis relayed an exchange with SBF in which Bankman-Fried said that smiling was the biggest thing that he "most weirdly" couldn't do. Bankman-Fried never married, has no children, and according to Lewis, moved himself and his company headquarters to the opposite side of the planet, twice, partly to avoid committing to his ex-girlfriend, ex-colleague, and the prosecution's star witness against him: Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison. The government's case against him  which resulted in a unanimous guilty verdict in just a few hours despite it being a complicated month-long trial involving hundreds of exhibits and nearly 20 witnesses  was largely built upon the testimony of the people who knew Bankman-Fried best. The list included his former C-suite, ex-roommates, and ex-best friends going back to high school. And so, Manfred took on new meaning, and began to embody much of what appeared to onlookers as a very lonely existence, in which the people closest to Bankman-Fried were the ones to seal his fate behind bars. While Bankman-Fried's parents were staunch defenders of their son in court, CZ, by contrast, had many who know him best leap to his defense. Zhao's wife, his current lover, two of his five children, and dozens of Binance employees all penned the judge to plead for mercy in sentencing. "I am a partner in the work of Changpeng Zhao (abbreviated CZ) and I am also the mother of his three children," reads a note submitted by Yi He, a co-founder of Binance and Zhao's current romantic partner. "Although the mainstream media tries to portray CZ as an evil bad actor, millions of community users and ordinary people regard him as a hero of the industry, because CZ has always insisted on justice."

Changpeng Zhao, former CEO of Binance, arrives at federal court in Seattle, Washington, April 30, 2024. David Ryder | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Zhao's wife, Weiqing "Winnie" Yang called him a "self-made man" who "has never owed money to others and has not had any liabilities." Yang added that Zhao has "taken the greatest care" of her and their shared children. Their daughter, Rachel Zhao, implored the judge "to consider her father's positive attributes; to not define my father's character solely through this one incident and consider the entirety of his character," emphasizing that he was "the best father." Differences between the pair also showed up in the way they presented themselves. Whereas Zhao maintained a military-style buzzcut, Bankman-Fried was known for his iconic and unwieldy mop of curls. CZ bought clothes on Amazon, but his look and demeanor were buttoned-up. SBF, who similarly opted for simple dress (usually a loose T-shirt and cargo shorts), appeared perpetually disheveled, whatever the occasion. At the beginning of his trial, SBF sported a fresh haircut and wore suits, but by its end, his curls were wild again. Zhao wore a fitted navy suit and light blue tie at his sentencing, versus the beige jailhouse jumpsuit donned by Bankman-Fried. But perhaps the greatest distinction between the two relates to the command they held over those around them. Zhao had an air of the consummate professional, with a strong appetite for total control of his sprawling enterprise. Bankman-Fried, who takes medication for the neuro-developmental disorder attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sought a similar level of control, but admitted on the stand that mistakes were made, in part, because he was overwhelmed. Bankman-Fried's psychiatrist unequivocally made clear to the judge that without prescribed medication, Bankman-Fried would experience a return of his symptoms and be "severely negatively impacted in his ability to assist in his own defense." Reuters reporting found that even as CZ's crypto exchange diversified its hiring into traditional finance and regulatory talent pools, "Zhao's tight control over his company was undiminished." Binance set up more than 70 entities, and according to Reuters, Zhao personally controlled most of them.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao speaks at a Binance fifth anniversary event in Paris, France, July 8, 2022. Staff | Reuters

Prosecutors similarly proved through testimony and evidentiary exhibits their narrative of Bankman-Fried quietly continuing to call the shots at his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research. They showed that his decision-making power over the $32 billion crypto empire he built was absolute, and that all wrongdoing stemmed from decisions touched, or directly made by, Bankman-Fried himself. But unlike CZ, Bankman-Fried oversaw an organization with chaotic and falsified bookkeeping that ultimately led to the implosion of the companies he founded and the theft of billions of dollars of customer money. And then there was the way that each looked to craft their public persona. CZ was big on privacy. The letters submitted by his romantic partners and children were a rare inside look at Zhao's personal dealings. And rather than take to mainstream media to share his defense, CZ clammed up and cooperated with the feds. Shirking the advice of all counsel, Bankman-Fried went on a media blitz to talk about the implosion of his crypto empire. Many of those statements ultimately appeared in the government's successful trial against him in October and November 2023. "SBF resolutely did not settle, violated his bail conditions, spoke frequently to the press in his own favor and seemed to lack a display of genuine, heartfelt remorse even at his own sentencing," said Yesha Yadav, law professor and associate dean at Vanderbilt University. "Part of CZ's deliberations in settling with Justice in November may have been precisely to make this point  that his conduct stands profoundly in contrast to the brazen behavior of SBF," Yadav added.

The power of saying you're sorry

In Seattle, Zhao's sentencing was a relatively quiet affair, with a vibe that was more muted than the circus surrounding Bankman-Fried's time in court. "This proceeding looked and felt like the prosecution of a Wall Street executive," said Mark Bini, a former state and federal prosecutor. Zhao also expressed his remorse, accepting responsibility for his crimes and telling the judge he was sorry for his actions. It stood in stark contrast to Bankman-Fried's final appeal to the judge, which lacked any sort of real admission of guilt. Judge Lewis Kaplan, who sentenced Bankman-Fried to 25 years in prison, noted during his sentencing hearing that he had never heard "a word of remorse for the commission of terrible crimes" from Bankman-Fried and that in his 30 years on the federal bench, he had "never seen a performance" like SBF's trial testimony. If Bankman-Fried was not "outright lying" during cross-examination by prosecutors, he was "evasive," Kaplan said. "Instead of accepting responsibility, Bankman-Fried pushed his case to trial where he lied and perjured himself and was convicted by overwhelming evidence," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told CNBC. To be sure, the Zhao and Bankman-Fried cases are very different. While much of Bankman-Fried's empire was a mirage, Zhao's operation was laced with questionable business tactics under the hood. Bankman-Fried and other leaders at FTX took billions of dollars in customer money. In fact, during the criminal trial of Bankman-Fried, both the prosecution and defense agreed that $10 billion in customer money that was sitting in FTX's crypto exchange went missing, with some of it going toward payments for real estate, recalled loans, venture investments and political donations. They also agreed that Bankman-Fried was the one calling the shots. The key question for jurors was one of intent: Did Bankman-Fried knowingly commit fraud in directing those payouts with FTX customer cash, or did he simply make some mistakes along the way? Jurors decided within a few hours of deliberation that he had knowingly committed fraud on a mass scale.

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The government's beef with Zhao and Binance was different. Perry said that the connection with foreign crime, including money laundering and breaching international financial sanctions, was key to Binance's undoing. There was, however, no pursuit of criminal fraud of its customers' money  a key distinction from the case of Bankman-Fried. Instead, three criminal charges were brought against the exchange, including conducting an unlicensed money-transmitting business, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and conspiracy. Binance agreed to forfeit $2.5 billion to the government, as well as to pay a fine of $1.8 billion, for crimes which included allowing illicit actors to make more than 100,000 transactions that supported activities such as terrorism and illegal narcotics. Zhao and others were also charged with violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to implement an effective anti-money-laundering program and for willfully violating U.S. economic sanctions "in a deliberate and calculated effort to profit from the U.S. market without implementing controls required by U.S. law," according to the Justice Department. The DOJ is recommending that the court impose a $50 million fine on Zhao. Zhao turned a blind eye to money laundering, explains Rahmani, but he pleaded guilty and accepted responsibility for his actions. Bankman-Fried, on the other hand, stole money from clients and used them for lavish personal expenses. "That's why Bankman-Fried received a significantly longer prison sentence than Zhao," Rahmani said. Los Angeles corporate law attorney Tre Lovell said that, unlike Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of fraud, Zhao hasn't been charged with fraud or other crimes deserving of a longer sentence. "In addition, his letter to the judge does reflect remorse, discusses his making of poor decisions, and indicates that the Binance platform has instituted strict anti-money laundering controls at his direction," Lovell said. "SBF's case involved allegations of fraud and misuse of customer funds, which are typically viewed as more directly deceitful and financially damaging to a broader array of individuals than compliance failures (like inadequate AML programs)," Perry said. Compliance failures, while serious, might be seen as a failure of oversight rather than active malfeasance, according to Perry. "Fraudulent actions directly undermine trust and suggest intentional wrongdoing, which can lead to harsher public and judicial responses," he added.

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Money makes all the difference

Unlike SBF, CZ didn't have his wealth wiped out by bankruptcy of the crypto company he founded. And as he cooperated with the government and pleaded guilty, his assets weren't seized. Despite the fact that Zhao is being put behind bars, his controlling stake in Binance means that he will continue being one of the wealthiest people in crypto today. Zhao is widely reported to have an estimated 90% stake in Binance, and his fortune is largely derived from his equity ownership in the company. Binance is by far the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, processing $18.1 trillion worth of trading volume in 2023, according to data from crypto market data firm CCData. And even though Binance has seen its market share drop to 41.6% since Zhao stepped down as CEO in November 2023, the company remains the dominant player overall  leagues ahead of South Korean exchange Upbit, Dubai-headquartered Bybit, and U.S. giant Coinbase. While Binance has been convicted of extremely serious charges, it still remains a lucrative operation, according to Yadav. Binance is profitable and solvent, meaning that it has a hefty war chest to settle fines. FTX, on the other hand, remains in bankruptcy court in Delaware. "FTX has been revealed to have been a criminal enterprise that is now headed into liquidation owing to its assessed inability to salvage any brand and use value," Yadav said.

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(EDITORS NOTE: Image depicts death.) Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera bureau chief in Gaza, center, comforts relatives at the funeral of his son, Al Jazeera journalist Hamza Dahdouh, killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is focused on accelerating humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and garnering support for post-conflict Gaza's governance. Photographer: Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Israel ordered the local offices of Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite news network to close Sunday, escalating a long-running feud between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas hang in the balance.

The extraordinary order, which includes confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel's reports and blocking its websites, is believed to be the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country.

Al Jazeera went off Israel's main cable and satellite providers in the hours after the order. However, its website and multiple online streaming links still operated Sunday.

The network has reported the Israeli-Hamas war nonstop since the militants' initial cross-border attack Oct. 7 and has maintained 24-hour coverage in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's grinding ground offensive that has killed and wounded members of its staff. While including on-the-ground reporting of the war's casualties, its Arabic arm often publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and other regional militant groups.

"Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel's security and incited against soldiers," Netanyahu said in a statement. "It's time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country."

Al Jazeera issued a statement vowing it will "pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions in its quest to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the public's right to information."

"Israel's ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law," the network said. "Israel's direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera."

The Israeli government has taken action against individual reporters over the decades since its founding in 1948, but broadly allows for a rambunctious media scene that includes foreign bureaus from around the world, even from Arab nations. It also blocked the foreign broadcasts of the Hezbollah-affiliated, Beirut-based Al Mayadeen news channel at the start of the war.

A law passed last month allows the government to take action against Al Jazeera, Netanyahu's office said.

Israeli Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi later published footage online of authorities raiding a hotel room Al Jazeera had been broadcasting from in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to one day have for their future state. He said officials seized some of the channel's equipment there.

"We finally are able to stop Al Jazeera's well-oiled incitement machine that harms the security of the country," Karhi said. His office said it would bar Al Jazeera from operating in Israel for at least 45 days, a measure that can be renewed.

The ban did not appear to affect the channel's operations in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip, where Israel wields control but which are not sovereign Israeli territory.

The decision threatens to heighten tensions with Qatar at a time when the Doha government is playing a key role in mediation efforts to halt the war in Gaza, along with Egypt and the United States.

Qatar has had strained ties with Netanyahu in particular since he made comments suggesting that Qatar is not exerting enough pressure on Hamas to prompt it to relent in its terms for a truce deal. Qatar hosts Hamas leaders in exile in Doha.

The sides appear to be close to striking a deal, but multiple previous rounds of talks have ended with no agreement.

In a statement Sunday, Hamas condemned the Israeli government order, calling on international organizations to take measures against Israel.

The Foreign Press Association in Israel criticized the order.

"With this decision, Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station," it said. "This is a dark day for the media." The New York-based Committee to Project Journalists similarly warned the move represented an "extremely alarming precedent for restricting international media outlets working in Israel."
Responding to angry customers is one of the hardest parts of her job, Natasha said. Finding the right words, conveying the appropriate level of contrition  especially when the hotel isn't at fault (read: rain complaints)  is a tedious and time-consuming process, said the director of a five-star resort, who asked that CNBC not use her real name to protect the resort's name. But now she has a secret weapon: generative AI. Natasha pastes a traveler's complaint into ChatGPT and asks the chatbot to write a response. She said a task that would easily take her an hour is done "in two seconds."

'A pretty good job'

For all its faults, ChatGPT "does a pretty good job" responding to customer complaints, Natasha said. "One [response] was much better than what I would have done," she said. But "it has to be checked ...you have to read through it." Responses tend to be "schmaltzy" and adjective-laden, she said. Still, they "hit the points of like 'We're sorry, we wish we could have done something, we'll do better' kind of thing."

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They also address every complaint mentioned by a traveler. "It's hard to write these letters; you have to go through line-by-line," she said. "You wouldn't be doing the person justice, if you didn't respond to everything on the list  the AI does this really well." But best of all, artificial intelligence isn't defensive like humans, said Natasha. "The AI takes all the emotion out of it. Maybe the people were ass-----," she said. "It doesn't care."

The 'ghosting' risk

Responding to negative online reviews is even harder, said Natasha, since they are so public. Plus, research shows that companies that don't respond to online reviews  even positive ones  can harm their brand's reputation. In a ranking of U.S. hotel chains by their "online reputations," the tech company SOCi found that a driving factor for low scores was "ghosting"  that is, failure to respond to traveler reviews. The need to constantly monitor and respond to online feedback is partly why using generative AI for "reputational management" is worth an estimated $1.3 billion to the travel industry, according to a 2023 report published by the travel market research company Skift. Not only can large language models track sites where travel reviews appear  from TripAdvisor to Yelp to Reddit  they can also help companies "respond to reviews, especially negative ones," the report, titled "Generative AI's Impact on Travel," states. Some 45% of hotels use reputation or review management software already, it said.

A screenshot of a discussion about using ChatGPT to write reviews on Airhosts Forum, a website for Airbnb hosts. CNBC

But short-term rental owners use AI for these purposes too, said Luca Zambello, the CEO of the short-term rental property management platform Jurny. "The short-term rental/Airbnb industry has been early adopters," he said. "Within the next five years, I would say it is probably going to be adopted by the vast majority of the industry." He said responding to reviews is time-consuming, which is one of the reasons his company provides this service. "The majority of our users absolutely love it," he said. "It is really a no-brainer for companies once they see how good it is."

An open secret

Using AI to write penitent responses is a taboo topic in the travel industry, which prides itself on personal service. Conventional wisdom, too, has long held that apologies must "come from the heart."

I want people to think that I am sitting there toiling away over their letter. Natasha Director of a five-star resort

When asked if she wants travelers to know she uses AI to respond to negative emails and reviews, Natasha said, "I sure do not. I want people to think that I am sitting there toiling away over their letter." One company that acknowledges using AI to deal with customer complaints is the travel booking platform Voyagu, which stores past customer communications to help travel advisors with future interactions, a company representative said. "Travel advisors always reply to customers themselves, but Voyagu's AI system tracks all communication  both written and verbal  and suggests a better way to respond," she said. Brad Birnbaum, CEO of the AI-powered customer service company Kustomer, said technology of this sort is being used "not just within hospitality, but really all forms of customer support." His company, which counts Priceline, Hopper and AvantStay as customers, uses AI to help customer service agents sound more professional, he said. "We will take text that is really rough and convert it to elegant text, to empathetic text," he said. Birnbaum said customers likely don't know that their interactions with agents are either generated or improved by AI. "And I don't think they would care," he said. "As a matter of fact, I think they probably welcome an agent system because they're going to get a better response faster."

More discovering it

Michael Friedman, CEO of the family-run vacation rental company Simple Life Hospitality, said his company does not use AI to respond to customers. "We never write an email with AI," he said. 'There is still a personal element in the 'tone of voice' that I believe AI is missing.  I believe there is nothing better than the human touch." Wanping Aw, managing director of the Japanese travel agency Tokudaw, said she had never thought to use AI to respond to customer complaints. But after learning that other travel companies are, she decided to test ChatGPT with a real-life problem she recently faced. She typed: "Our guests are travelling to Mt Fuji. Their bus engine just started smoking. They are scared and anxious to know what is going to happen to their itinerary. What should we do?" The result? "PRETTY AMAZING!" she told CNBC by email. "ChatGPT suggested exactly what we did!" The chatbot provided a six-step plan that included evacuating the travelers and arranging alternative transportation.

Text showing the apology letter ChatGPT generated for Wanping Aw.
North Korea on Sunday denounced the United States and other countries for seeking an alternative to the United Nations monitoring panel that enforced sanctions against Pyongyang, saying that such a move will be doomed to face "self-destruction."

North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Kim Song issued a statement condemning Seoul, Washington, Tokyo and 47 other countries for jointly calling for "objective" and "independent" analysis regarding the enforcement of anti-North Korea sanctions as the mandate of the panel of experts ended last month due to Russia's veto on its renewal.

During a trip to Seoul in April, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. will work with South Korea to explore "creative" and "out of the box" ways to find an alternative to the experts' panel, even outside of the U.N. system.

The North Korean envoy said the end of the monitoring panel is a "judgment made by history on an illegal, plot-breeding organization" and called the panel of experts a tool for the U.S. and other Western nations to "stamp out a sovereign state's right to existence."

"The hostile forces may set up the second and third expert panels in the future, but they are all bound to meet self-destruction with the passage of time," he said in the statement carried by the North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

"If the U.S. and its followers persistently pursue the anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK, instead of drawing a lesson from the recent case, they will face a more miserable strategic defeat," he warned, using the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. (Yonhap)
The moment this trajectory first became clear was years before ChatGPT broke through into the public consciousness. It was " the AlphaFold moment " in 2021, according to Kimberly Powell, vice president of health care at Nvidia, when Google's DeepMind AI unit  which had become famous for showing how different AI's creative thinking could be from humans in the Chinese strategy game of Go  pioneered the application of AI large language models to biology. "AlphaFold was this pivotal moment when we could train these transformer models with very large data sets and go from amino acid sequence to a protein structure, which is at the core of doing drug development and design," Powell said.

According to executives working at the intersection of AI and health care, the field is on a trajectory that will see medicines completely generated by AI in the near future; according to some, within a few years at most it will become a norm in drug discovery. Generative AI is rapidly accelerating its applicability to the developments and discovery of new medications, in a move that will reshape not only the pharmaceutical industry but ground-level ideas that have been built into the scientific method for centuries.

"That was an epiphany for me," Rau said. "We always talk about training the machines, but another art is where the machines produce ideas based on a data set that humans wouldn't have been able to see or visualize. This spurs even more creativity by opening pathways in medicine development that humans may not have otherwise explored."

The scientists were expected to point out everything wrong with the AI-generated designs, but what they offered in response was a surprise to Lilly executives: "'It's interesting; we hadn't thought about designing a molecule that way,'" Rau recalled them saying as he related the story, previously unreported, to attendees at last November's CNBC Technology Executive Council Summit.

The top AI-generated biological designs, molecules that Rau described as having "weird-looking structures" that could not be matched to much in the company's existing molecular database, but that looked like potentially strong drug candidates, were taken to Lilly research scientists. Executives, including Rau, expected scientists to dismiss the AI results.

Lilly has been using generative AI to search through millions of molecules. With AI able to move at a speed of discovery which in five minutes can generate as many molecules as Lilly could synthesize in an entire year in traditional wet labs, it make sense to test the limits of artificial intelligence in medicine. But there's no way to know if the abundance of AI-generated designs will work in the real world, and that's something skeptical company executives wanted to learn more about.

Eli Lilly chief information and digital officer Diogo Rau was recently involved in some experiments in the office, but not the typical drug research work that you might expect to be among the lab tinkering inside a major pharmaceutical company.

The advances related to AI are taking place within a field of biology that has been increasingly digitized at what Powell describes as "unprecedented scales and resolutions."

It's a medical revolution that includes spatial genomics scanning millions of cells within tissue, in 3-D, and AI model-building that specifically benefits from a catalog of chemicals already in a digital form which allows generative AI transformer models to now go to work on them. "This training can be done using unsupervised and self-supervised learning, and it can be done not only rapidly but imaginatively: the AI can 'think' of drug models that a human would not," Powell said.

An analogy for understanding the development of AI drugs can be found in the mechanisms of ChatGPT. "It's essentially been trained on every book, every webpage, every PDF document, and it's encoded the knowledge of the world in such a way that you can ask it questions and it can generate you answers," Powell said.

The GPT-version of drug discovery

Drug discovery is a process of witnessing interactions and changes in biological behavior, but what would take months, or years, in a lab, can be represented in computer models that simulate traditional biological behavior. "And when you can simulate their behavior, you can predict how things might work together and interact," she said. "We now have this ability to represent the world of drugs  biology and chemistry  because we have AI supercomputers using AI and a GPT -like method, and with all of the digital biology data, we can represent the world of drugs in a computer for the very first time."

It's a radical departure from the classic empirical method that has dominated the last century of drug discovery: extensive experimentation, subsequent gathering of data, analysis of the data on a human level, followed by another design process based on those results. Experimentation within the walls of a company followed by several decision points that scientists and executives hope will result in successful clinical trials. "It's a very artisanal process," Powell said. As a result, it's a drug discovery process that has a 90% failure rate.

AI backers believe it will save time and improve success rates, transforming the classic process into engineering that is more systematic and repeatable, allowing drug researchers to build off a higher success rate. Citing results from recent studies published in Nature, Powell noted that Amgen found a drug discovery process that once might have taken years can be cut down to months with the help of AI. Even more important  given the cost of drug development, which can range from $30M to $300M per trial  the success rate jumped when AI was introduced to the process early on. After a two-year traditional development process, the probability of success was 50/50. At the end of the faster AI-augmented process, the success rate rose to 90%, Powell said, .

"The progress of drug discovery, we predict, should massively go up," Powell said. Some of the noted flaws of generative AI, its propensity to "hallucinate" for example, could prove to be powerful in drug discovery. "Over the last many decades, we have kind of been looking at the same targets, but what if we can use the generative approach to open up new targets?" she added.

'Hallucinating' new drugs

Protein discovery is an example. Biological evolution works by identifying a protein that works well, and then nature moves on. It doesn't test all the other proteins that may also work, or work better. AI, on the other hand, can begin its work with non-existent proteins within models, an approach that would be untenable in a classic empirical model. By the numbers, AI has a much bigger discovery set to explore. With a potential number of proteins that could act as a therapy essentially infinite, Powell said  10 to the power of 160, or ten with one hundred and sixty zeroes  the existing limit on working with the proteins nature has given humanity is exploded. "You can use these models to hallucinate proteins that might have all of the functions and features we need. It can go where a human mind wouldn't, but a computer can," Powell said.

The University of Texas at Austin recently purchased one of the largest NVIDIA computing clusters for its new Center for Generative AI.

"Just as ChatGPT is able to learn from strings of letters, chemicals can be represented as strings, and we can learn from them," said Andy Ellington, professor of molecular biosciences. AI is learning to distinguish drugs from non-drugs, and to create new drugs, in the same way that ChatGPT can create sentences, Ellington said. "As these advances are paired with ongoing efforts in predicting protein structures, it should soon be possible to identify drug-like compounds that can be fit to key targets," he said.

Daniel Diaz, a postdoctoral fellow in computer science who leads the deep proteins group at UT's Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning, said most current AI work on drugs is centered on small molecule discovery, but he thinks the bigger impact will be in the development of novel biologics (protein-based drugs), where he is already seeing how AI can speed up the process of finding the best designs.

A UT Austin group is currently running animal experiments on a therapeutic for breast cancer that is an engineered version of a human protein that degrades a key metabolite that breast cancer is dependent on  essentially starving the cancer. Traditionally, when scientists need a protein for therapeutics, they look for several features, including stable proteins that don't fall apart easily. That requires scientists to introduce genetic engineering to tweak a protein, a cumbersome process in lab work  mapping the structure and identifying, from all the possible genetic modifications, the best options.

Now, AI models are helping narrow down the possibilities, so scientists more quickly know the optimal modifications to try. In the experiment Diaz cited, use of an AI-enhanced version that is more stable resulted in a roughly sevenfold improvement in yield of the protein, so researchers end up with more protein to test, use, etc. "The results are looking very promising," he said. And since it's a human-based protein, the chances of patients becoming allergic to the drug  allergic responses to protein-based drugs are a big problem  are minimized.

Nvidia's recent release of what it calls "microservices" for AI healthcare, including for drug discovery  a component in its aggressive ambitions for health sector AI adoption  allows researchers to screen for trillions of drug compounds and predict protein structures. Computational software design company Cadence is integrating Nvidia AI in a molecular design platform which allows researchers to generate, search and model data libraries with hundreds of billions of compounds. It's also offering research capabilities related to DeepMind's AlphaFold-2 protein model.

"AlphaFold is hard for a biologist to just use, so we've simplified it," Powell said. "You can go to a webpage and input an amino acid sequence and the actual structure comes out. If you were to do that with an instrument, the instrument would cost you $5 million, and you'd need three [full-time equivalent workers] FTE to run, and you might get the structure in a year. We've made that instantaneous in a webpage," Powell said.

Ultimately, AI-designed drugs will rise or fail based on the traditional final step in drug development: performance in human trials.

"You still have to generate ground proof," Powell said.

She compared the current level of progress to the training of self-driving cars, where data is being collecting constantly to reinforce and re-enhance models. "The exact same thing is happening in drug discovery," she said. "You can use these methods to explore new space ... hone it, hone it ... do more intelligent experimentation, take that experiment data and feed it back into the models, and around the loop goes."

But the biological space within the broader AI model field is still small by comparison. The AI industry is in the range of a trillion model or more in areas of multi-modal and natural language processing. By comparison, the biology models number in the tens of billions.

"We are in the early innings," Powell said. "An average word is less than ten letters long. A genome is 3 billion letters long."






Veterans Minister Kang Jung-ai will visit France and Germany this week to strengthen cooperation in veterans affairs with countries that participated in the 1950-53 Korean War, her office said Sunday.

Kang departed for France earlier in the day for a seven-day trip that also includes a stop in Germany from Wednesday to Saturday, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

In France, she will meet Christian Cambon, a member of the French Senate, to discuss bilateral cooperation on international veterans affairs and visit a veterans hospital in Paris.

Her itinerary also includes attendance at a ceremony in Berlin to unveil a monument in honor of Germany's veterans during the Korean War. Germany provided medical support to South Korea in the years after the three-year conflict, which ended in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.

It was funded by the Korean government with 210 million won ($154,500) as Germany's first Korean War-related monument.

Then West Germany established a Red Cross hospital in the southeastern port city of Busan from 1954-1959 and sent 117 doctors to South Korea. But Germany was the only country where a war veteran monument was not set up among member states of the U.N.

In 2018, the Korean government additionally designated Germany as one of the countries that offered medical support for the war and recognized the dispatched German medical staff as war veterans.

Kang also plans to visit the grave of late independence activist Mirok Li in the vicinity of Munich to pay her respects and will discuss ways to repatriate his remains.

Li is a Korean writer who participated in the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule and later lived in exile in Germany. He published his autobiographical novel "The Yalu Flows" in 1946 and other books in Germany, and died in Munich in 1950. (Yonhap)
Rotterdam police are investigating after more than two dozen gravestones were pushed over last month at a Jewish cemetery  an act of vandalism that at least one local faith leader believes was driven by growing antisemitism.
It was the moment that defined the local elections, though you wont have seen it on the BBC. Mothin Ali, newly elected to Leeds City Council for the Green party, punched his fist in the air and, to the delight of his supporters, yelled: We will raise the voice of Gaza, we will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu Akbar!

Palestine, rather than council tax, childrens services or bin collections, got him elected. The most cursory glance at the results shows Labours vote collapsing in areas with large Muslim electorates, notably Bradford, Blackburn and Oldham.

In the West Midlands, Akhmed Yakoob, an independent standing mainly on a platform of solidarity with Gaza (plus more burial spaces for Muslims and more housing) won more than 69,000 votes, taking more than 20 per cent of the vote from Birmingham proper and nearly costing Labour the mayoralty.

If I were looking at the results from a narrowly partisan point of view, I might allow myself a grim smile. The rise of George Galloway and assorted Muslim radicals is not a problem for the Conservative Party.

Indeed, an extrapolation from Thursdays vote shows Sir Keir Starmer falling short of an overall majority  a very different picture from recent opinion polls and constituency surveys, which predict Labour winning by more than 100 seats.

Moment Green Party councillor Mothin Ali shouts 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds

But what is happening goes way beyond party politics. We are seeing something that has for a long time been almost unknown in mainland Britain, namely sectarian voting.

Until now, we have been good at assimilating settlers. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have lived alongside one another in the same north London streets, leaving their quarrels at the door. Likewise Turks and Kurds, Serbs and Croats.

This unremarked and rather beautiful fact is most striking when we consider the story of most Britons of South Asian heritage.

The partition of India in 1947 was accompanied by indescribable violence. People were tortured, mutilated, raped, burned alive, blinded with chilli powder, boiled in cauldrons, hacked to pieces.

Bands of goondas (ruffians) slaughtered patients in their hospital beds, children in their classrooms, worshippers in their mosques, temples and gurdwaras. Trains would arrive from across the new border with blood seeping from every aperture.

I read several eye-witness accounts of the atrocities some years ago, and can barely bring myself to think about, let alone write about, what happened.

But here is the extraordinary thing. Migrants to the UK came disproportionately from the provinces most affected by the violence  above all Punjab. The children of victims and perpetrators made a decision to live alongside one another as good neighbours. Muslim, Sikh or Hindu: no one wanted to dredge up the bad times.

What has changed? How is it that communities that were willing to put aside enmities that affected their own families are now agitated about fighting in a place thousands of miles from either their ancestral or their current homes?

There have been two malign developments. First, there has been what I can only call an Arabisation of Islam. Most first-generation Muslims in Britain were from the Sufi tradition that emphasises personal piety.

But from the late 1970s, a different and increasingly fundamental form of Islam gained ground. And today this is more popular among younger Muslims than their elders.

The bigger change is in how we think of ourselves as a nation. When the first settlers came from Punjab, Gujarat, Kashmir and Bengal, Britains prevailing ethic was individualism. All citizens were responsible for their own actions. People were not answerable for what their ancestors had done.

That ethic is much more unusual than is sometimes realised. India and Pakistan never properly got over the trauma of partition. They went on to fight repeated wars, and their border is the most militarised on Earth. In a way, that is more understandable.

But in Britain, our moral code, like our legal system, emphasised personal autonomy. Vendetta, carrying your quarrel against your enemys family, is the default setting of a tribal species like ours. Britain was unusual in making it unthinkable.

Until now. The claim of identity politics is that we are all defined by our group, whether on grounds of race, gender or sexual identity. Starting around 2015, a phenomenon that sociologists call the Great Awokening gathered pace. Instead of being taught that they were equal citizens, students were told that they needed to be aware of where their group slotted into an imagined pyramid of oppression.

The danger of woke is not that it is nonsense, but that it is perilously seductive. We evolved in kin-groups, and are easily stirred up against supposed outsiders. It is Britains historic value of common citizenship that requires patient education, both of new arrivals and the young.

In a society where people are categorised, not on the basis of their behaviour, but by whether an ancestor owned or worked on a Caribbean plantation, is it any wonder that tribalism is making a comeback?

Independent candidate for Mayor of the West Midlands Akhmed Yakoob

The war in Gaza is the immediate focus point, but this could be just the beginning. Notice, for example, the only parts of London where Sadiq Khan lost votes compared to last time in 2021: Brent and Harrow (where many British Hindus live) and Ealing and Hillingdon (many Sikhs). Grateful as I am for Conservative votes, Id much rather not have sectarianism of any kind.

For one thing, it does no favours to the communities concerned. If the main parties stop competing for your vote, you lose influence.

For another, it encourages complacency. In my 21 years in the European Parliament, the worst examples of corruption I saw were in parties representing a national minority, where voters felt they had to vote for their team on religious or linguistic grounds. We see something similar in Northern Ireland.

But the biggest problem is that identity politics is not compatible with an open society. We cant live together in a free democracy if two babies born on the same day come into the world with a set of pre-existing grievances.

What can be done? For one thing, the mainstream parties must work harder to engage with voters as individuals rather than pitching for bloc votes via community leaders.

There ought to be a long-term opportunity here for the Tories. British Muslims are more likely than the general population to be self-employed, to be owner-occupiers and to identify with the UK as a whole rather than with any of the constituent nations. Theirs is the only great religion founded by a businessman, and its precepts emphasise the sanctity of property.

In Muslim-majority countries, the more religious parties tend, accordingly, to be more market-oriented. But here, because of the Great Awokening, everything is seen through the prism of race and oppression.

Changing that perception is ultimately a job for teachers. British children should leave school identifying primarily as citizens of this country, and with a measure of pride in our achievements, from stamping out the slave trade to defeating Nazism.

Simply to state the problem is to realise how deep-rooted it is. But if we dont tackle it, our democracy will break apart.

Lord Hannan is International Secretary of the Conservative Party and serves on the Board of Trade
More than 1,000 civil documents were wrongly issued from the government's online civil service portal, Government 24, last month, leading to the leak of personal information, the interior ministry said Sunday.

The documents  646 graduation and other certificates, and 587 corporate tax payment certificates  were issued under the name of the wrong individual or business representative, exposing sensitive personal information, including names, addresses and resident registration numbers, according to the ministry.

The services have been restored to normal, it said, blaming the error on the program developer's mistake.

The ministry said the wrongly issued documents have been deleted and those whose personal information was leaked have been informed via phone or mail.

It also said the cases were reported to the Personal Information Protection Commission under relevant regulations.

"We currently do not know the details of the leak and are looking into how far the leaked information has spread," a commission official said. "It's unclear yet when the results of the investigation will come out." (Yonhap)
She most recently made fun of the phrases Gen Z employees use at work

A content creator who pokes fun at the corporate world has turned her sights on a new target - Gen Z and the jargon they use in the office.

Natalie Marshall, 27, left her life as a consultant at Ernst & Young behind during the COVID-19 pandemic and found herself dishing out jokes about nine-to-five lifestyles on her TikTok channel.

After having built a following of over 908,000 fans and even appearing in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2023, Natalie became everyone's go-to source for all things corporate jokes.

And while the California-based creator usually teases the office world as a whole, she has now made fun of how Gen Z employees speak while working and offered up the things she wishes she was able to say in response.

A content creator who pokes fun at the corporate world has turned her sights on a new target - Gen Z and the jargon they use in the office

Natalie Marshall , 27, left her life as a consultant at Ernst & Young behind during the COVID-19 pandemic and found herself dishing out jokes about nine-to-five lifestyles on her TikTok

Trying to be more like Gen Z? Here are the phrases they use and odd things they do in the workplace Do things for the plot

Blurt out trending topics

Blame their work performance on the planets

Walk around barefoot

Sing

Say things are high-key concerning Advertisement

In a viral video, which has so far amassed over 658,000 views, the 'CEO of work-from-home jokes,' reenacted a conversation between a manager and a Gen Z employee.

She captioned the clip: 'Giving Gen Z feedback.'

'So at work we don't really "do things for the plot", we do things for the client, but not really for the plot,' she said, referring to the phrase 'do it for the plot', which means to do something regardless of the outcome.

Next, she called out Gen Z employees for over-discussing trending topics in the office.

She added: 'Stopping the meeting to announce that Gypsy Rose's divorce felt a little bit like a false alarm, but I understand why that felt super urgent to you.'

Then the ex-consultant teased Gen Z for their love of astrology - especially when it comes to blaming their work performance to the planets.

'So HR informed me that we are unable to grant PTO due to Mercury being in retrograde, but that being said, if you're truly feeling off, you're more than welcome to use your sick days,' Natalie said.

The content creator also touched on a few quirky habits that Gen Z employees have done in the office.

People on the web flooded the comments and praised the corporate comedian for her accuracy when it came to Gen Z employees

'When you decided to try "grounding" in the office and actually took your shoes off to "feel the Earth's vibrations" below you, I think it was a little uncomfortable for some of our older partners.

'The one song that you keep singing - "When I'm back in Chicago" - that one, it's a catchy one. I think timing is everything with that, so you sing it a lot, maybe let's pull back to about 25 per cent of current usage,' she joked.

Lastly, Natalie teased another common phrase used by Gen Z employees. The phrase 'high-key' is used to describe something intense or out in the open, while the phrase 'low-key is used in regards to something more secretive.'

'When you're describing something and you say, "it's high-key concerning", does that mean there is cause for concern? Can you just clarify so that I know when to step in?' she said at the end of the video.

People on the web flooded the comments and praised the corporate comedian for her accuracy when it came to Gen Z employees.

One Gen Z follower said: 'Feeling attacked.'

Someone else wrote: 'Everything at work is for the plot.'

'I am crying!!! I literally have said these things,' one follower added

Another user commented: 'Hahaha, all so good.'
But the now mom-of-three revealed that she was 'horribly neglected as a child'

She explained how she was born into the religion before becoming a cadet

A woman has candidly lifted the lid on what it was really like growing up in the Church of Scientology's Sea Organization.

Katherine Spallino, who is now based in Minnesota, appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast to discuss her childhood experience.

She explained that she was born into the religion and grew up as a cadet before being trained to become a full member of the Sea Organization - the senior-most status of staff in Scientology, which started as the founder's private navy.

But mom-of-three Katherine, who has since authored memoir The Bad Cadet, has revealed how she was 'horribly neglected as a child' and was left with 'no education' after being 'forced into hard labor' from a young age.

Katherine Spallino, who is now based in Minnesota, appeared on a recent episode of the Cults To Consciousness podcast to discuss her childhood experience

She explained that she was born into the religion and grew up as a cadet before being trained to become a full member of the Sea Organization

Katherine began by telling host Shelise Ann Sola how she was born at a Scientology church in Hollywood - but never got registered at birth.

'My parents were so busy working for the Church of Scientology, they never got around to registering me,' she shared.

This would later prove to be problem since a lack of Social Security Number meant she could not legally get paid - but she conceded the oversight likely stemmed from the fact that children were not prioritized within the organization because kids were considered 'adults in small bodies.'

Elaborating on her path to becoming a cadet, Katherine explained: 'For cadets - which is what I was - our parents worked for the Church of Scientology in the inner, inner circle of it.

'They signed a billion-year contract giving their life to the Sea Org and, in turn, mine as well.

'So I was literally born in the Sea Org and I had started signing contracts by the time I was six years old saying "I'm a Sea Org member, that's my purpose."'

Katherine said that at eight years old she 'randomly got pulled aside at school' and got told she would be going to live in the cadet ranch - where her older sister, who is six years her senior, was already staying.

'I don't remember saying goodbye to my parents at all. I just got in a car and left - that's how nonchalant it was,' she said.

Mom-of-three Katherine, who has since authored memoir The Bad Cadet, has revealed how she was 'horribly neglected as a child' and was left with 'no education'

Katherine divulged that she felt 'special' and was keen to impress from the outset, adding: 'All I want to do when I was there is be a good cadet'

'I went with my best friend at the time and we arrive at the school and I'm just like "I can't believe we're going to be cadets."'

Katherine divulged that she felt 'special' and was keen to impress from the outset, adding: 'All I want to do when I was there is be a good cadet.'

The young cadets were shipped off to a boarding school as she shared: 'I was not raised with my parents....

'By the time I was eight years old I'm living away from my parents at a boarding school in the mountains above Los Angeles.

'I'd see my parents very rarely. It becomes once every few months... sometimes I wouldn't see them for a year and I thought that was normal.

'They had little to no involvement in raising me.'

She dished that she was instead raised by staff members in her dorm which she shared with between 13 and 16 other girls at a time.

'There were three bunk beds stacked high, all crammed in a room, and we would all just get ready together.'

The group would then walk to a school building opposite the Church of Scientology.

Katherine explained: 'We would all go there for the day and learn how to read and so on - but we'd already started the Scientology processing and indoctrination at that time...

'Every day there was some sort of Scientology word or term that we would be learning verbatim and repeating back and we would shout it over and over which is a form of an indoctrination.'

She said that once a week the children were also taken to an exhibition about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

The young cadets were shipped off to a boarding school as she shared: 'I was not raised with my parents.' Pictured: The Scientology cross overlooking the cadet ranch

She said that once a week the children were also taken to an exhibition about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

'We would see all of this information about L. Ron Hubbard - about how much we adored him,' she said.

'Every week we would see these amazing accolades as an exhibit of him. It was literally like a museum that they walk through and they show all the wonderful works of L. Ron Hubbard....

'To me he was like a god - this all-knowing person who knew everything about the world.'

Discussing the concept further, she said: 'I thought that he knew everything that there was to know and I did think he had special powers.'

Katherine committed herself to being in the cadets until the age of 14 when she was invited onto the Estates Project Force (EPF) - as part of the Sea Organization - which she described as a 'boot camp for children.'

'The EPF is when I start to run into trouble because I am 14 and I really like boys and there's a lot of cute boys on the EPF,' she said.

'I can't help flirting with them and I keep getting shamed for that.

'They say "get your veilance in" which means get your Sea Org personality on, stop messing around and joking around.

'That continues for a couple years where I finally join the Sea Org and I'm always just getting yelled at for being too loud, too rambunctious and I also kind of skip out on Scientology studies.

'I'm kind of doing what normal teenagers might be doing except for I'm in a cult environment where there's all these rules.'

She said that within the organization 'age does not matter' so there would be some teenagers holding 'executive' posts who were telling adults what to do.

Katherine divulged that at 16 years old she was subject to an 'interrogatory' - where her contemporaries were forced to report on her bad behaviors.

'I was so mortified... I get called into the ethics area - which is the place you go to when you're in trouble,' she said.

Katherine committed herself to being in the cadets until the age of 14 when she was invited onto the Estates Project Force (EPF) - as part of the Sea Organization - which she described as a 'boot camp for children'

Katherine (left) told host Shelise Ann Sola (right) that within the organization 'age does not matter' so there would be some teenagers holding 'executive' posts who were telling adults what to do

'They're like "everybody tells us that you're always in the bathroom putting on makeup, that you're always goofing off, that you're not in course, you don't take your post seriously."

'I just feel so ashamed. I feel like the whole organization knows that I'm such a bad Sea Org member and I feel so bad about it.'

She said that from then on she tried to fit in and be 'more robotic' but admitted: 'This cycle starts to take a toll on me and at some point I have to choose - am I going to stay or am I going to go?'

Katherine shared that anyone in the outside world who does not know about Scientology is referred to with a derogatory term that brands them as 'stupid' because 'they don't know any better.'

She was also warned about leaving the Scientology group in no uncertain terms.

'They'd say "you're going to be promiscuous, you're going to end up on drugs, you're not going to have a lot of money because you're leaving the good place,"' she said.

Nonetheless, the then teen was still unhappy within the organization.

She continued: 'The jobs I had in the Sea Org were very tedious, boring, pointless jobs where I had no excitement or joy in it.'

Katherine explained that followers were not allowed on the internet but one of her jobs was that of a rudiments register - in which she had to try and entice Scientology followers back if they had started to become disillusioned.

'I'm 15 years old and I had to convince adults to come back to the church because they aren't coming anymore,' she said.

'I would have this list of people to call and I would call them and I would get sworn at and hung up on.

'They're probably being harassed all of these people who I'm calling and I'm just like "why do people seem to hate Scientology so much? I don't understand." I didn't really understand it.

'That was my first post for a few months and within a couple of weeks I was already hating it. I never had any success.

'I was definitely having to push myself to try to work because it was just so pointless.'

She continued: 'If you make a lot of mistakes on your post and you get removed there's a lot of shaming that goes on in Scientology.

'People will write reports on you - it's very Big Brother. Your husband will write a report on you if they feel that you're saying something negative about the church or the Sea Org or if you're complaining like, "Oh I had to stay up till midnight to get this work done."

'They'll write a report on you thinking they're helping you. There is this sense of righteousness that everybody has in the Sea Org... It's very, very scary how bad it is.'

Katherine explained that she struggled to get paid because she did not have a Social Security Number - but the organization still took taxes out of her $15 weekly paycheck which left her 'broke.'

She said that she was teased because she only had one pair of underwear, adding: 'I also had no shoes - at one point I was walking around barefoot. There's nobody to look out for me and nobody cares I guess. That was just the way it was.'

But eventually it became too much.

'It was just weighing on me and I was like, "Maybe I'm not meant to be in the Sea Org, maybe I'm meant to just be a Scientologist - somebody who just takes services from the Church of Scientology and doesn't have to act like a Sea Org member - maybe that would be better,"' she said.

'Another huge part that was starting to come to play was being 15 or 16 and I'm aware of this rule that they made in the 80s where they said Sea Org members cannot have children. I loved kids....

'I was beginning to realize I actually want to have kids and I'm also not doing very well in the Sea Org and I also just want to have a life... There was no joy that I was getting from being in the Sea Org.'

She eventually left the training program - but was saddled with $5,000 in 'freeloader' debt that covered the cost of the courses she had studied during her time in the group.

Katherine went to school and later decided to break away from Scientology all together.

She landed a job as a personal assistant part time, which then allowed her to work on her book.

'I was just putting it all down just like barfing all my thoughts on my page and copying my journal into it,' the author divulged.

'My mom said, when I told her I had been working on writing, she said, "You better not be writing about Scientology." That was her first reaction.'

She continued: 'My book is not even attacking Scientology. It's me just telling my story and you could take what you want out of it. How I was raised was how I was raised.

'I just want people to form their own opinions about it.

'Most opinions are I was horribly neglected as a child and I was forced into hard labor and no education.'

Katherine, who has since married and had three sons, revealed that her relationship with her parents is still strained, adding: 'They chose Scientology over me and my children.

'I'm not angry at my parents because I know that they're just under undue influence. They've just been indoctrinated to what they think and if they do want to leave I'm here. I would still be here and love them.

'It's sad obviously and disappointing but I also know how much influence Scientology has on these people.'

Reflecting on her mentality now, Katherine concluded: 'I revel in being able to make my own choices for myself every day all day.

'It's the nicest feeling to not have someone telling you what to do all the time.'
The high society magazine has declared the borough the hottest place to be

Move over Broadway - it's all about Broadway Market, according to high society.

As high society figures begin flocking to East London's haunts and landmarks, Tatler has named the area the hottest part of London, while the West falls behind.

It Girls are taking over famed haunts in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, as they visit colourful Columbia Road Flower Market and long-standing pubs where up-and-coming music acts are beginning what will likely be fruitful careers.

As the high society swans head from West to East, the borough once known for its cheap eats (and cheap rent) is now one of the most desirable places in the country to live.

Among the new generation of socialites making themselves at home in East London is Lady Amelia Windsor - who has been dubbed the 'most beautiful royal'.

The It Girls love Hackney! As Tatler declares the East London borough the most desirable place to live in the UK, we take a look at how influencers and high society swans have flocked to its streets

The 43rd in line to the throne, who is the granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, has been spotted on more than one occasion strolling through the streets of Dalston.

Elsewhere, young socialite Allegra Handelsman, an It Girl who idolises the late Jane Birkin, has been spotted hanging around in the E1 postcode on many occasions.

Last year, the 21-year-old poet attended All Points East festival, which is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in Bethnal Green's Victoria Park, with her equally glamorous friends.

Atelier brands such as The Hackney Hooker, a crochet brand started by Lexie Glass in lockdown, have drawn people to the borough

Move over Broadway - it's all about Broadway Market! Jessie Bush, lifestyle guru and owner of We Are The People, often spends time at Broadway Market

Model Chloe Frater, 21, often hangs around in East London, frequenting spots in the Shoreditch area

Elsewhere, model Chloe Frater, also 21, proudly poses in spots in and around the Shoreditch area when she's based in the capital.

One of her favourite haunts is The Owl & Pussycat pub which boasts jade-green tiles and swarming crowds outside.

The establishment is known for its mammoth roast dinners and has been dubbed 'Shoreditchs local hero' by the Evening Standard.

Spots such as the Shacklewell Arms are attracting young music lovers making their way in the industry

Another popular venue beloved by the It Girls is The George Tavern in Stepney, where groups of glamorous Gen Z socialites collect for heavy nights of music and cocktails - and some even perform.

Allegra Handelsman and her pals appear to have a soft spot for the Shacklewell Arms, a music venue which hosts gigs seven nights a week - perfect for scouting ofr new and emerging talents in the industry.

The emergence of quirky, independent brands in East London has also encouraged the steady migration over from the West.

One such example is The Hackney Hooker, a crochet brand whose ethos is: 'Handmade in East London.'

Founded by Lexie Glass, who began making crochet accessories in lockdown, this independent brand is one of many ateliers based in Hackney that is attracting a new audience to the area.

Lifestyle guru and We The People founder Jessie Bush also spends her days hanging around the streets of E1.

Against the backdrop of Broadway Market, she has posted slick Instgram photos showing off her fashion prowess in the city's hottest spot - which, according to Tatler, has taken the crown of Portobello Road.
In the 1980s, Nottingham schoolteacher Carol Jennings penned a short letter which changed the way the world understood Alzheimer's dementia.

'I think my family could be of use,' it began.

Many years and billions of pounds in research funding later, it would lead to the first effective drugs for the degenerative brain disease which have recently emerged. Carol's letter, to top neurologist Professor John Hardy, detailed how her family had been blighted by dementia.

Her 63-year-old father Walter had it, she wrote, 'as does his sister, Audrey. His brother, Arthur, also may have the disease.'

Carol Jennings, who died late last month aged 70, with children Emily and John and their father, Stuart

Carol, pictured with Emily, John and Stuart, wrote a short letter in the 1980s which changed the way the world understood Alzheimer's

At the time, relatively little was known about Alzheimer's aside from that it was seen as an inevitability of old age for some. 'My doctor keeps telling me it doesn't run in the family but... it clearly does,' Carol's letter continued.

Prof Hardy says Carol's letter was a watershed moment. 'We'd been trying to find genetic mutations that might lead to Alzheimer's for some time,' he recalls. 'So we put out an advert in the Alzheimer's Society newsletter looking for families with a strong history of the disease. Carol's letter was the first response I read.'

The researchers took blood samples from the Jennings family and, several years later, concluded that many of them carried the same genetic defect  which triggered a rare hereditary form of Alzheimer's.

These remarkable events will feature in a BBC Two documentary which followed Carol, who died late last month aged 70, and her close relatives for two-and-a-half years. The Jennings Family vs Alzheimer's, which airs on May 13, also reveals that Carol's two children, John and Emily, are still grappling with the decision to take a blood test to find out whether they carry the genetic defect.

They have a 50/50 chance of having the DNA fault, as they may have inherited a healthy copy of the gene from their father who isn't affected. The siblings John, 38, and Emily, 42, fear, quite understandably, that finding out their risk would change their lives forever.

In Emily's case, it would also mean telling her young daughter Eleanor that she could develop Alzheimer's at a young age. The siblings have put off the decision because, until now, there was nothing that could be done to stop the degenerative brain disease.

But, with the UK approval of two Alzheimer's treatments expected any week now, that could soon change. John, a teacher who lives in Edinburgh with his husband Matt, describes the dilemma as 'the most difficult decision in my life'.

'The desire to have the test has always kind of ebbed and flowed,' he says. 'I don't have any plans for getting old because I don't imagine that I will. At the moment, I kind of overthink everything that could be a symptom of my brain changing.

'You can't help but think maybe it's already happening for me. My biggest fear is losing my connections to people around me. I think that's the thing that I'm scared of, being alone in a scary place.'

Emily says she is 'pretty much in denial' about her Alzheimer's risk.

'As I've got older, and I've had Eleanor, there's even more to think about, because it has a knock-on impact on her,' she says. 'If I'm getting it, she has a 50/50 chance of getting it. I don't want her thinking about it I suppose.'

But she says: 'I feel like I don't worry about anything else apart from that. I never go past the next year or two in my mind.'

Emily adds that her husband Mark has repeatedly urged her to get the test, telling her 'you're living your life like you're going to get [Alzheimer's] anyway'.

Experts say the dilemma John and Emily face is representative of the rapidly changing nature of Alzheimer's care. The Jennings family genetic defect means their immune systems are unable to clear a toxic protein from the brain  called amyloid plaque.

Researchers concluded that, over time, this plaque builds up in the brain, triggering Alzheimer's.

The genetic defect carried by Carol and her family is exceedingly rare. Fewer than 100 people in the UK today are known to have Carol's mutation, one of three genetic causes of Alzheimer's. However, the study they participated in was revolutionary because it was the first to pinpoint a cause of Alzheimer's  amyloid plaque.

Researchers noticed during post-mortums that the brains of all deceased Alzheimer's patients were covered in these tangled proteins  regardless of whether they carried this rare genetic defect.

Stuart cradles Carol in a moving scene from the BBC Two documentary which followed the family for two-and-a-half years

The Jennings family at Carol's bedside as they cared for her amid her battle with dementia

Carol, her vicar husband Stuart and baby John. The genetic defect carried by the family is exceedingly rare

Carol would have wanted her children to be tested, believes her widower Stuart, 66

Four decades and thousands of studies later most experts now believe Alzheimer's cases are caused by a buildup of amyloid.

And, in 2022, it was announced that two drugs that removed amyloid from the brain were capable of slowing the progress of Alzheimer's by as much as a third  opening up the possibility of a cure.

Both medicines, lecanemab and donanemab, are given via an infusion every two weeks. They are designed to seek out and destroy amyloid plaque in the brain.

When the results from the lecanemab study were published at the end of 2022, some doctors hailed it as 'the beginning of the end' for Alzheimer's. However, the treatments are not without controversy. Both drugs have a high rate of side effects. About one in ten trial participants experienced swelling in the brain and one in six had brain bleeds.

Three patients on the lecanemab trial died as a result of suspected side effects. There were four side effect-related deaths on the donanemab trial. The medicines are also costly. An NHS report published in February suggested that rolling out lecanemab and donanemab would cost the Health Service up to 1billion a year.

Moreover, both treatments are most effective when given to patients in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's. Lumbar puncture and amyloid PET scans can show changes early in all forms of Alzheimer's disease and researchers want more people to come forward to seek diagnosis if worried. However, experts say the fact the drugs can slow Alzheimer's at all means there is hope that, in the coming years, even more effective  and safe  amyloid-attacking medicines will be developed. Earlier this year, UK scientists also announced they had successfully developed a blood test which could spot Alzheimer's  meaning patients could also eventually be diagnosed much earlier, limiting the damage caused by amyloid.

'We are in the treatment phase now for Alzheimer's disease,' says Dr Cath Mummery, a dementia expert at University College London. 'We have a drug. It has a modest effect. It's not the magic bullet that's going to completely reverse the disease. But it's the foundation stone that we can build on.'

Experts say new Alzheimer's treatments raise hopes for patients most at risk of the disease.

While the genetic amyloid defect carried by many of the Jennings family is exceedingly rare, it is not the only early warning sign of the disease. Research suggests around a quarter of the population carry one copy of a gene called APOE4 which doubles their chances of developing Alzheimer's.

Around 3 per cent of people have two copies of APOE4 which can increase the risk of the disease by as much as eight times. In 2022, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, star of the Thor films, revealed he had taken a gene test that showed he had two copies of APOE4.

However, for these patients there has been very little that could be done to protect them against Alzheimer's once it arose.

Prof Hardy believes that amyloid plaque will eventually be treated like high cholesterol, which can be tackled with a daily statin to stop heart attacks or strokes ever occurring.

The researchers took blood samples from the Jennings family and, several years later, concluded that many of them carried the same genetic defect

Carol with Emily and baby John. Emily, who is now 42 and lives near Leicester, says she is 'pretty much in denial' about her Alzheimer's risk

'You don't wait to have a heart attack to start taking a statin,' says Prof Hardy. 'I think the same will happen with amyloid drugs. People who are at risk of the disease will start taking them early before the symptoms occur.'

He added: 'If you'd asked five years ago whether I thought it was worth testing for APOE4 I would have said it wasn't worth it, because there was nothing you could do. But now with treatments available, which will only get better, I think knowing your risk is much more valuable.'

John Jennings says the arrival of the two new Alzheimer's drugs makes him feel more optimistic about the future  and could swing him towards getting the test. 'It actually feels like I've got more time,' he says. 'It's taken some of that pressure off. It's so great to see it actually happening.'

He adds that it makes him feel 'optimistic' his niece Eleanor's generation will have an even better chance, as amyloid drugs continue to improve. However, his sister Emily says she is still unlikely to find out her risk of Alzheimer's because she frets about what testing positive would mean for Eleanor.

'I'd get upset more or I'd worry more about Eleanor,' she says. 'I'd want Eleanor to have the test because I'd want to know whether I'd given it to her. I'm in denial. I definitely don't want to think about it. I do worry if I have any sort of symptom, like cloudy brain. I think this could be the start of it.'

John and Emily's father, retired vicar Stuart, 66, said: 'It's too late for Carol I'm afraid, but hopefully not Emily and John. This is what Carol's been working for for over 30 years.'

Additional reporting by Ethan Ennals.
A woman who bought a box full of random clothes for 600 has revealed what she found inside the large package - and she believes she has made her money back.

Becky Chorlton, from Lymm in Cheshire, took a risk by purchasing the mystery box online and did not know what she was going to receive.

The TikToker - who is known for sharing her savvy tips to save money on clothes - unboxed the large package to find many high-value goodies inside.

Vintage 80s, 90s and early noughties clothing such as jumpers, trousers, t-shirts and accessories can sell for upwards of 50 per garment on websites online, depending on the brand and how rare it is to come across.

Becky managed to get a box full of big-name brands, including Ralph Lauren, Adidas and Tommy Hilfiger.

Becky Chorlton, from Lymm in Cheshire, took a risk by purchasing the mystery box online and did not know what she was going to receive

She said she got a range of 'bangers' in the box such as Quicksilver garments

She unwrapped it to find a navy American hoodie from Timberland that read: 'New England Timberland Authentic Inspiration'.

She then unwrapped a grey zip-up hoodie from Harley Davidson which had the brand's signature orange writing on it.

The garment - which was in good condition - read: 'Harley Davidson Motorcycles Bayside Portsmouth, VA,' in block writing.

Harley Davidson hoodies sell for around 50 to 100 brand new and Becky said she worked out that she got each item for 13, meaning she has already made a large profit.

The influencer then said she got 'so many bangers' and took a picture of vintage Quicksilver t-shirts.

The brand - which made surf-inspired apparel - took off in the 80s and expanded from Australia and the USA to Japan and parts of Europe.

Brand new, Quicksilver tops can sell for upwards of 25, meaning Becky has made a further profit from her mystery box.

She then revealed that she got six 90s and noughties Umbro spell out hoodies, which can sell for around 20 each.

Becky got almost 50 different pieces of clothing from the box and intends to resell them online.

Becky got a lot of 80s, 90s, and noughties garments in the mystery package which she intends to sell on

People said she had 'struck gold' with the amount of big-name branded sweatshirts she got in the box

People were thoroughly impressed with what Becky got in her parcel and took to the comments to express what their favourite pieces were

The business owner got a range of colourful sweatshirts from Ralph Lauren Chaps, Tommy Hilfiger Jeans, Puma and French brand Naf Naf.

She then delved into the box further and found more apparel from Adidas, Disney, Benneton and Dickies, which sell on websites like Urban Outfitters for upwards of 30 new.

She bought her 600 box from The Hub, a vintage wholesaler who sell bundles of different items that they source from different parts of Europe and the USA.

Becky got a range of sizes in the package which were all from XS up to XXL.

People were thoroughly impressed with what Becky got in her parcel and took to the comments to express what their favourite pieces were.

One said: The tommy jeans jumper 10/10.'

Another penned: 'Oh my days that timberland hoodie is to die for.'

A third said: 'You struck gold with that box.'

A fourth commented: 'Omg that beige quicksilver jumper.'
The King, 75, looked deep in conversation with the vicar outside church

King Charles's spirits remained high as he was spotted beaming after attending church this morning.

The monarch, 75, is reported to be on the brink of a row with his brother Prince Andrew over the state of the crumbling Royal Lodge, where the Duke of York lives - but as Charles chatted away to the vicar at a church in Gloucestershire this morning, there was no sign of any concern.

Charles's trip to church has followed a busy week which marked his return to public engagements since he was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of the year.

Earlier this week, he and Queen Camilla, 76, visited the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital in London where he met with staff treating and offering support to cancer patients.

The King also attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show in jubilant scenes as he hugged his niece Zara Tindall, with whom he is incredibly close.

King Charles appeared in high spirits this morning as he left a church in Gloucestershire following Sunday service

Today, as ever, the King attended Sunday Service at a church in Gloucestershire.

He looked sharp in a grey suit and a navy tie with red stripes - although some royal fans may be disappointed not to see his playful T-rex tie, which he donned on his visit this week.

The accessory, thought to have been gifted to him by grandson Prince Louis, six, caused quite the stir among royal fans (and dinosaur fans alike) on Tuesday.

It is made of a pale pink material and features printed images of small blue T-rex creatures across it.

The King, 75, appeared unfazed amid fears a dispute with his brother Prince Andrew may rear its head again

King Charles looked sharp in a grey suit and brown suede shoes, paired with a navy tie - which wasn't quite as playful as his T-rex accessory this week

The King was first spotted in the tie in back January 2023, when he visited Norbrook Community Centre and Bolton Town Hall to mark 100 years of Kelloggs, both in Greater Manchester.

He again sported the look to attend a church service near the Sandringham estate in January of this year.

The tie is also perhaps a nod to an inside joke shared with his beloved family, as Charles uses the initial R after his name to signify 'Rex' - which is Latin for 'King'.

As the monarch returned to public-facing duties this week, it has been said he had been eager to return to such work for a long time.

And he enjoyed some down time as well this week, as he was spotted at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday.

Meanwhile, photos of the Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate, currently the home of Prince Andrew, which appears to be crumbling, has threatened to reignite a row between King Charles and his brother over the repair of the building.

Claims emerged last year that Andrew, 64, could not meet the 400,000-a-year upkeep of Royal Lodge, which has 30-rooms and is thought to be worth 30million.

It was reported that the Duke of York, who has no apparent source of income and was forced to quit royal duties over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, was told he would have to leave the property.

He was granted 'a stay of execution', it was reported in October, after he did a deal with the King to carry out the repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed property.

But the state of the mansion's exterior has since been exposed, with pictures which are said to show that it is still in need of some work potentially sparking a new row.

The Mirror published a picture which shows how part of the property requires a fresh lick of paint, and reports that what seem to be worsening cracks are visible in the brickwork.

The paper cited a source who said: 'The Duke of York has a clear responsibility for the upkeep of the Royal Lodge estate, which is certainly not happening.

'The state of the residence will be of great concern to the King after everything that has gone on and been discussed in regards to the house.

'Prince Andrew was told he must take charge of the necessary renovations or he will have no cause to stay in the house.'
The final episode of 'Friends' aired 20 years ago today. Unlike many sitcoms, its popularity endures; younger generations relate to the characters and their close-knit bonds.

As Saturn and Pluto form a testing alignment, we might find ourselves having to deal with interpersonal challenges. But if we remember the value of our friendships, we can strengthen bonds that last long into the future.

Need to know your more? These spookily accurate birth charts, based on your unique birth placements will tell you everything you need to know. Simply enter your birth details and receive a completely Personal Birth Chart made just for you.

Read more horoscopes from MailOnline here.

OSCAR CAINER: As Saturn and Pluto form a testing alignment, we might find ourselves having to deal with interpersonal challenges

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

The spoken word might be our most obvious form of communication. But even if we speak the same language as someone, it doesn't mean we'll truly understand one another. It's easy to be so influenced by what we expect people to say that we don't listen to their words. Plus, our desire to connect to others is so strong that we hide our views and ideas in case they cause disapproval. Thus, in our desire to maintain 'good relationships', we forget the value of honesty and authenticity. Today brings a chance to speak your truth. Take it!

Want to know what the coming year has in store? Let me calculate your full personal horoscope from your exact date, time and place of birth. Click here!

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

You might not realise it, but you've got reasons to celebrate. Not only have you accomplished a lot, you're about to achieve lots more. So don't, whatever you do, dismiss an opportunity as 'unrealistic'. Or ignore something that looks 'too good to be true'. Recognise it. Seize it. And give thanks for its arrival in your world. Then, look for another. With Venus, your ruler, in your sign, the only person capable of stopping you benefitting from good fortune right now is... you! So believe in your entitlement to success. You deserve this.

A powerful cosmic climate is working in your favour right now. You can make a positive transformation and achieve what youve been hoping for. A personal birth-chart report will tell you whats really possible... and when and how. Download yours now!

GEMINI

May 22 - June 22

As Saturn links to mysterious Pluto, it's important to stay calm and sensible. You don't want to get carried away. No matter the cause (whether it's a drama, or a dream) take a breath before leaping into action. The planet of transformation is obscuring the reality. Which means it's easy to make mountains out of molehills. The trick is to pause. Stand back, and allow things to unfold. By tomorrow, you'll be better able to judge the need to respond. And don't let anyone else pressurise you into taking action either. Be firm and strong today.

Discover your inner light, the one that shines regardless of the weather in your 'Guide to the Future'.

CANCER

June 23 - July 23

Certain aspects of your world aren't going to plan. You feel like you've misread the signs. Or been misunderstood. And as a consequence, you think you've 'missed out'. But that couldn't be further from the truth. The only way you'll be left behind is if you choose to be. So, it's time to stop moping, and start doing. With your perceptivity you can transform situations that aren't right and make them work for you. You can instigate change. The coming New Moon opens a door of hope. You need to be prepared to step straight through it.

Learn the hidden secrets of the planets and how they affect your life and shape your future.

Start your journey of self-discovery here!

LEO

July 24 - August 23

Some people struggle to be kind-hearted and compassionate. But as a generous Leo, these qualities are natural attributes. Yet right now, you're in more of a strong and stroppy mood. Your patience is wearing thin. And to move things along, being firmer and more authoritative seems like a tempting option. But it's not. Sure, strength and stamina are good. But if you ask people what you can do to help, you're much more likely to get a positive response. Be at your most charming today. You'll find it works much better than being bossy.

Now, do you want to know more about whats going to happen to you, when its going to happen and why? Get yourself a full, spookily accurate horoscope birth-chart report, and youll find out. Download your Birth Chart report here!

VIRGO

August 24 - September 23

The advice 'quit while you're ahead' might sound simple. But it presumes that we'll be able to identify that moment. And it's not always easy to tell where we are. Life's more complicated than a race around a track: it's hard to tell how other people are doing and compare our progress to theirs. And we all know that comparisons are odious. Today, if you're doing what you're doing for the right reasons, you need to keep doing it. Don't think about anyone else's target, or success rate. Just know that you're on a good path... and doing OK.

There are powerful changes in store for you soon. What are they? How can you best prepare for them? Find out in a full horoscope birth-chart. It's full of amazing predictions about you and your future. Get yours now.

LIBRA

September 24 - October 23

It's one thing to be aware of where your limits lie, but feeling constrained by boundaries isn't good. With Venus, your ruler, in its other celestial home, you're encouraged to explore your creativity. Which doesn't necessarily mean starting your novel or getting your paintbrush out. It's more to do with finding a way to release your energy. Doing so will free you from a limited mindset and enable you to see what you currently can't see. When you understand how to get past something that's been restricting you, you'll feel more inspired too.

Wish you could fulfil more of your potential? A Personal Profile, based on your exact date of birth, reveals your secret gifts and blessings. Click here!

SCORPIO

October 24 - November 22

Social media platforms and online games have changed our attention span. We crave dopamine hits, the next level, more 'likes'. The idea of working towards achieving something sometimes feels a dying art form. But maybe that's too harsh. Maybe it's just that we're more easily discouraged when processes take time. As Saturn makes a tricky link to your ruler, Pluto, there are things you must do in order to grow more powerful. But if you try, the gains you make will ensure that future challenges are much easier to deal with.

Give me your date of birth and I will tell you something wonderful about your future. Download your personal horoscope here.

Oscar says if we remember the value of our friendships, we can strengthen bonds that last long into the future

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 - December 21

Some people are totally convinced that something will happen. Other folk are certain that the opposite will occur. So, who are we supposed to believe? Everyone, from astrologers, weather forecasters to statisticians seems to think they know what the future holds! We all draw on past experience and use it to construct a picture of the future as we believe it will be. Which is perfectly natural. Unless, of course, our doubts and fears influence our predictions. Today, if you believe in yourself, a dream could start to come true.

Find out what the planets have in store for you. Instantly download your Year Ahead chart. Now! Click here!

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 20

As your ruler, Saturn links with Pluto, today brings serious thoughts about profound matters. That might not sound thrilling. But as you contemplate a tricky issue, you'll learn something of value. You've recognised a powerful force, which needs to be skillfully dealt with. Whether this energy comes from a person, or a situation, it's challenging. But with greater understanding, you'll give yourself the tools to work with it in a way that benefits you. You're accessing the skills to transform an oppressive scenario. Good.

Now is the right time for you to take an in-depth, up close and personal look at your life. To get your full horoscope based on your date, time and place of birth, click here.

AQUARIUS

January 21 - February 19

If you push a tricky scenario too far what's the worst that could happen? You might end up having to retrace your steps. But if you don't push it far enough, you'll never know how far you could have got. There. That's your advice for today! Keep going. Just because you're being challenged doesn't mean you should give up. Having said that, the Saturn/Pluto link suggests that a shift in attitude will help. If you take whatever comes your way a bit less seriously, you'll find yourself perfectly positioned to make a great choice.

Reveal the astrological secrets of the coming year, today. For a complete set of totally personal predictions download 'Your Guide to the Future'.

PISCES

February 20 - March 20)

Welcome to another day on life's rollercoaster! What's in store for you today? Are you expecting to reach dizzying heights of success? Or to be plummeting down into scary uncertainty? The moments of stability we crave are, after all, only lulls between discombobulating dramas. But that's the nature of life on this spinning ball of rock! If I were you, I'd prepare for an adventure today. Although Saturn's link to transformative Pluto brings challenges, with the right mindset, dealing with them could be fun!

To find out what the planets have in store for you over the coming, critical next few months, download your Guide to the Future, now.
Claudia Gill knew something was terribly wrong when she woke up dazed and confused, squinting under bright lights in a hospital bed while hooked up to monitors.

The last thing the then 18-year-old remembered was talking to someone in a hospital hallway hours earlier after she had arrived in an ambulance with a severe headache, stiffness, vomiting and sensitivity to light and noise.

The 20-year-old, from Wollongong, had been placed in an isolation ward because she had contracted the contagious and potentially deadly meningococcal disease despite never developing the tell-tale purple rash.

She survived, albeit with lingering tinnitus and headaches, but doctors said if she had turned up to hospital just 30 minutes later she probably would have died.

Now the ringing in her ears and pain in her head serve as a persistent reminder of the illness that almost took her life.

Claudia Gill (pictured), from Wollongong, contracted the contagious and potentially deadly meningococcal disease

The 20-year-old's first symptoms were a headache, light and noise sensitivity, vomiting and stiffness. She started slipping in and out of consciousness when she was on the way to hospital

Claudia told FEMAIL she wants all Australians to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of meningococcal.

'I was so incredibly lucky - my story could have ended very differently. I urge people to learn the signs and symptoms and stay alert,' she said.

In May 2022 when she was 18, Claudia had returned to her casual retail job after a family holiday in Queensland when her symptoms started.

She had a bad headache and found she was sensitive to the lights and music. When she went home, her condition deteriorated further.

'I got a stiff neck and I was nauseous then I ended up vomiting and passing out,' she recalled.

'I was laying in my parents' bed really stiff. I couldn't move much because my head felt so swollen and sore. My dad was trying to get a doctor's appointment, but we couldn't get one.'

Claudia's dad, Sam, called an ambulance and the paramedics immediately suspected she had meningitis.

'I don't get sick that often so we thought it could have been the flu or an infection of some sort. I don't think the thought ever crossed any of our minds that it could have been meningococcal,' she said.

'I managed to walk to the ambulance up my driveway into the ambulance. Looking back, I don't know how I walked but once I got into the ambulance, I just kept getting worse and worse.'

In May of 2022 when she was 18, Claudia had returned to her casual retail job after a family holiday in Queensland when her symptoms started

On the way to the hospital, paramedics were asking Claudia questions but she found it difficult to speak and she was slipping in and out of consciousness.

The next thing she remembers was talking to a doctor in the hospital hallway and then waking up in an isolation ward hours later.

She never got the tell-tale purple rash (stock pictured)

'I had just the hospital gown on and all these monitors all over me. I remember thinking it was so bright and so loud and I was confused,' she said.

While she was asleep, doctors had run a bunch of tests and a notoriously painful and unpleasant lumber puncture which she said she was happy to be unconscious for.

Tests confirmed Claudia had contracted invasive meningococcal disease, a bacterial infection affecting the blood or the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

It is spread by tiny drops of fluid from the nose and throat via coughing and sneezing. Cases go up in autumn and winter as cold weather drives gatherings into enclosed, indoor spaces.

Meningococcal is commonly thought of as something that affects young children who break out in a rash however it is also prevalent in teenagers and young adults.

What are the signs and symptoms of Invasive Meningococcal Disease Symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease can include: Fever

Headache

Neck stiffness

Light sensitivity

Nausea and vomiting

Loss of appetite

Drowsiness and confusion

Leg pain or other muscle or joint aches and pains Meningococcal disease can cause a rash of red or purple pinprick spots, or larger bruise-like areas. The rash does not turn skin-coloured when you press on it with a finger or the side of a clear drinking glass. The rash can be a late sign of meningococcal disease. In babies and young children, other signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease can include: Difficulty feeding or reduced feeds

Irritability

Tiredness and floppiness

Seizures

Having a high moaning cry

Having a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of their head)

Pale or mottled skin Source: Health Direct Advertisement

Doctors treated Claudia for the disease based on her symptoms but before it was confirmed as meningococcal can cause disabilities or even death if it isn't treated quickly enough.

While a rash that looks like red or purple pinprick spots or a larger bruise is a sign of meningococcal and often associated with the illness, it only develops in the later stages of the infection.

Claudia said she only ever noticed two small red dots on her arm.

'I only got a tiny bit of the rash on my arm, but it was just a couple of red dots rather than that purple rash everyone knows about,' she said.

Doctors treated her for the disease based on her symptoms but before it was confirmed as meningococcal can cause disabilities or even death if it isn't treated quickly enough.

'Doctors said the time was pretty much what saved me. If we'd been half an hour later, it would have been a lot a lot worse,' she said.

Claudia spent five days in hospital on antibiotics she responded well to and was able to return home and slowly start back at work.

However, she has been left with lasting effects.

'The headaches are worse than they were before, but they're manageable. I also have a bit of damage in my ears. If I go to a concert or an event where there's loud music, I have to wear earplugs,' she said.

Claudia wants people to educate themselves on the signs and symptoms so they know when to go to hospital before it's too late(pictured with her parents Sam and Katrina and sister, Alice)

To this day, Claudia has no idea where she caught meningococcal even after medical staff tried to trace the cause to curb its spread.

'They did some tracking of where I'd been but we couldn't find anything so it's totally unknown where I got it,' she said.

Claudia wants people to know how serious meningococcal can be and educate themselves on the signs and symptoms so they know when to go to hospital before it's too late.

'It's interesting because I get one of two reactions, people are either like, "Oh, my God, that's so scary. I can't believe that happened", or they have no idea what it is and how serious it is,' she said.

'If you've got any of the symptoms take it seriously and go get it checked because it can happen to anyone at any time.'
Former Covid jab tsar Dame Kate Bingham has urged the NHS to launch cancer vaccine trials which she believes will save thousands of lives.

Dame Kate said that the experimental technology  which trains the immune system to hunt out cancer cells  will be 'ultimately how we are going to treat this terrible disease'.

The venture capitalist said that she envisioned a future where Britons received cancer 'blood tests at Boots' to spot the disease early and then received a vaccine 'at an early stage before the cancer takes over'.

She added that she was proud that the UK was the first country to administer Covid jabs and said she 'would love this to be exactly the same with cancer vaccines'.

However, Dame Kate warned that Britain was in danger of falling behind other countries because the NHS was not giving researchers time to conduct clinical trials.

Former Covid jab tsar Dame Kate Bingham (pictured) has urged the NHS to launch cancer vaccine trials which she believes will save thousands of lives

Her comments came after the announcement last week that the first personalised vaccine for melanoma skin cancer was being trialled on NHS patients. Early results suggest the jab can drastically improve the survival chances of patients with the disease  the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Trials are also underway for patients with lung, liver, kidney, bowel and pancreas cancer.

Cancer experts have claimed that the UK is entering a 'cancer renaissance' with personalised jabs to combat some of the deadliest tumours expected by 2030.

The vaccines are designed to target specific genetic mutations found in cancer cells. This means that, should the cancer return, the immune system will spot it immediately and destroy the cells before they have time to spread.

Data published last year found that melanoma patients who were given the new jab alongside another immune-boosting drug were half as likely to die or have their cancer come back after three years, compared to those taking only immunotherapy.

Cancer experts have claimed that the UK is entering a 'cancer renaissance' with personalised jabs to combat some of the deadliest tumours expected by 2030 (stock photo)

The vaccines are designed to target specific genetic mutations found in cancer cells (stock photo)

Dame Kate chaired the Government's Covid vaccine taskforce between May and December 2020, which was responsible for procuring jabs to protect people in the UK from the virus.

Speaking last Wednesday at The Great National Cancer Vaccine Summit, hosted by the health event firm Convenzis, she said that cancer vaccines would likely be given as nasal sprays or skin patches to make them affordable.

Dame Kate pointed to research from the National Audit Office on the cost of rolling out the Covid jabs  including buying equipment and hiring staff, saying 'That can't be a sustainable way to run a mass vaccine programme....we need better vaccines that are cheaper to give'.

Dame Kate also expressed concern about the fall in the number of clinical trials taking place on the NHS over the past five years.

Studies suggest there has been a 40 per cent reduction in new clinical trials since 2017. This is largely because hospitals  which can decide whether to put patients forward for trials  were focusing on clearing record waiting lists.

'[Doctors] are doing clinical trials on evenings and weekends because they realise it's the right thing to do,' she said. 'That's just not acceptable. There needs to be wholesale recognition that trials need to be set up quickly.'

However, experts say cancer vaccines could be a turning point.

Dr Lennard Lee, a cancer vaccine expert at the University of Oxford, said there are now 12 drug manufacturers testing cancer jabs in the UK. He added: 'We are already gaining the reputation as the best country in the world to develop cancer vaccines.'
One of America's most prestigious cancer hospitals is embroiled in a bullying scandal that has culminated in staff members requiring emergency mental health treatment, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Insiders have described the culture at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas as 'toxic' and 'abusive', with senior doctors in charge likened to 'the Mafia' who 'tamper' with potentially life-saving research.

So severe is the situation, a top scientist at the center is currently battling a lawsuit over allegations that she plagiarized research conducted at the institution.

Daily Mail has learned of staggering incidences of staff maltreatment - including verbal abuse, including threatening statements that have landed people in hospital emergency rooms with panic attacks.

At the center of the scandal is the 'Queen Bee' of the institution, immuno-oncologist Dr Padmanee Sharma, who is a towering figure in the world of immunotherapy research. But behind the scenes she is said to enjoy a reign of terror.

Dr Padmanee Sharma is a towering figure in cancer immunotherapy, but coworkers and former staff have alleged that she has fostered a toxic work environment in which people are publicly humiliated and threatened

Dr Sharma, 53, - who is married to the high flying Dr James Allison, namesake of the James P. Allison Institute at MD Anderson Cancer Center - is accused of verbally abusing those around her and actively trying to derail fellow scientists' careers.

MD Anderson is consistently ranked number one for cancer care in the US and conducts the most groundbreaking research across a range of oncology specialties to treat even the rarest, most intractible cancers.

The hospital is funded by the federal government, which hands out millions of dollars every year in grants for research, by patients and insurers, and by wealthy philathropists, adding to a yearly revenue of about $10 billion.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, the former assistant of Dr Sharma, who worked with her between 2019 and 2023 and asked to remain anonymous, said the abuse began within her first month of working there.

The cruel comments were first delivered by Dr Sharmas deputy Dr Sumit Subudhi, a fellow oncologist and immunologist, according to the assistant - who asked to be named 'G'.

The MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas is well known for its pioneering work in the world of immunotherapy - using the body's own immune system to hunt for cancer and destroy it.

Her concerns about his harsh words were brushed off; upper management said hes from New York, he just has a 'brash style'.

But this, according to G, was not brashness but rather hostile, aggressive verbal tirades that disparaged her intelligence and threats that she would soon be out of a job.

Within a few months, G was shifted to work directly under Dr Sharma - and co-workers warned her about the preeminent researchers temper and the work environment she cultivated.

G claims she heard one of Dr Sharma's employees had suffered a heart attack linked to the stress of the job, while another nurse practitioner working under Dr Sharma and Dr Subudhi had begun experiencing suicidal thoughts.

In late 2019, shortly before the pandemic sent most support staff away to work remotely, G herself suffered panic attacks that she once mistook for a full-blown heart attack, and she went to the hospital.

G tells of another occasion in which she was asked by Dr Sharma to update the her CV ahead of the doctor receiving a prestigious award. Thinking the document was up to date with Dr Sharmas latest accomplishments, G made a few changes and sent it off.

But the changes she made were not to Dr Sharma's standards, causing the physician to throw a fit.

G claims she pulled a chair up to her desk and held her hostage - preventing her from leaving her desk for hours, not even for bathroom or food breaks.

She is said to have made condescending comments about Gs work ethic, such as saying that if G were her husbands assistant, shed be fired by now.

G alleges that Dr Sharma's chosen favorite Dr Sumit Subudhi also subjected her and others to verbal tirades and abuse

Gs coworkers in the bullpen, all at their own cubicles, took notice, and they themselves were not immune to the abuse either, falling victim to condescending remarks or verbal tirades.

But when they voiced their concerns about Dr Sharmas actions, upper management brushed them aside, because Dr Sharma is basically untouchable, G claims.

Dr Sharma did not return DailyMail.coms request for comment.

The hospital is also currently in the crosshairs of a contentious legal dispute brought by Dr Jamie Lin, a junior scientist who specializes in cancers involving the kidneys.

She was friends with Dr Sharma and her husband for years before their contentious legal battle began earlier this year.

Dr Lin alleges that Dr Sharma strongarmed her way on to the author byline of consequential research led by Lin, despite Sharma not actually having worked on the paper, and then sabotaged its publication.

Dr Lin was preparing to submit her paper to the journal Cancer Immunology Research in the summer of 2021 on tertiary lymphoid structures, or clumps of immune cells that aggregate in kidney tissue possibly as negative side effect of receiving immunotherapy to treat cancer.

Dr Jamie Lin, a kidney cancer expert at MD Anderson, alleged that Dr Sharma took advantage of her influential position and derailed her career in medical research

Dr Sharma had been pressuring Dr Lin to add her name to the papers abstract as senior corresponding author, a designation that means she would be credited for overseeing the experimentation and receive all inquiries about the study.

She even confronted Dr Lin about it in the middle of Santa Barbara Airport and allegedly threatened to pull Dr Lins research funding.

Dr Lin said: 'There definitely is this like mafia feeling to the situation, that if she tells you to do something, you have to do it. And if you don't, then, you know, there will be repercussions.

At first, Dr Lin agreed. But when she became increasingly uncomfortable with granting the high-profile attribution to Dr Sharma, she told her so, and said she would not include Dr Sharmas name after all.

Later, Dr Lin and her co-authors filed paperwork to become inventors of the technology outlined in their paper that, if used in the field, would ensure they get some of the proceeds and the recognition. Dr Sharma tried to be included on that too.

Dr Lin said: But when I said you didn't come up with the idea, that's seen as going up against her. And I think the fact someone of my level said this was what might have triggered a lot of what happened thereafter.

'I'm like, a newly minted junior faculty member who's basically saying you didn't come up with that idea.

Dr Sharma leveraged her influence to claim to the journal that MD Anderson was in the midst of an authorship dispute, which Dr Lin denied, and the paper was placed on hold and is yet to be published.

In a legal response, Dr Sharma alleges that she had been working closely with Dr Lin and fellow researchers, frequently attending Zoom meetings and helping to analyze kidney samples, adding that sequencing TLS genes had previously been a part of her research.

Dr Sharma added that, despite her busy schedule, she took the time to help Dr Lins research because she wanted to help Dr. Lin be successful at MDACC and aid her professional growth.

A later paper by Dr Lin, again focusing on TLS, submitted to Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight was accepted for peer review - a process in which fellow scientists vet the research and spot errors or faulty reasoning.

But on the same day of its publication date, Dr Sharma allegedly emailed editors of that journal and claimed Dr Lin had committed plagiarism by not listing her as senior author.

Dr Lin said: For someone like myself who is in research, that is a deathblow to your research career. I mean, all we have is our integrity that you know youre doing good research that people will trust, that your data is sound. So when you accuse someone of plagiarism that knocks them off their feet.

And if that comes from someone with so much influence, there's no way for me to be able to say that's not true and be able to salvage my reputation.

Dr Lin said she suffered from the fallout, losing 10 pounds because she couldnt eat. She couldnt sleep, had severe anxiety, and felt a sense of constant paranoia thinking about, oh my gosh, does everyone think that I'm a cheater, that I'm a liar?

And I just kind of hid, physically and mentally. I wouldn't interact with my colleagues. And even at home, when I mean physically, I would literally find corners in the house, specifically my work room, and just be in my corner, because it just felt safe.

Dr Lin is riding out the rest of her grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, but with two papers quashed that could have bolstered her research portfolio, she fears that when the money runs out shell have nothing to show for it.

She is suing Dr Sharma for slander and defamation and is seeking $5 million in damages. But Dr Sharma, an employee of a government-funded institution, has the might of the state at her back.

Even though the case was filed against Dr Sharma as a private citizen, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running her defense. He argued that Dr Lins case should be made against MD Anderson, not Dr Sharma, and alleges that the latter is immune to any legal challenge.

An individual person who got sued as a private citizen, now claims immunity. That in itself is just so Dr Lin trailed off with a chuckle.

It means a lot to me, because it's not just my career at stake, but what it means for a future in research. And when people see this, what are they going to say or think?

MD Anderson told DailyMail.com in a statement it does not comment on internal employee matters or pending litigation.

We can share that the institution has established processes for addressing concerns filed by any MD Anderson employee.

'Upon receiving a concern, the institution immediately initiates its review process. In some cases, an external review may be required. Upon completion of each review, the institution addresses the findings and closes the matter.
Frank Stella, a painter, sculptor and printmaker whose constantly evolving works are hailed as landmarks of the minimalist and post-painterly abstraction art movements, died Saturday at his home in Manhattan. He was 87.

Gallery owner Jeffrey Deitch, who spoke with Stella's family, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Stellas wife, Harriet McGurk, told the New York Times that he died of lymphoma.

Born May 12, 1936, in Malden, Massachusetts, Stella studied at Princeton University before moving to New York City in the late 1950s.

At that time many prominent American artists had embraced abstract expressionism, but Stella began exploring minimalism. By age 23 he had created a series of flat, black paintings with gridlike bands and stripes using house paint and exposed canvas that drew widespread critical acclaim.

Over the next decade, Stella's works retained his rigorous structure but began incorporating curved lines and bright colors, such as in his influential Protractor series, named after the geometry tool he used to create the curved shapes of the large-scale paintings.

In the late 1970s, Stella began adding three-dimensionality to his visual art, using metals and other mixed media to blur the boundary between painting and sculpture.

Stella continued to be productive well into his 80s, and his new work is currently on display at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York City. The colorful sculptures are massive and yet almost seem to float, made up of shining polychromatic bands that twist and coil through space.

The current work is astonishing, Deitch told AP on Saturday. He felt that the work that he showed was the culmination of a decades-long effort to create a new pictorial space and to fuse painting and sculpture. (AP)
There is one thing more useful than a recommendation from a trusted source  and that is getting the same suggestion from several.

Take a film recommendation for example  you might take notice when you read an excellent review of a movie, but you are even more likely to go to the cinema if you see several.

And in the world of investing, recommendations are especially valuable. That is because investors have several thousand funds to choose between  and whittling that number down to a handful to hold in a portfolio is no easy task.

That is why Wealth & Personal Finance has teamed up with consultancy The Lang Cat to compile a list of the most-recommended funds by the UK's top six investment platforms.

Hot tips: We have teamed up with consultancy The Lang Cat to compile a list of the most-recommended funds by the UK's top six investment platforms

All six have their own list of recommended funds  which stretch to between 49 and 93 each. The Lang Cat has cross compared these lists to find the funds that crop up again and again.

There is no guarantee that these funds are good options for your portfolio. After all, the investment platforms' lists are not designed as personal recommendations, but rather as ideas to consider.

But, since these funds are so popular, it may be worth running the rule over them and considering whether they fit your own investment strategy.

What are recommended funds?

Investment platforms understand that narrowing down thousands of funds to just a few can be daunting. It can be difficult for investors to know where to start. So, to help make life easier for customers, most publish a list of their favourite funds that they are happy to recommend.

AJ Bell's list of 76 is called its Favourite Funds; Barclays Smart Investor has 50 on its Funds List; Bestinvest has 93 on its Best Funds List; Fidelity has 49 on the Select 50; Hargreaves Lansdown 72 on its Wealth Shortlist; and Interactive Investor 62 on its Super 60.

The number of recommendations on each list tends to fluctuate over time.

Each platform has its own methodology for picking what goes on its favourite funds list. Most will consider factors including how the fund has performed compared to its rivals, how much it costs and how risky its strategy is in comparison to the returns it hopes to achieve.

There is no guarantee that the platforms will select the winners.

What is certain is that any funds on these lists should have gone through a lot of due diligence  both to get on and to stay on the list. Recommended fund lists have proven controversial in the past. City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has had them under scrutiny.

And their reputation was tarnished by the fact that Hargreaves Lansdown held the failed Woodford Equity Income Fund on its best-buy list despite growing industry concerns about it.

But, as a result, no investment platform wants to be caught short recommending something that comes unstuck. All will have robust strategies to keep an eye on their lists and make sure they deliver what they have promised to investors.

Interestingly, The Lang Cat research reveals that there is surprisingly little overlap between the lists. There are more than 300 funds that appear across the six lists. Of these, not a single one is on all six lists, only one is across five, five appear across four lists and just 15 funds are on three lists.

Mike Barrett, consulting director at The Lang Cat, says the lists can be useful, but investors must make sure funds meet their own needs and appetite for risk.

'Best ideas lists can help cut through some of the noise but, as the lack of correlation across the lists from the six biggest platforms shows that even the experts disagree on which funds are best,' he says.

The fund that is recommended most

Blackrock Continental European Income Fund is the only investment named on five of the six lists. A 1,000 investment in this fund would have grown to 1,520 over the past five years. That is slightly above the average for this sector of 1,479.

The fund invests in large companies based across Europe, the likes of Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk and French Louis Vuitton and Moet owner LVMH.

It aims to provide investors an income with dividends as well as growth from rising share prices. Hargreaves Lansdown points out that although the fund's managers invest in mainly larger, more established European firms, they have the flexibility to invest in higher-risk small and medium-sized outfits as well.

Top pick: Blackrock Continental European Income Fund backs names including French Louis Vuitton and Moet owner, LVMH

Interactive Investor is also a fan. It says the fund benefits from an experienced management duo of Andreas Zoellinger and Brian Hall and a well-resourced team.

It also likes its 'style-agnostic' approach  it doesn't just focus on a single strategy, such as looking for companies that appear cheap or are currently out of favour. 'The manager's approach leads to a steadier return profile and to outperformance during periods of market weakness.'

Interactive investor adds that the fund produces good returns for the amount of risk it takes in comparison to its peers.

Funds with four recommendations

Five funds are recommended by four different investment platforms. Fidelity Global Dividend is one. A 1,000 investment five years ago would now be worth 1,503, which is slightly higher than the average return for similar global equity income funds of 1,481.

The fund invests in large companies from around the world such as consumer goods giant Unilever, information provider RELX and German stock exchange Deutsche Borse.

Interactive Investor says the fund typically outperforms strongly during periods of market weakness, while keeping up in rising markets, too. It has yielded an income in a range of 3.1 and 3.3 per cent over the past three years.

Also named across four lists is the Fidelity Index World Fund, which aims to track the performance of the MSCI World  in other words, an index of the biggest companies from around the globe.

An investment of 1,000 five years ago would be worth 1,718 today. This compares to the average for global funds of 1,528. Its top holdings are the biggest companies of today: Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia and Amazon.

There are several similar global index funds available to investors. One reason this one may have been singled out by four providers is price. With fees at just 0.12 per cent it's a very low-cost way to get access to more than 1,600 of the biggest companies in the world.

iShares Japan Equity Index Fund closely tracks the performance of the FTSE Japan Index  in other words an index of the biggest companies in Japan.

It has turned a 1,000 investment into 1,390 over five years, compared to an average of 1,354 for all Japanese funds available to UK investors.

Top holdings include carmakers Toyota and Mitsubishi and electronics firm Sony.

It is a passive fund, which means holdings are chosen to follow the index rather than handpicked by a fund manager. That means it is very low cost  with an ongoing charge of just 0.08 per cent.

Bestinvest is one of the platforms that recommends it. It says the fund 'has consistently demonstrated strong characteristics over the long term' and 'its fee structure is extremely attractive  it is ultra-low cost.'

Liontrust UK Growth Fund invests almost exclusively in UK companies. Its top holdings include Shell, AstraZeneca, BP, Unilever and GSK. It has turned a 1,000 investment into 1,269 over five years, in comparison to an average of 1,206 for UK funds.

Hargreaves Lansdown is among the four platforms that recommend the fund on their list. It says the fund's approach is to find the few companies with an edge over the competition that will allow them to earn above-average profits for the long term.

It adds: 'The managers believe the hardest economic advantages to copy are intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks, strong distribution channels and significant repeat business. That's why a company must have at least one of these attributes before it's considered for the fund.'

Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders Sustainability Fund invests in shares of large and medium-sized listed companies that are based in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan.

Around 40 per cent of the portfolio is invested in Indian companies, followed by 12 per cent in Taiwanese firms.

Top holdings include automobile company Mahindra & Mahindra, Indian bank HDFC and electronics manufacturer Samsung.

The fund has turned 1,000 into 1,330 over five years, in comparison to its benchmark of other so-called specialist funds of 1,293.

Fidelity is among the platforms that like this fund. Stewart Investors is one of the pioneers in sustainable investing, which is one reason Fidelity favours it.

The platform says: 'The manager has a long tradition of investing in the region and an experienced team of experts. A leading company, in Stewart's view, is one with a resilient balance sheet, good franchises, a strong culture and a focus on sustainability.

'The manager performs detailed research, has on-the-ground specialists and is clear on what an ideal investment looks like.'

But don't just buy the lot!

Recommended funds should be treated as ideas to consider  inspiration rather than prescriptions. Were you to buy the lot, you would likely end up with a very skewed portfolio.

Most experts tend to agree that the key to a good portfolio is balance  a nice blend of geographies and sectors. That way, you're not overexposed if one region or sector takes a bad hit.

If you buy funds purely on recommendations, you may end up with three Japan funds and no exposure to the US, for example.

Also, remember that these recommendations change regularly, so you will need to keep your eye on the ball.

For example, The Lang Cat points out that around 70 per cent of the funds on Fidelity's list have changed in the past two years.

When a platform removes a recommendation, you may need to consider whether it still fits your strategy or if there are grounds for removing it from your portfolio.

However, bear in mind that buying and selling regularly tends to incur fees, which detracts from your investment returns.

When you buy you should be hoping to hold for the long term.
Boston has launched an AI taskforce in an attempt to stop an 'exodus' of companies fleeing the former hub for the bright lights of the Bay Area and New York.

Despite its status as a leading light of the 1980s AI revolution - once nicknamed AI Alley - and being home to two of the top universities in the world, MIT and Harvard, Boston is struggling to retain top tech talent.

Drawn in by the promise of networking opportunities and investors, founders are increasingly ditching the Massachusetts city and moving to bigger technology hubs.

Co-founder of networking group AI Innovators Community, Abhi Yadav, told The Boston Globe: 'I'm seeing the exodus every week. Founders are trying to make inroads in New York or the Bay Area.'

Boston has been forced to take action to try to stem the flow, with Governor Maura Healey setting up a 26-person AI taskforce and proposing $100 million in funding to create an 'Applied AI Hub'.

Last week Boston put on a conference at the MIT Media Lab for entrepreneurs, researchers and top executives

Pictured: A 1978 billboard from Boston's by-gone AI boom era, listing a number of top tech firms along with the anecdotal nickname for the area, 'AI Alley.' Boston was a leading light of the 1980s AI revolution but is now struggling to retain top talent

In an effort to stop the exodus, Governor Maura Healey (pictured) has set up an AI taskforce and proposed $100 million in funding to create an 'Applied AI Hub'

For start-ups, the financial draw of the Bay Area is clear.

An April report from nonprofit Bay Area Council Economic Institute, seen by The Globe, found that of the $31billion invested in US AI companies last year, $22billion went to companies based in the Bay Area.

The heavy investment and high density of big name tech companies has earned the Hayes Valley neighborhood in San Francisco the nickname 'Cerebral Valley'.

The area is filled with erudite start-ups and networking events with high-flying investors - including industry leaders OpenAI, founded by Sam Altman, and chatbot start-up Anthropic, which just received a $2.75billion investment from Amazon.

The influx has made San Francisco the epicenter of AI development, drawing businesses back in after many had fled to escape the city's 'doom loop' which has seen soaring crime and homelessness.

Meanwhile Boston, despite its high-density Ivy Leagues churning out stellar tech and AI whizzes after graduation, is increasingly viewed as a good launchpad for companies that then move on elsewhere.

CEO of Cambridge-based C10 Labs, Shahid Azim, told The Globe: 'I do think there's critical mass here if you're a startup person.'

The issue is keeping the companies in the city once they grow beyond the initial stages, Azim said many developers are being 'heavily recruited' by alluring San Francisco companies.

Heavy investment and high density of big name tech companies has earned a neighborhood in San Francisco the nickname 'Cerebral Valley'

Pictured: Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, whose offices are in San Francisco

The area is filled with start-ups and networking events with investors, as well as industry leader OpenAI

Other intelligence computer system founders are fleeing down to the East Coast's financial and cultural hub - New York - after getting an initial boost in Massachusetts.

Bozanka Vitanova founded her AI company TeamLift after taking part in the MassChallenge entrepreneurship program in Boston.

But after the pandemic, she decided to relocate to New York.

She told the Globe, 'Boston gave me that early push,' but New York feels more dynamic. She said: 'It's easier to meet people  there are more events, more opportunities to meet clients, to meet investors.'

Leila Pirhaji, founder of ReviveMed, earned a doctorate at MIT and stayed on as researcher before founding her company.

ReviveMed started out in a shared lab space in Cambridge, but Pirhaji has now moved to San Francisco.

She said: 'The AI scene here is definitely bigger than the Boston area. You randomly meet people who do cool stuff.'

Images of crowds of experts at 'Forging the Future of Business with AI Summit' at MIT

Panelist included world-renowned AI industry experts, hosted at the Boston school

Gov Healey's AI taskforce is testament to the city's commitment to keep talent from fleeing - but as the lucrative industry continues to grow, $100 million in funding may not be sufficient in the face of the Bay Area's multi-billion-dollar AI ecosystem.

The proposed AI hub will examine how artificial intelligence can be used in Massachusetts' health care, financial services, and education sectors.

The governor said earlier this year: 'Massachusetts has the opportunity to be a global leader in Applied AI  but it's going to take us bringing together the brightest minds in tech, business, education, health care and government.

'That's exactly what this task force will do. Members of the task force will collaborate on strategies that keep us ahead of the curve by leveraging AI and GenAI technology, which will bring significant benefit to our economy and communities across the state.'

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said: 'Our administration acknowledges AI as a transformative technology set to influence various aspects of our nation's economy.

'This Task Force will position Massachusetts as a hub for talent and business excellence, as we examine economic shifts driven by AI with the goal of establishing our state as a global leader in its effective and responsible utilization.'

Bozanka Vitanova founded her AI company TeamLift in Boston but now lives in New York

CEO of Cambridge-based C10 Labs, Shahid Azim, told The Globe: 'I do think there's critical mass here if you're a startup person'

The AI Strategic Task Force will consist of 26 individuals 'representing members of the business community, higher education institutions, and state and local government.'

Among those appointed to the force are Erica Bradshaw, Harvard's Chief Technology Officer and Mike Milligan, University of Massachusetts' Vice President.

Mayor Michelle Wu also welcomed the task force, saying: 'Technology is critical to delivering services and connecting residents in Boston and across Massachusetts to opportunity.'

Secretary of Technology Services and Security and State Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder added: 'We have the conditions in place here in Massachusetts to cement our standing as the hub of AI and emerging technology in the future.

'[This] recognizes the urgent need for the state to engage with AI now, with the understanding that we do our best work together, with state policy leaders, the innovation industry, and higher education all at the table.

'We are working on projects that capitalize on this rich ecosystem to move our entire state forward.'

Last week the city put on a conference at the MIT Media Lab for entrepreneurs, researchers and top executives from Meta, Nvidia, and Google.

The 'Forging the Future of Business with AI' conference described itself as 'an exclusive, breakthrough event featuring the most innovative minds leveraging the power of AI.'

During Boston's heyday as 'AI Alley', companies including Palladian Software, Lisp Machines and Symbolics were created at MIT's groundbreaking AI Lab.

The city was once thought of as the home of 'Great Beginnings', but it's not clear if these new schemes will be enough to turn the tide flowing into Cerebral Valley.
The data centre is set to bring jobs to Waltham Cross for years to come

Rishi Sunak has hailed the project as a 'huge vote of confidence' for Britain

Construction on the 33-acre site that used to be fields began in January

Residents living next to Google's 790million data centre claim it is making them ill, ruining their lives and taking thousands off their house prices.

Construction of the massive internet facility on the 33-acre site - which used to be fields - in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire began in January and left locals furious.

The project - dubbed the 'Silicon Valley of Hertfordshire' - has won praise from Rishi Sunak who hailed the move as a 'huge vote of confidence' for Britain, with the company vowing the centre will support the firm's AI capabilities.

The data centre will power services such as Maps and Cloud and create jobs in the area north of London for years to come.

It is the tech giant's first major data centre in the UK and means when you use Google search, your device will likely be firing 0s and 1s to Waltham Cross.

But locals say they are moving as a result and have complained construction noise is keeping them awake and that the project is ruining once pleasant views.

Construction of the massive data centre began in January on the 33-acre site in Waltham Cross

Google have said they plan to finish construction of the data centre by 2025

Pamela Barnett, 61, who has lived at her property within 200 yards of the site for 13 years, said the project is 'awful'

Picture shows a housing estate next to the construction site with some houses only feet away

Dionne Brown, 44, who lives 20 yards from the site, said: 'It used to be amazing here. That's why I moved six years ago. It was peaceful, you could hear the birds sing and it was lovely.

'The views were stunning and it was like being in the countryside. Now it's appalling.

'It makes me upset. Google can just come in and do what they want and nobody cares about us. There's no benefits to locals, other than ruining our views and noise all hours of the day.'

The property manager said she now has to have her windows shut all day because of the 'constant noise', making it 'hell' in warm weather.

Ms Brown also said she believes her and her child may have fallen ill because of it.

She said: 'My boy has had a really bad chesty cough for about four weeks. I am sure it has got something to do with it.

'It seems such a coincidence.'

Another man, who has lived opposite for 70 years, said he 'detested' the project.

He said: 'I cannot stand it. I cannot have my windows open. It has ruined everything.

'If they are so committed to the environment, then why have they done this? Why not turn it into a vegetable field?

'Then seasonal, and I mean seasonal, vegetables could be grown instead. We're just pawns in a much bigger game at play here.

'This is not England anymore. I was born in Britain but I do not feel this is Britain anymore. I don't mean immigration. I mean globalisation.

Dionne Brown, 44, (pictured) who lives 20 yards from the site, said she believes it made her son ill

Local residents have complained of construction noise keeping them awake. Picture shows dump trucks and diggers at work on the site

An architect's impression of how the data centre will look from across the New River

Picture shows the data centre being constructed from across the New River

Ms Brown said it is 'hell' in hot weather because she has to keep her windows closed because of the noise

'We're slaves for big business and big corporations. We live in a globalised world. It's insane.'

The resident added that the project was an example of Britain losing its 'fabric'.

He said: 'We have been hijacked. It's all about power. We have no power. We don't care. I have lived here for 70 years, that does not bother them.

'They care about profit and god knows what else. I should have been listened to.

'Religion is dead in this country. It's just business. And the noise is terrible.'

Roger Sullivan, 44, said he was moving out of Waltham Cross because of the data centre.

The engineer said: 'It's a nightmare. It'll ruin our house prices. It was such an asset, a lovely green and pleasant land. Now it is all industry.

'I cannot see why they would be interested in employing locals. It'll all be US tech geeks.

'We'll get lost and have to put up with all of the negative aspects of it all.'

Pamela Barnett, 61, who has lived at her property within 200 yards of the site for 13 years, said the project is 'hated locally'.

Pamela Barnett (pictured) said the project is 'hate locally' and suggested the community was being 'picked on'

The Hertfordshire data centre (pictured) will be Google's first in the UK and will create jobs in the area for years to come

Google bought the land called Maxwell's Farm West in 2020 and plan to finish construction by 2025

Picture shows an architect's impression of the finished data centre north of London

She said: 'I'm from Doncaster originally, and I don't want to sound like a moaning northerner, but it's awful.

'It's dreadful. Why there? There's other green space nowhere near residents which could have been chosen.

'We have been picked on. I moved here for peace and quiet. Now it's just noise, noise, noise. It won't benefit me. It won't benefit locals. But we do not care.'

Google acquired the land called Maxwell's Farm West in 2020 and they plan to finish construction in 2025.

Mr Sunak said of the project: 'Google have announced a further $ 1 billion investment to open a new data centre in Hertfordshire.

'It's a huge vote of confidence in the UK as the largest tech economy in Europe, bringing with it good jobs and the infrastructure needed to support British business.'

A Google spokesperson said: 'Our $1 billion investment in Waltham Cross will help bring crucial compute capacity to the UK, supporting British businesses and people using Google services.

'Were committed to being active members of the community and partnering closely with local leaders to meaningfully contribute to their priorities.'
An eight-acre luscious green space located in the centre of an industrial estate is up for grabs for 75,000 - but there is more to the deal than meets the eye.

The eight acres of land which sits near the Euroway Industrial Estate in Bradford initially appears to be a green oasis.

Although the land boasts a pond, which is one acre wide, and is teaming with wildlife - there is a catch.

Any potential buyers would not only be buying the private land but also the bridleway and footpath that comes with it.

According to auctioneers Pugh Property, the site has a bridle path running along its eastern boundary, whilst a walkway is situated to the West.

An eight acre green oasis located in the centre of an industrial estate in Bradford is being auctioned for 75,000 (pictured)

Although the green paradise boasts a great location and an acre wide pond - the purchase comes with a catch

People are also able to gain access to the site via two public footpaths emerging from both Commondale and Transperience Way.

Both bridleways and footpaths are classed as 'a public right of way', according to GOV, UK.

If a stretch of land has a 'public right of way' then the owner is not allowed to obstruct the route with walls, hedgerows, padlocked gates or any type of temporary fencing.

They are also required to ensure the paths are clear and visible so users are not endangered.

Most importantly, members of the public are free to use them, with obstructing this type of path being a criminal offence.

If a landowner decides to cordon off a public right of way, the highway authority can remove it and can also claim the costs from the property owner.

Pugh Property also explained that the green oasis could be used in a 'variety' of ways by a buying hopeful but is still 'subject to planning permission'.

However, the site does have some advantages being situated a mere three miles from Bradford's bustling city centre.

The area also has easy access to the busy M606.

The land will be auctioned at a starting guide price of 75,000 on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Buyers should also be quick to make their bids as the auction will close the following day May 22.

There is one bridleway as well as a public footpath located on the land (pictured: the plot in Bradford from a birds-eye view)
Eleven women were hospitalized after being treated by unlicensed providers

Doctors and government agencies are sounding the alarm after 22 women suffered adverse reactions from counterfeit Botox, which landed half of them in the hospital.

As of April 18, 22 people from 11 states have reported harmful reactions after receiving injections of the popular filler from unlicensed or untrained providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

None of the women underwent the procedure in a medical setting - instead describing getting Botox in spas and at home.

The harmful reactions were reported between November 4, 2023, and March 31, 2024, in a slew of states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

Aside from untrained people administering Botox, the issue goes even deeper - to the point where licensed medical professionals are being targeted by manufacturers peddling counterfeit product.

'We are being contacted weekly by third-party companies that offer us Botox and fillers for a fraction of the price,' said Dr. Akis Ntonos, co-founder of Aion Aesthetics, a leading aesthetic clinic based in New York.

Medical professionals and government agencies in the United States are warning consumers against receiving Botox from unlicensed providers after a rash of hospitalizations. (Pictured: a licensed professional injects cosmetic filler)

Counterfeit products may be difficult to spot, but there are clues: the active ingredient should not be displayed as 'Botulinum Toxin Type A,' for instance. A lot number of C3709 also indicates a fake

The 'magic ingredient' in Botox is a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Hence the brand name - a portmanteau of 'botulinum' and 'toxin.'

According to the World Health Organization, these toxins are among the deadliest in the world - but only small, localized doses are used in treatments, meaning side effects are usually minimal and temporary.

'We call it a neuromodulator,' Ntonos explained. 'Basically, it interrupts the pathways between your brain and the receptors in your muscles.'

The toxin prevents the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, from axon endings in the brain, causing muscle paralysis and leading to the appearance of smoothed wrinkles.

Botox uses a sterile, freeze-dried form of botulinum toxin type A that meets medical control standards. The effects can last anywhere from three to 12 months.

And it has proven popular in the United States, with 8,736,591 people receiving Botox or similar treatments in 2022, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

But this high demand begets other problems. Last May, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that officers in Cincinnati had seized 78 shipments of unapproved injectables over a two-week period.

The product was traveling from Bulgaria, Spain, China and Korea to U.S. states including Florida and New York, where adverse reactions have been reported.

Botox, a portmanteau of 'botulinum' and 'toxin', uses a sterile, freeze-dried form of botulinum toxin type A that interrupts neural signals to paralyze muscles

Dr. Akis Ntonos, co-founder of Aion Aesthetics, told DailyMail.com that manufacturers of unapproved injectables reach out to his office 'weekly'

Ntonos told DailyMail.com that counterfeit fillers may go for anywhere between a fifth to an eighth of the price charged by Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox.

'So, you can imagine, that's very appealing to some practices,' he said.

But unapproved products may contain unpurified or perilously high doses of botulinum toxin, or possibly none of the drug at all - and results can be catastrophic.

People have reported blurry and double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, slurred speech, fatigue and weakness - and, in the most extreme cases, difficulty breathing.

In 20 of the 22 cases announced last month, 11 women were hospitalized and six were treated with botulism antitoxin due to concerns that the toxin had spread beyond the injection site.

Of seven people tested for botulism, which can be fatal, six were negative. Results for one person are pending.

The women ranged from 25 to 59 years old, with a median age of 41 years. Twenty reported receiving botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic purposes.

Troublingly, all of the women reported receiving the injections from unlicensed or untrained people or in non-healthcare settings.

The rash of hospitalizations sparked concern from government agencies, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted consumers to the sale of counterfeit Botox on April 18.

The report included photos of counterfeit packaging showing that many, if not all of the products were stamped with the name 'Allergan' - the real manufacturer of Botox.

Eleven women were hospitalized, some as recently as March, after receiving suspected counterfeit fillers (pictured). Six of these women were treated with botulism antitoxin. Pictured: Counterfeit Botox boxes

Some fake packaging features a distinctive holographic firework pattern on the box (pictured)

The authentic product is sold only in 50-, 100- and 200-unit dose forms. Any language other than English on the packaging should also raise red flags

But according to the FDA, there are warning signs.

AbbVie, which acquired Allergan in 2020, sells the authentic products in 50-, 100- and 200-unit dose forms. Counterfeits may be dosed into an easily distinguishable 150 units.

The manufacturer should be listed as either 'Allergan Aesthetics / An AbbVie Company' or 'abbvie' on the outer carton, and FDA-approved Botox displays the active ingredient as 'OnabotulinumtoxinA' on the outer carton and vial.

Counterfeit packaging, meanwhile, lists the active ingredient as 'Botulinum Toxin Type A' and brands the product as either 'BOTOX COSMETIC / onabotulinumtoxinA / for Injection' or 'OnabotulinumtoxinA / BOTOX / for injection.'

Other giveaways are an outer carton and vial containing the lot number C3709C3, or an outer carton in any language other than English.

Some of the most recent counterfeits also feature a distinctive holographic firework pattern on the box.

A simple Google search uncovers a clamoring sea of competitors, all trying to pass their product off as genuine in order to turn a profit.

'Botox 100IU is produced by Allergan  a leading company in the pharmaceutical industry,' reads one Turkish-language website for a company purportedly based in South Korea.

'It has undergone multiple testings, and after a set of researches, Botox demonstrates amazing results.'

Another site based in India promises 48-hour shipping for a product labelled 'Botulinum Type A - Botox Cosmetic' on the box, which also bears the Allergan logo.

Reported adverse reactions include double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, slurred speech, fatigue, and weakness. In the most extreme cases, difficulty breathing has been recorded

So what makes counterfeit Botox so dangerous? Medical professionals say it is difficult to pare down to one reason.

'In the vial, there might be the actual neuromodulator, but the problem is, those toxins are temperature dependent,' Ntonos explained.

'If something is shipped overseas in a container and the temperature is not consistent over time, that's when we can have problems. It doesn't matter just what's in the vial, because it could be a combination of black-market chemicals. We don't know.'

FDA Press Officer Amanda Hils told DailyMail.com that products sold by illegal pharmacies have the potential to cause serious damage.

'This is because the products, although being marketed as authentic, may actually be counterfeit or contain ingredients that are incorrect, harmful, too little, too much, or even no active ingredient at all,' she said.

'The active ingredient is what makes the medicine effective for the illness or condition it is intended to treat. If a medicine has unknown active ingredients, it could fail to have the intended effect, could have an unexpected interaction with other medicines a patient is taking, or could cause dangerous side effects.'

Hence the root of the problem - in many cases, consumers and providers alike simply don't know what they're buying. This includes medical professionals whose practices are striving to cut costs.

Manufacturers know it, too, and some will go out of their way to target those who are licensed to perform the procedure.

'They see if they can find me online, they see that they're doing injectables. So I'm an easy target for them,' Ntonos said.

'Like, "Oh, this person pays $10 for their Botox and now I can give it to you for $4." Why would they say no? Right? And let me tell you, even medical professionals will buy the cheaper product.'

According to Hils, federal law requires that all health care providers who dispense or administer prescription drugs purchase those products only from authorized sources.

And while discounts may seem enticing, they come at a costly price - the revocation of one's medical license, which is required to administer Botox in the first place.

This leads to an even larger issue, which the CDC alluded to in their report. Aestheticians, who often work in spas and beauty salons, cannot legally offer the drug.

'When we go to conferences, we try to speak about this issue a lot, because in the market, especially in New York City, people see a big range of prices with Botox or fillers,' Ntonos said.

'Botox is an FDA-approved drug. No matter how much we buy as providers, it's illegal for companies to discount the product for us. A lot of people tell me, "Oh, my provider buys a lot of product, so they get it for cheaper." That's a red flag.'

Ntonos urges clients to find a doctor they trust rather than 'shopping for prices'. Aestheticians, who operate in spas and beauty salons, are not licensed to perform the procedure

The FDA is currently working with AbbVie to investigate suspected counterfeit Botox products found in the United States.

The agency advises consumers to ask their provider if they are licensed and trained to administer the drug, and to confirm that they are receiving a product from an authorized source.

Hils urged the public to take advantage of the FDA's online safety resources.

'Our BeSafeRx campaign provides consumers with tools to help them safely buy drugs online,' she explained. 'Patients can locate a state-licensed online pharmacy on this site, as well as read tips for identifying unsafe online pharmacies.'

In the case of unexpected side effects or quality issues, consumers should notify the FDA using Medwatch, the agency's product safety reporting program.

'If the public encounters websites that may be illegally selling medicine, that can be reported to FDA as well,' she said.

Patients should make sure that an online pharmacy requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional, has a physical address and telephone number in the United States, is licensed by the state board of pharmacy and has a licensed pharmacist available to answer their questions.

Ntonos encourages clients to be wary if a practice doesn't offer a rewards program associated with pharmaceutical manufacturers. These include Alle for Allergan and ASPIRE for Galderma, among others.

The most important tip of all? Know your doctor.

'I tell people you need to find someone you trust and you need to interview them and you need to build a relationship,' Ntonos said.

'And once you find this person, you need to trust them. Don't shop for prices. This is a medical service. If you went for a surgery, you wouldn't look for the cheapest price - you'd look for the best outcome.'

Botox is by no means a cheap service, Ntonos continued.

'If this is something out of your price range right now, don't do it now. Save the money and do it in the future. And have a better outcome than risking paying maybe half the price for something that's illegal.'
The sheer scale of the poison flowing into the country's rivers and waterways is starting to emerge after scientists took a look at one of America's biggest meat processors.

Tyson Foods released 87 billion gallons contaminated with cancer-causing cyanide, nitrates, chloride, phosphorous and oil directly from 41 plants into public waters across 17 states between 2018 and 2022.

The toxic water would cover 165 square kilometers to a depth of two meters and fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools every hour.

But the study by the Union of Concerned Scientists looked at just two percent of meat processing plants nationwide leaving the total figure terrifyingly uncertain.

The report's authors slam feeble federal regulation and state houses in the pocket of a 'Big Ag' which can pollute with impunity.

'As a multibillion-dollar company, Tyson can treat even hefty fines and penalties for polluting the environment as simply the cost of conducting business its way,' they wrote. 'This has to change.'

Billionaire John Tyson has chaired the Fortune 100 family firm since 1998 and helped it record a $2.49 billion profit in 2023 from its 123 meat processing plants across the country

The firm's biggest plant in Dakota City was responsible for releasing 8,000 tons of toxic chemicals into the waters between 2018 and 2022

The plant is one of Nebraska's top employers but situated just 500 feet from the Missouri River

'There are over 5,000 meat and poultry processing plants in the United States, but only a fraction are required to report pollution and abide by limits.'

Agriculture consumes more fresh water than any other human activity, and meat processors use nearly a third of that, leaving it awash with toxic chemicals, blood, feces, micro-organisms and pathogens including E. Coli and Enterococcus.

WATER POLLUTANTS DISCHARGED FROM 41 TYSON PLANTS: 2018 TO 2022 POLLUTANT TOTAL DISCHARGE (lbs) CHLORIDE 138,073,780 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS 82,506,383 SULFATE 40,263,163 NITROGEN 34,248,180 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS 27,644,162 BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (MICRO-ORGANISMS) 15,242,691 CHLORIDES AND SULFATES 13,460,291 SODIUM 7,564,800 PHOSPHOROUS 5,061,259 OIL AND GREASE 3,951,391 CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND 2,439,085 CARBONACEOUS 1,041,834 FLUORIDE 76,127 ALUMINUM 57,476 IRON 41,768 BORON 31,759 TOTAL RESIDUAL CHLORINE 8,548 ZINC 5,300 COPPER 1,031 BARIUM 799 FOAMING AGENTS 770 MANGANESE 749 CYANIDE 510 HYDROCARBON 364 TOTAL PHENOLS 165 SELENIUM 164 NICKEL 161 CHROMIUM 73 SILVER 15 MERCURY 0.01 ALL POLLUTANTS 371,722,803

Fifteen states suffer drinking water with higher than permitted levels of nitrates which lead to blood disorders and brain defects in infants, and have been estimated to cause up to 300 cases of cancer a year in Iowa alone.

Half of the contaminants found in the study were dumped into the waters of Missouri, Illinois and Nebraska, including 8,000 tons from Tyson's biggest plant at Dakota City, just 500 feet from the Missouri river.

'This Tyson plant helped put me through college and supports a lot of migrant workers,' Rogelio Rodriguez of Conservation Nebraska told the Guardian.

'But there's a dark side like the water and air pollution that most people don't pay attention to because they're just trying to survive.

'If regulations are lax, corporations have a tendency to push limits to maximize profits, we learnt that during Covid.'

Across Nebraska the firm's five largest plants released more than 55,000 tons of pollutants, including 2,000 tons of nitrates.

Once in the waterways the toxic discharges join the chemical run-off from fields fertilized by the state's highly consolidated agriculture sector and start to make their way downstream.

Algae thrive on the chemical mix, sucking oxygen out of the water, killing fish and creating 'dead zones' all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.

But they also affect the human population, increasing cases of pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma among people living nearby.

The effect is compounded by the 7,600 tons of bacteria leaving the factories which feast on the oxygen previously available in the rivers and lakes.

'With this biological load compounding the oxygen-depleting effects of its nitrogen and phosphorous pollution, Tyson is truly sucking the life out of aquatic habitats,' the report's authors wrote.

The 90-year-old company sits on the Fortune 100 index and earned $53 billion in 2023, operating brands including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, and Wright Brand, and supplying outlets including KFC, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Walmart.

Billions of gallons of water are polluted with chemicals and bacteria at Tyson's meat processing plants as they are used in preparing millions of pieces of meat

It was fined $2million in 2018 by the Department of Justice after more than 100,000 fish were killed by a discharge of ammonia at Clear Creek in Missouri, and it paid $3 million to settle a lawsuit in 2021 over the death of 200,000 fish in Alabama's Black Warrior River.

But the fine amounted just 0.006 percent of the $47.05 billion it received in revenue that year.

'Tyson has vast wealth at its disposal, so it can withstand even multimillion-dollar pollution penalties,' the report notes.

Chlorides are corrosive and the impact from Tyson's biggest single discharge is felt on the pipes and systems of water infrastructure itself.

Sulfates meanwhile are responsible for intestinal and stomach diseases in those exposed to too many.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes data on toxic discharges from just 300 of the 7,000 meat factories across the US.

It agreed to update its regulations after a lawsuit by environmental groups and is expected to roll out its new rules in September next year.

But it has said it is minded to opt for the weakest option on the table which critics claim will still allow billions of gallons of toxic waste to flow unchecked into the nation's waters.

'The current rule is out of date, inadequate and catastrophic for American waterways, and highlights the way American lawmaking is subject to industry capture,' said Dani Replogle of Food and Water Watch.

'The nutrient problem in the US is at catastrophic levels, it would be such a shame if the EPA caves in to industry influence.'

'We can be sure Tyson and other big ag players will object to efforts to update pollution regulations,' said report co-author Omanjana Goswami.

'But the EPA should listen to communities whose wells, lakes, rivers and streams have been contaminated and put people over corporate profits.'

Tyson alone employs 125,000 people in the US, and the North American Meat Institute said thousands of jobs will be lost if existing regulation is made any tighter.

'Meat and poultry companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars to comply with EPA's effluent limitations guidelines,' said spokeswoman Sarah Little.

'EPA's new proposed guidelines will cost over $1bn and will eliminate 100,000 jobs in rural communities.'

TYSON POLLUTANTS BY STATE: 2018 TO 2022 STATE AMOUNT DISCHARGED (lbs) PERCENTAGE DISCHARGED BY STATE NEBRASKA 111,217,776 30% ILLINOIS 52,725,438 14% MISSOURI 48,645,111 13% MICHIGAN 43,851,686 12% PENNSYLVANIA 38,176,081 10% ARKANSAS 37,740,229 10% TEXAS 8,905,760 2% WISCONSIN 8,886,707 2% VIRGINIA 5,214,170 1% IOWA 5,211,410 1% MISSISSIPPI 3,514,900 1% ALABAMA 3,385,063 1% OKLAHOMA 1,942,250 1% TENNESSEE 1,515,655 >0% GEORGIA 356,917 >0% KENTUCKY 241,006 >0% NORTH CAROLINA 192,645 >0%

The EPA calculates that around half of US rivers and more than a third of lakes are too polluted to safely swim or fish in, with agriculture among the top sources of contamination.

Nearly one million people in California alone are at risk of long-term disease from drinking water contaminated with arsenic and nitrates, according to a 2022 report by the state's Water Resources Control Board.

And some of America's rarest animals are also threatened including the 500 wild whooping cranes which stop during their migration at a bend of the Platte River less than two miles from Tyson's slaughterhouse and beef processing plant in Lexington, Missouri.

The country's tallest birds had to cope with 11,500 tons of pollutants emitted into the local waters by the plant in the five years from 2018.

'The cumulative effects of exposure to these industrial toxins could pose a long-term threat to the cranes' food sources, reproductive success and resilience as a species,' said aquatic ecologist George Cunningham of the Sierra Club Nebraska.

'Poor environmental regulation is down to the stranglehold industrial agriculture has on politics  at every level. It's about political capture.'

And concern is rising among those living next to the tributary.

'When I was young, there wasn't that (many) people with cancer. Now it's wild,' said Platte Center's water operator Andrew Greisen.

'Prostate cancer, breast cancer and brain cancer, just everything. I just think it's got to be the food we're eating or the water we're drinking,' he told the Flatwater Free Press website.

A Chinese-born reporter for the website was accused of being as 'Communist', by State Governor Jim Pillen when she grilled him about emissions from his hog farms last year.

And last month the Nebraska Supreme Court said the state's Department of Environment and Energy was entitled to charge the website $44,000 to see its emails containing the words nitrate, nutrient, fertilizer or nitrogen.

'The big money spent on lobbying and campaigns by corporate agriculture has played a major role in resisting stronger regulation,' Gavin Geis of the Common Cause Nebraska told the Guardian.

'Despite clear signals such as high levels of nitrates in our groundwater and cancers in rural communities that we need more oversight for farmers across the board.'

The fight over the new EPA regulations is also well underway in DC and Tyson contributed nearly half the $4.3m spent by the meat processing industry on lobbying in the capital in 2023.

The report's authors claim that federal intervention is the only way to break the sector's stranglehold over local communities and state legislatures.

'The good news is that the federal government has the power to limit the influence of mega corporations through antitrust regulations that target monopolies,' they wrote.

'Congress must better address consolidation in the meat and poultry industry and the power it gives companies to pollute without fear of consequences.

'In a new five-year food and farm bill, Congress should incorporate proposals such as the Farm System Reform Actwhich would strengthen the US Department of Agriculture's ability to crack down on the monopolistic practices of meatpackers including Tyson Foods.'

Nebraska farmer Graham Christensen said his neighbors' future now hangs on a national effort.

'We've created a system with no accountability that doesn't protect our ecosystem  which includes the land, water and people of Nebraska,' he said.

'The political capture is harming our rural communities, we're in the belly of the beast and need help from federal regulators.'

A spokesman for Tyson Foods said they use a 'robust management system to mitigate environmental risks and impact'.

'We strive to run our operations as responsible stewards of our natural resources,' they added.

'We consistently monitor effluent from our facilities, and we work closely with our federal and state regulators, as well as our local municipalities, as we plan, design, and operate our wastewater systems.

This report does not acknowledge our ongoing compliance with EPA regulations and certification by the Water Alliance for our strong water management practices.

'Our longstanding treatment program protects the environment and the interests of water across our nation, along with ensuring resiliency of the food system.'
It includes three office-like rooms, a main hall, two bathrooms, and a mezzanine

The three-story church is 2,600 square feet and has renovation potential

Holy Protection of the Mother of God has been put on the market for $1.1 million

One of only two Byzantine Catholic churches in Denver, Colorado has hit the market for $1.1 million - and is advertised as having 'residential potential' despite one catch.

The three-story Holy Protection of the Mother of God church, located at 1201 S. Elizabeth St, is up for sale because its growing congregation needs more space.

The listing agent for the property, Matt Harper, told The Denver Post the 2,600 square foot building on the 6,200 square foot lot has the potential to be turned into a daycare or residence - but buyers should be aware that it does not have bedrooms.

'It's a very interesting architectural building,' Harper said. 'It's surrounded by nothing but residential. It's a really unique area.'

The Madison Commercial Properties broker associate is also helping the Byzantine church find a new church that can better accommodate its congregation.

One of two existing Byzantine Catholic churches in Denver, Colorado has been put on the market as the congregation is looking for a bigger space

Holy Protection of the Mother of God, located at 1201 S. Elizabeth St., has been listed for $1.1 million (Pictured: Main worship space within the church)

The 2,600 square foot facility has the potential to be turned into a daycare or residence, despite not having any bedrooms (Pictured: Main worship space within the church)

In recent years, Harper said the congregation has grown significantly, and they are looking for a space between 6,000 and 10,000 square feet.

'It's a tough project to do sometimes,' Harper said. 'There's not a whole lot of inventory of churches on the market, and if there are, they are really large or small. It's tough to find.'

Built in 1943, the three-story church includes three office-like rooms, two bathrooms, a main hall where services are normally held, and a small mezzanine on the third floor. There is also a storage shed on the property.

Harper said he has shown the church to faith-based groups looking for a new place of worship, as well as someone who is considering converting it into a yoga studio.

The three-story church (pictured) includes three office-like rooms, two bathrooms, a main hall where services are normally held, and a small mezzanine on the third floor

In recent years, the listing agent for the property Matt Harper said the Byzantine Catholic congregation has grown significantly, and they are looking for a space between 6,000 and 10,000 square feet

Pictured: One of the large office-like rooms within the church

The larger office space comes with a kitchen area, which includes a fridge and a coffee bar

Pictured: View from the third floor mezzanine

Pictured: One of the three office spaces within the church

Pictured: One of three office spaces within the church

Pictured: The outside of the 6,250 square foot lot, with a view of a storage shed

Pictured: A close up of the church's storage shed

This is not the first time a church has been put on the market and successfully renovated and converted into a residence.

A former parish church in Northamptonshire, England was been converted into a stunning four-bedroom family home, and is on the market for 1.2 million.

The Medieval building includes vaulted ceilings and original stone windows.
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People with albinism have lived in fear for decades in Tanzania - not only facing discrimination for the way they look but also becoming the targets of ruthless traffickers who aim to make money from their bodies.

Witch doctors have been known to seek their organs and body parts to make 'lucky' potions and charms, with criminal networks being set up that include kidnappers, traffickers and killers to satisfy this macabre demand.

Those with the genetic condition are ostracised by their communities but also their own families, who may be tempted to betray them to body part sellers for vast sums of money.

Aware of the terror faced by the albino population, Tanzania's government has set up centres to protect them in recent years, which are nothing short of sanctuaries for this imperiled group.

Photographer Ana Palacios visited the Kabanga refuge, near Lake Tanganyika, a community of women and children living with albinism, whose joy and resilience despite the constant threats they face shines through in these stunning pictures.

The Tanzanian government has found it necessary to set up special centres to protect people with albinism who have had to flee their villages

Eleven-year old Kelen loves dancing in the half-built bedrooms at Kabanga, away from the sun

The shortage of water at Kabanga is particularly alarming. When rainwater supplies run out they have to go to the hospital well to fetch water

Zawia, wearing green clogs, and her friends finish school at five in the afternoon and go straight back to Kabanga

Zawia Kasim, twelve-years-old, has learned the lesson and keeps herself well covered but the children find it difficult to play with their hats on and to keep their skin covered all the time and they tend to be careless. Zawia speaks Swahili, English and sign language. She wants to be a teacher

What is albinism? Albinism is a genetic condition which causes a lack of pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. It is thought to affect around one in 20,000 births worldwide. It causes serious eyesight problems such as photophobia, strabismus, myopia and nystagmus (involuntary eye movements). An albino person's skin has little or no melanin, which is a very effective blocker of solar radiation, and this makes them extremely vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun. Advertisement

The striking images, shot in 2017, show how those living in the centre are able to enjoy a life almost free from the constant fear of violence they faced in their villages.

Many of those pictured had to flee their villages for fear of being murdered by those who want to chop up and sell their limbs and organs to prepare potions.

Activists have said that such potions are used to bring good fortune, for example by fishermen who pour it on their boats or miners hoping for a lucrative find.

Disturbing reports of attacks and abductions of people with albinism in Africa have emerged in recent years, with an apparent uptick in violence in 2022, according to UN expert Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond.

'One of the victims was a child whose body was reportedly thrown into a river after her eyes and organs had been removed, no doubt for ritual purposes,' she revealed at the time.

Lack of awareness of what albinism is has given rise to discrimination and superstitions in many parts of Africa.

A 'white' child can be a stigma for the family, and are often cared for less, given less to eat and not afforded an education.

In some tribes, albino children may be killed at birth, abandoned or offered for ritual sacrifice.

Some think they are the children of Lucifer, or that the mother had been with a white man, while others believe they were conceived during menstruation, or that their condition is a form of divine punishment.

Zawia Kasim, 12 years old, has learned the lesson and keeps herself well covered but the children find it difficult to play with their hats on and to keep their skin covered all the time

Epafroida is always in a good mood. She takes pride in her appearance, loves fashion and wants to save some money so she can set up her own textile business

Baswira Ntoteye shelters inside the huts at Kabanga to get away from the sun

Lusia Josamu, who has the problems with nystagmus and poor vision typical of the genetic condition of albinism, tries to thread coloured beads onto fishing line

Tanzania, which has a population of some 65 million people, is thought to be home to the highest rate of people with albinism in the world.

While one out of 15,000 people in most African sub-regions has albinism, estimates by the UN and charities suggest that in Tanzania it is one in every 1,400 people affected.

An albino person's skin has little or no melanin, which is an effective blocker of solar radiation, and this makes them extremely vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun.

Without protection such as sunscreen, long-sleeved clothing, hats and sunglasses, children with albinism are very likely to suffer severe sunburn which can lead to skin cancer, or the eye damage that will leave them totally blind.

An albino person's skin has little or no melanin, which is a very effective blocker of solar radiation, and this makes them extremely vulnerable to the harsh effects of the sun.

Tanzania is a country of 65 million people belonging to more than a hundred different tribes and speaking a hundred and twenty seven languages
A Texas oil baron's billionaire son is clashing with the descendants of original settlers after he built 20 miles of barbed wire fence to keep them off his $105 million ranch.

William Harrison, 37, bought the 88,000-acre expanse of land, named the Cielo Vista Ranch, stretching through the San Luis Valley in Colorado in 2017.

Hundreds of locals, who are descended from original Mexican and Spanish settlers, claim to have the right to legal access to the property under a 1844 agreement which allows them to graze their livestock, hunt and harvest timber.

But after he bought the property, Harrison started construction a miles-long, eight-foot-high barbed wire fence, claiming it is necessary to contain his herd of bison and keep out trespassers.

Locals say the fence is like a prison yard, separating deer from their young and destroying an irrigation system, as one man, Joseph Quintana, told The Colorado Sun: 'It's a way of him marking the territory of his prized possession, a vanity thing.'

William Harrison, 37, bought the expanse of land, named the Cielo Vista Ranch, stretching through the San Luis Valley in Colorado in 2017

Hundreds of locals claim to have the right to legal access to the property under a 1844 agreement

Since Harrison bought the land, the community has been embroiled in a series of lawsuits, arguing over access and usage rights.

He built 20 miles of fence before a group of residents, descended from the original settlers of the land, convinced the state district court to order a one-year moratorium on fence-building.

The ban runs out in September, with a trial set for the fall to decide whether the existing structure will have to be torn down.

Shirley Romero Otero, whose Jicarilla Apache ancestors were among the first settlers in the valley, told the Colorado Sun: 'What's hard for us living here on a daily basis to internalize and verbalize is the psychological impact.

'He's doing this to us because he's always treated this community as second-class citizens.

'The bottom line is he wants to keep us access holders from accessing our rights, and that is never going to happen.'

Residents say that cameras and drones keep watch on the fence while armed security guards man the gates, meaning even those with keys to the gates have allegedly been harassed.

One resident - who claims he has legal access to the land as a descendant of the original settlers - told the Sun that he was allegedly threatened with a $100,000 fine after he rode onto the land with his wife.

He built 20 miles of fence before a group of residents, descended from the original settlers of the land, convinced the state district court to order a one year moratorium on fence-building

Residents say that cameras and drones keep watch on the fence while armed security guards man the gates

Harrison's attorney, Jamie Cotter, told the Colorado Sun that Harrison has been demonized, saying: 'There has been a consistent attempt to dehumanize and demonize Mr. Harrison since he purchased the ranch.

'It makes it much easier to hate someone when they are not thought of as human.'

She added: 'The fence is not designed and does not operate to keep people out who have valid access rights.'

But residents say the fence has led to fewer elk and deer, trapped mountain lions and smaller animals as well as issues with erosion and irrigation.

They say that bulldozing the 20-foot wide strip for the fence to run along diverted water into gullies, which are now deepening and turning into canyons in the sand instead of spreading evenly as irrigation.

As well as the ecological impacts, residents say the fence has had a huge impact on community traditions, fencing in a cemetery and blocking a popular route used in a Catholic Good Friday parade.

Harrison runs private elk hunts on the land - charging up to $10,000 for five days - and charges hikers $150 a day to climb a peak within the fence.

Harrison's attorney, Jamie Cotter, told the Colorado Sun that Harrison has been demonized

Harrison runs private elk hunts on the land - charging up to $10,000 for five days

He also charges hikers $150 a day to climb a peak within the fence

He bought the land from a group of Texas investors who had in turn bought the land from the disgraced CEO of Enron, Lou Pai. Residents say there is never any sign he is living there, except for the arrival and departure of his helicopter.

The intense dispute is just the latest in a century-long feud between a string of wealthy landowners and the descendants of the original settlers.

Previous ranch owners have been shot at and had their homes burned down while residents have been beaten and dragged through the courts.

A 1981 case over the land access with a previous owner became Colorado's longest-running lawsuit, lasting 19 years, and ending in 2002 with a ruling that said roughly 5,000 residents of original Spanish and Mexican settlers had access and usage rights to the land.

Local Joseph Quintana told the Colorado Sun that Harrison's new fence has been built 'in the most destructive way possible.'

He added: 'There is no rational reason for that kind of fence here. My theory is that he put the fence up because hes a billionaire.'
Aussies are banding together in an audacious bid to reclaim national ownership of a breathtakingly beautiful piece of coastal farmland that a Chinese billionaire has put on the market.

The 200-year-old 'Woolnorth' dairy farm in northwest Tasmania is being sold by Chinese billionaire Xianfeng Lu, drawing to a close what a controversial tenure since he staved off rival Aussie bidders to pay $280million for the 143,500ha property in 2016.

Mr Lu has been progressively selling off chunks of land over the last couple of years, but he has put up for sale the final 1300 hectares of the property, which includes a historic homestead, eight dairies and a small wind farm.

Concerned that Woolnorth, which at one stage was Australia's most productive dairy, could go back into foreign hands, the call has gone out on social media to crowd-fund bringing the property back into local ownership by the Australia's Page Facebook.

The spectacular Woolnorth dairy farm is being sold by its Chinese owners and there are hopes it can be brought back into Australian hands

Woolnorth spans over a vast 143,500 hectares

READ MORE: The major assets that China owns in Australia Advertisement

Australia's Page creator, James Bennett, said there has been a strong response.

'So far, it is looking extremely good. There have been 6,000 expressions of interest in about 32 hours,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Bennett said the idea came from some of the page's 680,000 followers.

'A number of our followers contacted us and said we would like to see it remain in Australian hands, so we thought we'd see what kind of interest there is,' he said.

Woolnorth boasts some of Tasmania's most breathtaking coastline, a natural wonder that George Bass, while circumnavigating Tasmania, described in his diary as: 'The most stupendous works of nature he had witnessed'.

It includes 30 homes, a 13-stand shearing shed, two large cattle yards and numerous farm and livestock sheds.

A promotional video for the sale put out by specialist property real estate agents Nutrien Harcourts claims Woolnorth's air has been 'scientifically proven' to be the 'cleanest in the world'.

The attempt to buy Woolnorth is not the Australia Page's first attempt to crow fund bringing farmland back under Australian control.

'We did a campaign with the Kidman property when that was the largest land-holding in the the world at the time,' Mr Bennett said.

Xianfeng Lu has owned Woolnorth since 2016 and originally planned to fly the milk produced there directly to China

'There was a lot of concern in the general public and overseas about it being sold overseas at the time.

'We were able to generate 20,000 expressions of interest.'

Eventually the Kidman station was bought by WA mining billionaire Gina Rinehart in combination with a minor partner Chinese company.

Mr Bennett said he had asked a lawyer friend to look at how to structure an investment vehicle to buy the dairy farm if there was enough interest.

'We have crunch a few numbers and make sure it is viable but from what we have been doing it is looking promising,' Mr Bennett said.

Mr Bennett has run a number of Facebook pages that advocate for Australian ownership of economic assets.

'It's something I have been passionate about for many years,' he said.

'A lot of other countries have that structure where they won't allow their property to be sold overseas. I don't see why we should allow our property to be sold overseas.

The magnificent property boasts a historic homestead with 30 homes and eight dairies plus the world's 'scientifically proven cleanest air'

'Especially farms, we are supposed to be the food bank of the world.'

Mr Bennett said that foreign owners shipping produce overseas was a major concern expressed by those interacting with his Facebook pages.

'You hear people say they can't take the land with them, well they can't take the land with them, but they can certainly take the produce with them,' he said of foreign owners.

'That's got to affect us.'

How Woolnorth came under Chinese ownership

Because of the high price and significance of the property, Mr Lu's purchase of Woolnorth had to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board.

Scott Morrison, who was then Treasurer in the Turnbull Coalition government, championed Mr Lu as a buyer and said he would bring jobs to the region.

The board approved the purchase under conditions that it create employment in the area and include investment in infrastructure and environmental projects.

Critics say none of those commitments have been sufficiently met and five of the farm's directors quit over this issue in 2018.

Initially, Mr Lu had a grand plan to fly millions of litres of fresh Tasmanian milk to Chinese consumers in Ningbo, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing under his Van Dairy brand name.

Australia's Page creator James Bennett has started a register of interest to see if Woolnorth can be brought back into Australian hands

When that did not eventuate he secured a contract with New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra but that finished in February prompting the slaughter of at least 700 milking cows and hanging up the 'for sale' sign.

Some local sources say the number of cattle slaughtered was in the thousands.

In 2019 there were staff allegations that the cattle were being cruelly treated, accusations Mr Lu denied.

The Age also reported at the time that Van Dairy was being investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman following claims of worker underpayment and work compliance breaches.

In 2021 Mr Lu was handed environmental protection notices with an audit finding 83 per cent of the company's 23 farms had failed to comply with the Farm Dairy Premises Effluent Management Code of Practice.

Mr Lu told the local Tasmania Pulse news website that he was sad to be selling Woolnorth.

'Since 2016, I have been proud to partner with the local community to build a successful dairy farming operation,' he said.

'Now, it is time for Woolnorth to begin its next chapter in its history. I thank the local community, our workers and their families for all of their support and wish the next custodians of Woolnorth the same pride that it has brought me.'

'North-west Tasmania will always hold a special place in my heart.'

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson said she would like the farm in Australian hands

High-profile Aussies support the call

Entrepreneur Dick Smith who campaigned to see Woolnorth kept in Australian hands, said he hoped someone would step in to make this happen.

'I am not in a position to buy it but I hope someone will we have plenty of billionaires you would think one of those would buy it,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'If Gina or Andrew Forrest would buy it it would be totally fantastic I would totally support that.

'I really believe we should bring as much back into Australian ownership as possible.

'We shouldn't sell our prime farmland off to overseas people we should keep it ourselves.'

The last published figures release by the Foreign Investment Review Board, which only go up to the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, show there is foreign ownership of 12.3 per cent, or 47.71 million hectares, of Australian farmland.

Foreign ownership of farmland can be hot button political topic and is often top of the agenda for politicians such as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

'Senator Hanson and One Nation would prefer that Australian assets and Australian agricultural land would remain in Australian hands,' a spokesperson for Senator Hanson told Daily Mail Australia when asked about the sale of the Woolnorth farm.

China was the largest landholder with 2 per cent of Australian farmland or 7.8 million ha followed by Britain and Canada.

However, the figures also showed that the Chinese and other foreign investors have been cashing in on high farmland prices to sell down their holdings.

Entrepreneur Dick Smith (pictured with wife Pip at a Sydney event in 2013) said foreign interests were snapping up the 'best' Australian agricultural land

Foreign ownership of agricultural land in Australia was at its lowest level in seven years.

Mr Smith said that even if the Chinese only owned 2 per cent of agricultural land it was often like Woolnorth property some of the most fertile.

'We only have a small percentage of foreign ownership but its all the good stuff, the foreigners come in and buy the best properties,' Mr Smith said.

'The Chinese are astute investors they obviously know a good property let's hope it can be brought back into Australian hands.

'My belief is if we own them ourselves the wealth stays here and it's better we are creating wealth within Australia and so that's why I want an Australian to own it who lives in Australia so the wealth stays here.'

The Aussie farmer aiming to get more farms back in domestic ownership

Local farmer Stephen Fisher is the director of Circular Head Farming Group an investment fund that attempts to buy farms with Australian money to place Aussie farmers on them.

Mr Fisher said he 'wanted to keep the dream alive that owning your own farm is still possible'.

'My motivation is that retaining ownership means that we maintain wealth but we also retain opportunities to provide pathways for young people into farming,' Mr Fisher told Daily Mail Australia.

Circular Head Farming Group director Stephen Fisher (pictured right with wife Karen) raises money to get Tasmanian dairy farms into the hands of locals

'An investment into Circular Head farms is an investment into retaining local ownership. It's a core value that comes before profit.

'When you have passionate people who invested in what they are doing, who believe in what they are doing and are given an opportunity that's the best custodians of our farms that we can have.

'There's a flow-on to our animals, our environment, quality of produce that is delivered to the factory the people who are invested are motivated to do things well.'

Circular Farms is a unit trust that has around 75 investors who are all Australian and mostly locals.

Around 12 per cent of Australia's agricultural land is owned or leased by foreign investors

So far they set up 12 couples with dairy farms.

'We attract people of a very high calibre,' Mr Bennett said.

'We engage people who are motivated by the prospect to build equity and stock in the business they are part of.

'They then go and build their business on their farm. It is encouraging family farming on a bigger scale.

'It all starts with who owns the land that's where wealth is created

'If you own the land you have a bit of say but if you don't own the land you have no say.'

Daily Mail has attempted to contact Mr Lu for comment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet decided on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel for as long as the war in Gaza continues, on the grounds the Qatari television network threatens national security.

"The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote.

A government statement said Israel's communications minister signed orders to "act immediately," but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block it in court.

The measure, the statement said, will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites.

The network is funded by the Qatari government and has been fiercely critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war. The Israeli statement did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operations.

Israel's parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

Al Jazeera made no immediate comment on Sunday, although it has previously rejected accusations that it was a threat to Israel's security and said the shutdown was an effort to silence it.

The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, which hosts Hamas leaders, is trying to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could halt the Gaza war. (Reuters)
A small seaside town has declared victory over 'insane' council plans to use luxury retirement homes with stunning sea views to house migrant children.

Kent County Council had planned to use Ocean Heights care home in picturesque Minster on Sea on the Isle of Sheppey to house 50 unaccompanied asylum seekers aged 16 and 17.

Residents took to the streets in a peaceful protest after the 4million plans to turn the care home into migrant accommodation were announced in March.

Anger deepened when another nearby care home shut - leaving elderly residents forced to move to other parts of Kent.

The owners of the home pulled out of the deal amid the outrage from locals, who told MailOnline of their delight that the plans were scrapped.

But there are concerns other similar proposals could return after the authority warned it was so overwhelmed by unaccompanied migrant children that it might have to stop taking local youngsters into care.

Steven Hogben, 75, said: 'It's time for a party. It's great news. I was utterly astonished to hear they thought it would be a good idea to put asylum seeker children in there. I have never known anything so stupid.'

Picture shows an aerial view of Ocean Heights care home in picturesque Minster on Sea on the Isle of Sheppey

Steven Hogben, 75, was delighted with the news the plans for the migrant centre had been withdrawn, saying: 'It's time for a party'

Retired social worker Pauline Hutchings, 74, said that British people should be the priority

'This is a village made up of largely elderly and those close to retiring. There's nothing for young people to do. It would have caused big problems.

'It made no sense. I am very glad they have reversed that decision.

'I understand the county council is in a very difficult place, but where would the duty of care to both the children and locals have been if that had gone ahead? They would not have had a social life.'

But Mr Hogben said he was worried about what the authority might 'try next'. He said: 'If they think a care home is a good idea, what will they think next?

'It could be anywhere. We should be on our guard.'

Retired social worker Pauline Hutchings, 74, said the priority should be British people.

She said: 'We need to be the priority. British people have lived here and worked here all our lives.

'We are sinking as a country because of the amount of asylum seekers.

'I know people who cannot get their children in schools because of shortage of spaces.

'Our local amenities are stretched to the limit as a result of immigration. That needs to be a place for elderly people to live before they die.'

Retired managing director Stephen Peer has lived in Minster for three years and before that on-and-off for 20 years.

Local resident Stephen Peer, 68, said it was a 'relief' the plans had been withdrawn

Retired product manager John Hilton, 70, said people would have 'felt unsafe' walking near the migrant centre

Picture shows the view of the sea from the sea from the rear of the luxury care home

He signed a petition against the plan as he was worried what 'friction' would be caused between the youngsters and locals.

The 68-year-old said: 'I was so pleased to hear it had been scrapped. It was a relief.

'Who honestly could say that would be a good idea? In a small town with nothing for them to do? It was an accident waiting to happen.

'I have every sympathy for the migrants and for what they have been through.

'But this would be awful. It needs to be a home for elderly people.'

Mr Peer said he was worried about what would happen now. He added: 'It's perfect for the elderly. It has stunning sea views and is one of the nicest areas locally.

'It's a very exclusive area. It would be lovely to spend your last few years here.'

Retired product manager John Hilton, 70, said he was now concerned about its future.

He said: 'It would have upset people. There would have been issues. God knows what would have happened.

'People would have felt unsafe walking around there. They would have felt like prisoners.'

Michael Peddy, 53, has lived in the area for 30 years and said it was a 'insane' plan.

The mechanic said: 'It was just insane. But I am worried they will try again.

'More and more migrants are coming across all the time. It will pile pressure on the system, which is already stretched.

'I think they'll soon be forced to home them there and then whatever next really. We need to get a grip on this problem. It's a nightmare.'

He said locals were considering moving as a result.

He added: 'I live here with my wife and children. We'd have looked at moving. I don't think people would have felt safe.

The care home required a 4million investment to bring it up to standard to house 50 migrant children

'The youngsters there have been through a very difficult and tough time. Cramping them into a place like that in a town like this would have been terrible for everyone.

'It would be a recipe for disaster. The site is really for people who have worked all their lives and want to end their lives peacefully, with dignity and respect. They need to be the priority.

'The idea the other home was closing as well and then the children move in from other countries made people very angry. Locals need to be treated better.'

Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, said: 'It is disappointing to have to confirm that Ocean Heights on the Isle of Sheppey has been withdrawn from sale.

'The building was one of seven additional facilities we identified to supplement the two existing reception centres for unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children. These buildings, funded by central government, will increase our capacity to accommodate and care for all UAS children arriving in Kent, as required by the High Court.

'We have been transparent about the arrangements for all centres as temporary homes for children, aged under 18, as set out on our website - Reception Centres - Kent County Council

'Given our legal responsibilities, and the High Courts direction, we are establishing the additional reception centres and will identify other suitable locations to accommodate the increasing numbers of unaccompanied minors arriving on our shores.

'We will also continue pressing government through all routes, including judicial, to ensure the National Transfer Scheme works and all local authorities take their responsibility for the care of UAS children - ending the intolerable burden this national issue places upon Kent.'
According to the tourism review site Tripadvisor, the Dan Accadia Hotel is one of the very finest places to stay in Herzliya, the affluent Israeli coastal city renowned as one of the country's most attractive resorts.

With its trendy restaurants and sandy beaches, this five-star establishment on a clifftop overlooking the tranquil Mediterranean is the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday.

At this time of year, however, with the temperature rarely rising much above 20 degrees C, there are normally plenty of vacancies.

But when I visited the hotel at the end of March, nearly all 200 of its 300-a-night guest rooms and eye-wateringly expensive suites were occupied.

It doesn't take long to work out why. Mother-of-three Inbar Tzuri, 35, is sitting under the shade of a tree in the grounds with her four-month-old son Dekel.

'In any other situation, this would be an amazing place to be on holiday,' she says. 'But we're not enjoying it as it should be.'

Mother-of-three Inbar Tzuri, 35, is sitting under the shade of a tree in the grounds with her four-month-old son Dekel. They are among the tens of thousands of Israeli families still living in hotels and guest houses across the country after being displaced by the terrorist raid that sparked the war in Gaza

Amit Phillips acknowledges how fortunate they all are to be together at the Dan Accadia. She said: 'But it's still a hotel. It's not home'

Inside the hotel's conference rooms, which also function as nurseries and daycare centres, children laugh and play, oblivious to the horrifying events in the outside world

Her friend Amit Phillips, 57, adds: 'The five star [rating] is an illusion because this isn't a vacation.'

Inbar and Amit are among the tens of thousands of Israeli families still living in hotels and guest houses across the country after being displaced by the terrorist raid that sparked the war in Gaza.

On October 7 last year, 3,000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdering around 1,200 people and kidnapping 253.

In the wake of this bloodbath, around 200,000 people were evacuated from communities in the south, near Gaza, as well as from settlements in the north near the Lebanon border, which come under daily bombardment by the Iranian-backed militants of Hezbollah.

It's the first time in the history of the state of Israel that so many civilians have been evacuated on such a large scale - and for such a long period of time.

While some residents are starting to trickle back to revive their deserted communities, around 135,000 remain displaced.

Five hundred of these are housed at the Dan Accadia. All are refugees from Mefalsim  a kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope, the Israeli zone that borders the Gaza Strip - which was one of the lucky few to escape without any deaths or kidnappings, thanks to the swift response of its security team.

With its trendy restaurants and sandy beaches, the five-star Dan Accadia Hotel stands on a clifftop overlooking the tranquil Mediterranean and is the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday

Five hundred people are housed at the Dan Accadia. All are refugees from Mefalsim  a kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope, the Israeli zone that borders the Gaza Strip. Pictured: Children's toys in the hotel

Rooms in the hotel have been converted rooms into playrooms and nap rooms for the children

It's the first time in the history of the state of Israel that so many civilians have been evacuated on such a large scale - and for such a long period of time. Pictured: A makeshift children's eating area

But its residents were evacuated nonetheless and sent 54 miles north to Herzliya, where they have been told by the government they can stay for free and with all meals provided until July 7.

Nearly seven months after the move, the strain is beginning to tell. They may be living in a gilded cage but it is a cage nonetheless. Families, many of whom have at least two children, are living and sleeping in rooms with just one double bed. Bathrooms double up as laundries.

'It's difficult to have any privacy when you're all in one room,' says Inbar. 'No one thought we would be here more than one month.'

Inbar shows me around the hotel's conference rooms, which also function as nurseries and daycare centres. Children laugh and play, oblivious to the horrifying events in the outside world.

The staff have made them look like normal schools. There are small chairs and tables, as well as hooks for bags and coats, which have the pupils' names written above them. Other rooms have been converted into playrooms for smaller children, while a room in the spa downstairs is now a creche for babies.

But this air of normalcy disguises the toll the ongoing crisis is taking on Israel's displaced children, who have lost the comforts of home, their customary routines and a sense of security.

A study by the Israeli Pediatric Association found that 84 per cent of Israeli children suffer from emotional distress, while 69 per cent of them experience anxiety. Psychologists believe they could be witnessing a 'lost generation' in the making.

Inbar's sister-in-law, Mor, 34, tells me that her daughter Na'ma, five, is undergoing therapy for her anxiety: 'She's like my third leg  she just clings on to me all the time, she won't let go.'

The hotel staff have made the building look like normal schools. There are small chairs and tables, as well as hooks for bags and coats, which have the pupils' names written above them

The air of normalcy in the hotel disguises the toll the ongoing crisis is taking on Israel's displaced children, who have lost the comforts of home, their customary routines and a sense of security

The October attack placed some couples' relationships under strain. Pictured: Children's toys in the hotel

Mor was pregnant at the time of the terrorist attack and, in February, she gave birth to Lavie. 'It means Lion,' she says. 'In this war, that's what he'll have to be.'

She and her children have finally been moved into an adjoining room, which means Na'ma and Roey, three, have a bed to sleep in. They were previously sharing a small sofa.

Meanwhile, her friend, Miri Milstein, who has three children aged nine, six and four with her husband Itay, looks stressed.

'We've been stuck in one room  we're almost ready to hang ourselves,' she says. 'If you had problems before, they have become more extreme after living here. It's difficult for the children because they think it's like a long vacation, so they're living without boundaries. We are a mess!'

The October attack also exposed fault lines in some couples' relationships. Mor and her husband Gon argued while hiding in the kibbutz safe room as the terrorists roamed outside.

'I told him this was happening because he brought us there, he'd told me it was safe. On October 7, I said to him, "This is safe?".'

Inbar's grandparents were founding members of Kibbutz Mefalsim and she was born and brought up there. 'We used to say before October 7 that our Kibbutz was 95 per cent heaven,' she says. 'Now we say it's 99 per cent hell.'

When terrorists broke through the kibbutz fence, like her sister-in-law Mor, Inbar was not only pregnant but approaching full term with her third child and was terrified she might go into labour.

Mor, 34, says that her daughter Na'ma, five, is undergoing therapy for her anxiety: 'She's like my third leg  she just clings on to me all the time, she won't let go'

'When I was in [the safe room], I thought: 'You're so stupid! How could you believe you were safe? You put your children in this situation'. I felt like a fool,' she says.

On the weekend of the attack, her husband and two children, Shaked, six, and Gefen, three, were among dozens of families camping outside the perimeter fence in the olive groves.

When Inbar realised they were under attack, she called her husband, begging him to come home immediately with the children, which he did. In the confines of their safe room, with no electricity and the phone lines cut off, she took some consolation from the break it offered from reality.

Her friend Amit was with her 22-year-old daughter Kim when the terrorists arrived. As they cowered in their safe room, they could hear gunshots and men screaming in Arabic and only emerged when the Israeli army arrived to relieve Mefalsim's beleaguered defenders.

'We talked about how we wanted to die, if it was better to be kidnapped,' she says. 'I never imagined I'd ever have that conversation with my child.'

She acknowledges how fortunate they all are to be together at the Dan Accadia. 'But it's still a hotel. It's not home,' says Amit.

It's a common complaint and people have started to buy household items such as coffee machines, storage shelves and boxes, even fridges, in a bid to make themselves feel more at home.

'In a way it gives you more control of your life. Because the terrorists took away our control,' Amit says.

Her daughter refuses to return to Mefalsim but Amit feels safe enough to go back on her own, where she can work from home for a travel company.

Meanwhile, Rotem Cohen, a 41-year-old communications teacher, has learned to takes pleasure from the most trivial things. 'I just did my own laundry for the first time in six months  I'm so happy!' she laughs. 'Can you imagine, we get excited doing laundry just to feel normal?'

Meanwhile, Rotem Cohen (pictured), a 41-year-old communications teacher, has learned to takes pleasure from the most trivial things - including laundry

Rotem has a daughter, Yuval, eight, and son Daniel, six. They're too scared to go home. 'The only thing we did wrong in October was to believe we were safe. We were fools back then, but we won't be fools again.'

Since that terrible day, Inbar has returned once to Mefalsim to retrieve a few possessions but she won't be repeating the experience. 'I can't face going there again,' she says, shaking her head.

Part of the problem is a breakdown in the trust that they once had in their Arab neighbours. After the attack, it emerged that the Hamas fighters had detailed maps of the kibbutz, which could only have been drawn with the assistance of an insider.

And Amit Phillips believes it was a particular Arab worker from Gaza who betrayed them. 'He used to sit with my mum and have a cup of coffee with her every day,' she says. 'He was like her son. He even came to her funeral.'

Inbar adds: 'Hamas killed his son a few years ago. They don't even care about their own people. I wish I could give them the life that I have for my own children.'

When asked if she feels betrayed, she says: 'If I were in his place, I probably would have done the same. It was an impossible situation for him.'

More than 34,300 Palestinians and over 1,455 Israelis have been killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since October 7

An unexploded Israeli missile lies among the rubble of a destroyed building in the north of Al Nusairat refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, April 29, 2024

Like many other displaced people with families, she feels torn between a desire to return to a place she loves and a need to protect her children.

'The people of Israel are generous and have helped us,' says Amit. 'But we're not waiting for the government to do anything. We don't trust anyone anymore. The government isn't helping us find an alternative option.'

As the July 7 deadline looms closer, the war rages on. Palestinian sources claim more than 30,000 Gazans have been killed in the fighting and 1.7million have been displaced.

So there is no clear resolution in sight for the families in Dan Accadia. 'We are in limbo,' says Amit. 'It's like being in a pressure cooker. They say we have to leave on July 7 but we're going to be here for a lot longer. I just know it.'
A furious leaseholder has claimed he is unable to sell his home because his developer failed to remove illegal cladding on a giant block of flats before plunging into administration.

Geoff Radcliffe, 58, owns one of the 132 flats at the Wharfside development in Wigan, Greater Manchester, where leaseholders say they are now trapped with their properties after housing giant Stewart Milne Homes went bust in January.

Stewart Milne, which contracts management company Contour to look after the site, is legally responsible for fixing all life-threatening fire safety defects in the homes - but innocent leaseholders have been left unable to sell, while their home insurance and management fees have soared out of control.

Campaigners say it is 'simply unacceptable' that this is still going on nearly seven years after the Grenfell Tower fire in west London, where highly-flammable ACM cladding caused the horrific blaze that killed 72 people.

There was also a serious fire at the Wharfside development in 2015, which damaged dozens of flats but fortunately no one was injured.

This is the latest example of homeowners fighting against developers amid the shocking cladding scandal in Britain.

The collapse of Stewart Milne Homes followed by Manchester-based Stewart Milne Homes Northwest England (Developments) has left families across the country facing huge uncertainty over their homes.

Geoff Radcliffe, 58, (pictured) owns one of the 132 flats at the Wharfside development in Wigan, Greater Manchester

Leaseholders at the Wharfside development in Wigan say they are now trapped with their properties after housing giant Stewart Milne Homes went bust in January

Mr Radcliffe, a leaseholder who bought one of the first-ever properties at Wharfside in 2007, told MailOnline: 'It's extremely stressful. It's certainly affected my mental health. The financial consequences are just frightening.'

Despite the Building Safety Act coming in from June 2022, the leaseholders were only able to make contact with Stewart Milne Homes in October 2023 before finally being presented with cladding plans last December. The housing firm went bust a month later.

Mr Radcliffe, an engineer, continued: 'The fact that we were so near to getting the cladding repaired and then with Stewart Milne go into administration, the whole thing has ground to a halt. It's going to be a minimum of three years before we make any progress.'

Mr Radcliffe, who bought his home for 142,000, said he is trapped now, explaining: 'We've got mortgages on these properties and we are just stuck. I was one of the first ones to buy. I'd be lucky if I got 40,000 for it now.'

He added: 'You can't raise a mortgage against them because of the fire safety issue. The cladding needs correcting before people can buy, unless they are cash buyers.

'We are stuck in a rut, paying very high service charges. The vast majority of the service charge relates to insurance.'

Mr Radcliffe continued: 'Insurance has gone up probably 3,500 per cent, astronomical levels. There is nothing we can do about that, we have to pay it. On top of the other service charge elements.

'The rents are very competitive but when you add it all up, as a leaseholder who lets my property, I am running at a loss of about 5,000-a-year because of insurance costs and other fire safety-related issues and repairs.'

When asked about the dangers of dodgy cladding, he said: 'There are 132 apartments, probably with an average occupancy of two to three, so you've got all those lives potentially at risk. There already was a fire, fortunately someone was hurt, everyone escaped.'

Mr Radcliffe also said there were months that went by where residents were 'distressed' by false fire alarms going off 24/7 because the wrong type of sensors were installed.

'There is a decent alarm system in now but we've had so many false alarms, we may end up in a situation where there is a genuine fire and people don't respond to the alarm. The management company [Contour] washed their hands of it,' he added.

Oliver Barton, 25, (pictured) has been renting for a year with his wife Vicky, 28, and their daughter Claudia, four, at the development

Stewart Milne, which contracts management company Contour to look after the site, is legally responsible for fixing all life-threatening fire safety defects in the homes

Mr Radcliffe said that around two years ago they had correspondence from the managing company to say the leaseholders were responsible for the 'costs of the compartmentation which was incorrect.

He said when he contacted the Department for Levelling, they confirmed it was 'erroneous and wrong'.

He continued: 'We have nowhere to go, there is no guidance. There isn't a flow chart which says if this happens go this way or if this happens go this way, there's no clear route. We've just hit a dead end and we are just sitting here.

'We are waiting for the freehold to be sold but whoever buys the freehold will be responsible for replacing the cladding. If the freehold isn't sold, I don't know what happens.'

Since Stewart Milne went bust, the development is now in the hands of the administrators, Teneo.

The leaseholders had a minor victory when it was decided that they would take over the right to manage from June 1, at which point they will be able to appoint contractors to carry out general maintenance and repairs on the building.

Mr Radcliffe said lessons have not been learned from the previous fire at the development and the Grenfell blaze.

He explained: 'The Building Safety Act, we thought that was fantastic when it came out, we thought at last some common sense but it just seems like it's a red herring because no one is willing to take any responsibility.

'We weren't responsible for specking this cladding, we didn't sign off on any of the specifications. We entered into contract, we bought in good faith.

'The local authority singed off on the fire safety element of it, but they have kind of a limited responsibility, so this comes down to the developer, the architects and the designers.'

The leaseholders say they will have to fund the removal of the cladding, which they claim is also creating leaks in the rundown development because it 'traps water'.

Mr Radcliffe added: 'So what we need to do when we take over the right to manage is we have to fund removal of the cladding, repair of the leaks, replacement of the very same cladding. It's just nuts.

'We will appoint contractors to carry out general maintenance and repairs on the building. It's coming out of service charges, but at least we will be able to control our service charges.'

Mr Radcliffe says leaseholders were 'sold a dream' when they bought into the regeneration project, adding: 'It's just been grossly mismanaged.

The collapse of Stewart Milne Homes has left families across the country facing huge uncertainty over their homes

He said he was proud to put money into a regeneration of the town he's from and hoped to see the property increase in value before selling to help boost his pension.

A second leaseholder, John Mullany, 73, said he was desperate for the cladding issue to be fixed.

The former company director, who bought his property at the development two years ago with his wife Hilary, added: 'That has to be priority number one.

'There was a meeting to present a range of cladding to the leaseholders to say this is what we are thinking of doing and coming up with the cost of it and whether we would have had to put more money in it.

'Stewart Milne was at this meeting, this was only a couple months before we found out they were going bankrupt. It was a nice invitation, 'we are holding it here, there will be food, come along, you can talk to management company Contour, you can talk to Stewart Milne as the property owner'. That sounded great.'

Mr Mullany said that while there were even pictures of the cladding they were going to use, 'nothing came about'.

He added: 'Contour keep saying we want to get round to cladding the building, but that would not happen if we carried on with them. It's just frustrating.

'The whole thing has been very badly handled from the day we bought this place and one of the reasons we bought it, we got it at a very good price at 78,000 two years ago, we had to make a cash payment.

'We know when they were built, you were talking in 2008 they were 140,000.

'The problem is because the cladding hasn't been done, lots of people wanted to buy them at that price but they can't raise a mortgage because no one will lend money on it because of the potential of a fire.'

Mr Radcliffe said lessons have not been learned from the previous fire at the development and the Grenfell blaze

Keta Babajana (pictured), who has two young children, eight and six, said the lack of cladding and constant fire alarms going off was very concerning

When asked if leaseholders will have to pay for the cladding, he said: 'I don't know, that's the problem. There's supposed to be a safety fund put away for major expenditure. The money for the cladding has built up over years, but because they haven't done anything about it - then god knows if there's any money? So they could come back and say the leaseholders are going to have to pay.

'If that's the case, then I honestly don't think there would be enough money.'

He added: 'The insurance policy for last year, the whole of the year, was just over 9,000 for the block. This year I think it's 280,000, something like that. A lot of that is because of the cladding.

'Insurance companies say 'yeah we will insure you'. But you're culpable for the first 10,000 so if you need to put a claim in on the building, the first 10,000 is down to the leaseholder, so in other words you are not insured.'

A third leaseholder, Carole Anderton, who has had her Wharfside flat for nine years, told MailOnline: 'The issue with the cladding is getting beyond a joke, no one at Contour or Stewart Milne seems to want to know or try to get it replaced. This is being made worse by Stewart Milne going into liquidation.

'This means that our service charge has gone through the roof because of the extra building Insurance and some leaseholders are finding it difficult to make ends meet and also they are unable to sell the property because of the cladding and no bank or building society will lend anyone any money for a mortgage.

'In the nine years that I have owned the property the condition of the building has seriously deteriorated and it will cost a fortune to get it up to at least a reasonable standard and many leaseholders cannot afford to contribute.'

A fourth leaseholder, Toma Kuckaite, who has owned his Wharfside flat since 2018, told MailOnline: 'We are very unlucky to live in a building with a cladding issue I would like to sell and get a house. However, I have invested in decoration of the apartment. The price I could get is extremely low.'

The 32-year-old, who works in electronics, added: 'I believe that Wharfside apartment is in a great location and if nicely decorated is a very good option especially for people that work or study in Manchester or Liverpool. Unfortunately, the cladding issue and poor management is stopping me from selling it.'

And a fifth leaseholder, Kathryn, who has owned her Wharfside apartment for 10 years, told MailOnline: 'I bought the apartment in good faith, unaware of cladding issues and other remediation works that would be required.

'Myself and other leaseholders have been let down by the freeholder Stewart Milne, Contour, the local council and wider government. I have suffered countless sleepless nights due to the worry and uncertainty that the apartment results in.'

The 41-year-old teacher added: 'Contour have neglected the building and I feel are an incompetent management company. They do not care about leaseholders, tenants and the reputation of Wharfside. Service charges last year increased from 126 to 302 each month. This has obviously been financially crippling.

'Leaseholders and tenants now have further uncertainty due to Stewart Milne going into liquidation. It is unclear who will fund remediation works. The future looks uncertain and again leaseholders are the innocent victims in all of this.'

While there are leases on all of the 132 properties, most of the residents living on the block are renters who also voiced concerns to MailOnline about the cladding and other fire-related issues.

Oliver, 25, who pays 660-a-month to rent with his wife, said: 'It's very concerning that it's not being taken seriously, and I think that's just one of numerous issues that has happened with his establishment. From the fire safety issues, the smoke detectors going off all the time, the fire alarms, the mould that's never dealt with.

'Even just the simplest of maintenance isn't getting dealt with several times, so they are not going to do something major if they won't do the minor stuff either. I've been here three years and it's frustrating.

'I think it's a hard situation to be in as a tenant and me and my wife we are only in our 20s, this is affordable for us. People, because of their financial situation, they won't move away, they will kind of just deal with it when actually it is quite serious and we shouldn't be in that position.'

Keta Babajana, who has two young children, eight and six, said the lack of cladding and constant fire alarms going off was very concerning.

The mother-of-two, who was pregnant when the building first set on fire, said: 'It is [dangerous]. A lot of people are living here, so it is not a joke.

'They [kids] are crying every night, waking up and can't sleep, because of the fire alarms going off.

'We think it's a joke because a lot of times, almost nobody comes out, they just stand on the balcony or look through the windows then the fire engines come.'

Oliver Barton, 25, has been renting for a year with his wife Vicky, 28, and their daughter Claudia, four, said: 'In terms of fire, I am quite lucky because I'm ex-forces so I know how to get people out. I am quite confident, but for everyone else I imagine it's quite scary. Unfortunately, there's not a lot that does scare me anymore.

'I can imagine with everything that's gone on, it is not the best and you would expect these people want to remedy these things as soon as possible.

'At the end of the day, if someone has an asset and they don't look after it, they expect people to live in it, if they are not looking into why should we live it and pay them the fees to maintain the building when they are not.

'Going back to it, I think it is very scary what could happen. The problem with all the false alarms is I've noticed nobody really evacuates anymore and that is a problem. It's a bad combination.

'It's not an ideal situation [for families] but unfortunately not a lot of people have a choice. There aren't a lot of places to go.'

He added: 'It's not just the cladding. The fire alarms were going off literally every ten minutes at one point, fire brigade were coming out every hour and they were the ones who have to turn it off because there's no one in the building on a rolling watch to turn it off.

'More recently, my wife, in the morning takes our daughter in the nursery, and when you go down the stairs, in the last few days a homeless person has tailgated in or found a code.

'Ever since January, I haven't seen a member of security, I believe there was one before, but there's no-one now.'

Dyma Hanley, 25, who has been renting for three years, said: 'It bothers you, you don't want to be building that's not safe and secure. It's not ideal with all the fire alarms going off when all that stuff is going on as well, because you don't know if it's serious or not, if it happens two or three times a day.

'It's not safe. If it's going off at 6am in the morning, I am going to work in an hour, I don't have time to keep going up and downstairs.

'It could be better, you look at it now, it's a bit rundown.'

Engineering surveyor Jack Hankey, 25, who has been renting for just under three years, said: 'It's not great, to be honest. I care about my own safety, but when I'm working away and my girlfriend's here, I do panic if she's going to be alright.

'I always do double, triple, quadruple check that nothing is going to set the building on fire and I've not had that worry before.'

Jennifer Frame, spokeswoman for the End Our Cladding Campaign, said: 'Nearly seven years after Grenfell, it's simply unacceptable that there are thousands of buildings across the country where the Government is just waiting for developers and building owners to get on with 'doing the right thing'.

Bedding and can of beer which have been left under a staircase by a homeless person at the Whalfside development in Wigan

Rubbish left by builders in the corridor of the development

'Stewart Milne Homes was both the original developer and building owner of Wharfside, so it was their legal responsibility to fix all life-critical fire safety defects in these homes. There was 18 months between the passing of the Building Safety Act and when the company finally fell into administration, yet in that time they continued to stall and their agent apparently tried to pass remediation costs onto the leaseholders, which would be against the law.

'Before the firm collapsed, leaseholders had reached out to the Government for support, but they have been left to fend for themselves.'

Ms Frame said Wharfside could now apply for government funding for cladding remediation but the process if 'exceptionally slow' and leaseholders should expect a very long wait until their homes are 'safe, sellable and insurable again'.

Ms Frame continued: 'Government funding schemes also only cover cladding but do nothing to fix any non-cladding defects like the inadequate internal compartmentation and fire-stopping that allows fire to spread rapidly.

'It's a bit like fixing a car's broken accelerator pedal but leaving the faulty brakes as they are - no one would think it was acceptable to make a car half-safe, so why does the Government think homes can be half-safe?

'There needs to be consistent government policy to fully protect all innocent leaseholders from the costs of our national building safety crisis - not a game of luck depending on who their developer is.'

Stewart Milne Homes was put up for sale in April 2022 after its boss - who the firm is named after - announced his retirement.

An initial sale was suspended due to 'economic certainty' but it failed to attract a buyer when it was delisted in July last year.

The company has now entered administration, leaving more than 200 workers without jobs and homeowners fearing the worst.

Data released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows major housebuilders have made little progress since Michael Gove pressured them to sign 'developer remediation contracts' in March last year.

The contract compels developers to assess buildings to identify life-threatening safety flaws such as flammable cladding and to fix them 'as soon as reasonably practicable'.

Of the 1035 blocks of flats in England where developers have agreed to repair life-endangering defects out of their own pockets, work has not yet begun on 737 (71%), according to the latest DLUCH data which uses figures to October 2023.

Teneo, the administrator for Stewart Milne Homes, declined to comment. Contour has been approached for comment.

A spokesperson for Contour Property Services said: 'It is regrettable that Stewart Milne Group has gone into administration. We agree with leaseholders that these works should have been completed. We did everything we could to press for this and were working closely with Stewart Milne Group as the freeholder to progress the cladding removal. The administration creates a complex situation and we will continue to do what we can to support leaseholders as we investigate the implications of this.

'Whilst pursuing the cladding replacement, we completed other fire safety works at Wharfside. Whilst we acknowledge that some of these have been disruptive, our number one priority is ensuring the safety of the building and everyone living there. We will continue to work with leaseholders as we understand the options for this work and the ownership of the estate in the future. Whilst this happens, we have continued to provide services to residents, despite the uncertainty, and have communicated with leaseholders what we have established to date.'
Kevin Spacey launched a fightback this weekend against a slew of new allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour, declaring that he will no longer be speechless.

During an astonishing 95-minute interview posted on X, formerly Twitter, the double Oscar winner admitted making clumsy passes at people who were not interested in him  but vehemently denied illegal conduct or abusing his position.

Yesterday, in another extraordinary development, the fallen Hollywood star posted an email online that he suggested showed how an accuser who alleges sexual misconduct in the late 1990s was still chasing him for a role in one of his films in 2011.

Speaking to former GB News presenter Dan Wootton, Spacey, 64, said: I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologise to anyone whos made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me.

Ive never told someone that if they give me sexual favours, then I will help them out with their career, never.

Ive clearly hooked up with some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me. But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, a plan that was always destined to fail, because I wasnt in on the deal.

Actor Kevin Spacey leaving the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court, London, in 2022

The emotionally charged interview, recorded over a video call and posted online last Friday night, is the first time Spacey has publicly addressed, in detail, these new allegations of sexual misconduct. His denials come as a two-part Channel 4 documentary, entitled Spacey Unmasked, is set to broadcast the testimony of ten men who make new allegations of unwanted sexual behaviour spanning almost 40 years. The film, which The Mail on Sunday has seen, alleges Spacey:

l Groped a 21-year-old man in highly intimate and invasive way before whispering: Dont worry about it;

l Pleasured himself in front of an aspiring actor, who was a former US Marine, while watching the traumatic opening sequence of Saving Private Ryan;

l Pushed his groin into the face of an employee at the Old Vic theatre in London during a performance of the pantomime Cinderella;

l Exposed himself to an intern in the bathroom of a bar and put his hand on the penis of a fellow actor on the set of hit TV series House Of Cards.

Once one of Hollywoods most critically acclaimed stars  winning Oscars for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty  Spacey has been dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct since 2017.

In July last year, Spacey faced trial at Southwark Crown Court over nine sexual offences charges in a case involving four men. He vehemently denied their claims and the jury acquitted him of all charges.

The previous year a jury in a US civil case also found in his favour, dismissing claims brought by the actor Anthony Rapp, who was the first man to make allegations against Spacey in 2017. The MoS has learnt that those interviewed in the Channel 4 documentary, which will be broadcast tomorrow and Tuesday, include three British men whose claims were not the focus of last years criminal trial.

These allegations relate to Spaceys time as artistic director at the Old Vic between 2003 and 2015. Under his tutelage, the once struggling theatre became the hottest ticket in town, as well as a thriving creative community.

Among the most shocking allegations are those made by former actor Ruari Cannon, named by the i newspaper yesterday after he waived his anonymity.

He claimed Spacey groped him in June 2013 at an after-show party of Old Vics production of Sweet Bird Of Youth.

Mr Cannon, who was 21 when he landed a role in the play starring Sex And The Citys Kim Cattrall, said he was pulled in close by Spacey who then put his left hand down by my bum and he stuck his middle finger as far up me as possible... just tried to go up through my boxers, up inside me.

He totally froze, while Spacey, pulled me in closer and in my ear, he whispered, dont worry about it. Afterwards, Mr Cannon recalls, Spacey disappeared just like a shark, just moved straight through and into Kevin Spacey mode at a press night.

British actor Danny De Lillo, who worked at the Old Vic,said he has interaction with Spacey while working as an usher during the theatres production of Cinderella

Former actor Ruari Cannone claims Spacey groped him in June 2013 at an after-show party of Old Vics production of Sweet Bird Of Youth

Mr Cannon, who also appeared in the film World War Z alongside Brad Pitt, is understood to have first made his allegation to a reporter from the i newspaper in October 2017 but felt too worried about the potential impact on his life and career to reveal anything publicly at the time.

But now, having left the profession, he wants people to hear his story, it is claimed.

Speaking to the i yesterday, Mr Cannon said the alleged incident, which he said took place in The Savoy hotel, affected his self-worth, trust in other people and his desire to continue acting. Spacey denied the allegation in his interview with Wootton, saying it would have been witnessed by dozens of photographers if it had happened.

This makes no sense. Its ridiculous and it never happened.

Another Old Vic employee  named as Danny De Lillo in The Telegraph yesterday  told the documentary that he had an interaction with Spacey while working as an usher during the theatres production of Cinderella. He said he was sitting in a tiny space by the stalls when Spacey came in and wedged his body into the gap before pushing his groin into his face. The pantomime is going on with families and children and I could smell him. I froze just in a way that I couldnt move and I just felt so small.

Danny, who claims the star touched him inappropriately on other occasions, said he began dreading going into work.

I just thought what have I done to deserve this. How can he get on stage.

How can he sleep at night. Its such an invasion of a human being. I just felt like a piece of meat. He did not feel he could speak out  until now. This was a tiny London theatre with an A-list star and they worshipped him, he said.

In his interview on X, Spacey accepted his behaviour at the Old Vic could be flirty, inappropriate, drunken and clumsy but he denied the former ushers claim.

I just have to say I find this allegation completely offensive Here again its someone taking liberties and changing the musical score of the scene as you will in an effort to give it new meaning. None of this happened in the way this has been described.

The programme also contains a string of allegations about the stars conduct before he took up his position at the Old Vic. A former film programme coordinator at New Yorks Public Theatre called Andy described how Spacey was a relatively unknown young actor when, in the early 1980s, he came into his office with an obvious erection before forcibly pulling him on top of his desk and pressing the full force of his body into him.

It was just completely out of the blue and completely wordless, angry, Andy recalled.

There was no eye contact, there was nothing but force, physical force, and Im pushing him off, saying, get off me, this is my office. Spacey has insisted the incident did not happen.

By the late 1990s, Spacey had made it from a jobbing actor to international stardom.

In 1998, flush with Oscar success having won the Best Supporting Actor gong for The Usual Suspects, he came into the orbit of a former US Marine called Scott at LAs famed club the Viper Room.

The pair hit it off according to Scott and Spacey offered to help the then aspiring actor with a headshot and CV.

Spacey speaks to Dan Wootton and rebuts the claims against him in an interview posted online last week

When he subsequently met Spacey, the star suggested they watch a screening of the 1998 war film Saving Private Ryan  on which Scott had worked in post-production.

Scott recalled Spacey finding a hidden nook in the cinema where, to his astonishment, he started pleasuring himself as the films traumatic opening sequence unfolded. Some of the most horrific war footage ever recreated, and theres this guy rubbing one out during the invasion of Normandy, he said.

And finally he reaches over and grabs my hand and tries to get me to help out.

He refused, but recalls his shock at the paralysis he felt.

Its so shocking but your first reaction is not violence, its like you did something wrong, brought it onto yourself and you feel shame.

Speaking to Wootton, Spacey said the allegation was so ridiculous it would be laughable in any other context. The truth is I have never seen Private Ryan, he added.

Yesterday afternoon Spacey posted an email that he claimed was sent from Scott in 2011 which purported to show him enquiring about a role in one of Spaceys film projects. Spacey wrote: If this guy was so turned off by everything he claims I did, why is he still chasing me 13 years later? (See email from 2011).

The documentary paints a portrait of a troubled and often lonely man who the men interviewed claim continually overstepped boundaries.

Even though it [the verdict] absolves him of having committed a crime in those cases, I know that his behaviour is not morally or ethically acceptable, Jesse, one of those featured, said.

Jesse described how, while working as an intern on an unnamed Spacey production in New York in the late 1990s, he became the focus of the stars attention. Spacey told him he would kidnap him to help him go through his lines.

It felt like this dream come true, he said of the stars interest in him. Yet by the second week, Jesse said Spacey wasnt interested in running any lines, but was trying to move the relationship into different territory.

Hed be lying on his couch and he would try to put my hand on his crotch, he said.

At the end of the shoot, the pair were in a bar along with other cast and crew when Spacey followed Jesse to the bathroom and, Jesse claimed, assaulted him. He whips out his d*** and shoves his tongue in my mouth, he said.

Paralysed, he was rescued by someone banging on the door, at which point the star got very nervous, zipped up his pants and waltzed out of the bar.

Spacey said he did not recall that alleged incident but added: I do recall many times in my life when Ive smoked a joint in a bathroom stall and removed my Johnson from my trousers and my tongue in some other persons mouth. Is he suggesting I did all three of these in one go?

In one of the most recent examples of alleged inappropriate behaviour, Daniel, an actor on the Golden Globe-winning House Of Cards, claimed Spacey groped him on set when he was 23.

As the pair walked off set, Daniel claimed Spacey tickled him below his zipper and touched his penis.

He had these dead eyes looking at me, and I felt like I was staring into a soulless monster, he said. I didnt see it as anything criminal. It was just disgusting behaviour on set. Responding to the claims, Spacey said it was possible he engaged in some childish behaviour but denied it was sexual.

That he now refers to it as disgusting is probably a little unfair considering I was always with him in group settings and I wasnt the only one engaging in horseplay.

Throughout the course of his interview with Wootton, Spacey referred to a letter he had received from Channel 4 detailing the new allegations against him and methodically responded to each of the mens claims.

Wearing a black suit, lilac shirt and blue tie, Spacey denied accusations of any illegal behaviour, but did say he had made clumsy passes at people in the past.

Were there times when I would flirt with some of the people who were involved in those programmes who were in their 20s? Yes, he said.

Did I ever hook up with another actor? Yes. Did I make a clumsy pass at someone who wasnt interested as it turned out? Yes.

But I was not employing them, I was not their boss, I was often-times just swimming in for an hour here or there as a well-known actor to lend support... to answer questions.

That may not have been the best decision, and it is not one that I would do today, but it happened.

It wasnt illegal, and nor has it ever been alleged to have been illegal.

Speaking out about the controversy, which has engulfed his life for seven years, was his only hope, he said. I would really just love to be above all of this, he said. Not have to talk about it. Go back to my daily life. Get back to work. But I have finally realised if I dont fight back, this will never end.

Asked what the scandal had cost him, he replied: Everything. I have lost my jobs. I have lost my house. Ive got one foot in bankruptcy. Everything.
The family of a promising young medical student are demanding to know why no-one has been arrested for pushing him into a lake and leaving him to almost drown.

Video filmed at the scene showed the group of friends casually peering into the water as Christopher Gilbert, 26, who could not swim, fought for up to 20 minutes to save himself at the lake in Farmerville, Louisiana.

His heart and breathing had stopped by the time patrons from a nearby restaurant saw what was going on, hauled him to the surface and began CPR.

The group of friends told police he 'just kind of fell face first into the water' before one admitted that she had shoved him off the pier.

'In the legal field, we characterize things the way we see fit,' said family lawyer Claudia Payne. 'Of course, they are saying horseplay. We are saying that it was a criminal intentional push into the lake.'

Christopher Gilbert, 26, had graduated with a masters degree from Louisiana State University

Video from the incident shows Gilbert's friends casually peering into the water as he fought for up to 20 minutes to save himself at the lake in Farmerville, Louisiana

His heart and breathing had stopped by the time an onlooker hauled him from the 15ft water

Gilbert's mother, Yolanda George, said she was alerted when one of the friends rang her at home.

'She told me that Chris had fallen into the lake and he had been underwater for 20 minutes or so,' George told Fox8.

'And I was like, 20 minutes? Why was he underwater for 20 minutes?

'And she was just crying hysterically and he was being airlifted to Shreveport.

'And initially when my son got there the doctor called us in and told me that at this time he was "brain dead pretty much, and the rest of his organs were starting to fail".'

George raced to the center where she found her son clinging to life.

'I was devastated, I felt like my life had ended in a moment,' she said. 'My son is aspiring to be a medical doctor, he got his masters last year. My son is so sweet, the most selfless being you'll ever meet, I was in a terrible state.'

Outside she found some of the group in the hospital waiting room.

The young scientist from Shreveport planned to enroll in medical school to become a doctor

His father and grandfather proudly watched as he qualified from LSU

Three weeks on he remains on life support at Ochsner LSU Health

Mother Yolanda (center) and lawyer Claudia Payne (right) told KSLA they want justice

'The friend group came to the hospital still telling me the same fabricated story that he fell,' she said.

'I learned at that moment in the ER, the sheriff called me,' she said, adding that once they met she was asked if she knew what happened.

She told him: 'Yes, he was at the lake and fell'.

But he said: 'No, one of the young ladies pushed him.'

'I was like "who pushed him?" And I started looking around the room, "which one of you all pushed him?"

'The young lady like "I did", and I was "Why would you push my son in the lake knowing he couldn't swim?"

'She said, "Well ma'am I didn't know that man couldn't swim".'

The concerned mother then asked who the girl meant by 'that man' but understood soon enough she meant Chris.

She continued: 'Everyone knows he can't swim. He jokes about not being able to swim, even when we went to the restaurant the owner of the restaurant stated everybody knows Chris can't swim, he's been coming here for two years he's always joking about it.'

The video shows that at one point a woman in a black bikini followed Gilbert into the water but without returning with the drowning man.

Sgt Ashley Rhodes of the Union Parish Sheriff's Office arrived at the lake to find restaurant patron Dawson Foust desperately trying to save Gilbert's life.

In his incident report he noted his conversation with the group of friends.

'They advised they thought he was playing a prank by not coming up immediately,' he wrote.

'Some members of the group did not realize Gilbert could not swim.

'It was later discovered the group was horse playing and one of the females in the group pushed Gilbert in the water, not knowing he could not swim.

'Foust advised me it was approximately 15 feet deep at the location he found Gilbert.'

Union Sheriff Dusty Gates gave a different account when he was interviewed about the April 14 incident.

'The party he was with began panicking or screaming and an individual within the restaurant saw what was going on and he came out and dove in and retrieved the victim,' he said.

'We don't know if it may turn worse again because at one point, he was off the ventilator but then they put him back on two days later' his mother said

'It was a joint effort by a lot of people to make this happen, and that's what we try to work for here in Union Parish, to work together to make it a better place.'

Gilbert remains on life-support in hospital as doctors try to establish whether he will ever recover.

'It's still a battle because we don't know what to expect,' his mother said.

'We don't know if it may turn worse again because at one point, he was off the ventilator but then they put him back on two days later.'
The Barefoot Investor has revealed the three radical ways the government can immediately fix the housing crisis.

Scott Pape shared his insight as he weighed in on the domestic violence crisis and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's policies.

Pape argued many women were being forced to live with their abusive partners because they had nowhere to go due to the housing shortage and high prices.

He offered several key solutions to immediately fix the real estate market that he bluntly labelled a 'dumpster fire'.

'So, how could the government really address it?' Pape wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph.

The Barefoot Investor, Scott Pape (pictured), listed the three steps the Albanese Government can take to solve the housing crisis

'First, by temporarily limiting immigration while the rental market is in crisis.

'Second, by cutting negative gearing and the 50 per cent reduction on capital gains tax (CGT) for investors.

'And finally, by funnelling those tax savings into building public housing that looks after the most vulnerable people in our society - women and their kids who are fleeing family violence.'

He issued the three demands directly to Mr Albanese, writing: 'That sounds pretty bold to me, Albo.'

His recommendations followed a massive outcry from Australians about the high rate of domestic violence, which Pape described as 'Port Arthur-like'.

He recalled statics stating a woman is killed by a partner every four days in Australia with police called every two minutes to a domestic violence event.

Mr Albanese called a roundtable summit following rallies across the country calling for better policies to protect women.

The result was what Pape described as a 'reheated Scomo policy'.

'[Former prime minister Scott] Morrison had the Escaping Violence Payment, which offered up to $5,000 for women and Albanese has the Leaving Violence Payment, which does the same thing,' he said.

'Now it's better than nothing.

'Yet it doesn't come close to tackling the big issue: our housing market is a complete dumpster fire.'

Mr Albanese described his plan as 'two steps forward'.

'What we've done is to beef up the program to make sure that there's more, more support, not just the financial payment, but that those support services kick in as well,' he said.

To be eligible for the Leaving Violence Payment, a person must be a victim survivor and have experienced a change in living arrangement as a result of the intimate partner violence in the past 12 weeks.

It offers eligible victims up to $1,500 in cash and $3,500 in vouchers.

Pape linked the housing crisis to Australia's domestic violence epidemic, saying: 'There are way too many women living with violent jerks because they can't afford to move'

Pape claimed the skyrocketing price of housing in Australia has forced women and children to stay in violent households as they can't afford to escape.

Anglicare last month found educated women in high salary jobs can only afford three per cent of rental properties.

'And those cheap rentals have eager-beaver applicants lined up around the corner,' Pape said.

The organisation said it was 'giving out blankets to women to sleep in their cars' while Homelessness Australia found just 3.7 per cent of women who fled violence were able to secure long-term housing.

Pape pointed the blame at the government's 'vote-grabber' tax breaks which made it easier for investors to provide private rentals.

Instead, he believes the government should have focused on building more public housing.

'There are way too many women living with violent jerks because they can't afford to move,' Pape said.

On Friday, NSW deputy premier Prue Car announced a housing package which would help women trying to leave dangerous situations.

Ms Car said it would be the first step in a larger push by her government to improve the safety of women after an alarming spike in violence against women.

At least 28 women have died this year from gendered violence.

Anglicare last month found educated women in high salary jobs can only afford three per cent of rental properties, which are subject to massive competition

Following a cabinet meeting on Friday, which heard from experts and campaigners, Ms Car said: 'Primary prevention and early intervention does need more attention because we need to drive the cultural change that stops this from happening.'

Ms Car, the housing minister, said the government will look at under-used accommodation facilities with a view to repurposing them as shelters or even long-term housing.

She also said education would be focus.

'Education is always, always part of the answer, but the government needs to make sure that schools are supported to be able to do that'.

Leader of the government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe said the announcement was decades overdue.

'Today, what this government has done [has] started a process that has taken too long but that is about urgent action,' she said.

'It is about things that are going to change the dial ... to prevent the behaviour in the first place.'
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Hundreds of diehard science fiction fans donned eye-catching outfits at a music festival to celebrate Star Wars Day.

'Midnight Mafia VIII: Gangs of the Galaxies' saw revellers descend on Sydney Olympic Park, in western Sydney, on Saturday night.

May 4 is the official date the sciene fiction franchise is celebrated around the world with fans often greeting each other with the phrase: 'May the Fourth be with you'.

The comment is a play on the phrase commonly spoken in the movies where the characters would say: 'May the force be with you'.

A number of revellers dressed as the series' most memorable heroes such as Princess Leia, Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker.

The series' villains were represented as well, as others dressed as characters such as Darth Vader and Darth Maul.

Some partygoers spun their costumes to be as revealing as possible, braving the chilly 17C temperatures and wet and windy conditions.

Hardstyle fans have donned revealing outfits paying homage to Star Wars character for an event on unofficial Star Wars day, May the Fourth

Partygoes dressed as both villains and heroes of the sci-fi series for Midnight Mafia's 'Gangs of the Galaxies' event

Some dressed to the nines others while others were more subtle, wearing fur boots to reflect the series' Wookies and Ewoks

Others decided to drop the Star Wars theme as they braved the chilly wet and windy weather on Saturday night

Some chose to dress as characters from other famous franchises like cartoon, Sailer Moon

One dressed as Spiderman while another went as Raven from Teen Titans

The event promised attendees would 'enter the insane world of the gangs that reside in all known galaxies'.

'There's zero respect but plenty of places to hide,' the cryptic event details reads.

'Its Turf War like no other and not all Gangs are run by Humans. The Rebellion is on so reach for the stars!'

The event promised the 'best line up ever with over 10 of the hottest acts on the scene right not' alongside a wild production including lasers and massive screens for visuals.

Tickets for the event cost as much as $180 when it went on sale on February 2, with fans urged to pre-register as Midnight Mafia is their 'fastest selling party' over the past two years.

Prior events run by Harder Styles United (HSU) have garnered a large police presence and Saturday was no different.

However, NSW Police confirmed there were no arrests or infringement notices handed out as the crowd remained well-behaved.

One man wore an 'it's my birthday sash'

The original trilogy's antagonist, Darth Vader was a popular costume

Vader's ex-mentor and robed enemy in the series, Obi Wan Kenobi, also featured as a popular outfit for partygoers

Princess Leia's skimpy outfit in Return of the Jedi featured on a number of partygoers

Others decided to keep it simple, one man seen with a plush doll of fan-favourite Yoda poking out of his bag

A number of attendees channeled their Sith energy as they dressed in all black for the event

HSU's success over the past two years has been contrasted with music festivals considered cornerstones of the Australian music industry collapsing and struggling to keep afloat.

The largest of which, Splendour In The Grass, was sensationally cancelled for 2024 just days after releasing an 'underwhelming' lineup.

Music promoter, Danny Grant, said music festivals have 'had a nightmare three years and were trying to diversify too much'.

'(Splendour) went from Kylie Minogue to [American rapper] Future and they were probably aiming at crowds that didn't want to see each other.'

He added: 'I don't think there was much of a crossover. It did the opposite of what they were hoping for.'

Another Star Wars outfit worn by a revellers just before the event

Some decided to wear outfits more traditional to hardstyle events

Showing off skin isn't unfamiliar, but what about what's under the skin?

Classic EDM outfits, activewear and Nike TN shoes, also featured

Outfit or not, partygoers were ecstatic while walking into the event
Parts of Prince Andrew's home appear to be crumbling - months after he refused to leave and reassured the King that he would see to its expensive repairs.

Claims emerged last year that Andrew, 64, could not meet the 400,000-a-year upkeep of Royal Lodge, which has 30-rooms and is thought to be worth 30million.

It was reported that the Duke of York, who has no apparent source of income and was forced to quit royal duties over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, was told he would have to leave the property.

He was granted 'a stay of execution', it was reported in October, after he did a deal with the King to carry out the repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed property.

But the state of the mansion's exterior has since been exposed, with pictures which are said to show that it is still in need of some work potentially sparking a new row.

Andrew, who took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease, has reportedly paid more than 7.5million of his own fortune for renovations

The Mail revealed last year that the King intended to evict his brother from the mansion on the Windsor estate and move him to a more modest property

Amid the quarrel over his property, one of Andrew's friends last year described how there had been a 'cooling of relations' between him and the King

The Mirror published a picture which shows how part of the property requires a fresh lick of paint, and reports that what seem to be worsening cracks are visible in the brickwork.

The paper cited a source who said: 'The Duke of York has a clear responsibility for the upkeep of the Royal Lodge estate, which is certainly not happening.

'The state of the residence will be of great concern to the King after everything that has gone on and been discussed in regards to the house.

'Prince Andrew was told he must take charge of the necessary renovations or he will have no cause to stay in the house.'

Andrew has lived in the home for 20 years, and signed a 75-year lease on it after agreeing to maintain it and paying 250-a-week.

Sources close to the Duke said back in January: 'Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease.'

The Mail revealed last year that the King intended to evict his brother from the mansion on the Windsor estate and move him to a more modest property.

Frogmore Cottage, which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan, was suggested as a possible alternative, but Andrew reportedly saw this as a 'demotion' too far.

Amid the quarrel over his property, one of Andrew's friends described how there had been a 'cooling of relations' between him and the King.

The King's younger brother was stripped of royal duties and use of his HRH title by the late Queen

Charles then held out an 'olive branch' to his brother by inviting him to Balmoral over the summer along with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.

The brothers are said to have engaged in crisis talks during a family gathering there late last August, during which time the issue of Andrew's tenancy was thrashed out.

Royal Lodge has seven bedrooms across the two top floors and Andrew shares the lavish mansion with just his ex-wife Sarah.

The mansion is in desperate need of repairs on top of the 200,000 roof maintenance Andrew has already paid for, including work to solve a damp problem throughout the property.

Frogmore Cottage, which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan, was suggested as a possible alternative

Andrew took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease and has ploughed up to 7million of his own fortune into renovations.

In 2022, Andrew paid a reported 12million settlement to Virginia Giuffre, halting a civil trial in the US, after she said he sexually assaulted her when she was 17. He strongly denies the claims.

The King's younger brother was stripped of royal duties and use of his HRH title by the late Queen, but is still able to attend family events, such as the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, in a private capacity.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
This is the moment a Royal Marine accidentally sets himself on fire while abseiling into Twickenham in a stunt at the Army vs Navy rugby match.

Footage from the match showed the soldier descending from the stadium's rafters as he appeared to set off a red flare.

But soon that massed into a fireball as a blaze suddenly sparked on his back - as he descended from the heavens.

And as he landed alongside other soldiers he was left flailing as he tried to remove the rope, before the camera dramatically cut to the second marine.

The stunt - which apparently left him unharmed as he was seen laughing with a pal shortly after - was mercilessly mocked online as fellow soldiers joked about his blunder.

One laughed: 'Bro is on fire!'

Footage from the match showed the soldier descending from the stadium's rafters as he appeared to set off a red flare

But soon that massed into a fireball as a blaze suddenly sparked on his back - as he descended from the heavens

As he landed alongside other soldiers he was left flailing as he tried to remove the rope, before the camera dramatically cut to the second marine

The footage cut to a second soldier as he flawlessly performed the feat into the stadium

The Marines were layer seen with the match ball as they carried it onto the pitch, apparently unphased by the inciden

A second joked: 'Fantastic stuff from the Marines.'

And an account dedicated to Commando operations added: 'Royal - always making an entrance!!!'

The Marines were layer seen with the match ball as they carried it onto the pitch, apparently unphased by the incident.

Walking alongside the historic pitch, they appeared to chuckle to each other as they marched around the perimeter.

The stunt came as the force delivered the ball to the Army vs Navy Inter Service rugby union match, played this weekend.

The honour came as the Marines came as the corps celebrated their 360th year.

Commentating on the match Invictus Gold Medallist and Strictly Come Dancing quarter-finalist JJ Chalmers said: 'You are seeing the Royal Marines there, they are just about to bring the match ball down into it.

'Two real reasons for this - one, Royal Marines don't need any excuse to jump off a big building on a rope.

'Two, this is the 360th year of the Royal Marines being celebrated this year. On the 28th October 1664, the Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot was formed.'

The Army sailed to victory as they trounced the Navy 42-31 - with a dominant ladies team also beating the Navy 78-5.
A hero father who shielded his wife and four-year-old daughter from sword-wielding killer has been reunited with his girl in hospital - as he pays tribute to attack victim Daniel Anjorin for the first time.

Henry De Los Rios Polania, 35, an IT engineer from Hainault, was stabbed in his home on Tuesday morning in a shocking attack that left 14-year-old Daniel dead.

Four others were seriously injured during the 22-minute reign of terror on Tuesday, including a heroic female police officer who almost lost a hand.

Mr De Los Rios Polania was described by his sister, Jessica, 31, as a 'hero' for protecting his family from the assailant - and yesterday evening he took to social media to pay tribute to his 'angel' daughter while still in hospital.

In a second clip he showed a woman bending down to place a flower tribute and a tiger teddy at the memorial to Daniel on the residential street where he lived, with a note conveying his and his family's 'deepest sympathies'.

In a heartbreaking message, he said: 'Daniel Anjorin, we are extremely sorry. You did not deserve such tragedy.

Yesterday evening Henry De Los Rios Polania took to social media to pay tribute to his 'angel' daughter while still in hospital

In a second clip he showed a woman bending down to place a flower tribute at the memorial to Daniel on the residential street where he lived

A heartbreaking note placed with a flower and a tiger teddy conveying his and his family's 'deepest sympathies'

Daniel Anjorin was stabbed in the neck and chest in the horrifying attack

Daniel Anjorin, pictured here with his mother Grace, was tragically killed during an attack in Hainault on Tuesday

'There are no words to convey how terrible this is. Our deepest sympathies to you and your family. Rest in peace Daniel.

'Our hears are breaking for you. We will forever remember you, young King!'

In a second post, he grinned broadly with his laughing toddler, who was rested in the nook of his arm.

Wearing a hospital gown, a cushioned sling and holding a cushion on his lap, he looked overjoyed as he was once again reunited with his beaming girl.

Captioning the photo, he told his followers: 'I have no other words but she is my angel! Daddy will be home soon.'

Marcus Arduini Monzo, 36, a dual Spanish-Brazilian national living in Newham, east London, has appeared in court accused of murdering Daniel Anjorin as he was walking to school on Tuesday, and injuring four other people.

Ms De Los Rios previously revealed that her brother was recovering in hospital after sustaining a deep wound to his hand.

'It's a very long process to get his hand recovered, due to this wound,' she said, adding: 'He's awake, he's in hospital,' but 'he lost a lot of blood' and 'it's going to be a really long, traumatising recovery for him.

Mr De Los Rios Polania, (pictured) suffered injuries when a knifeman broke into his family home, his sister said

Daniel, pictured here wearing a red and blue Spiderman costume, was on his way to school when he was attacked

Floral tributes at the scene of the sword attack in Laing close in Hainault

'He's very devastated to believe something like this could happen,' she said, adding: 'To us, he's our hero. He protected them - my niece and my sister-in-law.

'They were just literally sleeping, opened their eyes to see a man with a big machete sword.

'He felt helpless in the moment but to us he is our hero. It could have been extremely worse.'

Mr De Los Rios Polania and his family are originally from Colombia but have lived in the UK for several years.

Earlier this week, he took to social media to thank the emergency services and his family for saving his life.

'I would like to start by thanking all the nurses, paramedics, and the doctors on the NHS for keeping me alive,' he said, also sending gratitude to the police 'for risking their lives'.

He added: 'I'm recovering. I have a long journey ahead but I'm very positive that this trauma will end soon.'

Monzo appeared in court yesterday accused of Daniel's murder along with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, and possession of a bladed article.

Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, a Spanish and Brazilian national, appeared in court today charged with murder

Earlier this week, Mr De Los Rios Polania took to social media to thank the emergency services and his family for saving his life

Daniel Anjorin was leaving his home just before 7am when he was caught up in the horrifying ordeal

David Burns, prosecuting, said the suspect allegedly drove a van at speed at Donato Iwule, who was walking on the street, before exiting the vehicle and slashing him around the neck, leaving an injury that required hospital treatment.

Monzo then forced entry into the bedroom of a couple who were sleeping with their four-year-old child and slashed the father in the neck, the prosecutor said.

Mr Burns said he was shouting: 'If you do not believe in God he will cause you harm.'

The prosecutor added: 'He has then left the scene and attacked Daniel Anjorin, a schoolboy on his way to school.'

It is alleged that he stabbed him in the neck and chest.

The court heard that while officers were tending to Daniel's injuries Monzo appeared from a bush and attacked a female police officer with the weapon while she was on the ground.

A second officer named Moloy Campbell was also injured, the court heard.

Daniel has been remembered as a 'true scholar' with a 'gentle character' - as well-wishers raised more than 130,000 on GoFundMe for a celebration of his life.

The suspect larking around in fancy dress in a video he posted on social media

Monzo at Westminster Magistrates Court today flanked by custody officers

The 14-year-old was said to put a smile on faces whenever he walked in the room while being described as a 'very much-loved' boy who brought joy to his family and was an 'admirable' student at his prestigious independent school.

Daniel attended Bancroft's School in nearby Woodford Green, the 24,999-a-year school, which yesterday flew its flag at half-mast while flowers were laid by fellow students.

His heartbroken parents are trusting in their deep Christian faith to cope with their profound shock and grief at his killing, family friends revealed.

Bancroft's School said on its website: 'We are devastated by the heartbreaking news of the death of Daniel. This has left us in profound shock and sorrow.

'He joined Bancroft's at seven years old and quickly became a core member of our community. He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits.

'His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us. Losing such a young pupil is something we will always struggle to come to terms with.' Nottingham stabbing victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, had also been a pupil at the Bancroft's.

Her parents offered to meet Daniel's family  health and safety consultant Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, 59, and science teacher mother Grace Anjorin, 49  to help them through their traumatic time.

Sinead O'Malley, Grace's mum, told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I don't think there's anything that anybody can say to alleviate their heart and their pain so we wouldn't try to minimise that, but all we can do is empathise and hope they will heal with time.'
Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim on Sunday as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

The two sides blamed each other for the impasse.

In their second day of truce talks in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli officials have not traveled to Cairo to take part in indirect diplomacy, but on Sunday Netanyahu reiterated Israel's aim since the start of the war nearly seven months ago: to disarm and dismantle the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas for good or else endanger Israel's future security.

The prime minister said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

"But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said."Israel cannot accept that."

In a statement released shortly after Netanyahu's, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group is still keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that ends the Israeli "aggression", guarantees Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and achieves "a serious" deal to free Israelis being held hostage in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Haniyeh blamed Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties."

The war began after Hamas stunned Israel with a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 hostages taken, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed, 29 of them in the past 24 hours, and more than 77,000 have been wounded in Israel's assault, according to Gaza's health ministry. The bombardment has devastated much of the coastal enclave and caused a humanitarian crisis.

As the talks were underway, residents and health officials in Gaza said Israeli planes and tanks continued to pound areas across the Palestinian enclave overnight, killing and wounding several people.

Mediation

Earlier on Sunday, a Palestinian official told Reuters the Cairo negotiations are "facing challenges because the occupation (Israel) refuses to commit to a comprehensive ceasefire" but added that the Hamas delegation was still in Cairo in the hope mediators could press Israel to change its position.

Qatar, where Hamas has a political office, and Egypt are trying to mediate a follow-up to a brief November ceasefire, amid international dismay over the soaring death toll in Gaza and the plight of its 2.3 million inhabitants.

Egyptian sources said CIA Director William Burns, who has also been involved in previous truce talks, arrived in Cairo on Friday. Washington  which, like other Western powers and Israel, brands Hamas a terrorist group  has urged it to enter a deal.

Israel has given a preliminary nod to terms that one source said included the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a truce of several weeks.

That would leave around 100 hostages in Gaza, some of whom Israel says have died in captivity. The source, who asked not to be identified by name or nationality, told Reuters their return may require an additional deal.

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that would see the remaining hostages brought home. (Reuters)
Key NHS staff called physician associates have sparked outrage by posting 'inappropriate' and 'unprofessional' videos on social media.

The workers, dubbed 'cut price medics' as they receive just two years' training, have been discovered filming themselves lounging in bed at home while seeming to show a working day in the life of a PA, talking gleefully about seeing 'blood and gore' and taking pictures of medical documents.

The clips were shown to The Mail on Sunday by concerned consultants who believe some of them come 'very close to the line of professional misconduct'. They highlight the lack of training and supervision that PAs operate under, add the worried doctors.

The Government wants to recruit 10,000 PAs by 2038 to help plug gaps at hospitals and GP surgeries. However as they receive a fraction of the six years-plus education that doctors get, many doctors oppose the drive.

The MoS was the first to raise the alarm about the dangers of PAs last year and is running a campaign to Rein In The Physician Associates after uncovering a number of alarming cases of life-threatening misdiagnoses.

Actress Emily Chesterton died aged 30 from a blood clot that was missed by two PAs in 2022. Her parents have called for tighter regulation. And Norman Jopling, 79 from North London, suffered a serious brain bleed after a PA mistakenly told him his painful headaches were nothing to worry about.

His wife Maureen accused the NHS of 'trying to cut corners' by allowing PAs to carry out 'complicated tasks they're not qualified to perform.'

Due to mounting concerns in March, the British Medical Association (BMA) urged health chiefs to ban PAs from making diagnoses. Our new findings will add further pressure on the General Medical Council to step in as PAs are currently unregulated.

In one 'day in the life' video first posted on YouTube, then widely shared on X/Twitter, a PA explains she stays at home on Tuesdays because it's 'easier to run the clinic from home' as rooms were not always available at the surgery where she worked.

She is seen lying on her bed in different positions, surrounded by colourful cushions, asking questions while on the phone: 'Were you diagnosed with anything long-term?' She says. 'So what symptoms do you have?'

The PA reveals she finished work at 1pm, adding: 'I did a bit better than I thought I would, considering how many breaks I was taking.'

Due to mounting concerns in March, the British Medical Association (BMA) urged health chiefs to ban PAs from making diagnoses (stock photo)

Although we are not naming the PA in question, when we contacted her she claimed the video was 'role-play' to give an example of how she might conduct a consultation, and that she wasn't really talking to a patient. She added that the clip was filmed more than a year ago and posted accidentally.

When it began to be reposted on X/Twitter, she removed it.

In a second clip, the same woman tells viewers she has been asked to visit a vulnerable patient at a care home, rolling her eyes and saying: 'I just don't like visiting patients.'

The woman is seen preparing for the visit, packing various items of medical equipment into a bag.

She says of one item: 'Here we have a blood pressure monitor  sorry, blood sugar monitor  but I haven't used this since I worked as a healthcare assistant.'

She says of another gadget: 'I don't know what this is, but I'll just keep it in here.'

In another, a PA posted a video of herself screaming with excitement as she breathlessly told her Instagram followers: 'Guys, I don't know how to process this, but I just saw, oh my god, the coolest case so far.

'Oh my god, there was so much blood and gore, oh my god. I know it's not for everyone, but oh my god, that just gave me, like, an adrenaline rush. Yeah, I think I want to work in resus [the part of a hospital for people who need urgent treatment].'

One doctor who saw the clip wrote: 'To be excited by witnessing suffering is a sign of worrying immaturity + misguided enthusiasm.'

Another commented that it was 'appalling  regardless of role  and I'd be happy to sign a formal letter of complaint'.

A third said: 'I cringe at many of these showboating PA posts with no empathy or compassion for the person they speak of in them.'

Another worrying PA social media post features a partially obscured DNACPR form, which they had filled in 'for a young patient', adding: 'I don't know how to feel.' These forms, also known as 'do not resuscitate' orders, are often used to ensure a dying person's death is dignified.

Although no personal details are visible, the concern is that the patient in question might work out the post is related to them.

The Government wants to recruit 10,000 PAs by 2038 to help plug gaps at hospitals and GP surgeries (stock photo)

A video called A Day In The Life Of A UK Physician Associate on YouTube features a PA going about her daily tasks at a GP surgery.

After seeing a patient, she tells viewers: 'That was a very long and complicated consultation. This is what you're dealing with in general practice, where you're having to manage chronic stuff, symptoms that have been going on and on and on.'

In another clip from the working-from-bed video, the woman says: 'The sad thing for us as physician associates is that no matter what we do, if we make even one mistake, because of the negativity around physician associates, [it's assumed that] we made it because we're not a doctor.'

Commenting on the posts, tropical diseases medic Dr Eilidh Garrett said she and colleagues were concerned about PAs posting about their cases on social media, as patients may recognise themselves.

She said: 'If I had gone through a really traumatic event and I saw someone posting gleefully about it on social media, I would probably feel quite aggrieved.'

She added that PAs have been seen to 'over-egg' their responsibilities and 'sensationalise' their roles, contributing to misconceptions of what they do.

Dr Jatinder Hayre, a West Midlands-based doctor, said PAs are coming 'very close to the line' of professional misconduct by making videos in which patients may identify themselves as the subject, even if they're not named.

He said: 'In a two-year course, PAs completely miss out on not just medical knowledge but also the professional conduct and communication skills that form part of a medical degree.

'From the content I've seen, there is an issue with patient confidentiality and a lack of professional conduct.'
Fears that a Labour government would return Britain to 1970s-style 'strike chaos' were raised last night ahead of a fresh wave of walkouts by train drivers.

Tories claimed that union leaders  not Sir Keir Starmer  would make the decisions if he ever got into No 10.

To prove that, they seized on promises by Labour's transport spokesman Louise Haigh to work 'hand in glove' with train drivers' union Aslef.

She made the comments in a 2022 interview for Aslef's own journal.

The warning comes ahead of a fresh wave of strikes by Aslef that will affect 16 different rail companies from Tuesday to Thursday this week.

Last night Tory MP Sara Britcliffe said: 'Labour truly are marching to the tune of their union paymasters.

Fears that a Labour government would return Britain to 1970s-style 'strike chaos' were raised last night ahead of a fresh wave of walkouts by train drivers (file pic)

Tories claimed that union leaders  not Sir Keir Starmer  would make the decisions if he ever got into No 10 (file pic)

First they stood side by side on the picket lines with these strike barons, now they're plotting to have them around the Cabinet table for beer and bacon sandwiches.'

Ms Britcliffe, who sits on the Commons' transport committee and is MP for Hyndburn in Lancashire, added: 'If Labour ever get the keys to No 10, it would be right back to the strike chaos of the 1970s.'

However, Ms Haigh told The Mail on Sunday that Labour would 'reset industrial relations, but we will not shy away from the tough negotiations that are needed to deliver a railway that works for passengers, taxpayers and respects railway workers'.

An Aslef spokesman dismissed the Conservative claims as 'nonsense' from 'Tories heading for defeat'.

As well as the strikes, an overtime ban for drivers starts from tomorrow for six days.
President Vladimir Putin appeared withdrawn and downcast in a rare public appearance at an Orthodox Easter Mass in Moscow.

The Russian tyrant seemed to stare blankly out towards the congregation as he went through the religious motions during the mass.

The 71-year-old's mood could have been a result of claims that the country's armed forces are looking 1,000 men a day on the front line in the conflict with Ukraine.

Putin attended a service at the packed Christ the Savior Cathedral for a night-time Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin.

While the Ukrainian Defence Ministry estimates Russian deaths and causalities could total as many as 450,000, Russia has not released any figures since September 2022.

President Vladimir Putin appears withdrawn and downcast at the Orthodox Easter mass service, staring off absentmindedly into the distance

The Russian leader looked miserable as he went through the mass which was televised across Russia and went on throughout the night

Putin stood with Sergei Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow (right) inside Christ the Savior Cathedral for the midnight mass where they held thin red candles as a choir sang traditional songs

President Putin attended the televised traditional service late on Sunday with Patriarch Kirill delivering well-wishes to Orthodox believers.

A procession of white-robed clergy circled the vast cathedral, rebuilt in post-Soviet times and widely seen as symbolic of Russia's rejection of its atheist past, as they swung smoking incense censers and chanted the liturgy.

Most Western churches observed Easter on March 31, but the Russian Orthodox Church follows a different calendar.

In his Easter address, Kirill wished for 'God's blessing over Russia,' its people and all countries where the church has a presence.

But the Church's Easter comes amid damming figures released by Kyiv which claims that Russia's daily casualty numbers have surpassed 1,000 every day.

According to the latest figures from Ukraine's armed forces and reported by The Express, Russia suffered 1,120 casualties in 24 hours making it the fifth day in a row where numbers of wounded or dead have risen to over 1,000.

Russian losses increased significantly towards the end of April after a period of intense fighting in the Donetsk region.

Despite Putin's apparent misery at the latest statistics, Ukraine is continuing its offensive and his hoping to receive military assistance from the US soon.

A Ukrainian airstrike against Russian troops. Recent figures released by Kyiv estimate that Russia is losing more than 1,000 troops a day and has lost more than 6,000 in the last 5 days alone

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (pictured) and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin led the service

Putin and the Moscow Mayor later exchanged gifts but during the service the pair appeared sombre

Britain's armed forces have also revealed that Russia has suffered heavy artillery losses.

Tory minister Leo Docherty previously said 'over 10,000 Russian armoured vehicles' had been destroyed.

This included 3,000 main battle tanks, 109 fixed wing aircraft, 136 helicopters, 346 unmanned aerial vehicles and 23 naval vessels of all classes.

On top of this, more than 1,500 artillery systems have been destroyed, abandoned or captured by Ukraine.

Possibly in a nod to the dire situation Russia's armed forces is now facing, Patriarch Kirill published a message to the Church's website on Saturday.

He noted that 'awareness of God's love - gives us strength to overcome the most difficult mental states and difficult circumstances, elevates us above the bustle of everyday life, helps correct previous mistakes and destroys despondency.'

Ukrainian servicemen fire a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops

Ukrainian servicemen ride on an armored personnel carrier (APC) in a field near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, on April 27, 2024

The patriarch this year appeared to steer clear from political pronouncements, unlike last April when he lamented 'grave events taking place on our Russian historical land,' referencing Moscow's military actions in Ukraine and reinforcing the Kremlin's narrative that Ukrainian statehood is essentially a fiction.

Putin was shown among the worshippers, standing next to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as the two joined in the traditional Easter greetings but the President appeared depressed and miserable.

The Russian leader was later seen exchanging festive gifts with Kirill.

Putin has been eager to portray himself as defending 'traditional values' espoused by the Russian Orthodox Church in the face of what he repeatedly casts as the West's 'degrading' influence.

The country has increasingly taken a conservative turn, with attempts to restrict abortion and broad bans against LGBTQ+ activism and gender transitioning that have met with the church's support.
A Pittsburgh record store which was on the brink of closure in 2000 is now booming once again thanks to a resurgence in vinyl.

The Attic Record Store, which first opened in 1980, has survived recessions, streaming and even acts of God to survive as one of a handful of independent record stores in the area.

The beloved store now turns over around $1.5 million a year in album sales, as young and old flock to its shelves on a daily basis.

Most surprisingly of all, while many record stores have embraced online ordering, owner Fred Bohn Jr. has bucked the trend with a more analogue approach.

'We don't sell anything online,' he told the Wall Street Journal. 'If you sell all your best stuff on the internet, it's not as fun for people to come to the store.'

The Attic Record Store, which was on the brink of closure in 2000 is now booming once again thanks to a resurgence in vinyl

Owner Fred Bohn Jr. has managed to weather various challenges to the market including the advent of online streaming to keep his business affloat

The beloved store now turns over around $1.5 million a year in album sales, as young and old flock to its shelves on a daily basis

The only exception to this are customers from overseas. Bohn will often take requests over the phone from record collectors as far away as Japan and Europe.

The scenes are a far cry from those 20 years ago, when Bohn was seriously contemplating shutting up shop amid dire sales.

The then 30-year-old had taken over the store from his father, who himself had eked out a living by going up against huge record store chains.

Just as the market was edging ever closer towards CDs and ultimately digital streaming, Bohn was hit with another blow in 2004 when much of his stock was destroyed in a catastrophic flood.

But luckily, he decided to try and weather the storm and has seen his commitment to pay off.

'We're definitely not struggling to pay the bills,' he added, but admitted that most of his revenue goes right back into buying more stock.

Last year, Bohn forked out $29,000 for a collection of 1,000 records.

The vinyl is stored on the 4,000 square feet of shop floor, and also in maze like backrooms.

while many record stores have embraced online ordering, owner Fred Bohn Jr. has bucked the trend with a more analogue approach by refusing online sales

What began as a more niche offering now carries many mainstream heavyweights including Taylor Swift which help keep the store affloat

Attic Records is so densely stocked it would taken an estimated 16 days to browse all its titles.

'The thing about records is there's never too much.,' Bohn explained.

The business owner does not have an exact number for his inventory, or daily sales, preferring to run his business in a more intuitive style.

It is an approach which has paid off, if the TikTok videos showing fans travelling from across the country to visit the store are to be believed.

Most of the store's stock sells for between $5 and $30, although rarer records kept off the main shop floor, can sell for upwards of $500.

'The rare records are the quickest to sell,' Bohn explained, although he added that some of his biggest sellers are more contemporary and mainstream - the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Noah Kahan and of course, Taylor Swift.

'Now we get like literally six-year-olds coming in and buying Taylor Swift records with their parents,' Bohn said.

The resilience of Attic Record Store is a testament not only to the passion of vinyl fans, but the benefits of waiting out trends and fads.

The store was opened in 1980 by Bohn's father and saw off competition from huge record store chains

The resilience of Attic Record Store is a testament not only to the passion of vinyl fans, but the benefits of waiting out trends and fads

Around 43 million records were sold last year, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Vinyl sales outstripped those of CDs by more than six million, the second time since 1987 it has happened.

The figures fit with an uptick in record sales seen over the last 17 years.

Record Store Day, first conceived in 2007 to 'celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store' is now a thriving annual affair, with special releases and performances.

What once might have been dismissed as hoarding has turned into a lucrative strategy for Bohn, who stays up to date on music trends through chatting to his customers.

This personal touch has seen him through, as a recent Instagram post acknowledging his success can attest to.

'Thank you for 40+ years of making friends and spinning records!' Bohn wrote.
A fantasist who conned doulas into giving her naked massages by pretending she was pregnant has been arrested again just three months after telling a court she was a 'changed person'.

Kaitlyn Braun, 25, was sentenced to two years house arrest in February after causing 'immeasurable pain' to more than a dozen pregnancy support workers across Ontario with her stories of sexual assault and stillbirth.

The social worker went to extreme lengths to maintain her pretense, telling them she had a bleeding disorder and terminal cancer, and sending two of them a picture of a stillborn baby at the end of her treatment.

The news that she is facing multiple new charges has left her previous victims feeling doubly betrayed.

'There has been a lot of feelings within our group, a lot of conversations taking place,' said Amy Silva. 'Emotions are heated. Conversations are heated.

Kaitlyn Braun, 25, was sentenced to two years house arrest in February after causing 'immeasurable pain' to more than a dozen pregnancy support workers across Ontario with her stories of sexual assault and stillbirth

During the ordeal Braun convinced doulas that she had a bleeding disorder and kept them on the phone while she pretended to go under medical procedures and then said that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer

London-based doula Amy Silva said news of Braun's new charges had appalled her previous victims: 'Emotions are heated. Conversations are heated'

'It's a difficult place for all of us right now, and we're all at different places on our healing journey and growing from all of this, which makes being thrown back into this a little bit more difficult for everybody.'

Some of the doulas supported Braun in person at her home in Brantford, others through the phone or over video chat.

She told some her 'pregnancy' was the result of sexual assault.

But it was Braun herself who was the sexual offender, accused of coercing 19 victims into giving her massages while she was physically naked with the 'intent to insult or offend them'.

One victim, Amy Perry, said her experience with Braun left her traumatized, after she tried to support the pregnancy faker for eight days.

Perry told CTV News last year that she helped Braun virtually and for free, adding: 'The moans, the sounds she made were really realistic, even through the last stage of labor  through transition  she would even go as far as to vomit, which is the normal thing.

'We really felt that there was an individual who was alone in the world going through something really horrible and we were just willing to put the scope of our practice aside and help her.'

Shauna Hayes, who also worked pro bono, claims Braun told her she had been sexually assaulted outside of a hospital, so she initially refused to go.

Doula Shauna Hayes took to TikTok to reveal how she was duped by the Brantford fantasist

Abigail Dienesch, another victim, said that she was left feeling 'violated' after supporting Braun 24/7 over social media

The doula then drove her to the hospital, where she continued to fake her contractions after several hours.

Her performance was so convincing, nurses thought they had found a heart beat for the 'baby', before performing an ultrasound which proved she was not pregnant.

She then told her doula 'I'm so confused', and declined any psychiatric help from the hospital, despite having scans in Hamilton three weeks earlier which showed she was not pregnant.

'I just want her to stop,' Hayes said. 'It's not about punishment for me. It's just about protecting other doulas, and to stop them from going through what I went through.

Another victim, who did not want to be identified, said: 'It's bizarre and very sad for doulas to have to check or second-guess their clients, I want to be able to take people at their word.'

At her trial in December last year she admitted 21 charges  including fraud, indecent acts, false pretenses and mischief  between June 2022 and February 2023.

Her lawyers told the court she faced mental health problems, including memories of childhood sexual assault, severe depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar and borderline tendencies.

The court also heard she had made almost 200 hospital visits since 2006.

'I know that the words I speak today do not take back what I did and that they don't automatically create healing,' she said as she was sentenced.

'What I did was ultimately very wrong, and I feel a strong sense of shame when I think of the hurt and the pain that I've caused. I never wanted to be the person I became.

'However, it is my hope that my words, along with my plan of action, show that I'm a changed person.'

She would seek out the doulas - professionals who provide support during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period - and tell them she had fallen pregnant after a sexual assault or was suffering a stillbirth

Braun told the court she was a 'changed person' as she was sentenced to two-years' house arrest in February after admitting 21 charges

She was ordered to live with her mother, wearing a GPS monitor, not to use any computer that has internet access or download any social media apps.

Hamilton Police arrested her on multiple criminal charges last week including obtaining by false pretense, harassing communications and alleged breach of a conditional sentence order.

She is also accused of falsely soliciting support, related to pregnancy and childbirth, between April 17 and April 18.

'Today has been rough,' Silva told CTV.

'We're trying to navigate what to do and how to feel. And there's no manual on how to do that.'
A couple had their two sons taken from them for five months after their baby was misdiagnosed with shaken baby syndrome.

Lorina Bourne and Jason Troy are now suing a hospital, doctor, and six federal agents for putting Jason Jonathan 'JJ' and his older brother Kainoa in foster care.

Troy was also charged with two felonies and accused of shaking JJ so hard at their Austin home it caused an injury that swelled his head to a huge size.

Their nightmare only ended when they found a doctor who determined the infant's condition was caused by trauma during birth - and not any kind of abuse.

But the couple were still forced to sell their house and Troy lost his job as they spent a fortune on legal fees until they got their kids back in court.

Lorina Bourne and Jason Troy are suing a hospital, doctor, and six federal agents for putting Jason Jonathan 'JJ' (right) and his older brother Kainoa (second from left) in foster care. They are pictured with their younger sister Kalea who was born after the ordeal

Baby JJ was born on New Year's Eve 2014 in a difficult and complicated birth, and arrived with a head size in the 95th percentile

Baby JJ was born on New Year's Eve 2014 in a difficult and complicated birth, and arrived with a head size in the 95th percentile.

By his checkup on May 6, 2015, JJ's head has swelled to be within the 99th percentile, and doctors claimed it was due to being shaken.

In reality, JJ had benign external hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up between the brain and the skull, and was never abused or neglected.

'The children were removed based on false pretense. Defendants knew [the boy] had not been abused or neglected,' the lawsuit claimed.

'He was born with a collection of fluid on his forehead that resulted from trauma at birth. Lorina and Jason never abused or neglected [him].'

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services agent James Guyton first confronted the couple on May 13 when they took JJ to Dell Children's Medical Center.

He told them they were under investigation for abusing their child and had to sign a one-month safety plan.

'Guyton told Lorina and Jason if they did not sign the safety plan, then he and [his colleague] Roger Robinson would remove their children,' the lawsuit claimed.

'Under duress, Lorina and Jason signed the safety plan to avoid the removal of their children.'

Baby JJ with his brother Kainoa before they were taken away by authorities in July 2015

The last photo, from April 2015, before the boys were taken away

The family was not reunited until December 21, 2015, five months later

The lawsuit claimed agents also 'interrogated' Kainoa away from his parents about whether he saw them shake his baby brother, and he said no.

The plan forced Troy to move out of the family home and Bourne's sister or mother to move in and supervise her with her children.

They complied with the order, and when it expired on June 13 they thought it was all over and made plans to visit family in Oklahoma.

They told DFPS about the trip 'out of an abundance of caution' but agent Bridgette Losey and her supervisor Jennifer Evans showed up on July 13 demanding to see them.

'The safety plan had ended and there was no lawful purpose for the surprise visit,' the lawsuit read.

After Troy's brother told them where they were and they spoke with Bourne on the phone, who took the boy to Oklahoma University Hospital where he was assessed as healthy by doctors.

The lawsuit claimed Evans and Losey called the hospital and demanded it take JJ into protective custody, but were refused.

In reality, JJ had benign external hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up between the brain and the skull, and was never abused or neglected

Troy was also charged with two felonies and accused of shaking JJ so hard at their Austin home it caused a head injury that swelled his head to a huge size

Kainoa holds his baby brother as a newborn as Troy watched on in January 2015

Instead, 'angered' by the situation, they called Oklahoma Child Protective Services with the same request, which started investigating.

But OCPS found the allegations were 'unsubstantiated', the lawsuit read.

'Of course there was no immediate danger. [The boy] had seen and was seeing doctors,' the lawsuit continued.

'Plaintiffs (again) believed their dealings with DFPS were over. Plaintiffs were wrong. Defendants were not done with Plaintiffs.

'[Defendants] obtained an ex-parte order for the removal of the children based on misrepresentations made to the court and omissions of material fact,' the lawsuit reads.

'Evans and Losey crossed state lines into Oklahoma. They showed up where Lorina was visiting with family in Oklahoma, and... took the children from their parents and loving family.'

That was July 20, 2015. The couple would not see their sons again until December 21.

Children taken from parents are supposed to be placed with relatives, according to state and federal law, but the lawsuit claimed they were instead shuffled around several foster homes.

The boys are happy and healthy and have a little sister Kalea (pictured right)

Bourne detailed the toll it took on her family, and said she wanted more accountability for DFPS, as it 'has too much power'

By his checkup on May 6, 2015, JJ's head has swelled to be within the 99th percentile, and doctors claimed it was due to being shaken

Their parents insisted this usual procedure be followed while they fought to clear their names, but Guyton and DFPS agent Margaret Surma allegedly refused.

'My oldest son lost 20 pounds within six weeks of being taken from us and medical reports show that he showed signs of sadness and depression,' Bourne said in 2019.

'You're so used to seeing your children everyday, and for them not to be there you see them smiling and laughing, and for them not to be there and you just hear silence, it's just really devastating.'

All this time, Troy was also having to fight serious criminal charges that accused him of shaking his baby to the point of injury.

'It was definitely a low blow being accused of something that you know you didn't do,' he said.

'The hospital was telling me I had to pack all my stuff and I couldn't be near my kids.'

Months later, the couple found a specialist in Maryland who gave JJ the correct diagnosis, and they were able to get their kids back in court.

The Travis County Court ruled in their favor on December 18, 2015, and the charges against Try were also dropped.

Despite being exonerated, the lawsuit claimed JJ's 's medical chart at Dell 'contains references to him being the victim of abuse or neglect even though any such allegations have been deemed unfounded or unsubstantiated'.

The lawsuit claimed the hospital 'refused and continues to refuse' to update it.

JJ, Kainoa, and their sister Kalea with a book their mother wrote about the ordeal

The Travis County Court ruled in their favor on December 18, 2015, and the charges against Try were also dropped - three days later the family was reunited

Troy and Bourne are suing the hospital, all six DFPS agents involved, and Dr Kelly Suzanne Liker, whom the lawsuit claimed was a 'DFPS investigator embedded in the hospital'.

Liker never treated JJ, but the lawsuit claimed she was heavily involved in his removal and examined him without his parents' consent.

She now works as a child abuse pediatrician at Dayton Children's Hospital in Ohio.

The couple's complaint demands damages in a jury trial for breaches of the First, Fourth, and 14th amendments, and professional negligence.

Attorneys Stephanie Proffitt and Aaron Rapier are representing the couple.

'Most of the time, if a parent questions their authority, if a parent questions the diagnosis, if a parent has the data to ask for a second opinion, the parent becomes targeted,' Proffitt told KXAN.

'It appears that that's exactly what happened in this case. Instead of really doing their job, they instead retaliated against the Troys and took their children.'

The couple's complaint demands damages in a jury trial for breaches of the First, Fourth, and 14th amendments, and professional negligence

Dr Mark Shen, who was president and chief executive of Dell Children's Medical Center at the time

Bourne detailed the toll it took on her family, and said she wanted more accountability for DFPS, as it 'has too much power'.

'It has taken years to heal from the emotional trauma of my children being wrongfully removed from me,' she said.

'We're doing better now. I've had to take years to try to heal from what happened. The worst day of my life was when my children were illegally taken from me.'

'I want justice for my sons because my son has a life-threatening neurological condition called benign external hydrocephalus.

'Thousands of families are going through similar situations, so many families have contacted me over the years. It's just so sad that the same system that's meant to protect children is hurting children.'

Ascension Health, which owns Dell Children's Medical Center, said its highest priority was the safety and health of children in its community.

'As a healthcare provider in Texas, our doctors, nurses and care teams who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been affected by abuse or neglect by any person must immediately report this to the appropriate authorities as required by law,' it said.

'We have a duty to work with authorities during their investigation as they make their decision on what is in the best interest of the child.'
A 'radicalised' 16-year-old boy was shot dead by officers after stabbing a man in the back in a shopping centre car park.

More than 30 police vehicles rushed to Bunnings car park on High Street in Willetton, south Perth, about 10pm on Saturday following reports of a stabbing.

There officers found a 16-year-old brandishing a large kitchen knife and a man with serious back injuries.

The teenager was fatally shot by police after he 'rushed the attending officers'.

A 16-year-old boy was shot dead by police in Perth on Saturday after stabbing a man in the back (pictured, emergency services at the scene)

A man in his 30s, who was not known to the teenager, was taken to hospital in a serious condition with back injuries

'There are indications [the teenager] had been radicalised online,' Western Australia Premier Roger Cook told reporters in a press conference on Sunday morning.

'Members of the WA Muslim community who were concerned by his behaviour contacted police prior to the incident and I thank them for their help.

'Our police responded within minutes, they encountered a very confronting situation but their rapid and professional response kept our community safe.'

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch clarified several concerned community members called triple-0 after the teenager indicated he was going to hurt people.

The teenager also phoned police and told operators he was planning a violent attack but did not reveal who or where he was.

Officers arrived at the Bunnings car park three minutes after the first triple-0 call.

The injured man, aged in his 30s and a stranger to the teenager, was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

It's understood he was attacked he left a nearby 24-hour gym.

Two officers armed with Tasers and a third armed with a firearm ordered the teenager to drop the kitchen knife.

The 16-year-old lunged at two of the officers, who both deployed their Tasers.

However, the teenager was wearing baggy clothing and was not deterred.

He was shot as he attempted to lunge at the third officer.

Commissioner Blanch said the teenager had been taking part in a rehabilitation program for people who had been radicalised online since he was 14 years old.

'We believe he was very much acting alone. We do not believe there was a network involved,' he said.

He was known to police for 'mental health issues and radicalisation issues'.

Commissioner Blanch would not declare the stabbing a terrorist attack, he admitted the incident had 'some hallmarks of terrorism'.

WA Police Minister Paul Papalia explained the rehabilitation group the teenager was part of was based on a program in the Netherlands that de-radicalises Neo-Nazis.

'(Programs) are confronting a really serious challenge in changing someone whos been radicalised and attempting to get them back into a more reasonable pathway,' Mr Papalia said.

'It is a good program in that regard, because in the absence of it, theres no response to that sort of thing.

'But also to be part of it, youre not necessarily a criminal. You havent engaged necessarily in any criminal activity. So thats something to understand.'

More than 30 police vehicles rushed to Bunnings (pictured) car park on High Street in Willetton, south Perth , about 10pm on Saturday following reports of a stabbing

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement about the incident on Sunday morning.

'My thoughts are with those who have been affected by the incident in the Perth suburb of Willetton overnight,' he said.

'I have spoken with WA Premier Roger Cook this morning, and I thank the WA Police for acting swiftly to contain the incident.'

The Willetton Bunnings has been closed for the day.
The mother of a woman killed by her Bumble date has claimed her daughter would be alive if he wasn't on bail.

Danielle Finlay-Jones, 31, was found brutally murdered in the spare bedroom of her friend's Cranebrook home, West Sydney, in December 2022.

Her killer, Ashley Gaddie, 35, was arrested shortly after and committed suicide in his cell at Clarence Correctional Centre near Grafton in April.

At the time of the attack, Gaddie had Apprehended Violence Orders out against him by five women and was on bail for an alleged assault of a woman.

Ms Finlay-Jones' mother Jacky said her daughter would have had no way to know Gaddie's violent past when they met for the first time.

'If he'd not been out on bail, Danni would be alive today,' Jacky told 60 Minutes.

Her comment comes as experts call for tougher bail conditions on domestic violence offenders to curb the violence against women crisis in Australia.

The mother of a 'beautiful' woman killed by her serially-abusive Bumble date, Jacky (pictured), has said her daughter 'would still be alive' if he wasn't given bail for prior charges

Gaddie and Ms Finlay-Jones went on a pub date after meeting on Bumble hours earlier.

They then spent the night at the home of Ms Finlay-Jones' friend, before her mates found her body with horrific head injuries in the bedroom the next day.

Friends revealed Ms Finlay-Jones thought she had done the right thing by arranging a date with Gaddie in a public place and bringing him back to her friend's home.

But unknown to her, Gaddie had a history of violence against women and had previously tried to kill ex-girlfriend Rachel Piekar, 33.

She was one of five women who took Apprehended Violence Orders out against him before his deadly attack on Ms Finlay-Jones.

'I said to people when I went to court, "He will kill the next one". He is an absolute violent and controlling narcissist. But at first you think he's charming,' Ms Piekar said.

Gaddie staged a 12-hour stand-off at a clifftop lookout in the Blue Mountains until he was grabbed by officers and arrested.

Danielle Finlay-Jones, 31, was found brutally murdered in the spare bedroom of her friend's home in December 2022 just hours after meeting her killer for the first time

Her attacked, Ashley Gaddie (pictured), was on bail for assaulting a woman and had AVOs taken out on him by five women. He committed suicide in prison in April.

Domestic Violence NSW deputy CEO Elise Phillips said gender inequality was driving a crisis of male violence in Australia.

'It's when we turned a blind eye when we see disrespectful behaviours, it's when we make excuses for violence,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's also the inequity we see in relation to pay and the roles that we play in our families, how we divide up care of children and looking after the home.

'It's ensuring that we have equity, representation and equal numbers of women in parliament and as the CEOs and leaders of companies in the private sector.'

She added the deaths of at least 27 women this year were avoidable.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT of the Crisis Care Helpling on 1800 199 008.
The owner of a lawnmowing business has accused Sky News host Peter Stefanovic of ruining a champion fisherman's moment of glory after dredging up his youthful indiscretion during a live TV interview.

Keegan Payne, 19, made headlines across Australia last Sunday after hooking a barramundi worth $1million in Katherine, 317km south of Darwin.

His prize catch was part of a nine-year Million Dollar Fish angling competition.

However, his celebrations were cut short during a harsh interview with Stefanovic on Wednesday morning.

The breakfast host asked point-blank if there was any truth to rumours Keegan and a friend had once stolen an off-road vehicle and a quad bike from his former employer Bob Cavanagh.

In a stunning admission, Keegan said the allegation was true - and offered a sincere apology to his old boss.

The segment sparked outrage among viewers who demanded Stefanovic resign for trying to turn a feel-good story into a scandal.

Business owner Bob Cavanagh accused Peter Stefanovic of ruining a champion fisherman's moment of glory after dredging up his youthful indiscretion during a live TV interview

The Sky News host asked if there was any truth to rumours Keegan Payne, 19, and a friend had once stolen an off-road vehicle and a quad bike from his old boss. The interview was supposed to have been about Keegan winning a million dollars in an angling competition

The backlash was so fierce it prompted Sky News and Stefanovic to issue a grovelling apology to the young man.

Mr Cavanagh, the owner of Cav's Mowing, told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday that Keegan deserved an apology from Stefanovic.

He also confirmed he had forgiven Keegan and his mate for stealing the vehicles, adding the thefts were water under the bridge.

'He's a good kid who made a mistake,' Mr Cavanagh said.

'What was meant to be a celebratory moment was stolen from him. I'm glad he [Stefanovic] apologised to Keegan, he deserved that apology.'

Mr Cavanagh, who has since left the Northern Territory for Queensland, said like Keegan, Stefanovic had likely learnt a valuable lesson.

'We all make mistakes and I bet he regrets it,' he said.

'The fact that he [Stefanovic] has come out and apologised to Keegan and his family, I think he's realised he's overstepped the mark.'

In the days following his million-dollar win last week, Keegan reached out to his old boss and offered to pay him back for the stolen vehicles.

'Out of the blue [one] morning, his father rang me and said, "Keegan wants to repay you," and you could have knocked me down with a feather,' Mr Cavanagh said.

'He said Keegan has always felt so terrible for what he did.'

Mr Cavanagh explained the young man, who was just 15 at the time, apologised for what he and two others did to his property.

'We had some quite big contracts that we needed to look after and I asked him, "How are we going to do that now?"' he said.

'It was about showing the consequences [for what] they had done. Keegan felt terrible, you know.'

Keegan and his friend agreed to work for Mr Cavanagh on weekends to repay him for the damage they caused, but the plan fell through after two weekends due to a lull in business.

'He ended up being like a janitor at an aged-care home,' Mr Cavanagh said.

'I saw him eight to 12 months later and he still couldn't look at me, he was just so ashamed of what he'd done.'

The Indigenous teenager has offered to repay Bob Cavanagh after stealing two vehicles from him years ago

Shortly after the interview, social media users were left fuming at Stefanovic.

'Reporter hears good news. Does everything they can to dig up dirt and be negative,' one wrote.

'He made a mistake and took the fallout for it and was forgiven way before this win!' said another.

'S***ty reporting as usual,' another commented.

One Aussie asked why people couldn't just 'be happy for this kid?'

'No one's perfect, but to shame him on TV? Talk about rip the carpet from beneath him! Stop kicking people back down when they move forward!' they added.

'Shows the mentality of dips**ts who like ruin other people's happiness!'

Lawyer Jahan Kalantar, who regularly discusses legal issues on TikTok, said Stefanovic had conducted a 'trainwreck of an interview' and called him a 'smarmy news presenter' for asking Keegan about something he did as a minor.

'Can you imagine any other community where you would bring up something that a child has done - which by the way is unlawful,' Mr Kalantar said in a video.

Yvonne Weldon, an Indigenous Sydney city councillor, said she was appalled by the interview.

'They invited him on to talk about his prize catch and then proceeded to put him on the stand for an adolescent misdemeanour,' she wrote on LinkedIn post.

'In doing so, they've shown no regard for his wellbeing and right to privacy.

'Moreover, they have perpetuated a harmful and negative stereotype about Aboriginal young people.'

Keegan won $1m for hooking a 67cm barramundi in a Northern Territory fishing competition

Sky News Australia and Stefanovic were forced to issue an apology.

'On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Sky News Australia broadcast a live interview of Keegan Payne by Peter Stefanovic on First Edition,' the apology published on the Sky News website read.

'The interview concerned Mr Payne's win in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish Competition.

'During the interview Mr Stefanovic asked Mr Payne questions about claims he had been involved in the theft of a Polaris Ranger and Polaris Quad from his former employer in 2021.

'Mr Payne confirmed the claims and apologised to his former employer on-air. Mr Payne's former employer subsequently told Sky News Australia that he did not proceed with police charges and had accepted Mr Payne's apology.

'Sky News Australia and Peter Stefanovic apologise to Mr Payne and his family for raising these claims during the live interview about his million dollar win in the fishing competition.

'Mr Stefanovic has reached out to Mr Payne and his family directly to convey his apology.'
Police say they've ruled out family violence after a young man was allegedly found partially buried at a rural Queensland property.

The 23-year-old from Eagle Farm was located unresponsive a property on McLean Rd at Mount Mee on Wednesday after emergency services arrived about 8.30pm.

He died in hospital on Friday evening, just hours after his alleged attackers, a 21-year-old woman and 23-year-old man from Mount Mee, faced court on charges including attempted murder, deprivation of liberty and torture.

The attempted murder charge was upgraded to murder on Saturday.

On Sunday, Detective acting inspector Joe Zitney told media it was believed the three people were known to each other and it was 'apparent' this was not family violence-related.

Police say they've ruled out family violence after a young man was allegedly found partially buried at a rural Queensland property

On Sunday, Detective acting inspector Joe Zitney told media it was believed the three people were known to each other and it was 'apparent' this was not family violence-related

He said there was evidence to suggest the deceased man had been 'in the vicinity' of Mount Mee since April 29.

'At this stage indications are the injuries sustained by the (alleged) victim occurred over a reasonably prolonged period of time but that will be determined by further investigation,' he said.

'The (alleged) victim sustained multiple injuries ... it's my understanding a post-mortem is scheduled for Tuesday.'

It's understood the man was discovered partially buried at the property, however Inspector Zitney declined to comment on this.

He said police attended after a triple-0 call, allegedly made by the accused woman, reported an assault.

He told media crime scene investigators were continuing to comb over the rural property with multiple dwellings and police divers had scoured a dam.

'It is my understanding that it was anywhere between four to eight weeks that the male and female were residing at that address,' he said.

Detective Zitney said there was evidence to suggest the deceased man had been 'in the vicinity' of Mount Mee since Monday, April 29

Detective Zitney said the investigation remained ongoing, including into how the deceased man arrived at the property, and called for anyone with information to come forward.

Both the 21-year-old woman and 23-year-old man were charged with offences including murder, common assault torture and wounding, and have been remanded into custody.

The woman is expected to appear in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on May 7, while the man is next scheduled to appear in the same court on July 4.
Xinhua, AFP hold photo exhibition marking 60th anniversary of China-France ties

Xinhua) 10:49, May 05, 2024

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua and Agence France-Presse (AFP) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fabrice Fries jointly inaugurate a photo exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

The exhibition fully demonstrated the "China-France spirit" featuring independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, said Xinhua News Agency's President Fu Hua.

PARIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The chiefs of Xinhua News Agency and Agence France-Presse (AFP) jointly inaugurated a photo exhibition in Paris on Saturday, marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations.

The exhibition, co-sponsored by the two news agencies, consists of four parts: the preface, an increasingly mature paradigm of state relations, a bright future for China-France relations in the new era, and the conclusion.

It showcases 60 photos representing the precious moments and stories of the political exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries over the past six decades.

Xinhua's President Fu Hua said the exhibition showcased the timeline of the friendly exchanges between the two countries over the past 60 years and memorable moments alongside.

People visit a photo exhibition marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations, in Paris, France, May 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

It also fully demonstrated the "China-France spirit" featuring independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, Fu added.

He expressed hope that the two agencies can take advantage of this opportunity to enhance pragmatic cooperation and continue to contribute proactively to the development of China-France relations.

AFP Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fabrice Fries said he was honored to co-sponsor the photo exhibition with Xinhua, and AFP stands ready to explore further potential areas of cooperation with Xinhua and increase its coverage of China in various fields.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu)
The relatives of a brilliant lawyer who walked out on his family and career amid a mental health spiral during Covid have spoken of their devastation after he ended up living on the streets of LA.

Two years ago Rob Dart, 44, was an award-winning attorney and doting father living in a $2 million South Pasadena home.

He had overcome a previous mental health crisis a decade earlier, following the end of his marriage which saw him plagued by voices in his head.

Back then, Dart still had the wherewithal to turn to his family for support and he managed to recuperate at home in his childhood bedroom before moving out and reinventing himself as a high flying lawyer.

But in 2022, his life began to unravel once again with the advent of the pandemic, which saw him spending hours working from home.

Rob Dart, 44, was an award winning attorney and doting father until a mental health crisis during Covid sent him on a downward spiral

The once-thriving lawyer plunged into psychosis which left him living on the streets of LA

His mental health struggles started at age 35 during his separation from his now ex-wife but he was able to get a grip on them and start over

Dart quit therapy and his medications and soon lost touch with his family, as well as his job.

He missed rent, his car was impounded and soon after his phone got cut off.

'I got on a plane,' his mom Sherry Dart told the Wall Street Journal. 'I thought I was going to find a dead body.'

When she finally caught up with her son, he was almost unrecognizable - and furious.

Dart allowed his mom to greet her grandson for a short while, before whisking him away. He then proceeded to ignore his mother's repeated phone calls over the next few days.

It was a similar story for Dart's sister Jennifer when she tried to visit him in July, weeks after he had been evicted.

Jennifer scoured the local area before she found her once clean cut brother with matted hair and in total disarray at a Starbucks.

'The only thing I could recognize were his eyes,' she said, describing a similarly hostile reaction.

He moved back to southern California to this $2 million home and forged a career as an award winning attorney

But in 2022, the advent of the pandemic saw him working from home more and he quit therapy and his medications which cause his mental health to plummet resulting in becoming homeless

Dart was one of the millions of Americans whose mental health issues were exacerbated by the pandemic through interruptions to treatment, routine or for other reasons.

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25 percent, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO)

Dart's family had hoped that California's more robust laws on detaining those with serious psychotic disorders would provide the safety net he so desperately needed.

In 2022, the CARE Court laws introduced powers for judges to commit mentally ill people into facilities if family members petition the courts.

In most states, loved ones can do little to access treatment on behalf of patients without their consent.

However, Dart's moments of lucidity and his legal background meant he was often able to argue his way out of being committed.

One of these occasions occurred after he was persuaded to be hospitalized in December 2022 after neighbors called his mom to report that he had become hysterical.

A panicked Sherry immediately called police who sent over mental health specialists who were able to coax him into treatment.

Sherry flew to California the next day and was devastated by what she found inside her son's apartment.

Dart mom Sherry (left) and sister Jennifer (right) have both tried to trach out to him numerous times. Pictured: The family in happier times

Dart has been able to argue his way out of being committed to mental institutions on several occasions due to his legal training and flashes of lucidity

Upon opening the door she was hit with a rancid smell and the sight of crazed etchings in notebooks describing how Dart had hear the voice of Satan.

His paranoid rantings included that he was, John Lennon, 'St. Nicholas Cage', 'the invisible Obama' and that people were trying to steal from him.

Dart checked himself out of the hospital and turned up in an erratic state on his ex-wife's porch on December 28.

His condition alarmed her and she refused to allow him access to his son, prompting Dart to file motions in court accusing her of breaking the custody arrangement.

The judge was persuaded by his articulate arguments and agreed to a hearing. However, when the full extent of his breakdown became known, the courts granted her a protective order.

Over the next months Dart's family desperately tried to reach him, invariably with little success.

Things took a turn for the even more frightening in September 2023 when he was shot in the leg on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dart had been attempting to 'meditate' on the stretch when he was struck by an errant bullet.

Sherry has spent her life savings trying to keep her son safe with limited success

In one terrifying incident in September 2023, Dart ended up being shot in the leg and required hospital treatment. Pictured: Dart in healthier times

He initially refused hospital treatment, but was later tricked into attending by a friend.

Once there, a psychiatrist attempted to have him committed. However, Rob used his legal training and flashes of clarity to successfully argue his way out again.

The next few weeks were marked by trips to and from hospitals in the area, but never for long.

His family continued to try and support him, funding Airbnbs, hotel rooms and the odd meal on DoorDash. Sherry has spent her life savings on trying to keep her son safe.

On December 27, Dart posted on Facebook looking for a place to stay.

'Hey guys, I'm looking for a place to crash in Los Angeles. That's because I'm homeless. If anyone has some space in their apartment or anything, please DM me. Thanks,' he said.

By this point Dart had become one of the 46,000 homeless people on the streets of LA.

The next time his family heard from him was three months later, when he delivered a request they leave him alone.

Dart's sister Jennifer flew to California on her brother's 44th birthday to try and locate him and eventually found him looking disheveled in a Starbucks. Pictured: The siblings before Dart's breakdown

Dart maintains that he is not sick and that taking his medication was making him feel worse

For his part, Dart maintains he is not sick and that quitting his medications has improved his life.

'I did want to leave the hospital, and I did not want to take the medications,' Dart told the Wall Street Journal.

'It made me more afraid, less assertive, less confident. Who wants to feel like that? You realize you're kind of the same person,' Dart said. 'You just know more about yourself.'

But for his family, it already feels too late as they are simply left with the memory of who he was.
Donald Trump sprayed the room with expletives and he likened himself to Al Capone on Saturday as he tore into the prosecutors threatening to send him to jail.

The former president accused the Democrats of running a 'Gestapo administration', and branded special counsel Jack Smith a 'f**king a**hole' as he addressed a $40,000 a head fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.

He teased his audience over who he would choose as his vice-presidential running mate and dished out praise to embattled House speaker Mike Johnson, ordering Republican critics to 'leave him alone'.

He mocked Fulton County DA Fani Willis as 'a real beauty', and joked that his daughter-in-law Lara would not have married his son Eric had she known that her prospective father-in-law risked jail.

'Once I got indicted, I said holy s***, I just got indicted. Me, I got indicted,' he said. 'In fact, Lara, if she knew I got indicted, she probably wouldn't have joined the family.

The former president came out all guns blazing as he returned to Mar-a-Lago for a $40,000-a-head fundraising lunch for donors and lawmakers on Saturday

He branded special counsel Jack Smith a 'f**king a**hole', and Fulton County DA Fani Willis as 'a real beauty' as he set his sights on the prosecutors who want him jailed

He returned to his Florida HQ after a week in New York at his Stormy Daniels hush money trial

Around 400 donors and lawmakers were at the lunch on Trump's Florida estate to which he returned on Friday night after the first week of his hush money trial in New York.

In his 90-minute speech he said he was surprised to have been the first ex-president criminally indicted, and blamed his 2020 defeat on Democrats who 'rigged and stole that election. And we're not going to let that happen again,' according to a tape leaked to the Washington Post.

And he likened himself to the notorious Chicago gangster Alphonse 'Al' Capone who was eventually jailed for tax evasion

The Republican's presumptive nominee faces 88 criminal charges in four separate state and federal cases including a Georgia state charge under Willis of interfering with the 2020 election results.

She was forced to dismiss her special prosecutor Nathan Wade in March after the pair were found to have had a relationship during her pursuit of the case.

Trump referred to her as 'Mrs Wade', and likened himself to the notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone who was eventually jailed for tax evasion.

'I got indicted like Alphonse and like all these people,' he said.

But he threw a protective arm around Johnson who was among the audience and faces a bid by Rep Marjorie Taylor-Greene to unseat him when Congress returns next week, breaking off from his speech to tell him 'you're doing a very good job'.

And he had sympathy for Democrat Rep Henry Cuellar, suggesting his indictment last week on charges of accepting $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani oil company was 'for political reasons, because he was tough on the border'.

But he had less sympathy for his former Attorney General Bill Barr who described Trump's January 6 behavior as 'nauseating', telling his audience he would need an AG with 'courage'.

And he laid out some of the qualities he would be looking for in a vice-president insisting there was no shortage of volunteers.

'It's funny when I listen to the fake news, they all say, 'Well, you know, he's going to have a hard time getting people in his administration because he's very tough and I'm not sure he can get anybody to be vice president of the United States', he told his audience.

'I've got 50 people calling me, begging me 'I'll cut off my right arm, sir. Please, I want to be the vice president'.

'These are ambitious politicians.'

The former president has been uncharacteristically reticent on who might make the cut.

But he name checked Rep Elise Stefanik of New York whose profile has soared since she grilled Ivy League college chiefs about their handling of anti-Semitism on campus.

'Everybody said she's going to be the vice-presidential candidate,' he teased.

He dubbed North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, pictured with wife Kathryn, as 'really impressive' as he gave the deepest insight yet into his thoughts on a VP nomination

Rep Elise Stefanik of New York whose profile has soared since she grilled Ivy League college chiefs about their handling of anti-Semitism on campus also came in for praise

Republican senators Tim Scott and Marco Rubio have buried their differences with their former rival for the Republican presidential nomination

As he ran through the VP possibilities Trump said that 'Hillbilly Elegy' author-turned-senator JD Vance of Ohio had 'turned out to be incredible'

But he also called former Republican rival Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina 'one of the greatest surrogates', and said that 'Hillbilly Elegy' author-turned-senator JD Vance of Ohio 'turned out to be incredible'.

He dubbed North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another rival from the Republican primaries, 'really impressive'.

And he held the door open to his 2016 Republican rival 'Little Marco' Rubio, insisting the Florida senator is a 'talented guy'.

'Every time they say 'Is he being considered?' I say 'Absolutely'.' Trump said.

The former president has faced legal costs of around $500 million in the last two years in fines, judgements and legal bills, and Reuters reported last month that Trump's fundraising was trailing that of Joe Biden by more than $30 million.

The former president was keen to make up ground on Saturday, telling his audience: 'Anyone who makes a $1 million donation right now to the Republican Party, I will let you come up and speak.'

Two donors came to the stage after paying up with one telling the crowd: 'Donald J Trump is the person that God has chosen.'
The government is remaining tight lipped on what else it might do in this month's federal budget to address domestic violence, as it comes under increasing pressure to deliver on existing promises.

National cabinet this week agreed to extend the $5,000 grant to help people leave domestic violence, but advocates are disappointed governments have not done more to address critical front line shortages.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who is also the Women's Minister, conceded on Sunday that she believed only 30 of the 500 frontline domestic violence workers promised by Labor have so far been recruited.

She said the onus was on states to get that number up, and was hopeful that figure would significantly climb in the coming months.

The Federal Finance Minister Katy Gallagher (pictured), said the government is falling short of a promise they made, to recruit 500 frontline domestic violence workers

'They've signed on to agreement to have the vast majority of them employed in the first half of this year, but they are saying that staff and recruiting staff is an issue,' she told ABC's Insiders.

In 2022, the government pledged $169m over four years to fund 500 new frontline workers who assist people experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, to be recruited by the states.

During the week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struggled to put a figure on how many of the workers were currently on the ground.

On the back of Senator Gallagher's revelation, Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said it was 'just not good enough' that Labor couldn't deliver on the promises it had made.

'This is not good enough. When were these numbers last interrogated by the Minister for Women and why isn't she asking for updates every single day?' she said in a statement with Kerrynne Liddle, the Coalition spokesperson for prevention of family violence.

'It is the PM himself who made the promise and therefore it is his government's responsibility to deliver on it - not blame the states and territories.

'Labor must address the family violence crisis by delivering what was promised and with more measures in the upcoming Budget that change this terrible trajectory.'

The current agreement is set to expire in June.

The government pledged $169m over four years to fund 500 new frontline domestic violence workers (pictured from left to right Senator Gallagher, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)

Elsewhere, the Greens are calling on the government to 'get serious' about women's safety by doubling the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement funding to $3.6bn annually.

Greens' housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather pointed to recent government data that more than 96 per cent of people who needed long-term housing after fleeing violence had been denied, describing it as a 'national disgrace'.

'Doubling housing and homelessness funding would help ensure every woman escaping domestic violence receives accommodation and support, it's as simple as that,' Mr Chandler-Mather said.

'If Labor can find $50 billion in the budget for extra military spending over the next decade then surely they can find at least $40 billion over a decade to ensure housing and homelessness services have what they need to house and help every woman fleeing domestic violence.'

The Prime Minister (pictured centre) is facing calls from the Greens to double the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement

Senator Gallagher said it was easy for the Greens to call for a funding increase because they didn't have to balance a budget.

'The Greens say you should double everything. The Greens don't have to run a budget,' she said.

'The budget has a lot of pressure on it. We try to do what we can every budget, and we think about these decisions deeply, and then we come up with what's possible.'

She said the government was currently negotiating the upcoming agreement with the states.

Senator Gallagher also remained tight lipped over whether the government would increase single parenting payments or rent assistance, as social services agencies have been calling for.

She said the government had raised the single parenting payment in the last budget and 'expanded the access' to the payment 'specifically in response to some of the work that was done around women experiencing violence and limiting choices about how they leave'.

Senator Gallagher (pictured) did not disclose details about whether the government would increase ingle parenting payments and rent assistance, in the upcoming federal budget

'I think the Treasurer and I have made it clear, and the Prime Minister, that every budget, we have a look at what we can do with the payment system to make sure that we are providing as much support as we can to people who need that extra help,' she said.

She said the government was targeting economic equality for women.

'Part of the answer is payment system, part of it is how we address gender equality and gender pay gaps more broadly,' she said.

'There's a whole-of-government response to these issues. It's not just one thing.'
The picked up Kaiden, made him say goodbye to his dad, and killed both of them

In her last hours she trashed her ex's home and shot holes in her wedding dress

A mother taunted her ex-husband and made her young son 'say goodbye to daddy' on camera before she shot him and herself in the head.

Savannah Kriger, 32, and her son Kaiden, 3, were reported missing on Monday after she left work early to pick him up from daycare for a doctor's appointment.

They were found dead early on Tuesday morning, 19 hours later, in a drainage ditch in Tom Slick Park in San Antonio, Texas, with gunshot wounds.

Kriger was due to face her ex-husband Brian Kriger at a custody hearing the same day.

Investigators pieced together Kriger's last hours alive as she trashed two houses in a gun rampage, took her son, and gloated to Brian on the phone he wouldn't see him ever again.

Savannah Kriger, 32, and her son Kaiden were reported missing on Monday after she left work early to pick him up from daycare for a doctor's appointment

They were found dead early on Tuesday morning in a drainage ditch in Tom Slick Park in San Antonio, Texas, with gunshot wounds

Kriger left work at 12.49pm in her white 2023 Lincoln Aviator and drove to Brian's house 7.9 miles away. while he was at work. and trashed it.

At 1.14pm, she drove 27.2 miles home, where she shot holes in her wedding dress and two wedding portraits she displayed on her bed.

Her next stop was Kaiden's daycare, where she arrived at 2.32pm and checked him out, taking all of 10 minutes.

Four minutes later she left Brian an alarming two minutes, 13 second message on FaceTime while he was still at work.

'You don't have anything to go home to now, you really don't. You don't have anything at Dover's Den house either, and you won't have anything at all at the end of the day,' she said.

As Brian rushed home and called 911 to report a criminal mischief complaint at his house and discover it trashed, Kriger was making her final drive.

At 3.19pm, as Brian was taking photos of the damage she did to his house, Kriger tried to call him again but he didn't answer.

She sent him a final text: 'Say goodbye to your son.'

Police traced Kriger's SUV to Tom Slick Park, following phone pings. They located two bodies tentatively identified as the 32-year-old and her young son on Tuesday as well as a gun

Kriger left work early on Monday to pick Kaiden up from daycare for a doctor's appointment, but instead shot them both dead

Two minutes later she tried again to FaceTime him, without success, and instead recorded a 21-second video of her and Kaiden's last moments.

'She and Kaiden appear to already be seated in the drainage ditch where their bodies would eventually be found. Savannah instructs Kaiden to say bye to Daddy,' The Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

After Kaiden said goodbye to Brian on camera, not knowing it would be for the last time, Kriger kissed him and apologized that his father wasn't there with him.

The last activity on Kriger's phone was her looking up children's cartoons at 3.29pm.

Nothing graphic was recorded on the phone, but detectives believed the video showed the pair's last moments alive.

As the hours ticked by family grew concerned when they could not contact Kriger. All calls when to voicemail and location services on her phone was turned off.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office was called to her house for a welfare check about 6pm, but were unable to get in the house.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office said deputies found evidence that created 'cause for concern' inside Kriger's home upon conducting a welfare check

Deputies eventually made contact with a family member who let them inside.

'There they found evidence that created 'cause for concern for the child as well as Savannah,' according to Salazar.

An Amber Alert was issued the same day. Police suspected Kriger, who was involved in an ongoing custody dispute with the child's father, had abducted him.

Authorities traced Kriger's car to Tom Slick Park off State Highway 151 East, following phone pings.

A search of the park began Monday night but had to be suspended as night fell.

On Tuesday morning, police continued to comb the area and found two bodies near a drainage easement. A gun was also recovered from the scene.

Salazar said Kriger and Kaiden appeared to have left the SUV and walked a 'considerable ways' from the park to the ditch where the bodies were located.
The Scout Association has said it is 'truly sorry' for negligence after a boy was killed after plunging 200ft during a hike.

Ben Leonard, 16, from Stockport, Manchester, died of a serious head injury after falling 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'.

A jury inquest in February concluded that Ben had been 'unlawfully killed' by the Explorer Scouts leader, Sean Glaister, and assistant leader, Mary Carr, and found that neglect of the Scouts Association was a contributing factor.

In a scathing prevention of future deaths report, assistant coroner David Pojur said the volunteers did not understand basic safety procedures.

In the 20-point list, he also said the association 'created a misleading impression' in its evidence in regards to its action during the trip.

Ben Leonard, 16, from Stockport, Manchester, died of a serious head injury after falling off the Great Orme in Llandudno, Wales, while on an expedition with the Reddish Explorer Scouts

A jury inquest concluded that Ben had been 'unlawfully killed' by the Explorer Scouts leader, Sean Glaister, and assistant leader, Mary Carr

The association has now issued a grovelling statement from chair of the board Jennie Price, chief executive Matt Hyde, and UK chief volunteer Carl Hankinson in response to the report in which they expressed their 'wholehearted apology to the Leonard family'.

Other deaths linked to the 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 successfully 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

'Both for the death of their Ben, and for the anguish we recognise they have experienced over the past five and a half years,' they said.

'It was not the intention of anyone at Scouts to contribute towards any further pain, but we recognise that we have caused further distress and for that we are truly sorry.

'Keeping young people safe from harm remains our number one priority at Scouts.'

The organisation said it was 'committed to learning' and had already made changes to risk assessments, safety rules, and training and support to volunteers.

They said they are making 'fundamental changes' to their approach to safety and a 'fatal accident investigation panel' with an external chair and independent members had been set up for Ben's death. It is due for completion in June.

The Sunday Times reported the association admitted that online training modules were able to be completed in 12 minutes, but people would now no longer be able to 'click through' the material.

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.

On the day of Ben's death 'no brief, instructions or written risk assessment was done', the court heard.

His older brother, Thomas, 26, told the Times: 'They should have never let it get to this position in the first place. There's a blind faith where they say, "We're the Scouts, trust us". How can we trust what they say?'

'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken,' Mr Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales, concluded in his report.

Ben's grief-stricken mother Jackie Leonard, 54, previously told MailOnline 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.

Ben had been left 'unsupervised' with two other Scouts on the grassy tops of the Great Orme

Ben was on a trip with the Reddish Explorer Scouts when he sustained a fatal head injury falling from the beauty spot. Pictured: The Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales

The inquest heard that Ben could have been saved if he had been given 'basic' instructions

Ben (right) with his father, Dave, 57, mother, Jackie, 54, and older brother Tom, 26

Pictured: Ben's mother Jackie and his father Dave. Jackie previously told MailOnline her son's death had a 'devastating impact' on her family and that the organisation needs to be regulated by an external body

Jackie has now joined forces with the families of Lee Craddock, Scott Fanning and Roy Thornton, who died on Scouting expeditions in 1995, 1998 and 1999 respectively, to demand the Government launch a public inquiry into the organisation's 'training and policies', as well as establish an external regulator.

Jackie said that under Mr Hyde's leadership the association had 'failed' in its number one priority, to keep children safe.

Jackie said: 'The impact is devastating on the whole family, I do think that in their 100-plus-year history, this is their darkest time.

'Like with the Post Office, it's a David and Goliath situation where you've got this worldwide organisation and then you've got some families who are trying to get change.

'We don't want to see Scouts abolished or anything like that, because there are a lot of good people in Scouting doing good work and a lot of children that get enjoyment from it.

'My Ben enjoyed it, but it needs to be made safe and that's why we just want to see them regulated by an outside body, like schools and other activity centres.'

Mr Hyde announced in March that he will be stepping down after 11 years of service to head the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales but will remain in post until September 2024.
Olympic medallist Sharron Davies has backed the campaign for compensation for infected blood scandal victims as she told of her mother's decades of suffering.

The former swimmer and TV Gladiator has opened up about the impact on her family of being 'let down by the system' after NHS failures which are the focus of an ongoing public inquiry.

Thousands of people contracted HIV and hepatitis C in what has been described as the worst treatment catastrophe in NHS history.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and London mayor Sadiq Khan last month joined those calling for families to be compensated as soon as a long-awaiting public inquiry report is published within weeks.

And now Davies, who won 400m medley silver at the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, has given her support to the campaign while revealing new details of her mother's own ordeal.

Olympian Sharron Davies has spoken of how her mother died after contracting hepatitis C and then liver cancer following routine surgery for gallstones

Sharron Davies is pictured here as a 10-year-old child beside her mother Sheila

The future Olympian is seen here at the age of two alongside her mother Sheila

Sharron Davies, pictured here ahead of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, has described her mother as someone who would not have considered compensation from the NHS

She told how Sheila Davies developed liver cancer in her 40s after being given contaminated blood during an operation to treat gallstones and then contracting hepatitis C.

Sheila died aged 78 in 2017 and her daughter, 61, has now told the Sunday Times: 'My mum suffered for 30 years of her life with it.

'It would have been really good if Mum had had some help towards the end because she was a pensioner and she was desperate to leave her house to her children.

'That was the most important thing she wanted, so she scrimped and saved in the last few years just to make sure that the house was there for us when she died.

'So I think from my perspective, whats terribly important is that support is given to people who need it and are dying right now.'

She revealed how it took years after the routine gallstones surgery on her mother for her diagnosis with hepatitis C, eventually shown following a blood test.

A doctor told Sheila it must have been during the operation that she contracted the infection which went on to damage her liver and cause cancer.

Official figures suggest one in three people who get hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis in the next 20 to 30 years.

The former Olympian, who won 400m medley silver at the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, insists victims and their families should now be given support

Davies followed up her swimming career by being one of ITV's Gladiators in the 1990s

One in five with that condition will subsequently suffer liver failure, while liver cancer will affect one in 20 - with both being potentially fatal.

Sheila Davies spent her last 20 years for the Ministry of Defence at Devonport naval base in the family's home city of Plymouth.

Sharron said of her mother's hepatitis C infection: 'It is very frustrating because Im sure Mum would still be here today had it not been for this

'It feels very unjust that this was a woman who was really fit and healthy and had every single faculty going who has been let down by the system she was part of.'

She described Sheila as 'just one of these really law-abiding, honest, hard-working women that paid into the system'.

And she said her mother 'would have thought that taking compensation would have been taking money away from the NHS'.

But the Olympian is backing campaigners who want immediate compensation for the infected blood scandal's victims, plus partners, children, parents and carers.

Up to 30,000 patients with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were given tainted medical products in the 1970s and 1980s, with thousands infected with HIV and hepatitis C as a result.

Demonstrators outside the Infected Blood inquiry in London last July held placards urging the Government to recognise all victims of the NHS scandal

Pharma giants 'were already aware NHS blood products were infected with HIV' A treatment infected with HIV was knowingly sold by pharmaceutical firms to the NHS, it has been claimed. US companies' internal documents show they were aware that a supposed 'wonder drug' made from human plasma could transmit the disease to humans, according to the Sunday Telegraph. But Factor VIII, used to treat the blood disorder haemophilia, continued to be sold to the NHS in the early 1980s. The newspaper says pharma firm Bayer's Cutter Laboratories found in December 1982 that chimpanzees treated with Factor VIII had developed Aids-like symptoms, as revealed by an internal memo - but patients were not given the information. A safer, heat-treated version was created in February 1984, without viruses, but the company went on selling the contaminated Factor VIII until August the following year. It was prescribed to patients in Britain until late-1985. Factor VIII is believed to be responsible for 1,250 patients in the UK contracting HIV in the 1970s and 1980s, while another 5,000 developed hepatitis C. A spokesman for Bayer said the company was co-operating with the UK's public inquiry into the infected blood scandal and commenting in detail would be inappropriate before the official report is published. The firm added: 'Bayer is truly sorry that this tragic situation occurred and that therapies that were developed by Bayer Group companies and were prescribed by doctors to save and improve lives in fact ended up causing so much suffering to so many.' The Telegraph, drawing upon journalist Cara McGoogan's book , also said Revlon Healthcare-owned Armour Pharmaceuticals knew of similar concerns. Armour was accused of suppressing evidence in 1985 and 1986 about HIV being found in its own heat-treated and 'safe' version of Factor VIII. Armour is now part of US pharmaceutical giant CSL Behring, which told the Telegraph: 'We cannot comment on the historical activities of Armour Pharmaceuticals.' Advertisement

At least 2,900 NHS patients - including young children - died from being infected with HIV and hepatitis C.

Infected donations came from US prisoners, sex workers and drug addicts, who were paid to give their blood to the manufacturers of the product called Factor VIII.

Most victims had haemophilia  a rare blood-clotting disorder  and relied on regular injections of the products to survive.

All surviving victims and their bereaved partners are entitled to an interim 100,000 pay-out.

But the existing scheme leaves out parents who lost their children as well as those youngsters orphaned when their parents died.

Sir Brian Langstaff, who is chairing a public inquiry into the scandal, has previously called for a full compensation programme to be set-up immediately - and he also demanded it be widened to include other victims who remain 'unrecognised'.

The Government wanted to wait for the conclusion of the inquiry ordered in 2017 by then-Prime Minister Theresa May before setting up a full scheme.

But MPs called for swifter action given that someone dies due to infected blood 'every four days'.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, a former Health Secretary, told the inquiry last July the Government accepted its 'moral duty' to compensate those affected by the contaminated blood scandal.

But he warned that further work was needed before payments could be made.

Rishi Sunak's government was defeated in the Commons last December when dozens of Conservative MPs rebelled to support a Labour policy to speed up access to payment.

It marked Mr Sunak's first Commons defeat as PM and the first defeat on a whipped vote since the last general election in 2019.

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson has tabled a Commons amendment urging ministers to establish a compensation body inside three months of the Victims and Prisoners Bill coming into force.

Among the many victims were Colin Smith, who was infected in 1983 as a baby and died in 1990 aged seven after contracting HIV.

Others included Mike Dorricott, infected in 1982 before dying in 2015 aged 47, and Nicky Calder who was diagnosed with HIV in 1985 and died in 1999 aged 25.

Colin's father, also named Colin, told the inquiry: 'We should be living our lives now, but we will never really be able to until we are given the full truth.

'I am not willing to have gone through all of this and be told that they did nothing wrong.'

Nicky's mother Rosemary Calder, who chairs the Tainted Blood Bereaved Parent Support Group, has said that young haemophiliacs such as her son - treated at the age of three with infected blood - were used as 'guinea pigs'.

Rosemary Calder, chair of the Tainted Blood Bereaved Parent Support Group, lost her son Nicky Calder who was diagnosed with HIV in 1985 and died in 1999 aged 25

Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson has tabled a Commons amendment urging ministers to establish a compensation body inside three months of a new bill coming into force

Protesters were seen outside the inquiry in central London calling for justice last July

The father of Colin Smith (pictured) has told the infected blood inquiry: 'We should be living our lives now, but we will never really be able to until we are given the full truth'

Nicky Calder was given an infected blood product to treat haemophilia before being diagnosed with HIV in 1985 and dying in 1999 aged 25

Mike Dorricott was among the victims, dying aged 47 in 2015 after being infected in 1982

Mr Dorricott, a mild haemophiliac, had been given Factor VIII when given surgery to have four wisdom teeth removed in December 1982 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

He was later diagnosed with hepatitis C and died in 2015 from liver cancer linked to the disease, leaving behind wife Ann and two daughters Sarah and Eleanor.

Sharron Davies has previously spoken about how her first granddaughter nearly died of an infection that doctors feared was meningitis.

She revealed in 2020 that Ariya was forced to spend her first two weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit after contracting group B strep (GBS), a bacterial infection.
A frustrated scooter rider has been left fuming after a motorist moved her bike that she had parked on the curb side.

Claudia Cortis Brown, had parked her Piaggio Fly scooter near her home on Wallis Parade at North Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

She returned to her bike to find it missing where she had left it before she discovered it had been moved next to a camper van.

A motorist had earlier moved the scooter and taken up the free space with their own car.

A North Bondi resident was left fuming after he scooter was moved and placed next to a camper van (pictured), on a street in Sydney's east

Ms Brown could have been at risk of being fined as the scooter was left double parked next to the van.

The 38-year-old woman, who has lived in the area for years, slammed the move as the 'most selfishly ridiculous thing' she had ever seen.

She said that her scooter, which has been moved several times, is often targeted by motorists who don't live in the area in a bid to find parking spots that they don't have to pay for.

'People need to pay to park here and it's expensive, but in this street you can park for free,' Ms Brown told Yahoo.

Claudia Cortis Brown (pictured) said her scooter had been repeatedly targeted by motorists, who have tried to forcibly move the bike on several previous occasions

'For that reason, I think it could be someone not from the neighbourhood.'

Ms Brown said it was the worst act that anyone had committed on her scooter, which she said was forcibly removed by someone else as she locked the bike after it was parked.

'It was difficult for the cars driving by, they needed to avoid the scooter,' she said.

A Waverly Council spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia scooters can be parked in a spot where a car is allowed to use a vacant parking space.

Ms Brown could have risked being fined as the scooter was left double parked next to a white camper van (pictured)

'A scooter cannot share the one car space where individual spaces are designated by line markings, the spokesperson said.

'Vehicles, (cars or otherwise) cannot legally double-park alongside another vehicle.'

Motorists are not allowed to double park on roads across NSW and those caught committing the offence, will be fined $302 according to rule 189 of the Road Rules Act, 2014.
A high-ranking officer in the British special forces told police the SAS were committing war crimes by murdering prisoners in Afghanistan, it emerged today.

Known only as N1466 the officer risked the safety of his family when he claimed 'cancer had infected' a particular unit of the SAS.

Between 2009 and 2013 he was responsible for all SAS overseas operations- meaning he focused on British military activity in Afghanistan.

According to a Sunday Times investigation the officer tipped police off about a safe which held a dossier of evidence from a SAS soldier detailing allegations of murder.

The officer's actions caused a massive inquiry with 6,000 classified documents being disclosed by the Ministry of Defence.

A high-ranking officer in the British special forces told police the SAS were committing war crimes by murdering prisoners in Afghanistan , it emerged today (stock image)

Within the files are witness accounts from serving soldiers, emails to Number 10 warning of the crisis, as well as diares of police investigators.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron was the Prime Minister in the years the allegations relate to.

Detectives from the Royal Military Police- which investigates allegations of wrongdoing within the Forces- kept diaries alleging a covering up operation.

Within their notes investigators said weapons were allegedly planted on the bodies of the deceased and a raft of top-secret computer files relating to the SAS were deleted.

Johnny Mercer, Conservative MP and then a Defence Minister, wrote in emails that he believed the SAS was guilty of wronging during the war.

But a civil servant toned down Mr Mercer's email arguing 'bland is best'.

Johnny Mercer is a veteran of Afghanistan and served as a Defence Minister from 2019-2021

Members of the Afghan Special Forces units CF 333 and ATF 444  dubbed the Triples  fought alongside the SAS (File image)

The inquiry was eventually shut down- but subsequent stories by The Sunday Times and the BBC put pressure on the government to open up a fresh inquiry.

This is called the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan and documents released from this revealed to the newspaper the decision by N1466 to make his claims.

In the raft of emails, letters and documents released, a lieutenant colonel wrote: 'I find it quite incredible the amount of Bs [Afghan males, Bravos] that [the SAS unit] send back into a building who then decide to get weapons/grenades and engage the [SAS unit] knowing that it will achieve nothing.'

In certain emails relating to a particular raid commanders stopped calling victims EKIA, meaning enemy killed in action- and changed to EJK- extra-judicial killings.

While the Chief of Staff said: 'There appears to be a casual disregard for life, [military] principles and credible reporting.'

SAS raids were often completed late at night and were susposed to target bomb makers and terrorists.

But emails allege civilians were killed and then had weapons planted on them to make it look as though they were combatants.

The Afghanistan Inquiry, chaired by Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, is looking at whether there is any evidence to support claims the British Army unlawfully killed people in Afghanistan between 2010 to 2013.

Sir Charles Haddon-Cave chair of the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'We established the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan which is investigating alleged unlawful activity by UK Special Forces during Deliberate Detention Operations between mid-2010 to mid-2013. The MOD is fully committed to supporting the Inquiry as it continues its work.

'It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the Statutory Inquiry, or speculate on outcomes. It is up to the Statutory Inquiry Team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated.'
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been mass producing missiles that contain modern western technology and then shipping the weaponry Russia to help fuel Putin's war in Ukraine, experts have revealed.

A North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on January 2, an United Nations (UN) report revealed last week.

Since January, dozens of North Korean missiles have been fired by Russia into Ukraine, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 70, the BBC reported.

An investigation has since revealed that within just a matter of months North Korea managed to illicitly obtain 'vital' weapons parts, sneak them into the country, assemble their missiles and secretly ship them to Russia.

Experts suspect North Korea has been supplying the weaponry in exchange for Moscow's technical assistance for Pyongyang's budding spy satellite programme.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes since 2006, with those measures having been strengthened over the years.

Last year, North Korea conducted a record number of missile tests - in defiance of UN sanctions and despite warnings from Washington and Seoul - having declared itself as an 'irreversible' nuclear weapons state in 2022.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been shipping weapons to Russia to help fuel Putin 's war in Ukraine, it has emerged. Vladimir Putin (R) and Kim Jong Un (L) are pictured shaking hands during their meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region on September 13, 2023

Satellite imagery captured cargo being loaded onto a Russian ship in Rajin, North Korea on January 12, 2024

The same ship was later seen being unloaded in Vostochny, Russia on January 29, 2024

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London has been tracking the shipment of North Korean weapons to Russia ever since Kim Jong and Putin met in Russia last September to strike a suspected arms deal, according to the BBC.

Satellite imagery has reportedly captured four Russian cargo ships, loaded with hundreds of containers, shuttling between North Korea and a Russian military port.

RUSI experts estimate that North Korea has sent about 7,000 containers, filled with over one million ammunition shells and grad rockets, to Russia.

The estimates are reportedly supported by US, UK and South Korean intelligence, despite Russia and North Korea both having denied the trade.

Experts have also cited concern over the alleged sophistication of North Korea's weapons programme, alleging that the Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile found in Kharkiv in January is 'Pyongyang's most sophisticated short-range missile'.

UN monitors say the Hwasong-11 series ballistic missiles were first publicly tested by Pyongyang in 2019.

The missiles are reportedly capable of travelling up to 700km (435 miles) and 'extremely cheap' to make, meaning an army could purchase larger quantities and fire more missiles in an attempt to overwhelm air defences.

However, more concerning to experts is that the missile launched into Kharkiv was 'bursting with the latest foreign technology', officials told the broadcaster.

A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows missiles launched during a simulated nuclear counterattack drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea on April 22, 2024

Kim Jong Un looks guides a training of the fire division in North Korea on March 18, 2024

Many of the electronic parts featured in the missile had been manufactured in the US and Europe within the last few years. It even contained a computer chip made as recently as March 2023.

The computer chips used in modern weapons are often the same chips used in phones, washing machines and cars. Manufacturers will sell billions of chips to distributors, who then sell them to other firms.

Joseph Byrne, a North Korea expert at RUSI, suspects that Pyongyang used stolen cash to create shell companies in Hong Kong or other central Asian countries to buy the parts, which are then shipped to North Korea, usually over the Chinese border.

Pyongyang then uses the parts to mass produce weapons at its factories, which North Korean weapons expert Dr Jeffrey Lewis says are 'operating at full-tilt'.

Dr Lewis, who has been studying North Korean factories through satellite images, suspects the factories can produce a few hundred weapons each year.

Moscow, which denies weapons trade with Pyongyang, has violated UN sanctions by buying North Korean weapons.

Russia in March vetoed the annual renewal of the UN sanctions monitors - known as a panel of experts - that has for 15 years monitored enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks on as he guides a training of the fire division, in North Korea, March 18, 2024

Pictured is what appears to be an inspection test of a new surface-to-sea missile, at an undisclosed location in North Korea in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on February 15, 2024

Russia's veto effectively ended official UN monitoring of sanctions imposed on the isolated country for its pursuit of banned nuclear and weapons programmes.

Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the UN, said on Sunday that efforts to set up a new panel to monitor sanctions against his country would end in failure.

'The hostile forces may set up the second and third expert panels in the future but they are all bound to meet self-destruction with the passage of time,' envoy Kim Song said in an English statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The dissolution of the UN panel after Moscow's veto, he said, was a 'judgement made by history on an illegal, plot-breeding organisation...to stamp out a sovereign state's right to existence'.

The envoy expressed gratitude towards Moscow last month, stating that Pyongyang 'highly appreciates the Russian Federation's veto' that blocked the renewal of the expert sanctions panel, 'as an independent exercise of the right to international justice and impartiality'.
This is the dramatic moment police raid a massive 150,000 cannabis factory inside of an industrial unit.

The police raided the unit in Doncaster in South Yorkshire and discovered the huge farm on Thursday.

Video shows two officers from the Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team using a battering ram to enter the building.

Upon entering, they discover rows of cannabis plants crowded into the room.

This is the dramatic moment police raid a 150,000 cannabis factory inside of an industrial unit

South Yorkshire Police said that 150 cannabis plants were discovered across the two rooms

Footage shows one officer going down a hallway littered with hanging plugs and wires, before they uncover a second room.

South Yorkshire Police said that 150 cannabis plants were discovered spread across the two rooms.

The plants have since been recovered from the premises in Kirk Sandall and destroyed.

Police confirmed that a 45-year-old man was charged in connection with the incident.

A statement said the police were executing a drugs warrant to act on intelligence from the local community.
A new mum was shocked to find a note left in her letterbox complaining about the amount of noise her four-month-old son makes.

Tiffany, 36, said that she burst into tears after finding the message which had been typed on an A4 piece of paper by an anonymous local from Redcliffe, north of Brisbane.

She shared a photo of the passive aggressive note which has gone viral and sparked a divided reaction on Facebook.

'I'm writing this on behalf of your neighbours and wanted to reach out to you regarding the noise level coming from your residence, particularly the crying of your baby,' the note said.

'While we understand that babies cry and a newborn can be tough, we can clearly hear everything from the early hours of the morning, throughout the day and into the evening.

Tiffany, 36, was 'in tears' after finding the message which had been typed on an A4 piece of paper by an anonymous local from Redcliffe in Queensland

'The prolonged and frequent crying has disrupted your fellow neighbours. Some of us work from home and others are shift workers. We have tried closing our windows and doors and even have turned on appliances with the TV and radio and the crying is still being heard.

'We value being good neighbours and respecting each others' space but wanted to reach out and ask if it would be possible to close your rear doors and windows while the baby is feeling unsettled.'

The note ended asked for Tiffany's understanding and appreciation in the matter.

Tiffany told Yahoo News Australia that the 'unreasonable' note came as a huge shock and left her 'pretty upset'.

The Queensland mum explained that she, and her partner John, bought their first family home last year near a busy main road with a 'very lively' ibis colony and a 'reputation for hoons'.

She hit back by slamming the note, saying she thinks the neighbours know how unreasonable it is to complain about a baby crying in suburbia, before going on to describe the struggle of new parenthood as 'challenging and isolating'.

Tiffany insisted that her baby was 'pretty chill', 'settles quickly' and doesn't scream throughout the night.

Tiffany was shocked after finding a note left in her letterbox complaining about her crying newborn son (stock image)

The young couple believed that there are better ways to go around the dispute and that 'we would have been open to a conversation.

'When you read the undertones, you know the reason theyve used that language is to cause guilt,' Tiffany told Yahoo.

'But I won't be closing my windows, and we're not going to lock our house up or muzzle our baby.'

The note sparked a divided reaction online.

'As a new mum myself, this really hurt reading this. As if we don't have enough to worry about already,' one Aussie commented.

Another added: 'That person obviously has never dealt with a newborn.'

While many agreed that the letter as 'rude' and 'pathetic', others thought the neighbour's request was 'very reasonable' and 'well considered'.

'It's not an aggressive letter or anything abusive or threatening. Even says he wants to be good neighbours,' an Aussie commented.

'I don't see any harm in it,' another added.

Moreton Bay Council can investigate breaches of noise regulations in the home but locals are encouraged to try and sort out issues amongst themselves, saying people may not realise the noise from their household is affecting others.
A doctor who helped catch serial baby-killer Lucy Letby has demanded stronger protections for whistleblowers, ahead of a public inquiry into how she was allowed to keep on murdering newborns while on duty.

Dr Ravi Jayaram says existing measures do not go far enough to support those who raise the alert about NHS safety concerns.

He is now working with MPs on setting up a new 'office of the whistleblower' to help ensure worries are properly investigated - and staff flagging issues do not suffer.

Dr Jayaram, whose evidence helped convict Letby, believes several babies' lives could have been spared had hospital bosses acted on his suspicions sooner.

His new calls come days after it was confirmed the first hearing of the public inquiry investigating killer nurse Letby's crimes will be held on Thursday next week.

Killer nurse Lucy Letby was given 14 life tariffs after being found guilty of seven counts of murder and seven of attempted murder at Manchester Crown Court last August

Dr Ravi Jayaram, one of the doctors who raised concerns at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, is calling for greater protection for NHS whistleblowers

A public inquiry is due to open later this month into the crimes of killer nurse Letby (pictured)

Letby, 34, was convicted of seven counts of murder and seven of attempted murder relating to 13 victims  one of the babies she tried to kill twice  at Manchester Crown Court last August.

The inquiry was set up in the aftermath of her convictions to examine how she was able to kill the babies while on duty at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.

It will also look at how the NHS handled the case and its response to doctors who raised concerns.

Dr Jayaram, a senior paediatrician at the Countess of Chester Hospital, had joined other doctors in warning NHS bosses about the serial killer months before police were called in.

Yet the group found themselves advised by bosses to apologise to her or face a possible referral to the General Medical Council.

In a letter, revealed by ITV News last August, consultants allegedly wrote under duress: 'Dear Lucy, we would like to apologise for any inappropriate comments that may have been made during this difficult period.

'We are very sorry for the stress and upset that you have experienced in the last year. Please be reassured that patient safety has been our absolute priority during this difficult time.'

Police would later be called into the hospital trust almost two years after the deaths of the first of the seven babies Letby was convicted of murdering.

The existing Public Interest Disclosure Act permits employees to push for compensation through a tribunal if they suffer after flagging worries.

But Dr Jayaram says there needs to be more assurance offered to those coming forward with significant concerns, the Sunday Mirror reported.

Dr Ravi Jayaram has blasted hospital bosses for failing to apologise over their alleged inaction in stopping Lucy Letby's killing spree

Letby, now 34, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court last August of seven charges of murdering infants between 2015 and 2016 and seven of attempted murder

She had been working as a neo-natal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire

He said: 'We need to ensure that when staff raise concerns, they are addressed objectively without prejudice.'

The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association has previously called for reform of the disciplinary system to ensure that staff who speak out about problems are protected from 'retribution' following Letby's convictions.

Lady Justice Thirlwall, the senior judge chairing the investigation into the activities of ex-neonatal nurse Letby, last week confirmed the first public hearing will take place at Chester Racecourse on May 16.

She will hear submissions from interested parties and also give an update on work carried out by the inquiry since its launch last November.

Formally opening the inquiry last year, Lady Justice Thirlwall said: 'The parents of the babies who were murdered or suffered injuries, some life-long, live with the consequences every day.

'On top of their grievous loss, they endured years of uncertainty about what had caused death or injury. For some, uncertainty remains.

'All have made it plain to me that they want to do all they can to make sure no one else suffers as they do.'

She said the inquiry would be 'searching and active' and would look for necessary changes to be made to the system of neonatal care 'in real time and at the earliest opportunity, avoiding delays in making meaningful change'.

It is a statutory inquiry which means it will have powers to compel witnesses to give evidence and is due to focus on three key areas.

These include the experiences of the babies' parents and the conduct of those working at the hospital, including the board, managers, doctors, nurses and midwives.

Lady Justice Thirlwall (pictured), the senior judge chairing the investigation into the activities of the ex-neonatal nurse, confirmed the first public hearing will take place on May 16

This is the moment Letby was arrested and led out of her home by police for the murders of babies at the hospital where she worked

Also under consideration will be the effectiveness of NHS management and governance structures, as well as external scrutiny and professional regulation.

Letby was sentenced to 14 whole life tariffs for each guilty count, meaning she will die in jail and has no prospect of parole.

Trial judge Mr Justice Goss said she had been responsible for a 'cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder' between June 2015 and June 2016.

Letby applied for leave to appeal against her convictions soon after the guilty verdicts last year.

Her initial bid before a single judge failed but a panel of three judges is currently considering whether to grant her permission after she re-applied via her lawyers last week.

They reserved their judgement but if they refuse it will mark the end of the appeal process for her.

Letby, formerly of Hereford, is due to face a retrial in June on a single count that she attempted to murder a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children who were the subject of the allegations.

Following Letby's sentencing last August, the Countess of Chester Hospital's medical director Dr Nigel Scawn said: 'I speak for the whole trust when I say how deeply saddened and appalled we are at Lucy Letby's crimes.

'We are extremely sorry that these crimes were committed at our hospital and our thoughts continue to be with all the families and loved ones of the babies who came to harm or died. We cannot begin to understand what they have been through.

'This case has had a profound impact on our patients and our local community and also our staff, who come to work every day determined to provide safe and high quality care for all of our patients.

'Our staff are devastated by what has happened and we are committed to ensuring that lessons continue to be learned.

'We are grateful for the co-operation of our staff, especially those that have maintained the utmost professionalism while giving evidence in this trial.'
A violent thug who attempted to kidnap a woman while high on ice before going on to commit other serious offences, including arson while out on parole could soon be freed from prison.

Beau Thomas Andrew Burke, 26, has a history of drug-fuelled violence and has violated his parole twice in less than four years in central Queensland.

The thug, who has the letters 'HARD' tattooed across the knuckles on his left hand, once attempted to kidnap a young woman, telling her 'I want you'.

He has also caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage after setting fire to a car and a houseboat while out on parole for his earlier crimes.

Despite his lengthy rap sheet, authorities are keeping quiet about the details of his imminent release into the community, according to news.com.au.

Beau Thomas Andrew Burke (pictured) has a history of drug-fuelled violence and has violated his parole twice in less than four years

The tattooed thug once attempted to kidnap a young woman, telling her 'I want you', and has caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage after setting fire to a car and a houseboat while out on parole

READ MORE: Shocking court act of the man accused over the allegedly brutal death of the 'lovely' woman living next door to him - as details emerge of his drug withdrawals John Torney (pictured), 39, has been charged with a range of assault offences over the death of 49-year-old Emma Bates Advertisement

Burke's violent offending began after he injected himself with 0.3 grams of meth and stole his neighbour's Toyota Hilux ute in the early hours of May 13, 2019.

He stopped and asked a 24-year-old woman for directions as she waited outside the North Rockhampton Hotel in central Queensland to be picked up by her boyfriend.

The tattooed thug lunged at the terrified woman, placing her in a headlock and dragging her into the stolen vehicle.

Burke's chilling response when she asked him what he wanted was: 'I want you'.

The woman was only able to escape when she beeped the horn in the stolen car and someone in the hotel rushed to her aid.

Burke was then involved in a high-speed chase before he crashed 30km away and assaulted officers who eventually arrested him.

He also kicked a police dog during his arrest.

Incredibly, he was released on parole when he was sentenced in 2020 after 13 months in pre-sentence custody, a punishment Judge Michael Burnett had hoped was 'sufficiently enlightening'.

Despite being told by the judge that he would be jailed if he committing any further crimes, Burke went on to set fire to a car and a moored houseboat less than a year later.

The double act of arson was committed while Burke was high on ice in April 9, 2021, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage.

He claimed he thought the car was abandoned and, after combing it for any valuables, panicked when he realised his fingerprints were everywhere.

Burke's lawyers claimed he then set fire to the car in an attempt to cover up the evidence before feeling the scene when confronted by a friend of the car owner.

Burke 's violent offending began after he injected himself with 0.3 grams of meth and stole his neighbour's ute in he early hours of May 13, 2019

He then swam across Rockhampton's crocodile infested Fitzroy River to a moored houseboat, which he also set on fire.

The devastated owner, who had planned to use the boat in their retirement, estimated the vessel to be worth up to $40,000.

Burke was handed a four year prison sentence, with his parole eligibility set for August 2022.

Yet, his offending continued after leaving prison when, in June 2023, he went on another meth-fuelled rampage where he attempted to carjack multiple people.

His victims included a 17-year-old girl, whose wrist he grabbed before uttering the threat, 'Give me your f**king keys'.

Burke pleaded guilty to a string of offences and was given an 18-month sentence.

Despite being told by the judge at his 2020 sentencing that he would be jailed if he committing any further crimes, Burke went on to set fire to a car (pictured) and a moored houseboat

The devastated owner, who had planned to use the houseboat in their retirement, estimated the vessel to be worth up to $40,000 (pictured)

'Once again, you have acted out in a selfish manner in your decision to use dangerous drugs, predominantly methamphetamine,' Judge Jeff Clarke told Rockhampton's District Court last month.

'On this occasion, your behaviour again was irrational and unpredictable.

'Previous lengthy orders of imprisonment have failed to deter you or give you a reason to change your lifestyle.'

Despite his comments, Judge Clarke reportedly granted Burke immediate parole eligibility, given the time he had already served in custody.

It's understood Burke remains in custody but will be released imminently.

Daily Mail Australia approached Queensland Corrections for comment.
One of the English traitors fighting for Vladimir Putin's Russia in Ukraine is now trying to recruit other Britons after he was given a Russian passport.

Aiden Minnis, 37, from Chippenham, in Wiltshire, fled to take up arms for the Russian despot when the war broke out in 2022, alongside 48-year-old Ben Stimson from Oldham.

They fought alongside Kremlin forces in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Donbas.

Minnis, a former member of the far-right National front, previously proudly declared he 'hates' the UK. He is now trying to lure others to come join him and has vowed 'there's no better glory than to fight for what is right'.

Minnis, who also has a conviction for a racist attack, bragged in a Facebook post that 'British men and women are contacting me wanting to join the Russian war effort', reported The Sunday Mirror.

Aiden Minnis, 37, from Chippenham, in Wiltshire, fled to take up arms for the Russian despot when the war broke out in 2022

He is now trying to lure others to come join him and has vowed 'there's no better glory than to fight for what is right' after being given a Russian passport

'If you want to join the Russian Federation Armed Forces, get at me,' he wrote.

Minnis even handed out some tips to some people on how to come join him saying it wasn't that hard to sign up.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Mother of English traitor fighting for Putin against Ukraine has disowned him after discovering where he has gone Advertisement

When one person replied that they would 'sign up in a flash', the former drug addict replied: 'It's not that hard. Visa and plane ticket my friend.'

Minnis, who declared Putin is 'still the greatest politician on earth', travelled to Ukraine in January and calls himself a 'Z Patriot' and a 'sapper in the Russian army'.

He called Britain a 'fascist state' just weeks after Putin won a sham election in Russia where his opponents were either dead or imprisoned.

Back home, he has been disowned by his family who claim they 'want nothing to do with him.'

Last week, Minnis pledged his allegiance to Russia and its dictator, proudly showing off a video of his Russian passport.

'I have a Russian passport. I am now Russian,' he said.

'I am relieved because now I know I am safe, safe from prosecution in the UK, safe from false and bogus charges just because I want to come and fight for Russia and fight for a just cause and the people of Donbas.'

Minnis, a former member of the far-right National front, previously proudly declared he 'hates' the UK

'I have a Russian passport. I am now Russian': He bragged in a Facebook post that 'British men and women are contacting me wanting to join the Russian war effort'

The passport he held up the camera is an internal ID document which is not valid for foreign travel

He has no doubt been given citizenship in the country because Putin's cronies see him as a useful propaganda tool.

The passport he held up the camera is an internal ID document which is not valid for foreign travel. This means his new nationality will not save him from prosecution and jail in Britain, nor extradition to the UK if were ever to return West.

Previously he vowed to continue putting slain Ukrainians and English mercenaries 'in wooden boxes'.

In his most recent video repeated his loathing for the UK, and delight at his new passport making him 'officially Russian'.

'Of course, I am happy,' said Minnis, who claims to have found love in Russia. 'I am starting a new life in Russia. I am now Russian. I am happy to be Russian. I reiterate that I condemn my country or origin.

'I hate it for what they have done to the people of Donbas, to Russia, and what they continue to do. And I am looking forward to starting a new life.'

Minnis went onto add that he expects Putin's army to send him to the frontline immediately.

'After my vacation I go to a storm battalion. So things are only going to get tougher for me,' he said. I know it's dangerous. War is dangerous.'

The video was created by Kremlin-linked propaganda media outlet Readovka.

The agency was involved along with Putin-backing politicians in Russian republic Udmurtia - home of the Kalashnikov gun-making plant - in rushing through his citizenship at breakneck speed.

A UK government spokesman said earlier on his case: 'Reports of British nationals taking part in illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible.

'Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.'

Minnis has declared Vladimir Putin as 'still the greatest politician on earth' and said Britain was a 'fascist state' weeks after the despot leader won a sham election

Minnis (right) is a former drug addict with a long criminal record. He has a history of violence including racist attacks and beating up homeless people, according to reports

Minnis's VK page shows him wearing Russian uniforms (left hand side of the Irish flag) with a Donetsk insignia

Ben Stimson, who had previously been jailed for joining pro-Russian militia forces in 2015, is also currently battling Ukrainian soldiers with the Pyatnashka brigade in the Donetsk region

Former head of the British Army, General Lord Richard Dannatt, previously said: 'That British citizens should be so extraordinarily misguided to fight for Vladimir Putin is deeply disappointing.

'If they return to this country they should face a full investigation and possible prosecution.'

Former Army commander Colonel Richard Kemp described the men an 'absolute disgrace'.

'They are traitors who upon their return to the UK should be arrested and jailed.'

Minnis has a history of violence including racist attacks and beating up homeless people, according to reports.

Citizenship in Russia is granted in the name of the Russian president.
Suella Braverman launched an astonishing attack on Rishi Sunak this morning, warning that he is leading the Tories to a potential general election wipeout unless he alters political course.

The former home secretary ignored calls for party unity as she launched a broadside at the PM in the wake of its local elections nightmare.

The Prime Minister and his allies are on the defensive after the Conservatives lost hundreds of local council seats and the prestigious West Midlands mayoralty to Labour.

There has also been a furious wave of recriminations and criticism after the Tory candidate for London mayor, Susan Hall, was roundly thrashed by Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan.

Overnight Mr Sunak insisted 'our plan is working' despite all the evidence to the contrary. Transport Secretary Mark Harper was also sent out to tour TV studios today to echo the message and urge the party to rally behind its leader.

But in a brutal appearance on the BBC's Sunday with Lura Kuenssberg, Ms Braverman said: 'The plan is not working ... at this rate we will be lucky to have any Conservative MPs at the next election.'

She demanded tax cuts and an immigration clampdown that includes leaving the European Court of Human Rights. But she shied away of calling for Mr Sunak to be replaced, saying the party possessed no 'superman or woman' capable of turning things around with just months to go to the general election.

When asked if she regretted supporting Mr Sunak's leadership, Ms Braverman said: 'Honestly, yes I do.'

Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle tonight in a body blow for Rishi Sunak

Putting a brave face on grim election results, Rishi Sunak admitted that voters are 'frustrated' but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal

Suella Braverman , the Conservative former home secretary, was quick to lay the blame for Tory losses at the door of Downing Street, but she said ousting Mr Sunak as party leader 'won't work'.

Overnight Mr Sunak insisted 'our plan is working' despite all the evidence to the contrary. Transport Secretary Mark Harper was also sent out to tour TV studios today to echo the message and urge the party to rally behind its leader.

She added: 'The plan is not working and I despair at these terrible results.

'There is no spinning these results, there is no disguising the fact that these have been terrible election results for the Conservatives and they suggest that we are heading to a Labour government and that fills me with horror.

'I love my country, I care about my party and I want us to win, and I am urging the Prime Minister to change course, to with humility reflect on what voters are telling us, and change the plan and the way that he is communicating and leading us.'

Asked about whether she wanted to see a change in leader, Ms Braverman said: 'I just don't think that is a feasible prospect right now, we don't have enough time and it is impossible for anyone new to come and change our fortunes to be honest. There is no superman or superwoman out there who can do it.'

In an attempt to prop up support for the PM, Mr Harper insisted polls giving Labour a massive lead 'are not correct.

'There is everything to fight for. And the Tories under Rishi Sunak are up for the fight,' he told Sky News.

He added: 'It's been disappointing of course to lose dedicated Conservative councillors and Andy Street in the West Midlands, with his track record of providing great public services and attracting significant investment to the area, but that has redoubled my resolve to continue to make progress on our plan. So we will continue working as hard as ever to take the fight to Labour and deliver a brighter future for our country.'

The last of the 107 English council election results was announced at Salford early on Sunday afternoon, with Labour winning 18 of the seats being contested, gaining one, the Lib Dems one and Conservatives two, losing one.

The Conservatives lost 397 council seats across England in the council elections, with Labour gaining 232, the Lib Dems 98 and Greens 64.

Labour won a total of 1,158 seats, the Lib Dems 522, Conservatives 515, Greens 181, independents 228, ratepayers and residents 48, the Workers Party of Britain four and Reform UK two.

The Conservatives lost control of 10 councils, with Labour gaining eight and the Lib Dems two.

Labour now control 51 of the 107 councils, the Lib Dems 12, Conservatives six and independents one, with 37 under no overall control

Party chairman Richard Holden, who is also facing criticism over the election campaigns, also tried to calm furious politicians and activists.

Writing in the Telegraph he claimed that the result showed there was 'no surge in love for Sir Keir Starmer'.

'While Labour made some gains, they have failed to romp to victory, falling well short of the 350 predicted gains,' he said.

He added that 'the public has had enough of infighting', saying: 'It is incumbent on me to communicate this message from voters to my colleagues  leave sniping from the sidelines to Sir Keir, get behind our Prime Minister and make the case for our party to our country.'

Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle last night in a body blow for the PM.

There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts.

Following hours of wrangling, Mr Street was finally edged out by 1,508 votes - from a three-million strong electorate - with his opponent posting pictures of his celebrations.

The failure of the former John Lewis boss to secure a third term is a huge setback for the PM, and left him with almost nothing to cling to from a nightmare set of local elections.

Keir Starmer hailed the 'phenomenal result' saying it was 'beyond our expectations'.

Rebels immediately warned that the 'game-changing' defeat meant Mr Sunak could now face a fresh bid to oust him - although other MPs reiterated their view it was too late.

The premier had been desperate for Mr Street to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in the winner's circle, demonstrating that the party can still win big contests.

Lord Houchen's success had seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a revolt. However, the latest defeat immediately inflamed anger, critics pointing to the relentlessly grim results for the Conservatives. The party is likely to end up losing nearly 500 councillors in one of the worst showings for 40 years.

One Tory MP told MailOnline that Downing Street had quelled dissent up to now by 'bullsh*****' that 'all's going to be fine' and suggesting Susan Hall was going to win in London.

'Despite all the highly positive private spin from No10 to Tory MPs since Thursday, we've lost well over 400 council seats, Andy Street has lost, Susan Hall has been defeated in London,' they said.

'Ben Houchen won without having the balls to wear a blue rosette, even at his own victory count... Rishi's Sunak's utterly hapless Leadership is now definitely in play.'

The MP added that they had not sent a letter of no confidence before, but would be now - predicting that the threshold of 52 for a vote would be hit.

There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts

Mr Street gave a magnanimous response and refused to blame Mr Sunak for his loss

Richard Parker (right) posed for pictures on social media celebrating his victory tonight

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Ex-Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, a public critic of Mr Sunak, reportedly posted on a Tory WhatsApp group after the news broke: 'These results are awful, and should be a massive wake up call.'

A former minister told MailOnline that victory for Mr Street would have 'eased the pressure' on the PM.

'For those who say it would be madness to have another leader now just look at the statistics. They say that is precisely what the majority of Tory voters want,' they said.

'I think there will be more reflection now. There will be a lot of phone calls being made this Bank Holiday weekend, not least by supporters of rival candidates, although they will be discreet.'

The MP added that there was 'an element of MPs simply being resigned to losing'.

But another veteran Tory backbencher said Mr Street's loss 'is not going to shift anything'.

'People know Rishi has improved things, so let's stick with him and not let Kier take credit for Tories improving things over next six months,' they added.

The MP said the key question for the rebels was who would be better than Mr Sunak: 'No one and they know it.'

For the first time since 1996, the Lib Dems have won more councillors than the Conservatives at a round of local elections.

The Blackpool South by-election caused particular consternation as Labour stormed the seat with a 26 point swing - and the Tories only barely scraped into second ahead of Reform.

The battle for West Midlands mayor had been due to declare at 3pm, but went into extra time with both sides saying it was 'too close to call'.

Recounts took place in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and Coventry as the parties wrangle over every single vote.

It finally came down to Sandwell area, where Mr Parker needed to win by at least 11,456 votes. He cleared the bar by around 1,000 to overhaul Mr Street.

Despite the misery for the Tories, it has not all been plain sailing for Sir Keir, with experts warning that a slump in support in areas with large Muslim populations suggested he was 'in trouble'.

Labour tied up more expected victories today, with Steve Rotheram re-elected as Liverpool City Region Mayor after securing a landslide 68 per cent of the vote.

Andy Burnham emerged victorious in Greater Manchester by 63 per cent to just 10 per cent for his Tory opponent.

Oliver Coppard was returned as as South Yorkshire Mayor with 138,611 votes, nearly three times as many as the 44,945 his Conservative rival Nick Allen received.

Earlier, Mr Sunak insisted he can still turn the situation around, saying people are 'frustrated and wondering why they should vote'.

'The fact Labour is not winning in places that they admit themselves they need for a majority, shows that Keir Starmer's lack of plan and vision is hurting them,' he said.

'We Conservatives have everything to fight for  and we will because we are fighting for our values and our country's future.'

Mr Sunak pointed to his party's recent commitment to hike defence spending and cut migration as clear dividing lines with Labour.

But polling guru Prof John Curtice said the results demonstrated Mr Sunak has 'very little to show' for his efforts to restore the Tories' fortunes after Liz Truss's abrtive premiership.

The election expert told the BBC: 'There is nothing in these results to suggest contrary to the opinion polls that the Conservatives are actually beginning to narrow the gap on Labour, and that so far at least, Rishi Sunak's project which has tried to recover from the disaster  from the Conservatives' point of view  of the Liz Truss fiscal event, that project has still got very little to show for it.

'That in a sense is the big takeaway.

'Now the Conservatives, as when all parties do badly in elections, they always want you to focus on the exception rather than the rule, and Tees Valley and probably the West Midlands are the exceptions not the rule.'

On Labour losses over its stance on Gaza, Sir John said: 'At the moment I think what we would find if we had a general election is that Labour might well fall back in some of these seats, but because the Labour Party is already so strong, they would probably still succeed in winning the parliamentary election.

'But yep, this is a big message to Labour from these local elections, is that you are indeed now in trouble with some of your Muslim former supporters.'

Mr Sunak had been willing Andy Street (pictured) to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term

On a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall

Mr Sunak suffered a blow in his own back yard as Labour took the York and North Yorkshire mayor post.

The region, which covers the PM's Richmond constituency, is somewhere Labour has historically struggled to compete in parliamentary elections.

Labour also won inaugural mayoral contests in the East Midlands and the North East, and gained nine police and crime commissioner posts from the Tories, including in Cumbria, Avon and Somerset, and Norfolk.

But in a smattering of councils, the Opposition party lost seats to independents and George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain, all apparently over the party's stance on Gaza.

Overall, Labour won control of eight councils as it saw a net gain of 204 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gained 92 seats and the Greens 58.

The Liberal Democrats' most significant victory was winning control of Dorset council from the Conservatives, where it now has 42 of the 82 seats after gaining 15.

The Greens fell narrowly short of taking overall control of Bristol, one of their top targets, despite gaining 10 seats.

Despite results that left the Conservatives on track to lose half the seats they contested, rebels admitted they had not persuaded enough MPs to join them to force a vote of no confidence in Mr Sunak's leadership.

One rebel told the Mail simply: 'We're off to the pub.'

Polls ahead of the election suggested that the London incumbent was on track for a comfortable victory over Tory rival Susan Hall (pictured)

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the first Tory MP to publicly move against the PM, said it was 'unlikely' that others would follow in sufficient numbers to trigger a leadership contest.

'My stance is the same,' she said. 'But we are where we are and it is looking unlikely that the MPs are going to put the letters in, so we need to pull together.'

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries - another high-profile critic of the PM - said it would be 'madness' to try to replace Mr Sunak before the general election, adding that it would 'make no difference' to the result.

One rebel source said it was clear that Mr Sunak would 'limp on to the election', adding: 'We're not kamikaze pilots. In the end, there are too many MPs with their heads stuck in the sand for it to work.'
This is the moment a Green Party councillor shouted 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected to Leeds Council as he declared the victory a 'win for the people of Gaza'.

Mothin Ali, 42, who won the Gipton and Harehills seat with 3,070 votes, said in his rowdy victory speech people are 'fed up' of being 'let down' by the Labour council.

He shouted: 'We will not be silenced. We will raise the voice of Gaza. We will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu Akbar!'

Throughout the video there is arguing between the Green members and the other parties at the count - with people heard swearing and told to 'shut up'.

Mr Ali, who regularly posts videos on his TikTok account, said his phone has been 'ringing off the hook' since the win.

Mothin Ali, who won the Gipton and Harehills seat with 3,070 votes, said in his rowdy victory speech people are 'fed up' of being 'let down' by the Labour council

Mr Ali was one of dozens of candidates who ran on a Gaza ticket at the local elections and managed to defeat a Labour candidate

Mr Ali is a qualified mufti, which is a Muslim legal expert who is empowered to give rulings on religious matters.

The accountant has lived in the Gipton and Harehills ward for 20 years and has a wife and three children.

He was one of dozens of candidates who ran on a Gaza ticket at the local elections and managed to defeat a Labour candidate.

Despite gains all over England from the Tories in the local elections, Labour lost control of Greater Manchester town Oldham after gains by Independents, some of whom abandoned Sir Keir's party over Gaza.

Naheed Zohra Gultasib held her seat in the Pleck ward of Walsall. The politician was one of six Labour councillors in the local authority who quit the party in November over Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

She said in her victory speech: 'This is for Gaza, this is for Palestine. You showed [Labour] that they cannot take your vote for granted.'

Akhmed Yakoob, a pro-Palestinian independent candidate running for West Midlands mayor, secured nearly 20 per cent of the vote in the Birmingham area.

Mr Ali, who regularly posts videos on his TikTok account, has said on the platform: 'Every single people have a right to fight back, every single people have a right to live free of occupiers'

He shouted in the video: 'We will not be silenced. We will raise the voice of Gaza. We will raise the voice of Palestine . Allahu Akbar!'

Labour support plummeted in areas with a high Muslim population across the country.

Wards in council areas with the highest proportion of Muslim voters such as Blackburn, Bradford, Pendle, Oldham and Manchester, showed Labour support dropped by an average of 25 per cent.

Wards with Muslim populations higher than 10 per cent in Pendle saw Labour support decline, on average, by 43 per cent.

The electoral results could be a cause of concern for Mr Starmer as the hemorrhaging of votes could cost him valuable seats at this year's upcoming general election.

The Labour leader has faced calls to change his policy on Gaza to win back Muslim support and it is understood members of his shadow Cabinet will raise the issue with him again in the coming days.

However, some polling experts believe that Muslim voters who have turned away from Labour this week are likely to have a 'limited impact' on results in the general election.

Chris Hopkins, the political research director at Savanta, told The Telegraph: 'Labour's vote falling away in some Muslim areas shows that the party still has plenty of work to do among some communities over its response to the conflict in Gaza.

Sir Keir Starmer has faced calls to change his policy on Gaza to win back Muslim support

Leader of the Workers Party of Britain George Galloway stands with supporters and party candidates as he commits to hundreds of candidates in the general election

'That said, it's likely to have a limited impact at a general election, when constituencies are larger and the vote determines the next government rather than local authority control.'

James Johnson, co-founder of JL Partners and a former Downing Street pollster, said the places of most Muslim voters tended to already be in safe Labour seats so the protest votes might not have a huge effect.

But he pointed to one survey which found one in four British Muslims name the Israel/Palestine conflict as their most important election issue compared with just three per cent of the public.

Pat McFadden has admitted the crisis in Gaza has been an 'issue' and 'does get raised' when asked about Labour's loss of control in Oldham.

The party's national campaign coordinator told BBC Breakfast over the weekend: 'I do think that's been a factor in some places, I don't think there's any point in denying that. It does get raised, and I understand why people have strong feelings about that.'

He said that with 'so many innocent people being killed I'm not surprised people have strong feelings about that'.

But Mr McFadden added: 'In addition to the Middle East issue which you mentioned there are specific very local factors in Oldham which have knocked it out of line with the Labour gains we've been seeing in local elections.'

Former Labour MP George Galloway has also sought to capitalise on the Gaza issue, winning the Rochdale by-election in February and saying he will challenge Labour with a series of pro-Palestinian candidates at the general election.

It comes after figures released by Labour's National Executive Committee last month showed the party has suffered an exodus of more than 23,000 members in the previous two months.

Radical left wing group Momentum warned Sir Keir 'is alienating swathes of Labour's core support' and that alarm bells should be ringing within the party.

There has also been a mass walkout of at least 70 councillors which caused Labour to lose control of councils in Oxford, Hastings, Norwich, and Burnley.

In November, 56 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir to vote for the SNP's call for a ceasefire, with 10 frontbenchers quitting.

Jess Phillips was one of the most high profile shadow ministers to sensationally quit.
An ex-British Army chief has warned Britain must double its defence spending to scare off Vladimir Putin, despite Rishi Sunak's promise of a cash boost.

Lord Richard Dannatt, who was in charge of the Army from 2006 to 2009, raised concerns that Britain isn't doing enough to deter Russia from potential attacks.

Lord Dannatt called on the government to increase defence funding to five per cent - double the amount of Rishi Sunak's new plans to raise it to 2.5 per cent.

Last week, the Prime Minister announced the budget will increase to 2.5 per cent - 87 billion - by 2030.

The Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force will share the desperately needed cash, meaning the services no longer have to cut capabilities.

But Lord Dannatt, 73, thinks the figure needs to be doubled.

It comes amid rising fears of World War III as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine.

On top of that, the Israel-Hamas conflict threatens to spread violence across the Middle East, with Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels increasing their attacks on Israel - prompting the UK and US to launch strikes by air and sea.

Rishi Sunak promised an additional 75billion in military funds over the next six years

Lord Richard Dannatt (pictured in 2008), who was in charge of the Army from 2006 to 2009, raised concerns that Britain is not doing enough to deter Russia from potential attacks

Lord Dannatt, chairman of trustees of the Normandy Memorial Trust, at his home in April

DECEMBER 2023: An oil depot on fire in occupied Donetsk, Ukraine, following a missile strike

APRIL 2024: Destruction in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip

APRIL 2024: An unexploded Israeli missile among the rubble of a destroyed building in Gaza

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a candle during the Easter service in Moscow today

In February, the Defence Select Committee released a devastating report concluding that Britain's overstretched Armed Forces may be unable to fight an all-out war.

Lord Dannatt believes the five per cent mark - which would equate to around 174 billion a year - is the price that is required to keep Russia at bay.

But the highly-decorated war veteran believes are politicians are too focused on whatever is the 'top story on the Today programme'.

Currently the UK is expected to spend roughly 57 billion in the 2024-2025 year.

In an interview with The Lady magazine, Lord Dannatt has highlighted the underfunding of the armed forces.

He said in 1935 the UK spent just three per cent of GDP on defence, but by 1939 it shot up by 18 per cent, and by 1940 it was at 46 per cent.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE - How Rishi Sunak's 75 billion defence spending pledge will fire up Britain's forces Advertisement

Lord Dannatt said: 'Today we're spending about 2.2 per cent, with a number of us calling for an increase to 2.5 per cent or 3 per cent pretty quickly.

'During the Cold War we were spending 5 per cent on defence - that was the price of deterrence.

'If we're trying to deter Putin then maybe we've got to be thinking about numbers as big as that, which is certainly off the radar as far as any political parties in the coming election are concerned.

'I think this is a weakness of democracy and a strength of dictatorships.

'A dictator who doesn't care about public opinion can take long-term decisions and drive them through, whereas our politicians now are very much driven by the top story on the Today programme.'

Lord Dannatt was instrumental in some of Britain's operations in the Middle East and became Chief of the General Staff in 2006.

The retired General, a recipient of the Military Cross, later went on to serve as defence adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron.

It follows Mr Sunak unveiling the 75billion boost to put Britain's defence industry on a 'war footing'.

Hailing a 'turning point' in national security, he said military spending would rise and secure the UK's place as 'by far the largest defence power in Europe'.

It is a major victory for the Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless Campaign, which was launched after military spending missed out in last month's budget. It also draws a potential election dividing line with Labour.

Rishi Sunak unveiled a 75billion boost to put Britain's defence industry on a 'war footing'

JANUARY 2024: Smoke rises over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel andHamas

Mr Sunak warned the world faces the most 'volatile and dangerous' situation in decades, with an 'axis' of adversaries including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea co-operating to undermine the West.

Speaking alongside Nato's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Warsaw, the PM said: 'We did not choose this moment, but it falls to us to meet it.

'In a world that is the most dangerous it has been since the end of the Cold War, we cannot be complacent. As our adversaries align, we must do more to defend our country, our interests, and our values.

READ MORE - GRANT SHAPPS: We're cementing our place as the biggest defence power in Europe Advertisement

'That is why today I am announcing the biggest strengthening of our national defence for a generation.

'We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030  a plan that delivers an additional 75billion for defence by the end of the decade and secures our place as by far the largest defence power in Europe.

'Today is a turning point for European security and a landmark moment in the defence of the United Kingdom.

'It is a generational investment in British security and British prosperity, which makes us safer at home and stronger abroad.'

The move follows intense criticism from Tory MPs and defence experts who said the UK was moving too slowly to raise spending from its current level of 2.3 per cent of GDP.

Despite the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East, Mr Sunak had refused to set out a timetable for shoring up Britain's defences.

The commitment will be paid for in part by reducing civil service numbers by 70,000, taking them back to their pre-pandemic level.

Mr Sunak urged fellow Nato countries to increase their own defence spending, saying that raising the level to 2.5 per cent across the alliance would generate an extra 140billion a year.

JULY 2023: An RAF Typhoon fighter jet in the skies above the Amari Airbase in Estonia

How NATO could face a potential all out war with Russia by summer 2025, according to leaked German defence documents

An ex-British Army chief has warned Britain must double its defence spending to 'frighten' Vladimir Putin (pictured), despite Rishi Sunak 's promise of a cash boost

After Donald Trump's accusations that European Nato members failed to pay their way while he was in the White House, Mr Sunak said: 'We cannot keep expecting America to pay any price or bear any burden if we ourselves are unwilling to make greater sacrifices for our own security.'

READ MORE - The UK can cut taxes AND increase defence spending, Rishi Sunak says as he insists the economy is strong enough Advertisement

Government sources said the defence budget would now rise in real terms every year to the end of the decade, increasing from 64.6billion this year to 87.1billion by 2030.

In a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Sunak told the Ukrainian president that Britain would guarantee at least 3billion a year to help his country in its fight for survival against Russia.

The new cash will include 10billion to build up Britain's defence industry in order to increase the supply of munitions and restore stockpiles depleted by shipments to Ukraine. A new Defence Innovation Agency will co-ordinate work on a new generation of weapons, including lasers, hypersonic missiles and military space hardware.

Renewed efforts will also be made to improve the UK's notoriously wasteful defence procurement systems.

The investment will also underpin big-ticket defence projects such as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)  a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to create a sixth generation fighter jet.

Troops could be in line for pay rises and should see more resources committed to their accommodation. Poor housing is considered to be one of the main reasons that personnel sign off.

Former defence minister Mark Francois said some of the money should be spent on retaining 30 Tranche 1 Typhoon fighter jets, which are due to be withdrawn from service in 2025.

JANUARY 2024: A crater left by a missile in the yard of a damaged building in Kharkiv

In a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured), Mr Sunak told the Ukrainian president that Britain would guarantee at least 3billion a year to help his country in its fight for survival

The RAF has decided to ground the aircraft, five years ahead of schedule, to save money. The jets are expected to be cannibalised for spare parts so the RAF's remaining 107 Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Typhoons can continue to fly.

Given the threat to UK and Nato airspace posed by Russian aircraft, Mr Francois has likened the decision to 'selling off Spitfires before the Battle of Britain'.

He said he 'warmly welcomes' the Prime Minister's announcement, adding: 'We need to use part of this significant new investment to rebuild our air defences.'

The Royal Navy should now become more potent in the years ahead. The senior service wants to fit missiles that can strike targets inland to its latest generation submarines and surface ships.

The Navy is also investing heavily in drones. Additional expenditure could help the service to address spending deficiencies in the wider submarine development and maintenance programmes.

Labour welcomed the announcement of more support for Ukraine but said it wanted to 'examine the detail' of the wider spending announcement before deciding whether to match it. The party's defence spokesman John Healey said: 'Labour wants to see a fully funded plan to reach 2.5 per cent, but the Tories have shown time and time again that they cannot be trusted on defence and we will examine the detail of their announcement closely.'
Hundreds of Jeremy Clarkson fans formed long snaking queues at Diddly Squat Farm yesterday with some people being turned away.

A police van was since parked up outside the idyllic Cotswolds farm amid some vehicles being told they wouldn't be able to enter an already packed car park.

It was the busiest the farm had been since last summer and comes following the new release of the third season of Clarkson's Farm dropped on Amazon Prime.

Huge crowds swarmed to Oxfordshire as queues snaked around the Diddly Squat Farm shop and car park, while others waited to get a taste of Jeremy's Hawkstone lager in the sunshine on a bank holiday weekend.

The car park was declared full by 1pm with many vehicles being turned away.

A police van was parked up outside the idyllic Cotswolds farm amid some vehicles being told they wouldn't be able to enter an already packed car park

The car park was declared full by 1pm with many vehicles being turned away

Avid watchers of the show descended on the former Top Gear star's newest venture from the United States, Wales and Germany to celebrate the new release.

Anna, Sarah and Remi, originally from Minnesota, have travelled to Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm for Remi's birthday.

One of the girls joked: 'We got in line about ten minutes ago. We expect to get into an episode of the show while we're in the queue.'

A police van was seen parked close to the car park's entrance on the remarkably busy day.

Clarkson said on X: 'Thank you all for sending such kind words about Clarkson's Farm 3.

'I know it's tough to watch in places but that's farming sometimes: brutal.'

Clarkson's Farm fans have been thrilled by the long-awaited return of the Amazon hit series after it finally aired on the streaming service on Friday.

The popular farming show sees the former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter, 64, wrestle with the daily challenges of running his 1,000 acre Diddly Squat Farm.

Series one and two, which released in June 2021 and February 2023, respectively, were are an instant hit with audiences across the UK, who were delighted by the array of quirky characters and comical calamities throughout.

And series three has continued its hot steak, delivering on a mixture of humour and heartbreak as Jeremy and the gang continue in their quest to keep the farm afloat.

Huge crowds swarmed to Oxfordshire as queues snaked around the Diddly Squat Farm shop and car park

Avid watchers of the show descended on the former Top Gear star's newest venture from the United States, Wales and Germany to celebrate the new release

It was the busiest the farm had been since last summer and comes following the new release of the third season of Clarkson's Farm dropped on Amazon Prime

Jeremy Clarkson said on X: 'Thank you all for sending such kind words about Clarkson's Farm 3. 'I know it's tough to watch in places but that's farming sometimes: brutal'

Hundreds of Jeremy Clarkson fans formed long snaking queues at Diddly Squat Farm with some people being turned away

The farm was packed on Saturday as people swarmed to idyllic surrounds in Oxfordshire during the bank holiday weekend sunshine

Some fans have been left in floods of tears with some claiming they were not 'emotionally prepared' for the new series.

During the series, Jeremy introduced pigs to the farm in a bid to make some money off of them, but in heartbreaking scenes in the fourth episode, several of the piglets ended up crushed by their own mother, and one of the farm's sows became ill.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson can't hide his delight as he welcomes arrival of pigs to his farm in new Amazon series Advertisement

Sharing their thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter) viewers spoke of the emotional rollercoaster and warned others to 'get the tissues ready.'

'I never thought Clarksons Farm show would be making me cryJesus Christ man.'

'@JeremyClarkson just love Clarksons Farm. Wish there was more episodes to watch. Also shed a tear along with you and Lisa. I hope this show runs for many many more seasons. Something to laugh, cry and learn so much about the challenges of our farmers.'

'Not me crying over a pig.'

'I was not emotionally prepared for season 3 of #ClarksonsFarm. The last episode broke me. Like, nose running kind of ugly crying broken.'

Jeremy and his partner Lisa Hogan struggle with losing the baby piglets and in one scene he is seen consoling an emotional Lisa as she breaks down in tears after hearing the tragic news.

Talking about the scenes, Lisa explained: 'It was heart-breaking. Jeremy's always loved pigs, I didnt think Id be that enamoured by pigs but I did get really close to them as people will see. Farmings just sad.'

She continued: 'The animals become your friends and you're isolated  there are certain farms that are really isolated  and the animals become your family. When they become unwell, you're losing members of your animal family.

'If that's how sad we can get in front of a TV crew, imagine the farmers that are alone and having to do it with nobody around them when theyre losing animal after animal. Its so difficult.

Clarkson's Farm fans have been thrilled by the long-awaited return of the Amazon hit series after it finally aired on the streaming service earlier today

Jeremy Clarkson pictured with his farm hand Kaleb Cooper in a scene from the third series

Stars of the show: (From left to right) Gerald Cooper, Charlie Ireland, Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper and Jeremy Clarkson

Pepper is one of thirteen cows that are loaded up onto the truck in heartbreaking scenes of the first episode of Clarkson's Farm 3

Jeremy's associates provide him with ten fine pigs on the Amazon Farm series

The cute creatures are seen rummaging around on the farm are appear quite at home when they are released into their paddock

'Every day it's emotional whether it's really happy because the weather is perfect and you can get on with the job at hand or its miserable if its raining the crops are failing and you cant do a thing.

'Its very difficult to be unemotional about it. So, yes, I dont want to go against what hes said but I definitely think hes becoming more a man of the land than a man of the road.'

Jeremy also gets tearful in an earlier episode when he is forced to send his beloved 'pet' cow Pepper to the abattoir.

He reveals in the first episode of the new series he can no longer afford to keep all of his cows after West Oxfordshire District Council tells him has to close down his newly opened restaurant.

As he watches the cows being loaded up onto the lorry, Jeremy turns to his land agent and advisor for a heart-to-heart.

'I'm finding today really quite sad as for the last year I've been opening the windows, opening the curtains in the morning and there are the cows. And I love that,' Jeremy says.

'Making cow noises. It just cheers my heart every morning to see them.'

His worries then turn to the calves as he affectionately asks whether they will be able to sleep tonight.

But Kaleb Cooper, 25, then tells Jeremy it is he who won't be sleeping as they 'will be calling all night long'.

Clearly anxious about Pepper's future, Charlie gives Jeremy a word of warning when he asks what will happen to her.

'I wouldn't ask too many questions about Pepper,' Charlie says. 'Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to.'

There is an awkward moment of silence as Jeremy stares and blinks before turning away and letting out a big audible sigh and muttering: 'Oh Christ.'

Clarkson's Farm season 3, part 1 is available to stream on Amazon Prime now. Part 2 is released on May 10.
A Nigerian sex trafficker was allegedly employed by a British charity for vulnerable teenage girls just five months after being convicted in France.

Peter Omoruyi, 36, was able to secure the position at Streetz Ahead Creative Housing due to a 'loophole' that means 'unregulated care homes' providing housing for older teenagers are not yet registered with Ofsted.

Omoruyi had been convicted in his absence of four offences of modern slavery and human trafficking in June 2022. He was sentenced to six years in prison which he has not yet served.

He got a job as a support worker at the charity - which houses vulnerable teenagers, including girls - just five months after the conviction, the Sunday Express reported.

The loophole means the charity, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, is not yet subject to Ofsted's stringent conditions, such as overseas conviction checks on staff.

The charity, which is yet to be registered with Ofsted, gives supported accommodation for girls and boys aged 16 to 18 until they find permanent homes.

Do YOU know Peter Omoruyi? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk

Westminster Magistrates' Court (pictured) heard at a hearing in February that Omoruyi was aware of the conviction, as a lawyer represented him at trial

The sex trafficker got the job through an agency and did not reveal the conviction at any point during his employment, it was reported.

Omoruyi was fully checked for criminal convictions in the UK by the charity. However, the loophole means staff at such housing providers do not yet have to undergo checks for overseas convictions.

The former support worker was arrested on a European arrest Warrant in January while trying to fly to Nigeria.

Omoruyi has since left the charity, which was reportedly unaware of the conviction or extradition until contacted by the Sunday Express last week.

How does the loophole work?

The loophole means 'unregulated' care homes housing older teenagers do not have to undergo strict checks by Oftsed. Oftsed would check overseas conviction checks on all staff. The charity has not yet been registered with Oftsed, meaning Peter Omoruyi was not checked for any overseas convictions. Advertisement

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard at a hearing in February that Omoruyi was aware of the conviction, as a lawyer represented him at trial.

The conviction regarded 'aiding prostitution from 2019 to 2020 and human trafficking by driving prostitutes around in Lyon', the court heard.

The prostitution earned Omoruyi at least 190,000 yet he had not declared any income in France, the court was also told.

Omoruyi is a father-of-two in France and also fathered two children in Nigeria, who ae now in the UK, and owns a flat in Stroud. He also has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, it was reported.

The convict's bail was refused after the CPS argued there were 'serious concerns about further offences'.

Omoruyi made a further bail application last month and was released on conditional bail after paying a surety of 10,000, claiming his family helped him pay the fee.

When confronted by the Sunday Express, the sex trafficker said he was innocent and had a lawyer appealing the conviction.

He also claimed he was not convicted when he applied to work at Streetz Ahead.

He said he was fighting extradition as he has a brain tumour and desires to be with his children in the UK.

He said: 'My baby mama in France told me they are looking for me. I engaged a lawyer who appealed the decision and we're awaiting a date.'

He added: 'I didn't transport prostitutes, I didn't traffic women.'

Leigh Brown, a former Care Quality Commission inspector who took over as operation director at Streetz Ahead in January, said: 'Streetz Ahead have had no knowledge of any historical or existing issues relating to any staff members, past of present, that have been convicted of crimes.

'Our safer recruitment processes are in place to ensure this is the case and puts an onus on all staff at the point of recruitment to self-declare.'

MailOnline has contacted Streetz Ahead for comment.
Ursula von der Leyen is rebranding as a family-first conservative as she makes a bid to be reappointed as head of the European Commission.

Von der Leyen's public image had previously been crafted to depict her as a 'competent' and 'diligent' politician who was dedicated in her role as President of the Commission.

But her public relations team has now moved to makeover her image after recent polling suggested that anti-EU populists will dominate in the election next month, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Von der Leyen's team is positioning her as a grandmother with 'traditional, conservative family values', a stark contrast to the reputation she developed as a pandemic-hardened crisis manager.

'As a mother of seven, I want my children's children to grow in a safe, prosperous Europe,' she touts on her campaign website. The same line has also been used in several speeches and at the first debate.

Ursula von der Leyen is rebranding as a family-first conservative as she makes a bid to be reappointed as head of the European Commission. Pictured is an ad on her campaign website promoting her 'traditional, conservative family values'

The new campaign is not the first time von der Leyen has put her family values on public display. Nearly three years ago, after the birth of her first grandchild, she posted a photo (above) holding the infant that was captioned '#ProudGrandma'

The new campaign is not the first time von der Leyen has put her family values on public display.

Nearly three years ago, after the birth of her first grandchild, she posted a photo holding the infant that was captioned '#ProudGrandma'.

The image, which was shared not even 18 months into her role as President, offered a rare glimpse into von der Leyen's personal life.

Her social media feed was typically filled with photographs alongside colleagues at international gatherings or other prominent political events.

The feed was cleansed of pictures highlighting her so-called fun side, including a snap of actor Hugh Jackman scooping her out of a wheelie bin during an appearance on a talk show while she served as Germany's family minister.

But her followers can soon expect to see more into her private life, her campaign's chief spokesman Alexander Winterstein has said, noting that a 'personal' element is important in her bid to be reappointed.

Her social media feed was previously cleansed of pictures highlighting her so-called fun side, including a snap of actor Hugh Jackman scooping her out of a wheelie bin (pictured) during an appearance on a talk show while she served as Germany's family minister

Instead she was often photographed alongside colleagues at international gatherings or other prominent political events. Von der Leyen (right) is pictured with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (centre) and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (left) before their meeting in Beirut, Lebanon on May 2, 2024

'People know her as Commission president,' he told the newspaper. 'What people may know less about is who she actually is as a person. Who is Ursula von der Leyen?'

Von der Leyen remains the favourite to be selected by EU leaders, but she will also need majority approval from MEPs in the European Parliament.

In recent months, the President has seemingly made subtle changes to her policies in an apparent attempt to appeal more to right-wing political groups.

Experts suspect that her centre-right European People's Party, which has gradually become more right-leaning, may need support of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group to form a conservative bloc in the European Parliament.
Russian rocket and drone attacks have killed two and wounded at least six people in Ukraine overnight.

The attacks came as Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and Russia celebrated Easter, with the Kremlin showing no respite during the holy occasion despite Vladimir Putin putting on a facade of piousness during a national address.

Ukrainian officials said that Russia fired 24 Iranian-style 'Shahed' drones at its territory overnight, 23 of which were shot down.

However, the one which made it through hit a building in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, injuring six people including a nine-year-old girl.

Meanwhile in the city of Pokrovsk, 35 miles from the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, a rocket attack killed two people.

Other strikes took place in the Nikopol and Dnipro regions after they were targeted by 12 drones, causing a number of fires, although no one was killed or hurt in these attacks.

A firefighter sprays water on the smouldering wreckage caused by a Russian strike in the Nikopol regin

Damage caused by a drone attack on a building in the Dnipro region of Ukraine on Saturday

No one was killed or hurt in the drone strikes in Dnipro or Nikopol, but others were hurt in simultaneous attacks in Kharkiv

News of the attacks was released on social media by Ukrainian officials, adding to the tens of thousands have been killed and millions driven from their homes since Putin ordered the invasion of Russia's smaller neighbour in February 2022. The war, now in its third year has no end in sight.

'In Pokrovsk, rocket attacks killed two people and damaged a house,' Vadim Filashkin, Ukraine's governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said in a post on Telegram.

'A house and outbuildings were burned down as a result of 'Shahed' attacks. Six people were injured, among them a girl born in 2015,' said Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov on Telegram.

In Russia and Ukraine, leaders have used religion and the church institution to rally society behind the war effort, with the latest attacks coming during the holy Easter weekend.

Orthodox Christians, including the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and Russia, celebrate Easter this weekend, while most Western churches observed the major holiday on March 31.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin attended an Easter service led by the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, a staunch supporter of the Russian leader and his war in Ukraine.

Putin did not explicitly mention the war - that Russia calls a 'special military operation' - in his Easter message.

President Vladimir Putin appears withdrawn and downcast at the Orthodox Easter mass service, staring off absentmindedly into the distance

The Russian leader looked miserable as he went through the mass which was televised across Russia and went on throughout the night

Putin stood with Sergei Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow (right) inside Christ the Savior Cathedral for the midnight mass where they held thin red candles as a choir sang traditional songs

In a public address to Kirill, Putin thanked him for 'fruitful cooperation in the current difficult period, when it is so important for us to unite our efforts for the steady development and strengthening of the Fatherland.'

Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called on his fellow Ukrainians on Orthodox Easter on Sunday to unite in prayer for each other and the soldiers on the frontline, saying God will lead to life defeating death.

'Let's pray for each other. When we all came closer to each other, we were no longer strangers to each other,' Zelenskiy.

Wearing a traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka shirt, instead of his typical army-style clothes, he said: 'We believe that God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. Therefore, with such an ally, life will definitely defeat death.'

Standing in front of the 1,000-year-old Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a spiritual and architectural monument of the country's faith, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine has now been fighting for 802 days against Russia for a victory.

'And we believe: God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. So with such an ally, life will definitely win over death.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published a video message on Sunday from Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral in the centre of the capital.

An exhibition at the cathedral features religion icons painted on ammunition boxes.

Zelenskiy, who is Jewish, called for prayers first for all the soldiers who will be celebrating Easter in the trenches, so they will return home alive, and for the land and people, whose spirit 'cannot be broken' and who will, he added, see Ukraine free one day.

'Ukrainians kneel only in prayer,' Zelenskiy said. 'And never before invaders and occupiers.'
This is the extraordinary moment a huge pride of lions hunted and brought down a massive buffalo before striking the killing blow in front of stunned tourists on safari in Kenya.

The event, which locals said is rarely caught on camera, happened on April 29 in the Maasai Mara nature reserve.

In the prolonged attack, a solo buffalo is encircled by a large pack of roughly eleven lions.

The pride of big cats slowly maul it before tipping it on its back and killing it.

A tourist who filmed the attack said their tour guide told them he had 'never seen anything like it'.

This is the extraordinary moment a huge pride of lions hunted and brought down a massive buffalo before striking the killing blow in front of stunned tourists on safari in Kenya

In the prolonged attack, a solo buffalo is encircled by a large pack of roughly eleven lions

The pride of big cats slowly maul it before tipping it on its back and killing it

A solo male lion is seen striking the killing blow on the besieged massive buffalo

Although lions are known to hunt and kill buffaloes, it is is a challenging and dangerous undertaking as adult buffaloes are so massive with savage curved horns and often fight back aggressively.

But by hunting together, lions are able to exhaust and take down prey much larger than themselves.

Marty Keane, 48, managed to film the scene and said: 'Watching it my adrenaline took over and I was trying to make sure I was documenting what I was seeing.

'I had goosebumps the entire time, it was such a humbling reminder of the power of the lion.'

Marty and his wife, Thais Asper Keane, 40, who live in Miami, Florida, were on the trip to celebrate Thais' birthday and their wedding anniversary.

Marti said: 'The Maasai Mara is the most incredible place either of us has visited, it's just a stunning place.'

'Our tour guide said he's done thousands of game drives and has never seen anything like it!'

Marty Keane, 48, and Thais Asper Keane, 40, watched the attack while on holiday in Kenya

A tourist who filmed the attack said their tour guide told them he had 'never seen anything like it'. Pictured centre are Marti and Thais, who filmed the rare attack

But it was not the only surprise for the couple, as that very night their resort was totally flooded as the Talek river burst its banks, forcing them to be helicoptered to safety.

'The water was up to my waist and my wife's chest, it was very scary, we are truly thankful that we made it out alive.'
Police have arrested a third man who was allegedly involved in the violent home invasion and bashing of an elderly grandmother a fortnight ago.

Joel Leslie Painter, 36, who is believed to be the final outstanding person wanted over the alleged attack, has been charged with a string of offences following his dramatic arrest on Sunday morning.

Ninette Simons, 73, and her husband Phillip, 76, were targeted in a home invasion on April 16 when a trio men allegedly entered their Girrawheen home in Perth pretending to be police officers.

Western Australian Police launched a public appeal to help track down Painter last week following the horrific ordeal.

The manhunt ended when Painter was arrested in the the neighbouring suburb of Mirrabooka in Perth's north on Sunday.

Ninette Simons, 73, (pictured ) was allegedly bashed by three men in her own home. She told the immigration minister on Wednesday that she no longer feels safe

Joel Leslie Painter, 36, (pictured) who is believed to be the final outstanding person linked to the alleged attack was arrested on Sunday

READ MORE: Released immigration detainee was already on bail before allegedly carrying out violent home invasion Recently released immigration detainee Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan (above), who is accused of bashing an elderly woman in her own home, has been in and out of court this year Advertisement

Painter, a former boxer was charged with aggravated home burglary, aggravated robbery, detaining someone with intent to gain a benefit, aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and impersonating a police officer.

He's expected to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police had already charged three other men in relation to their alleged involvement in the attack, including  including former immigration detainee Majid Jamshidi Doukoshkan.

Police allege that Doukoshkan, Painter and a third man Seyed Younes Taham, 38, pretended to be police officers to con their way into the Simons' northern Perth home.

It's alleged that the group assaulted Ms Simmons and stole $200,000 worth of jewellery before fleeing the home on foot.

The cancer survivor was allegedly held on the ground, had handcuffs placed on and punched in the face several times causing her to lose consciousness.

Her husband was also allegedly tied up during the harrowing ordeal.

Almost three weeks on, Ms Simons is still shaken by the alleged attack which left her battered and bruised.

'I am not the same person I used to be, I can hardly stand or walk,' she said.

Doukoshkan, a Kuwait born man, faced Perth Magistrates Court in February on previous unrelated charges.

He was granted bail before his alleged involvement in last month's home invasion, which growing calls for federal Immigration Minister Andrew Giles and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil to resign over the sage

Doukoshkan was remanded in custody to face court again on June 10.

His co-accused Taham will also reappear in court on the same date.
Tanks and columns of troops are massing in Moscow ahead of Russia's annual Victory Day - timed this year to coincide with Vladimir Putin's latest presidential inauguration after another election victory denounced as a 'sham'.

The despot is set for another six years in the Kremlin after emphatically and unsurprisingly winning March's presidential poll, with his new term formally beginning on Tuesday.

Two days later there will be the traditional display of military might in the Russian capital's Red Square in Victory Day processions marking the country's contribution to defeating Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

The latest showcase - which has seen large-scale rehearsals at the heart of Moscow today - comes amid reports Russia is losing 1,000 troops per day in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine which was launched back in February 2022.

Mr Putin was today seen attending a mass alongside Orthodox Christians celebrating Easter - while Russian rocket and drone attacks killed two and wounded at least six people in Ukraine overnight.

A Russian serviceman is seen on a T-34 Soviet-era tank in rehearsals ahead of this coming Thursday's Victory Day parades in Russia's capital Moscow

Troops who have been part of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine following the invasion in February 2022 are seen marching in column as part of Victory Day preparations

Victory Day marks the anniversary of Nazi Germany's surrender to the Soviet Union and allies on May 9, 1945, at the end of the Second World War

This year's Victory Day commemorations will come two days after Vladimir Putin's latest inauguration as Russian president after winning March's 'sham' election

Tuesday's inauguration ceremony will involve Mr Putin putting a hand on the constitution as he officially begins his latest term - continuing a spell in power which began on New Year's Eve in 1999 when he became acting president.

He has since been successful in crushing political opposition, running independent-minded journalists out of the country and dispensing with once-favoured rich allies.

Analysts say he remains committed to his war in Ukraine despite early Russian hopes of swiftly toppling Volodymyr Zelensky's regime having been frustrated.

More than 450,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since Mr Putin launched the invasion, Britain's armed forces minister Leo Docherty suggested last week in Parliament.

He also claimed 'tens of thousand more have already deserted since the start of the conflict' and 'over 10,000 Russian armoured vehicles' had been destroyed.

Russia has not released any casualty figures since September 2022 but Ukraine's armed forces said Russia suffered 1,120 casualties in 24 hours last Wednesday.

That made it the fifth day running with numbers of wounded or dead topping 1,000.

But the Russian government is trying the steer the nation's focus to this week's double celebrations, with Mr Putin's inauguration on Tuesday two days ahead of the events marking Victory Day.

Thursday's showcase is seen by many as the country's most important secular holiday, commemorating the Soviet Red Army's capture of German capital Berlin announced on May 9, 1945.

Mr Putin has often attempted to compare the country's Second World War efforts, in which 20million of its people were killed, with his Ukraine mission.

President Vladimir Putin has appeared withdrawn and downcast at an Orthodox Easter mass service, staring off absent-mindedly into the distance, days before his latest inauguration

Russian servicewomen are seen taking part in practice patrols ahead of Thursday's event

Victory Day is widely seen as Russia's most important secular public holiday

Russian military jets were spotted flying over Red Square in the capital Moscow today

Today's rehearsals involved Russian Iskander-M missile launchers driving along Red Square

Columns of servicemen have been marching in practice for Thursday's annual showcase

Servicemen and women have been seen carrying out rehearsals ahead of the heavily-choreographed displays due to take place this Thursday.

Military equipment going on show included Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, S-300 missile systems and S-400 air defence system units and Second World War tanks.

Also seen were a Russian BTR-82-A armoured personnel carrier and Tigr-M all-terrain infantry mobility vehicles, while jets flew overhead and soldiers marched with flags.

Last year's Victory Day parade featured just a single tank, a Second World War-era T-34.

Mr Putin used his speech that day , watched by scores of uniformed soldiers, military officials and leaders of former Soviet nations, to claim Russia wanted peace.

He also accused Western nations of waging a 'real war' against his invading troops, just hours after another barrage of cruise missiles hit several sites across Ukraine.

The Russian president's determination to conquer Ukraine will override domestic issues in his new term in office, according to Brian Taylor, a Syracuse University professor and author of The Code of Putinism.

He told the Associated Press: 'The war in Ukraine is central to his current political project and I don't see anything to suggest that that will change, and that affects everything else.

'It affects who's in what positions, it affects what resources are available and it affects the economy, affects the level of repression internally.'

Russian 'Yars' intercontinental ballistic missile launchers were pictured rolling through the streets during the Victory Day military parade rehearsals

Russian MiG-29 jet fighters have been among the military might already going on display

The practice patrols have been carried out in the heart of Moscow close to the Kremlin

The event commemorates the anniversary of Soviet victory in the Second World War which Vladimir Putin has often alluded to when promoting his country's invasion of Ukraine

Mr Putin was not seen at today's rehearsals but will take centre-stage at the event on Thursday

Russian honour guard soldiers, pictured here, were among those turning out today

He described Mr Putin as thinking of himself 'in the grand historical terms of Russian lands, bringing Ukraine back to where it belongs, those sorts of ideas'.

Prof Taylor added: 'I think those trump any kind of more socioeconomic-type programs.'

In his state of the nation address in February, Putin vowed to fulfill Moscow's goals in Ukraine, and do whatever it takes to 'defend our sovereignty and security of our citizens'.

He claimed the Russian military had 'gained a huge combat experience' and was 'firmly holding the initiative and waging offensives in a number of sectors'.

The following month he clinched a fifth presidential term with the official result showing he had 88.84 per cent of the vote, amid widespread reports of ballot-stuffing and coercion.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the polls were 'not what free and fair elections look like' while Ukraine's President Zelensky accused Mr Putin of 'simulating' an election.

The most prominent opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, had died in prison a month before the election - having previously been barred from standing, as in 2018.

But there could be pitfalls ahead for Mr Putin, according to experts.

Maksim Samorukov, of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, highlighted the 71-year-old president's age, saying: 'Driven by Putin's whims and delusions, Moscow is likely to commit self-defeating blunders.'

Mr Samorukov wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine: 'At 71, his awareness of his own mortality surely impinges on his decision-making.

Russian S-300 missile systems were driven close to the Kremlin as part of practice plans

This Russian S-400 air defence system unit was also sighted as preparations stepped up

Actors have also been performing rehearsals ahead of their Victory Day performances

Russian servicewomen in military jackets and skirts processed in formation earlier today

Also on display were Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers

Russian tanks from the Second World War such as these were seen alongside modern-day kit

'A growing sense of his limited time undoubtedly contributed to his fateful decision to invade Ukraine.

'Now more than ever, the Kremlin makes decisions in a personalised and arbitrary way that lacks even basic controls.'

He described the regime as being 'at permanent risk of crumbling overnight, as its Soviet predecessor did three decades ago' - with Russia's political elite becoming 'more obsequious' to what the analyst called Mr Putin's 'paranoid worldview'.

Doubts over Mr Putin's health were fuelled on Victory Day two years ago when he appeared to walk with a limp and sat with a blanket over his lap.
French foodies are up in arms after a 'virtue-signalling' bakery chain launched a butter-free vegan croissant.

The crescent-shaped, golden-coloured pastry has been a staple of the Gallic breakfast for almost two centuries.

But a Parisian baker has dared to take on the purists by launching a dairy-free version, declaring: 'I'm changing the world.'

The efforts of boulanger Rodolphe Landemaine, a vegan with an interest in animal welfare and climate change who has five shops in the French capital, have been met with a mixture of outrage and incredulity.

Thierry Loussakoueno, a food show judge for the French Union of Bakers and Pastry Makers, scoffed: 'I don't understand these vegan pastries. I can understand people who don't eat meat for whatever reason, and I respect this completely.

Boulanger Rodolphe Landemaine, a vegan with an interest in animal welfare and climate change who has five shops in the French capital, has launched a butter-free vegan croissant

M. Landemaine, who also produces other vegan pastries, said his business is growing fast with new branches planned in other French cities

'But dairy products and butter are just too important in the taste of food and not using them is just too bad and a pity.'

Meanwhile, Olivier Boudot, a cookery teacher, told the BBC: 'It's difficult for me to even talk about making a croissant without butter.'

And dairy farmer Sophie Lenaerts, 57, from Amiens, an hour's drive north of Paris, claimed vegan croissants were symbolic of 'industrial madness' and 'virtue-signalling'  which she feels has left traditional farming unfairly scapegoated for climate change.

Mme Lenaerts, who has taken part in French farmers' protests against European Union agricultural policies, said: 'I have grandchildren. I want the best planet for everyone. But it's always the farmer that gets the blame.'

She said: 'The fear of losing French agriculture is the fear of losing our heritage, our land. It's the farmers that maintain our landscape and make France a country for tourism.

'When no farmers are left, when no cows are left, it will be much worse. (But) I think we're at a turning point in terms of awareness.'

M. Landemaine, who also produces other vegan pastries, said his business is growing fast with new branches planned in other French cities, including Bordeaux, Lyon and Rennes.

He claims to have strong interest internationally, including in the UK and Dubai.

The crescent-shaped, golden-coloured pastry has been a staple of the Gallic breakfast for almost two centuries (stock photo)

French food companies are also taking an interest, he added.

'They sense the market is changing. One reason (for their interest) is that butter has been so expensive for several years,' he said.

M. Landemaine said: 'I'm changing the world.'

But he said he does not actually use the word 'vegan'. He said: 'It's not an easy word for French people to get used to. It's very difficult for them to give up on butter and eggs.'

Although synonymous with France, the croissant is said to derive from Austria.

According to one legend, Viennese-born French queen Marie Antoinette introduced the croissant to Paris in 1770.

But the pastry's widespread popularity is believed to date from when a cluster of Viennese bakers became established in Paris in the early 19th century.

The croissant is said to originate from a pastry made in the Austrian capital a century-and-a-half earlier to celebrate fending off a Turkish attack in 1683.

The crescent shape was symbolic of the Ottoman empire  and turning it into a pastry meant the Austrians could devour their invaders whenever they chose.
President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed God as Ukraine's 'ally' in the war with Russia and urged citizens to be united in prayer in his Orthodox Easter address.

In a video filmed in front of Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral, Zelensky said that God 'has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder'.

With 'such an ally', the President said, 'life will definitely win over death'.

He then called on his people to unite in prayer for each other and soldiers on the front line, adding 'Ukrainians kneel only in prayer and never before invaders and occupiers'.

As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Moscow launched a barrage of drones overnight, concentrated in Ukraine's east where the situation on the front line is worsening.

Six people, including a child, were wounded in a drone strike in the eastern Kharkiv region, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed God as Ukraine's 'ally' in the war with Russia and urged citizens to be united in prayer in his Orthodox Easter address. He published a video message (pictured) on Sunday from Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral in the centre of the capital

As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Putin's forces launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east where the situation on the front line is worsening. Pictured is damage caused by the overnight drone attack on a building in the Dnipro region

A firefighter is pictured spraying water on the smouldering wreckage caused by a Russian strike in the Nikopol region overnight

Zelensky published a video message on Sunday from Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral in the centre of the capital.

Wearing a traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka shirt, instead of his typical army-style clothes, he said: '(Russia) violated all commandments, coveted our house and come to kill us. The world sees it, God knows it.

'And we believe: God has a chevron with the Ukrainian flag on his shoulder. So with such an ally, life will definitely win over death.'

He continued: 'Ukrainians kneel only in prayer and never before invaders and occupiers. The bible teaches us to love our close ones. And the present has shown us the true meaning of this.

'When we support and help each other, even hundreds of kilometres away from one another, we protect each other, we pray for each other. We all have become closer to each other, we have become each other's neighbours.'

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin did not explicitly mention the war - which the Kremlin calls a 'special military operation' - in his Easter message.

In a public address to Patriarch Kirill - head of the Russian Orthodox Church that strongly backs Moscow's invasion of Ukraine - Putin thanked him for 'fruitful cooperation in the current difficult period, when it is so important for us to unite our efforts for the steady development and strengthening of the Fatherland.'

Putin's forces launched an overnight rocket strike on eastern Ukraine. Pictured are firefighters trying to extinguish a blaze following the strike

Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 24 Iranian-style 'Shahed' drones at its territory overnight, 23 of which were shot down. Police are pictured surveying damage from the overnight attack

Fires broke out when debris from drones that were shot down fell on buildings. A firefighter is pictured spraying water on one of the blazes

As Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and Russia celebrated Easter, Putin's forces launched an overnight rocket strike on Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

'In Pokrovsk, rocket attacks killed two people and damaged a house,' Vadim Filashkin, Ukraine's governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said in a post on Telegram.

Pokrovsk is around 60 kilometres (35 miles) northwest of Donetsk city, the Russian-held capital of the region which Moscow claims to have annexed.

Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 24 Iranian-style 'Shahed' drones at its territory overnight, 23 of which were shot down.

'A house and outbuildings were burned down as a result of 'Shahed' attacks. Six people were injured, among them a girl born in 2015,' said Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov on Telegram.

Fires broke out when debris from drones that were shot down fell on buildings in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. No casualties were reported.

In Russia and Ukraine, leaders have used religion and the church institution to rally society behind the war effort.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to follow Orthodox Easter services online due to safety concerns.

Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration, warned that 'even on such bright days of celebration, we can expect evil deeds from the aggressor'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) talks with Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin (right) during the Easter service at the Christ The Saviour Cathedral in Moscow on May 5, 2024

News of the attacks was released on social media by Ukrainian officials, adding to the tens of thousands have been killed and millions driven from their homes since Putin ordered the invasion of Russia's smaller neighbour in February 2022

A Russian plane has accidentally dropped a bomb, aimed for Ukraine, on the border city of Belgorod during a May 4, 2024 attack

A majority of Ukrainians identify as Orthodox Christians, though the church is divided.

Many belong to the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The rival Ukrainian Orthodox Church was loyal to the patriarch in Moscow until splitting from Russia after the 2022 invasion and is viewed with suspicion by many Ukrainians.

In Moscow, worshippers including Putin packed Moscow's landmark Christ the Saviour Cathedral late on Saturday for a night-time Easter service led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church and an outspoken supporter of the Kremlin.

Eastern Orthodox Christians usually celebrate Easter later than Catholic and Protestant churches, because they use a different method of calculating the date for the holy day that marks Christ's resurrection.
A 10-year-old girl has died in a devastating house fire that also left a woman and three other children in hospital.

Police were called to the residential street in Bradford, West Yorkshire, at 1am this morning after receiving calls by the fire service about reports of a 'serious house fire'.

A woman, 37, and three other children managed to escape the property and were rushed to hospital, where they are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Although the little girl who died shared the bedroom with her sisters, aged 11 and six, thankfully they escaped with non life-threatening injuries.

Their brother, age three, also escaped the flames. Their mother was carried out of the house, while the father, a teacher at a local college, was not home.

A cordon is currently in place at the scene and police are working with fire investigators to determine the cause of the blaze.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it sent three crews, two from Bradford and one from Shipley, which used two hose reels and four breathing apparatus at the scene.

A child has tragically died in a house fire this morning in Bradford, West Yorkshire

Pictures of the scene show a two-storey house with a shattered window on the top floor

Floral tributes at the scene of a fatal house fire in Bradford, where a girl, 10, has died

A heartwarming note left on a floral tribute at the scene reads: 'Thinking of and praying for you all at this time of terrible loss and grief'

Pictures of the scene show a two-storey house with a shattered window on the top floor, surrounded by scorch marks.

A police spokesperson said: 'At 1.08 this morning, police were called by the fire service to reports of a serious house fire on Kingsdale Drive, Bradford.

'A woman and three children managed to escape the property and were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

'A fourth child was found inside the address and was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

'A scene is currently in place at the address and police are working with the fire investigators to establish the exact cause of the fire.'

Detective Chief Inspector Zaheer Abbas of Bradford District Police said: 'This is an absolutely tragic incident in which a young child has lost her life, our thoughts are with her family at this time.

'Our investigation with the fire service has deemed that the fire was not suspicious.

'The family are being supported by specially trained officers, a file will now be prepared for the coroner in due course.'

Floral tributes have been left at the police cordon at the converted bungalow on the quiet cul de sac.

A police officer at the scene of a fatal house fire in Bradford, where one child has died

A cordon is currently in place at the scene and police are working with fire investigators

A shocked neighbour said: 'The poor little girl who has died is my daughter's friend.

'My daughter is really upset.

'I saw the mother being escorted out of the building, she could not get out by herself.

'I could only see the flames in the girls' bedroom. Nowhere else. It is devastating.'

Another neighbour said her daughter used to play with the 10-year-old girl and her little brother in the back garden.

'She was only playing with them a couple of days ago on the slide they have in their garden, they also used to play ball on the street,' said the neighbour.

'They are a lovely family. Dad is a teacher in Bradford and he would always say 'hello' and ask how we are doing.

'My daughter is so very sad about losing her friend.'

A heartwarming note left on a floral tribute at the scene reads: 'Thinking of and praying for you all at this time of terrible loss and grief.'

Family members who arrived at the property to pay their respects were too upset to talk.
A man in his 20s has been found with his hands nailed to a fence in a 'sinister attack' which also saw two vans set on ablaze.

He was left with potentially life-changing injuries after the attack in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has described the incident in Bushmills in the early hours of Sunday as 'sinister' and 'brutal'.

Police received a report shortly after midnight that a man, aged in his 20s, had been found with his hands nailed to a fence, with one nail through each hand.

The man also had injuries to his nose.

A man in his 20s has been found with his hands nailed to the fence in a 'sinister attack in Northern Ireland

Police who attended the incident said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire

Two vans parked in a public car park near Dundarave Park, Northern Ireland, were set on fire

The incident happened in the public car park near Dundarave Park (pictured) in County Antrim

He was taken to hospital, where his condition on Sunday morning was described as not life threatening.

Police who attended the incident said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire. One of the vehicles belonged to the man who had been assaulted.

Firefighters attended to extinguish the fires and both vans sustained extensive damage.

Officers said graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of a public toilets building was being linked to the assault and arson.

In a statement, the PSNI said: 'This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries.

'Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

'We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

'This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers.'
The mother of a Thai woman knifed to death at a luxury 4 million mansion near Hyde Park has spoken out for the first time and revealed that her daughter met her alleged killer through Airbnb.

Kamonnan Thiamphanit, 27, who was also known as Angela, was found dead by police at the stylish six-bedroom property on 8 April after neighbours heard ear piercing screams.

This week, her mother Fiona Fu was in London for her funeral and also met with police to receive an update on the manhunt for the killer.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Ms Fu, 63 said: 'Angela was my only child, and we were very close. Her killing has crushed me, I'm totally devastated. She was very ambitious, all she ever wanted to do was take care of me and eventually own her own hotel.

'She invested a lot of time and money into this property and wanted to get a good financial return from it by renting it out on Airbnb and become a successful businesswoman. But tragically, she now won't be able to fulfil her dream.'

Kamonnan Thiamphanit, 27, who was also known as Angela, was found dead by police at a luxury 4 million mansion near Hyde Park on after neighbours heard ear piercing screams

Her mother Fiona Fu, pictured with Angela's boyfriend Chris Zeng who said she told him a man was interested in renting the entire home for a month and was prepared to pay 30,000

Ms Fu, who lives in Hong Kong, revealed that Angela was a dual Thai and Chinese-Hong Kong national who had been in London for the past ten years. She did not own the Hyde Park property but was renting it herself on a two-year lease and had been living in it since January.

Angela was born in the Thai city of Ratchaburi but then moved to Hong Kong aged one with her mother after her parents' marriage ended. She attended boarding school in Wales and then studied at the University of the Arts London.

She was working at an IT company before deciding to set up a small property management business, taking over the Hyde Park home.

After redecorating it, she advertised the home on Airbnb, charging 600 per night for a room because of its prime location and proximity to some of the capital's most famous tourist spots.

Angela was sharing the home with her boyfriend Chris Zeng, 27 and they were staying in the basement to ensure privacy for any renters.

He revealed that after leaving for Singapore, just days before Angela's body was discovered, she called him to tell him that a man had contacted her via Airbnb and was interested in renting the entire home for a month and was prepared to pay 30,000.

Mr Zeng, who accompanied Angela's mother to London for her funeral and meeting with police said: 'Angela told me that this man was coming to see the property on Friday 5 April. She did not tell me his name, nationality or any other details about him.

Angela was working at an IT company before deciding to set up a small property management business, taking over the Hyde Park home

Her mother was in London this week for her funeral and also met with police to receive an update on the manhunt for the killer (Pictured: Flowers left in memory of Angela)

An inquest heard that Angela died from multiple stab injuries at some point after 6 April at 6.15am

Police pictured at the scene on April 9, after Angela's body was found inside the property the day before

Police officers at the scene after forcing entry to the house near Hyde Park at around 8.30am on April 8

'All she said was that he seemed to be very rich, had flown to London on a private jet and had a child. That was it.'

Angela called Mr Zeng after the meeting and informed him that the mystery man was 'very happy' with the house and had also expressed an interest in renting it for up to three months, meaning she stood to make 90,000.

But she also informed Mr Zeng that she and the man had agreed to bypass Airbnb and not make the payment through the company, which charges hosts a three to five per cent commission depending on the amount of rent.

The man also insisted that he wanted to move in that very same day and said that he was concerned that Airbnb might not approve the booking because of its strict 'potential party risk' policy which aims to prevent properties being used for parties.

Mr Zeng said: 'Both Angela and the man discussed this. Quite often, if venues like whole houses are booked at the last minute, Airbnb does not approve them. This had happened to Angela before, and she lost a lot of money.'

Ms Fu added: 'The man suggested that he and Angela just deal with each other directly. He said he would bank transfer her 30,000 the following day and moved in straight away. She wasn't worried about anything and there was nothing about this man that made her suspicious.'

During their meeting with police in London, officers investigating the case confirmed to Ms Fu and Mr Zeng that this man is their main suspect and that they know his name and whereabouts but did not share this with them.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'Officers have asked the Crown Prosecution Service whether we have sufficient evidence to extradite that person from outside the UK.

'Officers will not be confirming this person's identify, or where it is thought they might be at this time.'

After the man moved into the property, Angela called Mr Zeng and told him that she had decided not to remain there and was planning to stay in a hotel and then find somewhere more permanent to live. She then attended a party in central London with friends of theirs.

Mr Zeng said: 'Angela didn't want to stay at the property because she didn't think it was safe or wise as a man she didn't know much about was now living there. She was having a good time with our friends at this party and then I received some messages from them saying she had become very concerned and left in a hurry.

This map shows the street where Angela was staying. It is located just off Bayswater Road, which is opposite Hyde Park in London

The 'chilling' messages that Angela's boyfriend sent in the hours after she went missing. He believes they are from the man that killed her

'Angela indicated that she had to rush home. We believe that it was this man who messaged her and that he was trying to lure her back to the property.'

Timeline of Kamonnan Thiamphanit's death: Friday, April 5 Mystery man gets in touch with Thiamphanit and makes a 30,000 offer to stay at her AirBnB in Bayswater for one month. He requests to visit the property before paying and arrives that night after flying 'directly in his private plane' Thiamphanit leaves the property to go to a house party in East London, while the man unpacks. Saturday, April 6 4am - Thiamphanit receives an 'urgent text message' and books an Uber home. 6.15am - Police believe Thiamphanit was stabbed 'at some point after' this time. 4pm - Thiamphanit's boyfriend Chris Zang messages her, asking if she is 'in any danger'. Sunday, April 7 1am - Zang sends a string of messages to her AirBnB account. Zang receives a reply from who he believes to be the killer, telling him 'everything is fine'. 7.05pm - The Met is contacted by one of Thiamphanit's friends reporting her missing. 9.34pm - The Met receives another call from a friend about Thiamphanit's disappearance. Monday, April 8 8.30am - Police force open the door at the property on the edge of Hyde Park and discover Thiamphanit's body. Advertisement

Ms Fu added: 'That was the kind of person she was. She was a wonderful host, the guests loved her and if there was any problem, she'd do all she could for them. We believe she went to the house to help this man and find out what was going on because she would never have left like this otherwise.'

Mr Zeng, who was in Singapore, which is seven hours ahead of London said that he then messaged Angela asking why she was leaving the party and where she was going.

She only replied that her battery was low and that she was tired. That was the last communication they had.

He said: 'I continued to message and call her for several hours because I was worried and wanted to know what was going on. But I wasn't getting any replies which was very strange because even though I was very far away, we spoke and messaged all the time.'

He then received a message from Angela's phone late on Saturday morning which stated: 'Sorry for delay.'

Mr Zeng revealed that he immediately knew that something was seriously wrong.

He said: 'We never communicated in English, only Chinese. As soon as I saw that message, I knew that it wasn't Angela and that something had happened to her.'

Concerned for her safety, Mr Zeng contacted friends in London asking them to visit the Hyde Park property to check on Angela. They arrived on the evening of Sunday 7 April and after failing to get a response, alerted police.

Officers eventually entered the property the following morning, where they discovered Angela's body. She was identified by fingerprints through immigration records.

Mr Zeng immediately received a phone call from officers informing him of her death while Ms Fu was notified by authorities in Hong Kong.

An inquest heard that Angela died from multiple stab injuries at some point after 6 April at 6.15am.

Mr Zeng said: 'My world fell apart the moment I got this call. Angela and I were really in love and had even discussed getting married. I don't know how I'm going to recover from this. But now all we want is for the police to catch this man and justice for her.'

He and Ms Fu have raised concerns over the identify verification checks carried out by Airbnb.

Mr Zeng said: 'Angela was an innocent, single woman who was killed in cold blood and this man is still free. Airbnb need to examine how effective their identify checks are because who knows, he might do something like this in another country using the same method? While he is still at large, women are in danger, and we don't want anyone else to suffer like we are.'

Forensic officers gather evidence at the scene where Ms Thiamphanit was knifed to death

The company states that 'at a minimum' the only details required for those making a booking are full name; email address; confirmed phone number and payment information.

It adds depending on the type of booking further verification checks may be carried out which could include providing photo ID or even a selfie.

In a statement to MailOnline, Airbnb said: 'We were saddened to learn of this shocking incident and while it did not take place during an Airbnb reservation, we are supporting the police with their investigation.'

Angela's family have also expressed criticism of police claims that this was not a 'stranger attack' and insisted that they should have acted quicker.

Ms Fu said: 'Her friends rang police on Sunday and told them the full details of why they were concerned. All they were given was a crime reference number. It was obvious that something was seriously wrong. But they didn't do anything until the following day.

'We are also unhappy that police have suggested that Angela knew this man. They only met 24 hours before she was probably killed and apart from wanting to rent the property, there was nothing else connecting them. It's led to a lot of wild speculation about her links to him but it's all nonsense.'

The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline that it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the matter is now being investigated by the Directorate of Professional Standards.

It added: 'The DPS will now investigate whether there are any conduct matters or learning opportunities for officers or staff in relation to the decisions made and the police response prior to Angela's body being found.

'Officers will ensure Angela's family are kept informed.'

Following Angela's funeral earlier this week, her ashes have now been taken back to Thailand for a last rites ceremony.
The Rwandan government today refused to guarantee how many migrants it will take from the UK under Rishi Sunak's flagship deportation scheme.

The Prime Minister's plan to deal with asylum seekers arriving in the UK via irregular routes including the English Channel crossing is to place them on a one-way flight to Kigali.

He hopes that the five-year deal will deter other small boats attempting the journey from France and boost Tory poll numbers before the general election later this year.

Yolande Makolo, a spokeswoman for the east African state, told the BBC today that while it expected to receive 'thousands' their arrival would be staggered.

Asked by Laura Kuenssberg if Rwanda would be able to process tens of thousands of migrants as part of the deal, Ms Makolo said: 'We will be able to welcome the migrants that the UK sends over the lifetime of this partnership.

'What I cannot tell you is how many thousands we are taking in the first year or the second year. This will depend on very many factors that are being worked out right now.'

Yolande Makolo, a spokeswoman for the east African state, told the BBC today that while it expected to receive 'thousands' their arrival would be staggered.

The PM hopes that the five-year deal will deter other small boats attempting the journey from Franc e and boost Tory poll numbers before the general election later this year.

She had earlier claimed there was a 'misconception' that Rwanda was only prepared to take 200 initial migrants, telling the BBC: 'Journalists have been visiting the initial accommodation that we have secured since the beginning of the partnership. This is Hope Hostel (pictured). That particular facility is able to take up to 200 people.'

She had earlier claimed there was a 'misconception' that Rwanda was only prepared to take 200 initial migrants, telling the BBC: 'Journalists have been visiting the initial accommodation that we have secured since the beginning of the partnership. This is Hope Hostel. That particular facility is able to take up to 200 people.

'However, we have already started initial discussions with other facilities around Kigali and further afield and these will be firmed up and signed once we know how many migrants are coming and when they are coming.

'So it has never been the case that we can only take 200 initially, that has been a misconception.'

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour will not keep the Rwanda policy if it wins the next election, but this has prompted questions about what the party would do instead.

Ms Makolo urged critics of the plan not to attack Rwanda 'unjustly', and to present a solution to the migrant crisis which was 'not just deterrence and enforcement'.

'People are suffering here so we need good solutions and we need to rethink the migration crisis,' she said.

The spokeswoman later added: 'Living in Rwanda is not a punishment. It is a beautiful country, including the weather.'

Labour's national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden said if the party was in power it would spend the cash set aside for the Rwanda scheme on 'a proper operation to crack down on the criminal gangs'.

Labour's national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden said if the party was in power it would spend the cash set aside for the Rwanda scheme on 'a proper operation to crack down on the criminal gangs'.

A PA news agency fact check found payments to the Rwandan government as part of the deal would add up to 490 million by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, should a milestone of 300 migrants sent to Rwanda be reached.

PA found Labour's claim that the scheme would cost 2 million per migrant to be mostly true, with the price tag decreasing substantially if many more were deported to Rwanda.

Mr McFadden said Labour believed the Government 'will get flights off' but did not believe the scheme would provide 'value for money for the taxpayer'.

He also said he doubted Labour would work to return migrants to the UK from Rwanda should they form the next government.
A Tiny Texas town has been torn in two by a rift over rival beer festivals.

Tensions among locals in Muenster, a rural community settled by German immigrants, have been brewing over the competing events which happened over three days in April.

The dispute began over differing opinions about how to distribute the proceeds from beer sales at the town's biggest event of the year - Germanfest - and the influx of tourists to the formerly community-focused event.

For the first time in decades, a rival event sporting beer, sausages, music, and lederhosen-clad natives sprang up on the other side of Division Street during the same weekend.

'It put tears in my eyes,' local resident William Fisher, 83, told the New York Times. 'All of a sudden it seems like the town went haywire.'

Tensions among locals in Muenster, a rural community settled by German immigrants, have been brewing over the competing events which happened over three days in April. (Pictured: revelers wearing lederhosen at Germanfest, the original festival)

For the first time in decades, a rival event sporting beer, sausages, and music sprang up on the other side of Division Street during the same weekend. (Pictured: the new event)

The dispute began over differing opinions about how to distribute the proceeds from beer sales at the town's biggest event of the year: Germanfest, and the influx of tourists to the formerly community-focused event

Many of the people who opted for the new festival - Party In The Park - said the original celebration had been overrun by tourists.

Germanfest now attracts around 20,000 visitors each year, something locals have said has put a dampener on its authenticity.

It all began in 2018 when the festival moved to a new, spacious indoor space at the edge of town which allowed more stalls and more room for visitors.

'It became more of an outsider thing and lost that local touch,' Leslie Hess Eddleman, a dental hygienist and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader told the NYT. 'They turned it into this big show for out-of-towners, but not for us.'

But the final straw for organizers to launch the rival festival was about the beer contract as it came up for renewal.

A local volunteer organization called The Jaycees had been selling the beer for years while taking an 80 percent cut for its charitable services.

Germanfest now attracts around 20,000 visitors each year, something locals have said has put a dampener on its authenticity

Germanfest was launched in Muenster in 1976, and it became an instant success, attracting people from nearby Dallas and beyond. It offered tug-of-war games, arm wrestling and beauty contests

Locals wore traditional German clothes like dirndls (Pictured: people enjoying the festival)

But the Muenster Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates Germanfest, wanted to renegotiate to secure a more even split in return for helping decorate.

'We have 100 percent of the risk,' the president of the chamber and a county commissioner Matt Sicking told the NYT. 'If it's a rainout, we lose everything.'

'We can sit around here moaning all day, but it's not going to change anything,' he added. 'It's going to work out the way the good Lord wants it to.'

Wayne Klement, 74, a Jaycee senator, told the newspaper that no-one would budge on either side, meaning their only option was to launch 'a party of our own'.

Klement said the Jaycees had given out $165,000 in donations harvested from the festival last year, mostly to local families in need, but the cost of hosting event was becoming more expensive.

'We depend on this weekend for our club,' he said.

Several local groups including the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts joined the new event, pledging allegiance to the Jaycees.

Germanfest was launched in Muenster in 1976, and it became an instant success, attracting people from nearby Dallas and beyond. It offered tug-of-war games, arm wrestling and beauty contests.

Locals enjoyed live music at both events this year with much of the proceeds going to charitable causes

The key component - the beer - was brought in by the Jaycees in a large refrigerated trailer truck with enough space for 200 kegs and 32 taps.

Meanwhile, the original event had to find an alternative source for its beers this year.

Social media posts showed that both events appeared well-attended, with the usual stalls going strong on both sides of division street.

Muenster was founded in 1889 by German Catholic settlers Carl and Emil Flusche, and more than 90 percent of the population is German and Catholic to this day.

Many of the residents still speak German and the traditions played out at the festivals are an important symbol of their identity and culture.
Fighting has threatened to derail Gaza ceasefire talks after Hezbollah fired 'dozens' of rockets in retaliation for an Israeli strike that killed four people in Lebanon.

The Iranian-backed militia launched the salvo into Israel after the quartet, which included one child, were killed in an airstrike. It marks a further escalation in the conflict on the Jewish state's northern border.

It comes as the Israeli army said it had closed a key border crossing into southern Gaza to aid trucks after rockets were fired towards the gateway.

Meanwhile Hamas has accused Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the efforts of mediators by inventing 'constant justifications for the continuation of aggression'.

The Israeli Prime Minister said today that if a ceasefire was reached in return for Hamas giving back hostages it would be a 'terrible defeat' for his nation and vowed to not to agree to their demands.

An Israeli soldier stands close to firefighters working to put out a fire caused by a rocket fired into Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, from Lebanon on Sunday

A civilian watches as firefighters dampen the flames in Kiryat Shmona, Israeli, after Hezbollah launched a rocket aross the Lebanese border

A white car which has the Israeli flag on its bonnet sits damaged after being hit by rockets in Kiryat Shmona

Smoke rises into the air in Kiryat Shmona after the latest salvo of rockets is fired by Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah on Sunday

The fresh outbreak of violence on Sunday comes as the conflict stemming from Hamas's terrorist atrocities which killed more than 1,400 Israelis on October 7, last year, shows no sign of coming to an end.

In the north 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 state-run National News Agency said an Israeli airstrike in Mais al-Jabal killed 'four people from a single family'.

It identified them as a man, a woman and their children aged 12 and 21, and said two other people were wounded.

A Lebanese security source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the strike killed 'four civilians'.

Mais al-Jabal municipality chief Abdelmoneim Shukair had earlier told AFP that three people were killed, saying they were a couple and their son.

Hezbollah in a statement said it fired 'dozens of Katyusha and Falaq rockets' at Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel 'in response to the horrific crime that the Israeli enemy committed in Mais al-Jabal'.

The Lebanese movement has repeatedly declared that only a ceasefire in Gaza will put an end to its attacks on Israel, which it says are in support of Gazans and its ally Hamas.

Both the United States and France have made diplomatic efforts to calm tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Air conditioning units and the walls of a building in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, are damaged after being hit by a Lebanese rocket

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a press conference in Tel Aviv on October 28, has said a ceasefire in exchange for hostage releases would be a 'terrible defeat' for Israel

An Israeli tank is pictured moving near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Thursday, May 2

In Lebanon, at least 390 people have been killed in nearly seven months of cross-border violence, mostly militants but also more than 70 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.

Meanwhile, Israel's army said Sunday that it had closed Kerem Shalom, the key border crossing into southern Gaza, to aid trucks after rockets were fired towards the gateway.

'Approximately 10 projectile launches were identified crossing from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom,' the army said in a statement.

It added that the 'Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks'.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday accused Netanyahu of sabotaging efforts by mediators involved in ongoing talks aimed at a truce and hostage exchange in Gaza.

Qatar-based Haniyeh said Netanyahu wanted to 'invent constant justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict, and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.'

However, Netanyahu said Sunday that accepting Hamas's demand to end the war in Gaza in order to reach a hostage release deal would be a 'terrible defeat' for Israel.

'Surrendering to the demands of Hamas would be a terrible defeat for the state of Israel. It will be a huge victory for Hamas, for Iran, for the entire axis of evil,' he said at a cabinet meeting.

'Therefore, Israel will not agree to Hamas's demands, which mean surrender, and will continue the fighting until all its goals are achieved.'

Smoke plumes billow into the sky following an Israeli bombardment in the central Gaza strip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured) has called the peace deal 'a no-brainer' for Hamas

There was some optimism that a deal could be reached.

READ MORE Peace talks underway between Israel and Hamas in Cairo to secure release of hostages still trapped in Gaza after nearly seven months of fighting Advertisement

'Things look better this time, but whether an agreement is on hand would depend on whether Israel has offered what it takes for that to happen,' a Palestinian official told Reuters.

Israel has given a preliminary nod to terms which one source said included the return of between 20 and 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a weeks-long suspension of fighting.

That would leave around 100 hostages in Gaza, some of whom have died in captivity, according to Israel.

The source told Reuters their return may require an additional deal with broader Israeli concessions.

'That could entail a de facto, if not formal, end to the war  unless Israel somehow recovers them through force or generates enough military pressure to make Hamas relent,' the source said.

Egyptian sources said CIA director William Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday.

He has been involved in previous truce talks, and Washington has signalled there may be progress this time, with Mr Blinken saying 'taking the ceasefire should be a no-brainer' for Hamas.
Neighbors said the squatters have been there since Christmas Day

Georgia police have arrested six squatters who took residence in a half a million dollar home after they stole a neighbor's car.

South Fulton cops busted the squatters at 4300 Caveat Court and recovered the stolen vehicle on Saturday - after they had been illegally lodging in the home for five months.

Video shows cops putting the intruders in handcuffs and sitting them on the sidewalk out side of the home.

Mel Keyton, president of Hampton Oaks Homeowners Association, told Atlanta News First the neighbor whose car was stolen was out of town.

'Squatters stole her car and they brought it back over here to drive it in the driveway,' said Keyton.

South Fulton police busted the squatters at 4300 Caveat Court after they stole a neighbor's car

Video shows cops putting the intruders in handcuffs and sitting them on the sidewalk out side of the home

Neighbors said the squatters have been living in the home since Christmas Day

According to police the home at 4300 Caveat Court, which has a Zillow estimated worth of $518,400, is supposed to be vacant.

Hampton Oaks Homeowners Association Vice President Kendra Snorton told FOX 5 Atlanta the squatters moved into the vacant house on Christmas Day.

'The ringleader, we see him walking his dog all the time. He's very courteous and polite when he interacts with the community,' Snorton said.

The squatters had been living in the community for months but were finally arrested after they stole the car.

'When the police showed up, the car was behind us in the yard. That's how we put two and two together,' Keyton said.

'We don't know who these people are and what they are doing.'

The South Fulton Police Department told DailyMail.com the stolen vehicle was returned to its rightful owner.

'We sincerely appreciate the vigilance of our community members, who play a vital role in our ongoing efforts to reduce crime in our city,' police said.

According to police the home at 4300 Caveat Court (pictured), which has a Zillow estimated worth of $518,400, is supposed to be vacant

Neighbors in South Fulton hope the passage of a new law will make it easier to evict squatters and it will no longer take them committing crimes like stealing vehicles to get them arrested.

'Hopefully, it won't get this bad. Hopefully, we won't have to use this amount of police,' Keyton said.

Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 1017, known as the Georgia Squatter Reform Act, into law last month. The bill establishes the offense of unlawful squatting, defining it as 'entering and residing on the land or premises of the owner without consent'.

Offenders will be required to provide authorization of consent within three days, and failure to do so will result in an arrest for criminal trespassing.

If documentation is provided, the accused squatter must attend a magistrate court hearing within seven days to prove that the documents are legitimate.

The new law, which goes into effect in July, makes squatting a misdemeanor offense. Intruders could face a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail, or both.

False swearing and the submission of improper or fraudulent documentation, meanwhile, count as more serious felony charges.

Those who submit fake documents will be subject to fines covering damages, back rent based on the property's fair market value and up to a year in jail.

The National Rental Home Council surveyed its members and found that about 1,200 homes in the Atlanta area have had squatters, reported Newsweek.

The survey found there were an estimated 475 homes that have had squatters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and about 125 in Orange County, Florida, which includes Orlando.

George Kalb, 48, was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and theft by conversion after squatting in a dead man's empty home

Homeowner Michael Peterson died in June 2023 after suffering a heart attack. He had no will, and the house has since gone into foreclosure

Cobb County police arrested a squatter who broke into a dead man's house and charged him with first-degree burglary and theft by conversion on April 26.

George Kalb, 48, was arrested after neighbors on Goldenwood Court, a quiet cul-de-sac in Powder Springs, were alarmed when they saw a U-Haul truck pull into the driveway of the vacant house two weeks prior.

Homeowner Michael Peterson died in June 2023 after suffering a heart attack. He had no will, and the house has since gone into foreclosure.

Neighbors were startled when they saw Kalb arrive in a moving truck on April 16.

Over the course of the next 10 days, he changed the locks, had guests over and tidied up the yard.
Scott Morrison has opened up on the 'bitter, malicious and untrue' campaign that took a heavy toll on his mental health while he was prime minister.

The former PM said that the major issues of the day, such as the pandemic, China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific, a tough economic climate or the massive public backlash in the wake of the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, did not trouble him in the same way as the personal attacks on his character.

It all started after winning the 2019 federal election after he declared at the time that he 'believed in miracles.'

Until recently, very few people knew of the private internal hell he was going through, apart from his wife Jenny and some close friends.

'There was a relentless, personal, bitter, malicious, untrue campaign that was being waged against my character from the day I won the 2019 election,' Mr Morrison told Seven News Spotlight.

Scott Morrison said that the major issues of the day, did not trouble him in the same way as personal attacks on his character (pictured: touring a destroyed property in Sarsfield, Victoria during the Black Summer bushfires)

READ MORE: Spring in his step! Scott Morrison leans into life as a home cook as he pops down to IGA in his thongs to pick up some green onions after quitting politics - but his life is about to get a LOT busier Man about town: Scott Morrison (pictured) wore a tight-fitting blue Ralph Lauren t-shirt and baggy grey shorts on quick dash to the supermarket on Wednesday evening Advertisement

'I got the very clear sense that after winning that election, the one I wasn't supposed to have won, the one that seemed to offend quite a lot of sensibilities around the place and from that day on, until the next, it was on.

'No one around me had any idea that this was going on.

Mr Morrison, 55, told Channel Seven's political editor Mark Riley that the personal attacks had such an impact that his doctor eventually prescribed anti-anxiety medication.

'It was preventative- it really helped and that was good, so I'd encourage people in those situations, particularly blokes - that's not weak, it's smart,' Mr Morrison said.

'Don't struggle with it on your own. It's there. Reach out.'

Mr Morrison also opened up on why he called out 'bullying' China over the coronavirus pandemic.

He insists it was all worth it, despite costing Australia a whopping $22b through trade bans.

'It was consistent with a whole range things we'd done in standing up to China,' he said.

'During the during the (Barack) Obama years (as US president) - it's not necessarily a criticism of the Obama administration but China surged ahead into the South China Sea.

'No one did anything.

'They will go as far as far as you let them go.

'Unless you says 'Stop', they will keep coming.

'We stood up to them. They backed down.

'They sought a different relationship with the new government. Good!'

Scott Morrison invited Channel Seven into his home to give a wide-ranging interview

Mr Morrison urged the Anthony Albanese government to be wary of China.

'By all means, go and make what money you can in China,' he said.

'But understand that they can turn it off.

'They can threaten to turn it off and they can threaten your government to change its policies on things by threatening to turn it off.'

The devout Christian also spoke of the important role his faith and God has in his life and previous role as Australia's role.

But he doesn't believe that God chose him to become prime minister.

'I see that God is with me every day,' Mr Morrison said.

When asked what God's plan for him now, Mr Morrison replied: 'To love me.

'That's the best way I can answer it.'

He said most of his time in The Lodge was 'debilitating and agonising', and that without anxiety medication he would have spiralled into a deep depression (pictured with his wife, Jenny)

Mr Morrison added that he in some way feels vindicated after Federal Court Michael Lee ruled in the recent Bruce Lehrmann defamation case that there was no cover-up by the former Morrison government in the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins.

He feels for Senator Linda Reynolds and her former chief of staff Fiona Brown, who both 'suffered terribly'.

'I would go and see Linda and I was for I was very concerned for her welfare- extremely concerned,' he said.

'I feel disappointed that Linda, Fiona and I were trying to deal with the issue in absolute good faith.'

He also conceded that the issue that dominated headline in the 15 months leading up to the 2022 federal election cost him the election.

He added that life is treating him well his his recent departure from federal politics, sparking a by-election in his seat of Cook in Sydney's south.

'The Shire has been good to me,' he quipped.

Mr Morrison first revealed his secret mental health battle in his new book Plans for Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness.

He said most of his time in The Lodge was 'debilitating and agonising', and that without anxiety medication he would have spiralled into a deep depression.

'My doctor was amazed I had lasted as long as I had before seeking help,' Mr Morrison wrote in his book.

'Without this help, serious depression would have manifested. What impacted me was the combination of pure physical exhaustion with the unrelenting and callous brutality of politics and media attacks.'

Mr Morrison said that while that was all part of the job as a public figure, 'politicians were not made of stone'.

'You dread the future and you can't get out of bed. It can shut you down mentally and physically. It robs you of your joy and can damage relationships. I know this from personal experience,' he wrote.

However, Morrison insisted his mental health troubles did not impact his performance in the job.

Morrison first revealed his secret mental health battle in his new book Plans for Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness

Mr Morrison was Australia's 30th prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before he lost to Anthony Albanese at the 2022 election.

He was replaced by Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy as the federal MP for Cook in Sydney's south at the recent by-election.

Mr Morrison retired from politics in February this year and went on to become the strategic adviser to DYNE Maritime, an Australian-founded, US-based venture capital company that invests in technologies related to the AUKUS pact.

He is also the vice chair of American Global Strategies, which was co-founded and chaired by Robert O'Brien who was National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump from 2019  2021.
The non-profit helps save young girls in Colombia who are being sex trafficked

A Wyoming man has made it his life's mission to help rescue girls in Colombia who have fallen victim to sex trafficking.

Tyler Schwab was first introduced to sex trafficking while on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic.

He started to notice a lot of young girls with older men but didn't think much of it until he took a human trafficking seminar at Utah State University.

'It was an injustice I couldn't ignore,' Schwab told Cowboy State Daily.

In 2014 he started the non-profit Libertas International, which has gone on to save more than 120 girls from tourist pedophiles in Colombia - as well as thousands across his various projects.

In 2014 Tyler Schwab launched the non-profit Libertas International, which has gone on to save more than 120 girls from tourist pedophiles in Colombia

'There were kids, especially young girls reporting that they had been abused by American tourists,' Schwab said. (pictured: him hugging a young girl that he helped save)

'Colombia is a very beautiful country for tourists, but over the span of time, we've had an influx of sex tourism, especially after the pandemic,' Schwab said.

'There were kids, especially young girls reporting that they had been abused by American tourists.'

Maj. Johan Aldana from the Colombian National Police, told Cowboy State Daily that sex tourism has been on the rise in cities like Medellin, Cali, Cartagena and the county's capital, Bogota.

In 2023, there were 1,259 possible sexual exploitation cases of minors in Bogota, Colombia, 60 percent higher than the previous year, the Associated Press reported.

Around 1.4million tourists visited the country last year as crime and violence has dropped down following the leadership of the notorious Pablo Escobar.

Many of those tourists were Americans, and though Escobar has been dead for more than three decades, the prostitution culture that he normalized has lingered in the country.

In January, a 19-month-old girl was rescued by Schwab and his team after former NYPD officer, Agmad Beharry, 46, sexually exploited her.

The little girl is the youngest survivor that the non-profit has saved.

'We are committed to supporting this survivor as she grows, learns to speak, etc,' Libertas International said in a Facebook post.

Beharry was also charged, along with his accomplice, Gisainet Cristina Chirinos Viloria, with sexually exploiting photographs of a nine-year-old girl, the US Attorney's Office said.

Following his arrest, Beharry, who was assigned to the NYPD's terrorism unit, was suspended without pay and was charged in the US attorneys office in Manhattan with one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography.

On April 3, Federico Gutierrez, the Mayor of Medellin, implemented a temporary prostitution ban after an American man was found with two Colombian teens, ages 12 and 13.

The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has also been involved in trying to decrease prostitution in the country.

In January, a 19-month-old girl was rescued by Schwab and his team after former NYPD officer, Agmad Beharry, 46, sexually exploited her

Following his arrest, Beharry, who was assigned to the NYPD's terrorism unit, was suspended without pay and was charged in the US attorneys office in Manhattan with one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography

Last year, Operation Archangel was launched, as Liberates International, Colombian law enforcement and the US Department of Homeland Security worked together to bring down more American sex tourists. (pictured: Schwab with another young survivor)

One girl, who goes by the name Milagros, was recently caught up in a sex trafficking string, and through the help of Schwab and his non-profit, she was able to get the help she needed.

A police officer gave her Schwab's information on a written note after she and three other women were violently abused by an American man.

With his support, Milagros testified at her abuser's trial in US Federal court in May 2023.

She is now in school studying to be a social worker and runs a small business from home. She dreams of working for the non-profit one day.

Michael Roberts, 41, a Texas teacher who worked at an all-girls school, was then charged with illicit sexual abuse of minors and was sentenced to seven years in US federal prison.

Last year, Operation Archangel was launched, as Liberates International, Colombian law enforcement and the US Department of Homeland Security worked together to bring down more American sex tourists.

Since the operation started, more than a dozen men have been arrested and there are 30 open cases still pending.

Just last week, a pharmacist from Miami was arrested at an airport as he tried to board a flight to Bogota to have sex with minors, aged 10 and 12.

In exchange for $300,000 in Colombian pesos, around $77 American dollars, the man abused children and promised them iPhones if they 'didn't cry.'

Another predator, MMA fighter Jaymes Schulte, was also caught and indicted in November on suspicion of sex trafficking and distributing illegal videos that involved victims as young as 13.

To make matters worse, a lot of the girls are being exploited by family members in exchange for money, Aldana said.

'From a professional standpoint, Ive worked organized crime and drugs, but sexual exploitation is such a different animal because they're real people,' he said.

'They're girls that have had these horrific lives and they're blameless victims who are being exploited.'

Schwab said that once a girl is rescued, they receive ongoing help and care from Libertas International

He and Schwab both agreed that a lot of the offenders are white-collar professionals with no criminal records.

'They come out here with their money and their white skin and believe that they can find the most vulnerable girls in the country and use them as sexual object,' Aldana said.

Schwab referred to the tourists as 'hidden monsters.'

'Many of these people are professional law enforcement, teachers, taxi drivers, pharmacists, ex-military, bankers, etc. They have no criminal background here in the U.S., but when they travel, they turn into the worst kind of monsters who inflict true horror on vulnerable kids around the world,' Schwab said.

Despite the alarming amount of sex trafficking, both Schwab and Aldana are confident that their work will continue to make a difference.

'We will find you. Its only a matter of time, and now, we have strategic partners in place,' Aldana said.

In addition to them, Libertas International has a large team of people who help rescue helpless girls, including a 'Survivor Board.'

Schwab said that once a girl is rescued, they receive ongoing help and care from Libertas International.

He was recently awarded the prestigious 'Shield of DIPRO,' the highest honor an American can receive, by the Colombian government for his tremendous work.
Rochdale MP George Galloway hung up on an interviewer today as he was being questioned about his views on homosexuality after remarks in which he suggested gay couples were 'not normal'.

The Workers Party of Britain leader abruptly ended a call with LBC, accusing the radio station of 'ambushing him' when it asked about remarks he made after last week's local elections.

In an interview with Novara Media, to be broadcast in full this weekend, he said he didn't want children to be taught 'that gay relationships are exactly the same and as normal as a mum, a dad and kids'.

He has faced allegations that his comments amounted to homophobia, which he denies. But quizzed about his comments by Lewis Goodall today, he flounced out of the interview.

'This is a clip of a clip. It is an edited clip of an edited clip,' Mr Galloway said, as he suggested a wider point he had made about gender identity had been lost.

He also claimed that the radio station was 'ambushing' him, adding: 'I have got a simple answer. Listen to the whole thing tonight.'

Mr Galloway then stated he was going to hang up the phone, telling LBC: 'More fool me thinking that your request that I come on and talk about the elections was genuine.'

The Workers Party of Britain leader abruptly ended a call with LBC, accusing the radio station of 'ambushing him' when it asked about remarks he made after last week's local elections.

In an interview with Novara Media, to be broadcast in full this weekend, he said he didn't want children to be taught 'that gay relationships are exactly the same and as normal as a mum, a dad and kids'. But quizzed about his comments by Lewis Goodall today, he flounced out of the interview.

Speaking to Novara last week, Mr Galloway, 69, who has six children from four marriages, said: 'I want my children to be taught that the normal thing in Britain, in society across the world, is a mother, a father and a family.

'I want them to be taught that there are gay people in the world and that they must be treated with respect and affection as I treat my own gay friends and colleagues with respect and affection but I don't want my children to be taught that these things are equal because I don't believe them to be equal.'

As a clip of the interview was shared on social media he later doubled down on his remarks, tweeting that without 'hetero-normative relationships.... there would be societal collapse.'

Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant tweeted: 'A while ago I was heavily criticised for saying that I feel more fearful as a gay man than in years gone by. Gay bashing and prejudice has never stopped but my sense of deep unease has increased significantly recently with moments like this.'

Mr Galloway leads the Workers Party of Britain and became the MP for Rochdale in February, gaining almost 40 per cent of the vote in a contest mired in chaos and controversy and dominated by the Gaza conflict.

He has previously represented seats in Glasgow, east London and Bradford in the Commons, for Labour and later the Respect Party.
Dozens of racers have hauled huge blocks of cheese over their shoulders as they ran up a hill made famous by an iconic 1973 advert for Hovis.

They were cheered on while scrambling up Gold Hill, a steep cobbled street in Shaftesbury in Dorset - immortalised by the ad directed by future Oscar nominee and knight Sir Ridley Scott.

Each cheese block being lugged was 14in in diameter, weighed 55lb and needed 500 pints of milk to make.

Crowds braved the rain as they huddled under umbrellas while encouraging the runners along the 72m-long route.

The record time for completing the course stands at 15 seconds, in the event which forms part of the Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival.

Competitors fought to the finish at Gold Hill in Dorset as they lugged heavy blocks of cheese over the finishing line at the site made famous by a 1973 advert for Hovis bread

Crowds of onlookers cheered on the competitors at Gold Hill in Shaftesbury today

Spectators braved the rain as the lined the steep cobbled street immortalised in the Seventies advert directed by future film-maker Ridley Scott

The race was the brainchild of cheesemonger Charlie Turnbull, who was inspired by local lore about medieval brewers, butchers, cheesemakers and millers.

They reputedly raced to be first to the Shaftesbury Abbey gates so their goods would be chosen by the Abbess for her High Table and then fetch the highest price.

The Hovis commercial, voted Britain's all-time favourite TV advert in 2006, featured a young bakery boy struggling to push his bike with a basket full of bread to the last house on his round.

The ad, soundtracked by a brass band version of Dvorak's New World Symphony, was also chosen as the most iconic in 2019 - beating Cadbury's 2017 promo featuring a someone in a gorilla costume drumming along to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins.

The Hovis clip was meant to depict a northern industrial town but was actually shot in the quaint southern market town of Shaftesbury.

The location is still known to many as 'Hovis Hill' and is a popular tourist attraction.

The old cottages and cobbled street on the beloved hill are framed by the Melbury Downs in the background - and just yards away is Benedictine nunnery Shaftesbury Abbey, founded in AD888.

The setting was also used in the 1967 film version of Thomas Hardy's classic Far From The Madding Crowd, starring Julie Christie, Terence Stamp and Alan Bates.

Today's cheese-hauling race up the hill was part of the Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival

Each cheese block was 14in in diameter, weighed 55lb and needed 500 pints of milk to make

The race was the idea of cheesemonger Charlie Turnbull, who was inspired by local lore about medieval brewers, butchers, cheesemakers and millers

Two years ago, though, visitors hoping to enjoy the view there were disappointed as the countryside scenery was allegedly 'ruined' by scaffolding on a nearby house.

Sheeting was being used to cover a cottage which had been sold at auction in November 2021 for 165,000 - 15,000 over the guide price.

Instagram shots from the top of the street showed how people were opting to cut off half the view to avoid getting the building works in shot.

The majority of properties along the street are listed, including this Grade II one.

Since then, the child actor from the iconic Hovis 'Boy on the Bike' advert has returned 50 years later to recreate the scene as a grandfather.

Carl Barlow was 13 in 1973 where he was filmed struggling to push his bike up the hill - and went back as a 64-year-old last October.

He had previously returned to the cobbled hill in 2017, 44 years after the original advert, to finally conquer the steep pavement by riding an electric bike up it.

But last October he rode a retro bike, alongside 11-year-old Alex Freeman who used a more up-to-date set of wheels as a modern-day apprentice.

Onlookers huddled under umbrellas amid May Bank Holiday downpours over Gold Hill

The 1973 Hovis advert was shot in the pretty cobbled Dorset street, and launched the career of legendary film-maker Sir Ridley Scott

In the original advert, a narrator is heard saying: 'Last up on round was Old Ma Peggotty's house, it was like taking bread to the top of the world. It was a grand ride back though.'

Father-of-four Mr Barlow, who went on to be a firefighter in London for 31 years before retiring and moving to Leicester, said last October: 'This advert has been such a huge part of my life and I am delighted to come back to Gold Hill to recreate the iconic scene.

'While it's harder to make it to the top of the hill today, the ride back down is still just as great.'

He previously remembered: 'Looking back, it was an awesome experience. I was 13 at the time and attending stage school when I was asked to audition for the part.

'Three boys were auditioned - one couldn't ride a bike, one wasn't prepared to cut his hair and I was happy to do both. I seem to remember it was cold, but I soon warmed up.

'Ridley Scott used to let me look into the camera to explain what shot he wanted and how he wanted to do it.

'After the advert I had some teasing at school due to the pudding basin-type haircut, but it was mostly in good fun.

'Whenever I see the advert I find it quite fascinating to see my younger self, and it feels somewhat surreal.

Carl Barlow, who starred in the 1973 ad, went back again last October - this time on a retro cycle alongside Alex Freeman, 11, who was riding a modern-day bike

The advert was remastered at the British Film Institute, where a slide is seen with colour being re-added

Ridley Scott, who directed the original advert, appeared in a promotional film for the 2019 remastered version

'At the time I thought it was just an acting job and I had no idea it would grow to become the top advert in Britain, but it has got that nostalgic look that people like.

'If anyone has been here they know how steep this hill is. When we first tried to film the advert they put me on a bike but it was impossible.'

Also last October a run-down Grade II-listed derelict cottage on the hill went on the market for 535,000 after being restored to its former glory in a major renovation.

In 2019 the original Hovis ad was digitally remastered in conjunction with the British Film Institute national archive in hope of introducing it to a new generation.
Sen. Mark Kelly warned against rhetoric used by his Republican competitor Kari lake after she told voters to 'strap on a Glock' to prepare for the 2024 election.

The Arizona Democrat called his competitor's rhetoric 'dangerous' and said Lake's words 'could result in people getting hurt or killed.'

Kelly is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt at a campaign event in 2011 but was shot in the head and has been left with life-long injuries.

He told NBC News Meet the Press host Kristen Welker in a Sunday morning interview that words can 'absolutely' translate to violence.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) said Kari Lake's rhetoric is 'dangerous' and could 'get people hurt or killed'

WATCH: @SenMarkKelly (D-Ariz.) says Kari Lakes rhetoric could get people hurt or killed after she told supporters to strap on a Glock to prepare for the election.



I dont expect her ever to be elected  but when youre a candidate  you need to be careful w/ your words. pic.twitter.com/7M6ADPh3aY  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) May 5, 2024

Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake told a crowd at a campaign event in April to 'strap on a Glock' as the 2024 election season intensifies

'Kari Lake's never been elected to anything,' Kelly said. 'I don't expect her ever to be elected to anything but when you're a candidate for the United States Senate you need to be careful with your words.'

Lake, who is running for Arizona Senate for outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's seat, told a crowd to 'strap on a Glock' while speaking last month at a Republican dinner in Mohave County with law enforcement and veterans.

She told the audience it is going to be a 'crazy run' the next six months up to the November elections.

'They're going to come after us with everything. That's why the next six months is going to be intense,' Lake said.

She added: 'What do we want to strap on? We're going to strap on our seatbelt. We're going to put on our helmet or your Kari Lake ball cap. We're going to put on the armor of God.'

'Then maybe strap on a Glock on the side just in case. You can put one here and one in the back or one in the front, whatever you guys decide,' she said, gesturing to her hip.

Sen. Kelly's wife former Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head during a campaign event in 2011. Giffords (pictured) survived the assassination attempt but suffers lifelong injuries from the shooting

Lake's remarks come as there has been a heightened tensions as the 2024 election season heats up and growing concerns over political rhetoric leading to violence.

'We're not going to be the victims of crime . We're not going to have our second amendment taken away. We're certainly not going to have our first amendment taken away by these tyrants,' she added.

Kelly's future colleague representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate is likely to either be Lake or Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).

Arizona is one of the biggest battleground states in 2024 for both the presidential election and Senate race.

President Biden beat Trump in Arizona by just over 10,000 votes in 2020. But Trump won the swing state in 2016.
California has been mercilessly mocked for boasting about completing the 'world's most pointless crossing' to nowhere at a cost of $11billion.

The California High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County last week, proudly saying it was one of the 'first completed high-speed rail structures'.

The tweet did not get the reaction officials were hoping for with Elon Musk and Dogecoin creator Billy Markus piling in to mock the project.

The Viaduct has taken nine years to build and has cost taxpayers $11 billion as part of the state's long-delayed, bullet-train plan attempting to link San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Commenting on photos showing the bridge stopping at only 1,600ft long with either end floating unconnected in the air, Markus tweeted: 'This is the most remarkable human achievement ever.'

The California High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County last week

It has taken nine years to build and has cost taxpayers $11 billion

Sharing the rail authority's tweet he added: '1600 feet of high speed rail after 9 years and 11 billion dollars it takes about 5 minutes to walk 1600 feet so a high speed rail for that is a really big deal.'

He added: 'Wow so impressive, cant wait until year 2400 for this to finish for 700 quadrillion dollars.'

Musk then chimed in, adding a crying face emoji.

The high speed railway project has been beset by delays and setbacks.

So far $11billion of taxpayer money has been sunk into the scheme which aims to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco.

The figure includes work on controversial Fresno bridge and a section which runs from Bakersfield to Merced, which is about 80 miles from the Bay Area.

It will take an estimated $100billion more to finish the project and link San Francisco to Los Angeles with many calling for the project to be scrapped.

The high speed railway project has been beset by delays and setbacks

Sharing their update on the project, the rail authority said: 'The Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County is one of the first completed high-speed rail structures.

'At nearly 1,600 feet long, high-speed trains will travel over the riverbed and will run parallel with the BNSF Railroad.'

They added photos showing the short concrete bridge spanning a road before stopping abruptly in mid-air with no connections at either end.

Venture Capitalist Patrick Blumenthal chimed in in response, saying: '0.3 miles completed. After 15 years. After $11.2 BILLION. $36.96 billion per mile.'

Others suggested that the project will take so long to complete that 'high speed rail will be completed on the moon before then.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping has landed in France for a controversial state visit in which French leader Emmanuel Macron is expected to push his counterpart to use his influence on Putin to move towards the end of the war in Ukraine.

Xi and his wife his wife Peng Liyuan, landed at Paris Orly airport on Sunday afternoon and were welcomed by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Xi is to hold a day of talks in Paris on Monday, also including EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, followed by a state banquet hosted by Macron.

Macron will then on Tuesday take Xi to an area of the Pyrenees mountains that he used to visit as a boy for a day of less public and more intimate talks.

A key priority of Macron will be to warn Xi of the danger of backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with Western officials concerned Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in arms production.

Xi's arrival for the visit, which marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between France and China, is the start of his first trip to Europe since 2019. He is also scheduled to visit Serbia and Hungary.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife his wife Peng Liyuan, landed at Paris Orly airport on Sunday afternoon. The couple are pictured waving from their plane as this disembark

Footage captured at the airport shows Xi and Peng disembarking from the plane as his huge entourage of staff carry their bags

France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (centre-left) greets China's President Xi Jinping (centre-right) and his wife Peng Liyuan upon their arrival for an official two-day state visit, at Orly airport, south of Paris on May 5, 2024

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (left) greets President Xi Jinping (right) upon his arrival for an official two-day state visit. Xi's arrival marks the start of his first trip to Europe since 2019

The Air China branded plane carrying Xi, his wife and their staff had touched down at Orly airport in Paris on Sunday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.

Members of France's Republican Guard lined up on both sides of a red carpet as the couple prepared to exit the plane.

Footage captured at the airport shows Xi and Peng disembarking from the plane as his huge entourage of staff carry their bags.

Attal greeted the couple upon their arrival for the official two-day state visit. Photographs show the politic leaders smiling as they engage in conversation.

Analysts say Xi's choice of France as the sole major European power to visit on his trip indicates the relative warmth in Sino-French relations since Macron made his own state visit to China in April 2023 and acknowledges the French leader's stature as an EU powerbroker.

But Macron last week argued that Europe must defend its 'strategic interests' in its economic relations with China, accusing Beijing of not respecting the rules on international trade.

'It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order,' said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.

'We must, therefore, work with China to build peace,' he added.

Members of France's Republican Guard lined up on both sides of a red carpet an aircraft carrying China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan taxis after Paris Orly airport

Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan (centre) are welcomed by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (left) at Orly airport, south of Paris, on Sunday

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and his wife Peng Liyuan (centre) are welcome by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (right) as they arrive at Orly airport on Sunday

Photographs show President Xi Jinping (left) and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (right) smiling as they engage in conversation at Orly airport

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal waits to greet China's President Xi Jinping and his wife, as they arrive for a two-day state visit

Beijing's ties with Moscow have, if anything, warmed after the invasion and the West wants China above all not to supply weapons to Russia and risk tipping the balance in the conflict.

But Macron acknowledged in an interview with the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper that Europeans are 'not unanimous' on the strategy to adopt as 'certain actors still see China essentially as a market of opportunities' while it 'exports massively' to Europe.

The French president had gladdened Chinese state media and troubled some EU allies after his 2023 visit by declaring that Europe should not be drawn into a standoff between China and the United States, particularly over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan.

China views the island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.

'The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must be followers and adapt ourselves to the American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction,' Macron said at the time, warning against a 'bloc versus bloc logic'.

Activists have also urged Macron to bring up human rights in the talks, accusing China of failing to respect the rights of the Uyghur Muslim minority and keeping dozens of journalists behind bars.

'President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing's crimes against humanity come with consequences for China's relations with France,' said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch.

The group said human rights in China had 'severely deteriorated' under Xi's rule.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal walks towards the aeroplane carrying China's President and his wife, as they arrive for a two-day state visit, at Orly airport, south of Paris on May 5, 2024

China's President Xi Jinping holds the hand of his wife Peng Liyuan as they disembark at Orly airport, south of Paris, on Sunday, May 5, 2024

A huge entourage of staff are pictured carrying bags, some of which are believed to belong to China's President Xi Jinping and his wife

France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal waits to greet China's President Xi Jinping and his wife

Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcomed by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at Orly airport, south of Paris, on Sunday, May 5, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) kicked off a three-country trip to Europe on Sunday. He was greeted at Orly airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (right). French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) will seek to press China's Xi Jinping to use his influence on Moscow to move towards the end of the war in Ukraine

However, analysts remain sceptical that Macron will be able to exercise much sway over the Chinese leader, despite the lavish red carpet welcome and trip to the bracing mountain airs of the Col du Tourmalet over 2,000 metres (6,560 feet) above sea level on Tuesday.

The other two countries chosen by Xi for his tour, Serbia and Hungary, are seen as among the most sympathetic to Moscow in Europe.

'The two core messages from Macron will be on Chinese support to Russia's military capabilities and Chinese market-distorting practices,' said Janka Oertel, director of the Asia programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

'However, both messages are unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour: Xi is not on a mission to repair ties, because from his point of view all is well.'
An Idaho couple was arrested after authorities discovered a toddler had easy access to drugs in their home.

The discovery and subsequent arrest came after police were called to address a report that a woman had delivered a 15-week-old fetus on her toilet.

Kaili McKenna Johnson and Christopher Roy Mitchell were later charged with combined felonies relating to the injury of a child, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and a misdemeanor related to the possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

Police reports suggest that a Bingham County Sheriff's detective was called to a home to respond to the medical emergency only to learn that Johnson had been taken to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in an ambulance.

Kaili McKenna Johnson was arrested in Idaho on a number of charges related to child endangerment and drug possession - she attempted to flee authorities from the hospital where she was being treated for giving birth prematurely to a fetus she delivered on her toilet

Christopher Roy Mitchell was also arrested for a spate of similar charges to Johnson's. After she had been taken to the hospital, he was found at the apartment filled with drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a toddler

In the home at the time of the incident was Johnson's 18-month-old son and an unidentified friend.

Authorities noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the home and in their report, noted seeing a joint on the kitchen table.

Mitchell returned to the scene and allowed officials to search the property. He also handed the detective a plastic jar containing marijuana, which he confirmed as such.

Detectives later reported finding a 'large amount of paraphernalia ... a large amount of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, pills, and suspected marijuana plants' in the apartment.

Prescription records show most of the pills were obtained sans doctor's note.

Then, after a welfare check was requested by hospital staff, detectives learned that Johnson and Mitchell had 'fled the hospital.'

At the time, Johnson was just out of surgery and reportedly still had IVs attached to her.

The county prosecutor said his office is unable to release the status of the premature fetus due to a legal limitation on what information the public is allowed to receive in a case like this one.

Police report finding 'drugs in the open throughout every single room' of the small apartment.

There was a play area for the 18-month-old in the bedroom with toys strewn about the area. In that area, detectives say loose marijuana, methamphetamines, and drug paraphernalia were 'surrounding' the designated play space.

The hospital from which Johnson attempted to flee after surgery for the early birth of a fetus she delivered over her toilet as authorities pursued her for drug charges

Detectives further detailed the use of a plastic tray from an infant's high chair as a plate on which to 'separate and prepare marijuana for consumption.'

According to a local outlet, Johnson and Mitchell were also arrested in Bonneville County in late February on charges that are separate from this case.

The charges at that time were also related to the possession and use of drugs.

Mitchell was also charged with a number of infractions for failing to register a vehicle he was driving, as well as other safety violations.

The pair were booked into the Bonneville County Jail. While they were in there, two more warrants were served from neighboring Bingham County.

The Bingham cases are not scheduled to proceed until the Bonneville ones have been resolved.

Johnson, if convicted, could be looking at life in prison, while Mitchell may be facing up to 19 years.
Migrants have pitched dozens of tents along the banks of Dublin's Grand Canal just days after hundreds were evicted from a 'shanty town' in the city.

Photos show the blue tents lined up along a stretch of the canal near the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street, where a makeshift migrant camp of more than 200 asylum seekers was dismantled on Wednesday by Irish authorities.

It comes amid an ongoing row with the British government over asylum seekers crossing the border to avoid deportation to Rwanda under Rishi Sunak's new crackdown.

Concerns have been raised of another camp springing up so quickly, with Fianna Fail TD James O'Connor claiming that Ireland is increasingly being seen as a 'soft touch' in relation to migration.

'What's happening on Grand Canal dock, and in Mount Street indeed, it's completely unacceptable to me as a government TD and I think the Government needs to be stronger in dealing with this,' he told RTE Radio One's This Week programme.

A line of tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal in Dublin

The tents are near the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street, where a makeshift migrant camp was dismantled earlier this week by Irish authorities

A man jogs alongside tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal

Two people sit outside one of the tents in Dublin along the canal

Pedestrians walk past the tents between the road and the canal in Dublin

'There's no shame in saying that, in providing appropriate accommodation, I think buying up hotels and B&Bs across the country for the purpose of providing asylum accommodation, in my view, is no longer appropriate and we're seeing the increase in tensions - attacks on politicians' homes, protests that are getting out of control in certain parts of the country, and this to me is a huge, huge concern.'

Mr O'Connor said there was a need for larger accommodation centres in places like Dublin Airport and in the border area.

Tensions between London and Dublin have increased in recent days after Justice Minister Helen McEntee claimed there had been an upsurge in asylum seekers crossing the border from the UK into the Republic of Ireland after the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Act at Westminster.

The Irish Government made clear it does not intend to deploy gardai to the border to monitor the issue. Mr O'Connor urged a re-think.

'I would be quite forthright that we do need to see a further rapid expansion of border policing around migration,' he said.

'This is something that I feel is not being done sufficiently and I do feel that we need to take the bull by the horns here and address it because we have to look after people that come here, but we do need to acknowledge that there is a tipping point where we can't do that any more.'

He added: 'What is the alternative? That is the question.

'Are we going to leave it (the border) unpoliced and allow further encampments around cities in Ireland and towns in Ireland increase.'

When the tented camp was dismantled on Mount Street, the area around the IPO was cordoned off.

More asylum seekers gathered at the office on Thursday but were told the authorities were at that point not able to provide them with accommodation.

Usman Ghnie, from Afghanistan, passes water to people in tents which were pitched by asylum seekers

A view of tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal

Usman Ghnie, from Afghanistan provides water to those sleeping in the tents

Photos show blue tents lined up along a stretch of the Grand Canal in Dublin

A number of homeless migrants subsequently pitched tents in a private park in south Dublin on Thursday. However, those men left the area on Friday.

Later on Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris defended the Government's handling of the asylum seeker accommodation issue.

He said 'makeshift encampments' on public roads and footpaths were illegal, and 'never the solution'.

'It's also not in the interest of the people who are sleeping in those tents, people who don't have access to proper sanitation,' he said.

Mr Harris added: 'We work at this every single day but I need to be clear and honest with people coming to our country, we are doing our very best in very difficult and challenging circumstances to provide accommodation.

'But accommodation isn't always readily available but we are keeping working at it day by day.

'The conversation about migration can't just be one about accommodation, because no matter how much accommodation you have, if it's just a conversation about accommodation, accommodation will fill.

'It also has to be a conversation about faster processing times, about efficient and effective systems.'
He defended others but made it clear that his daughter would not be involved

A Saturday Night Live skit took aim at the pro-Palestine protests that have taken over Columbia University and college campuses across the nation.

Keenan Thompson played a father of a Columbia student, who sat down with two other 'parents', played by Mikey Day and Heidi Gardner, and cast member Michael Longfellow on the show's NY1 'Community Affairs' segment.

During the discussion, each parent agreed that they supported the movement, but Thompson, who played Alphonse Roberts, said that he would not be okay if his daughter joined the protests.

'Alexis Vanessa Roberts better have her butt in class. Let me find out she in one of them damn tents instead of the dorm room that I pay for,' Thompson said.

Mikey Day's character, Doug Hoving, then questioned Thompson and said: 'Wait, I though you were in favor of the student protests?'

SNL's Keenan Thompson, who played Alphonse Roberts, a father of a Columbia University student, voiced his opinions about the pro-Palestine protests that took over the campus in recent weeks

The skit comes after weeks of unrest at the Ivy League, which began with the establishment of the encampment on April 17. (pictured: demonstrators at Columbia University on Tuesday afternoon)

'Brother man, I am supportive of y'all's kids protesting, not my kids. My kids know better, shoot, Alexis Vanessa ain't crazy,' Thompson responded.

The skit comes after weeks of unrest at the Ivy League, which began with the establishment of the encampment on April 17.

Protesters set up tents after the school's president, Minouche Shafik was grilled before Congress about anti-Semitism on campus.

After protests broke out at Columbia, they soon made their way around the country at other schools including Emory, the University of Texas, Harvard, NYU, USC, UC Berkeley and Brown.

As the skit continued, the cast members were asked how they felt about police presence on campus.

While Gardner's character, Sarah Himes, said that she was 'very concerned' about her daughter being arrested, Thompson's character said 'I ain't worried about 5-0.'

'That is not my business. My business is Alexis Vanessa Robert,' he said.

He proceeded to emphasize the costly tuition prices at Columbia.

'She not talking about no "free this, free that," 'cause I'll tell you what ain't free, Columbia.'

He asked: 'Do y'all know that they got the nerve to want $68,000 a year?'

Day then replied to Thompson and said: 'Look, we totally respect their right to protest, but I mean, we're also making sacrifices for our kids.'

While Gardner's character, Sarah Himes, said that she was 'very concerned' about her daughter being arrested, Thompson's character said 'I ain't worried about 5-0'

Student protestors set up tents on the campuses lawn and created an encampment in protest of the Israel-Hamas war

Police use a vehicle named 'the bear' to enter Hamilton Hall from a public street, which was occupied by protesters, as other officers enter the campus of Columbia University

'Yeah, I'm out here busting my hump to pay all that tuition,' Thompson's character, an Uber driver, explained.

On Tuesday, Shafik called in the NYPD to 'restore order and safety' to the campus amid the escalating protests, which also included a massive encampment on the school's lawns.

Columbia University protesters smashed windows, upended furniture and caused damage throughout Hamilton Hall during the occupation before police stormed the campus and arrested more than 100 protestors.

Around 40 protesters were arrested on the first floor of the building after police swooped just after 9pm ending the pro-Palestine encampment that stretched on for nearly two weeks and included students taking over the hall.

Pictures and video taken of the aftermath showed the hall's trashed interior strewn with activists' belongings.

The raid saw demonstrators arrested across the campus and at nearby City College New York, where similar protests unfolded.

Police stormed Hamilton Hall through an upstairs window after students used furniture to barricade the entrance.

Pictures showed how chairs and desks have been turned upside down to become makeshift barriers. The cost of damage to the building is likely to total thousands of dollars.

After two weeks of chaos, which saw classes moved online and facilities shuttered, Shafik finally called in the police who managed to clear out the campus in just two hours.

University administrators have now asked the police to maintain a presence until May 17, two days after graduation.

The NYPD announced that it had cleared the building just before 11pm with no injuries.

Hours earlier, video showed cops sporting riot gear descending on the campus armed with zip-tie handcuffs and pepper spray.

Columbia University protesters smashed windows, upended furniture and caused damage throughout Hamilton Hall amid their brief occupation

James Carlson, who also goes by Cody Carlson and Cody Tarlow, was arrested by the NYPD and charged with burglary and illegal entry after he stormed Columbia's Hamilton Hall and renamed it 'Hind' Hall

Until Tuesday, Shafik had held off asking police to intervene following backlash to the decision to use law enforcement to disperse a previous encampment.

However, the decision to call the NYPD was taken after the increasingly violent tactics and concerns the protest had been infiltrated by 'outside agitators' with no ties to the university.

On Saturday, the leader of Columbia protests was unmasked as a 40-year-old son of millionaire ad execs who lives in a four story Brooklyn townhouse.

James Carlson, who also goes by Cody Carlson and Cody Tarlow, was arrested by the NYPD and charged with burglary and illegal entry after he stormed Columbia's Hamilton Hall and renamed it 'Hind' Hall.

James is the son of Richard Tarlow and Sandy Carlson Tarlow, millionaire advertising duo who started Carlson & Partners together and were known for their cosmetic and fashion clients including Revlon, Victorias Secret, Ralph Lauren and Neutrogena.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brooklyn Law School and later became an animal rights lawyer who clerked at the US District Court in 2013.

He also had a short stint as an undercover investigator on factory farms and slaughterhouses recording animal abuse, according to the publication.

James is believed to be married to model Kim Heyrman and has two children while living in a $3.4 million Brooklyn brownstone townhouse in New York.

James is suspected of burning an Israeli flag during a demonstration three days ago and is believed to be 'previously involved in recent bridge and tunnel blocking', according to NBC News.
Ivanka Trump brushed off rumors of an imminent return to politics by taking a glamorous trip to Mexico with husband Jared Kushner to celebrate a friend's wedding.

Friends tell DailyMail.com that the former first daughter is focused on her private life and not 'fabricated' gossip.

'They went on a long planned weekend celebrating a friend's wedding, far away from the fabricated gossip swirling around of an imminent return to politics in DC. '

'The couple remains focused on their family and private lives,' friends close to the couple said.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at a friend's wedding in Mexico this weekend

Ivanka, who served as a senior adviser to her father in his White House, made it clear she was out of politics when Donald Trump announced he was running for president again.

I love my father very much, she said at the time. This time around, I am choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family. I do not plan to be involved in politics.

That remains her stance despite a report in Puck News that she was 'not ruling out having some sort of role' in her father's campaign.

Instead, her focus remains on her family - she and Jared have three children - their life in Miami and their friends.

She posts regular updates on her life on Instagram, including photos from this weekend.

Ivanka, looking stunning in a red gown by Cristallini, and Jared, in a tux, were in Valle de Bravo, a town on Lake Avandaro, west of Mexico City, for a friend's wedding.

'Celebrating love and the magic of Mexico,' she wrote Sunday on her social media post.

Ivanka Trump, with the-President Donald Trump (above) in the Oval Office in April 2017, has no plans to return to politics

Ivanka and Jared are raising their three children - Arabella, Theodore and Joseph - in Miami

Both Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump served as advisers to Donald Trump during his presidency - above they are seen celebrating Christmas at the White House

The couple have worked to distance to distance themselves from Donald Trump's re-election campaign and the general Trump orbit.

They relocated to Florida with children Arabella, 12, Joseph, 9, and Theodore, 8, after Donald Trump left office in January 2021.

And Ivanka wasn't at Mar-a-Lago in November 2022 when Donald Trump announced he would seek another term in the White House.

It was a change of pace for the former first daughter, who was heavily involved in Trump's first term in the White House. She had an office in the West Wing and frequently represented the administration both at home and abroad.

However, as of late, the couple has focused on their lives in the private sector.

Kushner, who was at Donald Trump's re-election announcement, launched his Miami-based investment firm, Affinity Partners.

He hasn't made any attempt to return to politics since his appearance at Mar-a-Lago with his father-in-law. He's also not commented on reports he could serve as secretary of state in a second Trump term.

He did sit with an interview with the New York Times about his investment strategy and work in the private sector.

In fact a second Donald Trump term could be a headache for his business, bringing up all sorts of conflict of interest questions the family had to deal with when Trump first became president and had to distance himself from his Trump Organization.

Meanwhile, Ivanka has been spotted on school runs with her kids, attending their sporting events and doing charity work.

One area the couple has remained involved with is the Middle East. During the Trump administration, Jared, who served as a senior adviser to the president, helped draft the Abraham Accords, where the UAE and Bahrain established diplomatic ties with Israel.

Ivanka converted to Judaism before her 2009 marriage to Jared, an observant Jew. They are raising their children in the Jewish faith.

In December, the couple toured a kibbutz in Israel that was devastated by the Hamas conflict. During their trip, they heard from local residents who had lived in the community before it was devastated in the October attack by Hamas.

Ivanka Trump donned a bulletproof vest as she and Jared Kushner toured a kibbutz in Israel in December that was devastated by the Hamas conflict

Ivanka Trump was spotted on her to a Miami synagogue in November with daughter Arabella, where they helped pack essential supplies for displaced Israeli civilians

Ivanka Trump was questioned by New York prosecutors in November about their case against her father's business

Ivanka also has helped pack supplies for civilians displaced by the conflict. She remains active with the charity CityServe, which provides meals for those displaced.

Ivanka has worked with the group for more than four years, helping them serve food to those in need during COVID and sending supplies to refugees in the Ukraine.

She has not, however, been able to completely separate from her father.

In November, she testified in Donald Trump's $250 million civil fraud trial in New York. She was questioned by prosecutors about her role in securing loans for the Trump Organization.

Ivanka was not part of the lawsuit by New York State where a judge ruled against her family, barring her father from any New York business deals for three years and her two oldest brothers - Don Jr. and Eric - from any deals for two years.

And she testified in House Democrats' probe of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol where she revealed her belief that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Sen. Ron Johnson accused President Joe Biden of buying votes for 2024 by implementing student loan relief and allowing in more migrants ahead of the November election.

The Wisconsin Republican claims that a lot of Biden's policies are aimed at growing his electorate as well as spending U.S. taxpayer money on initiatives that financially benefit Americans and up his chances of earning their votes.

'It's all about election politics,' Johnson told John Catsimatidis during an interview on Cats Roundtable radio show on Sunday morning. 'It's why they're paying off student loans. They're buying votes.'

'They are trying to pump up the census in blue states. Get more members of Congress,' he alleged.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) said President Joe Biden is trying to 'buy' voters in 2024

Johnson claims that Biden forgiving billions in student loan debt is a way to pay for votes in the presidential election

Since taking office, Biden's administration has wiped clean $160 billion in debt when providing relief for 4.6 million people with outstanding student loans.

Additionally, Biden's policies have expanded migration and led to increases of illegal immigration across the southern border. Johnson claims that these undocumented individuals will illegally vote in the 2024 election and cast their ballot for Biden.

Biden implemented use of the CBP One app to allow migrants to apply for asylum from their home countries and then be flown to the U.S. for release on a two-year parole period while their claims are processed. In the meantime, they are given authorization to work in the U.S.

Migrants who cross the southern border by the hundreds of thousands each month are also many times released into the country on parole  and are oftentimes financially sponsored by non-governmental organization.

Johnson claimed: 'These NGOs  we have evidence  they are giving a slip of paper to migrants before they get to America [saying], 'When you get to the US, vote for Joe Biden.'

'American tax dollars are funding some of these NGOs. We're funding our own demise,' the Wisconsin Republican added.

He claimed that in conjunction with the overall migrant issue, Biden now wants to let in Palestinian refugees fleeing war with Israel in Gaza because he wants to secure votes from those who oppose his policies on the conflict.

'I signed on to a letter spearheaded by [Sen.] Joni Ernst to the President saying, 'Do not bring in Palestinian refugees.' The President has already opened up the border to  8 million people,' Johnson lamented to Catsimatidis.

The Republican Senator also said Biden is bringing in more migrants to increase his voting bloc in November

Biden has so far provided $160 billion in student loan forgiveness for 4.6 million borrowers

He continued: 'Let's at least not bring in Palestinian refugees who hate our guts. You're aware of what, unfortunately, the Palestinians teach their children. There's a reason that the Arab nations don't accept Palestinian refugees.'

'Why would the Biden administration do so?' Johnson questioned. 'Well, they want to win Michigan, and they think it would be popular around Detroit.'

The Democratic primary in Michigan earlier this year saw a huge voting bloc in Dearborn vote 'uncommitted' as a way of protest voting against Biden as the party's nominee in 2024.
Rishi Sunak is clinging on to the dimmest glimmer of hope of avoiding a general election disaster tonight after an expert suggested Labour may not win outright.

After a calamitous set of local elections saw the Tories lose almost 500 seats and all-but one elected mayor the Prime Minister and his allies were pinning their hopes on an analysis suggesting that there could be a hung parliament.

Professor Michael Thrasher said that analysis of the results of Thursday's council elections showed Labour as the largest party in Westminster but short of an overall majority.

The study of two million council wards raised some eyebrows as they fly in the face of the massive lead Labour has in almost all voting intention polls over the past year, with critics pointing out that people often vote differently in local and national elections.

Overnight Mr Sunak insisted 'our plan is working', and touring TV studios this morning on his behalf, Transport Secretary Mark Harper insisted the polls giving Labour a massive lead 'are not correct'.

'There is everything to fight for. And the Tories under Rishi Sunak are up for the fight,' he told Sky News.

He added: 'It's been disappointing of course to lose dedicated Conservative councillors and Andy Street in the West Midlands, with his track record of providing great public services and attracting significant investment to the area, but that has redoubled my resolve to continue to make progress on our plan. So we will continue working as hard as ever to take the fight to Labour and deliver a brighter future for our country.'

However attempts to boost the morale of party members and activists were hit by an incendiary appearance by former home secretary Suella Braverman.

She launched an astonishing attack on the PM, warning that he is leading the Tories to a potential general election wipeout unless he alters political course.

In a brutal appearance on the BBC's Sunday with Lura Kuenssberg, Ms Braverman said: 'The plan is not working ... at this rate we will be lucky to have any Conservative MPs at the next election.'

She added: 'The plan is not working and I despair at these terrible results.'

Overnight Mr Sunak insisted 'our plan is working' despite all the evidence to the contrary. Transport Secretary Mark Harper was also sent out to tour TV studios today to echo the message and urge the party to rally behind its leader.

Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle tonight in a body blow for Rishi Sunak

Putting a brave face on grim election results, Rishi Sunak admitted that voters are 'frustrated' but argued that Keir Starmer has not sealed the deal

Suella Braverman , the Conservative former home secretary, was quick to lay the blame for Tory losses at the door of Downing Street, but she said ousting Mr Sunak as party leader 'won't work'.

She demanded tax cuts and an immigration clampdown that includes leaving the European Court of Human Rights. But she shied away of calling for Mr Sunak to be replaced, saying the party possessed no 'superman or woman' capable of turning things around with just months to go to the general election.

When asked if she regretted supporting Mr Sunak's leadership, Ms Braverman said: 'Honestly, yes I do.

'There is no spinning these results, there is no disguising the fact that these have been terrible election results for the Conservatives and they suggest that we are heading to a Labour government and that fills me with horror.

'I love my country, I care about my party and I want us to win, and I am urging the Prime Minister to change course, to with humility reflect on what voters are telling us, and change the plan and the way that he is communicating and leading us.'

Asked about whether she wanted to see a change in leader, Ms Braverman said: 'I just don't think that is a feasible prospect right now, we don't have enough time and it is impossible for anyone new to come and change our fortunes to be honest. There is no superman or superwoman out there who can do it.'

The Prime Minister and his allies are on the defensive after the Conservatives 474 local council seats and the prestigious West Midlands mayoralty to Labour.

Labour's Richard Parker seized victory from outgoing Conservative mayor Andy Street by a mere 1,508 votes - with the Reform party winning more than 34,000 votes.

There has also been a furious wave of recriminations and criticism after the Tory candidate for London mayor, Susan Hall, was roundly thrashed by Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan.

He stormed to victory and an historic third term in office, with a majority of some 275,000.

Party chairman Richard Holden, who is also facing criticism over the election campaigns, also tried to calm furious politicians and activists.

Writing in the Telegraph he claimed that the result showed there was 'no surge in love for Sir Keir Starmer'.

'While Labour made some gains, they have failed to romp to victory, falling well short of the 350 predicted gains,' he said.

He added that 'the public has had enough of infighting', saying: 'It is incumbent on me to communicate this message from voters to my colleagues  leave sniping from the sidelines to Sir Keir, get behind our Prime Minister and make the case for our party to our country.'

Andy Street dramatically lost the West Midlands mayor battle last night in a body blow for the PM.

There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts.

Following hours of wrangling, Mr Street was finally edged out by 1,508 votes - from a three-million strong electorate - with his opponent posting pictures of his celebrations.

The failure of the former John Lewis boss to secure a third term is a huge setback for the PM, and left him with almost nothing to cling to from a nightmare set of local elections.

Keir Starmer hailed the 'phenomenal result' saying it was 'beyond our expectations'.

Rebels immediately warned that the 'game-changing' defeat meant Mr Sunak could now face a fresh bid to oust him - although other MPs reiterated their view it was too late.

The premier had been desperate for Mr Street to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in the winner's circle, demonstrating that the party can still win big contests.

Lord Houchen's success had seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a revolt. However, the latest defeat immediately inflamed anger, critics pointing to the relentlessly grim results for the Conservatives. The party is likely to end up losing nearly 500 councillors in one of the worst showings for 40 years.

One Tory MP told MailOnline that Downing Street had quelled dissent up to now by 'bullsh*****' that 'all's going to be fine' and suggesting Susan Hall was going to win in London.

'Despite all the highly positive private spin from No10 to Tory MPs since Thursday, we've lost well over 400 council seats, Andy Street has lost, Susan Hall has been defeated in London,' they said.

'Ben Houchen won without having the balls to wear a blue rosette, even at his own victory count... Rishi's Sunak's utterly hapless Leadership is now definitely in play.'

The MP added that they had not sent a letter of no confidence before, but would be now - predicting that the threshold of 52 for a vote would be hit.

There were cheers and whoops as the declaration came that the Tory incumbent had been defeated by Labour rival Richard Parker after an extraordinary struggle that saw a series of recounts

Mr Street gave a magnanimous response and refused to blame Mr Sunak for his loss

Richard Parker (right) posed for pictures on social media celebrating his victory tonight

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Ex-Cabinet minister Simon Clarke, a public critic of Mr Sunak, reportedly posted on a Tory WhatsApp group after the news broke: 'These results are awful, and should be a massive wake up call.'

A former minister told MailOnline that victory for Mr Street would have 'eased the pressure' on the PM.

'For those who say it would be madness to have another leader now just look at the statistics. They say that is precisely what the majority of Tory voters want,' they said.

'I think there will be more reflection now. There will be a lot of phone calls being made this Bank Holiday weekend, not least by supporters of rival candidates, although they will be discreet.'

The MP added that there was 'an element of MPs simply being resigned to losing'.

But another veteran Tory backbencher said Mr Street's loss 'is not going to shift anything'.

'People know Rishi has improved things, so let's stick with him and not let Kier take credit for Tories improving things over next six months,' they added.

The MP said the key question for the rebels was who would be better than Mr Sunak: 'No one and they know it.'

For the first time since 1996, the Lib Dems have won more councillors than the Conservatives at a round of local elections.

The Blackpool South by-election caused particular consternation as Labour stormed the seat with a 26 point swing - and the Tories only barely scraped into second ahead of Reform.

The battle for West Midlands mayor had been due to declare at 3pm, but went into extra time with both sides saying it was 'too close to call'.

Recounts took place in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and Coventry as the parties wrangle over every single vote.

It finally came down to Sandwell area, where Mr Parker needed to win by at least 11,456 votes. He cleared the bar by around 1,000 to overhaul Mr Street.

Despite the misery for the Tories, it has not all been plain sailing for Sir Keir, with experts warning that a slump in support in areas with large Muslim populations suggested he was 'in trouble'.

Labour tied up more expected victories today, with Steve Rotheram re-elected as Liverpool City Region Mayor after securing a landslide 68 per cent of the vote.

Andy Burnham emerged victorious in Greater Manchester by 63 per cent to just 10 per cent for his Tory opponent.

Oliver Coppard was returned as as South Yorkshire Mayor with 138,611 votes, nearly three times as many as the 44,945 his Conservative rival Nick Allen received.

Earlier, Mr Sunak insisted he can still turn the situation around, saying people are 'frustrated and wondering why they should vote'.

'The fact Labour is not winning in places that they admit themselves they need for a majority, shows that Keir Starmer's lack of plan and vision is hurting them,' he said.

'We Conservatives have everything to fight for  and we will because we are fighting for our values and our country's future.'

Mr Sunak pointed to his party's recent commitment to hike defence spending and cut migration as clear dividing lines with Labour.

But polling guru Prof John Curtice said the results demonstrated Mr Sunak has 'very little to show' for his efforts to restore the Tories' fortunes after Liz Truss's abrtive premiership.

The election expert told the BBC: 'There is nothing in these results to suggest contrary to the opinion polls that the Conservatives are actually beginning to narrow the gap on Labour, and that so far at least, Rishi Sunak's project which has tried to recover from the disaster  from the Conservatives' point of view  of the Liz Truss fiscal event, that project has still got very little to show for it.

'That in a sense is the big takeaway.

'Now the Conservatives, as when all parties do badly in elections, they always want you to focus on the exception rather than the rule, and Tees Valley and probably the West Midlands are the exceptions not the rule.'

On Labour losses over its stance on Gaza, Sir John said: 'At the moment I think what we would find if we had a general election is that Labour might well fall back in some of these seats, but because the Labour Party is already so strong, they would probably still succeed in winning the parliamentary election.

'But yep, this is a big message to Labour from these local elections, is that you are indeed now in trouble with some of your Muslim former supporters.'

Mr Sunak had been willing Andy Street (pictured) to join Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a third term

On a visit to Mansfield this morning, Keir Starmer (pictured with new East Midlands mayor Claire Ward) insisted he is 'confident' that Mr Khan can keep control of City Hall

Mr Sunak suffered a blow in his own back yard as Labour took the York and North Yorkshire mayor post.

The region, which covers the PM's Richmond constituency, is somewhere Labour has historically struggled to compete in parliamentary elections.

Labour also won inaugural mayoral contests in the East Midlands and the North East, and gained nine police and crime commissioner posts from the Tories, including in Cumbria, Avon and Somerset, and Norfolk.

But in a smattering of councils, the Opposition party lost seats to independents and George Galloway's Workers Party of Britain, all apparently over the party's stance on Gaza.

Overall, Labour won control of eight councils as it saw a net gain of 204 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gained 92 seats and the Greens 58.

The Liberal Democrats' most significant victory was winning control of Dorset council from the Conservatives, where it now has 42 of the 82 seats after gaining 15.

The Greens fell narrowly short of taking overall control of Bristol, one of their top targets, despite gaining 10 seats.

Despite results that left the Conservatives on track to lose half the seats they contested, rebels admitted they had not persuaded enough MPs to join them to force a vote of no confidence in Mr Sunak's leadership.

One rebel told the Mail simply: 'We're off to the pub.'

Polls ahead of the election suggested that the London incumbent was on track for a comfortable victory over Tory rival Susan Hall (pictured)

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the first Tory MP to publicly move against the PM, said it was 'unlikely' that others would follow in sufficient numbers to trigger a leadership contest.

'My stance is the same,' she said. 'But we are where we are and it is looking unlikely that the MPs are going to put the letters in, so we need to pull together.'

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries - another high-profile critic of the PM - said it would be 'madness' to try to replace Mr Sunak before the general election, adding that it would 'make no difference' to the result.

One rebel source said it was clear that Mr Sunak would 'limp on to the election', adding: 'We're not kamikaze pilots. In the end, there are too many MPs with their heads stuck in the sand for it to work.'
A possible picture of missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers has been circulating social media, more than two months after he went missing.

The picture was reportedly taken at a visitors' center in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.

The snapshot, which was taken by a woman at the rest stop, very strongly resembles the missing teen, 15, who went missing from his Hendersonville home on February 26, barefoot with just a flashlight.

The woman later turned the picture into the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and her friend posted the picture online.

A possible picture of missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers has been circulating social media, more than two months after he went missing

Rogers is believed to have left his family home with a flashlight in the early hours of February 26. He was reported missing by his parents at 6.30am.

The state Bureau of Investigation released an endangered child alert for the teenager on the day he disappeared - and officials immediately deployed drones, dogs, boats, horses and helicopters in the search for him.

Sebastian lives in Stafford Court, Hendersonville, on the north-eastern outskirts of Nashville.

Journalist Nick Beres, who has been closely tracking Rogers' case since his disappearance nearly ten weeks ago, says investigators are still lacking strong evidence in one direction or the next about where this case is headed.

On a recent Facebook livestream addressing the mysterious photo, Beres said he finds it interesting that now, seven days after the rest stop photo was released, investigators have not ruled the possibility of the teen in the photo being Sebastian.

About a month ago, the search for Rogers was called off due to safety concerns for the members of the Cajun Navy deployed to help find him.

In late March, Sebastian's mother Katie Proudfoot and her husband Chris left Hendersonville to go back to work in Memphis.

The Cajun Navy, the non-profit comprised of volunteers with boats, was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help look for survivors. The group had been helping with Rogers' search and rescue effort sand even took over the search in March.

Rogers' father, Seth Rogers, a correctional officer, has been ruthlessly searching for his son on, Beres says, a possibly full time basis.

Sebastian Rogers, 15, went missing on February 26 after leaving the bedroom of his Hendersonville home barefoot and with a flashlight

Investigators still have no meaningful leads that they have shared with the public, as the search for Rogers enters its third month

In March, eerie footage from the back of the house from which Rogers disappeared was released, revealing two light sources far away, and another one closer to the house.

Officials have still not been able to determine if one of the light sources was Rogers, they do believe that the sources suggest another person was outside the house that night.

Seth Rogers insists his son would not have gotten into a stranger's vehicle 'unless he knew them.'

He has also said that Sebastian was not one to wander off, and due to an experience as a young boy, would never go far without shoes on.

Police continue to investigate the disappearance, 'working' every new piece of evidence they receive, though no concrete leads have taken form in the weeks since the search efforts were scaled back.
Police suspect there was paramilitary involvement in a 'sinister' attack in Northern Ireland which saw a man's hands nailed to a fence in a car park.

The injured man, in his 20s, was dashed to hospital following the vicious assault in Bushmills, County Antrim, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two vans, one belonging to the injured man, were also found ablaze in the carpark near Dundarave Park.

Cops have now suggested that a paramilitary group was behind the attack, and have said it is one key line of inquiry.

Causeway Alliance councillor Alderman Richard Stewart said: 'This is not wanted in Bushmills, it's not wanted in Northern Ireland. This is a thing of the past'.

'The local community is in deep shock at the nature and brutality of this attack.'

A man in his 20s has been found with his hands nailed to the fence in a 'sinister attack in Northern Ireland

Police who attended the incident said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire

Two vans parked in a public car park near Dundarave Park, Northern Ireland, were set on fire

The incident happened in the public car park near Dundarave Park (pictured) in County Antrim

The victim is was left with potentially life-changing injuries following the horrific attack, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), who also dubbed the incident as 'sinister' and 'brutal'.

Police received a report shortly after midnight that a man, aged in his 20s, had been found with his hands nailed to a fence, with one nail through each hand.

The man also had injuries to his nose.

He was taken to hospital, where his condition on Sunday morning was described as not life threatening.

Police who attended the incident said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire.

Crews from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the scene to extinguish the fires and both vans sustained extensive damage.

Officers said graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of a public toilets building was being linked to the assault and arson.

In a statement, the PSNI said: 'This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries.

'Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

'We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

'This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers.'

Around 20 people in mobile homes and camper homes revealed they were woken up by the noise of banging and blue lights, with one telling the BBC: 'I saw the fire and I just hoped it was nothing to do with the campers, I put on my dressing gown and flip flops and went out.

I just thought: 'This is awful to happen in a place like Bushmills - they're trying to promote tourism and this has happened',' she added.
A driver has died after crashing into the White House perimeter fence on Saturday night as officials say it was 'a traffic crash' with 'no threat to the White House.'

The car smashed into the gates of the White House at a 'high rate of speed' just before 10.30pm.

Security rushed to the car and tried to give the driver aid, but he was already dead.

Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said 'there was no threat to the White House' and 'no threat or public safety implications'.

The driver has not yet been identified but was an adult man and no one else was injured in the crash.

The car smashed into the gates of the White House at a 'high rate of speed' just before 10.30pm on Saturday

The car crashed into the gates about 1,000ft from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Treasury department

The car crashed into the gates about 1,000ft from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Treasury department.

Officials rushed to help the driver but he was dead when they reached him.

The secret service said: 'Security protocols were implemented as officers cleared the vehicle and attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered deceased.'

In a statement on Sunday Guglielmi said: 'Limited traffic closures remain in effect as Secret Service teams, investigate a fatal vehicle crash that occurred at an exterior perimeter gate by the White House.

'There is no threat or public safety implications.'

He added: 'Shortly before 10.30pm on May 4th a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed collided with an outer perimeter gate on the White House complex.

'Security protocols were implemented as officers cleared the vehicle and attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered deceased.

'There was no threat to the White House.

'The fatal crash portion of this will be turned over to the Washington Metropolitan Police Department Crash Investigation Unit and the Secret Service investigation continues.'

Officials rushed to help the driver but he was dead when they reached him

The secret service said: 'Security protocols were implemented as officers cleared the vehicle and attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered deceased.'

It is the second car to crash into the White House so far this year.

In January officials arrested a man who crashed into a different exterior gate.

He was taken into custody and thought to be suffering mental health issues.

Last May a man driving a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers across the street from the White House.

Police discovered he was carrying a Nazi flag and he was identified as Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri.
JOHN Swinneys coronation as SNP leader is set to go ahead today after he saw off a last-ditch challenge.

Graeme McCormick had looked on course to secure enough support to force a formal leadership contest.

But he agreed to not seek nomination late last night following talks with Mr Swinney.

Critics will see the last-ditch deal as another stitch-up to ensure the SNP avoids another divisive and expensive leadership battle.

Challenger: Graeme McCormick has now withdrawn

Last week, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said former Finance Secretary Kate Forbes had caved into SNP demands for a stitch-up to install John Swinney as leader and spare the party the bloodbath of another leadership contest.

Candidates only need the backing of 100 members from 20 different branches to stand for leader.

Mr McCormick, a member of the partys Helensburgh branch, has never been an elected politician and used a speech at the SNPs annual conference last autumn to describe its approach to independence as flatulence in a trance.

He also told the conference the SNP should adopt a fully treasonous attitude towards Westminster.

In a statement last night, Mr McCormick said he had met the threshold to stand but confirmed he would now not seek nomination following a lengthy and fruitful conversation with Mr Swinney.

He said: John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our Government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider independence movement in the following weeks and months.

This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and Im sure that Johns determination to deliver independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming General Election.

I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for Party Leader but instead support John Swinneys nomination for Party Leader and First Minister of Scotland.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Swinney issued an appeal to let him get on with the job rather than causing a delay with a challenge.

He told Sunday with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: I think the SNP has got a chance to start rebuilding from the difficult period that we have had, under my leadership, and bluntly Id just like to get on with that as quickly as I possibly can do.

Because every day that we spend in an internal contest, which I think we all probably know the outcome of, we delay the possibility for the SNP to start its rebuilding.

He said his leadership bid had received very, very comprehensive support, including from Kate Forbes, who earlier ruled herself out of the contest.

If he runs unopposed, he will become the next SNP leader today and will likely become First Minister in the coming days after a Holyrood vote.

Mr Swinney, who previously led his party from 2000 to 2004, faced a challenge from an activist in 2003 but ultimately won with 83.9 per cent of the vote.

Speaking on BBC Scotlands the Sunday Show, he said he would respect the democratic process if there was a contest but added: I think it would be better if we just got on with things, that we started the rebuilding of the SNP and its political strength.

He added he thought the overwhelming majority of party members wanted to get on with it.

Mr McCormick had been contacting a series of pro-independence websites to try to gather nominations, and was also reportedly seeking support at an All Under One Banner rally in Glasgow at the weekend.

One message he sent to pro-independence activists on Thursday last week said: From a standing start yesterday I already have 40 nominations and others on the way.

I reckon Ive just about cleared the 20 branch threshold but will not take anything for granted.

Lloyd Quinan, who was an SNP MSP from 1999-2003, had also been appealing to activists to support Mr McCormick.

Speaking on the Through A Scottish Prism online podcast, he said: The only possibility of saving the party at this stage would be for someone else to become the leader of the party, not John Swinney. John made a terrible job the last time.

He also accused Mr Swinney of being part of a vicious and brutal marginalisation of former SNP MSP Margo MacDonald, which led to her becoming an independent MSP.

He said: John is a desperately, desperately weak man and his only way that he can show what he believes is strength is by the total marginalisation of anyone who doesnt think like John.

John is a direct product of the Standard Life management training organisations. He believes that when you have status everyone else should bow to it, he never ever believes there is a requirement to win respect.

John thinks when you get a title respect comes with it and that is the sign of a desperately, desperately weak individual.

The SNP yesterday declined to confirm how many valid nominations have been received ahead of the close of nominations at noon today.
Scotland's cash-strapped police force has spent millions on diversity staff despite being unable to investigate all crimes due to budget cuts.

Amid plummeting public confidence in Police Scotland and senior officers being forced to make hard choices over dwindling resources, a total of 2.4million has been spent on equality and diversity roles.

In addition, more than 200,000 has been paid to external organisations for training over the past five years.

Last year, the force said it would no longer investigate every crime reported. Under a new policy in the North-East, rank-and-file officers were told not to follow up on minor crimes such as some break-ins and thefts where there are no leads or CCTV evidence.

Police Scotland said it would no longer investigate every crime reported

Police Scotland said the policy would free up time for officers to focus on responding to more pressing issues and it stressed that hard choices were being made in order to deliver effective policing within its stretched budget.

Critics hit out yesterday at the millions spent on diversity staff and training at a time when bodycams have not yet been rolled out to officers in Scotland.

Russell Findlay, justice spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said: While its vital Police Scotland reflects society, frontline officers deprived of basic equipment due to SNP cuts might question the millions of pounds spent in these areas.

This is especially true as not all crimes will be investigated and officer numbers are at their lowest in 16 years.

David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said: The service has faced severe criticism regarding equality issues and its understandable that they want to invest in training, however, these figures are a real cause for concern  the amount and value of what training has been provided has to be questioned.

The force, whose former chief constable Iain Livingstone last year described it as institutionally racist, is now spending more than 500,000 annually on the diversity staff.

New Chief Constable Jo Farrell is under pressure to review whether the spending is worthwhile at a time of extremely tight budgets.

The huge outlay on diversity staff, which was revealed through freedom of information, comes as the single police force faces a budget crisis.

In the run-up to this years Scottish Budget, Ms Farrell called on Holyrood to provide an extra 128million next year so the force can maintain a visible, accessible and proactive front line.

But Justice Secretary Angela Constance provided a rise of just 92.7million, telling the public that despite deeply challenging financial circumstances, the Scottish Government had provided Police Scotland with record funding of 1.55billion for 2024/25.

In August last year, police chiefs admitted the 2023/24 budget was a real-terms reduction  which meant more than 50million of savings are required to ensure a balanced budget.

In 2019/20 taxpayers were forking out 372,213 a year on equality, diversity and inclusion staff, Police Scotland revealed in their freedom of information response.

But the amount since then has shot up by more than 44per cent: in 2022/23, the last full financial year reported, 589,611 was paid out, and from April 2023 to the end of February 2024, it was 538,938.

In total, from April 2019 to the end of February this year, the figures show taxpayers shelled out 2,397,416 on the equality roles.

Mr Kennedy added: Given the financial pressures facing the service over the last few years with the lack of money to recruit actual police officers, the proportionate response to crime, the lack of face-to-face training regarding changing legislation, there has to be an urgent review that the money being allocated is proportionate to its actual worth.

Contained in the figures was the revelation that Police Scotland also spent 202,386 on training and materials between April 2019 and the end of February this year.

The highest annual sum was in 2022/23 when it paid 85,265 to three companies to deliver equality training. Between April 2023 and the end of February this year, the force has spent 44,602.

A Police Scotland spokesman said that publicly acknowledging institutional discrimination exists is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-discriminatory service.
A family of seven from Blackpool was among 11 Britons hurt in a holiday bus crash in Turkey this week.

They were travelling on the open-top bus with four others from Blackpool when it crashed in the Manavgat region, near Antalya, on Thursday.

One of those injured was Vinny Carlton-Simons, 43, who had to have surgery on his legs. Doctors placed 10 pins to fixate his fractures, but he is reportedly recovering well.

His wife, Danielle, 40, said the crash site was 'like a warzone' as emergency services tended to her hurt loved ones. She added that everyone was 'so so lucky' to be alive.

Her son Reggie, six, nearly fell out the window when the bus crashed onto its side, but Danielle managed to pull him inside just in time, she told the BBC.

One of those injured was Vinny Carlton-Simons (right), 43, who had to have surgery on his legs. His wife, Danielle (left), 40, said the crash site was 'like a warzone' as emergency services tended to her hurt loved ones

Doctors placed 10 pins to fixate Vinny's fractures, but he is reportedly recovering well

A family of seven from Blackpool has been hurt in a holiday bus crash in Turkey. They were travelling on the open-top bus with four others from Blackpool when it crashed in the Manavgat region, near Antalya, on Thursday. Pictured: the aftermath of the crash

'Our poor baby boy was thrown back and forth and ended up out of the window, but I thankfully managed to hold him and pull him back in. He has come away with just bruises and bumps,' Danielle wrote on social media.

She handed her son to her 19-year-old brother Bobby, after he reportedly told her she was 'covered in oil' and smoke was starting to emerge from the engine.

Bobby and Danielle's other son Kai, 16, helped to rescue people from the mangled vehicle.

'Kai and Bobby somehow managed to pull as many of us out, including me, Reggie and Vinny when the Jeep was smoking and oil was pouring through,' Danielle said.

Also inside the vehicle were Danielle's daughter Saisha, 20, Saisha's boyfriend Kacper Zielinski, 24, and Danielle's mother Laura, 59.

The group - which also included family friends and neighbours - was en route to a Turkish zoo when the accident happened.

Danielle said that the driver had disclosed to her that the brakes of the bus, who held a total of 16 tourists, had failed.

The vehicle, which was not equipped with seat belts, went over and stopped when it crashed into a lamppost.

'Kai and Bobby somehow managed to pull as many of us out, including me, Reggie and Vinny when the Jeep was smoking and oil was pouring through,' Danielle said (pictured: Danielle and Vinny)

The open-top bus reportedly crashed onto its side and then into a lamppost

Pictures from the scene of the crash in the popular tourist destination showed the severely damaged vehicle overturned and leaning up against a utility pole, with a second tour vehicle from the same company parked down the road

The front of the vehicle appeared to be crumpled, while damage was also done to the top of the bus, with handrails crushed against the utility pole

Pictures from the scene of the crash in the popular tourist destination showed the severely damaged vehicle overturned and leaning up against a utility pole, with a second tour vehicle from the same company parked down the road.

The front of the vehicle appeared to be crumpled, while damage was also done to the top of the bus, with handrails crushed against the pole.

One witness claimed the overturned tour bus smashed into the back of another.

This caused it to swerve off the road and up a verge, causing it to flip over, they said, adding that the passengers were tossed out of their seats.

Both vehicles were travelling at speed and it was fortunate that nobody was killed in the incident, the witness told Turkey's IHA broadcaster.

Danielle wrote on social media: 'Saisha and Kacper have had their heads stapled/stitched, and the rest of us have been slightly luckier and come away battered and bruised from head to toe.

'We we all were trapped or thrown from that Jeep in one way or another in the middle of a mountain in the middle of nowhere, vinny was stuck under the jeep, [the others] were trapped in behind me...'

Vinny's mother Ruth has flown to Turkey to be with her family, while the families of their friends have also travelled there to support them as two are still in hospital.

Danielle said: 'We are so so so lucky and I'm so thankful we're all alive. We just need the final three back with us so we can all look after each other.

'Family and friends are what we live for, and to lose a single one of them is the scariest thought in the whole wide world.

'I've never felt this fear and worry in my whole life. I just want everyone to be back home safe and as well as can be.'

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals following an incident in Turkey, and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Donald Trump's legal team won't put him on the stand in his hush money trial as he is a 'very difficult guy to control', a legal expert has predicted.

The former president is facing up to four years in prison in the ongoing trial over whether he falsified business records in a bid to squash negative press in the run up to the 2016 election.

He has repeatedly claimed he will testify to clear his name, but lawyer and professor at Syracuse University, Gregory Germain, told The Sun his lawyers likely won't let him take the stand.

Germain said: 'He's kind of a bull in a china shop. He's going to be bucking and you just don't know what's going to happen.

'He's a very difficult guy to control. His lawyers are going to be very concerned about putting him on the stand under oath.'

The former president is facing up to four years in prison if convicted in the ongoing trial

Lawyer and professor at Syracuse University, Gregory Germain, told The Sun his lawyers likely won't let Trump take the stand

Prosecutors allege Trump was part of a scheme to falsify records to hide a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her discussing an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election.

He denies all 34 charges of falsifying business records.

He is also facing three other trials, with one, for election interference, to start in Georgia in August. He denies all the charges.

There has been much speculation over whether the former President, the first to ever be prosecuted on criminal charges, will take the stand in the trial.

Speaking with The Sun, Germain said: 'The standard view of criminal lawyers is that you don't want your client to take the stand.

'It's very dangerous for the client to take the stand because if they say anything that turns out to be false, the jury will think everything is false and convict them.'

His lawyers would not be able to control which potentially embarrassing questions he was asked, or how he would answer.

Germain said: 'I would be very scared if I was an attorney to put Donald Trump on the stand.

Trump denies all 34 charges of falsifying business records

There has been much speculation over whether the former President, the first to ever be prosecuted on criminal charges, will take the stand in the trial

'You can't practice with him and get him to do the things the way you want him to do them.'

If it were Biden or Obama, it might be different, Germain said: 'They are kind of likable and they'd be able to not get themselves in trouble.'

But he added: 'I dont think Trump is able to control himself in any way ever, so its just too dangerous to put them on the stand.'

The trial is entering its fourth week and is expected to run into next month.

Germain said he thinks its unlikely Trump would be sentenced to jail even if convicted, he said: 'I think if he sentenced him to jail it would raise a hue and a cry and a crisis.'
A teenager has handed himself in over the assault of a German member of the European Parliament who was left seriously injured in a 'far right attack' while putting up posters in Dresden.

Matthias Ecke, 41, was assaulted on Friday evening and required surgery after being attacked by a group of four young men, his Social Democratic Party (SDP) revealed on Saturday.

A 17-year-old has now turned himself into police in Germany and claimed to be 'the perpetrator who had knocked down the SPD politician,' cops said in a statement Sunday morning.

'He admitted the act but didn't go beyond that,' police spokeswoman Silvaine Reiche said.

According to the Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA), the search is still underway for the remaining three suspects, who are all believed to be young men between the ages of 17 and 20.

Matthias Ecke, 41, was assaulted on Friday evening and required surgery after being ambushed by a group of four young men, in what is believed to have been a 'far right attack'

Ecke, a European parliament lawmaker for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SDP, was set upon by four assailants as he stuck up EU election posters in the Striesen district, according to cops.

Scholz on Saturday condemned the attack as a threat to democracy and said: 'We must never accept such acts of violence'.

The lawmaker is currently the top candidate in Saxony for June's European Parliament election.

'The attack on Matthias Ecke is an unmistakable alarm signal to all people in this country,' Henning Homann and Kathrin Michel, chairs of SPD's Saxony branch, said in the statement.

'Our democratic values are under attack.'

The statement also claimed that there had been other attempts at intimidation and the destruction of posters, as German police continue their investigations into the attack.

The SDP pointed the finger at supporters of the far-right party Alliance for Germany (AfD) for the assault on Ecke.

'Their supporters are now completely disinhibited and apparently see us democrats as fair game,' the statement said.

Following the shocking incident, anti-far-right protests have erupted across Berlin as the group is also believed to have attacked a Green Party member who was also seen campaigning just minutes before attacking Ecke, reports DW.

Participants gather for a demonstration against the far right and to condemn attacks on politicians, at Pariser Platz square in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany on May 5, 2024

A 17-year-old has turned himself in on early May 5, 2024 to police in Germany after an attack on a lawmaker in Dresden , that the country's leaders decried as a threat to democracy

A participant displays a placard 'Dresden thugs - willing accomplices of (AfD politician Bjoern) Hoecke' during a demonstration against the far right and to condemn attacks on politicians

Police revealed a 28-year-old man putting up posters for the Greens had been 'punched' and 'kicked' on the same Dresden street.

The groups Zusammen gegen Rechts (Together against the right) and Wir sind die Brandmauer Dresden (We are the firewall Dresden) called for Sunday protests in Berlin and Dresden.

According to initial police reports, over 1,000 people attended the demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in solidarity with the injured SDP politician.

The Green Party chairmen Ricarda Lang and Omid Nouripour, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, SPD General Secretary Kevin Kuhnert, as well as the Prime Ministers of Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, Michael Kretschmer and Hendrik Wust, also appeared at the protest, local reports have stated.

Last week, two Green deputies were verbally abused while campaigning in Essen, western Germany, and another was ambushed by several demonstrators in her car while in the east of the country.

The German Association of Cities have now called for tougher penalties for attacks on politicians.

'We have to protect politically active people better,' said City Council President Markus Lewe to the Dusseldorf Rheinische Post.

Lewe demanded that attacks on politicians must be 'consistently pursued and punished' by the police and judiciary.

According to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, the interior minister, Nancy Faeser, is planning to call a special conference with Germany's regional interior ministers next week to address violence against politicians.
New York City restauranteur Keith McNally took another swing at Jeff Bezos' fiancee and looped in Jerry Seinfeld's wife in the latest development to his newest celebrity feud.

McNally said he has been facing backlash for posting pictures of the Amazon founder and his wife-to-be Lauren Sanchez, where he branded her 'revolting.'

Rats were unleashed in his upmarket Balthazar restaurant in the Big Apple by a mystery diner in April - which the restauranteur said was a staged attack against him.

On Sunday, McNally took to Instagram to deliver a half-hearted apology and dragged those who criticized him for commenting on Sanchez's looks.

'Of course it's wrong to criticize someone you don't know - sorry Hitler - especially when they're as wholesome and natural as Sanchez looks in the photo above,' McNally said.

New York City restauranteur Keith McNally slammed those who criticized him for calling Lauren Sanchez revolting

McNally seemingly unprovoked, posted a serious of pictures of the couple with the caption, 'Does anybody else find Jeff Bezos' New wife - Lauren Sanchez - ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING?'

'Apologizes for my April 15th post where - due to being Stone Cold Sober - I called the helicopter-flying beauty "revolting-looking."'

'Joking aside, just because Sanchez may have spent a fortune on plastic surgery doesn't make her "revolting." In fact most of the revolting people I know haven't spent a penny on plastic surgery,' he said.

In his April 15 post, McNally seemingly unprovoked, posted a serious of pictures of the couple with the caption, 'Does anybody else find Jeff Bezos' New wife - Lauren Sanchez - ABSOLUTELY REVOLTING?'

'What an ugly and F***ing SMUG - LOOKING couple they make. Is this what having 1000 Billion dollars does to people?'

On Sunday, McNally went on to call out people who spoke in Sanchez's defense, including her celebrity pals.

'Although 90 percent of the 3,000 comments I received from my Sanchez post were light and funny - and in the vein of the post - the comments I received from other billionaires' wives were Unfunny and Weird,' McNally said.

'The Unfunniest was from the wife of comedian Jerry Seinfeld (whom I adore) - Jessica Seinfeld. Seinfeld must have been embarrassed by her comment because she quickly deleted it.'

'Here's part of it: "THIS POST IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR TWISTED, PITIFUL, AND HIDEOUS MIND. LAUREN HAS TWICE THE CHARACTER YOU DO."'

'"Twisted, pitiful, and hideous.' The f****r must have read my memoir,' he said.

McNally took to Instagram to deliver a half-hearted apology and dragged those who criticized him for commenting on Sanchez's looks

'Apologizes for my April 15th post where - due to being Stone Cold Sober - I called the helicopter-flying beauty "revolting-looking,"' McNally said

McNally went on to call out people who spoke in Sanchez's defense, including her celebrity pals such as Jessica Seinfeld (left)

Five days after his first post about Sanchez, diners managed to capture a video of what appeared to be a small rat running across the white tiled floor as it made a bid to escape from McNally's restaurant.

Waiters rushed into action to become makeshift rat catchers gathering all the napkins they could find as they attempted to capture the uninvited guest.

McNally's restaurant, which was awarded an A-rating during the city's latest Health Department kitchen inspections was quick to respond to reports of rats, viewing the entire incident with cynicism.

'A suspicious-looking man of about 40 came and sat nervously at Balthazar's bar last night around 8:30. After paying for one drink he suddenly left very quickly leaving an upturned bag which 5 white domesticated mice ran out from,' McNally posted to Instagram.

'One of the bartenders who noticed the whole episode ran after the man, but failed to catch him. The five domesticated white mice were quickly caught.

'The entire episode was a SET-UP. I just feel sorry that the 5 domesticated white mice were exploited this way,' McNally wrote.

The rat seen scurrying in the video, however, was brown in color and it is not clear if the incidents are separate or possibly part of a revenge plot following McNally's slights against Sanchez.

'A woman called Michelle Manning Barish seemed to have knowledge that the incident was about to happen because she was standing suspiciously close to where the incident happened with her iPhone ready to take photos She immediately posted one of the photos on Instagram and DM'd me a photo of a white mouse,' McNally stated.

Five days after his first post about Sanchez, diners managed to capture a video of what appeared to be a small rat running across the floor of McNally's restaurant

McNally said someone released the rats as part of a staged attack against him for posting about Sanchez

McNally, The owner of enduring New York City hot-spots Balthazar, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, and Morandi has previously picked several fights with well-known visitors to his restaurants.

In October of 2022, he started a weeks-long feud with then late-night host James Corden, who reportedly screamed at McNally's Balthazar staff over an all-yolk omelet his wife had attempted to order.

McNally posted a long statement to Instagram detailing Corden's alleged unpleasant encounters with the Balthazar staff and issuing a ban on Corden as a guest of his establishments.

Corden, who has on multiple occasions been pegged as difficult to work with, defended himself on-air and in a New York Times profile at the time.

He apologized, McNally reversed the ban, and things were smoothed over for a bit, but only until the restaurant boss got his hands on a copy of the London Times, in which Corden denied ever screaming at anyone.
He signed a 75-year lease and promised to repair the crumbling mansion

Photos have revealed the state of Prince Andrew's 30-room mansion which has fallen into disrepair amid an ongoing feud between the Duke and King Charles.

The Duke of York has lived in Royal Lodge for almost 20 years but his residence is now under threat amid fears King Charles will evict him from the 98-acre estate.

Prince Andrew has reportedly refused to leave property, which is thought to be worth 30million and promised King Charles he would take care of its expensive repairs - despite having no apparent source of income.

But the the King is reportedly becoming increasingly tired and frustrated at his brother's refusal to leave to care for the mansion at the heart of Windsor Park.

The King apparently wants his younger brother to move into the smaller Frogmore Cottage amid rumours the Prince of Wales is keen to take up residence in the mansion to reflect his role as heir to the throne.

Photos show the paintwork crumbling and cracks forming in the walls at Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge home

Other parts of the building in Windsor appear to have deep stains on the white paintwork despite the Duke's promise as part of the lease to renovate the property

Andrew, who took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease, has reportedly paid more than 7.5million of his own fortune for renovations

Prince Andrew has lived at the 30-room mansion since he took over the lease in 2003 and he now resides there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson

Despite signing a 75-year lease, the King is reportedly considering evicting his brother from the mansion and moving him to the smaller Frogmore Cottage

Andrew first moved into the large mansion in 2004 and now lives there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

He signed a 75-year lease, paying 250 a week and agreeing to maintain the vast property.

Part of the terms of this alleged deal with his older brother was that he would carry out repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed house, but these do not appear to have been done yet.

It was reported that Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, may have his royal allowance of 249,000 cut, making it difficult for the Duke to fulfill his promises.

He reportedly told his friends that such a drastic change to his finances would mean he would not be able to cover the costs of the estate.

Despite his possible money worries, sources close to the Duke said back in January: 'Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease.'

The Mail revealed last year that the King had offered his younger brother a more modest property but Andrew reportedly saw this as a 'demotion' too far.

The Royal Lodge sits in the heart of Windsor Park, three miles south of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate.

The outside of the building is covered in chipped paint and needs sanding down and repainting

Parts of the building have gone grey where they were once a bright, iconic white

Prince Andrew has reportedly refused to leave property leaving King Charles tired and frustrated

Frogmore Cottage, which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan, was suggested as a possible alternative but the Duke felt it would be a demotion

The stunning royal property is set among trees and woodland at the heart of Windsor Part just three miles south of Windsor Castle

Royal Lodge is currently the main residence of Prince Andrew but is in need of serious repairs which the Duke may not be able to finance if the King cuts his 249,000 royal allowance

Royal Lodge has been Prince Andrew's family home for more than 20 years and Princess Eugenie (pictured) held her wedding reception there after her nuptials to Jack Brooksbank

It was previously the residence of the Queen Mother from 1952 until her death in 2002.

The 17th century lodge has 30 rooms including seven bedrooms across two floors.

It has a large formal drawing room and a saloon as well as the original conservatory.

Prince Andrew leased the Royal Lodge almost 20 years ago from the Crown Estate for a 1million one-off payment.

So far the Duke has spent roughly 7million of his won fortunes on renovating the property meaning he has spent almost 40million since 2003 despite the property not being worth 30million if put on the market today.

The repair work ahs included 200,000 for roof maintenance and work to solve a damp problem throughout the property.

In 2018, Andrew's youngest daughter Princess Eugenie held her wedding reception at the Royal Lodge, after her wedding to Jack Brooksbank.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reiterated calls to take away student visas from those participating in anti-Israel protests on college campuses.

Just days after the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, Republicans began publicly calling on President Joe Biden to revoke visas of foreign college students if they expressed pro-Hamas sentiment.

Since then, protests at colleges have increased tenfold  with instances of threats of violence  and some universities are warning Jewish students and teachers to steer clear of campus for their own safety.

'I saw another video of a Jewish student who had to get police  had to basically shame the police into escorting him so that he could go into an area of the university where he had every right to be because of these zombies, these antisemitic left-wing nutcases that the president should have been very firm about,' Rubio told Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream.

The senator is also doubling-down on calls for students who are not American citizens to be sent back to their countries if they are participating in these widespread demonstrations.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reiterated months-long calls from Republicans to revoke visas of international students who support Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza in the war with Israel

WATCH: Senator @marcorubio calls for foreign students supporting Hamas to have their visa revoked. pic.twitter.com/MWi1S3eMBk  Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) May 5, 2024

Students on college campuses across the U.S. set up encampments and pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the last several weeks to up calls for a ceasefire from Israel. Pictured: Protesters participate in prayer at the anti-Israel encampment at George Washington University in D.C. on Friday, May 3

But he claims Biden isn't taking action even after seven months of war because he is 'weak' and 'feeble.'

'Joe Biden at very early on should have said as I asked him to do back in October, if you're not an American., you're here on a visa, and you're here to teach or you're here to go to school and you're out there chanting on behalf of Hamas and Hezbollah and these terrorist groups you should have your visa revoked and eliminated,' Rubio said.

He listed examples of what he claims are atrocities committed during these demonstrations, including defacing of the George Washington statue at GW University in Washington, D.C.

The Republican added that any non-citizen on a student or teaching visa who takes down American flags and puts up Palestinian ones should be removed.

While several universities have experienced disrupting demonstrations, Columbia University is possibly the most well-known example of clashes between the student protesters and their administrators, as well as from Republican lawmakers.

Students set up an encampment on the New York City campus and refused to take it down even following threats of law enforcement action to remove them.

Rubio says the protesters 'hate America' and if on visas should immediately have them revoked and then removed from the country.

'[Biden] should have been very clear about whose side we're on from the very beginning,' the senator told Fox on Sunday morning, adding: 'Look, there's a bunch of Democratic donors, major Democratic donors who are behind the groups that are funding all this.'

Protesters link arms outside Hamilton Hall to barricade students inside the building at Columbia University on April 30

Just a few weeks after the initial Hamas attack on Israel, 19 Republican lawmakers joined forces to call for foreign students who expressed support for the terrorist group to have their visas revoked.

'We write to request information regarding the potentially unlawful presence on U.S. soil of non-immigrant foreign nationals who have endorsed terrorist activity,' they said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The White House pushed back at the time, warning the proposals would not pass First Amendment protections on free speech.

'I would just tell you, you don't have to agree with every sentiment as expressed in a free country like this to stand by the idea of the First Amendment and the idea of peaceful protest. I'll leave it at that,' White House national security spokesman John Kirby said at the time.
The family of Paul Whelan, the former Marine currently being held in Russian prison, say he is 'disintegrating.'

During a News Nation interview with Natasha Zouves, Whelan's brother, David Whelan described the bleak state his brother now finds himself in five years into his captivity.

'He's just disintegrating, and will continue to do so,' said David.

'His cognitive mental health is deteriorating. We're starting to get a sense of that in the phone calls. He's got physical problems. He's got a cracked tooth he can't get fixed.'

Whelan has been in Russian custody since just after Christmas in 2018, when he was in Russia to attend the wedding of a former fellow US Marine.

He's just disintegrating, and will continue to do so,' said David Whelan of his brother Paul (pictured)

David, who is Paul's twin, also said the current and former administrations have both failed to figure out how to deal with the nuances of his brother's case.

'I think theyre (U.S. government) making it a priority, (but) I think that theyve failed so far, and will continue to fail to find a way to bring Paul home.

'They still havent cracked the enigma for them about why Pauls case is different,' he said.

He hopes the Biden administration will continue working on the issue, and hopes his brother will 'stay strong' in the meantime.

Last month, WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was held captive alongside Whelan in Russia for ten months but released in a prisoner swap arranged by the Biden administration, said she was surprised that Whelan did not make it home with her.

'When they closed the door (the plane she took home), I was like, "are you serious? You're not gonna let this man come home right now?"' she said during an interview with ABC.

In July of 2022, Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges after bringing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage through Sheremetyevo International Airport.

She was eventually freed in a 1-for-1 swap that was specifically criticized for its failure to return Whelan.

Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, whose is referred to internationally sometimes as the 'Merchant of Death.'

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of spying and arrested in Russia stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on August 23, 2019

The deal drew criticism from Republicans, who were upset that the White House failed to get Whelan as well. In response to attacks from the right, White House officials acknowledged prisoner swaps are costly, adding that they felt compelled to bring Griner home while they had the chance.

In her GMA interview, Griner spoke with Robin Roberts about the awareness she is trying to raise surrounding other Americans detained overseas, including Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in in 2023 also for alleged espionage charges.

In 2022, David Whelan said he worries his brother will never made it home.

'I think we all realize that the math is not going to work out for Paul to come home anytime soon, unless the U.S. government is able to find concessions,' David Whelan said. 'And so I think we aren't really sure what the way forward is.'
A murder victim's family have told of their fury after discovering her killer was an illegal immigrant who should have been deported 20 years ago.

Zimbabwe-born Obert Moyo, 46, had been able to stay in this country despite three previous attacks on women.

He was jailed for life last week with a minimum term of 27 years for stabbing his former partner Perseverance Ncube, 35, through the heart with a foot-long meat skewer in front of her children aged ten and 12.

As he was sentenced, it emerged that jealous Moyo had overstayed on his visa in the early 2000s and went on to commit crimes against women prior to the murder in Salford.

Ms Ncube was an Avon lady known as Percy. Her sister Christine Chiriseri, 28, said the family only discovered the killer was an illegal immigrant after his arrest.

Obert Moyo, 46, stabbed his former partner Perseverance Ncube, 35, through the heart with a foot-long meat skewer in front of her children aged ten and 12

Zimbabwe-born Moyo has been jailed for 27 years. After his conviction it emerged he had overstayed his visa and had committed other serious crimes against women prior to the murder in Salford

She added: 'I was very angry and upset because all of this tragedy could have been avoided if people had done their jobs properly.

'We all felt very let down by the Home Office and the people who should have made sure he was deported.'

Ms Chiriseri, who is taking care of the children, said: 'I am reeling over everything that has happened.

'I am trying to move on from the whole situation but I still have to process and understand what happened.

'I still feel very angry. It was a short-term relationship and it cost my sister her life.' Moyo, who admitted murder, had been convicted of harassing women in 2007 and 2009, with the latter leading to a six-month sentence.

In 2013, he was jailed for ten years with an extended licence for attacking another ex-partner in Brighton.

The victim was working at a care home when Moyo broke in through a window by unscrewing it and burning it with a blowtorch.

Once inside and armed with numerous weapons including two knives and a screwdriver, he went on to repeatedly punch her, cut her with the knife and strangle her.

He was convicted of wounding with intent, threats to kill and aggravated burglary.

On his release, instead of deporting him as an 'overstayer', the Home Office fitted him with a tag.

The murder trial at Manchester Crown Court heard Moyo failed to tell his probation officer as part of his licence conditions that he had started a new relationship with Ms Ncube, a single mother with jobs as a childminder and a bookkeeper.

Moyo forced his way into Ms Ncube's home on November 10 last year and attacked her in her bedroom before chasing her into the street and stabbing her.

Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning said: 'Percy's family deserves answers as to why this man... was allowed to remain in this country illegally. Had Moyo been deported, Percy's children would still have a mother.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Government is doing everything possible to reduce legal challenges and to increase the numbers of foreign national offenders being removed.'
A Florida woman was left feeling like she had been 'baited and switched' after a property tax hike meant she had to sell her dream home just a year after buying it.

Tamra Ransom told WFLA-TV that she bought the perfect house in Polk county in May last year.

Then her property tax was hiked by 174 percent, from $2,700 a year to $7,400, making it too expensive for her to continue living there and forcing her to put the home back on the market.

She told the outlet: 'It's very upsetting because I put most of my savings into the house.'

Property tax is assessed on the basis of a house's value and a city's tax rates, if the value of the property goes up, property tax goes up too.

Tamra Ransom told WFLA-TV that she bought the perfect house in Polk county in May last year

Then the property tax was hiked by 174 percent, making it too expensive for her to continue living there and forcing her to put the home back on the market

Ransom said that when she bought her house the property tax was around $2,700.

She expected it to 'vary a little bit, [maybe] a few hundred [to] a thousand dollars.'

But when she got her new valuation she was shocked to see it had jumped 174 percent, meaning the annual property tax would be $7,400.

She told WFLA-TV: 'I felt like I'd been baited and switched.'

In Florida, homeowners are assessed for property tax yearly depending on the market value of the house each January 1.

They are assessed based on size, location and condition, as well as market conditions.

Property values have soared post-pandemic, meaning property taxes have risen too, but with their cash locked up in the house, homeowners can struggle to pay the bills.

Ransom was left with no choice but to re-sell her home.

Attorney Michael Finn told WFLA-TV: 'This is definitely a buyer beware type of situation.'

Ransom said that when she bought her house (pictured) the property tax was around $2,700

She said: 'Its very upsetting because I put most of my savings into the house  the down payment, alarm systems and things like that.

'And Im losing all of that because I have to sell the house  and Im not going to get really anything back.'

Attorney Michael Finn told WFLA-TV: 'This is definitely a buyer beware type of situation. [Property] values have soared, particularly anywhere near the water.

'Somebody that bought a house five-years-ago may realize a value increase of two to three times.'

Finn added: 'You can dispute it, but youre not going to win a significant decrease because the property assessors office is very skilled at their valuations.'
QUESTION: Were the events depicted in The Train, starring Burt Lancaster, true?

The Train (1964) was loosely based on the non-fiction book Le Front De L'Art by Rose Valland. Valland was a French art historian and member of the French Resistance.

She worked at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris, where she secretly recorded details of the looting of art treasures by the Nazis.

Shortly before the Liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944, Valland learned that General Heinrich Baron von Behr had planned to loot, via train, a massive haul of art containing almost 1,000 paintings, including works by Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Modigliani and Picasso.

The plot was foiled using a well-timed railway worker strike, resulting in the priceless works being blocked into a siding before they were rescued by the Free French forces. The film depicts, in spectacular gun-toting style, a fictionalised version of these events.

Justin Wright, Malvern, Worcs.

The Train (1964) was loosely based on the non-fiction book Le Front De L'Art by Rose Valland

QUESTION Did the composer Benjamin Britten suffer from OCD?

Benjamin Britten was a brilliant 20th-century composer, celebrated for his operatic works including Peter Grimes.

Tomorrow's Questions

Q: What's the oldest recipe for tomato ketchup? Bernadette Edwards, Swindon, Wilts. Q: Were any automobiles manufactured in China under the dictatorship of Chairman Mao? James Dickie, Crawley, West Sussex. Q: Samuel Johnson once said: 'I should have thought it not possible to find a Monboddo; yet he exists.' What is known of Lord Monboddo? Samantha Bain, Aldershot, Hants. Advertisement

Britten was difficult and anxious but he didn't suffer from OCD. This idea stems from one of many anecdotes that surround his life.

One evening while touring with his 1946 opera The Rape Of Lucretia, librettist Ronald Duncan was surprised to find Britten hobbling along the corridor of his Edinburgh hotel. 'What I am trying to do,' he explained, 'is walk down the corridor and back without touching any of the red lines on the carpet.'

When Duncan asked why, Britten replied: 'If I can get up and down the corridor without touching the lines it will mean that I am a composer.'

Becca Williams, Hereford.

QUESTION Have two actors ever had a falling out over who gets top billing in a film?

Further to the earlier answer, a famous battle over top billing took place between Jimmy Durante and Ethel Merman when starring in Cole Porter's 1936 stage musical, Red, Hot And Blue.

The dispute was resolved by having their names arranged in an 'X'. An up-and-coming young actor called Bob Hope appeared below.

J. S. Bowles, Luton, Beds.
Britain has seen the fourth-highest rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Europe since the October 7 Hamas attacks, 'staggering' figures have revealed.

Amid rising concern about US-style pro-Palestine protests at UK universities, a disturbing international league table yesterday showed hate crimes aimed at Jewish people leapt from 1,662 to 4,103 last year  up 146 per cent.

In Europe, only France, Switzerland and Bulgaria recorded a higher rate of increase  prompting campaigners to warn that Britain was 'succumbing to a racist mob'.

Disturbingly, the UK also witnessed 58 per cent more assaults on Jewish people between October 7 and the end of 2023 than the US, despite having just one twentieth as many Jews.

The alarming figures come as universities were accused of deserting Jewish students over pro-Palestinian protests sweeping the country.

Britain has seen the fourth highest rate of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe since Hamas unleashed their terror attack in southern Israel on October 7 last year

The aftermath of an attack on the Supernova music Festival by Palestinian militants on October 7

Students at an encampment on the grounds of Newcastle University, protesting against the war in Gaza

West Yorkshire Police at Leeds University where protesters set up tents on campus in solidarity with Palestine

On Saturday, Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said that campus bosses had not been 'allies' to his members and were not making them feel 'included'.

Tell police of hate speech on campus, says minister University bosses must alert the police if there is 'illegal hate speech' or extremism during campus protests, the Education Secretary has said. Gillian Keegan warned vice-chancellors of 'alarming levels of division and violence' at universities in the US where pro-Palestine activists have clashed with counter-protesters. Protests have spread to British universities, with students setting up tents. University officials have been summoned to Downing Street this week to discuss the issue. In a letter, Mrs Keegan tells them: 'I know a great deal of work is already under way to plan emergency responses to any escalation of protests... enabling students of all faiths to complete their studies without fear of intimidation or discrimination... Where there is evidence of possible criminality, including illegal hate speech or supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hamas, it is crucial that you contact the police.' Advertisement

Figures compiled in an annual report on anti-Semitism by Tel Aviv University and the respected Anti-Defamation League found a sharp increase in incidents since October 7 last year in a string of countries.

Subsequent analysis by the Daily Mail found that the percentage rise in the UK was only topped by France  home to Europe's biggest Jewish population and where there was a 284 per cent increase in anti-Semitic incidents  Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Outside Europe, recorded incidents in Australia  home to 118,200 Jews  rocketed by 737 per cent, from 79 in October and November 2022 to 662 in the same period 12 months later.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said yesterday: 'These staggering figures are the latest confirmation of the surging anti-Semitism that we are seeing across all areas of British life since the October 7 Hamas attack.

'As this report shows, this is not a problem unique to Britain, but Britain is not faring well, and every country must act to protect its Jewish community.

'This is not the tolerant Britain that we cherish: it is a Britain succumbing to a racist mob.'

Highlighting how incidents were on the rise globally even before October 7, the report's authors warned the Hamas terror outrage had 'helped spread a fire that was already out of control'.

Professor Uriya Shavit, head of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, cautioned that 'if current trends continue, the curtain will descend on the ability to lead Jewish lives in the West'.

'With bomb threats against synagogues becoming a daily occurrence, Jewish existence in the West is forced to fortify itself, and the more it does so, the more the sense of security and normality is undermined,' he added.
A desperate air and sea search has been launched for a cruise ship passenger feared to have fallen overboard.

Two cruise ships - the Carnival Splendor and P&O's Pacific Adventure - were due to dock in Sydney Harbour before 6am on Monday.

The ships have been forced to remain offshore as the search continues.

A man on the Pacific Adventure told 2GB radio that he and 2,600 other passengers woke to a 'man overboard call' early on Monday.

'We got woken up with the man overboard call and from there it's been all on for a couple of hours now,' he said.

A driver who was supposed to pick up passengers from the Pacific Adventure explained that he was told not to rush because the 'the ship's stopped outside the head and somebody's gone overboard.'

P&O Cruises confirmed a search is underway and that staff were providing the missing passenger's family with support.

'P&O's Pacific Adventure is currently undertaking a search and rescue operation off Sydney after a person overboard alarm was raised at 4am,' a spokesperson said.

A desperate search has been launched for a cruise ship passenger feared to have fallen overboard during the ship's return to Sydney (stock image)

The Carnival Splendor and P&O's Pacific Adventure were due to dock in Sydney Harbour before 6am on Monday (both ships are pictured in waters off Sydney's eastern suburbs)

'Since this time, the ship carrying more than 2,600 guests, has been onsite searching along with other nearby vessels deployed to the area by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

'The family of this guest is being cared for by our onboard team while every effort is being made to find them.'

Pacific Adventure's arrival into Sydney Harbour has been cancelled as the large-scale search, which includes a rescue helicopter, continues.

A NSW Police spokesman confirmed an urgent search was underway following reports a passenger had disappeared 10 nautical miles from Sydney Heads.

'Police are leading the search of waters off Sydney following reports a person was in the water,' the spokesman said.

'NSW Police Marine Area Command have deployed a number of resources to search for the person and are leading the co-ordination of the water search.'

Passengers on the Pacific Adventure woke to a 4am 'man overboard alarm' on Monday (pictured is vessels in the search zone near Sydney Heads)

Pacific Adventure's arrival into Sydney Harbour has been cancelled as the large-scale search, which includes a rescue helicopter, continues (stock image)

The Pacific Adventure is returning from a three-day cruise to Queensland's Morton Island which is understood to have had an Elvis theme.

Carnival Splendor also remains at sea to ensure search efforts are not hindered.

More to come.
A California music teacher has been found dead only a day after he was arrested on suspicion of the sexual abuse and molestation of a child under the age of 14.

Darren Smith, 55, from Fairfax, who taught music at Mill Valley Middle School, north of San Francisco, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and the continuous sexual abuse of a child.

When school district officials became aware of the allegations, they contacted the Sheriff's Office and placed Smith on administrative leave.

But less than 24 hours later, on Wednesday evening, Smith's body was recovered from the waters off Drakes Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Emergency services were notified after someone on the shoreline spotted what they believed to be a surfer who had possibly been washed out to sea at Point Reyes.

California music teacher Darren Smith, 55, was arrested on Tuesday following a report that the school district filed with the Marin County Sheriff's Office

His body was found dead in the waters off of Drakes Beach on Point Reyes near San Francisco a day after his arrest on suspicion of sexually abusing a child

The man was last seen at around 10am on Wednesday with his surfboard washing ashore a few hours later at 1pm.

First responders from the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Marin County Fire Department, and the Sonoma and Marin sheriff's offices then began an 'exhaustive' search for the man.

By 5:30pm, the body was found floating in the ocean and was later identified as being Smith.

An autopsy and toxicology test was conducted on Friday with the exact cause of Smith's death to be determined.

The Sheriff's Office said Mill Valley Unified School District had notified them of the allegations and placed Smith on administrative leave.

Smith had been employed by the district since August 2013 and taught music in kindergarten through fifth grade at Mill Valley Middle School

Smith's arrest came 'after a thorough investigation of the allegations, including forensic interviews and evaluation of evidence with detectives developing probable cause to arrest Smith', police said.

Smith had been employed by the district since August 2013 and taught music in kindergarten through fifth grade. He had also previously worked for 13 years as a music teacher at elementary schools in the Alameda Unified School District.

Smith was booked into the Marin County Jail on Tuesday, where his bail had been set at $200,000.

The sheriff's office said there are two known victims in the case, but declined to say whether they are students in the school district.

'The district has zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of our students,' district officials said in a statement on Tuesday.

Marin County Superior Court records show Smith was going to be charged with two felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child and one misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child.

Elizabeth Kaufman, the superintendent of the Mill Valley School District, sent a letter home on Thursday to parents about Smith's death

Elizabeth Kaufman, the superintendent of the Mill Valley School District, sent a letter home on Thursday to parents about Smith's death.

'This loss comes amid unsettling news regarding Mr. Smith's recent arrest, adding a layer of complexity to the emotions we feel,' she wrote.

Kaufman said the schools have counselors and other staff members who can assist students who 'need help processing' the news about Smith's death.

'Thank you for your compassion and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together,' Kaufman said. 'Let us hold Mr. Smith's family and loved ones in our thoughts as they face this loss.'
A Colorado woman is embracing the nickname of 'Wicked Witch of the West' after she battled with her small town over fencing off a beach that was next to her land and drew countless visitors.

Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in the Colorado town of Kittredge.

The land was a total of .68 acres and had a creek running through her yard, a huge part of the charm for Romero.

Her family loved it but hated the dozens of people, including children, who would show up every day at the creek. The public had been using the land for decades, unaware it was privately owned.

'For a long time, the community really had the narrative of me being a wicked witch who hates kids and wants them off her property,' Romero said.

Taralyn Romero, 43, bought a home next to Kittredge Park in the Colorado town of Kittredge and banned locals from using it

The land was a total of .68 acres and had a creek running through her yard, a huge part of the charm for Romero. Her family loved it but hated the dozens of people, including children, who would show up every day at the creek

'For a long time, the community really had the narrative of me being a wicked witch who hates kids and wants them off her property,' Romero said

She admitted she wears the moniker proudly and even uses it as her TikTok account, where she advocates for property rights.

The people she bought the property from had a quiet agreement to let whoever wanted to use the creek hang out, to the point that most assumed it was part of Kittredge Park.

The land officially belongs to Romero and her fiance, according to surveys done on the property.

'We have 55 people with families, dogs, tents, coolers, grills, beach umbrellas, towels, six-packs. It had turned into a water park,' she said.

Romero said she was often treated cruelly on the internet and in person for protecting what was legally hers.

'When you get that kind of dissension on whose land is it and you involve children and you involve rhetoric of a screaming lady, it really was like wildfire for social media,' she told CBS News.

It got so ridiculous the haters began to commit vandalism in the name of wanting to use the land.

'They were incredibly abusive to me verbally, and abusive to the land. Sometimes they were bringing out metal shovels and literally destroying the creek bank, they were breaking trees, leaving trash,' Romero said.

She admitted she wears the moniker proudly and even uses it as her TikTok account , where she advocates for property rights

The people she bought the property from had a quiet agreement to let whoever wanted to use the creek hang out, to the point that most assumed it was part of Kittredge Park

Romero said she was often treated cruelly on the internet and in person for protecting what was legally hers

She chose to put barriers around the land herself to keep guests from using the creek.

''Even if it is her land, take it from her' and they did, well they tried,' she explained.

Jefferson County - where Kittredge and the land are located - decided to take Romero to court.

They attempted to cite the lengthy history of the public using the land and practices known as 'adverse possession' laws to get the land from Romero.

Romero used her 'Real Wicked Witch of the West' TikTok to drum up support from people who sympathized.

'They were writing the commissioners, they were making phone calls, and they were truly standing with me in a battle to keep my property,' Romero said.

Romero settled with the county in May of 2023, with a fence being built to officially delineate where her land ended. She gave up a small chunk to the county in exchange for a $250,000 payout

'Although I was ready to go to Supreme Court, I had to weigh my family life, I had to weigh financial hardship,' Romero said.

Romero used her 'Real Wicked Witch of the West' TikTok to drum up support from people who sympathized

Romero settled with the county in May of 2023, with a fence being built to officially delineate where her land ended

The fence now keeping people off of Romero's land while allowing others to keep using the creek

'At the end of the day, I said "you know what, let's split this baby."'

The fence was built in January and the land outside the fence is now managed by the local parks department.

She said a teenager has attempted to hop the fence recently but the barrier has quieted the dispute.

'Hopefully that's the last of it. But unfortunately, I think we're going to have another summer of people trying to push the boundary and getting triggered by a fence,' Romero said.

Her next step is a lawsuit against the people she bought the home from for not disclosing the history. Their court mediation is set for later this month.

'Yes, I'm ready to put it behind me but not before I seek some accountability in the courts for the people who sold me my home,' Romero said.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian campaigners have been elected as councillors as the war in Gaza hit town halls across Britain.

More than 40 councillors were elected in England after making the conflict part of their campaign, analysis of Thursday's vote suggests.

Some wore rosettes in the colours of the Palestinian flag while others dedicated their victories to the people of Gaza.

One shouted: 'We will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu Akbar!'

In at least 12 town halls, they defeated Labour candidates, prompting opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer to pledge to win back the trust of voters alienated over his stance on the issue.

The moment a Green Party councillor shouts 'Allahu Akbar' after being elected in Leeds

More than 40 councillors were elected in England after making the conflict part of their campaign, analysis of Thursday's vote suggests. Pictured: Councillor Mothin Ali

The Palestine sympathisers riding wave of support for wartorn Gaza Candidates across northern Britain were elected to councils after expressing support for the Palestinian cause. Kaleel Khan, who campaigned as a pro-Palestinian independent candidate in the Thameside Council elections in Greater Manchester defeated long-serving Labour incumbent Dave McNally. His campaign website reads: 'The Labour Party's failure to declare the Israeli actions in Gaza a potential genocide is a disgrace.' It was one of two seats Labour lost to an independent. Law graduate Aisha Kouser was one of eight independent candidates to win a seat on Oldham Council also in Greater Manchester. Ms Kouser was among several candidates to express her support for Palestine while running for election and she included the red, white, green and black flag on her campaign material. She won more than double the votes of her nearest rival  the Labour candidate  after describing herself as a 'voice for Palestine' in the run-up to the election. Meanwhile, the Palestinian flag was also used by a group of prospective councillors standing as Blackburn Independents. Seven of the nine were elected to Blackburn with Darwen Council. On their website, the group said they were motivated by the 'perceived lack of adequate attention and support from both the Labour and Conservative parties'. They added: '[We] aspire to bring a fresh perspective to the political arena, advocating for justice, and addressing the gaps left by mainstream politics regarding the Palestinian cause.' Advertisement

His comments led one pressure group, The Muslim Vote, to issue him with an extraordinary set of 18 demands, including ending Britain's military ties with Israel and recognising the state of Palestine.

Last night senior Tories said they feared the elections will mean town halls end up being dominated by debates over foreign affairs rather than local services.

Ex-Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Mail: 'People are entitled to their views but foreign affairs is a matter for the House of Commons, not local councils.

'This is a consequence of the Left's attempt to segment society and create a coalition of minorities rather than a unified whole. This is very divisive for the country at large.'

Former Home Office minister Sir John Hayes added: 'I find it disturbing when you have people standing for election not because they care about making a contribution to building a better Britain, but because they are more interested in events overseas.

'It's important that people can express their views on foreign affairs, but that should not be the basis for standing to govern a local authority.'

Tory candidate and former No 10 chief of staff Nick Timothy said: 'Of course it alarms people that politicians scream 'Allahu Akbar' about a foreign war in a British local election held to decide who collects the bins.

'As ever, the usual liberal suspects prefer to turn a blind eye, or even defend it.'

The war has loomed large over Westminster since Hamas's terror attack of October 7 triggered deadly reprisals by Israel.

Sir Keir suffered the biggest rebellion of his leadership in November when ten frontbenchers resigned or quit over his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

But Thursday's local elections were the first time that large numbers of pro-Palestine campaigners have stood for election, mostly in areas of the North West with large Muslim populations.

It will lead to concerns about growing sectarianism in British politics. In Oldham, independent candidates won eight of the 21 seats available, with several of them explicitly campaigning in support of Palestine.

Mothin Ali out campaigning for his council seat - which he won on Thursday

Members of the Blackburn Independents group who adopted the Palestinian flag in their campaign for election

Aisha Kouser (pictured) won more than double the votes of her nearest rival, Labour's candidate, after describing herself to voters in Oldham as a 'voice for Palestine' in her campaign material

Reform 'handed the West Mids mayoralty to Labour' Wavering Conservative voters who opted for Reform in the West Midlands mayoral election handed the seat to Labour, Tories said yesterday. Reform candidate Elaine Williams picked up 34,471 votes in a contest which saw Andy Street ousted by Labour's Richard Parker by just 1,508 ballots. Ministers and backbenchers lamented the insurgent Reform party for splitting the vote. Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Sky News: 'Any Conservative who chooses to vote Reform just gets more Labour people elected... the opposite of what those people want to see.' Advertisement

In Pendle, Lancashire, pro-Palestinian independents won five of the 12 seats up for grabs.

There was a similar surge in Bradford, where nine of the 30 seats went to independents. Seven of the candidates either criticised Labour directly for its Gaza stance, or made pro-Palestinian statements.

Mothin Ali, a Green Party candidate in Leeds, said he would 'raise the voice of Palestine  Allahu Akbar!' during his victory speech, although Palestine did not feature on his party profile page.

Tory peer Lord Jackson of Peterborough said the Greens 'will rue the day it admitted these deranged zealots into their party for cheap opportunistic short-term reasons'.

In the West Midlands mayoral election, pro-Palestine independent Akhmed Yakoob came third with 69,621 votes.

Before the count there had been an anonymous briefing to the BBC  condemned by Labour HQ  that the party would lose the contest as a result of the 'Middle East not West Midlands', and that Hamas were 'real villains'.

Sir Keir told Sky News: 'I say directly to those who may have voted Labour in the past, but felt on this occasion they couldn't, that across the West Midlands we are a proud and diverse community. I have heard you. I have listened.

'And I am determined to meet your concerns and to gain your respect and trust again in the future.'
A teen who allegedly attacked two of his school teachers is being charged as an adult, prosecutors confirmed - after one of the suspected strikes was filmed and went viral.

Aquavis Hickman, a 17-year-old student at Parkland High School in North Carolina, was indicted on the assault and kidnapping charges last week, Forsyth County District Attorneys said.

He is being charged as an adult in the two separate attacks, one of which was filmed.

In the first, un-filmed incident, he allegedly attacked a male teacher at the school in February, and in their statement, prosecutors said he did not act alone.

Then, last month, officials claimed the teen walked up to a female teacher and smacked her twice, with footage of the alleged attack later circulating on social media. It has yet to be released by cops.

Scroll down for video:

A teen at Parkland High School in North Carolina who allegedly attacked two of his school teachers is being charged as an adult, prosecutors confirmed Thursday - after one of the suspected strikes went viral

Aquavis Hickman, a 17-year-old student at Parkland High School in North Carolina, was indicted on the assault and kidnapping charges last week, Forsyth County District Attorneys said - for the April 15 incident that was filmed and another that allegedly occurred on February 1

'That video went viral nationwide and it put us on the map in a negative manner,' Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn told Fox affiliate WGHP-TV News during a joint press conference following Hickman's arrest Thursday.

'I am so glad today that the rest of the nation will also hear that we do not tolerate that in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.'

Also in attendance were Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill and Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, at a meeting intended to serve as the first step in taking a stand against violence against educators, organizers said.

'Our message to our community is simple,' O'Neill told reporters around a crowded podium.

'We stand with the teachers. We will fight to protect those teachers. And if you lay a hand on a teacher and assault a teacher, you can expect that the punishment will be swift and severe. Promise made. Promise kept.'

As promised, the case against Hickman was transferred from juvenile to Superior Court last week, where a grand jury elected to indict him.

The decision comes as officials like O'Neill said Hickman could avoid an adult criminal case due to the charges only amounting to a misdemeanor.

That was before Hickman was hit with felony second-degree kidnapping charges for the April incident, for 'unlawfully confining and restraining [the female victim] without her consent for the purpose of terrorizing her', O'Neill revealed Friday.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill held a joint press conference following Hickman's arrest Thursday

Also in attendance were Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough (left) and Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn (right), who said the video going viral was was 'put us on the map' to the alleged incidents

On April 15, the teen walked up to a female teacher and smacked her twice, the officials claimed on Thursday, citing footage that later circulated on social media

The footage - in which students are heard giggling in the background as the student stalks back to his seat while taunting his victim - has yet to be released by cops. 'Ain't nobody comin', the suspect is heard saying after seemingly slapping the unnamed victim

He further revealed how Hickman - who is seen slapping the middle-aged teacher in the face while she is sat at her desk - was also indicted for assault on a government official and communicating threats.

Video of the April 15 attack appears to show Hickman smacking the unnamed woman twice.

'Do you think that affected me in any way?' the teacher can be heard asking after the first strike, spurring Hickman to ask: 'Want me to hit you again?'

'I don't want it,' the teacher says, as Hickman stands up over her. She is then struck again. This time though, the hit is so forceful, the woman's glasses are seen flying off her face.

As that occurs, the teenager is heard trudging on with his profanity-filled rant.

'Ain't nobody even coming,' he tells the cowering woman. You got slapped. B***h, go back to teaching.'

O'Neill also hinted at how the student did not act alone during the February incident, which took place on February 1 and was not filmed.

Prosecutors said it also happened on school grounds, and involved a male teacher. That incident saw Hickman also hit with second-degree kidnapping charges, as well as allegations of misdemeanor riot.

That attack happened at this school in North Salem, along with another back in February that allegedly saw a male teacher struck

That's because Hickman gathered with at least two others and 'engaged in a public disturbance' before the attack, officials said Thursday.

He went on to also kidnap the second teacher in this case, attempting to fight him.

'This disorderly and violent conduct created a clear and present danger of injury to the victim in this case,' O'Neill said. 'Sheriff Kimbrough, Chief Penn and myself made a promise to this community that we would not tolerate any assaults on our teachers, plain and simple.'

Citing statistics showing a rise in student attacks on educators in the county over the years, O'Neill warned other students will face similar consequences in the future, comparing the severity of striking schoolteachers to assaulting a police officer.

'We're here to see that you're never assaulted when you go to work,' he told those crowded at the press conferences.

'We want to remind people if you put your hands on a teacher, it's the same as if you put your hands on one of these officers.

'The district attorney's office will bring the weight of this office down on top of you, so you should have fear of consequences.'

School district officials declined to comment on the case or Hickman's arrest. A trial date was not announced.

Hickman's arrest comes just weeks after a former PHS substitute teacher came forward to claim he was also assaulted by the student when he was subbing for a biology class in early May 2023. Pictured, Larry Edwards, who made the claims after the video went viral

He added how he was disappointed in the teen after learning of the new charges, after he said officials at the downtown juvenile office 'swept [his incident] under the rug.' Edward's name is not mentioned in the two cases against Hickman, seen here. Neither are the two victims

Hickman's arrest comes just weeks after a former PHS substitute teacher came forward to claim he was also assaulted by the student when he was subbing for a biology class in early May 2023.

'I was appalled,' Larry Edwards, who spent some 40 years of his career teaching at PHS before retiring and becoming a sub, told WGHP-TV News on April 22.

'I walked up to the desk to get my phone to call the office, and he mockingly walked behind me, and I happened to turn around and see him, and the students started laughing,' Edwards said. 'The next thing I know, he had taken his hand and smushed my head, and everybody started laughing, and he ran out.'

Edwards added how he was shocked to learn he knew the student responsible for the April attack after seeing Hickman's face plastered all over the news.

He added he was disappointed after learning of the charges, after officials at the downtown juvenile office sent him a letter about the incident last year, but not much else.

'Ive just sort of felt the incident with me  was sort of swept under the rug.'

Edward's name is not mentioned in the county's two cases against Hickman. Neither were the two victims. Investigations into both incidents remain ongoing, police said.
Fans of The Archers were left on the edge of their seats last night after the normally sedate BBC radio drama left listeners fearing up to four characters could be dead after a driving disaster.

Regular listeners of the Radio 4 programme joked that they needed to be put under 'general anesthetic until tomorrow' while others said they were left 'wide awake' after the unnerving episode.

Sunday's episode delves into Alice Carter's ongoing battle with alcoholism seeing her pass out in her car after downing a large bottle of vodka she had grabbed from Joy Horville in the village shop.

Later that night, young George Grundy stumbles upon the mother-of-one barely conscious in her car and decides to take Alice home, driving her car. But when Alice declares she is going to be sick and tries to open the door of the moving vehicle chaos ensues.

Horns blare, cars swerve and collide, while loud thuds are heard in the background. George is then whimpers 'oh no, oh no, oh god' as car creaks until a loud splash is heard - as if something large has fallen into the water.

Sunday's episode delves into Alice Carter's ongoing battle with alcoholism seeing her pass out in her car after downing a large bottle of vodka. Pictured: Actress Hollie Chapman

Young George Grundy (played by Angus Stobie pictured) stumbles upon the mother-of-one barely conscious in her car and decides to take Alice home

Fans of The Archers were left on the edge of their seats last night after the normally sedate BBC radio drama left listeners fearing up to four characters could be dead

The splash is the last listeners hear of the episode, as The Archers cheery theme tunes plays out.

The episode has left fans of the show on tenterhooks as they try to work out what in fact happened - and who, if anyone, could be dead.

One fan wrote: 'Oh my goodness, what on earth happened there? I need a general anaesthetic until tomorrow.'

Another said: 'What a great cliffhanger this evening, can't wait to hear what actually happened as a consequence of today's "incident"'.

A third added: 'Well that's a genuine cliffhanger because I have absolutely no bloody idea of what just happened there. I think I know, but I'm almost certainly wrong.'

Others, however, found the episode deeply distressing and said it might put them off from listening again.

One said: 'Think I'm going to stop listening. It's all too upsetting especially on a Sunday evening. I had a lovely weekend in London and now I am all upset.'

The episode has left fans of the show on tenterhooks as they try to work out what in fact happened - and who, if anyone, could be dead

Another added: I don't see why Alice had to be such a cow (sorry!) as soon as she started drinking again. Sober, she was only mildly annoying.

'Are we supposed to feel she deserves her fate? My alcoholic friends and relatives were often nicer & kinder when drunk.'

Amongst the intrigue there were an array of different theories about the outcome of the mysterious crash swirling around last night.

'Alice might have sunk her last vodka, or at very least, the car,' one wrote.

'I think it was Roy Tucker in the oncoming car. Hence plot lines this week of Kate fearing the worst, and sad, goodbye for Chris. The return of a familiar face would be Phoebe,' another said.

A different listner agreed: 'They've not killed off Roy? In another car. The actor has died, so it might be a neat way to explain why the character won't be appearing again.'

Ian Pepperell, who played Roy Tucker on the Arches, tragically died in December age 53 from complications of oesophageal cancer.

Some suggested that Alice's ex-husband Chris and her young daughter Martha could also be involved in the situation. Pictured: Wilf Scolding, who plays Chris

Pictured: Charles Collingwood who plays Brian Aldridge

Others suggested that Alice's ex-husband Chris and her young daughter Martha could also be involved in the situation.

'I thought Alice had crawled out of the car and gone over the edge but now,having listened again and heard Some Mothers do Ave Em type creaking, I wonder if Chris took Martha to see Alice, but it grew so late he took Martha home, asleep in her car seat,' one said.

Others questioned if George had a valid driving licence or was insured to drive Alice's car home.

'The sad part is that Alice knew she was going to be unfit to drive or even be in charge hence the car keys in the glove box. George changed the course of things, literally,' another said.

'Poor George will pay a big price for whatevers happened. Some saying hell run away which likely means an even greater price paid in the end. Not sure I can handle the next week of episodes but will of course be glued to it,' one listener added.
Four boys from a Melbourne private school have been suspended after a list was posted to social media rating their female classmates.

The list was posted on the platform Discord by Year 11 students from Yarra Valley Grammar School in Ringwood and was discovered by the school last Wednesday.

It featured photos of female students and ranked them from best to worst as 'wifeys', 'cuties', 'mid', 'object', 'get out' and 'unrapeable'.

The students were suspended on Friday pending further investigation, Nine reports.

Yarra Valley Grammar principal Dr Mark Merry described the post as 'disgraceful'.

Four male students have been suspended from Yarra Valley Grammar School (pictured) in Victoria after they created a list that rated their female classmates

'Respect for each other is in the DNA of this school, and so this was a shock not only to us  but it was a shock to the year level and the boys in the year level that see this as way, way out of line,' he said.

He said he was offended by the final category, and has since reported the matter to police to ensure the list wasn't linked to any criminal offence.

'As a father, I find it absolutely outrageous, disgraceful, offensive. As a principal, I need to make some decisions [about] what we do about all of this,' Dr Merry said.

'My first impulse and concern is about the wellbeing of the girls concerned. I want to make sure they feel assured and supported by the school.

'We are going to be consulting the police because the language used could be an inferred threat.

The list featured photos of female students and ranked them from best to worst as 'wifeys', 'cuties', 'mid', 'object', 'get out' and 'unrapeable' (stock image)

'I don't think it was, but we need to get further advice on that I'm hoping it was an appalling lapse in judgment.'

It costs around $30,000 a year to send a student to the elite Ringwood private school, and Dr Merry said the school prided itself on teaching 'respectful relationships'.

'We are well aware of the broader issues in relation to respecting womenwe need to really do our best to ensure that young men understand their responsibilities and their boundaries of how they should behave,' he said.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Human remains have been discovered by a river crossing in the ACT.

The remains were discovered on Sunday afternoon near the northern end of Point Hut Crossing on the Murrumbidgee River about 30 minutes drive from Canberra.

'Police attended an area near the northern end of Point Hut Crossing following a call from a member of the public,' an ACT Policing spokesman said.

'Police attended an area near the northern end of Point Hut Crossing following a call from a member of the public,' an ACT Policing spokesman said

The remains were discovered on Sunday afternoon near the northern end of Point Hut Crossing on the Murrumbidgee River about 30 minutes drive from Canberra

The road was still closed on Monday as police continue their investigations.

ACT Police told Daily Mail Australia the remains have not been identified at this time.

Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

More to come.
The UK Government downplayed the 'high likelihood' that Covid-19 emerged from a lab leak in China because of resistance from scientific advisers, it was claimed yesterday.

US officials shared their views on the origin of the virus in a call with other members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance  the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

But the 'lab leak' theory was downplayed in Britain because of resistance from government scientists who favoured the idea that Covid 'jumped the species barrier' from animals to humans, according to US sources.

Taking part in the January 2021 phone call were Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump's secretary of state, and the UK's then foreign secretary Dominic Raab and their counterparts.

The call  previously reported by The Mail on Sunday  was 'open', meaning unencrypted, in the hope the Chinese government would intercept the call, it is claimed.

US officials shared their views on the origin of the virus in a call with other members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance  the UK, Canada , Australia and New Zealand

Taking part in the January 2021 phone call were Mike Pompeo , Donald Trump 's secretary of state, and the UK's then foreign secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) and their counterparts

The allegations, made by unnamed officials speaking in The Sunday Telegraph yesterday, are likely to increase calls to open the Covid Inquiry to the question of where the virus originated.

READ MORE: Landmark WHO paper suggests sharing your glass with a sick person WON'T always give you a cold or Covid Advertisement

One US source who worked on the intelligence said: 'We saw several pieces of information and thought they were gobsmacking.

'They obviously pointed to the high likelihood that this was indeed a lab leak.'

An intelligence dossier revealed the Chinese military worked with the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the years leading up to the pandemic, and some lab researchers fell sick shortly before the virus was first recorded nearby.

Other revelations showed Chinese scientists carried out 'gain of function' research, whereby a virus is genetically manipulated to show different behaviour, such as becoming more infectious, or to become infectious against different species.

The UK Government, including Boris Johnson, initially rejected the claim that Covid had been created by scientists, saying in June 2021: 'The advice that we have had is that it doesn't look as though this disease of zoonotic origin came from a lab.'

Two former officials said the evidence was not taken seriously because ministers saw lab leak claims as a 'radioactive American political issue' that was discredited by public disagreement between government scientists and Mr Trump.

One official said: 'Once the thing became fundamentally political, the ability to pursue it internationally really just collapsed because no one else was interested in touching it.

'I think [Five Eyes] were kind of annoyed by the way the issue had become treated in US politics.'

The two sources cited by The Sunday Telegraph both separately named Sir Jeremy Farrar, then a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, as a key opponent of the lab leak theory in the UK Government.

The UK Government, including Boris Johnson (pictured in 2022) , initially rejected the claim that Covid had been created by scientists

Sir Jeremy and 26 other scientists rejected the lab leak theory in February 2020, signing a statement which said: 'We stand together to condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that Covid-19 does not have a natural origin.'

While many scientific experts say an animal-to-human interaction is the most likely cause of the first infection, some figures, most notably Michael Gove, say the virus was 'man-made'.

Mr Gove told the Covid Inquiry in November there was a 'significant body of judgement that believes that the virus itself was man-made  and that presents its own set of challenges'.

Both the FBI and US Department of Energy have said they believe a lab leak is the most likely cause of the disease. UK ministers are facing calls to widen the Covid Inquiry to include an investigation into the origins.

A UK Government spokesman said: 'There are questions that need to be answered about the origin of Covid-19, not least so we can ensure we are better prepared for future pandemics.

'The UK supports the World Health Organisation in its study of the origins. It is important China and other countries co-operate fully.'
Qantas has admitted it misled thousands of customers over flight cancellations for years and will now be forced to pay $120million in fines and compensation.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had sued the airline in the Federal Court after alleging Qantas engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by selling tickets on flights the airline knew would be cancelled.

The 'ghost flight' breaches occurred between May 2021 and August 2023 and affected 86,597 customers, who will now share in about $20million in compensation.

Qantas will pay $225 to domestic customers and $450 to international customers.

This is on top of any refund or alternative flight already offered, the airline said.

The carrier will be notifying impacted customers via email from next month with details about how they can lodge a claim. Further information can be found at www.qantasremediation.deloitte.com.au

Qantas will pay millions of dollars in compensation to more than 86,000 customers who made a booking on a flight two or more days after the cancellation decision had been made

The commission alleged Qantas advertised tickets for more than 8000 cancelled flights between May 2021 and July 2022.

It further alleged that for more than 10,000 flights scheduled to depart between May and July 2022, Qantas did not promptly notify customers the flights were cancelled.

Qantas now admits the behaviour went on until August 26, 2023, affecting flights scheduled to depart between May 2022 and May 2024.

The ACCC announced it was suing Qantas on August 31.

Qantas has agreed not to repeat the conduct in the future and make the payments to affected customers as soon as possible.

It has also undertaken to notify customers of cancelled flights as soon as practicable and no more then 48 hours from deciding to cancel a flight and stop selling tickets for such journeys within 24 hours.

The undertaking applies to subsidiary Jetstar too.

'Qantas' conduct was egregious and unacceptable,' ACCC chair Gina Cas-Gottlied said in a statement.

'Many customers will have made holiday, business and travel plans after booking on a phantom flight that had been cancelled.'

Impacted customers will receive $225 for domestic/trans-Tasman flights and $450 for international flights on top of any refund or alternative flight already offered

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the compensation deal 'represents another important step forward as we work towards restoring confidence in the national carrier'

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said that the company did provide adequate support to customers.

'Today represents another important step forward as we work towards restoring confidence in the national carrier,' Ms Hudson said.

'When flying resumed after the Covid shutdown, we recognise Qantas let down customers and fell short of our own standards. We know many of our customers were affected by our failure to provide cancellation notifications in a timely manner and we are sincerely sorry.

'We have since updated our processes and are investing in new technology across the Qantas Group to ensure this doesn't happen again.

'We are focused on making the remediation process as quick and seamless as possible for customers.'

Ms Hudson assumed the company's chief position when former CEO Alan Joyce quit ahead of his slated departure. Mr Joyce left in response to the flight sale allegations.

'The return to travelling was already stressful for many and we did not deliver enough support for customers and did not have the technology and systems in place to support our people,' Ms Hudson said.

'We thank the ACCC for their co-operation in reaching this outcome.'
READ MORE: The astronomical events of 2024 that you won't want to miss

One of the fastest meteor showers of the year is nearly upon us, astronomers say.

Up to 50 'shooting stars' per hour will streak through the night sky when the Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks in the early hours of tomorrow (May 6).

Eta Aquariids are known for their impressive speed, traveling at about 148,000mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere.

To find them, stargazers are advised to look southwards towards the constellation Aquarius between midnight and dawn on Monday.

They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.

Eta Aquariids are known for their speed - traveling at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere. They are named after the constellation Aquarius as they fall from that point in the sky and specifically the star Eta Aquarii

A composite taken over three nights using two cameras, of the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower in 2013

How to see the Eta Aquariids The Eta Aquariids are viewable in both the northern and southern hemispheres, although the best view is generally in the southern hemisphere. This year the Eta Aquariids will peak in the early hours of May 6. You won't need telescopes see the meteors, just clear skies and some patience. To view the comets, look up in the early mornings, right before dawn. NASA suggests trying to see the show between 3am and 5am your local time in an area away from city lights. Advertisement

A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through the path of a comet  icy, rocky bodies left over from the formation of the solar system.

When this happens, the bits of comet debris, most no larger than a grain of sand, create streaks of light in the night sky as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

These streaks are known as shooting stars, even though they are not stars at all.

The frequency of shooting stars  how many you see in a given period of time depends on the meteor shower.

But in the case of the Eta Aquariids, in ideal conditions you might see up to 50 or 60 meteors per hour.

The shower takes place between April 19 and May 28, according to Royal Observatory Greenwich, but will peak in the early hours of Monday.

Although best viewed from the southern hemisphere, those living at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere can catch a glimpse.

Cloud cover can often spoil any chances of seeing meteor showers, although Honor Criswick, meteorologist at the Met Office, said there will be some clear spots across the UK early Monday.

These areas free of cloud will be north Wales, the midlands, and parts of East Anglia, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.

However, people in Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, south Wales and England's southeast coast might not be so lucky.

A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through the path of a comet - icy, rocky bodies left over from the formation of the solar system

Meteor showers in 2024 Quadrantids (January 3-4)

(January 3-4) Lyrids (April 22-23)

(April 22-23) Eta Aquariids (May 6)

(May 6) Alpha Capricornids (July 30)

(July 30) Delta Aquariids (July 30)

(July 30) Perseids (August 12-13)

(August 12-13) Draconids (October 8-9)

(October 8-9) Orionids (October 21-22)

(October 21-22) Taurids (November 12-13)

(November 12-13) Leonids (November 18)

(November 18) Geminids (December 14-15)

(December 14-15) Ursids (December 23) (Note: All dates refer to peaks, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere) Source: Royal Museums Greenwich Advertisement

'The central slice of UK is probably the best bet,' Criswick told MailOnline.

'The only caveat is there's a chance of mist and fog patches but they should be fairly shallow.'

Because meteors can be quite faint, it is best to look out for them in a dark sky, free of moonlight and artificial lights with a wide an unobstructed view of the sky.

'As with almost every shower, try and find a wide open space, as far from city lights as possible and fill your view with as much of the night sky as possible,' said Dr Greg Brown, public astronomy officer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

'Lying down on a deckchair is a great way to do this while being comfortable.

'And while the temperatures are still climbing it can still get quite cold in the early hours of the morning when these showers are best seen, so don't forget to wrap up warm.'

Eta Aquariids are named after the constellation Aquarius as they fall from that point in the sky  specifically the star Eta Aquarii.

The cosmic display is the result of Earth flying through a cloud of debris left behind by Halley's Comet during its last journey through the inner solar system in 1986.

'If the Earth passes through the comet's orbit any material deposited by the comet could become meteors or shooting stars in the sky,' said Don Pollacco, a physics professor at the University of Warwick.

'These bodies are usually the size of dust particles but when they fall into the Earth's atmosphere, they are traveling so fast that they are vapourised.

An image of an Eta Aquarid meteor from the NASA All Sky Fireball Network station in Tullahoma, Tennessee, in May 2013

The Eta Aquarids peak during early May each year. Eta Aquarid meteors are known for their speed. These meteors are fast, traveling at about 148,000 mph (66 km/s) into Earth's atmosphere

'Along the path that the dust particle travels, the gas molecules are superheated and give out light  this is a meteor.

'We don't actually see the dust, instead its vapourised effects on the molecules.'

As the Earth is crossing the comet orbit, the meteors seem to be coming from the same direction  a point in the sky known as the radiant.

There's a dozen meteor showers in the year, but only three have already happened and the biggest one is still to come.

The Geminids peak around the middle of December and send up to 150 bright shooting stars whizzing through the sky.

Aside from having the highest rate of shooting stars per hour, the Geminids are special because the meteors are multi-coloured  mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue.

The next significant shower is the Delta Aquariids in July (20 meteors per hour) followed by the Perseids in August (100 shooting stars per hour).
SHOPPING  Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Mail Best article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.

You may have noticed that lines are beginning to form on your neck, where skin is thinner and more delicate, and that there seem to be a lot of different neck firming products promising to improve the condition.

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Stays cost from $350 per person per night but food and soft drinks are included

Free food 24 hours a day, no alcohol and the threat of polar bears on the doorstep - welcome to one of the northernmost hotels in the world.

South Camp Inn is located in Resolute, which is an extremely remote pint-sized settlement around 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut, Canada.

Getting there involves flying from Ottawa, Montreal or Yellowknife to the city of Iqaluit, and from there, it is about another four-hour flight with the airline Canadian North, with a return trip coming in at well over $2,000.

The only tourists venturing to this part of the world are either wildlife enthusiasts, hunters or adventurers and I fell into the latter category.

I was taking part in an all-female ski expedition venturing to the 1996 Magnetic North Pole to collect snow and ice samples to better understand climate change and our team - five of us in total - checked into modest-looking hotel before setting off.

From the outside, the South Camp Inn looks pretty nondescript, with a cream, ridged exterior akin to a giant shipping container.

South Camp Inn is located in Resolute, which is an extremely remote pint-sized settlement around 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Nunavut, Canada

The only tourists venturing to this part of the world, are either wildlife enthusiasts, hunters or adventurers

Resolute is home to around 200 full-time residents and the majority are Inuit

DailyMail.com's Sadie Whitelocks, pictured left, only intended to stay at the hotel for a few days but bad weather meant she was stranded there for six nights

As with other hotels in the Arctic region, rates at South Camp Inn are very high and it costs around $350 (CA$500) per person, per night to stay there

While Sadie was staying at the South Camp Inn, she met two hunters - a man from Texas and a man from Denmark - who had traveled to Resolute to hunt polar bears with locals

Resolute is the second northernmost community in Canada and it is difficult and expensive to get there

On stepping inside, the first thing that we noticed was the tropical warmth, which was most welcome after being hit by temperatures below -4F on arriving into Resolute via a charter plane.

To prevent guests from traipsing snow and dirt through the building, there is a boot room at the hotel entrance to store shoes and outerwear.

Our first attempt at reaching Resolute had been thwarted by bad weather, and the only commercial airline running flights there - Canadian North - had canceled all takeoffs for the next week.

In the end, we resorted to chartering a small plane to get there as it was necessary for us to sort our ski gear and start planning before heading out on expedition.

At reception, one of the hotel workers handed us our keys and we each got a room to ourselves.

As with other hotels in the Arctic region, rates at South Camp Inn are very high and it costs around $350 (CA$500) per person, per night to stay there.

The cost does however include all meals and 24-hour access to snacks, which are regularly replenished in the dining room.

As alcohol is restricted in Resolute - as it is in many communities across Nunavut - there is no alcohol available to purchase at South Camp and only soft drinks and hot beverages are on offer.

The rooms include everything you need for a comfortable night's stay and there are various room configurations to pick from depending on the number of people you're traveling with.

Some of the newer accommodation units have ensuites, while other rooms have shared bathrooms.

Amenities include a gym, conference room and laundry rooms, which are free to use.

While we only intended on checking into South Camp in for three nights, due to more bad weather which involved biting 40mph winds, we were stranded there for six nights in total.

The cost to stay at South Camp Inn includes all meals and 24-hour access to snacks, which are regularly replenished in the dining room

From the outside, Sadie says the South Camp Inn 'looks pretty nondescript, with a cream, ridged exterior akin to a giant shipping container'

Amenities at the hotel include a gym, conference room (pictured) and laundry rooms, which are free to use

A musk ox on display in the hotel's conference room. The area is popular with hunters

While the hotel is basic, Sadie said it 'felt like the Ritz' on returning there after her ski expedition which involved sleeping in a tent

As there wasn't much to do in Resolute, Sadie said she gradually found the the days mainly revolved around meals times - breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 5pm

One of the refrigerators at South Camp Inn, stocked with goodies for guests to gorge on

This meant the stay for the team came out at $10,500 (CA $14,372) by the time we had finished.

When it comes to passing time at Resolute, there isn't an awful lot to do and by the second day we had seen most of the sights, including the Co-op, the post office, the local police station and national parks office.

As the Resolute area is prime polar bear territory, long walks around the frozen bay area are not advised without carrying a gun or 'bear bangers.'

However, several of us decided to stretch our legs with a hike up Signal Hill which is a small mountain standing proud behind the community.

From the top of the hill, the community looked tiny and other islands around Resolute could be seen across the frozen expanse.

Resolute is home to around 200 full-time residents. The majority are Inuit and the history behind how they came to live in such a stark place still carries a sadness.

Some locals we spoke to explained that their ancestors has been forcibly relocated to Resolute during the Cold War by the Canadian government to help the country exert sovereignty over the High Arctic.

For decades the Inuit struggled to adapt to the alien environment and many perished.

However, the community gradually learned to navigate the new hunting grounds, and the bay and surrounding waters proved rich in beluga whales, narwhal and seals.

As with other communities in Nunavut, Resolute gets a quota to hunt certain animals to ensure it is a sustainable practice, and this includes polar bears.

To supplement their income and government welfare, many Inuit take foreigners out on hunts with them.

While we were staying at South Camp Inn, we met two hunters - a man from Texas and a man from Denmark - who had traveled to Resolute to hunt polar bears with locals.

Polar bear hunts cost around $70,000 and then it costs even more if hunters wish to export their prize hides for taxidermy.

Currently polar bear skin products are prohibited for export to the USA and Mexico but it is possible to ship them to Europe.

The Danish man we met told us he had helped shoot a 14-year-old male bear and he was getting the hide shipped back home for it to go on display.

Along with the hunters, we did meet one couple who were tourists at the hotel.

The man and woman, both intrepid retirees from Australia, explained that they had a passion for the Arctic and some of the activities they had indulged in while in Resolute included dog sledding and a snowmobile tour to try and spot polar bears.

As there wasn't much to do in Resolute we gradually found the the days mainly revolved around meals times - breakfast at 8am, lunch at 12pm and dinner at 5pm.

Then, there was a living room to watch a spot of Netflix before bedtime.

Finally after days stranded at South Camp Inn it was time for us to leave and head out on expedition.

But after spending a week much further north in a tent battling yet another storm, the modest hotel felt like the Ritz on our return with a mere shower and flushing toilet proving blissful.
Low-cost upstart Bonza airline entered the Australian market with a bang.

To celebrate its first flight into the North Queensland city of Mackay, the airline showed off local rugby players wearing purple budgie smugglers and put on purple-themed cocktails.

The airline offered Australians in the regions a chance to snatch a holiday to tourist hotspots or see loved ones in under-serviced cities and towns at ultra-low prices.

'We are about connecting communities and giving Aussies the chance to fly directly to see loved ones where before it was either too expensive or took too long,' Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said at the time.

But less than 18 months after it first flew up into the skies in January 2023 to take on established behemoths Qantas and Virgin, Bonza is bust, collapsing into administration with thousands of passengers left stranded.

Accountancy firm Hall Chadwick is now scrambling to determine whether the low-cost carrier has any kind of future in the country.

So what went wrong?

Here are the key factors underpinning the fall.

Low-cost upstart Bonza airline entered the Australian market with a bang (pictured, Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan)

The app-first approach

For nearly all of its run, Bonza did not offer ticket purchases through a traditional website, accessed through a Google search.

Instead, the company promoted its Fly Bonza app, with customers booking flights directly through their phone.

Passengers could book flights, manage their bookings, check in and order in-flight food through the app.

The app-first approach may have shut out elderly Australians, who are generally not as technologically savvy as younger Australians, and Australian National University aviation guru Dr Zena Assaad said the approach posed serious 'visibility issues'.

'I don't know about others but I go onto Google Flights to book my tickets because you can see a comparison of all the different ticket prices and that's when I choose which provider I am going to go for, which is the cheapest,' she said.

'And Bonza isn't on that. When you go onto Google Flights, Bonza doesn't come up like that.

'If you are going for an app-first approach and you are not on any of these flight comparison websites, which is where most people go to get an idea of flight prices, you are just off everyone's radar.'

The golden triangle

Bonza did not compete in the all-important Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne market or what the aviation industry refers to as Australia's 'Golden Triangle'.

This meant the company lost out on the market's most concentrated money pot.

'The Golden Triangle is so important because this is where most of the action happens and where the money is being made,' Professor Rico Merkert, deputy director at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney Business School, told NCA NewsWire.

The Australian's Aviation Writer Robyn Ironside discusses Bonza's collapse into voluntary administration. Budget airline Bonza cancelled all flights across Australia and has entered voluntary administration, which left Australians stranded across the country.

'It will take quite a financial lifeline I expect for Bonza to get out of this current mess,' Ms Ironside told Sky News Australia.

'With its entire fleet being repossessed by an airline leasing company. 'We are starting to question as to whether or not the market can support four carriers.'

'In terms of seats, both Sydney to Melbourne and Sydney to Brisbane are in the top 10 of the busiest routes globally and when measured in revenues generated, Sydney to Melbourne is typically among the top three in the world and was No.1 in 2023 in front of London to New York.

'More importantly, having access to these three hubs enables to build domestic and regional feeder networks.'

Bonza opted to go for regional routes, often flying direct to new tourist hotspots or linking smaller cities without transiting in a major hub.

Dr Assaad said Bonza's Sydney void may have been a factor in its downfall.

'Sydney is the biggest airport across Australia, to the point we now have Western Sydney Airport coming out,' she said.

Small and competitive market

The business world is tough. Most businesses fail. And Australia's airline market is brutal.

Even the behemoths struggle to survive.

Virgin fell into administration in 2020, with US private equity firm Bain Capital bailing it out.

During the pandemic, Qantas bled billions.

In addition to the standard struggles that confront all airlines, Australia's domestic market is comparatively small.

In the wake of Bonza's collapse, Transport Minister Catherine King suggested such a limited market would always present challenges to new entrants.

The business world is tough. Most businesses fail. And Australia's airline market is brutal

'I think what we've got to remember that despite the fact that we are incredible travellers, both domestically and internationally, we are a very small market,' she told the ABC.

'And it is a small market in terms of the number of customers available and really in terms of what the market can bear in relation to that.

Dr Assaad also said the market was 'extremely competitive'.

'We've got three major airlines, Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar (a subsidiary of Qantas),' she said.

'Because it is such a small market, we're not the US or Europe, where we have the capacity that they have or even the airspace that they have and the number of airports that they have.

'It's a small market and it's a concentrated market and I think it was incredibly hard for them (Bonza) to tap into that.'

Bonza's fleet

Bonza operated with just four aircraft.

By contrast, Qantas has more than 100.

With such a limited fleet, there is little room for error and timetables can quickly become scrambled.

The low-cost carrier also leased Boeing 737-8s, which are large aircraft that boast 186 seats.

Professor Merkert said there may not have been 'sufficient demand' to keep the fleet afloat.

'The Bonza story was great from a cost perspective, which was essentially getting super cheap aircraft during the pandemic that were not only cheap from a capital cost but also operating cost perspective,' he said.

Aviation Expert Geoffrey Thomas discusses the future of budget airline Bonza amid reports its parent company has called in advisers to check the finances.

The Coalition is calling on Labor to save the airline, saying Bonza has breathed new life into the aviation sector.

Mr Thomas said he doesn't believe the low-cost carrier needs help from the Albanese government. 'I don't think they need the help,' he told Sky News Australia.

'So, I'm not sure where all of this is coming from - it just doesn't seem to make sense.'

'Being brand new, surely, they would be popular with the customers, too, especially at such low fares and being operated at routes that no one else did, which was 84 per cent of their routes.

'And sure, Bonza optimised their cost structure to the extreme.

'Problem is, this does not guarantee sustained profits.

'Those aircraft had 186 seats and those seats want to be filled on as many flights as possible.

'I think Bonza did a great job in developing these routes but was likely not quite there in terms of profitability.'

Turbulence from the start

Bonza suffered almost immediate reputational damage as flight delays and cancellations piled up.

The airline started flying passengers in January 2023 and by July, customer complaints were already sweeping through social media.

'Don't how long they will be around,' John Watt said.

'First attempt at flying with Bonza(,) cancelled flight up to Sunshine Coast four (hours) before boarding with no options and cancelled the return flight to Melbourne and rescheduled for three day later.

'(Their) excuse, staff issues, won't be booking any more Bonza flights.'

Darren Boyes wrote: 'Have booked five Bonza flights. And never boarded a single plane. Bye bye Bonza.'

Frustrations also mounted over Bonza's scheduling.

Just months after launching, Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey apologised directly to customers and promised to rejig schedules and routes

'The problem with Bonza is that their primary target market is short-haul domestic travellers, yet they don't accommodate people who want a weekend away,' customer Sarah Ryan said.

'If they changed their flight schedules to Friday evening departures and Sunday afternoon returns they'd see an increase in bookings.'

Just months after launching, Bonza chief commercial officer Carly Povey apologised directly to customers and promised to rejig schedules and routes.

'We also know that in the past couple of months, not everyone has had a good experience with Bonza and we need to stare directly into why that is, specifically when we cancel or delay flights,' she said in late July.

'We will be implementing a range of changes to our schedule from August 1 based on what we have learnt so far and the feedback you've given us with regards to route demand.'

Competitive moat of frequent-flyers

Australians love racking up frequent flyer points and David Boyd, the chief executive of comparison website Credit Card Compare, said the programs offered by Qantas and Virgin acted as a 'competitive moat' against new entrants into the airline market.

'It's a moat, it's a defence,' he said.

'If Bonza had been more successful, maybe they would have got to the point where they could have set up their own frequent flyer program.

'If you are sitting on a couple of hundred thousands points, or 50,000 points, and you need to make a trip close to one of those destinations where Bonza was flying to, chances are they (Qantas or Virgin) got more planes going and you can cash in your points.

'So I can redeem my points or take a risk with Bonza.

'You're just going to keep falling back into the arms of Qantas and Virgin.

'The frequent flyer program is a massive moat.'
A fat pride influencer who's called for regular travelers to subsidize free extra seats for plus-size fliers has flown without her oxygen tank for the first time in four years.



Jaelynn Chaney, known as Jae Bae, uploaded a video to her TikTok channel showing her proudly sitting on a flight without her breathing aide.

She explained to her followers that she'd previously required supplemental air to ensure she could breathe comfortably in the pressurized plane cabin.

At one point in the video, Chaney holds up her seatbelt and smiles as she demonstrates how much it is extended.

Chaney, whose TikTok account has more than 135,000 followers, narrates her concerns as a plus-sized flyer in the background of the video.

Dramatic music plays and Chaney ponders: 'What if I have a medical emergency on the plane?'

Jaelynn Chaney, known as Jae Bae, uploaded a video to her TikTok channel in which the plus-sized influencer proudly flies without her portable oxygen tank for the first time in four years

@jaebaeofficial After relying on supplemental oxygen for four years and always having to carry my oxygen concentrator, the day finally arrived for my first flight without it in four years. It all started back in 2019 after a hospital stay where they suspected I had a stroke. Turns out, it was pulmonary hypertension, and I needed oxygen therapy ever since. Traveling just wasn't the same anymore. I went from chasing waterfalls in Hawaii to cozying up in snowy cabins in Leavenworth with my love, to everything being so different. I dove into research, determined to find a way back to traveling. That's when I stumbled upon portable oxygen concentrators (POCs). I shared my discoveries online, thinking this was going to be my new normal. But flying with a POC? It's no walk in the park. It's expensive, stressful, and downright scary. And to top it off, dealing with cyberattacks and hurtful comments online made it even tougher mentally. So, when the time came for me to board that plane without my oxygen support, you bet I was anxious and afraid. But guess what? I did it, and it went better than I could've imagined. I even documented the whole thing. I'm still on a mission to help others who want to travel with supplemental oxygen. If you're curious or need advice, swing by my channel and shoot me a DM. I've got your back.    #PlusSizeTravel #InclusiveTravel #AccessibleTravel #PlusSizeTravelBlogger #InclusiveFlying #FlyWithoutPrejudice #TravelForAll #Travel #TravelEquality #FlyingWithOxygen #FlyingWhileDisabled #FlyingWhileFat #TravelingWhileFat #FlyingWhilePlusSize #Fyp  The Untold - Secession Studios

Then she asks: 'What if I cause an emergency landing?'

But she stops herself and announces: 'No, forget that. No matter what they say, and no matter what it looks like, travel is for everybody.'

The video then shows Chaney being wheeled down an airport gate and onto the plane.

Then Chaney is shown in her seat, where she exhibits just how much her seatbelt has been slackened.

The TikTok ends with a close-up of the plus-sized influencer's grinning face.

In her caption, Chaney explains the context of her flight, recounting how for the past four years she has relied on 'supplemental oxygen' when flying.

'It all started back in 2019 after a hospital stay where they suspected I had a stroke,' Chaney wrote.

'Turns out, it was pulmonary hypertension, and I needed oxygen therapy ever since. Traveling just wasn't the same anymore.'

Chaney explained in the video' caption that she had been travelling with an oxygen apparatus ever since the doctors at a hospital suspected that she had had a stroke

The plus-sized influencer, who has over 135,000 TikTok followers, has previously called on the FAA to provide overweight individuals with up to three free seats when flying

She said that she went 'from chasing waterfalls in Hawaii' to 'everything being so different.'

After conducting intensive research, the influencer struck on portable oxygen concentrators.

'I shared my discoveries online, thinking this was going to be my new normal.'

But Chaney found portable oxygen concentrators to be 'no walk in the park.'

She said that using the apparatus was 'expensive, stressful, and downright scary.'

Her recent flight marked the first time in four years that she had flown sans oxygen concentrator, an experience which made her 'anxious and afraid.'

'But guess what? I did it, and it went better than I could've imagined,' she triumphantly wrote.

Commenters on the TikTok lavished praise on the plus-sized influencer.

One wrote: 'What a brave hero.'

And another enthused: 'Travel is for everyone!! Love this!!'

One user offered an insightful tip: 'I lost 80 pounds and that helped me breathe a lot easier!'

The scope of Chaney's TikTok is not confined to plus-sized matters. She also uploads content that concerns her polyamorous lifestyle.

In a TikTok entitled 'Plus size, polyamorous, and queer,' the influencer uploaded a clip of her and her partner kissing in a hot tub.

Text appears on the screen which says: 'When you have a ride or die but are polyamorous and want a BF too.'

Chaney, who has collaborated with companies ranging from Google to McDonalds, has also used her TikTok to champion a petition she's launched that demands the FAA to provide plus-sized flyers with free additional seats.

'Join my petition calling on the FAA to require all airlines to have a written official customer-of-size policy for plus-size travelers.'

The petition states that plus-size passengers should be provided with up to three free additional seats because of their size.

Chaney's TikTok also explores her polyamorous lifestyle. The influencer has collaborated with companies ranging from Google to McDonalds

@jaebaeofficial As a plus size traveler, I know firsthand how uncomfortable and unsafe it can be to squeeze into a tiny airplane seat. That's why I believe that every plus size traveler should have access to a free second or even third seat on an airplane if needed. This isn't about asking for special treatment or luxury accommodations. It's simply about ensuring that all travelers have enough space to travel comfortably and safely, without fear of being discriminated against because of their size. I'm not alone in this opinion - many people agree that plane seats are too small even for the average person. By signing my petition and sharing it with your friends and family, you can help us work towards a more inclusive and accommodating air travel experience for everyone. Let's stand together and make some real change in the industry. To sign the petition check out the link in my b!0. You can also find the petition at change.org/plussizetravel #plussizetravel #plussizetraveltok #travelingwhilefat #flyingwhilefat #fattravel #accessibilityforall #inclusivitymatters #bodyequalityintravel #inclusivetravel #fyp  Beautiful - Soft boy

'Under this policy, employees must be trained to handle sensitive situations and provide appropriate customer service.'

The petition currently has about 39,000 signatures.

Speaking about the petition, Chaney said:

'We are not asking for special treatment or luxury accommodations. We simply want enough space to travel comfortably and safely without fear of being discriminated against because of our size.'
Amy Dowden showcased her toned stomach on Instagram on Friday wearing a sexy cut-out green jumpsuit as she visited Portugal for a hen do.

The Strictly professional dancer, 33, stunned in the outfit which she wore with white sandals and gold hoops.

Amy couldn't contain her joy as she kicked up a leg and held on tightly to her darker green clutch.

She captioned the snaps: 'Rrrrrrrrrrready for the bank holiday weekend but most importantly @katiejanewallis hen!

'#grabyourclokeshespulled #whereslauren #hen #bridesmaids #portugal #letsgo #forevergrateful.'

Amy Dowden, 33, flashed some underboob and showcased her toned stomach on Instagram on Friday wearing a sexy cut-out green jumpsuit as she visited Portugal for a hen do

The Strictly professional dancer stunned in the outfit which she wore with white sandals and gold hoops

The trip comes after Amy, who beat breast cancer in 2023, sent an emotional message of support to Shirley Ballas after her recent breast cancer scare.

Strictly head judge Shirley, 63, took to Instagram to tell fans she's waiting for biopsy results after having the procedure.

Sharing a selfie which showed the bandage after the biopsy she wrote: ' Urging all women do not miss your mammogram. I went for mine, ended up going for a second one and a biopsy. Local anesthetic biopsy done. Now waiting for results.'

Shirley also gave a mention to Amy, who shared the news that she is cancer free back in February, after she was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer in May 2023.

She added: 'Amy Dowden you ran through my mind. The importance of not putting it off. Go and get tested. Plus self breast check regularly.'

Replying to Shirley's mention, Amy gushed: 'Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas'.

Amy has vowed to return to Strictly almost a year after she was diagnosed with grade III breast cancer - the second-highest grade.

The Welsh dancer had a mastectomy and chemotherapy and needs monthly injections for the next five years.

The trip comes after Amy sent an emotional message of support to Shirley Ballas after her recent breast cancer scare

Replying to Shirley's mention, Amy gushed: 'Always here for you! Important message here all from @shirleyballas'

She shared: 'I'm working really, really hard and getting my body back with rehab and physio. Got a brilliant team, so fingers crossed I'll be back on your screens dancing later this year.'

Amy vowed: 'If Strictly will have me back, I'll be back,' and confirmed: 'The goal and the dream is to be back on the dancefloor, as well. 'Cause I've missed it so, so much.'

On the programme, Amy opened up about life post-cancer and urged people to volunteer for cancer charities.'

I was actually at the oncology unit yesterday having my monthly injection which I'll need for five years. But I'm just so grateful to get another shot at life.'

She added: 'I've got amazing friends and family, the oncology unit, the nurses, the breast nurses, and also the public support has been incredible.

Amy continued: 'Unfortunately, one in two of us in our lifetime is diagnosed with cancer. But, charities like Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Young Lives vs Cancer, Breast Cancer UK. They wouldn't exist if it wasn't for volunteers.

'Volunteers are the backbone, the heartbeat to all these charities. They help fund research, the reason why I'm still alive today.

'Not just those going through it but their families. As a volunteer you get so much pride as well. It helps your mental health, there are so many benefits to it.'

Amy vowed in April: 'If Strictly will have me back, I'll be back,' and confirmed: 'The goal and the dream is to be back on the dancefloor, as well. 'Cause I've missed it so, so much'

Also in April, Amy revealed that while she was undergoing chemotherapy she received a sweet message of support from the Princess Of Wales.

Amy said she 'doesn't want anyone' to go through a battle with the disease, after Kate Middleton publicly shared her cancer diagnosis last month.

Speaking on Loose Women, Amy explained: 'I was lucky enough to meet [Kate] during my chemo treatment, and she gave me so much time.

'She was so kind. Actually, her words were, ''Let us know if there's anything we can do.'''
Reuben Owen first shot to fame aged 8 on Channel 5 show Our Yorkshire Farm, which chronicled his family's life on a remote farm.

Last week, Reuben, 20, saw the debut of his very own show: Reuben: Life in The Dales after the original show was axed following his mother Amanda Owen's, 49, infidelity.

But another woman who has always been by his side is his girlfriend Sarah Dow, who he is thought to have started dating in December 2021.

The two often share snaps with one another on their Instagram accounts to the delight of fans, and the young farmer has even forked out on a car for his other half.

Here, MailOnline takes a look inside Reuben and Sarah's sweet relationship.

In a sweet Instagram picture where the farmer is beaming, the pair were celebrating their anniversary. In the caption Reuben joked: 'Cheers Sarah for not sacking me off yet, been a full year'

Reuben, 20, pictured with his partner Sarah at her high school prom in July 2022. Sarah wore a stunning emerald green v neck ball gown, while the farmer is stood proudly in his workwear

In an older Instagram post from over a year ago, Sarah is seen getting her hands dirty, suiting farmer boyfriend Reuben's lifestyle that she has adapted to in Reuben: Life in The Dales

Sarah appears to be the same age as Reuben and also attended her high school prom in July 2022.

Reuben: Life in The Dales follows the success of his thriving heavy plant machinery business, but also closely features girlfriend Sarah, who works with her boyfriend.

The romantic, who appears to have been loved up with his girlfriend Sarah Dow for over two years is clearly not afraid to show it.

But on an episode of Our Yorkshire Farm, viewers learned that Reuben was initially 'terrified' of girlfriend Sarah, admitting 'was not a natural charmer'.

Sarah's mother once revealed that their home serves as Reuben's 'home away from home', showing just how close the two lovebirds are.

Last April, the then-19-year-old farmer even bought his other half a second-hand car ahead of her driving test, on an episode of Beyond The Yorkshire Farm, a spin-off of the show that catapulted him to fame.

In the heartwarming scenes, viewers saw Reuben gift his love the 'bargain car' - a Ford Fiesta before they practised her reversing skills ahead of her test.

Once back in the Yorkshire Dales, the romantic proudly announced to his girlfriend that he had a surprise for her.

Reuben gifted his girlfriend Sarah Dow a second-hand Ford Fiesta on an episode of Beyond The Yorkshire Farm last April

He could barely contain his excitement as he was filmed driving his girlfriend to the surprise.

'You'll see it just around the corner, I wrapped it all for you,' he told her.

Meanwhile, Sarah jokingly said: 'I'm scared,' but Reuben reassured her.

'It's something you'll find very useful and you haven't got one at the minute,' he told her.

After the love-birds reached their destination, the digging entrepreneur told his girlfriend to close her eyes as they pulled up in front of a vehicle wrapped under a white sheet.
Lisa Rinna's four decades in Hollywood have seen her try on many different hats.

She's been a reality TV villain and soap star, hocked cardigans on QVC, modelled adult diapers in a now infamous commercial for Depend, penned a book of sex tips, and even become a viral meme as an M&M.

Like Madonna, the self-proclaimed hustler has mastered the art of reinvention, so becoming one of Hollywood's hottest style icons at age 60 seems par for the course for the former Melrose Place vixen.

Since quitting The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills two years ago, Rinna has swapped smashing wine glasses in Amsterdam for front row seats at Paris Fashion Week.

The outspoken star has strutted her stuff in runway shows, fronted campaigns for designer brands like Marc Jacobs, and even graced the cover of the prestigious CR Fashion Book.

Lisa Rinna has made a huge splash on the fashion scene since quitting The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills last year. (Pictured in March, 2023)

The 60-year-old is pictured in a more casual look during the sixth season of RHOBH in 2016

Before and after: Rinna used to have a simpler sense of style, but the entertainer now rocks high fashion couture looks

The Melrose Place star has become a major style icon and isn't afraid to try out experiential looks at fashion shows

Rinna walked the runway for Denmark-based brand Rotate at Copenhagen Fashion Week last year

She's become a front row fixture at Fashion Week in recent years. (Pictured with Diane Kruger, Law Roach, and Jordan Roth in 2023)

Rinna recently accompanied daughters Delilah Belle, 25, and Amelia Gray, 22, to the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Awards, where Amelia was crowned Model of the Year.

It was a full circle moment for Rinna, who took notes from former co-star Yolanda Hadid by launching Delilah and Amelia's runway careers on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

While the soap veteran is new to being a style superstar, she's certainly no stranger to the world of fashion.

She and husband Harry Hamlin previously ran two clothing boutiques called Belle Gray, which they opened during a lull in their respective acting careers in the early 2000s.

Both stores were closed by 2012, but Rinna continued the Belle Gray brand with her own wildly successful clothing line on the QVC home shopping network for almost a decade.

Perhaps seeing that her days on RHOBH were numbered, Rinna started strategically carving out a spot for herself in the fashion world roughly one year before quitting the show in January, 2023.

Beginning in early 2022, Rinna started to showcase herself on Instagram in designer looks from luxury brands like YSL, Tom Ford and Fendi.

Rinna swanned around Paris Fashion Week last year, just weeks after announcing she'd quit RHOBH for good

The savvy star knows now to attract attention at fashion events and is never far from a camera

Transformed: The model mother has made a concentrated effort to revamp her wardrobe to a more high fashion style since starring on RHOBH

Rinna went for a dramatic look in this long white gown at a fashion event in Paris

Her style cred became official when she graced the cover of the CR Fashion Book last year

By July, she became the face of an Alexandra Wang bodywear campaign alongside influencer Stassie Karanikolaou and OnlyFans star Sami Sheen.

She followed it up by walking the runway at Priscavera's SS23 fashion show in Brooklyn, New York.

Once she quit RHOBH for good, Rinna immediately jetted off to Paris Fashion Week, where she sat front row and rocked looks from Thierry Mugler, Kenzo, and Viktor & Rolf.

In February, French Vogue posed the question, 'Is Lisa Rinna on her way to becoming a fashion icon?'

The answer appeared to be a resounding 'yes', as Rinna continued to dominate Fashion Week shows while daughter Amelia landed her first Vogue magazine cover in March of that year.

British Vogue soon dubbed Rinna 'fashion's favorite Housewife', while niche style and culture magazines like Super, ES, and Puss Puss lined up to plastered her on their covers.

Rinna recently accompanied daughter Amelia Gray, 22, to the Daily Front Row Fashion Los Angeles Awards, where Amelia was crowned Model of the Year

Rinna joined Amelia in Paris in March for the Balenciaga womenswear show

Amelia, her sister Delilah, and mom Rinna all stepped out in style for a Balenciaga show in Los Angeles

Rinna and supermodel Amelia starred in a Marc Jacobs campaign together

Her style cred became official when she graced the cover of the CR Fashion Book - an industry bible which helped legitimatize Kim Kardashian as a formidable fashionista back in 2013.

To help rebrand her from Real Housewife to couture queen, Rinna sought out celebrity stylist Danyul Brown.

'Lisa and I crossed paths a little over a year ago in NYC during fashion week. I fell in love with her energy. She made it very clear that she was ready for a makeover,' he told The Hollywood Reporter in March.

Brown admitted that he tries to push the envelope when it comes to Rinna's wardrobe because she's fearless and loves to take risks.

'What is it that we can do to continue with the shock factor? Might it be that we explore menswear next?' he said.

Amelia has become one of the hottest names in fashion and has even graced the cover of Vogue magazine

The brunette is the face of multiple luxury brands, including Givenchy

Amelia is one of the faces of Jean Paul Gaultier's latest campaign

Amelia seems to have inherited her model moves from her mother, who fronted an Alexander Wang campaign in 2022

In an interview with People magazine last year, Rinna credited her exit from RHOBH as the catalyst for her jump into high fashion.

'I got a call from my publicist, saying, "Kenzo wants you to go to Paris in four days. Would you be able to?" and I went, "Yeah." I just said yes and I did it,' she said.

'You don't have to go away and be put out to pasture, as I say,' she continued.

'You can still wear makeup and look beautiful. You can still try different looks with fashion and be cool. I think that's what makes me feel the most confident.'

Even her old Bravo boss Andy Cohen has noticed Rinna's post-RHOBH transformation.

'I did not have it on my bingo card that Lisa Rinna would become, not only a model, but she is walking in couture campaigns in Paris,' he said on his SiriusXM show.

'She has become a real player in the fashion industry, and I am really impressed. Ive got to give it up to her.'
The rock and roll life of Rolling Stones muse Anita Pallenberg and her relationships with Brian Jones and Keith Richards is set to be revealed in a new documentary.

The actor and model, who is best known for her tumultuous love affair with Stones guitarist Richards, passed away in June 2017 aged 75.

But new unpublished scripts from her memoirs reveal first hand accounts of the time with the famous rock band. Her kids discovered her secret manuscript while clearing her London home.

It forms the basis of a two-hour documentary, Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg voiced by Scarlett Johansson which hits UK cinemas this month.

She began her career as a model aged 16, becoming one of the era's best known 'It Girls' after she became associated with Andy Warhol's iconic studio 'Factory' in the 1960s.

Prior to her relationship with Richards who she had three children with, Pallenberg met Brian Jones, guitarist and original founder of the Stones, in 1965. A relationship developed but was characterised by a very public battle with drugs before ending in 1967.

Anita Pallenberg easily made her way into the Rolling Stones dressing room due to her good looks (pictured during her Rock Chick heyday)

Pallenberg and then boyfriend Brian Jones in 1967. He was often brutal and violent towards her

Richards pictured with Pallenberg in London in 1973. Richards and Anita had a child, Marlon (named after Anita's one time co-star Brando), and a daughter, christened Dandelion but now uses her middle name Angela

Pallenberg's (pictured) memoir forms the basis of a two-hour documentary, Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg

It also features raw testimony from Pallenberg's children, Marlon and Angels, and off-screen contributions from Richards.

He says in the trailer for the documentary: 'Keith would invite people over and they'd stay all hours. It was her job to kick them out.'

Speaking to People, Marlon also explained how his mum was 'a massive hoarder' and added: 'She had this small flat in Chelsea and it was packed to the gills with stuff.

'She was quite good at hiding things, almost like a treasure hunt.'

The actor and model first appeared backstage at a Rolling Stones concert in Munich in 1965 where she was working on a modeling assignment. She was seemingly just another of the mini-skirted groupies drawn to the raw, sexually-charged glamour of the new stars of rock and roll.

After sneaking past security, she met Jones in the dressing room who was close to tears after coming off stage following an apparent row with fellow bandmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

She told Pallenberg at the time: 'I don't know who you are,' he told her, 'but I need you. Will you spend the night with me?'

The documentary features raw testimony from Pallenberg's (pictured) children, Marlon and Angels, and off-screen contributions from Richards

Marlon Richards (pictured) explained how his mum was 'a massive hoarder'

Brian Jones, founder and original leader of the Stones, said to her when they met: 'I don't know who you are, but I need you. Will you spend the night with me?'

After dumping Jones, who was often brutal and violent towards her, she began a long romance with Richards (pictured), with whom she had three children

The Rolling Stones (pictured with Pallenberg) in France in the 1970s

It was the start of a relationship which would last just two years until 1967. He died two years later in 1969.

'He was the most beautiful and he had striking intelligence,' Pallenberg said.

In the documentary, it emerges that Pallenberg found herself putting pictures of Jones all around her house after he died.

After dumping Jones, who was often brutal and violent towards her, she began a long romance with Richards.

Richards, who once 'rescued' Pallenberg from Jones in spring 1967, recounts that he was initially 'bewildered [by] her absolute determination to be free. Anita just wanted to kick it all over.' He adds: 'I was bursting in live.'

Outlining the very early stages of her relationship with him, Pallenberg says: 'Keith was so shy.' She says it was her 'Italian energy ' and eye for Bohemian style that transformed him into 'a lion'.

Pallenberg also disliked the word 'nice' and wasn't big on 'help' either, the documentary reveals.

Meanwhile, Prince Stanislas Klossowskide Rola  popularly known as Prince Stash - met Pallenberg in Paris in 1964.

With an increasingly drunk and stoned Jones spiralling out of control, Keith Richards began providing her with a shoulder to cry on

The final word, in the documentary, is Pallenberg's who says: 'Keith's no angel. But neither am I.'

Pallenberg described the abuse she had received because of her relationships with Richards and Jones, and said: 'I've been called a witch, a slut and a murderer.'

The playboy son of the French painter Balthus, told Mogo Magazine: 'Anita could be ruthless and relentless when she wanted something or someone.'

In the 1980s, Pallenberg attended AA meetings and rehab in an attempt to change her life. She later graduated from Central Saint Martins with a degree in textiles and fashion and made a return to acting.

She later inspired supermodel kate moss who says in the documentary: 'She found her true self.'

In her later years, Pallenberg portrayed the Queen in Harmony Korine's 2007 movie Mister Lonely.

Early in her relationship with Richards, she starred in the hit sci-fi film Barbarella with Jane Fonda, Candy with Marlon Brando and in Brit director Nicholas Roeg's Performance, opposite Jagger, in 1970.

At one point, a jealous Richards thought the film's love scenes weren't simulated and that Pallenberg and Jagger were having an affair. Pallenberg always maintained the love scenes were just 'acting'.

Pallenberg starring alongside Mick Jagger in 1970 crime film Performance

Pallenberg got her into rehab and attended AA meetings in the 1980s in a bid to turn her life around

Pallenberg was hard to recognise from the beauty who captivated first Jones and then Richards (pictured in 2010)

Turning to the end of the documentary, Richards says: 'What I loved about Anita was how she operated.

'[There was] almost an innocence about it even in its most Machiavellian form!'

The final word, in the documentary, is Pallenberg's who says: 'Keith's no angel. But neither am I.'

She described the abuse she had received because of her relationships with Richards and Jones, and said: 'I've been called a witch, a slut and a murderer.'

Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg, directed by Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill, is released in UK cinemas on May 17.

It debuted at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Variety's film critic Owen Gleiberman described Pallenberg as the 'beautiful and imperious scenester of the '60s and '70s, Hollywood actress and icon of scruffy-chic rock royalty, partner of Keith Richards, muse to several of the other Rolling Stones.'

Variety's film critic Owen Gleiberman described Pallenberg as the 'beautiful and imperious scenester of the '60s and '70s, (Pictured on her 55th birthday)

He went on: 'In addition to Pallenberg's memoir, the film is built around a towering archive of home-movie footage, so that we often feel like we're right there with Anita and Keith, seeing who they were offstage and off-camera; we experience the sweet tranquility of lives being lived.

'Pallenberg met the Stones in 1965, when they were giving a concert in Munich (back in the era, she says, before Mick was dancing; he was still playing the maracas).

'Anita soon became involved with Brian Jones, who she thought was the most beautiful of the Stones, and the most charismatic.'
An Italian model has revealed he's been fired from working at this year's Met Gala because his rugged good looks upstaged stars including Kylie Jenner.

Eugenio Casnighi, 26, who worked as a greeter for the museum's previous two events, indicated in a new TikTok video that he has been disinvited from Monday;'s bash by the organizers after his beauty was the talk of the 2023 gala.

'I just got fired from the Met Gala,' Casnighi's video begins, before showing a picture of him standing next to Kylie Jenner at the 2023 gala.

'Remember me?' he asks while pointing at the picture.

Eugenio Casnighi was disinvited from the Met Gala after his stunning looks overshadowed Kylie Jenner's during last year's event

Casnighi worked as a greeter at the 2023 Met Gala, during which his rugged looks quickly caught people's attention

The clip then shows a flashback to last year's event, organized by Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour, where Emma Chamberlain is interviewing Blackpink's Jennie Kim.

Casnighi is standing in the background doing his job, but the person recording the interview was apparently blindsided by his good looks.

The camera drifts away from Chamberlain and Kim and focuses on Casnighi's face.

It was footage that went viral with text appearing on the screen that said: 'Trying to focus on Emma interviewing Jennie but...'

Casnighi, who worked for the Met Gala as a model and greeter for 2022 and 2023, said that he had previously been unable to address all the attention because he was under an NDA.

'It's funny enough,' the model said, 'they fired me so I can say whatever I want now.'

Casnighi divulged he was supposed to do be back again this year - but was shocked to find out earlier that he isn't welcome, despite being confirmed to attend a month ago.

The event's organizers said that Casnighi was at fault for all of the attention.

'They blamed me,' the model said. 'They said "you made it about yourself, so we don't want to work with you anymore".

'They let me know today that they cut me off,' he said. 'They fired me because I went viral last year.'

Casnighi said that he has emails and messages that corroborate his claims.

Speaking to DailyMail.com on Saturday after posting the video, Casnighi lifted the lid on what it was like to be a part of the coveted event.

He revealed that at the past two Met Galas, one mysterious celeb 'got in trouble because they started smoking in the tent before the stairs.'

'That's not allowed,' Casnighi explained. 'But this person did not care. They are very famous, so they can do whatever they want,' he added, declining to reveal who the celebrity was.

In his TikTok, the Italian model revealed that the Gala fired him from working this year's event a mere three days before it's scheduled to happen

The Italian model said that the organizers asked the celebrity to stop smoking.

In response, Casnighi said the celebrity retorted: 'No, what are you going to do about that?'

In his experience working the event, Casnighi found everyone to be nice.

While he wouldn't say that any of the guests 'have been rude to him,' he revealed how when the celebrities first arrive, they aren't sure who is working the event and who is attending it.

'I'm not wearing a name tag, so at first they don't know if I'm an employee. And when realize I'm working there...some people completely change,' he said.

'They kind of vanish. They stop talking to me and start talking to the actual guests.'

At last year's gala, an interview between Emma Chamberlain and Jennie Kim quickly went viral after the cameraperson grew distracted by Casnighi's drop-dead beauty

The camera's gaze quickly drifted from Chamberlain and Kim and lingered on Casnighi

Referencing last year's event, he says he was expecting to be working with Kylie Jenner all night as he had been instructed to do, with duties including getting the reality star 'whatever she needed' - but feels disappointed by the decision to remove him from the carpet, with just two day's notice.

'It's funny because the Met Gala and the company that I'm not going to mention...want models to work the red carpet,' he told his fans on TikTok.

'They want people to get noticed. They literally told me "we picked you because we like you more than other people".

'But when people took pictures of the actual celebrity, like Kylie Jenner and was next to her, of course I ended up in the picture.'

Jenner and her sister Kim Kardashian's changing appearances over the years have sparked speculation that they've rebuilt their faces and bodies with plastic surgeries.

Casnighi told DailyMail.com that he encountered Jenner at a party in Brooklyn after the event and that she 'might have got a little bit more' work done.

'I was a guest there,' Casnighi said about the party. 'In that case, I was talking to her as a guest. It was a very different. I wasn't working for her.

'I do have to say that when I met her the first time at the Met Gala last year...she looked amazing.

'I wouldn't say it's a natural look, but she never denied that she got work done.'

Casnighi added that he's 'supportive' of surgery 'if you feel better with yourself.'

'I still think she's beautiful,' he said of Jenner.

In an exclusive interview with the mailonline, Casnighi revealed that one celebrity, who he declined to name, tried to smoke a cigarette inside the Met Gala's tent

Casnighi said that while he wouldn't call Kylie Jenner's beauty 'a natural look,' he still thinks 'she's beautiful'. He is pictured with Kylie and her sister Kim, who's also rumored to have rebuilt her face and body with cosmetic surgery multiple times

Viewers of his update online quickly rushed to the heartthrob's defense.

'They can't handle your beauty that goes viral. Will DEFINITELY be happening again,' one TikTok user gushed.

One individual was confused by the organizers' frustration and remarked: 'I'm confused how that isn't a good thing? If you're bringing attention to the event, doesn't that benefit the company?'

No longer under an NDA with the Met Gala's organizers, Casnighi is now free to discuss his ouster

'They are hating you because you look perf,' another wrote.

'Now let's manifest you getting invited as a GUEST of a designer,' one user said.

At the end of the video, Casnighi said that he would continue to shed light on his termination.

'I can say much more, because legally I can say whatever I want now.'
Melissa Joan Hart shared a sweet throwback snap from the night she first crossed paths with husband, Mark Wilkerson, 22 years earlier at the Kentucky Derby.

The Sabrina The Teenage Witch actress, 48 - who recently broke her silence on the shocking Quiet On Set docuseries - notably tied the knot with the musician back in 2003.

In the image, the star could be seen flashing a small smile while wearing a pink, satin top with a plunging neckline as she stood next to the musician, 47.

Hart captioned the latest post with, '22 years ago right now...I saw this tall guy with a shaved head across a stage and after a shot of vodka (don't ask) and this photo was taken, I knew he was my forever! #KentuckyDerby #GettinLuckyinKentucky.'

Melissa's picture comes as the 2024 Kentucky Derby officially kicked off over the weekend on Saturday.

Melissa Joan Hart, 48, shared a sweet throwback snap from the night she first crossed paths with husband, Mark Wilkerson, 22 years earlier at the Kentucky Derby

Hart and Wilkerson are also parents to three children - all sons - named Mason, 18, Braydon, 16, and also Tucker, 11.

Back in 2018, the former Nickelodeon star had reminisced on the special day that she met her husband in Kentucky.

She also uploaded a post on her main Instagram page and recalled, 'In 2002, a girl from New York told her mother she met a boy from Alabama at the Kentucky Derby that she was going to marry.'

'14 months later they were married in Italy, and within 5 years had 2 bouncing beautiful baby boys while living a blessed life in Los Angeles.'

Mark's sister, Sally, opened up about the day that her brother met the Drive Me Crazy actress during a past interview with People.

'He tried to play it all cool, but he knew who she was. I screamed and I told my friends, "My brother just met Melissa Joan Hart and she asked for his number,"' she told the outlet.

Just seven months after the pair began dating, Wilkerson popped the big question and the lovebirds became engaged during the holidays.

In July 2003, Melissa and Mark said 'I do' during a romantic ceremony that took place in Florence, Italy.

Hart captioned the latest post with, '22 years ago right now...I saw this tall guy with a shaved head across a stage and after a shot of vodka (don't ask) and this photo was taken, I knew he was my forever! #KentuckyDerby #GettinLuckyinKentucky'

Just seven months after the pair began dating, Wilkerson popped the big question and the lovebirds became engaged during the holidays; the couple seen in February in L.A.

Last year in March, Melissa opened up about her long-lasting marriage to the musician while talking to Us Weekly.

'You know, it's a lot of work,' she expressed to the outlet, and added, '[Officially] 20 years this summer and it doesn't get easier.'

While referencing Russian-born author, Leo Tolstoy, she stated, 'It's basically not aboutwhether or not you fight, it's [about] how you fight. That kind of thing.'

'I'm paraphrasing big time. But I think that's the key. [You have to] ride through the low times because the high times are that much better.'

The Hollywood star continued, 'And it is really about kind of sticking it out and working through it and remembering where you came from.'

Hart explained that the pair 'do a lot of work in our marriage' while stating that they have also 'been in and out of couples therapy...'

'We really enjoy that because it just helps us understand each other better even after 20 years. We do it once in a while.'

Hart and Wilkerson are also parents to three children - all sons - named Mason, 18, Braydon, 16, and also Tucker, 11

Last year in March, Melissa opened up about her long-lasting marriage to the musician while talking to Us Weekly; seen in April 2022 in L.A.

'We kind of go in and out of seasons of it, but I just find it to be so helpful because it really kind of helps us have a safe space. And that helps a lot. But we just work on [our relationship] a lot.'

'We kind of just remember that we love each other and try to be nice to each other,' Melissa continued.

She opened up about how both she and Mark 'make sure to find that common ground' and also 'have the same goals [for how] we want to raise our kids and just base everything in love.'

'It's not easy though. I mean, I make it sound easy, but it's not easy.'

Hart explained that the pair 'do a lot of work in our marriage' while stating that they have also 'been in and out of couples therapy...'; seen earlier this month in NYC

Hart - who currently resides in Nashville with her husband and children - further commented on parenting with Wilkerson and talked about how their sons have grown up so fast; seen in 2018 in L.A.

Hart - who currently resides in Nashville with her husband and children - further commented on parenting with Wilkerson and talked about how their sons have grown up so fast.

'Everyone prepares you for the first[s], but no one prepares you for the last[s]. So I'm sort of focusing on the lasts now. I'm going to cry thinking about...'

During an interview with People in 2018, the actress also talked about keeping her marriage strong with Mark.

'We do day dates, we do lunches, we work out together a lot,' she explained, while humorously adding that they also send each other 'dirty gifs.'
Sailor Brinkley-Cook is enjoying some R&R in Miami this weekend.

The model, 25, showed off her trim figure in a tiny red bikini as she frolicked in the warm water of the Atlantic Ocean.

Sailor initially kept her long blonde hair dry by pulling it up into a top knot but eventually got it wet when she fully submerged herself in the ocean.

At one point the daughter of supermodel Christie Brinkley  who was recently diagnosed with skin cancer  clasped her hands behind her head and looked out to see as the water lapped around her legs.

She hit the beach with friends after going for a bike ride earlier in the day.

Sailor Brinkley-Cook is enjoying some R&R in Miami this weekend. The model, 25, showed off her trim figure in a tiny red bikini as she frolicked in the warm water of the Atlantic Ocean

Sailor initially kept her long blonde hair dry by pulling it up into a top knot but eventually got it wet when she fully submerged herself in the ocean

Earlier this year, Sailor's mom, legendary model Christie Brinkley celebrated her 70th birthday.

She posted pictures of herself in a red one-piece swimsuit jumping off a boat into the clear blue sea.

Sailor's walk into the ocean this weekend gave a subtle nod to her mom's look in February.

Sailor is the youngest of Christie's three kids and the one that looks the most like her.

She shares Alexa Ray Joel, 38, with ex-husband Billy Joel, and Jack Paris Cook, 28, with ex-husband Peter Cook, who is also Sailor's dad.

Sailor has been open about her struggles with body dysmorphia over the years.

'I just have this awful feeling that if I'm not skinny, I'm not worth being celebrated and I'm not worth being praised,' she said on Good Morning America in 2020.

'I've been just been having these moments where I look in the mirror and I'm just disgusted with myself,' she explained, adding it even happens when it comes to 'the tiniest little things like a roll on my stomach, a little pooch on the bottom of my stomach.'

'My mom didn't fully know the pain that I was going through when I was at my worst,' Sailor explained, adding that she was 15 when she first developed an eating disorder.

At one point she clasped her hands behind her head and looked out to see as the water lapped around her legs

Earlier this year, Sailor's mom, legendary model Christie Brinkley celebrated her 70th birthday

She posted pictures of herself in a red one-piece swimsuit jumping off a boat into the clear blue sea

'I was looking up at all these major figures in modeling that are size double zero and they've got these thin legs and these tiny waists,' she explained.

'I was seeing them being so celebrated by everyone everywhere and being wanted by all the boys and all that greatness that comes around being this tiny supermodel. And I wanted that.'

And she felt confident at the height of her eating disorder because of how thin she was.

'I remember feeling so happy with myself because I had a thigh gap,' she recalled.
Home and Away star James Stewart has sparked rumours he is dating his co-star Ada Nicodemou, after splitting from his wife-of-five-years Sarah Roberts.

Sources close to the soap actor, who shares daughter Scout, 11, with former partner Jessica Marais, reveal Stewart and Nicodemou's on-screen chemistry has blossomed into a real-life connection.

The rumours emerged after 48-year-old Stewart was pictured leaving his apartment in Coogee with a suitcase and catching an Uber to the Swissotel Hotel in Sydney's CBD on April 24.

There was also recently a sighting of Stewart and Nicodemou - who play lovers on Home and Away - at a cinema, where onlookers said they were 'not shy' about displaying their affection publicly.

Home and Away's James Stewart has sparked rumours he is dating his co-star Ada Nicodemou, after splitting from his wife-of-five-years Sarah Roberts. The two play lovers on the soap

The rumours emerged after 48-year-old Stewart was pictured leaving his apartment in Coogee with a suitcase and catching an Uber to the Swissotel Hotel in Sydney 's CBD on April 24

Nicodemou was married to Chrys Xipolitas for nine years. They reportedly split briefly in 2010 before reconciling and welcoming a son, Johnas, in August 2012.

The actress, who also starred in '90s soap Heartbreak High, went on to split from Xipolitas for good and dated businessman Adam Rigby for about eight years.

They called it quits sometime in late 2023.

The news of Stewart and Nicodemou growing close comes after his ex Roberts - a Home and Away alum - confirmed to Stellar magazine the pair had divorced.

'I just want to say that I am divorced,' she told the publication.

He was pictured checking into the hotel while trying to keep a low profile in sunglasses and a baseball cap

Stewart was dressed casually in a white T-shirt paired with blue jeans

He completed his look with beige-coloured boots and a backpack

'Sometimes people grow apart and that's okay... I got to a point where I realised I couldn't grow in the way I wanted to within this particular relationship.'

Roberts and Stewart wed in 2019 after getting engaged in November 2018. He had proposed at the restaurant where they'd had their first date a year earlier.

The pair tied the knot at Luttrellstown Castle, on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland, in July 2019.

Nicodemou quietly split from businessman Adam Rigby after eight years together in late 2023

Roberts' divorce confirmation came after years of speculation the couple had split.

The rumours first bubbled to the surface after Stewart was absent at the premiere of her film Wog Boys Forever in Melbourne in October 2022.

He was 'nowhere to be seen on the red carpet' and was apparently no longer following his wife's Instagram account, reports suggested.

At the time, Roberts' agent denied they had broken up.

The news of Stewart and Nicodemou growing close comes after his ex Sarah Roberts (right) - a Home and Away alum - confirmed to Stellar magazine the pair had divorced

The pair tied the knot at Luttrellstown Castle, on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland, in July 2019

The pair later put rumours to rest when Roberts proudly flashed her wedding ring at the AACTA Awards in December that year.

Speaking with Now To Love at the time, she also shot down the break-up rumours.

'We're happy,' she told the website.

Roberts added that her husband was as romantic as ever, even picking her up from the airport with a bouquet of flowers after a recent trip to Italy.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Nicodemou and Stewart for comment.

The split rumours first bubbled to the surface after Stewart was absent at the premiere of her film Wog Boys Forever in Melbourne in October 2022

Roberts starred on Home and Away from 2017 to 2021, before walking away to focus on her film career.

Stewart is still starring on the Australian soap, in which he plays Justin Morgan.

The actor shares daughter Scout, 11, with his ex-fiancee Jessica Marais, whom he met on the set of Packed to the Rafters in 2009.

They had announced their engagement in October 2010, and welcomed Scout in May 2012.

In 2015, the pair called it quits, with Stewart later saying: 'Our relationship didn't work out because I think hearts go in different directions eventually.'
Tony-winning producer Edgar Lansbury has died at the age of 94.

Edgar was the younger brother of iconic actress Angela Lansbury, and was an acclaimed producer himself, working on Broadway and in film.

His son David Lansbury told The Hollywood Reporter that he had died on Thursday at his Manhattan home. No cause of death was given.

Among Lansbury's most notable work was his producer credit for the 1974-75 Broadway revival of Gypsy that starred his sister, the play went onto win a Tony.

Tony-winning producer Edgar Lansbury has died at the age of 94. His son David told The Hollywood Reporter that he had died on Thursday at his Manhattan home (pictured in 2011)

Edgar was the younger brother of iconic actress Angela Lansbury , and was an acclaimed producer himself, working on Broadway and in film

Murder, She Wrote star Angelea died on October 11, 2022, at age 96. Edgar's twin brother Bruce who was also a producer died in February 2017 at age 87.

Lansbury's first Broadway production, the 1964 Frank D. Gilroy play The Subject Was Roses, won him the Tony Award for Best Play.

Other Broadway credits include The Only Game in Town (1968), Look to the Lilies (1970), The Magic Show (1974), American Buffalo (1977, Drama Desk Nomination), and Lennon (2005).

In his later years Lansbury was also a producer on the 2011 Broadway Revival of Godspell.

His film credits include The Wild Party and the screen adaptations of The Subject Was Roses and Godspell.

In 2007 he received the John Houseman Award, given by The Acting Company to honour his commitment to the development of classical actors and a national audience for the theater.

Actress Peggy Gordon, who appeared in Lansburys Godspell, posted a tribute on Facebook, writing:

My huge adorable and adoring Godspell family, we have now lost our surrogate daddy, Edgar Lansbury.'

Among Lansbury's most notable work was his producer credit for the 1974-75 Broadway revival of Gypsy that starred his sister, the play went onto win a Tony (pictured with Angela in 2012)

Actress Peggy Gordon, who appeared in Lansburys Godspell, posted a tribute on Facebook, writing: My adoring Godspell family, we have now lost our surrogate daddy'

'How blessed was he to live such a full, rich, wonderful life surrounded by people who adored him. Don Scardino says there will be a memorial probably this fall.'

'Contact any and all of your Godspell family members from all ten original companies, plus London (hi Gay) and anyone else Ive missed. Man, if Joe Beruh was waiting for Edgar with a cigarette in his mouth, I have no doubt Edgar made Joe stomp on it.'

'Love never dies. Its an energy that only transmutes into matter. Thats all of us. So, I believe Edgars energy continues.'

.
Body positive influencer Karina Irby has showed off her curves in a very daring red lingerie set.

The plus-sized model, 33, took to Instagram on Saturday with a photo of herself sitting on the edge of her bed wearing the lace ensemble, which included a bra, G-string bottoms and garter.

Proudly revealing her curves as she smiled at the camera, the blonde completed her post with an inspiring message in the caption.

'I don't need a flat tummy to be happy, pretty, successful, confident, sexy, loved, and neither do you,' she wrote.

The bikini brand owner's followers were quick to praise her in the comments section, with one writing: 'Wish I had this confidence! You are beautiful!'

Body positive influencer Karina Irby, 33, (pictured) showed off her curves in a very daring red lingerie set on Saturday. 'I don't need a flat tummy to be happy, pretty, successful, confident, sexy, loved, and neither do you,' she wrote in the caption

'Youre my INSPIRATION!!!!!!! Living comfortably in our skin,' another added, while someone else wrote: 'We should definitely normalise bellies like this. I think you look absolutely awesome.'

It comes after Karina hit back a critics of the revealing outfit she wore to Taylor Swift's Sydney concert back in February.

Posting to Instagram, Karina shared a screenshot of a comment she had received under a video of herself dressed in a black bodysuit with revealing g-string feature and chunky black heeled boots.

It comes after Karina hit back a critics of the revealing outfit she wore to Taylor Swift 's Sydney concert back in February

The commenter critiqued Karina's look: 'you have no class and no respect and it's sickening. 'Wear this s**t on your OnlyFans, not to a concert filled with kids'

The commenter harshly critiqued Karina's look, saying 'you have no class and no respect and it's sickening. Wear this s**t on your OnlyFans, not to a concert filled with kids.'

However, the influencer's video accompanying the screenshot of the nasty comment showed her gallivanting around the Accor Stadium enjoying herself, while the caption to the post read 'Never let ANYONE dim your sparkle.'

'Posting this to show you that you don't have to let the opinions of others ruin your day,' she added.

However, the influencer's video accompanying the screenshot of the nasty comment showed her gallivanting around the Accor Stadium enjoying herself, while the caption to the post read 'Never let ANYONE dim your sparkle'

Karina then expressed her surprise that her Swift fandom would 'cause such a stir.'

'I low key thought you'd all be happy for me having such a lovely experience and sharing it. Ahhh the internet,' she wrote.

The plus-sized beauty concluded her remarks by defiantly tagging the person who left the comment to directly address them.

'Taylor and I are the same age. This is more of a concert for adults than children,' she declared.
Tilda Swinton was spotted in a rare outing looking loved up with her long-term partner Sandro Kopp, 46, as they showed off their unique style.

The 63-year-old actress - who recently gushed over Problemista director Julio Torres - bundled up in a poofy navy zip up and black slacks.

She wore a black turtleneck underneath as she paired the look with a maroon hat, black glasses, and black loafers.

The English actress threw a black purse over her shoulders and held on to her man while sharing laughs.

Her natural beauty was on full display going makeup free as they frolicked around Manhattan's SoHo area.

Tilda Swinton was spotted in a rare outing looking loved up with her long-term partner Sandro Kopp, 46, as they showed off their unique style

The 63-year-old actress bundled up in a poofy navy zip up and black slacks during the outing

Kopp rocked a mismatched ensemble that consisted of blue marbled joggers and denim jacket over a white T-shirt.

He paired the look with an unzipped black jacket and orange sneakers.

The German visual artist accessorized with a striped scarf and hung his sunglasses on his long necklace.

His silver hair was styled into a mow-hawk as he showed off his trimmed beard.

The pair, who have a 17-year age gap, have been dating since appearing in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2004.

Tilda played the White Witch and Sandro was a centaur in the hit series.

The lovebirds live together in Nairn, Scotland, with the artist moving into the home she used to share with her playwright ex, John Byrne.

She previously insisted she still has a good friendship with her ex, who she shares daughter Honor, 24, and son Xavier, 23, with.

Tilda also said that Sandro and John also have a good friendship.

'It's all quite boring really,' she said back in 2022.

'The father of my children [playwright John Byrne] and I are good friends and I'm now in a very happy other relationship. And we're all really good friends. It's a very happy situation. Life doesn't have to be complicated.'

She added: 'You just have to have compassion with yourself and stop blaming yourself when things do get complicated.'

She previously insisted she still has a good friendship with her ex John Byrne, who she shares daughter Honor, 24, and son Xavier, 23, with; Tilda and John Byrne pictured on April 27, 2004 in Edinburgh, Scotland

Tilda and Sandra have been dating since appearing in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 2004; the couple seen in January 2012

The lovebirds live together in Nairn, Scotland; Tilda and Sandro pictured on May 14, 2019 in Cannes, France

Tilda is slated to join Colin Farrell in Edward Berger's The Ballad of a Small Player in Netflix's latest film.

According to the film's official description, the English actress will play character Cynthia Blithe.

The logline reads: 'When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low in Macau encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation.'

The film will commence shooting in Asia this summer.
Ryan Gosling's two daughters with longtime partner Eva Mendes aren't impressed by their parents' movie star status.

While promoting his new film The Fall Guy, the Oscar nominee, 43, confessed to PEOPLE: 'They don't care.'

Gosling and Mendes, who have been together since 2011, share daughters Esmeralda, nine, and Amada, eight.

To make his point, the Barbie star recalled a time when their kids asked to 'fast-forward' through one of Mendes' roles  despite the actress starring in one of their favorite shows.

Back in 2021, Mendes voiced a yoga instructor in an episode of the hit ABC Kids animated series, Bluey.

'Eva was on an episode of Bluey. We both thought it was going to be huge,' he explained.

But Esmeralda and Amada 'didn't like it' and proceeded to ask if they could 'fast-forward through that part!'

Ryan Gosling 's two daughters with longtime partner Eva Mendes aren't impressed by their parents' movie star status

While promoting his new film The Fall Guy, the Oscar nominee, 43, confessed to PEOPLE : 'They don't care'

Gosling, 43, also felt the veto power of Esmeralda and Amada during the shoot for his latest film, The Fall Guy, which just dropped in the U.S. on May 3 that also stars Emily Blunt.

The action-comedy directed by David Leitch, who worked from a screenplay from Drew Pearce, is loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers.

Definitely not something on his girls' radar, Gosling had it in his mind that he was going to do as many of his own stunts as possible since he's playing Colt Seavers, a seasoned action stuntman.

And considering the story is about a stuntman the role did in fact include many potentially dangerous high-flying feats he had to do or pass it off to the real-life stuntmen for the film.

It turns out the London, Ontario, Canada native doesn't just dismiss his kids when it comes to choosing his next roles, and the scenes that come with the job.

'My kids didn't want me to be set on fire,' he said of The Fall Guy, which the star also serves as a producer. 'They were like, "No. No fire." So I didn't do it.'

Blunt, 41, who plays Colt's ex-girlfriend Jody Moreno in The Fall Guy, chimed in on the subject and said she has found that her kids 'don't want you to be anything other than their parent.'

To make his point, the Barbie star recalled a time when their kids asked to 'fast-forward' through one of Mendes' roles  despite the actress starring in one of their favorite shows

Back in 2021, Mendes voiced a yoga instructor in an episode of the hit ABC Kids animated series, Bluey

'Eva was on an episode of Bluey. We both thought it was going to be huge,' he explained. But Esmeralda and Amada 'didn't like it' and proceeded to ask if they could 'fast-forward through that part!'; the couple seen in 2012

Her daughters Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven, who she shares with actor and director John Krasinski, have reacted similarly to Gosling's girls.

'They've only seen Jungle Cruise once because they don't love watching me on screen which I understand because I'm their mommy and it's very strange to see me play someone else,' she explained of the 2021 fantasy adventure film she starred alongside Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

In fact, Blunt made a point of sharing about how her girls find certain dramatic scenes involved with very distressing to watch.

'They didn't like the underwater stuff where I'm trapped and I'm in peril,' the Oscar-nominated actress said of Jungle Cruise. 'They left the room.'

In a recent interview with WSJ, Gosling revealed that he avoids 'roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place' to help keep the peace in his home with Mendes, 50, and their daughters.

'We make [decisions] with our family in mind first,' the former Disney Channel child star said of the process to how he picks his next project.

Gosling, 43, also felt the veto power of Esmeralda and Amada during the shoot for his latest film, The Fall Guy, which just dropped in the U.S. on May 3 that also stars Emily Blunt

The action-comedy directed by David Leitch, who worked from a screenplay from Drew Pearce, is loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers

Definitely not something on his girls' radar, Gosling had it in his mind that he was going to do as many of his own stunts as possible since he's playing Colt Seavers, a seasoned action stuntman

Mendes shared support for her partner's new film in her most recent Instagram post

After premiering at SXSW in March, The Fall Guy can now be found in theaters all across the world as of May 3.

Along with Gosling and Blunt, the cast also features Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer and Stephanie Hsu.

Lee Majors and Heather Thomas, who starred in the original television series of the same name, both have cameos in the new film version as police officers, along with Jason Momoa, who has a brief appearance as himself.
The reported engagement of an Australian billionaire and his much younger girlfriend has ruffled feathers among family members.

Robert Whyte, 81, who is the country's 141st richest man, proposed to fashion marketer Alessandra Eddy, 38, days before they attended the annual Gold Dinner, the most exclusive charity gala in Australia, reports The Sunday Telegraph.

However, sources close to the businessman have since told Daily Mail Australia that while the couple are head over heels in love, he has not proposed to her.

'Robert has a history of giving significant rings to women,' dished one source.

The publication claimed that their 'news' was a closely guarded secret by the couple, who share a 43-year age gap, during the celebrity-packed event.

The reported engagement of Australian billionaire Robert Whyte, 81, and his girlfriend Alessandra Eddy, 38, (seen together) has ruffled feathers among some family members

Eddy, a prominent figure in Sydney's social scene and single mother, is known for her role on the committee of the Gold Dinner.

During the soiree, she was seen mingling with high-profile guests but reportedly chose to conceal her new engagement ring.

According to the rumours, Eddy's father has taken issue with his daughter's betrothal to a man more than four decades her senior.

Whyte, 81, who is the country's 141st richest man, proposed to Ms Eddy, a 38-year-old fashion marketer, before they attended the Gold Dinner, Australia's the most exclusive charity gala

Nicholas Eddy, a well-known Paddington lawyer, is said to be less than thrilled about his daughter's rapid ascension into the billionaire's life, after she apparently moved into Whyte's sprawling $30million mansion in Darling Point.

Eddy founded Australian fashion brand Luna Atelier, which was known and loved by A-listers including Kelly Rowland, Cheyenne Tozzi and Kate Ritchie.

Father of three Whyte was a private investor and banker who built his fortune on property and equity market investments and was a close friend of the late billionaire Kerry Packer.

The 2020 AFR Rich List ranked him 141st in Australia.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the couple for comment.
Jamie Lynn Spears wished her mother Lynne Spears a happy birthday with a sweet Instagram Story post on Saturday.

The Zoey 101 actress, 33, took to her social media to share a 69th birthday tribute with a photo of her two daughters posing with their grandmother.

In the recent photo, Lynne was seen with Jamie's eldest daughter Maddie, 15, who was wearing her prom dress, and six-year-old daughter Ivey.

This comes after Jamie's sister Britney Spears  who called her a 'b****' in a since-deleted video  claimed their mother set her up regarding the pop star's concerning Chateau Marmont incident two days ago.

Disregarding the accusations from her older sister Britney, who posted on her Instagram today but has not shared a public birthday tribute to their mother, Jamie penned a short but sweet note to Lynne over the snap of her with her two granddaughters.

Jamie Lynn Spears wished her mother Lynne Spears a happy birthday with a sweet Instagram Story post on Saturday; seen in December 2022

The Zoey 101 actress, 33, took to her social media to share a 69th birthday tribute with a photo of her two daughters posing with their grandmother. In the recent photo, Lynne was seen with Jamie's eldest daughter Maddie, 15, who was wearing her prom dress, and six-year-old daughter Ivey

'Happy birthday to my beautiful mama,' she wrote alongside three red balloon emojis.

'She has a childlike spirit that brings magic to everything she does, and we are so blessed to have her,' she wrote, adding two white heart emojis.

Lynne did not appear to be spending her birthday with her daughter Jamie and granddaughters Maddie and Ivey as she was seen traveling to Los Angeles on Friday presumably to check in on Britney just shortly after her 'mental health crisis.'

On Thursday, Britney sparked concerns after shocking photos showed the barefoot star wrapped in a blanket and being escorted out of the Chateau Marmont to emergency services.

In scenes reminiscent of her 2008 meltdown, she was seen clad in just her underwear.

She was also seen clutching a pillow to her chest and appeared visibly distressed as she left the hotel after reportedly causing a scene.

She later spoke up about the incident as she posted two Instagram videos of her 'twisted' and swollen ankle.

In the clips, she claimed that she was 'set up' by her mother  who was seem hopping on the plane the following day.

Lynne did not appear to be spending her birthday with her daughter Jamie and granddaughters Maddie and Ivey as she was seen traveling to Los Angeles on Friday presumably to check in on Britney just shortly after her 'mental health crisis'

Lynne's birthday comes just days after Britney claimed their mother set her up regarding the pop star's concerning Chateau Marmont incident two days ago. The day before her birthday, Lynne was seen arriving at LAX presumably to visit her eldest daughter

This also comes after Jamie's sister Britney called her a 'b****' in a since-deleted video; seen in April 2017

She was pictured arriving at LAX presumably to go see Britney  who was partying with her felon ex Paul Richard Soliz at the time of the Chateau Marmont incident.

She was picked up by her son, Britney's brother Bryan, and her granddaughter.

Lynne and her eldest daughter had previously reconciled back in December 2023 to celebrate Britney's birthday together.

Following their fallout from her conservatorship, it was the first time the pair appeared to be on good terms in recent years.
Melissa Leong gave fans a glimpse at her incredible figure on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old shared a sultry mirror selfie to Instagram Stories in which she worked her angles in two skimpy bikinis.

The former MasterChef Australia star complained in her caption that she had 'three straight weeks of eating cake, ice cream and chocolate' and was now getting back into her training schedule.

In a further post, she indicated she had 'something exciting to share' with her followers.

A follow up revealed that the thrilling news was that Melissa will appear on the upcoming cover of Women's Health magazine.

Melissa Leong (pictured) gave fans a glimpse at her incredible figure on Tuesday. The 42-year-old shared a sultry mirror selfie to Instagram Stories in which she worked her angles in two skimpy bikinis

The former MasterChef Australia star complained in her caption that she had 'three straight weeks of eating cake, ice cream and chocolate' and was now getting back into her training

Melissa's career has powered on since she was dumped from MasterChef Australia last year.

Thinking back on her time as a judge on MasterChef, Melissa says she has no regrets and will be watching the new season.

'I reflect on the last four years of being host and judge of MasterChef with joy, with gratitude and with maximum respect,' she said.

'I think about it every day as something that was a huge part of my life and continues to be a huge part of my life.'

In a further post, she indicated she had 'something exciting to share' with her followers

It comes after news that Melissa is primed for an international television career, according to a new report.

There are 'whispers' that she has 'caught the attention of other international MasterChef formats including MasterChef Asia and MasterChef Singapore' the Herald Sun reported earlier this year.

The publication went on to claim that Melissa has attracted a growing fanbase in the UK, South Africa and New Zealand thanks to episodes of MasterChef Australia airing around the world.

The Channel Ten star, who has moved onto a new role as a judge on Dessert Masters, hinted at big career moves ahead in a post to Instagram made in December.

Melissa's career has powered on since she was dumped from MasterChef Australia last year

'For those who supported and believed in me; a huge and heartfelt thank you. And for those who didn't... you're going to thoroughly hate what's coming next!' she wrote in her caption.

The food critic was dropped from MasterChef Australia last year amid rumours of a feud between herself and fellow judges Andy Allen and the late Jock Zonfrillo, which she has denied.

She went on to host MasterChef spinoff series Dessert Masters alongside Amaury Guichon, who is billed as the world's hottest pastry chef.

Melissa is also working on her upcoming SBS documentary series The Hospital: In The Deep End.
Cheyenne Tozzi made a stunning display on Sunday when she posed completely topless for a candid selfie.

The Face Australia star, 35, took to Instagram Stories with a saucy snap of herself garbed in nothing but a tiny scrap of underwear.

Wearing her damp blonde locks down, the model flaunted her figure in her bathroom as she gave the camera a flirty pout and covered her assets with her arms.

It comes after Cheyenne appeared to make an incredible comeback to the modelling scene after turning her back on the industry at the height of her career.

The mother-of-one shared a sizzling look at her latest photo shoot last month when she gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the beachy set.

Cheyenne Tozzi, 35, (pictured) made a stunning display on Sunday when she posed completely topless for a candid selfie in her bathroom

In one image, Cheyenne showcased her frame in a white one-piece swimsuit which featured a plunging neckline.

Cheyenne famously turned her back on modelling after her beloved mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer and subsequently, multiple brain tumours.

'After mum got sick, I didn't care about the industry,' she told The Daily Telegraph at the time.

It comes after Cheyenne appeared to make an incredible comeback to the modelling scene after turning her back on the industry at the height of her career

Cheyenne, who had been dubbed 'the next Elle Macpherson' at the peak of her fame, added: 'People say, "She didn't make it," but I don't need to prove anything.'

The model said she felt 'proud' of her decisions, as her mother's health and family will always come first.

'If you are working overseas and you find out your mum has bowel cancer, you are going home. If you find out she has four brain tumours, you're going home,' she said.

Cheyenne famously turned her back on modelling after her beloved mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer and subsequently, multiple brain tumours

Her mother Yvonne was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2003 at just 42, but has since made a full recovery.

She was also diagnosed with multiple brain tumours in 2013, but she completely recovered after they were removed by neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo.

Cheyenne entered the modelling world as a child, and landed the cover of Harper's Bazaar at just age 13.

The Cronulla-born beauty has also starred on reality shows The Face with Naomi Campbell and Australia's Next Top Model.
Kendrick Lamar's ongoing war of words with Drake has entered new territory.

The 36-year-old Compton-born rapper  whose volleys with Drake inspired part of Dua Lipa's monologue on Saturday Night Live  made some serious accusations on his new track Not Like Us, which was released shortly after he dropped Meet The Grahams.

In the new song, Lamar appears to accuse Drake, 37, of pursuing much younger girls , along with another member of his crew.

Lamar's latest song was released before Drake had even responded to his previous diss track, and so far the chart-topper has yet to respond to either song musically. DailyMail.com has reached out to Drake's representatives for comment.

Lamar's new song Not Like Us was released on YouTube with what appeared to be a graphic of Drake's home covered with red sex offender symbols.

Shortly after Kendrick Lamar dropped Meet the Grahams, an answer to Drake's Family Matters, Lamar made some serious allegations in another new diss track Not Like Us. He appears to accuse Drake and another member of his entourage of going after much younger girls

In the lyrics, the Pulitzer Prize winner hit out at the hitmaker and members of his Octobers Very Own (OVO) crew.

'Say Drake, I hear you like 'em young,' Lamar raps, encouraging others to 'hide your little sister from him.'

He then goes on to say 'They tell me Chubbs (Drake's security guard) the only one that get your hand-me-downs.'

'And Party at the party playin wit his nose now,' targeting Canadian artist PartyNextDoor.

It gets even more personal when Lamar lodges these allegations against Baka Not Nice: 'And Baka got a weird case/Why is he around? he asks, before going on to rap: 'Certified Lover Boys, certified pedophiles.'

He continues with, 'Why you trollin' like a b****, ain't you tired? You're tryin' to strike a chord and it's probably A minor.'

Lamar's Meet The Grahams was released within minutes of Drake's latest diss track Family Matters.

In Meet the Grahams, Lamar suggested that Drake has a secret daughter.

Not Like Us was released on YouTube with what appeared to be a graphic of Drake's home covered with red sex offender symbols

He takes aim at several members of Drake's OVO crew and refers to Drake and friends as 'Certified Lover Boys, certified pedophiles'

Not like us was released before Drake had even responded to Lamar's previous diss track, Meet The Grahams

Drake responded to Lamar's previous allegations about having a secret daughter Friday night in a diss track called Family Matters

'You lied about your son, you lied about your daughter, huh, you lied about them other kids that's out there hoping that you come,' go the lyrics.

Elsewhere on Lamar's recording he points to Drake's alleged battle with gambling and alcohol.

'You f***ed up the minute you called out my family's name / You got gambling problems, drinking problems, pill-popping and spending problems, bad with money, whore house/ Therapy's a lovely start,' he raps.

'F*** a rap battle, this a lifelong battle with yourself,' the Recipe hitmaker spews.

Drake's Family Matters, which was released prior to Meet the Grahams, addresses the allegations made on Lamar's Euphoria and the Jack Antonoff produced 6:16 in LA.

In response to Kendrick raising the subject of Drake's parenting, he raps: 'You mentioned my seed, now deal with his dad/I gotta go bad, I gotta go bad.'

The For All The Dogs music artist also name-dropped a list of the California-bred rapper's collaborators including Anthony 'Top Dawg' Tiffith, Dave Free, and Baby Keem, spitting: 'K.Dot sh*t is only hitting hard when Baby Keem put his pen to it.'

On Family Matters, a nod to the beloved 90s sitcom, Drake also took the opportunity to direct his frustrations toward other members of the hip-hop community.

Announcing the song on Instagram, Drake captioned the post, 'FAMILY MATTERS out on YouTube now. Stop trying to piece together what I know and go pick up the pieces of your broken home'

Three days after dropping Euphoria, Kendrick came for Drake again with 6:16 in LA

He took aim at Metro Boomin with the line, 'Leland Wayne, he a f***in' lame, so I know he had to be an influence.'

Then he turned to Future, reciting, 'Pluto sh*t make me sick to my stomach/We ain't never really been through it.'

Rick Ross was also mentioned with the bar, 'Ross callin' me the white boy, and the sh*t kinda got a ring to it/'Cause all these rappers wavin' white flags while the whole f**kin' club sing to it.'

At one point Drake turned his focus to the legal aftermath of his Taylor Made Freestyle, which was removed from social media as the result of a cease-and-desist from the late rapper 2Pac's estate.

He seemed to blame Lamar for having it taken down, though there's no evidence that the

'A cease-and-desist is for hoes/Can't listen to lies that come out of your mouth/You called the 2Pac Estate/And begged 'em to sue me and get that sh*t down.'

Drake also brought up a romantic relationship of Kendrick's and hinting at alleged domestic abuse by the hands of the Compton-bred rap star

'They hired a crisis management team/To clean up the fact that you beat on your queen. The picture you painted ain't what it seems,' he rapped.

In addition to Taylor Made Freestyle, Family Matters comes after Push Ups.

It's been revealed that Lamar tapped Taylor Swift 's frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff to co-produce 6:16 in LA

On Kendrick's Meet the Grahams, he points to Drake's alleged battle with gambling and alcohol (Pictured in Inglewood, CA in August in 2017)

Announcing the song on Instagram, Drake captioned the post, 'FAMILY MATTERS out on YouTube now. Stop trying to piece together what I know and go pick up the pieces of your broken home.'

Last week, in response to Kendrick's song Euphoria, Drake then seemingly fired back by posting a clip from 10 Things I Hate About You .

Fans believed that Drake's humorous post was to mock Lamar's lyrics, 'Now let me say I'm the biggest hater, I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk.

'I hate the way that you dress, I hate the way you sneak diss, if I catch flight, it's gon' be direct.'
Gypsy Rose Blanchard returned her wedding ring to ex-husband Ryan Anderson.

TMZ reported that the Munchausen by proxy victim, 32, left the 'family heirloom' behind on March 22 with the apology note she left when she decided to end her marriage.

The note simply said: 'I'm sorry, you and I deserve happiness.'

The ring was given to Ryan by his mother and sources close to the Life After Lock Up star told the outlet that she knew it was the right thing to do.

The couple married while Gypsy was in prison and their relationship started to fall apart once she was released and they were spending time together.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard returned her wedding ring to ex-husband Ryan Anderson. TMZ reported that the Munchausen by proxy victim left the 'family heirloom' behind on March 22 with the apology note she left when she decided to end her marriage

The note simply said: 'I'm sorry, you and I deserve happiness.' The ring was given to Ryan by his mother and sources close to the Gypsy-Rose: Life After Lock Up star, 32, told the outlet that she knew it was the right thing to do

Ryan is said to have been blindsided by Gypsy's request for a divorce.

'I'm not doing well with it. For me it just came out of the blue,' he began.

'I had no idea she still had such strong feelings for him,' he told DailyMail.com exclusively last month, referring to her ex-fiance Ken Urker.

After Gypsy left Anderson, Urker wasted no time in flying from Texas to be by her side.

Blanchard has insisted that there is 'no intimacy' between the pair and that he is simply being a supportive friend  despite a kissing selfie she shared on Instagram but Anderson is clear that the relationship is to blame for the end of his marriage.

He told DailyMail.com: 'I haven't spoken to her, so I just don't know what's going on. I'm at a loss. I'm really not doing well at all.'

This weekend, Gypsy was in Los Angeles ahead of the premiere of her Lifetime reality TV series.

While in the City of Angels, she went to the beach, visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame and dined at Lisa Vanderpump's SUR.

She shared a video on TikTok posing in front of the restaurants iconic pink fluorescent sign. 'SUR rules.'

She captioned the video: 'Night in Hollywood.'

The couple married while Gypsy was in prison and their relationship started to fall apart once she was released and they were spending time together

This weekend, Gypsy was in Los Angeles ahead of the premiere of her Lifetime reality TV series

While in the City of Angels, she went to the beach, visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame and dined at Lisa Vanderpump 's SUR

In the video she poses in front of the restaurants iconic pink fluorescent sign. SUR rules.' She captioned the TikTok: 'Night in Hollywood'

Blanchard's traumatic childhood and early adulthood has been fodder for documentaries, movies, books and countless magazine, newspaper and online articles.

She was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on December 28, after serving eight years of a 10-year sentence for her role in the infamous murder of her mother Dee Dee.

In what has become one of the best-known cases of Munchausen by proxy, Blanchard spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair bound invalid while Dee Dee subjected her to years of ill health, shaving her head, pumping her full of unnecessary medications, and convincing the world that she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

Blanchard's mother's stranglehold came to an end in 2015 when she persuaded the boyfriend she had met online, Nicholas Godejohn, to creep into their home in Springfield, Missouri, and stab her mother to death.
The Repair Shop star Jay Blades' estranged wife Lisa Marie Zbozen cut a sombre figure as she was spotted on a dog walk near her sister's home in Nottinghamshire on Sunday.

The fitness instructor, 43, announced on Thursday that she has left the TV star, 54, saying their 18-month marriage 'just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left'.

Lisa cut a casual figure on the outing in a light blue top and baggy black cargo trousers with a sweater tied around her waist.

She appeared downcast as she made her way along the street as she juggled keys, a drink and her four-legged friend on a lead.

The outing comes amid cryptic claims by Lisa's sister Teresa Zbozen of 'keeping secrets' and using 'code words' during the now ended relationship.

The Repair Shop star Jay Blades ' estranged wife Lisa Marie Zbozen, 43, cut a sombre figure as she was spotted on a dog walk near her sister's home in Nottinghamshire on Sunday

The fitness instructor announced on Thursday that she has left the TV star, 54 , saying their 18-month marriage 'just got worse and worse, until I grabbed a bag of a few things and I left' (pictured together in September)

Following the split announcement Jay's sister in law made reference to 'using code words on messages and calls to be sure it's safe to ring'.

She also wrote about 'keeping the secret', adding: 'Right now I am nothing but grateful, relieved and hopeful for my sister's future outside of her marriage.'

Lisa announced that she had ended her marriage with Jay with a surprise post on social media in the early hours of Thursday.

She wrote: 'I don't know how to say this because it's still really raw. I probably should be really angry but I'm just incredibly sad about the whole thing right now. I don't think I've ever cried so much.

'I will admit I'm crying as I type this as I can't believe this is even real. I hope you don't mind if I just have a few days trying to figure out my life as I'm currently in a spare room with a few essentials. I don't know what else to say. All my love, A very broken Lisa-Marie.'

The couple tied the knot in an intimate beachfront wedding in Barbados in 2022, with just 15 guests. Jay told Hello! magazine at the time: 'One word sums up the day: Perfect.

'We had our closest family there, the weather held out and everything worked out so well.'

It is understood that Jay is currently at the marital home in Shropshire while Lisa is staying with her sister in Nottinghamshire.

Lisa cut a casual figure on the outing in a light blue top and baggy black cargo trousers with a sweater tied around her waist

Lisa announced that she had ended her marriage with Jay with a surprise post on social media in the early hours of Thursday (pictured together in 2023)

The couple married in Barbados in November 2022, sharing their wedding with Hello! Magazine

It is understood that Jay is currently at the marital home in Shropshire while Lisa is staying with her sister in Nottinghamshire

Meanwhile MailOnline reported on Saturday that The Repair Shop's Christmas special has been brought to a halt by the collapse of host's marriage.

The production has been plunged into chaos after the furniture restorer and host told bosses he would not be able to take part in last week's planned recording, sparking 'genuine fears' the show may not be finished.

Filming had already begun at the Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester when Jay pulled out, sources on the hit BBC programme revealed, with work suddenly put on hold last Monday.

Now, The Repair Shop staff are waiting to be told whether they will be required to return to work tomorrow.

One told The Mail on Sunday: 'It has become really problematic. Things have been really difficult for Jay. His relationship imploded last weekend and clearly he didn't feel like he could work.

'He is known to be a pro, so for him to have to do this means that things must be bad. He must be having a pretty awful time.'

Meanwhile MailOnline reported on Saturday that The Repair Shop 's Christmas special has been brought to a halt by the collapse of host 's marriage

There are now concerns that the festive episode of The Repair Shop, which is regularly watched by 7 million viewers and previously featured the King as a guest, may not be finished. One staff member said: 'None of the bosses have told us if filming is going to continue.'

The split comes after Jay's beloved uncle was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour on a quiet residential street following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway, MailOnline revealed this week.

He star announced on Monday that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle, telling his fans the shocking bereavement had left him feeling 'messed up'.

Richard Brathwaite, 72, was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley around lunchtime on March 21 after his next door neighbour Derek Brown, who lived on the same street, allegedly knifed him.

It comes after it was revealed that Jay's beloved uncle (seen) was allegedly stabbed to death by a neighbour following a long-running dispute over a shared alleyway

Ahead of the split Jay announced that he would be taking time away from social media to process his grief following the death of his uncle

Mr Brathwaite was found dead on Cromwell Road in Wembley. Mr Brathwaite lived on the left of this picture with the brown door. His alleged killer lived on the right

Brown, also 72, is said to have launched the attack on Mr Braithwaite after accusing the victim of leaving items in the shared alleyway between their homes.

During the fatal incident, Jay' 71-year-old aunt Annetta was also injured and suffered cuts to her head and face.

The funeral for Jay's uncle is thought to have been held on Monday, with the BBC presenter paying tribute to his uncle, who he called a 'really, super nice guy' adding that the alleged killing 'should never have happened to him'.

In an emotional video, still wearing his black suit following the service, he told his Instagram followers: 'Hope you're all well. This is kind of like a public service announcement. I've just been to my uncle's funeral [...].

'Really, super nice guy, shouldn't have happened to him, but it really affected me. I feel a little bit messed up. So what I'm intending on doing is this.

'I'm coming off social media for a bit, and I'll be back in a bit. Going to go and get some therapy and just chill out. Please, take care of each other, take care of yourself, and I'll see you guys soon.'

Emergency services were called to the North London property in March but tragically pronounced Mr Brathwaite dead at 12.30pm. A man was later arrested outside Wembley Police Station.

A special post-mortem examination that took place two days later gave the victim's cause of death as a stab injury.

A man appeared in court on March 26 where he was charged with murder, wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the Old Bailey in March the alleged murder took place following a 'long-running neighbour dispute between the defendant and the deceased'.

Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC set a plea hearing for June 11, scheduling a three-week provisional trial from January 27 next year.

Neighbours living on the street told MailOnline they did not know much about Mr Braithwaite who 'kept to himself'.

Mr Blades' video, which was captioned 'good evening all, see you soon', led to an outpouring of support from fans and those within the television community.
Vicky Pattison put on a very busty display as she shared a slew of hen do snaps soaking up the sun and eating pizza in Dubai on Instagram on Sunday.

The TV and radio personality, 36, showcased her toned physique in a skimpy black two-piece as she sat by the pool at Five Luxe beach resort.

She sent pulses racing as she posed on her knees and gazed off into the distance behind a pair of trendy black sunglasses.

In other snaps, the Geordie Shore star posed with a pepperoni pizza plate as she raved about the new Playa Pacha beach club in the UAE city.

For her pizza-loving post, she switched her swimwear and posed in a rooftop pool wearing a red and white checked bikini.

Vicky Pattison, 36, put on a very busty display as she shared a slew of hen do snaps soaking up the sun in Dubai wearing black bikini on Instagram on Sunday

For her pizza-loving post, she switched her swimwear and posed in a rooftop pool wearing a red and white checked bikini

Holding on to a pair of inflatable cherries, she appeared in high spirits as she posed with one hand on her hip.

She captioned her post: 'Pacha has arrived in Dubai.... Absolutely class day yesterday at @playapachadubai in fiveluxejbr- brilliant food, drinks, music and atmosphere..

'Defos give it a go if you're in Dubai.. oh and try the pepperoni pizza.. infact that's just my advice for life- always get the pizza'

She has kept her fans up to date with her glitzy hen do abroad as she has shared many posts in the last week of her sunny antics.

Vicky dubbed her hen do a 'Sten do' as her fiance Ercan Ramadan also enjoyed his stag do during the trip.

But her wedding travels this year have not all been so fabulous as her stunning snaps come just days after she shared an update on her airport fiasco after being banned from flying due to a damaged passport - revealing she'll have a new one within the week.

Vicky spoke about the ordeal on her Heart Radio show in April, as she returned for the first time since her supposed holiday.

The beauty was turned away from her easyJet flight to Italy earlier in the month due to her dog chewing and slightly damaging her passport.

The TV and radio personality showcased her toned physique in a skimpy lack two-piece as she sat by the pool at Five Luxe eating a plate of pepperoni pizza

But her travels this year have not all been so fabulous as her stunning snaps come just days after she shared an update on her airport fiasco after being banned from flying due to a damaged passport - revealing she'll have a new one within the week

She spoke about the ordeal on her Heart Radio show on Tuesday evening, as she returned for the first time since her supposed holiday

Vicky posted a snap of the top of her passport which had been chewed by her pet pooch, while branding easyJet a 'destroyer of dreams'

Her dog Milo was the culprit behind the damaged passport

She was due to fly out and visit her wedding venue as well as meet the wedding planner and taste test their menu.

However, Vicky and her fiance Ercan went sent home after easyJet staff told the reality star that her passport broke company policy.

She told how she had spent the day at the passport office to apply for a new document so that she wouldn't miss her hen do later that month.

During the show, Vicky told listeners: 'Everyone I'm sure by now knows, I tried to go to Italy at the weekend to see my wedding venue and try the menu. We were really excited, we got to the airport really early Sunday morning and we got turned away.

'The airline, who will remain nameless because I think I've caused enough grief, said [my passport] was too damaged for their company policy. I have been travelling with it all year but company policy is company policy.

'I took it on the chin and walked away, and did a couple of stories saying I was really disappointed. I'd wasted money on the flight and my wedding planner and florist were already out there, I was feeling disappointed and tired.

'I then just got on with my life and went home to my dogs, tried to look on the bright side. And then the press just went mental, like nobody had ever been turned away from a flight because of a passport rip before. It was reported that I'm like banned from easyJet, they made it sound like I'm on some sort of list.

Adam questioned: 'You didn't have a blazing row at the gate...

'No I just walked off! I was like are you, can I take my chances? We're not gonna risk it. Then I went home to my dogs! You'd like I was some sort of criminal...'

Adam said: 'I'm sorry you didn't get to go to Italy. But the story has a happy ending as you've spent all day in the passport office...

Vicky was turned away from her easyJet flight to Italy on Sunday due to her dog chewing and slightly damaging her passport

Vicky revealed: 'Yeah I went straight there, I am going to Dubai and I've got my hen this month, I'm taking no chances. I think this is the universes way of telling me to sort out my passport. So I was proactive, and I did it. And the good news is my new one will be here in a week.'

Days later easyJet issued a statement about the incident.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are sorry for Ms Pattisons experience and the inconvenience caused. At easyJet, we work closely with the authorities and comply with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff.

'As such, we cannot allow any passenger to travel on their planned flight with documentation damaged to such a degree that its authenticity is brought into question'.

Vicky took to Instagram to rage about airline following them turning her away from a flight on Sunday

They added: 'It is the passengers responsibility to have suitable documentation for travel.'

Vicky had taken to her social media earlier in the day to say she was on her way home to 'cry' after the ordeal.

Raging, she wrote: 'Thought we were off to see our wedding venue today, we were so excited..

'I rushed back from Newcastle, packed at midnight last night and jumped into bed and got 3 hours sleep... But I didn't mind because we were going for our menu tasting @ercan_ram.

'Only to have the @easyiet staff turn me away.. I've been travelling with my passport all year and no one's said anything, but it's definitely well travelled to be fair Company policy is company policy and I get it, I'm just beyond gutted you know??

'My wedding planner, her assistant, my florist, everyone are all heading out... ... X And I'm just heading home... to have a really good cry I think.

'All the wasted money, how hard it was for me to get the time off, how excited we were, how I've wasted everyone's time.. I'm just really sad I think.'

Sharing a photo of her passport, she added: 'This is what was wrong with my passport for everyone asking, in fairness, I don't know if that is really bad or not, I've just not had anyone ever tell me it was before.. cheeky little milo butt.

A spokesperson for easyJet told MailOnline: 'We are sorry for Ms Pattisons experience and the inconvenience caused. At easyJet, we work closely with the authorities and comply with their guidance to ensure the safety and security of all passengers and staff (pictured with fiance Ercan)

'Think rather than waste my glam, I'm going to take some new passport pictures, then cry...'

Vicky concluded her string of posts with a screenshot from an online form which asked how her passport had been damaged.

Writing in the answer box, 'My dog chewed the side abit,' she added in her caption to fans, '@easyjet you destroyer of dreams you.'
Maura Higgins looked nothing short of sensational as she slipped into skimpy swimwear during a luxurious getaway to the swanky Tawny Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday.

The former Love Island star, 33, was joined by her pals on the trip and the ladies quaffed champagne while soaking in the outdoor pool and hot tub.

In one snap Maura flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a tiny leopard print bikini as she sported under eye masks and a huge glass of red wine in hand.

She later before modelled a chic floral one piece complete with 500 Loewe sunglasses and a fluffy white towel on her head.

Maura then returned to her swanky room and jumped in the bath, which boasted incredible views and popped open another bottle of champagne.

Maura Higgins, 33, looked nothing short of sensational as she slipped into skimpy swimwear during a luxurious getaway to the swanky Tawny Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent onSaturday

The former Love Island star was joined by her pals on the trip and the ladies quaffed champagne while soaking in the outdoor pool and hot tub

Maura then returned to her swanky room and jumped in the bath, which boasted incredible views and popped open another bottle of champagne

The ladies forwent a swanky meal as they tucked into a takeaway pizza with Maura captioning the post: 'Mood'.

Last week the stunner again sent temperatures soaring in a brown leather trench as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps.

The TV personality stunned as she flashed her leg through the long number which she cinched in at the waist with a matching belt.

She opted for a pair of black opaque tights and a pair of stylish towering Steve Madden pointed toe heels as she raised her leg in the air.

Leaving her long brunette tresses loose, the Irish model raised a black heel to her face as she pretended to use it as a phone.

In another photo, Maura removed her jacket displaying her toned legs as she relaxed on a bed with her legs in the air.

Quoting Julia Roberts in her hit 1990 film Petty Women, Maura penned: 'Oh, honey, Ive got a runner in my pantyhose. @stevemaddenuk AD'

It comes after Maura's split from ex Bobby Holland, with insiders claiming she realised there was not a future for the pair.

She later before modelled a chic floral one piece complete with 500 Loewe sunglasses and a fluffy white towel on her head

One mishap saw Maura's outfit soaked with water

The ladies then forwent a swanky meal as they tucked into a takeaway pizza

She captioned the post: 'Mood'

A source told The Sun: 'It was really fun for a while. But they're different people. It's over between them.'

The couple have also unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Bobby and Maura were first romantically linked after they were spotted on a date in London in May 2023.

The couple were then seen enjoying passionate kisses while on holiday together in Ibiza in June.

Maura finally confirmed her relationship with Bobby during a December appearance on the Late Late Late Show.

Host Patrick Kielty said: 'Last time you were on this show, you were single and ready to mingle.'

Last week the stunner again sent temperatures soaring in a brown leather trench as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps

She looked sensational as she flashed her leg through the long number which she teamed with opaque black tights and pointed toe heels from Steve Madden

Maura proudly responded: 'I am no more single. Very happy relationship,' as the audience cheered.

Maura has previously dated Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice, 33, as well as her fellow Love Island stars, Chris Taylor, 33, and Curtis Pritchard, 28.

MailOnline contacted Maura's representative for comment.
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

Viewers of The Piano were moved to tears after a man revealed a touching tribute to his mother who passed away after she was told she only had months to live.

Gavin impressed the crowd in Cardiff as the popular show returned to Channel 4 for a second series last Sunday.

At Cardiff Central station, he wowed host Claudia Winkleman, as well as judges Mika and Lang Lang as he played his own song that he wrote for mother in the last few months of her life.

He lost his mother in 2017 after she was diagnosed with cancer and was told she only had nine months to live.

Gavin spoke about how the piano and writing his own music had helped him emotionally during the time of diagnosis and after she passed away.

Viewers of The Piano were moved to tears after Gavin (pictured) revealed a touching story of how his mother inspired his music

At Cardiff Central station, he wowed host Claudia Winkleman and judges Mika and Lang Lang as he played his own song that he wrote for mother (pictured) in the last few months of her life

He said: 'I wrote that song when my mum was going through an awful time in her life.

'She found out she had cancer in January 2017 and they gave her nine months to live.

'My mum was offered chemo and she decided she did want to do it. So my mum said ''you know what we are going to do? We are just going to live out.''

'So we lived it out.'

'I took nine months off work and everyday we got together and I would take her to different places,' he added.

'I took her out on the back of my jet ski and we had a great time. Time with her during those nine months were fantastic because you cannot buy time back. We have all got sell by dates.'

Barely able to contain their emotions, viewers fled to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their heartfelt thoughts.

One penned: 'Im welling up! #ThePiano';

He lost his mother in 2017 after she was diagnosed with cancer and was told she only had nine months to live

Gavin spoke about how the piano and writing his own music had helped him emotionally during the time of diagnosis and after she passed away

'Gavin is making cry. He absolutely adored his mum #ThePiano';

'I'm sobbing'; 'Damn you #ThePiano sobbing!'; 'Wow the emotions'

At the end of the episode, Mika and Lang Lang did not choose Gavin to go through to the final as they found it 'impossible' to pick a musician and ultimately chose another contender, Teddy.

His performance comes after man with dementia impressed the crowd, host Claudia Winkleman and judges Mika and Lang Lang last Sunday as he played at Manchester Piccadilly station.

Duncan, 80, was seen with his wife Fran, with the couple having been married for 42 years.

He started playing the piano when he was just four years old but he was diagnosed with dementia six years ago.

Contestant Duncan told how he is still able to play but the couple spoke of how life has changed for both him and Fran since his diagnosis.

Barely able to contain their emotions, viewers fled to X, formerly known as Twitter , to share their heartfelt thoughts

At the end of the episode, Mika and Lang Lang did not choose Gavin to go through to the final as they found it 'impossible' to pick a musician and ultimately chose another contender, Teddy

His performance comes after man with dementia impressed the crowd, host Claudia Winkleman and judges Mika and Lang Lang last Sunday as he played at Manchester Piccadilly station

Duncan, 80, was seen with his wife Fran, with the couple having been married for 42 years

He started playing the piano when he was just four years old but he was diagnosed with dementia six years ago

Fran said: 'There is a vulnerability there now that wasn't there before and there is an awful lot more that I need to do... the future is unknown.

'Duncan is everything to me, I would have him in any situation rather than not have him.'

Duncan took to the piano at the station to play a song dedicated to his wife, named Theme for Fran.

He said: 'It just gives me such total feeling about the girl I found and the girl I married, the girl I love and always will.'

After Duncan's performance, presenter Claudia told Mika and Lang Lang: 'He is going to the concert, it is not a debate.

'It is important to have somebody like that and the fact he can speak through the piano.'

At the end of the episode, Mika and Lang Lang did choose Duncan to go through to the final, leaving the musician shocked.

He said: 'I am absolutely stunned, I think it will change my feelings for the future because I've always had this secret dream of somebody saying yeah, I really like.'

Contestant Duncan told how he is still able to play but the couple spoke of how life has changed for both him and Fran since his diagnosis

Fran said: 'There is a vulnerability there now that wasn't there before and there is an awful lot more that I need to do... the future is unknown'

Duncan impressed the crowd, host Claudia Winkleman and judges Mika and Lang Lang as he played at Manchester Piccadilly station

Fran said of her husband: 'Duncan is everything to me, I would have him in any situation rather than not have him'

At the end of the episode, judges Mika (left) and Lang Lang (right) did choose Duncan to go through to the final, leaving the musician shocked

The moment moved viewers to tears, with many taking to social media to express their feelings.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'I was doing well until Duncan started playing and now I am in bits.'

While someone else shared: 'Fran & Duncan. How beautiful. Total devotion to each other. Dementia is not only heartbreaking for the sufferer but so cruel to their loved ones. Its unspeakably cruel to watch the person you love fade away.'

Another person wrote: 'Duncan has dementia, but speaks through music. Great to have #ThePiano back.'

And someone else posted: 'Duncan on #ThePiano Im gone!'

One other viewer wrote: 'Duncan on the piano, his love for Fran spoke through every note played of his music, totally beautiful.'

'Wow that was emotional Duncan needs to get to the final,' shared another viewer, while someone else posted: 'No. Absolutely gone. Duncan and Fran have broken me.'

Another viewer commented: '#ThePiano an Oasis of peace & sanity, so needed. I hope Ellis & Fred get opportunities from this but Duncan was a well-deserved winner. He has the most beautiful touch.'

The moment moved viewers to tears, with many taking to social media to express their feelings

'Bless Claudia Winkleman. That reaction to Duncan getting the news was just wonderful. She really is the perfect presenter of The Piano,' wrote someone else.

While someone else wrote: 'First episode of The Piano was simply wonderful! Duncan stole my heart as he did at the final concert too. The camaraderie between Claudia, Mika and Lang Lang is always lovely to see as well.'

Viewers of Channel 4's The Piano were left captivated by the victorious performance on the show's debut from then-13-year-old blind and autistic girl, Lucy Illingworth.

The teenager from Halifax in West Yorkshire moved viewers to tears with an awe-inspiring recital of Debussy's Arabesque, leading judges Lang Land and Mika to call her a 'genius'.

One year on and the moment was nominated for a BAFTA, in a category with scenes from Doctor Who, Succession and Happy Valley.

Also since her amazing performance on the Channel 4 talent show, Lucy has performed to a packed Royal Albert Hall, and left the King and Queen speechless as King Charles III's Coronation concert.

So, where is Lucy now, as The Piano returns to find another hidden musical star?

On her way to The Piano's final, Lucy wowed passers by at Leeds train station with her rendition of Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor, with the video being viewed over five million times online.

Viewers of Channel 4 's The Piano were left captivated by the victorious performance on the show's debut from 13-year-old blind and autistic girl, Lucy in the show's 2023 debut

She went on to put in the 'best performance' at the show's concert finale at the Royal Festival Hall

In the months after the programme aired, Lucy left the newly-crowned King and Queen speechless during a performance at their Coronation concert (pictured)

The pianist, who was born with cancerous tumours in her eyes and is largely non-verbal, was put forward by her mother Candice forward for the competition as she wanted to show others how 'amazing' she was and raise awareness of her condition.

Her performance has landed her and the programme in the Best Moment category at the BAFTA Television Awards - which take place on May 12.

Other nominees in the category are: David Beckham teasing Victoria about her 'working class' upbringing in their Netflix documentary, Ncuti Gatwa being revealed as the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who, Catherine Cawood and Tommy Lee Royce's final showdown on BBC One's Happy Valley, Bill and Frank's Story in Sky Atlantic series The Last Of Us and Logan Roy's death in Succession on the same channel.

Since recording the show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, Lucy has been learning more and more pieces by artists including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder.

Less than two months after her win aired, Lucy wowed the newly-crowned King and Queen, as well as tens of thousands more spectators, at Charles' Coronation concert in Windsor.

She was on the bill alongside world-renowned artists like Lionel Richie and Nicole Scherzinger.

A few months later, in October 2023, Lucy played to the Royal Albert Hall, with a repeat of her show-stopping Arabesque rendition from The Piano as well as playing Bach's Prelude in C to a full house at Classic FM Live.

The radio station's post of the performance online received their largest viewing figure ever with over 11million views.

Pictured: The blind musician (centre) at the Coronation concert with mother Candice, left, and her teaching assistant Lisa, right

Lucy performed with The Piano judge and pianist Lang Lang at 2023's Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall (pictured together)

The pianist is set to star in a 70-minute Channel 4 documentary, The Incredibly Talented Lucy, which will focus on her and her music teacher Daniel Bath (pictured with Lucy)

Lucy returned to the venue two months later to play the ITV Royal Variety performance.

That will not be the talent's final TV appearance, as she is set to star in a 70-minute Channel 4 documentary, The Incredibly Talented Lucy.

The film will focus on Lucy and her music teacher Daniel Bath, who have been working together since the former was just three years old.

Lucy had started plaing the keyboard even earlier - aged two, and received lessons from Daniel through the musical charity The Amber Trust.

Daniel recalled previously: 'I first met Lucy in ball pool at school and I couldn't see anyone in the room at first. And then I saw this little hand sticking out of the ball pool.

'And someone said "Oh that's Lucy". So I put a little keyboard under the hand, and the hand started playing, rather mutinously, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

'And I thought: "Here's a girl for whom music is really important."

'And it could it be a way of unlocking her language, her social skills, and above all, her enjoyment of life.'

Lucy was born with cancerous tumours in her eyes and is largely non-verbal

She started playing the keyboard age two, and had lessons with Daniel from a year later

Daniel said lessons were hard at first as Lucy couldn't listen to a piece for more than 10 seconds before she got impatient and would push his hands out of the way

The family upgraded her keyboard and realised she was composing music in her head while sitting on the sofa. She was also able to play back music after listening to it just once.

'From a fairy tale book with a piano on it, she started playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star but it was pitch perfect. It was such a moment to hear that,' Lucy's mother Candice recalled.

Daniel said lessons weren't easy at first as he had to figure out how to teach and make the most of her talent.

When he first started teaching, Lucy couldn't listen to a piece for more than 10 seconds before she got impatient and would push his hands out of the way.

By her teenage years, he would play the entire the piece to Lucy before asking her to recite what she remembered hearing.

He said: 'You can't teach Lucy, you can only guide her in the journey.'

They teach the hands separately, with Daniel saying he has to physically pick her hands up at times so they can jump over each other.

They teach the hands separately, with Daniel saying he has to physically pick her hands up at times so they can jump over each other

By her teenage years, Daniel would play the entire the piece to Lucy before asking her to recite what she remembered hearing

Lucy's appearance on The Piano has been nominated for a BAFTA Television Award

The pair work together with Lucy putting her hand underneath Daniel's, with Daniel still playing, pressing her fingers down gently before she tries the piece on her own.

'She loves to improvise, she loves playing jazz and the social interplay of that', he added.

Lucy reacts to the music with her body, especially her head and leg, which Daniel said he sometimes has to hone her energy to her fingertips.

This was apparent in her uniquely captivating performances on The Piano, which could earn Lucy a BAFTA on Sunday, May 12.
Anne Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman were among a number of celebrity guests at Derek Blasberg's 42nd birthday bash in New York City on Friday.

The Devil Wears Prada actress, 41, held hands with her other half, 43, as they arrived to the party, held at En Japanese Brasserie restaurant.

Anne  who was recently left red-faced during a segment on The Tonight Show  looked chic as ever in a black leather jacket over a matching top, and paired with trendy blue jeans with a knee rip. She completed the look with black heels.

Her husband  to whom she's been married to since 2012  was casual cool in a blue button up, black pants, and suede boots.

Also present at the birthday celebration was Kate Hudson, 45, who showed off her effortlessly chic style in a black turtleneck sweater paired with blue floral bell-bottom pants and an oversized black coat.

Anne Hathaway, 41, and husband Adam Shulman, 43, were among a number of celebrity guests at Derek Blasberg's 42nd birthday bash in New York City on Friday

Kate Hudson, 45, was also present at the birthday celebration, which was held at En Japanese Brasserie restaurant, and looked chic in blue bell bottoms and a black turtleneck

The mom-of-three completed her outfit with black boots and a green bag slung over her shoulder.

The blonde beauty wore her golden tresses parted in the middle and cascading down in waves.

Model Karlie Kloss, 31, put on a leggy display as she arrived at the bash, wearing a chic black mini dress and matching black blazer.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel added height to her 6' 2" frame with black heels.

She accessorized with a black purse and wore her brunette tresses parted in the middle and cascading down.

Eiza Gonzalez, 34, thrilled in a feminine floral pattern white dress, and chic heels with black bows.

The Mexican beauty completed her charming outfit with a large black clutch.

Kris Jenner, 68, was joined by boyfriend Corey Gamble, 43, at the soiree.

Model Karlie Kloss, 31, put on a leggy display as she arrived at the bash, wearing a chic black mini dress and matching black blazer

Eiza Gonzalez, 34, thrilled in a feminine floral pattern white dress, and chic heels with black bows

Kris Jenner, 68, was joined by boyfriend Corey Gamble, 43, at the soiree. The Kardashian momager looked elegant in a pinstripe black suit, and carried a black Hermes bag in her hand

Blasberg is an American fashion journalist, socialite, author, and television personality. His birthday parties often serve as a warm-up to the Met Gala; pictured in Paris, France in 2023

The Kardashian momager looked elegant in a pinstripe black suit, and carried a black Hermes bag in her hand.

Corey opted for a more casual look, wearing a black tracksuit, Nike sneakers, and a bucket hat.

Blasberg is an American fashion journalist, socialite, author, and television personality.

His birthday parties often serve as a warm-up to the Met Gala  which will return on Monday, May 6 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art  for his A-list attendees.

In 2022 his bash was attended by Jeff Bezos, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Leonardo DiCaprio among others.